hsntnovel Chapter 1682: End of the Preliminary Examination
Chapter 1682: End of the Preliminary Examination
“Well, Duke Zhao, Secretary Ma, this matter is just as His Royal Highness Prince Ji said, and His Majesty does know about it.
After discovering this, His Royal Highness Prince Ji immediately went to the palace to find His Majesty and reported the whole story to His Majesty.
You two should know that His Majesty once issued two secret decrees, actually because of this matter.
And the testimonies of those witnesses are also in your Majesty’s hands.”
After Li Shen finished speaking, Wang De came out to testify for Li Shen.
Ma Zhou and Zhangsun Wuji looked at each other. They did know about the secret decree, but at that time they thought it was about escorting a batch of treasures to Li Shimin.
Because it is marked that the place cannot be checked when passing customs.
They thought that His Majesty did this because he was afraid that people would know that he had traveled thousands of miles to get the treasure and would be accused of wasting time and money.
But I didn't expect it to be related to the affairs of Xizhou.
Now that Your Majesty has gotten involved, this matter has become a little difficult to handle.
Several people from the noble families also exchanged glances. After a long while, it was still Censor Wang who spoke first:
“Duke Zhao, Secretary Ma, I still have deep doubts about this. How could a small shopkeeper of Prince Ji’s Mansion cause trouble in the local area for several years without being discovered?
How could the local officials not dare to punish a shopkeeper?
I think he must have someone to rely on behind him.
Even the prefect and the protector general did not dare to report it to the court, which shows how powerful the power behind this is.
And this time so many officials were killed, it was obvious that they were murdered to silence them.
In our Tang Dynasty, there are not many people who have such strength and can suppress the Protectorate.
Therefore, I believe that what His Royal Highness Prince Ji said is not credible and he is deceiving Your Majesty."
"F#@%#￥, you bastard, are you saying that I am deceiving the emperor?" Li Shen was so angry that he cursed.
It seems that the aristocratic family is really determined to fight to the death with me this time.
"Yes, all of this is groundless and unfounded. It's all just the words of His Royal Highness Prince Ji. There is no solid evidence.
I beg Duke Zhao and Secretary Ma to go to Xizhou to investigate this matter and give justice to the people of Xizhou."
Censor Wang also became tough.
"In that case, let's wait for the investigation by the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple."
Ma Zhou finally gave a solution.
Things have come to this point and can only wait for investigation. Both parties hold their own opinions, and Prince Ji has also produced witnesses.
Changsun Wuji didn't say anything, obviously agreeing with Ma Zhou's opinion.
This preliminary trial has come to an end, and what remains is to wait for the investigation results of the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple.
Walking out of the Ministry of Justice, the sun outside was particularly dazzling. Li Shen covered his eyes with his hands, as if he had just been released from prison.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, His Majesty has summoned you."
Wang De, who was following behind, said with a smile.
"Not seeing him...seems like that's not possible." Li Shen said instinctively, but immediately changed his words.
He was in a bad mood.
"Chief Steward Wang, please report everything to His Majesty."
Ma Zhou and Changsun Wuji also came out.
"Okay, this is what I should do." Wang De bowed with a smile.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, in accordance with His Majesty's order, please do not leave the city." Changsun Wuji said to Li Shen.
"Of course I know." Li Shen replied unhappily.
After saying that, he strode towards the harem.
Looking at the backs of Li Shen and Wang De leaving, Changsun Wuji still had a smile on his face:
"Ma Gong, do you think that Prince Ji will be found guilty in the end of this case?"
Ma Zhou glanced at Zhangsun Wuji:
"Duke Zhao, His Royal Highness Prince Ji is deeply favored by His Majesty, so the two of us must be cautious in this matter.
Now both sides have denied each other's evidence, and Ma does not know the final result.
But to be honest, I don't think His Royal Highness Prince Ji would do such a thing."
After hearing this, Chang Sun Wuji shook his head and laughed:
"Haha, Lord Ma, what can't this young prince do? He has always behaved erratically in Chang'an City.
Relying on Your Majesty's favor, he behaves recklessly outside and becomes arrogant.
The outside world has a bad opinion of him.
Given the character of this young prince, I don’t find it strange at all that he is doing evil in Xizhou.
What's more, he had just admitted that the incident in Xizhou was indeed caused by his Ji Wang Mansion.
As for his excuse that it was the shopkeeper below who did it, I don't believe it.
A shopkeeper does not have such great power to do evil for several years without being discovered.
The Protector General of Anxi Protectorate and Governor of Xizhou was Guo Xiaoke, a duke.
Even ordinary princes cannot suppress him. The only one who can have such great power is Prince Ji."
“We’ll know when the investigation results come out.
Duke Zhao, I have official business to attend to, so I will go ahead."
Ma Zhou did not continue to argue, but bowed to Changsun Wuji and turned away.
Changsun Wuji raised the corner of his mouth and smiled without saying a word.
Li Shen was taken to Ganlu Palace, and after entering, he found that Li Shimin and Li Chengqian were there.
"I meet you, brother."
"Well, come and sit down." Li Shimin nodded and pointed at the chair.
Li Shen walked over and sat down, and Li Chengqian poured him a cup of tea.
"How is it?" Li Shimin asked.
Li Shen picked up the teacup and blew on it, then said to Wang De:
"Please tell me, Old Wang."
Wang De had no choice but to tell him what had just happened.
"You are so filial that you even drag me into this. By then, will my two secret orders still be secret orders?"
After listening to the story, Li Shimin said angrily, "What a good son! He is the first one to betray me when something happens."
Li Shen drank two sips of tea and said confidently:
"Father, my son's life is at stake now, shouldn't you protect him?
Besides, Aye received 200,000 strings of cash, so he should also contribute a little."
"Asshole, the 200,000 strings of cash is the money I promised to give you for the imperial edict, but it does not include the money you dragged into perjury."
It would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned it. As soon as he did, Li Shimin got even angrier and kicked Li Shen:
"How dare you say that? You actually want me to bear false witness for you? If people knew about this, where would my dignity be?
You are such a rebellious son."
That’s right, it was perjury. Li Shen had no testimony from Wang Wencheng’s accomplices at all.
Just now he was talking complete nonsense in the Ministry of Justice of the Tang Dynasty.
At that time, the facts of Wang Wencheng's crime were clear and there was no need for him to be brought to court, so the plan was to handle the case in secret.
Besides, the main criminals are already dead, and the rest are just minions, so there is no need to write any confessions.
Now Li Shen couldn't remember where those people went, so where could he find the accomplices?
"Father, you can't say that. That's two hundred thousand strings of cash. And it's not perjury. Those people are indeed accomplices."
Li Shen rubbed the place where he was kicked and said embarrassedly.
"Humph, I will never bear false witness for you. If I do, how can I face my ancestors?
I am the emperor." Li Shimin snorted coldly.
"One hundred sets of personal guard equipment!"
"make a deal!"
(I read the comments. I am old now and my memory is not very good, so sometimes I miss the things I said before.
Maybe I will write it again later.
Everyone remember that this is not the author's sloppy writing, but he has a bad memory or Alzheimer's disease.
Please bear with me, thank you.)