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

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji wanted to curse. "You listen to everything I say? Then let me speak!" He didn't even give him a chance to open his mouth!

At this moment, before Changsun Wuji could speak, Li Shimin looked at Cheng Jun and asked, "Minister Cheng, what do you think?"

Cheng Jun turned to face Changsun Wuji, cupped his hands in greeting, met the other's wide, red eyes, and said solemnly, "Minister Changsun truly deserves to be His Majesty's right-hand man and a pillar of the nation. I admire you greatly."

As soon as he finished speaking, Changsun Wuji's chest began to heave violently.

Cheng Jun didn't give him a chance to speak, and then said to Li Shimin:

"Your Majesty, Minister Changsun has rendered great service. Should we entrust the task of reading the imperial edict to me?"

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "Go."

Cheng Jun immediately took the imperial edict from Changsun Wuji's hand and left quickly.

Seeing Changsun Wuji standing there in a daze, Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "You may leave now."

"..."

This is not giving me a chance to appeal... Changsun Wuji understood Li Shimin's meaning, so he could only blush, bow, and turn to walk out of Ganlu Hall.

Watching Cheng Jun's figure disappear quickly into the distance, Changsun Wuji chased after him like the wind, shouting:

"Cheng Jun, you broke your promise!"

Cheng Jun paused, turned around to look at him, and asked in confusion, "Minister Changsun, what kind of talk is that?"

Changsun Wuji walked up to him, his face dark, and said, "You promised you wouldn't make me take the blame, so why has things turned out this way?"

Cheng Jun said innocently, "I didn't ask you to carry it."

Changsun Wuji glared at him and said, "Then why did it turn out that I was the one who punished them?"

Cheng Jun asked in confusion, "It was His Majesty who decided it, why are you asking me?"

Changsun Wuji questioned, "Why didn't you speak?"

Cheng Jun spread his hands and said, "I did say that he should be released without charge, but His Majesty wouldn't listen. He insists on listening to you. What can I do?"

Changsun Wuji was furious. "Does His Majesty listen to what you said?"

"That's absolutely not something we can listen to. If you give advice that His Majesty would never listen to, then the responsibility will fall on my shoulders."

Cheng Jun countered, "Then why don't you give it a shot?"

Changsun Wuji retorted indignantly, "I had barely finished speaking when the imperial decree was already drafted and placed in my hands. How could I possibly argue against it?"

Moreover, Li Shimin had already approved his own suggestion, so arguing further would be tantamount to contradicting himself.

In other words, isn't this just slapping yourself in the face?

Cheng Jun asked, puzzled, "So, what does this have to do with me?"

"..."

Seeing Changsun Wuji's silence, Cheng Jun cupped his hands and said:

"I am going to the Dali Temple prison to deliver an imperial edict. See you later."

After saying that, he strode away.

As Cheng Jun walked, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw Changsun Wuji following behind with a stern face. He asked in surprise, "Why are you following me?"

Changsun Wuji said expressionlessly, "I'll go with you. I want to hear if you're telling the truth about the imperial decree."

Is our trust in each other really that low...? Cheng Jun was speechless, but he didn't say anything. He shrugged and continued walking forward.

Soon, the two arrived at the Dali Temple prison.

Outside the Dali Temple prison stood a middle-aged Dali Temple official.

That is precisely Bu Gan Dang.

Bu Gandang also saw the two at this moment, and immediately bowed and said, "Greetings to Imperial Censor Cheng, and greetings to Minister Changsun."

Cheng Jun pointed in the direction of the prison and asked, "How are the people inside?"

Bu Gandang thought for a moment and said, "They all look quite energetic."

Changsun Wuji raised an eyebrow and asked, "Energetic? How did you tell?"

Bu Gandang explained, "They still have the energy to cry foul right now."

"..."

Changsun Wuji stared at him, remaining silent.

Well said... Cheng Jun gave him an approving look and said:

"Open the door, there is a decree."

"Yes, sir!" Bu Gandang immediately opened the cell door and watched them walk in.

Inside the Dali Temple prison, shouts echoed continuously from the cells on both sides:

"Injustice! Injustice!"

"What assassination attempt by an imperial censor? I have no idea about such a thing!"

The once peaceful prison cell is now filled with cries of innocence.

At this moment, everyone saw someone enter, and upon closer inspection, they realized it was Cheng Jun and Changsun Wuji.

Lu Yanqing gripped the fence excitedly and roared, "Imperial Censor Cheng, I want to appeal! I am innocent!"

As soon as he finished speaking, shouts rang out from both sides: "Yes, it has nothing to do with me either!"

"I'm innocent too!"

"You are an imperial censor, you must seek justice for us!"

Cheng Jun paused, glanced at the crowd, and asked, "What are you accusing me of?"

"Is it fair that salt prices have risen because of you?"

After saying that, he pointed to Changsun Wuji, who was walking beside him, and said:

"Do you know that Minister Changsun used this as the basis for your convictions!"

"..."

Changsun Wuji's face darkened instantly. He wanted to retort, but the words stuck in his throat.

He suddenly realized that if he didn't admit it, he couldn't explain why these people were convicted.

Cheng Jun's words, in turn, gave him a reason to deal with these people.

Lu Yanqing exclaimed excitedly, "That was all the work of the salt merchants, it has nothing to do with us!"

Cheng Jun looked at him and said, "Those salt merchants that Minister Changsun interrogated have all confessed now. They're still saying they have nothing to do with you. There are witnesses and physical evidence. What are you still trying to deny?"

Lu Yanqing hesitated for a moment, then quickly changed his tune, saying, "We do have some connection to salt prices, but we have absolutely nothing to do with the assassination attempt on the censor!"

Cheng Jun chuckled, turned to look at Changsun Wuji, and said, "Minister Changsun, they have confessed. You will be their witness."

After saying that, he walked up to Lu Yanqing and slowly said:

“After my investigation, I found that you have no connection with the Cui family’s assassination attempt on the censor. Therefore, I will release you without charge, despite all objections.”

"However, Minister Changsun said that you are guilty, and your crimes warrant the confiscation of your property and your repatriation to your place of origin."

"Now that you have confessed, I will no longer investigate. I will now read out His Majesty's decree."

After Cheng Jun finished speaking, he opened the imperial edict, glanced through it himself, and then said concisely:

"His Majesty has decreed that your property be confiscated immediately and you be sent back to your place of origin tomorrow!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Dali Temple prison erupted in uproar, with Lu Yanqing being the first to roar:

"Changsun Wuji, we haven't offended you, why are you treating us like this?"

"..."

Changsun Wuji ignored the other party and turned to leave with a stern face.

He feared that if he stayed any longer, he would break down.

After Cheng Jun finished reading the imperial decree, he ignored the people in the Dali Temple prison who were shouting that they were innocent and walked straight out of the prison. He looked around and, not finding Changsun Wuji, turned to Bu Gandang and asked, somewhat puzzled:

"Where is Minister Changsun?"

Bu Gandang said, "Minister Changsun has already returned."

Cheng Jun nodded slightly, said nothing more, and left Dali Temple while thinking to himself.

Being tall is definitely an advantage...

Although in reality Changsun Wuji was not as tall as him, in his heart, Changsun Wuji was taller than a mountain.

If something goes wrong, he'll have to take the blame.

This is what he deserves.