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

Chapter 375 Who will uphold my dignity?

"Let go! Let go of me now!"

"Brother, please save me! I've been tricked into coming here!"

The young man in the brocade robe struggled desperately.

His robes were torn askew, his hair was disheveled, and there were wine stains on his exposed neck.

His disheveled appearance, coupled with the grime on his face and his eager tone of explanation, made him utterly unconvincing.

He struggled and called out in Wen He's direction, his eyes filled with pleading.

Wen He narrowed her eyes and stared at the young man's face.

It looked somewhat familiar, but after thinking about it carefully, I couldn't remember where I had seen it before.

With his photographic memory, if he had truly seen it, it would never be so blurry.

He raised his hand and said, "Let him go."

The hundred knights released him as instructed, and the young man immediately scrambled to his feet, hastily tugged at his robes, and rushed to Wen He, his face instantly plastered with a fawning smile: "Thank you, my worthy brother! I was able to escape this time entirely thanks to your righteousness!"

"Who are you?"

Wen He frowned, her tone full of aloofness.

The young man was taken aback, then slapped his forehead and laughed, "Look at my memory, I haven't introduced you yet! I am Li Daoxing, the Prince of Guangning."

"imperial clan?"

Wen He narrowed her eyes, a fierce glint flashing in them.

Is he trying to threaten me with his royal status?

Noticing his scrutiny, Li Daoxing quickly added, "My elder brother is Li Chengfan, you must have heard of him, right?"

"Li Daozong's younger brother?"

Wen He frowned even more deeply.

He remembered.

The man before me, Li Daoxing, is the younger brother of Prince Rencheng, Li Daozong, and the second son of Prince Dongping, Li Shao.

In the early years of the Wude era, he was appointed as the governor of Yanzhou and enfeoffed as the Prince of Guangning. However, in the early years of the Zhenguan era, due to his distant blood ties with the imperial clan, he was demoted to the position of county duke.

When he served as the governor of Jiaozhou in the ninth year of the Zhenguan era, he was so afraid of the miasma in the south that he scared himself to death.

Compared to the highly decorated Li Daozong, Li Daoxing was utterly a coward.

"Exactly!"

Li Daoxing nodded quickly, his smile widening.

“My elder brother has often spoken of your abilities to me, saying that you have accomplished great things at such a young age. I have always wanted to get to know you, and I never expected to meet you here today. It is truly fate!”

Wen He ignored his words, turned to look at Zhang Wenxiao behind her, and asked in a calm but authoritative tone: "What was he doing when we found him just now?"

Zhang Wenxiao hesitated for a moment, and after being given a cold glare by Wen He, he stammered, "Back in the county, at that time, he... he had lost all his money and was taking off his outer robe, preparing to put it on the gambling table. Oh, and he also had two concubines with him, and he wanted to use them as collateral to pay off his debts."

"Just gambling?"

Wen He asked again, her gaze remaining fixed on Li Daoxing.

"Yes, yes! It's just gambling! It's not a big deal!"

Li Daoxing quickly responded, afraid that Wen He would ask further questions.

"As for the women here, I haven't touched a single one. Please don't misunderstand, my dear brother!"

But Wen He noticed that Zhang Wenxiao's expression remained complicated, clearly indicating that he hadn't finished speaking. He looked at Zhang Wenxiao, his tone becoming more forceful: "What else?"

Zhang Wenxiao took a deep breath and said truthfully, "He also wanted to redeem the two little girls in the gambling den, saying he wanted to take them back as foot warmers, but the other party asked for too high a price, and before he could sign the contract, he had already lost all the money he had."

"You bullshit!"

Li Daoxing's expression changed instantly, and he hurriedly tried to explain.

"I only did that because I felt sorry for those two young women and wanted to save them from their misery! Besides, I had no idea they had been abducted. If I had known, I would have immediately gone to Chang'an County to report to the authorities and have this filthy place demolished!"

He spoke with righteous indignation, as if he were a savior of the world.

But there's some truth to his claim that he didn't know those women were abducted.

The imperial family members wouldn't be that desperate.

They want women, and there are plenty of legal ways to get them.

After saying that, he put on a smile again and moved closer to Wen He: "So, my dear brother, about this matter..."

"Shut up."

Wen He interrupted him coldly, her eyes filled with disgust.

"Don't keep calling me 'brother,' I don't know you well."

Li Daoxing shrank back in fright at that look, and the smile on his face froze.

He didn't think it was shameful for him to be afraid of a child.

But is this an ordinary child?
This is a child who has rendered meritorious service and killed members of the aristocratic families.

Wen He looked at his cowardly and hypocritical appearance and sneered inwardly.

He turned to Zhang Wenxiao and instructed him: "Separate him from the other gamblers and keep him under guard. Send someone to Chang'an to inform Li Daozong that I have urgent business with him."

Wen He did not directly punish Li Daoxing, firstly because he did not want the matter to spread prematurely, causing rumors to spread in Chang'an and making Li Daozong lose face.

Secondly, he could see clearly that Li Daoxing, despite his luxurious clothes, had lost everything, and was most likely tricked by the gambling den.

According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, those who gamble privately are punished with caning according to the amount of money involved. In his case, he would at most receive a few dozen strokes, which is not considered a serious crime.

"No! You, Gaoyang County magistrate, just take me back to the Hundred Cavalry Camp! If my brother finds out about this, he'll break my legs!"

Li Daoxing wailed and struggled to rush to Wen He's side, completely losing his previous composure.

Seeing this, Zhang Wenxiao immediately stepped forward to stop him and shouted sternly, "How dare you! How can you dare to offend the county magistrate like this!"

He then ordered the hundred knights beside him, "Take him away and keep a close watch on him!"

Two soldiers stepped forward, grabbed the still-struggling Li Daoxing, and dragged him towards the detention area. As he struggled, Li Daoxing turned back and cried out, "Gaoyang County Magistrate! Please lock me up in the Hundred Cavalry Camp! Please don't let my brother come here!"

Wen He raised an eyebrow slightly, recalling Li Daozong's carefree manner of calling her "little kid" every day, and she really couldn't understand it.

That guy looks so frivolous, how come he scares his own brother so much that he'd rather be interrogated in the Hundred Cavalry Camp than see him?
He snapped out of his thoughts, his tone becoming more somber.

“Among these prisoners, there is probably more than just Li Daoxing from the imperial clan. Go and question their identities one by one, write down their names, lock them up with Li Daoxing, and keep a close watch on them to prevent them from communicating with each other.”

"Here!"

Zhang Wenxiao accepted the order and immediately went to personally verify the identities of the prisoners.

In less than half an hour, he returned with the roster and reported the list with a solemn expression.

“Indeed, there are seven members of the imperial clan in the county, but they are all from collateral branches and have little reputation in Chang’an.”

"There are seven of them." Wen He took the list, snorted coldly, and her eyes were full of icy intent.

Although he knew that few of the Li family's members were successful, especially the third generation.

But I never expected that the Cui family would win over so many people.

Don't be fooled by the fact that there are only seven on this paper; those are just the ones that came today.

Who knows how many more haven't come yet?

He immediately picked up a pen and wrote a secret letter, recording Li Daoxing's name and the names of the seven men, as well as their actions in the gambling den, and sealed it in an envelope.

"Send your trusted confidants back to Chang'an at top speed and deliver this letter to Su Dingfang, Xu Jingzong, and Huang Chun so that they can read it first."

Wen He handed the secret letter to Zhang Wenxiao in a serious tone.

"Be sure to instruct them that this matter should not be made public for the time being, and that His Majesty should make a decision."

Zhang Wenxiao quickly summoned his most trusted soldier, gave him repeated instructions, and personally escorted him out of the village.

Shortly after.

Inside Chang'an City, within the Hundred Cavalry Division.

Su Dingfang, Xu Jingzong, and Huang Chun opened the secret letter, and after reading its contents, their faces instantly darkened.

Su Dingfang slammed the secret letter on the table, gritting his teeth and cursing, "These bastards! As members of the royal family, instead of serving the country, they went to gambling dens outside the city and almost got involved in trafficking women! If Jiaying hadn't caught them in time, they would have completely disgraced the royal family!"

Although Huang Chun was usually calm and collected, he couldn't help but speak angrily: "Li Daoxing is one thing, but there are seven other members of the collateral branches of the imperial family. Do they have any respect for the law? Do they have any respect for the dignity of the imperial family? If His Majesty finds out about this, I'm afraid he will be furious again!"

Xu Jingzong watched from the side without saying a word.

He looked through the window toward the location of the Liangyi Hall, feeling somewhat helpless.

Why does Jia Ying always make a fuss every time she goes out?

First it was the gentry, then the nobles, and now it's all over again.

Even members of the royal family have been dragged into this.

He couldn't help but feel a little scared.

The Hundred Riders have been angering more and more people lately.

"This servant will present this secret letter to His Majesty immediately."

Huang Chun hurriedly got up.

Without waiting for Xu Jingzong and Su Dingfang to agree, he hurriedly left the Hundred Riders.

"It's best if the Hundred Cavalry don't get involved in this matter." Xu Jingzong glanced at Su Dingfang indifferently, his gaze clearly seeking the latter's opinion.

"Now that the magistrate of Gaoyang County has already intervened, how can the Hundred Cavalry avoid it? Besides, these spoiled brats should take a break."

Su Dingfang snorted coldly.

He had always disapproved of these wicked people who committed crimes in Chang'an.

Now that we've found evidence of their crimes, we can't just let them go like this.

Inside the Liangyi Hall.

The fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the bright yellow curtains, and the stacks of memorials on the imperial desk exuded a faint scent of ink.

Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne, his fingertips lightly tapping the edge of the imperial desk. His gaze swept over the ministers standing opposite him in the hall, his brows always slightly furrowed.

The debate over the treatment of members of the imperial family has lasted for nearly an hour, with no conclusion yet reached.

Previously, his father, the emperor, in order to stabilize the imperial clan, lavishly bestowed titles and rewards, and even a small merit could earn him the title of a prince.

Now this mess has fallen into his hands.

Not long ago, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Civil Affairs inspected the accounts and were shocked to discover that the money and grain given to the imperial family each year accounted for one-tenth of the national treasury's annual tax revenue.

Upon seeing these shocking figures, Li Shimin remained silent for a long time.

He seemed to see a day when the Li Tang imperial family would devour the entire country.

only……

Why didn't Wen He mention this matter?
Could it be that later rulers solved this problem?

Perhaps I can resolve this myself in the future?

But in any case, now that this problem has been discovered, it must be solved.

That is the purpose of today's meeting.

On the left side of the imperial desk, Prince Li Shentong of Huai'an suppressed his anger, his chest rising and falling slightly beneath his purple robe.

“Vice Minister Changsun said that the collateral branches have no merit, but the imperial clan members have followed His Majesty since the uprising in Taiyuan. Even if they did not go to the battlefield, they prepared provisions and pacified the clan in the rear. If even this dignity is taken away, who will recognize the Li Tang imperial family in the future?”

Li Xiaogong, the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court standing beside him, immediately echoed, his hand on the sword at his waist, his tone stern.

"Minister Dou said the treasury was tight, but the imperial clan's salaries accounted for 30% of the national treasury. That's because the imperial clan guarded the foundation of the Tang Dynasty! If it weren't for the imperial clan members restraining Dou Jiande in Shandong back then, how could the soldiers on the front lines have fought with peace of mind?"

"Your Highnesses are mistaken!"

Changsun Wuji stepped forward, the hem of his scarlet official robe sweeping across the ground, his voice firm as iron.

"Preparing provisions is the duty of local officials, and appeasing clans is the responsibility of the Imperial Clan Court. How can matters within one's duties be considered private merits of the imperial clan? If this is the case, should all the people of the world who pay taxes and cultivate the land to provide provisions be granted titles and receive stipends?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shentong's expression darkened further, and he retorted.

“Vice Minister Changsun’s words are biased! Half of the local officials are recommended by members of the imperial clan, and the officials of the Imperial Clan Court are mainly members of the imperial clan. Without the leadership of the imperial clan, how can the grain be transported to the front line in time, and how can the clan remain stable and free from chaos?”

"The Prince of Huai'an is unaware of this."

Du Ruhui, dressed in a blue official robe, stepped forward half a step, his tone calm yet his words powerful.

"Last year, there was a severe drought in Guanzhong, and local officials delayed the transport of grain and fodder. Among them were three county magistrates who were members of the imperial clan. Last year, the Imperial Clan Court handled clan disputes, and in two cases, the court showed favoritism towards members of the imperial clan, which led to the people appealing to the Dali Temple. This shows that when members of the imperial clan take the lead, things may not be successful, and it is easy to cause corruption."

Li Xiaogong frowned and said to Du Ruhui in a deep voice.

"Du Shizhong only mentions faults, not merits! When Wang Shichong was pacified, Li Daoxuan, a member of the imperial clan, led the army into battle and died on the battlefield. When Lingnan was pacified, Li Shuliang, a member of the imperial clan, guarded Guizhou and kept it peaceful for several years. Aren't these real achievements?"

"The Minister of the Imperial Clan Affairs is referring to meritorious members of the imperial clan, which we have never denied."

Fang Xuanling held an ivory tablet and slowly opened his mouth.

"But now, among the collateral relatives, some have never served in office or fought on the battlefield, yet they have been granted the title of county duke and a fief of three hundred households solely based on their bloodline; while General Qin Shubao has fought for ten years, sustaining dozens of wounds, yet he only has a fief of two hundred households. Such a disparity in treatment makes it impossible for the soldiers on the front lines to accept it, and it makes it impossible for the people of the world to view the court."

Li Shentong paused for a moment, then continued.

"Prime Minister Fang only considers rank and title, not kinship. Members of the imperial clan are of royal blood, sharing the same roots as His Majesty. Even without great merit, they should still have some dignity. How can they be treated the same as officials from outside the imperial family?"

"The words of the Prince of Huai'an are to separate the imperial family from the court."

Dou Jing, holding the Ministry of Revenue's memorial, stepped forward and spoke frankly.

"As the minister in charge of the national treasury, I am well aware that during the disaster relief efforts in Guanzhong last year, the imperial court was short of grain, and people resorted to cannibalism. Yet, in Chang'an, members of the imperial family still held banquets and indulged in pleasure every day, consuming several bushels of grain per meal. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have often said that the people are the foundation of the nation. If the dignity of the imperial family is built on the suffering of the people, then such dignity is not worth having!"

Li Xiaogong was furious upon hearing this. He tightened his grip on his sword slightly and said in a deep voice.

"Minister Dou dares to slander the imperial clan. Those who held banquets and enjoyed themselves were just a few members of the clan. How can we generalize? The majority of the imperial clan members still abide by their duties and serve the court. If we reduce the salaries of the entire imperial clan because of the mistakes of a few, wouldn't that chill the hearts of loyal ministers?"

Changsun Wuji immediately responded, his tone becoming increasingly firm.

"The Minister of the Imperial Clan says that a few people have made mistakes, but I have checked the documents of the Ministry of Personnel. Last year alone, fifteen members of the Imperial Clan were impeached for corruption and negligence, accounting for 30% of the total number of impeached officials! These few people are enough to affect the atmosphere of the court. If they are not restrained in time, they will surely become a major problem in the future!"

The two sides exchanged words back and forth, their rhetoric growing increasingly heated, and the atmosphere in the hall becoming ever more tense.

A strong smell of gunpowder rose in the main hall.

On the throne, Li Shimin's brows furrowed even more deeply.

His expression suddenly revealed a hint of impatience.

Even so, he still didn't say a word.

Just then, a member of the imperial family dressed in a blue official robe suddenly stepped forward from the left side of the queue, speaking with great enthusiasm.

"Without the imperial clan, how could the retired emperor have raised an army in Taiyuan? Without the imperial clan, how could His Majesty have pacified the four directions? The Tang Dynasty was originally built by the imperial clan. Now, all they ask for is some salary, and they are being rejected by you gentlemen at every turn. They are simply ungrateful!"

Another member of the royal family echoed this sentiment.

"Exactly! When the time comes to a real crisis, won't we still have to rely on the imperial family to save the dynasty from collapse? Cutting their salaries is like severing the imperial family's arm and shaking the foundation of the Tang Dynasty!"

"presumptuous!"

Li Shentong suddenly turned his head and sternly shouted at the two members of the imperial clan to stop them, his face ashen.

"How dare you spout nonsense in the imperial court! The Tang Dynasty was won by His Majesty together with his civil and military officials and the people of the land. It was not achieved by the imperial family alone. Now, leave immediately!"

But the member of the imperial family in the blue official robe was still unconvinced and wanted to speak again.

Li Shimin, sitting on the dragon throne, suddenly slammed his hand heavily on the imperial desk, his voice as cold as ice.

"enough!"

The hall fell silent instantly. Everyone looked up and saw Li Shimin with a gloomy face, his gaze sweeping over the imperial clan members on his left, his eyes full of fierce intent.

"I think you have stayed in Chang'an for too long, and have forgotten who fought bloody battles on the battlefield back then, and forgotten why the people of the world supported the Li Tang dynasty! Today's meeting is for the long-term stability of the Tang dynasty, not for you to compete for merits and rewards, much less for you to slander court officials and incite trouble!"

Li Shentong and Li Xiaogong were startled and quickly stepped forward, kneeling on one knee.

"Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty to discipline your members, allowing them to speak nonsense and disturb Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!" Upon seeing this, the other members of the imperial clan also knelt down, not daring to utter a sound. Li Shimin looked at the kneeling crowd, took a deep breath, and spoke in a slightly softer tone, yet still with an air of authority.

"Rise. I know you are thinking of the imperial family, but everything must have its limits. The imperial family is the foundation of the Tang Dynasty, but it cannot become a burden on the court. I will discuss today's matter again. You may all step aside. If anyone dares to speak nonsense here again in the future, don't blame me for not showing any consideration for the imperial family!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Li Shentong and Li Xiaogong stood up, bowed, and stepped aside, their faces full of shame.

Although the atmosphere in the hall had eased slightly, the problem of the treatment of the imperial family remained unresolved, and everyone understood that this debate would not end there.

Just then, a eunuch's urgent voice came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty! Huang Chun, the supervisor of the Hundred Cavalry Command, requests an audience, saying he has an urgent confidential letter to deliver!"

"A hundred riders?"

As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, everyone in the hall changed their expressions.

Although she maintained a calm demeanor on the surface, the doubt in her eyes was impossible to hide.

Prince Li Shentong of Huai'an felt a sudden tightness in his heart, and his fingertips unconsciously clenched the hem of his robe.

He had just been defending the imperial clan, but upon hearing the words "hundred cavalry," he felt a growing unease, as if something bad was about to happen that would involve the imperial clan.

Li Xiaogong, the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court beside him, also frowned slightly. His gaze swept over the few members of the imperial clan standing in the back row. Seeing that they either looked blank or nervous, his doubts deepened.

"Announcing Huang Chunjin to enter the palace."

Li Shimin's voice broke the silence in the hall, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

A moment later, Huang Chun, dressed in a black outfit and looking travel-worn, strode into the hall.

His forehead was still covered in fine beads of sweat, and he didn't even have time to catch his breath.

As soon as he entered the palace, he stepped forward, bowed, and held up a sealed cowhide letter with both hands. His voice was loud but somewhat hurried.

"Your Majesty! The Magistrate of Gaoyang County led a hundred cavalrymen to a deserted village thirty miles outside Chang'an City and discovered an underground gambling den. The Magistrate of Gaoyang County personally infiltrated the area and has now completely taken control of the gambling den!"

"An illegal gambling den?"

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone becoming colder.

The Tang Dynasty law explicitly prohibited the establishment of private gambling dens, especially near the capital. The fact that this gambling den had dared to exist for so many years without being detected suggests that someone was protecting it.

Huang Chun continued, “Your Majesty, this gambling den not only amassed wealth through gambling, but even worse, the Hundred Cavalry discovered dozens of women and children abducted from Tanzhou, Yuezhou, Hengzhou and other places in the south in the secret room of the gambling den! These people were imprisoned in the secret room, dressed in rags, in a miserable state, and many of the children were injured!”

"what?!"

Li Shimin slammed his hand on the imperial desk, the armrests of the dragon throne creaking under his pressure. Everyone in the hall was shocked. Changsun Wuji stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Supervisor Huang, is what you say true? Someone actually dares to traffic people near the capital?"

Huang Chun nodded emphatically: "This is what the magistrate of Gaoyang County saw, and it is absolutely true. The magistrate of Gaoyang County has already ordered people to properly settle the abducted women and children, and has sent trusted confidants to guard the gambling den captives to prevent anyone from colluding or silencing them!"

Li Shimin's face darkened completely, and his eyes burned with rage.

He snatched the secret letter from Huang Chun's hand, tore open the seal with his fingers, and quickly read the letter.

In his letter, Wen He detailed the scale of the gambling den, the amount of money it had amassed, and the origins and plight of the abducted women and children, his words filled with indignation.

When Li Shimin saw the letter stating that "among the prisoners captured in the gambling den, there were eight members of the imperial clan, including Li Daoxing, the nephew of the Prince of Huai'an, and members of collateral branches of the imperial clan such as Li Chongli and Li Zhaoye," his hand holding the letter tightened suddenly, and the letter was instantly crumpled into several creases.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the hall like a sharp sword, finally settling on Prince Li Shentong of Huai'an.

There was no furious rebuke in those eyes, but a heavy pressure that instantly plunged Li Shentong into an ice cave. Li Shentong froze, a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He met Li Shimin's gaze, his heart pounding wildly, his earlier unease now turning into panic.

Could this gambling den really be related to the royal family?

And it also involves human trafficking?
He hurriedly turned to look at Li Xiaogong, then glanced at the several members of the imperial clan standing in the back row.

Li Xiaogong's face turned pale, and he shook his head repeatedly. The members of the imperial clan were even more frightened, their faces turning ashen and their hands trembling involuntarily.

They were also shocked. Although their own children were usually good at drinking, gambling, and whoring, and were not good at studying, they would never dare to cross the red line of "human trafficking".

According to the Tang Dynasty law, anyone who traffics in people, regardless of whether they are the master or the slave, shall be executed by being publicly executed.

Even members of the imperial clan could not escape exile, and their entire clan might be implicated.

"Just now you said that when a real crisis comes, we will have to rely on the imperial family to save the country from collapse."

Li Shimin's voice suddenly rang out, icy cold and devoid of any warmth, much like the biting winter wind that stung one's skin.

"Is this the imperial family member you speak of who can save the crumbling empire? They gamble, amassed wealth, condoned human trafficking, disregarded the law, and treated the common people like dirt! Can such a member of the imperial family save the empire, or will they destroy the very foundation of the Tang Dynasty?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Shimin suddenly threw the secret letter in his hand in front of Li Shentong.

Li Shimin's words were a bit too serious.

Wen He's letter only mentioned that members of the royal family were involved in gambling.

The rest were all said by Li Shimin himself.

The letter paper traced an arc in the air.

With a "thud," it landed at Li Shentong's feet, and the writing on it was clearly visible.

Li Xiaogong reacted the fastest, stepping forward and bending down to pick up the secret letter.

He held the letter in both hands, his eyes quickly scanning the names on it. When he saw familiar names such as "Li Daoxing" and "Li Chongli," his face turned ashen, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

He turned abruptly, knelt before Li Shimin, and said in a choked voice, "Your Majesty! As the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, I was in charge of the affairs of the imperial clan, yet I failed to restrain the members of the clan, causing them to commit such illegal acts. This is my dereliction of duty! I humbly beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

"dereliction of duty?"

Li Shimin gave a cold laugh, his tone full of disappointment.

"It's not that you've neglected your duty, it's that the imperial clan members have been living in peace for too long, forgetting how the Tang Dynasty came to be! How long has the Tang Dynasty been established? Just over ten years! When the uprising began in Taiyuan, the imperial clan members risked their lives, how heroic they were! Now, after only a few years of peace, they've become so lazy and decadent, indulging in pleasure, even disregarding the law! If this continues, I'm afraid the imperial clan will all become parasites sucking the blood and flesh of the Tang Dynasty, hollowing out this empire!"

These words struck Li Shentong and the rest of the imperial clan like a heavy hammer blow.

Li Shentong's face grew increasingly grim; he knew that what His Majesty said was true.

In recent years, there have indeed been many members of the imperial clan who have abused their status to run rampant in their hometowns and commit corruption, but he always turned a blind eye out of consideration for their kinship with the imperial clan and never strictly restrained them.

Now that such a major incident has occurred, involving human trafficking, it has crossed His Majesty's bottom line and the red line of the Tang Dynasty's laws.

He took a deep breath, knelt down on both knees in front of Li Shimin, and spoke with a heavy heart.

"Your Majesty, we deserve to die! This is all due to our failure to properly discipline our members, which allowed them to commit such a grave mistake! From now on, we will strictly control these members, and if any of them commit the same offense again, we will show no leniency and will allow Your Majesty to decide their fate!"

Several members of the imperial family in the back row also knelt down and begged for mercy. For a moment, only the sounds of confessions could be heard in the hall.

Looking at the kneeling crowd before him, Li Shimin's anger gradually faded, replaced by deep weariness.

He suddenly sighed, his tone softening considerably, and his gaze fell on Li Shentong as he spoke earnestly.

“Uncle, I know you are reluctant to punish your descendants out of consideration for the kinship of the imperial family. But don’t forget, the establishment of the Tang Dynasty was not easy! Back then, when the Emperor Emeritus raised an army to rebel against the Sui Dynasty, how many members of the imperial family died on the battlefield, and how many people were displaced, before we finally achieved peace today. If we disappoint the people and chill the hearts of the world because of these unworthy descendants, how can we, the Li clan, face our ancestors?”

He paused and continued.

"For the future of our Li clan, and for the long-term stability of the Tang Dynasty, sometimes we must learn from our mistakes and make decisive decisions. We cannot allow our younger relatives to make mistakes because of temporary feelings, which could lead to an irreparable disaster. You are the elder of the clan, the most senior, and the most prestigious. Do not be confused!"

These words, spoken with utmost sincerity, struck Li Shentong like a heavy hammer, waking him from his immersion in the bonds of kinship within the imperial family.

He looked up and saw the expectation and heaviness in Li Shimin's eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He understood that His Majesty was giving him a way out, but also forcing him to make a decision.

Struggle and pain flashed in Li Shentong's eyes, but ultimately turned into determination.

He hesitated for a moment, then bowed deeply to Li Shimin, his voice slightly hoarse: "Your Majesty is absolutely right. It was this old minister who was confused. I beg Your Majesty to allow this old minister to think about it for a few days. After I return, I will definitely discuss it with the members of the imperial clan and come up with a plan to reorganize the imperial clan. I will never fail Your Majesty's expectations, nor will I fail the people of the Tang Dynasty!"

"Alright."

Li Shimin did not force him to give an answer immediately, but those two simple words carried more weight than any coercion.

He gave Li Shentong time, but also made Li Shentong understand that there was absolutely no room for maneuver in this matter, and that the reorganization of the imperial clan was inevitable.

Li Shentong slowly stood up, feeling as if all his strength had been drained, as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant. His steps were unsteady, and he almost fell to the ground after taking just one step.

"Uncle Wang!"

Li Xiaogong reacted quickly, stepping forward to support Li Shentong's arm.

Looking at Li Shentong's pale face and hunched back, he was filled with emotion.

After this incident, the good days for the royal family are probably really over.

Li Shentong bowed to Li Shimin again, his voice weak: "This old minister takes his leave."

Li Shimin nodded slightly and said nothing more.

As he watched Li Shentong being helped out of the palace gate by Li Xiaogong, his gaze fell once again on the secret letter on the imperial desk, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"His Majesty."

Changsun Wuji stepped out of the queue, bowed to the dragon throne, and his gaze fell on Li Shimin's tense profile.

When His Majesty mentioned the secret letter, his expression, besides showing anger towards the imperial clan, also contained a deeper sense of solemnity. He vaguely guessed that this matter was probably more than just involving the imperial clan.

"But is there any other secret in that letter?"

Changsun Wuji's voice was calm and steady, conveying both the concern of a subject and a sense of propriety.

Li Shimin glanced at him, his fingertips lightly stroking the imperial desk for a moment, before finally exhaling a breath of stale air, his tone carrying a hint of suppressed anger.

"In his letter, Wen Jiaying said that the manager of the gambling den, Mo Anshan, was involved with the Cui family of Qinghe. He had requested permission to lead a hundred cavalrymen to surround the Cui family's residence in Qinghe and thoroughly investigate the matter."

"what?!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt through the hall. Du Ruhui was the first to recover from the shock, rushing forward and urgently pleading, "Your Majesty, you mustn't! This is absolutely forbidden!"

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and continued.

"Your Majesty, the Cui family of Qinghe is the foremost aristocratic family in the land, with a history spanning hundreds of years and disciples and former officials all over the country. Now the Cui family has taken the initiative to yield, not only ceding half of its private lands but also releasing thousands of hidden households, which is quite a show of respect to the court. If we rashly take action against them now, it may cause a stir among the aristocratic families of the land and even arouse their suspicion, which could lead to unforeseen changes!"

Fang Xuanling also stepped forward quickly and stood side by side with Du Ruhui, speaking earnestly.

"What Attendant Du said is absolutely right. Although the Cui family of Qinghe does not hold an important position in the court, their reputation is undeniable. Ordinary people may not know the officials in the court, but most of them have heard of the Cui family's name. If the court surrounds their mansion based solely on the involvement of a gambling den manager, people will inevitably say that His Majesty is suppressing powerful families and mistreating prestigious clans. This would be detrimental to His Majesty's reputation and the court's prestige!"

Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, his face growing increasingly gloomy.

Du Ruhui said that the Cui family was "the most prestigious surname in the world," but his Li family was the royal family, the rulers of the Tang Dynasty, and the Li family should be the most noble surname in the world! This thought surged in his mind, but he never said it out loud.

He knew that the Tang Dynasty still needed to rely on the prestige of aristocratic families to stabilize public sentiment and could not rashly escalate the conflict.

But as he pointed to the secret letter Wen He had sent, his tone remained firm and unwavering.

"Even if the Cui family of Qinghe is renowned throughout the land, if they were truly involved in gambling and human trafficking, they would be committing crimes and disregarding the law! If such behavior is not punished, wouldn't the laws of the Tang Dynasty become mere decorations? How would the people of the world view me and the court if they saw the court turning a blind eye to powerful families? I fear it would chill the hearts of the people!"

"Your Majesty, the culprit, Mo Anshan, has already been brought to justice. Perhaps we should let this matter rest."

Du Ruhui carefully considered his words, trying to find a compromise.

"We can order the Cui family to hand over those associated with Mo Anshan, and confiscate part of their property to appease the abducted women and children. This would be an explanation to the people. Such a solution would uphold the authority of the law and save face for the Cui family. It is a win-win situation."

Li Shimin remained silent and did not speak immediately.

It preserved the Cui family's reputation!

But who will uphold my dignity?!

His gaze swept across the hall, finally settling on Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji felt the Emperor's gaze and was filled with conflicting emotions.

How could he not know that this matter would have far-reaching consequences?

The Cui family of Qinghe may appear low-key, but in reality, they have deep roots. Within the Six Ministries and the Three Provinces, even if no members of the Cui family hold important positions, many officials either come from the Cui family or have kinship ties with the Cui family, and they all secretly hold the Cui family in high esteem.

This is precisely why Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling, two important officials from the Guanzhong Plain, opposed it so vehemently.

They knew that to harm the Cui family was to offend the sensitive nerves of all the powerful families in the world.

All the officials were naturally very wary of him...

No, wait, there really is someone who's lawless and doesn't care about this.

"Your Majesty."

Changsun Wuji stepped forward, bowed, and said.

"This case is now being handled by the magistrate of Gaoyang County. From investigating the gambling den to arresting Mo Anshan, he has done everything personally and is most familiar with the case. His Majesty once promised him the power to make decisions on the spot. Now it seems that it would be better to entrust him with the handling of the Cui family as well. Firstly, he is familiar with the case and is less likely to make mistakes. Secondly, it can also avoid the court directly confronting the Cui family and reduce unnecessary turmoil."

Upon hearing this, Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling turned around abruptly and glared at Changsun Wuji.

They knew Wen He's personality all too well.

The young man appeared gentle, but in reality he possessed a ruthless streak and held no regard for the prestige of aristocratic families.

If he were given full authority to deal with the Cui family, given his style of doing things, he would probably not stop until he got to the bottom of things, and might even really cause a huge uproar, completely escalating the conflict between the court and the powerful families!
Du Ruhui was about to offer his advice, but before he could utter the first word, Li Shimin slammed his hand heavily on the imperial desk, his voice carrying a hint of decisiveness.

"Granted! As the assistant minister said, the follow-up handling of this case shall be entrusted to Wen Jiaying with full authority!"

As Li Shimin's words fell into the Liangyi Hall, the hall instantly fell into a deathly silence, and even the air filled with the scent of sandalwood seemed to freeze.

Du Ruhui's hands, hanging at his sides, clenched quietly, his fingertips creating wrinkles on the cuffs of his blue official robe.

Fang Xuanling sighed softly, his gaze falling on the open secret letter on the imperial desk, his eyes filled with helplessness.

They knew Wen He's personality all too well, and they also understood the implications behind His Majesty's decree.

Just as the two were still considering their words and making their final advice, Li Shimin suddenly turned to look at Huang Chun, who was still kneeling in the hall, and his tone suddenly became more serious, carrying an unquestionable imperial majesty.

"Huang Chun! You shall immediately return to the Hundred Cavalry Commandery and convey my imperial edict, ordering Xu Jingzong to lead the remaining Hundred Cavalry in the camp to rush to the aid of the deserted village outside the city and await Wen He's command. Do not fail to do so!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Huang Chun was shocked. Although he didn't understand why all 100 cavalry had to be mobilized, he didn't dare to hesitate for a moment. He quickly kowtowed and stood up. His figure in black rushed out of the hall, making the beaded curtain hanging at the door rustle.

"this!"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui looked up abruptly, their faces filled with undisguised shock.

Wen He's secret letter clearly stated that the gambling den had been completely taken over and the behind-the-scenes manager, Mo Anshan, had been captured alive. Normally, it would be enough to send a few dozen people to help guard the prisoners and settle the abducted women and children.

But His Majesty insisted on sending all of the remaining thousand-plus men of the Hundred Cavalry Battalion.

Such a grand mobilization, surely not for a small gambling den.

Du Ruhui could no longer contain himself and stepped forward, his voice tinged with urgency and panic: "Your Majesty! We must be cautious!"

The Cui family is the most prominent family in the land, and a single move by them can have far-reaching consequences.

Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, glanced at him indifferently, and spoke in a calm tone that carried a penetrating power.

"I have always been very cautious."

These six simple words left Du Ruhui speechless.

He gazed at the emperor on the throne, at the decisiveness hidden in those deep eyes.

Du Ruhui opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but the words stuck in his throat.

He knew that His Majesty's mind was made up at this moment, and any further advice would be in vain.

In the end, he could only sigh deeply in his heart, bow and retreat back to the queue, his face showing even greater worry.

Fang Xuanling looked at him and gently shook his head.

He had worked with Du Ruhui for many years and understood each other's thoughts best.

They were not biased towards the Cui family, but they were worried that this move would exacerbate the conflict between the court and the powerful families, and shake the hard-won stability in the early years of the Zhenguan era.

But His Majesty has his own considerations. As his subjects, all they can do is obey the decree, keep a close eye on the situation, and try their best to fill in any gaps for His Majesty.

Li Shimin looked at the silent ministers in the hall, his gaze sweeping over the secret letter on the imperial desk. He tapped the desk lightly with his fingertips, his mind already filled with deeper calculations.

The incident involving the Cui family of Qinghe, which appears to be a criminal case, is in fact another power struggle between the royal family and aristocratic families.

He wanted to use Wen He to see the true nature of this number one family in the world, and also to make all the families understand that the Li imperial family was the true ruler of the Tang Dynasty.

Meanwhile, in Chang'an, a figure in brocade robes was riding a fast horse, galloping past on Zhuque Avenue.

The young man on horseback wore a jade crown. Although his clothes were somewhat disheveled, they could not conceal his noble air. He gripped the reins tightly and whipped the horse's rump repeatedly. The horse's hooves kicked up clouds of dust as they trod on the bluestone road.

The Imperial Guards patrolling along the way all changed their expressions upon seeing the man on horseback, and did not even have the courage to step forward and stop him.

The young man galloped all the way out of Chang'an city gates, spurring his horse onward towards the deserted village outside the city.

(End of this chapter)