PCA Chapter 186

A few days later, the edict transferring Cui Hao was indeed issued, demoting him to Huizhou as a Sima.

 

The edict came urgently, and Huizhou was far away, so Cui Hao had to pack overnight and set out for his post the next day.

 

On the day of departure, those seeing him off at the city gate, besides Liu Cheng, included Su Cen and Zheng Yang.

 

The three had once been in the same tier of examination graduates, had dined at the Qinglin Banquet together, had been granted imperial parades together, riding tall horses with unrivaled glory. Just because they chose different stances at the Qinglin Banquet, their current circumstances were now vastly different.

 

Cui Hao remembered how Su Cen’s essay on healing the country had shocked the entire court—he dared to say what others didn’t dare say, dared to do what others didn’t dare do. He was convinced Su Cen deserved to be ranked above him.

 

But towards Zheng Yang, Cui Hao had always harbored hostility, always feeling that he had stolen his second place. They had openly and secretly competed in court for over a year, yet in the end, it was his mortal enemy who came to see him off.

 

“I’ve heard Lingnan has many miasmas. Here are some herbs to repel insects and flies, along with some calming incense to aid sleep.” Su Cen handed a small package to Cui Hao. “The journey to Huizhou is long. Take care of yourself, Brother Cui.”

 

Cui Hao accepted it and passed it to a servant beside him, then cupped his hands toward Su Cen: “Thank you.”

 

Zheng Yang offered a food box, “These are snacks my household cook made overnight. They’ll keep well, so take them for your journey.”

 

Cui Hao accepted this too and expressed his thanks. Though the three had stood on different sides in the past and had occasionally been at odds in court, they were all upright individuals. Now that he had fallen on hard times, his political opponents hadn’t kicked him while he was down; instead, it was his own people who had stepped on him again and again.

 

Cui Hao, feeling emotional, exchanged a few more courtesies. As the time approached, he gradually fell silent, looking past Su Cen and Zheng Yang to Liu Cheng.

 

This person had come to see him off today but hadn’t said a word or given him anything, remaining aloof from everyone like an uninvolved bystander.

 

Seeing Cui Hao looking at him, Liu Cheng finally cleared his throat and said stiffly: “Have a good journey.”

 

Cui Hao straightened his sleeves and gave him a deep bow. As he lowered his head, his eyes suddenly moistened.

 

One misstep, all because he had initially stood with the wrong side. But if given the choice again, he would still unhesitatingly sit beside Liu Cheng.

 

At the Qinglin Banquet, Prime Minister Liu, with his jade-like countenance and outstanding spirit, had captured his heart at first sight.

 

Zheng Yang said: “Brother Cui, you’re just experiencing a run of bad luck that led to this misfortune. When His Majesty’s favor returns in the future, he will surely summon you back. If I have the opportunity, I’ll mention you to His Majesty. I won’t forget you.”

 

Su Cen also said: “Huizhou is plagued with diseases, mostly inhabited by uncivilized peoples with insufficient education. Brother Cui, be careful in everything you do. If you have the opportunity to educate the barbarians and reform local customs, it would be a meritorious deed that could serve as capital for your return to court.”

 

Cui Hao straightened up and smiled at Su Cen and Zheng Yang. These two were thinking of his welfare; he could tell good from bad. Looking at them but speaking to Liu Cheng, he said:

 

“I will definitely return.”

 

With those words, he left without lingering, turning to board the carriage and departing without looking back.

 

After the carriage had gone about a hundred paces, a wrinkled hand gently rested on Cui Hao’s. “Hao’er?”

 

Cui Hao came back to himself and responded, “Mother.”

 

The elderly woman tremblingly fumbled in her bosom and took out an object, handing it to Cui Hao. “Someone just slipped this to me. I can’t see well, what is this?”

 

Cui Hao took it, examined it briefly, and froze in place.

 

It was an exquisitely carved jade pendant, circular in shape with rope pattern, crystal clear, delicate, and smooth.

 

This was the jade Liu Cheng had worn for years.

 

Liu Cheng, courtesy name Zhongpei, was to him a heaven-sent treasure. He cherished and valued him, wanting nothing more than to place him in his heart, hold him in his palm, and worship him for a lifetime.

 

With this departure, he didn’t know when he would return. From now on, they would be separated by thousands of miles. With the court in chaos, no one knew what tomorrow would bring. By sending him this jade, Liu Cheng was telling him that seeing the jade was like seeing the person, a testament to their sincere hearts.

 

On the increasingly distant carriage, the young man who had maintained his composure all day finally bowed his head, holding the jade pendant and weeping uncontrollably.

 

Only after Cui Hao’s carriage was out of sight did Zheng Yang withdraw his gaze and say to Su Cen: “Let’s go back.”

 

Su Cen nodded. As they walked a few steps away, they saw that Liu Cheng was still standing in place. Just as they were wondering whether to offer some words of comfort, Liu Cheng suddenly turned around and asked Su Cen: “Are you returning to the Dali Temple?”

 

Su Cen was taken aback but nodded, “Yes.”

 

“That’s perfect.” Liu Cheng withdrew his gaze from the distance and said to Su Cen: “I’ll go with you.”

 

Though Liu Cheng’s household had fallen on hard times, a skinny camel is still larger than a horse. Liu Cheng had arrived in a carriage and offered to give Su Cen a ride. Unable to refuse, Su Cen got in.

 

They rode in silence, each sitting on one side of the carriage, lost in their own thoughts, without any incidents.

 

Upon reaching the Dali Temple, Liu Cheng instructed his carriage to return first, then followed Su Cen inside.

 

The Dali Temple was as calm as ever. Xue Chengzhen was busy conducting court sessions and administering punishments, Zhang Jun was practicing tai chi in the back courtyard, and Ning Santong had locked himself in the morgue examining bodies.

 

Liu Cheng’s arrival immediately caused a stir.

 

The last time Prime Minister Liu came, everyone in the Dali Temple had been on edge, fearing that if he frowned, he might level their temple. Now, with this Prime Minister at the center of a court whirlpool, the number of onlookers increased rather than decreased. The wary gazes now carried an element of prying. It was rumored that although Liu Cheng still held the position of Prime Minister, without the Empress Dowager as his backing, he was already a figurehead in name only. A tiger with its teeth pulled has no awe-inspiring authority, and opportunists were stirring, wanting to test the waters.

 

Zhang Jun, however, maintained his consistent principle: the affairs of the living were not his concern. He still treated Liu Cheng with courtesy, respectfully inviting him to take a seat.

 

But Liu Cheng stood in the hall, looking around calmly, and said: “Lord Zhang, I am here to report a case.”

 

Zhang Jun was taken aback, suddenly realizing what Liu Cheng was going to say, and hurriedly said: “If Prime Minister Liu has any matter, you can tell me in the inner hall. It’s too crowded and noisy here, and I wouldn’t want to disturb the Prime Minister’s peace.”

 

Liu Cheng frowned and swept his gaze around, “Is this how the Dali Temple responds to someone reporting a case?”

 

Zhang Jun was choked for words. He looked at Liu Cheng intently, until he understood the resolve in his eyes, then silently sighed in his heart and turned to instruct: “Prepare for court session.”

 

In the main hall of the Dali Temple, Liu Cheng specifically requested Su Cen to preside over the case, with Zhang Jun listening on the side. Apart from Liu Cheng standing in the hall and a few yamen runners, several layers of people surrounded the hall inside and out, all waiting to see what drama this Prime Minister was going to create.

 

Su Cen didn’t personally adjudicate many cases, but he had attended several court sessions with Xue Chengzhen. Seeing that the atmosphere was appropriate, he struck the judgment wood: “Who stands below the hall, and what case do you report?”

 

For Liu Cheng, standing in the main hall of the Dali Temple was a first. After a slight hesitation, he said: “I am Liu Cheng, a native of Youzhou, reporting a murder case.”

 

Su Cen inwardly already knew what he was going to say and asked: “What murder case?”

 

“Twelve years ago, the scholar Tian Pingzhi from Liuzhou came to the capital for the imperial examinations but died in the examination hall. He didn’t die suddenly; he was poisoned.”

 

The whole court was in an uproar.

 

Only Su Cen’s eyes narrowed slightly, “You say he was poisoned. Then who administered the poison? What poison was it? And why was he poisoned?”

 

Liu Cheng stood below, seeming momentarily lost in thought. As the surrounding noise gradually rose, Su Cen tapped the judgment wood to silence the voices, but he didn’t urge Liu Cheng to speak, allowing him to stand silently without saying a word.

 

After what seemed like the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Liu Cheng finally opened his mouth.

 

“I killed him.”

 

 

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