Li Jue's sealing off of Zhaoguo Temple was like stirring up a hornet's nest.
Because Zhaoguo Temple not only lends money at exorbitant interest rates, but also performs some of the functions of a bank, helping many powerful and wealthy people deposit their money.
This has one advantage: even if powerful figures fall from power, the government will not search Zhaoguo Temple.
Therefore, the news of Li Jue's order to seal off Zhaoguo Temple reached Li Shimin in the palace within an hour.
"What?"
"You're saying that the rebellious grandson sealed off Zhaoguo Temple?"
"Yes!"
"Your Majesty, you must keep an eye on the Crown Prince! You absolutely cannot allow him to close Zhaoguo Temple!"
"this……"
Li Shimin felt a headache when he heard this. In fact, he knew something about Zhaoguo Temple and that it was closely connected with powerful figures in the capital and even the imperial family.
But he didn't care, because he knew that under the sun, there must be a shady side and a sunny side.
The bright side can naturally be made public, but the dark side should be hidden and not seen by the world.
"What's the reason this time?"
"Your Majesty, it is said to be just a minor case?"
How small?
"An elderly couple in Chang'an County committed suicide by poisoning themselves..."
Li Shimin frowned instinctively upon hearing this.
What's the reason?
"Was it because the government was pressuring them too much, or because they couldn't get enough to eat that they committed suicide?"
"Your Majesty, it is said that the two committed suicide out of shame because they couldn't repay a loan from Zhaoguo Temple..."
Li Shimin gave Chu Suiliang a cold look, and finally understood why Li Jue had ordered the sealing off of Zhaoguo Temple.
During the prosperous Zhenguan era, the common people did not starve or die from exhaustion, but were driven to their deaths by the usury of Zhaoguo Temple!
"snort!"
"These bald monks have really been lawless for a long time, it's time someone puts them in charge!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Suiliang quickly offered his advice.
"Your Majesty, Zhaoguo Temple is a great temple. It not only enshrines many gods and Buddhas, but also the memorial tablet of Empress Zhangsun..."
Li Shimin sighed helplessly upon hearing this; Chu Suiliang had once again struck at his weak spot.
"I understand. Take this imperial edict with you and order Li Jue to release the man and withdraw the soldiers who are sealing off Zhaoguo Temple!"
"promise!"
Chu Suiliang happily ran to Zhaoguo Temple.
"His Majesty's edict orders the Crown Prince to immediately withdraw the soldiers sealing off Zhaoguo Temple and release all those detained at Zhaoguo Temple!"
The soldiers who were sealing off Zhaoguo Temple were all soldiers from the Sanglin Zhechong Prefecture, personally trained by Li Jue. They were all completely dumbfounded when they heard the order.
"Boss, whose advice should we take?"
Upon hearing this, Shan Daozhen snorted coldly.
"Whose food do you eat?"
"Of course, it's the Crown Prince's grain!"
"Whose money are you taking?"
"Of course, it's also the Crown Prince's money!"
"Then whose opinion do you want to follow?"
"Of course we'll listen to the Crown Prince!"
With just a few words, Shan Daozhen rekindled the morale of the troops, which had been wavering.
Seeing that everyone remained motionless, Chu Suiliang's old face immediately darkened.
"Look carefully, what I'm holding in my hand is His Majesty's edict!"
Shan Daozhen had never liked Li Er, and now, even if Li Er himself came, let alone just a written order, he could still stand up to him.
"snort!"
"This general does not recognize His Majesty's edict, but only the Crown Prince's decree!"
"If I cannot produce the Crown Prince's decree today, I will not retreat a single step!"
"you……"
Upon hearing this, Chu Suiliang became furious. Seeing that he couldn't reason with the officer, he could only reluctantly take the Emperor's edict to the Prince of Qin's residence to find Li Jue.
Li Jue was hearing a case when he suddenly heard that Chu Suiliang had arrived, and he felt as if a crow had come knocking at his door.
"Who will shield me?"
"Holy crap..."
Just as Liu Rengui was about to leave, he saw Chu Suiliang storm in angrily.
"Crown Prince, may I ask if you intend to rebel?"
Upon hearing Chu Suiliang's words, everyone in the Prince of Qin's residence changed their expressions.
You can't just say things like that carelessly, or it could cause another controversy over deposing or installing someone!
Before Li Jue could speak, Liu Rengui pounced on him like a mad dog.
"You're talking nonsense!"
"Everyone in the world knows that the Crown Prince is exceptionally filial to His Majesty. How can there be any talk of treason!"
Chu Suiliang snorted coldly upon hearing this.
"snort!"
"Since the Crown Prince did not intend to rebel, why am I unable to mobilize his personal guards even though I have His Majesty's edict in hand?"
"oh?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Rengui vaguely guessed what was going on and could only helplessly turn around and glance at Li Jue.
"Your Highness..."
Seeing this, Li Jue forced himself to get up, then went to Chu Suiliang and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Feel sorry!"
"My men are all roughnecks and don't recognize His Majesty's imperial edict. Please forgive them if they have offended you!"
Chu Suiliang's expression softened slightly upon hearing this, but his tone remained extremely arrogant.
After all, he was holding His Majesty's edict in his hand. At this moment, he was not only Chu Suiliang, but also His Majesty's special envoy!
"snort!"
"His Majesty's decree, why are you not kneeling?"
"kneel?"
Li Jue's face immediately darkened upon hearing this. When did the Tang Dynasty have so many rules?
"Chu Suiliang, don't make a big deal out of nothing!"
"Even if the imperial edict in your hand is genuine, let alone whether it is real or fake, there is no reason for us to kneel and receive it!"
Chu Suiliang was taken aback upon hearing this. Although there was no explicit rule in the court that the Emperor's edicts must be received on one's knees, for so many years, everyone had been doing so!
"Crown Prince, are you not confused? This is His Majesty's edict. Is there a problem with me asking you to kneel to receive it?"
Upon hearing this, Li Jue completely ignored Chu Suiliang, snatched Li Shimin's edict, glanced at it, and then curled his lip in disdain.
"Fake!"
"Your Majesty is wise and insightful; how could you issue such a chaotic order!"
"Guards, beat Chu Suiliang out of here with sticks!"
At Li Jue's command, more than a dozen personal guards rushed out and beat Chu Suiliang mercilessly with sticks, making Chu Suiliang cry out in pain.
"Stop hitting me... I'll leave... I'll leave, okay? Waaah..."
Seeing that he had driven Chu Suiliang away, Li Jue immediately threw Li Shimin's edict on the ground and coldly addressed the dumbfounded officials.
"Continue the trial!"
"None of you are leaving until this case is thoroughly investigated and resolved!"
After saying this, Li Jue glared fiercely at Master Huichan.
"And you too!"
"Don't think that just because you've been a front man for the powerful and wealthy in Chang'an for a few years, someone will be able to protect you!"
"If you don't confess your crimes against the people over the years, I'll send you to see Buddha right now!"
While Li Jue was lashing out at everyone, Liu Rengui quietly picked up the imperial edict from the ground, and was so frightened by just one glance that he trembled all over.
This is a genuine imperial edict!
"Your Highness..."
"Shut up!"
"Your Highness, should we...should we give His Majesty some face?"
Li Jue said angrily upon hearing this.
"No way!"
"I was cleaning up his mess, and instead of helping me, he came out to make things worse. It's outrageous!"
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