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

It took Changsun Wuji a long time to recover from the shock.

The reason he targeted Cheng Jun was because Cheng Jun had impeached the Empress yesterday.

Upon hearing the news that Empress Zhangsun had been punished by His Majesty, Zhangsun Wuji was furious. He also heard that the Imperial Censor Liu Xiangdao had been driven to the Imperial Medical Bureau in anger, so he instigated his father Liu Linfu to deal with Cheng Jun.

Unexpectedly, Liu Linfu also got caught up in the mess.

Finally, he took charge himself.

Because Cheng Jun was a censor and an official responsible for speaking out, he kept to himself and never showed his face.

In his view, the most powerful thing about censors was their eloquence.

In this matter, everything he did was in accordance with the law, so he believed he was infallible.

Unexpectedly, Cheng Jun went to report to His Majesty, bypassing him entirely.

"To save Du Jingjian, he went to impeach His Majesty; this is a classic case of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao'."

Changsun Wuji narrowed his eyes and said, "A good plan!"

"On the surface, they're criticizing His Majesty, but in reality, they're after me. A clever tactic—openly attacking one side while secretly advancing another!"

Listening to his analysis, Zhang Anan suddenly felt as if the clouds had parted and the sun had shone through, and he completely understood. He added, "His Majesty also said that Cheng Jun is shooting the horse before the rider, and capturing the king before the thief."

Changsun Wuji nodded slightly and asked, "What is His Majesty's attitude towards me now?"

"His Majesty is very dissatisfied with you."

"A divisive tactic... a brilliant move."

Changsun Wuji sneered, but if he thought that this would easily sow discord between him and His Majesty, he would be sorely mistaken.

His relationship with His Majesty was not as fragile as Cheng Jun thought.

His Majesty summoned him to the palace, clearly intending to deal with him himself.

Cheng Jun had gone around in circles, forcing himself out by petitioning His Majesty.

No wonder the Empress said that Cheng Jun was born in the Year of the Bird. Although His Majesty was on guard, he was still tricked by him and summoned her to the palace. He had fallen into Cheng Jun's trap.

"This young man, despite being an official in charge of remonstrance, is adept at using military strategy; he is truly remarkable."

Changsun Wuji clicked his tongue, "It seems I have no choice but to go and meet him."

"Eunuch Zhang, please lead the way."

Seeing Changsun Wuji's confident demeanor, Zhang Anan felt relieved and led him to the Ganlu Hall.

As Cheng Jun watched Changsun Wuji enter, he bowed slightly and said with a gentle and kind smile, "This humble official greets Minister Changsun."

Changsun Wuji glanced at him expressionlessly, ignoring him, and bowed to Li Shimin, who was dressed in the emperor's robes and had a stern face, saying, "Your subject, Changsun Wuji, Minister of Personnel, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Do you think I'm invisible...?" Cheng Jun's smile vanished. He looked at Li Shimin, solemnly cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, please accept your fate!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's face instantly turned green.

"Going to his death? What's going on? Playing this big..." Changsun Wuji was also startled. Now he had to take Cheng Jun seriously and preemptively shouted, "Cheng Jun, His Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and you are his subject. The ruler is the guide for his subjects. You want His Majesty to go to his death. This is treason!"

Cheng Jun said calmly, "Minister Changsun just arrived and is unaware of the situation. His Majesty himself just admitted that setting up the money-collecting clerks was selling official positions and titles, and that implementing public funds was robbing the people of their wealth, causing families to be ruined and people to die."

"It was His Majesty who said that such an emperor should be beheaded. What else can I say?"

Cheng Jun said seriously, "Am I to pretend to be deaf and dumb? If the censors pretend to be deaf and dumb, then the current emperor will surely be a foolish ruler. Emperor Yang of Sui was just like that, and everyone knows his fate. As the emperor's eyes and ears, how can I watch Your Majesty become a second Emperor Yang of Sui?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji looked at Li Shimin and thought, "Aren't you going to tear this mouth of his to shreds?"

When Li Shimin saw him looking at him, he flew into a rage and said, "Why are you looking at me? Show me him! If it weren't for you, would he have made me willing to die?"

His Majesty wants me to deal with Cheng Jun immediately... Changsun Wuji instantly understood, turned to look at Cheng Jun, and said sternly, "Cheng Jun, this is insubordination!"

Li Shimin waved his hand impatiently and said, "Don't talk about him. I just asked him for you, but it's no use. You said he was disrespectful to his superiors, but he said that's exactly what the censors do."

"Your Majesty, Cheng Jun's intentions are despicable!"

“I have already asked him for you. You said his heart was wicked, and he said that what the censor said was exactly what he meant by 'punishing the heart'.”

Changsun Wuji was taken aback. "Then what should I say?"

Li Shimin cursed, "What are you going to say? If you don't say something, I'll die here today!"

"..."

Changsun Wuji's lips twitched, knowing that Li Shimin was putting pressure on him. His expression turned solemn as he said, "Your Majesty, there is no blade in the world that can kill the emperor!"

"Can you only kill with a knife? He still has his mouth, doesn't he?"

Li Shimin was furious when he saw Changsun Wuji. He said, "And you! Why are you dragging me into your business? Why is it that when you deal with him, he turns around and deals with me? I feel so wronged!"

Cheng Jun interjected, "Your Majesty, this matter has absolutely nothing to do with Minister Changsun!"

Li Shimin choked with anger, looked at Changsun Wuji, and said through gritted teeth, "Listen to this, isn't it infuriating?"

"He keeps saying it has nothing to do with you, but every word he says is related to you!"

"What do you mean it has nothing to do with you? If it has nothing to do with you, why bring up the government's capital? What about the money-catching clerk?"

Cheng Jun solemnly replied, "I have no selfish motives; my heart is solely for the sake of the Great Tang Dynasty!"

"Shut up!"

Li Shimin said agitatedly, "I don't want to hear what you have to say right now!"

"..."

Changsun Wuji stared at him blankly. This kid is much more infuriating than Wei Zheng... Oh no, I shouldn't have come!

Now that we've come this far, it's too late to say anything. Changsun Wuji frowned and looked at Li Shimin, saying, "Your Majesty, you can tell him not to speak."

Cheng Jun's eyes instantly sharpened, and he shouted, "Minister Changsun, do you want to stifle free speech?"

"..."

Li Shimin glanced at Changsun Wuji, who had been choked back, and laughed angrily, "See? You see it? You understand? This kid is after you!"

"Changsun Wuji, today you either persuade him with reason and shut him up, or you resolve this matter, otherwise none of the three of us are leaving here!"

After saying that, Li Shimin turned around and roared, "Anan, close the door!"

The purple-robed eunuch Zhang Anan immediately ran over and closed the palace door.

His Majesty is truly enraged... Changsun Wuji's throat tightened.

Cheng Jun almost burst out laughing when he saw Changsun Wuji sweating profusely. It took him a while to suppress the urge to laugh.

Ever since he learned that Changsun Wuji was behind it all, he had already planned how to deal with him, so he remained unmoved, waiting for the opportune moment to strike and counter each move.

Changsun Wuji's momentum waned after his initial burst, and he eventually exhausted himself, his trump card being exposed, leaving him powerless to continue.

But he was different; he went all out and attacked the heart of the enemy.

When the enemy is in the open while we are in the dark, and when the enemy is exhausted while we are strong, how can we not win?

Cheng Jun looked content. In his previous life, he loved reading military strategy books and even more so, he liked to apply them to real-life situations to handle interpersonal relationships. Thanks to these military strategies, he was very popular in the company.

After transmigrating to the Tang Dynasty, Cheng Jun was somewhat surprised that the military strategy books he had read in his previous life could still be used.

Just then, Changsun Wuji's voice suddenly rang out: "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask, what matter has Cheng Jun impeached Your Majesty for?"

Seeing that a solution had been found, Li Shimin cooperated and said, "Establish a public office capital system and appoint officials to collect the money!"

Changsun Wuji spread his hands and said, "That's strange. What do these two matters have to do with His Majesty?"

After saying that, he looked at Cheng Jun and said coldly, "Cheng Jun, you've impeached the wrong person. You shouldn't impeach His Majesty; you should impeach the Emperor Emeritus!"

…………

First update, more to come later.