noveltune Chapter 5523 Full of Hidden Dangers
Chapter 5523 Full of Hidden Dangers
Chapter 5523 Full of Hidden Dangers
The side hall was dimly lit. Li Chengqian lay half-reclined on the bed, looking increasingly unwell than in recent days. His face was pale, and his eyes were lifeless. The room was filled with the strong smell of medicinal soup.
This made Fang Jun doubt his previous guess: Was His Majesty actually ill or not?
"Your Majesty, I have an audience with this humble subject. Is Your Majesty still in good health?"
"Rise, I'm fine, just feeling weak and short of breath. I'm afraid I'll need to rest for a while."
"With the empire flourishing, the world at peace, the court operating smoothly, and Chang'an secure as a fortress, this is a time of great prosperity. Your Majesty can rest assured and recuperate without worrying about state affairs."
“What you say is true, my dear minister. Nowadays, the government has the Hall of State Affairs and the military has the Grand Council. Both civil and military officials are engaged in their respective duties. I, the emperor, am insignificant. I would rather live in seclusion in the deep palace like Emperor Gaozu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, take care of my health, and perhaps live a few more years to see just how prosperous and powerful the Tang Dynasty truly is.”
Apart from the emperor and his minister, there was no one else in the side hall, so the two engaged in a fierce verbal battle, each with their own sharp wit. One said it didn't matter whether I was in charge or not, while the other said I was trying to undermine him and had ulterior motives...
Li Chengqian took a breath and felt quite helpless. Such verbal exchanges only made him very angry and were of no use at all.
He then pointed to the glass of water on the coffee table next to him.
Fang Jun hurriedly stepped forward, picked up a water glass, and came to the bedside, handing it to Li Chengqian with both hands.
Li Chengqian took the drink, drank two large gulps, and then handed it to Fang Jun, who returned it to the coffee table.
Upon closer inspection, Fang Jun saw that the man's complexion was indeed sallow and his eyes were bloodshot. He sighed and said, "In any case, Your Majesty should still prioritize your health, after all, health is the foundation of everything. There should always be time to distinguish and prove who is right and who is wrong."
Li Chengqian remained silent for a moment. He could sense that Fang Jun's concern was very sincere and genuine. After a long while, he said, "But for me, there are things more important than health."
Even if I die, I will not allow the imperial power to weaken and fall into the wrong hands!
Fang Jun stopped talking and took two steps back to stand still.
Li Chengqian then got back to the main point: "How did Li Chongzhen really die?"
Fang Jun shook his head: "The Chang'an government, the Jingzhao Prefecture, and the Hundred Cavalry Division have all gone to investigate the scene. The crime scene is not far from the Hejian Prince's Mansion, but so far there are no clues."
"You believe it was Li Jingye who did it?"
"I didn't say that. Everything depends on the evidence."
Li Chengqian frowned: "Don't say such insincere things in front of me. Do you think I don't know you? If you didn't believe it was Li Jingye who did it, why did you beat and humiliate him, and then order him to solve the case and catch the culprit within seven days?"
The two had known each other for many years and knew each other's temperaments and personalities very well. Li Chengqian never thought that Fang Jun was a person who would take his anger out on others or was foolish and domineering.
Fang Jun naturally refused to admit it: "Li Jingye, relying on His Majesty's favor and his family's power, has become increasingly arrogant and overbearing, and his confidence has swelled. If he is not taught a lesson, it will be difficult to stop him. Li Chongzhen is the son of the Prince of Hejian. When the Prince was dying, he entrusted his future to me. Now that he has died tragically, I must do something to give the Prince an explanation."
Li Chengqian coldly replied, "What explanation? If the case cannot be solved within seven days, then kill Li Jingye to give the Prince an explanation?"
Fang Jun remained unmoved: "Li Chongzhen was a captain of the 'Hundred Cavalry Division.' Since he was assassinated, Li Jingye, as his superior, naturally has the responsibility to solve the case, apprehend the murderer, and protect his subordinate. If he fails to do so, he will have to bear the responsibility."
Li Chengqian remained silent.
Although he was disdainful, he had to admit that Fang Jun's fallacious reasoning was different. If it were any other government office, it would be one thing, but the "Hundred Cavalry Division" was different. As the henchmen of the Tang emperor and the loyal hounds of the imperial power, they had the power to investigate and monitor, and naturally also had the responsibility to solve cases and apprehend criminals.
But Fang Jun's targeting of Li Jingye made him both very dissatisfied and worried.
Because he understood Fang Jun, how could he not see Fang Jun's rejection and disgust towards Li Jingye?
If Li Jingye cannot solve the case and apprehend the culprit within seven days, Fang Jun might truly blame Li Jingye for Li Chongzhen's death and take retaliatory action...
At the same time, he couldn't help but wonder: was it really true that Fang Jun was so certain that Li Chongzhen's death was related to Li Jingye?
What did Li Chongzhen, who was about to be transferred and hand over his post, do to make Li Jingye take such drastic measures?
……
After leaving Taiji Palace, Fang Jun rode on horseback and looked up at the gray sky, feeling quite down.
Based on his understanding of His Majesty, after some probing and observation, he could conclude that His Majesty was completely unaware of the cause of Li Chongzhen's death.
While it cannot be definitively concluded that Li Chongzhen's death was unrelated to Your Majesty, it was at least not caused by Your Majesty's subjective intent.
So what exactly caused Li Chongzhen's death?
In an era without surveillance, tracking, fingerprint verification, and other such methods, a sudden murder case would most likely become a cold case, or even remain unsolved forever.
But does that mean we can't find the culprit without solving the case?
Not necessarily.
The reason he acted so violently, recklessly, and irrationally today was to put enormous pressure on Li Jingye.
While it cannot be definitively stated that Li Jingye was the murderer of Li Chongzhen, it is certain that he had ulterior motives behind the scenes.
Since we cannot identify the murderer of Li Chongzhen, nor can we investigate Li Jingye's schemes, the best approach is to force Li Jingye to become cowardly and reveal his true colors.
If the pressure is applied sufficiently, Li Jingye will inevitably panic...
*****
British Duchy.
Looking at Li Jingye, whose head was shaved and covered in ointment, whose left cheek was swollen and who looked utterly disheveled, Li Ji felt his disappointment reach its peak.
Li Jingye felt a little guilty and forced a smile: "Grandfather, don't worry, it's nothing serious, I just bumped into something by accident."
Li Ji completely ignored them; it wasn't the first time he'd been beaten, and he'd already lost all face.
He only asked, "How did Li Chongzhen die?"
Li Jingye sighed, "I don't know either. He left his post around noon yesterday and disappeared. He returned around dusk, stayed in the military camp for about an hour, and then went into the city to go home... This morning I received news that he had been murdered. I led people to investigate with the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Chang'an government, but we found nothing."
Li Ji stared intently at him, as if trying to find clues on his face that suggested he was lying.
Li Jingye, however, showed no guilt and his gaze was clear and upright.
After a long pause, Li Ji asked again, "Why did Fang Jun give you seven days to solve the case?"
Li Jingye spread his hands and complained, "That guy is too domineering! Even if he is the Grand Commandant, criminal matters are not under his jurisdiction. What right does he have to order me to solve the case within a time limit? He is simply arrogant, domineering, and unreasonable!"
Li Ji sighed, rubbed his temples, feeling exhausted. This grandson had gone down a dead end and wouldn't listen to anyone's advice.
He not only understands his grandson, but also Fang Jun.
If the previous beating of Li Jingye in Taiji Palace was intended to undermine his arrogance and warn him against going too far, then this beating of Li Jingye must be related to the death of Li Chongzhen.
He tapped the table with his finger and said calmly, "I will send someone to the palace later to ask His Majesty for leave on your behalf. You can stay at home and reflect on your mistakes."
"Ok?"
Li Jingye was taken aback: "...Reflecting on your mistakes by facing the wall?"
Is this to confine him at home and forbid him from going out?
Why!
I was the one who got beaten up!
He hurriedly replied, "Grandfather, why is this? His Majesty is now seriously ill and bedridden, and the court is rife with treacherous and wicked people. It is our duty as ministers to be loyal to the emperor and uphold imperial power. How can we stand idly by and let His Majesty face this alone?"
Li Ji was too lazy to lecture this fool. He said coldly, "Who is a villain? Who is a treacherous official? Is that your definition? It's not like on the battlefield, those who fight bravely are heroes and those who retreat in the face of battle are cowards. They are all trying to maintain their own political ideals. Their methods and wills are different, but what they have in common is that they all want the Tang Dynasty to be better! By what right do you define who is loyal and who is treacherous? It's utterly stupid!"
What's wrong with Your Majesty upholding imperial power and maintaining the authority to rule the world with the power of life and death?
Fang Jun wanted to reform and innovate, eliminating many of the malpractices in the court in order to strengthen the military and the country and benefit the people. What was wrong with that?
He was willing to break with Fang Jun and stand firmly on His Majesty's side in order to continue his family's legacy and maintain his wealth and honor. What was wrong with that?
While pursuing their own ideals, everyone still exercised restraint and did not disregard the safety of the empire or the lives of the common people because of their own selfish desires. What is wrong with that?
On the contrary, Li Jingye completely disregarded national policies and the well-being of the people in his so-called "loyalty to the emperor," which was a huge mistake!
Without giving Li Jingye any explanation, he shouted towards the door, "Guards! Send the eldest son to live in the side courtyard. He is not allowed to go out or receive guests. He must reflect on his mistakes!"
"Here!"
A servant entered from outside the door, staring at Li Jingye.
Li Jingye didn't dare challenge his grandfather's authority, so he calmly got up and left.
……
Li Ji had his servant change the teapot, and sat alone by the window to sip it. His furrowed brows revealed his inner turmoil and worry.
He understood Fang Jun and knew that his so-called unruly, arrogant, and impulsive behavior was just a smokescreen. Every time Fang Jun did something "out of line," he would reap huge profits while being despised by others.
What about this time?
Why insist that something that seems to have nothing to do with Li Jingye is related to him, and why was he beaten again in public?
Why was Li Jingye given the order to solve the case within a specified time?
Li Ji rubbed his eyebrows, thinking of a possibility—Fang Jun was deliberately putting pressure on Li Jingye.
The purpose of applying pressure was not to solve the case, but to force Li Jingye to do something out of fear and panic...
What will Li Jingye do?
Li Ji did not know.
But he knew that Li Jingye had been keeping a low profile lately and must have something on his mind.
Thinking of this, he put down his teacup and instructed his servant, "Go and summon Cheng Yaojin and Liang Jianfang immediately. I have something to tell you."
"Here!"
Knowing that something big had happened in the house, the servant dared not delay and quickly went out to inform Cheng and Liang.