The Anger and Trembling Empress Zhangsun
The next day.
After a night of brewing and spreading, the news of the top scholar Gu Hao's imprisonment spread outside Taiji Palace.
When the palace gates opened, this news quickly spread throughout the entire Taiji Palace.
Li Shimin, Empress Zhangsun, Princess Changle Li Lizhi, and Crown Prince Li Chengqian all received the news at almost the same time.
Before the morning meeting began.
Taiji Palace, the Hall of Political Affairs.
Li Lizhi, Li Chengqian, Qin Qiong, and Hou Junji arrived one after another.
"What happened?"
Li Shimin frowned at Hou Junji.
He was a little dissatisfied.
Everyone knew that Gu Hao was the one who saved their Lizhi yesterday, so they couldn't arrest him.
Besides, Gu Hao had just made a contribution to the Great Tang.
This was something that all the civil and military officials in the court had witnessed.
Princess Li Lizhi nestled in Empress Zhangsun's arms as she frowned in displeasure at Hou Junji.
Crown Prince Li Chengqian sat on a soft couch, his gaze was filled with curiosity and confusion.
Qin Qiong stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.
Hou Junji felt nervous at this sight.
He had expected Princess Chang Le to appear here.
However, the Crown Prince and Qin Qiong appearing here was something he had never expected.
"Last night, I found Zhao Yicheng in the antique shop of the top scholar.”"Zhao Yicheng was the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on Prince Changle," Hou Junji said respectfully.”
"With Gu Hao?" Li Shi Min frowned.
"According to Zhao Yicheng's confession when he was arrested, the top scholar was also one of the schemers of this assassination.”Hou Junji said.
"Hmm?" Li Shimin, Li Lizhi, Li Chengqian, and Empress Zhangsun all looked at Hou Junji.
"Junji, do you believe this?" Qin Qiong said indifferently.
" This…I didn't believe it at first, but…"
Hou Junji hesitated.
"But what? If you have something to say, say it." Li Shi Min said coldly.
"But the scholar beat Zhao Yicheng to death," Hou Junji hurriedly said.”
"What?"
Everyone was shocked.
"As far as I know, you captured Zhao Yicheng alive.”Qin Qiong said coldly.
"When I took them out of the antique shop, the scholar asked for a carriage," Hou Junji explained."I thought he was a civil official and was thin-skinned, so I prepared a carriage for him.
Who knew that Zhao Yicheng would also request to take the carriage at this time.
I was going to reject him, but who knew that the top scholar would say that he was willing to sit in the same car as Zhao Yicheng…
At that time, I didn't pay too much attention to it. Who knew that when we arrived at the Ministry of Justice prison, the scholar got out of the car and said that Zhao Yicheng had fainted because of the bumpy carriage.
After pulling Zhao Yicheng out of the carriage, I realized that Zhao Yicheng's mouth was stuffed with socks, and all his limbs were broken…
At that time, he was still breathing. Not long after he was transported to the prison, Zhao Yicheng completely lost his breath…"
“………”
Everyone fell silent when they heard this, their hearts trembling.
After a moment of silence…
"Zhao Yicheng plotted to murder Prince Chang Le, he deserves to die.”
Qin Qiong said in a deep voice.
"I think so too, so I haven't brought the top scholar to trial yet. It's all up to Your Majesty.”Hou Junji agreed.
" Father..." Li Lizhi looked at Li Shiming with worry in her eyes.
Li Shi Min frowned.
He had never expected Gu Hao to kill someone.
He naturally didn't believe that Gu Hao had any connection with the Turks.
After all, Yang Zhengdao's only condition was to kill Gu Hao.
" With Gu Hao's temperament and intelligence, it's indeed possible for him to teach Zhao Yicheng a lesson, but to beat him to death..."
Li Shiming coldly glanced at Hou Junji.
"I don't believe Mr. Gu would kill someone.”Li Chengqian suddenly said.
"Hmm?" Everyone looked at him.
"Mister Gu has always been gentle and refined," said Li Chengqian."I really can't imagine Mister Gu killing people.”
"Yesterday, he killed ten Turks in the Yi 'an Prefecture.”
Hou Junji reminded.
He really wanted to tell the crown prince about how Gu Hao cursed at him last night.
Gentle and refined?
The top scholar he met last night had nothing to do with this word.
"You killed those ten people to save me. Do you think that killing them is a crime?”Li Lizhi said coldly.
Hou Junji's heart skipped a beat as he bowed."I dare not."
" This case..." Li Shiming frowned and suddenly looked at Qin Qiong and asked," Shu Bao, are you also here for this case?"”
Qin Qiong paused and nodded." Before dawn this morning, the mute servant of the top scholar's family found me and gave me a piece of information."”
"Oh? What information?" Li Shi Min asked.
Qin Qiong took out Gail from his bosom. The stack of Xuan paper that Bagatou had given him.
Wang De took it and handed it to Li Shimin.
"He actually left a backup plan."
Hou Junji harrumphed.
He regretted not arresting the other people in the antique shop.
" To improve the forging method of weapons..." Li Shiming said softly. When he flipped open the first page and looked at the other pages, his brows furrowed.
Picture, I don't understand;
He actually couldn't understand the words!
Li Shi Min looked up at Qin Qiong.
" According to the mute servant, Gu Hao wrote it in Chinese," Qin Qiong said." It's not written in the Tang language."”
He only knew the words on the cover.
"Do you think it's useful?" Li Shi Min asked.
"Yes!" Qin Qiong said seriously. It's very useful."
"You trust him?" Li Shi Min smiled.
"Is he not trustworthy? Has Your Majesty ever thought that someone could mass produce crystal cups?”Qin Qiong asked.
Li Shi Min fell into deep thought.
If Gu Hao could really improve the forging method of weapons, it would be very useful indeed.
Since the Sui Dynasty, the forging techniques of the Central Plains had been passed down to the neighboring countries.
In the Tang Empire, countless Hu merchants rushed to Chang 'an, and the ironware forging method was completely leaked.
In the past, when the Central Plains fought against the barbarians, they had an absolute advantage in terms of weapons.
And now, the Turkic equipment was no longer inferior to the Great Tang's.
If Gu Hao could improve the forging method of weapons, the military strength of the Tang Empire would definitely be greatly improved.
"That kid really knows a lot, and he's also very scheming.”
Li Shi Min humphed.
The blueprints weren't written in Tang language. Instead, they were written in Chinese, which no one could understand. It was obvious that they were on guard.
Li Shi Min pondered for a while before handing the blueprint back to Qin Qiong.
"This case will be handed over to the Supreme Court for trial. Before the case is cleared up…"
Li Shiming paused and said," Let Gu Hao go first. Shu Bao, you come and watch him."”
"Yes." Qin Qiong replied, heaving a sigh of relief in her heart.
Hou Junji's head drooped, his heart filled with frustration.
This was completely different from what he had imagined.
In his mind, the Emperor should have pushed the boat with the current and let him use Gu Hao's life to exchange for the whereabouts of the imperial jade seal and the jade.
While he was holding Gu Hao captive, he 'interrogated' him about all the techniques Gu Hao knew about making crystal cups and fine wine, and made a fortune.
But now, the case belonged to the Supreme Court, and Gu Hao directly released it.
And he seemed to have unintentionally offended Princess Chang Le and provoked the Crown Prince and Qin Qiong.
Most importantly, once Gu Hao was put in an important position, it would be even more difficult to handle the matter His Majesty had entrusted him with.
After Qin Qiong, Hou Junji, Li Lizhi, and Li Chengqian left…
Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Shimin and said with a frown,""Chenqie is the same as Chengqian. I don't believe that Gu Hao would kill anyone.”
"Hehe, I don't believe it either." Li Shi Min laughed.
"So, Your Majesty knows that Hou Junji is behind this?”Empress Zhangsun asked directly.
This was her suspicion.
It was not normal for the criminal to stay in the same car as Gu Hao.
Breaking a person's limbs, even if his mouth was stuffed, it was impossible for him to remain silent.
In her view, Hou Junji's position in this case was very suspicious.
Li Shi Min sighed.
Once Empress Zhangsun spoke, he knew that he could not hide it anymore.
"Zhen also suspects that Hou Junji silenced him.”Li Shi Min said honestly.
"Why?" Empress Zhangsun frowned and asked.”
Li Shimin didn't hide anything and told Empress Zhangsun everything about Yang Zhengdao and the Imperial Seal.
"Hou Junji probably wants to use this opportunity to trade Gu Hao's life for Yang Zhengdao's Heirloom Seal.”Li Shimin sighed.
Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Shimin and asked,""Did His Majesty also have this thought?”
"I…did not." Li Shi Min's eyes were a little dazed.
"His Majesty truly didn't, but His Majesty left this matter to Hou Junji. His Majesty knows better than anyone what sort of person Hou Junji is.”Empress Zhangsun said lightly.
Li Shi Min was silent.
He couldn't deny it!
"Your Majesty is muddle-headed!" Empress Zhangsun sighed and said," Why don't you think about it carefully? Why does Yang Zhengdao want to kill Gu Hao?”
"It's very common for young people to fight over personal feelings.”Li Shi Min said.
"Do you really think so?" Empress Zhangsun was furious.
Li Shiming shrunk his neck and stopped talking.
"Yang Zhengdao did not hesitate to expose the whereabouts of the Imperial Jade Seal to kill Gu Hao. He must think that Gu Hao is a big threat.”
Empress Zhangsun said earnestly," Yang Zhengdao is the grandson of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. In the Turks, he still calls himself King Sui.
Did His Majesty think that he had no ambition at all?
If he had even the slightest ambition to restore the Sui Dynasty, he would not have handed over the heirloom seal.
Now, in order to kill Gu Hao, he was willing to tell His Majesty the whereabouts of the Imperial Jade Seal…
This could only mean that in his eyes, Gu Hao was more important than the Imperial Jade Seal.
That was why he did not hesitate to expose the Imperial Jade Seal to get rid of Gu Hao with the help of His Majesty.”
"I actually think so too." Li Shi Min said weakly.
"The Heirloom Seal is indeed very important, but does Your Majesty think it is a good idea to kill a meritorious minister of the Great Tang for the Heirloom Seal?”
Empress Zhangsun said softly," Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty had always held the Imperial Jade Seal, but the Great Sui Dynasty was still destroyed.
Your Majesty, although you don't have the Imperial Jade Seal, if you can love the people like your own children and use virtuous officials and generals, the Great Tang will definitely continue to prosper. The people will praise Your Majesty from the bottom of their hearts, and the neighboring countries will come to pay tribute with reverence…"
Li Shi Min was silent for a long time before he said solemnly,""I understand."
“………”
....................................................~
According to the historical records, Li Shimin was not wise in everything. Many times, it was Empress Zhangsun who persuaded him to make the 'right' decision.
Li Shimin listened to Empress Zhangsun's advice.
Empress Zhangsun was the only empress in history to be known as the Sage Empress.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。