This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

Li Shimin thought for a moment, then looked at Liu Xiang and said, "Minister Liu, who do you think should be invited to the palace?"

Liu Xiangdao said decisively, "Yuchi Baolin!"

Li Shimin waved his hand and said to the middle-aged eunuch in purple robes not far away, "Anan, send someone to summon Yuchi Baolin to the palace."

"The slaves obey the orders!"

Zhang Anan bowed, accepted the decree, and turned to leave.

Soon, a dark-skinned young man in a purple robe followed Zhang Anan in, looking somewhat bewildered.

"Your subject, Yuchi Baolin, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

After Li Shimin finished bowing, he told Yuchi Baolin to rise and asked, "Yuchi Baolin, I ask you, who instructed you to lead the beating of the civil official's son?"

Yuchi Baolin quickly replied, "I can't stand those fickle and treacherous people. No one instructed me to do this!"

"His mouth is really tight..." Li Shimin turned his head and said, "Minister Liu, you ask him."

"The minister obeys the order!"

Liu Xiangdao cupped his hands in greeting, then walked solemnly to Yuchi Baolin's side, staring into his eyes, and said, word by word, "Yuchi Baolin, I am Liu Xiangdao, the Vice Minister of the Censorate. I have something to ask you, so listen carefully!"

"I ask you, where did you beat the son of the civil official?"

"Outside Chengtian Gate".

Yu Chi Baolin spoke the truth.

"What time?"

"morning."

How many people took the ride?

"Fifty-nine."

After finishing his sentence, Yuchi Baolin added, "At that time, Brother Chuxia... that is, Imperial Censor Cheng, he left first."

Cheng Jun, standing to the side, observed Liu Xiangdao's manner of questioning without being surprised.

The phrase "supervising all officials" in practice meant permeating every government office. It not only involved checking whether officials were competent or not, but also whether they had engaged in favoritism or abuse of power. Criminal cases involved human lives, and matters of life and death were matters that the censors would handle.

Therefore, the Censorate would often send people from the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice to jointly adjudicate criminal cases and supervise criminal proceedings.

Liu Xiangdao was the second-in-command of the Censorate, and it was perfectly normal for him to be skilled in interrogation.

"I'll ask you again."

Liu Xiangdao's expression grew increasingly serious. "Did Cheng Jun ever tell you the saying, 'A gentleman who lacks gravity will not command respect'?"

Yu Chi Baolin said, "Yes!"

Liu Xiangdao then asked, "Did you say to anyone else at the time, 'Don't hit too hard, just beat them half to death and that's it'?"

He even knew what Yuchi Baolin said back then... After a moment's thought, Cheng Jun realized that he must have learned what Yuchi Baolin had said from his son.

"Have!"

In response to Liu Xiangdao's question, Yuchi Baolin answered directly.

"Have you ever said, 'Don't hold back, beat them to death'?"

"Have!"

"Since you have both, let me ask you again! Was the phrase 'Don't go too far, just beat him half to death' said before Cheng Jun told you that a gentleman is not authoritative if he is not serious'?"

Yu Chi Baolin hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yes..."

Liu Xiangdao asked again, "After Cheng Jun said that, did you say 'Don't hold back, beat them to death'?"

Yu Chi Baolin remained silent and instead looked at Cheng Jun.

The deception has been exposed... Li Shimin shook his head inwardly. Yuchi Baolin was still too young. At this moment, his attention was focused on Cheng Jun, which was tantamount to admitting his mistake.

Liu Xiangdao suddenly shouted sternly, "Yuchi Baolin, why are you looking at Cheng Jun?"

"Do you think that if you answer this question, it will be detrimental to him?"

Cheng Jun then interjected, "Lord Liu, this is an attempt to induce a confession."

After saying that, Cheng Jun smiled and said to Yuchi Baolin, "Brother Baolin, just answer truthfully, don't hide anything!"

Yuchi Baolin nodded and said without hesitation, "I will answer Liu Zhongcheng's question now. I did say 'Don't hold back, beat him to death' after Imperial Censor Cheng said 'A gentleman who is not serious will not be respected'!"

Liu Xiangdao revealed a triumphant smile, turned to look at Li Shimin, and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, Yuchi Baolin has admitted that he was instigated by Cheng Jun!"

Yu Chi Baolin opened her eyes wide and exclaimed, "When did I admit it?"

Seeing that he was still stubbornly refusing to admit it, Liu Xiangdao said coldly:

"When you were hitting someone, you said 'just beat him half to death,' but when Cheng Jun said 'A gentleman who is not serious will not be respected,' you changed your mind and said 'beat him to death.' This is enough to show that the other meaning of the saying 'A gentleman who is not serious will not be respected' is that you should use heavy blows!"

“When you beat people, you are the leader, and others follow your lead. When you speak, the sons of those military officers do what you say, which means they all listen to you.”

“The saying ‘A gentleman who is not dignified will not command respect’ was given to you by Cheng Jun. You not only understood the other layer of meaning in this saying, but you also obediently carried it out. It is clear that you and the sons of those military officers are all acting under Cheng Jun’s orders!”

After saying that, he looked at Cheng Jun with a victorious smile.

Cheng Jun suddenly sighed, "Lord Liu, it's one thing for Vice Minister Cui to like to misinterpret the words of the sages, but why do you also like to misinterpret the words of the sages?"

Liu Xiangdao sneered, "Even on the verge of death, he's still being stubborn..."

At this moment, Yuchi Baolin suddenly said, "No, no, Liu Zhongcheng's understanding is wrong! 'A gentleman who is not dignified will not command respect' doesn't mean that! This saying means that only by respecting oneself can one have good character and be called a gentleman!"

"Censor Cheng was using those words to advise me! It wasn't what you meant by taking drastic measures. When I heard what Censor Cheng said, I felt that a gentleman like him should be humiliated by the sons of civil officials. That's when I got angry and said those words!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiangdao's expression changed, and he turned his head sharply, staring at Cheng Jun with a mixture of shock and anger.

Cheng Jun just said that there was a "misinterpretation" in his words, which was a message to Yuchi Baolin!

Liu Xiangdao was instantly enraged and pointed at Cheng Jun's nose, shouting angrily, "Cheng Jun, how dare you imply to Yuchi Baolin to recant his testimony in front of His Majesty!"

At this moment, Liu Xiangdao finally understood why Cheng Jun wanted to go to the palace with him to meet the emperor.

Cheng Jun's purpose in entering the palace was not solely to impeach him!

Furthermore, he should give Yuchi Baolin some hints during his interrogation!

Damn it, all our efforts have been in vain... Liu Xiangdao was both shocked and furious, regretting that he had been fooled by Cheng Jun's memorial!

Li Shimin also looked at Cheng Jun, and at this moment he understood, his face immediately turned stern.

Is Cheng Jun a slippery eel...? He's so slippery!

Now even Yuchi Baolin himself says that Cheng Jun's words "A gentleman who is not serious will not command respect" were meant to advise him, not to imply that he should use force. This completely absolves Cheng Jun of any responsibility!

In addition, having already punished Yuchi Baolin's father, Liu Zhongcheng was powerless to reverse the situation.

The situation was now crystal clear, and Li Shimin had no choice but to speak up, looking at Liu Zhongcheng and saying, "Liu Aiqing, is the truth now clear?"

Liu Xiangdao gritted his teeth, "Your Majesty, Yuchi Baolin is lying. I request that he be tortured!"

"Pfft..."

Cheng Jun suddenly couldn't help but laugh out loud.

…………

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