This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

fainted?

Cheng Jun stared blankly at Changsun Wuji, who had fainted on the ground. "To tell you the truth, he fainted?"

They're not good at handling pressure.

"He's not even as good as my boss in my past life..." Cheng Jun shook his head.

Just then, hurried footsteps could be heard in the distance.

Cheng Jun looked up and saw that the person who came was Empress Zhangsun. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

Empress Zhangsun, with a solemn expression, wearing a dark blue robe, walked towards this side, followed by a young palace maid.

"No need for formalities." Empress Zhangsun nodded in acknowledgment, only then noticing a middle-aged man wearing a black hat and purple robes lying at Cheng Jun's feet. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Zhangsun Wuji and exclaimed in surprise, "Brother?"

The young palace maid covered her lips, looking utterly astonished.

"Cheng Jun, what happened?"

Empress Zhangsun anxiously walked to Zhangsun Wuji's side and breathed a sigh of relief upon realizing that he was still breathing. She looked up and asked, "Why is my brother lying here?"

Cheng Jun said with a solemn expression, "I just saw Minister Changsun faint on the ground."

"Quickly, summon a few guards and take him to the Imperial Medical Bureau!"

Empress Zhangsun turned to the palace maid and said urgently.

"promise!"

Soon, the palace maid summoned two imperial guards.

The two palace guards were clearly very experienced, as they came carrying a door panel.

Cheng Jun said with concern, "Minister Changsun has a back injury, please be careful."

The two men carried Changsun Wuji even more gently, placing him face down on the door panel before quickly carrying the panel to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Empress Zhangsun noticed the concern on Cheng Jun's face, her expression softened, and she said gently, "Cheng Jun, I have heard about your situation. Did His Majesty make things difficult for you when you entered the palace this time?"

Cheng Jun met her gaze and said with emotion, "No, Your Majesty and the Empress are the same. They can distinguish right from wrong and are open to advice. I am so grateful to be able to enjoy Your Majesty's grace that I would die for it."

This lad, praising His Majesty is fine, but he even dragged me into it... Empress Zhangsun smiled, feeling a little guilty when she thought of what happened between him and her brother. She said apologetically, "Cheng Jun, it was my brother who was wrong in this matter. I apologize to you on his behalf. If you still have grievances, just say them, and I will uphold justice for you."

She had heard about it, but it didn't seem like she had just heard about it... Cheng Jun was stunned, and then sighed again, "Your Majesty the Empress truly deserves to be called a virtuous empress of our Great Tang. Your Majesty is blessed, and the Great Tang is blessed. Our Great Tang has both a wise ruler and a virtuous empress. I will certainly be a loyal subject and live up to the love and kindness of Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress!"

Empress Zhangsun smiled and said, "So, this matter is over?"

"what's up?"

Cheng Jun feigned surprise.

Empress Zhangsun immediately understood his unspoken meaning and couldn't help but chuckle. She didn't mention it again and, seeing the imperial edict in his hand, said with a smile, "If you have official business to attend to, then go ahead and do it."

"My minister retire."

"Go."

After Cheng Jun left, Empress Zhangsun turned and headed to the palace where Li Shimin was.

As they approached the Ganlu Palace, Empress Zhangsun saw Princess Changle, dressed in a patterned Hu-style robe, enter the palace before her.

Inside the Manna Hall.

Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne, unfolded the imperial edict that the purple-robed eunuch had just drafted, took it in his hand, and carefully examined it.

"Extending their shifts by an hour...that's a great idea. Knowing those old guys' personalities, they'll definitely give up their monthly salary."

Li Shimin was increasingly satisfied with what he saw. Everything was ready, and he was just waiting for Cheng Jun to get two million coins before the morning court session the next day.

If Cheng Jun could really get two million coins in a day, Li Shimin would issue an edict at the morning court to implement the new monthly salary system.

If he couldn't get the money, Li Shimin decided to abolish the monthly salary system altogether.

Li Shimin actually preferred to abolish the monthly salary system because he did not believe that Cheng Jun could obtain two million coins in a single day. The reason he had prepared a second plan was to provide Cheng Jun with a backup plan.

"This kid wants to be like Bi Gan, but I am not King Zhou."

Li Shimin snorted.

Yesterday, Cheng Jun suggested establishing trainee officials, and today he advised against the drawbacks of the public office capital system and the establishment of money-catching officials. He also designed a new system of monthly salary. He wanted to applaud every single one of them.

If such a talented person were to die, it would be a loss for him, and an even greater loss for the Tang Dynasty!

"Father, do you want to kill Cheng Jun?"

Just then, a disgruntled voice suddenly came from outside the hall.

Li Shimin looked up and saw a young girl dressed in Hu clothing walking in front of him with an angry look on her face. He asked in astonishment, "When did I say I wanted to kill Cheng Jun?"

"What Father Emperor just said!"

Li Lizhi said angrily, "Your subject heard everything just now. Father Emperor said he wanted to become King Zhou and kill Cheng Jun, that Bi Gan!"

What kind of ears are those...?

Li Shimin was speechless. Before he could explain, the girl spoke first, her tone indignant:

"Just now, Father Emperor compared Cheng Jun to Bi Gan, which means he regards him as a loyal minister. I don't understand why Father Emperor would compare himself to King Zhou? Does Father Emperor want to be like King Zhou and become a tyrant?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's lips twitched. Had this girl forgotten about Cheng Jun coming to her door yesterday?

They actually spoke up for him in every single word.

Li Shimin put on a stern face and said, "Lizhi, yesterday Cheng Jun impeached your mother, but in reality, he was impeaching you. Have you forgotten all that? Don't forget the pain once the wound has healed!"

The young girl raised her head and said, "My father and mother are both open to advice, and as a princess of the Tang Dynasty, I am naturally also open to advice and can listen to good words!"

"Father said that I forget the pain once the wound heals, but I don't think so. The wound heals because of the medicine, and Cheng Jun's words are a miracle cure! Once the wound heals, the pain naturally disappears because the miracle cure works! Why should I remember the pain? What I should remember is the miracle cure, and Cheng Jun's words!"

"Enough, enough, stop talking!" Li Shimin said angrily, his round eyes wide as he looked at the little cotton-padded jacket that was letting in drafts.

If she keeps talking, I'm going to lose my composure.

Seeing Li Shimin glaring at her, the girl's eyes reddened, and she stubbornly said, "Father, even if you glare me to death, I will still speak!"

Li Shimin's eyes twitched, and he felt a headache coming on. Just then, he saw Empress Zhangsun walk in and immediately beckoned her, saying, "Guanyinbi, you need to control your daughter. This is outrageous!"

"What happened?"

Li Lizhi met Empress Zhangsun's gaze and said aggrievedly, "Mother, Father wants to kill Cheng Jun!"

Empress Zhangsun's eyes narrowed upon hearing this. She looked at Li Shimin, her expression turning serious, and said, "Your Majesty, do you want to be a tyrant?"

Your Majesty... Li Shimin completely lost his composure when he saw that she didn't call him Second Brother. He slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Lizhi, are you hard of hearing? I don't even know what to say!"

"I said Cheng Jun wanted to be like Bi Gan, but I didn't mean it like King Zhou. Wasn't I just boasting about being a wise ruler? Li Zhi didn't hear me clearly and thought I wanted to kill Cheng Jun. That's why I'm aggrieved!"

…………

First update, more to come later.