Chapter 294 Father-in-law is on pins and needles

Wang Changling spoke in a deep tone. From what he had learned from the people, Xin'an Ling Li Yu was guilty of a huge crime.

He visited the village for more than a month, asking questions from every household.

The reputation of a county magistrate in the local area is particularly important. If he is criticized by everyone, then there must be something wrong with this county magistrate.

What’s more, there is a big problem in Xin’an County that is obstructing the new law!

Wang Changling did not find any evidence that Xin'an Ling Li Yu accepted bribes from powerful people. It was just hearsay, which could not be considered as evidence of guilt.

But Prime Minister Li would not tolerate just obstructing the new law.

Li Xiang's reform!

However, Li Xiang's cousin obstructed the new law and made profits for the local powerful families.

What will people think?

"When I was an official in the local area, if there was a county magistrate like this, I would first dismiss him and then interrogate him. I would not tolerate him. Xin'an Ling dared to obstruct the new law. Doesn't he want to live?"

Li Xuan said coldly.

The problem of Xin'an Ling Li Yu was more serious than he had imagined.

The type of officials that Li Xuan hated the most were those who colluded with the powerful and bullied the people.

If this happens, the people will be extremely desperate, their blood and tears will soak into the soil where they once sweated, and they will have no way to go to heaven and no door to enter the earth.

With nowhere to appeal, those wronged souls will one day block out the sun of the Tang Dynasty, bringing it to ruin.

Pei Kuan did not ask any questions and left everything to Li Xuan to handle the matter.

Li Linfu frowned. He didn't expect Li Xuan to be so serious about this matter.

That's his cousin!
Could it be that Li Xuan doesn't recognize his relatives and has no compassion?

"Doctor Yang, how did Xin'an Ling confess in the Censorate?"

Li Xuan asked Yang Shenjin.

"Replying to Prime Minister Li, Xin'an Ling said in the Censorate that he is innocent... He said he is your cousin..."

Yang Shenjin hesitated for a moment and decided to tell Li Xuan about Li Yu's performance in the Censorate.

"He is my cousin, but this is no reason to commit a crime. The evidence of obstructing the new law has been established. Immediately impose punishment on him and make him confess his collusion with the powerful. Ask where the gold, silver and jewelry he received are hidden!"

Li Xuan ordered Yang Shenjin.

He knew that Li Yu was fearless and no one dared to punish him.

Li Yu thought that if he refused to admit it, the matter would eventually be left unresolved.

How could Li Xuan let him get his wish?
"Subordinate to obey!"

Yang Shenjin did not dare to go against Li Xuan's wishes and immediately returned to the Censorate to interrogate Xin'an Ling.

He had already seen that Li Xuan wanted to sacrifice his own relatives for the sake of justice.

This is also in the interests of their followers.

Because among Li Xuan's followers, there are many upright people and idealists.

They do not seek fame and fortune, and set an example by themselves. If Li Xuan has the stain of shielding his relatives, it is inevitable that they will be alienated.

Li Linfu frowned even deeper...

In the afternoon, Yang Shenjin arrived at the lower hall of Zhongshumen again and handed over the evidence of Li Yu's crimes to Li Xuan.

Li Yu was not a tough guy and could endure a few whippings at first. He yelled and wanted to see his cousin Li Xuan.

But it was impossible for Li Xuan to go to see him.

Then Li Yu cursed Yang Shenjin!
After being whipped more than a dozen times, Li Yu could no longer bear it and confessed everything.

It turned out that the gold, silver and jewelry he had embezzled and accepted as bribes had already been sent to a house in Chongyifang, Chang'an through a merchant from Luoyang.

The Censorate sent people to verify and confirm the location of the gold, silver and jewelry.

This time, there is another charge of colluding with businessmen.

They colluded with the powerful, covered up murders, exploited the people, and obstructed new laws.

Even Li Xuan's cousin could not forgive him.

"There is no dispute about the guilt of Xin'an Ling. I suggest that the Dali Temple conduct an investigation as soon as possible and behead him in the East Market as a warning to others!"

At the court meeting the next day, Li Xuan reported to Li Longji.

"I think that although Xin'an Ling made some minor mistakes, they did not lead to major errors. It is not too late to make amends. You can dismiss him from his post and never employ him again."

When Li Longji heard Li Xuan's determination, he decided to give Li Xuan face and grant amnesty to Xin'an Order.

Because he believed from the bottom of his heart that the mistakes made by Xin'anling were not serious crimes.

There is no need to kill directly!
Once Li Xuan executed Li Yu, he would lose prestige among his relatives.

The family is the vested interest. They are in the game and think differently from ordinary people.

Li Longji's words made the civil and military ministers look at each other in bewilderment.

Because Li Xuan said that he wanted to kill the chicken to scare the monkey and severely punish the officials who obstructed the new law.

Now that the new law has just been spread to the capital and the capital, Li Xuan is pardoned just because he is Li Xuan's cousin. What do people in the world think of Li Xuan?
Although the pardon came from Li Longji's mouth.

But both the government and the public believed that it was Li Xuan who privately persuaded Li Longji to grant amnesty.

"Your Majesty, I think the Xin'an magistrate has behaved badly and should not be pardoned. In the past, Duke Zhou killed his brothers Guan Shuxian and Cai Shudu, and thus assisted the king in completing his great cause. This is what ministers need to emulate. I am just ashamed that because of me, Li Yu became the county magistrate and harmed the people. Now that Your Majesty has pardoned the Xin'an magistrate, it is intended to target me, which is not in accordance with the rules. Acting according to the law, I am willing to deduct my official position, honorary position, and salary for two years to help the people of Xin'an County to make up for this mistake."

Li Xuan stood in the center of Xingqing Hall and vetoed Li Longji's pardon of Li Yu.

Now Li Xuan wants to kill Li Yu!
Even though he is his cousin.

Because Li Yu touched Li Xuan's bottom line.

To circumvent one's own salary is also to admit one's mistakes.

When Li Xuan said this, the ministers were even more shocked.

Many officials felt that Li Xuan had the demeanor of a wise minister.

Some conservative officials felt that Li Xuan was retreating in order to advance.

Li Yu served as the magistrate of Xin'an for two years, but Li Xuan donated his two-year salary to the people of Xin'an County.

Li Xuan has so many titles, so his salary is very considerable.

In this way, people all over the world would not think that Li Xuan's obstruction of the new law was a slap in the face, but would instead praise Li Xuan's character.

"People's hearts are different, just like their appearances. Prime Minister Li cares about the world, so why should he blame himself?" Li Longji thought that he had given Li Xuan the stage, but Li Xuan not only did not give up, he also took the initiative to admit his mistake and fined himself.

Li Longji also liked this virtue, but this was not what Li Longji knew.

"I will defend the new law. Anyone who obstructs the new law in the counties will be executed! If the saint insists on pardoning the Xin'an Order, please remove me from my position as prime minister!"

Li Xuan bowed and spoke in a powerful voice.

"Forget it! I'll just follow Prime Minister Li's instructions."

Seeing that Li Xuan was threatening him in this way, Li Longji no longer forced it.

At the head of the court, Li Linfu took a deep breath. Is this little thief Li Xuan a heartless person?

How will he face his people in the future?

He could have saved the lives of his clan members, but instead he killed his cousin for the sake of his own reputation.

Even if the tribesmen don't say it, they will have resentment in their hearts.

Li Linfu had already taken control of Li Yu's mansion where his gold, silver and jewelry were stored.

I just want to expose it at the critical moment.

Now Li Xuan doesn't give him this opportunity!
At this moment, Li Linfu felt that Li Xuan's eyes were cold and ruthless.

He even suspected that Li Xuan would continue to target his son.

If his son amassed wealth, Li Xuan would kill his son just like he had executed Li Yu.

From now on, I must restrain my restless son.

On November 1st, Li Yu was executed in Dongshi.

At the moment the head fell off, Li Shizhi burst into tears and restored Li Yu's body.

According to ancestral rules, Li Yu was a criminal official and could not enter the ancestral tomb.

Li Shizhi could only bury him in Weiyin Township outside the city.

Regarding Li Xuan's behavior, some people accused him of being heartless. After reaching the highest position in the government, wasn't it just to enrich the family? Just like the Yang family, everyone prospers when one prospers, and everyone suffers when one suffers.

More people admired Li Xuan for sacrificing his own relatives for the sake of justice.

Especially the common people, because they are the ones who are bullied, they will not sympathize with the corrupt officials who oppress the common people.

When the people of Xin'an County learned that the Xin'an magistrate was killed by Li Xuan, and that Li Xuan used two years' salary to distribute to the poor in Xin'an County, they were immediately grateful and burst into tears.

They knew they had wronged Li Xuan. The young prime minister was a good prime minister!

In short, Li Xuan's reputation and legend became even greater after this incident.

On the day when Li Yu was beheaded, civil and military officials accompanied Li Longji to Huaqing Palace for the second time.

Huaqing Palace has a special Tianshui Palace, but it is smaller.

This time, Li Shizhi did not go with him because of Li Yu's affairs.

Due to the three-day holiday, Li Xuan did not go to Huaqing Palace for the time being.

He buried Li Yu together with Li Shizhi and performed sacrifices for him.

He only killed a corrupt official, but that did not mean he disowned this cousin.

It's a pity that Li Yu went astray.

Li Shizhi felt sorry for his nephew Li Yu, but did not blame Li Xuan.

He used to be prime minister, and his seventh son was prime minister.

I just feel guilty towards my brother Li Yu who raised me.

After burying Li Yu, Li Xuan stayed overnight at the Duke of Song's mansion to comfort Li Shizhi.

Kill Li Yu today!
Will save his other cousins ​​in the future.

When An Lushan rebelled, Li Longji did not kill An Sishun.

As for his father, brothers, and wife, he would find a way.

The day before the court session, Li Xuan bid farewell to Li Shizhi and drove to Huaqing Palace with his family.

Most of the slaves and servants stayed in the Tianshui Palace in Chang'an, and Shen Ji was left behind to take charge of daily affairs.

Jiang Yueyao, Changli and Shuang'er went with Li Xuan, carrying only personal guards and some servants.

Li Xuan had just arrived at the Tianshui Palace under the Huaqing Palace when his father-in-law Pei Fan came to visit.

Half a month ago, Pei Fan finally left Shouchang because of his excellent performance in the assessment and was appointed as the Sizhi of the Dali Temple.

Pei Fan has not yet taken up his post. He thought Li Xuan was at Huaqing Palace and had arrived here yesterday.

"Father-in-law!"

When Pei Fan saw Li Xuan, his legs went weak and he was about to pay his respects to Li Xuan.

But Li Xuan stopped him and bowed first.

Then Li Xuan welcomed Pei Fan into the main hall.

Pei Lingxi was very happy that her father was transferred to Chang'an, and she made tea for her husband and father.

Unexpectedly, Pei Fan acted mysterious and asked Pei Lingxi to leave for the time being.

Li Xuan thought something happened to his father-in-law.

"Li Xiang..."

Pei Fan grabbed his collar, wanting to say something but stopping himself, his face flushed.

He had no intention of drinking the brewed tea. He sat there as if he was being pricked by pins and needles, hesitating, wanting to say something but unable to utter it.

In winter, sweat has formed on my forehead...

"Why should you be so nervous, father-in-law? If what you say is inappropriate, will your son-in-law blame you?"

Li Xuan smiled and spoke kindly.

He wondered if his father-in-law had also abused his power in Yishou County and obstructed the new law, and was grief-stricken when he saw him kill Li Yu?

If that's the case, will he kill his father-in-law?

But it shouldn’t be!
Pei Fanming scored excellently in the assessment and the implementation of the new law was clear and orderly.

Yishou County is close to Chang'an and at the foot of Mount Zhongnan. It is filled with scholars and literati, and wandering knights and hermits come and go. It is not easy to stir up trouble there.

(End of this chapter)