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

Chapter 253 Let's show the Tang Dynasty what it means to turn the rotten into the miraculous.

"What did you say?"

Li Shimin stared at Wen He in shock.

The embezzlement of military funds is still unresolved; could it be that something else is about to cause trouble?

"Uh, I just suddenly remembered, but in the original history, it seems that Changsun Shunde accepted money from Li Xiaochang, which is why you dismissed him," Wen He said with a dry laugh.

Li Shimin glared at him irritably.

"Now that Li Xiaochang is dead, why are you still saying these things?"

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had been really worried that Wen He would say something shocking again.

But then he noticed that Wen He's expression was a little strange.

"You brat, just say what you have to say! Don't look at me like that, or I'll beat you up!"

"Um, Your Majesty, you are Li Shimin, not Zhu Yuanzhang. You don't beat your ministers at the drop of a hat. That doesn't fit your image."

Wasn't Li Shimin in history the kind of gentle and refined emperor?
He's just as uncultured as Old Zhu.

"I'm not hitting my subject, I'm hitting my son-in-law! Enough, enough! Tell me what you're thinking!" Li Shimin clenched his fist.

Wen He blinked and said helplessly, "Your Majesty, do you really want me to explain? Actually, you also have your doubts, so I won't say anything to avoid further trouble."

"And the Empress will be heartbroken."

"You brat, get out!"

Li Shimin reached for the brush washer, but found the spot empty.

"Where's the brush washer!" He suddenly turned his head and glared at Gao Yue.

The latter was covering his ears and looking down, pretending he hadn't heard a word of the conversation between Li Shimin and Wen He.

Hearing Li Shimin's rebuke, he finally raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, the new one hasn't been brought yet."

"Wen He!"

When Li Shimin turned around, he saw that Wen He had already run away at some point.

If not now, when?

He didn't believe there was nothing fishy going on between Changsun Shunde and Lü Shiheng.

Previously, it was thought that Lü Shiheng was the highest-ranking official involved, but now it seems that there is an even bigger tiger behind him.

However, he wasn't going to act in any dramas about cracking down on organized crime or corruption.

The capture of Lü Shiheng had already made the generals of the Sixteen Guards uneasy; if they were to capture Changsun Shunde as well, Chang'an City would likely be thrown into turmoil once again.

After leaving Daxing Palace, Wen He returned home and had a good night's sleep.

He did not go to the Hundred Cavalry the next day, but asked Li Yifu to help him ask for leave.

He also went to the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Justice to ask for leave.

The reason, of course, was physical discomfort.

"sick?"

Inside the Liangyi Hall, Li Jing brought up the matter, and Li Shimin couldn't help but feel a little worried.

'That brat hasn't been sleeping well lately, worrying about that embezzlement case involving military funds. Could he really be exhausted?'

"Yes, I've been on leave for ten days in a row."

"Hmm? Why didn't Gao Ming and the others tell me this?" Li Shimin couldn't help but wonder.

If Wen He falls ill, Li Chengqian and the others will surely inform me immediately.

He then turned to look at Gao Yue beside him.

Upon hearing this, Gao Yue said with some helplessness, "Your Majesty, it seems that the son of Gaoyang County is not ill. Yesterday, on the Cold Clothes Festival, he even returned to Gejiazhuang to pay respects to his parents and deliver winter clothes."

Li Jing was somewhat taken aback upon hearing this.

He was still waiting for Wen He to go to the Ministry of War.

When Li Yifu came to ask for leave, he didn't suspect anything and just assumed that Wen He was sick.

"That brat!"

Li Shimin immediately slammed his fist on the table and cursed loudly.

But he soon breathed a sigh of relief, feeling helpless.

He knew that Wen He was deliberately avoiding the issue.

The case of embezzlement of military funds has ended. Most of the officials who were convicted were exiled, and some, like Lü Shiheng, were simply dismissed from their posts.

The same goes for Chai Zhao.

Moreover, some of the embezzled funds have not been recovered.

Li Shimin knew that the brat must be feeling a bit disheartened.

But he was helpless; having just ascended the throne, he had to balance the power of all sides.

If it were only the aristocratic families and gentry on this day, he wouldn't mind making drastic changes.

However, this also involved many meritorious officials from the Qin Prince's mansion, as well as some of the Guanzhong region who supported him. Therefore, he had no choice but to stop there.

But Li Shimin didn't want to hurt Wen He's feelings.

This boy's innocent heart will surely help the Tang Dynasty in the future.

"Alright, that brat has put in a lot of effort and made many contributions this time. Let's lift his previous salary deduction and have the Ministry of Civil Affairs send his salary over as usual."

"It's getting cold, and he doesn't even bother to care about Xiaorou. Have the Imperial Household Department send over a hundred bolts of cloth, ten pieces of the bear and sable furs that were previously presented as tribute, and one of the deer I hunted yesterday. That brat loves to eat, let him get some nourishment."

Everyone inside the Liangyi Hall was taken aback.

Wen He has truly deceived the emperor; His Majesty not only did not reprimand her but also sent her so many gifts.

Although these things weren't considered valuable to them.

But this was a gift from His Majesty.

"Your Majesty, the Sixteen Guards are all waiting. If winter comes, it will be difficult to assemble them," Li Jing asked.

Li Shimin smiled helplessly and waved his hand.

"Fine, let's wait until spring. Let that brat stay home all winter. He's lazy, but if he still asks for leave when it gets warm, I'll give him a good spanking."

After he finished speaking, everyone in the hall burst into laughter.

Before long, the items from the palace were delivered to Wen He's home.

But it was Zhou Fu who greeted Gao Yue.

"Young master went out early this morning, saying that something from the Turkic region had been delivered."

"They went out?" Gao Yue asked in surprise.

You said you were taking leave to stay home, so what's with you going out like this?

Fine, let him go to the palace tomorrow to express his gratitude.

Upon returning to the palace, Gao Yue reported the truth.

Li Shimin was not angry, but rather surprised by what he said about the Turks.

He had almost forgotten about this.

"Go, have the Hundred Riders find Wen He and summon him to the palace."

at the same time.

A small courtyard by the fields in De'anfang, Chang'an.

To the outside world, this place is known as a weaving workshop.

In reality, it was a stronghold of the Hundred Riders.

Yesterday, dozens of horse-drawn carriages entered in a grand procession, and then a foul stench wafted out.

"Young master, this smells terrible. If we leave it like this, I'm afraid the neighbors will come to complain."

A group of people gathered in the courtyard.

Looking at the mountain of wool in front of them, they all looked at Wen He, at a loss.

“What about the brothers who returned from the Turks?” Wen He asked.

"They're all sleeping, but they all look terrible. Their skin is all dark, and several layers of skin have peeled off their faces."

The brothers of the hundred riders couldn't help but sigh.

The thatched huts were windy and offered no shelter, and the food and clothing were inadequate, which was tough on the brothers.

"Have Changsun Huan send some money, and reward each brother who goes to the Turks with ten strings of cash," Wen He said to Zhang Wenxiao.

The latter responded with a "Yes."

Looking at the wool in front of her, Wen He couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

Winter has arrived.

These wools have come at just the right time.

But at the same time, he also felt somewhat helpless.

He's going to be very busy from now on.

First, the wool needs to be cleaned and then woven into yarn.

Fortunately, he was prepared in advance.

'Let's show the Tang Dynasty what it means to turn the rotten into the miraculous.'

"Begin unloading."

Wen He gave the order.

The surrounding riders endured the stench and went forward to unload the wool.

Just as they began moving the wool.

Suddenly, a commotion of footsteps came from outside.

(End of this chapter)