Chapter 661: Can That Death‑Exempt Golden Ticket Be Reclaimed?

"Rebel! Rebel!"

"This scoundrel, turn it over!"

When Li Shimin returned to Ganlu Hall, he went about his duties as usual, but the more he thought, the angrier he became, and he suddenly flipped the desk before him, scattering documents, memorials, brushes, ink, paper and inkstones all over the floor.

The palace maids and eunuchs in the hall instantly knelt, and even Wushe was startled into a shiver.

Li Shimin, hands behind his back, paced back and forth, then after a while stopped and said sternly to Wushe, "I ask you, have I been too lenient with that kid? Has that caused him to become arrogant?"

"Since he didn't even inform me in advance, he comes licking his face to force me to hand over all the salt‑making profits that I had to exchange for two daughters."

"Does he still have me in his eyes?"

"...... Uh." Wushe, drenched in sweat, wiped his forehead and said, "His…His Majesty, perhaps Minister Chen has other intentions."

"According to his temperament, he must consider cycles when acting, to ensure absolute safety."

"Especially when it concerns you, Minister Chen is usually cautious, cautious, and cautious; if there were no reason, Minister Chen shouldn't have acted this way."

"No way!" Li Shimin shouted angrily, "That kid dresses all clean and looks like a proper person every day, but it's all a damn illusion."

"This scoundrel, he's completely black inside."

"His so‑called caution is bullshit; he just wants to make me suffer so he can feel good."

Saying that, Li Shimin took two deep breaths, gritted his teeth and said, "I really misjudged him; I was once so determined to keep him as Minister of Revenue."

"At first the kid performed well; since taking office he kept surprising me, even wiping out the Buddhist Establishment's privileges."

"But you little bastard!"

Li Shimin closed his eyes, self‑mocked, and said, "Having dealt with external enemies, he immediately turned his spear toward me."

"I fell for his trick!"

Hearing that, Wushe immediately knelt and said, "Your Majesty, calm your anger."

Li Shimin raised his hand, pointing outside, and said, "Go, go fetch that little bastard for me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wushe dared not delay, hurriedly agreed, and went himself.

After he left, Li Shimin sat down again, silent for a moment, eyes closed, as if cultivating his spirit.

But his chest rose and fell continuously, still betraying his unrest.

"Servant respectfully presents herself before the Princess..."

"Aye, Aye ya!"

The hall hadn't quieted for long when from outside came the sound of worship and a familiar voice.

Li Shimin was startled, opened his eyes, and saw Xiao Sizi running toward him, whimpering.

"Sizi!"

He felt a joy inside and said, "Why did you come?"

"Aye, I've been dying for you."

Sizi's eyes reddened; he forced out a tear, then leapt into Li Shimin's arms, rubbing his little head continuously.

"Oh dear, Aye's good Sizi, why did you return so silently?" Li Shimin, holding his obedient daughter, felt his earlier anger melt away, finding his little daughter increasingly precious.

"Aye." Sizi lifted his head, speaking softly, "Are you not happy that I returned?"

"Happy! How could I not be happy that Sizi returned, Aye?"

"Then why are you still angry, Aye?" Sizi stuck out his little finger, pointing at the desk Li Shimin had kicked over and the scattered documents.

Bringing up the matter, Li Shimin's face darkened a bit, and he said irritably, "Isn't it because of your older brother?"

"Do you know what your older brother did today? He actually set his mind on you, Aye."

"He struck the key point and didn't even tell Aye beforehand; he directly forced you, Aye, with words on the Court."

"Aye is angry because of him, not because of you."

Sizi blinked, thinking to himself, "No wonder you're so anxious to send me back; mother is so anxious to have me come now to find Aye, so they've already counted me in?"

"You really are something."

The little fellow's eyes rolled, and with an innocent face he said, "Then Aye… do you want to hit older brother with a board?"

"Sizi can help you supervise, and give him the Twenty Great Boards again; this time we definitely won't pad anything on his butt!"

Li Shimin: "......"

Sure enough, it's a leaky little cotton jacket.

It leaks not only for him, but also for Chen Yan.

Giving the full Twenty Great Boards, aren't you basically trying to take half his life?

"... Sizi." Li Shimin said gravely, "Your older brother is, after all, your brother‑in‑law; we are family."

"The official business on the Court belongs to state affairs; arguing over it is actually irrelevant."

"If we're angry, we can just close the door and settle it privately; we shouldn't be hitting people with boards at the drop of a hat."

"Otherwise, if we really beat your older brother into a mess, your two sisters wouldn't be happy."

"It's fine!" Sizi said matter‑of‑factly, "Beautiful sister and Sister Gao Yang would love to see older brother dead, especially Sister Gao Yang, who always says she wants to break older brother's leg so he won't run around outside all day."

"Last time older brother was locked in Dali Temple Prison, Sister Gao Yang even ordered a coffin for him; she was delighted."

Li Shimin: "......"

At this moment, Empress Changsun entered, having just heard Sizi's last words, and her face instantly darkened.

"Is what you said true? Gao Yang ordered a coffin for Zi An?"

"How could it be false? That's what Sister Gao Yang said herself; it's just that later I heard older brother didn't die, so the coffin order was withdrawn."

Empress Changsun's eyes turned cold: "Well done, Gao Yang. I think you two sisters have left the palace and become lawless; in the future, I will certainly have to give them a good lesson."

"To think I raised them from childhood, only to end up with wives who order coffins for their husbands?"

"Guanyin Maid." Li Shimin saw his wife truly angry, and hurriedly said, "Regarding the Gao Yang matter… there are many hidden details inside. I'll explain them to you slowly later; in any case, the situation isn't as you think."

"Besides, even if Gao Yang is like that, wouldn't Li Zhi still not understand?"

"For this, just believe three parts of it."

"Is that so?" Empress Changsun, after hearing, thought for a moment, restrained her angry expression, and her gaze swept over the desk Li Shimin had kicked over.

"Er Lang, what is this…?"

Being interrupted like that, Li Shimin's anger had almost dissipated; following Empress Changsun's gaze, he sighed and said:

"It's nothing; I just feel I've fallen into that little bastard's big trap."

"As for the Death-exemption Gold Medal, can I still retrieve it?"

"......."