Chapter 320 Are you talking about Consort Yin?
Shameless!
Everyone who heard this felt their hair stand on end.
That's shameless! That's despicable!
He was clearly a cowardly official, but he was portrayed as a loyal and courageous person.
Wei Shuyu's lips twitched repeatedly.
Can this guy really be a loyal subject?
Nobody believes that.
Even I don't believe it.
However……
Everyone felt disgusted.
But Li Shimin enjoyed it.
After being constantly criticized by Lao Wei, how could I not be happy to suddenly have such a 'confidant'?
Most importantly, what the other party said was the 'truth'!
"What's your name again?"
"Your Majesty, my name is Wang Gui."
Do you know why I'm so angry?
"Your Majesty, please forgive me; I am foolish and dull."
"Um."
Li Shimin squinted and nodded, looking at how high his awareness was.
Unlike the Wei family, who always think they're clever.
"No matter what, you are the magistrate of Hu County. You have brought all your yamen runners to Chang'an, which is quite a feat."
"If all of you come, what will happen to the people of Hu County?"
"What if there are grievances that need to be handled by the government, and the common people have no way to seek justice?"
As Li Shimin recounted his story, Wang Gui's expression became solemn, tinged with shame and self-reproach.
He brought his acting skills to the extreme.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty!"
Wang Gui patted his chest in anguish: "Hearing Your Majesty's words, it's as if an oil lamp has appeared in my bewildered heart, illuminating the way forward for me."
"Your Majesty, I will obey your will and take the people as my responsibility. From now on, I will serve the people diligently and will never fail Your Majesty's trust."
"Your Majesty's words will be recorded word for word, framed, and kept at home to remind and warn me day and night... I have made mistakes before, and it was Your Majesty's holy words that awakened me!"
Everyone's scalp tingled.
Especially Wang De!
Damn it, are you trying to steal my favor?
You've taken your flattery to a whole new level. His Majesty's tastes have become more discerning. How can I possibly remain in his favor?
You have to wear small shoes!
"Um."
Li Shimin narrowed his eyes: "Considering that your original intention was to investigate the matter of military rations, your merits and demerits can be considered equal, and I will not pursue the matter this time."
"I hope you will serve your official duties well and speak up for the people!"
"As long as you are upright, I will never wrongly blame any loyal minister!"
"I await your merits and promotions, at which time we, as ruler and subject, will work together!"
Magistrate Wang was fully revived and extremely excited.
He immediately replied with great enthusiasm, as if he had been injected with chicken blood: "Your subject is determined to devote himself to the Tang Dynasty and dedicate his life to it."
"You may leave now."
Li Shimin waved his hand: "The people of Hu County still need you."
"promise."
Magistrate Wang bowed and retreated, then suddenly turned around at the gate...
They marched with an air of high spirits and determination, as if ready to fight a great battle.
You have treated me with utmost sincerity, and I will repay you with my life.
His Majesty said... Hu County needs me!
Then I will protect Huxian County!
"..."
Everyone was stunned?
Didn't you just say that even nine generations of your family wouldn't be enough to kill?
Does that absolve him of his guilt?
Of course, the main reason was that Wei Shuyu and others found the military rations!
After criticizing everyone, Li Shimin turned his attention to the key figure in the matter...
"Minister Yin, tell me... what exactly is going on with the military rations in your residence?"
Li Shimin's tone wasn't as fierce as others'.
Not only because Wang Gui had taken a good time with him, but also because Yin Hongzhi was his brother-in-law, so he had to show him some leniency.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Upon seeing this, Yin Hongzhi quickly bowed and cried out with tears streaming down his face, "I am innocent! I truly do not know why there is so much military rations in the mansion."
"You dare to spout nonsense in front of His Majesty?" Wei Shuyu immediately began to curse.
"..."
Li Shimin's face immediately darkened.
Do I even smell his farts?
Indeed, there is no harm without comparison.
Wang Gui is so much better; he speaks so nicely.
"Wei Shuyu, don't you dare to wrong me!" Yin Hongzhi shouted, pointing at Wei Shuyu.
"Injustice?"
Wei Shuyu said coldly, "A large amount of military rations were found in your residence, and you still dare to deny it?"
"It's understandable that you said you didn't know about the extra few coins or a few extra people in your family!"
"But that's a whole warehouse full of grain!"
"And the copper coins and cloth obtained from selling the grain..."
"Even if you were unaware, wouldn't your household steward have informed you?"
"You dare to lie before His Majesty? This is the crime of deceiving the emperor!"
Swish.
Yin Hongzhi's expression changed drastically.
He panicked and said the wrong thing, not expecting to be caught and scolded by Wei Shuyu.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Yin Hongzhi bowed to Li Shimin and said, "I misspoke in my haste."
"What I mean is..."
"These grains were prepared by my son; I truly had no idea they were military rations."
Everyone frowned; this explanation was far-fetched.
As expected, Wei Shuyu immediately launched into a tirade...
"You still dare to lie?"
"With so much food and money, you wouldn't want to find out the whole story?"
Everyone nodded.
That's more like it...
With such a large amount of money and grain appearing in the government office, how could they not inquire about it?
"Wei Shuyu".
Yin Hongzhi, his face grim, rebuked him: "Stop spreading alarmist rumors in front of His Majesty!"
"If I had really obtained military rations, why would I keep them in my own residence?"
"Isn't this like holding a knife to your own throat, waiting for you to come and chop you down?"
Huh?
That seems to be the case.
Yin Hongneng, who was able to sit in the position of Vice Minister, did not look like a fool at all.
"Then tell me..."
Wei Shuyu pressed on, asking, "Where did you get all this military rations from, and who provided them for you?"
Yin Hongzhi remained silent.
His son is indeed in charge of this matter.
He was aware of it as well.
The reason they dared not reveal the truth was because Li You had ordered them to handle these military rations.
He desperately tried to win over officials and consolidate his power.
Why did they even reach the point of being able to rival Changsun Wuji?
It's all so that Li You can participate in the struggle for the throne in the future!
So it doesn't matter where Li You got the food from.
This matter...
Li You must not be implicated.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
Yin Hongzhi bowed and replied, "It was my negligence in disciplining him."
"fart!"
"Who do you think you are? Do you think you can get away with neglecting the soldiers' rations by saying you've failed to discipline them?"
Wei Shuyu, however, did not let the other party off the hook.
Because the issue of military rations involves a wide range of issues.
"So what do you want?"
Yin Hongzhi gritted his teeth and replied, "I can cooperate with the investigation on this matter, but I really don't know the origin of these military rations!"
"Do you even know what case you're involved in?" Wei Shuyu pressed on, "Do you still dare to try and evade His Majesty?"
"I told you, I didn't know those were military rations!"
Yin Hongzhi roared angrily, insisting that it had nothing to do with him.
"Enough!"
Li Shimin shouted and stopped the two.
"You didn't have enough of arguing on the street, so now you've come to the Taiji Hall to make a scene, huh?"
Do you even respect me?
Seeing that Li Shimin was furious, the two quickly admitted their mistake.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me."
The two bowed in unison.
"Chang He".
Li Shimin looked at Chang He: "Can you find out anything from Yin Hongzhi's son?"
"Return to Your Majesty."
Chang He glanced at Yin Hongzhi before replying, "Yin Cigao is very stubborn. He insists that the grain was bought from a merchant."
Which merchant?
"this……"
Chang He forced himself to reply, "He said that the merchant has already left Chang'an."
Bang.
Li Shimin slammed his hand on the table.
"You actually believe such an absurd excuse?"
There is always something to be helpless about.
This was due to considerations regarding Yin Hongzhi's identity.
For an ordinary person, they would have been tortured long ago.
"Yin Hongzhi, what do you have to say?"
Li Shimin turned his gaze to Yin Hongzhi, his eyes already filled with murderous intent.
"Your Majesty, I will not participate in this matter."
"No matter what form of torture is used, as long as the truth is uncovered, the brat may do as he pleases!"
Yin Hongzhi bowed expressionlessly.
Now that things have come to this, the only option is to sacrifice his son to save the king.
"Chang He, did you hear me? Go investigate!"
Li Shimin then instructed, "Minister Sun, you, from the Court of Judicial Review, will provide assistance from the sidelines!"
"promise."
The two accepted the order in unison.
"Yin Hongzhi, you should stay home obediently until you find out the truth," Li Shimin said after a moment of contemplation.
"Your subject obeys the decree."
Li Shimin has already shown mercy.
If an ordinary person dared to resell military rations, regardless of their status, they would be thrown into prison.
"Minister Gao..."
Li Shimin spoke a few more words to Gao Shilian and then dismissed him.
Soon, only Wei Zheng and Wei Shuyu remained in the Taiji Hall.
"Shuyu, tell me, why are you targeting Yin Hongzhi?" Li Shimin asked.
"Your Majesty, this matter is not simple."
Wei Shuyu analyzed, "According to my guess, the ability to transfer military rations from the military camp without anyone noticing is very likely related to a mastermind hiding in the palace!"
Li Shimin's expression immediately hardened.
They attacked Changle, gathered Li Yuan's old troops, and colluded with Ling Jing and Songtsen Gampo.
She could move freely within the palace and had connections with Yin Hongzhi...
Then there's only one person left.
"Are you talking about Consort Yin?"
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