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

Wen Yanbo was somewhat surprised to see that Cheng Jun not only didn't panic but even smiled.

In his view, Liu Zhongcheng's move to invite the son of a military officer for questioning was a direct hit to Cheng Jun's Achilles' heel.

There are sixty sons of military officers entering the palace today. If we interrogate them one by one, some of them will surely succumb to the pressure and tell the truth.

If someone testifies that Cheng Jun instigated it, then his crime will be confirmed.

Because so many civil officials were involved, although His Majesty punished Yuchi Jingde and gave the civil officials an explanation, if they knew that Cheng Jun was the son of a military officer and the mastermind behind the attack, they would definitely be dissatisfied and submit a remonstrance.

Even His Majesty might not be able to protect him then.

Wen Yanbo knew Liu Xiangdao, the Imperial Censor, very well. He knew that Liu would not let his son get away with being beaten, so there was no point in trying to persuade him.

But he really didn't expect Cheng Jun to say that!

"You really have no objections?"

Wen Yanbo asked again.

Cheng Jun shook his head and said, "No!"

"OK then."

Wen Yanbo turned to Cui Renshi and asked, "Who is the head of the Imperial Academy today?"

Cui Renshi said, "It's Zhao Tingzhang!"

Wen Yanbo nodded and said, "Let him call the son of the military officer."

Liu Xiangdao suddenly spoke up: "Doctor Wen, there are sixty young men, the sons of military officers, who have entered the palace today. Their homes are scattered across the 108 wards of the city. The distance between wards is quite far. If we send only one person to summon them, it will take at least two days!"

He was almost about to say that Wen Yanbo was protecting Cheng Jun.

"Do you think I'm protecting Cheng Jun?"

Wen Yanbo frowned, understanding the implication in his words, and said with displeasure.

Liu Zhongcheng replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This humble official dares not. This humble official believes that this matter must be handled swiftly. We should immediately dispatch the clerks, secretaries, stewards, and village chiefs from the three departments of the Censorate to the military officer's home to summon his son!"

Wen Yanbo knew very well that if he didn't agree now, it would be tantamount to protecting Cheng Jun. He sighed inwardly. He had already done his best to protect him, and further protection would only implicate him. He said calmly, "Let's do as you say."

"promise!"

After Liu Xiangdao finished bowing, he turned and walked out.

Inside the Censorate, everything suddenly sprang into action.

More than a hundred clerks, scribes, stewards, and village heads from the Imperial Censorate, Palace Censorate, and Inspectorate put down their work and, following orders from the Censor-in-Chief and the Censor-in-Chief, went out in full force to various markets and wards.

Ma Zhou and Xiao Yi watched their departing figures with burning anxiety.

When the sons of military officers are summoned and brought before the court, the dozens of young men, all sons of military officers, will certainly not be able to withstand Liu Zhongcheng's questioning. If anyone can prove that Cheng Jun's statement at the time, "A gentleman who is not serious will not be respected," meant to be severely punished, then Cheng Jun will be finished.

At this moment, four imperial censors and five palace censors dressed in green robes walked towards them with astonished expressions.

"Doctor Wen, what major event has occurred that has caused the Censorate to send its personnel out?"

Wen Yanbo remained seated, seemingly unmoved, meeting their gazes and saying indifferently, "This is none of your business. Those who are in charge should go and do their jobs."

"promise!"

The group exchanged glances and had no choice but to leave.

At this moment, Ma Zhou noticed Wen Yanbo glancing in their direction. A thought struck him, and he understood the unspoken meaning in Wen Yanbo's words—that he wanted them to go and inform the Duke of Su. Ma Zhou immediately cupped his hands and said, "Doctor Wen, if there's nothing else, we'll take our leave!"

Xiao Yi also figured it out and followed suit with a bow.

Suddenly, Liu Zhongcheng's voice rang out behind them, "You are not allowed to leave!"

"No one is allowed to leave the Censorate until the truth of this matter is revealed!"

After Liu Xiangdao finished speaking in a cold voice, he brushed past them and walked into the hall.

Ma Zhou and Xiao Yi were surprised that he returned so quickly. They exchanged a glance and both saw the helplessness in each other's eyes.

Wen Yanbo glanced at Liu Xiangdao, who had sat down, and knew that the reason he had returned so quickly was to prevent Xiao Yi and Ma Zhou from leaving. He sighed inwardly, thinking that it was truly impossible to protect them now.

"The clerk and the secretary have gone to summon the son of the military officer. It will take at least half an hour for them to return. Don't stand there, sit down and rest."

After Wen Yanbo finished speaking, he turned to Ma Zhou and Xiao Yi outside the hall and said, "You two come in and rest too."

"promise."

The two immediately went into the hall.

At this moment, Cheng Jun was already kneeling on the cushion near the door. Ma Zhou and Xiao Yi walked over and sat on his left and right sides respectively.

"Brother Chuxia, I'm afraid you're in grave danger."

Xiao Yi sighed and said softly.

Cheng Jun was enjoying the feeling of clearing his mind when he heard this, so he turned to look at him and asked, "What makes you say that?"

Xiao Yi said, "Isn't it obvious? Once those military officers' sons come to the Censorate, as long as one of them stands up and confirms that what you said about a gentleman not being serious is meant to be forceful, it will prove that you instigated the military officers' sons to beat people."

"Pfft..."

Cheng Jun couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Xiao Yi asked, bewildered, "What are you laughing at?"

Ma Zhou also looked surprised. How could he still laugh at such a critical moment?

Because you don't understand military officers, and you don't understand their sons... Cheng Jun looked at the two of them and said thoughtfully, "I'll ask you a question: Are you filial?"

Xiao Yi said, "Throughout history, every dynasty has governed the country with filial piety as its guiding principle, and the Tang Dynasty is no exception. Since I have become an imperial censor, of course I am filial!"

Cheng Jun looked at Ma Zhou.

Ma Zhou turned his head to look elsewhere and said, "I lost my parents when I was young. Although I did not fulfill my filial duties, I know that a son should respect filial piety above all else."

"I forgot about that..." Cheng Jun said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I brought up your painful past."

“It’s alright,” Ma Zhou said, looking at him. “What do you mean by asking that question?”

Cheng Jun met their gazes and said, "You both said you were filial, so let me ask you again, if your parents broke the law, would you take them to the authorities?"

Xiao Yi frowned, imagining the scene in his mind, then shook his head and said, "No."

Ma Zhou did not respond, but lowered his head to think. After a long time, he said, "Mencius' disciple Tao Ying once asked Mencius a similar question. Tao Ying asked Mencius, 'If Shun, as the emperor, had his father kill someone, what should he do?'"

Mencius's answer was that Shun would give up his position as emperor and run away to the seaside on his father's back. I think that all sons would follow Shun's example.

Cheng Jun praised, "Brother Binwang is learned and talented. He responded with allusions. I admire him greatly."

Ma Zhou stared at him and suddenly said, "I think I understand what you're trying to say."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Xiao Yi and asked, "Do you want me to explain?"

"You think you're so smart? I'm a blockhead!" Xiao Yi rolled his eyes and looked at Cheng Jun, saying, "Brother Chuxia, are you trying to tell us what the bond of blood ties between family members is? Is that right?"

Cheng Jun nodded and slowly said, "Mencius once said, 'The way of Yao and Shun is nothing more than filial piety and brotherly love.'"

"Brother Binwang just gave a very good example. When Shun was the emperor, his father committed murder. Shun then abandoned his position as emperor and fled with his father. Shun was a role model for all children. Therefore, if parents commit crimes, children would never send them to the authorities. This is the power of family affection."

"The reason why the son of the military officer beat up the son of the civil official today seems to be to stand up for me, but in reality it is because their father was wronged by the civil official in the court. They beat him up to vent their anger."

Xiao Yi thought for a moment and said, "If that's the case, although what they did was wrong, it's understandable!"

Ma Zhou, however, understood the other layer of meaning in Cheng Jun's words, and a slight smile appeared on his lips as he said:

"Throughout history, filial piety among children has always been due to the love of their parents. Presumably, those military officers usually dote on their sons. That's why the sons of military officers would beat up civil officials because their fathers were bullied. Filial piety is probably just like that. Now that our Vice Minister Liu is summoning the sons of military officers to the Censorate, those fathers will probably have to protect their own children."

Indeed, he has the bearing of a prime minister, with discerning eyes... Cheng Jun gave him an admiring look, then turned to look at Liu Zhongcheng, who was resting with his eyes closed, and said with a playful smile:

"The son of a military officer beat the son of a civil official. After His Majesty punished Yuchi Jingde, the matter was put to rest."

"Now someone wants to stir up trouble again and wants to target the military officer's son. It's not that it's impossible, but I think the sword this person is wielding is not strong enough."