As soon as these words were uttered, the hesitant ministers immediately panicked.
Those who agreed, those who disagreed, both sides had people glaring at them angrily.
It was easier for the civil officials, but the generals’ gazes were outrageous.
“Come on, or we’ll kill you!”
They stared at them so nakedly.
The three teams quickly became two.
Deng Dengjie stood beside the dragon chair, his pencil moving rapidly.
All the ministers who stood on the opposing side were recorded in his little black book.
Li Shimin, however, stood on the steps with a smile, looking at them, his face showing no anger.
When the lineup was finished, he suddenly changed the subject.
“Hahahaha, I asked you all to come today just to see your attitudes.”
“Since there are still so many who oppose, then the matter of reform will be put aside for now.”
“Next, let’s talk about some good news.”
“Duke Fang and Duke Du sent a telegram yesterday, saying they wanted to ask Duke Zhao for a marriage on behalf of Duke An.”
“They wish to marry his Ling'er as a secondary wife. What are your thoughts on this?”
Most people looked at him with disbelief.
Was it appropriate to discuss such private matters at the Grand Court Assembly?
What was the Grand Court Assembly for? It was for discussing the nation’s future plans and determining its direction. Were these personal affairs of children meant to be brought up at such a time?
Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin glared at Zhangsun Wuji with anger and rushed forward, grabbing his collar.
“You old rascal, tell me, did your daughter drug my brother?”
“Heh heh, I know you’re jealous, nakedly jealous!” Zhangsun Wuji said triumphantly.
“You are brothers with my son-in-law, right? Come on, call me uncle!”
Cheng Yaojin: …………
Damn it, can I tolerate this?
“I just can’t stand you old rascal, damn it, you dare to take advantage of me, look out!”
“Slow!”
Before he could swing his fist, someone stepped forward to stop him.
Wei Zheng bowed and slowly stepped out, glancing at the two of them.
“My Lords, it would be better to fight after the court session ends.”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister believes that Duke An’s desire to establish another secondary wife is inappropriate!”
“As ‘Bai Hu Tong Yi’ says: ‘Wife is in harmony, sharing the same body as her husband, from the Son of Heaven to the common people, this principle is the same.’”
“Princess Changle’s noble status means that becoming a concubine in the Fang family would lose the royal dignity. Establishing her as a secondary wife is indeed a last resort.”
“But if the Princess of Ruyang is also established as a secondary wife, then what about the laws of禮?”
“One today, another tomorrow, with endless secondary wives, what remains of the wife’s dignity?”
“Duke An is dissolute and lawless, disregarding laws and rituals. I implore Your Majesty to issue a decree severely chastising him!”
As his words fell, he bowed righteously and returned to the queue without another word.
The smile on Zhangsun Wuji’s face gradually froze with Wei Zheng’s words, and he glared at him in uncontrollable rage.
“Wei Tiewa, are you looking for a beating?”
“Not at all, Wei merely performs his duty as a subject, and does not wish Duke Zhao to be accused of disrupting social order.”
Wei Zheng retorted indifferently, showing no fear.
Zhangsun Wuji was reluctant to fight with this fellow, and said with a cold smirk.
“Hmph! It’s too late! I sent a telegram back last night agreeing to this marriage. If my guess is correct, Australia is already filled with the sounds of suona and the beating of gongs and drums!”
Wei Zheng was first stunned, then sighed and shook his head: “Alas, Duke Zhao, you have brought this upon yourself!”
“Your Majesty, I have something to say!” Xiao Yu stepped forward.
“Speak!”
“As you command!”
“Our dynasty’s ‘Shu Yi Hu Hun Lu’ states: ‘Anyone who, having a wife, takes another in marriage shall be sentenced to one year of exile, and the woman’s family shall have their sentence reduced by one degree. If the marriage is based on deception, the sentence shall be one year and a half of exile, and the woman’s family shall not be held responsible. They shall be separated.’”
“I request that Fang Anzhi be stripped of his Duke title and exiled to a miasmic region for one year!”
“Zhangsun Wuji shall be stripped of his Duke title, and the Princess of Ruyang shall be demoted to commoner!”
“Enforce the law according to the statutes, to display the might of our nation!”
Silence!
Everyone present was silent.
Ruthless! This was too damn ruthless!
Fang Anzhi had just been stripped of his title of King of Kun and demoted to Duke. If he were to be stripped again, he would be a Marquis.
And he was to be exiled for a year!
Was this fellow not afraid of provoking Fang Anzhi to rebellion?
Cheng Yaojin was almost angered to death. Just as he was about to go and cause trouble, Chai Shao stopped him with a pull.
“He is my son-in-law, so I should be the one to go first. You get out of the way!”
After speaking, he pointed at Xiao Yu and cursed.
“Old Xiao, are you looking for a beating! Did my son-in-law smash your pot, or sleep with your wife?”
“I’m warning you!”
“Now, immediately, instantly, take back what you just said!”
Xiao Yu didn’t even look at him directly: “Your Majesty, I request that Duke Qiao withdraw!”
“I’ll withdraw to your grandma’s leg…”
“Insulting a deceased ancestor, I will not rest until I’m done with you!”
“Come on, let’s hurt each other!”
“Silence!”
Li Shimin’s eyebrows twitched in anger, and he raised his hand and pointed.
“Chai Shao, get out of here!”
“Bang!”
A bullet suddenly flew from the palace gate and hit the ground between Li Shimin and the officials.
The bluestone slabs immediately shattered, and a pit the size of a bowl was blown out.
“Guard! Guard!”
The imperial guards on both sides were terrified and quickly rushed over to shield him.
Click, click, click…
After a series of bullet-loading sounds, they vigilantly scanned the surroundings, trying to find the person who fired the shot.
The officials below became extremely tense.
The civil officials were somewhat panicked.
The military officials, however, all ran towards Li Shimin, forming another defensive line outside the imperial guards with their bodies.
Li Shimin’s heart also trembled. This was a sniper rifle!
But he soon relaxed, and in fact, he was secretly delighted.
A convertible Hummer was seen speeding from the palace gate, stopping beside the giant globe.
Li Xiuning jumped down from it, carrying a Barrett rifle, and walked towards them with killing intent.
Seeing that it was her, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Although they didn’t know what this ancestor was up to, they were sure that she wouldn’t attack Li Shimin.
However, wasn’t this ancestor supposed to be in Australia?
Why had she suddenly returned to Chang’an?
Just as everyone was secretly guessing, Li Xiuning unceremoniously pushed aside the officials blocking her path and walked directly to Xiao Yu.
Taking the Barrett rifle off her shoulder, she pressed the dark muzzle against Xiao Yu’s forehead.
Then, in a cold tone, she said word by word.
“You, want to strip Anzhi of his title, and exile him?”
Xiao Yu didn’t know how she knew what had just been said, but he completely ignored the muzzle at his forehead.
He said calmly, “Your Highness, although your status is noble, there has long been a decree in court that no one other than the imperial guards is allowed to bring guns into the palace, otherwise it will be considered rebellion.”
“You have overstepped your bounds!”
Li Xiuning smiled, amused by his attitude.
Keeping her right hand in the posture of holding the gun, she took out a scroll of imperial yellow color and handed it over.
“Come, open it and take a look!”