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

Li Shimin regained his senses, looked up at her, opened his mouth, but didn't know how to start speaking.

Empress Zhangsun placed the food box on the imperial desk, glanced at the rolled-up imperial edict on the table, pretended not to see it, and opened the food box while asking, "Second Brother, is something on your mind? May you tell me?"

"Ugh."

Seeing that Li Shimin kept sighing, Empress Zhangsun said:

"Since it's hard to say, let's eat first."

"This is my second brother's favorite pickled celery, and also mutton. The food prepared by the Imperial Kitchen today is quite good. The mutton is stewed until very tender, and this sea bass is my favorite. The taste is absolutely delicious. My second brother has been busy all morning, so he should eat something to replenish his energy."

Watching Empress Zhangsun gently arrange the dishes, Li Shimin reached out and took the white rice she handed him. He picked up his chopsticks but hesitated to eat. After careful consideration, he decided to follow Cheng Jun's roundabout approach.

Cheng Jun used this roundabout tactic to catch him off guard.

This shows that this trick works very well!

Li Shimin asked, "Guanyinbi, do you think hitting someone is right or wrong?"

Empress Zhangsun stared at him, already realizing that it was her daughter who had caused the trouble. Although she knew that Li Shimin was trying to appease her, she still said bluntly, "Of course it's wrong."

Li Shimin then asked:

"The law is the standard for all under heaven, and it is shared by all people. Shouldn't someone be punished for assaulting another person?"

Empress Zhangsun pondered for a moment and said, "Second brother, don't tell me that you argued with your ministers and ended up losing, didn't you?"

"..."

Lies cannot hurt people, but the truth is the sharpest knife. Li Shimin felt a stab to his heart and couldn't help but sigh.

Seeing that he was beating around the bush and sighing, Empress Zhangsun asked directly, "Second brother, if you have something on your mind, just say it. Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. Perhaps I can help you."

Li Shimin asked, "Will you blame me?"

Empress Zhangsun shook her head, "Of course not!"

Li Shimin gritted his teeth and decided to speak frankly, "Then I will be frank. Just now, I received news that that girl Lizhi went to the Duke of Su's mansion to vent my anger."

"I've already heard about this," Empress Zhangsun asked, "Was it Lizhi who hit the person?"

Li Shimin sighed and said, "That's right, but she hit the wrong person. She mistook the Duke of Su's second son for his third son and hit him."

"Just now, Cheng Yaojin's third son rushed to the palace to stand up for his second brother and submitted a memorial..."

"Second Brother, is this matter really that complicated?" Empress Zhangsun looked at him, puzzled, and said:

"If Lizhi hit someone, just tell her to apologize, isn't that enough?"

"The imperial edict of punishment has already been drafted, and this matter should be resolved. Why make Lizhi apologize again? Does Cheng Jun have that much face?" Li Shimin said indignantly. "No, she absolutely cannot apologize!"

"Imperial decree to punish..." Empress Zhangsun widened her eyes and said, "Second brother, do you have to be so bureaucratic? Lizhi was wrong to hit someone, but her crime doesn't warrant this!"

Seeing that she was angry, Li Shimin quickly said, "Guanyinbi, you have misunderstood. This imperial edict of punishment is not for Lizhi."

That's more like it... Empress Zhangsun's expression softened upon hearing this. Suddenly, she saw Li Shimin place the imperial edict in front of her.

"This imperial edict of punishment is for you..."

Empress Zhangsun looked down at the imperial edict, stunned for a long time, then looked up and said, "What?"

Li Shimin forced a smile and said, "Cheng Jun's visit to the palace this time wasn't to impeach Li Zhi, but to impeach you."

"..."

Inside the Taiji Hall, there was a sudden, absolute silence; you could hear a pin drop.

The middle-aged eunuch in purple robes stood to one side, looking at the two silent figures on either side of the imperial desk, his head bowed and not daring to breathe.

After a long while, Empress Zhangsun came to her senses, looked at Li Shimin whose eyes were wandering, frowned and said, "I didn't know anything about this, why is he impeaching me?"

Li Shimin said, "His accusation is that it's the mother's fault for not properly educating her adopted daughter..."

"..."

Empress Zhangsun stared intently at Li Shimin, who was scratching his cheek, and asked, word by word, "So, Second Brother, you just let him impeach me?"

Li Shimin said helplessly, "You are my empress, how could I let him impeach me? But I can't argue with him..."

“This is what he wrote, Guanyinbi, come and take a look.”

Empress Zhangsun picked up the imperial edict, opened it, and began to read it carefully. The more she read, the colder her expression became.

"Well written! It's unbelievable that the imperial edict drafted by the son of a military officer is even more beautiful than those written by some civil officials in the Secretariat!"

"From the words of this imperial edict, I see a wise ruler who puts justice before family, is impartial and incorruptible, clear about right and wrong, and upholds justice even at the cost of personal gain!"

Empress Zhangsun placed the imperial edict back on the imperial desk, looked up at Li Shimin, and asked with a frosty expression, "So, Second Brother, what do you intend to do with me?"

Li Shimin's throat tightened, and he picked up the small bowl of white rice. "Eat first."

Empress Zhangsun said, "Second brother, you eat it yourself, I won't eat it!"

Li Shimin reluctantly put down his chopsticks and said, "Didn't you just say you wouldn't get angry?"

Empress Zhangsun said unhappily, "That depends on the situation! Anyone would be angry in this situation!"

Li Shimin picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of fish. "You really don't want to eat this? This is your favorite sea bass."

Empress Zhangsun turned her head away and said, "I won't eat!"

Taking advantage of the situation, Li Shimin said, "Then let's do it this way. I will severely punish the Empress by making her fast for a day. Guanyinbi, what do you think?"

Empress Zhangsun turned to look at him, her tone devoid of emotion, and said, "Your Majesty is a wise and virtuous ruler. If I do not agree, wouldn't I be ashamed of the title of 'virtuous empress' praised by the world?"

Li Shimin knew perfectly well that she was complaining about him, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he carefully removed the fish bones from the fish and placed the fish meat in the small bowl in front of her, while slowly saying:

"Guanyinbi, you know that I am the Son of Heaven, and you know that my ambition is to be a great ruler for all time. But the title of a great ruler for all time cannot be achieved by mere words; it must be demonstrated to the world through actions!"

"The imperial edict drafted by Cheng Jiasanlang is indeed excellent. Once it is issued and spreads throughout the land, it will surely educate the people and make officials in the world obey the law!"

"If it weren't for this, how could I be troubled by this matter? And how could I bear to see you, Guanyinbi, go without food for a day?"

Li Shimin suddenly grasped Empress Zhangsun's hands and said in a sincere and earnest tone, "Lizhi is your daughter, and also my daughter. If you have made a mistake, I have also made a mistake. If punishment is to be given, how can I punish only you?"

As he spoke, he turned to the middle-aged eunuch in purple robes and said in a serious tone, "Ananda, you revise this imperial edict. I and the Empress will fast for one day!"

"Second Brother..." Empress Zhangsun's eyes instantly reddened.

Li Shimin seized the opportunity, picked up the bowl and chopsticks and handed them to her, smiling gently, "Come on, don't be angry, eat with me. Let's remember the matter of not eating for a day. I didn't say that we had to not eat for a day today."

"Pfft..." Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but laugh out loud. She stopped arguing with him and realized that this was not a bad thing for Li Shimin or for her.

But the thought of being impeached by a young boy for no reason and being punished with a day without food made her somewhat unhappy. She asked, "Second brother, is this Cheng family's third son really that powerful?"

Li Shimin picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, nodding as he chewed, "Very impressive."

Empress Zhangsun asked, "How do they compare to Wei Zheng and Wang Gui?"

Li Shimin said, "Wei Zheng doesn't know, but I do know Wang Gui. He's been so angered by Cheng Jun that he's fainted and is still in the Imperial Medical Bureau, not yet awake."

Empress Zhangsun exclaimed in surprise, "Is that so?"

Li Shimin sighed, "Not only that, but Wei Zheng's son, along with Feng Deyi's son Feng Yandao, were also slapped into the Imperial Medical Bureau by Cheng Jun right here."

"..."

Empress Zhangsun frowned and said, "Second brother, this is no easy man. Why did you choose him to be the censor?"

Li Shimin said with a wry smile, "To be honest, I not only regret it now, but I'm also angry. I am the emperor, yet he impeached the empress, and I can't refute him. I have nothing to say. Do you think I'm not angry?"

Empress Zhangsun snorted, "This is what my second brother brought upon himself. He has no one to blame but himself. Even though he dragged me, the empress, into this mess, I feel wronged because I have to suffer along with him."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's heart stirred, and he asked, "Guanyinbi, do you want to take revenge?"

Empress Zhangsun immediately refused, saying, "Cheng Jun is so old, and I am so old. It would be shameful for me to compete with a young man."

As she spoke, Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Shimin seriously and said, "Second Brother, although I am not happy, I must say that Cheng Jun's imperial edict is well written and reasonable. Moreover, it can help you educate the people. If I were to take revenge on such a minister for my own selfish reasons, wouldn't I be unworthy of the title of virtuous empress?"

Li Shimin said angrily, "But I'm not at ease! Cheng Jun has blown such a small matter into such a big deal. Just thinking about it makes me angry. If he dares to impeach you today, he'll dare to impeach me tomorrow!"

Empress Zhangsun took the imperial edict and looked at it again, saying, "But Cheng Jun's words are all reasonable. What can you do about it?"

Seeing that she had softened her heart, Li Shimin was overjoyed and immediately said, "That's easy. I'll ask you, when that girl Lizhi beat up the second son of the Cheng family, who did Cheng Junlai go to?"

Empress Zhangsun replied, "He went to see my second brother."

Li Shimin snorted and said, "That's it. The emperor's daughter displeased him, and Cheng Jun went to see the emperor, the son of the Duke of Su. He displeased you, so shouldn't you go see the Duke of Su?"

Empress Zhangsun understood his implied meaning and asked, "Second Brother, do you want me to personally invite Cheng Yaojin into the palace and tell him to go back and properly manage Cheng Jun?"

Li Shimin smiled and said, "That's right. After thinking it over, I think it's best for you to step in. After all, Cheng Jun impeached you. It's only right that you summon Cheng Yaojin to the palace, remind him to stop his son from being so presumptuous as a censor and impeaching everyone."

Empress Zhangsun smiled knowingly, "Second Brother, don't worry, I know what to do."

Li Shimin was satisfied. With Empress Zhangsun's intervention, he was sure Cheng Jun would suffer. Just thinking about Cheng Yaojin managing Cheng Jun made him eat an extra bowl of rice.

Empress Zhangsun and Li Shimin finished lunch in the Taiji Hall. When Li Shimin had to deal with government affairs, she got up and left, returning to the Lizheng Hall.

Halfway there, a palace maid from the Lizheng Palace ran over, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, the princess has returned!"

Empress Zhangsun hummed in agreement. It was already past mealtime, and since Li Lizhi hadn't come during the meal, she guessed that Li Lizhi already knew about Cheng Jun's impeachment of her. She asked:

"Has she eaten since returning to the palace?"

The palace maid said, "The princess hasn't eaten a single grain of rice and has been crying in the Lizheng Hall... saying that she has caused trouble for His Majesty and the Empress."

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun suddenly paused, remembering the task Li Shimin had entrusted to her. She turned to the palace maid beside her and said, "Go and convey my imperial decree!"

"Duke Cheng Yaojin of Xuansu, come to the palace immediately and proceed to the Lizheng Hall!"

…………

"Give me a gift... anything free is fine..." o(╥﹏╥)o said invinciblely, banging on the bowl.