Chapter 5: I Will Exterminate Your Nine Clans!

Inside Lizheng Hall, a sudden dead silence fell.

Wushe only felt his scalp go numb, cold sweat trickling down his back, wishing he could cut off his ears to claim he heard nothing.

After years of serving His Majesty, Wushe was still seeing for the first time anyone bold enough to speak so bluntly to the Emperor.

Even the famously outspoken Wei Zheng only dared to speak up after His Majesty made a mistake.

The Marquis of Weinan's words can be said to have cornered His Majesty.

Will His Majesty kill the Marquis of Weinan?

Definitely impossible!

Not to mention punishing Princess Gao Yang; even if it were the Crown Prince, His Majesty would at most be angry, perhaps give the Marquis of Weinan a few lashes to make him suffer, but certainly not kill.

But now, the Marquis of Weinan voluntarily confesses and even lets His Majesty cut him.

If His Majesty cannot kill the Marquis of Weinan, unless he cheats, he has no choice but to declare the Marquis innocent.

But once the Marquis is declared innocent, the matter of punishing Princess Gao Yang is over, and the Marquis truly becomes innocent.

If His Majesty refuses to let it pass, after the three charges against the Marquis of Weinan are listed, then truly he can only cut the Marquis.

After all, any one of those three charges alone is enough to warrant execution.

"What a quick‑tongued Marquis of Weinan," Li Shimin said coldly, "Do you really think I won't kill you?"

"For the crimes of great disrespect, rebellion, and offending royal authority, I can exterminate your nine clans!!"

Chen Yan blinked at the words, his gaze suddenly turning odd, and turned to look at Empress Changsun, who had been silent but with a smile at the corner of her mouth.

For some reason, he suddenly wanted to laugh, "His Majesty, I… my nine clans also include you."

Li Shimin: "......"

Empress Changsun: "......"

Those words immediately silenced the previously angry Li Shimin.

Even Empress Changsun's smile stiffened.

Princess Gao Yang's marriage to Chen Yan has been finalized, the imperial edict issued, Announce to the World.

It can be said that, aside from not yet being formally married, Chen Yan and Gao Yang are already husband and wife.

Thus Li Shimin, and even Empress Changsun, naturally are included within Chen Yan's nine clans.

To exterminate Chen Yan's nine clans would be tantamount to ordering one's own death.

Including the harem's consorts, princesses, princes, and even the Crown Prince, none can escape.

"......"

Empress Changsun's face darkened; what a good child, how could he have the nerve to speak up?

Li Shimin, furious yet laughing, said, "Then I will exterminate three of your clans!"

Chen Yan, with an earnest expression, said, "His Majesty, I only have two clans through my wife's side!"

He truly wasn't lying; his father and two uncles all died in battle, and the uncles left no descendants, so his paternal line had long been extinct.

As for his maternal side, Chen Yan's mother was originally just a common farmer, and her relatives had long perished.

"You..." Li Shimin was so angry he felt like spitting blood.

At one moment, he truly entertained the thought of cutting Chen Yan.

But he quickly suppressed it, constantly soothing himself inside: "He is still a child; I am not angry, I cannot be angry."

"His forebears all died fighting for me, his mother died early, and he grew up without guidance; how could I be angry?"

He said that, but Li Shimin didn't know why, the more he thought, the more frustrated he became, his face flushing red.

Seeing this, Chen Yan muttered that it was not good, understood he couldn't go too far, and immediately bowed to Empress Changsun, saying, "I am ashamed; when I was young I often heard my late mother say that Empress… had great kindness toward our mother and me."

"During festivals we would receive gifts from Her Majesty, and in cold weather she never forgot to send warm clothes for us; after my mother passed, it was Her Majesty who hired a renowned teacher to instruct me."

"Unfortunately I feel I am not worthy, ashamed of Her Majesty's grace, and have no face to enter the palace for an audience."

"Today, it is only by His Majesty's summons that I can bow before you in Lizheng Hall; I am truly ashamed."

Empress Changsun was startled by his words, feeling a mix of being moved, guilty, and somewhat amused.

She glanced at Chen Yan, then said to Li Shimin, "Your Majesty, why are you holding a grudge against a child?"

"Moreover, he is our son‑in‑law, and we are in my Lizheng Hall; we are all family, so let's sit and discuss whatever it is."

How could the ever‑wise Empress Changsun not see that Chen Yan was using her as a shield?

Nevertheless, Chen Yan's words truly evoked many memories for her.

Back then she was merely Princess of Qin, and to win hearts for her husband she spent much effort caring for the soldiers' families.

Although Chen Yan and his mother were just one of many beneficiaries, Chen Yan could still, after his forebears died fighting for the Li family, speak of this with gratitude.

How could Empress Changsun not be moved, and how could she not feel guilty?

Li Shimin let out a light hum, walked to a round table in the hall and sat down, then looked at Chen Yan, "Come sit, try the tea Uncle Cheng Bo Bo gave me."

Seeing the familiar table and stools, Chen Yan's face instantly darkened.

No wonder Cheng Yaojin clearly moved a set of furniture from his home, then brazenly moved two more sets later—so they were sent to Li Er after all?

That tea Li Er just mentioned......

"What are you standing there for? Do you expect me to invite you?"

While he was silently cursing Cheng Yaojin in his mind, Empress Changsun had already risen from the soft couch and sat beside Li Shimin.

At this moment, Li Shimin was urging him.

Chen Yan nodded, walked to the table, and just as he sat down, Li Shimin boasted, "How is it, boy? My set of tables and chairs, comfortable enough?"

Beside them, Wushe presented a very familiar tea set and tea leaves.

Wushe took a handful of tea leaves, put them into the kettle; hot water poured in, and the tea fragrance filled the air.

Chen Yan was speechless in his heart, but he couldn't offend His Majesty's face, so he could only reluctantly nod.

Li Shimin saw this and still thought he had been stunned, and the smug expression on his face grew even stronger.

"You shouldn't act like someone who's never seen the world; if you like this table and chairs, when Gao Yang gets married later, I'll have Cheng Bo Bo make a set for you."

Chen Yan couldn't help but burst out laughing.

These tables, chairs, and even the horse were all taken from my house; do I still need Cheng Yaojin to make them for me?

I, too, have never seen the world.

I don't know who hasn't seen the world.

Chen Yan was too lazy to argue with Li Shimin; if he wants to put on an act, let him.

After all, he's the emperor, so he must be pampered.

What Chen Yan didn't expect was that, although he originally didn't want to deal with him, he instead became even more eager.

Li Shimin snatched the teapot from Wushe's hand and personally poured a cup of tea for Chen Yan.

"Here, try this tea and see how it is."

"It means I'm seeing whether you, kid, will become my son‑in‑law right away; otherwise I wouldn't have taken out such fine tea for you to drink."

Chen Yan forced himself to suppress the urge to roll his eyes, took a deep breath, lifted the tea cup and took a sip, "The tea aroma is crisp and clear, the aftertaste sweet and lingering; indeed it is a rare fine tea."

"I thank His Majesty for the gift."

"What is that?" Li Shimin waved his hand grandly, leaned forward slightly, teasingly said: "If you like this tea, just obediently admit your mistake, and I will not only release you from Dali Temple Prison, but also give you three liang of tea leaves, how about that?"

Chen Yan: "......"

Chen Yan, truly unable to bear it any longer, said calmly, "I heard His Majesty say that these tea leaves were sent by Cheng Bo Bo?"

"Indeed it was Zhi Jie who sent them, what's the matter?"

"Does His Majesty know where Cheng Bo Bo obtained these tea leaves?"

"......"