hsntnovel Chapter 2197: A Fine of Ten Thousand Coins
Chapter 2197: A Fine of Ten Thousand Coins
Li Shen looked at the letter in his hand. After a long while, he looked up at Pei Ziyu and the others, then waved to the guards.
The guards immediately let go of the two and retreated.
"Wang Xuance, where did this letter come from?" Li Shen asked.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, it was given to me by His Highness the Crown Prince before I came to Xizhou."
Wang Xuance bowed and replied.
Your Royal Highness?
When Pei Ziyu and the others heard that it was a letter from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, they were immediately surprised. Why did His Royal Highness the Crown Prince mention them in the letter?
Judging from Prince Ji’s expression, the letter must contain information about rescuing them, otherwise Prince Ji would not have acted in this way.
Li Shen nodded:
"It is indeed my eldest brother's handwriting, and there is the prince's seal on it."
At this point, Li Shen looked at Pei Ziyu:
"I never thought you were actually related to the prince."
"Your Highness, Prince Ji, we are guilty. We hope Your Highness will show mercy and give us a chance."
Pei Ziyu crawled over.
“Your Highness, Prince Ji, I think that although they have violated the law, their crimes are not punishable by death, so they can be forgiven by paying money like everyone else.
After they arrived in Xizhou Prefecture, they did not commit crimes or oppress the civilians. Instead, they performed their duties conscientiously, especially General Li.
Every time the rebels were suppressed, General Li always led the troops.
I hope His Royal Highness Prince Ji can forgive them."
Wang Xuance spoke again.
Li Shen's face was unpredictable, as if he was hesitating and struggling.
After a long time, he finally spoke:
“You are really lucky to have won the favor of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, asking me not to deal with you two, but to take care of you.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that both of you are talented and he will make important use of you in the future.
I don’t know what the prince is thinking. You two are the only talented people? This is really ridiculous.”
Li Shen complained.
When the two heard that it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who asked Prince Ji to look after them, they were immediately overjoyed. It seemed that they were really saved this time.
Even if His Royal Highness Prince Ji disregards anyone else, he should at least consider His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
"I am very unwilling to accept this. You two should be beheaded and your property should be confiscated." Li Shen spoke again.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, please consider the overall situation." Wang Xuance advised.
"I can forgive the past, but I can avoid the death penalty, but I can't escape the guilt. How do you think you can eliminate my anger?"
Li Shen questioned sternly.
At this moment, General Li's IQ suddenly came online, and he said to Li Shen:
"Your Highness Prince Ji, I am willing to have my property confiscated and pay a fine of 50,000 strings of cash."
"I am willing too." Pei Ziyu followed closely.
But Li Shen shook his head and uttered two words:
"not enough!"
It's impossible to get rid of him with just 50,000 strings of cash.
The money Li Shen wants now is not only for the lives of these two people, but also for doing things for the prince.
The prince was already penniless, and he even borrowed 30,000 strings of cash from the queen.
All of my savings were taken away by Li Shen. I'm afraid I won't be able to pay him the corresponding reward for doing such a big thing for him this time.
This money can only come from these two guys.
"Then...I wonder how much His Royal Highness Prince Ji wants?" Pei Ziyu asked tentatively.
"Five hundred thousand strings of cash."
"Five hundred thousand strings of cash?" The two were stunned. They knew that Prince Ji was greedy, but he wasn't this greedy, right?
They can't earn 500,000 strings of cash in their lifetime.
The filial money received over all this time was only a few tens of thousands of strings of cash.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, it's not that we don't want to pay, it's just... it's just that we really can't come up with that much money."
When the two heard the 500,000 strings of cash, their first reaction was that Prince Ji was determined to kill them.
Otherwise, why would they ask for so much money?
"Yes, Your Highness Prince Ji, I have already found out that they only embezzled tens of thousands of strings of cash. Even if they have some property,
But we don't have 500,000 strings of cash left. Your Highness Prince Ji is merciful and should give them a chance to live."
Wang Xuance, who was standing aside, was sincerely trying to persuade him this time.
He also didn't expect that Prince Ji would be so cruel. He asked for 500,000 strings of cash right away. Aren't you too cruel?
"You don't even have 500,000 strings of cash, and you still have the nerve to be a corrupt official?" Li Shen muttered.
This sentence almost caused Pei Ziyu and the other person to die on the spot.
The two of them thought, what do you mean by not even having 500,000 strings of cash? That's 500,000 strings of cash, not 50,000 strings of cash. Even among the nobles in Chang'an, how many can afford 500,000 strings of cash?
Prince Ji is so arrogant.
"Then tell me, how much fine are you willing to pay?" Li Shen asked.
"This..." The two hesitated, wondering how much King Ji wanted.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to give you all my savings, a total of 100,000 strings of cash. I hope Your Majesty will spare my life."
Pei Ziyu spoke first. One hundred thousand strings of cash is not a small amount.
General Li glanced at Pei Ziyu. He was a military commander, and his brain was not as bright as Pei Ziyu's. Although he also had industry,
But his family background is not as rich as Pei Ziyu's.
But at this moment, life is at stake, so I can only grit my teeth and say:
"I am willing to pay 100,000 strings of cash."
After hearing this, Li Shen pretended to think for a moment, but in fact he was ecstatic in his heart, as he had an unexpected gain.
He originally thought that 50,000 strings of cash would be enough, and that 100,000 strings of cash for two people would already be a windfall. He never expected that the two of them were so rich.
Wang Xuance, who was standing by, saw that the time had come and immediately advised again:
"Your Highness Prince Ji, it seems that Pei Changshi and the other two are sincere and will change. Why not give them a chance?
After His Royal Highness Prince Ji returns to Chang'an, he can also give an explanation to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
No matter what, the Crown Prince's orders must be obeyed."
“Well, since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince values you so much, I will spare your lives, but you will still be punished.
He was sentenced to 40 strokes of the cane, confiscation of all embezzled property, and a fine of 100,000 strings of cash as punishment.
I hope you will mend your ways.”
Finally, Li Shen's expression softened and he sighed.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy. Thank you, Your Highness, for not killing me."
The two men knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Li Shen again to thank him for surviving the disaster.
Although the 100,000 strings of cash made them feel distressed, it was not as important as their lives.
Even if they don't embezzle in the future, they can make it back in a few years relying on their own business.
In fact, they were also thinking that even if they didn't pay and continued to cry poor, with a letter from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, perhaps Prince Ji would let them go.
But they didn't dare to gamble. It was okay for others, but King Ji was an evil ghost who could do anything for money.
Who knows if he will ignore the prince's opinion and kill them directly.
"You don't have to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince hadn't wanted to protect you, I would have beheaded you two long ago."
Li Shen said indifferently to the two.
"Yes, we thank His Royal Highness for his grace.
Your Highness, please give us one more day. We will send it to Your Highness after we have collected 100,000 strings of cash."
After thanking the prince, the two men asked Li Shen for instructions.
(You guys say that the skits nowadays are so outrageous, yet everyone still gives them all positive reviews.
Why do people criticize me for writing unreasonable novels?