In Li Yuan's anger, he directly arranged for people to pass on the imperial decree, summoning Li Shentong into the palace. After the order was passed, in less than half an hour, Li Shentong hurriedly entered the palace.
Li Shentong's face did not have any worried expression.
He had long forgotten about the matter of causing trouble.
After Li Shentong saw Li Yuan, when he saw Li Yuan's ashen face, his heart thumped. For a moment, Li Shentong also did not know what had happened. He opened his mouth and said: "Official Li Shentong greets Your Majesty."
Li Yuan grabbed the memorials that Du Qi continuously presented and threw them directly at Li Shentong. He gritted his teeth and said: "Li Shentong, look at the good things you've done. Again and again, you still don't stop. You still want to target Du Qi. Tell me, why are you obstructing Du Qi from repairing the roads. "
Li Shentong's heart thumped when he heard this.
He did not expect it to be this matter again.
Originally, Li Shentong had already forgotten about this matter. After all, Qin Li was killed before. Li Shentong also only arranged for people to reprimand him. Therefore, Li Shentong did not care about it.
Li Shentong picked up the letters. It was another three memorials. They all mentioned that there were people causing trouble in three places, causing problems in the road repair. And Du Qi forcefully suppressed them and detained the troublemakers.
One by one, the people who belonged to Li Shentong were arrested.
For the time being, they were not sent to Chang 'an.
They were all controlled by Du Qi.
After Li Shentong saw this, he knew that these people he sent out definitely could not deny it.
But Li Shentong was also not afraid. He raised his head and said: "Your Majesty, the reason why this official goes against Du Qi at all times. It's because Du Qi, this person, is too arrogant and despotic. Back then, people from my residence went to propose marriage, hoping to facilitate the marriage between my granddaughter and Du Qi. But the Du family refused. Therefore, this official is indignant with Du Qi and wants to be enemies with Du Qi. "
"Hahaha …"
After Li Yuan heard this, he was so angry that he laughed.
Li Yuan was so angry at Li Shentong's reason that he laughed. If Li Shentong had said such a reason when Du Qi first submitted the memorial, Li Yuan might have chosen to believe it.
One after another, Li Yuan already did not believe it. A simple rejection of marriage was not enough to be like this. After all, marriage was a matter of mutual consent. It wasn't a one-sided affair.
Li Shentong saw Li Yuan laugh, especially this mocking smile. Li Shentong frowned and said, "Your Majesty, this subject just cannot stand Du Qi. Even if Your Majesty reprimands, this subject will also accept it."
Li Yuan's gaze was faint as he stared at Li Shentong.
He didn't answer.
He didn't ask any questions.
Such a scene left Li Shentong at a loss. For a moment, he wasn't sure how Li Yuan was going to deal with him today. Such an outcome caused Li Shentong's heart to begin to panic.
Li Shentong took a deep breath and suppressed the panic in his heart. "Your Majesty, I only went against Du Qi because I felt uncomfortable with Du Qi. I have absolutely no other intentions."
Li Yuan still did not answer.
Under such circumstances, Li Shentong's heart was even more panicked.
Li Shentong simply stopped talking.
It was best to be cautious with his words and actions.
After a long time, Li Yuan finally opened his mouth to speak. He said coldly, "Li Shentong, if you feel uncomfortable with Du Qi, once or twice is fine. Three or four times, do you think We will believe it? "
Li Shentong hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I …"
As soon as he opened his mouth, Li Yuan directly reached out to stop him. "Forget it, We don't want to say anything more to you. If you don't want to speak the truth, We don't want to bother to ask. "
"In view of your actions, I reprimanded you earlier to give you a reminder. However, you have repeatedly and knowingly violated the law, ignoring the overall situation of the court and wantonly causing trouble for the court. "
"The military of the Shandong region will be temporarily handed over to Li Xiaogong, Prince of Zhao."
"You can stay in the court."
Li Yuan directly gave out the punishment.
Previously, although Li Shentong was in Chang 'an, in reality, he was shouldering a heavy responsibility. The troops under Li Shentong's command were still stationed at the front lines of Shandong, responsible for the entire situation of Shandong.
This was because Li Shentong had a certain position in the army. Now, Li Yuan wanted to weaken Li Shentong's military power. This caused Li Shentong to panic.
Li Shentong regretted it.
If he had known earlier, he would not have gotten involved in the struggle for the throne. He would have just stayed in Shandong. There was no need to find a reason to return to the court and ask for a rebuff.
Li Yuan's eyes burned as he said, "Li Shentong, do you remember?"
"Your Majesty, this subject is guilty!"
Li Shentong directly admitted defeat. He knelt on the ground with a thump, looking panicked. As someone who followed Li Yuan to start the war, Li Shentong understood Li Yuan's nature. Therefore, Li Shentong was prepared to play the sympathy card at the moment of crisis.
He was not willing to lose his military power.
This was his fundamental reason.
If he lost his military power, he would lose his influence in the court and his prestige in the imperial family.
Li Yuan said coldly, "What crime did you, Li Shentong, commit? As the Duke of Huai 'an, you can be willful and reckless. You can ignore the court's situation and do things without restraint."
"How could you have committed a crime?"
"You don't mean what you say! Moreover, you clearly have an important position on your shoulders. You are in charge of the Hebei Daoist Platform, comforting Shandong, and are responsible for the stability of Shandong's front lines. "
"But you used the opportunity after the end of the Hebei Daoist Battle to throw away your government affairs and return to the court. Since you don't like to be outside, then come back. It's not bad to hold a position in the court. "
Li Yuan's words were thorny, making Li Shentong very uneasy.
Li Shentong was extremely panicked. He was not willing to stay in Chang 'an. It was because he had to deal with Du Qi and the Duke of Qin's residence that Li Shentong stayed in Chang 'an. He still had to go to Shandong.
Li Shentong shouted, "Your Majesty, this subject knows his mistake. This subject knows his mistake. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy. "
Li Yuan said, "Speak, what is going on?"
Li Shentong's thoughts turned, and he said decisively, "Your Majesty, this is the Crown Prince's order. The Crown Prince said that if he came forward to deal with Du Qi, he would easily be reprimanded by Your Majesty, so he asked this old subject to come forward. That's why this old subject has repeatedly targeted Du Qi, especially causing trouble for Du Qi, hoping that Du Qi would not be able to complete the reconstruction of the road. All of this is the Crown Prince's order! "
At the crucial moment, Li Shentong was terrified.
He pushed all the responsibility onto Li Jiancheng.
"Bastard, bastard, it's really this vile spawn. On the surface, he is obedient and submissive. On the surface, he said that he would reconcile with the Du Qi and stop dealing with Du Qi, but he still refuses to give up. "
At this moment, Li Yuan's anger was like a volcanic eruption. He was thoroughly enraged.
Du Qi was wholeheartedly loyal to the court.
So much so that in order to build the road from Chang 'an to Lantian County, Du Qi did not care about his personal losses. The so-called collection of business tax from Lantian County to Chang 'an was something that many merchants might not necessarily pass by. After all, there were still waterways to pass through.
In addition, such a fee would definitely not be too high. To earn back all the money that was used, who knew how long it would take. Therefore, in Li Yuan's view, Du Qi's road repair this time was a loss-making business. It was a road repair that specifically disregarded the losses.
This was a person with a big heart, a person who wholeheartedly served the country.
But Li Jiancheng was still unwilling to give up. He wanted to be enemies with Du Qi in all aspects, wanting to put Du Qi to death.
Li Yuan's anger finally erupted uncontrollably. In reality, Li Yuan already had a guess before this. After all, Li Shentong's reason was not tenable. Therefore, even if Li Yuan had a guess, he did not say it out loud. Only now did he force it out.
Li Yuan flicked his sleeves and said, "Li Shentong, return to your post immediately."
"This subject obeys the decree!"
After Li Shentong heard this, he inwardly let out a sigh of relief.
In any case, he had escaped a calamity.
He did not dare to stay any longer. He stood up and hurriedly left. Just as Li Shentong was about to step out of the main hall's door, he already heard Li Yuan's roar from inside the main hall, as well as the voice summoning the Crown Prince.
Li Shentong shook his head and sighed. He could only wish the Crown Prince good luck. Because right now, he could not even take care of himself and could not care about Li Jiancheng. He could only ensure his own safety first.
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