PCA Chapter 234

A single Zhuque Avenue divided Chang’an into two halves, serving as the central axis connecting Mingde Gate and Taiji Palace.

 

Now Li Shi was camped at Mingde Gate while Li Sheng held court in Taiji Palace. Li Shi commanded heavy troops that could directly threaten the imperial city, while Li Sheng held the lives of half the court ministers and the young emperor. The two sides faced off yet mutually constrained each other, temporarily achieving a delicate balance.

 

Su Cen accompanied Li Shi standing atop Mingde Gate’s tower, overlooking the countless common people within Chang’an, suddenly remembering the Lantern Festival from two years ago.

 

That scene still felt like yesterday—flower lantern vendors, acrobatic performers, fire trees and silver flowers, extremely lively. He had even won a fox lantern at a riddle stall, though it was later forcibly taken by the person beside him.

 

In just two years, the Chang’an of eight streets and nine districts had become completely different.

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

Su Cen came back to his senses, turned to look at Li Shi who was also watching him, and smiled: “I’m wondering if Li Sheng patched up the hole I blew in Xingqing Palace, and whether any little thieves got in and stole the wine from your cellar. I also don’t know if Song Jiancheng’s orchids are still alive, or how tall the grass has grown in my residence in Changle Ward.”

 

Li Shi pulled him into his embrace and smiled: “You’re homesick.”

 

“Mm,” Su Cen nodded after thinking. Indeed, he was homesick. Looking at the myriad lights below the city, each one represented a hope, and there should have been one of his among them.

 

Su Cen looked up at Li Shi, seeing the light quietly flowing in those deep eyes, and asked in return: “What about you? What are you thinking?”

 

“Thinking of you.”

 

Su Cen was startled: “Thinking of me?”

 

Li Shi’s hand gently patted Su Cen’s shoulder intermittently: “You did right that day. Li Sheng is completely mad—this day was bound to come sooner or later. If you hadn’t held me back then, they would be facing all this alone today.”

 

“Are you afraid I’ll be moved by the scene and blame myself for today’s situation?” Su Cen looked up at Li Shi with a hint of a smile, his eyes flowing with brilliance. “Don’t worry, about this matter, I have no regrets at all. Even if it happened ten times, a hundred times, I would still take you away.”

 

Night fell, and a deep silence enveloped Chang’an. The seemingly delicate balance was broken by one person.

 

Qi Lin climbed the city tower and, seeing the two leaning on each other, didn’t dare disturb them for a moment until Li Shi turned his head slightly and asked: “What is it?”

 

Qi Lin replied: “Someone has come from Taiji Palace, specifically asking to see you both.”

 

Su Cen slowly straightened up: “Who?”

 

“A eunuch,” Qi Lin said. “The head eunuch from the late Empress Dowager’s palace—Chen You.”

 

Li Shi brought Su Cen back to the main tent, where commanders from various Zhichong Prefectures and the Three Guards of Tuduo had all assembled. As soon as they lifted the tent flap, they saw Chen You standing in the middle of the tent, chin slightly raised with the smug expression of a petty person who had gained power.

 

After seeing Li Shi, this expression restrained itself somewhat. He gave an awkward laugh and stepped forward: “His Majesty has issued an edict.”

 

Li Shi ignored Chen You and sat down in the main seat. Chen You’s expression became somewhat embarrassed, and he could only bow and step forward two more paces: “Your Highness, His Majesty has issued an edict.”

 

“Oh?” Li Shi finally raised an eyebrow. “Which majesty are you referring to?”

 

Chen You straightened his body slightly with a smug expression: “Naturally, the one currently sitting in Hanyuan Hall—His Majesty Emperor Tiancheng.”

 

Su Cen, standing to the side, couldn’t help but laugh: “When did our Great Zhou ever have such an emperor?”

 

“How dare you!” Chen You shrieked in his shrill voice, then carefully glanced at Li Shi. Seeing that he sat calmly without saying anything, his heart settled back into his stomach. They held the lives of the young emperor and half the court ministers—even Li Shi wouldn’t dare do anything to him.

 

Only then did he straighten his back and declare loudly: “Tomorrow is the great day of His Majesty Emperor Tiancheng’s enthronement. I’ve come today to convey the new emperor’s decree—everyone present must not forget to attend the enthronement ceremony tomorrow.”

 

The people in the tent looked at each other for a while, not knowing whether to mock Li Sheng’s overreach or his self-delusion. Finally, they all turned their gazes to Li Shi, waiting for Prince Ning’s response.

 

Li Shi looked up: “Are you finished?”

 

“Oh, and also,” Chen You said, “His Majesty summons Su Cen to enter the palace for an audience immediately.”

 

Su Cen was slightly stunned: “Me?”

 

Li Shi asked again: “Are you finished now?”

 

Chen You could already sense Li Shi’s impatience and quickly nodded and bowed: “Finished, finished.”

 

Li Shi waved his hand: “Drag him out and behead him.”

 

Chen You: “…”

 

Not only was Chen You stunned, but basically everyone in the main tent was also momentarily stunned. Although Chen You was indeed detestable, he was after all sent by Li Sheng. Setting aside the rule about not killing envoys during warfare, Li Sheng currently held the young emperor’s life—no one dared imagine the consequences if he were provoked.

 

The Three Guards of Tuduo were the first to react. At Qi Lin’s signal, Wuchi Ha stepped forward and grabbed Chen You by the collar like a chicken, about to drag him out.

 

Chen You finally came to his senses, first letting out a howl: “How dare you! I am His Majesty’s man—who dares touch me!”

 

Only when he was almost dragged outside the tent did he finally realize the situation. He immediately broke down in tears: “Your Highness… Your Highness, spare my life! I won’t dare again, I’ll never dare again… Li Sheng, that bastard, what is he to dare call himself emperor… Your Highness, please spare me, spare me!”

 

Li Shi raised his hand, and only then did Wuchi Ha stop. Chen You’s legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground. Just as the thought of surviving crossed his mind, Li Shi’s low voice fell.

 

“Execute him on the spot.”

 

Wuchi Ha’s blade rose and fell. Chen You’s triangular eyes had only opened halfway before they could never open again.

 

A head rolled to the ground and finally stopped at Su Cen’s feet.

 

Before a great battle, the most taboo thing was an unstable military morale. Su Cen knew Li Shi was establishing authority and momentum—this was meant to be seen by everyone present. Moreover, this Chen You had been a head eunuch beside Empress Dowager Chu, and her death was very likely related to him.

 

He understood all the reasoning, but seeing that head and those eyes that wouldn’t close in death still made his heart race.

 

Li Shi frowned slightly: “Drag it out to feed the dogs.”

 

Wuchi Ha received the order, stepped forward to grab the round head, and left.

 

It was quite a while before Su Cen’s stiff body slowly recovered.

 

Presumably everyone present felt the same. The main tent fell into deathly silence for a moment—they didn’t dare speak and didn’t know what to say. Would this battle be fought or not? How would it be fought? If Li Sheng pushed the young emperor out as a shield, what should they do?

 

Although Li Shi appeared resolute, could he really ignore the young emperor? If that were truly the case, how would Li Shi be any different from Li Sheng?

 

After a long while, Su Cen suddenly spoke: “I want to enter the palace.”

 

Qu Ling’er looked over with disbelief: “Brother Su… what do you want to do?”

 

“I want to enter the palace,” Su Cen used a more decisive phrasing. “Didn’t that eunuch just say so? Li Sheng summoned me to the palace. Perfect—I also want to go in and see.”

 

Li Shi frowned slightly but said nothing.

 

“The people in the palace can’t come out now, and no one knows what the situation inside really is. If I can get in, at the very least I can see the young emperor and protect him at the crucial moment.”

 

Everyone understood what this “crucial moment” meant.

 

“But what if you can’t see the young emperor?” Qu Ling’er was almost crying with anxiety. “And we just killed that eunuch—what if Li Sheng takes his anger out on you?”

 

“Since I can get in, I naturally have ways to see the young emperor. Moreover, Li Sheng won’t kill me.” Su Cen said with certainty. “Li Sheng is extremely arrogant. Compared to killing people, he prefers to toy with them in the palm of his hand. It’s the same reason he didn’t kill Old Chen at Lu Family Village back then—he needs someone to serve as his witness, preferably his opponent, his enemy. The person he most wants to see now should be the Prince. He has spent years imitating the Prince and trying to defeat him. Now that he believes victory is assured, he needs someone to witness all this for him. But he knows the Prince won’t go, and he doesn’t dare summon the Prince. So this person would be me—the one most familiar with the Prince.”

 

After Su Cen finished speaking, he smiled at Li Shi, the meaning obvious—let me help you.

 

Qu Ling’er wanted to say more but was interrupted by Li Shi.

 

“Be careful.”

 

Su Cen nodded with a smile: “Is there anything you need me to convey to the young emperor?”

 

Li Shi’s brow softened slightly, revealing some tenderness: “Tell him not to be afraid.”

 

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