The news that Zuo Xiaowei had discovered the stolen weapons from the Ministry of Industry quickly spread throughout the government and the public. Emperor Li Yuan was extremely angry and ordered the Ministry of Punishment, Dali Temple, and Yushitai to conduct a rigorous investigation.
Huangfu Wuyi, the Minister of Punishment, did not want to get involved in this matter at all, but this time he had no choice but to bite the bullet and cooperate with Dali Temple Minister Zheng Shanguo in the strict investigation.
After learning that the person who hid the crossbow was actually from the Dou family, Zheng Shanguo immediately cheered up and pursued the case day and night. Soon he and the warrior Xun found all the missing crossbows owned by the Ministry of Industry in the Dou family's manor in Xishi City.
The news spread, and the government and the public were shocked.
East Palace.
The clear tea fell into the tea cup. Li Jiancheng filled it with his own hands and distributed it to the staff.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Zheng Shanguo tasted the tea gently, unable to hide the smile on his lips.
Li Jiancheng said melancholy: "It's a pity that Prime Minister Liu has gone to the Turks. Otherwise, he would be very happy to know the news."
Not long ago, Liu Wenjing went to Turks to promote abrupt peace talks.
Wang Gui frowned and said: "Your Highness, although we have found out that the Dou family is secretly hiding the crossbow, my subordinates don't understand why the Dou family would do this? What do they need the crossbow for?"
Zheng Shanguo laughed and said: "Why should we go into this matter further? What is Mr. Dou thinking? How do we know? This is an excellent opportunity for us. How can we let it go so easily?"
Although Li Jiancheng didn't understand why Dou wanted to hide the crossbow secretly, now was not the time to pursue this matter at all. Making use of the topic was the top priority.
"This time, Dou Wei and Dou Kang will make them peel off their skin!"
Thinking of the past, Li Jiancheng burst out with hatred. They supported his second brother to deal with him in the court, which was really hateful.
Wei Ting said: "Your Highness, the Censor, Dali Temple, our people are ready, and all the people involved in the case have been imprisoned. Now we must make this case a solid case and not give King Qin a chance to reverse the case!
"
"Yes, you have to be fast." Li Jiancheng drank the tea in one gulp.
Prince Qin's Mansion.
Compared with the people in the East Palace who were ready to go, the people in Prince Qin's Palace seemed very dull and the atmosphere was extremely solemn.
"Your Highness, this matter was definitely not done by our Dou family. We, the Dou family, are loyal to the imperial court and have never thought of treason. This must be a deliberate frame-up!" Dou Gui said angrily.
"Uncle, please be patient. I believe Mr. Dou." Li Shimin comforted him and said, "This matter is full of weirdness. Someone must be framing it behind your back."
Fang Xuanling cupped his hands and said: "My subordinates have found out that the number of crossbows recovered from the Dou family's manor is only a few dozen, and they have no combat effectiveness at all. There is something complicated behind this matter, and someone wants to use this to deal with the Dou family."
"Who is it?" Li Shimin asked.
Fang Xuanling was silent.
Changsun Wuji opened his mouth, but swallowed the words when they reached his throat.
Who knows very well that in Chang'an, the only person who has the ability to deal with the Dou family and has a grudge against the Dou family is that person.
Dou Gui gritted his teeth and said: "I know who it is, but I didn't expect that he would be so mean and do such a dirty thing. I was really blind and misjudged him! Zheng Shanguo, the minister of Dali Temple, was the most powerful person when investigating the case.
Positive, they must have done it!”
Li Shimin was silent for a while and said: "Uncle, please don't worry, I will do my best to help you."
"Okay, what I want is your highness's words. I will go back and discuss with the head of the family first." Dou Gui cupped his fists and saluted, then stepped away.
After Dou Gui left, Fang Xuanling said: "Your Highness, my subordinates have said before that the prince is now the prince after all. Since His Highness defeated Liu Wu and Zhou returned to the dynasty, all the officials knew about the King of Qin but not the prince. How could the prince give up and come out like this?"
Nothing surprising."
"I see, you are wrong." Changsun Wuji lifted his robe and said casually.
Li Shimin asked: "What do you mean by auxiliary engine?"
Changsun Wuji said: "Your Highness, as long as you continue to lead troops and make meritorious deeds, the prince will do such things. Unless your highness dismisses everyone in Prince Qin's palace and retires, then the prince will never do such things again in the future.
.There is no threat to King Qin, why should the prince care?"
Li Shimin didn't speak, but looked at Changsun Wuji silently. After a while, he said: "This is not the first time you have spoken uncontrollably."
"If Your Highness wants to be punished, I am willing to accept the punishment without any complaints." Changsun Wuji, a bachelor, held up his hands and waited for punishment.
Li Shimin snorted coldly and closed his eyes without saying a word.
Seeing this, the staff looked at each other and smiled.
Yu Zhining said: "In my opinion, the prince was forced into desperation by His Highness this time, so he came up with this treacherous plan. He wanted to use this to remove the Dou family's status in the political affairs hall."
"Isn't this an obvious thing?" Changsun Wuji said: "What we should consider now is how to keep the Dou family."
"I'm afraid it's difficult." Fang Xuanling said.
"It all depends on the person." Changsun Wuji retorted: "Even if they make this case a solid case, as long as we kill the people below for their misdeeds, the two prime ministers can still get away with it."
Fang Xuanling shook his head, "You are wrong. What I am worried about is not the case itself at all."
"What do you mean?" Changsun Wuji frowned.
Fang Xuanling explained: "A secretly hidden crossbow was found in Dou's manor. Whether the crime is big or small, and how many people are involved, it is up to the court. The most important thing is, what is the attitude of the saint? If the saint thinks that Dou
If you want to commit rebellion, does it matter whether there are loopholes in the case or whether it is a solid case?"
Li Shimin suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Fang Xuanling.
"You mean that my father might add fuel to the flames?"
"That's right." Fang Xuanling said: "The Dou family is a double family. Dou Jing is the minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Dou Gui is the general manager of Qinzhou, and Dou Dan is the prince-in-law of the dynasty. He has such great honor and favor, which is rare in ancient times.
.The two prime ministers of Dou came and met with the palace again.
How can a saint not be afraid of a good person? The prince's dignity is that one person is inferior to ten thousand people. However, the three prime ministers in the political affairs hall favor his highness, and the prince has almost no place to stand. How can the saint turn a blind eye to such an imbalance? "
Li Shimin fell silent immediately, with a thin trickle of sweat appearing on his forehead.
Fang Xuanling sighed: "Your Highness, our journey was too smooth. We forgot about the success and almost made a big mistake."
Changsun Wuji stopped trying now and lowered his head silently to think.
Yu Zhining said: "What Mr. Fang said is not unreasonable. Your Highness, we really need to reorganize it."
"Are you ready to give up on the Dou family?" Changsun Wuji asked.
Fang Xuanling and Yu Zhining were silent.
Seeing this, Changsun Wuji said: "I admit that what you said is reasonable, but I still feel that this matter is not at its worst. We can do our best to save a prime minister. In this way, we can also
Reduce losses.”
Hearing this, Fang Xuanling nodded, "That makes sense."
Li Shimin lowered his eyes and thought for a while before making up his mind.
"No matter what, we must do our best to help the Dou family. What happened to Dugu Zhen must not happen again."
"yes."
Chu Palace.
The stolen ordnance was found, and Li Zhiyun was finally relieved of his duties in the Criminal Department. He would never touch the follow-up investigation.
Under the pavilion.
Li Zhiyun and Du Ruhui were playing chess, while Xue Shou was nibbling Haagen-Dazs.
"Brother, your body is still recovering. Eat less cold food." Li Zhiyun saw Xue Shou eating ice cream fiercely and immediately reminded him.
Xue Shou agreed with a smile.
Du Ruhui licked the old popsicle and stared at the black and white pieces on the chessboard. He thought about it for a long time before making his move.
"Haha, Keming, you've been fooled."
Li Zhiyun happily landed the black piece, five pieces in a row, and won!
Seeing this, Du Ruhui pursed his lips, took out twenty coins from his sleeve and handed it to Li Zhiyun.
"I won't play anymore, I have no money."
Li Zhiyun accepted the copper coins with peace of mind and said with a smile: "Your wife has deducted your monthly payment again? Why are you living as hard as Cheng Yaojin?"
"This subordinate is different from Cheng Yaojin." Du Ruhui quickly said that I am not that kind of person.
Cheng Yaojin didn't have enough monthly money simply because of gambling and visiting Pingkangfang. He, Du Ruhui, was a good man from the Gu family, so how could he do such a thing.
Xue Shou said: "There is a commotion outside, but His Highness is at ease."
Li Zhiyun rolled his eyes at him, "You two are eating ice cubes and chatting, aren't you quite comfortable now?"
After saying that, the three of them looked at each other and laughed loudly.