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

"You volunteered yourself?"

In the Ganlu Hall, Li Shimin carefully examined Cheng Jun upon hearing this, and frowned as he said:

"You are already serving as the Crown Prince's tutor, and now you're also serving as the King of Wei's tutor. Is that appropriate?"

Cheng Jun respectfully cupped his hands and said:

"Your Majesty, based on my observations, among the common people, those families where fathers are kind and sons are filial, brothers are friendly and respectful, and families are harmonious, are all because the parents treat everyone equally."

"His Highness the Crown Prince is your son, and so is the Prince of Wei. By appointing me as the Crown Prince's tutor and the Prince of Wei's tutor, aren't you also showing them that you treat them equally?"

Every word struck a chord with Li Shimin.

"Then it's decided."

Li Shimin turned his head and said, "Ananda, after you have finished drafting the decree, go and proclaim it."

Before Zhang Anan could receive the decree, Cheng Jun spoke first:

“Your Majesty, I will convey this decree. Eunuch Zhang has more important matters to attend to.”

Li Shimin immediately understood his meaning, nodded and said, "In that case, Ananda, you will go back with the Prince of Wei later, find his seven teachers, and immediately send them all out of the palace."

"The slaves obey the order."

Zhang Anan accepted the order and said.

Cheng Jun cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I will go and deliver the decree."

"go Go."

Li Shimin waved his hand and said.

Seeing that the dust had settled, Hu Yan and Quan Wanji bowed and said:

"I'm waiting to retire."

Li Shimin waved again, watching them leave, then said to Zhang Anan:

"Summon the King of Wei in."

Zhang Anan immediately went outside the hall and led the chubby boy, who was panting after only a few steps, inside.

"Father, I saw Cheng Jun leave."

Li Tai asked curiously, "You're not going to punish him?"

Li Shimin said with a stern face, "If you punish him, should you also punish me?"

Li Tai was stunned, his round face filled with confusion. "Your Majesty, I don't quite understand what you mean."

Li Shimin sneered, "When Quan Wanji went to the gambling den to arrest his son, he not only ran into Cheng Jun, but also into me."

"..."

Li Tai opened his mouth, his jaw nearly dropping to the ground, and asked incredulously, "Father Emperor also went to the gambling den?"

"good."

Li Shimin said calmly, "I saw everything clearly from there, and I know better than anyone how wronged Cheng Jun is."

"Cheng Jun said that someone framed him, so I, along with him, Quan Wanji, and Hu Yan, put on a show for the mastermind behind the frame-up in order to draw out the mastermind."

"I originally thought that the person who came today was the third prince."

Li Shimin stared at Li Tai and said:

"But unexpectedly, it was you, Fourth Brother, who came."

"Qingque, you have such a deep and calculating mind!"

With a loud bang, Li Shimin slammed his fist on the table and roared:

"You dare to use Quan Wanji's son as a weapon!"

"If your plan is not exposed, I will develop a grudge against Cheng Jun because of the gambling den incident."

"If things are exposed, the investigation will only lead to the third brother, and will have nothing to do with you."

"I truly underestimated you. Sowing discord, using others to do the dirty work, deceiving others, shifting the blame—is there anything you can't do?"

Seeing Li Shimin's furious outburst, Li Tai's throat bobbed, cold sweat beaded on his chubby face, and he hurriedly tried to explain:

"Father, I am innocent! I am not that kind of person!"

Li Shimin rebuked, "If you were truly that kind of person, you wouldn't be standing here speaking to me!"

"No one knows a son better than his father. I believe you are not that kind of person. It must have been someone close to you who gave you this idea."

"The only people around you are the seven teachers who teach you to read."

Li Shimin asked, "Tell me, which of them was the one who gave you the idea to frame Cheng Jun?"

Li Tai gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent..."

Li Shimin stared at him and said, "You mean, one of them did this behind your back?"

Li Tai shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I know nothing. I only wanted to save face for you, Father. I never thought of anything else..."

"I understand."

Li Shimin interrupted him before he could finish speaking, waving his hand and saying:

"Wait a moment, Ananda will go back with you. He will carry my decree to expel all seven of your teachers from the palace. From today onwards, they will no longer be your teachers!"

Li Tai's expression changed. He could dismiss others, but he couldn't dismiss his own strategist. Without a strategist, there would be no one to offer advice. However, he couldn't directly reveal the other party's name, otherwise it would be tantamount to admitting guilt. So he said urgently, "Father, they are all innocent..."

Li Shimin angrily said, "Shut up! Are you going to oppose me just to keep them here?"

"I don't dare."

Li Tai quickly explained, "Your subject simply feels that without a teacher by his side, he doesn't know how to study."

Li Shimin's expression softened, and he said:

"You don't need to worry about not having anyone to teach you to read. I have already selected seven new teachers for you."

"My decree has already been read aloud."

"This afternoon, you will meet your seven new teachers."

Upon hearing this, Li Tai knew the matter was settled and there was no way to change it. He felt extremely disappointed and casually asked:

"Which seven teachers did Father Emperor choose for his son?"

Li Shimin said, "The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Quan Wanji."

"The Minister of Personnel is Changsun Wuji."

"Kong Yingda, Chancellor of the Imperial Academy."

"Li Gang, Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince."

"The Grand Counselor, Wei Zheng."

"The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Du Ruhui."

"And... Palace Attendant Censor, Cheng Jun."

Upon hearing the name, Li Tai's disappointment vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of awe.

Apart from Cheng Jun, the other six people are far superior to the previous seven teachers in terms of experience, resume, and qualifications.

Especially the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince's teacher, has now become his teacher as well.

Does Father Emperor intend to change the heir apparent...?

Li Tai was overjoyed and quickly bowed, excitedly saying:

"I understand Father's good intentions. I will definitely listen to my teachers."

Li Shimin grunted in agreement and waved his hand, saying, "Go and prepare."

"My son, I obey."

Li Shimin watched his departing figure, pursed his lips, and a complex look appeared in his eyes.

From beginning to end, he refused to believe that the mastermind behind framing Cheng Jun was the fourth brother.

So, from the beginning, he had been trying to save face for Li Tai and completely absolve him of any responsibility in this matter.

But in his heart, he had already decided that Li Tai was the mastermind behind it all.

"Could it be that my pampering of him is actually harming him...?"

Li Shimin's expression grew increasingly complicated.

Perhaps my doting on the fourth prince is truly harming him... If I believe my doting on him is not wrong, then I should reject Cheng Jun's memorial...

Li Shimin raised his palm and rubbed his forehead. He could tell that there was something wrong with the seven teachers Cheng Jun had found for Li Tai.

However, he did not refuse.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin sighed deeply.

"Hopefully, he can rise from the ashes..."