PCA Chapter 205

It was past noon when Zheng Yang came over again. As soon as he entered the courtyard gate, he saw Su Cen and Qu Ling’er each lying on a reclining chair in the same posture with the same expression, lying back in the center of the courtyard with their eyes closed, resting.

 

The winter sun no longer had the intimidating power of summer, gently falling on Su Cen’s face, softening some of his usual sharpness and adding a jade-like luster. Zheng Yang was momentarily dazzled, and two phrases spontaneously jumped into his mind—”elegant as orchid and jade tree” and “dragon bearing and phoenix grace.”

 

Hearing footsteps, Su Cen slightly opened his eyes. Seeing who it was, he immediately sat up from the reclining chair and said to the person: “You finally came.”

 

Only then did Zheng Yang come to his senses, smiled and said: “Did I disturb you two?”

 

Su Cen shook his head to indicate it was fine, stood up and led Zheng Yang inside: “Let’s talk inside.”

 

Qu Ling’er also wanted to get up, but Su Cen pointed at him: “Keep sunbathing. Don’t come in until you’ve aired out that stale smell.”

 

Qu Ling’er pouted and had to reluctantly lie back down, thinking to himself how he could be stale when even his Brother Qi didn’t mind him!

 

The two entered the room. Su Cen closed the door and pressed the person into a chair, staring at Zheng Yang and asking: “Earlier at the prison gate there were too many people and mixed voices, so you didn’t want to talk. Now you should tell me what exactly happened, right? Why was the scheduled execution suddenly stopped? What does this situation mean now? Has something happened at court?”

 

Zheng Yang smiled helplessly: “You’re asking so many questions at once—which one should I answer first?”

 

“Those court ministers are all timid as mice. Having finally found someone willing to stand up and take the blame, they’d love to each take a bite out of me to prove their innocence. How could they possibly agree to release me?”

 

“So you know you’re the scapegoat?” Zheng Yang snorted lightly. “Taking other people’s troubles onto yourself, insisting on standing against everyone—people who died decades ago with no one caring, yet only a fool like you would rush to get involved.”

 

After a while, he sighed deeply: “It would be good if the Great Zhou had more fools like you.”

 

Su Cen lightly pressed his lips together, then continued asking: “How were Prime Minister Liu and Tian Pingzhi finally judged?”

 

Zheng Yang rolled his eyes, thinking this person was truly hopeless—just out of prison and still worrying about this mess. He said irritably: “Regarding Tian Pingzhi’s case, after investigation it was confirmed that chief examiner Zhang He, out of jealousy and using his official position, had carelessly taken a life. Zhang He was stripped of office and exiled to Chongzhou. The rest were demoted or had their salaries docked—not one person related to that year’s examination escaped. Prime Minister Liu died unjustly in prison, so his official rank was restored with ceremonial honors, he was granted the title of Pillar of State, posthumously named Wengong, and given a shrine in his hometown of Youzhou with annual sacrifices.”

 

Thinking Su Cen should be satisfied now, when he looked over he saw the person’s brow still slightly furrowed. Zheng Yang couldn’t help but sit up straight: “You’re not still thinking about pursuing the imperial family’s responsibility, are you? Being able to do this much is already very difficult. What you mentioned could never be made public—not only would it fail to vindicate Prime Minister Liu, but the whole realm would be in chaos.”

 

“I didn’t say I was dissatisfied,” Su Cen gently shook his head. “I just can’t understand why they agreed to vindicate Prime Minister Liu and Tian Pingzhi yet released me. I don’t think they could be so magnanimous, unless the Prince he…”

 

Just as he finished speaking, Qu Ling’er suddenly burst through the door. Su Cen frowned slightly and turned back: “Didn’t I tell you not to come in?”

 

Qu Ling’er pointed somewhat awkwardly toward the door: “Brother Su, someone’s here.”

 

It was an unfamiliar face—from his dress and appearance, a palace eunuch holding a foot-long yellow silk scroll. Seeing Su Cen come out, he shouted “Su Cen receive the edict” with his voice raised, then held his nostrils to the sky with an air of supreme arrogance.

 

Su Cen and Zheng Yang exchanged glances before both kneeling down. The eunuch announcing the edict arrogantly unfolded the imperial edict and read in an affected voice: “Criminal subject Su Cen disregarded law and propriety, ignored imperial grace, spoke wildly in the great hall, slandered the former emperor, disturbed people’s hearts, and aroused the anger of all ministers—his crimes are unpardonable. But I, mindful of the former emperor’s benevolence and upholding the ancestors’ will, considering his merit in welcoming back the descendant of Chongde, his merits and faults offset each other. He is stripped of office and reduced to commoner status, never to be employed again. By imperial decree.”

 

Before the edict was finished reading, Su Cen could no longer kneel steadily. What did “disregarding law and propriety” mean? What did “speaking wildly” mean? What did “merit in welcoming back the descendant of Chongde” mean?! Every sentence hit his sore spots. This edict wasn’t issued by Li Shi, nor did it seem like the young emperor’s—it seemed deliberately meant to mock him. He tried several times to stand up but was forcibly pulled back down by Zheng Yang, until his clothes were nearly torn apart before his knees finally touched the ground.

 

After finishing the edict, the eunuch looked down with a meaningful smile: “Su Cen, receive the edict and give thanks.”

 

Su Cen’s lips were tightly closed, saying nothing.

 

“Stop making things difficult for Uncle anymore!” Zheng Yang, with his head buried to the ground, almost bit out each word, his jaw rigid, teeth clenched, his hand gripping Su Cen’s so tightly his knuckles were white.

 

Su Cen’s anger suddenly dissipated completely. His hands clawed hard at the ground but caught nothing, finally opening helplessly with palms up: “I receive the edict and give thanks.”

 

Even after the eunuch swaggered away, Su Cen remained kneeling and refused to get up. Zheng Yang tried to take the yellow silk from Su Cen’s hands, but after several attempts found that Su Cen was gripping it tightly and wouldn’t let go.

 

He was barely in his twenties, in the prime of life, a top scholar talent, yet told he would “never be employed again”—this was probably more painful than being sentenced to death on the spot. Zheng Yang also felt uncomfortable and reached out to pull Su Cen up, but was shaken off.

 

“What does ‘the descendant of Chongde returning to court’ mean?” Su Cen looked up at Zheng Yang in a daze. “Is this how I got out? Trading me for Li Sheng’s return to court? Don’t you know he’ll harm the Great Zhou’s realm and harm the Prince?!”

 

“You underestimate yourself too much,” Zheng Yang suddenly smiled, though his eye sockets were frighteningly red, looking worse than crying. “Do you think you’re only worth Li Sheng returning to court?”

 

Zheng Yang looked up and pressed his lips hard, forcing back the tears in his eyes. After a long while, he said: “To save you… Uncle gave up half of his regency powers.”

 

Imperial Palace Inner Court, Qingning Palace In broad daylight, both doors were tightly closed. The eunuchs and palace maids were kept far away by the head eunuch and not allowed to approach, yet they could still hear the sounds of tables being overturned and bowls being smashed inside.

 

Li Sheng tilted his head to dodge a jade glass cup flying across the room. The sharp edges grazed past his face without causing any harm. Li Sheng watched the furious person before him with ease, observing as the exquisitely made-up face gradually crumbled. While dealing with various flying objects, he still had the leisure to comment—even the most noble and refined people, when cursing, were no different from market women.

 

“You said that as long as Liu Cheng was pushed forward, this matter couldn’t be traced back to the former emperor, yet you personally killed Liu Cheng and forced Su Cen to investigate what happened back then!” Seeing she still couldn’t hit him, Empress Dowager Chu pointed her long fingernails directly at his forehead. “This is what you called the former emperor entrusting you with important tasks, saying you would help Zhuo’er secure the realm? You deceived me, you actually dared to deceive me!”

 

Li Sheng raised his hand to push away the finger trying to poke into his eyeball, smiled lightly and said: “You asked me to help you deal with Li Shi, and I did. Li Shi has already given up half his regency powers and can no longer threaten your son’s throne. What more are you dissatisfied with?”

 

“But you didn’t say you were a descendant of Chongde, you didn’t say this half of the regency would end up in your hands!” Empress Dowager Chu was furious, raising her hand to her chest to calm herself before barely stabilizing, almost fainting from anger. Finally, she said through gritted teeth: “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. That dragon throne belongs to my Zhuo’er. Your father didn’t even come close to sitting on it, so don’t you even think about it!”

 

Li Sheng’s gaze suddenly turned sharp. Empress Dowager Chu instantly felt chilled throughout her body, awkwardly closing her mouth. Looking up, she unconsciously stepped back two paces, trembling somewhat uncontrollably.

 

Those eyes were sharp and bloodthirsty, like a beast, more like a snake, coldly crawling up along one’s limbs and bones, flicking its tongue and waiting for the opportunity to strike fatally.

 

Empress Dowager Chu suddenly thought of Li Shi.

 

It had to be said, these two were very similar, especially these eyes. Compared to the former emperor, these two seemed more like real brothers. She had always feared Li Shi’s eyes—deep and quiet, unfathomable—which is why she had classified Li Shi as an enemy. Since she couldn’t understand him, she assumed guilt.

 

Only today did she know what those eyes looked like when truly showing hostility. It turned out that all along, she had been the one jumping around like a clown, while Li Shi fundamentally disdained to fight with her.

 

But Li Sheng wasn’t Li Shi. There was something in these eyes—ruthlessness, solitary fierceness, naked desire.

 

What if Li Sheng didn’t stop here… No, Li Sheng definitely wouldn’t stop here. Having schemed so painstakingly for so long and set up such a grand scheme, how could he possibly stop at sharing regency with Li Shi?

 

“Someone, someone!” Empress Dowager Chu called out with a wave of her sleeve.

 

A moment later, the head eunuch cautiously poked his head in: “What are the Empress Dowager’s instructions?”

 

“This person is a treacherous rebel! He has the ambitions of a wolf!” Empress Dowager Chu pointed at Li Sheng. “Call the Imperial Guards over, arrest him, and execute him on the spot!”

 

The bedchamber fell quiet. The head eunuch didn’t leave, and Li Sheng didn’t move. The atmosphere became eerily strange.

 

After a moment, Li Sheng chuckled softly: “The wind was strong last night, your master caught a cold. Serve her to rest early.”

 

The head eunuch lowered his eyes, entered and locked the door behind him, softly replying: “Yes.”

 

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