PCA Chapter 110

Of course, they weren’t really planning to spy on Xingqing Palace’s back courtyard. The palace rules were strict; allowing them in the imperial garden was already lenient. Layers of guards protected the inner halls. Even Zheng Yang needed prior notice to visit normally, let alone bringing an outsider like Ning Santong. Fortunately, everyone present was sensible enough to know joking was fine, but no one dared to truly overstep.

 

The group left Chenxiang Pavilion, chatting and laughing as they circled the dragon pool before returning to the front courtyard before Huaye Xiang Tower.

 

Huaye Xiang Tower was one of Xingqing Palace’s grandest sights. Its double-layered corridors encircled it like a pear blossom, with layers of petals and sepals supporting each other. The magpie-wing eaves hung high, resplendent in gold and jade. A poem described it: “Close the palace doors and hear flutes descending from Han; Roll up the pearl curtains and see celestials in the tower” – referring to this finest tower in the land, Huaye Xiang Tower.

 

As it was Prince Ning’s domain, they dared not ascend without permission. After pausing briefly below, the group dispersed. However, a crowd had gathered in front of the tower, surrounding something.

 

Zheng Yang, ever curious, pushed through the crowd. Following his lead, Su Cen and the others saw one man forcefully punch another to the ground.

 

Su Cen raised an eyebrow, amazed at such boldness on Prince Ning’s grounds.

 

The beaten man, no pushover himself, leapt up and began brawling with his attacker despite others’ attempts to intervene.

 

Both were pampered young nobles, their fighting clumsy but fierce. They exchanged blows, tearing their fine silks to shreds, all dignity forgotten.

 

Some onlookers even egged them on, adding fuel to the fire.

 

Zheng Yang asked a spectator what was happening. The man, initially reluctant, eagerly explained upon recognizing Zheng Yang’s status.

 

The aggressor was Huang Mian, eldest son of a Ministry of Revenue official. The other was Song Fan, young lord of the Marquis of Ding’an. Their families were once close, even arranging a marriage between Song Fan and Huang’s sister, Huang Wan’er. But Song Fan was a wastrel, known for his philandering. Recently, rumors spread that Huang Wan’er had eloped with a servant. Song Fan then became even more unrestrained, loudly demanding to break the engagement and slandering the girl’s reputation. Huang Mian, enraged, had attacked him.

 

Su Cen smiled slightly, thinking Song Fan deserved the beating. He could seek to end the engagement properly, but publicly slandering a young woman’s reputation was indeed too much.

 

“Shameless libertine! I’d like to see who in Chang’an would still marry—” Song Fan’s tirade was cut short by another punch to his nose. Blood gushing, he lunged at his attacker: “I’ll finish you!”

 

Bystanders found the scene distasteful. Su Cen tugged at Zheng Yang, “Make them stop. It’ll be hard to explain if the Prince returns.”

 

Zheng Yang, jolted from his excitement, realized the trouble bloody noses in Xingqing Palace could cause. He quickly called guards to separate the fighters, who continued hurling insults even apart.

 

Frowning, Zheng Yang said, “Enough! Take it outside Xingqing Palace if you must. I won’t care if you kill each other out there.”

 

As he prepared to dismiss everyone, a voice behind them said: “Quite lively here.”

 

Instantly, all fell silent, frozen in place.

 

Su Cen recovered first, kneeling: “Your Highness, ten thousand years!”

 

Others followed suit, kneeling and echoing the greeting.

 

The newcomer, in formal court robes, approached casually yet with an overwhelming presence that kept heads bowed.

 

Li Shi surveyed the mess, smirking: “What’s this performance?”

 

Met with silence, he called out: “Zheng Yang.”

 

Zheng Yang shuddered, a chill gripping his heart. He tugged at Su Cen’s robe, whispering: “Brother Su, help me.”

 

Su Cen was torn. He could see Li Shi was truly angry, and the calmer he appeared, the more furious he was. Who would dare speak up now?

 

As the kneeling continued, the pebbled ground painfully digging into their legs, Zheng Yang began to tremble—whether from pain or fear was unclear. Su Cen sighed quietly, mentally noting to settle this debt with Zheng Yang later.

 

Su Cen straightened up, cupping his hands: “It’s the New Year, Your Highness. We’ve come to offer our respects. May Your Highness enjoy longevity and eternal blessings.”

 

Others quickly followed suit: “May Your Highness enjoy longevity and eternal blessings.”

 

Surely he wouldn’t turn away New Year’s well-wishers?

 

Li Shi’s eyes narrowed slightly at Su Cen’s position. After a moment, he waved his hand, “Rise.”

 

Everyone stood, relieved. Then the Prince continued: “Since you’ve paid your respects, you may leave.”

 

So they were being dismissed after all.

 

With Prince Ning’s return, they couldn’t stay anyway. Everyone bowed and began to withdraw.

 

Su Cen planned to leave with the crowd and find a way to sneak back later. But after just two steps, Li Shi said: “Zheng Yang, stay. Su Cen, you too.”

 

Zheng Yang, who had hoped to escape: “…”

 

Once everyone else had left, Zheng Yang cautiously approached. “Un-Uncle, why are you back early? Weren’t you dining with the young emperor?”

 

Li Shi snorted, “I finished and returned. Has Xingqing Palace become the Zheng family property?”

 

Zheng Yang was on the verge of tears: “Uncle, I truly didn’t mean to…”

 

Li Shi: “Didn’t you invite these people?”

 

“…”

 

“Didn’t you arrange all this?”

 

“…”

 

“Didn’t you accept gifts and send out invitations?”

 

“…”

 

Li Shi called Qi Lin over. “Take him to the training grounds for some discipline. Tell Zheng Qin if he wants his son back, he can come get him himself.”

 

The color drained from Zheng Yang’s face.

 

Zheng Yang knew the training grounds were filled with hardened warriors from the Tudu Three Guards and loyal retainers who had faced death with his uncle. These men had killed more people than meals Zheng Yang had eaten, with arms thicker than his thighs. His scrawny limbs would likely snap at their slightest touch.

 

Moreover, requiring his father to retrieve him personally was troubling. His father valued face above all else – he’d sooner have another son than suffer embarrassment.

 

Seeing no way out, Zheng Yang could only desperately signal Su Cen with his eyes.

 

Lord Su pretended not to notice.

 

Only after Qi Lin led Zheng Yang away did Su Cen look up. Before Li Shi could speak, he hastily explained: “I didn’t invite these people or arrange this. I accepted no gifts nor sent invitations. Please investigate clearly, Your Highness.”

 

Li Shi’s lips curled slightly: “As the master of this household, you allowed outsiders to create chaos. What punishment does that deserve?”

 

Su Cen was stunned: “Master… of the household?”

 

“Then your punishment shall be…” Li Shi extended his hand with its signet ring towards Su Cen, “to attend me closely, not leaving my side for a moment.”

 

For three days, Zheng Qin indeed did not appear. Trapped in Xingqing Palace, Zheng Yang’s pleas went unanswered. After each day’s training, he’d run to Su Cen’s room begging for help applying medicine. His body covered in bruises, his nightly wails echoed through Su Cen’s quarters. Su Cen thought it fortunate Li Shi had no children, imagining how they might suffer.

 

On the fourth day, Feng Yiming arrived instead of Zheng Qin.

 

Duke Ying Zheng Qin had declared his son a lost cause, but Princess Taining thought he could still be salvaged. Too afraid to come himself, he sent Feng Yiming with generous gifts, hoping Li Shi would show leniency for his nephew’s sake, given their childhood bond.

 

Li Shi had never intended to turn Zheng Yang into a martial arts master. His anger had subsided, and he was tired of the nightly wailing. He took the opportunity to do a favor, allowing Feng Yiming to take Zheng Yang away.

 

Teary-eyed, Zheng Yang left with Feng Yiming, vowing to reform and focus on his duties. However, as soon as they exited Xingqing Palace, he immediately gathered friends and headed for the red-light district.

 

Su Cen didn’t return home until halfway through the first lunar month. Firstly, with court sessions resuming, frequent comings and goings from Xingqing Palace might spark gossip. Secondly, he could no longer endure Li Shi’s terrifying stamina.

 

With no court duties, Prince Ning had thrown himself entirely into Su Cen. Su Cen realized their previous encounters had been mere child’s play. His days and nights were reversed, only falling into exhausted sleep at dawn. Every surface bore traces of their passion. Eventually, Su Cen’s legs would tremble at the mere sight of Li Shi’s intense gaze.

 

When aroused, Li Shi was like a wild beast – heedless of time or place, insatiable until Su Cen was half-dead from exhaustion. Su Cen feared if he didn’t leave soon, he’d be completely devoured.

 

Li Shi didn’t object when Su Cen proposed leaving, but that night he was particularly fierce. The next day, Su Cen almost couldn’t walk.

 

Ah-Fu had grown accustomed to Su Cen’s frequent absences, keeping the household in perfect order. Upon returning, Su Cen felt as if he’d only just left, as though his time at Xingqing Palace had been an absurd dream.

 

Indeed, it was like a dream where Li Shi treated him as another master of Xingqing Palace, fulfilling that ridiculous wedding night. But Su Cen knew such dreams were poisonous – one couldn’t escape without dire consequences. Feng Yiming was a cautionary tale. So while still clear-headed, Su Cen had to sever ties to save himself.

 

Snapping back to reality, Su Cen asked if anything had happened at home. Ah-Fu mentioned two visitors a few days prior, seemingly young masters from wealthy families.

 

“I told them you were visiting your hometown, young master. I asked if they had any message to pass on, but they said nothing and left without leaving their names.”

 

Su Cen nodded, “If they didn’t say, it probably wasn’t important. If it were, they’d return. Don’t worry about it.”

 

A-Fu nodded and went to prepare a welcome meal for Su Cen.

 

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