Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

The Eastern Palace of the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, Xiande Hall.

Outside the hall, it was raining today, making the atmosphere in Xiande Hall still gloomy, even though the windows had been replaced with glass.

King Li Zhen of Yue stood obediently beside his elder brother, the Crown Prince.

However, at close range, one could clearly hear the heavy breathing of the emperor as he looked at the account books and files.

In fact, even he himself did not expect that his unconscious action would uncover such a terrible chain of corruption, which even involved smuggling, collusion with enemy countries, and selling military funds.

Also present with Li Zhen was Prince Li Zhi, who was in charge of overseeing the country.

He knelt beside his elder brother's desk, looking at the increasingly detailed reports and numerous court account books delivered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

Then, as if she had seen a ghost, she looked up at her usually quiet myna bird with astonishment.

"Eighth brother, how did you find out? I handle so many documents and reports from all over the country every day, and I have never noticed anything amiss."

Li Chengqian also looked up. Although he clearly looked like he wanted to kill and skin someone alive, when he looked at his younger brother, his face showed obvious relief and approval.

Li Zhen was taken aback, as if she didn't understand Li Zhi's question.

He pointed to the pile of documents and files in front of him.

"Isn't it all in the case files? Since the Royal Bank began to gradually expand the issuance of Tang Yuan paper money this year, the counterfeit money cases that were basically present in various provinces have disappeared after a short period of time due to the court's strong propaganda and strict punishment. Even if there are counterfeit money cases again, they are mostly cases of privately minting gold and silver coins."

He stepped forward and pointed to the case files on another table, which he had arranged according to different regions.

"The number of counterfeit currency cases has decreased sharply in various regions. If a region has one or two cases, it is already considered a dereliction of duty by local officials. But this Jiangnan region is different... Not only are there nearly 50% more counterfeit currency cases than in other regions, but what is even more unbelievable is that most of them are counterfeit gold and silver coins. What is even more ridiculous is that some of these counterfeit coins have a higher gold and silver content than the official gold and silver coins of the imperial court..."

Li Zhen had a strange expression on her face, as if she were explaining to someone why one plus one equals two.

He shrugged and said, "There must be something wrong with this. So I retrieved the tax records for Jiangnan Province this year. After checking, I became even more certain. It's too fake. There is a large influx of gold and silver, but the commercial tax is just average in each province, neither high nor low."

"Moreover, despite being located by the sea and having shipyards, maritime taxes account for less than 10% of total commercial taxes. It would be one thing if the number of local maritime merchants were insignificant, but there are now three large-scale shipyards along the coast of Jiangnan Province, and all the registered ships that have already been sold belong to merchants from Jiangnan Province..."

Li Zhen spread his hands, looking indifferent and bored, which made Li Zhi's mouth drop open.

"This, this...you, Eighth Brother, you've gone too far..."

Li Zhi wanted to say that the other party was impressive, but he felt that it was beyond what could be expressed by simply saying "impressive".

Li Zhen, however, looked at Li Chengqian.

“Your Majesty, although it is still difficult to determine who is involved in the truth of the matter, I suspect that it must involve smuggling, collusion between officials and businessmen, the transportation and trade of contraband, and even murder and coercion.”

Li Zhi was shocked again: "How did you know?!"

Li Zhen shrugged: "Ninth Brother, when you look at dozens of case files every day without fail for several years, you will find that all the cases that everyone racks their brains to solve, even using all kinds of suspicion and cunning ideas, are actually no different in the end. Their desires, thoughts, and ideas, when the outcome of the case is in front of them, the truth is already in front of them."

Li Zhi: "......"

Li Chengqian: "......"

What kind of monster has this old man become now?

In fact, Li Zhen didn't even need to offer any further explanation.

When Crown Prince Li Chengqian personally ordered Qian Lou, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to lead a team to Jiangnan Circuit to investigate and arrest people, the number of people arrested gradually increased in just over a month. Even officials from several places in Jiangnan Circuit, such as prefects and vice-prefects, were successively captured.

A case that shook the imperial court was brought to light by the eighth prince, who spent his days drinking tea and reading case files.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, spare my life! I... I know nothing about this! I know absolutely nothing about this!"

When the confessions bearing the names and signatures of their adopted sons were placed before Duke Zhang Liang of Yun, the latter's face lost eight-tenths of its color.

When he was bound hand and foot and escorted to the Taiji Hall, kneeling before Li Chengqian and the officials, all his color drained away and his hands and feet turned ice cold.

Behind them, and even outside the palace, boxes of armor, weapons, and even bows and crossbows seized from the mansions of other dukes were carried by the Embroidered Uniform Guards to the officials.

Zhang Liang had lost all his former grandeur as a duke. Tears filled with fear, he kept begging for mercy and kowtowing to Li Chengqian, who was sitting in the main hall.

Li Chengqian's face was ashen.

"Duke of Yun... even I should address you as uncle. You have rendered great service to the country. Before this matter, someone told me that such a major case must have involved court officials or meritorious officials. I thought of all the officials present, and even my father-in-law."

"But I never imagined that it was you, Duke Zhang Liang of Yun, my valiant uncle who followed my father through thick and thin, who did all this..."

As Li Chengqian spoke, he seemed to find it impossible to utter any more offensive words. With a look of deep remorse, he viciously slammed the report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard in his hand in front of the other party.

Zhang Liang was overcome with emotion and tears streamed down his face.

"Your Highness, Your Highness! Waaah! Both His Majesty and Your Highness have been incredibly kind to me. How could I possibly do something so treasonous? Your Highness, I truly didn't know! These..."

"How dare you! The evidence is irrefutable. In the letters between your adopted sons and the governors of Mingzhou and Yuezhou in Jiangnan Province, they have repeatedly mentioned that you did all of this. And now, those chests of gold and silver outside the palace are right here!"

"You're still trying to argue!"

The Imperial Censor Dai Zhou was furious and stepped forward to bow to Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, this villain is extremely wicked. The evidence is irrefutable, yet he still tries to use past relationships to coerce you. Even if he has rendered meritorious service to the country, His Majesty bestowed upon him the title of Duke, treating him with great honor. Your Highness has also bestowed upon him gold, silver, and silk on more than one occasion. The law of the land is the law of the land. Duke Zhang Liang of Yun colludes with enemy states, engages in corruption and factionalism, disregards human life, and has caused chaos in the region!"

"Your Highness, I beg you to execute him!!!"

Upon hearing this, the imperial censors stepped forward in indignation.

"We, your humble servants, beg Your Highness to execute the traitors and cleanse the palace!"

Li Chengqian gritted his teeth, seemingly engaged in a constant internal struggle, when a voice suddenly emerged from the crowd.

"Your Highness, no!"

Hou Junji stepped forward, his face streaked with tears, looking equally heartbroken yet unable to bear the sight of others pleading.

“Your Highness, I know Zhang Liang well. He would never betray His Majesty, much less you! How could the luxuries of gold and silver possibly drive him to such a rebellious act? And the so-called irrefutable evidence is nothing more than words from letters written by his adopted son. How can that be considered irrefutable evidence?!”

Immediately, Li Daozong, the Minister of Justice, coldly and angrily rebuked him.

"Hou Junji! Are you asking His Highness to protect a villain?!"

Hou Junji knelt down on the ground and kowtowed to Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, Zhang Liang's crimes may lie in his incompetence in managing his subordinates, or in his arrogance and domineering nature, but he has absolutely no intention of betraying his master! I implore Your Highness to be lenient with him!"