The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 75 Or...has he already begun to learn how to make moves?

The Ministry of Personnel was the first to receive the urgent report from the Prefect of the Capital.

The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Gao Shilian, entered the hall, bowed, and presented a secret report in a low voice.

Upon hearing the news, Li Shimin frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report from the Prefect of the Capital. Censor Liu Shi died last night in a dark alley outside Yongxing Ward, with multiple stab wounds to his body."

The air in the hall suddenly froze.

Li Shimin took the thin sheet of paper and glanced at the cold words on it.

His face was expressionless.

"When was it discovered?" The emperor's voice was calm, yet carried an oppressive sense of impending doom.

"Your Majesty, the night watchman discovered the body around dawn and reported it to the authorities. When the officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture arrived, the body was already stiff. Preliminary examination indicates that the person died around midnight."

Gao Shilian lowered his head and answered.

Li Shimin slowly put down the secret report and stood up.

He walked to the window, gazing out, his back straight yet exuding a chill.

"Issue the decree." He spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly carrying to every corner of the hall.

"Order the Minister of Justice, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, and the Grand Censor to enter the palace immediately. Instruct the Prefect of the Capital to seal off the scene and thoroughly investigate all clues. Order the Imperial Guards to strengthen patrols in all wards, and detain anyone with suspicious behavior pending trial."

The orders were quickly relayed down.

Gao Shilian accepted the order and withdrew.

In the empty Liangyi Hall, only Li Shimin remained.

He sat back down at his desk, his gaze once again falling on the confidential report.

“Liu Shi…” he murmured the name.

The death of a mere censor would not normally have caused the emperor such a stir.

But the timing of Liu Shi's death was too coincidental, and the manner of his death was too sensitive.

Just a few days ago, this person was impeaching the Crown Prince for embezzlement, putting the Crown Prince in the eye of the storm.

One night later, he was found dead in the street.

Was it murder to silence them?
Or is it a frame-up?

Li Shimin's first suspicion fell on Crown Prince Li Chengqian.

That son who used to be irritable, easily angered, and acted without considering the consequences.

If it were the Li Chengqian of the past, being impeached in this way by an imperial censor, it wouldn't be impossible for him to commit assassination in a fit of rage.

He had that motive.

But... that was the Li Chengqian of the past.

The current Crown Prince has opened the Eastern Palace to the public, accepting advice and listening to government affairs. He has even demonstrated an astonishing ability to weigh power in the Xiande Hall.

Would they do something so clumsy and reckless now?

With the corruption case still unresolved and the emperor keeping a close eye on the Eastern Palace, assassinating the censor who had just impeached him was tantamount to courting death.

If it's not the crown prince, then who could it be?
Greenbird?

No.

Li Shimin almost immediately rejected the idea.

Although Qingque was cunning and coveted the throne, he was more effeminate and adept at cultivating relationships with scholars and building a reputation. Such a ruthless method of assassinating a court official in the street was too direct and too risky, unlike Qingque's usual style.

Moreover, if this move were exposed, it would be enough to ruin him forever, so Qingque would not take such a risky step.

More importantly, deep down, although Li Shimin knew that his sons were fighting, he was unwilling to associate such a vicious act with his intelligent and obese son.

Or perhaps other forces within the government?

Some former officials who were dissatisfied with the Crown Prince's involvement in government affairs?

Or is it an ambitious person who wants to use this to disrupt the political situation and fish in troubled waters?
Li Shimin closed his eyes, and faces and factions flashed through his mind.

The Guanlong Group, Shandong gentry, Jiangnan literati... all these forces are deeply intertwined and could all be the masterminds behind the scenes.

He didn't care about Liu Shi's life or death—in the emperor's mind, the life or death of an imperial censor was nothing more than a piece on a chessboard.

What he cared about was the outcome of the game, who was playing the pieces, and whether his prince was a passive piece in the game, or... had already begun to learn how to make moves.

"Your Majesty, Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Justice, Minister Sun of the Court of Judicial Review, and Grand Censor Wei have arrived."

The eunuch's voice rang out from outside the hall.

Li Shimin opened his eyes, his gaze now clear and sharp.

"Summon them." Three high-ranking judicial officials filed in, their expressions grave. They had clearly already received the news.

"Are you aware of Liu Shi's death?"

Li Shimin got straight to the point.

"We have just learned of this," the three replied in unison.

"I demand that the truth of this case be thoroughly investigated," the emperor said coldly.

"The Ministry of Justice will take the lead, the Court of Judicial Review will assist, and the Censorate will supervise. You have ten days to find out the real culprit."

Zhang Liang stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, this case is of great importance. I request that capable officers be dispatched and that the Imperial Guards assist in the search and arrest."

"Approved." Li Shimin nodded.

"I will issue an edict ordering Li Junxian to cooperate with you. Remember, no matter who you find, investigate to the end."

"The ministers obey the order."

The three bowed and accepted the order.

They understood the weight of the emperor's words.

"No matter who is found," which means that even princes and nobles are not exempt.

"Go ahead," Li Shimin waved his hand.

After the three men left, Li Shimin sat alone in the hall, lost in thought for a long time.

He picked up the vermilion brush, preparing to review other memorials, but found himself restless.

Just then, Wang De walked in quietly, holding a memorial in his hands.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report has arrived from the Crown Prince's Palace."

Li Shimin looked up, somewhat surprised.

The Crown Prince submitted his memorial so quickly?
He took the memorial and unfolded it.

The handwriting is neat and legible; it is the Crown Prince's own handwriting.

"Your Majesty, I humbly report: I was shocked and filled with grief and indignation upon hearing the news of the murder of Censor Liu Shi last night. Although Censor Liu had impeached the Crown Prince, as an official responsible for remonstrance, it was his duty to report on matters heard through hearsay. In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how could such a wicked person be so brazen as to murder an official in the street? This is an act of contempt for the law and a trampling of the imperial court! Your Majesty, I implore you to order the relevant officials to thoroughly investigate this case, apprehend the true culprit, and bring him to justice, so as to comfort his loyal soul and set the record straight! Your Majesty, I am willing to cooperate fully with the investigation, and if the Crown Prince's assistance is needed, I will gladly die for it!"

The memorial was short, but its words were earnest and its attitude was clear.

It expressed both anger towards the murderer and support for the investigation, while cleverly avoiding the awkward situation of being suspected.

Li Shimin put down the memorial, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

The crown prince's reaction was faster and smarter than he had expected.

If the crown prince has something to hide, the most likely course of action at this time would be to remain silent or to rush to distance himself from the situation.

By proactively submitting a petition requesting a thorough investigation, he actually appears quite open and honest.

Moreover, just as he had thought, the current crown prince now has a powerful patron and would never do something so foolish.

At this moment, most of Li Shimin's doubts dissipated.

He even felt a sliver of relief.

The fact that the Crown Prince could react so quickly and with such appropriate wording is itself a sign of progress.

But amidst his relief, another question arose: how would the Crown Prince deal with this situation?
Liu Shi's death will undoubtedly push the Crown Prince's palace into the spotlight once again.

Even if it wasn't the Crown Prince's doing, someone in the court would surely use it to attack him.

How should the crown prince conduct himself?
What moves will the "master" behind him make?

Li Shimin was eager to know the answer.

"Tell the Crown Prince that I am aware of his memorial," the Emperor instructed Wang De.

"Let him focus on his studies and government affairs. This matter will be handled by me and the other officials."

Wang De accepted the order and withdrew.

Li Shimin stood up and paced around the hall.

The crown prince's statement reassured him, but the truth of the case remained elusive.

He needs to know who is pulling the strings behind all this.

"Summon Li Junxian," he suddenly ordered.

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(End of this chapter)