Chapter 314: Your Majesty and the Crown Prince have a disagreement on how to deal with Dang Renhong?
Bang bang bang!
There were continuous explosions and brilliant fireworks, and the entire night sky of Chang’an City was filled with dazzling light, as if the day had arrived, illuminating the entire city.

On the Chengtian Gate Tower, a group of people were watching.

Outside Chengtian Gate, the people gathered and also looked up.

On the fifth day of the Great Celebration, the five-day curfew in Chang’an City was also cancelled.

Let the people sing and dance all night long and have fun.

Li Shimin admired the fireworks rising into the sky and blooming with a smile on his face. He talked to Li Jue in a cordial manner.

Since you can’t be close to the prince, then find his son.

the same.

“Aunt, look at the fireworks.”

“Aweng, and there…”

Li Jue chattered excitedly, and Li Shimin cooperated with him in his excitement.

“put.”

“Keep playing.”

Li Shimin waved his hand and ordered the officials to set off fireworks continuously.

Some people were enjoying watching the fireworks, while others were feeling extremely heavy-hearted.

The fireworks are the last show.

Wait until the fireworks are over and tomorrow comes.

All the major events that were suppressed by the Holy Emperor will once again surface before everyone’s eyes.

No one has forgotten the incident of Dang Renhong, it has just been put on hold temporarily.

“The fireworks are bright tonight, but how many people will be able to see them tomorrow?”

……

The place where the three officers detained people.

Feng Zhidai and his son Feng Ang were separated by only a courtyard wall, but they didn’t know that the other was right next door.

They all watched the fireworks show in the night sky of Chang’an.

My heart is filled with melancholy and anxiety.

“I don’t know how Aye is doing.”

Feng Zhidai sighed, and Feng Ang on the other side also looked sad, “I hope Dalang won’t say anything he shouldn’t say.”

He was in a state of confusion. He had been accustomed to being a mountain king in Lingnan, but only when he came to Chang’an did he realize what it meant to walk on thin ice.

As soon as he arrived, he was detained by the three officials.

Although there was no rough treatment, it was just asking.

But his original intention was to ease relations with the court and to secure a future foundation for the Feng family.

I never thought that I would be caught up in the vortex of court political struggles.

“Not only did I miss the birthday celebration, but I was also imprisoned here.”

“Why bother coming here?”

Feng Ang smiled bitterly, he didn’t know whether he should regret it or not.

It seemed that Feng had no choice whether to come or not.

at this time.

The gate opened and the sound of footsteps in twos and threes could be heard.

Feng Ang remained unmoved and just glanced at him indifferently. When he saw the person coming, he could no longer remain calm.

“Duke Geng.”

Ma Zhou greeted with a smile.

He waved his hand to let his subordinates go aside, and came to Feng Ang.

“The Imperial Censor.”

Feng Ang said politely, “It is a festive occasion right now, the Imperial Censor should be with the Holy Emperor, why is he here in this courtyard?”

“Your Majesty is surrounded by the gentlemen.”

“It doesn’t matter if I’m missing.”

Ma Zhou smiled and said, “Duke Geng, don’t you want me to come in and sit down?”

Feng Ang leaned over and stretched out his hand, saying, “Please!”

The two men entered, closed the door, and sat down. Feng Ang did not speak. He was trying to figure out Ma Zhou’s purpose.

If you come here at this time, there must be something going on, and we can only talk about it in private.

“What does Duke Geng think about Dang Renhong?” Ma Zhou asked.

“I still answer the same way. I don’t have much contact with Dang Renhong.” Feng Ang said.

“Do not.”

Ma Zhou’s tone sank, and he said, “You have a close relationship with Dang Renhong.”

“Grand Censor, what do you mean by this?” Feng Ang’s expression changed and he said, “You are forcibly accusing me of a crime.”

“Dang Renhong is going to die.” Ma Zhou said calmly, “No one can stop him.”

These words shocked Feng Ang. How could he not know who Ma Zhou belonged to?

He said Dang Renhong was going to die.

It must have been approved by the Holy Emperor, which means that the Holy Emperor will not forgive Dang Renhong.

“Your master is next door. He is very smart and knows how to protect himself, so he didn’t say anything.”

Ma Zhou stood up and said, “Duke Geng, that’s all I have to say.”

“You can meet with Master Ling.”

“Only tonight.”

After saying that, Ma Zhou turned and left the house.

Feng Ang felt cold all over. He walked out quickly and saw Feng Zhidai appear soon. He immediately brought the person in and closed the door.

“Aye, are you okay?”

Feng Zhidai asked with concern.

“I’m fine, how about you?”

“I’m fine too.”

Feng Ang said, “Tell me the whole story.”

“Yes!”

Feng Zhidai explained everything in detail and said, “I didn’t say anything. I was held back by the excuse that I rarely go back to Lingnan.”

“You did well.”

Feng Ang nodded and said, “But now, you and I, father and son, are both trapped.”

“how?”

“We want to confess and testify against the crimes committed by Dang Renhong.”

Feng Ang said, “Just now the Imperial Censor came to tell me personally.”

“This…” Feng Zhidai exclaimed, “The Imperial Censor wants to put Dang Renhong to death?”

“No, it’s His Majesty who won’t show mercy.” Feng Ang shook his head and said, “We have no choice. Let me tell you first. What should we say?”

“Only tonight.”

“Remember, we haven’t met, and you didn’t know the Imperial Censor was here.”

“Keep it a secret. If it gets leaked, we will…”

Feng Zhidai said seriously: “I understand, my child!”

……

After a night, the hustle and bustle of Chang’an at night subsided and the hustle and bustle of the day took over.

No one knows that the undercurrent is gathering strength and will burst out at some point.

After the five-day celebration, the newspapers that were full of praise and eulogy suddenly changed their tone and reported on Dang Renhong’s corruption and abuse of power, and his exploitation of the people.

This immediately caused an uproar in Chang’an City.

The people of Chang’an were all whispering to each other, denouncing Dang Renhong’s evil deeds.

When Cui Dunli saw the contents of the newspaper, he fell into unprecedented fear and his hands were shaking.

Yang Shidao held the newspaper with one hand, sighed, and lowered his head in silence.

“The Feng father and son actually testified?”

“How dare they, how could they…”

Cui Dunli was very scared.

He didn’t know why, he was just afraid.

“They answered the three officials that there was no turning back on Dang Renhong’s matter.”

Yang Shidao asked, “What will be your Majesty’s reaction when he finds out?”

Cui Dunli said bitterly: “Once the testimony of Feng and his son is out, Dang Renhong will die.”

“No decision has been made yet. I’m afraid we are waiting for a clearer investigation.”

Yang Shidao asked, “Yuan Li, can you suppress it a little and prevent the news from spreading so quickly?”

“I can’t suppress it.” Cui Dunli shook his head and said, “They have already sent the newspapers to various places.”

“Assholes, don’t they see that there’s something fishy going on?” Yang Shidao couldn’t help but curse, “Do they think they’ll win if they make it known to the world and put pressure on His Majesty?”

“These people are really obsessed with greed and have lost their minds.”

Even when the Yang family suffered a heavy loss in Chang’an, they were not in such a state of panic.

Instead, those aristocratic families are like crazy, wanting to compete with Your Majesty.

“Onlookers see clearly, but those involved are confused.”

Cui Dunli sighed helplessly and said, “I just hope that we are worrying too much.”

This was just self-consolation. The central ministers in the court did not say anything, probably because they saw the hidden danger behind it.

……

Guangzhou.

When the people from the Censorate arrived and informed the local authorities, they immediately took the Censor who impeached Dang Renhong into custody.

“Luo Chu, the Holy Emperor has ordered a thorough investigation into your impeachment of Dang Renhong.”

“Now please tell me exactly what you know about the things, people, and objects.”

“We will verify it as soon as possible.”

After questioning Luo Chu, the officials of the Censorate immediately began looking for the relevant people according to the information he provided.

Soon, dozens of people were called in for questioning by the Censorate.

Among those implicated were officials, businessmen, and some local big families.

After more than a month of investigation and questioning, we have finally sorted out the matter.

Afterwards, the Censorate and relevant personnel set off for Chang’an.

“Send the message to Chang’an by express horse.”

“Yes!”

……

When Li Shimin received the report from Guangzhou sent by the Censorate, he was furious, but he suppressed the matter and did not deal with it immediately.

However, this matter was known to officials in the court.

“It seems that your majesty still wants to favor Dang Renhong.”

“No, Dang Renhong committed such a crime, how can we not follow the law?”

When the officials from the Censorate who had gone to Guangzhou returned to the court, it was already mid-summer.

As the reports were passed up one level after another, Li Shimin could no longer suppress it.

At the court meeting, all officials discussed how to deal with Dang Renhong.

“The Guangzhou Censor impeached his subordinate.”

“Dang Renhong’s behavior is outrageous and his crimes are heinous. He deserves to be punished.”

An official said righteously: “Your Majesty, please punish him severely by law.”

Li Shimin showed an awkward look and said, “Dang Renhong is an old man in the Qin Palace and a founding hero of the Tang Dynasty.”

“I really can’t bear it…”

Everyone: “???”

Not right.

Cui Dunli and Yang Shidao were a little dumbfounded.

This is not what you think.

If Your Majesty does not want to punish Dang Renhong, then what is the matter with the three-department investigation?

Could it be that the prince instructed this?
The Crown Prince and Your Majesty have a disagreement on how to deal with the Dang Renhong case?

“Your Majesty, the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Dali Temple have investigated and found that the crimes are beyond description.”

An official stood up and argued: “Your Majesty, how can you be partial to your old friends and ignore the law?”

“I believe that the execution of Dang Renhong is appropriate and in accordance with the law.”

After this person finished speaking, another official immediately spoke up, “The laws of the country are strict. If a prince breaks the law, he will be punished just like a commoner, not to mention Dang Renhong.”

“His merits are merits, but his faults are faults. We cannot pardon him just because of his merits.”

“Who will be afraid of the laws of the country in the future? Who will restrain themselves according to the laws of the country?”

The officials in the court were all urging Li Shimin to execute Dang Renhong.

Li Shimin showed a sad look and said, “Three officials, what do you think?”

“I want to give Dang Renhong a lighter sentence and give him a chance to reform…”

Ma Zhou was the first to respond: “Your Majesty, according to the law, Dang Renhong should be executed!”

Sun Fujia said: “The Dali Temple also made the same ruling.”

Liu Dewei said: “Your Majesty, I also think that Dang Renhong can be given a chance, but the crimes he committed are too serious, and each one of them deserves the death penalty.”

“The Ministry of Justice upholds the laws of the country and cannot ignore the majesty of the law.”

“The Ministry of Justice also believes that the death penalty should be imposed!”

(End of this chapter)