Chapter 296: Li Shimin

"You only talk about Chen Yan mobilizing the common folk, but you never mention what method he used—whether it was Corvée Labor or paying money as a reward; you are good at skirting the heavy points."

Li Shimin slowly stood up, descended from above, and kept speaking without pause:

"Do you know that the people of Weinan County, from sixty‑year‑old elders down to ten‑year‑old children, even in their dreams wish for Chen Yan to keep grandly building projects?"

"Do you know how much a cook girl who prepares meals for the laborers among those building roads for Chen Yan can earn in a day?"

"Fifty wen!"

"Do you know what those fifty wen mean to those poor commoners?"

Li Shimin approached Zhang Xuan Su, thrusting his hand into his chest, and said word for word: "It means the hope for an entire family to survive."

Zhang Xuan Su was momentarily at a loss for words and instinctively looked toward Wang Gui.

But Wang Gui never turned his head.

Li Shimin understood in his heart, chuckled twice, "Having spoken of grand construction, now let us continue with the matter of Chen Yan disputing benefits with the people."

"Indeed, you are lofty and remarkable. Full of strategies, you speak of benevolence and virtue, yet shut your mouths on family, state, and world—what a group of 'upright officials' worried about the nation and the people!"

"But you officials who don the official robes and receive court salaries—are you truly for yourselves, or, as you claim, for the common folk of the world?"

Li Shimin surveyed the many officials, "If not, what right do you have to wear these robes, what right to condemn others?"

"If you are, then why is the life of the common folk not improving?"

"You have gained profit, power, merit, and fame, yet I see little of your contribution. Instead, it is Chen Yan—the very Chen Yan you accuse of disputing benefits with the people, who never appears before them—who truly makes the people of Weinan County better and better."

"You keep reciting Chen Yan's crimes, yet beggars in Weinan County are dwindling, the poor can gradually eat full meals, and a child's father can occasionally buy his child a serving of meat. Why do you not mention these?"

"Answer me!!!"

The final words thundered like a sudden strike, silencing the entire Court.

After a while, Cui Ming Gan took a deep breath and stepped forward: His Majesty, even if the result is good, a wrong method remains wrong.

"The Marquis of Weinan truly cares for the people, but his means are unacceptable; if officials across the realm emulate him, the imperial order will descend into chaos—what then?"

"I believe, Minister, that the Marquis of Weinan's merits and faults should be weighed separately; his achievements are evident, yet his faults also…"

"Where is the fault?!" Li Shimin roared in fury: "If wholeheartedly serving the people and feeding the county's folk is wrong, then you who appear to serve the nation and the people but only chase a clean reputation, caring nothing for the lives of the commoners, deserve to be torn apart by thousands of knives!"

"Whatever is wrong is wrong; then show me your mistake."

"All the officials under heaven copy him; if you beasts could have half his ability, I would wake from my dreams laughing."

"The person you call wrong is, in Weinan County, honored by countless commoners as the Heavenly Great Lord."

"How laughable!"

Cui Ming Gan began to speak: "His Majesty..."

"Shut your mouth for me!" Li Shimin scolded: "I'm not afraid to tell you that everything Chen Yan does is at my behest. I granted Weinan County to the Crown Prince as a fief precisely to keep you from meddling in its affairs."

"I am the mastermind of everything!"

"How so?"

"Do you want to partake in my share as well?"

Upon hearing that, many officials were so frightened their legs went weak and they fell to their knees.

Only a few showed a hint of understanding in their eyes.

Li Shimin restrained his anger, silently scanned the officials who had just stepped forward to echo Zhang Xuan Su, and then calmly looked at Wang Gui, Cui Ming Gan, and the other conspirators.

"Chen Yan's commercial activities have not been just for a day or two; I am curious why no one spoke of it before."

"Could it be that the former Chen Yan, the county Marquis, who is often in contact with me as a son‑in‑law, does not deserve your attention?"

"Or perhaps… Chen Yan's recent actions have affected certain people's interests?"

"So you cannot sit still?"

It would have been fine not to say it, but once spoken, even Du Ruhui and others were startled.

In reality, regardless of how great Li Shimin's temper is today, pointing at others and calling them beasts, including forcibly suppressing Chen Yan's affairs, is a minor issue.

But if he were to pinpoint certain things, it would likely be hard to conclude.

Sure enough, Wei Zheng at that moment saw Wang Gui's expression change for the first time today; his eyes darkened, deep in thought.

"Heh."

Li Shimin sneered, "If there are any other questions, speak them all now."

The hall fell silent; no one spoke.

"Since that is so, this matter ends here. Whoever dares bring it up again… don't blame me for lacking courtesy."

Leaving those words, Li Shimin swept his sleeve and departed, and Wushe announced the court's adjournment.

"......"

Stepping out of Tai Ji Hall, Li Shimin's breathing grew rapid, veins bulging on his neck and forehead, as if forcibly suppressing something.

He hurriedly rushed into the Two Yi Hall, the nearest building to Tai Ji Palace, grabbed two clean handkerchiefs, shoved them haphazardly into his mouth, and bit down hard.

It was unbearable, extremely unbearable.

Li Shimin didn't know what was happening to him; lately he would occasionally become like this, suffering to the point of wanting to die on the spot.

Even the prescription Chen Yan gave him was ineffective; he could only rely on the willpower honed by years of battlefield training to forcefully suppress it.

Wushe, who had followed behind, saw the scene and, daring not to delay, sprinted out.

"Uh... Ah!!"

Li Shimin's eyes bulged, and a beast‑like roar erupted from his throat.

That unbearable feeling did not subside; it only intensified.

In a daze, Li Shimin seemed to hear his wife's frantic calls, but he could no longer respond; his consciousness blurred, his strength nearly gone, like a drowning man struggling desperately, sinking deeper.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Shimin opened his eyes wearily and first saw his wife Changsun Wugou anxiously wiping the cold sweat from his palm.

"...... Guanyin Maid."

He let out a weak cry.

Empress Changsun was startled, turned her head, and only then realized that Li Shimin had awakened.

"Er...... Er Lang?"

Her voice trembled, her eyes instantly reddened, a thousand words choked in her throat, yet not a single one could come out; she only tightly grasped his feeble hand.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Li Shimin could not bear to see his pregnant wife laboring for him, and forced a faint smile.

"It's fine, it's fine, just fine; I've heard this so many times."

Empress Changsun, upon hearing this, said firmly, "Your condition is getting worse; this time you fainted, and who knows what the next time will bring."

"We can't delay; I have already sent someone to Weinan County to summon Zi An; you rest peacefully."

"......."