In the Health Preservation Hall, Li Shimin was flipping through the memorial book, frowning.
Wang Fu, the personal chamberlain, came to report.
"Your Majesty, Li Minghao, the Vice-President's Vice-President, has something to report." Wang Fu said softly.
Li Shimin put down the memorial, rubbed his eyebrows, and said, "Say."
"Li Beidou, the son of Hongwen County, led more than a dozen of his troops to make a big fuss at the residence of Wang Huan, the imperial censor, an hour ago. They smashed the palace to pieces and... broke one of Wang Huan's legs."
Li Shimin was startled, then relieved, and a smile gradually appeared in his eyes: "This Li Beidou has quite a temper..."
Seeing that Li Shimin was not angry, Wang Fu continued: "Also, the second male son of Hedong County, Xue Na, and the third son of the Duke of Lu, Cheng Ruoshui, gathered dozens of people and destroyed the house of the supervisory censor Wu Tong. , and slapped the other party more than ten times."
Li Shimin laughed and said, "These little bastards can really do anything." After thinking for a while, he continued to ask: "Did they discuss it?"
"According to the report from the criminal department, the three of them discussed it for a long time beforehand, and County Master Li proposed to go and cause trouble in the name of Wu Tong's son's gambling debt."
Li Shimin smiled mysteriously, "I didn't expect that Li Beidou would handle the matter this way. Yes, it is in line with his playboy character."
After a long time, Li Shimin asked: "This matter has caused quite a stir. Is there any action from Li Yifu?"
"Until the criminal secretary came to the palace to report, Li Yifu had no response."
Li Shimin sneered, "This old fox is quite calm."
At this time, the eunuch outside the palace reported that Prince Li Zhi had arrived.
Li Shimin waved his hand, and Wang Fu said loudly: "Prince Xuan comes to see you."
Li Zhi first greeted Li Shimin. After the ceremony, he stood aside and waited for his father to ask questions.
Li Shimin smiled and said: "I made Li Beidou the prince of Hongwen County the day before yesterday. Many people in the court advised me not to make the title so easy. What does the prince think?"
"My ministers believe that Li Beidou should be awarded this title, and those who dissuade him should be reprimanded and explain Li Beidou's contribution to the Tang Dynasty."
Li Shimin asked with a normal expression: "The prince thinks that the person admonishing him does not know the contribution Li Beidou has made?"
Li Zhi was speechless and didn't know how to answer.
Li Shimin narrowed his eyes slightly, "Some people in the court were jumping up and down. I haven't said anything yet, but Li Beidou couldn't sit still. I heard that he led a group of troops to smash up the palace of Wang Huan, the imperial censor, and beat him. Broke his leg.”
Li Zhi was stunned for a moment, then smiled stiffly: "Li Beidou... really has a bad temper. I wonder how Wang Huan provoked him?"
"Some people's hands are stretched too far. How can they intervene arbitrarily and dare to join forces to advise me whether I can ennoble or not? A mere imperial censor really thinks he can change the world."
The tone was calm, but it was like thunder in Li Zhi's ears, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead unconsciously, "Some courtiers are really outrageous. It's time for my father to rectify them."
Li Shimin couldn't bear it when he saw Li Zhi cowering, but he had to use Li Beidou's hand to beat Li Zhi, even though he knew that the crown prince did it.
Abolition of the Crown Princess will inevitably shake the Crown Prince's status among the courtiers, and it would be unreasonable to directly attack the Crown Princess.
Li Shimin believed that Li Zhi could understand his painstaking efforts.
So Li Shimin said in a gentle tone: "Let's end this matter. As for the person behind Wang Huan, you can take care of it yourself. I just hope that she will be wiser and not force me to take action."
Li Zhi lowered his hands and said firmly: "I understand."
…
An hour later, the prince's east palace.
The Crown Princess prostrated herself on the ground and said with a trembling voice, "I know I am guilty."
Li Zhi said sternly: "You can talk nonsense about the issue of knighthood?"
"Your Majesty, I forgive you. I didn't expect His Majesty to react so strongly to this."
Li Zhi was so angry that his teeth itched, "Humph, womanly opinion, do you think this is a trivial matter? You should know that the imperial power is the father of the emperor. Not only can you not interfere, you can't even think about testing."
The Crown Princess said in panic: "Yes, I will take the blame."
Li Zhi half-closed his eyes tiredly and said calmly: "Wang Huan's legs have been broken by Li Beidou, and he deserves it. What do you plan to do with his father-in-law?"
The Crown Princess burst into tears and looked pitiful, "How about Li Yifu go to Duke Wei's mansion to apologize in person?" After saying this, she clenched her fists tightly and her nails dug into her flesh.
Li Zhi said softly: "From now on, don't be smart anymore."
"I understand."
…
In Duke Wei's Mansion, Li Jing looked at the honest and well-behaved Li Beidou angrily.
"Don't you think the Li family has made enough enemies? You broke Wang Huan's leg without saying a word. I thought you had changed your temper, but I didn't expect you were still so vicious."
Li Beidou laughed and said, "Grandpa, forgive me, but my grandson was a little over the top at the time."
Li Jing sneered, "Wang Huan is the son-in-law of Li Yifu, don't you know this?"
Li Beidou curled his lips and said, "My grandson already knows this."
Li Jing glared, "Knowing that you would do such a heavy-handed thing? Didn't you think about the consequences before you did it?"
Li Beidou replied with a smile: "My grandson has thought about it, but he thinks that if he doesn't break his legs, it will cause even more trouble for the emperor."
An imperceptible smile flashed in Li Jing's eyes, "Oh? What do you mean by this?"
"Grandpa, don't pretend to be confused. The emperor wanted to use his grandson's hand to hit Li Yifu hard this time. If the grandson does it too gently, he may not offend Li Yifu, but he will definitely disappoint the emperor. Whichever is the lesser of two evils , My grandson would rather offend Li Yifu to death than let the emperor down."
Li Jing was shocked, "What did you see?"
Li Beidou said softly: "My grandson dare not get involved in palace matters, but he should show his attitude when the time is right. His grandson is a Tang minister sent by the emperor to the prince, and Tang ministers are the emperor's ministers and are only loyal to the emperor. "
Li Jing was silent for a while and said slowly: "I guessed 80% to 90% correctly, so I passed the test."
"Grandpa, have you seen the emperor's intention a long time ago? That's why you allowed your grandson to act recklessly?"
Li Jing glared at Li Beidou and said, "You are too ridiculous. I thought that the most you could do was demolish his mansion, but I never expected that you would dare to break his legs. And those of your gangster friends, even little minions. Don’t let it go.”
"Hehe, grandpa, we can't blame Wu Tong for this. It was his son who owed money first."
Li Jing sighed, "That's all, this matter is over. I think Li Yifu will be quiet for a while recently. During this period, he danced so happily that almost only the princess followed him. If the emperor was not afraid of shaking the prince's status, he would have probably used the steel knife this time. Added neck."
After speaking, he glanced at Li Beidou and asked, "Do you know why the emperor asked you to handle this matter?"
Li Beidou thought for a while and said: "Li Yifu tested the emperor's bottom line, so the emperor used his grandson's hand to slap him in the face. The grandson is a bastard and a dandy. It is normal for him to break Wu Tong's legs based on his conduct. In this way, the emperor's goal is achieved, the princess is warned, and there will be no more discussion in the court about the grandson's ennoblement."
Li Jing nodded approvingly, "Yes, you can think of this, I'm relieved."
