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

Inside the Taiji Hall, silence fell instantly.

Everyone stared at Cheng Jun, truly not expecting that he would not only dare to curse at Lu Ting, but also knock off the other man's official hat.

This is during the morning court session! They're incredibly audacious... The last person to do this was Xiao Yu and Chen Shuda. At that time, Li Shimin, who was sitting on the dragon throne, was so angry that he overturned the imperial desk.

The civil and military officials looked at Li Shimin, only to see that Li Shimin's face was calm, not only was he not angry, but the corners of his mouth were even turned up.

At this moment, after knocking off Lu Ting's official hat, Cheng Jun lowered his hand holding the tablet, not looking at the stunned Lu Ting, but instead looking at Li Shimin, and solemnly said:

"Your Majesty, three days is enough to prove that the punishment of those criminals who suppressed salt prices has nothing to do with the earthquake. I request Your Majesty to withdraw the decree of leniency and exile or repatriate those criminals who should be exiled!"

"At the same time, I request Your Majesty to reinstate Minister Changsun to the position of Minister of Personnel!"

Lu Ting snapped out of his daze and shouted:

"Your Majesty, you mustn't listen to him!"

"Cheng Jun is talking nonsense!"

Li Shimin was watching with great interest. He had to admit that standing beside Cheng Jun and watching him do things was incredibly pleasant.

Hearing Lu Ting's shout, Li Shimin looked at him and asked:

"How do you know, Minister Lu?"

Because his official hat had been knocked off, Lu Ting was extremely agitated and said:

"If what Cheng Jun said is true, he and Changsun Wuji were conducting the interrogation according to the law and handling the case according to the law, how could Heaven be so angry as to send down a warning?"

"The fact that the earthquake is still raging can only mean that someone has been wronged during Cheng Jun and Changsun Wuji's investigation!"

Lu Ting's voice resounded throughout the court: "His Majesty has pardoned those who have been wronged, therefore, Heaven is no longer angry. The fact that the earthquakes have been frequent these past few days, but have not increased in intensity, is enough to prove this point!"

"As for why the earthquakes haven't stopped, I believe the reason lies with Cheng Jun!"

Lu Ting first glared at Cheng Jun, then said towards the direction of the dragon throne:

"Your Majesty's punishment of Cheng Jun is too lenient! I beg Your Majesty to severely punish Cheng Jun again. Only in this way can the earthquake be completely stopped!"

In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to Cheng Jun.

Cheng Jun chuckled and said:

"Lu Shaoqing, your ability to use words is truly extraordinary."

"But don't forget, the reason we all felt the wrath of Heaven was because of the incessant earthquakes. Now you're separating the wrath of Heaven from the earthquakes. What does that mean? It means you have ulterior motives!"

Cheng Jun said calmly, "Heaven sent down a warning, so we all felt that Heaven was furious."

"If there hadn't been an earthquake, who would have known that Heaven was angry? The fact that the earthquake hasn't stopped means that Heaven is still angry."

"How can you say that His Majesty has pardoned those criminals from the five noble families and seven prominent clans, and that Heaven's wrath has been appeased?"

"If the wrath of the heavens has truly subsided, there shouldn't be any more earthquakes!"

"The fact that the earthquake is still happening means that God is still angry!"

Cheng Jun looked at Lu Ting, and seeing that his lips were open, he didn't give him a chance to speak, and decisively continued:

"On the first day of the earthquake, His Majesty dismissed me from my post and pardoned those criminals from the five noble families and seven prominent clans. On the second day of the earthquake, His Majesty dismissed Minister Changsun from his post and led the Empress, the Crown Prince, the princes and princesses, and the concubines in a period of fasting."

"Today is the third day since the earthquake! His Majesty has found that everything he has done after listening to your report has been ineffective! Doesn't that already prove that the problem lies with you?"

"After these past few days, I think all the civil and military officials present have already realized that you, Lu Ting, the Vice Minister of Agriculture, are using the earthquake to eliminate dissidents!"

Having said that, Cheng Jun raised the tablet in his hand, pointed it at Lu Ting's nose, and shouted:

"What, you dare to do it but not admit it?"

Lu Ting roared, "Nonsense!"

Then, he looked at Li Shimin and said excitedly:

"Your Majesty firmly believes that the punishment you gave Cheng Jun was too lenient. I beg Your Majesty to issue an edict to severely punish Cheng Jun again! Only in this way can the wrath of Heaven be appeased and the earthquake stopped! I beg Your Majesty to consider this carefully!"

After saying that, he bowed deeply.

The next second, among the red-robed ministers standing outside the hall, someone strode to the hall door, cupped his hands, and said:

"I second the proposal!"

"I also second the proposal!"

"For the sake of the court, the nation, and the Tang Dynasty, Minister Lu stood up to expose the treacherous officials of the court. Your Majesty must not let such a loyal minister be disheartened!"

"Your Majesty, please issue a decree to severely punish Cheng Jun!"

The purple-robed ministers inside the hall turned to look at the hall entrance. Fang Xuanling, who was standing at the front of the civil officials' line, frowned. The five surnames and seven clans were truly deeply rooted.

I thought the salt price issue had already caused the five surnames and seven clans to suffer heavy losses, but I didn't expect so many more people to emerge now.

Moreover, most of these people did not come from the Five Surnames.

If these people hadn't stood up for Lu Ting, he wouldn't have known that they were connected to the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families.

They've kept it well hidden... Not only him, but Wen Yanbo's expression also turned solemn. He glanced at the direction of the dragon throne, and it seemed that the most surprised person at this moment was His Majesty.

At this moment, seeing more than ten ministers stand up to support Lu Ting, Li Shimin's face darkened.

Unexpectedly, there are so many court officials connected to the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families hidden in the imperial court.

It seems that restoring Cheng Jun to his original position was the right thing to do; his words at the morning court session have caught quite a few big fish!

Li Shimin coldly observed them, then turned his gaze to Cheng Jun and asked:

"Minister Cheng, they want me to punish you. What do you think?"

Cheng Jun was also watching these people who had stepped forward, memorizing their faces. He then fixed his gaze on Lu Ting and questioned him:

"Li Shaoqing, you keep saying that the reason the earthquakes haven't stopped is because of my relationship with Minister Changsun."

"I just don't understand, why is the problem with us, and not with you?"

"The way His Majesty has handled things over the past few days has proven that it is not a problem between me and Minister Changsun, nor is it a problem with His Majesty."

Cheng Jun pointed at him and said solemnly:

"That clearly shows it's your problem!"

Lu Ting stared wide-eyed and said, "You're talking nonsense!"

Cheng Jun said seriously, "I have evidence!"

evidence?

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials listened attentively.

Li Shimin also perked up his ears and asked curiously:

"What evidence?"

Cheng Jun said in a deep voice, "Your subject has met with the Jade Emperor."

"..."

Inside the Ganlu Hall, there was an instant silence.

The civil and military officials stared at Cheng Jun with wide eyes, unable to believe their eyes.

"How can he say such things?" Although he thought this to himself, Li Shimin still straightened up on the dragon throne.