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

Chapter 200 With your master here, there's nothing to fear.

Wen Zhong didn't even have time to prepare a carriage. Wen He had a Xuanjia Guard take him on horseback towards Xuanwu Gate.

"Wenxianzi?"

Seeing Wen He return, Zhang Shigui, who was patrolling outside, couldn't help but be surprised.

Instead of having someone announce his arrival, Wen He took out his 100-horse rider badge.

"I have urgent business with the Hundred Riders, please allow me passage, North Gate Chief."

The position of "North Gate Chief" is now held by Zhang Shigui, who is fully responsible for all important matters at Xuanwu Gate.

Seeing his hurried manner, Zhang Shigui assumed that something serious had happened again and let him pass without hesitation.

Wen He had the Xuanjia Guards lead him on horseback towards the Lizheng Hall.

They didn't dismount until they reached Taiji Gate.

The imperial guards around him were astonished to see him barging in so recklessly.

But no one went up to stop them.

"That brat came quickly!"

Inside the Lizheng Hall, Li Shimin already knew that Wen He had arrived.

From the moment he left home, someone delivered a message, and Li Shimin received the news when he arrived at Xuanwu Gate.

Gao Yue lowered her head and dared not speak.

Empress Zhangsun, who was sitting to the side, stood up and bowed deeply to Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, I misspoke before. Now it seems that this is no longer a family matter. As the ruler, Your Majesty should consider the laws and regulations of the Tang Dynasty. How can you show favoritism to my family?"

"Guanyinbi, what are you doing!"

Upon seeing Empress Zhangsun perform a grand salute, Li Shimin quickly rose, walked over to her, and helped her up.

"That rebellious son dares to defy you, spouting those lofty theories. He doesn't care about your health at all. What is a mere Changsun Anye compared to him!"

Li Shimin suppressed his anger.

Not long ago, after meeting with Changsun Anye, he went to Wanchun Palace to ask Changsun Wugou for her opinion.

Li Chengqian happened to be there to pay his respects.

Later, Empress Zhangsun pleaded with him, but unexpectedly, Li Chengqian objected.

He even said, "If the laws of the country could be abolished because of the selfishness of one family or one person, the world would surely be in chaos. Although I am young, I know that the law of the country is merciless!"

He then requested that Li Shimin execute Changsun Anye according to the law.

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun nearly fainted, but fortunately the imperial physician arrived in time to stabilize her condition.

Li Chengqian was also terrified at the time and hurriedly apologized to Empress Zhangsun. He was then taken by Li Shimin to kneel outside the Lizheng Hall as punishment.

"His Majesty!"

Suddenly, another eunuch entered.

“The Vice Minister Changsun, the Grand Master Wei, and the Chancellor request an audience.”

"Don't see them! Make them all leave!"

Li Shimin roared, but before he could finish speaking, his hand was suddenly grasped by Empress Zhangsun.

The latter said softly, "Second Brother, listen to Gao Ming's suggestion."

Her eyes trembled slightly as she made up her mind.

One was her half-brother who had bullied her, and the other was her own child.

How could she not know what to choose?

"Your Majesty, the magistrate of Gaoyang County requests an audience."

Just then, another eunuch walked in.

Li Shimin glared at him coldly and roared, "Let that brat get in here!"

And at the same time.

Outside the Lizheng Hall.

Wen He came to Li Chengqian's side.

Seeing the boy's face covered in tears, yet still stubborn and unyielding, Wen He angrily slapped him on the head.

The surrounding eunuchs were dumbfounded.

This man actually dared to lay a hand on the King of Zhongshan!
“Sir.” Li Chengqian looked at Wen He with a sob.

"I made Mother sick just now." He sobbed a few times. Seeing this, Wen He sighed helplessly and reached out to wipe away his tears.

"What happened?"

Li Chengqian, the future crown prince, was forced to kneel as punishment even before he was officially designated as heir.

This matter is neither a big deal nor a small one.

He was perfectly fine when he left this morning, how did he end up like this in the blink of an eye?

Could it be that Li Shimin's paranoia was triggered prematurely by Li Yuan and Li Xiaochang's previous rebellion?
Li Chengqian choked up as he recounted everything that had happened.

Upon hearing this, Wen He was momentarily speechless, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"I really don't know whether to call you a good prince or a hothead."

However, Wen He was even more surprised that he was not angry about this matter, but instead felt a sense of relief.

It is only young people who possess such a pure and innocent heart.

It was all worth it; he taught so many classes over the past six months.

Li Chengqian lowered his head.

The next moment, he felt a hand pat his head, and he looked up at Wen He in surprise.

"With your teacher here, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Wen He flicked her sleeves.

The students have already taken the lead and charged into battle.

Then it was his teacher's turn to support him.

"Summon the magistrate of Gaoyang County to an audience!"

A voice came from the eunuch above, and Wen He walked step by step toward the Lizheng Hall.

Li Chengqian, standing behind him, stared at his resolute back, unable to recover for a long time.

"Your subject, Wen He, pays respects to Your Majesty and the Empress."

Wen He's manners were exceptionally proper today.

Compared to his usual frivolous image, he seemed like a completely different person.

A hint of a smile flashed in Li Shimin's eyes, but he quickly regained his stern expression and rebuked, "Wen He, your good student! I entrusted him with the task of imparting profound knowledge, yet you have turned him into a rebellious son!" "Your Majesty is too kind," Wen He replied. "I do not know what the Prince of Zhongshan has done to warrant such punishment from Your Majesty."

Wen He looked up and stared directly at Li Shimin.

This surprised the latter, as it was the first time he had encountered Wen He like this.

That lazy, frivolous fellow, who always tries to mind his own business, actually has this side to him.

"The Empress fell ill because of him. He openly opposed the decrees I issued. Isn't that disobedience?"

Li Shimin narrowed his eyes slightly, a chill emanating from them.

Wen He did not back down at all. Instead, he turned to Empress Zhangsun and asked, "I dare to ask the Empress, which is more important: the law of the country, or family ties? Personal reputation, or the hearts of the people and the nation?"

Such a serious question forced Empress Zhangsun to stand up.

This is no ordinary inquiry; if it were held in court, it would be considered an impeachment.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin gritted his teeth.

'This brat is so audacious! Doesn't he realize I'm acting?'

“Naturally, the laws of the land are more important, and the will of the people is more important,” Empress Zhangsun replied calmly.

“In that case, I believe that the King of Zhongshan’s filial piety moved Heaven. He would rather be punished himself than let his parents bear the crime of disregarding the law.”

After Wen He finished speaking, he bowed deeply to Li Shimin.

He wasn't sure before he came in.

But after asking those questions, he became certain.

Li Shimin did not want to let Changsun Anye go, but the empress pleaded for his life, so he had no choice but to do so.

But at this crucial moment, Li Chengqian appeared.

He angered Empress Zhangsun so much that she suffered a stroke, and Li Shimin must have been furious at the time.

But after Empress Zhangsun recovered, he calmed down.

Otherwise, who would dare to send a eunuch out to inform Li Shimin without first telling him?

"You, Wen He, are you implying that I and the Empress were wrong, and that the rebellious son was right?" Li Shimin roared.

Wen He smiled and shook her head.

"His Majesty is wise and without fault, the Empress is virtuous and without fault, and the Prince of Zhongshan is loyal and filial, without fault. The one who is wrong is that traitor. If he had not broken the law, this would not have happened today."

"As the saying goes, the emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people. Your Majesty is the emperor and should set an example for all people. If today, the person who violated the law is a member of the imperial family, then the punishment should be reduced by one degree."

"Then future emperors will surely take this as an example. Wasn't the reason for the decline of the Former Han Dynasty precisely because of the chaos caused by the maternal relatives, eunuchs, and powerful ministers?"

"As the saying goes..."

At the crucial moment, Wen He forgot his lines.

How do you say that.

What was that saying, "What our predecessors lamented, we, the descendants, lament"?

He couldn't think of one, but then he thought of a more suitable one.

"As the saying goes, 'He who first started this practice will have no descendants.'"

"Wen Jiaying, how dare you!"

Before Wen He could finish speaking, Li Shimin suddenly stood up, pointed at him, and shouted.

He then shouted outside, "Guards, take this brat away and give him fifty lashes!"

Wen He's eyes widened suddenly.

You idiot Li Er, I'm playing along with your act, are you really going to hit me?

Fifty strokes of the cane? That could kill someone.

"His Majesty."

Just then, Empress Zhangsun rose, stepped down from above, and bowed to Li Shimin.

“Jiaying’s words are heartfelt and truly wise advice for the emperor and the country. He and Gaoming both love Your Majesty, which is why they are so bold. I hope Your Majesty will take his advice and rescind your order.”

Looking at Empress Zhangsun, Wen He was deeply moved.

She truly deserves to be ranked among the top three wise empresses in history.

What good deeds did Li Er do in his past life to be able to meet such a wife in this life?

"Guanyinbi, get up quickly."

Li Shimin quickly stepped down, looking at Empress Zhangsun with concern.

"Your body has not fully recovered yet."

"Your Majesty, I do not wish to violate the law of the land for the sake of my own family, nor do I wish to cause any rift between Your Majesty and Gao Ming and Jia Ying because of this matter."

Empress Zhangsun looked solemnly at Li Shimin.

The latter looked distressed and pondered for a long time before finally letting out a helpless sigh.

"Enough, enough. I will retract my previous decree and sentence him to be executed. However, his family is your blood relative, and I will not allow you to be saddened. So, exile them instead."

For treason, the execution of the entire family would not be an exaggeration.

However, in this timeline, Changsun Anye had not yet had the chance to rebel, and his family would not have been implicated in the crimes he committed.

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun smiled slightly on her tired face.

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is wise."

Wen He seemed to change her expression, reverting to her previous state.

Li Shimin glared at him fiercely, but when he turned to look at Empress Zhangsun, his eyes were full of tenderness.

“You’re not feeling well, go back and rest first. Let Gao Ming take care of you as an apology.”

"Then I shall take my leave."

Empress Zhangsun curtsied and gave Wen He a gentle smile as she turned to leave.

"Your Majesty, please take care."

Wen He smiled and watched Changsun Wugou leave from the Lizheng Hall.

"Phew, Your Majesty, then I..."

Wen He turned to say goodbye, but saw Li Shimin suddenly raise his foot and was about to kick him.