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

Fang Xuanling said helplessly, "Why can't you listen to advice?"

Changsun Wuji looked at him. Advise? I haven't done anything wrong, why should I listen to advice?

After learning about yesterday's events, Changsun Wuji conducted a special investigation and discovered that Li Shimin dismissed Cheng Jun because Cheng Jun himself requested the dismissal!

In other words, Cheng Jun endured the hardship without any real effort!

With Li Shimin on their side and the emperor protecting them, what was there to be afraid of!

Changsun Wuji scoffed at Cheng Jun's request to be dismissed from his official post.

He would never follow Cheng Jun's path, after all, he was the Minister of Personnel and had people in the court.

If we really go against them, those ministers associated with the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families are just a bunch of rabble and not worth worrying about!

Just then, the palace gates opened, and civil and military officials filed in one after another.

Changsun Wuji didn't bother to explain and simply followed the ministers towards the Taiji Hall.

Seeing his confident demeanor, Fang Xuanling secretly shook his head, said nothing more, and followed him.

After the announcement was finished, the civil and military officials stood in their positions, and then a loud voice could be heard coming from afar outside the hall:

"Your Majesty has arrived——"

All the civil and military officials turned their attention to the scene.

Li Shimin, with an imposing air despite his lack of anger, was dressed in the emperor's everyday robes as he walked towards them.

When Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, all the civil and military officials bowed and said:

"I will pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"My esteemed ministers, you may rise and dispense with the formalities."

Li Shimin said in a deep voice, looking at the civil and military officials who had stood up. He didn't see Cheng Jun, and he felt uneasy.

He gathered his thoughts, looked at his ministers, and asked, "Did any of you feel the earthquake before the morning court session this day?"

All the civil and military officials said in unison, "We have felt it."

Li Shimin grunted in agreement and then said, "Yesterday, Lu Shaoqing of the Ministry of Agriculture, along with nine other ministers, impeached Cheng Jun before me."

"I think this is very reasonable, and I hereby dismiss Cheng Jun from his position as Palace Attendant Censor."

"They also said that they wanted me to pardon the criminals who were severely punished yesterday."

"I agree."

Li Shimin said solemnly, "I have done everything I should have done, so why is Heaven still issuing warnings?"

"Where is Minister Lu?!"

Upon hearing Li Shimin's call, Lu Ting, the Vice Minister of Agriculture, immediately entered the main hall, bowed, and said, "Your subject is here."

Li Shimin said calmly, "Lu Shaoqing, tell me, what is the reason?"

Lu Ting had already prepared his words, cupped his hands in greeting, took out a memorial from his sleeve, and said:

"I believe Your Majesty has not done enough!"

"In yesterday's case, Cheng Jun was merely assisting; the presiding judge was Changsun Wuji!"

Lu Ting raised the memorial high and said in a loud voice:

"His Majesty did not punish Changsun Wuji, therefore, Heaven has not stopped issuing warnings."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji flew into a rage, stepped forward, and shouted, "Your Majesty, I believe he is talking nonsense!"

Li Shimin glanced at him and said:

"However, Cheng Jun thought what he said made sense, and even asked me to dismiss him in order to appease the wrath of the heavens."

"Are you inferior to Cheng Jun?"

What does this mean...? Changsun Wuji's pupils shrank. Aren't we on the same side? How come Your Majesty is standing on the side of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families?

The civil and military officials were also taken aback, and some doubts arose in their hearts.

Li Shimin sighed, "Heaven is warning me. As the Son of Heaven, I absolutely cannot sit idly by."

"I'll do anything to appease the wrath of Heaven!"

After saying that, he shouted:

"Guards, remove Changsun Wuji's official hat and robe. Effective immediately, dismiss Changsun Wuji from his position as Minister of Personnel!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two guards immediately entered the hall and decisively removed Changsun Wuji's official hat.

One of the guards said, "Minister Changsun, please take off your official robes!"

Changsun Wuji's eyes were red. Before going to court, he made up his mind to resolutely not follow Cheng Jun's path.

But he never expected that Li Shimin would help him choose!

"His Majesty--"

Changsun Wuji said with a sorrowful expression that he was trying to awaken Li Shimin's heart and persuade him not to harm his own people.

However, what he received in return was Li Shimin's cold response:

"Are you going to defy the imperial decree?"

Changsun Wuji's breath hitched. He hadn't expected Li Shimin to be so resolute. His face flushed red, and under the watchful eyes of the civil and military officials, he took off his purple official robe and handed it to the guard beside him.

Li Shimin's expression softened, and he continued:

"Minister Lu, I have dismissed Changsun Wuji from his post. Do you think Heaven will be appeased?"

Lu Ting was secretly delighted. He hadn't expected to so easily cause Cheng Jun and Changsun Wuji, these two thorns in the side of the five noble families and seven powerful clans, to lose their official positions. Suppressing his joy, he cupped his hands and said:

"Your Majesty is wise! I believe that Heaven will surely withdraw its warning, and I am pleased for Your Majesty!"

Li Shimin said calmly, "That's good!"

"In just two days, I have dismissed two officials from their posts. But upon careful consideration, I am the Emperor, and Heaven has sent down this warning. I cannot shirk my responsibility. From this day forward, I will fast together with the Empress, the Crown Prince, and all the princes, princesses, and concubines."

"Until Heaven withdraws its warning!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the civil and military officials were startled. His Majesty had already made his stance clear, how could they remain indifferent?

Fang Xuanling immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and we are your subjects. Heaven has sent down this warning, and we cannot escape blame. We are willing to forgo this month's salary, just to appease Heaven's wrath!"

Upon seeing this, the civil and military officials also expressed their opinions:

"We, your humble servants, are willing to stand with Lord Fang and forgo this month's salary, only to appease the wrath of Heaven!"

Li Shimin showed a pleased expression and said:

"My dear ministers, you are very kind. In that case, I will use your salaries for this month to reward the poor people. What do you think?"

Fang Xuanling and all the civil and military officials bowed and said in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Li Shimin stood up, put his hands behind his back, and said as he walked out of the hall, "Disperse."

"Your Majesty, I respectfully bid you farewell."

The civil and military officials bowed again and watched him depart.

Immediately, everyone's attention turned to Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji glared fiercely at Lu Ting, thinking that if it weren't for him, he wouldn't have been dismissed from his post.

Lu Ting snorted coldly and left with a flick of his sleeve.

Changsun Wuji was even more furious. He gritted his teeth and headed straight for Ganlu Palace.

He wanted to get an explanation from Li Shimin: why was he dismissing his own people? Even if it was divine wrath, it was a matter for the five noble families and seven prominent clans, not for him to be blamed.

However, before he could even reach the Ganlu Hall, a palace maid stopped him and said respectfully:

"Minister Changsun..."

Changsun Wuji said with a stern face, "I am no longer the Minister of Personnel. You can just call me by my name."

The palace maid looked at him strangely, noticing that Changsun Wuji was still angry about the morning court session, but not daring to call him by name, she said directly:

"Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence at the Lizheng Hall."

Changsun Wuji waved his hand and said, "No rush, I'll go to Ganlu Hall first."

The palace maid said, "Her Majesty the Empress said that she will give you an explanation for your matter."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji calmed down and sensed something fishy was going on, so he said, "Lead the way."

The palace maid gestured for him to proceed, and then led him to the Lizheng Hall.