Not long after, Zhang Shao brought Yang Xi to the Gold and Silver Palace.
Yang Xi was also sandwiched between the two flying guards, but Yang Xi did not look as frightened and staggered as Wang Li did.
Li Shimin couldn't help thinking when he saw Yang Xi's indifferent expression and walking forward calmly:
"This person is indeed not as sophisticated as Wang Li. He was summoned by me overnight, but he didn't take it seriously and was so indifferent. It seems that this person is most likely just a careless person who was implicated by Wang Li."
When Yang Xi arrived at the Gold and Silver Palace, he saw people kneeling on the floor. His Majesty had a sinister expression and was looking at him with squinted eyes.
Only then did Yang Xi realize that His Majesty's summons to him must be related to the previous false transmission of official documents.
Knowing that he would inevitably be questioned by His Majesty today, Yang Xi simply put on a "fearless" look and did not kneel down. He just stood in front of the hall, bowed his head and said:
"Chen Yang plays, please see your majesty!"
Li Shimin already understood Yang Xi's temperament based on historical records and his own observations.
I know that this person has an open-minded personality, does things poorly, talks little, and is arrogant. So I decided to test his mind as straightforwardly and simply as possible.
After making up his mind, Li Shimin did not help Yang Xi, but nodded slightly and said seriously:
"Yang Wenran! A few days ago, you faked an official document from the Chancellor, and together with Wang Li, you deceived Yang Yi, causing him to die tragically in prison. Now that the witnesses and material evidence are complete, do you know your guilt?"
Seeing that His Majesty did not make any preparations, Yang Xi immediately confessed to the crime of deceiving Yang Yi. He complained in his heart that he had no intention of harming Yang Yi. His Majesty had misunderstood him!
Yang paused and hurriedly thought of excuses.
Li Shimin saw Yang Xi pause and knew that Yang Xi was caught off guard by his question. He continued without waiting for Yang Xi to answer:
"Don't say anything? Is there something wrong in your heart, or is it because you know it's irrefutable and you acquiesce?"
Just when Yang Xixi had thought of a response to the previous question, His Majesty asked the second question.
Yang Xi was stunned, feeling that if he didn't speak, he would not even have the chance to defend himself.
So Yang Xi quickly took over His Majesty's words and said:
"minister……"
Li Shimin didn't wait for Yang Xi to say anything, and then said:
"You should be punished for falsely transmitting official documents with the intention of framing Lu Yi and other court ministers! Whose instructions did you receive? Are there any other accomplices besides Wang Li?"
Yang Xigang was interrupted by His Majesty, and saw that His Majesty had skipped the part of confessing his crime, directly regarded himself as a criminal, and asked him who his accomplices were. His eyes widened involuntarily, looking at His Majesty in disbelief.
"this……"
Li Shimin didn't give Yang Xi any chance to think about the previous question and said directly again:
"You are the emperor's salary, and you are favored by Prime Minister Zhuge and entrusted with important responsibilities. How can you still know the law and violate the law, and try to make enemies of me and the princes of Jingzhou under the leadership of Prime Minister?"
Yang Xi was completely confused by His Majesty's series of questions.
I thought that I didn't mean to harm anyone at that time, but I just conveniently made it easier for Wang Li to use the official document seal from the Chancellor's desk. Why did your majesty bring out the prime minister and the princes of Jingzhou?
"Your Majesty, I don't have it, I don't know!"
Since arriving at the Gold and Silver Palace, Yang Xi was finally able to speak a complete sentence.
Seeing that Yang Xi was in complete chaos, Li Shimin felt that it was almost done, so he smiled and said harmoniously:
"You don't need to panic. I'm not a murderous tyrant. You should think clearly about the whole thing and let me explain it slowly. After I understand the key, I may be able to deal with your guilt appropriately."
When Yang Xi heard this, he sighed first, and then said aggrievedly:
"Your Majesty, it is clear to you! Yang Yi's ministers did not participate in the plan. They just neglected the calculation and did not think about the consequences, so they conveniently facilitated Wang Li's trip."
Li Shimin observed Yang Xi's words and deeds and confirmed that the man was filled with confusion and regret, without much concealment or sophistry, and nodded with satisfaction.
I seized on his weakness of being careless in doing things and speaking little, and pressed him with questions continuously, causing him to become confused. Under this situation, what Yang Xi said was almost what he was thinking in his heart.
It seems that Yang Xi did not take the initiative to participate in Yang Yi's matter, so he was implicated.
In this case, this Yang Xi should belong to the center of the Yizhou gentry, who wanted to be in the imperial court, or someone who was neutral.
After guessing Yang Xi's position, Li Shimin was happy. At least Yang Xi was much easier to win over than Wang Li.
Thinking of this, Li Shimin tested Yang Xi and said:
"Since you didn't want to harm anyone, why did you agree with Wang Li and others in slandering Lu Yi in the court a few days ago?"
Yang Xi felt confused again after hearing this...
"Your Majesty, where do we start with this?"
When Li Shimin saw this, he looked at Jiang Wan behind him with a look of doubt.
Jiang Wan understood, hurriedly stepped forward and said:
"Your Majesty, I can testify that Yang Xi did not seek influence in the court."
Yang Xi heard this and said aggrievedly:
"Your Majesty, you see, I did not do anything inappropriate..."
Seeing Yang Xi like this, Li Shimin subconsciously glanced at Jiang Wan and found that Jiang Wan was looking at him, smiling and nodding.
Li Shimin understood and knew that Jiang Wan wanted to remind him that Yang Xi was different from Wang Li and so on, so he could directly win over him.
Li Shimin combined with Jiang Wan's reminder and added that he had just tested Yang Xi. I also think Yang Xi can be directly win over.
So he wanted to use the false transmission of official documents to completely tie up Yang Xi and let Yang Xi be used by him in the future.
After thinking about it for a while, Li Shimin ordered Huang Hao to bring in pen and ink and said sternly to Yang Xi:
"I don't believe everything you said. But since Jiang Gongyan has proved it for you, I don't want to pursue it any further.
However, regarding the false transmission of official documents, regardless of whether you participated in the planning or not, you actually did it.
Well, if I ask you something, you must think it through first and then answer me seriously. "
Yang Xi couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief when he saw that His Majesty was willing to let him go.
"Excuse me, Your Majesty!"
Li Shimin walked to Yang Xi's side, put a hand on Yang Xi's shoulder, and said in a deep voice:
"Most of you Yizhou nobles are very critical of me, and some even hesitate to send assassins, spread rumors, and sabotage counter-rebellion, just to get me to compromise, give up the Northern Expedition, and unify the world.
Even if you are not directly involved in many of these things, you cannot be blamed for being indirectly involved or not reporting the information.
No matter what, I can forget about it. Today I need you to express your attitude, whether you will surrender to the imperial court and contribute to the Northern Expedition, or whether you will continue to do things such as 'participating in forging official documents', which is tantamount to becoming my enemy.
If you are willing to be like Wang Ping and others, and sincerely contribute to the country and be loyal to the court, then I will pretend that what happened today never happened.
If you persist in your stubbornness, then I can make a big fuss about "forging official documents" to eliminate this hidden danger for you.
You must think clearly, I will give you ten breaths of time to think about it, and I will give you the answer when the time is up! "
After that, Li Shimin shouted:
"One breath..."
When Yang Xi heard this, he was confused. Although I myself have no objection to His Majesty's Northern Expedition, most of the Yizhou princes are opposed to it, and I have no choice but to go with the flow.
Now I only have ten breaths of time, which is really not enough for me to think too much, so I can only follow my heart.
While he was thinking about it, His Majesty shouted:
"ten……"
Yang Xi shook his head violently, trying to wake himself up, then closed his eyes and said with difficulty:
"I am willing to surrender to the imperial court and be driven by your Majesty from now on!"
When Li Shimin heard this, Long Yan was overjoyed.
But seeing that Yang Xi seemed to have concerns, Li Shimin smiled and said:
"Wen Ran, since you have defected to the imperial court, I should take care of your worries.
I know that you miss the past and are sincere and loyal to your friends. Now that you have defected to me, you will naturally be on the opposite side of the three or five friends from the Yizhou sect in the past.
I have already thought about it for you. On weekdays, you are still the same as usual, and there is no need to stand on my side openly.
Just don't forget what I said today when I need it. "
Yang Xi was deeply moved when he saw that His Majesty not only did not take the opportunity to suppress him by forging official documents, but instead always thought of himself.
He couldn't help but kneel down and kowtow:
"Your Majesty is fair, benevolent and considerate in everything he does. I deeply feel your Majesty's kindness. I would like to thank your Majesty for your courtesy to me. I will follow your Majesty in the future and am willing to do the hard work of dogs and horses!"
Li Shimin saw that Yang Xi said so many words at once, and knew that Yang Xi was sincerely surrendering, so he hurriedly helped Yang Xi up.
"Don't mention today's matter to anyone. Tomorrow at the court, I want to reduce the big matter to a trivial matter and calm the disputes among the princes of Yizhou and Jingzhou. You can just watch from the sidelines."
After seeing Yang Xi agree, Li Shimin changed his mind and did not let Yang Xi write a "confession" himself like Wang Li did, but directly rejected Yang Xi.
From Li Shimin's point of view, with Yang Xi's temperament, coercion would be counterproductive to him, and just a few courtesies would be enough to make him give up.
After that, Li Shimin met Liu Shen, He Zhi, and Li Fu respectively.
Except for Li Fu, Liu Shen and He Zhi, like Wang Li and Yang Xi, were targeted by Li Shimin based on their character traits, and finally returned to their hearts with kindness and power.
Li Fu has a very sensitive sense of smell and an extremely stubborn mind. Li Shimin tried again and again but did not get an answer that reassured him.
So we simply stopped trying to win over each other and just made an exchange of interests. After wrangling for a long time, Li Fu finally agreed to hand over a piece of land at home and some farm laborers to absolve himself of the charges of "forging official documents and deceiving the emperor."
After everything was taken care of, Li Shimin also ordered the jailers and jailers to rest in the Gold and Silver Palace, waiting for the early morning meeting to go to the palace to confess their crimes.
