hsntnovel Chapter 1677: Different Opinions
Chapter 1677: Different Opinions
As everyone knows, Prince Ji has always been unreasonable and his ability to act like a rogue is unmatched.
The main reason is that the other people are all scholars, and scholars still have to have some dignity.
No matter how sinister or filthy they are behind the scenes, they will always maintain their demeanor and image in public.
This has been the case for all men of letters and poetry since ancient times.
But Li Shen is different. Li Shen is shameless and he doesn't need any fame. He just needs money.
He knew one thing very well: if you are thick-skinned, you can eat as much as you want, but if you are thin-skinned, you can get nothing. It was because he had traveled back from the modern era.
So every time Li Shen acted recklessly, no one else was his match.
Li Shen can give up his face, but they can't.
Perhaps he had expected Li Shen to say this, so Censor Wang did not change his attitude and said to Li Shen:
"Your Highness Prince Ji, please stop talking nonsense. My Wang family is loyal to Tang Da. Heaven and earth can bear witness to this. We have no intention of rebelling.
On the contrary, His Royal Highness Prince Ji colluded with local officials to exploit the people, make huge profits and amass wealth, and finally even killed people to silence them.
I cannot help but suspect that Your Highness Prince Ji has the intention of rebellion."
Censor Wang smiled coldly at Li Shen, looking contented.
This made other officials have some thoughts in their minds. Could it be that the aristocratic family really had some evidence of Prince Ji's crimes?
Since the rise of Prince Ji, he has been constantly suppressing the aristocratic families, causing the family strength of the aristocratic families to plummet. They have been dormant in the past few years.
Everyone knows that the aristocratic families are avoiding the attack and waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Now it seems that they have found the opportunity, otherwise the noble families would not have come out together today if the charges this time were confirmed.
Even if Prince Ji didn't die, he would at least be stripped of his title and exiled, or imprisoned somewhere.
I thought the family had become depressed, but I didn't expect it to be so cruel.
Seeing Wang Yushi's confident look, Li Shen sneered.
“Alright, stop talking nonsense. Since you are impeaching me for such a serious crime, then show me the real evidence.
This is the imperial court, not your Wang family's one-man show.
It is not your Wang family's turn to have the final say in our Tang Dynasty."
"Your Majesty, I have both human and material evidence.
The witnesses were the common people in Xizhou City who had been oppressed by Prince Ji’s Mansion, and the merchants whose property had been robbed by Prince Ji’s Mansion.
The physical evidence is the account book of the Ji Palace bribing local tribal leaders and local officials."
After hearing Li Shen's words, Censor Wang said no more. He bowed to Li Shimin and spoke loudly.
"Oh? Then present it." Li Shimin said immediately when he heard the evidence.
“Your Majesty, I believe this matter should be handed over to the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Supreme Court for a joint trial.
This is the only way to ensure fairness and justice.”
At this moment, Lu Chengqing, the left chancellor, stood up, bowed and gave advice.
"This matter is of great importance. I am prepared to personally judge it. What's the matter? Do you think that I will bend the law for personal gain?"
Li Shimin's face darkened and he asked in a serious tone.
"I dare not." Lu Chengqing saluted quickly.
“Your Majesty, I think what Lord Lu said makes sense. Since it is a violation of the law, it should be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for trial.
If they are guilty, they should be punished according to the law."
Cui Renzhi, the censor of the Censorate, also stood up.
"I also agree with the three-court trial." Zheng Jingsi stood up.
"I second the proposal."
"I second the proposal."
Officials from aristocratic families stood up one after another to second the motion.
"Wow! Are you guys questioning His Majesty?
Your Majesty is an emperor who will be remembered for all eternity. How could he be partial to someone for personal gain?
You are so brave! "
Shangshu Youcheng Wei Chong stood up and pointed at the people from the aristocratic families and shouted angrily.
"Yes, this is a serious matter. Wouldn't it be fairer and more just if Your Majesty personally supervised the case than if the three judges held a joint trial?
You are so blatantly doubting Your Majesty, it is simply treasonous.
Your Majesty, I accuse them of committing the crime of treason."
The Censor Wei Siqian even directly impeached him, saying that Prince Ji had been kind to him and that Prince Ji repaid him with kindness.
He did not mind the Wei family's involvement in the fight against him, and even recommended him to be the Censor-in-Chief. The Wei family would never forget this favor.
What's more, the relationship between the Wei family and the Prince Ji's Mansion is still close.
Whether for the sake of the Wei family or for Concubine Wei, the Wei family must establish a good relationship with Prince Ji.
Li Shen never thought that his decision not to pursue the Wei family for the sake of his mother would come in handy now.
It became a great help to himself in the court.
Li Shen glanced at Wei Siqian. He had an impression of this man. Wei Renji came to him for help, hoping that he would recommend him.
Wei Siqian is a tough guy and a straight-laced person. If he thinks something is unfair, he will take action against anyone who does it.
Li Shen originally thought that this guy was not suitable for officialdom, but he did not expect that he would be appreciated by Li Chengqian and become very successful.
What Wei Siqian said was more serious than anyone else's. It was one of the ten evils: disrespecting His Majesty is an unforgivable crime.
"That is not what we meant. I hope Your Majesty will forgive us."
Cui Renzhi and others hurriedly bowed and saluted. Wei Siqian's words were too cruel.
"What do you think?"
Li Shimin looked at the prime ministers of the three provinces with a gloomy face.
The three of them looked at each other, and Ma Zhou took the lead in bowing and said:
"Your Majesty, I think this matter is indeed not a trivial matter. The matter of Xizhou involves a wide range of people, not just the Prince Ji's Mansion.
There are also local officials and Hu tribes.
Matters like this cannot be solved overnight, and we need to go to Xizhou for a detailed investigation.
Therefore, I think it is better to let the Ministry of Justice handle it.”
Ma Zhou was not biased towards the aristocratic families, but he felt that this matter involved too many things.
It actually involves a prince of the current dynasty, so we need to be cautious and find out the truth.
"Well, what Lord Ma said is mature and prudent. What do you think, Auxiliary Engine?"
Li Shimin also understood Ma Zhou’s meaning and nodded, looking at Changsun Wuji.
Chang Sun Wuji stood up and saluted, then replied respectfully:
“Your Majesty, I agree with what Mr. Ma said. Censor Wang and His Royal Highness Prince Ji each hold their own opinions. Even if Censor Wang said there are witness testimonies and so-called account books as physical evidence.
However, it would be a bit hasty to conclude that it was the Ji Wang Mansion's doing based on this evidence.
Moreover, His Royal Highness Prince Ji will not acknowledge the authenticity of the evidence.
Therefore, I believe that since His Royal Highness Prince Ji is involved, in the interests of fairness, it is better for the Ministry of Justice or the Censorate to win.
The evidence of both parties is for reference only. The authenticity of the evidence will be investigated by the presiding judge to ensure that there are no mistakes and that His Royal Highness Prince Ji will not be wrongly accused."
After Changsun Wuji finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement, worthy of being the Zuo Pushe, the head of all officials.
It's really well thought out.
If it is an ordinary citizen, an ordinary government office can make the decision.
But since it involves aristocratic families and the royal family, this matter must be treated with caution.
Both the witnesses and the account books may be falsified, and Prince Ji may also have witnesses to prove that the matter has nothing to do with him.
Because both parties have the ability to cheat, a third party is needed to serve as the chief judge.
"Your Majesty, this is what I mean. It will take more than one day to go to Xizhou to investigate and verify.
Therefore, I think it is best for the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate to examine this matter."
The Minister of the Court Yu Zhining also stood up and agreed.
（2025年1月11日04:40:13，再熬下去我怕我真的会死啊。）