"Agreed!"
Li Chengqian forced himself to remain calm and waved his sleeve at Ren Yiyan.
"Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
"The court assembly is a major affair of state, and deliberation is crucial in determining the governing policies of Great Tang for a period of time to come."
"Your subject does not understand why the common people should be involved!"
"As the ancient saying goes, the people can be made to follow, but not to understand."
"Therefore, your subject believes this action is inappropriate!"
The matter of the grand court assembly had been decided three days prior.
During that time, many had protested to Li Shimin about it, sending stacks of memorials to the Taiji Palace.
However, without exception, old Li suppressed them all, and those memorials became fuel for the imperial kitchens.
"Does anyone else have any objections to this matter?"
Li Chengqian did not answer immediately but looked towards the other officials and asked.
"Your subject also believes it is inappropriate!"
"Your subject concurs!"
"........."
With a whoosh, a large number of people stood up.
Behind Li Chengqian, Qi Wudao and Lai Yifa exchanged glances and simultaneously took out their small notebooks to record.
They did not need to know who was speaking; all they needed was to record the corresponding seat numbers.
The officials had to stand silently until they received a response.
Meanwhile, the representatives of the common people were glaring at them.
If glares could kill, Ren Yiyan would have been subjected to a thousand cuts numerous times by now.
Seeing that no one else spoke, Li Chengqian rose from the dragon throne and scanned the hall.
"I have a question."
"Whose Great Tang is this?"
"Is it the Li family's, the officials', or the common people's of the realm!"
Ren Yiyan bowed respectfully and replied with a serious expression.
"Replying to Your Highness, the realm naturally belongs to the people of the realm."
"However, the Son of Heaven acts as the steward of Heaven, and national plans can only be formulated by the Son of Heaven and the officials who assist him."
"'One monk carries water to drink, two monks carry water to eat, three monks have no water to drink.'"
"The common people are ignorant and their desires are complex. If they are allowed to participate, the discussion will likely end in nothing."
Li Chengqian, however, smiled calmly. Such discourse had existed since ancient times.
And it was the most advantageous argument for imperial power.
But now...
"Minister Ren, I believe your words are not entirely accurate."
"Since this realm belongs to the people of the realm!"
"How the realm should be governed naturally requires listening to the opinions of the people, not for you and me, the sovereign and his ministers, to discuss behind closed doors."
"For instance, how should fields be cultivated for high yield?"
"These matters require listening to the opinions of the common people."
"How should roads be built to be smooth?"
"These require listening to the craftsmen, and at the same time, asking the thoughts of those who travel!"
"What should be the rate of commercial tax?"
"This requires asking the merchants; what tax rate can they accept!"
"How should the performance of officials be evaluated?"
"These should not be solely based on the assessment of the Ministry of Personnel but should also be subject to the supervision of the common people."
"How can a new policy be judged as reasonable?"
"The policy is aimed at a specific group, and it is necessary to hear what that group has to say."
"Only through this can we achieve unity from top to bottom and avoid good intentions leading to bad outcomes!"
"........."
As Li Chengqian spoke, his enthusiasm grew, and his tone gradually became more passionate.
A look of confidence and pride slowly appeared on his face.
Li Shimin, seated behind him, watched him and smiled with satisfaction.
This boy had finally grown up!
He possessed the same eloquent spirit as his younger self!
The representatives of the common people became more excited and agitated with each word they heard.
The officials, on the other hand, frowned deeply, their expressions grim.
Li Shimin had previously only stated that imperial power would step back, but he had never said anything about how officials would be treated.
Now, Li Chengqian had completely laid bare the issue!
Curtailing power, accepting supervision!
In the past, if a commoner accused an official, regardless of right or wrong, they would first receive thirty heavy strokes. If they survived, then the matter would be discussed.
But now, according to Li Chengqian's words, wouldn't anyone be able to criticize officials as they pleased?
How could one be an official in the future?
Li Chengqian's speech continued.
"Therefore, I believe there is nothing inappropriate about allowing the common people of the realm to participate in governing!"
"To open peace for ten thousand generations!"
"This is not just the responsibility of scholars; the realm's heart must be won to achieve peace!"
"What do you all think?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the representatives of the common people rose in unison, their applause thundering, and they shouted their praise loudly.
"Good!"
"His Highness the Crown Prince has spoken excellently!"
"A wise ruler, a wise ruler for ten thousand generations!"
"What was that saying again? Merit surpassing Watermelon?"
"Nonsense, that's called merit surpassing Yao and Shun!"
"Ah, yes, merit surpassing Yao and Shun!"
"..............."
The officials, however, looked as if they had lost their parents.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this absolutely cannot be done!"
"This is a complete political chaos..."
"Absurd, I have never heard such remarks. If the common people participate in governing, won't the entire realm fall into chaos?"
".........."
But no matter how loudly they shouted with their necks stretched, they could not drown out the voices of the common people.
Their arguments against it sank like stones into the sea, not even creating a ripple.
In the front row, in a corner, Fang Er watched this scene with a smile, casually took out two ripe melons, and tossed one to Zhang Gongjin.
"Eat a melon, eat a melon. Let's just watch the show."
Zhang Gongjin caught it, brought it to his nose to smell, and asked with some unease.
"Are these melons guaranteed to be ripe?"
But before Fang Er could reply, a large hand reached out from beside Zhang Gongjin and snatched the melon away.
"Give it here!"
It was Zhangsun Wuji who spoke.
After snatching the melon, he did not forget to glare fiercely at Fang Er.
"You kid, you don't even care about your father-in-law?"
Zhang Gongjin: .........
"You old man, if you have a problem with him, why are you snatching my melon!"
"Crunch!"
Zhangsun Wuji took a bite, with a few melon seeds sticking to the corner of his mouth, and cast a contemptuous glance at Zhang Gongjin.
"Have a problem?"
"What, you're snatching my melon and I'm not allowed to have an opinion?" Zhang Gongjin stared at him as if he were an idiot.
However, the melon had already been bitten, and taking it back felt somewhat unappealing...
"Reservations about your opinion!"
"Crunch!" Zhangsun Wuji took another bite.
"Mmm, sweet, sweet to the heart..."
In front of the Taiji Palace, Li Shimin inadvertently saw this scene, and the smile on his face instantly froze.
Damn it!
This is going too far!
He casually summoned Deng Dengjie and whispered a few words in his ear.
Deng Dengjie nodded, then walked towards them.
Zhang Gongjin saw Deng Dengjie approaching and looked at Zhangsun Wuji with amusement.
"Heh heh, showing off, huh? The Emperor saw you. I'm waiting to watch the show!"
After saying that, he grinned vulgarly with a thick face.
"Hiahiahiahiahia.........."
Zhangsun Wuji's mouth was at the melon, but he instinctively stopped, unsure whether to continue eating or not.
Glancing sideways at Deng Dengjie approaching, he stuffed the melon into his sleeve, pretending nothing had happened.
But when Deng Dengjie reached them, he said something that surprised all three.
"Duke An, do you still have any melons? His Majesty wishes to try some..."