Chapter 504 Li Shimin Launches His Attack
Taiji Hall.
Upon receiving the news, Li Shimin was completely stunned.
To guard against it all...
The one who caused the problem was Yuwen Shiji, the Right Guard General whom he had personally appointed!
"Wang De, summoned Yuwen Shiji to an audience."
Upon Yuwen Shiji's arrival, Li Shimin's expression turned grim.
Since ascending the throne.
They're guarding against this and that...
Yet, one still cannot guard against betrayal from those closest to them.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"
Yuwen Shiji was already in his early fifties, and wearing armor, he gave off a very fierce feeling.
"My lord, I have never wronged you, have I?" Li Shimin took a deep breath and stared intently at the other party.
(Yuwen Shiji: His original surname was Poyetou, and his courtesy name was Renren)
"Your Majesty treats me extremely well!"
Yuwen Shiji replied affirmatively.
Entrusting him with the responsibility of guarding the palace is no ordinary act of trust.
"And how did you treat me?"
Li Shimin's eyes narrowed: "How do you explain the matter of Princess Nanyang?"
"Please forgive my ignorance."
Yuwen Shiji clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "I do not understand Your Majesty's meaning."
Bang.
Li Shimin slammed his hand on the imperial desk: "I'm asking you whether you colluded with Princess Nanyang!"
"We've been in contact."
Yuwen Shiji's lips twitched: "Back then, she came to me and asked me to do her a few favors..."
As it turns out.
It's useless to try to argue with Li Shimin.
When Li Shimin asked, he must have had some evidence.
“Speak…” Li Shimin said with a stern face.
"She sent a messenger from the palace..."
"I agreed because I thought they were just some trivial matters," Yuwen Shiji replied, his eyes darting away.
"You bastard."
Li Shimin angrily retorted, "You say that revealing Chang Le's departure from the palace is a minor matter?"
"You're saying that revealing Father's departure from the palace is a minor matter?"
"You colluded with outsiders to assassinate my father and children, and you're telling me this is a trivial matter?"
Li Shimin smashed the inkstone directly at him.
Bang.
The inkstone smashed onto Yuwen Shiji's head, seeping ink and blood.
It must be said that Li Shimin's smashing of things was selective, depending on the person.
At least when they were smashing the Wei brothers... they were throwing away memorials!
"Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?" Li Shimin reprimanded loudly.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Yuwen Shiji knelt down with a thud: "Your subject was wrong."
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty was completely tricked by that vile woman from Nanyang..."
Yuwen Shiji was also wronged.
For the first time, out of consideration for their marital bond, he helped Princess Nanyang.
But who would have thought that Princess Nanyang would join forces with Ling Jing to assassinate Chang Le?
They conspired with a princess from the previous dynasty to assassinate the current princess...
capital offense!
Whether he was sincere or not.
The accomplice cannot escape the charges.
This is tantamount to handing over a handle to Princess Nanyang.
After that, he could only compromise time and time again.
When you're already scared... there's no turning back.
"waste!"
Li Shimin was absolutely furious.
The general he appointed was being blackmailed by a woman.
They're utterly useless!
"Guards, drag Yuwen Shiji away and execute him soon!"
As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, Li Junxian immediately led his men in...
"Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Yuwen Shiji pleaded in fear, "I was wrong, I was really wrong."
"I hope Your Majesty will forgive me this once."
Rao?
Li Shimin's face was gloomy.
Your own father and daughter almost died because of you, and you still want me to spare you?
What are you still standing there for?
Li Shimin shouted, "Drag him away!"
"Another imperial decree was issued: Yuwen Shiji is suspected of treason, and the evidence against him is conclusive."
"Exterminate the entire Yuwen family, including all three clans!"
The words were spoken.
Li Junxian and his men forcefully dragged Yuwen Shiji away.
"Your Majesty, you can't do that!"
Yuwen Shiji struggled and roared, "Your subject is utterly loyal to the Tang Dynasty..."
"Drag it away!" Li Shimin didn't want to waste any more words.
After everything settled down, Li Shimin sat blankly on the dragon throne.
My heart is filled with bitterness.
Only after sitting on the dragon throne did he truly understand what it meant to be a lonely and isolated person.
Everyone around him could betray him.
Time passed, and I don't know how much time had gone by.
"His Majesty."
A eunuch suddenly entered and announced, "Wei Langzhong and General Chang request an audience."
"Announce!"
Li Shimin came to his senses.
"Your Majesty, we have come to pay our respects."
Wei Shuyu and Chang He bowed in unison.
"Your Majesty, I have successfully completed my mission and have captured all of Dou Jiande's remaining followers," Wei Shuyu said, bowing.
"My two ministers have worked hard..."
Li Shimin was not in a very good mood: "I will reward those who have made contributions at the morning court tomorrow."
"His Majesty."
Wei Shuyu suddenly replied, "Although the person has been caught, Fan Yuan only agreed to confess after requesting His Majesty to issue an edict to pardon the women and children of Dujia Village."
"presumptuous!"
Li Shimin sternly rebuked: "A bunch of rebels dare to make demands of me?"
"Issue the imperial decree... Dujia Village is a remnant of Dou Jiande's forces, suspected of crimes including assassinating the retired emperor and princess, stealing royal secrets, and treason..."
"Immediately imprison him and execute him three days later!"
Li Shimin was furious.
He needs to vent!
The Emperor's Wrath...
It takes fresh blood to extinguish it.
"Your Majesty, I suspect they have other conspiracies."
Wei Shuyu bowed and said, "It is not advisable to kill them for the time being."
Um?
Li Shimin frowned.
However, Wei Shuyu's proposal was quickly rejected.
"This matter needs no further discussion!"
Li Shimin waved his hand.
Dou Jiande's remnants had been causing trouble in Chang'an for so long, he had to kill people to establish his authority.
Even those who plot rebellion are not punished by having their entire family executed.
What if everyone rebels in the future?
"promise."
Wei Shuyu returned to his position.
There was no surprise in this result.
Anyway, he had already done his promise to Fan Yuan to mention it to His Majesty.
Li Shimin wouldn't listen, and there was nothing we could do.
"If there's nothing else, everyone can leave now," Li Shimin waved his hand.
"We take our leave."
Just as Wei Shuyu was about to leave, Li Shimin suddenly called him back.
"Shuyu, please stay for a moment..."
Wei Shuyu paused in his tracks.
Stand respectfully.
After everyone had left, Li Shimin looked at Wang De again...
"You go out too."
ah?
Wang De felt extremely wronged.
Your Majesty, I am your most beloved and caring servant.
Are you now even wary of your servants?
But under Li Shimin's piercing gaze, he had no choice but to bow and leave.
soon……
Only two people remained in the Taiji Hall.
Li Shimin remained silent.
He got up and walked down the steps to a certain spot in the Taiji Hall.
He stomped his foot on the ground.
"Shuyu, do you know when these floorboards were installed?"
Wei Shuyu looked down and his pupils immediately contracted.
The spot where Li Shimin stood was the very pit he had created during his madness.
"Your subject understands."
Wei Shuyu bowed and said.
"Then shouldn't you give me an explanation?"
Li Shimin turned around, his burning gaze fixed on Wei Shuyu.
So, it seems there's no escaping it after all?
Wei Shuyu sighed.
These past few days have been spent trying to save Li Yuan and the Imperial Academy army...
Both times he made a move, someone witnessed it.
Even if they wanted to hide it, they couldn't.
"What explanation does Your Majesty require?"
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