"In addition, it was already late at night, and the city gates of Chang'an City had long been closed. There is no record that the city gates of Chang'an City had been opened at that stage."

"Finally, there is your Majesty's order to blockade Chang'an City and conduct strict investigation."

"Adding all the conditions together, it can be confirmed that from the beginning to the end, the salary has never left Chang'an City. Do you agree with this point?"

Everyone thought about it and found that indeed, they did not give Payin the chance or time to leave Chang'an City at all...

They nodded one after another.

Shen Lian smiled and said: "His Majesty was furious at that time, because the salary represents the stability of the border. Once there is a problem on the border, the country will not be stable."

"So His Majesty ordered people to search house to house, even if the ground was dug three feet, he would not hesitate."

"And in order to prevent internal agents, the Ministry of Punishment, Dali Temple and Yushitai randomly arranged the manpower for that search. The three parties cooperated with each other, but also supervised each other."

"In this way, we can ensure that there will be no situation where the payment has been discovered but not reported."

"But even then, there was such a commotion in Chang'an City that we really had to dig deep into the ground, but no trace of wages was found."

Li Shimin sighed: "The salary money seemed to have wings and fly. I was really angry at that time, but I couldn't find it and there was no way."

"Your Majesty, please be patient."

Shen Lian smiled and said: "Of course salary money can't grow wings and fly."

"But the salary money has never been found. Have you ever thought about why?"

Fang Xuanling and others shook their heads subconsciously.

Shen Lian said: "It's so simple, have you really never thought about it?"

"If we didn't find it, could it be that the salary was hidden and there was no search at all?"

"So, which places were not searched at that time?"

Brush it.

Everyone was stunned at first, and then their eyes suddenly widened.

Li Shimin immediately raised his head, looked directly at Shen Lian, and said, "What do you mean!?"

Be it Li Shimin or Fang Xuanling.

At this moment, everyone was suddenly shocked.

Their eyes widened and their pupils suddenly shrank.

It was obvious that they all understood what Shen Lian meant!

Pay money cannot grow wings and fly away!

And there will definitely be no problems in the places that have been searched!

Then, the problematic areas are those places that have not been searched!

Li Shimin asked directly: "What places have not been searched?"

Bai Yanguan was the main person in charge at that time. When he heard Li Shimin's words, he bowed slightly to Li Shimin and said: "Your Majesty, in addition to the residences of the emperor's relatives and the palace, we have searched everything."

"That is to say..."

Bai Yanguan looked at Li Shimin and said: "Only the residences of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness the King of Wei, His Highness the King of Wu, His Highness the King of Han... and the royal palaces have not been searched."

Although Li Shimin already had some expectations in his heart, his pupils couldn't help but jump when he heard Bai Yanguan's words.

What does this mean?

According to Shen Lian's meaning, doesn't it mean that...the people behind the scenes are relatives of the emperor?

Is he one of his sons and brothers?

This is really hard for Li Shimin to accept!

After all, those people can be regarded as his closest relatives.

Why do they do this?

What's the reason?

This feeling is tantamount to being stabbed in the back by the person you trust most.

That feeling is really uncomfortable!

Li Shimin couldn't help but look at Shen Lian and said, "Shen Lian, is it really... one of them?"

The other officials were too embarrassed to take a breath at this moment.

Even Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji subconsciously became quiet.

In fact, they did not expect that Shen Lian would target the royal family!

They came here today to see Officer Bai Yan's case.

Who knows, it will directly turn into a royal drama.

This melon is a bit too big.

They didn't dare to eat the big ones openly, lest they displease His Majesty.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Shen Lian at this moment.

They know that if someone dares to eat this big melon, and can turn this big melon over and eat it very carefully, no one will dare to blame him, so Shen Lian will be dead!

Shen Lian was sitting under the "upright and bright" plaque, wearing a black official robe, majestic and solemn.

He said: "Yes or no, I think your Majesty already knows it in his heart."

"When deciding a case, you should never be too subjective and just assume that who is definitely innocent and who will definitely not do these things!"

"Actually, there's one thing I don't understand. The entire city of Chang'an was turned upside down at that time, so why were there so few mansions left that weren't searched?"

Bai Yanguan smiled bitterly and said: "After all, who would have thought that... something that is obviously detrimental to the court and the Tang Dynasty would be done by members of the royal family. Isn't this just shooting oneself in the foot?"

Other officials also nodded.

Indeed, according to normal logic, which royal family member would be so stupid as to bring chaos to the Tang Dynasty.

If the Tang Dynasty was in chaos, what good would it do to them?

The more stable the Tang Dynasty is, the more popular they will be able to drink spicy food.

Shen Lian said: "Normal logic, they really shouldn't do such a thing."

"But, have you ever thought about ambition?"

"Ambition?"

Bai Yanguan's eyes widened slightly, with a very surprised expression on his face: "Could it be that?"

A chill suddenly flashed across Li Shimin's eyes. He stared at Shen Lian and said, "You mean, someone wants to sit in my seat?"

Bai Yanguan didn't dare to say everything, but Li Shimin dared to say it!

After all, if members of the royal family are ambitious, what else can they have besides the throne?

When other officials heard Li Shimin's angry words, they all lowered their heads subconsciously. They only felt frightened.

I really didn’t expect that today’s case would turn into a major treason case!

Even the people eating melon outside the Yamen felt dizzy.

Isn’t it Bai Yanguan’s case?

Why did it become a case of treason against a member of the royal family?

This melon is too big!

Shen Lian faced Li Shimin's angry gaze without any fear. He looked at Li Shimin calmly and said: "If not, the royal family members are not short of money, why would they take away the hundreds of thousands of military pay?"

Li Shimin was silent.

The whole court could hear the needle drop in an instant.

The atmosphere was oppressive and silent.

It was as if a stone was pressing on their hearts.

After an unknown amount of time passed, Li Shimin seemed to be unable to bear it any longer. He asked directly: "Who is it?"

"Who is eating the inside and outside like this?"

"Who is so cold and heartless!"

Li Shimin's voice was filled with suppressed anger.

At this moment, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty felt as if his heart was bleeding, angry and disappointed.

He could allow anyone else to be the thief behind the scenes.

But the only thing I can't tolerate is that this thief is a member of the royal family!

What are members of the Royal Family?

It's his family!
To be continued...