The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 232 Trial
"It was just a coincidence." Li Heng smiled slightly, "What's more coincidental is that I saw many corpses exposed in the wilderness outside Yanping Gate last night. Then when I entered the city, I heard that the unruly people have been making a lot of noise recently, especially the families of those who were selected from Guanzhong to join the army in Jiannan and died. These unruly people have no sympathy for the court's difficulties at all."

Li Linfu's expression changed and he said, "Really? I have not heard of this matter. Thank you for telling me, Your Highness. I will send someone to check it out."

Li Heng said, "I'm sorry to trouble the Right Prime Minister again."

Li Linfu said: "It is my duty as a minister."

Li Heng smiled, took another sip of tea, and said, "Good tea, and the ambergris in the room smells good too. I really want to stay in the Right Prime Minister's residence for a while longer, but I'm busy with work. If the Right Prime Minister has nothing else to do, I'll take my leave."

"Your Highness, please forgive me for disturbing you." Li Linfu stood up and said, "I will escort you."

"Thank you." Li Heng said politely and left the Right Prime Minister's Mansion.

After Li Heng walked away, Ji Wen stepped forward and said, "Right Prime Minister, since Prince Shou does not appreciate your kindness, should we write a letter to the Saint to criticize Prince Shou?"

"What are you reporting him for?" Li Linfu asked.

Ji Wen said: "He hid the suspect, deliberately shielded Du Youlin, and disrupted law enforcement."

Li Linfu asked, "Why don't you report him for plotting rebellion?"

"I'm afraid this saint won't believe it easily." Ji Wen said seriously.

"Why don't you believe it?" Li Linfu sneered, "He went to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion and had a secret meeting with the prime minister. Isn't this the best proof?"

Ji Wen finally understood what Li Linfu meant and said hurriedly, "I am confused."

"It's not that you are confused, it's that Prince Shou is too smart. He didn't protect Du Erniang in secret, but openly. He guessed the saint's mind! But how many people can he protect?" Li Linfu sighed and said, "What's the matter with those corpses exposed in the wilderness outside Yanping Gate? The Qianqiu Festival is approaching, and we must not let any trouble happen!"

"I'll check it out right away." Ji Wen said hurriedly.

Li Linfu said: "If we are involved, you can investigate. If not, let Jingzhao Prefecture handle it. Han Chaozong should also step down."

"I understand." Ji Wen bowed to Li Linfu and walked out.

……

On the East Market Road.

Zhang Guangsheng couldn't forget the noise he had just heard in Li Linfu's house, and said to Li Heng: "Your Highness, after we entered the Right Prime Minister's house, it seemed that someone was watching us."

"Really?" Li Heng laughed, "Then you are blessed."

Zhang Guangsheng was puzzled and asked, "What do you mean, Your Highness?"

Li Heng said, "The Right Prime Minister has 25 sons and 25 daughters. The Right Prime Minister dotes on his children. In order to let his daughters choose their ideal husbands, he opened a window on the wall of the reception room and covered it with a gauze as thin as a cicada's wing. When young talents come to visit, his daughters will stand behind the window and observe these talents. If there is one that they like, the Right Prime Minister will contact him. If you hear the noise, it means that one of the Right Prime Minister's daughters has chosen you."

Although Zhang Guangsheng was brave and invincible, he was still young. After hearing what Li Heng said, he blushed and said, "I dare not climb the high branch of the right prime minister."

Li Heng smiled and said, "Although the Right Prime Minister may not have a good reputation, his wife and children are not guilty. He has six daughters who are both talented and beautiful. Especially Li Tengkong, she is kind-hearted and generous. Anyway, you are not married and Li Tengkong is not married either. If Li Tengkong likes you, it is not impossible."

Zhang Guangsheng shook his head quickly and said, "Your Highness is making fun of me again. The princess has already agreed to be my matchmaker. If I meet someone I like, I will trouble the princess."

The conversation between Li Heng and Zhang Guangsheng was not very serious, but Du Erniang, who was listening to it later, did not feel disgusted. On the contrary, she felt that the relationship between Li Heng and his subordinates was harmonious.

Du Erniang was not familiar with Li Heng before, and because of Li Heng's brainwashing, she always thought that Li Heng was a villain who was full of conspiracies and tricks. However, through getting to know him over the past two days, she gradually felt that Li Heng was brave and resourceful, chivalrous and kind-hearted, just like the person described by the people.

Of course, although she had such an understanding, it did not mean that she had any romantic feelings for Li Heng.

Li Heng didn't care about Du Liangdi's thoughts. While he was talking to Zhang Guangsheng, he was hesitating in his heart whether to save other people.

After weighing for a while, he chose to give up. After all, no matter what he did, it all depended on Li Longji's mind.

……

In the next two days, Li Heng did not ask about the case or pay attention to Du Liangdi. He stayed in the mansion most of the time and went to the palace to visit Wu Huifei a few times.

Two days later, on the third day of August, the trial of Wei Jian's case and Du You's case opened, and the Dali Temple sent someone to invite Li Ying to sit in.

When Li Ying arrived at the court, he saw Xiao Jiong, the Minister of Justice, Ji Wen and Luo Xishi, the Ministers of Justice, and Yang Shenjin, the Chief Censor, all seated.

In addition, since Jingzhao Prefecture was cooperating in handling the matter, Jingzhao Prefecture Governor Han Chaozong was also present.

Li Heng glanced at everyone present. Except for Han Chaozong who supported Li Heng, most of the others were on the side of Li Linfu.

When the officials saw Li Heng, they all came forward to pay their respects.

Ji Wen said: "Your Highness is of noble status, please take a seat in the hall."

"I'm just an observer." Li Heng sat down on a chair in the hall. "I'll just sit here. You guys can judge the case."

"Yes."

Ji Wen did not try to persuade them further. He returned to the hall with the other officials and sat down, then continued to interrogate the prisoner.

The first one to be brought to the classroom was Liu Ji.

At this moment, Liu Ji's body was covered with wounds from torture instruments. He came to the hall, knelt down and took the initiative to "confess" without waiting for the officials from the three divisions to question him.

Liu Ji said, "I, the humble Dongweng Du Youlin, did indeed claim to have read the prophecy and colluded with the East Palace to criticize the emperor. Everything I said is true."

"How dare you!" Xiao Jiong slammed the table, glanced at Li Ying first, and then said, "You have no evidence. Do you know what it means to frame the prince?"

Liu Ji said, "Half a month ago, I, the humble Dongweng Du Youlin, performed a ritual at home, and all the neighbors knew about it."

Xiao Jiong said: "The officials of the Three Departments went to investigate the ritual, and the sorcerer said it was done to summon the soul."

Liu Ji said: "They will not confess easily. If you do not believe me, you can ask Wang Zeng, the Imperial Library Officer, and Li Yong, the Governor of Beihai."

Li Heng was a little surprised when he heard the names of these two people.

It's time to come.

Although Li Yong held a low position, he was well-known. During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi were her favorites. The civil and military officials in the court were eager to please them, but Li Yong never fawned on them.

In addition, Li Yong was also an excellent calligrapher. Many famous calligraphers in later generations, including Su Shi, copied his works.

However, although Li Heng was surprised, he did not say anything.

Ji Wen said in a low voice, "How can you, an eighth-rank official, know Wang Zeng, the Imperial Library Officer, and Li Yong, the Governor of Beihai?"

Liu Ji said: "Zichuan Governor Pei Dunfu admired me and recommended me to Beihai Governor Li Yong. Li Yong and I hit it off and became close friends. Li Yong also gave me a horse, which is still in my stable."

"What about the writer Wang Zeng?" Ji Wen asked.

Liu Ji said, "It was Li Yong who recommended me to Wang Zeng."

Ji Wen said, "Pei Dunfu and Wei Jian are relatives, right? Wei Jian secretly met with Wang Nandai, and Du Youlin died claiming to be a prophecy. You colluded in the middle, right?"

(End of this chapter)