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

He turned to look at Li Shimin and found that Li Shimin had already turned red.

"I'm not playing anymore! Ananda, put the chessboard away!"

Li Shimin cursed and said, "If we can't even beat Cheng Jun using the rules I set, what's the point of trying? This isn't just asking for trouble, it's asking for humiliation."

Li Shimin glanced at Cheng Jun and saw that he looked relaxed and indifferent, which made him even angrier.

I originally intended to compare Cheng Jun to Zhao Shida, and him to be Zhang Xingcheng, but now it's the other way around...

Only after Zhang Anan put the chess pieces and board back into the chess box and took them away did Li Shimin's expression soften considerably. He stood up and said:

"It's getting late, it's time to rest."

After saying that, he walked to the bed next to him.

At that moment, Cheng Jun's voice rang out from behind:

"Your Majesty, where shall I sleep?"

Li Shimin casually pointed to the ground and said, "You can sleep on the floor."

Zhang Anan had just returned when he heard this, and immediately ordered someone to bring a quilt, which he handed to Cheng Jun.

Cheng Jun, holding the bedding, glanced at Li Shimin, who was lying on the couch with his back to him, and his eyes twitched a few times.

But he didn't say anything. Cheng Jun spread the bedding on the floor, put the pillow under his head, and then closed his eyes.

Ten breaths later, the sound of snoring echoed throughout the Ganlu Hall.

"Ow—"

Li Shimin opened his eyes instantly, stood up, and turned to look at Cheng Jun.

Cheng Jun's mouth was wide open, and loud, piercing snoring was coming from his mouth.

"Who's in jail here...?" Li Shimin walked straight down, angrily kicked Cheng Jun, and scolded him:

"Wake up, don't sleep!"

Cheng Jun opened his eyes, looking sleepy, and rubbed his eyes, saying, "Your Majesty, is there something you need from me?"

Li Shimin glared at him and said, "Why do you snore when you sleep?"

Cheng Jun said, "I have always been like this. Not only me, but my father and my elder brother also snore."

Li Shimin said angrily, "If you snore like that, how am I supposed to sleep?"

Cheng Jun asked innocently, "Then what should we do?"

Li Shimin, his face dark, pointed towards the outside of the palace and said, "Go back, you should go back right now."

"My minister retire."

Cheng Jun stood up decisively, bowed, put on his boots, and walked out of the palace without looking back.

Watching his departing figure, Zhang Anan said, "Your Majesty, Imperial Censor Cheng did it on purpose."

Li Shimin gritted his teeth and said, "Do you think I can't see it? This bastard is just trying to anger me and make me get rid of him!"

Zhang Anan cautiously reminded him, "Your Majesty, if you don't want to let Imperial Censor Cheng go back so easily, you could have asked me to arrange for him to sleep somewhere else."

Li Shimin said, "What's the difference between that and letting him go back to sleep?"

"Let him go, and don't let him bother me again!"

Li Shimin rubbed his forehead and said, "If I don't sleep well tonight, how will I have the energy to deal with those ministers tomorrow?"

After saying that, he returned to the couch and lay down again.

This time, he fell asleep unusually quickly and soundly.

…………

In Huai De Fang, the sound of a horse's hoof suddenly shattered the silence outside the Cheng residence.

When the sound of horses' hooves grew louder and came to a stop outside the Cheng residence.

Just then, the gate of the Cheng residence was opened from the inside, and Cheng Zhong poked his head out. Seeing Cheng Jun returning on horseback in his official robes, he was both surprised and delighted, and exclaimed:

"Sanlang is back!"

Cheng Jun smiled, dismounted, handed the horse to him, and said, "Uncle Zhong, are you still awake?"

Cheng Zhong quickly took the reins and walked into the mansion with him, saying with a smile, "This old servant always felt that Sanlang would come back tonight, so I've been waiting here."

Cheng Jun chuckled; he was much better at talking than Lao Cheng.

At this moment, a flurry of footsteps sounded. Cheng Jun turned his head and saw Cheng Yaojin, Cheng Chumo, Cheng Chuliang, and Cheng Dong'e walking towards him with a mixture of surprise and delight.

"Third brother, you really came back?"

Cheng Chuliang chuckled, "We were just betting with Dad whether you'd be back tonight, and Dad lost!"

"My eldest and second eldest brothers understand me best..." Cheng Jun smiled, looked at his father, and noticed that Cheng Yaojin was looking him up and down. He asked curiously, "Father, is there a problem?"

Cheng Yaojin asked in confusion, "Why are you back?"

Cheng Jun said succinctly, "His Majesty can't take it anymore."

"..."

Cheng Yaojin instantly understood his meaning, and said with a mix of emotion and lingering fear:

"You're really something, how could you do such a thing?"

If Cheng Jun can make His Majesty unable to tolerate him, it means that Cheng Jun sees himself as Zhang Xingcheng and His Majesty as Zhao Shida...

"This is truly going against the natural order..." Cheng Yaojin asked nervously, "Will His Majesty blame you?"

Cheng Jun said, "Father, you should ask this: If His Majesty sends me back, how can he sleep soundly?"

Cheng Chuliang clapped his hands and said, "I understand. His Majesty sent you back so you can sleep well at night and won't be angry!"

Cheng Chumo asked curiously, "Will His Majesty sleep well tonight?"

Cheng Jun nodded and said, "Xiang is making me dizzy."

"Hahahahaha!"

Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Cheng Dong'a also chuckled softly.

Cheng Yaojin then realized what was happening and couldn't help but chuckle.

After everyone laughed for a while, Cheng Dong'e suddenly spoke up:

"Third cousin, it's good that you're back. I still had time to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jun looked at him in astonishment and asked, "You're going back?"

Cheng Dong'e nodded and said, "I plan to go back tomorrow."

Cheng Jun asked in surprise, "We just had a welcome dinner for you today, and you're going back tomorrow? Why don't you stay a few more days?"

Cheng Dong'e grinned and said, "No, I heard from my uncle that Zhao Shida is in dire straits. If I go back now, nothing will happen to me."

"And I miss my dad."

"All right......"

Seeing that he was determined to leave, Cheng Jun nodded slightly. Thinking about it, it made sense. Cheng Dong'e had not come to Chang'an for tourism, but to escape from disaster.

Now that there is no danger in going home, it is natural to go back.

Thinking of this, Cheng Jun said to Cheng Zhong:

"Uncle Zhong, send a few people to escort Dong'e back to Jizhou. That way it will be safer."

Cheng Zhong smiled and said, "This old servant understands."

Cheng Jun walked up to Cheng Dong'e, patted him on the shoulder, and said:

"Cousin, when you get back, don't act impulsively. When you encounter problems, observe carefully and think things through. Don't let others lead you by the nose anymore."

Cheng Dong'e understood that he was being taught a lesson, his eyes reddened, and he said, "Third cousin's teachings are right, I've remembered them."

Cheng Yaojin then spoke up, "Hero, now that you're home, don't wear these clothes anymore. Go change."

Cheng Jun shook his head and said, "I have to go out again."

Cheng Yaojin was taken aback. "Where are you going so late at night?"

Cheng Jun solemnly said, "His Majesty told me that several people in the court have jointly impeached me. I'm going to go and have a chat with them now."

Cheng Yaojin frowned and said, "Can't we talk to them tomorrow?"

Cheng Jun said in a resolute tone:

"I can't wait until tomorrow!"

"Father, you have no idea how much I want to see those people who impeached me right now."

"I'm leaving!"

After saying this, Cheng Jun took the reins from Cheng Zhong, mounted his horse, and rode off in a cloud of dust, leaving the mansion behind.

Cheng Yaojin paused for a few seconds, then raised his hand, pointed at Cheng Jun's back, and turned to the crowd, saying:

"Was he there to chat?"

Cheng Chumo laughed and said, "What are you chatting about? He's gone to get revenge!"

…………

Bonus chapter~~~