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

Seeing his lack of tact, Li Shimin was immediately angered and scolded him in a low voice:

"Auxiliary machine, how can you be so insensible!"

"Do I really have to spell it out for you?"

Li Shimin said with a serious expression, "If I were to break Cheng Jun's heart, I would lose him forever. He would run away, but you are different."

Changsun Wuji asked, "Because my sister is in your hands?"

Li Shimin was taken aback, then waved his hand and said, "It has nothing to do with Guanyinbi. What makes you different is that you are my family."

Is this what you call explaining things clearly? It's not as clear as what I said... Changsun Wuji thought angrily.

Li Shimin patiently advised, "Fuji, someone always has to suffer injustice. Otherwise, my beloved minister wouldn't step forward. You are my family, my confidant, and my right-hand man. Who else but you would do it?"

Changsun Wuji retorted, "But this matter has nothing to do with me."

Li Shimin pointed to Cheng Jun's cell and said, "Once you go in, won't that be a problem?"

As he spoke, he advised again, "Auxiliary machine, don't think that this matter is of no benefit to you. On the contrary, it will bring you many benefits!"

"Think about it, if you go to prison for me today, future history books will write: 'I was willing to go to prison for the sake of a minister of the state, and you were willing to go to prison in my place for the sake of a minister of the state. What a good reputation!'"

Changsun Wuji retorted indignantly, "I do not covet fame!"

Li Shimin's eyes narrowed as he stared at him. "Hmm?"

Seeing the sharp gaze fixed on him, Changsun Wuji realized he had let something slip and quickly tried to cover it up, saying, "Your Majesty, is there no other way?"

Li Shimin said with a stern face, "Yes, why don't you just make some gunpowder too?"

Changsun Wuji was speechless. He had no idea how to make gunpowder. Before today, he didn't even know what gunpowder was, let alone that it could be so powerful.

For him, it wasn't a question of whether it was feasible, but a question of perception; he had never thought about it in this way before.

Not only him, but he believed that no one in the world would have imagined that gunpowder existed.

Seeing his silence, Li Shimin sighed and said:

"Look, even you think it's not good enough, and I know that too. Let alone you, no one in the world except Cheng Jun can imagine that gunpowder could exist. That's why I say that Cheng Jun is a guiding light."

As he spoke, fearing that Changsun Wuji might feel resentful, he comforted him, "Don't be discouraged. You are useful too. Your role is to go to prison in my place."

"..."

"Is my only value to go to jail?" Changsun Wuji felt uneasy.

At that moment, Li Shimin's unquestionable voice rang in my ears again:

"That `s a deal."

After Li Shimin finished speaking, he pulled the reluctant Changsun Wuji along and walked back with a beaming smile, saying to Cheng Jun:

"Minister Cheng, Minister Changsun has agreed to go to prison in my place. You should come out now."

As he spoke, he gave Changsun Wuji a wink, signaling him to hurry into the prison cell.

Changsun Wuji pursed his lips, walked into the cell as if he had lost his parents, glanced at Cheng Jun, and said in a dissatisfied tone:

"Cheng Jun, didn't you hear what His Majesty said? Get out of here immediately, there are people here."

Cheng Jun hesitated for two seconds, then instead of leaving the cell, he looked at Li Shimin under everyone's gaze and said solemnly:

“Your Majesty, Minister Changsun bears a heavy responsibility as Minister of Personnel. I believe he is not suitable to go to prison in Your Majesty’s place.”

Changsun Wuji rolled his eyes upon hearing this, knowing full well that Cheng Jun wasn't pleading for him, but rather trying to absolve him of responsibility.

Li Shimin was also a little annoyed. He had almost forgotten that this unfortunate fellow was like this. He waved his hand and said, "I am well aware of what you said, but Minister Changsun volunteered to go to prison in my place. I cannot persuade him otherwise."

Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji and asked, "Is that right?"

"How come you can pick so many?" Changsun Wuji trembled with anger. "Are these two even human? They put me in jail, and I have to admit that it was voluntary."

Clinging to the prison bars, Changsun Wuji shouted excitedly, "Yes, that's right! I volunteered to go to prison in place of His Majesty, I volunteered!"

The way you're acting doesn't look like it's voluntary at all... Everyone saw this and thought to themselves.

But the person involved has admitted that it was voluntary, so even if it was fake, it is now real.

Cheng Jun looked at Changsun Wuji and said with sincere emotion, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture:

"Since Minister Changsun himself says it was voluntary for him to go to prison in place of His Majesty, then fine, you stay put, I'm going out."

After saying that, he strode out of the cell.

Li Shimin immediately beamed with joy. He had finally managed to get him to come out willingly. He had gone to great lengths to get him to come out.

Everyone smiled, especially Cheng Yaojin, who was particularly happy.

Just then, Cheng Jun's voice rang out from the Dali Temple prison:

"Someone, bring a prison uniform and shackles, and have Minister Changsun put them on."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, looking at Cheng Jun, and then at Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji was already dissatisfied, and when he heard that he would have to wear prison clothes and shackles, he flew into a rage and said:

"Cheng Jun, don't go too far!"

Cheng Jun looked at him suspiciously, "Minister Changsun, you said it yourself that a prisoner should act like a prisoner. I agree with you. How come you're going back on your word?"

Changsun Wuji choked on his words. He had indeed said those words when he came in, but he thought he was being called over to discuss how to convict Cheng Jun. He never imagined that Cheng Jun would be released from prison and he would be going to jail.

The problem is, times have changed. If we insist on the same old ideas, we'll only be making trouble for ourselves.

However, he couldn't contradict himself... Changsun Wuji looked at Li Shimin, pleading for help with his eyes.

Li Shimin looked troubled. If he didn't go along with Cheng Jun's wishes, the boy would probably go in and not come out again. But if he went along with his wishes, it would embarrass Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji has already taken his place in prison. If he were to wear prison clothes and shackles again, the two of them would truly become estranged.

Wait a minute, why must I be the one to offend people in this kind of thing...? Li Shimin had a flash of inspiration. If someone can go to jail in his place, then someone can certainly offend people in his place.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin glanced at everyone, and finally his gaze settled on Hu Yan, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and his eyes instantly shone with a dazzling light.

Hu Yan, like everyone else, was waiting for Li Shimin's decree. When he saw Li Shimin glance at the assembled officials and finally look at him, his gaze lingering on him, Hu Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously took a step back.

However, Li Shimin's gentle voice still reached his ears:

“Minister Hu, you are the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, in charge of criminal matters. You should know best whether Changsun Wuji should wear prison clothes and shackles, right?”