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

Seeing Li Shimin's conflicted expression, Cheng Jun knew that he was beginning to waver, so he decided to add fuel to the fire and continued:

"No crime is too small. Anyone who breaks the law must be punished. All the subjects under heaven know this principle. Why does Your Majesty insist on going against your subjects? Your Majesty once quoted Xunzi's words, admonishing the officials that the people are like water and the ruler is like a boat. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Why has Your Majesty forgotten this?"

"Your Majesty pardoned Liu Zhongcheng today because he saw that his crime was minor. How can pardoning someone be convincing to the people if it is done at will?"

"Enough! Enough!" Li Shimin's face turned green. He gripped Cheng Jun's shoulders tightly, shaking him repeatedly to forcefully interrupt him. Unable to contain his anger, he retorted:

"I admit there's some truth to what you said, but you also need to put yourself in someone else's shoes! Imagine if you were Liu Zhongcheng, how would you feel if someone said that to you?"

Cheng Jun's expression turned solemn, and he said, "Your subject will immediately accept his death!"

This kid is really stubborn... Li Shimin laughed in exasperation. He couldn't believe a word Cheng Jun said. Since he wasn't going to punish him, he could say whatever he wanted.

Li Shimin turned to look at Liu Xiangdao and saw that his lips were trembling, clearly he was also very angry. He made up his mind and decided to try again, saying, "Minister Cheng, come with me for a moment!"

He dragged Cheng Jun to the palace entrance, and after confirming that Liu Xiangdao couldn't hear him, he said with a serious expression, "Minister Cheng, do you know who Minister Liu's father is?"

Cheng Jun was stunned. "He has a father?"

"..."

"Isn't that an insult?!" Li Shimin glared at him and said, "Speak properly to me!"

Cheng Jun asked, "Why is Your Majesty telling me this?"

Li Shimin said in a deep voice, “Listen carefully, Minister Liu’s father is Liu Linfu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel! You want me to deal with his son? Aren’t you afraid of offending him? Liu Linfu is much more petty than his son! If you make things difficult for his son today, he will definitely cause you trouble in the future!”

Cheng Jun frowned. "Your Majesty, I don't quite understand what you're saying."

"Which sentence do you not understand?"

Cheng Jun met Li Shimin's gaze and asked, "Your Majesty, has Vice Minister Liu broken the law?"

"You've committed a mistake."

Should crimes be punished?

"Of course!"

"Then who will punish him?"

"It is I."

Cheng Jun spread his hands and solemnly said, "Lord Liu broke the law, and Your Majesty punished him according to the laws of our Great Tang Dynasty. What does this have to do with me?"

"Ha ha......"

Li Shimin felt he had laughed more today than in the past month, all because he was angry. How could this kid always manage to absolve himself so completely? Seeing his innocent look, he couldn't help but say, "Minister Liu was punished because of you, and you dare to say it has nothing to do with you?"

Cheng Jun said solemnly, "Your Majesty, you must understand one thing: it was Liu Zhongcheng who framed me, and that is why I was convicted!"

"So what if Liu Zhongcheng's father is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel?"

"You can't expect Liu Linfu to blame me for his son being falsely accused, can you? Is there no justice left? Is there no law left?!"

Cheng Jun said with righteous indignation, "If that is truly the case, I will come again to Your Majesty to seek justice!"

"..."

Is this kid planning to send him and his son away together? Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, until he heard Cheng Jun's voice in his ear:

"Your Majesty, shall I draft an imperial edict?"

Li Shimin snapped out of his daze, glared at him, and waved his hand, saying, "No need!"

"Ananda, you draft the decree!"

He said to the middle-aged eunuch in purple robes standing in the hall, "Write down the sentence: Censor-in-Chief Liu Xiangdao is guilty of false accusation and shall be demoted from Censor-in-Chief to Attendant Censor!"

"Leftward transfer" means being demoted from a high-ranking official position.

The Censor-in-Chief is a fifth-rank official, while the Attendant Censor is a sixth-rank official. The difference between the two is like heaven and earth. Cheng Jun smiled and said, "Your Majesty is open to advice and truly a model of a wise ruler!"

It has to be said that Cheng Jun's insults were incredibly sharp, but when he praised someone, his words were as sweet as honey. Li Shimin's expression softened upon hearing this, but he still couldn't help but snort.

Li Shimin then walked up to Liu Xiangdao.

Liu Xiangdao had already heard the decree to punish him, and at this moment his face turned ashen, and he lowered his head and remained silent.

Why did you provoke him for no reason...? Li Shimin saw this, sighed inwardly, and slowly said:

"Minister Liu, you have heard it too. It is not that I want to demote you, but the law of the land is merciless. Please do not blame me."

"Go and perform your duties properly. Do not do this again. I will not choose anyone else for the position of Vice Censor-in-Chief. When you have performed your duties well, I will promote you to Vice Censor-in-Chief!"

Liu Xiangdao raised his head, his eyes red and brimming with tears. He could clearly tell that Li Shimin was trying to save face for him. He choked out, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"

Li Shimin grunted in agreement, then turned to Cheng Jun and said, "Is there anything else? If not, hurry up and go, don't stop!"

"Your Majesty, what about Vice Minister Liu... no, Liu Taiduan?"

Cheng Jun glanced at Liu Xiang and said.

Liu Xiangdao has been demoted and can no longer be addressed as Zhongcheng; he must now be referred to by the alternative title "Taiduan" (台端), meaning Imperial Censor.

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "You two go together!"

He desperately needs to calm down.

"Your Majesty, are we really leaving like this?"

At that moment, Cheng Jun's voice reached Li Shimin's ears. Li Shimin raised an eyebrow, looked at him, and said, "What do you mean?"

Liu Xiangdao also put down his hand, his eyes red as he looked at Cheng Jun.

"Your Majesty, in the official system of our Great Tang Dynasty, officials of the fifth rank and above wear red, and officials of the seventh rank and above wear green."

Cheng Jun extended his finger, taut as a bowstring, pointed at Liu Xiang, and said solemnly:

"The Censor-in-Chief is a fifth-rank official, and the Attendant Censor is a sixth-rank official. Since His Majesty has already demoted Liu Taiduan's rank, he can no longer wear a red robe and should immediately change into a green robe!"

Is it really necessary to be so serious...? Li Shimin looked at him and waved his hand, saying, "It's not too late to change it when we get back!"

"I believe this is unacceptable!" Cheng Jun resolutely refused. "I believe there are three reasons why this is unacceptable. First, the official system of our Great Tang Dynasty is extremely strict and cannot be transgressed! Second..."

"Alright, alright, I understand, stop talking!"

Li Shimin felt a headache coming on, thinking that this man's mouth was even more eloquent than Wei Zheng's. He immediately interrupted him and turned to Liu Xiang, saying, "Minister Liu, Cheng Jun is right. Change your official robes before leaving the palace!"

After saying that, before Liu Xiangdao could speak, he turned and gave Zhang Anan a wink.

Zhang Anan understood immediately, turned around and left the Taiji Hall. When he returned, he was carrying a tray.

On the tray lay a brand-new green official robe.

"Liu Taiduan, please change your official robes."

Zhang Anan spoke gently.