Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 218 A mere children's brawl has dragged the nation into the brink of collapse?

"So, you're just going to put me under house arrest?"

After Gao Yue finished reading the imperial edict, Li Daozong was stunned.

Seeing Gao Yue arrive with so many Imperial Guards, he assumed she was going to take Wen He to the Ministry of Justice.

“It is a house arrest. Your Majesty also ordered me to reprimand the magistrate of Gaoyang County for being too audacious and reckless. How could he commit violence in the street? He must not do this again.”

Gao Yue deliberately put on a stern face, but his so-called reprimand was more like coaxing a child.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I will definitely be gentler next time."

Wen He put on a wronged look.

Upon seeing this, Gao Yue couldn't help but chuckle. After bowing to Li Daozong, she left.

The imperial guards he brought stayed behind.

There were a full hundred people, and the leader was an old acquaintance of Wen He, Zhao Qin, the Left Guard General who had helped him train the hundred cavalry before.

After Gao Yue left, Wen He sat back down on the recliner, looked up at Zhao Qin who was standing there, and asked with a smile.

Want some chicken wings?

"This is not proper, Your Excellency..."

Zhao Qin glanced at Li Daozong out of the corner of his eye.

The latter glared at him with displeasure: "What are you pretending for? This is not my home. That little child is the master here."

"Yes, yes, then I shall accept your offer."

Gao Yue had specifically reminded him before he came.

His Majesty sent them here, ostensibly to imprison Wen He and prevent him from leaving.

But in reality, they came to protect him.

Sure enough, not long after, Changsun Wuji arrived with his men.

"What is the meaning of your blocking me!"

Outside the gate, looking at the fully equipped Left Guard, Changsun Wuji clenched his fists in uncontrollable rage.

A dozen or so imperial guards blocked the gate.

"Reporting to the Vice Minister, His Majesty has decreed that during the period of confinement of the Prince of Gaoyang County, no one may enter without imperial decree."

Changsun Wuji's face twitched involuntarily.

He hadn't expected that His Majesty the Emperor had been prepared all along.

It's just a simple house arrest.

His son will be bedridden for more than a month.

"Oh, isn't this Changsun Fuji? You look so fierce, are you here to apologize to Wen He?"

Li Daozong ran into him as he was leaving.

Seeing him there, Changsun Wuji gritted his teeth and shouted, "Prince Rencheng, I respect you, but that doesn't mean you can bully my Changsun family!"

"Did I humiliate you?"

Li Daozong seemed to have heard a huge joke.

"What a joke! Your good son publicly insulted Wen He's background, saying that his poems were just parroting others' ideas."

"Changsun Fuj, his title of Prince of Gaoyang was bestowed by His Majesty, and he will be His Majesty's son-in-law in the future. May I ask if the Changsun family intends to humiliate my imperial clan?"

His gaze suddenly turned sharp.

Changsun Wuji was taken aback.

He was so angry that he didn't ask what had happened.

So they had no idea about it.

"Nonsense! Chong'er has always been cautious and refined, how could he say such a thing!"

Changsun Wuji did not believe it.

Li Daozong chuckled, put his hands behind his back, and walked past him.

"With so many people at Wangchun Tower at the time, could you, Changsun Fuji, silence the gossip of the people of Chang'an?"

Li Daozong spoke with such confidence.

This forced Changsun Wuji to believe everything he had just said.

If that's really the case, then even if he complains to His Majesty the Emperor, he still won't be able to avenge Chong'er.

Do not!
He must make Wen He pay the price!

The next day.

During the court assembly.

Today is a regular court session, so there aren't many people here.

In addition to the heads of the three provinces and the ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries, there were also some people from the Censorate and the Eastern Palace.

There were about ten people, which is a small number compared to the Grand Council.

The atmosphere was a bit off from the start of the day.

In particular, Xiao Yu, Yuwen Shiji, and others all appeared to be resting with their eyes closed.

After their reports, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui returned to their seats and sat upright.

On the throne, Li Shimin gently tapped the table with his fingers.

After the last vice minister finished his report, Li Shimin immediately gave Gao Yue a look.

The latter understood and was about to speak.

But right now!
Suddenly, an imperial censor shouted, "Your Majesty, I have a report to submit!"

"I am very tired today, so we will discuss this another day."

Li Shimin recognized the censor as soon as he saw him.

That man was from Guanzhong, and he entered officialdom through the connections of the Gao family of Guanzhong. He was very close to Changsun Wuji.

As soon as he opened his mouth, Li Shimin knew what he wanted to say.

"Your Majesty, when the censors impeach you, the monarch has no choice but to listen. Or have you forgotten your previous promise to impeach matters based on rumors?"

Wei Zheng suddenly stepped forward.

Li Shimin immediately gave him a displeased look.

Is this old farmer going to make things difficult for Wen He today?
Has he forgotten that if it weren't for Wen He, I would have sent him to the underworld long ago?

Seemingly noticing Li Shimin's gaze, Wei Zheng immediately added, "I have no selfish motives, but I believe that nothing should violate the laws of the state and the system of the monarchy." "If the monarch acts arbitrarily and changes his orders constantly, where is the authority in the court, and how can the monarch's prestige be maintained?"

That Wei Zheng!
Li Shimin was somewhat at a loss for words, both amused and exasperated.

He didn't know whether to say that Wei Zheng was a stickler for details or that he was bad at reading people's expressions.

"The Grand Counselor is right. In that case, please speak your mind."

Li Shimin sat down again.

The censor stepped forward and said, "I impeach the magistrate of Gaoyang County for committing violence in the street, causing an innocent person to be seriously injured and bedridden. As the ancients said, 'Even a prince is subject to the same law as a commoner.' I believe that if he is not severely punished, the country will cease to be a country, and the law will cease to be law."

"A mere children's brawl has to be dragged into the fate of the nation?"

A cold laugh suddenly came from the side.

The composed Changsun Wuji was startled and turned around abruptly, only to see an old man step forward.

"I believe that Imperial Censor Chen has gone too far. It was just a conflict between two children. If such a thing can bring about the downfall of the country, then there would be fights every day in Chang'an. Wouldn't our Great Tang Dynasty have perished long ago?"

This person had a smiling face, but his words were laced with barbs.

When Imperial Censor Chen saw him come out, he was surprised, but he quickly calmed down and replied, "The magistrate of Gaoyang County is a nobleman. He is fighting in the street and disregarding the law."

"Oh, then may I ask about the innocent person?"

The old man chuckled and glanced at Changsun Wuji: "He seems to be from a noble family as well. I've heard that he insulted the scion of Gaoyang County and mocked his background..."

"Minister Wen!"

Before the old man could finish speaking, Changsun Wuji suddenly interrupted him: "It was Wen He who spoke arrogantly first."

"Then why do I hear that it was an innocent person who bullied him first? His Majesty's previous praise of 'no one from the barbarians' has been interpreted by some as picking up scraps from others. May I ask whose scraps he picked up? Could it be that it was what Minister Changsun did before? I am truly ignorant."

The old man stared directly at Changsun Wuji, smiling mockingly.

The latter suppressed his anger and restrained his emotions, saying, "My son is ignorant, but even so, it doesn't warrant such a heavy blow."

“Gao Yangxian’s son is only ten years old this year, while your son is already fifteen. Who is younger? Could it be that your son has some kind of defect?”

"puff."

Not far away, Yan Lide couldn't help but chuckle, but then quickly covered his mouth with his sleeve.

"This tea is a bit too hot."

"Wen Dalin!"

“I am an old friend of your uncle, and I am a year older than him. It is not inappropriate for you to call him uncle.”

The old man stroked his beard, completely unconcerned about Changsun Wuji's anger, and continued, "His Majesty has already placed the magistrate of Gaoyang County under house arrest. He has already been punished, so why are you pressing a junior so hard? Is it because the Changsun family is short of money for medical treatment? If so, I will pay for it for them."

"unnecessary!"

Changsun Wuji gritted his teeth and squeezed out a sentence.

"Your subject has a report to make!"

Just then, Wei Zheng stepped forward again.

Changsun Wuji was taken aback and looked at Wei Zheng, whom he had never gotten along with, with surprise.

Is he going to come out and speak up for someone?

The old man's expression remained unchanged; he simply stroked his beard and looked at Wei Zheng.

Li Shimin, who had been silent just moments before, spoke in a somewhat unfriendly tone: "What does Minister Wei have to say?"

"Your Majesty, I request that Chen Shu be dismissed."

This Chen Shu is the name of that Imperial Censor Chen.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Taiji Hall looked at Wei Zheng in astonishment.

Even Li Shimin was somewhat surprised.

This was the first time he had seen Wei Zheng impeach someone.

In the past, this country bumpkin had been impeaching him all along.

"Your Majesty is diligent in governing, which is why you allow impeachments based on hearsay. However, Chen Shu is maliciously attacking the nobles and officials of the court because of personal grudges. I believe that if this is not stopped, there will be no restraint in the future, and everyone will feel insecure."

Upon hearing Wei Zheng's words, Chen Shu turned deathly pale.

He never expected that his superior would be so ruthless.

He hurriedly cast a pleading look at Changsun Wuji, but the latter avoided it.

Even Li Shimin was somewhat surprised that Wei Zheng would speak up for Wen He today.

No, that old country bumpkin would never do that.

He did this because Chen Shu, as a member of the Censorate, was acting as a pawn for Fu Ji.

Well then, this person really can't be kept around.

"Yes, what Wei Qing said is quite right. However, there is no need to dismiss him from his post. Let him be demoted to Xishazhou instead."

With a single, casual remark, Li Shimin sealed Chen Shu's fate.

Upon hearing this, Chen Shu bowed in despair: "Your subject thanks you for your grace."

Changsun Wuji's expression remained unchanged, but his hands, hidden inside his sleeves, were clenched tightly into a fist.

Just then, Li Shimin's voice came from above.

"However, this time, Wen He was indeed too presumptuous. What do you all think should be done to punish him?"

Changsun Wuji was secretly delighted.

"His Majesty still cherishes old friendships."

Li Shimin looked at everyone in the hall.

As soon as he finished speaking, a heavy voice suddenly came from inside the hall.

"Your Majesty, I have a report to submit!"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze in unison.

When they saw Li Jing get up, they were all taken aback.

Since His Majesty ascended the throne, Li Jing has never participated in any disputes in the court.

Every day when he went to court, he stood there like a clay sculpture.

But today he actually spoke up about Wen He's matter.

"It's rare that the apothecary has something to report today. Since that's the case, why don't you speak?" Li Shimin said with a light laugh as he looked at him.

Pharmacist Li nodded slightly, and after standing up, he calmly bowed to Li Shimin.

(End of this chapter)