Chapter 273 False Accusation
"Your Highness, I have been ordered to go to the Eastern Capital Luoyang to arrest Yang Shenjin's brother Yang Shenyu, the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Household, and his brother Yang Shenming, the Magistrate of Luoyang, and interrogate them." Ji Wen said respectfully.

Li Heng was startled and asked, "Minister Yang is in trouble?"

Ji Wen said, "Your Highness, Yang Shenjin is a descendant of the Sui Dynasty. He plans to restore the Sui Dynasty. He has prophecies hidden in his home, associates with bad people, and talks about the good and bad fortune of the country. The sage has issued an edict to imprison him, and ordered the Minister of Justice Xiao Yinzhi, the Dali Qing Li Daosui, the Shaoqing Yang Yan, the Shiyushi Yang Zhao, and the Shiyushi Lu Xuan of the Palace to jointly interrogate him."

Upon hearing this, Li Heng thought to himself, "What was supposed to come has finally come."

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Even if you were ordered to do so, you shouldn't have disturbed the streets like this. This time, I'll spare you because you have a mission to accomplish. If I see something like this again next time, I'll punish you without mercy."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Ji Wen bowed to Li Ying and quickly asked his men to make way.

Li Ying glanced at Ji Wen, then left with his men.

Li Heng went all the way to the Zichen Hall of Xingqing Palace to meet Li Longji.

Li Longji praised Li Heng with words and gave him some money and silk as a reward before asking, "Shiba Lang, have you heard about Yang Shenjin's affairs?"

Li Ying said truthfully: "Before I entered the palace, I met Ji Wen, and he told me everything."

"What about Wang Zhongsi?" Li Longji asked again.

Li Heng sensed something and asked, "Has anything happened to General Wang Zhongsi?"

Li Longji said: "Wei Lin, the deputy governor of Jiyang, wrote to the emperor. He was the governor of Shuozhou. When Wang Zhongsi was the governor of Hedong, Wang Zhongsi once said: 'I lived with Prince Zhong in the palace in my early years. I am willing to respect the prince.'"

Li Heng was shocked and asked, "Is there any evidence?"

Li Longji said: "I have asked Wang Zhongsi to come to the court. When he arrives, I will have the three courts conduct a detailed interrogation."

Li Ying said, "Based on what I know about Wang Zhongsi, he would never have such thoughts."

"Oh?" Li Longji looked at Li Heng with sharp eyes.

From the perspective of interests, Wang Zhongsi's resignation would be beneficial to Li Ying.

Because as long as Wang Zhongsi stepped down, Li Heng would have the opportunity to take over Helong again.

These are just the apparent benefits.

Secretly, Wang Zhongsi intended to support Li Heng. Wang Zhongsi's demise also meant that Li Heng's power was further weakened.

In other words, Li Heng's chances of competing for the crown prince position are higher.

However, Li Heng did not take advantage of the situation.

This is consistent with Li Heng's usual style of doing things.

Li Longji pondered for a while and said, "Words alone are not enough. Let's find out the truth first. Concubine Wu Hui hasn't seen you for a long time and she misses you very much. You should stay with her in Chang'an for two months."

"Yes." Li Heng said nothing more and bowed to accept the order.

……

In the palace of Concubine Wu Huifei.

Wu Huifei watched Li Ying finish his tea and asked, "How are you feeling?"

Li Heng smiled and said, "Not bad. I originally thought I wouldn't live long, but I didn't expect that after going to the border to get training, I was able to save my life."

"That's a good thing." Concubine Wu Hui smiled slightly, "Do you know why your father wants you to stay in Chang'an for two months?"

Li Ying said, "Please teach me, mother."

Concubine Wu Huifei said, "He wants to see if you have any intention of seizing the throne. Now that the crown prince has lost power, people in the court have changed their minds. Many princes have hidden thoughts and even take risks to contact civil and military officials. You are now a vassal king and the most powerful prince in the Tang Dynasty. Many eyes are watching you." "Then what does mother think her son should do?" Li Heng asked seriously.

Wu Huifei said: "I used to hope that you would be the crown prince, but in recent years, too many things have happened in Chang'an. I increasingly feel that it is the right choice for you to stay away from Chang'an, a place of trouble."

Li Heng asked, "What about Li Qi?"

Concubine Wu Hui smiled and said, "Qi'er's reputation in Chang'an is very bad now. He behaves recklessly all day long, bullying men and women..."

"Mother is saying bad things about her son again." Li Qi's voice suddenly came from outside the door.

The maid outside the door said in a panic, "Concubine Hui, I tried my best to stop His Royal Highness Prince Sheng, but I couldn't stop him."

"I'm going to see my mother and brother, why are you stopping me?" Li Qi scolded the maid, then asked with a smile: "Mother, can my son come in?"

"Now that you're here, come in." Concubine Wu Huifei said.

Upon hearing this, Li Qi pushed open the door and entered. He bowed to Concubine Wu Huifei and Li Ying respectively, and said to Li Ying: "I know that you hate evil, so I came to report the bad things I did to you first."

Li Ying said, "Last year you married Wu Jingyi's daughter Wu as your princess. I wanted to come and congratulate you in person, but there was a war on the border and I couldn't get away. You won't blame me, right?"

"How could that be?" Li Qi chuckled, "There's no need for us to be so distant with each other. I'm already very grateful that you've prepared such a generous gift despite your busy schedule."

Yang Yuhuan was in charge of preparing the gifts, and Li Heng actually didn't care about it at all.

Li Ying smiled and said, "So, you value a generous gift more than me coming here in person?"

"That's about right. How can I squander money if my brother doesn't give me a generous gift?" Li Qi didn't refute at all. "A few days ago, I saw a geisha in Pingkangfang and spent a lot of money to bring her back to the palace. For this, I even had a fight with the son of the left prime minister."

Li Heng asked, "Did the emperor reprimand you?"

"That's definitely a blame." Li Qi said nonchalantly, "It's so embarrassing for a prince and the son of an important court official to fight over a geisha. But compared to other things I've done, it's nothing."

Li Heng understood Li Qi's intention.

He is defiled himself in order to protect himself.

Li Heng is now a vassal king of the imperial court, commanding a large number of troops. If Li Qi performs well in Chang'an again, the two brothers will arouse suspicion even if they have not done anything.

So the more absurd Li Qi acts, the safer they will be.

Li Ying patted Li Qi on the shoulder and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

"Yeah." Li Qi chuckled, "I've been indulging in wine and beauties all day long. My body can't take it anymore."

"That's not right." Concubine Wu Huifei glared at Li Qi, "The back room has tributes from all over the country. Go and get whatever you want."

"Okay." Li Qi agreed readily, got up and left the room.

After Li Qi walked away, Concubine Wu Huifei said, "You saw how Qi'er looks. You don't have to worry about him."

Li Heng nodded and said, "The Right Prime Minister has not looked for him again, right?"

"No." Concubine Wu Huifei shook her head, "The Right Prime Minister is now determined to support Prince Rong."

Li Heng said: "Prince Rong did a good job in Jiannan this time. He does have hope of competing for the position of Crown Prince."

"It's hard to say." Concubine Wu Huifei expressed a different opinion, "Now that Li Heng's wings are gradually being removed, for your father, Li Heng is the best prince. Although the prince has lost his power now, you must not fight for the position of crown prince."

Li Ying said, "Son, I will listen to you, mother."

(End of this chapter)