The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 198 Accuses the Crown Prince... of sending him to assassinate Qingque and Yu Zhining!

"Why not take this opportunity to thoroughly solidify the credit of the imperial bonds and make them a vital national asset?"

"Once their foundation is solid and they are not afraid of storms, then we can launch an eastern expedition, which will be twice as effective with half the effort."

Their words remained tactful, but their meaning was clearer than before.

The fact that the suppression of the rebellion caused bonds to rebound demonstrates both the value and fragility of credit.

Therefore, we should not easily resort to war, which could damage our credibility.

Li Shimin looked at them, his heart turning cold.

He realized that the suppression of the rebellion of the King of Qi had not cleared the way for his eastern expedition; on the contrary, the rebound in bond prices had given those who opposed the expedition even more reason to do so.

They were not disloyal; on the contrary, they were using their understanding of the logic of this newly emerging "credit system" to "protect" the court's "long-term interests."

He, the emperor who was determined to establish great military achievements and surpass the ancients, found that his will to drive the war was being bound by this new and invisible force.

He seemed to be confronting the entire court and a new governing philosophy that was gradually taking shape.

"I... understand."

Li Shimin slowly uttered these three words.

His voice carried a hint of barely perceptible fatigue and determination.

He waved his hand, signaling the two to step back.

He stood up, walked to the window of the palace, and looked into the distance.

He absolutely must fight Goguryeo!
The imperial court's prestige came not only from the rise and fall of bond prices in the marketplace, but also from its formidable military might and unparalleled martial prowess!

He must find a way to break through this barrier and make his will once again the only direction for the empire's progress.

Before the dust had completely settled from the rebellion in Qizhou, prison carts carrying Li You and his main followers, under the guard of elite imperial guards, had already entered Chang'an City.

Once a member of the imperial family, now a prisoner, shackled and huddled in a prison van, his face ashen and his eyes vacant.

Li You was directly imprisoned in the Dali Temple Prison, where he was tried by officials personally appointed by the emperor.

This case of a prince's rebellion has touched every sensitive nerve in the court and among the people.

The following day, the atmosphere inside the Liangyi Hall was somber.

Li Shimin sat upright on his throne, his face ashen.

Below stood a handful of key officials, including Crown Prince Li Chengqian, Duke of Zhao Changsun Wuji, Duke of Liang Fang Xuanling, Grand Secretary Cen Wenben, and Minister of Justice.

This was the first small-scale, private discussion about how to deal with Li You.

The Minister of Justice stepped forward first and bowed to report the preliminary interrogation results. He confirmed that the evidence was conclusive regarding Li You's crimes, including murdering Chief Secretary Quan Wanji, privately raising troops, falsely granting official titles, and rebelling in the city. According to the Tang Code, treason was the most heinous of the ten crimes and was unforgivable, deserving the death penalty.

There was dead silence in the hall.

All eyes glanced at the emperor on the throne, then quickly looked down.

No one took the lead in setting the tone, especially in such a sensitive case involving the emperor's own children.

Li Shimin's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, finally landing on Li Chengqian, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Your Highness, Li You is your younger brother. What do you think should be done with him?"

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, stepped forward, knelt down, and spoke in a clear and steady voice.

“Father, my fifth brother Li You was young and reckless, misled by treacherous people, and committed a terrible mistake. His crime is indeed very serious.”

He first determined the nature of the crime and admitted to Li You's offenses.

Then, he changed the subject, his tone becoming earnest.

"However, I humbly beg Father, in consideration of blood ties and the fact that my fifth brother is ultimately of your blood, spare his life."

"Your subject believes that his royal title should be revoked, his clan name removed, and he should be demoted to a commoner and confined to another place for life, so that he can reflect on his mistakes and end his remaining days."

"In this way, the law is clarified, the Emperor's loving heart is fulfilled, and our royal family is shown to be...not a harsh and ungrateful people."

After he finished speaking, his forehead touched the ground, and he lay down, unable to get up.

Silence fell once again in the hall.

Changsun Wuji lowered his eyes, as if studying the texture of the floor.

Fang Xuanling stroked his beard, his brows furrowed slightly, as if deep in thought.

Cen Wenben, however, kept his eyes down and remained expressionless.

No one echoed Li Chengqian's sentiments, nor did anyone voice any opposition.

Pleading for a prince who was plotting a rebellion was an extremely risky move, especially when the emperor's attitude was unclear.

They were all waiting, waiting for the emperor's reaction.

Li Shimin looked at his eldest son lying on the ground with a complicated expression.

Was he pleased? Somewhat.

Li Chengqian's willingness to stand up for his brother at this critical moment, speaking earnestly and considering both legal principles and familial ties, demonstrates the benevolence and responsibility expected of a crown prince.

This proves that he, the crown prince, is indeed growing and changing.

However, this sense of relief was quickly overshadowed by even stronger anger and resolve.

rebellion!

This was Li Shimin's absolute taboo!

The Xuanwu Gate Incident was a pain and shadow that he could never truly let go of throughout his life.

Any sign of insubordination or fratricide would trigger his deepest vigilance and fury.

Li You's actions were not merely a rebellion, but a blatant provocation and betrayal of his father's and the emperor's authority!
If we don't kill them, how can we intimidate the world?
If we don't kill them, how can we warn the other princes?
If he doesn't kill him, where will Li Shimin's authority be?
He needed blood to wash away this shame, and he needed Li You's head to make it clear once again that imperial power is inviolable!

"The Crown Prince is kind and benevolent, which greatly pleases me."

Li Shimin spoke slowly, his voice steady, yet carrying an undeniable chill.

"However, the most important matters of state are sacrifice and war. Laws and regulations are the foundation of a nation. If treason and rebellion are pardoned because of kinship, what will become of the laws of the land?"

"Where is the imperial court's authority? What will happen if others follow suit in the future?"

He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over the other silent high-ranking officials.

What do you all think?

Changsun Wuji finally raised his head, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent and considerate of brotherly affection, which is truly a virtue."

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. The crime of treason concerns the very foundation of the nation and is far beyond the scope of ordinary mistakes."

"How to handle this matter is up to Your Majesty's wise decision. We, your subjects... will respectfully follow Your Majesty's will."

He skillfully passed the buck back, neither explicitly supporting nor opposing the killing, leaving everything to the emperor's will.

Fang Xuanling chimed in, "Your Majesty, the evidence against the Prince of Qi is conclusive, and he should be severely punished according to the law."

"However, the specific sentencing involves the imperial family and concerns Your Majesty's balance between family and state affairs. We dare not presume to comment, and humbly request Your Majesty to make the decision."

Similarly, they remained silent, leaving the final decision entirely to Li Shimin.

Cen Wenben and others echoed his sentiments, expressing similar ideas.

Li Shimin looked at this group of slippery old ministers and snorted coldly in his heart.

He knew they were unwilling to take a stand on this matter lightly, lest they get themselves into trouble.

He also knew that while they might agree with the Crown Prince's plea in their hearts, they would never openly oppose him.

“In that case,” Li Shimin’s voice turned cold and hard.

"This matter will be discussed later. The Ministry of Justice, together with the Court of Judicial Review, will continue the investigation and thoroughly investigate all those involved, regardless of who is implicated, leaving no one out! I will make a decision once the facts of the case are fully clear!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Liu Deyu bowed and accepted the order.

Li Chengqian remained prostrate on the ground, his heart sinking slightly upon hearing his father's words. He knew that his father had not adopted his suggestion; the phrases "to be discussed later" and "to be completely clear" were practically a death sentence for Li You.

The Emperor was simply waiting for a more "suitable" opportunity, or a reason that could better silence public opinion.

He slowly straightened up and stopped arguing.

He knew that saying anything more at this moment would be pointless and might even provoke his father's rebellious tendencies.

After the court session ended and everyone left, Li Shimin sat alone in the empty hall.

Press your fingers firmly against your temples.

The urge to kill grew wildly in his heart like weeds.

Li You must die, not only to uphold the law, but also for his own peace of mind and to eliminate the lingering nightmare of the Xuanwu Gate.

He was waiting, waiting for an opportunity that would make his decision seem more "natural".

However, neither Li Shimin nor Li Chengqian, nor even the entire court, anticipated that the storm brought about by this "opportunity" would far exceed the Li You rebellion itself.

The interrogation by the Dali Temple was being conducted in a very strict manner.

In order to thoroughly investigate Li You's cronies, all those who had close ties with the Prince Qi's residence or who might have known about the matter were included in the investigation.

Hegan Chengji, who had long since left the Eastern Palace, was implicated in the treason case.

Initially, the interrogating officials did not pay much attention to this "minor character".

However, when the routine interrogation touched on his experiences after leaving the Eastern Palace and why he had dealings with people from the Prince of Qi's residence, Hegan Chengji's psychological defenses quickly collapsed under the threat of torture and the officials' repeated questioning.

In order to exonerate himself, to prove his "worth," and to seize a glimmer of hope in what seemed like a certain death, he threw out a shocking secret as if grasping at a straw.

He confessed that he was not just an ordinary江湖客 (jianghu ke, a martial arts world figure), but a death squad secretly raised by Crown Prince Li Chengqian!

Even more shockingly, he claimed that last year, he was ordered by the Crown Prince to attempt to assassinate Li Tai, the Prince of Wei, and Yu Zhining, the Crown Prince's Left Vice Minister!
The official in charge of the interrogation was so shocked that he could barely hold his pen and hurriedly reported the incident up the chain of command.

The news struck like a thunderbolt, resounding directly in the Liangyi Hall.

Li Shimin was reviewing memorials when the eunuch Wang De rushed in, his face pale and his steps unsteady.

As she whispered the report in his ear, the vermilion pen in his hand fell onto the memorial with a "snap," staining a large area of ​​the writing red.

He looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock, as well as a furious rage at being betrayed by his closest loved ones.

His face turned ashen instantly, and his chest heaved violently.

"You...what did you say?"

His voice was hoarse with extreme shock and anger.

"He Gan Chengji...accuses the Crown Prince...of sending him to assassinate Qingque and Yu Zhining!"

"Yes...yes, Your Majesty."

Wang De was so frightened that he knelt down on the ground, his voice trembling.

"The Court of Judicial Review dared not conceal anything and has already submitted the preliminary confession in a sealed envelope..."

Li Shimin grabbed the secret report and quickly scanned the words on it.

Every word was like a red-hot dagger, piercing his heart.

He dispatched assassins to kill his own brother and high-ranking officials of the court!

Where is this the same crown prince who gradually became more composed and even showed a benevolent side in front of him?

This is clearly a ruthless, inhuman, and lawless madman!

The shadow of Xuanwu Gate loomed over him once again.

Brothers killing each other... Are his sons also going to follow this bloody path?
And it was done using such despicable and underhanded means!

"The traitor! This traitor!"

Li Shimin slammed the secret report onto the imperial desk, making a loud noise that seemed to shake the entire hall.

Veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes burned with fury.

But he was, after all, an emperor who had weathered countless storms.

After extreme anger comes cold rationality.

He cannot easily convict his crown prince based solely on the testimony of a guilty man.

"Wang De!" he shouted sternly, "Summon Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Xiao Yu, and Sun Fujia, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, to the palace immediately! And do it quickly!"

"According to the order!"

Soon, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and others were urgently summoned to the Liangyi Hall.

When they saw the emperor's ashen face and the copies of secret reports scattered on the ground, they were all terrified.

When they saw the contents, their faces changed color, and they looked at each other in shock.

"You all saw it?"

Li Shimin's voice was icy.

"Hegan Chengji accuses the Crown Prince of assassinating princes and ministers. What is your opinion on this matter?"

Changsun Wuji was shocked. He never expected that the Li You case would uncover such a shocking secret.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons.

The Crown Prince's prestige has been rising recently. If this is true, it would undoubtedly be a huge stain on his reputation and could even shake his position as heir apparent.

But if it was a false accusation... he dared not think about it further.

He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance and involves the very foundation of the nation."

"Hegan Chengji is a criminal, and whether his words are true or false, or whether he was instructed by someone to frame the Crown Prince, all need to be thoroughly investigated. I believe that the most urgent task is to find out the truth."

Fang Xuanling also said solemnly, "Fuji is absolutely right. Your Majesty, we must not listen to only one side of the story in this matter."

"He Ganchengji must be placed under strict guard immediately, isolated for interrogation, and his confession must be verified in detail."

"At the same time, we need to conduct a secret investigation to find other corroborating evidence. Before the truth comes out, it is not advisable to draw any conclusions rashly, so as not to cause turmoil in the court."

Their advice all pointed to a cautious investigation, which is a prudent and prudent approach.

Li Shimin stared at them, his gaze piercing.

"I summoned you here to investigate! Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling!"

"Your Majesty, we are here!" the two replied in unison.

"I hereby order the two of you, together with the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice, to conduct a secret investigation into this matter! Get to the bottom of it! Whoever it is, once verified, there will be no leniency!"

"Remember, what I want is the truth! The absolute truth!"

"Your Majesty, we obey! We will do our utmost to investigate this case thoroughly!"

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling bowed and accepted the order, their hearts heavy with sorrow.

They knew that a storm far more dangerous than Li You's rebellion was about to break.

While the atmosphere inside the Liangyi Hall was tense, the scene inside the Wei Prince's residence was quite different.

Li Tai practically jumped up from his seat, his face flushed with extreme excitement, and his plump body trembling slightly with emotion.

"Good! Good! Great!"

He said "good" three times and grabbed Du Chuke's arm.

"Sir! He Gan Chengji has confessed! He has confessed! That cripple! He's finished! He's completely finished this time!"

Compared to Li Tai's loss of composure, Du Chuke appeared much calmer, but his eyes still gleamed with an uncontrollable sharpness.

He said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, please calm down. This is a golden opportunity, but we must be more cautious at this time and plan carefully before we act."

(End of this chapter)