The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"Tell me, why did you do this?"

Li Shimin asked calmly.

However, as soon as the question was asked, some people's expressions changed drastically, and they stared intently at Zhou Keji.

However, since everyone is watching him, it's not very obvious.

Zhou Keji knelt in the hall, head bowed, his voice hoarse: "Your Majesty... there is no great reason why this sinner did this, it was only because of this sinner's momentary greed."

"Is that so?" Li Shimin remained noncommittal, sitting on the throne and looking at Zhou Keji below, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "I remember that your position as magistrate of Wannian County was personally appointed by the former Emperor Emeritus because you lived up to your name, Keji."

"It's been about seven or eight years since then, hasn't it?"

"As the magistrate of Wannian County, your official rank is higher than that of a normal county magistrate!"

"At your age, you could easily have achieved even greater things in your lifetime, and now you're telling me you've been tempted by greed?"

"Interests move people's hearts, and power dazzles the eyes." Zhou Keji said self-deprecatingly, "The power of a county magistrate is neither too great nor too small."

"And what about Wannian County?"

"Your Majesty, I know my sins are grave and I will be infamous for eternity. I know all this."

"You're hopeless!" Quan Wanji couldn't help but curse.

Wannian County is his hometown, which is why he targeted Chen Huai'an before.

But now things have come to this, and he might even get dragged into it. The cause of it all is, of course, Zhou Keji.

Fang Xuanling shook his head, feeling somewhat regretful.

Given Zhou Keji's qualifications, if he hadn't done this, he could very well have been promoted further, but now...

Li Shimin had nothing more to say: "Tell me what you know."

"This matter...I am determined to give an explanation to the people. Your family members will be exiled. Whether they live or die is up to their own fate."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Keji's eyes finally lit up. He looked up blankly, somewhat unable to believe what he had just heard.

Having committed such a grave mistake and become embroiled in such a massive affair, do his family... still have a chance to live?

"Your Majesty...is what you say true?"

"A ruler's word is law!" Li Shimin didn't hold a grudge against a dead man; he had never intended to kill Zhou Keji's family.

It wasn't because he was kind.

Rather, they knew that Zhou Keji was merely a pawn, caught in the game and helpless.

All things considered, he was a pitiful person.

But being pitiful doesn't mean that wrongdoings can be forgiven.

Public grievances need to be quelled, and this matter needs a resolution.

Zhou Keji was destined not to live.

Chen Huai'an sighed. From his rush into the county government office to beat people, to his actions after Zhou Keji appeared, it was clear that the other party was not the kind of person who was evil to the core.

There was nothing he could do. If he had simply remained silent, pretended not to see anything, said nothing, and restrained himself, he wouldn't have ended up like this today.

Chen Huai'an will also save his life.

Unfortunately, the people behind him wouldn't give him that chance. He would either collude with them, be targeted and dismissed from office, or eventually die from being ambushed by bandits, or be burgled, etc.

Zhou Keji chose the former.

Once a choice is made, one must bear the consequences.

"..."

"Your Majesty, I, a subject of this lowly duty, kowtow and thank you!"

Zhou Keji didn't say much, but kowtowed deeply.

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "Someone, bring me pen and ink."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Anan silently replied, then took out a brush and ink and handed them to Zhou Keji below.

Some things cannot be discussed openly. Zhou Keji was the mastermind on the surface, but it is impossible for those behind the scenes not to pay the price.

Just save some face and give a warning.

Having served as an official for so long, Zhou Keji could still see these things clearly. Looking at the pen, ink, and paper handed to him, he recalled the mysterious person who had found him after he was imprisoned last night, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

He bent down, picked up his pen, and began to write quickly on the ground.

Most officials certainly wouldn't see it, but those like Chen Huai'an who were standing at the forefront were not included.

Zhou Keji first wrote down the names of the officials in Wannian County, who were all in cahoots with him. He wrote down how they embezzled land, how they avoided being discovered, and how they kept the accounts.

Then, he paused and wrote down some names.

After Chen Huai'an saw it clearly, he found it ridiculous that there were people from the Lu and Zheng families inside.

In Chang'an, both families were almost wiped out, with only Zheng Yuanzhu remaining; all the other family members had left Chang'an.

It's obvious that those people are trying to shift the blame onto these two families.

Anyway, most of the people from these two families who deserved to die are already dead, and their reputations are completely ruined, so they're the best scapegoats.

Of course, Zhou Keji didn't only write about two families. The people behind them obviously knew that it was impossible to avoid paying a price, and seven or eight other names were also written down.

They were all people recruited by powerful families, not the main figures.

However, as Zhou Keji's superiors, these people also held very high positions, and their loss could cause significant financial losses for those behind them.

"Your Majesty, everything I know is in there."

After a long while, Zhou Keji let out a long sigh and handed the paper in his hands to Zhang Anan.

After taking it from Zhang Anan, Li Shimin glanced at it a few times, his eyes showing no emotion.

"Minister Quan!" he called out.

Quan Wanji trembled, not understanding why Li Shimin was calling him at this moment: "Your Majesty, I am here."

"Take this over. Wannian County is your hometown. You are responsible for verifying the information here. I believe you also hope your hometown can become better." Li Shimin said calmly, "I am giving you the power to investigate cases. I hope you will not disappoint me!"

"Investigate this thoroughly for me!"

Quan Wanji was shocked.

Why?

Why him?

Was it really because Wannian County was his hometown, or... was it a warning to him?

Just how thorough will the investigation that Li Shimin mentioned go?

Quan Wanji, unaware of the situation and daring not to think too much about it, quickly replied, "Your subject obeys!"

"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your trust and investigate this matter thoroughly to give you an answer and restore justice to Wannian County."

"Very well." Li Shimin nodded slightly. "Is there anything else you wish to report?"

The question was asked, but no one answered, which meant that nothing serious had happened.

"Alright, since there's nothing else, let's leave it at that." Li Shimin stood up and looked at Zhou Keji below. "Zhou Keji abused his position to embezzle land; his crime is unforgivable."

"Tomorrow, after a joint trial by the Ministry of Justice, he will be escorted to the East Market and executed by... beheading!"

"Court adjourned!"

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, respectfully bid you farewell!"

"..."