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

Chapter 263 Your Majesty, please grant me permission to retire and return to my hometown.
"Your Majesty, you must do justice for me! The scoundrel from Gaoyang County is arrogant and domineering. Look at how badly I've been beaten! Your Majesty, you must do justice for me!"

Upon arriving at the Liangyi Hall, the censor couldn't wait to accuse Wen He to Li Shimin.

He lifted his robes and spoke with tears streaming down his face.

Li Shimin, sitting on the throne, twitched his lips a few times as he glanced at Wen He.

The latter, however, was nonchalantly greeting the acquaintances around him.

Yan Liben shook his head with a chuckle, while Li Jing, though with a stern face, also had a smile in his eyes.

Wen Yanbo nodded at Wen He without any hesitation.

There was also Xiao Yu over there, chuckling as he stroked his beard.

Liu Dewei from the Dali Temple even secretly winked at Wen He.

On the contrary, Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, and Fang Xuanling, who were the first in the Qin Prince's Mansion to know Wen He, seemed somewhat indifferent.

Li Shimin knew that Changsun Wuji and Wen He had a grudge.

As for the two people behind him, he didn't know whether they were avoiding suspicion.

"Ahem, Your Majesty, the scion of Gaoyang County committed a crime outside Xuanwu Gate. This matter is indeed inappropriate."

Seeing that no one in the hall spoke up for the censor, Wei Zheng had no choice but to step forward himself.

After all, he was an advisor, essentially the second-in-command of the Censorate.

Regardless of why Wen He beat up the censor, if he doesn't come forward, he'll likely be gossiped about by other censors in the future.

However, his words did not imply any blame on Wen He; he simply said that the matter was inappropriate.

Li Shimin coughed lightly and glared at Wen He: "You brat, how dare you make a move outside Xuanwu Gate and even assault a court official! Do you know your crime?!"

"Wei Chen is guilty."

Wen He admitted it without the slightest hesitation.

Everyone in the hall was stunned.

Even the imperial censor was somewhat taken aback.

He had already planned it out; if Wen He refuted or denied it, he would argue his case based on reason.

To everyone's surprise, he confessed so easily.

“Your Majesty, you see he has already admitted it. Your Majesty, the scoundrel from Gaoyang County is bullying others by relying on his power. He is so vicious at such a young age. I'm afraid he will become even more domineering in the future.”

The censor immediately began to wail again.

"Ahem, Your Majesty, I believe this statement is somewhat excessive."

Li Jing suddenly stood up.

“Gao Yang County’s son is only ten years old this year. He is so young and full of vigor. If I were that age, and I heard that someone was slandering and defaming him, I would have already taken my sword and gone to his door.”

After saying this, Li Jing glanced at the censor, which made the censor tremble involuntarily.

"The Duke of Dai is absolutely right."

Just as Wen Yanbo was about to get up, Li Jing beat him to it. But after the latter finished speaking, he immediately stood up and said, "Gao Yang County has repeatedly made meritorious contributions, and last time he even cracked a case of embezzlement of military funds. Yet now he is being slandered like this. I believe that what Gao Yang County has done today is the act of a true man."

These were Wen Yanbo's honest thoughts.

He truly admired Wen He.

To possess such abilities at such a young age, one's future prospects are likely to be extraordinary.

Regardless of whether he will eventually return to the Wen family, we should still be on good terms with him in private.

Li Shimin couldn't help but chuckle, but he quickly covered it up.

Before Wen He could even open his mouth to defend himself, two ministers from the court unexpectedly stepped forward to defend him.

"Ahem, Wen He, what do you have to say?" Li Shimin asked Wen He.

"Your Majesty, I have nothing to say. I was simply overcome with rage, my hair stood on end, I was burning with anger, I was furious..."

"you shut up!"

Li Shimin's cold shout interrupted Wen He's word-building game with the character "怒" (anger).

He glared at him angrily and shouted, "You assaulted an imperial censor in the street, is there some shady business involved?!"

He gave Wen He several winks, signaling him not to talk nonsense. Wen He waved his hand and said, "No, it's purely a personal grudge. I just don't like him. Your Majesty, I am old, uh, young, and cannot shoulder great responsibilities. I have failed Your Majesty's grace. Please allow me to retire and return to my hometown."

A deathly silence fell over the Liangyi Hall.

Everyone, including the censor, stared at Wen He in disbelief.

Because of his young age, why did he have to return to his hometown?

That brat must have done it on purpose!
Li Shimin was furious and slammed his fist on the table, shouting, "No!"

As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, Fang Xuanling in front of him suddenly stood up and said sternly.

"Your Majesty, I impeach Censor Huang Yunqi for slandering meritorious officials and sowing discord between the emperor and his ministers!"

"Wha, what?"

The censor was utterly astonished.

He couldn't understand why Fang Xuanling suddenly came out to impeach him.

Is it just because Wen He resigned?
But that scoundrel was clearly just putting on an act. What fool in the world would voluntarily resign from his post?

"I also impeach Censor Huang Yunqi for accepting bribes, abusing his power for personal gain, and sowing discord between the emperor and his ministers!"

To Huang Yunqi's even greater surprise, even Wei Zheng stepped forward.

"You, you, you, why, why!"

He couldn't understand it, so he pointed at Wei Zheng and questioned him.

Only then did he notice that inside the Liangyi Hall, from Li Shimin to the ministers of various departments, were people from all walks of life.

He seemed to never care why Wen He beat him.

What they cared more about was that Wen He took action at Xuanwu Gate.

"No, why impeach him? He's just being used as a pawn. Your Majesty, I'm really tired. I get impeached for every little thing I do. It's exhausting..."

Wen He sighed weakly, her tone suggesting utter despair and disappointment with the court.

But before he could finish speaking, something flew towards him from the front.

'Well, this Hetian jade brush washer couldn't escape its fate after all.' Gao Yue sighed helplessly to herself.

"You brat, get out of here and stay home for ten days. If you dare to spout nonsense about resigning again, I'll hang you in front of the Taiji Palace and give you a hundred lashes!"

"Oh, then this humble subject will take his leave."

Wen He pursed her lips.

If you're not going to resign, then don't resign. Why smash things like that?

The perfectly good Hetian jade was just broken like that.

"Censor Huang Yunqi was dismissed from office, and the Court of Judicial Review was put in charge of the investigation."

"The minister obeys the order."

Liu Dewei, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, smirked as he looked at Censor Huang Yunqi as if he were looking at a dead man.

How dare you impeach my future registrar of the Dali Temple! Don't give me any leverage over you, or you'll never be able to leave the Dali Temple for the rest of your life.

Not long after, Wen He left Xuanwu Gate again and found himself surrounded by a crowd of people.

Those officials didn't leave; they're here waiting for the outcome.

Now that they've seen Wen He come out, they all know what's going on.

Well, that censor is in trouble.

"Ugh."

But just then, they suddenly heard Wen He sigh.

Everyone was immediately puzzled.

You've already brought down that censor, so what are you sighing about here for?

Wen He smiled kindly, her gaze sweeping across the crowd, and she suddenly spotted some familiar faces.

"Originally, I wanted to coexist peacefully with you. Since you have made your move, I will take it as a declaration of war. Everyone says you have a strong foundation. In that case, let me see your strength."

(End of this chapter)