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

Chapter 60 Li Er is paving the way for Li Chengqian!
"This servant greets Your Highness!"

Of those present, only Huang Chun was the first to react.

His shout reminded the three people inside the room.

Wen He turned around and quickly bowed to greet him, but before he could speak, he heard a loud groan from beside him.

"Your Highness has placed swords and axes at your side; do you intend to kill me?"

In this situation, there was only one person who dared to confront Li Shimin so directly.

Wei Zheng looked solemn and even stepped forward to protect Xue Wanche behind him.

For a scholar who was unarmed to do this, Wen He admired him even more for it.

However, this was not enough to offset the stubborn old man's earlier questioning of Li Shimin's granting of titles.

Wei Zheng knew very well that Li Shimin would not kill him.

Moreover, even if he were to be killed, a single cup of poison would suffice; why bother arranging so many Xuanjia Guards?

Under his scrutinizing gaze, Li Shimin slowly rose, raised his right hand and waved it, and the Xuanjia guards behind him bowed and left from the other side.

“Xuancheng is a pillar of the Tang Dynasty, how could I bear to have him killed?”

He came out from the side hall.

Today, he was dressed in royal robes, which gave him an even more heroic air compared to his previous casual attire.

This made Wen He curious about what Li Shimin would look like if he were to wear the imperial robes one day.

Seemingly noticing Wen He's admiring expression, the corners of his mouth turned up even more, and he slowly walked out with measured steps.

Wei Zheng took a few steps back.

But Xue Wanche, who was behind him, bypassed him and faced Li Shimin head-on.

"Your Highness, what do you intend to do with me?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin glanced at him but did not reply. He then turned his gaze away and continued to walk to the seat of honor.

He arrived here before dawn.

He had heard everything Wei Zheng and Xue Wanche said.

Huang Chun took a heel brace and placed it behind Li Shimin.

He sat down and straightened his robes before slowly speaking, asking, "Who is the traitor that the magistrate of Wu'an County mentioned earlier?"

He looked up at Xue Wanche, his eyes sharp.

The latter's eyes widened immediately.

Wen He, who was standing not far away, subconsciously took a few steps back.

To avoid getting splattered with blood later.

Just a moment ago, he thought he saw a figure flash past the window.

Historically, Li Shimin did not kill Xue Wanche.

That's because the latter escaped quickly and admitted defeat just as quickly.

But just now he called Li Shimin a traitor, and the latter overheard it.

This is equivalent to badmouthing the company boss during a job interview, and the boss overhears it – that's incredibly embarrassing.

However, Xue Wanche was a stubborn man who cared a lot about his reputation, so it was impossible for him to admit his mistake.

Otherwise, historically, when he was being beheaded, he wouldn't have loosened his collar and shouted to the executioner, "Execute me immediately!"

The executioner was so terrified that his limbs went limp, and he failed to sever the man's neck with his first strike.

At this point, Wei Zheng was needed to step in.

"Your Highness, the Duke of Wu'an County just now cursed the traitors and rebels who slaughtered loyal ministers and immoral people. They are the real traitors and rebels."

He did not answer Li Shimin's question directly.

Instead, it was a reminder that if he killed Xue Wanche, Li Shimin would consider himself a traitor.

Li Shimin glanced at him and cursed Wei Zheng in his heart for being shameless.

That brat Wen He even called this man an upright official; that old scoundrel is nothing but a smooth talker.

"Yes, Lord Wei is right."

However, Li Shimin did not expect that Xue Wanche would actually take the opportunity to back down.

"I was criticizing a tyrannical ruler, not Your Highness."

He stared at Li Shimin with his neck stiff, as if he weren't the one who had just been indignantly defending Li Jiancheng. Li Shimin chuckled and asked.

"Oh, wasn't the Duke of Wu'an just questioning me about how I should deal with you?"

"Well, what I mean is, Your Highness, how do you intend to use me in the future? If Your Highness really doesn't think much of me, I can go to the army and become a lowly soldier. At least I can still contribute to the country!"

His words sounded very high-sounding.

Anyone with a brain knows that Li Shimin would never actually make him a lowly soldier.

Seeing his seemingly resigned demeanor, Li Shimin found it amusing, but his face remained serious.

"In that case, you shall become a guard at the Eastern Palace and stand guard for me."

"Varied……"

Xue Wanche was shocked. He had only spoken carelessly and thought that Li Shimin would give him a way out.

To my utter surprise, they actually made him a lowly soldier.

He's still a gatekeeper.

He was about to refuse when Wei Zheng pulled him back, which startled him. He swallowed back what he was about to say and reluctantly accepted the imperial decree.

"As for Xuancheng, he will be promoted to Grand Counselor. I have other plans for him."

Li Shimin didn't need to say anything to Wei Zheng to appease him; such a clever man would convince himself.

"Oh, right, I haven't introduced you two yet. This is Wen He, Wen Xiaolang, who will be the future magistrate of Gaoyang County."

Li Shimin abruptly changed the subject and began introducing Wen He.

Wei Zheng had been so frightened by Xue Wanche's matter that he had almost forgotten about it. Now, hearing Li Shimin mention it, he suddenly became serious.

"Since Your Highness has promoted me to the position of Grand Counselor, then I have no choice but to offer my advice. How can a child with no merit be appointed as a county magistrate? If titles are bestowed indiscriminately, wouldn't the future be one where the ruler is no longer a ruler and the ministers are no longer ministers? In the previous dynasty, even the Zhou dynasty, weren't there children who served as pillars of the state, holding high positions and wielding great power?"

"Have you not heard of the story of Yang Jian back then?"

This old bastard just got a chicken feather, and now he's treating it like a royal decree.

Comparing me to Yang Jian? You're trying to kill me!

Wen He couldn't help but feel annoyed, and snorted at him, "How do you know I didn't do anything? I, I'm at least..."

Well, upon closer reflection, it seems he really didn't contribute anything.

The Xuanwu Gate Incident was bound to happen.

Wei Zheng and Xue Wanche would not have died in the first place.

Wen He felt a little embarrassed. He couldn't very well tell Wei Zheng that Li Shimin had given him this title because he was a time traveler.

Wei Zheng would surely have died remonstrating with Li Shimin, who then executed him.

Seeing him speechless, Li Shimin burst into laughter.

"Young Master Wen saved the Princess's life, and he also saved General Jing, including the lives of both of you. In addition, I owe him a favor."

When he mentioned Jing Junhong, Xue Wanche looked noticeably uncomfortable.

He was even more surprised to hear that Wen He had saved his life.

Wei Zheng was the same, but unlike Xue Wanche, who only dared to keep his thoughts to himself, he boldly asked the question.

"What does Your Highness mean?"

Li Shimin looked at him, and with Huang Chun's help, stood up and walked towards him.

"Because I want to kill you, but Wen He brought Gao Ming to advise me. You, Wei Zheng, are an upright minister and a minister of advice. In the future, you will be my mirror and can advise me on my gains and losses."

"And you, Xue Wanche, will expand my territory. I didn't believe it, but he and Gao Ming remonstrated with me to the death, kneeling outside my study all night, and only then did they convince me."

what?
Wen He was stunned as he watched Li Shimin speak with great emotion.

When did I kneel outside your study all night?

And he even brought that brat Li Chengqian with him?
What does an eight-year-old know?

But soon, he felt grateful looks from Wei Zheng and Xue Wanche.

Well, Li Er is paving the way for Li Chengqian.

And they're using me as their endorsement!

Thank you to the following readers for their monthly tickets:

Fantasy + Wealth, Reader 1336653859028971520, I love big winter melon the most.



(End of this chapter)