Fang Er and the old guys were spectating.
But the grand court session was still ongoing.
Li Chengqian was using his actions to support Li Shimin's reforms.
At this moment, his image in the eyes of the common people was tall and majestic.
Li Chengqian looked at the officials. Although their protests were drowned out by the applause and cheers of the people's representatives, some of them still reached his ears.
"Silence!"
He extended both hands, pressing down from above.
Whether commoners or officials, they all quickly fell silent at that moment.
"I hear some people are opposing the people's representatives participating in governance!"
"Then, for the following matter, I will temporarily let you be the judge. I want to see what decision you will make!"
After speaking, he looked at Qi Wudao.
"Bring all the princes, dukes, and heads of aristocratic families!"
"Yes!"
Qi Wudao bowed respectfully and then shouted loudly.
"The Crown Prince's order: bring all the princes, dukes, and heads of aristocratic families!"
"Bring..."
The imperial guards stationed at the grand court session repeated Li Chengqian's command one after another.
Like an echo, it was relayed outwards from the palace.
Soon, a long procession walked over from the palace gates.
Li Daozong, Li Shentong, Li Boxi!
Liu Hongji, Xiao Yu, Zhangsun Shunde, Dugu Xiude!
Further back were the heads of various aristocratic families.
Wow!
Seeing these people, with their hands tied behind their backs, disheveled hair, and escorted by the Hundred Riders, slowly approaching the officials, everyone was stunned!
Especially the officials. News of the Hundred Riders apprehending people everywhere in the past two days had already spread like wildfire.
They might have heard that people they knew were apprehended, but no one knew the full list.
At the beginning of the court session, they were still curious why many familiar faces were absent.
Now it seemed, they were all here!
Three princes!
Four dukes!
What a major event!
The common people's information was inherently limited. Moreover, they were all representatives chosen from the capital, Chang'an, and had even less knowledge of the unrest in various regions.
These princes and nobles, who were usually figures they revered, were now, right before their eyes, prisoners.
It was too unbelievable!
"Kneel!"
The Hundred Riders were unceremonious. After lining up Li Daozong and others, they kicked them at the back of their knees.
Bang bang bang bang...
Twenty to thirty people were forced to kneel in a row in front of the Taiji Hall.
Li Chengqian scanned each person's face and then looked at the officials present.
"It has been investigated and verified!"
"A month ago, when the plague first broke out in Yangzhou, the Yangzhou branch of the Liu clan of Hedong, in pursuit of exorbitant profits, substituted inferior goods for superior ones and swapped medicinal herbs, preventing plague patients from being cured in a timely manner."
"This led to the rapid spread of the plague, causing countless people to fall gravely ill!"
"..."
The matter of Yangzhou was thoroughly exposed by him.
The officials exchanged glances, while the people's representatives glared at Li Daozong and the others with bloodshot eyes.
They felt a sense of lingering fear, thankful that they lived in the capital, Chang'an. If they had lived in Yangzhou, wouldn't they have also become part of the unjustly deceased?
Li Chengqian's words continued.
"According to the investigation by the Hundred Riders!"
"In the past month, in addition to the Yangzhou plague!"
"The corpses in Poyang Lake, the soaring grain prices in Chaoxian, the unprovoked descent of snakes and insects from Wandezhou!"
"The grassland fire in the Jinchi tribe, the dike breach of the Huan River in Henan Dao, and the destruction of the Fuli section of the railway!"
"The rodent infestation in the Western Regions, the pirates in the southeast, the indigenous people's rebellion in the Pyu kingdom, the uncontrolled stampede of elephants in the Tianzhu prefecture attacking villages..."
"A series of seemingly coincidental events were actually orchestrated by someone behind the scenes!"
"Attempting to shake the foundations of the Great Tang and exhaust the imperial court!"
"The mastermind behind all of this is the princes Li Daozong, Li Shentong, and Li Boxi!"
"These three, in collusion with the dukes Zhangsun Shunde, Dugu Xiude, Liu Hongji, and Xiao Yu!"
"Secretly directed the Wei clan of Jingzhao, the Liu clan of Hedong, the Xue clan of Hedong, the Yang clan of Hongnong, the Du clan of Jingzhao!"
"The Zhou clan of Yixing, the Shen clan of Wuxing!"
"The Zhu, Zhang, Gu, and Lu clans of Wujun!"
"The Wang clan of Langya, the Xie clan of Chenjun, the Xiao clan of Lanling!"
"The Yuan, Zhangsun, Yu, Lu, Yuan, Dugu, and Linghu clans of Henan!"
"The Songtsen clan of Tubo, the Tian clan of Qiuci!"
"The Li clan of Pyu, the Alashao clan of Tianzhu!"
"A total of twenty-five aristocratic families!"
"According to statistics, in the past month, the number of civilians who died in this conspiracy reached thirty-six thousand seven hundred and forty-nine!"
"Injured, forty-two thousand eight hundred and twenty-one!"
"Maimed, nine thousand two hundred and eleven!"
"The widowed and orphaned are innumerable!"
Each regional upheaval, each participating aristocratic family, and various data points were rattled off by Li Chengqian as if he had them all memorized.
The people's anger grew increasingly intense.
The officials' hearts grew colder and colder!
As he concluded, Li Chengqian's gaze was like a sword, fixed on all the officials present. He spoke coldly.
"Distinguished officials!"
"For this case, I wish to hear how you intend to pass judgment!"
"The Ministry of Revenue! You go first!"
The Minister of Revenue stood up, bowed respectfully, and said with a troubled expression.
"Reporting to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, this matter should be jointly tried by the Court of Imperial Clan and the Court of Judicial Review. The Ministry of Revenue has no authority to intervene."
"Hmph!"
Li Chengqian seemed to have anticipated his reply and called out to the other five ministries one by one.
However, as expected, no one dared to give an answer!
Three princes, four dukes, and twenty-five aristocratic families!
Committing such heinous acts, they could be charged with treason without question, and at the very least face the punishment of having their entire clan eradicated!
But if that were truly the case, then heads would surely roll!
Under such circumstances, some were afraid to speak.
And some others, could not speak!
For example, Li Jing, Ma Zhou, and Liu Dacheng.
Even Wei Zheng remained silent, because Zhang Gongjin was staring fixedly at him!
This was Li Chengqian's stage, and whoever dared to disrupt it, well...
Li Chengqian let out a cold smile and swept his gaze over the assembled ministers.
"Since you will not speak, let us first hear what the people's representatives think?"
"We will act according to the Crown Prince's decision!"
Whether they were afraid to speak or unable to speak, they now had no other choice.
Li Chengqian looked at the commoners, trying his best to make his smile appear amiable.
"Esteemed elders."
"If this matter were to be decided by you, how would you rule?"
The air suddenly became heavy.
The commoners had not expected that they would actually have the opportunity to speak in the court!
And to decide such a major affair involving so many princes and nobles!
"Kill!"
"Kill them all!"
"Such vermin deserve death to appease the heavens!"
"Exterminate the nine generations!"
A roar of outrage filled the air, and shouts of killing echoed like thunder.
Seeing this scene, the officials couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
The common people had fewer scruples. Peaceful days were hard-earned, and anyone who dared to disrupt them deserved to die!
It was that simple!