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

Cheng Jun stepped over the threshold and entered the hall.

Without Li Shimin giving any instructions, Zhang Anan went to the side, took a cushion, and placed it near the dragon throne.

"Sit down and talk."

Li Shimin pointed to the cushion and said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Cheng Jun responded and sat down.

Li Shimin sighed and said:

"You heard what that guard said just now. If I'm not mistaken, these ministers are requesting an audience with me because they want to impeach you and Changsun Wuji!"

Cheng Jun pondered for a moment and said, "I think so too."

Li Shimin said slowly, "I can't delay for long. I still need to see them later, otherwise my subordinates will say that someone is blocking my speech."

"Let's get straight to the point."

Li Shimin looked at him and said, "How do you think we should deal with this earthquake?"

Cheng Jun thought for a moment and said, "I believe that the response this time is not to the earthquake, but to the accusations made by the court officials."

Li Shimin's eyes flashed, and he said:

"What you're saying is the same as what Wei Zheng meant."

It seems Old Li has already asked around... Cheng Jun thought to himself.

Li Shimin continued:

Wei Zheng also said that the difficulty this time lies with the court officials.

"However, he couldn't think of a solution."

Li Shimin said solemnly, "If you also have no solution, then I really can't protect you and Changsun Wuji this time!"

"Therefore, you absolutely must come up with a solution!"

Cheng Jun said, "I do have a solution."

There really is one... Li Shimin's expression brightened; he knew he was a genius at coming up with ideas, and he quickly asked:

"any solution?"

Cheng Jun solemnly replied, "My solution is to defeat magic with magic!"

Magic... Li Shimin looked bewildered. What did that mean?

Cheng Jun explained, "It means using the ministers' words to talk about them, that is, giving them a taste of their own medicine!"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up. "That's a good idea."

"Zhang Xingcheng just came by and said that this earthquake was caused by a minister plotting something treacherous."

"At this moment, those ministers outside the palace who want to see me will probably write you and Changsun Wuji as treacherous officials in their memorials."

Li Shimin looked at him and said, "I have ordered Changsun Wuji, together with Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, to submit a memorial stating that this earthquake was a warning from Heaven that there were traitors in the court. Isn't this what you call 'using their own methods against them'?"

Cheng Jun shook his head and said, "No."

Li Shimin was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Why not?"

Cheng Jun said, "My solution is to address the problem at its root, but Your Majesty's approach is only causing endless arguments among the court officials."

"Therefore, I believe that Your Majesty's approach is merely a delaying tactic and cannot fundamentally solve the problem."

Cheng Jun solemnly said, "If Minister Changsun and his group make mistakes in their work in the future, the other side will definitely bring up the earthquake as an excuse, and vice versa. Wouldn't this just lead to factional strife?"

Li Shimin frowned and asked, "Then what exactly do you mean by using magic to defeat magic?"

Cheng Jun said seriously:

"As Your Majesty just said, those ministers outside the palace came to impeach me and Minister Changsun. What are their reasons for impeaching us? It must be because I and Minister Changsun investigated the crimes committed by the five clans and seven noble families."

"These people believe that it was because I and Minister Changsun investigated this matter that Heaven was angered and sent down a warning."

Cheng Jun said earnestly, "As long as I can prove that the warning sent down by Heaven has nothing to do with me, they will have nothing to say."

Li Shimin asked incredulously, "Can you prove that the earthquake had nothing to do with you?"

Cheng Jun nodded and said, "Yes!"

"Really?" Li Shimin looked at him suspiciously.

Just then, the middle-aged guard hurriedly arrived at the palace gate, clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the dragon throne, and said:

"Your Majesty, those ten ministers are crying and shouting outside the palace, saying that there are people in the court who are blocking channels of communication and deceiving Your Majesty..."

Li Shimin was not at all surprised by the tricks these ministers played. He frowned and pondered what excuse he could use to fob them off.

Cheng Jun's voice suddenly rang out:

"Please let them in, Your Majesty. I need to prove to them that the earthquake had nothing to do with me."

Li Shimin looked at Cheng Jun with surprise and suspicion, and seeing his confident expression, nodded slightly and said to the middle-aged guard:

"Let them in."

The middle-aged guard clasped his hands and said, "As you command!"

Before long, ten ministers in robes of different colors filed into the Ganlu Hall, bowed, and said in unison:

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

Li Shimin glanced at them. The middle-aged man in red robes at the head was Lu Ting, the Vice Minister of Agriculture. He knew in his heart that this group of rebels was led by Lu Ting. He said calmly:

"My beloved ministers, what brings you to the palace to see me?"

Lu Ting stepped forward, his expression sorrowful, and said:

"Your Majesty, those people from the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families are all innocent!"

"This warning from Heaven is the evidence!"

"Your Majesty, I beg you to pardon them. Only in this way can the wrath of Heaven be appeased!"

As he spoke, he took out a memorial from his sleeve, held it high, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, please consider this!"

The other nine ministers also pulled out their memorials from their sleeves, raised them high, and said:

"Your Majesty, please understand!"

Li Shimin waved his hand, signaling Zhang Anan to place their memorials on the imperial desk, but he didn't look at them. Instead, he looked at Cheng Jun and asked:

"Minister Cheng, do you think I should pardon them?"

Before Cheng Jun could respond, Lu Ting suddenly shouted:

"Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

"I want to impeach Cheng Jun because it is because of him that I have incurred the wrath of Heaven and caused the earth to shake uncontrollably!"

"If Your Majesty merely pardons those from the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families, I believe it is far from enough. Cheng Jun must also be punished!"

"After all, the five clans and seven noble families were wronged because of Cheng Jun. Your Majesty, I beg you to punish Cheng Jun to appease the wrath of Heaven!"

After speaking, Lu Ting took out another memorial from his robes, held it high, and said loudly:

"Your Majesty, please understand!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the nine ministers standing behind him also took out memorials from their sleeves without hesitation, raised them, and loudly proclaimed:

"Your Majesty, we beg you to make the wise judgment!"

"They've prepared so thoroughly in such a short time. I really underestimated them..." Li Shimin was annoyed and was about to slam his fist on the table and reprimand them.

Cheng Jun's voice rang out at the right time:

"Your Majesty, I believe their words are not without merit. I also request Your Majesty to issue an edict to pardon those people from the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families!"

After speaking, to the astonishment of Li Shimin and Lu Ting, Cheng Jun removed the xiezhi crown from his head, placed it on the dragon desk, took a few steps back, and bowed towards the dragon throne, saying:

"I also beg Your Majesty to dismiss me from my post as Palace Attendant Censor, in order to appease the wrath of Heaven!"