Chapter 295: Chen Yan's Eight Charges

The next day, in Chang'an, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Civil and military officials, dressed neatly, entered the Tai Ji Dian in order to hold the regular court.

When the officials were assembled, Li Shimin slowly approached the throne, sat down, and the officials all performed the customary salute.

Then came the reports of each department's daily trivial matters; almost every department head would take part in this segment.

Whether big or small, they all had to show an attitude in their work for Li Shimin to see.

For a daily regular court like this, it basically ends after everyone finishes reporting, unless something unexpected occurs.

Li Shimin had been unusually irritable lately, and his body had undergone significant changes, so he wanted to finish early and take a nap; he expected today to end like any other.

But unexpectedly, someone leapt forward at that moment.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

The Censor, Zhang Xuan Su, suddenly stepped forward; everyone was rather surprised but thought little of it.

After all, although a Censor is only a sixth‑rank official, his authority is substantial: supervising officials, adjudicating cases, and the right to submit reports, making him the emperor's eyes and ears.

Li Shimin said calmly, "Zhang Aiqing, what matter do you wish to report?"

"Your Majesty, I wish to impeach Marquis of Weinan and Weinan County Magistrate Chen Yan!"

The moment those words were spoken, the expressions of some officials present changed instantly, and their gaze toward Zhang Xuan Su turned hostile.

Many officials also seemed to have received some signal, their eyes flashing.

Li Shimin stared at the bowing Zhang Xuan Su, squinting, "And the reason?"

Those three short words left no doubt to the officials below that he was angry.

In the past, if an official impeached another, Li Shimin would never have asked in this way.

Zhang Xuan Su felt bitter inside, yet had to continue, "First, I impeach: County Magistrate Chen Yan of Weinan has neglected his duties. Since taking office several months ago, he has never appeared at the county office; the people of Weinan to this day cannot even describe what their magistrate looks like or say his name."

"Second, I impeach: Chen Yan has undertaken massive construction, misusing his position to privately divert county funds, recruiting townsfolk to build an undefined structure; rumors abound that he intends to erect a palace."

"Third, I impeach: Chen Yan disputes the people for profit, using his authority to purchase workshops en masse, colluding with lowly merchants, partnering in trade; through official notices issued by the county office he recruited many locals to weave silk day and night, then sold it at high price via a few merchants along the Wei He waterway to distant markets."

"Fourth..."

Zhang Xuan Su spoke incessantly, listing Chen Yan's accusations one after another, unaware that someone's complexion had turned ashen.

In the end, Zhang Xuan Su enumerated all eight charges against Chen Yan, and the entire court erupted in uproar.

Many officials who knew little of the details were filled with righteous indignation and began to accuse.

It should be noted that any single one of these eight charges would be enough to have Chen Yan's head cut off.

When he finished, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Cheng Yaojin and others had not yet spoken, but Wei Zheng stepped forward first.

"Zhang Shi Yu, regarding what you said, may I ask whether you saw it with your own eyes?"

"Did you personally witness Chen Yan neglecting his duties, undertaking massive construction, misappropriating public funds, causing the people to suffer?"

"You previously mentioned Chen Yan's title and office, but there is one thing you omitted: Chen Yan's identity."

Wei Zheng said coldly, "Do not forget, Marquis of Weinan Chen Yan is also Princess Gao Yang's imperial son‑in‑law; if you slander him baselessly, that accusation is no small matter!"

Li Shimin was somewhat surprised by Wei Zheng's tone, but then realized the reason.

For these core ministers, Weinan County was no secret; they all knew what Chen Yan was doing and had seen the changes in the county.

It would not be accurate to say Zhang Xuan Su fabricated slanders.

After all, Chen Yan indeed never appeared, and he did divert public funds from the official crossing of the Wei He; as for the massive construction...

If providing the people with generous remuneration counts, then it indeed constitutes a crime.

Wei Zheng likely did not want the matter to flare up and sought to suppress it.

At this moment, several officials siding with Chen Yan saw through Wei Zheng's intent; from Du Ruhui to Cheng Yaojin and other civil and military officials immediately spoke, giving Zhang Xuan Su no chance to answer, either threatening him covertly or pressuring him to shut up.

Needless to say, in this matter these people displayed extraordinary tacit coordination.

Zhang Xuan Su's face turned pale; faced with the overt and covert threats from so many senior figures, the pressure he endured was far from ordinary.

And at that moment, an official stepped forward to testify for Zhang Xuan Su.

"Your Majesty, I have also heard of the affairs in Weinan County; I can attest for Lord Zhang that his words are not false, every word is factual!"

This act sparked a chain reaction; one after another, officials stepped forward to echo, as if pre‑arranged.

The entire court seemed split into two factions, arguing incessantly.

One side accused Chen Yan, the other defended him, demanding evidence.

Li Shimin, already irritable, now saw the scene in chaos and finally could not contain his temper.

"Enough!!!"

With a roar, the Tai Ji Dian fell silent at once; everyone understood that Li Shimin was truly angry and bowed their heads.

Li Shimin scanned the officials, his gaze landing on Zhang Xuan Su, his tone icy, "You said Chen Yan misappropriated public funds, undertook massive construction, causing the people to suffer."

"I wish to ask you, how did you see that the people are suffering?"

Zhang Xuan Su was about to speak when Li Shimin raised his voice again, denying him a chance, "Crown Prince!"

"I am here, son!" Li Chengqian stepped forward.

"Zhang Xuan Su says Chen Yan misappropriated funds, and Weinan County is your fief; I ask you, during the autumn harvest, did Weinan County pay its taxes on time?"

"Reply, Father Emperor, the taxes were fully paid last month, no more, no less; Lord Dai can attest to this."

Dai Zhou added, "I can testify that Weinan County indeed paid its taxes in full; I have verified it."

"Very well!" Li Shimin turned again to Zhang Xuan Su, "You say Chen Yan misappropriated funds, yet the taxes were fully paid; where did the misappropriated money go?"

Zhang Xuan Su was about to say that Chen Yan earned a great sum by colluding with merchants, but Li Shimin interrupted him again.

"You say Chen Yan undertook massive construction!"

"Fine!"

"Really fine!"

Li Shimin, enraged to the point of laughing, said, "You truly are a bunch of blind‑dog‑eyed things, you don't even know the concrete situation; hearsay just goes back and forth in the Court."

"Has your conscience been eaten by a dog?"

"My son‑in‑law, Gao Yang's Imperial son‑in‑law, the Marquis of Weinan Chen Yan!"

"Do you understand what kind of civil works are being undertaken?"

"He is repairing roads, the roads of Weinan County that are full of pits, depressions, and unevenness!"

"He is building the foundation of our Tang Dynasty's future, not the nonsensical structures you speak of, let alone palaces for habitation!"

"......"