Tang Chen: Starting from the Xuanwu Gate Incident

Chapter 27 An Unconventional Memorial

Having watched the show to his heart's content, Li Er turned to look at both sides and said in a deep voice, "Get a clear answer about the leak, as for the rest... there's no need to ask."

Following Li Er's instructions, the Imperial Guards became increasingly rough, practically dragging Zhang Huaisu out of the palace. The eunuchs also thoughtfully cleaned up the bloodstains on the ground and picked up the scattered teeth, as it would be their fault if any superior officer got hurt.

In an era where dealing with a minor official of the seventh rank was commonplace, involving the confiscation of property and the extermination of thousands of families, it was a trivial matter. The people simply sipped their tea and then forgot about it.

Yuwen Shiji glanced at Shen Ce, thinking to himself that the fish tally hadn't been given for nothing. Not only was he calm in the face of danger, but he could also launch a counterattack instantly. He was indeed a promising talent for navigating the court, but he needed to temper his temper. If he were to take action himself, he guaranteed that Zhang Huaisu wouldn't survive more than three sentences.

Having just gotten up and knocked out Zhang Huaisu's teeth, Shen Ce is now kneeling on the ground again, rubbing his fists incessantly. Feudalism is deadly; without an imperial decree, he still has to kneel here.

The rear pavilion of Xiande Hall was where Li Er and his important ministers discussed state affairs, unlike the formal court. Changsun Wuji, who had been silent the whole time, saw that Li Er was clearly biased towards Shen Ce, and couldn't help but joke, "I didn't expect that there was such a talent in Your Highness's former residence. Although he is not cautious enough in his work, he can be considered a young talent."

Li Er snorted and pointed at the memorial on the ground, saying to Changsun Wuji, "If it weren't for Zhang Huaisu's embezzlement and being caught red-handed, I would have pinned this mess on that bastard today."

Shen Ce cried out that he was wronged, saying that he had done his duty diligently and saved Li Er money and grain, so how could he be blamed in the end?

Seeing Shen Ce's defiant expression, Li Er's stubborn temper flared up: "For a mere few hundred strings of cash, you've made such a fuss, even destroying the memorials of several prefects. Judging by the outcome, do you think I should punish you?"

Shen Ce, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly stood up without any imperial decree, took out his scepter, and bowed to Li Er.

He said solemnly, "I come from a farming family and have always been frugal. Now that Your Highness has selected me to serve as your registrar, I will certainly be loyal to my duties. Several hundred strings of cash is a huge sum of money for me."

"Therefore, Your Highness should not look down on these few hundred strings of cash. This amount of money is enough to feed the entire village for a year."

Shen Ce rejected Zhang Huaisu's memorials one after another, not because he wanted to save a few hundred strings of cash, but because he wanted to get an opportunity to report to Li Er.

When he saw that family with his own eyes, the thought burned wildly in his mind. The Tang Dynasty, which was about to usher in a golden age, was in such dire straits due to the flames of war at the end of the Sui Dynasty. Young girls of marriageable age had no proper clothes and had to hide naked with their parents under straw... This was something he could not accept.

Perhaps they harbored wicked thoughts before, thinking that they only needed to be fed and not have anyone else to worry about, and that they could live a life of wealth and luxury. But perhaps they will have the ability to help others in the future. They are all Chinese citizens, and Heaven should not favor one over the other.

As the seventh-rank registrar of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, he was actually of low rank. His duties were to investigate and correct errors and to manage the affairs of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He could not report anything other than his own job duties, otherwise it would be considered overstepping his authority. Even if he had to report on his own job duties, he had to have it forwarded by Prefect Su and signed by the head of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, or he could submit a report in the name of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

He knew no one would agree with what he wanted to say, much less report it to the emperor on his behalf. He had no choice but to take this risky tactic, hoping for a chance to reach the emperor's ears.

"How dare you!" Changsun Wuji suddenly spoke up, slamming his fist on the table and shouting angrily, "Who gives you the right to offer advice here?"

Shen Ce turned to Changsun Wuji and bowed: "I, the Left Vice Minister, will answer His Majesty's questions without reservation."

Changsun Wuji was about to retort when Li Er raised his hand to stop him: "Fuji, let him speak. Let's see what other surprising things he has to say."

"Your Highness, a few days ago, I was granted leave to return to my old home in the countryside near Xianyang. My mother was overjoyed to learn that I had been selected by Your Highness and even made me dress up in official robes like a theatrical troupe and go from house to house to show off."

"To please my mother, I had no choice but to comply."

Unexpectedly, from the end of the Sui Dynasty to the present day, years of war have led to the loss of more than half of the village's households, and large tracts of fertile land have been left uncultivated.

Even more extreme, among the peasant households less than a hundred miles from Chang'an, there were families where the entire household only had one piece of clothing to wear outside in the summer.

As Shen Ce spoke of this, recalling the scene with that family, his eyes welled up with tears. He wiped them away with his hand and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"I am covered with straw and dressed in rags. I am heartbroken whenever I think of this. Does Your Highness really think that four hundred strings of cash is too little?"

The hall was utterly silent. All the high-ranking officials present, including Li Er, were descendants of noble families: the Li clan of Longyou, the Yuwen clan of Guanzhong, and the Changsun clan of Henan.

After a long silence, Wei Zheng stepped forward, bowed to everyone present, and said, "I lost my father at a young age and lived in poverty. I have witnessed the suffering of the people. What Shen Ce said is true. I beg Your Highness to see the truth."

"The registered people make a living by farming and sericulture. Since ancient times, they have eaten coarse food and worn-out clothes. This is the destiny of heaven and earth, the difference between scholars and commoners. How can our dynasty be exempt from this?"

"Lord Changsun's words are reasonable, but His Highness strides with the might of a dragon and sweeps across the land, all for the sake of this world," Shen Ce retorted, sticking out his neck in dissatisfaction.

"You...you little brat!"

Shen Ce composed himself, faced Li Er, and bowed again: "Your Highness has said that all the heroes of the world are within your grasp. I dare to ask today, do the common people of the world also enter Your Highness's heart?"

After speaking, he took out the old clothes he had exchanged at Granny Liu's house the day before yesterday from his bosom, and held them above his head with both hands: "This is a garment that has been passed down for a hundred years by my neighbor. Please take a look, Your Highness."

Li Er went from initial mockery to anger, then to calm, until finally, upon seeing the century-old garment, he couldn't resist and walked forward step by step, taking it from Shen Ce's hands.

A coarse linen garment, weathered by a century of wind and frost, was no longer as thick as it once was. Li Er pressed the garment against his chest, gently stroking it, feeling the knots in the linen with his fingertips, as if trying to warm the garment with his chest. He personally straightened each thread of the linen cuffs, folded it neatly, and handed it to the eunuch, instructing: "Hang this garment in the Xiande Hall so that every minister attending court can see it."

After a long silence, Li Er turned around and said, "Shen Ce, is this the advice you painstakingly prepared for me?"

"Please forgive me, Your Highness."

"The people under the rule of my Great Tang are in such dire straits, and they support the nation with their own hands and feet. How can I enjoy comfort alone? I have remembered this matter."

The century-old clothes brought a great shock to everyone. These noble families had never had to worry about food and clothing since childhood. When their clothes were torn, they would just change into new ones. They had never worn tattered clothes before. For a moment, they didn't know what grand words to say to match Li Er's state. They just lowered their heads and remained silent.

Li Er was also in no mood to talk to the others at this moment.