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

Chapter 279 I don't want to see you end up like that.
"Alright, that's a clear confession!"

Inside the Lizheng Hall, Li Shimin grabbed Zheng Yunhao's confession and slammed it heavily onto the rosewood table.

With a muffled "snap," the paperweight on the table jumped.

Wen He stood at the foot of the steps, her heart skipped a beat.

He stared at Li Shimin's taut jawline, truly fearing that in his rage, the emperor would personally tear up this hard-won confession.

"Issue an imperial decree to Xu Jingzong." Li Shimin's voice carried lingering anger, yet every word was clear.

"Make him cooperate with the Dali Temple to immediately arrest Zheng Yuanzhu and escort him to the Dali Temple!"

With this confession, even if Zheng Yuanzhu did not participate personally, he could not escape the charge of "lax discipline".

Li Shimin had long wanted to take action against this General Zuo Wuhou, and now he finally had a legitimate reason to do so.

"The slaves obey the order."

Gao Yue bowed and accepted.

Once Gao Yue's figure disappeared outside the palace gate, Li Shimin suddenly turned around and coldly shouted, "Everyone else, get out!"

The palace maids and eunuchs inside the hall seemed to have been prepared, their footsteps as light as cats as they filed out.

Everyone knows that whenever His Majesty discusses matters with the magistrate of Gaoyang County, he always dismisses his attendants.

Although this boy was only ten years old, he could get His Majesty to say many things that he would not say to others.

"You're such a jerk!"

With a flash of his dragon robe on the imperial steps, Li Shimin strode up to Wen He.

Before the boy could react, he received a light slap on the back of the head.

"Who gave you permission to personally conduct the interrogation?"

Li Shimin glared at him irritably, but his eyes were red.

"Don't you care about your reputation? Aren't you afraid of being nailed to the pillar of shame by the censors in the future?"

When he learned that Wen He had personally taken action at the Dali Temple, he almost overturned the table.

That brat!
Why don't you understand that once you're branded a cruel official, you can never wash it off for the rest of your life!
But then I thought about it again and couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth in my heart.

This child truly values ​​his affairs, and the affairs of the Tang Dynasty, more than his own future.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin felt a sense of relief.

At least he didn't misjudge people.

Wen He rubbed the back of his head, chuckled twice, and scratched his head, saying, "I was just worried, and I figured I could handle this kind of thing myself, and I shouldn't let the Hundred Riders get involved. This time it was really unavoidable; torture and forced confessions are certainly not something to be proud of."

Li Shimin was both amused and exasperated by his candid demeanor.

He reached out and ruffled his hair twice, turning his once neat bun into a tangled mess: "If Xu Jingzong had done this, I would have had my own plans. But you are different. I know that although you are unconventional, you are kind-hearted and would never kill innocent people indiscriminately."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious.

"But if those people are merciful to them, they might become even more ruthless next time. However, you're still a long way off."

"Remember this, this is a one-time event. Throughout history, has any cruel official ever met a good end? I don't want to see you suffer such a fate."

Li Shimin's deliberate reminder left Wen He stunned.

This is hardly the kind of thing an emperor would say to his subjects.

However, Wen He didn't think much of it and nodded silently.

"Alright, you've worked hard too, go back now." Li Shimin smiled and waved to him.

But then he saw Wen He wink at him with a smile.

"You brat, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Ahem, Your Majesty, it's getting late. You should be having your meal." Wen He feigned modesty, but there was not a trace of embarrassment in her words.

"You little rascal," Li Shimin chuckled, annoyed.

This brat deliberately chose this time to enter the palace; it turns out he just wanted to freeload a meal here.

He raised his hand and slapped Wen He on the head, then, seeing the resentful look in her eyes, he burst into loud laughter. "Then let's eat."

Although Li Er was frugal, he was still the emperor, so the food he ate was quite good.

It's a pity that there were no iron pots in this era; food was either boiled or stewed, and there was no MSG.

Even the best food doesn't taste good.

But since she'd already gotten a free meal, Wen He decided not to dwell on it.

After finishing his meal, he swaggered out of Xuanwu Gate.

On the way, they happened to run into Gao Yue, who was returning to report.

"The magistrate of Gaoyang County has really made a name for himself this time." Gao Yue sincerely admired Wen He.

He previously captured a vice minister with his first move, and now he has even brought down a third-rank general.

His Majesty must be very pleased today.

"No, no, you flatter me, sir. By the way, have the Hundred Cavalry been dispatched yet?"

Wen He was worried that things might change if she waited too long.

I doubt Zheng Yuanzhu will simply surrender.

Gao Yue smiled and said, "Don't worry, Magistrate Gaoyang. I went with Xu Jingzong. Zheng Yuanzhu has already surrendered and is being escorted to Dali Temple."

"He didn't resist?" This was something Wen He hadn't expected.

He thought Zheng Yuanzhu would at least put up a struggle.

At least they won't just surrender so easily.

"Resist? I'm afraid he's already been abandoned by the Zheng family. These aristocratic people are ruthless." Gao Yue's words seemed to express considerable disdain for those aristocratic families.

This was indeed somewhat unexpected for Wen He.

The aristocratic class was surprisingly decisive, cutting off their tails so easily.

This is a general of the third rank! Are you just going to ignore him like this?

Seeing his surprise, Gao Yue thought to herself, 'This young man from Gaoyang County is still too young; he has no idea how ruthless those people are.'

However, he didn't say much. After bowing to Wen He, he left for the Lizheng Hall.

Wen He shook her head with a sigh.

Although this confirmed his previous idea that this matter could not cause any harm to the gentry, even the Zheng family.

But the decisiveness of the aristocratic families still gave him a sense of dread.

I'm afraid I'll have to be more careful from now on.

Didn't we almost get outsmarted this time?

He left Xuanwu Gate somewhat dejectedly, and was just about to look for his carriage when...

Suddenly, a person walked towards them. Judging from his clothes, although it was not an official robe, it was still a brocade round-necked robe. A person dressed like this must be of high status.

And he was walking towards me with a smile on his face.

Undoubtedly, this person came specifically for him.

"I wonder if you are Wen Jiaying, young master, from Gaoyang County?" the man greeted him with a cupped hand.

This man looked to be in his early thirties, with a refined and scholarly appearance, and a gentlemanly air about him.

As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, so Wen He smiled and returned the greeting: "That's me, may I ask who you are?"

"Boling Cui family, Cui Dunli."

After the visitor finished speaking, Wen He's smile froze instantly.

Seeing his expression change, Cui Dunli was not surprised. He knew that Wen He must have a great prejudice against the Cui family of Boling.

He was quite helpless about this, and sighed softly. He cupped his hands to Wen He and said, "I have come here today specifically to see the county magistrate. I wonder if I could do him the honor of having tea with him?"

(End of this chapter)