The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

Hou Junji, the Minister of Personnel, Grand Master of the Palace, Councilor of State Affairs, and Duke of Chen, was one of the twenty-four meritorious officials whose portrait had recently been hung in the Lingyan Pavilion. He had led troops to conquer Gaochang and had made outstanding military achievements.

However, he became arrogant because of his achievements. When he attacked Gaochang, he forcibly confiscated innocent Gaochang people, punishing them as slaves or giving them away as rewards. He also secretly took Gaochang's treasures and filled his own pockets.

With their commander acting this way, the Tang army followed suit after conquering Gaochang, plundering innocent Gaochang people and seizing their property. This caused widespread resentment throughout Gaochang.

Hou Junji was impeached and imprisoned as a result. Although he was quickly released by a special decree from Li Shimin, he harbored resentment. He once made wild remarks while drunk in Pingkangfang, saying that the emperor's rewards and punishments were inappropriate, harsh and ungrateful, and that he had been humiliated by the general who had destroyed the country over some trivial matter. This matter was already known throughout the court and the public.

On the first day of April this year, He Gan Chengji, a guest minister of the Crown Prince's Palace, was imprisoned for his involvement in the case of the Prince of Qi. In prison, he secretly informed the Crown Prince Chengqian that he had treasonous intentions and confessed that the Crown Prince had once sent him to assassinate the Prince of Wei. However, due to the tight security at the Prince of Wei's palace, he failed to succeed and gave up.

He further confessed that the Crown Prince, through Hou Junji's son-in-law Helan Chushi, secretly contacted Hou Junji to plot the assassination of Emperor Li Shimin. He added that Li Chengqian had once told him, "The west wall of my Eastern Palace is only twenty steps away from the inner palace. If I were to do something great with you, how could someone like Prince Qi, who is so far away, compare?"

Hegan Chengji's confession was so complete, detailing the time, people, plans, and oaths, that it seemed far from fabricated. Therefore, the Ministry of Justice urgently delivered the confession to Li Shimin that very night.

Li Shimin was furious upon reading this and immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to arrest Li Chengqian, Hou Junji, Helan Chushi, Du He, and other key culprits.

He then ordered Grand Minister Changsun Wuji, Minister of Works Fang Xuanling, Grand Master of the Palace Xiao Yu, and Minister of War Li Shiji to join forces with Grand Justice Sun Fujia, Vice Minister of the Chancellery Cen Wenben, Grand Censor Ma Zhou, Grand Counselor Chu Suiliang, and other officials from the Chancellery and Secretariat to conduct a thorough search and sealing of several locations, including the Eastern Palace and the residence of the Duke of Chen, in order to gather evidence and investigate the case.

Chang'an City usually enforces a curfew, but that night, the sound of horses' hooves thundered and torches flew like dragons.

Such a grand spectacle would naturally become common knowledge. The fact that Marquis Junji of Chen, a meritorious official of the Lingyan Pavilion who had contributed to the destruction of a country, was imprisoned and his entire household was confined would naturally attract inquiries from all levels of the court.

Soon, the discovery of several secret letters between the Duke of Chen and the Crown Prince in the Duke of Chen's residence, as well as the fact that Helan Chushi, the Duke of Chen's son-in-law and a member of the Crown Prince's guards, was tortured that very night and confessed to all of the Duke of Chen's schemes, became known throughout the court.

Early that morning, Li Shimin, holding those secret letters, questioned Li Chengqian in the Ganlu Hall and angrily whipped him.

Then Li Xiang entered the palace with a sword, which angered Li Shimin so much that he suffered a headache and was unable to attend court for a time, so he could not control public opinion in the court.

With so many officials involved in the trial, it was indeed difficult to keep this a secret.

Of course, Li Xiang's remarks that night were too rebellious to be heard by others. Li Shimin subconsciously ordered the palace servants present to keep quiet.

Therefore, Li Tai, Kong Yu, and other officials in the court were unaware that Li Shimin had actually fallen ill from anger caused by a remark made by his grandson Li Xiang.

Recalling Li Xiang's arrogant words from that day, Li Shimin felt a renewed throbbing pain in his forehead. Those extremely harsh words about "fratricide" still seemed to echo in his ears.

"Bluebird," Li Shimin said.

"Qingque is here." Li Tai quickly crawled forward on his knees.

"You also think that Chengqian is plotting a rebellion?" Li Shimin suddenly asked.

Li Tai was about to speak when his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He looked up and saw his father's phoenix eyes scrutinizing him.

Recalling the cold snort he had just heard when the court officials were mentioned, Li Tai felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

"My son and Chengqian are siblings from the same mother, so I naturally do not want to believe that Chengqian would be involved in treason..." Li Tai tried hard to suppress his trembling and answered carefully.

"..."

Li Shimin remained silent, but the scrutinizing look in his eyes persisted. Li Tai vaguely felt his inner garments were soaked with cold sweat.

His mind raced, and he simply knelt down with a "thump":

"Your son knows that there have long been rumors in the court that I am going to compete with Chengqian for the throne..."

"For this reason, I know that Father... surely finds it difficult to trust my words..."

"I dare not deceive Father, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I do have selfish motives. Chengqian... has always regarded me as an enemy, and according to Hegan Chengji's confession, he even sent assassins to kill me before..."

"Your subject, though unwilling to believe that your elder brother has plotted rebellion... I do indeed fear Chengqian, fear that Chengqian... will remain the Crown Prince, or even ascend to that position... In the future, in the future... he will certainly not let you off the hook..."

He spoke haltingly, tears welling in his eyes, sobbing as he said, "Your subject is truly, truly in a difficult position... Your subject does not want to doubt his elder brother, but... but also does not want to suffer a terrible death in the future..."

"Waaah... Father, Father!"

Li Tai seemed genuinely terrified. He cried as he threw his large body into Li Shimin's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"...Sigh, it doesn't have to come to that, it doesn't have to come to that..."

Seeing Li Tai crying so sadly, and remembering that Li Tai was usually gentle, Li Shimin gently patted Li Tai's back, and the scrutiny and doubt in his eyes gradually disappeared.

Yes, Qingque is a filial son and well-read; he doesn't seem like the kind of person who would plot against his elder brother.

Perhaps out of fear of death, he acted in a moment of confusion, which led him to incite public opinion in the court; or perhaps one of his subordinates acted on his own initiative, stirring up trouble in the court...

Compared to Chengqian and that brat, Qingque's heart is pure and kind; she would never want her brothers to kill each other...

I thought that the scoundrel's nonsense, once heard, had become a mental obstacle.

Li Shimin pondered.

But Chengqian is also his own son. Could it be that he really intends to...?

Li Shimin felt a sharp pain in his heart, which also caused a throbbing headache. Li Zhi noticed this and quickly and gently pulled Li Tai up. Then, together with Li Tai, they tucked Li Shimin in to prevent him from catching a chill.

Seeing his two sons' filial piety, Li Shimin felt somewhat relieved, and his sudden headache also subsided. He glanced at the sky outside and asked, "What time is it now?"

"Your Majesty, it is 9:00 AM," Li Zhi replied respectfully.

"Oh. Fu Ji and the others should go to the palace soon," Li Shimin muttered to himself.

Before he fell ill yesterday, he ordered Grand Tutor Changsun Wuji, Grand Minister of Works Fang Xuanling, and others to come to the Liangyi Hall before noon today to discuss matters and reach a conclusion on the case of the Crown Prince and Duke of Chen, Hou Junji, plotting rebellion.

It is likely that Changsun Wuji and the others were already on their way to the palace by this time.

"I need some peace and quiet first. Qingque and Zhinu, you two go to the palace gate and greet your uncle," Li Shimin said.

Deciding on such a major case must be extremely mentally taxing. His headache has not yet subsided, and if he does not rest soon, he may not be able to meet with his ministers.

"Yes," Li Tai and Li Zhi quickly replied.