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

Li Chengqian solemnly said, "When others go to a gambling den, they go to gamble."

“However, Cheng Jun took me to the gambling den not to gamble, but to let me see the various aspects of life among the common people. He wanted me to have a higher level of understanding of the Tang Dynasty. He hoped that I would take over the heavy responsibility of Father Emperor in the future and be able to better govern the world. That’s why he took me to the gambling den.”

"Your subject believes that Cheng Jun is definitely not gambling, but rather scouting the location in advance so that he can take your subject there."

Li Chengqian asked innocently, "So, what crime has Cheng Jun committed?"

"..."

Li Shimin was stunned upon hearing this and began to scrutinize Li Chengqian again.

Quan Wanji and Hu Yan couldn't help but glance at Li Chengqian a few more times.

Sure enough, he mastered anything unrelated to studying without any formal instruction...

Cheng Jun wanted to find him.

Others may not know the inside story, but he knows very well that the Crown Prince just wanted to go to the gambling den, which is why he was able to spout such profound道理 (moral principles).

Just then, a sharp shout came from outside the hall:

"Father, why have you arrested Cheng Jun again! He is a loyal minister! Arresting him makes you a tyrant!"

Princess Chang Le, dressed in a princess-style dress, walked in with a face full of resentment.

When Li Shimin saw his little darling pleading for Cheng Jun, he twitched the corner of his mouth. Why did this girl always manage to step on her father's foot every time she pleaded for him? He said irritably, "Who is he? Do I need you to tell me?"

"Go back quickly!"

Li Lizhi stretched out her fair neck, which was as white as a swan's, and said angrily, "If Father Emperor does not let his loyal subject go today, your son will not go back!"

"You girl..."

Li Shimin was furious and about to reprimand her when he heard Empress Zhangsun's voice from outside the hall:

"Your Majesty, I heard you intend to punish Cheng Jun?"

He called me "Your Majesty" again... Li Shimin's breath hitched. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Ignoring Empress Zhangsun who had entered, he turned to glare at Cheng Jun and said angrily:

"Why are all my relatives pleading for you? Don't you have any friends?"

Cheng Jun was also somewhat surprised that the Empress, Princess, Crown Prince, and their entire family had come to plead for him. Hearing Li Shimin's question, he pondered for a moment and said:

“Your Majesty, they pleaded for me because the Crown Prince has the demeanor of a gentleman, the Princess has the grace of a lady, and the Empress has the dignity of an empress. I think Your Majesty should be pleased.”

These words calmed Li Shimin down considerably.

Empress Zhangsun then realized that there was something wrong with the information she had heard, and understood what was going on. She asked, "Second brother, you didn't plan to arrest Cheng Jun?"

Li Shimin said irritably, "Who can catch a slippery eel like him?"

"Second Brother, please continue with your business. I will take Gao Ming and Li Zhi back first."

Empress Zhangsun quickly led Li Chengqian and Li Lizhi away from Ganlu Palace, fearing that if they were too slow, they would be stopped and scolded.

Li Shimin rubbed his forehead, glanced at Cheng Jun, and then saw that Cheng Jun had turned his back. He was so angry that he laughed.

…………

Inside a hall of Taiji Palace.

"Your Highness, good news!"

The middle-aged man strode in and smiled at the boy who was reading a book.

The boy raised his head slightly and asked, "Did you successfully bribe Cheng Jun?"

The middle-aged man shook his head and said, "I heard that His Majesty gifted him a Ferghana horse."

With such precious gems before him, why would he even glance at the gold and silver we offer him?

The boy realized, "So, you used a divisive tactic?"

The middle-aged man nodded and said, "That's right. Yesterday, I set up a scheme to have Cheng Jun go to the gambling den today. I also had Quan Wanji's son, Quan Heng, go to the gambling den under the guise of making friends and lose money to Cheng Jun."

"After that, Quan Wanji was informed that his son had gone to the gambling den."

"Quan Wanji once served as the Vice Censor-in-Chief. His character is known throughout the court and the public. He is intolerant of any wrongdoing. Once he finds out that his son has gone to the gambling den, he will surely put justice before family, go to the gambling den to arrest his son, and then hand him over to the authorities."

“Once Quan Wanji goes to the gambling den and arrests his son, he will also run into Cheng Jun. Given Quan Wanji’s personality, he will definitely drag Cheng Jun into the palace to meet the emperor.”

"At that time, His Majesty will have a new understanding of Cheng Jun."

The middle-aged man smiled and said, "His Majesty is a wise ruler, and of course he can see Cheng Jun's talent. Therefore, he will not abandon Cheng Jun. However, he will not let Cheng Jun continue to serve as the Crown Prince's teacher because Cheng Jun is a gambler."

“Even if he didn’t have this idea, the censors and officials in the court would submit a memorial to His Majesty, making His Majesty have this idea.”

“In this way, Your Highness will be able to get what you want, and this matter will have nothing to do with Your Highness.”

The boy was overjoyed upon hearing this and clapped his hands, saying, "Good, good, good!"

"You truly are my strategist. Having you advise me is like having Zhang Liang advise Liu Bang back then."

The middle-aged man smiled and congratulated him, saying, "Now that the situation is settled, Cheng Jun will no longer be a threat to Your Highness."

The young man pondered for a long time before saying, "Do you have any way to get Cheng Jun to serve me?"

Seeing the middle-aged man's astonished expression, the boy patiently said, "I acknowledge my father's discerning eye. The fact that he gifted Cheng Jun the Ferghana horse is enough to show how much Cheng Jun means to him."

"Such talent should be put to my service."

The middle-aged man frowned and said, "Your Highness, although Cheng Jun is a talented person, his ability to offend people is also extraordinary."

“Looking at the entire court, he has offended most of the officials. It would be inappropriate to have him serve His Highness.”

The young man waved his hand and said, "Cheng Jun offended those civil officials, but he also has a group of military generals in the court who are his backers."

"I have heard that Cheng Jun has a very close relationship with the sons of those military officers. If we can win Cheng Jun over, then these sons of military officers will also be at my service in the future."

"Therefore, winning over Cheng Jun is more beneficial than harmful."

The middle-aged man was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I do have a way to get Cheng Jun to serve Your Highness."

The boy's eyes lit up, and he asked, "What method?"

The middle-aged man said, "Cheng Jun is currently being questioned by His Majesty. If Your Highness could go and plead for Cheng Jun now, Cheng Jun would surely be grateful."

"After this incident, Cheng Jun will surely become close to Your Highness. As long as Your Highness shows Cheng Jun more care and concern in his daily life, it won't be long before he follows Your Highness's lead."

"good idea!"

The young man stood up impatiently and said, "I will go and plead for Cheng Jun right away."

The middle-aged man pursed his lips, watching his departing figure, his gaze becoming much deeper.

…………

In the Ganlu Hall, Li Shimin looked at the military officers led by Li Jing and felt like his head was about to explode.

Chai Shao said, "Your Majesty, Cheng Jun doesn't seem to have done anything seriously wrong."

Yuchi Jingde chimed in, "That's right, it's just gambling, it's only the first time, it's no big deal!"

Li Jing said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I think that if Cheng Jun makes a solemn oath never to go to the gambling den again, this matter can be considered closed!"

Seeing Li Jing, Chai Shao, and Yuchi Jingde pleading for Cheng Jun, Li Shimin chuckled and said, "Cheng Jun said he was well-liked in court. I didn't believe him at first, but now I do."

Li Jing solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, we also do not wish for Your Majesty to miss out on such a talented individual."

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "You may all step back."

"I know what's going on with him."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing, Chai Shao, and Yuchi Jingde exchanged glances, then clasped their hands in a fist salute and said, "We take our leave."

The message has been delivered, and they have done what they were supposed to do.

The three of them exchanged a glance with Cheng Jun, then turned and left.

Cheng Jun gave them a grateful look and watched them leave.

After a long while, another figure appeared outside the hall. A young man came into everyone's view and walked quickly toward them.

When Li Shimin saw the other person, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Quan Wanji and Hu Yan's expressions also changed.

"How could it be him...?"

Cheng Jun looked at the boy and, seeing his unfamiliar face, immediately concluded that this was the mastermind behind it all. Hearing Hu Yan's mutterings beside him, he leaned over and asked, "Who is this person?"

Hu Yan said with a serious expression:

"King Wei."