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

Liu Xiangdao looked at the brand-new green robe on the tray, his lips trembling. He reached out and took off his belt, removed his red official robe, and then shakily picked up the green robe and put it on.

Seeing Cheng Jun like this, Li Shimin felt a little sorry for him. He pulled Cheng Jun aside, put on a stern face, and said, "Cheng Jun, look at what you've done! Aren't you even a little bit moved? The sages said we should have compassion. How come you have no compassion at all?"

Cheng Jun, who was watching with great interest, paused for a moment upon hearing this, looked Li Shimin up and down for two seconds to make sure he was serious, and then said solemnly:

"Your Majesty, if I were forced to remove my court robes today because of his false accusations, would Your Majesty also ask Liu Taiduan this question?"

Li Shimin frowned and thought for a moment, then seemed to realize something and sighed, saying, "I'm afraid not..."

Cheng Jun said, “This is what they call 'only feeling the pain when you get slapped yourself.' Liu Taiduan is determined to make things difficult for me. Shouldn’t I fight back? If you repay evil with kindness, how will you repay kindness? The sage said: Repay evil with justice and repay kindness with kindness! Fan Sui always repaid even the smallest kindness with a meal and avenged even the smallest grudge. I do the same. This is what the sages taught me, and I am practicing the principles of the sages!”

Li Er fell into thought again, and the more he thought about it, the more reasonable he felt. He exclaimed, "Your mouth is truly suited to be a censor! Alright, I've taken your advice. You can leave now!"

Cheng Jun smiled, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subject takes his leave!"

At this moment, Liu Xiangdao had already changed into his green robe. He watched with reluctance as the middle-aged eunuch in purple robes took the red robe away. Then he saw Cheng Jun leave the main hall, and he felt both angry and resentful.

But the matter was already settled, and he was powerless to change it. He sighed, turned around, cupped his hands to Li Shimin, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble subject takes his leave."

"Go down."

Li Shimin was still pondering Cheng Jun's words when he heard this. He looked up at Liu Xiangdao and realized that the sympathy he felt for him had vanished without a trace because of Cheng Jun's words. He waved his hand without any emotion and once again became the emperor who never showed his emotions.

After the two left, Li Shimin breathed a sigh of relief and then heard Zhang Anan's voice: "Your Majesty, this servant has already drafted the imperial edict to punish Liu Xiangdao."

"Give it to the Secretariat, let them polish the brush, and then send it to the Censorate!"

After giving his instructions, Li Shimin picked up the memorial again and began to read it. Suddenly, he thought of something and looked up at Zhang Anan, who had received the decree and walked to the door, and said, "Don't rush back later. Go and convey another of my decrees: Cheng Jun is not allowed to enter the palace today!"

"The slaves obey the orders!"

Zhang Anan quickly turned around and accepted the decree.

…………

The Censorate.

In the afternoon, at the entrance of the Censorate, Xiao Yi and Ma Zhou, dressed in censor's robes and carrying a folding stool, sat on the side of the alley.

This is the only way to get to the Third Hospital.

As long as they wait here, they can see anyone who comes to the Censorate.

Xiao Yi felt his eyes were sore from keeping them open, so he rubbed them and asked, "Brother Binwang, how long have Liu Zhongcheng and Chuxia been gone?"

Ma Zhou calculated the time and said, "It's been almost half an hour."

Xiao Yi sighed, "It feels like a whole day has passed for me."

Ma Zhou sighed and said, "I also feel like each day is an eternity. I wonder if Brother Chuxia is really as I described."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yi suddenly stood up, startling Ma Zhou. When he saw a tall man, about 1.85 meters tall, wearing a green robe and a mythical beast crown, walking towards them, he also stood up abruptly.

"Brother Chuxia, you're finally back!"

Xiao Yi asked excitedly, "Nothing went wrong, right?"

Cheng Jun smiled, "It was a close call, but no real danger."

Xiao Yi's eyes lit up, and he pointed to Ma Zhou beside him, saying excitedly, "Amazing, absolutely amazing! When you went to the palace, Brother Binwang also said it was a close call!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jun looked at Ma Zhou and asked in surprise, "Brother Binwang, you guessed it?"

Ma Zhou smiled and said, "I only guessed roughly."

Cheng Jun asked curiously, "Tell me, let me hear if it's right."

Ma Zhou pondered and said, "I think that Liu Zhongcheng dared to go to the palace to talk to His Majesty about this matter, so he must have made some preparations. But you are not worried about going to the palace at all, as if you are sure that he will get nothing. I am thinking about the connection between them."

"The first thing that comes to my mind is that Liu Zhongcheng's son was beaten. He must have gotten some clues from his son, and these clues are definitely not good for you, Brother Chuxia."

"Brother Chuxia also thought of this, which is why he went to the palace."

Ma Zhou looked at Cheng Jun and said, "If I'm not mistaken, Liu Zhongcheng should have asked His Majesty to issue an edict summoning the son of a certain military officer to the palace... I suspect this military officer's son is Yuchi Baolin, because he was the one who led the charge... and then confront him face to face!"

"Liu Zhongcheng is most skilled at interrogating prisoners. Few prisoners can withstand his questioning. As long as that military officer's son sees Liu Zhongcheng, he will definitely succumb to coercion and confess the truth!"

"So, Brother Chuxia's real purpose in entering the palace this time is not to impeach Vice Minister Liu, but to give that military officer's son some hints!"

"For example... he should not misinterpret the subtle words of the sages."

Ma Zhou asked with a smile, "Brother Chuxia, how many of my guesses were correct?"

"All."

It was as if he were right there in the middle of it all... Cheng Jun exclaimed in amazement. No wonder he was the future prime minister; his insight was incredible.

Xiao Yi looked at Ma Zhou with admiration and said, "Brother Binwang is meticulous and has the makings of a prime minister!"

His insight was also very strong. Cheng Jun glanced at Xiao Yi, no, compared to his insight, his flattery skills were even more ridiculously strong.

At this moment, Ma Zhou's voice rang out again: "Brother Chuxia, have you realized that you've overlooked something?"

Cheng Jun smiled and said, "You mean the talented young men in the neighborhood?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhou exclaimed, "Brother Chuxia's plans are truly flawless!"

Xiao Yi, who was listening from the side, was completely confused and asked curiously, "What does this have to do with the talented people in the neighborhood?"

Ma Zhou turned his head and explained, "If Liu Zhongcheng only asked His Majesty to summon Yuchi Baolin to the palace, then during the confrontation, Brother Chuxia only needs to hint to Yuchi Baolin not to misinterpret the Emperor's subtle words. As long as Yuchi Baolin is not stupid, he will definitely be able to understand Brother Chuxia's meaning, and then Brother Chuxia can turn danger into safety."

“But the talented young men in the neighborhood are different. I heard that when the son of a military officer beat up the son of a civil official, the talented young men in the neighborhood were not present. However, when they entered the palace, they were with Brother Chuxia. It is very likely that they heard Brother Chuxia mention another layer of meaning in ‘A gentleman who is not serious will not be respected’.”

"Once Liu Zhongcheng gets this information from them, he can also confirm the crime of Chu Xia instigating the son of a military officer to beat the son of a civil official."

After saying that, Ma Zhou looked at Cheng Jun and asked, "Brother Chuxia, did you mention any other meaning behind that sentence to the talented people in the neighborhood?"

"It has been mentioned."

Hearing him say that, Ma Zhou became even more curious, "Then why aren't you worried?"

Cheng Jun laughed and said, "What are you worried about? Worried that they will betray me? How could that be? Those talented people in the neighborhood are all gentlemen like Yan Hui, and besides, I have also helped them get opportunities to study in various government offices in the court."

Ma Zhou suddenly realized, "So you've been kind to those young people in the neighborhood. That makes it no wonder."

“You have done them a favor, so they will certainly not betray you. If they do, they will be cutting off their own careers and will be despised by the court officials.”

Ma Zhou gave a thumbs-up and praised, "Brother Chuxia's actions are meticulously planned and executed; he has the bearing of a prime minister!"

"You're the one who could think of that..." Cheng Jun thought to himself.

Xiao Yi suddenly realized something was wrong, looked behind Cheng Jun and saw no one there, and asked curiously:

"Brother Chuxia, why are you the only one who came back? Where is Liu Zhongcheng?"

Cheng Jun turned around and saw someone approaching. He pointed at the person and said, "Isn't he back?"

Xiao Yi looked around and saw a middle-aged man in a green robe whose face looked very familiar, so he was stunned for a moment.

Ma Zhou also looked over and saw that Liu Xiangdao was wearing a green robe, which was only worn by officials of the sixth or seventh rank. His pupils suddenly contracted.

Has Liu Zhongcheng been demoted?

At this moment, five people came out of the Imperial Academy. Four of them were wearing green robes and were Imperial Censors from the Imperial Academy. They walked and shouted as they went.

"Why hasn't Liu Zhongcheng returned yet?"

"That's right!"

"Let's go out and take a look!"

The other person was Wen Yanbo, dressed in a purple robe. He stroked his beard and followed him out of the courtyard.

When Wen Yanbo saw Cheng Jun, he was taken aback.

This kid actually came back unharmed?

What about Liu Zhongcheng?

He looked further ahead and when he saw Liu Xiangdao wearing a green robe, Wen Yanbo's pupils dilated instantly, and he hissed in shock.

The four imperial censors also noticed him, their eyes fixed on the green robe Liu Xiangdao was wearing.

"Fuck!"

Someone couldn't hold back.