Chapter 27

Du He didn't make any sophistry, quickly told the cause and effect, and took the initiative to admit his guilt:

"All the blame lies with me; please punish me, Emperor."

Li Shimin didn't respond but turned his gaze to the person in the hall full of sorrow:

"Yang Jing, did Du He hide anything?"

Yang Jing shook his head: "No! Everything is as the Prince Consort Du said. Du Yan initially invited us to work for the Crown Prince."

"After I refused, Du Yan was angry and ordered the servants in his house to beat me, and inadvertently killed my wife!"

Li Shimin nodded slightly: "Crown Prince, how do you think it should be handled!"

"Hehehe..."

Li Chengqian stared at Du He coldly, a gloomy laugh coming from his mouth:

"I really want to make Chengyang a widow this time; causing me trouble again and again. Meeting you must be because I committed a heinous crime in my previous life."

"Du Yan will be executed, and what he did will be written in his genealogy; I want his descendants to be ashamed of him!"

"Du He is the same; carve what he did on the wall of Anyi Ward; I want everyone who enters Chang'an from Mingde Gate to know what kind of ghost Du He is!"

"Wow..."

The hall was in an uproar; everyone subconsciously took a step back, their eyes full of horror.

Even Yang Jing swallowed:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, there is no need for this; just handle it according to the Tang Law!"

Li Chengqian looked at Yang Jing for a while, then pretended to suddenly realize:

"You think the punishment is too light, right! Then like this, let the craftsman make a clay statue of Du Yan and let him kneel in front of your wife's grave to apologize."

"No, no, no..."

Yang Jing shook his head repeatedly: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, absolutely not! Everything should be handled according to the Tang Law; private punishment cannot be used!"

Yang Jing just wanted to kill Du Yan to avenge his wife; he didn't want to offend the Jingzhao Du family, nor did he want to slap the Jingzhao Du family in the face.

If it were really written in the genealogy or a clay statue was made, it would really be slapping the Du family in the face.

Not only Yang Jing tried to persuade him, but the ministers present also spoke out to advise him:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, there is no need to do this because of anger."

"Crown Prince, just put away your supernatural powers and don't say these things..."

"Yes! We are truly afraid!"

"..."

Seeing everyone advising him, Li Chengqian sighed secretly in his heart:

'It seems that the genealogy is really the lifeline of all aristocratic families; I will try again after using profit to lure them later.'

"Father, since Yang Jing also thinks it needs to be handled according to the Tang Law, then handle it according to the Tang Law; I have no objection."

Li Shimin glanced at Li Chengqian, then looked at Zhangsun Wuji and spoke faintly:

"Minister Zhangsun, this matter will be handed over to you; you must be fair and just, and don't let any criminal go."

"Although this matter has nothing to do with Du He, there is a suspicion of improper management; dismiss all his positions in the court."

"Yang Jing, what do you think?"

"The Emperor is wise; I am deeply grateful!"

Li Chengqian raised his right hand, his eyes full of regret:

"Father, really don't put it in the genealogy? This is much easier to use than the Tang Law!"

"What do you want to do!"

Even with Li Shimin's good temper, he couldn't help but pick up the book on the desk and throw it at Li Chengqian:

"Killing people and punishing the heart! Even rebellion isn't handled like this! Can't you act like a human?"

"Sacrificing one Du Yan to make thousands of families happy; how can this deal not be worth it? Why can't Father figure it out?"

"Get lost!"

Li Shimin roared: "Get lost as far as you can; the Li family has had bad luck for eight lifetimes to have such a shameless person like you."

"Sigh..."

Li Chengqian stood up and walked toward the outside of the hall step by step:

"Life is truly lonely like snow; the people in this world are all mediocre people, controlled by the shackles of the world."

"Forget it, forget it; I'd better learn from Zhuangzi and place myself in the land of nothingness."

Just as he reached the door, Li Tai's voice suddenly rang out:

"Big Brother, what book are you preparing to compile? Do you need Qingque's help!"

"From the beginning of writing, the classics, history, philosophy, and collections of the hundred schools of books, as for astronomy, geography, yin and yang, medicine, divination, monks, Taoists, and arts, all are compiled into one book!"

"This book is used to manifest the national prestige and benefit all generations!"

"Hiss..."

Thinking of the manpower and material resources required to compile those books into one, everyone gasped.

Compared to shameless things like genealogy, they were more interested in compiling such books.

Fang Xuanling spoke first: "The Emperor's civil and martial achievements are no less than those of past emperors; this book should be compiled by the Emperor."

"I am willing to contribute my meager strength to the Emperor to complete the compilation of this book."

"I am also willing!"

"You are a military general, what are you joining in the fun for!"

"Get lost, you civil officials are allowed to leave your names in history, but we can't?"

"I don't read fewer books than you; why can't I participate?"

"Emperor, I think this matter is too big; the Crown Prince can't handle it; let us do it."

"..."

Everyone was persuading Li Shimin, only Li Tai's eyes were rolling around, clearly wanting to do this too.

After everyone finished speaking, Li Tai said loudly:

"How can the ministers act like this? Big Brother is finally cultivating literature; how can you stop Big Brother."

Speaking of this, Li Tai looked at Li Shimin:

"Father, I think it's better to let Big Brother continue to compile; if he has difficulties, I can also help him."

"As the saying goes, brothers are of one mind, their sharpness cuts through metal; I believe that the scholars of the Literature Pavilion and the Hongwen Hall joining forces will definitely be able to complete this ancient and modern book."

Li Shimin laughed dumbly, unable to help but complain in his heart:

'So fast? Even Qingque was influenced and became shameless.'

'Kuo Di Zhi has already been compiled, so this one is not bad; give Qingque a chance.'

"Go tell your Big Brother yourself; if he agrees, I have no opinion."

"Thank you, Father!"

Li Tai was happy in his heart; if Big Brother didn't agree, I would make him unable to find anyone to write books.

Li Chengqian said these words just to let Li Tai compile it; where would he have the patience to do this.

'Yongle Encyclopedia' is a masterpiece of the world, not something that can be completed in a short time.

Even if Li Tai was a genius and could complete it in a short time, Li Chengqian would find a way to stop it.

'If you don't cultivate this book for a lifetime, I traveled in vain.'

'Give the opportunity to leave a name in history to Qingque, and open up territory to Zhinu.'

Not long after returning to the Eastern Palace, Du He appeared again with his head drooping. At this time, Li Chengqian's mood was peaceful:

"Continue to recruit here in Chang'an, and send them all to the Hongwen Hall, just say it's for compiling books."

"In other places, find them locally; screening is still necessary. Do not take anyone who is irritable or cannot suffer."

"I don't have an official position; those clansmen of mine might not believe me anymore."

"If they don't believe, then eliminate them. If the Du clansmen don't believe, then you go to Taizhou."

"Fine! I will act carefully and will definitely not let today's incident happen again."

Li Chengqian sighed: "What I want to do is too big, so big that if I'm not careful, the world will be in chaos."

"If you can't complete this matter, say it in advance; I won't blame you."

"If the plan fails or an accident occurs because of your lack of ability, don't blame me for not giving you face."

"Remember what you said today!"

Li Chengqian didn't want to let Du He preside over this matter either, but he really had no one to use, or rather, no one he could trust.

Helan Chushi could betray him, let alone others.

Du He had ambition; he wanted to defeat his brother Du Gou, so he could only choose to stand on his side, which was the reason why Li Chengqian had always trusted him.

Having been messed with by Du Yan, Li Chengqian still had to find a way to plot some benefits for himself, otherwise, his thoughts would not be clear.

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian shouted outside the door:

"Wang Qi, go call Yuwen Ding!"

"Yes!"