PCA Chapter 109

At dawn, all fifth-rank officials gathered at Hanyuan Hall for the imperial New Year audience.

 

Su Cen hid among the officials with a hungover face, bowing and shouting “Long live the Emperor!” with the crowd. He nearly fell asleep as his forehead touched the ground.

 

He vaguely recalled being plied with drinks the night before, initially intending to remember faces for future retribution. But he realized taking revenge would mean slaughtering half of Xingqing Palace, so he abandoned the idea.

 

As the newly promoted Deputy Minister of the Dali Temple, Su Cen stood next to an elderly Vice Minister. The old man kept grinning at Su Cen all morning. After the audience, he elbowed Su Cen, chuckling, “Young Lord Su, you’re in your prime, but do mind your health!”

 

Su Cen stared at the man’s yellowed teeth in confusion until he noticed the old man eyeing his neck. He quickly covered it with his hand.

 

The old man laughed again, patting Su Cen’s shoulder meaningfully before leaving. Su Cen stood there, hand on neck, looking guilty.

 

As he walked back, Su Cen fumed. Despite his drunken state, Li Shi had still left marks! No wonder people were getting ideas, given his debauched appearance.

 

Su Cen rushed back to Xingqing Palace, planning to hide for a few days. But he’d forgotten his promise to Zheng Yang. Upon entering, he was startled to find the usually tranquil palace bustling with activity. Groups of people filled every pavilion and corridor.

 

Su Cen’s first thought was that Zheng Yang was courting death. He’d only mentioned a few names to Li Shi, but now there were over a dozen people, with more arriving. The guards at the gate looked green.

 

A latecomer tapped Su Cen’s shoulder. “First time in Xingqing Palace? I’m Zou Mingjing, son of the Marquis of Pingyuan. Care to look around together?”

 

Su Cen gave his name but tried to leave. Zou Mingjing followed, exclaiming, “You’re Su Cen? The one who solved the Heaven sacrifice case? You’re so young! The young duke has such connections to invite you. No wonder! I sent so many gifts to his residence.”

 

Su Cen smiled wryly, thinking Zheng Yang was bold to use Xingqing Palace for personal gain.

 

As Zou Mingjing marveled at the palace’s grandeur, Su Cen suddenly stopped, causing Zou to bump into him.

 

“Ning Santong?” Su Cen exclaimed, spotting a familiar face.

 

Ning Santong approached, dismissing his entourage. “Brother Su, you’re here too? Quite a gathering today.”

 

Su Cen was surprised not by Ning Santong’s presence, but by his transformation. Gone was the coroner he knew; here stood a nobleman in fine boots and silk robes, exuding an air of nobility. His two attendants were deferential, completely unlike the Ning Santong he’d known before.

 

Zou Mingjing, rubbing his nose, brightened at seeing Ning Santong. “Young Lord Ning!” he bowed. Noticing Su Cen’s lack of deference, he whispered, “He’s the third son of the Grand Tutor’s family. Ning Yi is his grandfather.”

 

“Ning San…” Su Cen hesitated, unsure how to address him. He smiled, “So, how many grudges have you recorded against me in that little book of yours?”

 

Ning Santong laughed heartily, putting an arm around Su Cen. “Finally caught you slipping once, Brother Su. I must tell my grandfather; he’ll be thrilled.”

 

Su Cen asked, “So what’s your full name?”

 

“Ci is my given name, Tong my courtesy name. Pick whichever you prefer,” Ning Santong replied.

 

Su Cen raised an eyebrow: “I wouldn’t dare. What if I offend Young Lord Ning?”

 

Ning Santong laughed loudly: “Brother Su, are you upset at being fooled?”

 

Zou Mingjing watched them walk away, dumbfounded.

 

They reached the lakeside Pavilion by the dragon pool, where they found Zheng Yang and Feng Yiming. Zheng Yang was wrapped in a black cloak, barely visible except for his eyes. If not for Feng Yiming calmly drinking tea nearby, Su Cen might not have recognized him.

 

After brief greetings, Su Cen asked, “What’s this act about?”

 

Feng Yiming smiled coldly: “Perhaps he fears the Prince will recognize and kill him.”

 

Zheng Yang grabbed Su Cen’s hand: “Brother Su, you must save me. Uncle likes you best; please put in a good word for me.”

 

Su Cen coughed lightly, glancing at Ning Santong before continuing, “You brought this upon yourself.”

 

“I didn’t know it would turn out like this,” Zheng Yang lamented under his hood. “I only told a few people, but word spread quickly once they heard about entering Xingqing Palace. They’re all childhood friends; I couldn’t refuse some and not others. It snowballed into this mess.”

 

“You reap what you sow,” Ning Santong said, sitting beside Zheng Yang. “I’ve never seen the Prince angry. Thanks to you, we might witness it. At least you won’t die in vain.”

 

“Ungrateful wretch. Could you have entered Xingqing Palace without me?” Zheng Yang glared at Ning Santong, then looked at Su Cen. “How do you two know each other? I was planning to introduce you.”

 

“No need,” Su Cen sat next to Feng Yiming, completing the square stone table. “Worry about yourself.”

 

After Ning Santong and Feng Yiming briefly introduced themselves, the group was acquainted. Among them, only Su Cen and Feng Yiming were fifth-rank officials or higher. Since Feng Yiming wasn’t a capital official and didn’t attend court, Su Cen was the only one in official robes.

 

Zheng Yang asked, “Where’s Uncle? Didn’t he return with you after court?”

 

Su Cen replied, “The young emperor kept him. He might not return until after lunch.”

 

Zheng Yang laughed heartily, removing his hood. “Then I’ll send everyone away soon. Uncle won’t know what I’ve done.”

 

The other three glanced at Zheng Yang as if he were foolish. Did he think everyone in Xingqing Palace was deaf and blind?

 

With time to spare, they discussed the recent case. Su Cen had rushed back to Xingqing Palace and hadn’t followed up, only hearing that Ning Santong had taken Shen Yugui home. He’d assumed Ning’s family had medical expertise, but now realized the Grand Tutor’s household naturally had the best physicians and medicines.

 

Asked about Shen Yugui’s condition, Ning Santong sighed, “Her tendons were reattached, but she’ll never have the same dexterity. At best, she might manage daily activities with practice.”

 

“To think a young woman carried such a heavy burden of vengeance,” Zheng Yang mused. “Fortunately, the young emperor is merciful and didn’t pursue charges. I should visit her someday, see what kind of extraordinary woman she is.”

 

Su Cen kindly reminded him, “This extraordinary woman is nineteen.”

 

“What?” Zheng Yang frowned. “She’s still a child.”

 

Feng Yiming asked, “What about the suspect caught later?”

 

Ning Santong explained, “He’s still in the Dali Temple. With the new year, the Ministry of Justice has closed cases. They’ll transfer him for sentencing after reopening. The young emperor takes this case seriously, so punishment will likely be severe—probably death by a thousand cuts.”

 

Su Cen nodded, relieved that justice would be served for the Shen family’s thirty-plus victims.

 

The New Year brought fresh scenery. The sun shone brightly on the remaining snow, which gleamed on distant pavilions and pillars.

 

As groups strolled around the dragon pool admiring the view, some passed by Lakeside Pavilion discussing Xingqing Palace’s mysteries. The four men in the pavilion overheard.

 

One person said, “Do you know the three great mysteries of Xingqing Palace?”

 

After building suspense, he continued, “First, why is Qi Lin surnamed Qi?”

 

Everyone knew Prince Ning’s Turkic guard was named Qi Lin, but no one knew why he had a Han name. Someone asked eagerly, “Why?”

 

The man smirked, “I said it’s a mystery. How would I know?”

 

The group booed him and began discussing among themselves.

 

Intrigued, Ning Santong asked Zheng Yang, the Prince’s nephew, for the reason.

 

Zheng Yang scratched his head and turned to Su Cen, “Why is it?”

 

Su Cen calmly sipped his tea: “How would I know?”

 

“It’s not difficult,” Feng Yiming smiled. “We could just call Qi Lin over and ask him.”

 

“That’s an idea,” Zheng Yang clapped. “So… who’s going?”

 

Su Cen kept drinking tea, Feng Yiming turned to admire the lake, and Ning Santong responded, “I don’t know Qi Lin.”

 

Zheng Yang: “…” Some friends they were!

 

Seeing no conclusion, the man continued, “The second mystery is this dragon pool. Legend says bodies in Xingqing Palace aren’t buried but thrown into the pool. Dozens of green turtles at the bottom eat the corpses, leaving only bones within hours. Guess how many skeletons lie at the bottom?”

 

Though the pool was frozen, everyone shuddered at the thought and stepped back from the edge.

 

Ning Santong asked Zheng Yang, “Are there really skeletons down there?”

 

Zheng Yang turned to Su Cen, “What do you think, Brother Su?”

 

Su Cen only remembered a servant mentioning blood dyeing the pool red during an assassination attempt, but he didn’t know what happened to the bodies. He sipped his tea: “I don’t know.”

 

“It’s not hard to find out,” Feng Yiming smiled again. “We could check when the ice melts next year.”

 

“That’s true!” Zheng Yang said cheerfully. “So… who’s going?”

 

Su Cen poured himself more tea, Feng Yiming switched from admiring the lake to a nearby sophora tree, and Ning Santong smiled at Zheng Yang: “I can’t swim.”

 

Zheng Yang: “…” He wanted to end these friendships!

 

The man then lowered his voice dramatically: “The final mystery is the biggest! We know Prince Ning never remarried after his wife passed. But do you know who lives in the back courtyard of Xingqing Palace?”

 

Su Cen, who had been drinking tea: “Cough, cough cough…”

 

Feng Yiming and Zheng Yang exchanged glances; they actually knew this one.

 

Only Ning Santong remained clueless, looking at Zheng Yang: “Who is it?”

 

Zheng Yang: “Brother Su, what do you think?”

 

Su Cen: “Cough cough cough cough cough…”

 

“It’s simple,” Feng Yiming glanced mischievously at Su Cen. “We could go see for ourselves.”

 

Zheng Yang: “So… who’s going?”

 

Ning Santong and Feng Yiming slapped the table and stood up together.

 

Su Cen: Excuse me, I suddenly want to go home and check on Ah-Fu.

 

 

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