hsntnovel Chapter 2236 Li Shen made a big mistake
Chapter 2236 Li Shen made a big mistake
After hearing Empress Changsun's rebuttal, Li Shimin could only remain silent. The current empress loved Li Shen even more than her own son.
No one else could say anything bad about him, even if it was said by the emperor, he would still argue with him.
Li Shimin even suspected that Li Shen had given the queen some kind of magic potion. It was just some gifts such as tonics, medicinal herbs, gold and silver accessories.
Just like that, he bribed his own queen?
"Then follow what Guanyin said. Their marriages will still be arranged by you, their mother. Once you have chosen the candidates,
I will issue an edict to grant the marriage." Li Shimin said, looking at Empress Zhangsun.
Empress Changsun nodded, and the three of them chatted for a few more sentences. Empress Changsun and Concubine Wei noticed that His Majesty looked a little sad.
"Ji Lang, is there something bothering you?"
Now that Li Shimin no longer cared about state affairs, it must not be a political matter, so Empress Changsun asked.
"Ah~~~~~" Li Shimin sighed, "It's all because of the Tenth Master."
"Your Majesty, did Shen'er do something again to make Your Majesty angry?"
Concubine Wei asked hurriedly.
"Don't worry, sister. Shen'er is well-behaved and sensible and won't cause any trouble." Seeing Concubine Wei was anxious, Empress Changsun comforted her.
Well-behaved and sensible? Li Shimin's mouth twitched twice, and he complained in his heart, it is true that loving mothers often spoil their children, and that guy is called well-behaved and sensible.
Li Shimin now wonders whether Li Shen is like this because he was spoiled by Empress Zhangsun when he was a child.
But this rebellious child was not raised by the queen when he was young!
"Alas, Old Ten has indeed caused a great disaster this time. I am worried about how to deal with him.
If this matter gets out of hand, even I won’t be able to protect him.”
Li Shimin shook his head and sighed with a sad face.
Concubine Wei was shocked when she saw this. Even His Majesty said it was a disaster and that it might not be saved. One could imagine how serious this matter was.
"Your Majesty, Shen'er is young and ignorant. I don't know what he has done wrong. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and give him a lighter sentence."
Concubine Wei stood up hurriedly and bowed to Li Shimin.
"Don't worry, sister. His Majesty will definitely forgive Shen'er." The Queen stepped forward and helped Concubine Wei up.
She could understand Concubine Wei's feelings, as she also had two disappointing sons.
Looking at his two daughters, Li Shimin sighed helplessly.
"Erlang, what on earth did Shen'er do to cause such serious consequences?"
They both looked at Li Shimin
"He committed the serious crime of corruption in Xizhou, taking bribes, bending the law for personal gain, and accepting bribes in huge amounts.
The case involved a wide range of issues, involving nearly a hundred officials from Xizhou Prefecture.
This matter cannot be concealed no matter how hard you try. I believe the court will know about it in a few days.
I am worried about how to deal with the aftermath for him."
Li Shimin briefly recounted what Li Shen had done. This time there was no anger on his face, but helplessness and sadness.
At first glance, he looks like what a loving father should be.
"What?" Concubine Wei and Empress Zhangsun's faces changed drastically after hearing this. Corruption, abuse of power for personal gain, any of these words are serious crimes.
The punishment for minor offenses is dismissal from office and deprivation of title, while for serious offenses the offender may be exiled and beheaded.
Concubine Wei's eyes were blurred and she almost fainted. Fortunately, Empress Zhangsun helped her sit down.
After Concubine Wei recovered, she immediately bowed:
"Please show mercy, Your Majesty. Shen'er is still young, and it is all my fault for not teaching him well. I am willing to take full responsibility for all the blame.
I hope Your Majesty will grant my permission." Concubine Wei begged.
"Your Highness, there is no need to be like this. I am just upset and that is why I came to you to talk. The Tenth Prince serves the court.
Although I did, as you said, I was young and ignorant.
I am looking for a solution and have just discussed this with the Crown Prince."
Li Shimin quickly helped Concubine Wei up and explained.
"Erlang, do you have any solution?" Empress Changsun asked anxiously.
Li Shimin shook his head:
"This matter concerns various forces in the court, especially the aristocratic families, which have the largest number of people. The Tenth Prince abused his power and extorted more than one million strings of cash from them.
With so much wealth, how could the noble families remain indifferent? "
"More than one million strings of cash?" This sentence once again shocked Empress Changsun and the other two. This son actually embezzled such a huge sum of money. No wonder His Majesty was worried.
Although they both lived in the imperial palace and came from prominent families, they certainly knew what more than one million strings of cash meant.
Even the Changsun family or the Wei family could not earn one million strings of cash a year, and even two years would be enough.
If there is no opportunity, it will take several years to earn one million strings of cash.
In the entire Tang Dynasty, except for the Prince Ji's Mansion where making money was as easy as drinking water, even the five surnames families did not dare to say that they could earn one million strings of cash in a year.
Is this kid crazy?
"What...what should I do?" Concubine Wei was panicked. The number was too large and the aristocratic family would never let her son go.
The aristocratic families have always had a grudge against Li Shen. Now that they have found an opportunity, won’t they beat him to death?
"How could Shen'er be so foolish? Embezzlement is a serious crime, let alone embezzling such a large sum of money.
How could the Ji Wang Mansion be short of money? "Empress Changsun was also a little disappointed. She just said that he was well-behaved and sensible.
"Perhaps it is because the Ji Wang Mansion has been unable to make ends meet in recent years, so the road from Chang'an to the important city of Qinghai built by the Ji Wang Mansion,
Not only did he empty the Prince Ji's Mansion, but he also owed a lot of money.
Lao Shi is trying to embezzle some money to fill this year's hole. "
Li Shimin explained, his tone showing that he understood Li Shen very well.
"You can't be greedy, that's against the law. If you need money, why don't you come to Erlang?
He built the road for the court. Road building is something that benefits the present and future generations. The court should provide some funding.
We can’t let Shen’er pay for it alone.
Even if the imperial court doesn't pay, we can pay from the treasury. Shen'er is so confused."
Empress Changsun was a little angry. She was angry that when Li Shen was short of money, he didn't come to the palace but had to go and cheat people.
It's not a bad thing. Building roads is a good thing.
But when Li Shimin heard that the money had to be paid from the treasury, his true colors were almost exposed. He thought to himself, what the hell, I came here to ask for money, why do I have to take money from outside?
Li Shimin quickly brought the topic over:
"What Guanyin said is right, but now that things have come to this point, it is irreversible. It is better to think about how to save Old Ten."
"Your Majesty, I still have some money in my hand. I am willing to pay it back. I only ask for a lighter punishment for Shen'er."
Concubine Wei said that Li Shen would give her dividends every year. Although it was not much, over time, she had nearly one million strings of cash in her hands.
She could ask Wei Siyan and the others to borrow some, and she would definitely be able to get the total together if she pooled the money together.
Li Shimin was delighted when he heard this, but soon shook his head.
His purpose was not to get Concubine Wei's money. If that rebellious son knew that he had asked for his mother's money, there was no telling what he would do.
Asking Concubine Wei for money is much more serious than asking Li Shen for money.
(You tell me, if I were to write a new book, what would be a good topic? I don’t have any ideas.)