"Kneel!"
Inside Taiji Palace, Yuchi Jingde and Duan Zhixuan carried in a man wearing a metal mask. When they reached the front of the officials, Yuchi Jingde's face darkened as he shouted at the masked man, who was the Dragon Head of the Dragon Sect.
Although under normal circumstances, kneeling was not popular in this era, the Dragon Head of the Dragon Sect, as the general of the defeated army, should kneel after seeing Li Er. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this!
"Humph! How can a traitor who killed his brother and imprisoned his father be worthy of this seat kneeling? Don't even think about it! "
The masked man glared at Li Er, his eyes flashing with a cold light as he stubbornly said.
The moment these words came out, the faces of the officials changed. Ever since Li Er ascended the throne, no official had ever dared to say such words. Even if someone was tired of living, they would not choose such a method to court death. But who would have thought that these words that even Wei Yan Zi did not dare to say, would actually come out of the mouth of a rebel army's leader today!
The hall suddenly fell into a deathly silence!
Li Er narrowed his eyes as he stared fixedly at the Dragon Head of the Dragon Sect. There was no joy or anger on his face, and no one knew what he was thinking. After a long while, he finally spoke, "Humph! Are you deliberately provoking this seat? Seeking a quick death? "
The Dragon Head of the Dragon Sect trembled, but he neither admitted nor denied it.
Li Er's eyes narrowed as he ordered in a deep voice, "Jingde, take off his mask! Let this seat and the officials see who he really is! "
Although Yuchi Jingde and Duan Zhixuan had captured the Dragon Head of the Dragon Sect, no one dared to take off his mask. Both of them were old officials who had experienced the ups and downs of officialdom for many years. How could they not notice the abnormality behind the Dragon Sect's rebellion? Therefore, in their view, the identity of the Dragon Head of the Dragon Sect could only be revealed by Li Er himself!
On the other hand, not taking off the mask on the spot was to preserve the original appearance of the criminal to the greatest extent to avoid suspicion of being swapped!
"Yes! Your Majesty! "
Yuchi Jingde cupped his fists and accepted the order.
He then turned around and looked at the Dragon Head of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, preparing to remove the iron mask on his face.
At this moment, the latter began to struggle violently. "Li Shimin, the winner is king while the loser is a bandit. If you want to kill me or cut me up, do as you please. You humiliated me like this, what kind of hero are you …"
Hearing the Heavenly Dragon Sect's Dragon Head's words becoming more and more excessive, Yuchi Jingde hurriedly sped up, reaching out with lightning speed to pull off the latter's iron mask. Instantly, an excessively young and handsome face was exposed before everyone's eyes. Everyone's jaws dropped in shock, because no one had expected that the person behind all this rebellion would be so young!
Judging from his appearance, he was at most fourteen or fifteen years old, right? He was even younger than the youngest person in the imperial court, Li Zexuan!
"Who are you? Where are you from? "
Li Er frowned and stared unblinkingly at the Dragon Head of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. This person's appearance gave him a familiar feeling, but he couldn't put his finger on it for a moment. A moment later, he asked in a low voice.
The Dragon Head of the Heavenly Dragon Sect said angrily, "This seat said that if you want to kill me, then kill me, if you want to cut me up, then cut me up. When did the decisive Li Shimin become as wishy-washy as a woman?"
Despite being described as a woman, Li Er didn't show any anger on his face. He narrowed his eyes and suddenly turned to Wei Zheng. "Wei Zuo Cheng, tell me, who is this Dragon Head of the Heavenly Dragon Sect?"
Whoosh!
As soon as Li Er's words fell, all the officials in Taiji Palace, whether intentionally or not, turned their gazes to Wei Zheng. After all, almost everyone present was a 'wily old fox' who had experienced ups and downs for many years. For Li Er to personally call out Wei Zheng in this situation, the meaning behind it was self-evident!
As the person involved, Wei Zheng couldn't help but tremble when he heard Li Er call out his name. At this moment, his face was full of contradiction and regret! Under Li Er's aggressive gaze, Wei Zheng finally stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty, this old subject doesn't know the identity of the Dragon Head of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, but since he has the King Aura Token, he must have a lot to do with the King Aura!"
Boom ~!
"What? The Dragon Head of the Heavenly Dragon Sect is actually related to the King Aura? "
"King Aura Token? How did Wei Xuancheng know that the Dragon Head of the Heavenly Dragon Sect has the King Aura Token? "
As soon as the two words' King Aura 'came out, the Taiji Palace exploded.
After all, only a few of them had secretly contacted Du E before. Most people didn't know that the Heavenly Dragon Sect had set up so many schemes in Chang 'an City, let alone that Du E was a civil and military official of Li Jiancheng's faction in Chang' an City with the King Aura Token!
When the officials' discussion gradually died down, Li Er narrowed his eyes and asked indifferently, "Minister Wei, how did you know that the Dragon Head of the Heavenly Dragon Sect has the King Aura Token?"
The atmosphere in the court suddenly froze. Wei Zheng paused for a moment, bowed deeply, and said, "Your Majesty, this old subject is guilty!"
"Oh? What crime is Minister Wei guilty of? "
Li Er asked knowingly.
Wei Zheng closed his eyes and said with a pained expression,
"Your Majesty, the Venerable of the Heavenly Dragon Sect had a secret meeting with this old man a few days ago with the King Aura Token and asked this old man to make things convenient for the Heavenly Dragon Sect in Chang 'an City. Although this old subject flatly refused, I didn't report this matter to Your Majesty and almost caused Chang' an City to suffer a disaster. This old subject is guilty, and I beg for death!"
After saying that, a turbid tear fell from the corner of Wei Zheng's eye.
Back then, he was one of Li Jiancheng's top strategists. He had a very deep relationship with Li Jiancheng. When Du E came to him with the King Aura Token, he also hesitated. However, reason told him that the King Aura was already dead, and the Heavenly Dragon Sect was just using the King Aura's name to stir up trouble in Chang 'an and attract more believers. Therefore, Wei Zheng mercilessly refused Du E's request!
But Wei Zheng also didn't choose to report this matter to Li Er. First, he felt that there was no need. He didn't believe that the Heavenly Dragon Sect could pose a threat to the powerful Imperial Court. Second, he guessed that the person behind the Heavenly Dragon Sect was related to Li Jiancheng. Whenever possible, one should be lenient. Letting the Heavenly Dragon Sect go could be considered repaying Li Jiancheng's favor!
Today, the Heavenly Dragon Sect had taken the initiative to besiege Chang 'an. Only now did Wei Zheng understand that his moment of softheartedness had led to a grave mistake and almost brought immeasurable losses to the Great Tang. He, who had been upright all his life, had finally' avenged 'himself with great difficulty, but it had resulted in such tragic consequences. At this moment, Wei Zheng felt that only death could atone for his sins!
Li Er stared at Wei Zheng, his brow furrowed. He didn't say that he would punish Wei Zheng, but he also didn't say that he would let him go.
Seeing this, the officials couldn't help but sigh in their hearts. Because the more Li Er remained silent, the more likely Wei Zheng would be to die! Although Wei Zheng often liked to criticize the heavens, earth, and air, and almost everyone in the court was annoyed by him, but the officials in the hall asked themselves honestly. Wei Zheng had contributed a lot to the Great Tang. At the very least, when Li Er, as the Emperor, did something inappropriate, Wei Zheng would replace them to 'criticize' Li Er and regulate Li Er's behavior. If Wei Zheng wasn't there, then the next time Li Er did something foolish, these 'virtuous officials' would have to reprimand and face Li Er's anger!
Now that they saw that Wei Zheng might lose his life, the officials in the hall couldn't help but feel a trace of sympathy for the death of the rabbit!
"Your Majesty!"
Just as the atmosphere in the hall became more and more oppressive, more and more oppressive, Li Zexuan finally stood up. He bowed towards Li Er and said, "Your Majesty, although Left Minister Wei is guilty, his crime definitely does not warrant death! If he knew in advance that the Dragon Sect would attack the city today, this official believes that he would have told Your Majesty about the Due's Secret Meeting no matter what!
With bronze as a mirror, one can straighten one's clothes; with history as a mirror, one can know the rise and fall; with people as a mirror, one can know the gains and losses! Left Minister Wei is upright and plainspoken. He is loyal to the Great Tang and is sincere to Your Majesty. He always dares to reprimand. Such a virtuous official is not only a role model for all the officials in the court, but also a mirror for Your Majesty! If Your Majesty kills Left Minister Wei today, it will be the same as destroying a mirror. In the future, it will be difficult to meet a mirror that can protect you! Your Majesty, please reconsider! "
Wei Zheng, who was already prepared to die, was surprised to see Li Zexuan pleading for him. But after listening to Li Zexuan's words, his face was filled with complex emotions!
Li Er, who was sitting at the head of the table, couldn't help but recall Li Zexuan's words in his mind. "With bronze as a mirror, one can straighten one's clothes; with history as a mirror, one can know the rise and fall; with people as a mirror, one can know the gains and losses!"
This sentence was inexplicably familiar to Li Er, but after thinking about it, he couldn't think of a reason and could only give up in the end.
(Isn't this nonsense? This sentence was said by him, of course he was familiar with it. According to the historical records, in the seventeenth year of Zhenguan, Wei Zheng died of illness. Li Er couldn't help but cry bitterly and said to the people around him, "If a man uses bronze as a mirror, one can straighten one's clothes; with history as a mirror, one can know the rise and fall; with people as a mirror, one can know the gains and losses. I have always protected these three mirrors to prevent myself from going overboard. Today, Wei Zheng has died, thus one mirror is gone!)
"Humph! Wei Zuo Cheng, I'll put aside the matter of you concealing it for now. I'll deal with you later! "
In the end, Li Er let Wei Zheng go, although he didn't say it out loud.
Wei Zheng was touched and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for not killing me!"
Li Er snorted and then looked at another person in the hall. "Wei Ting, do you know the identity of the Dragon Head of the Heavenly Dragon Sect?"
As soon as he finished speaking, an old and decrepit official stepped forward. Taking a closer look at his appearance, it was the old man who was about to open the city gates for the Heavenly Dragon Sect, but in the end, he stopped at the precipice! Walking to the front of the officials, Wei Ting cupped his hands and said with a pained expression, "Your Majesty, this old minister also knows the crime of not reporting it. Please punish me!"
Li Er said indifferently, "First, tell me the identity of the Dragon Head of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. As for your crime of not reporting it, we'll deal with it later! "
…
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