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

Li Shimin didn't believe a word Cheng Jun said.

He was certain that Cheng Jun was targeting Changsun Wuji, but because he saw that Cheng Jun was biased towards Changsun Wuji, he used him as a scapegoat.

In military terms, it's like striking a snake at its vital point or capturing its king first.

Why did I choose him as censor? Isn't this a headache...? Li Shimin looked Cheng Jun up and down and twitched the corner of his mouth.

Although he complained, he knew very well that he had made the right choice in selecting Cheng Jun as the censor!

Cheng Jun was exceptionally competent as an imperial censor!

He was even more competent than Wei Zheng!

Oh, and there's also Wei Zheng... Thinking of this, Li Shimin felt like he was about to explode; these two were both incredibly eloquent.

"Your Majesty, do you think what I just said makes sense?"

At that moment, Cheng Jun's voice rang out.

Li Shimin came to his senses and had no choice but to nod. Then he said seriously, "I admit that what you said makes sense! But, Minister Cheng, you must know that if we abolish the capital of the government offices and dismiss the money collectors, where will the monthly salaries of the officials come from? Don't even mention me paying for it. I don't have any money either, let alone the government treasury. Those ministers in the Ministry of Revenue are all misers and won't give a penny."

A fu is a place where things gather; a treasury is a place where gold and silk are stored.

The so-called "fu treasury" refers to the national treasury.

Cheng Jun shook his head and said, "Your Majesty should not ask me how to resolve this matter, but rather the Prime Minister. I am merely an official who speaks out."

"Prime Minister..."

Li Shimin pondered these two words, then looked up and asked, "Summon Changsun Wuji and ask him what he thinks?"

Cheng Jun solemnly replied, "Your Majesty's will is divinely ordained."

"It's up to me to decide..." Li Shimin chuckled. He had just been testing Cheng Jun to see what Cheng Jun would say.

If he says yes, then he's been tricked.

After all, there were so many prime ministers, why didn't he mention Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, but only when he mentioned Changsun Wuji did he immediately think it was acceptable?

This is enough to prove that Cheng Junshen's purpose was for Changsun Wuji!

When the time comes, we'll use this to punish him, and he'll have absolutely nothing to say!

But I can't figure it out.

That kid's too clever!

Li Shimin turned to Zhang Anan and said angrily, "Go and call Changsun Wuji over here! Call him over!"

Damn it, why should I take the blame for Changsun Wuji's mistakes?!

"promise!"

Zhang Anan immediately accepted the imperial decree and personally went to the Ministry of Personnel to deliver it.

…………

Imperial City, Ministry of Personnel.

Wang Liang's sobs echoed throughout the hall.

"This is outrageous! I'm not here to laugh at Cheng Jun, I'm here to get whipped!"

"I went to Da'anfang twice and was whipped more than a dozen times by each of the two princesses. I can understand why Princess Luling whipped me, but I really can't understand why Princess Changle whipped me more than a dozen times!"

The middle-aged man in the green robe cried to Changsun Wuji, "Minister Changsun, you stood up for the Empress and Princess Changle, so why don't they appreciate your kindness and instead oppose you?"

Changsun Wuji's eyes twitched as he looked at the whip marks all over the man's body. He said, "Didn't you tell Princess Chang Le that I sent you over?"

"How could I not tell? It was only because I told her that Princess Chang Le beat me even more severely!"

"..."

Li Zhi actually sided with Cheng Jun. What was she thinking...? Changsun Wuji held his forehead, unable to understand for a long time. He could understand why Empress Changsun didn't want him to deal with Cheng Jun, which was why he was avoiding him. But Li Li Zhi's siding with outsiders was truly unexpected.

Seeing that Wang Liang was still crying and complaining, Changsun Wuji was a little annoyed and waved his hand impatiently, saying, "Alright, alright, go back now. I won't treat you badly!"

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Wang Liang stopped crying abruptly, wiped away his tears, smiled, and bowed, saying, "With Minister Changsun's words, I believe I will be transferred back to the capital soon. I will take my leave!"

After saying this, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and left.

Changsun Wuji let out a breath, rubbed his temples, and recalled the news Wang Liang had brought back. Only then did he realize that the person secretly spying in Da'anfang was Cheng Jun.

This kid was actually there the whole time, but he never showed up.

"If I am formless while others are formless, then I will concentrate my power while my enemy is divided..."

Changsun Wuji, who had fought alongside Li Shimin on the battlefield for many years, immediately discerned Cheng Jun's purpose in doing so. He muttered to himself, "Can Sun Tzu's Art of War be used like this...? I almost forgot that this boy is the son of a military officer. I really underestimated him."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the ministry hall.

Changsun Wuji looked up and was surprised to find that the person who came was the middle-aged eunuch in purple robes who was by the Emperor's side. At the same time, he immediately realized that something was wrong in the palace and stood up and said, "Eunuch Zhang, is His Majesty looking for me?"

Eunuch Zhang nodded and said, "This humble servant has come by imperial decree to request that Minister Changsun enter the palace with the imperial order!"

"it is good!"

Changsun Wuji immediately followed him to the palace. Halfway there, he asked curiously, "Eunuch Zhang, what does His Majesty want me to do in the palace?"

Zhang, the eunuch, slowed his pace and walked alongside him, looking at him seriously as he said, "Let's discuss politics."

Changsun Wuji felt a chill run down his spine. The words "discussing politics" carried considerable weight; mentioning them inevitably involved matters of national importance.

"What does it relate to?"

"It's related to the government's capital and the money-collecting clerks."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji stopped in his tracks, stared at him in a daze, and then voiced his doubts.

"what?"

Public funds, money-grabbing clerks?

Isn't this all aimed at him?

Changsun Wuji saw that Zhang, the eunuch, had also stopped and was looking at him with a furrowed brow when he asked, "Zhang, what is the situation on His Majesty's side?"

Zhang Anan said solemnly, "I shouldn't be telling you these things, but since you are the Empress's brother and His Majesty's confidant, I will tell you the truth."

"Cheng Jun has entered the palace!"

"So that's how it is. No wonder you thought it was aimed at me..." Changsun Wuji instantly understood and sneered, "So, Cheng Jun impeached me before His Majesty?"

This kid is really overestimating himself!

Did he think that running up to His Majesty to impeach me would make His Majesty side with him? If Cheng Jun thinks that way, he is sorely mistaken!

My sister is the Empress, and my relationship with His Majesty is far beyond that of an ordinary ruler and his subject. Seeking justice from His Majesty is like a fly trying to get into a lampshade—it'll just keep hitting walls...

Changsun Wuji looked pleased and was about to go over to see Cheng Jun make a fool of himself when he found Zhang Anan standing there expressionless, staring at him. A thought struck him: Had he guessed wrong?

"That's impossible..." Changsun Wuji asked doubtfully, "Eunuch Zhang, am I wrong?"

Zhang Anan shook his head and said, "That's not right."

"What's wrong?"

"Cheng Jun did not impeach you."

Changsun Wuji frowned and said, "That can't be right. The Dali Temple went to Da'anfang to investigate Du Jingjian's involvement in the public office's capital, and the more than 600 money-collecting clerks from various departments in the capital surrounded the Du family. Cheng Jun must have guessed that it was related to me. If he hadn't impeached me, why would His Majesty have summoned me to the palace because of the public office's capital and the money-collecting clerks?"

Zhang Anan looked at him and said, word by word, "Minister Changsun, as I just said, His Majesty summoned you to the palace to discuss state affairs, which involve matters of great importance to the military and the nation!"

"Investigating Du Jingjian and surrounding his house—does Minister Changsun consider these two matters to be of great importance to the nation?"

Changsun Wuji asked, completely bewildered, "So what exactly did Cheng Jun do upon entering the palace?"

"He impeached His Majesty."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji's eyes widened instantly, and he let out a cry from the depths of his soul.

"what?"

…………

Bonus chapter.