PCA Chapter 231

Su Cen’s mind went blank for a moment. After the shock and joy, his heart beat erratically. All words crowded in his throat, but for a moment he didn’t know what to say.

 

Li Shi, however, seemed to have already planned everything, nodding lightly: “Rise.”

 

Only then did Qi Lin lead the large group to stand up. These wolf guards who never blinked even on life-and-death battlefields rarely had misty vapor in their eyes, but they couldn’t directly show it in front of Li Shi, so they held it in until their eye sockets turned red.

 

After the initial surprise and joy, Su Cen finally found his voice and asked excitedly: “How did you… how did you…”

 

When he had blown up Xingqing Palace, he left in such panic and confusion, his mind unable to think of anything else, that he had departed with desperate determination on a single breath. As for the problems left behind, he truly had neither the time nor ability to consider them.

 

Like the Three Guards of Tuduo, like Qu Ling’er—he dared not think how Li Sheng would vent his anger on these people after discovering he had been played.

 

Qi Lin nodded to Su Cen: “It was Ling’er who saved us.”

 

“Ling’er, he…” Su Cen stepped forward. “How is Ling’er?”

 

“He’s well,” Qi Lin thought of that person who always saw him to the door and obediently waited for his return, his gaze carrying some gentle undertones. “He’s been with us all along. Knowing you’ve returned, he’s probably crying again.”

 

Su Cen keenly caught one word: “Again?”

 

Qu Ling’er’s master, Han Qi, former head of the Secret Door’s Injury Gate and Shock Gate, had originally been General Yunwei who followed Crown Prince Chongde. Later he escorted Li Sheng from the capital, watched over his upbringing, and helped Li Sheng establish the Secret Door. But he hadn’t expected Li Sheng’s ambition to expand to such an extent. Finally, thinking of the common people, he defected from the Secret Door. The prison break operation severely damaged his vitality, and combined with his disillusionment, he was bedridden for a long time and ultimately couldn’t hold on until spring returned to the earth. Before dying, he passed the secret methods for breaking the Secret Door to Qu Ling’er and Han Shu, saying it was to atone for his crimes, but also leaving them something to depend on for survival.

 

These events all happened after Li Shi left the capital. It would take quite some time to explain, so Qi Lin could only shake his head: “It’s a long story.”

 

Wuchi Ha finally couldn’t hold back. The nine-foot-tall giant stepped forward, his mouth trembling as he nearly cried: “Master, you’ve suffered. You’ve even lost weight…”

 

Su Cen, who had just been immersed in the joy of reunion, suddenly darkened, his eyes narrowing: “Where has he lost weight?”

 

Along this journey, he had served Li Shi like a lord, holding him in his hands for fear of dropping him, keeping him in his mouth for fear of melting him. Even when he had to perform on the streets, he never let Li Shi go hungry, and at night he even provided bed-warming services. He was close to curing Li Shi’s years-long insomnia. Afraid this regent prince was used to having everything done for him, Su Cen had practiced his serving skills to perfection along the way. Anyone might have suffered, but this lord hadn’t suffered at all.

 

Wuchi Ha didn’t know he had lit a fuse, still happily patting his chest: “It’s okay, from now on, I’ll serve!”

 

The little fox’s sharp tongue was about to show, and he looked ready to argue with the man.

 

Li Shi smiled lightly, understanding the situation, and stopped him, saying to Wuchi Ha: “Go do what you need to do. I don’t need you to serve me.”

 

The big fellow looked at Li Shi pitifully, not understanding what he had done wrong for a long time. After holding it in, he finally managed: “Good thing you’re okay, Master. Good thing you came back.”

 

With that sentence, everyone fell silent.

 

They had originally thought that battle before the New Year was a final parting. Li Shi’s decision was something they could only obey, even if it meant going to their deaths.

 

Thank goodness there was someone who dared to go against the wind, turn the tide when it was about to fall, and forcibly blast out that thread of hope.

 

Qi Lin led the large group to kneel down again, but this time facing Su Cen. The group held their swords and bowed their heads: “Thank you, Young Master Su!”

 

The originally aggressive little fox was startled by this formation and didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

 

Li Shi felt slightly moved. When he had brought this group of Turkic people back from the barbarian lands, they had suddenly come from the blood-forged battlefield to the gentle and luxurious Chang’an. Though they didn’t say it aloud, their wolf nature made them look down on those pampered nobles in Chang’an who hadn’t even seen wind and sand.

 

Besides himself, Su Cen was the only person who could make this group willingly kneel down.

 

Unfortunately, the person in question couldn’t accept such honor, looking at Li Shi with a panicked expression, rarely showing such confusion in his features.

 

Finally, Li Shi stepped in to resolve the situation: “Alright, this isn’t a place to talk. Let’s find somewhere to settle down first.”

 

Qi Lin led the way into what seemed like an ordinary small courtyard, but inside was a different world entirely. The decoration and furnishings appeared ordinary, but the details were all exquisitely carved, emanating a subtle and ancient atmosphere.

 

The first to come out to greet them was Qu Ling’er. Before he could say “Brother Qi,” he was startled into a quail on the spot.

 

Fortunately, Su Cen was prepared. He smiled at the person: “What, you only recognize your Brother Qi but don’t recognize your Brother Su anymore?”

 

The people in the room who heard the commotion came out, and unsurprisingly became the same type of quail as Qu Ling’er, mouths agape for a long while without saying a word.

 

Qu Ling’er came to his senses, his eyes instantly reddening. He stepped forward and hugged Su Cen tightly, refusing to let go.

 

They had been separated for quite a while—he hadn’t seen Su Cen for over a year.

 

“Alright,” Su Cen patted Qu Ling’er’s back under the dual pressure from Li Shi and Qi Lin, smiling helplessly. “You’re going to break my old back.”

 

Qu Ling’er sniffled and released him: “The back issue isn’t my fault.”

 

Su Cen: “…”

 

When exactly had his pure and innocent little white flower become so corrupted?

 

After comforting Qu Ling’er, Su Cen nodded to the person in front: “Brother Ning.”

 

Ning Santong, who had been standing outside the door, also came to his senses now. He returned Su Cen’s smile, then straightened his clothes and respectfully bowed to Li Shi: “Greetings, Your Highness.”

 

Li Shi calmly accepted the formal greeting, adopting an inspecting posture as he looked around and asked: “Is this place yours?”

 

“This is a property registered under the Ning residence steward’s name. It’s rather modest for receiving Your Highness, but currently it’s the only place that won’t be discovered. I hope Your Highness will forgive us.”

 

“You’ve been thoughtful.” Li Shi slowly stepped forward, but after taking two steps, he stopped and looked back at Su Cen.

 

During their earlier exile, there had been no prince or lord—the two had walked side by side. Now, approaching Chang’an and in front of everyone, Su Cen had to pick up the old rules, consciously falling two steps behind Li Shi to show respect.

 

Li Shi waited two steps without seeing anyone follow, then helplessly reached out to pull Su Cen along, only continuing forward after pulling him to walk alongside him.

 

Su Cen’s fingertips were slightly warm. He tried to pull away several times but couldn’t, so he could only let Li Shi lead him forward. Upon entering the inner room, he sat down right next to Li Shi.

 

As soon as they sat down, they got straight to business. Li Shi directly asked: “What’s the current situation in the city?”

 

Ning Santong pressed his lips lightly: “Chang’an has been under lockdown for three days.”

 

Li Shi’s brow furrowed slightly, and Su Cen had already asked first: “Lockdown? What kind of lockdown?”

 

“Half a month ago, when Empress Dowager Chu’s mourning period ended, the court had already divided into factions. Li Sheng and the young emperor governed separately from Taiji Palace and Daming Palace respectively. Chang’an was already in chaos then,” Qi Lin said. “Three days ago, all twelve gates of Chang’an suddenly closed. No one is allowed in or out, and troops from various Zhichong Prefectures in the capital region have gathered outside Chang’an. The entire city is now a dead city with no entry or exit. Fortunately, we met Young Master Ning San who got us out at the last moment, otherwise we probably still wouldn’t have been able to see you, Master.”

 

Ning Santong waved his hand matter-of-factly: “No need for courtesy. This is what our Ning family does.”

 

Li Shi smiled coldly: “Divided court governance—what an achievement.”

 

Su Cen quickly advised: “You can’t blame the young emperor entirely. Under circumstances where neither you nor Empress Dowager Chu were by his side, it wasn’t easy for him to persist until now.”

 

Qi Lin continued: “Chen Ling climbed over the wall to enter the city and gather intelligence the night before last. He still hasn’t returned.”

 

Just then, there was suddenly a commotion outside the courtyard gate—a “thud” as if something had hit the door panel. Everyone’s spirits were lifted. After a moment of stunned silence, Ning Santong was the first to stand up: “I’ll go take a look.”

 

The room gradually fell silent after Ning Santong left. Su Cen quietly observed Li Shi’s expression. Although Prince Ning maintained his composed demeanor of remaining calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, Su Cen knew in his heart that he was worried about the young emperor’s safety.

 

Chang’an had been under lockdown for three days. No one knew what the situation inside was really like, but it could be imagined that if the young emperor wanted to welcome Prince Ning back to court, it certainly wasn’t a closed-door welcome. Li Sheng was the one who had closed the city gates, and his purpose was clear—nothing more than forcing the palace and committing treason, holding the emperor hostage to command the nobles. Though Li Shi spoke of his nephew as having “no achievement,” the anxiety in his eyes was genuine.

 

Su Cen quietly reached out to cover Li Shi’s large hands, saying nothing, but clearly feeling the prominent knuckles on those hands gradually becoming gentler in his palm.

 

The door was suddenly pushed open from outside, and Ning Santong stepped in, carrying a half-grown child in his arms.

 

Qi Lin stood at the doorway. Seeing the child’s pale complexion, he was immediately alarmed: “Chen Ling!”

 

Han Shu and Qing Chen followed closely behind: “We found him in the Yongding River in the suburbs. When we discovered him, he had already been soaking in the river all night.”

 

Qi Lin took Chen Ling from Ning Santong’s arms. The youth-like person had a pale complexion, was shaking violently all over, and his thin lips had no color at all.

 

“I shouldn’t have let him go,” Qi Lin gently placed the person on the bed, his hands inexplicably trembling. “I should have stopped him…”

 

When Chen Ling had wanted to enter the city, he had relied on his appearance as a half-grown child to avoid suspicion. Qi Lin still remembered Chen Ling leaning against the door and joking with him before leaving, not saying he was going to investigate but claiming he would bring back pork knuckles from Shunfu Restaurant.

 

Ning Santong said: “All the good doctors are in Chang’an. This village only has a half-immortal who pretends to be mystical and knows some superficial medical skills.”

 

Li Shi said without hesitation: “Go find him.”

 

Ning Santong immediately instructed Xiao Hong to find Zhang the Half-Immortal at the village head, and had Wuchi Ha boil water. He himself moved closer to the bedside to first examine Chen Ling’s injuries. As soon as he opened the outer garments, he immediately gasped.

 

On that thin chest were two bone-deep external wounds that had been soaked white and turned outward by the cold river water. The area closest to the heart seemed to have been blocked by something, barely avoiding a fatal blow—otherwise the person couldn’t possibly have survived until now.

 

“It’s Chen Ling’s emei spike,” Qi Lin said.

 

Only then did everyone notice that Chen Ling’s emei spike, which he always carried, was missing—only a finger ring remained on his hand. That emei spike was made of refined steel, sharp enough to cut through hair, and incredibly sharp. What kind of skill would it take to shatter it with one strike?

 

After a long while, Qi Lin pressed his lips and said a name: “Song Fan.”

 

Su Cen unconsciously frowned. Indeed, among the masters he knew, Song Fan’s sword was the fastest.

 

“I’m a coroner who’s never worked on living people, but his injuries really can’t be delayed any longer.” Ning Santong hesitated for a moment with his hands outstretched, then gritted his teeth and went to work on the person who still had weak breathing.

 

Unexpectedly, just as his hands touched him, Chen Ling actually woke up on his own.

 

Those eyes first swept around without focus, then slowly fixed on one person. After a long while, that pale face actually reddened around the eyes first.

 

“Master…”

 

Li Shi stepped forward and patted those trembling hands that were trying to lift up: “It’s alright, it’s over now.”

 

Chen Ling nodded heavily, tears rolling down uncontrollably. Their backbone had returned—from now on they would never have to live in fear again. Those thick, suffocating dark nights were finally coming to an end.

 

“Master… listen to me…” Chen Ling’s breath was faint, and his chest felt like it would split open with every word he spoke. He swallowed some saliva before continuing: “Li Sheng… Li Sheng is going to rebel. He led people to surround Daming Palace… The young emperor and half the court ministers are inside… Prime Minister Wen and the Young Master are leading troops to resist, but they can’t hold out much longer… This subordinate… this subordinate is incompetent and couldn’t rescue the young emperor…”

 

“You did very well,” Li Shi’s eyes rarely showed some tenderness. “I’m back now. Leave the rest to me.”

 

Chen Ling blinked, and a line of clear tears fell. He could finally get a good night’s sleep.

 

Leaving Ning Santong and the newly arrived Zhang the Half-Immortal to care for Chen Ling, Li Shi led everyone out of the room. Just as they left the door, that bit of tenderness instantly vanished completely. His eyes were sharp, actually carrying some killing intent.

 

“Li Sheng surrounded Daming Palace?” Qi Lin said. “After planning for so long, he finally couldn’t hold back anymore.”

 

“I don’t think so,” Su Cen said. “On the contrary, I think Li Sheng was forced into desperation. He calculated that the Prince was about to return, so he struck first.”

 

Finally, he said to Li Shi: “He’s afraid of you.”

 

“Then he’s right to be afraid,” Li Shi’s eyes churned with thick black mist—a look Su Cen had never seen before. It belonged to the northern desert, to the battlefield—decisive and merciless, leaving nothing alive in its wake.

 

Qu Ling’er frowned: “But with just our people, never mind Daming Palace, we probably can’t even get through Chang’an’s city gates.”

 

“Who said anything about sneaking in,” Li Shi glanced sideways. “There are ready-made troops—why not use them?”

 

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