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

The imperial palace, the Hall of State Affairs, is filled with the fragrance of incense.

After Cheng Yaojin left, the Imperial Kitchen staff brought in food. Empress Zhangsun watched the princess eat slowly and deliberately, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"Eat slowly and don't choke."

As she spoke, she picked up the books on the tatami mat and began to read them again.

Just then, a palace maid from the Lizheng Palace rushed in, her tone incredulous, "Your Majesty, Imperial Censor Cheng Jun requests an audience!"

Princess Chang Le suddenly looked up, forgetting all about her meal, her pretty face full of surprise. At this time, Cheng Jun should be being disciplined by Cheng Yaojin, so how did he end up in the palace?

She couldn't help but glance at Empress Zhangsun.

Empress Zhangsun shifted her gaze from the book to the direction outside the palace, her tone tinged with amusement, "As expected of someone who dares to impeach me, they are incredibly audacious."

Li Lizhi asked in confusion, "What does Cheng Jun want with Mother?"

"What else can we do but fight with the Empress Dowager!"

Empress Zhangsun snorted.

She sought out Cheng Yaojin so that he could deal with Cheng Jun.

Cheng Jun's entry into the palace is naturally due to this matter.

Li Lizhi asked cautiously, "Mother, it was Father's idea for you to summon Duke Su. Shouldn't you tell Cheng Jun this?"

Empress Zhangsun shook her head and said, "Your father entrusted this matter to me, which means he trusts me. I will handle this matter on behalf of your father."

"Then...why don't we just avoid each other?"

Li Lizhi was still worried and asked anxiously.

"No, I want to see him."

Empress Zhangsun placed the books on the soft couch and said, "If we don't see him, wouldn't we be looked down upon by this boy? I also want to see what Cheng Jun is capable of."

After all, Cheng Jun had impeached him, and his second brother was furious with him. So, both morally and logically, he had to see him.

"Let him in."

She looked at the palace maid and said.

"promise!"

Soon, a palace maid led in a handsome, tall man, about 1.85 meters tall, wearing a xiezhi crown and a blue imperial censor's robe.

"Your subject, Censor Cheng Jun, pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress."

Cheng Jun stood still, his gaze fixed, solemnly looking at Empress Zhangsun, who was dressed in her imperial robes, and performed the rites of a subject. Then he looked at Princess Changle, who was dressed in a white floral Hu-style robe, and bowed again, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness Princess Changle."

"No need for formalities, come and offer me a seat."

Empress Zhangsun sat up straight and said in a calm tone.

"Thank you, Queen."

Cheng Jun bowed again, then sat on the soft cushion prepared by the palace maid, tidying his clothes and sitting down.

"Tea."

"Thank you, Queen."

Empress Zhangsun's empressly etiquette and Cheng Jun's subject's etiquette were both performed perfectly.

Li Lizhi sensed tension in the room and felt a little nervous.

Empress Zhangsun looked at Cheng Jun with amusement. His tall and handsome figure was outstanding even among military officers.

Judging by his appearance alone, who would know that he was actually a censor?

"Minister Cheng, what brings you to see me?"

Empress Zhangsun asked in a gentle tone, deciding to take the initiative and find out his purpose.

"I have a question that I would like to ask Your Majesty the Empress in person."

Cheng Jun used his roundabout way of speaking to ask, "May I ask Your Majesty, how should the person who committed the assault be dealt with?"

"That depends on who hit whom. If a commoner hits an official, it's a capital offense; if an official hits a commoner, it's not a crime."

She saw that Cheng Jun was taking a roundabout approach, so she decisively dug a tunnel.

When she said "commoners fighting officials," she was alluding to the fact that although her second brother was the son of a duke, he did not hold an official position in the court and was still a commoner.

Li Lizhi was different; she was a princess bestowed with an imperial title.

The two people have different identities, so she first defined the nature of the matter. If Cheng Jun dared to ask why officials were not guilty of beating ordinary people, she was confident that she could clear Princess Chang Le's name for beating her second brother.

It might even be possible to have Cheng Jun go to His Majesty to apologize.

This woman is setting a trap for me... Cheng Jun keenly sensed it, but instead of pressing for an explanation as to why it was not a crime for officials to beat civilians, he changed the subject and asked, "I wonder who determines this crime?"

Empress Zhangsun was somewhat surprised; this young man's intuition was indeed sharp. She pondered for a moment and said, "Of course, it is the officials who should determine the crimes. The crimes of the people are determined by the officials, and the crimes of the officials are determined by the emperor!"

Li Lizhi listened intently, and upon hearing Empress Zhangsun's words, the corners of her mouth immediately curled up slightly.

The Emperor decides the crimes of officials. The Empress Dowager is telling Cheng Jun that if the Emperor says something is a crime, then it is a crime; if he says something is not a crime, then it is not a crime. It is not up to a mere subject like him to interfere!

Does the Empress mean I have no right to accuse her...? Cheng Jun understood her unspoken meaning but did not refute her. Instead, he continued to circumvent the issue, saying, "Your Majesty says that the Emperor decides the guilt, but I wonder what His Majesty bases his judgment on? Is it based on intuition, his mood, or something else?"

Empress Zhangsun raised an eyebrow. "Your Majesty is a wise ruler. How could you possibly judge a subject based on intuition or personal feelings? Of course, you should judge the crimes of your subjects according to the laws of our Great Tang!"

Cheng Jun suddenly realized, "Then can I understand it this way: if something is explicitly recorded in the laws of our Great Tang, one can be convicted if it is violated, but if it is not recorded, one is definitely innocent?"

Empress Zhangsun nodded slightly and said, "Of course you can understand it that way. This is called 'anything not prohibited by law is permissible'."

Cheng Jun asked, "Is it illegal to swear?"

Empress Zhangsun said calmly, "Of course it's illegal. It's written in the laws of our Great Tang Dynasty: anyone who insults their grandparents or parents shall be hanged!"

Cheng Jun then asked, "In that case, Your Majesty, what is the punishment for a child who, in public, insults a refugee fleeing famine on the roadside?"

"..."

What exactly is this kid doing here... Empress Zhangsun narrowed her eyes, looking Cheng Jun up and down, somewhat puzzled by his purpose in asking this question, but she had a feeling that there was something fishy going on, so she didn't speak for a moment.

Seeing her thoughtful expression, Cheng Jun asked in a self-answering manner, "Your Majesty, the law doesn't specify what crime this child has committed, does it?"

Empress Zhangsun thought for a moment and said, "As I just said, anything not prohibited by law is permissible. The laws of our Great Tang Dynasty only state that anyone who curses their parents or grandparents shall be put to death. That is to say, apart from this, cursing others does not constitute a crime."

Cheng Jun asked, "Then what the child did was right?"

Empress Zhangsun replied without hesitation, "Of course not!"

Cheng Jun pressed further, "Why does Your Majesty think this child did something wrong?"

"Because this child you're talking about is rude!"

After Empress Zhangsun finished speaking, she frowned and simply asked, "Minister Cheng, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Seeing that she had asked the question directly, Cheng Jun said frankly:

Mencius said, “Compassion, shame, respect, and the ability to distinguish right from wrong are all inherent in human beings.”

"Compassion is benevolence, shame is righteousness, respect is propriety, and the ability to distinguish right from wrong is wisdom."

"That is to say, having compassion is benevolence, having a sense of shame is morality, having respect is etiquette, and having the ability to distinguish right from wrong is wisdom."

Cheng Jun paused for a moment, then continued:

"The child publicly insulted this refugee who had fled famine, and the Empress said the child was wrong. This shows that the Empress understands benevolence, morality, etiquette, and wisdom!"

Empress Zhangsun did not feel joy at Cheng Jun's praise; instead, she sensed something was amiss.

Cheng Jun continued, "The sage said, 'A gentleman, when dealing with animals, cannot bear to see them die,' becoming a refugee is already miserable enough, yet this child is also subjected to insults. It is clear that this child has no compassion and does not understand benevolence!"

"To hurl insults in public without cause shows that the child has no sense of shame and lacks morality."

"When a child scolds an elder, it shows that the child has no respect and does not know manners."

"The refugees neither harmed nor provoked the children, yet they were insulted by them. This shows that children cannot distinguish right from wrong, which is foolish!"

As he spoke, Cheng Jun raised his head, stared at Empress Zhangsun, and asked:

"Your Highness hit someone, how is that any different from what I said about a child cursing a vagrant?"

Empress Zhangsun's expression changed drastically in an instant.

Li Lizhi was completely dumbfounded. She really didn't expect that Cheng Jun had gone around in circles and was actually cursing her!

Her eyes suddenly reddened as she looked at Empress Zhangsun.

Empress Zhangsun stood up abruptly, her face cold as she looked at Cheng Jun. "Minister Cheng, did you come to the palace to see me this time just to speak ill of my daughter in front of me?"

You guessed half right... Cheng Jun met her angry gaze without fear and said firmly:

"I am speaking reason and stating the facts!"

"How innocent are the refugees who are insulted by children? How innocent is my second brother who was beaten by the princess?"

"Your Highness is young and may not understand, but Your Majesty the Empress is an adult. Not only does she not discipline her, but she also repeatedly protects her. As the saying goes, a loving mother spoils her child. Does Your Majesty intend to be such a loving mother and let Your Highness become a person without benevolence, righteousness, manners, or wisdom?"

"You are presumptuous!"

Empress Zhangsun, her face flushed with anger, pointed at him and rebuked him:

"The princess was standing up for her father, which is filial piety! The sage said, 'Benevolence is the greatest virtue, and loving one's parents is the greatest act of kindness!' How can you say she doesn't understand kindness?"

"The sage said to cherish one's parents. The princess is acting in accordance with the sage's principles and standing up for her father. How can you say she is unrighteous, impolite, and unwise?"

Cheng Jun suddenly revealed a gentle and kind smile and asked, "If that's the case, am I wrong to speak out for my brother?"

Empress Zhangsun's expression changed, and she realized that Cheng Jun had gone through all this trouble just to use her as a pretext to prove that his accusation against the Empress was correct!

Despite all the precautions, I still fell for Cheng Jun's trick!

Is this kid a bird? How come he can talk so much nonsense!