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

"Third brother, has Father been in the palace for half an hour?"

Outside the palace, there were only two stools, one occupied by Cheng Jun and the other by Cheng Chuliang.

The two leaned against the palace wall, one with his hands behind his head looking up at the sky, the other constantly looking back at the palace gate, waiting for Cheng Yaojin to come out from inside.

Princess Chang Le had already returned to the palace by then, and seeing that nothing else would happen, Yu Chi Jingde also went to rest.

Cheng Jun was enjoying the leisurely feeling of clearing his mind when he heard Cheng Chuliang's question. After thinking for a moment, he said, "It should have been half an hour."

"Why did it take you so long to get in?"

Cheng Chuliang asked, puzzled.

Cheng Jun also felt a little strange. He was supposed to go to the palace to hear Empress Zhangsun apologize, so why had he been there for so long? Had something else gone wrong?

Cheng Jun pondered for a moment and decided to wait another 15 minutes. If there was still no movement, he would go and check.

At that moment, footsteps were heard coming from inside the palace gate.

The two men looked and saw Cheng Yaojin walking out carrying a brocade box.

"Father, you've finally come out!" Cheng Chuliang quickly stood up and said, "Chuxia and I thought something had happened to you in the palace."

"This is the imperial palace, what could possibly happen to me?"

Cheng Yaojin looked at the food box at Cheng Chuliang's feet, pointed at it, and asked, "What is this?"

Cheng Chuliang said, "This is an apology from the princess."

Cheng Yaojin gave an "oh," glanced sideways at Cheng Jun who had already stood up and was standing behind Cheng Chuliang, said nothing, but asked Cheng Chuliang, "Has your older brother gone back?"

Cheng Chuliang replied, "I'm already home!"

Cheng Yaojin took out a small, exquisite cloth bag from his bosom and tossed it to Cheng Chuliang, saying, "This is medicine for external injuries bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress. Take it back to your residence and give it to your elder brother."

"I have something to say to Chuxia, you go back first!"

"it is good!"

Cheng Chuliang put the exquisite cloth bag into his bosom, picked up the food box, and nodded.

Cheng Yaojin's attitude had already made it clear that he wouldn't punish his third brother, so he confidently walked to the roadside, untied the reins, mounted his horse, and headed towards the Cheng residence.

Cheng Yaojin looked around and frowned, saying, "Where's my horse spear?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Cheng Jun, waiting for his response.

Cheng Jun pondered for a moment and said, "The Tao Te Ching says, 'Weapons are instruments of ill omen, not instruments of a gentleman.' That is to say, weapons are not something a gentleman should use. I know that you are a gentleman, Father, and you certainly don't need it, so I gave it to Uncle Yuchi."

Cheng Yaojin chuckled and said, "Do you know why civil officials always seem so eager to be disciplined?"

"..."

Should I say I know, or pretend I don't...? As Cheng Jun was pondering this, Cheng Yaojin's voice rang in his ears again: "Mount up and ride with your father."

The way he addressed him had changed... Cheng Jun keenly noticed Cheng Yaojin's change, and the worry in his heart subsided. He smiled and said, "Okay!"

The two mounted their horses, and the horses' hooves trod on the wide streets of Zhuque Avenue, moving slowly forward.

Zhuque Avenue, also known as Tianjie, is the central axis of Chang'an. It divides the city into two parts, with the western part belonging to Chang'an County and the eastern part belonging to Wannian County.

Huai De Fang is located in Chang'an County. Cheng Jun looked at Cheng Yaojin riding ahead on horseback, thought for a moment, and said, "Father, do you know Cao Cao's poem 'Watching the Sea'?"

Cheng Yaojin, without turning his head, said, "That poem is very famous, how could I not know it?"

Cheng Jun said, "Then let me test you. What is the first line of the poem 'Viewing the Vast Ocean'?"

Cheng Yaojin said, "Looking eastward to Jieshi Mountain to view the vast sea, isn't that right?"

Cheng Jun then asked, "So, do you know why Cao Cao chose to view the sea from Mount Jieshi, instead of somewhere else?"

Cheng Yaojin asked with interest, "Why?"

Cheng Jun said earnestly, "Because Canghai is at the foot of Jieshi Mountain, just like our home is in Huaidefang. Father, you've taken the wrong road. Our home is in the west, but you've gone to the eastern part of Wannian County!"

"..."

Cheng Yaojin's facial muscles twitched. "Would it kill you to just say so?"

"I've taken too many detours today, it's gotten into a habit..." Cheng Jun smiled sheepishly. Seeing Cheng Yaojin turn his horse around and head home, he turned his horse around and followed behind him.

"This is for you."

At this moment, Cheng Yaojin suddenly turned around and threw the brocade box in his hand over.

Cheng Jun caught it with one hand, looked down at it, and saw that the brocade box was obviously from the palace. It was unlikely that such an exquisite "Shangyiju" mark could be found on the market.

"What is this?"

He looked up and asked.

Cheng Yaojin said in a calm tone, "Open it and see for yourself."

Cheng Jun put his feet in the stirrups, squeezed his legs tightly against the horse's belly to maintain his center of gravity, then released the reins and opened the brocade box, where he saw six neatly folded blue robes.

Each blue robe is embroidered with cloud patterns.

Cheng Jun looked up at Cheng Yaojin's back, waiting for his response.

Cheng Yaojin seemed to know he was being watched, and looking straight ahead, he said calmly:

"Her Majesty the Empress remembers your meritorious advice and has specially ordered the Imperial Wardrobe to make a new version of the dress your mother left you as a reward for you."

Cheng Jun said "Oh," closed the brocade box, held it in his hand, and felt a little emotional.

This was the prevailing atmosphere during the Zhenguan era. Whether it was the emperor or the empress, they persuaded others with reason, or were persuaded by others with reason. No wonder so many upright officials dared to speak out against the emperor.

Cheng Yaojin suddenly pulled on the reins, walked alongside Cheng Jun, and turned to look at him, saying:

“I told you that as long as you enter the palace today, I will reward you when you come back. Here you go.”

As he spoke, he reached to his waist and produced a jade pendant, its surface as smooth and delicate as a summer lotus, which he then handed to Cheng Jun.

Cheng Jun narrowed his eyes. He remembered that this was the token of love that Cheng Yaojin gave to Sun Shi when they first met. Sun Shi wore it on her body for many years. Last year, before she passed away, Sun Shi returned it to Cheng Yaojin, who cherished it very much.

Cheng Yaojin said, "This is what your mother left me before she passed away. I'm giving it to you now."

Cheng Jun was somewhat surprised that he would use the jade pendant as a reward, and shook his head, saying, "This jade pendant is of great significance to you, you should keep it."

Cheng Yaojin said gently, "Your mother gave me this jade pendant because she thought I was someone she could entrust with her duties. Now I think you are someone I can entrust with my duties, so I'm giving it to you. Keep it; nothing is more suitable as a reward for you than this jade pendant."

"Okay, I'll keep it."

Cheng Jun said no more, took the jade pendant and carefully put it on his waist.

Cheng Yaojin grinned, admiring his decisiveness, and sighed, "If your eldest and second brothers were half as successful as you, I wouldn't be so stressed every day."

Cheng Jun smiled and said, "Then wouldn't you be living in constant fear?"

Cheng Yaojin glanced at him and said, "Do you think everyone is like you, so good at causing trouble? You are an imperial censor, supervising all officials and reporting on matters based on hearsay. You are different from them."

"Speaking of which, I just remembered something."

Cheng Yaojin asked, "Hero, have you been to the Censorate?"