PCA Chapter 137

“Someone, go arrest Liang Fang!”

 

After walking a few steps, Su Cen added: “Qi Lin, protect these two children. Don’t let anyone harm them in the slightest.”

 

Qi Lin acknowledged the order. Su Cen hurried back, noticing the inquiring gazes of the people around him. He gradually slowed his pace, sighed, and turned back to say: “Arrest him quietly, just bring him to the Prince’s chambers.”

 

When Su Cen arrived, Li Shi was feeding fish.

 

Behind the residence was a large pond with several peacock guppies. The small fish with their deep blue large tails weren’t afraid of people and frequently surfaced, following Li Shi’s fingertips for food.

 

Qi Lin’s claim that not even a fly could enter the residence was no exaggeration. Every entrance and corner was guarded, with people stationed even in the corridors and trees. Yet they were all hidden so well that without careful searching, one wouldn’t notice them at all, not disturbing Prince Ning’s enjoyment of flowers and fish in the slightest.

 

Seeing Su Cen approach, Li Shi asked: “Such a commotion, what happened?”

 

“The witness is dead,” Su Cen said. “Liang Fang killed him.”

 

Li Shi’s hand paused momentarily, causing several small fish to open their mouths in anticipation. After a moment, he scattered more fish food and asked, “Is the evidence conclusive?”

 

“Someone saw it.” Su Cen pressed his lips together. “Huzi and Er Ya saw Liang Fang with Song Fan killing the yamen runner who escorted the official silver.”

 

Li Shi frowned slightly, tossed the remaining fish food into the pond, and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands. “If the evidence is conclusive, then arrest him.”

 

“I’ve already ordered it.”

 

Li Shi smiled, continuing to wipe his hands: “Then why are you coming to find me?”

 

Su Cen took the handkerchief from Li Shi’s hand and carefully wiped his palms and between his fingers until they were clean. He looked up with a smile: “Didn’t Prince say you would support me?”

 

“Lord Su is quite capable. Do you still need my support?”

 

Su Cen’s face reddened slightly: “I didn’t know before that he was your man.”

 

He had pressured the man in Li Shi’s presence, somewhat overstepping his bounds.

 

Li Shi raised an eyebrow: “How is he my man?”

 

“Wasn’t he sent to Xuzhou by you? You showed him favor, so naturally he’s your man.”

 

Li Shi snorted lightly: “That old man—I couldn’t bring myself to taste him.”

 

Su Cen: “…”

 

He had forgotten that Prince Ning had a unique definition of “his people.” To be considered one of his, one had to first share his bed; the rest were merely convenient tools.

 

Li Shi reached out to lift Su Cen’s chin, “What do you want me to support you with?”

 

The afternoon light was perfect, cicada songs distant, and fish swishing their tails. Su Cen’s eyes curved into a smile, taking on a bewitching appearance, “I’ll be responsible for getting confessions, you’ll handle the people of Xuzhou.”

 

Li Shi frowned as if considering this, his hand tightening to lift Su Cen’s chin higher, “Then I need to inspect the goods first.”

 

One hand had already reached Su Cen’s waist when they were interrupted by an ill-timed servant reporting that someone urgently needed to see Lord Su.

 

Li Shi’s brow furrowed, his tone brooking no interruption: “Tell him to wait.”

 

Su Cen had already seized the opportunity to escape, fixed his clothes, and glared at Li Shi with slight reproach, “I already said it was urgent.”

 

He cleared his throat and said to the servant: “Let the person in.”

 

Seeing their Prince nod, only then did the servant dare to withdraw. Shortly after, an official was led in, but they didn’t see the person they were supposed to arrest.

 

Su Cen suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

 

The official got straight to the point: “Liang Fang has fled.”

 

Su Cen asked three questions in succession: “How did he get the news? How did he escape? Which gate did he flee from?”

 

The official couldn’t answer any of the three questions: “Not clear, don’t know, not sure. When we went to arrest him, the person was already gone. We don’t know how the person disappeared.”

 

Su Cen paced back and forth a few times, “In such a short time, he couldn’t have gone far. Seal all gates of the temporary palace, he might not have left yet. Dispatch more people to search each hall and courtyard one by one, and ensure the safety of the people.” After thinking for a moment, he added: “Don’t make a big fuss, search secretly. Just say the Prince’s royal cat is missing, don’t alarm the people.”

 

The official accepted the order and withdrew.

 

Turning his head, Su Cen was met with Li Shi’s meaningful smile, “Since when does this Prince have a royal cat?”

 

Lord Su decided to sacrifice himself for the country: “Meow.”

 

As dusk fell, the officials who had gone out to search returned in groups, all unsurprisingly empty-handed. From when Liang Fang entered the temporary palace to when Su Cen sent people to arrest him, it was only about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. Su Cen couldn’t understand how a person could mysteriously disappear. Moreover, when Liang Fang left, Huzi and Er Ya had not yet come out, so there was no evidence yet pointing to Liang Fang as the murderer. How did he seem to know in advance that Su Cen was going to arrest him?

 

Before they could make sense of this matter, someone else came to report: Er Ya had fainted.

 

When Su Cen rushed over, a small room was already surrounded by many people. The doctor was checking the pulse, Huzi was peeking from behind, and Uncle Cao was sitting to the side smoking his pipe glumly.

 

“What happened?” Su Cen asked.

 

Everyone seeing Su Cen began to bow, but Su Cen waved his hand indicating no need for formalities. Huzi grabbed Su Cen’s sleeve, lifting a tear-streaked face: “Big brother, big brother, you must save Er Ya! She, she… if she dies, I won’t have a wife…”

 

Su Cen pulled him closer, “It’s alright, let’s hear what the doctor has to say first.”

 

The doctor withdrew his hand, stood up, bowed to Su Cen, and replied: “Nothing serious, just frightened. She’ll be fine after resting for a couple of days.”

 

Only then did everyone’s hearts settle.

 

Su Cen patted Huzi’s round head, “Feel better now? Your wife is still here. I’ll have some medicine prepared and sent over. She’ll be fine after drinking it.”

 

Just as he was about to turn around, he found that Huzi was still holding onto him tightly with no intention of letting go. Su Cen looked over and saw Huzi looking somewhat embarrassed at Er Ya, then at Uncle Cao, and finally carefully asking Su Cen: “Big brother, can we sleep with you tonight?”

 

Before Su Cen could speak, Uncle Cao knocked his pipe hard against the wall, “Nonsense! The official is extremely busy, how would he have time for you?”

 

Huzi immediately withdrew his hand and stepped back, not daring to make a sound.

 

Su Cen smiled gently: “It’s no trouble. If you want to come, then come. It’s just a matter of adding another bed.”

 

“These two children are just frightened,” Uncle Cao glared at Huzi, then turned to Su Cen and said, “I’ll stay with them tonight. The official need not worry.”

 

Su Cen looked at Huzi, then at Uncle Cao, and seeing that Huzi had lowered his head and dared not say anything, he could only nod, “Then I’ll trouble you with that.”

 

As night fell, the two of them went to bed together. Su Cen, his limbs weakened from their evening intimacy, had just started to feel drowsy when he suddenly opened his eyes in the darkness.

 

“Something’s not right.”

 

Prince Ning, awakened by this, frowned and pulled Su Cen closer, “Go to sleep.”

 

Su Cen was now wide awake and sat up abruptly: “I feel like Huzi’s look meant he had something to tell me.”

 

Li Shi’s eyes narrowed, clearly getting annoyed, but Su Cen remained oblivious. He put on his clothes while getting out of bed and called out orders: “Have Qi Lin bring the two children to my room.”

 

Turning back, he gave Li Shi a quick peck on the lips: “Sleep by yourself, I have something to do.” Then he rushed out.

 

Li Shi stared at the half-empty bed for quite some time before finally laughing in anger—such audacity, to leave Prince Ning alone in bed.

 

When Su Cen hurried back to his own room, Qi Lin had already brought the children.

 

Er Ya was still unconscious, placed on the bed, with Huzi keeping watch beside her, not moving an inch.

 

“Don’t worry, it’s all right now,” Su Cen patted Huzi’s shoulder, but then realized the child’s entire body was trembling slightly.

 

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(advanced chapters available on kofi)