After Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng left.
In the dead of the night, Li Shi Min had thought about whether he could take advantage of this opportunity to enter the palace and ascend the throne.
However, as soon as these thoughts appeared, he extinguished them himself.
Originally, he was only sitting in the position of the King of Qin. All he needed to think about was how to defeat the enemy, govern the country, and pacify the people.
However, ever since Li Yuan let him take over the government.
Only then did he slowly begin to change his identity and view the Great Tang from the Emperor's perspective.
Every day, memorials were sent in from all over the country like snowflakes. Although the Prime Minister, the three provinces, and the six ministries had helped, they still needed him to make decisions.
Li Shi Min felt that Li Yuan was not having an easy time, so he did not dare to covet the throne anymore.
Of course, it was not because he wanted to give up, but because he felt that now was not the time. He needed to learn more good governance strategies from Li Yuan.
But now that Hou Junji had acted on his own accord, he was forced into a passive position.
Li Shiming's face was gloomy as he looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said,""Zhangsun Sikong, when did you know about this matter? Why did you only tell bengong now?”
Li Shi Min's voice was cold and stern. This time, he didn't address Fearless as Fearless.
He had some misgivings about whether Zhangsun Wuji and the others had intentionally concealed the matter of Hou Junji from him and then pushed the boat along with the current to facilitate this matter.
Zhangsun Wuji was very familiar with Li Shiming, so when he heard Li Shiming's words, he immediately apologized,"Your Highness, I only found out today.”
"I came to report as soon as I investigated.”
"Minister Fang and Minister Du can testify for me. However, Minister Pei and Minister Xiao were here just now, so this lowly official cannot speak out. Otherwise, it will definitely cause great trouble.”
Zhangsun Wuji respectfully finished speaking and then lowered his head.
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui spoke at the same time, proving Zhangsun Wuji's words.
Then, the three of them stood there. They all knew Li Shiming's decision. He would never do the dangerous thing he did in the Black Tortoise Sect.
They naturally followed Li Shiming's decision.
After all, today was different from the past. At that time, Li Jiancheng had pushed him too hard, and Li Yuan had shown favoritism towards the Crown Prince, so Li Shimin had wanted to fight with them with his life in exchange for a future.
But now, Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng were on equal footing.
Li Yuan was in control of the situation. They believed that they would not lose even if they supported Li Shimin and fought against Li Jiancheng.
Li Shi Min looked at the three of them and sighed,"Order Hou Junji to meet with me. BenGong has something to ask him.”
The Imperial Attendants Supervisor went to pass on the message, and a Golden Guard secretly left at the same time.
They headed to the palace where the prime minister dealt with political affairs.
Xiao Yu and Pei Ji sat opposite each other. After listening to the Golden Guard's report, they casually waved their hands. After they left, Xiao Yu said,"Minister Pei, how do you think His Highness will handle this matter?”
Pei Ji sat there and stroked the beard on his chin. He smiled and said,"Your Highness is a smart person. You should know what to do.”
"Although His Majesty has left Chang 'an, the Jinyiwei he left behind and Eunuch Lin's trusted aides are all our spies.”
"This is only on the surface. How can Your Majesty do something unprepared?”
"In my opinion, letting His Highness the King of Qin stay in Chang 'an might be a test.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yu's expression turned serious. He stopped her and said,"Prime Minister Pei, it's fine if these words reach our ears, but you must not let them spread.”
"Otherwise, it would be inappropriate if others heard it.”
Pei Ji smiled indifferently. He had been with Li Yuan ever since he raised his army in Jinyang. Moreover, he had made great contributions in Jinyang.
His life had long been tied to Li Yuan, and he knew that he was not as resourceful as Xiao Yu.
However, he was able to sit firmly in the position of prime minister because he knew how to advance and retreat. He would never pretend to know something he did not know. Anyway, there were many capable people below him.
Pei Ji turned around and pushed a secret report on the table in front of him to Xiao Yu."Minister Xiao, how do you think we should deal with this secret report?”
Xiao Yu's hand fell on the secret report. He had already read the information inside several times. He said thoughtfully,"His Highness has already summoned Marquis Junji.”
"This shows his attitude. After Hou Junji enters the Palace, send the secret report to these restless fellows. Even if His Majesty is not in Chang 'an, the Great Tang cannot fall into chaos.”
Pei Ji smiled and said," That's right, that's right. In that case, I'll go and take a rest. I'll have to trouble Minister Xiao to take care of this."”
Xiao Yu nodded slightly, not caring that Pei Ji was blatantly slacking off. His eyes drifted to the royal study and he muttered to himself,"Your Highness, I hope you won't make any mistakes.”
"Otherwise, His Majesty will be very unhappy.”
In the royal study.
Li Shi Min sat there and said uneasily,"Wuji, Xuanling, Keming, tell me what you think. Also, it is a top secret that Father is leaving the palace.”
"How did Hou Junji know?”
Zhangsun Wuji cupped his hands and said," Your Highness, General Hou has been criticizing Your Highness ever since that night. He has also gradually distanced himself from us."”
"This lowly official once heard rumors that after General Hou was drunk, he said that he was the general of chariots and horses under the king of Qin.”
"You've fought hundreds of battles, but you're only a county baron now. How sad!”
Li Shi Min listened to Zhangsun Wuji's words and frowned.
However, he did not think that Zhangsun Wuji was deliberately sowing discord.
Instead, he looked at Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui and said,""Ministers, what do you think?"
Fang Xuanling hesitated for a moment before he slowly said,""Your Highness, I don't have any personal relationship with General Hou, so it's hard to judge.”
"However, Your Highness should investigate this matter thoroughly.”
"We were informed by His Highness about His Majesty's trip, but General Hou was able to set up men to follow him.”
"I'm afraid it will lead to a big mistake sooner or later."
Compared to Fang Xuanling's hesitation, Du Ruhui said decisively,"Your Highness, in my opinion, if you don't make a decision, you'll be in trouble.”
"His Majesty's wisdom is unparalleled, far beyond what Hou Junji can compare to.”
"Hou Junji thinks that he's always been discreet, but even we know about it. His Majesty will clearly know about it as well.”
"I'm afraid that His Majesty will be unhappy.”
Li Shi Min's eyes turned deep. He sat on the chair and tapped his fingers on the table without saying a word.
Not much time had passed.
The door of the royal study rang from outside, and the voice of the Imperial Attendant Supervisor came in."Your Highness, General Hou has arrived.”
"Xuan," said Li Shimin.
The door to the royal study opened and Hou Junji strode in, reeking of alcohol. He looked at Zhangsun Wuji and the others.
He then looked at Li Shi Min and knelt on one knee,"Greetings, Your Highness."
Hou Junji knelt on one knee. In the past, Li Shimin had personally helped him up to show his closeness.
This was something he had always been proud of.
He believed that Li Shi Min treated him much better than the other generals. After the incident at the Black Tortoise Sect, he felt that he was Li Shi Min's absolute confidant.
But now, he was kneeling on one knee. He had drunk a little too much, and his knees were hurting from kneeling.
Li Shi Min was still watching coldly.
Under Li Shimin's gaze, Hou Junji looked at Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui, feeling utterly humiliated.
"I, Hou Junji, pay my respects to Your Highness," he said with a flushed face.”
Li Shiming seemed to have been jolted awake by his words, but Hou Junji didn't smile. Instead, his voice was cold and tinged with killing intent."Hou Junji, do you know your crimes?!"
Li Shi Min had been fighting for many years.
Countless people had died at his hands.
This killing intent was thicker than anyone else's, and it was not something that Li Yuan could destroy in a few days.
His voice was so cold that it felt like a cold winter wind was blowing through his bones. Hou Junji's spine was covered in cold sweat, and the alcohol in his body instantly disappeared.
Plop--
He was originally kneeling on one knee, but now, even his other leg was kneeling on the ground.
Then, he cupped his hands and bowed." Please forgive me, Your Highness. I really don't know what I did wrong."”
Li Shi Min took a deep breath, stood up, and leaned forward slightly.
Hou Junji knelt.
He felt that Li Shiming was giving him an endless sense of oppression.
Pa--
Li Shiming angrily slammed the table, causing the Imperial Dragon Vermilion Brush and inkstone to shake and spill ink. He then said,"Even now, you still don't know how to repent.”
"Then this king will throw you into the imperial prison and wait for father to return to the capital to interrogate you personally.”
Li Shimin said.
Hou Junji's face was ashen. How could he not know what Li Shimin was talking about?
Hou Junji's lips were so dry that they seemed to stick together. His face was pale as he pursed his lips."Your Highness, this general is possessed and has committed a grave sin.”
"Please punish me, Your Highness. However, I did everything for Your Highness.”
Li Shiming stood there, clenched his fists and said,"For BenGong?"
Li Shi Min was about to continue.
The voice of the Imperial Attendant Supervisor came from outside the royal study again."Reporting to Your Highness, the Xiao Family sent a secret report saying that he had a discussion with Minister Pei.”
"I can't make a decision. Please make a decision, Your Highness.”
The royal study was extremely quiet.
Xiao Yu and Pei Ji's authority was bestowed by Li Yuan. There was only one thing that they could not decide, and that was Li Yuan.
Otherwise, they could review everything and report it to Li Shimin.
This was also the role of the prime minister.
Li Shiming's eyes flickered as he looked at Hou Junji.
After a moment of silence, he glanced at Zhangsun Wuji.
Zhangsun Wuji immediately understood. He walked out, retrieved the secret report, and respectfully presented it with both hands, not even glancing at Hou Junji.
Li Shiming's fingers trembled as he opened the report. His eyes were bloodshot as he furiously slammed the report into Hou Junji's face."According to the secret report, all those who participated in this matter are to be captured and beheaded in public.”
"Hou Junji will be stripped of his position as County Baron and removed from his post as Cheji General!”
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