Chapter 1467: Chapter 1443 Ran Away
In fact, Prince Guangping is even harder to investigate than Hou Ji. This time, they were able to trace it back to Prince Guangping thanks to Hou Ji.
Yin Li said: “Hou Ji not only sent people to Luozhou but also to Xiangzhou.”
So they focused on Hou Ji and only then noticed the always low-key Prince Guangping. Tang He personally went to investigate, and the findings were surprising.
Yin Li didn’t know if Prince Guangping would hate Hou Ji after finding out, but at this moment he was quite grateful to the latter, otherwise, who knows how long this case would have taken to crack.
It should be noted that since His Majesty assigned this case to them, they had been investigating for forty-eight days.
The emperor lowered his head to flip through the confession Yin Li presented and suddenly became angry, “Bring the witnesses and evidence up.”
After a pause, he added, “Summon Minister Feng and Courtier Tang into the palace.”
This is no trivial matter, and he must give the court ministers an explanation. Hou Ji had done quite a bit, and it’s impossible to just take him without a trial.
Yin Li acknowledged and said, “Your Majesty, those stones are poisonous…”
“Bring them in,” the emperor said with a blank expression, “the poison won’t act immediately.”
Yin Li complied and then bowed and withdrew.
He returned to the capital prefecture and asked his subordinates, “How’s the iron box I asked you to make?”
“Just welded it.”
Yin Li nodded, “Load the stones, and carry those three people into the palace.”
Lord Tang was sitting in the office with Manbao and the others, drinking tea and chatting, and they came out together when they heard the commotion outside.
As soon as Yin Li looked up, he saw them.
Lord Tang hurriedly led the two forward to salute and asked with a smile, “Master, is the snake startled?”
Yin Li glanced at Bai Shan and Zhou Man and then said, “The Crown Prince went over with the Imperial Guards.”
The snake was not only startled, but it was also about to run!
Ever since the mystery of that stone was discovered by the Crown Prince and others, he had been restless, so he restrained himself a lot, not daring to openly keep an eye on the Crown Prince and the capital prefecture.
But even quietly watching, he knew that many people had been taken, and those people were more or less related to him. As long as they followed the clues, they would eventually trace it back to him.
So, he had been somewhat anxious and uneasy. His adoptive sons even advised him to directly leave the capital and return to Liangzhou, “His Majesty is ungrateful; father has fought alongside him and even saved him on the battlefield, yet because of a few slanders by a mere child, he is treating father coldly. Why not rebel against him?”
“The world of the Li Family was fought and won; father’s martial prowess is not inferior to his, so he could do it too.”
Honestly, Hou Ji was tempted, but he didn’t dare.
These days are not like the past. Back then, the Li Family could rebel because the previous emperor was cruel, and the people of the world were restless, with uprisings everywhere. Now, though it may not be said that the seas are calm and rivers are clear, at least the people are living and working in peace and contentment. Who would follow him to rebel?
On the battlefield, he was not afraid, but His Majesty also had many talented subordinates.
While hesitating, someone reported early this morning that the capital prefecture brought back some people from Gaochang, seemingly descendants of those craftsmen, and even someone close to the Grand Prince of Gaochang.
Hou Ji panicked at once. He hurriedly asked his adoptive sons, “Is there any response from the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince?”
“No, the Fourth Prince met our people and seemed inclined to form an alliance, but as soon as the Crown Prince’s poisoning case came out, Xiangzhou drove our people out,” and added, “As for the Third Prince, our people have been detained.”
“I’m asking about the people sent out the second time.”
“Father, that person is probably just arriving in Luozhou now.”
“Father, let’s leave first. Once we’re out of the capital, the sky’s the limit for a bird in flight. Where can’t we go?”
“Yes, keep the green mountains, don’t worry about not having firewood. Father, we can go to Liangzhou, and if not, we can still go to the Western Regions or Tubo.”
“That’s right. With father’s talents, Tubo would definitely welcome you with open arms.”
Hou Ji struggled internally for a while and finally gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and said, “Let’s go!”
So Hou Ji led his group of adoptive sons, saying they were going to the countryside for hunting, and before leaving, he called his youngest son.
The people keeping an eye on Hou Ji by Yin Li’s orders were momentarily dazed, then hurriedly sent someone back to report, while they quickly followed.
As Yin Li prepared to enter the palace with the people they had lifted, a runner came to report, “Master, Hou Ji is heading out of the capital with his adoptive sons, claiming among the servants that they are going hunting.”
Yin Li’s face darkened, “Hunting in the spring?”
After a winter, the animals in the wild are not only starved and thin but also agitated with hunger. They are not easy to hunt and are very fierce. Who in their right mind would go hunting in the spring?
Moreover, hunting is banned in spring!
Yin Li asked, “Did you see the Crown Prince and the Imperial Guards along the way?”
“No, sir, I returned from the Marquis Mansion taking a shortcut.”
While Yin Li frowned, another person came running to report, “Master, Hou Ji and others left the inner city a quarter of an hour ago heading towards the West City Gate.”
Lord Tang couldn’t help but step forward, “Master…”
Yin Li had already made a decisive decision, “Go to the Third Camp to mobilize forces, immediately go out of the city to capture Hou Ji, and if they resist, treat them as rebels.”
Yin Li turned to Tang He and said, “Little Master Tang, you are to take these people and things into the palace.”
His subordinates had already brought his armor and weapons, which he took on while walking; the others led his horse to him.
Manbao and Bai Shan stood aside watching people come and go busily but in an orderly manner. When Yin Li reached the horse, several guards immediately helped him put on his armor, serving him onto the horse and away.
Yin Li left with his men swiftly, and even Bai Shan was starstruck, “He’s truly impressive.”
Lord Tang nodded in deep agreement.
At this point, Manbao and Bai Shan finally felt a sense of regret, “If Yin Huo was also healthy, would he become a famous general in the future?”
Lord Tang laughed, “Is this considered impressive? You haven’t seen State Duke Wei.”
He said with some longing, “State Duke Wei is the number one among the talented generals. By the way, Hou Ji learned his military strategies from State Duke Wei.”
Bai Shan was curious, “Are they mentor and student? I haven’t heard anyone in the National Academy mention that they had any connection.”
Lord Tang was also from the National Academy and knew its situation, a group of students who loved to talk about the court ministers and various household matters.
Their gossip was more than in taverns and teahouses.
He smiled, “Their relationship isn’t great; it was His Majesty who arranged for Hou Ji to follow State Duke Wei to learn. Hou Ji once accused State Duke Wei of wanting to rebel, saying he wasn’t diligent in teaching him and didn’t pass on all his military strategies; but State Duke Wei also said that Hou Ji had rebellion in mind because although the strategies he taught were enough to control the four barbarians, he still wasn’t satisfied, showing his treacherous heart.”
Lord Tang said, “But His Majesty never believed either.”
Bai Shan was full of confusion, “Is it so simple to accuse someone of treason? Can you say it just like that?”
Lord Tang said meaningfully, “Only the old ministers around His Majesty can do that. If it were us, we would naturally need solid evidence.”
These are the people who have built their careers alongside the emperor, lived and died together, what my father would say—had slept, eaten, urinated, and defecated together, you covered for my sword, and I hacked arrows for you. Their bond is something we can’t compare to.
So, they could speak freely, but we cannot speak without restraint.