I Have a Date with a Thousand-year-old Female Corpse
Chapter 923: Thanks to the Lord’s Enormous Grace

Chapter 923: Chapter 923: Thanks to the Lord’s Enormous Grace

"Your Majesty, Mr. Lin’s grievances cry out for justice, and the Luo Family should not be allowed to explain further. Your humble servant begs Your Majesty for a clear judgment!"

"Please, Your Majesty, make a clear judgment!"

A large group of civil officials stood up and spoke with one voice. As for the officials who remained in their seats, each seemed lost in their own thoughts, acting as if none of this concerned them—including your brother, Luo Xin.

"What do you think, Luo Aiqing?"

Li Shimin’s expression also turned ugly. After all, you seemed to have gone too far this time. Lin Chongshu was, after all, a prominent official of the court. Publicly crippling Lin Chongshu was tantamount to slapping Li Shimin’s face.

However, he definitely owed Luo Cheng face. Luo Cheng was after all a friend for many years, and Li Shimin knew his personality very well. If this was truly an excess on your part, Luo Cheng would certainly not shield you.

"To repay debts and to return blood for blood oath is the justice of heaven and earth," Luo Cheng said. His voice was not loud, but it was crystal clear to everyone’s ears.

"Exactly, Old Cheng has just spoken the words I wanted to hear!" Cheng Zhijie leaped out from the ranks, pointed at the large group of civil officials in front of him, and cursed, "When it comes to discussing state affairs, you never show such unity. Have any of you distinguished right from wrong before shouting here? All you do is add to the confusion, proving the saying that scholars are utterly useless!"

With Old Demon Cheng speaking, the civil officials rolled their eyes, and even Li Shimin turned his head away as if he did not see Cheng Zhijie.

Soon after, an elderly man with white hair took a shaky step forward and faced Cheng Zhijie directly. He cleared his throat first and said, "General Cheng, it is said that Junior General Cheng also partook in this matter and that he was indeed the one who let you go in the end."

"Yes, that’s right! What of it? You old bamboo pole, are you trying to drag my child into this as well? Come on, first spell out for me the details, what about my child, what exactly happened to him!?" Cheng Zhijie began to play tough. The civil officials on the other side had begun to shrink back, with most adopting the posture of mere spectators; whereas the military generals retained their neat ranks, all standing tall and firm without a hint of disarray.

As that white-haired elder was "dialoguing" with Cheng Zhijie, a handsome young man stunning enough to cause envy stepped forward from behind Luo Cheng. The man, whose temples were already streaked with grey, was still extraordinarily handsome, with skin so taut and supple he looked to be in his early thirties: "Your Majesty, please allow me to have a word."

"Li Aiqing, are you also here to defend that Luo Yun?"

Li Shimin was genuinely curious about Li Jing stepping forward. He wouldn’t be surprised by anyone else stepping up, with the sole exception of Li Jing.

Everyone knew that Li Jing typically adopted an attitude of indifference to trivial matters. He would only voice his concerns in matters that threatened the state. Unexpectedly, he chose to break his usual demeanor today over a minor such as Yun’er.

"Your servant is not trying to exonerate Luo Yun but wishes to bring to Your Majesty’s attention a fact that Mr. Lin deliberately concealed."

When Li Jing spoke these words, everyone’s gaze shifted onto him. Even Cheng Zhijie stopped the verbal sparring with his opponent, wiped his mouth, and returned to the ranks of military generals, shaking his burly frame.

"Oh? What’s that? Speak quickly!"

"Your servant only inquired this morning from Vice Minister Luo about this matter. This arose because of Wu Shihui, Sir Wu’s family member."

"Bang!" Li Shimin’s previously still face immediately flashed with fury, and he even slammed the table to his feet, angrily yelling at Lin Chongshu, who was trembling on the ground, "Mr. Lin, I command you to recount the entire matter clearly. If a single word is false, I will have your dog’s head!"

Most courtiers now were promoted after Li Shimin’s ascendancy, and few knew about his relationship with Wu Shihui. With Wu Shihui having passed away many years ago and the saying ’Out of sight, out of mind’ holding true, probably only old ministers like Li Jing still knew about their relationship.

The middle-aged man, who had always adorned a smile and stood at the front of the civil officials, finally showed concern. He glanced at Lin Chongshu and then slowly closed his eyes.

When Lin Chongshu, with a trembling voice, detailed the incident point by point, Li Shimin became furiously enraged, almost stripping Lin Chongshu of his official hat. Fortunately, the civil officials pleaded on Lin Chongshu’s behalf, and he had injured his hand as well, which could be considered retribution. Still, Li Shimin penalized Lin Chongshu with half a year’s salary.

Indeed, the blame fell on Lin Chongshu, for being too doting on his younger brother, leading to trouble without first notifying his family.

Had he informed the Lin Family Head, Lin Guodong, in advance, this incident would not have occurred.

The old ministers knew that Wu Shihui had risen alongside the Li royal family and shared an extremely deep relationship with Grand Ancestor Li Yuan, almost as close as brothers.

Of Li Yuan’s several sons, Wu Shihui had favored only Li Shimin. If it weren’t for Wu Shihui’s support from behind during the Black Tortoise Gate coup, Li Shimin might have been a member of the Underworld by now. Li Yuan, on his deathbed, had charged Li Shimin to especially take good care of the Wu Family. Little did he expect that within a few years, the Wu Family would fall to a state where they would suffer indignities.

Although Lin Chongshu’s face held an expression of unwillingness, he did not dare to speak out, only bowing his head while secretly harboring resentment in his heart.

The ministers thought that the matter would be dropped at this point, but Li Shimin turned his spearhead towards Luo He again, "This matter cannot entirely escape your blame either. However, considering his youth, I shall not punish him too harshly. Yet while the grave offense can be forgiven, the minor must not be overlooked. By my side, there happens to be a vacancy for a Hanlin Waiting for Edict, and that Luo Yun also happens to be a well-read lad. His ’Water Tune Song Head, When is the Bright Moon’ still lingers in my memory. Grand Minister Luo, what do you think of this punishment?"

Li Shimin had desired to have you by his side as a Hanlin Waiting for Edict multiple times, but each was tactfully refused by Luo Cheng. Today presented an excellent opportunity, and Li Shimin was certainly not going to let it slip away.

Luo Cheng, as if he had already known what would happen, replied, "I thank Your Majesty for the immense grace."

"Since that is the case, I shall draft a decree. After the court is dismissed, let Wang De go with you," said Li Shimin.

Upon Li Shimin’s words, not only Luo Cheng but also the first among the civil officials, who had ceased speaking and closed his eyes, suddenly opened his eyes wide, clearly shaken by Li Shimin’s statement.

Who was Wang De?

The Chief Eunuch in the Presence of the Imperial, Li Shimin’s personal attendant, in charge of managing daily affairs, articulate and absolutely loyal to Li Shimin, and deeply favored by him. It was indeed strange that such a junior Sixth-Rank Hanlin Waiting for Edict would necessitate Wang De to deliver the decree.

After the court was dismissed, the leading civil official bowed courteously to Luo Cheng and said in a voice neither loud nor soft, "Congratulations, Mr. Luo. I didn’t expect your young son to remain as outstanding as ever."

"I receive Lord Changsun’s kind words," Luo Cheng responded indifferently, then proceeded to stride forward.

As Luo Cheng was about to leave the grand hall, that devastatingly handsome old gentleman glided over and said in a voice only Luo Cheng could hear, "Junior brother, what is His Majesty’s intention with this? Could it truly be just because he treasures Yun’er’s talent?"

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