Chapter 957 He Shouyi
the central military tent, Su Pingbei's face was pale, his body still bandaged with white wrappings, and the seeping blood proved that his wounds were not yet healed.But his expression was resolute.Co...Chapter 957 He Shouyi
Inside the Xizhi Hall.
Doctor He's face was full of terror, he knelt on the ground trembling.
He dared not look up at the prince's face, but he could feel that immense majesty pressing down on him from above.
This pressure was suffocating him.
"He Shouyi."
Li Chen held in his hand the documents about Imperial Physician He that Dongchang had brought. He said calmly, “Your He family has been practicing medicine for generations. Ever since your grandfather cured the epidemic that broke out in Huizhou with a traditional prescription, from your grandfather to your father and now you, you have all been imperial physicians at the Taiping Hospital.”
"Over the past few decades, your family of three generations has surely witnessed quite a few things from the royal family, both glorious and scandalous, wouldn't you say"
He Shouyi's cold sweat flowed down his forehead like a faucet. Faced with such a high-risk issue, he had no idea how to answer.
"Luckily, Li Chen didn't seem to care about his answer and continued, "Being an official is good, but that requires a local official. Mountains are high and the emperor is far away. With real power in your hands, you're almost like a king of your own region. This kind of position is easy to hold."
"Being an official in the capital is difficult because you're right under the emperor's nose. There's no freedom there."
“And the hardest position to hold is being an official near the emperor, like a physician. They have little real power and directly interact with royalty and imperial relatives. One careless mistake could lead to beheading. They live in constant fear and caution for decades, only achieving a comfortable life and good reputation by the time they grow old, isn't that right”
He Shouyi swallowed nervously, racking his brains for a response. After a long pause, he bowed low and said, "To be able to contribute even a small amount to the imperial court is the greatest honor for me and my family. I beg Your Highness to see this clearly."
Li Chen said calmly, "Many people would say that, but who is real and who is fake, this palace has to see something, right"
With things having reached this point, He Shouyi could no longer feign ignorance or attempt to deceive and evade responsibility. Gritting his teeth, he said: "This lowly official is but one person, death would be nothing for me. I am willing to go through fire and water for Your Highness, but please, spare the lives of my family."
"You have committed no crime, nor have you wronged this palace. Why should I take your life and that of your family"
Li Chen said calmly, "Many things are not as complicated as you think. Yes, this palace wants you to come forward and testify that King Zhao personally killed the Ninth Prince that day, but there is no intention of silencing you afterwards. This palace will not only not silence you, but also give you heavy rewards."
“Throughout history, princes vying for the throne have often brought misfortune to the ministers who get involved. Especially with such a direct accusation, this palace understands your worry. Therefore, this palace can issue an imperial decree of pardon beforehand, ensuring your safety. Would that ease your mind”
He Shouyi raised his head in astonishment and instinctively asked, "Your Highness, why are you so generous to a humble servant like me"
Li Chen smiled and said, "I want to borrow your body to show all the officials and the people of the world that I treat my people well and will never betray those who serve me. As long as you are willing to work for me, there will be a bright future."
He Shouyi's heart trembled slightly.
Why did he dare to reveal such a big secret when no one else at the time was willing to
He believed that once he was involved in the power struggle between the princes and the crown prince, regardless of who won or lost, he would not end well.
At that time, if Li Yinhu, the Eighth Prince, had ultimately won, he would have definitely been the first to kill himself.
And if the prince laughs in the end, he may not even keep this pawn who has outlived his usefulness.he right to collect taxes has always been in the hands of local officials since ancient times. The people have also become accustomed to it. Suddenly establishing a tax bureau seems beneficial to nati...