Chapter 64 Punishing the Wicked and Eliminating Evildoers

Chapter 64 Punishing the Wicked and Eliminating Evildoers

Yuan Congyi prostrated himself on the ground, weeping uncontrollably with tears and snot streaming down his face.

The grievance of being ignored earlier by Li Xian was instantly swept away. At this moment, he felt the universe was immensely vast and boundless.

"Prince of Cheng, Li Qianli," Emperor Taizong looked down at his eldest grandson in the lower seats, felt a brief moment of sentiment, and issued an imperial decree of elevation, "Li Qianli has made meritorious contributions to the state. He is hereby elevated to the Prince of Wu."

Li Qianli choked with sobs, unable to control his emotions. The Prince of Wu was the exact title his father, Li Ke, held during his lifetime. Being able to inherit his father's princely title meant that Emperor Taizong recognized him. How could he not be moved?

Aside from Yuan Congyi and Li Qianli, all other surviving loyal ministers and meritorious officials were commended and given promotions. Both inside and outside the imperial court, an atmosphere of prosperity and vigor filled the air.

"Now that we have spoken of loyal ministers, we must naturally speak of treacherous ones," Emperor Taizong swept his gaze across the hall. "I have also heard of this. The brothers Song Zhiwen and Song Zixun, as I've been told, were demoted to Lingnan for flattering the Zhang brothers. Yet they secretly sneaked back into Luoyang, and it was the Prince of Anyang, Wang Tongjiao, who out of sympathy harbored the two of them in his household."

"However, driven by greed for wealth and glory, these two Songs returned kindness with enmity. They secretly recorded the Prince of Anyang's daily words and actions in a ledger, and then delivered a confidential letter into the hands of Wu Sansi..."

"The common people once told me that the crimson robes worn by these two men are dyed with the blood of the Prince of Anyang. I deeply believe this is true!"

According to Tang regulations, officials of the third rank and above wore purple, while those of the fifth rank and above wore crimson robes. After causing the death of Wang Tongjiao, Wu Sansi had promoted the Song brothers to fifth-rank officials of the capital, which was why they wore crimson robes.

"Guards!"

Emperor Taizong shouted in a stern voice, and guards immediately entered the hall, awaiting orders.

"Strip these two of their official robes, throw them into the celestial prison, and behead them on an auspicious day!"

"Yes!"

The guards immediately stripped the official robes off the Song brothers, who had already collapsed limply to the ground, and hauled them away toward the celestial prison.

"Middle Book Drafter Cui Shi was an old friend of Huan Yanfan, the Prince of Fuyang, who had promoted him generously in the past. Yet who could have expected this scoundrel to betray his friend for glory, defecting to Wu Sansi and conspiring with Zheng Yin to fabricate charges, ultimately leading to the murder of Zhang Jianzhi and the other four princes... Guards!"

"Throw these two into the celestial prison, and behead them on an auspicious day!"

Speaking of this, one cannot help but mention Zheng Yin.

This man... possessed to some extent the fateful trait of the Dilu horse. Back in the day, he defected to the notorious torturer Lai Junchen, only for Lai Junchen to be executed; later, he defected to the brothers Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi, and both Zhangs were executed; after that, he defected to Wu Sansi, and as a result, Crown Prince Li Chongjun launched the Jinglong Coup—according to original history, Wu Sansi was also to be beheaded.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would likely defect to Princess Taiping in the future... As for the ultimate fate of Princess Taiping...

Clearly, this man truly had a legendary track record.

The last one to possess such a destiny was the servant-master duo of Dilu and Liu Bei from the Three Kingdoms era.

The next person blessed with such fortune would belong to a certain Sanada clan in the island nation.

After the guards dragged the two men away, Emperor Taizong asked aloud, "Where is Imperial Censor Zhou Lizhen?"

With a heavy thud, the courtiers immediately scattered, leaving a trembling figure kneeling in the middle of the hall—it was none other than Zhou Lizhen.

The court officials held this man in utter contempt. Regardless of faction, virtually no one actually liked him. However, because he had attached himself to Wu Sansi, who was a favored minister of the current emperor, no one could do anything to him.

Now that Emperor Taizong was in power and Zhou Lizhen had lost his protective umbrella, the officials no longer bothered to hide their disgust. Like avoiding a plague, they drew an empty circle with Zhou Lizhen at the center.

"This scoundrel Zhou Lizhen... Ha, fawning and flattering, murdering loyal officials—his deeds are enough to send a chill down even my spine!"

"As for you, I actually have a rather novel method of punishment."

Saying this, Emperor Taizong glanced sideways at Li Qing, who was sitting nearby on a small wooden stool, and asked in a low voice, "My virtuous brother, do you have a method to subject someone to severe torture without letting them die?"

"Of course I do. For how many days?" Li Qing replied with a cheerful smile. He also found this Zhou Lizhen extremely repulsive.

He certainly couldn't let him die so easily, otherwise, wouldn't it chill the hearts of loyal ministers across the realm?

Having received his answer, Emperor Taizong turned back to Zhou Lizhen, his gaze filled with utter revulsion. "I can grant you ten days without dying. However, over these ten days, every single torture you inflicted upon Huan Yanfan, Jing Hui, and Yuan Shuji will be repeated upon your own body multiple times each day!"

Zhou Lizhen completely broke down and pissed right there on the floor of the grand hall.

He knew all too well the brutal tortures those three loyal officials had suffered...

"Go, give this to him to eat." Emperor Taizong took the pill from Li Qing's hand and handed it to Li Chongjun, who was standing nearby.

Li Chongjun received the pill, walked down to hand it to the guards, and watched as they shoved the pill into Zhou Lizhen's mouth before returning to the upper seats.

"Drag him away!" Emperor Taizong waved his hand in disgust. He did not want to look at Zhou Lizhen for even another second.

"As for Wu Sansi, his treatment shall be the same as Zhou Lizhen's," Emperor Taizong added. "In addition, cast kneeling statues of Wu Sansi. Place a kneeling statue of Wu Sansi in front of the tomb of every single loyal minister he murdered. I want his infamy to last for a thousand years!"

"The Empress Wei, who corrupted the inner court, conspired with her daughter to form factions for personal gain, and coveted the imperial divine vessels—starting today, Empress Wei is demoted to the commoner Wei, and Princess Anle to the commoner Anle!"

"Princess Changning and Princess Dingan, as children of the imperial family, cared nothing for the common people and committed numerous lawless acts, even allowing their household servants to seize commoner children and turn them into slaves. I am deeply grieved by this. They are likewise demoted to commoners!"

"Furthermore, post public notices. Three days from now, I will hold a public trial of these treacherous villains in Chang'an! Court is dismissed!"

After the officials dispersed, Li Zhi asked with a worried expression, "Father Emperor, holding a public trial for Wu Sansi and the others is one thing, but dragging members of the imperial family like the commoner Wei and the commoner Anle out for a public trial before the common people—are you not afraid that the dignity of the imperial house will be dragged through the dirt?"

Emperor Taizong glanced at Li Zhi. "This matter was proposed by your uncle. Even if we dragged that worthless son of a bitch Li Xian—who isn't even worth a sesame cake—along for a public trial, what of it? As long as your uncle is happy, I am happy!"

Li Qing: "..."

How did I end up acting like Bao Si?

This is too bizarre.

"Besides, do you think there is any dignity left to speak of for our Tang imperial house after it has been ruined by these people?" Emperor Taizong let out a long sigh. "The dignity of the imperial house cannot rely on fear; that cannot last."

"The most important thing is to rely on the affection and support of the common people. I often tell you: The ruler is the boat, and the common people are the water. The water can support the boat, but it can also capsize it."

Indeed, not only can it support and capsize the boat, it can also race boats.

"As long as the people of the realm hold love and respect for the imperial house in their hearts, I do not believe any petty scoundrel can cause rebellion."

Hearing this, Li Qing gave Emperor Taizong a thumbs-up.

Look at that. No wonder he was my good brother Li Qing. Big Brother Li's political awakening had always been commendable.

"I also want to make it crystal clear to those lawless members of the imperial clan and the scions of high-ranking officials: even if a prince breaks the law, he is still guilty of the same crime as a commoner, let alone them!"

(End of this chapter)