Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

"Clap clap clap..."

The loud sound of firecrackers suddenly rang out on Zhuque Street in Chang'an, where the wind was biting and snowflakes were flying.

The sound was so loud that it startled the customers in the surrounding market, restaurants, and teahouses. They were all taken aback. In this terrible weather, what wealthy family would be having a wedding?

Some curious people braved the snowflakes slapping their faces to get a clear look at the line outside.

When they saw the figure at the very front of the group, clad in full armor, with snowflakes flying all over his beard, hair, helmet, and phoenix wings, everyone was taken aback.

"Is the imperial court sending troops out on campaign today?"

One person asked the people around him in confusion, and everyone shook their heads.

"Is that General Yuchi Jingde, the Duke of E? Didn't he just return from Baikal County? He swaggered into the palace before, and I thought he was going to receive a reward. How come he's wearing armor again in the blink of an eye?"

The group discussed the matter amongst themselves, puzzled.

What baffled them, besides Yuchi Gong's actions, was the presence of the retainers of the Duke of E's mansion behind him. These men emerged from the direction of the palace, and they were all clad in armor and armed with weapons.

"Is General Yuchi about to lead another expedition?!"

Some of the bolder ones spoke up and asked.

Upon hearing the commotion, Yuchi Jingde quickly suppressed his almost instinctive urge to burst into laughter, feigning composure and solemnity. He sat on his warhorse and bowed to the surrounding crowd of onlookers.

"I have served on the northern border for many years, never leaving my armor or my blade. Now that I have returned, I have not yet broken this habit. Therefore, I request Your Highness to grant me half a month to correct it. Everyone, please do not panic. With me, Yuchi Gong, here in the Great Tang, we will certainly not allow the traitors to wreak havoc on the people!"

Onlookers: "..."

To be honest, if someone else, with such a refined and scholarly demeanor, were to say something like that...

They will also feel a sense of instinctive emotion and admiration.

But you, Yuchi Gong... who the hell doesn't know that you and Cheng Yaojin are known as the two villains of Chang'an?

This evil does not only refer to the two men's viciousness, but also to their rudeness and barbarity.

When you entered the palace, you were riding a horse with an air of swagger, wearing the robes of a duke. Now that you're back, you've changed into armor?

At the back of the procession, Duke Huo, Chai Shao, shook his head and sneered.

A scoundrel is a scoundrel; even his attempts at being pretentious are vulgar.

The Crown Prince's gift of a poem to this fellow is nothing short of tarnishing the Crown Prince's poetic talent.

"Hmph... Let's go back to the manor!"

"Duke, why don't we go to the Ministry of Rites? We could put out a notice in the newspaper or something..."

The adjutant beside him, who came from the Duke of Huo's mansion, asked in confusion, to which Chai Shao gave a cold laugh.

"Why publish it in the newspaper? I am paid by the emperor, and it is my duty as a subject to defend the country and guard the borders. Why publish it in the newspaper? Do you think His Highness the Crown Prince is too idle?"

The man seemed to understand, but could only silently obey.

However, on that day, a story suddenly began to circulate throughout Chang'an, from who knows where.

His Highness the Crown Prince was commending the Duke of E for his many years of service on the frontier and his outstanding military achievements.

I'm especially gifting you a poem.

At Kong Yingda's residence, looking at the note his son had brought back after making a trip, the veins on his forehead throbbed, and he muttered it through gritted teeth.

"A hundred battles fought on the cold frontier to build Dragon City, where iron armor, frosty as it is, makes a sound in the night."

"Dust from the barbarians rises darkly, obscuring the snow-capped peaks; arrows rain down, welcoming the banners of ten thousand cavalry."

"Having donned the official hat and ribbon to fulfill my vow to die, I dare to lay down my heart and soul in a pledge to live."

"The painters of Lingyan Pavilion were originally the greatest warriors in the world."

Kong Yingda: "......."

Kong Zhiyue stood obediently to the side, but his eyes were always fixed on his father's expression and reaction.

With just one glance, he made an immediate judgment.

That old scoundrel is jealous!

And the jealousy was so intense it made me panic!

Indeed, as the Crown Prince's teacher, Kong Yingda has done a lot for the Crown Prince over the years, especially in promoting the new education policies, where the Kong family has put in a lot of effort.

Despite this, the Crown Prince never presented any poems to the Kong family or to his tutor, Kong Yingda.

Oh right, it can't be said that there was no grace at all.

His father had previously made a mistake and was dismissed as the Crown Prince's tutor. However, before the Crown Prince's wedding, he was reinstated because the father had admitted his mistake, corrected it, and worked diligently and honestly.

Even so, the fact that Yuchi Gong, the Duke whom his father disliked the most, received a poem from the Crown Prince must have made his father extremely jealous.

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! That old scoundrel Yuchi must have used his merits to coerce Your Highness. Otherwise, with his meager achievements, how could he possibly deserve such a poem?!"

Sure enough... Kong Zhiyue kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his mind.

He stood there like a wooden statue, as if he couldn't hear anything at all.

"...Having already donned the official hat and ribbons to repay the debt of death, daring to lay down one's life and courage for the cause! Utterly shameless! Even if there are some foreign tribes around Baikal County, how could they possibly be a match for the might of our Great Tang army?!"

"To repay the debt of death and to pledge allegiance to life... That old scoundrel Yuchi Jingde, if he hadn't shamelessly knelt and begged His Highness, he would never have received this reward! If that little bit of foreign troops were enough to make the Duke of E risk his life, then my Kong family would be worthy of being the Duke of E!"

"I too possess the ability to become a great general!"

Kong Zhiyue scoffed inwardly: "...Kong Yingda's just bragging."

Seeing that he had no intention of playing the straight man at all, Kong Yingda vented his anger and then gasped for breath, gritting his teeth.

"Tomorrow, I will definitely impeach that scoundrel!"

In fact, there were quite a few people who shared the same thoughts as Kong Yingda. When Li Chengqian went to court the next day, the Ninth Prince, Prince Jin, Li Zhi, who had been waiting in the Taiji Hall, already had more than a dozen impeachment memorials in his hands.

"Your Highness! I have a memorial to present! I wish to impeach Duke Yuchi Gong of E!"

Standing before the crowd, Yuchi Gong wore a smug smile; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

However, just as he raised his head, ready to accept the criticism (praise) from these censors and officials of the Six Ministries, he froze instantly upon hearing the charges brought against him by Dai Zhou, who was leading the line.

"Duke Yuchi Gong of E State has abused his power, hoarded weapons, and plotted treason. Your Highness is requested to thoroughly investigate this matter!"

No sooner had Dai Zhou finished speaking than Tang Jian, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward.

"Your Highness, I also wish to impeach Duke Yuchi Gong of E for winning over the hearts of the people, harboring rebellious intentions, and having disloyal thoughts!"

Immediately afterwards, the heads of departments such as the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review stepped forward to impeach Yuchi Gong, with some even accusing him of plotting a rebellion...

Enraged, Yuchi Gong immediately launched into a tirade of curses.

"What the hell are you spouting?! How could I possibly be plotting a rebellion? And when have I ever hoarded weapons?!"

He cursed angrily, but everyone was certain that he would not dare to act violently in front of His Highness the Crown Prince in the Taiji Hall, so they all glared at him coldly.

Dai Zhou stepped forward and pointed at the other party, questioning, "Duke of E, you still want to argue! According to the Ministry of War, generals returning to the capital from the frontier who have military retainers or personal guards in their residences must have their weapons and armor registered with the Ministry of War within five days and stored in the armory. Yesterday, Duke of E led his retainers and personal guards, fully armored and armed, and swaggered out of the palace along the Vermilion Bird Avenue. The whole city knows about it!"

"Their display of power and boasting of achievements already hints at the treacherous nature of Dong Zhuo..."

In the crowd, Duke Huo, Chai Shao, suppressed a laugh as he watched Yuchi Gong being attacked by the crowd, feeling a surge of pleasure in his heart.

This scoundrel had been quite boorish and aggressive back in Baikal County, but as the commander-in-chief, Chai Shao couldn't punish him for such a trivial matter.

Now... hehe.

Yuchi Gong's face turned red. He couldn't resort to violence, and faced with the sharp-tongued people around him, he had no way to defend himself. Apart from angrily cursing them for spewing false accusations, he had no power to fight back at all.

Li Chengqian shook his head inwardly, feeling helpless.

If it were Cheng Yaojin, he certainly wouldn't make such a basic mistake.

Yuchi Gong was speechless with anger, but then he suddenly saw Chai Shao behind the crowd and his eyes lit up.

"Yesterday, it was the Crown Prince who presented the poem! Duke Huo was also present, and he knew about it! He too was praised by the Crown Prince with a poem!"

Immediately, all eyes in the room fell on Chai Shao.

Chai Shao's suppressed laughter instantly turned serious. He took a deep breath and slowly stepped out of the line.

"My lords, you have indeed wronged the Duke of E. The poem was indeed a gift from the Crown Prince, not something the Duke of E commissioned to write privately to win over the people. However, I am unaware of the fact that the Duke of E's personal guards' armory was not in the capital's armory..."

Yuchi Gong, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, froze instantly.

Li Chengqian, seated on the dragon throne, smiled slightly.