At this point, though Liu Wenjing realized he had caused trouble, he hadn’t imagined it had reached such a dangerous degree. Cold sweat immediately broke out as he hurriedly said: “Please, Your Highness and sir, save me!”
Li Shimin pondered for a moment: “How about I enter the palace to intercede with Father Emperor, asking him to forgive Zhaoren this once?” Over these years, except for that one time when Li Yuan ordered him to accompany Li Jiancheng on campaign, Liu Wenjing had always followed Li Shimin’s banner in campaigns east and west. They had built deep bonds, so now that Liu Wenjing was in trouble, Li Shimin naturally felt duty-bound to help.
Liu Wenjing cast him a grateful look. Though he had originally come to join Li Yuan when in Shanxi, after these years of getting along with the Li father and sons, he believed Li Shimin was more worthy of his following. Now it seemed he hadn’t chosen wrongly.
“It’s useless.” Liu Hongji’s words made Liu Wenjing’s heart, which had just settled down, rise again in anxiety: “How could Your Highness’s intercession be useless?”
Liu Hongji shook his head: “You may be skilled at warfare, but in matters like this, you always think too simply. In former times, Your Highness’s intercession would indeed be useful, but now… have you forgotten what situation Your Highness is in? Shanxi has repeatedly called for aid, yet His Majesty would rather send the surrendered general Li Jing on campaign than employ Your Highness. Isn’t this clear enough?”
Liu Wenjing was made anxious by his words and said nervously: “Then… what do we do now? Just let Peiji slander me before His Majesty?”
“Wasn’t this opportunity given to him by yourself?” After scolding Liu Wenjing, he waved his feather fan: “Let me think this through carefully.”
Time passed bit by bit. When the sun’s shadow moved to the small platform by the window, Liu Hongji finally spoke: “Peiji’s side won’t work—we can only work on Li Gang and Xiao Yu, having them find ways to speak for Zhaoren before His Majesty.”
Hearing this, Liu Wenjing quickly said: “Li Gang and I have a good relationship—that shouldn’t be a problem. As for Xiao Yu…”
Liu Hongji took over: “Xiao Yu and I have some friendship. I’ll speak with him, but their favor with His Majesty is far less than Peiji’s. Whether they can influence His Majesty, I dare not guarantee.” Speaking thus, he looked seriously at Liu Wenjing: “Zhaoren, remember this—from now on, you absolutely cannot say another word targeting Peiji, or even the Heavenly King himself couldn’t save you.”
Liu Wenjing hurriedly said: “After what you’ve said, how would I dare say another word? Do I really not want to live?”
“As for my side…” Before Li Shimin could continue, Liu Hongji said solemnly: “Your Highness should temporarily not intervene in this matter, lest it arouse His Majesty’s wariness. We’ll speak again when our side truly can’t hold on.”
Li Shimin also knew his current situation wasn’t good, so he nodded: “Very well, I’ll wait for news from you.”
Just as Liu Hongji had predicted, when Peiji relayed Liu Wenjing’s words to Li Yuan without omitting a single character, Li Yuan’s expression instantly darkened like approaching storm clouds.
Li Yuan was not only not foolish but extraordinarily perceptive—otherwise he couldn’t have secured his position in this chaotic world. So upon hearing Liu Wenjing’s words, he immediately knew the person Liu Wenjing was truly targeting and dissatisfied with was himself.
Previously, Liu Wenjing had repeatedly disregarded occasions to confront Peiji directly, which he had already overlooked. Even with this incident, he initially hadn’t planned to investigate deeply. He hadn’t expected Liu Wenjing not only to show no gratitude but to harbor resentment and point at the mulberry to curse the locust tree—Liu Wenjing probably didn’t regard him as emperor at all.
At this moment, Li Yuan had decided to deal with this severely, not like the last time at Qianshui Plain when it was much thunder but little rain.
Thinking thus, Li Yuan stared at the three ministers below and said coldly: “How do you view this matter?”
Li Gang was first to step forward: “Your Majesty, this subject believes that though Zhaoren is somewhat impulsive in temperament and has done many things improperly, his loyalty to Your Majesty is unquestionable—he absolutely could not plot rebellion.”
Li Yuan neither agreed nor disagreed, turning his gaze to Xiao Yu beside him: “And you, what do you say?”
Seeing Li Yuan’s gaze upon him, Xiao Yu quickly said: “This subject shares Minister Li’s view. Though Zhaoren has complaints against Minister Pei, that’s all there is to it. To say he would rebel because of this, this subject believes is unlikely. Please, Your Majesty, investigate clearly.”
Li Yuan similarly said nothing, turning his gaze to the last person: “Minister Pei, what do you say?”
Peiji unhurriedly bowed: “Your Majesty, Zhaoren is indeed a talented person. Since Your Majesty raised troops at Taiyuan, he has also achieved many outstanding merits. But precisely because of this, he has become arrogant with his talents, no longer regarding comrades who once fought bloodily together as worthy of respect, and now even more so…” He glanced at Li Yuan without continuing, but Li Yuan certainly understood the meaning and said coldly: “Continue.”
“Besides this, Zhaoren’s temperament also has serious problems—rash and impulsive. After making mistakes, he doesn’t think of repentance. Take the Battle of Qianshui Plain—this subject has heard Zhaoren say more than once that the defeat was entirely due to being burdened by the Fourth Prince. This subject believes Zhaoren is too dangerous. Now that the Great Tang is newly established with strong enemies on all sides, if Your Majesty pardons him today, I fear even more serious incidents than today’s will occur in the future.” At this moment, Peiji finally revealed the fangs and claws he had long hidden. He had long been extremely disgusted with Liu Wenjing, only hiding it to avoid being seen by Li Yuan as petty—either don’t kill, or kill with one strike, giving the enemy no chance to breathe. This was the principle Peiji followed, and today he finally put it into action!
Peiji’s words not only accused Liu Wenjing of being dangerous but also implied he was talented but lacking in virtue. Such people easily did bad things, and their destructive power far exceeded those without talent, so… he could not be kept!
After hearing Peiji’s words, Li Yuan’s brow furrowed deeply. He had initially only wanted to severely punish Liu Wenjing, but now… the situation was more serious than he had thought.
The words “severe punishment” were no longer sufficient to deal with Liu Wenjing. Only one word could encompass it—kill!
Liu Wenjing was after all a founding hero with unusual prestige in court—he couldn’t be easily executed. But with Liu Wenjing alive, it was like having a fly stuck in his throat—couldn’t swallow it, couldn’t spit it out, truly making him uncomfortable!
Even after Peiji and the others withdrew from Taiji Palace, Li Yuan still hadn’t said how to deal with Liu Wenjing. Just as Xiao Yu returned to his residence, servants reported that Liu Hongji had arrived.
After meeting in the main hall, Xiao Yu’s first words were: “Brother Liu, have you come for Zhaoren’s case?”
Liu Hongji didn’t stand on ceremony with him, nodding: “Correct. Brother Xiao must have just seen His Majesty—what did His Majesty say?”
Xiao Yu recounted what had happened in Taiji Palace, saying with a grave expression: “Brother Li and I both wish to save Zhaoren, but with Minister Pei’s words there, the situation is truly not optimistic.”