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

"what!!"

Wang Liang cried out in pain as he was whipped on the shoulder. He rubbed the spot where he had been hit and looked up at the girl. He was shocked and recognized her as Princess Chang Le at a glance.

Why are our own people fighting each other?

Before Wang Liang could figure it out, he saw the horsewhip that had just struck him draw a circle in the air and then swing back at him.

This time, Wang Liang was on guard. He immediately took a few steps back to dodge the whip, then immediately identified himself and shouted, "Your Highness, it was Minister Changsun who sent me!"

The girl asked, "Why did he call you here?"

Wang Liang said righteously, "You want me to come and see Cheng Jun make a fool of himself!"

"The loyal minister I just mentioned is Cheng Jun! He's already in such a miserable state, and you're still laughing at him? Are you even human?!"

Li Lizhi grew angrier the more she thought about it. She suddenly yanked on the reins, spurred her horse, and rode towards him. To Wang Liang's astonishment, she lashed the horse with the whip.

Snapped!

Changsun Wuji is her uncle, yet she doesn't side with him but instead stands up for Cheng Jun. Cheng Jun has impeached her before; has she been bewitched by Cheng Jun's impeachment...? Wang Liang cried out in pain, cursing inwardly as he frantically covered his head and ran away.

"You treacherous minister, where do you think you're going!"

Li Lizhi scolded and rode after him, raising her whip to lash him again and again.

Snapped!

"what--"

In an instant, Wang Liang fled in a sorry state, tears welling up in his eyes. The young girl, her eyebrows furrowed, rode her horse and chased after him with a whip in hand.

Each time the whip cracked, Wang Liang would cry out in pain.

Why is Princess Chang Le here...? Cheng Jun, who was secretly observing from around the corner, was taken aback when he saw this scene. What's going on? Is it fashionable for princesses to slap Wang Liang these days...?

At that moment, he saw the brown carriage that had entered Da'anfang suddenly stop by the roadside.

An old man with white hair and a dignified face stepped down from the carriage, holding a cane.

The person driving the carriage for him was a clerk from the Ministry of Personnel. The clerk first turned the carriage around so that the rear of the carriage was facing the direction of the Du family's gate, and the horses were facing out of Da'anfang. Once the business was done, he could leave directly.

He then tied the reins to a tree by the roadside, then helped the old man up and pointed to the Du family's gate, saying:

"Lord Li, this is the place that Minister Changsun is talking about."

"Go over there!"

The old man spoke in a voice that was aged yet dignified.

Li Shaobao? No doubt about it, he is none other than Li Gang, the Crown Prince assassin... Cheng Jun stared at his retreating figure, recalling the historical records about him.

Historically, Li Gang is most famous for teaching three crown princes.

The three crown princes were Yang Yong, the eldest son of Yang Jian; Li Jiancheng, the eldest son of Li Yuan; and Li Chengqian, the eldest son of Li Shimin.

Unfortunately, all three princes met tragic ends.

Because of this incident, later generations called him the Crown Prince Killer!

Changsun Wuji was actually able to persuade Li Gang... Cheng Jun was somewhat surprised. He watched as the other party walked towards the Du family's gate, then turned to look at the brown carriage parked by the roadside and exclaimed in surprise.

The carriage looks familiar...it seems to be the one from Leyunlou...Cheng Jun remembered that he had seen this carriage at Leyunlou before.

He was on the second floor at the time, and when he looked down through the window, this carriage was parked right below him.

It turned out the carriage belonged to Li Gang... Cheng Jun thought for a moment, walked up to the carriage, bent down to separate the carriage and the horse, then untied the reins, raised his muscular arm high, and slapped the horse's rump hard!

"Neigh!" The horse cried out in pain, rearing up and galloping away.

"It feels really good..." Cheng Jun withdrew his hand with satisfaction. Because the carriage's rear was facing the Du family's gate, no one noticed that the horses that had been pulling on the carriage had already run away.

Cheng Jun then returned to the wall at the corner and continued to observe the Du family's gate.

…………

The gate of the Du family.

At the entrance, the two groups were locked in a stalemate, neither willing to give way.

The military officers remained calm and collected, while Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang seemed to be discussing something, occasionally bursting into laughter.

Hu Yan stood calmly to one side, neither retreating nor advancing, simply confronting them.

Only the money-catching clerks stood by, extremely anxious.

None of the people present knew that they were the key to victory or defeat in this matter, yet they were still unable to enter the Du family's residence.

Lin Lingshi rubbed his forearm, which was still sore from being whipped, and said anxiously, "Young Master Hu, can't we find a way to get in?"

Hu Yan glanced at him sideways, then put on a stern face and said, "If we could get in, we would have already! Can't you see these military officers blocking the door?"

"What should I do?"

Lin Lingshi said urgently, "We have to think of a way!"

"No need to rush," Hu Yan waved his hand and said, "We must trust Minister Changsun's abilities!"

He estimated that Changsun Wuji already knew what was happening here and must have a way to deal with it.

The military officers were holding him back, but wasn't he also holding them back? Hu Yan sneered inwardly. He had to admit that Cheng Jun was remarkable; he was so young yet possessed such skills.

But that's the end of it!

Inviting the military officer here must be Cheng Jun's last resort.

However, his presence here was not Changsun Wuji's last trump card!

Cheng Jun is still too young... He overestimates himself!

As Hu Yan was pondering this, he suddenly saw an old man with white hair walking towards him in the distance. His expression immediately brightened with joy. As expected of Minister Changsun, he had actually invited him here. Hu Yan happily went to greet him and said, "This humble official, Hu Yan, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, greets Junior Protector Li!"

The military officers were also astonished when they saw the white-haired old man.

Princess Luling was startled when she heard Li Gang, the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, appear. She hadn't expected him to come. She turned to look at Li Jing and saw him frowning, realizing that Li Gang was not someone to be trifled with.

Li Gang, holding his cane, first nodded to Hu Yan, then looked at the fifty-seven military officers.

Li Jing took the lead, cupped his hands, and said, "Li Jing, Minister of War, greets Junior Protector Li."

"I have met Li Shaobao."

Everyone, including Princess Luling, bowed respectfully.

Li Gang was the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, and was also known as Junior Guardian Li.

The title of Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince is a second-rank official. Although it is only an honorary title, the rank is real.

Li Gang stopped, rested his hands on his cane, squinted and glanced at the crowd, and said, "It's quite a scene here. Almost all the military officials of the court are here. What are you all doing gathered here? Discussing how to rebel?"

Princess Luling quickly explained, "Lord Li, you've misunderstood!"

Li Gang looked at her and saw her standing with the military officers. He put on a stern face and said, "Princess Luling, you are a member of the royal family. Your every move outside is related to the face of the royal family. Come here and stand next to me!"

"Yes!" Princess Luling knew that the Crown Prince's Junior Guardian was not only highly respected but also notoriously strict. If she didn't listen to him, he would surely complain to His Majesty. To avoid being summoned to the palace and scolded, she had no choice but to stand helplessly beside him.

Li Gang fixed his gaze on Li Jing and the others, and questioned them, "Are you plotting a rebellion?"

"Don't dare!"

Li Jing responded immediately.

"Then what are you still standing here for? Go back!"

Li Gang rebuked him.

The military officers all looked at Li Jing, who was also feeling a headache. Li Gang's identity was extraordinary; he was the Crown Prince's teacher.

What is the Crown Prince? He is the heir apparent, the future emperor of the Tang Dynasty!

Li Gang's appearance represents not only his personal stance, but also the stance of the future emperor!

If you go against him now, it's like going against the future emperor!

At this time, angering Li Gang would be tantamount to angering the Crown Prince, which would ruin their son's future!

We have to give Li Gang face...

Seeing Li Jing's expression, everyone understood and showed expressions of helplessness. Cheng Jun had invited them not because they didn't want to help, but because they were simply unable to do so...

Hu Yan saw the expressions on the faces of the military officers, smiled, raised his arm, and prepared to let the judges from the Dali Temple rush in.

"So this is Changsun Wuji's trump card..." Cheng Jun thought to himself, stroking his chin in the distance.

Changsun Wuji has already played all his cards, while he has at most played four 3s. He still has a pair of Jokers in his hand, so it's time to reveal his hand.

Just then, he heard the sound of horses' hooves. He turned around and saw that Princess Chang Le was heading towards Li Gang. After a moment's thought, he realized that the Empress and her daughter were helping him, which surprised him.

Turns out I had a pair of 2s...

Then there's no rush to play the trump card.

Everyone heard the sound of horses' hooves and looked towards Princess Chang Le.

Faced with pressure from Li Gang, Li Jing was preparing to compromise and leave with his men.

Seeing Princess Chang Le riding over, his eyes flickered, and he swallowed back the words that were rising in his throat.

Not only him, but Princess Luling's eyes also sparkled with excitement. Back in the princess's residence, she had asked Ma Zhou to return to the Censorate to find the Grand Censor Wen Yanbo. Wen Yanbo must have known about this matter, and then went to find the Empress!

The Empress is a virtuous empress; the fact that she summoned Princess Chang Le here shows that she is definitely on Cheng Jun's side!

At this moment, Hu Yan, the Vice Minister of Dali, frowned, lowered his raised arm, and looked at Li Lizhi, who had dismounted and was walking over. Although he did not know why Princess Chang Le had come, one thing was certain: she represented the Empress.

Could it be that the siblings are at odds...? Hu Yan was filled with doubt and immediately approached Li Gang, saying, "Lord Li, this humble official wishes to go in and arrest someone."

"Not urgent."

Upon hearing this, Li Gang waved his hand, his tone somewhat displeased that Hu Yan lacked tact and couldn't see His Majesty's beloved daughter approaching.

Helpless, Hu Yan could only stand aside and watch the girl walk to Li Gang's side.

Li Gang asked curiously, "Princess Chang Le, what brings you here?"

"Greetings, Junior Protector Li!" Li Lizhi bowed to him first, then raised her head and said with a sweet smile, "My mother sent me to invite you to the Lizheng Hall!"

Li Gang frowned and asked, "What does Your Majesty the Empress want with me?"

"It's related to the Crown Prince's affairs."

Li Lizhi put away her smile and said seriously, "My mother said that you must go there immediately. She is keeping track of the time. If you haven't entered the palace by the time the time comes, she will hold the Crown Prince accountable!"

Li Gang opened his eyes wide and said, "Has His Highness the Crown Prince made a mistake?"

Li Lizhi said, "That should be the case, but it might not be..."

"That must be it!" Li Gang's expression changed, and he turned to Hu Yan, the Vice Minister of Dali, and said, "I'm leaving this matter to you. It concerns the Crown Prince, and I must go to the palace immediately!"

Hu Yan's expression stiffened. "Lord Li, can we finish dealing with this matter first...?"

Li Gang interrupted him directly, saying, "We can't wait. No matter how big your matter is, it can't be bigger than the matter of the Crown Prince!"

Li Lizhi helped him up, saying, "Young Master Li, let me help you walk."

"Slow down, I have a foot ailment and can't walk so fast!"

Soon, Li Gang was helped to the carriage. Just as he was about to get in, he suddenly sensed something was wrong. He turned his head and saw that the carriage, which had been perfectly fine when they arrived, was now just a carriage. His eyes widened immediately, and he shouted excitedly, "Which damn bastard stole my horse again?!"

Li Lizhi paused for a moment, then suddenly realized something, and her expression turned strange. It turned out he had been here all along.

Seeing Li Gang cursing incessantly while leaning on his cane, Li Lizhi, fearing that delay might lead to trouble, ran to fetch her chestnut horse, tied it to the carriage, and said:

"Young Master Li, use my horse first, let's go!"

"How embarrassing..."

"Getting into the palace first is the priority!"

“You’re right,” Li Gang immediately got into the carriage and watched Li Lizhi drive it out of Da’an Ward. He couldn’t help but complain, “Your Highness, you don’t know, the atmosphere in Chang’an City has been terrible lately. There are thieves! Last time I lost my carriage, this time I lost my horse, and who knows if I’ll lose face next time!”

"Pfft..." Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi almost burst out laughing. She immediately covered her lips and dared not turn around to look at him.

Li Gang was still enraged by the theft of his horse and did not notice Li Lizhi's unusual behavior. He cursed and said, "I must find this horse thief and beat him to death!"

…………

Outside the Du family's gate, all was silent.

The two groups watched as Li Gang boarded the carriage and left Da'anfang.

They immediately looked at each other again.

Hu Yan gritted his teeth, raised his arm, and shouted, "Men, rush in and arrest them!"

One hundred judges from the Dali Temple rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

"Who dares!"

Li Jing spoke first.

Upon hearing this, the hundred officials from the Dali Temple exchanged glances and silently rolled up their sleeves.

Hu Yan stared at him and said, "Minister Li, didn't you hear what Junior Protector Li said just now?"

Li Jing said, "I heard it."

Hu Yan asked, "Li Shaobao told you to go back, so what are you still doing standing here?"

Li Jing said calmly, "Li Shaobao did tell us to go back, but he didn't say when we should go back, so when we should go back is up to us."

"Nonsense!" Hu Yan retorted, "Commander Li clearly means for you to go back now!"

"you sure?"

"Sure!"

Li Jing chuckled and said, "Then please call Li Shaobao back, I want to ask him."

…………

Extra chapter! Many thanks to the reader "September Early Encounter" for this amazing contribution! Grateful!