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

Chapter 716 The Dust Settles Down "Your Majesty, we pay our respects."

When Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, all the civil and military officials bowed and paid their respects.

"My beloved subjects, you may rise and dispense with the formalities."

Li Shimin glanced at the civil and military officials, and said with an air of authority that was not angry:

"Your ministers should have heard about what happened yesterday."

"I won't waste any more words. Guards, bring Cui Caiqi here!"

Two guards immediately escorted Cui Caiqi, whose face was ashen, into the main hall.

All the civil and military officials looked over. At this moment, Cui Caiqi was wearing a prison uniform, his head was down, and he was silent, clearly already knowing his fate.

Li Shimin said coldly, "Cui Caiqi, along with people from the Cui families of Boling and Qinghe, committed the crime under the pretext of salt inspection. This has now been verified, and the evidence is conclusive!"

"How can such parasites and scoundrels not be killed!"

Li Shimin said in a deep voice, "All those who participated in the assassination attempt on the Imperial Censor shall be beheaded!"

"His entire family was exiled!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

All the civil and military officials bowed in respect. After this incident, it would be even more difficult than climbing to heaven for people from the Cui family of Boling and the Cui family of Qinghe to become civil officials in the court.

They don't care about the Cui family because the Cui family is finished. What's important now is to save the other five families.

An elderly man dressed in a red robe walked in from outside the hall and solemnly said:

"Your Majesty, I have heard that yesterday, officials from the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice confiscated the property of many prominent families."

“From yesterday until this morning, I have heard many people crying out for justice. I believe there may be some injustices among them.”

Another minister, dressed in a red robe, followed closely behind and stepped forward, proclaiming in a loud voice:

"I also believe there are some injustices involved, and a thorough investigation should be conducted!"

"I second that opinion. I think the confiscation of property should not be done so hastily."

Li Shimin looked at the ministers who had stepped forward, then turned to look at Changsun Wuji, signaling that it was Changsun Wuji's turn to speak.

Changsun Wuji pursed his lips. This wasn't asking him to speak up; it was clearly asking him to take the blame.

He first turned around and glanced at Cheng Jun, who was standing at the palace gate. Seeing that Cheng Jun smiled at him, he felt even more distressed.

Urged repeatedly by Li Shimin's gaze, Changsun Wuji gritted his teeth, stepped forward with his official tablet in hand, and said in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty, I believe that these people should have their homes confiscated and be sent back to their hometowns."

Before he finished speaking, an elderly minister in a red robe glanced at him sideways and said in a deep voice, "Minister Changsun, this is not in accordance with the rules!"

Changsun Wuji said calmly, "How is it against the rules? The reason why the salt price in Chang'an and the twenty-one counties around the capital has increased is because of their tricks. Shouldn't they be arrested?"

Cheng Jun used this very reason when he read the imperial edict in Dali Temple prison.

Looking back now, Cheng Jun had already figured out how to refute these court officials for him back then.

These words should have come from Cheng Jun's mouth, but instead they're coming out of mine. Now I'm smearing mud on my crotch, isn't that...?

The civil and military officials would certainly think that he was helping Li Shimin suppress the five surnames and seven noble families.

But now, Changsun Wuji has no choice. Li Shimin made him take the blame, and if he was willing to take it, he could at least save face. If he was unwilling to take it, Li Shimin would have to help him save face.

The middle-aged man in the red robe frowned and said, "That's not right. I heard that His Majesty asked you to investigate this matter."

Changsun Wuji looked at him and said, "During my trial, those criminals confessed to causing the salt price to rise. Since they have confessed, shouldn't they be punished?"

"Since the evidence is conclusive, the two cases should be merged into one."

Another minister in red robes shouted, "But their homes should not be confiscated! According to the laws of our Great Tang Dynasty, their crimes do not warrant such punishment!"

At this moment, Li Shimin's voice rang out from the direction of the dragon throne:

"The punishment of confiscating their property was indeed a bit excessive, but Minister Changsun insisted on doing so, saying that they should be severely punished as a warning to others, and I trust his judgment."

Changsun Wuji forced a smile and could only bow, saying, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Li Shimin smiled at him; Fu Ji still knew how to maintain his dignity.

The courtiers who had stepped forward fell silent upon hearing this; at this point, there was no point in them saying anything.

Seeing this, Li Shimin continued:

"The matter of confiscating the property will be handled by the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice. The matter of repatriation will also be handled by the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice."

Sun Fujia, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Li Daozong, the Minister of Justice who had returned to his post, stepped forward at the same time and bowed, saying, "Your subjects obey the decree."

Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji and said:

"Minister Changsun, say what you have to say."

Changsun Wuji knew what he wanted to say, and since the blame was already on his head, he no longer held back and said:

"There is another matter. According to my investigation, there are still some people in the court who are openly or secretly helping the powerful families. These people should not remain in the court and should all be transferred out of the capital."

As he spoke, he pulled a memorial from his sleeve, held it up, and said, "Your Majesty, this is the list."

Zhang Anan glanced at Li Shimin, waiting for his instructions to retrieve the item.

Li Shimin made no move and said, "I won't look at the list. You are the Minister of Personnel, you know the situation well, so you should be in charge."

Changsun Wuji was numb. Since he had already taken the blame for all these things, one more wouldn't make a difference. "Your subject obeys the decree."

Li Shimin then smiled, gave Changsun Wuji and Cheng Jun, who was standing at the door, an approving look, and said:

"Minister Changsun, Minister Cheng, you have done very well."

Cheng Jun immediately and solemnly followed Changsun Wuji's example, bowing towards the direction of the dragon throne.

Li Shimin looked at the crowd and said:

"My dear ministers, you should all take this as a warning. You must know that the law is merciless. You must not act recklessly, or you will suffer the same fate as Cui Caiqi!"

The civil and military officials were startled and said in unison, "Your Majesty's teachings will be obeyed."

Li Shimin waved his hand, "Take Cui Caiqi away!"

Then, in front of all the civil and military officials, he verbally praised Changsun Wuji and Cheng Jun.

Changsun Wuji remained expressionless. Although he received verbal praise, he couldn't smile at all because he sensed that the civil and military officials at the morning court were looking at him with a cold gaze.

Cheng Jun smiled naturally.

After this incident, no one dared to covet his refined salt anymore.

After all, those who have designs on him either confiscate his property and send him back to his hometown, or transfer him away from the capital.

He was very satisfied with the result.

"My esteemed ministers, if there is nothing else, let us adjourn the court."

"Your Majesty, I respectfully bid you farewell."

Cheng Jun, along with the civil and military officials, bowed to Li Shimin and watched him depart.

Immediately afterwards, he left the Taiji Hall and headed towards the Ganlu Hall, where Li Shimin had gone.

The matter of stabilizing salt prices is over; now it's time to go and ask him for the money.

Inside the Manna Hall.

After Li Shimin returned, he sat on the dragon throne and asked:

"Ananda, during the court session just now, did the attitudes of the civil and military officials towards Fuji change?"

Zhang Anan responded, "This servant saw that among the officials, quite a few had long faces and were giving Minister Changsun a hard time."

As Li Shimin picked up a memorial and opened it, he sighed, "Someone has to be the villain."

"He's the most suitable."

"I can tell that this is what he does."