“Dare not? What is there to be afraid of? Wei Zheng, show them the evidence and let them take a good look!”
Li Shimin's voice was terrifyingly dark, like an enraged lion roaring.
Although Li Shimin was furious, the ministers were not particularly afraid.
After once again pleading for Li Shimin to calm down, they began to take turns reading the memorials.
After all, the current Tang court was filled with outstanding talents.
Each one was a renowned figure in history.
They naturally understood that Li Shimin's anger was aimed at their attitude.
In other words, this matter has caught the emperor's attention, and they must handle it well.
As the ministers recalled that they had not recently engaged in any illegal activities,
they began to look on with curiosity.
Someone dared to privately gather incense offerings? That big shot had such audacity to play like this.
After the Sui Emperor Yang's three proofs of Goguryeo, the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty was even more unbearable.
Now, the population of the Tang Dynasty had already dropped to a freezing point.
To increase the population, not only Li Shimin but also the ministers were racking their brains.
Now someone actually dared to do this and brought it to the court.
Are they seeking death, or seeking death, or seeking death!
“Your Majesty, leave this matter to me, Old Cheng! I will definitely chop off his dog head!”
Cheng Yaojin pounded his chest, making a sound like metal clashing.
A giant bull-headed monster with a black-red aura slowly emerged behind Cheng Yaojin.
Boom!
The fierce and savage aura radiated out, with a pair of crimson bull eyes as if they were ready to devour someone.
“Cheng Zhi Jie, how can you be so reckless in front of the emperor?
Put away your chaotic bull demon form!”
A thin figure, wearing a golden fish pouch and a purple official robe with wild goose patterns, shouted loudly.
“This is a small court meeting; if it were a grand court meeting and your aura harmed the court officials,
I would definitely hold you accountable for your reckless behavior and contempt for the court!”
“Fang Xuanling, you... Your Majesty, I know my crime!”
Cheng Yaojin glared fiercely at Fang Xuanling, quickly retracting his form and apologizing to Li Shimin.
Li Shimin rolled his eyes and snorted coldly.
He knew that Cheng Yaojin jumping out at this moment was to prevent him from losing his temper.
Although Wei Zheng's report included quite a few investigation results,
it only skimmed the surface; if they startled the snake in the grass, it would be easy for the mastermind behind it to notice the problem.
This was also why Li Shimin chose to discuss this matter in a small court meeting.
If it were in a grand court meeting, this matter would spread throughout Chang'an in less than half a day.
“Alright, I will deduct your salary for a month. Do any of you ministers have any insights?”
Li Shimin did not pursue the matter further but looked at the ministers.
Those who could attend the grand court meeting were at least high-ranking officials of the third rank or above.
These officials might have different thoughts in their hearts, but most were not shortsighted.
Li Shimin believed they would not engage in something like privately gathering incense offerings.
Only then did he feel at ease to bring this matter to light.
“Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance and cannot be decided lightly.
Moreover, most of the information here is merely speculation; further investigation is necessary!”
As the chancellor, Changsun Wuji was the first to step forward and respond.
Li Shimin nodded and continued,
“I have already ordered the Water Monitoring Bureau to investigate the specific situation.
However, someone has discovered the phenomenon of private incense gatherings in the Pingkang Fang of Chang'an!”
Li Shimin still suppressed his anger, and the ministers' hearts sank.
At the same time, they understood why Li Shimin was so furious.
These people had actually developed right under Li Shimin's nose, yet the court had no inkling.
This was a slap in the face for Li Shimin!
Last year, when Shuo Li Khan forced Li Shimin to swear by the White Horse by the Weishui River,
Li Shimin regarded it as a great humiliation.
Now someone was causing trouble in Chang'an City; wasn't this a blatant slap in the face!
“Fang Xuanling, handle the matters around Chang'an City.
Wei Zheng, go check out the Qingshi Town in the Qing Shui County; I feel this matter is definitely not that simple!”
Li Shimin was no fool; the person who discovered the problem must be from Qingshi Town.
Otherwise, if other places were merely speculating, why was this place so clear?
That name, One-Eyed Wolf, is truly unpleasant.
“I, shall obey!”
Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng both bowed and replied.
Then, the court was once again filled with other discussions.
“This year's locust disaster in Guanzhong, how are the disaster victims being settled?”
“Replying to Your Majesty...”
...
In Zhao Family Village, the Zhou family pulled the village chief aside.
“Old woman, can't you talk about this later?
Can't you see I'm busy here? Make sure the fat mud over there is mixed evenly!”
“Old man, let me tell you...”
“What? They already... Wuwu...”
The village chief's old eyes nearly popped out as he screamed in shock.
Then he was covered by Zhou's hand, who whispered,
“You old fool, keep your voice down; I'm here to discuss this with you!”
The village chief pushed Zhou's hand away, grinding his teeth and pacing in circles, muttering,
“I knew that brat would get into trouble; he never cares about rules and regulations.
But that lady... isn't she from a prominent family? Why would she also...”
Seeing the agitated village chief, Zhou slapped him impatiently.
“That lady isn't she a bit mentally challenged? Besides, who knows if her identity is real?
What's most important now is to get this matter done.
But to handle this, we definitely can't inform the lady's family; what if her family disagrees!”
The village chief was also scratching his head, and finally, with gritted teeth and a stomp of his foot, he said fiercely,
“In that case, let's do it this way; I'll go inform the old man.
Let's get this matter settled first, and later we can think of a way to deal with the Zhang family!”
The village chief walked away with his hands behind his back, angrily heading towards the village.
As he passed by Chen Fan's house, he snorted coldly.
“Damn thing, humph!”
Chen Fan, who was reading in the yard, looked up in confusion, instantly filled with anger.
“This old man, is he out of his mind?!”