Chapter 968

Jin Ling City.

Du Ruhui took over the biggest case since the founding of the Great Tang, the "Great Tang Dragon Vein Feng Shui Damage Case"!

Before this, the biggest case was the "Pei Ji Rebellion Case." That case was also tried by Du Ruhui.

This case was very strange from the very beginning.

The defendant, Wang Jing, was not in Jin Ling City.

The entire trial process was a face-to-face conversation between Li Er and the Retired Emperor Li Yuan. Du Ruhui recorded it from the side.

Chatting to the end, Li Yuan admitted that he had let the Wang family build a temple to pray for blessings for Longcheng.

However, he did not issue a decree saying that the Xizhou Mountain Twin Peaks must be leveled and the temple built on the mountaintop.

Finally, the conclusion was reached: Wang Jing used the opportunity of building the temple for the Retired Emperor to act on his own authority and secretly destroy the Great Tang's dragon vein!

The dust settled!

The entire Wang clan was exiled to the Haixin Sandbar.

The Haixin Sandbar was not very far from Jin Ling, at the mouth of the Huating River.

That place was extremely desolate and faced dual oppression from pirates and the Great Qin side, so the living space was extremely limited.

As soon as the case was tried, Li Er immediately sent Cheng Yaojin to seal up the Wang family.

He also sent Yuchi Gong to personally arrest Wang Jing, who was far away in Jiaozhou.

After arranging this matter, Li Er stayed in the Imperial Palace, waiting quietly for news.

For him, destroying a Wang family was not such an easy thing.

Now was the most important observation period.

At any time, because of this matter, it might stimulate the sensitive nerves of some people, causing them to rise up and express dissatisfaction.

What Li Er worried about most was the four great aristocratic families uniting to resist the law!

But the deed was done, and now he could only wait and see.

At this time, only Fang Xuanling was accompanying Li Er.

"Your Majesty, since you have already made up your mind to do it, don't think too much; just deal with the challenges as they come!"

Li Er was depressed.

This kind of thing was not something one could stop thinking about just because one didn't want to.

However, thinking was indeed useless, so he could only change the subject.

"Xuanling, how is Ruhui's illness?

During this period, letting him force himself to support his sick body while still trying the case was indeed difficult for him."

Fang Xuanling's expression was somewhat gloomy.

These old officials who had followed Li Er from the very beginning and had always weathered the storms together were all withering away one by one.

Now it was Du Ruhui's turn.

"Your Majesty, his body is not very good; I fear he will not survive this year."

Although Li Er was mentally prepared, he still could not help but feel a pain in his heart.

"Fang's schemes and Du's decisions; you two are my trusted ministers and the pillars of the Great Tang.

Now that Ruhui is critically ill, it is as if I have lost an arm!"

In the past, Li Er had also felt sad for others.

Some died on the battlefield, heroically.

Some were framed by others and died unjustly.

But none were as sad as this slow death tortured by illness.

Their fate seemed to indicate that the Great Tang's fortune was also slowly aging and terminally ill.

Li Er found it difficult to endure such a heavy atmosphere.

"Xuanling, do you think the four great aristocratic families will take this opportunity to rebel against me?"

This was the first time Li Er had brought this matter to the surface.

Fang Xuanling felt a chill all over, but he had to answer.

"Your Majesty, the four great aristocratic families are of one mind and have been intermarrying for hundreds of years. They have long been inseparable. This time, dealing with the Wang family will certainly make the other families feel the pain.

As for whether they will rebel, it is hard to say."

No one dared to make a definitive statement about this matter.

In fact, Li Er also understood in his heart.

This time, the matter was very risky; if he acted a little too heavily, it might provoke the four great aristocratic families to rebel.

"Should I do something to prevent this from happening?"

Li Er asked this subconsciously.

Just waiting like this was indeed too agonizing.

Fang Xuanling slapped his thigh and suddenly thought of something.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Wei seems to have just gone to Jiaozhou. If the four great aristocratic families persuade Zhangsun Wuji to support the Prince of Wei together,

it would indeed be enough to contend with the imperial court!"

Li Er just reacted.

If Li Tai had not gone to Jiaozhou, even if the four great aristocratic families rebelled, they would certainly not get a response.

For the imperial court, although it would suffer heavy losses, it could still firmly hold the winning side.

But Li Tai was now in their hands; if they supported Li Tai, they might really possess a high level of appeal.

Li Er himself knew clearly that his performance in handling state affairs over the past two years had already disappointed too many people.

"This... immediately send fast horses to call Li Tai back!"

"It's too late!"

Fang Xuanling shook his head and sighed.

He also had a lapse in judgment, ignoring the factor of the Prince of Wei, Li Tai.

He had always felt that dealing with the four great aristocratic families seemed to have nothing to do with the Prince of Wei.

Now he realized it was already a bit late.

... begging for flowers...

"Your Majesty, there is only one way now that might be able to deter the four great aristocratic families!"

"What way?"

Li Er's heart was also a bit anxious.

Once the four great aristocratic families officially announced a rebellion, it would be an unchangeable fact.

Only by deterring them before they rebelled.

Making them prefer to sacrifice the Wang family rather than dare to rebel!

This was difficult.

Fang Xuanling looked at Li Er, wanting to speak but feeling very difficult.

"This method might be somewhat difficult for Your Majesty.

But at present, there is no other way.

This is the only choice!"

Li Er already knew that moving against the four great aristocratic families was like walking on a smooth bamboo pole.

What could he do even if it was difficult?

He still had to walk it!

"Speak, no matter how difficult the road is, I can only walk it once!"

Fang Xuanling pointed to the north.

"Your Majesty, the only thing that can deter the four great aristocratic families now is Great Qin!"

Great Qin.

Li Er felt bitter in his heart.

A little carelessness, and he would fall off.

Great Qin was clearly the enemy of the Great Tang, but now, he had to use it to save his life.

Fang Xuanling was right; only Great Qin could deter the aristocratic families.