Caught a big fish.

Li Shimin gazed at Changsun Shunde, who was kneeling on the ground, his face a portrait of profound complexity. Though this man was not the most outstanding in ability, he had nonetheless contributed significantly to the Li family’s conquest of the realm. He had been among the earliest supporters of the Grand Emperor’s uprising and had helped secure several victories for Great Tang in battle. More than that, Changsun Shunde was one of the chief architects of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, a deed that had immensely aided Li Shimin himself. Even if these feats were set aside, Changsun Shunde, being the uncle of Empress Changsun, was connected to the Li family by blood and marriage.

It was truly difficult for Li Shimin to accept that Changsun Shunde had taken part in the plot to murder Li Zhi. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his face contorted in anguish: “Tell me, how could you steel your heart to lay such a cruel hand upon Zhinü?”

Changsun Shunde, for his part, was forthright. He knew that Li Shimin’s very presence here meant enough evidence had already been gathered. So he answered directly, “It was not out of cruelty, but the Prince of Jin’s proposal was too vicious, it cut off all my means of livelihood.”

Li Shimin, enraged, retorted, “I have never treated you unfairly, yet you would oppose the court’s decree for your own selfish gain?”

Changsun Shunde replied, his face full of grievance, “Your Majesty, surely you know how I have fared these years?”

He truly felt wronged. He had served the Li family for over a decade, earning at last the title of Duke. Yet, merely for his association with Li Xiaochang, who had rebelled in the first year of Zhenguan, he had been stripped of office and reduced to commoner status. In recent years, though he had been appointed Prefect of Zezhou, he had acted with utmost caution, not daring to be corrupt himself and even punishing many corrupt officials. He had personally reported the crimes of the two previous prefects. Such deeds had won him a good name, but brought him no wealth. Watching his whole family, servants, and maids endure hardship with him, how could he not seek some way to supplement their income?

Only recently had he managed to exploit some loopholes in religious matters to make a little money. Yet, before he could even enjoy it, Li Zhi’s proposal cut off this source of income entirely. Facing the prospect of returning to poverty, how could he calmly accept it?

Li Shimin was momentarily stunned by Changsun Shunde’s response.

He could not help but ask, “Both I and my father have bestowed upon you generous rewards—how could you be in want?”

Changsun Shunde answered, “The maids, servants, and guards in my household all rely upon my modest salary for their sustenance.”

Li Shimin bristled at this. So many ministers at court were in the same position—why was it that, for Changsun, his salary was never enough? He was about to argue further when Li Daozong, who had come with him, quietly tugged at his sleeve. With so many others present, it would not do to debate such matters in public.

Li Shimin, thus reminded, immediately regained his composure. He snorted, “I will settle accounts with you in detail later.”

With that, he turned his gaze upon the others present. Among them were two big fish he could not afford to let slip by.

When the others met Li Shimin’s gaze, they all trembled in fear before the murderous intent in his eyes. Only Cui Yan and Zheng De, heads of their respective clans, met his look differently. Zheng De remained calm, while Cui Yan even dared to glare at Li Shimin with open hostility.

He had his reasons for such defiance. Back when the Li family raised troops, they had courted the Cui clan extensively, and Li Shimin himself had become close friends with the family. The Cui clan had lent vital public support to the Li family’s cause. All had seemed well, but soon after ascending the throne, Li Shimin began to suppress the Cui clan—restricting opportunities for advancement, and then, using the pretext that the Cui clan had no high officials at court, demoting them from first to third rank in the newly compiled Genealogy of Clans.

Now, to make matters worse, he had adopted the suggestion of a mere child to crack down on those who profited from religious connections. How could the Cui clan bear such a grudge in silence? If he did not retaliate fiercely, how could he hope to cow the increasingly audacious Li Shimin?

Seeing Cui Yan glare at him, Li Shimin gave no quarter in return. He asked directly, “Master Cui, you seem to harbor much resentment toward me. Do you still claim to be wronged?”

Cui Yan replied, “You and I both know what you have done to my clan. Do not expect me to greet you with a pleasant face.”

Li Shimin snorted coldly, “You complain of my suppression, but have you ever considered whether your clan’s actions have benefited the court in the least?”

Cui Yan retorted, “The sons of my clan wish to serve the court, but you have stifled us at every turn and denied us all opportunity!”

Li Shimin answered, “The Cui clan is arrogant beyond measure. You even claim that no official or member of the imperial family is worthy to wed your daughters, and you demand exorbitant bride prices, disrupting public morals. Is this the conduct befitting a subject?”

Cui Yan retorted with a cold snort, “For generations my family has been renowned; how could our daughters be given in marriage so lightly?”

The implication was clear—he looked down upon the imperial clan, seeing the Li family as lacking the heritage to match his own. This infuriated Li Shimin, who inwardly resolved to seize this chance to teach the Cui clan a harsh lesson.

With neither side willing to yield, Li Shimin lost interest in further argument. He turned instead to Zheng De. Seeing Li Shimin’s gaze, Zheng De wasted no words. He declared, “This matter was mine alone and has nothing to do with the other members of my clan. I beg Your Majesty, for the sake of those among the Zhengs who have loyally served the court, to spare them.”

He wished to shoulder all blame himself, hoping to spare his family. Little did he know, Li Shimin had long contemplated suppressing the other great clans of the Five Surnames and Seven Clans, and would hardly let this opportunity slip by.

Li Shimin snorted coldly, but made no harsh pronouncement. He merely said with faint irony, “Your fate will be decided by the law; I shall not interfere unduly.”

Zheng De’s face changed at these words. He knew all too well—when Li Shimin spoke in such lofty terms, his actions thereafter would be all the more severe. It appeared the Zhengs would face calamity this time, all because of him.

Li Shimin swept his eyes over the remaining crowd, finding no one else worthy of note. He turned to leave the courtyard, saying to Li Daozong, “Take them away and hand them over to the Ministry of Justice for strict interrogation. Let not a single one escape.”

Li Daozong immediately understood—the Emperor intended to use this incident to send a stern warning to all evildoers.