Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Discussion

"You've said it already; how could I not take it to heart?"
Li Shimin's expression was grave. "Leaving aside whether or not you were incited, your words are not without reason. I will give it careful thought. You may go for now."
"Father..."
"You may go!"
"Yes!"
Li Zhi was inexplicably ushered out of the imperial study.
Yet, he was not disheartened.
Judging from Li Shimin's demeanor, his words had struck a chord.
No doubt, the matter would be discussed with the ministers afterward.
Whether it would succeed or not would depend on their deliberations.
"Your Highness, this way please!" The old eunuch beamed at Li Zhi.
"I'm going, I'm going!"
"Hmph!"
With a haughty glance at the eunuch, Li Zhi returned to the Hall of Liren.
There, Li Lizhi and Li Tai sat together, seemingly in conversation.
Empress Zhangsun was also seated nearby, a book held in her hands.
"Brother Zhi has returned... Brother Zhi, I have something to tell you!" Li Lizhi ran over.
"What is it?"
"Do you know who attacked us last night?" Li Lizhi began.
Li Tai’s composure faltered.
He hurried over as well. "Brother Zhi, Father asked you to punish those who violated the curfew. How did that go? Why haven’t you mentioned it?"
"And what does that have to do with you?"
"I’m just asking!"
Li Zhi said sternly, "Don’t change the subject! Sister Lizhi, please continue—do you know who attacked us last night?"
"I do!"
"Who was it?"
"It was him!" Li Lizhi swung her hand to point at Li Tai. "Don’t think I didn’t notice! Earlier, when I mentioned the attackers carried assassins' swords, you were clearly surprised! And you asked if anyone was hurt... When I said no one was injured, you sighed in relief and said, 'Thank goodness...'."

"And what’s wrong with that?" Li Tai protested, feigning innocence.
"I was worried about you!"
"As if anyone would believe that!" Li Lizhi retorted. "I know you well. When have you ever cared about me? Last time I fell and scraped my knee, you didn’t care at all! And now you’re suddenly so kind?"
"I..." At a loss for words, Li Tai turned to Empress Zhangsun for help. "Mother, look at Lizhi, she’s accusing me of being an assassin!"
"Changle! Don’t speak nonsense. How could your brother be an assassin?" Empress Zhangsun scolded.
"Hmph!"
Li Lizhi angrily took a seat to the side.
Li Zhi patted her shoulder. "Sister, you’re overthinking it. How could Brother Tai harm us? He’s never even left the palace; where would he find assassins? You must be imagining things."
"If you don’t believe me, so be it!" Li Lizhi was frustrated.
Her instincts told her Li Tai was the culprit!
But how could Li Zhi not believe her?
Just now, he had already concluded Li Tai was behind it! As Lizhi had deduced, his conversation with Li Tai and the latter’s reaction pointed to two possibilities: either Li Tai truly cared about him and Lizhi, which was highly unlikely, or Li Tai feared the matter would escalate and harm him, hence his concern over last night’s events.
Clearly, it was the latter!
"A wolf will always bare its fangs; a horse will always show its hoof. If someone does wrong, they’ll try to cover their tracks, and that’s when we catch them. There’s no need to rush," Li Zhi whispered.
"Mm-hmm!"
Li Lizhi grew even more wary of Li Tai.

That night, all ministers of the Three Departments and Six Ministries were summoned to the palace.
The imperial study, not especially spacious, was packed with officials.
Li Shimin spoke: "I’ve called you all here at this late hour to discuss two words—merchants. What do you make of merchants?"
"Merchants pursue profit and cannot be trusted," said Fang Xuanling.
"In the eyes of merchants, only money matters! To achieve their ends, they break the law and betray kin. How are they any different from beasts?"
"They embody the ugliest side of human nature!"
...
Whenever merchants were mentioned, not a single good word was uttered.
But Li Shimin only smiled. "Before today, I felt as you do—deeply disgusted by merchants’ base and shameless nature, wishing to be rid of them all. However... merchants serve a purpose. They drive the nation’s economic cycle, allowing the people to sell goods when in need and acquire what they lack from the markets. In this way, the country prospers!"
"Nearly half of our annual taxes come from merchants..."
"Without them, how would the state function?"
Wei Zheng frowned. "Your Majesty, have you not always despised merchants? Why now speak in their defense?"

The word "merchant" was pronounced with heavy emphasis by Wei Zheng, as if hinting at something.
Everyone knew that the most powerful merchants in the land were those great clans: the Wang clan of Taiyuan, the Cui clan of Qinghe, the Lu clan of Fanyang, the Zheng clan of Xingyang...
These families secretly referred to the imperial family as the "humpbacked Li," a deeply insulting term.
Among them, the Cui clan of Qinghe was the most prominent and held Li Shimin in particular contempt.
In the early years of his reign, Li Shimin tried to win the great clans over by marrying his daughter into the Cui family, but was refused! The other families also looked down on Li Shimin, believing the Li family neither belonged to the Seven Clans nor the Five Surnames, and had seized the throne by force, thus finding them unworthy.
After suffering such humiliation, Li Shimin considered weakening the noble families, but feared their deep roots and their grip on half the wealth of the Tang. Any unrest would only harm the people, and so he refrained.
All this time, Li Shimin had despised the great clans. Yet tonight, he spoke in their favor! What was happening? Had the sun risen in the west?
"Your Majesty..."
Seeing Li Shimin lost in thought upon the dragon throne, Wei Zheng raised his voice. "In my opinion, we should not encourage merchants! Otherwise, they will grow ever more brazen!"
"Think of those great clans—since Your Majesty's reign, they have been much more subdued. If they hear these words, they will surely stir up trouble again!"
"Indeed, indeed..." The ministers all nodded.

"Your Highness, Your Highness... His Majesty is in council with the ministers; you cannot go in!" At that moment, the old eunuch’s voice rang out, drawing the officials’ gaze.
Li Zhi was seen bounding into the imperial study.
"Lord Wei Zheng, your words are mistaken!" Li Zhi declared.
"Zhi’er, it’s late. Why aren’t you asleep? Your father is in council; wait outside," Li Shimin said.
"Father, I have something to say!" Li Zhi had gone to great lengths to slip past the imperial guards and reach the study, all to lend his father support.
"Father, please grant me a chance to rebut Lord Wei Zheng!"
A rebuttal?
Was he trying to embarrass Wei Zheng?
This was one of Li Shimin’s favorite diversions!
"Very well!"
He immediately changed his tone. "Since you’re here, you may stay."
"Thank you, Father!" Li Zhi stepped before Wei Zheng and looked up at him. "I have a few questions for you, Lord. If you find them difficult, you may decline to answer."
"Please ask, Your Highness!" Wei Zheng’s heart was uneasy.
He had long heard Fang Xuanling and Kong Yingda say that Li Zhi was a formidable opponent, not easily dealt with. Both had suffered losses at his hands and been left embarrassed.