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

Li Shimin was both angry and anxious upon hearing this. This scoundrel couldn't keep his mouth shut and would say anything that came out.

Li Shimin now truly understood the saying, "It's easy to invite a god, but hard to send him away."

"If you like living here, then stay here!"

Li Shimin said with a stern face, "Give me the gunpowder formula."

Cheng Jun asked in confusion, "What formula?"

Li Shimin said, "The gunpowder formula!"

Cheng Jun asked, puzzled, "What is gunpowder?"

"..."

Li Shimin laughed in anger, "Cheng Jun, are you pretending to be confused in front of me? What is gunpowder? You created it, how could you forget it?"

Cheng Jun rubbed his head and said, "I can't remember for the time being."

It's not that he can't remember, it's that he clearly doesn't want to talk about it... Everyone looked at Li Shimin, whose face was purple. Why did you put him in prison for no reason? Now that you've remembered his good points and are planning to reinstate him, he's just given up.

Li Shimin's breathing became rapid for a long time, and it took him quite a while to calm down. At the same time, he realized that Cheng Jun was the kind of kid who responded better to gentle persuasion than force.

"Cheng Jun, it was wrong of me to imprison you."

Li Shimin, having changed his previous anger, stared at him intently and said seriously, "Didn't you want to be exonerated and cleared of wrongdoing? I will exonerate and clear your name."

After saying that, he opened the cell door, walked in under Cheng Jun's surprised gaze, then closed the door. Looking at the astonished expressions of the crowd, he said:

"From today onwards, I will hold court in the Dali Temple prison."

After saying that, he looked at Cheng Jun and said sincerely, "Minister Cheng, I have now realized my mistake. I will now imprison myself and let you go. What do you think?"

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wen Yanbo, Li Jing, and Yuchi Jingde, who were outside the prison cell, changed their expressions. The emperor had imprisoned them.

This would surely cause a sensation in both the government and the public.

Wen Yanbo said urgently, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Fang Xuanling said solemnly, "Indeed, what emperor in the world would imprison himself?"

Du Ruhui said in a deep voice, "If this matter gets out, it will surely cause an uproar in the court and among the people. Your Majesty must not do this."

Li Jing advised, "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Yuchi Jingde echoed, "Yes, Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, “My dear ministers, please do not try to persuade me anymore. My mind is made up. I must exonerate Cheng Jun. It is written in the laws of our Great Tang that false accusations will be punished. I was wrong to imprison Cheng Jun. Now I will punish Cheng Jun in return and let him go. It is right for me to go to jail.”

Upon hearing this, and seeing that they could not persuade him, everyone could only turn to Cheng Yaojin.

Cheng Yaojin understood immediately and winked at Cheng Jun, signaling him to stop while he was ahead.

Cheng Jun was both amused and exasperated. Li Er was really playing dirty tricks, getting himself imprisoned? What was the difference between this and being exiled to Jiangnan with a shackle around his neck?

He hesitated for two seconds, then decided it was time to stop while he was ahead. If Li Shimin really imprisoned himself, the people who would impeach him would probably line up from the Ganlu Palace all the way to his house.

Cheng Jun immediately made a judgment and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, in all dynasties, there has never been an example of an emperor being imprisoned."

"Your Majesty, this would implicate me in disloyalty and injustice; this is absolutely unacceptable."

Seeing the change in his attitude, Li Shimin knew that his method had worked. He was secretly pleased, but his face showed a look of frustration. He said, "But I can't not exonerate you. It was indeed my fault that I hurt you. What else can I do but imprison you?"

Cheng Jun said earnestly, "If Your Majesty truly wishes to exonerate me, I have an idea."

Li Shimin asked curiously, "What idea?"

Everyone looked at Cheng Jun with curiosity.

Cheng Jun said in a deep voice, "If the emperor breaks the law, he should not be beaten with sticks; his dragon robe should be struck to show his guilt."

"Even the emperor should be imprisoned in the same way. Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state and cares about the people. How can you disregard the country and the nation for the sake of your ministers? Your Majesty should find someone to go to prison in your place."

Li Shimin was even more pleased to hear him say this; this lad still had me in his heart. He asked:

Who can replace him?

Cheng Jun hesitated for two seconds, then turned to look at Hu Yan.

Li Shimin also looked at Hu Yan, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and others also looked over and couldn't help but laugh. Wasn't there a ready-made one here?

At this moment, here, Hu Yan is just an outsider.

When Hu Yan saw so many eyes focused on him, and recalling what Cheng Jun had just said, his heart trembled and his expression changed drastically.

Isn't this making him take the blame?

Hu Yan said urgently, "Your Majesty, I cannot!"

Li Shimin withdrew his gaze, somewhat troubled. Hu Yan had so decisively refused to go to prison in his place, and he couldn't force him. He couldn't let Cheng Jun's sake break his heart.

But who else could he turn to besides Hu Yan? In this world, besides family, who would willingly go to jail in his place?

Wait, family...

"I've got it..." Li Shimin had a sudden inspiration, his eyes lit up again, and he turned around and shouted:

"Ananda, call Changsun Wuji over!"

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then secretly cheered, "Brilliant!"

Cheng Jun was also stunned. He had originally planned to send Hu Yan to jail, but unexpectedly, Li Shimin remained calm and unwilling to involve innocent people.

Unless, of course, someone volunteers to step forward...

Looking across the entire court, only Changsun Wuji stands out.

"The slaves obey the order."

After receiving the imperial decree, Zhang Anan immediately left the Dali Temple prison and went to the capital to find someone.

…………

At this moment, outside the Ganlu Hall.

Hearing the commotion, civil and military officials rushed over, including Changsun Wuji.

Seeing the scorched earth and ruins fifty meters from the gate of Ganlu Hall, Changsun Wuji gasped in shock.

The sounds of civil and military officials clicking their tongues in amazement could be heard in their ears.

Changsun Wuji looked curious, because he had gone out on business today and had just returned to the palace. He had heard that there had been an explosion in Ganlu Hall, so he came to see what was going on.

Now, upon closer listening, he realized that his colleagues' discussions involved Yuchi Jingde, Weng, Cheng Yaojin, and others.

And Cheng Jun's name was also mentioned.

Upon hearing the name "Cheng Jun," Changsun Wuji immediately perked up his ears and leaned closer.

He quickly realized that Yuchi Jingde had made such a commotion in order to plead for Cheng Jun.

The reason for pleading for Cheng Jun is that he has been imprisoned!

Cheng Jun was imprisoned... What a pleasant-sounding phrase.

Changsun Wuji listened with obvious enjoyment when, just then, a voice called out in his ear:

"Minister Changsun, we've finally found you!"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji turned around and saw Zhang Anan, dressed in purple robes, walking towards them. He asked curiously:

"Eunuch Zhang, you were looking for me?"

Zhang Anan said earnestly, "It's not our family looking for you, it's His Majesty who wants you to come over."

Changsun Wuji asked curiously, "What does Your Majesty want with me?"

Zhang Anan said, "His Majesty requests that you go to the Dali Temple prison."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji asked in surprise, "What are you going to the Dali Temple prison for?"

Zhang Anan vaguely replied, "I have something important to discuss."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji suddenly realized something and exclaimed with delight, "Are you here to discuss with me how to convict Cheng Jun?"

Zhang Anan thought for a moment, then said solemnly, "This matter involves matters of great importance to the military and the nation. I request that Minister Changsun go with the imperial decree."

Changsun Wuji thought about it more and more and it seemed more and more likely. Otherwise, why would he invite him to the Dali Temple prison? He rubbed his hands excitedly and said, "Please lead the way!"