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

Chapter 378 Cui Yushu was so angry that he died.

"Your Majesty! Last night, Wen He, the magistrate of Gaoyang County, led a hundred cavalrymen to forcibly break into the Cui family mansion in Qinghe, smashing down the gate and arresting people. His actions were so barbaric and domineering, completely disregarding the dignity of the gentry and the etiquette of the court! If such evil deeds are not punished, it may discourage the gentry of the world. I implore Your Majesty to severely punish Wen He to uphold the law!"

Inside the Li Zheng Hall.

A Ministry of Personnel official, dressed in a scarlet robe of the fourth rank, stepped forward, holding a tablet in both hands, his back ramrod straight, his tone righteous and eloquent.

In an instant, the atmosphere here became so heavy it seemed like water could be wrung out of it.

On the bright yellow dragon throne, Li Shimin's face was somber. His fingertips unconsciously stroked the jade tablet on the table. His gaze was piercing as he swept over the officials standing bowing in the hall, but he remained silent for a long time, making the silence in the hall even more oppressive.

The hall fell silent instantly.

Many officials exchanged glances, but none dared to easily agree.

Li Shimin remained silent, but his brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

Just then, Changsun Wuji stepped out from the ranks, cupped his hands, and said.

“Your Majesty, I have something to say. As far as I know, Wen He did not break into the mansion without reason last night. He was ordered to arrest a criminal, Cui Wei, a member of the Cui family of Qinghe, who was illegally operating a gambling den and was also involved in the serious crime of trafficking women and children. Wen He led a hundred cavalrymen to the mansion, which was in accordance with the law and the law, and was not an evil act.”

These words stunned not only the officials who impeached Wen He, but also many veteran ministers in the hall who were familiar with Changsun Wuji.

Although the Changsun clan was also a prominent family, it had always kept its distance from the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families. In the past, when faced with conflicts between the gentry and Wenhe, Changsun Wuji had mostly remained neutral and observed. It was quite strange that he took the initiative to speak up for Wenhe today.

If Wen He were present at this moment, she would probably be so surprised that she would raise her eyebrows.

This old man actually spoke up for me?
The official from the Ministry of Personnel, regaining his composure, quickly retorted: "But Your Majesty! As far as I know, when Wen He went to the Cui residence, he had no solid evidence. He stormed the residence and arrested people based solely on one side of the story. This is clearly an abuse of power and a deliberate attempt to make things difficult for the Cui family!"

"Empirical evidence?"

Li Shimin finally spoke, his voice cold and carrying an unquestionable authority.

"We have both witnesses and physical evidence! Mo Anshan has already confessed, and Cui Wei admitted it on the spot last night at the mansion. What other evidence do you need?"

He suddenly raised his voice and shouted coldly, startling the official so much that he trembled and hurriedly bowed, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty dare not!"

He hesitated for a moment, but still forced himself to raise his head, his tone tinged with urgency.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! I am not defending Cui Wei, but the Cui family is the foremost aristocratic family in the land today, with a lineage spanning a thousand years and disciples and former officials throughout the court and the countryside. If we deal with the Cui family members so harshly, it may make the aristocratic families of the land feel that Your Majesty is intentionally suppressing them, which would chill their hearts!"

These words, seemingly for the benefit of the imperial court, actually conceal a hidden threat.

If Your Majesty insists on punishing Cui Wei, you will be making an enemy of the entire aristocratic community.

He had correctly predicted that previous monarchs would have taken into account the influence of the aristocratic families.

If Li Yuan or Li Jiancheng were sitting in that seat.

Perhaps he really will hesitate because of what he said.

But he forgot that the one sitting on the dragon throne was Li Shimin.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin suddenly chuckled, but his laughter was full of sarcasm.

He narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the official, his tone tinged with amusement.

"If I remember correctly, you entered officialdom in the third year of the Wude era, and married a daughter from a collateral branch of the Cui family the following year. You are quite fortunate."

He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold.

"Why are you speaking up for the Cui family today? Are you worried that I will alienate the people, or that I will alienate the Cui family behind you?"

The official's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Your Majesty! I am innocent! I did all this for Your Majesty and for the stability of the Tang Dynasty! I had no selfish motives and no intention to favor the Cui family!"

"Absolutely no selfish motives?"

Li Shimin sneered.

"You just said that the Cui family's disciples and former officials are all over the world, and that Lord Cui is the current head of the Cui family. You advised me to think twice. Are you also trying to say that if I deal with Cui Wei, the gentry of the world will unite against me?"

These words directly exposed the official's thoughts. He lay on the ground, trembling all over, and dared not say another word.

The other officials in the hall dared not breathe too loudly, for fear of incurring the Emperor's wrath.

Li Shimin slowly stood up, walked into the hall, his gaze swept over everyone, and his tone carried a resolute and powerful force.

"Since my ascension to the throne, I have never thought of suppressing any aristocratic families. As long as they abide by the law and behave themselves, I will naturally treat them with courtesy. However, if anyone uses the name of the aristocratic families to commit illegal and disorderly acts, harming the people and wasting money, no matter who they are, I will never tolerate it!"

He suddenly raised his hand and slammed it heavily on the table, making a loud "bang".

"Since he says that the gentry of the world will be disheartened, then I want to see whether those so-called gentry will choose me, the monarch who stands up for the people, or a Cui family that condones its members to abduct women and children and trample on the law!"

These words were resounding and instantly made the atmosphere in the hall solemn.

Everyone understood that His Majesty was determined to punish Cui Wei, and also wanted to use this incident to show the attitude of the gentry throughout the land.

……

Meanwhile, the Cui family mansion in Qinghe was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.

The vermilion gates of the mansion were tightly shut, and even the servants on duty at the gate held their breath, not daring to say a word.

The incident last night, in which a hundred horsemen stormed the mansion and Cui Yushu's grandson was captured, had already plunged the entire Cui family into panic.

In the bedroom in the backyard, the curtains were drawn low, and a strong medicinal smell filled the air.

Cui Yushu lay on the canopy bed covered with brocade cushions, her face as pale as paper, even her lips had lost their color.

Upon learning last night that Cui Wei had been taken away by Wen He, he was so anxious that he couldn't sleep all night. He barely managed to close his eyes in the early morning, but he was awakened by a sharp pain in his chest. At this moment, he barely had the strength to lift his hand.

He was panting heavily, his withered fingers gripping the corner of the blanket tightly. He waved to the servants guarding the bedside, his voice hoarse as if sandpaper were being rubbed.

"Go... and call Xun Jue here."

The servant dared not delay, and quickly bowed and withdrew, hurrying through the corridor to find Xun Jue.

Before long, a soft footstep sound came, and Xun Jue, dressed in a blue robe, quickly walked into the bedroom.

He was tall and handsome, but there was just the right amount of worry in his eyes, as if he was really concerned about Cui Yushu's health.

Approaching the bedside, Xun Jue bowed respectfully, his tone both courteous and concerned.

"Greetings, Master Cui. I heard of the troubles that befell your household last night. You must have fallen ill from overwork. I have been thinking of you ever since. I wonder if you are feeling any better today?"

Cui Yushu slowly raised his eyes, his cloudy gaze falling on Xun Jue.

He could tell that there was some pretense in this concern, but now that the Cui family was in trouble, he urgently needed capable people and had no choice but to put aside his former pride.

He waved his hand, his voice still weak.

"It's an old ailment, nothing serious. As for what I did to you before... it was out of necessity. At the time, there were many things to do in the manor, and I was in a hurry, so my tone was a bit harsh. Please don't take it to heart."

Although it was supposed to be an apology, Cui Yushu's eyes showed not a trace of remorse.

Now that Cui Wei has been captured, Cui Yushu urgently needs Xun Jue's help, so he can only lower his stance and ease tensions for now.

Xun Jue sneered inwardly.

Cui Yushu only started speaking softly when he needed her help.

But he still looked flattered and quickly bowed.

"What are you saying, Master Cui? I did indeed fail in my duties that day and delayed important matters in the household. Your punishment is to teach me a lesson and is also for my own good. I have long forgotten about it. But Master Cui, after what happened at home last night, you must take care of your health and not worry about trivial matters."

The two exchanged pleasantries, their words insincere and polite, and the air was thick with an air of hypocrisy.

The smell of medicine seemed even stronger behind the curtains, and the conversation in the room was filled with a suffocating sense of calculation.

After a moment, Cui Yushu finally stopped beating around the bush.

He took a deep breath, his face instantly darkened, a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes, and his tone became clenched.

“That brat Wen He was truly outrageous last night! He dared to lead a hundred cavalrymen to break into my Cui residence, smash the doors and arrest people, completely disregarding the thousand-year-old reputation of the Cui family! Zitai is the eldest grandson of the Cui family, and he arrests him without a second thought. Does he have no regard for the laws of the court, or for the gentry of the world? If this grudge is not avenged, I, Cui Yushu, will be unworthy of being the head of the Cui family!”

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his chest heaving violently, and he couldn't help but cough, each cough sounding as if he were coughing up his lungs.

Xun Jue stood aside, not responding, but listening quietly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

He knew that Cui Yushu had summoned him not simply to complain, but to entrust him with something important.

Sure enough, Cui Yushu coughed for a while before gradually calming down.

He took a sip of the warm water handed to him by a servant, looked at Xun Jue, and his tone suddenly turned sinister.

“Wen He is currently enjoying great influence in Chang’an and is deeply trusted by His Majesty. We are no match for him now, and we might even bring trouble upon ourselves. However, it is not impossible to get rid of him.”

He paused, lowered his voice, and said, word by word, "Go outside and spread rumors that Wen He is no ordinary person, but a genius born with knowledge. He understands the law, solves strange cases, and knows weaving at a young age. Wen He has the appearance of a true dragon and will surely threaten the Li Tang dynasty in the future."

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, Xun Jue's eyes widened, his pupils contracted sharply, and a storm raged in his heart.

He never expected that Cui Yushu would use such a vicious scheme!
The mind of an emperor is the most unpredictable. Once suspicion arises, Wen He will face anything from falling out of favor and being exiled to the execution of her entire family!
Lord Cui is determined to drive Wen He to his death! Cui Yushu pretended not to see Xun Jue's shock and coughed violently again. He covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and when he removed it, a trace of dark red blood had seeped through the handkerchief.

He tossed the handkerchief aside nonchalantly, his eyes filled with resolute determination.

“Zitai… is beyond saving. His Majesty is determined to punish him. Even if I use all the connections of the Cui family, I may not be able to save him. But the people of the Cui family cannot die in vain. Wen He harmed Zitai, so he must be buried with him!”

He looked at Xun Jue, his tone carrying both certainty and a hint of provocation.

"Why do you think His Majesty was able to sit firmly on the throne? It's because he is suspicious and cannot tolerate the slightest threat! Back when Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, was in power, he only heard a nursery rhyme, 'Peach and plum trees will bring him the world,' and he thought that someone surnamed Li would usurp his throne."

"So he ordered a massive manhunt for officials with the surname Li. Even Li Hun, a founding hero, was executed along with his entire family simply because he was surnamed Li and was falsely accused. Just think about it, Yang Jian was so ruthless just because he heard a nursery rhyme. How much more so now that His Majesty has heard the rumor that Wen He has the 'appearance of a true dragon'?"

"His Majesty is even more ruthless than Yang Jian! During the Xuanwu Gate Incident last year, he even killed his own brothers, causing rivers of blood to flow before seizing the throne. How could such a person tolerate Wen He, who has the 'appearance of a true dragon'? I refuse to believe that he can still treat Wen He as usual after hearing such rumors!"

Xun Jue nodded to himself.

Cui Yushu is right.

What emperors fear most is someone threatening their imperial power, especially emperors like Li Shimin who rose to power through a coup; their suspicions only intensify.

Wen He was exceptionally talented and made many outstanding contributions at a young age, earning the emperor's favor and making him an easy target for jealousy.

If the rumor of "the appearance of a true dragon" were added to the mix, even if Li Shimin remained outwardly calm, he would definitely be on high alert against Wen He in secret, and might even eliminate Wen He in advance to prevent future troubles.

Seeing Xun Jue's expression, Cui Yushu knew that he had grasped the key point and immediately threw out the bait.

He softened his tone and spoke with a hint of seduction.

“Xun Jue, you are a talented person, but you have never had the opportunity to show your abilities. If this matter is handled well, next year I will use the Cui family’s connections to send you to work in the Ministry of Personnel. As you know, the Ministry of Personnel is the head of the six ministries, in charge of the appointment, dismissal and evaluation of officials throughout the country. Once you enter the Ministry of Personnel, your future will be limitless, and you will no longer have to be a retainer dependent on aristocratic families.”

These words struck a chord with Xun Jue.

Although he worked under the Cui family, he was always just a retainer and did not hold a formal official position. In the eyes of others, he was still a "dependent".

Back in the day, the Xun family of Yingchuan was no less powerful than the Cui family.

But now...

If he could enter the imperial court, he was confident that within thirty years, the Xun family of Yingchuan would achieve the same glory as their ancestors.

Xun Jue's eyes flickered slightly, and after a moment, he stepped forward and bowed.

"Rest assured, Lord Cui! This junior will certainly not fail in my mission!"

Cui Yushu nodded in satisfaction, a sinister smile flashing in his eyes.

"Alright! Then this matter is entirely up to you. Remember, this matter must be done discreetly, and no one can trace it back to the Cui family. If anyone asks about the source of the rumors, you should attribute it to the speculation of ordinary people in the city, saying that the people couldn't help but talk about it because they saw that Wen He was too powerful."

"Junior understands!"

Xun Jue bowed in agreement and was about to turn and leave when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the bedroom, accompanied by panicked shouts.

"Manager! Something terrible has happened! Manager!"

The sound grew closer, and soon a member of the Cui family, dressed in a brocade robe, stumbled into the bedroom. His hair was disheveled, his face was pale, and he didn't even care about etiquette as he rushed straight to the bedside.

Cui Yushu was already unsettled because of Cui Wei's matter, and seeing him so flustered, he immediately frowned and scolded him with dissatisfaction.

"What's the panic! The Cui family is a thousand-year-old clan. Our descendants should act with composure and restraint. Your rashness shows no class and will only make us a laughingstock!"

The Cui family member looked distressed and had no time to apologize; his voice trembled with anxiety.

"Master, it's not that I'm panicking, but a truly catastrophic disaster has occurred! Overnight, a nursery rhyme that slanders our Cui family has suddenly spread throughout Chang'an. Now, children on the streets are singing it, and even customers in teahouses and taverns are talking about it. If this continues, the reputation of our Cui family will be completely ruined!"

"what?!"

Cui Yushu and Xun Jue stared wide-eyed at the same time, their faces filled with disbelief.

Just now they were plotting to spread rumors that were detrimental to Wen He, how come in the blink of an eye, the nursery rhymes that slander the Cui family have spread all over Chang'an?
This is too much of a coincidence; it's so coincidental it's unsettling.

Could it be that someone anticipated their plan and acted ahead of time?
Cui Yushu suddenly tried to get up from the bed, but she trembled with excitement, her thin fingers gripping the brocade quilt tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"Who dares to be so audacious as to slander the Cui family of Qinghe? Is it Wen He? Or some other aristocratic family deliberately stirring up trouble? Have you investigated this thoroughly?"

"Master, this junior has no idea either!"

The Cui family members were so anxious that they stomped their feet.

"This nursery rhyme seems to have appeared out of nowhere. No one was singing it last night, but as soon as I opened the door this morning, all the children on the street were reciting it. When asked who taught it, none of them could say for sure, only that they heard it from someone else!"

Xun Jue's heart stirred, and he stepped forward, bowing respectfully to the Cui family member, his tone calm and steady.

"Uncle, don't worry. We don't know the specific content of this nursery rhyme. Please tell us."

Upon hearing this, the member of the Cui family hesitated, his lips moved, but he remained silent for a long time.

The nursery rhyme was too harsh, and he dared not repeat it to Cui Yushu, for fear of offending the manager.

Seeing him hesitate, Cui Yushu's suppressed anger erupted instantly. He slammed his hand on the bed and shouted angrily.

"Speak! What is there to be afraid of saying! Do you expect me to personally go to the street to listen?"

"Yes Yes!"

The Cui family member was so frightened that he trembled and quickly lowered his head, reciting the words in a voice barely audible.

“The mountains are beautiful, and for over a thousand years, the vermilion gates are deep, hiding the filth and smoke.”

"Beside the golden goblet, few wise words are spoken; before the jade steps, old sages have been lost."

"A hollow reputation is visible to all, so why boast of being the head of the family and laughing at the banquet?"

"puff!"

No sooner had the Cui family member finished speaking than Cui Yushu suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He glared, furious.

"This is outrageous! This is outrageous..."

……

"died?"

Wen He held the scroll in her hand, her fingertips paused slightly, and she looked up at the hundred-horse guard who came to report, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

He knew that Cui Yushu had been so angry that he vomited blood a few days ago, but he did not expect that the other party would die so quickly.

"Yes, young master."

The guard bowed and replied, his tone tinged with a hint of melancholy.

"News has come from the Cui residence that Cui Yushu fell ill three days ago after vomiting blood. Despite the efforts of many imperial physicians, he passed away around midnight last night. It is said that he died from a combination of blood and qi attacking his heart."

Wen He put down her book, leaned back on the soft couch, and tapped her fingertips lightly on the armrest without saying a word.

Cui Yushu was the backbone of the Cui family in Qinghe. With his death, the Cui family will likely be in chaos for a while.

"Tsk tsk, little kid, you've got a sharp tongue."

A hearty laugh suddenly came from outside the door, and Li Daozong lifted the curtain and walked in, still carrying some of the chill from outside.

"You only broke into the Cui residence and captured Cui Wei, but you actually angered Cui Yushu to death. If word gets out, all the gentry in the world will hate you."

Wen He glanced at him, her tone indifferent.

"What does it have to do with me? I've been staying in the manor the whole time lately, not stepping out once. His Majesty ordered me to stay at home, and I've been obediently following orders."

This is true.

Three days ago, during a debate in the imperial court about the Cui family.

Although Li Shimin rejected the officials who impeached Wen He, he also used the pretext of "acting rashly" to punish Wen He with "being confined to his quarters for ten days and having his salary deducted for one year".

Anyone with eyes can see that this is a classic case of "picking it up high and putting it down lightly".

This both gave the gentry a way out and protected Wenhe.

Wen He was seething with anger. She had just investigated a case, and not only did she not get any credit, but she also lost a year's salary for no reason. She felt it was a loss.

If it weren't for the house arrest, he would have liked to learn from Zhuge Liang.

We went to Cui Yushu's memorial hall and led the singing of that nursery rhyme.

Li Daozong sat down in the chair opposite Wen He, poured himself a cup of hot tea, took a sip to warm himself up, and then looked at Wen He with a half-smile.

"That nursery rhyme that spread throughout Chang'an couldn't have been done by someone else, could it? Besides you, who else has such great ability to get all the children in the streets and alleys singing it overnight?"

Wen He picked up the honey water on the table, took a slow sip, and savored the sweet taste as it melted on her tongue before slowly opening her mouth.

"Don't slander me. What nursery rhyme? I haven't even left the mansion. How would I know such things?"

"Keep pretending, then."

Li Daozong put down his teacup, his tone resolute. "In this Chang'an city, besides your Hundred Cavalry, who else has the ability to mobilize manpower and spread the news so widely overnight? Don't think I don't know that among your Hundred Cavalry, there are quite a few skilled at gathering information and spreading rumors."

Upon hearing this, Wen He chuckled softly, put down the honey water cup, and gave a meaningful look.

"Your Highness is mistaken. How can you be so sure that only the Hundred Riders have this ability? Even if the Hundred Riders did have this ability, do you think I, a mere seventh-rank captain, would dare to mobilize the Hundred Riders to manipulate public opinion in the city?"

Controlling public opinion in Chang'an is no small matter.

Doing such a thing would only make things difficult for the emperor.

Even if Wen He had the desire, she didn't have the courage to do it.

Isn't this just asking Li Shimin to become suspicious?

In all of Chang'an, besides the Hundred Cavalry, who else has this ability?
Or rather, besides Wen He, who else could command the Hundred Riders to do this?

Li Daozong's hand holding the teacup suddenly paused, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared.

He looked into Wen He's clear yet calculating eyes, and suddenly, as if he had guessed something, his pupils contracted sharply, and his mouth opened slightly, about to blurt out that name.

Wen He, however, spoke first, gently shaking her head at him in a very low voice.

“Prince Rencheng, you know nothing and hear nothing.”

Li Daozong was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening, slapped his thigh, and burst into laughter.

"Yes, yes, yes! I know nothing and I didn't hear anything! Come, come, have some tea. This tea tastes good, even better than the tea in my palace."

As he spoke, he picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, as if his earlier speculation had never happened.

Seeing his feigned ignorance, Wen He didn't say anything more, but picked up the honey water on the table and took another sip.

He knew perfectly well who had written that nursery rhyme.

Aside from the emperor sitting on the dragon throne in the Taiji Hall, who else could have such great courage to disrupt the Cui family's plans so subtly and quietly with a nursery rhyme?

But this time, it seems like I'm going to have to take the blame for him?

Thinking about it, it feels like I've lost out big time.

"Speaking of which, what kind of tea is this?"

Li Daozong smacked his lips, looking curious.

"It has a wonderfully sweet aftertaste."

"Nothing special, just a bit better than what you get outside."

Wen He answered casually, then changed the subject and added a sentence.

"One string of cash and one tael."

Li Daozong almost spat out the tea he had just drunk, and he glared at Wen He with annoyance.

"I think you're obsessed with money! It's just tea, yet you charge one string and one tael. Why don't you just rob us?"

"Nothing is more respectable than selling tea."

Wen He raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of self-righteousness.

"This is only because of you. If it were anyone else, it would cost at least five strings of cash and one tael. Take it or leave it."

He did harbor resentment.

Including this time, Li Shimin has already deducted his salary twice. The first time it was for a year, and this time it was for another year, which adds up to two years.

From frugality to luxury is easy, from luxury to frugality.

He can't really live on air, so he naturally has to find ways to earn more money.

Looking at his money-grubbing appearance, Li Daozong couldn't help but laugh. He cleared his throat, and his expression became somewhat subtle.

"Ahem, yes, I'll buy it. But, I have another matter I'd like to ask for your help with today."

Upon hearing this, Wen He looked up at him, a half-smile playing on her lips.

"Let's keep quiet, Qi San, see the guest out!"

"Hey, little one, stop!"

Li Daozong quickly stood up and reached out to grab Wen He's arm.

"Wenxianzi, my good brother, please let me finish speaking!"

Wen He immediately dodged backward and kicked out in mid-air, her tone tinged with anger.

"Get lost! You're the younger brother!"

"Last time I helped you clean up the mess at the Court of State Ceremonial, and the land deed you promised me is still nowhere to be seen. You still have the nerve to ask me to do things for you? Don't bother me with those messes from the Court of State Ceremonial again!"

Li Daozong dodged Wen He's foot, grabbed his shoulder, and put on a fawning smile.

"Little one, don't be anxious. This time it really isn't about the Court of State Ceremonial, it's about... Chengsheng."

"Li Daoxing?"

Wen He frowned, her tone tinged with doubt.

"Isn't he imprisoned in Dali Temple right now? You don't mean you want me to plead for him, do you?"

Li Daozong chuckled twice and rubbed his hands together.

"Ahem, I have already asked His Majesty for permission, and His Majesty has agreed to let Chengsheng go to the Hundred Cavalry for training and temper his temperament."

Upon hearing this, Wen He's eyes instantly turned cold.

It must be said that Li Daozong was indeed clever.

He knew that if he came directly to him, he would definitely not agree.

So he decided to go find Li Shimin.

It's unclear what he said to Li Shimin, but he actually agreed to let Li Daoxing send a hundred cavalry.

Li Daozong knew that Wen He was angry.

"To show my sincerity, I have decided to purchase three thousand strings of cash worth of soap and glass from you. Delivery can be made before the end of this year. What do you say?"

Wen He blinked, quickly calculating in her mind.

Three thousand strings of cash is no small sum; it's enough to make up for the salary he was fined, and he'll still have a lot left over.

As for Li Daoxing, once he joins the Hundred Cavalry and is trained according to the rules, even if he is a member of the imperial family, he won't be able to cause any trouble.

He hesitated for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Seeing how sincere you are, I'll accept this person. However, let me make this clear from the start: if he joins the Hundred Riders, he must abide by the same rules as the other Hundred Riders. You cannot interfere in any matters, nor can you give him any special treatment."

"No problem! Absolutely no problem!"

Li Daozong quickly agreed, fearing that Wen He might change her mind.

"I will have the money delivered tomorrow. As for Cheng Sheng, I will also give him a good talking-to and make sure he behaves well in the Hundred Cavalry and doesn't cause you any trouble!"

Wen He nodded and stood up: "Alright, now that you've finished speaking, please leave. Qi San, see the guest out."

"Hey, little one, isn't that a bit too heartless of you?"

Li Daozong saw Wen He turn to leave and quickly called out.

"At least invite me to have a meal, or...aren't you under house arrest? How about I take you out for a stroll?"

"roll!"

Without turning her head, Wen He uttered a single word and walked straight into the inner room.

Li Daozong watched Wen He's retreating figure and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He knew that Wen He was angry about the house arrest.

His Majesty specially dispatched a thousand-strong imperial guard to surround Wen He's residence. Everyone inside could come and go as they pleased, but Wen He was not allowed to step out of the gate. Anyone would feel suffocated in that situation.

He shook his head, turned, and left Wen He's residence. As he walked out the gate, he looked at the imperial guards standing watch and couldn't help but sigh.

These imperial guards, though seemingly in charge, were actually protecting Wen He.

However, Wen He was not lonely.

Not long after Li Daozong left, Zhang Wenxiao arrived with people from the Dali Temple.

"I have met the magistrate of Gaoyang County."

The one who arrived was the Junior Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Wen He remembered that Liu Dewei had previously said he would recommend her to be the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

In other words, he almost became the boss of the person in front of him.

"Greetings, Junior Minister. May I ask what the Court of Judicial Review has inquired about?"

Wen He was also puzzled.

He's currently under house arrest, so the Dali Temple can't exactly ask him to handle cases.

"I have come to see the magistrate of Gaoyang County because of the matter of Cui Wei. His Majesty has decreed that the Court of Judicial Review should take over the case of Cui Wei and order the Minister of the Court to make a judgment. The judgment has been prepared and we are just waiting to take over the case of Cui Wei."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review said.

Wen He said "Oh," and asked curiously, "I wonder how it was judged?"

"Cut in half".

The Junior Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review laughed.

Wen He was stunned for a moment.

"Is there no one in the court who objects?"

He couldn't help but be surprised.

They actually sentenced him to be cut in half?
Cui Wei is the direct grandson of the second branch of the Cui family in Qinghe.

Seeing Wen He's surprise, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review couldn't help but chuckle.

“The magistrate of Gaoyang County is unaware that this matter was thoroughly investigated by the Dali Temple two days ago. In the past ten years, the private gambling and disregard for human life have aroused public outrage. Moreover, the decision to cut someone in half at the waist was personally drafted by His Majesty.”

Upon hearing that Cui Wei had been executed, Wen He felt no joy whatsoever.

"According to my information, Cui Wei has only been in Chang'an for a few months, while that gambling den has existed for ten years..."

He stared at the Junior Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

“But Cui Wei has already confessed. This was all his doing and has nothing to do with the Cui family. Now the Cui family has expelled him from the family genealogy.”

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was also quite helpless.

Upon hearing this, Wen He immediately sneered and said nothing.

That's really ruthless.

One person was sacrificed to restore the Cui family's reputation.

The person who came up with this idea is ruthless.

……

The elegant seating area on the second floor of "Zui Xian Lou" in Pingkangfang, Chang'an.

The carved window lattice was half-open, shutting out the noise outside, leaving only the faint aroma of tea and wine mingling inside.

The young man, dressed in a moon-white long robe, held a teacup, stood up, and bowed to Cui Dunli opposite him, his tone earnest.

"I am very grateful for Brother Cui's assistance in this matter. If it weren't for your secret intervention, my second branch of the Cui family would have been dragged down by my brother and would have been doomed forever."

This young man is Cui Yu, the younger brother of Cui Wei and the second son of the second branch of the Cui family.

After Cui Yushu's death, there was a lot of internal strife within the Cui clan. In the end, it was Cui Dunli who stepped in and mediated on behalf of the Boling Cui clan, which persuaded the elders to give up their idea of ​​fighting back and also saved the second branch of the family who were not involved.

Cui Dunli quickly stepped forward to support him, a gentle smile on his face.

“Brother Zian, what are you doing? We can’t write two ‘Cui’ characters together. Our ancestors came from the same lineage. Now that the five surnames and seven clans have passed away, we should be united and support each other. Besides, Lord Cui has passed away, and the Cui family is going through a difficult time. How can I sit idly by?”

Cui Yu lowered his eyes, a look of deep sorrow on his face, his voice choked with emotion.

"It's all my brother's fault for being so foolish. He set up a gambling den and got involved in human trafficking. Not only did he harm himself, but he also caused my father to die of a heart attack. It's a misfortune for our family... If it weren't for you, Brother Cui, persuading the elders not to fight against the court, I'm afraid the entire direct line of the Cui family would have been buried with my brother."

“That hateful brat Wen He… Alas, I am incompetent, otherwise how could I have allowed a country bumpkin to be so proud?”

"If one day comes, I will make sure he suffers eternal damnation!"

"It's just a pity for that brother."

He spoke of sadness.

However, upon closer inspection, one would find that there was not a trace of real sadness in his eyes, and not even a hint of redness in his eyes.

Cui Dunli was extremely astute and naturally saw through his disguise, but he did not expose him. Instead, he patted him on the shoulder and gave him earnest advice.

"Now the Cui family and Wenhe have completely broken ties, but you must remember not to act impulsively. His Majesty already has suspicions about the Cui family. If any further trouble is caused, it will only plunge the Cui family into a deeper predicament. You must be patient when necessary and protect the foundation of the Cui family first."

“Brother Cui is absolutely right, I’ve got it in mind.”

Cui Yu quickly bowed and agreed, his attitude becoming even more respectful.

He knew that now that the Cui family had lost power, the attitude of the Boling Cui family was crucial. If he could get close to Cui Dunli, it would greatly benefit his second branch in establishing itself in the clan in the future.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Cui Yu got up to take his leave.

Cui Dunli escorted him to the entrance of the private room, and as he watched his figure disappear at the top of the stairs, the smile on his face instantly faded, and he turned and walked towards the next private room.

Inside the cubicle, a chessboard sits in the center of the table, with black and white pieces arranged alternately, locked in a stalemate.

Xun Jue sat on one side of the chessboard, dressed in a blue brocade robe, holding a black chess piece in his hand. When he saw Cui Dunli enter, he gently placed the chess piece on the chessboard, looked up and smiled.

"With the Qinghe Cui clan determined to withdraw from Chang'an, the title of the number one aristocratic family in the world may fall to the Boling Cui clan. The pent-up resentment that has been building up in the chests of the Boling Cui clan for hundreds of years can finally be released today."

Cui Dunli walked to the other side of the chessboard, sat down, picked up a white piece, and placed it down, speaking calmly.

"It's just an empty title. I should congratulate my virtuous brother Zizhang on entering the Ministry of Justice and becoming a sixth-rank official."

Upon hearing this, Xun Jue's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile.

"It's just a sinecure, nothing to congratulate me on. If it weren't for that old dog Cui Yushu losing his mind and trying to frame Wen He with rumors, I wouldn't have had the chance to gain His Majesty's favor by exposing this matter. In the end, His Majesty was one step ahead, forcing the Cui family to withdraw from Chang'an."

He paused, a hint of regret in his voice.

"Unfortunately, before I could report Cui Yushu, that old dog died of anger first, which benefited him."

Cui Dunli picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and his gaze fell on the chessboard. Suddenly, he asked a question.

"Then, Brother Zizhang, do you wish to continue being a pawn in His Majesty's hands, or do you wish to be the one wielding the pieces?"

Xun Jue paused slightly in the hand holding the chess piece, looked up at Cui Dunli, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

He remained silent for a moment, not answering directly, but instead placing a black piece on the chessboard in his hand, his voice low.

"In this city of Chang'an, what difference is there between a pawn and the one who wields the pieces? His Majesty is cunning and ruthless; who can truly escape his control?"

He gave a wry smile, his tone full of helplessness.

"Besides, there's Wen He, he's only eleven years old... he's only eleven years old."

His words were filled with helplessness.

Having said that, he put down the chess piece in his hand and bowed to Cui Dunli.

"I have lost this game."

Cui Dunli did not respond. Instead, he reached out and picked up the black piece that Xun Jue had just put down, and gently placed it on an empty spot on the chessboard, his tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning.

"Brother Zizhang, you gave up too early. Once you're on this chessboard, once you easily admit defeat, you're doomed."

Xun Jue stared at the black piece that had been placed back on the chessboard, then at Cui Dunli's calm profile, a question lingering in his mind.

He couldn't fathom Cui Dunli's thoughts. The Qinghe Cui clan suffered a crushing defeat, seemingly attributing it to Wen He.

But all of them knew that Wen He was merely a tool in His Majesty's hand; the one who truly made the Cui family bow down was the emperor sitting on the throne in the Taiji Hall.

Cui Dunli seemed to see through his thoughts and slowly spoke.

“Wen He is powerful, but he also has weaknesses. He is too young. His Majesty will never force him to grow up too fast. At least before the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will not be able to truly enter the central government. This is our opportunity.”

"Only through patience can we gain an opportunity."

He picked up a white piece and placed it on the chessboard, his voice softening.

"Chang'an has been quite turbulent for the past year or so. It's time for things to calm down so that the young man from Gaoyang County can get some rest."

Xun Jue followed his gaze to the window and saw people coming and going, and a bustling scene of prosperity.

But beneath this prosperity lies a hidden undercurrent of turmoil and scheming, which only those within it can truly comprehend.

Cui Dunli picked up his teacup, raised it towards Xun Jue, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"I hope that the peace in Chang'an can last a little longer."

(End of this chapter)