Chapter 57: Vengeance is Sweet!

"His Imperial Majesty, the Grand Emperor, has arrived—!"

Upon hearing this announcement, the entire Taiji Hall erupted into an uproar.

Even Li Shimin could not help but widen his eyes, staring in the direction of the voice with a face full of shock.

Earlier, he had been contemplating going to Da'an Palace to interrogate Li Yuan once court matters were settled, to find out whether the rebellion led by Zhangsun Anyu and the others had anything to do with Li Yuan.

Yet now, amidst such a desperate situation of being besieged on all sides, Li Yuan had actually appeared of his own accord.

What was the meaning of this?

Could he possibly be here to kick a man when he was down?

A little over half a year ago, he had launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, seizing power from his father. Today, faced with enemies on every side, his father had returned. Was he here to reclaim power from his hands?

At this thought, Li Shimin's heart sank to the abyss, unable to find the words to describe his mood at this moment.

In fact, it was not just Li Shimin who was shocked; even Pei Ji, who had always maintained a close relationship with Li Yuan, was somewhat bewildered and lost at the moment, his mouth agape without knowing what to say.

What on earth was going on here?

Why would the Grand Emperor come to this place?

And moreover, at such a tense moment!

Could it be that those seven vassal kings outside the city had been summoned by a secret decree from the Grand Emperor?

If that were the case, what did the Grand Emperor intend to do?

Was he truly going to snatch back power from Li Shimin?

Thinking of this possibility, Pei Ji instinctively glanced at Xiao Yu, Li Shentong, and other veteran officials of the Wude era, his eyes filled with a mixture of surprise, anxiety, and anticipation.

Conversely, the officials of the Prince of Qin's Mansion and the Tiance Mansion wore expressions as if facing a formidable enemy.

Their current status was entirely earned by following Li Shimin in the Xuanwu Gate Incident. If Li Yuan were truly to restore his reign, it was inevitable that they would be subjected to political liquidation.

As for the followers of the former Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and the former Prince of Qi Li Yuanji, they adopted a detached attitude of letting matters rest.

No matter what the outcome, it would work to their advantage anyway.

Of course.

Aside from them, there was one more person who felt both surprised and thrilled by Li Yuan's appearance.

And this person was none other than Li Chengqian.

He had originally suspected that the seven vassal kings outside the city were connected to Li Yuan, and now that Li Yuan had made a personal appearance, it further proved that this matter was inextricably linked to him.

"What is the meaning of this? It has only been a little over half a year since I last attended court, and all etiquette and rules have already been discarded?"

Guided by Du Caigan, Li Yuan slowly crossed the threshold of the grand hall.

However, he did not continue forward, but instead swept his cold gaze across the assembled officials, uttering a question that made them feel as though they were sitting on pins and needles.

With these words spoken, the officials could not help but turn their gazes toward Li Shimin.

Yet at this moment, Li Shimin's eyes were fixed entirely on Li Yuan, and he remained silent.

In the end, it was Pei Ji who recovered first, bowing to Li Yuan: "Your Minister pays respects to the Grand Emperor!"

Following closely behind, all the ministers shouted in unison: "Your Ministers pay respects to the Grand Emperor!"

However, Li Yuan paid no heed to the officials, letting out a cold snort as he walked straight toward Li Shimin.

At this very moment, Li Shimin was seated upon the imperial throne, his burning gaze locked onto Li Yuan as the latter slowly approached.

Until Li Yuan stopped less than a meter away from him, looking down at him from above, likewise remaining completely silent.

The imposing aura of the father and son reached its absolute peak at this moment.

This was the first time two generations of emperors confronted each other in such a manner.

Such a scene caused the hearts of the officials within the hall to leap into their throats.

Surely not!

Could a scene of emperors taking turns on the throne actually be unfolding right now?!

Just as the officials expected Li Shimin and his father to clash like pointed awls, Li Shimin unexpectedly took the initiative to stand up and bow to Li Yuan: "Your son and emperor pays respects to Father!"

"Hmph!"

Li Yuan let out another cold snort, then said in a deep voice: "Erlang, do you still remember the question I asked you when I abdicated the throne back then?"

"This..."

Li Shimin froze instantly, seemingly caught off guard.

With a single stride, Li Yuan stepped past him, seating himself upon the imperial throne with overwhelming dominance. Surveying the officials, he declared:

"I asked you back then, if you were to sit in this position, would those people still be by your side? If I became the Grand Emperor, would I still have good times and happy days? Have you forgotten how you answered me then?"

No sooner had he sat down than Li Yuan hurled three soul-searching questions at Li Shimin, leaving him utterly speechless.

Yet Li Yuan was not finished: "Look at what you have done over the past half year! Look at what state this country has been reduced to by your tossing and turning! Is this the governance capability you possess, Erlang?!"

"......"

Li Shimin was scolded into a dark and gloomy silence by Li Yuan, yet he dared not utter a single extra word.

The entire hall fell into a pin-drop silence.

To be frank, Li Shimin had indeed been overly aggressive and restless over the past half year. To showcase his ruling legitimacy, he had abolished numerous edicts enacted during Li Yuan's reign. Eager to display his own administrative achievements before his seat was even warmed, he immediately began stripping power from the vassal kings, triggering rebellions across various regions.

Although the path Li Shimin was taking was undoubtedly the correct one for the future 'Reign of Zhenguan,' in terms of the process itself, his actions at present did somewhat resemble the reckless blundering of a foolish ruler, which was why he was left speechless under Li Yuan's reprimand.

"Grand Emperor..."

Seemingly unable to bear watching Li Shimin being berated any longer, Chief Imperial Censor Wang Gui stepped forward, intending to say a few words, only to be held back by Wei Ting beside him.

In Wei Ting's view, the current situation had already evolved into a family matter between Li Yuan and his son.

Outsiders like them had no qualification whatsoever to make irresponsible remarks.

Yet Li Yuan glanced at Wang Gui, then swept his gaze across the ministers again: "I have heard that someone has been acting wildly in my name. Is this matter true or false?"

"This..."

The officials looked at each other in dismay.

Only Pei Ji dared to speak up proactively: "Reporting to the Grand Emperor, it is indeed true. Previously, Zhangsun Anyu, Li Xiaochang, and others used thunder-fire devices to threaten the civil and military officials of the court, claiming they wanted to clear away the emperor's side advisors, depose the current emperor, and welcome the Grand Emperor back to the throne!"

"Audacious!"

Li Yuan slammed the desk, boiling with anger: "Does the emperor of my House of Li still need outsiders to decide? Are all of you useless wastrels?!"

What was known as a face-to-face obliteration?

What was known as firing on all cylinders?

Li Yuan was now launching a direct, point-blank artillery barrage.

Every single official from the Prince of Qin's Mansion and the Tiance Mansion was berated until their faces burned red with shame and resentment.

Weren't they outsiders?

Weren't they the outsiders who helped Li Shimin seize the throne?

Li Yuan's oblique insinuation humiliated them so thoroughly that not a shred of dignity remained.

A group of outsiders who helped Li Shimin usurp power, standing by while another outsider threatened Li Shimin with abdication right before their eyes—was this not the most colossal joke in existence?

"Grand Emperor!!!"

Cheng Yaojin had the fiercest temper of all and was the first to leap out: "Are you humiliating us?"

"Did I say something wrong?"

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Shall I summon the imperial historian and have him read aloud what he has recorded?"

Boom!

As these words fell, the entire hall felt as though it had been struck by lightning.

Had Li Yuan not reminded them, they would likely have forgotten about the historian's records entirely.

Now reminded by Li Yuan, they completely broke down.

Indeed, Li Shimin had launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident and seized Li Yuan's throne, and now Li Chengqian had assisted Li Yuan in launching another Xuanwu Gate-style retaliation, rushing here to slap them across the face.

Ah, the sweet satisfaction of retribution!