62: The Cui family will be tried in three courts!

That icy Dragon Throne.

It was as if countless steel needles pierced Li Shimin's flesh from the back of the chair.

Making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles!

He felt no pain, only waves of bone-deep chill that stiffened his limbs and body.

His son, the Crown Prince he had personally taught and placed great hopes on, was now kneeling at his feet, in the most respectful posture, speaking the most heart-piercing words.

The pressure, like Mount Tai pressing down, almost suffocated him.

Kill Cui Renshi?

This meant a complete break with the Five Surnames and Seven Clans; the imperial court would face an unprecedented earthquake.

Not kill?

His, Li Shimin's, sacred reputation of 'water can carry a boat, but also overturn it' would become the laughingstock of the world overnight!

The prestige of the Great Tang imperial family that he had just established would be shattered by his own son, using his own words!

He could not afford to lose this reputation!

Li Shimin's chest heaved violently, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at the seemingly humble back below.

After a long while, his taut jaw finally relaxed, and he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth; each word seemed to use all his strength, carrying thunderous fury.

"Someone!"

A furious roar, like the bellow of a trapped beast, made the entire Taiji Hall hum.

The Jinwu Guard outside the hall moved at the sound, their armor clanking, rushing quickly into the hall.

"Take the criminal Cui Renshi... for Us... to the imperial prison! Await trial!"

Li Shimin practically roared these words.

This was a delaying tactic.

First, lock the person up to quell the immediate uproar, and once the storm passed, deal with it slowly.

This was the art of an emperor, a commonly used method.

As his words fell, the frozen atmosphere in the hall loosened.

Zhangsun Wuji secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

And the other Officials, no matter what they thought in their hearts, all knelt in unison, shouting "Long live Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty is sagacious!"

"Your Majesty is brilliant and mighty!"

Compliments rose and fell, and the matter was about to be settled.

However, Li Chengqian moved.

He slowly straightened up, not looking back at his fawning colleagues, nor even paying attention to the two guards who had already helped up the limp Cui Renshi.

He took a step forward.

Just one step, but it landed on everyone's hearts.

The recently eased atmosphere instantly tensed up again, even more than before!

Fang Xuanling's heart, which had just settled, suddenly leaped into his throat again.

Li Chengqian raised his head, his gaze clear and cold, once again looking directly at his father on the Dragon Throne.

His voice was not loud, but it clearly echoed through every corner of the Taiji Hall, carrying a chilling calm.

"Father Emperor, are you planning... to let this matter rest in a few days?"

Boom!

Li Shimin's mind was struck hard by a giant hammer.

He widened his eyes, unable to believe his ears.

Forcing the palace!

This was no longer an insinuation; this was outright forcing the palace!

Li Chengqian gave him no room to maneuver; he wanted to block every retreat for him, the Emperor, in front of the entire court!

"I ask you,"

Li Chengqian's voice suddenly rose, like a sharp sword unsheathed, its edge fully revealed, "Exam fraud, shaking the foundation of the nation, such a heinous crime, why is it not judged in court!"

"Why must it... await trial?!"

Step by step, he advanced again.

"You once personally told your son, 'water can carry a boat, but also overturn it'! The hearts of the people are the water!"

"Now, the hearts of the scholars of the world are this water that can overturn the boat! They are all watching, watching Chang'an, watching this Taiji Hall, watching you, the Khan of Heaven!"

"How will you give them an explanation?!"

"Are you going to tell them that the laws of our Great Tang are nothing but a piece of paper in front of the powerful?!"

Every word, like a heavy hammer, struck hard at Li Shimin's imperial dignity.

Li Shimin opened his mouth, but found his throat dry, unable to utter a single word.

What could he say?

Say that We need to weigh the pros and cons?

Say that the stability of the court outweighs everything?

These words, in front of the grand righteousness forged by Li Chengqian with "the hearts of the people" and "national law," seemed so pale, so selfish!

He looked at his son; on that once familiar face, there was now an expression of unfamiliarity and resolute determination.

In this confrontation between father and son, ruler and subject, he was pushed to the edge of a cliff, with no retreat.

The entire Taiji Hall was dead silent, only Li Shimin's heavy breathing could be heard.

His gaze swept across the hall, across Zhangsun Wuji's grim face, across Wei Zheng's tightly furrowed brow, and finally, landed on the faces of the aristocratic Officials, led by the Cui Clan.

In their eyes, there was undisguised terror, resentment, and... a madness about to ignite.

They looked at Li Chengqian with eyes that wished to devour his flesh and sleep on his skin!

Li Shimin's heart tightened; he knew that if he couldn't deliver a result today, he, the Emperor, might truly not be able to sit securely.

After a long while, drained of all strength, he slumped onto the Dragon Throne, his voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing.

"Granted..."

"Pass down Our decree..."

"Right here in this Taiji Hall..."

"Publicly try... Cui Renshi!"

Li Shimin's two words exhausted all the strength he had accumulated throughout his imperial career.

"Granted..."

He slumped on the Dragon Throne, his eyes vacant, looking at the trembling subjects below, at the pillars of the nation he had personally promoted, yet now not one could share his worries.

Wang De, the Chief Eunuch, shivered and, in a trembling, high-pitched voice, repeated the Emperor's decree:

"Pass... pass His Majesty's decree! In the Taiji Hall, publicly try... publicly try the patriarch of the Boling Cui Clan, Cui Renshi!"

The voice echoed in the vast hall, carrying an unreal sense of absurdity.

The Taiji Hall, the symbol of the Great Tang's highest power, was now to become a court of judgment.

Several quick-witted eunuchs and Jinwu Guard immediately sprang into action. They moved several small tables, arranging them below the imperial steps, corresponding to the positions of the three judicial offices: Dali Temple, Ministry of Justice, and Censorate.

The two guards who had originally supported Cui Renshi dragged him back, throwing him like a dead dog in the center of the hall.

Cui Renshi had completely collapsed. He lay on the cold golden bricks, shaking like a sieve, uttering unintelligible whimpers, his court robes covered in filth, no longer retaining any dignity of a great aristocratic clan.

Sun Fujia, the Minister of Dali Temple, Zhang Liang, the Minister of Justice, and Wei Zheng, the Imperial Censor, all had increasingly grim expressions. They were invited by the eunuchs to sit behind the tables, feeling as if a brazier of charcoal burned beneath their buttocks.

Try?

How to try?

This case was clearly brought to light by the Crown Prince, with irrefutable evidence, but it involved the interests of the entire Five Surnames and Seven Clans. If Cui Renshi was tried today, tomorrow, the doorsteps of their three homes would likely be blocked by angry aristocratic scions.

But not try?

Look at the young man standing before the imperial steps.

His cold eyes were fixed on them, saying, whoever dares to act corruptly, the next one thrown on the ground will be them.

The atmosphere in the hall was extremely oppressive; a pin drop could be heard.

Li Shimin looked at this scene, which he had personally ordered but was now completely out of control, and the evil fire mixed with humiliation in his chest burned, making his internal organs ache.

His gaze ultimately fell on Li Chengqian.

The instigator, his "most excellent" son.

He looked at Li Chengqian's calm face, and a sharp impulse, wanting to tear through the other's disguise, made him blurt out.

"Crown Prince," Li Shimin's voice was hoarse, with heavy sarcasm, "since you are so eager to share the nation's worries, why don't you personally preside over this joint trial, how about it?"

He was just speaking out of anger.

A taunt filled with malice.

He wanted to see Li Chengqian's panic, to see him at a loss, to make him understand that some powers were not for him to touch!

However, Li Shimin miscalculated.

Li Chengqian did not hesitate for even a moment.

He was waiting for these words.

He stood tall and elegant, facing the Dragon Throne, bowing deeply, his movements impeccably standard.

"Your son thanks Father Emperor for the authorization!"

His voice was clear and decisive.

Boom!

Li Shimin felt a blackout before his eyes, almost falling from the Dragon Throne.

He opened his mouth, making "ho ho" sounds in his throat, but couldn't utter a single word.

He... how dare he?!

How dare he just agree to it!

That wasn't authorization; that was Our humiliation! That was Our mockery!

The entire court of civil and military Officials was also shocked to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering by this earth-shattering response.

Zhangsun Wuji's face was ashen; he looked at Li Chengqian as if he were looking at a madman. He had actually, in front of everyone, seized the Emperor's power of judgment!

Wei Zheng's perpetually stern face, for the first time, showed a look of horror. This wasn't forcing the palace; what was it? This was practically seizing power on the Dragon Throne, in front of the Emperor!

Li Chengqian, however, completely ignored everyone's gazes.

He slowly straightened up, not even glancing at his trembling father on the Dragon Throne again.

He turned around, facing Cui Renshi, who was slumped on the ground, and facing the three chief Officials who felt like they were sitting on pins and needles.

Step by step, he descended the imperial steps.

Each step seemed to tread on Li Shimin's fragile imperial dignity.

Finally, he stopped before the three judicial tables, his gaze sweeping over Sun Fujia, Zhang Liang, and Wei Zheng.

Previously, Wei Zheng had a grudge against Li Chengqian.

Now, letting Wei Zheng preside over the three-court trial was to make him completely turn against the Officials of the Five Surnames and Seven Clans.

Killing two birds with one stone!

His gaze was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"Three sirs," he spoke, his tone indifferent, "may we begin?"

Sun Fujia and the other two trembled, cold sweat instantly soaking their court robes.

Could they say no?

With the Emperor's "authorization" first, and the Crown Prince's "presiding" second, they were now meat on the chopping block.

Sun Fujia swallowed with difficulty, squeezing out a few words through his teeth: "Your... Your Highness, we can... begin."

At this moment, the entire court of civil and military Officials was dumbfounded.

This was not a joint trial of the Cui Clan.

This was clearly a joint trial of Li Shimin!

Outside Chang'an City at this moment, several plumes of dust were rolling in, on the banners.

Outside Xuanwu Gate, an elite army had quietly completed its assembly, and cold arrowheads were aimed at this palace city, which symbolized the pinnacle of Great Tang power.

Inside the city, father and son were at odds, ruler and subjects alienated.

Outside the city, beacon fires were about to rise, with murderous intent lurking everywhere.

The transfer of power begins at Xuanwu!

...Sorry, I didn't update yesterday, but I will definitely make up for it today with six chapters as compensation. I'm currently writing.