Side Story Chapter 5 - The First Battle! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Li Taiyi raised an eyebrow, but his expression was unchanged.
This scene was completely within his expectations. The moment he had left the imperial horse track, the Fourth Prince had reported the matter to Second Prince Li Chengyi.
Li Chengyi saw this as a rare opportunity, and he was not of the personality to relinquish it.
But if he thought that Li Taiyi was just going to wait around for death, then he was gravely mistaken.
Li Taiyi ignored Li Chengyi’s fervent criticisms and turned to his father seated upon the gilded dragon throne.
In this hall, there was only one person who could decide his fate.
“Unfilial son, what do you have to say for yourself?”
The Tang Emperor’s face was as cold as ice, lacking even the slightest warmth.
“Imperial Father, your lowly son truly did execute Huoyuan, yet your son did all this not because of a private grudge, but for the sake of the Great Tang!”
Li Taiyi bowed, his expression confident and open, his voice forceful and vigorous. Even though the entire court was staring daggers at him, he remained calm and unflustered.
Everyone in court was taken aback by this reply, and even the enthroned Emperor was somewhat taken aback.
His son Xuan seemed to be completely different today.
That he could say these words in front of the assembled officials was already surprising.
But a moment later, everyone regained their senses.
“Third Prince, you dare to argue! The facts are clear, and yet you still dare to try and argue nonsensically in front of His Majesty! There is no saving you!”
“For the Great Tang? You killed him for the sake of the Great Tang? Your Majesty, this matter cannot be allowed to pass!”
“If a Prince commits a crime, he must be punished the same as a commoner! A Prince executing a court official is rare even in other dynasties. Such wicked acts must be heavily punished, or else how can the dignity of the laws be maintained? How can the masses be appeased?”
“Third Prince, you had better have thought this over properly! Attempting to deceive His Divine Majesty only increases the weight of your crimes!”
The officials exploded in anger. The Great Tang had a well-ordered style of government, and the laws had to be abided by all from the Emperor to the common people. The Third Prince’s actions had already set off a public outcry.
Li Chengyi was unmoved by this sight, but there was a faint smile on his lips. From today’s situation, he could tell that his third brother was done for.
But Li Taiyi was also unperturbed, his eyes slowly sweeping over the gathered officials as he made an assured smile.
“Imperial Father, do you remember the flood in Qu Province on the first month of the fourteenth year, when I embezzled the money intended to be used for disaster relief?”
The Tang Emperor frowned and sternly said, “This matter was settled long ago. Why do you bring it up now?”
“Third Prince, it has been so long since this matter. Do you still plan to defend yourself on it?”
The officials all scowled. There was truly no saving the Third Prince.
“Imperial Father, at that time, the one who truly embezzled the money was not your lowly son, but Huoyuan!” Li Taiyi declared.
“!!!”
The hall fell silent at these words, and then the officials exploded into an uproar as if a giant boulder had crashed down amongst them.
None of them had expected Li Taiyi’s words.
Even Li Chengyi trembled in shock.
For some reason, he had an ill foreboding.
“Third Son, do you have evidence?” the Tang Emperor solemnly said.
Li Taiyi lowered his head and sternly said, “Imperial Father, your lowly son obtained an account book which recorded where the disaster relief money went, and everything was inextricably connected to Huoyuan. Later on, your son began an investigation and found the scope to be wider than expected.
“Due to the gravity of the matter, your lowly son passed all the information he gathered to the Bureau of Punishments seven days ago. What? Did Imperial Brother not receive it?”
Li Taiyi suddenly turned to Li Chengyi.
These words alone made Li Chengyi’s heart thump, and his face paled.
He had his Imperial Father’s trust and had recently been allowed to participate in court discussions. Besides that, the Bureau of Punishments was currently under his purview.
He had also been the one to investigate the embezzlement of the disaster relief money.
More importantly, the Bureau of Punishments truly did receive an account book and a letter not too long ago, but few people knew about it. Moreover, Huoyuan had already become a member of his camp, so Li Chengyi had decided to confiscate the evidence to protect him.
Later on, Li Chengyi had even dispatched people to clean up after Huoyuan and find out who had sent over the account book and where they had gathered the information.
But no matter how much he investigated, he had not been able to find any clues.
He had never imagined that it had been the third brother that he had always looked down on!
“I…”
As all the officials stared, Li Chengyi was rendered momentarily speechless.
But before he had a chance to explain, Li Taiyi spoke again.
“That shouldn’t be. Imperial Brother has always been just and fair, and even the court officials are effusive with praise. This matter should not have anything to do with Imperial Brother. Could there have been someone under my brother who confiscated the information? This is a major disrespect!”
Second Prince Li Chengyi scowled at these words.
Li Taiyi’s words were as sharp as arrows, and they carried a deeper meaning.
If he said that he did not know, it would mean that he was lacking in his management and was letting down his father’s hopes. If he said that he did know, then he was essentially declaring that he had no regard for the sovereign and was concealing a crime, and attempting to deceive the sovereign was a grave crime indeed!
Whether he admitted or denied it, Li Taiyi would be pushing him into the water in front of the officials and their father, forcing him into an extremely passive position.
He was now in an extremely disadvantageous position.
Sure enough, upon hearing Li Taiyi’s words, the Tang Emperor turned a gaze as cold as the winter winds onto Li Chengyi.
“Chengyi, was there really such a matter?”
The Tang Emperor’s words rumbled like thunder in everyone’s ears.
Li Chengyi stiffened up at his father’s gaze, but he reacted quickly, bowing to the Emperor as he solemnly said, “Imperial Father, your lowly son did not receive such a memorial!”
Li Chengyi lowered his head so that no one could see his expression, and only he knew just how stunned he really was.
His third brother seemed far too different today. When had he become so sharp and incisive?
Was this still the third brother he knew?
Even worse was that because of his hedonistic ways, everyone had a low opinion of him and did not take any countermeasures against him.
Who could have imagined that he would be able to do so much in secret!?
Had he been playing the part of the pig to eat the tiger this entire time? Was this the real him?
If this was true, this kid was far too shrewd and frightening.