Chapter 4: Murder in the Palace
“Your Highness…”
Liu Jun stood in front of the sedan chair, made a gesture of invitation, and walked up the stone steps first.
Li Yuanji adjusted his mood, raised his head, and stepped onto the stone steps with an arrogant step.
Li Yuanji also wanted to keep a low profile, but his predecessor's personality did not allow it. His predecessor was always rampant in front of Li Yuan. If he kept a low profile, it would be easier for others to see his flaws.
Climbing up the steps and reaching the palace gate, one sees eunuchs, female officials, maids, door maids, dancing maids, painting maids, etc. lined up in four rows. They are shivering in the cold wind, but dare not move rashly.
Whenever Li Yuan gave any orders, they had to immediately appear in the hall to serve.
Any slight mistake will result in severe punishment.
When Li Yuanji walked to the door of the palace, he heard Li Yuan's sinister voice coming from inside the palace.
"Erlang, I heard that you have recruited a lot of counselors and warriors recently. The prestige of your Qin Palace is almost catching up with mine."
"Father, I have everything you have given me. My counselors and warriors are naturally your counselors and warriors as well."
Li Shimin heard Li Yuan's unfriendly tone and also heard that Li Yuan was blaming him, so he hurried to explain.
Li Shimin's voice was deep, powerful and full of energy, giving people the feeling that he was a decent person speaking.
Li Yuanji heard that Li Yuan was trying to find trouble with Li Shimin, so he was not in a hurry to go in. Liu Jun, who was leading Li Yuanji, also stood guard at the door of the palace and had no intention of going in to convey the message to Li Ji.
That's the look.
When Li Yuan was speaking in a pretentious manner, you barged in and interrupted him. Wouldn't that make Li Yuan uncomfortable?
"Good, good, good. Your counselors and warriors are my counselors and warriors."
Li Yuan praised loudly, and before Li Shimin could reply, he asked, "If that's the case, why did they disregard the etiquette I set? How dare a small county magistrate ride past the gate of a state marquis's mansion? Who gave him the courage?"
At the beginning of his reign, Li Yuan established a system of etiquette. When a low-ranking official of low rank met a high-ranking official of high rank on the road, he should dismount from his horse or sedan chair to give way. When passing by the residence of a high-ranking official of high rank, he also had to dismount from his horse or sedan chair and walk.
Li Yuanji thought about it for a moment and roughly understood what was going on.
The "small county boy" mentioned by Li Yuan should be Du Ruhui, and the marquis should be Yin Ashu.
Yin Ashu had told him before that he had found a reason to beat Du Ruhui up, and the reason should be that Du Ruhui violated etiquette by riding his horse past Yin's residence.
Du Ruhui violated the etiquette first, no wonder Yin Ashu dared to take such a vicious action.
Li Yuanji used to think that Yin Ashu was quite stupid, but now it seems that he is quite smart.
He knew that he was in the right and he also knew that he was no match for Li Shimin, so he had to ask Li Yuan to help him.
But cleverness is just cleverness after all.
Li Yuan would not do anything to Li Shimin for him, but he would definitely take Li Shimin's life for him.
"Father, there is a reason why Counselor Du rode past Yin's house..."
Li Shimin defended Du Ruhui, but before he could finish his words, Li Yuan shouted rudely: "Everything has its reasons. I think it is clear that he is relying on your support and ignores the etiquette I set."
Li Shimin was stunned and fell silent.
Li Yuanji raised his brows, as Li Yuan did not seem to intend to let Li Shimin go easily.
If Li Yuan characterized this incident as a feud between Du Ruhui and Yin Ashu, the most he would do was to reprimand Li Shimin and fine Du Ruhui his salary.
But Li Yuan is now trying to make the matter bigger by bringing it into his own hands.
What is the difference between not taking the etiquette set by Li Yuan seriously and not taking Li Yuan seriously?
"Father, Counselor Du has had one of his fingers broken by Yin, and he has already received the punishment he deserves. Do you want to punish him more severely?"
Li Shimin suddenly spoke in a heavy voice.
Li Yuan was stunned for a moment, and said thoughtfully: "Yin Jianmen broke one of Du Ruhui's fingers..."
Yin Ashu concealed something from Li Yuan, and also from Li Yuanji.
After learning that Yin Ashu had concealed the truth from Li Yuan, Li Yuanji pricked up his ears and listened quietly to Li Yuan's reaction.
"Do you think Du Ruhui was wronged because he had a finger broken? He violated the etiquette I set, and Yin Jianmen was wrong to help him?
In your opinion, which is more important, the etiquette I set or Du Ruhui's finger?"
Li Yuan suddenly raised his voice several octaves and questioned harshly.
Li Shimin gritted his teeth and said, "Of course, the etiquette set by my father is important."
Li Yuan snorted, "Then I'll fine you three months' salary and dismiss Du Ruhui from his position. You won't object, right?"
Li Shimin fell silent again.
Li Yuanji seemed to have realized something from the reactions of Li Yuan and Li Shimin.
A small matter like Yin Ashu, a violation of etiquette, was not worth Li Yuan making things difficult for Li Shimin.
The reason why Li Yuan made a fuss was obviously to take the opportunity to warn Li Shimin.
If Li Yuanji guessed correctly, the reason why Li Yuan wanted to warn Li Shimin should be related to the Tiance Palace and Xiuwenguan established by Li Shimin in recent days.
Li Shimin's Tian Ce Palace and Xiu Wen Guan had only been established for over a month, but they had already recruited hundreds of counselors and warriors. Li Yuan felt threatened, so he took the opportunity to crack down on Li Shimin.
Li Shimin also saw this, so when Li Yuan said he would fine him and dismiss Du Ruhui from his post, he responded with silence.
But silence can only be used temporarily, not forever.
Let’s see how Li Yuan forces Li Shimin to speak and how Li Shimin responds.
Li Yuanji really wanted to see how this emperor, who was known as the king of all kings, would get past Li Yuan.
Just as Li Yuanji was quietly waiting for Li Yuan and Li Shimin, father and son, to continue their performance, Liu Jun bent over and hurried into the Liangyi Hall.
Li Yuanji's eyes suddenly widened.
Oh my god, you are Li Shimin's man, right?!
If you go in and pass the message at this time, wouldn't it just help Li Shimin break the impasse? !
"Everyone, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi has arrived..."
"Xuan!"
“…”
Li Yuanji entered the Liangyi Hall cursing in his heart.
The Liangyi Hall is very large, several times larger than the main hall of the Wude Hall.
Four rows of crane-stem candles were lit in the hall, extending from the entrance to under the emperor's throne.
Li Yuan wore a crown, a bright red casual suit, and sat on his exclusive imperial throne with a big belly.
The 56-year-old Li Yuan did not look old at all. Instead, his face was rosy and he looked like a well-maintained wealthy man.
On your Majesty's right hand side, Li Shimin, wearing a military cap and dark casual clothes, kneels behind a long table with his back straight.
Li Shimin had a handsome , a tall stature, and exuded a sharp spirit.
On the left side of His Majesty, there was an empty long table filled with wine and food. Yin Ashu was kneeling behind the second long table, pretending to be pitiful.
Liu Jun stood with his back bent before the emperor, and ten maids were kneeling on either side of the long table, with their heads bowed, serving him.
Li Yuanji originally thought that there were only Li Yuan, Li Shimin, Liu Jun, and Yin Ashu in the hall, but when he approached Li Yuan, he found that behind the empty table on Li Yuan's left hand side, there was a drunkard with an old face lying.
Li Yuanji knew who he was without having to guess.
It must be Pei Ji, Li Yuan's most trusted Shangshu You Pushe and Duke of Wei.
He was the only one who could stay overnight in the palace and eat, drink and have fun with Li Yuan.
Li Yuanji walked up to Li Yuan and bowed, "Father..."
Li Yuan glared at Li Yuanji and snorted coldly.
Li Yuanji stood up straight. On his way to Liangyi Hall, he carefully recalled how his predecessor usually behaved in front of Li Yuan.
He knew what to do in this situation.
Li Yuanji walked towards Yin Ashu and kicked him in front of Yin Ashu's horrified gaze.
Yin Ashu screamed and rolled out, rolling twice before stopping.
Li Yuanji jumped over the long table and chased after Yin Ashu, ready to continue his murderous act, cursing as he chased him, "You bastard, you are worthy of suing me, are you tired of living?!"
"Bold! Outrageous!"
Li Yuan was so angry that he stood up from the throne and pointed at Li Yuanji and scolded him.
Li Yuanji turned a deaf ear to him, rushed in front of Yin Ashu, grabbed Yin Ashu's collar and punched him twice.
Li Yuanji used the body of his predecessor and inherited his strength and martial arts, with some slight changes in between.
After two punches, Yin Ashu's small body could not withstand it at all, and his two front teeth were knocked out immediately. He shouted to Li Yuan with blood in his mouth.
No one knew what Li Yuan was thinking. He did not let the guards at the gate of the palace pull Li Yuanji away, nor did he let Li Shimin stop Li Yuanji from committing the crime. He just kept shouting words like "outrageous" and "bold".
Li Yuanji originally just wanted to hit Yin Ashu twice as a token of his respect, but Li Yuan would not let anyone pull him away, so he had no choice but to continue his attack.
Li Yuanji punched Yin Ashu several more times, and only when Yin Ashu's screams became quieter did Li Yuan glare at Li Shimin and shout, "Stop him!"
Li Shimin said expressionlessly: "I can't beat him..."
"you!"
Li Yuan was so angry that he couldn't speak.
"Guards?!"
Li Yuan roared outside the palace.
The guards outside the hall rushed into the hall and pulled Li Yuanji away.
Li Yuanji symbolically hit and struggled with them a few times.
After being pulled away by Qianniu Beishen, he threatened Yin Ashu, who was lying on the ground wailing, "Just wait, I will kill you sooner or later."
Li Yuan hurriedly left the throne, walked up to Li Yuanji and angrily shouted, "You rebellious son, what do you want to do? You commit a crime in front of me, do you still have me in your eyes?"
Li Yuanji did not show any weakness, staring at me and asking, "Father, are you going to punish me for a small prison guard?"
Li Yuan glared and shouted, "He is the father-in-law of the emperor, the marquis of the state, not some small guard! You lost your manners in front of the palace and beat up a father-in-law of the emperor. What crime should you be punished for?!"
As soon as Li Yuan said this, Li Shimin's eyes lit up instantly.
Li Yuanji was also very happy.
“Cough cough cough!”
Pei Ji, who was lying on the ground pretending to be drunk, suddenly stood up and coughed loudly.
Li Yuan immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing.
Although Yin Ashu's daughter is a noble concubine and his grandson is a prince, Yin Ashu is not worthy of the title of father-in-law of the emperor.
Unless Li Yuan makes Concubine Yin Defei the queen , there will always be only one father-in-law, and that is the father of the late Empress Dou.
