I have already established my power and prestige, so how did Li Shimin come back to life?

Their eyes were filled with fear, their faces were as pale as paper, and their usual arrogance had long since disappeared.

Minister Cui was being escorted by soldiers, but he still held his neck stiff, with a sinister glint in his eyes.

He shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, are you trying to make an enemy of the noble families of the world? Do you want to follow in the footsteps of Emperor Yang of Sui?"

His voice was particularly harsh in the silent court, full of threat and provocation.

"Be bold!"

Qin Ruzhao called Jianlu to the hall, and saw that he moved as fast as lightning and immediately drew out the sword in his hand.

The sharp sword gleamed coldly, and in the candlelight, it reflected a chilling light.

He held a sharp sword in his hand, staring straight at Cui Sheng with murderous intent in his eyes.

"If you dare to say another word disrespectful to His Majesty, I will make you bleed on the spot."

His words were as sharp as an ice knife, causing Cui Sheng to shiver.

Cui Sheng looked at the sharp sword against his neck and felt a hint of chill. He was so scared that his face turned pale and he shut his mouth wisely.

His lips trembled slightly, beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead, and his body trembled slightly involuntarily.

"Ninety percent of the court officials are from aristocratic families? Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that the court will be paralyzed if you do this?"

A young official suddenly stood up. He was wearing a gorgeous official uniform and a black gauze hat. His eyes were full of anger and he shouted at Li Chengqian.

His voice echoed in the silent court, with a kind of recklessness that was ignorant of the immensity of the world.

Li Chengqian glanced at him slightly, with a look of scrutiny in his eyes.

"who are you?"

"I am Lu Guanyu, the Minister of Rites, from the Fanyang Lu family."

Lu Guanyu held his head high and spoke proudly, as if his family background was his greatest reliance.

"Is it the Fanyang Lu family?"

Li Chengqian curled his lips into a disdainful sneer.

"Drag them all down and behead them. You're so young, yet you're jumping out to die?"

His tone was cold, without a trace of mercy.

The soldiers from the three camps immediately rushed forward like wolves and tigers and took Lu Guanyu away.

Lu Guanyu began to struggle, shouting, "Tyrant, you tyrant!"

His shouts echoed in the court, but no one responded.

But none of those officials from the aristocratic families showed any fear on their faces at this time.

They firmly believed that the new emperor was just pretending and his purpose was to suppress them.

After all, in their view, the aristocratic families have hundreds of years of foundation and huge power. How could they be easily shaken by an emperor who has not yet officially ascended the throne?

Aristocratic families are like towering trees; how could they be made of clay? That's why their resistance is so fierce.

But it wasn't until they were escorted to the Meridian Gate and saw Cui Shengren's head rolling on the ground, blood splattered on the stone slabs, that the shocking scene brought them back to reality.

Only then did they understand that the new emperor was not simply suppressing the aristocratic families, but really wanted to uproot them and completely eliminate them.

Every official from aristocratic families who was escorted to the Meridian Gate began to feel afraid at this time.

Their legs became weak, their bodies kept shaking, and some even suffered from incontinence.

They cried out for their parents, their voices shrill and desperate.

The soldiers of the three battalions paid no heed to any of that. Expressionless, they raised their broadswords high and then brought them down. In an instant, heads rolled across the ground, blood gushing out like fountains, staining the Meridian Gate red—a gruesome scene that was nauseating.

It was not until then that the officials in the court felt a chill on their backs, as if a chill was running from the soles of their feet straight up to their hearts.

They looked at each other, their eyes filled with fear, not daring to breathe.

Li Chengqian sat on the dragon throne, looking at the officials below with a forced smile, a smile that made people's hair stand on end.

"I don't trust any of you. It's best for you to stay here and wait for me to investigate you one by one."