Chapter 159 Discussing Hou Junji's Issue

"Your Highness, I, Li Anyan, pay my respects to the Crown Prince!" Li Anyan left Duke Chen's residence and went directly to the palace to meet Li Chengqian.

"No need to be polite, my dear! Has the matter been settled?" Li Chengqian extended his hand to support him.

"Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission! Hou Junji has agreed to commit suicide and apologize! This is a confession written by Hou Junji himself, please have a look, Your Highness." Li Anyan finished speaking, took out Hou Junji's confession from his pocket and handed it to Li Chengqian.

After Li Chengqian took the confession letter and read it, he smiled and said, "Your Excellency has made great contributions to this matter. I will greatly reward you."

"What should I reward you with? I will reward you with 50 pieces of silk. When your father returns from Goguryeo, I will recommend you to your father as the general of the Left Guard."

Li Chengqian rewarded Li Anyan and promised Li Anyan that he would definitely recommend him to Li Er as the general of the Left Guard.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness! I will serve you wholeheartedly!" Li Anyan was overjoyed and thanked Li Chengqian profusely.

The matter had been settled by Li Anyan. Next, he would wait for the news of Hou Junji's suicide to spread, and everything would be settled.

In this way, Li Chengqian could also feel at ease.

After Li Anyan left, Hou Junji first had his last dinner with his family.

After explaining some of his past, Hou Junji's unusual behavior confused his wife and children, because they did not dare to ask too many questions because of Hou Junji's majesty at home.

That night, Hou Junji committed suicide in his study, ending his sinful second half of life.

The next morning, the news that Hou Junji hanged himself at home spread directly, causing a shock in the court and the country.

Li Chengqian immediately summoned Fang Xuanling, Yang Shidao, Gao Shilian, Li Zhi and others to discuss matters related to Hou Junji.

"This time Hou Junji hanged himself because he was afraid of the crime. This matter is serious. I dare not make a decision, so I specially invite you to come and discuss it." Li Chengqian said to the ministers.

Hou Junji's death must be reported to Li Er who was far away in Goguryeo. After all, Hou Junji was one of the twenty-four heroes of Lingyan Pavilion. He couldn't just let it go without knowing it and pretend that nothing happened.

This was also the purpose of Li Chengqian summoning them. Hou Junji's suicide must be defined as suicide out of fear of crime, and then they should write a joint memorial with these ministers and send it to Li Er of Goguryeo.

"Why do you say that? Duke Chen was a hero of the Tang Dynasty and made great military achievements for the Tang Dynasty. Do you have any evidence to prove it?" As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, someone stood up to question Li Chengqian's words.

After all, only Li Chengqian knew that Hou Junji was going to rebel, and no one present knew about it.

The minister thought that the prince was slandering the meritorious officials of the Tang Dynasty, so he asked to see the evidence. Otherwise, the prince was slandering a minister who had made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty.

Then they should think carefully about what purpose the prince had in doing this and what his intention was.

He had to not let go of even a dead person and even threw dirty water on him after his death.

Li Chengqian looked up at the minister who had just spoken. This person was Zhang Xingcheng, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice. He enforced the law strictly, impeached officials, and was not afraid of the powerful.

He was highly appreciated by His Majesty Li II, and was later promoted from the Palace Attendant to the Secretary, participating in the discussion of major policies in the court.

Li Chengqian was not surprised at all that Zhang Xingcheng was the first to stand up and question the prince. If Zhang Xingcheng said nothing, Li Chengqian would find it strange.

This is Zhang Xingcheng's style.

"If there is no evidence, how can I slander the meritorious officials of the Tang Dynasty and make the people of the world feel disappointed." Li Chengqian said. "

Wang Quan, show the evidence you have found these days to the ministers, and also show the confession that Hou Junji presented to me."

"Yes!" Wang Quan accepted the order, stepped aside, took the evidence that had been prepared, and handed it to the ministers to look through.

These evidences were all dictated by the prince himself, copied by the Jinyiwei, and polished before they were completed.

The above records are the most favorable evidence of Hou Junji's rebellion. However, except for the crown prince Li Chengqian, the general of the left garrison Li Anyan, and Wan Che, the others who conspired with Hou Junji are real.

After all, when Hou Junji was alive, he had contacted them secretly, and even Zhang Liang was mentioned above.

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a while.

Even Zhang Xingcheng, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice who was questioning the crown prince just now, shut up obediently.

It was really that these evidences of guilt were too shocking to their nerves, especially Hou Junji's handwritten confession, which made him speechless.

"Everyone has read it, and you must have understood what happened. Although Hou Junji has made contributions to the Tang Dynasty."

"But it is an indisputable fact that he committed treason. I originally wanted to wait for more evidence before arresting him, and hand him over to the three courts for trial, and then let Your Majesty make the final decision." "But

who knew that Hou Junji would commit suicide out of fear of crime? I had to summon everyone to discuss this matter. What should we do about it?" Li Chengqian saw that everyone had finished reading it, so he spoke directly.

Originally, according to the normal procedure, if Hou Junji was confirmed to have committed treason, he must be handed over to the three courts for trial. After the final result was reached, it would be reported to the emperor, and the emperor would issue an edict to execute him.

But now Hou Junji has gotten ahead of them and committed suicide out of fear of crime. No one knows what to do!

"What? Don't you have any solution?" "

Zhang Xingcheng, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, what about you? Don't you have any solution?" Li Chengqian said, looking at Zhang Xingcheng.

Everyone lowered their heads and no one spoke. After all, this conspiracy involved Hou Junji, one of the twenty-four heroes of Lingyan Pavilion.

More importantly, Hou Junji had committed suicide out of fear of crime. Everyone felt that the matter was serious and it was not appropriate to express their opinions casually, so they had to remain silent.

After a moment. Gao Jifu, the Inspector of the Ministry of Personnel, stood up and saluted, saying, "Your Highness!

Hou Junji's matter involves treason, and Hou Junji is a meritorious official of the Tang Dynasty. We should not make rash judgments on this matter." "In my opinion! It is better to report this matter to Your Majesty! See how Your Majesty decides on this matter." Gao Jifu's words touched Li Chengqian's heart. He also thought so, but as a prince, it was not easy for him to say it so directly. He needed them, the ministers, to bring it up. As a prince, sometimes, there were some things he knew in his heart, but he could not say them directly, and at this time, he needed someone to do it for him. "Minister Gao is right! I also think that this matter should be decided by my father. What do you think?" Li Chengqian said.

"I agree with Minister Gao's proposal and will report it to His Majesty for a decision." Fang Xuanling said.

"I second it!" Yang Shidao followed Fang Xuanling's suggestion at Li Chengqian's hint.

"

I second it!"

"I second it!" "I second it!" Everyone saw that the two important figures in the court agreed! Naturally, they would not object.