Chapter 360 Using words to slander others

The Imperial Palace.

While processing memorials, Li Shimin listened to reports from his subordinates.

Wei Zheng also knelt to the side to handle government affairs.

"What did you say?"

Li Shimin put down the memorial and asked in shock, "Is Wei Shuyu suspected of accepting bribes and colluding with the enemy?"

"Your Majesty, I witnessed everything myself."

The guard clasped his hands in greeting and replied, "The Tibetan envoy gifted Wei Shuyu a large amount of wealth, which is still piled up in Hu County!"

Okay, okay!

Li Shimin laughed heartily to himself.

I've finally caught Wei out, haven't I?

On the surface...

Li Shimin wore an expression of righteous indignation.

He looked at Wei Zheng and slammed his hand on the dragon table with a bang.

"Xuancheng, what exactly happened to Shuyu?"

"Accepting bribes and colluding with the enemy to betray the country!"

Do you know how serious his crime was?

"I trusted him so much, even entrusting the Ministry of Commerce to him!"

"Is this how he repays me?"

Wei Zheng was speechless.

Can't that brat just stay quiet all day? He's even more troublesome than his husband, the Imperial Attendant.

"His Majesty."

Wei Zheng stood up, bowed, and said, "The cause and effect of the matter have not yet been investigated. As the ruler of the country, Your Majesty must not make hasty conclusions!"

"Does this even need to be investigated?"

Li Shimin replied angrily, "The fact that that wealth is piled up in Hu County is irrefutable evidence!"

"His Majesty……"

Wei Zheng was about to retort.

"I won't listen to your explanation!"

Li Shimin quickly interrupted, determined not to give Lao Wei a chance to defend himself.

Once Wei Zheng opens his mouth, he can make even black seem white.

It even makes a damn good point!

"Xuancheng, tell me yourself, have I mistreated him?"

"His titles include: tutor to the crown prince, censor, physician, and his peerage..."

"Who at his age can receive such a high salary?"

"Even if he's still short of money, can't he tell me?"

"At worst..."

"Why not exploit the merchants right in front of you and instead accept bribes?"

What is he thinking?

"Can't you tell the difference between selling out your country for personal gain and embezzlement and bribery?"

"Now look at this mess..."

"Even if I wanted to protect him out of respect for you, it wouldn't be that easy!"

Li Shimin, like a floodgate bursting, began to vent his frustrations.

Damn, that's crystal clear.

After all those attempts to find fault with me, I never expected that my little trick would come to me like this.

"Your Majesty, you should not speak too definitively."

Wei Zheng thought for a moment and replied, "Just as Your Majesty said, Shuyu is not short of money; he has no need to embezzle..."

"Are you still going to defend him?"

Li Shimin interrupted him sternly again: "Do you know how serious the consequences of this matter are?"

"Not to mention how many impeachments he'll receive tomorrow."

"This might even implicate you!"

Li Shimin's words were firm and resounding!

After enduring humiliation and hardship for many years, today we finally turn the tables and sing our praises!

Although this time the target is Xiao Wei!

but……

I've already got Little Wei under my thumb, so how far behind can you, Old Wei, be?

One day, I will make you understand what it means for imperial authority to be inviolable!

"Your Majesty, Wang Gui requests an audience!"

Just as Li Shimin was filled with excitement, Li Junxian came to report.

Wang Gui?

Li Shimin's spirits lifted instantly!

My 'great loyal minister' has arrived too?

Wouldn't you call this a double celebration?

"Announce!"

Li Shimin's voice was loud and resonant, full of energy.

We really stood up to Lao Wei today.

"Your subject, Wang Gui, greets Your Majesty!"

Upon seeing Li Shimin, Wang Gui bowed respectfully and solemnly, and then...

"May Your Majesty enjoy good health, longevity, and an everlasting dynasty, with your might dominating the heavens and all nations submitting to you. May our Great Tang Dynasty enjoy favorable weather, prosperity throughout the land, and peace and well-being for its people..."

Li Shimin's body trembled.

He straightened his posture without thinking.

Look, this is what a human being should say...

Unlike Wang De, who just spouts the same few phrases over and over again.

"No need for formalities!"

Li Shimin spoke calmly and authoritatively.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wang Gui slowly straightened up.

"I wonder what brings you here, Minister Wang?" Li Shimin asked kindly.

"Return to your majesty!"

Wang Gui bowed, and then continued...

"Since our last parting, I have constantly thought of Your Majesty's words and longed to see Your Majesty's face again day and night. Heaven rewards those who persevere, and today Your Majesty has granted me permission to enter the Imperial Study..."

After a long, drawn-out introduction: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty, I have spoken a bit too much. I was simply overwhelmed with emotion and genuinely excited to see Your Majesty."

"It's alright."

Li Shimin smiled and waved his hand: "My dear minister, you are devoted to the Tang Dynasty, how could I blame you?"

Go on.

I love listening to you talk!

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"

Wang Gui bowed and said, "Your Majesty's wisdom is unparalleled, and Your Majesty's magnanimity is a model for future monarchs."

"It is my honor to serve Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty's reign over the world is a blessing for all the people..."

The more pleased Li Shimin was with what he heard, the more uncomfortable Wang De, who was serving him, became.

That bastard is trying to steal my job again...

This is intolerable!

But he couldn't interrupt when Li Shimin was talking to his ministers.

Only...

"snort!"

Wang De gave a sarcastic snort.

Li Shimin couldn't help but give him a strange look...

"Wang De, is the changing room cleaned up yet?" Li Shimin asked casually.

"Return to Your Majesty."

Wang De suddenly realized: "It's already cleaned up."

"Um."

Li Shimin nodded: "Then go and clean it again."

ah?

Wang De was stunned.

"Unwilling?" Li Shimin showed his dissatisfaction.

"This servant will go right away!"

Wang De quickly left.

As he passed by Wang Gui, he glared at him fiercely.

"Wang Gui, continue..."

Li Shimin squinted and chuckled.

"promise."

After being reprimanded by Wang De, Wang Gui realized that he had said a bit too much.

Let's get right to the point...

"Your Majesty has a discerning eye and has found a worthy minister like Wei Langzhong. This is a great fortune for our Tang Dynasty."

"Just look at him... feigning one thing while doing another, playing hard to get, catching the thief in the dark, removing the fuel from under the cauldron, taking advantage of someone's misfortune, fabricating something out of nothing..."

"He has mastered the Thirty-Six Stratagems to perfection!"

Li Shimin was unhappy.

I told you to praise me, not that brat.

Speak like a human being!

Li Shimin was slightly dissatisfied.

"It was Doctor Wei who accepted some valuables from the Tibetans."

Wang Gui said earnestly, "He asked me to pass on a message to His Majesty..."

"Never listen to the opinions of those short-sighted, narrow-minded, ignorant, and incompetent frogs in a well..."

Li Shimin frowned.

What does he mean by that?

Li Shimin rebuked him angrily, "Does he think it's justifiable for him to have secret dealings with foreign countries and accept bribes?"

"What Doctor Wei means is..."

Wang Gui replied straightforwardly, "Why shouldn't we accept money from Tibet when they're sending it to the Tang Dynasty?"

yes.

Why not?

Li Shimin was instantly awakened.

Wei Shuyu's failure to report this constitutes adultery.

But Wei Shuyu had Wang Gui inform him, which shows his wisdom and resourcefulness!

"His Majesty!"

Just as Li Shimin was in shock, Wang Gui continued speaking...

"The physician Wei was afraid that some ignorant fools would accuse him of betraying his master for personal gain, so he specially sent me on this trip."

A foolish and ignorant idiot?

Holy crap.

Are those short-sighted, narrow-minded, and ignorant people also criticizing me?

Li Shimin was completely distraught...

Because up to now, he has been saying that Wei Shuyu colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country.

On the side.

Wei Zheng secretly glanced at Li Shimin.

It seems like I don't even need to say anything about this anymore?

Hmm, the Thirty-Six Stratagems?

My son, you're quite good at using words to insult people...