Chapter 91's merits should be calculated separately.

The Imperial Study.

Wei Zheng, Changsun Wuji, and others remained on standby.

Only after Li Shimin returned from Da'an Palace did everyone bow in unison...

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

snort.

Li Shimin snorted coldly and sat down on the dragon throne.

After being severely scolded by Li Yuan, Li Shimin was extremely angry!

"Zhijie, later you should order your men to send all of Father Emperor's former subordinates' younger generation back to their respective prefectures."

After a pause, Li Shimin said with murderous intent, "Anyone who disobeys will be killed without mercy!"

"Your Majesty, you mustn't."

Wei Zheng hurriedly bowed to stop them, saying, "If we send them back, it is very likely to cause dissatisfaction among the former officials of the retired emperor."

“If those old subordinates unite to exert pressure, then Your Majesty will be in trouble.”

"Moreover, if you prevent them from having an audience with the Emperor Emeritus, rumors will spread throughout the land."

"What will happen if people say that Your Majesty forced the emperor to abdicate and mistreated the retired emperor? How will you handle that then?"

Bang.

Li Shimin slammed his hand on the table: "Then tell me, what should I do?"

"If Father Emperor won't cooperate, do you expect me to hold a knife to his throat?!"

The officials were terrified.

They didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words!"

Wei Zheng frowned and replied seriously, "If Your Majesty's words were to get out, it would cause great turmoil!"

Li Shimin's anger level skyrocketed.

Having been humiliated by Li Yuan, he is now being reprimanded by Wei Zheng.

I couldn't hold it in any longer...

"Wei Zheng!"

Li Shimin stood up and roared, "I respect your dedication to the country, but you must also be able to distinguish the situation!"

Wei Zheng, equally stubborn, immediately retorted: "I know Your Majesty is in a bad mood right now, but you are the ruler of the country, and every decision you make affects millions of people in the Tang Dynasty. It is precisely at times like these that Your Majesty should remain calm."

"How can I remain calm?"

Li Shimin continued to roar angrily, "Those behind the scenes have even extended their reach into the imperial city!"

"Yesterday it was a remnant of the Great Xia, and today another former subordinate of Father Emperor has arrived!"

Do you know how many more deployments he'll make?

"Do you know how much of a threat it would be to leave these former subordinates of the Emperor near Chang'an?!"

"All you know is that if this gets out, it will damage my reputation..."

"But do you know that once the person behind the scenes makes a move against them, once they die near Chang'an..."

"Those old subordinates of my father will still hold me accountable for this!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Zheng frowned.

"Your Majesty, you've lost your composure..."

Wei Zheng began to explain methodically: "If you calm down and think about it, what's the difference between them being killed by the person behind the scenes and you driving them away?"

"If they die, the former subordinates of the retired emperor will turn against you."

“If you don’t let them see the retired emperor, these former subordinates will still cause trouble for you.”

"In my opinion, whether or not to drive away these juniors is not very meaningful!"

"The most urgent task now is to find the Imperial Seal of the State."

"What does it mean that this group of younger generations gathered in Niujia Village? It means that the news of the Imperial Seal of the State has been leaked."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you consider this matter carefully before making a decision!"

As Wei Zheng finished speaking, Li Shimin gradually calmed down.

Thinking about it carefully, it really is true...

Whether he rushed to the scene or not, he was killed by the person behind the scenes.

Those who were once his subordinates would all become dissatisfied with him.

However, Li Shimin still couldn't swallow this insult...

Because he was once again rendered speechless by Wei Zheng's rebuttal.

"Wei Zheng!"

Li Shimin rebuked again, but his tone no longer held any murderous intent: "Speaking of the Imperial Seal, I would like to ask you, how did this matter get leaked?"

"Besides a few of us, the only other person who knows about this is Wei Shuyu, right?"

Wei Zheng remained silent for a moment, but still replied, "Does Your Majesty suspect Shuyu?"

"I didn't say that."

Li Shimin had a stern face, but his tone was firm.

"Your Majesty, Shuyu returned to the residence with me yesterday, and hasn't left since..." Wei Zheng bowed and began to explain earnestly...

"Besides, Shuyu is still so young. Even if he says he knows where the Imperial Seal of the State is, who would believe him?"

Li Shimin was stunned.

Thinking about it carefully, it actually makes a bit of a difference.

Who would believe a little kid who claims to have the Imperial Seal of the State?

"Then Wei Shuyu can't clear his name either," Li Shimin muttered.

"Your Majesty, we should first make arrangements on what to do next."

Seeing that Li Shimin had calmed down, Fang Xuanling spoke up at the opportune moment.

"Hmm." Li Shimin nodded seriously: "I have complete trust in you all. Who do you think leaked the secret?"

"Your Majesty," Changsun Wuji said, "I believe the leaker is among the secret guards. Besides us, the only others who would know this are the secret guards searching for the Imperial Seal..."

Li Shimin frowned.

He also trusted his bodyguards completely.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been asked to handle this matter...

"Your Majesty, others may not be able to bribe the secret guards, but you must not forget that the person behind the scenes knows Princess Chang Le's movements..."

"He is very likely someone from the palace, and of high status!"

Changsun Wuji analyzed it seriously.

Li Shimin was frowning, trying to figure out who it was, when Changsun Wuji spoke up again...

"Your Majesty, I believe this matter is inextricably linked to Songtsen Gampo."

"Princess Chang Le was attacked, and he just happened to appear and just happened to save her. It's too much of a coincidence."

"And today in the court, he repeatedly asked to marry Chang Le, which is absolutely not something a monarch should do."

"It doesn't make sense that he would risk offending the Tang Dynasty to insist on this."

"besides……"

Li Shimin nodded repeatedly, but as he listened, he began to sense that something was amiss.

Because at today's court assembly, Li Shimin still granted Songtsen Gampo's request...

Three days later, Songtsen Gampo challenged Changsun Chong!

"Auxiliary Machine, you're not afraid that Chong'er will lose, so you're deliberately trying to sow discord in him, are you?" Li Shimin couldn't help but ask.

"Your Majesty, this matter concerns the safety of the Tang Dynasty. How could I not distinguish the importance and urgency of the matter?" Changsun Wuji replied righteously and sternly.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked at him with disdain.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Changsun Wuji glared at him. "Am I wrong?"

"At most, I just did a more in-depth analysis of him."

"Don't you think he's a suspect?"

Okay.

It involves both public and private interests.

However, it must be admitted that Changsun Wuji's analysis does make some sense.

The group discussed and analyzed the situation, but they still couldn't figure out who was behind it all, even by nightfall.

The final conclusion was... let things take their course!

The person behind the scenes summoned Li Yuan's former subordinates to Chang'an, which will surely lead to further action.

They were just waiting for the other side to slip up.

Just as the group finished their discussion and were about to go home, Li Shimin suddenly revealed a malicious smile...

"Xuancheng, now that everyone knows about the Imperial Seal, there's no need for Shuyu to attract attention anymore. Do you think I can take back the position of county magistrate?"

Now it was Wei Zheng's turn to be stunned.

He served as a county magistrate for a day, barely had time to warm up, and was stripped of his post. If word got out, his Wei family would be the laughingstock of the world.

"Your Majesty's words are law; are you trying to go back on your word?"

Wei Zheng said in a serious tone, "If word gets out..."

"Stop, stop..."

Seeing that Wei Zheng was about to start rambling on again, Li Shimin quickly stopped him: "I'm not saying I'm going to dismiss him from his post, I'm just going to give him another task."

"Isn't he quite fierce among the younger generation?"

"I think it's better to let him keep an eye on those kids from Father Emperor's old guard."

Wei Zheng pondered for a moment.

"Your Majesty, I reckon this is something an ordinary person couldn't do, so the credit should be calculated separately."

"..."

Are you trying to do business with me? And that's a different story?

"Why can't others do it?" Li Shimin glared.

"This... will most likely require the mobilization of the Imperial Academy's... large army."

"Ordinary people can't command them."

puff……

Li Shimin spat out a mouthful of tea.

Screw your Imperial College army.

Who sealed it?

How come I didn't know about this army?