Datang: Rebirth of Li Chengqian, the beginning of the treason interrogation

Chapter 37 The prince's interrogation, a test?
"I ask you, why do you want to rebel?"

Li Shimin’s angry roar was heard from the Taiji Hall.

Same question, but this time with a different person.

Li Shimin stood in the Taiji Hall, like an angry lion, roaring loudly, venting his inner indignation.

Prince Li Tai of Wei knelt in front of the palace. His clothes were already soaked with sweat. He was trembling all over and was extremely frightened.

Such a scene made Li Shimin even more angry. With such courage, he still followed others in rebelling.

Li Tai was extremely desperate. He led his troops into the palace, but the palace was a trap. The Imperial Guards and the Black Armor Army had been waiting for a long time. As soon as they met, they killed all the people he led.

Li Tai raised his arm, wiped the sweat from his forehead, overcame his inner fear, looked at Li Shimin and said:
"Father, don't you know why I want to rebel?"

Li Tai knew that he had no way out and could only face Li Shimin's questioning. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down, but his voice was still trembling.

Li Shimin looked at Li Tai coldly, his eyes flashing with anger and disappointment. He shouted:
"Your Majesty, please!"

"Isn't the favor I have given you enough? It's already the best among all the kings. What are you doing this for?"

Li Tai gritted his teeth, raised his head, and looked at Li Shimin. A trace of determination flashed in his eyes, and he said:

"I am trying to protect myself. Your Majesty, don't you know that Li Chengqian will kill me after he takes the throne? I will die anyway."

Self-protection? Self-protection again?
Hearing this, Li Shimin became so angry that his face turned blue. He suddenly grabbed the armrest of the dragon throne to prevent himself from falling.

He stared with wide eyes at everything in front of him, his heart filled with anger and disappointment.

He could not accept this fact. He did not want to depose Li Chengqian, nor did he want to kill Li Tai.

Li Shimin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his inner turmoil.

He knew that as an emperor, he could not let his emotions influence his judgment and had to handle it well.

At this moment, a close attendant approached and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and the Duke of England are outside the palace."

Li Shimin slowly opened his eyes, a trace of fatigue flashed in his eyes. He nodded and said, "Let them in."

A moment later, Li Chengqian stepped into the hall. He glanced at the people kneeling on the ground, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"Prince, I will give you full responsibility for this case. Maogong, I am tired, please help me down."

After Li Shimin took a look at Li Chengqian, he had already made a decision in his heart.

At the same time, Duke Ying stepped forward and helped Li Shimin walk to the back hall. As he walked, he comforted Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, I believe the prince will handle this matter well."

This case of treason involved a very wide range of people, including Li Shimin's favorite son, Prince of Wei, Fang Yiai, the son of Zuo Pushe Fang Xuanling, Du Chuke, the brother of the former Sikong Du Ruhui, and Su Xu, the son-in-law of the emperor and one of the Eighteen Scholars.

Even if Li Shimin handled it personally, it would be very difficult to deal with it. It is easy to suppress a rebellion, but it is difficult to deal with it afterwards.

This is another test question posed by Li Shimin.

……

"Haha!" Li Tai suddenly burst into laughter: "Li Chengqian, you won, but you didn't defeat me by your own ability. Your victory is only because you were born earlier than me, and only because you are the eldest son."

His eyes were filled with unwillingness and anger. He stood up and looked at Li Chengqian without fear.

"Yes, reincarnation is indeed a skill. Some people are born as the crown prince, while others are born as cattle and horses."

Li Chengqian said this without reservation, and at the same time sat openly on the dragon throne, enjoying the comfort of the moment.

"King Wei, you have committed such a heinous crime? How should I deal with you?" Li Chengqian's eyes became sharp, and the smile on his face disappeared, replaced by seriousness and majesty.

He exudes an awe-inspiring imperial aura that moves people.

"Dispose of, what else can you do? My whole family is in Chang'an City, do you still want to exterminate my entire clan?"

Li Tai sneered and said, it doesn’t matter anymore.

"King Wei, how could you think I was so cruel? We are brothers, and blood is thicker than water!"

Li Tai definitely cannot be killed, and this is not the situation Li Shimin wants to see.

In order to ensure that his more than 30 children could live well, Li Shimin would definitely not allow a person who killed his brothers and sisters to come to power, otherwise all the seeds he had worked so hard to sow would be ruined.

"Li Chengqian, stop pretending! When you sent someone to assassinate me, that's what you call blood is thicker than water, and the winner is the king and the loser is the bandit."

King Li Tai of Wei was full of disdain. If he was there, there would be no Li Chengqian, and if Li Chengqian was there, there would be no him.

"King Wei, please don't slander me. This is clearly a play you directed and acted out yourself. You just want to frame me!"

Li Chengqian spread his hands, feeling helpless. He couldn't possibly admit it. The wall must have ears, and Li Er must be listening.
Facing these heroes, Li Shimin now chose to avoid them. If Li Chengqian understood his thoughts, he would show mercy.

He would not be branded as an unfair judge, and Li Chengqian would be branded as a benevolent person, thus killing two birds with one stone.

"Li Chengqian, you dare to do it but not take responsibility for it." Li Tai scolded angrily.

"King Wei, please stop slandering me!"

Li Chengqian sneered and wanted to drag him into the water. What a beautiful thought.

"King Wei, do you admit your guilt?" Li Chengqian shouted loudly, his eyes as sharp as knives, very intimidating.

"I was just trying to protect myself, what crime have I committed?"

Li Tai was still extremely tough in front of Li Chengqian, because deep down in his heart he had always looked down on this lame prince.

"You really don't admit your guilt? Do you really need me to judge?" Li Chengqian's voice was extremely cold.

"Mao Gong, how did the prince perform today?"

Li Shimin, who was standing behind the screen, couldn't help but feel nervous at this time. He didn't want Li Chengqian to use too much force. What he wanted was a benevolent emperor who was friendly to his brothers and respectful to his younger brothers. What he failed to accomplish, he could only rely on the next generation.

"The prince was very decisive in killing. He ordered the execution of all the rebels, which deterred the scoundrels and enabled them to break through the siege as quickly as possible."

Li Ji praised generously.

However, the worry in Li Shimin's eyes grew stronger.

"Your Majesty, a prosperous age requires a benevolent ruler..."

Changsun Wuji seemed to want to say something but stopped himself.

"Your Majesty, the rebels should be killed. I think Your Highness the Crown Prince acted decisively and handled the situation properly."

Li Ji shook his head and objected.

"Your Majesty, I have said too much!" Changsun Wuji avoided his eyes and lowered his head.

"Don't argue. I know what I'm doing." Li Shimin waved his hand.

(End of this chapter)