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

"..."

Cheng Yaojin stared at him in surprise. "Good lad, you've got some nerve!" he thought. "Your father just took a concubine, is it really necessary for you to react like this?"

The skinny boy said angrily, "My mother isn't even dead yet, and he dares to do this. If my mother were dead, he'd be completely out of control!"

Cheng Yaojin sensed something was wrong inside, but before he could ask, his eldest son, Cheng Chumo, anxiously inquired:

"Didn't your dad hit you?"

The skinny boy said, "I climbed the tree, so he can't hit me."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin put aside the slight confusion that had just arisen and asked curiously, "Your father got sick because of this?"

The thin boy shook his head. "No, I took the coffin to the house of the concubine he wanted to take, but that family objected, and my father got sick from anger."

Cheng Chumo turned to Cheng Yaojin and said excitedly, "Father, look at this! Look at how Dong'e does things!"

Cheng Chuliang walked over and put his arm around the thin boy's shoulder, patting him hard and saying, "Dong'e, you shouldn't have come. We should have gone over there and learned from you!"

Cheng Yaojin roared angrily, "You two scoundrels, you're just copying my legs!"

"Dong'e's father is different from me. His father didn't like swords and spears, but loved reading. He was as skinny as a monkey when he was a child. If he had the same physique as me, would Dong'e have been able to come here?"

The skinny boy retorted indignantly, "That's right, he's just a bully at home. He thinks that just because my mother gives in to him, I'll give in to him like my mother does. That's the kind of bully I'll pick on! Let's see if he dares to give my mother attitude again!"

Cheng Chumo said excitedly, "Don't say anything more, cousin, from now on you'll live here, this is your home!"

Cheng Yaojin rolled his eyes in anger. These two wretches really hadn't been dealt with enough.

The skinny boy was flattered by his two cousins' enthusiasm. He scratched his cheek shyly, then suddenly remembered that Cheng Yaojin had three sons. He looked around and asked, "Uncle Cheng, where is my third cousin?"

Cheng Yaojin said, "He went to the palace to take up a post and hasn't returned yet."

The thin boy asked in surprise, "My third cousin has become an official?"

Cheng Chumo said with a chuckle, "Yes, he was an imperial censor."

The thin boy was even more surprised. "Isn't the censor supposed to be an official who speaks out? I remember my third cousin was quite tall and strong."

Cheng Chuliang solemnly said, "This is what they mean by 'don't judge a book by its cover,' just like you."

The skinny boy realized he was being praised and grinned in response.

Just then, an anxious voice rang out from outside the main room:

"Brother Zhijie, Brother Zhijie!"

Everyone turned to look and saw Fang Xuanling, dressed in a purple official robe, walking briskly towards them.

Cheng Yaojin stood up in surprise to greet him, "Brother Xuanling, what brings you here?"

Fang Xuanling walked up to him, took a few breaths, and said with a solemn expression, "Something terrible has happened! His Majesty has imprisoned your son!"

Cheng Yaojin was utterly shocked, staring at him in disbelief, "What?!"

imprison?

Why did they have to go to jail for no reason?

Cheng Yaojin snapped out of his daze and asked urgently, "Why?"

Fang Xuanling said in a deep voice, "You were punished for your words."

He then recounted the whole story.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin stomped his foot angrily, "I knew it! That mouth of his would get him into trouble sooner or later!"

The thin boy listened with utter astonishment, then turned to Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang and asked in a low voice, "Is Third Brother very eloquent?"

Cheng Chumo nodded and said, "He can do more than just talk; he has angered many ministers and vice ministers in the court so much that they have been sent to the Imperial Medical Bureau!"

The skinny boy exclaimed in surprise, "So powerful?"

Cheng Chuliang solemnly replied, "That's quite impressive."

Cheng Yaojin turned and glared at them, saying, "Is this the time to talk about how chivalrous people are?"

As he spoke, he grabbed Fang Xuanling's wrist and said, "Come on, let's hurry into the palace. I'm going to see His Majesty and plead for this wretched child!"

Before Fang Xuanling could speak, Cheng Chumo said with dissatisfaction, "Father, what are you panicking about!"

Cheng Chuliang chimed in, "That's right. Since Third Brother dares to speak frankly and directly, he must be confident and unafraid!"

Cheng Yaojin rebuked, "He's bold, what has he ever been afraid of? But this time is different, this time he should be afraid!"

Cheng Chumo reminded him, "Father, if Third Brother were afraid, he wouldn't have said it."

Cheng Chuliang chimed in, "Exactly! Is Third Brother the kind of person who would knowingly jump off a cliff if he knew there was one in front of him?"

Fang Xuanling looked at them with some surprise. These two brothers had a much deeper understanding of Cheng Jun than Cheng Yaojin did. He nodded and said, "Brother Zhijie, what my nephews Chumo and Chuliang said makes sense. Cheng Jun was pleading for Duke Yuchi Jingde of Wu, which angered His Majesty. Aren't you just adding fuel to the fire by pleading for your son?"

Cheng Yaojin was somewhat flustered at this point and asked, "Then what should we do?"

Fang Xuanling said sternly, "The one who tied the knot must untie it. Your son pleaded for Yuchi Jingde and was imprisoned as a result. Now you should go to Yuchi Jingde and ask him to persuade His Majesty."

“Yuchi Jingde has rendered great service. In today’s matter, His Majesty only punished him by making him guard the palace gates, without severely punishing him. Therefore, it is most appropriate for you to let him step forward and help.”

Cheng Yaojin felt as if the clouds had parted and the sun had shone through, nodding repeatedly and saying, "That makes sense!"

"I'll go find him right now. Cheng Zhong, prepare the horses!"

"promise!"

Cheng Zhong responded.

Soon, he came over leading a black horse.

Cheng Yaojin, having changed into his court robes, took the reins, leaped onto the horse, glanced at Fang Xuanling, and asked, "Brother Xuanling, did you ride here on horseback?"

Seeing Fang Xuanling nod, Cheng Yaojin said, "Then you follow, I'll go ahead, giddy up!"

Fang Xuanling watched him ride away, and quickly walked out of the Cheng residence. He took the reins of his white horse at the gate, jumped on, and rode closely behind him.

Not long after, the sound of two rapid hoofbeats rang out outside the Vermilion Bird Gate.

The middle-aged gatekeeper on duty looked over upon hearing the sound, and upon closer inspection, saw two figures dressed in purple robes sitting on horseback. He immediately recognized them and hurriedly bowed.

Cheng Yaojin dismounted, walked up to him, looked around, and asked, "Where is Yuchi Jingde?"

The middle-aged gatekeeper hurriedly said, "The Duke of Wu has gone to rest."

Cheng Yaojin said, "Call him over here!"

Seeing his anxious look, the middle-aged city gatekeeper immediately clasped his hands in agreement, turned around and left.

Soon, Yuchi Jingde, yawning, walked over and said:

"Brother Zhijie, you were looking for me?"

Seeing Fang Xuanling standing next to Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Jingde greeted him, "Brother Xuanling is here too."

Seeing their grave expressions, he immediately perked up and asked, "What happened?"

Cheng Yaojin said urgently, "His Majesty has imprisoned Chuxia."

Yuchi Jingde asked in astonishment, "Why?"

Fang Xuanling sighed and said, "When he saw that His Majesty had punished you by making you guard the palace gate, he was furious and dared to speak out against the emperor. He was imprisoned in the Dali Temple prison because he was pleading for you."

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Jingde's eyes widened, his face filled with anger, and he said, "There are many officials in the court who dare to speak out against the emperor, but none of them have been imprisoned."

Cheng Yaojin chimed in, "That's exactly right!"

Yuchi Jingde immediately said, "Let's go, let's go and reason with His Majesty!"

Fang Xuanling quickly stopped him, saying, "His Majesty is in the Ganlu Hall right now and won't see anyone. If you act so recklessly, you'll only end up getting humiliated."

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Jingde calmed down. If that were the case, even if he reached Ganlu Palace, he probably wouldn't be able to see His Majesty. If he couldn't even see him, how could he plead for mercy?

"I can't just rush in, can I..." Yuchi Jingde quickly suppressed the thought; even he dared not rush into the hall at this moment.

This morning's events have already enraged His Majesty. To go and offend Li Shimin, who is still furious, now would be like offering yourself up for a beating.

Suddenly, Yuchi Jingde thought of something, slapped his thigh, and said with a gleam in his eyes:

"Have it!"