Chapter 658: When the Tree Falls, the Monkeys Scatter

"Good!"

"Very good!"

"Very good!"

Li Shimin glared at Chen Yan, his palm gripping the throne's armrest so tightly that blue veins bulged, as if he were enduring something.

"You truly live up to being My beloved minister; you always bring me unexpected surprises. I... am quite pleased!"

"His Majesty, you flatter me," Chen Yan cleared his throat, looking a little embarrassed.

"What do the other beloved ministers think?" Li Shimin's anger rose, yet he said nothing.

After all, the method for making fine salt was presented by Chen Yan; keeping it in his own hands was indeed a bit wasteful.

Giving it to the Ministry of Revenue would be better in every respect.

But the problem is, that's not how things are handled.

If Chen Yan were to discuss it privately, chat, have a drink, then hand it over to the Ministry of Revenue, it would just go to the Ministry.

What's there for one's own people not to say?

But what did Chen Yan do?

In front of the entire court, he claimed that someone under his command had discovered a better method for making fine salt—this is a direct attack on him.

He gave him no chance to refuse.

Are you giving me a hard time again?

"Um..." Du Ruhui said quietly, "His Majesty, I think this matter truly counts as a good thing; I have no objection."

"What about Xiao Aiqing?" Li Shimin said, uninterested in these people.

He knew very well that before Chen Yan raised this issue, he might have already vented his anger privately with them.

Li Shimin didn't want Chen Yan to have it easy, so he turned his gaze toward Xiao Yu, who had a huge feud with Chen Yan.

Since he was angry today, he didn't intend to let Chen Yan be comfortable.

He had thought that Xiao Yu, having been beaten by Chen Yan and humiliated, would definitely seize any chance to strike back.

Moreover, Li Shimin even gave Xiao Yu an encouraging glance; the meaning was crystal clear.

What Li Shimin didn't expect was that Xiao Yu acted as if he hadn't seen anything, standing straight and bowing, "His Majesty, I have no comment, but according to Minister Chen's statement, there are indeed no issues on any front."

He didn't give explicit support, yet his words clearly leaned toward Chen Yan.

Li Shimin grew even angrier.

Useless!

Even when given a chance, it's useless.

Little did they know, Xiao Yu had already decided that any matter concerning Chen Yan was off‑limits to him.

Is one big loss not enough, and they have to suffer another?

Besides, your father‑in‑law and son‑in‑law's own affairs—no matter which side we take, we gain nothing.

Who wants to bother?

"So... you all think there's no problem?"

Li Shimin scanned the many officials in the hall, then fixed his gaze on Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong, the two hidden‑dragon, phoenix‑chickens.

Such a perfect chance to trap Chen Yan—you can't just let it slip, can you?

But those two were as sly as monkeys, bowing their heads as if they hadn't seen anything.

"Good!"

Li Shimin suppressed his anger: "Since you all agree, let's follow Lord Bo's idea!"

"Didn't you say you have a better method for making fine salt? Then discuss it with Kang Chong during his trial period, and after two days submit the proposal; I will approve it for you!"

"Retreat from court!"

With his final words, Li Shimin clearly held back his emotions, swept his sleeve, and walked straight out.

"We, the ministers, respectfully see His Majesty off."

The hundred officials completed the procedures and then left the Great Hall in order.

Du Ruhui and the others clasped their hands and walked together with Chen Yan.

Changsun Wuji whispered, "Based on my understanding of His Majesty, he may truly be angry today. Zi An, you were a bit too blunt; you should have been more tactful."

Wei Zheng disagreed: "Isn't that already not tactful enough? If you ask me, His Majesty is just too attached to that small profit; Chen Yan even said his subordinate discovered a better technique—how can that be more tactful?"

"Calculate carefully: from the fourth year of the Zhenguan era until now, Chen Yan has been beneficial, while His Majesty hasn't even replaced a pair of socks with a hole, yet this year's Empress Changsun's birthday banquet has risen by more than one level in scale."

"Chen Yan's contributions are already huge; a single Money Shop is enough for the Imperial Family for a lifetime, so why hoard fine salt?"

"Every day they grudgingly guard that meager tax revenue, counting on their fingers; every Minister of Revenue has to master the art of scolding, which is shameful to speak of."

"If there's a chance to increase the treasury without raising taxes, why wouldn't they be happy?"

A few people were instantly startled by these words.

Fang Xuanling hurriedly grabbed Wei Zheng, whispering, "Wei Zheng, we just left Tai Ji Hall; the crowd is thick, can you speak more carefully?"

"If this reaches His Majesty's ears, you'll be drinking a pot of wine for it."

Du Ruhui watched Chen Yan's relaxed demeanor, seemingly unperturbed, and wondered, "Zi An, is His Majesty truly angry?"

"You may have to endure some hardship; why do you look so untroubled?"

"Worried about what?" Chen Yan retorted, "Aren't you clear on His Majesty's temperament?"

"Today I'm Lord Bo, tomorrow I'm still Minister Chen."

"Why panic?"

"As long as I don't touch His Majesty's bad luck now, don't anger him, and give Empress a little leeway, I'm not only safe but also meritorious."

Everyone: "......"

Changsun Wuji said, "That's how the story goes… but I feel something's off today. Why didn't you first discuss it privately with His Majesty?"

"If you had first discussed it privately with His Majesty, His Majesty wouldn't have gotten angry at all; wouldn't that have made you foolproof?"

"That's different," Chen Yan shook his head, halted his steps, looked toward the distant, solitary Wang Gui walking away slowly, and his gaze suddenly acquired a hint of complexity.

A few people followed his gaze and spotted Wang Gui ahead.

At that moment he was alone, a stark contrast to the clusters of officials gathered nearby in small groups.

"When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Ever since Wang Gui stepped down from his position as Imperial Attendant, he's been like this, let alone now that he's completely withdrawn."

Fang Xuanling said silently, "Moreover, Wang Gui was not highly regarded in the aristocratic families before; it wasn't until he rose later that the families gave him support, and then he rose rapidly."

Chen Yan asked in confusion, "I recall that Wang Gui's later status in the aristocratic families wasn't very high? He could stand shoulder to shoulder with their clan elders—how did it become like this?"

Changsun Wuji sneered, "Wang Gui indeed could stand shoulder to shoulder with the clan elders of the aristocratic families, but that was only when he was still an Imperial Attendant and Minister of the Ministry of Works."

"Furthermore, Wang Gui's greatest strength was his 'character assessment', being adept at identifying talent, discerning good from evil, setting standards, and presiding over rites—an indispensable figure for the aristocratic families adapting to the new dynasty."

"And now, with everything back on track, he has stepped down again, and now he…"

As he spoke, Changsun Wuji paused, did not continue, and asked again:

"By the way, putting him aside, I still wanted to ask you earlier—why didn't you first speak to His Majesty privately?"

"What's different about it?"

Chen Yan stared at Wang Gui's gradually fading, slightly lonely silhouette, did not answer Changsun Wuji's question, and murmured, "The greatest skill is the character assessment?"

"Then you really haven't noticed what I'm about to do?"

"......"