One person, one lamp, from Mingde Gate to Taiji Palace.
The entire way was deserted, with only him walking slowly. Along the way he thought of many things, yet seemed to think of nothing at all.
When he saw the two brightly lit palace gates of Taiji Palace, he suddenly felt like sighing—he had finally returned.
Compared to his hurried arrival and panicked escape a few months ago, this time he felt a sense of returning to his roots.
This time, whether he lived or died, he would never leave this place again.
The gate guards looked at him with curious eyes. These past few days, every household in Chang’an had kept their doors tightly shut, no one daring to come out and court trouble. Not just at night—even during the day you rarely saw anyone walking around. Where had this person come from?
Su Cen stood tall and elegant before the gate, holding up a lantern, saying neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Li Sheng sent for me.”
“How dare you!” The gate guard’s blade flashed as his long sword was unsheathed. “Who dares to speak the Sacred Name directly!”
But the person showed no sign of retreating, his eyes calmly and quietly gazing ahead.
The guard felt inexplicably intimidated. Though the person before him was thin and only carried a weak lantern, he somehow felt this person possessed some powerful force that couldn’t be ignored.
After being stunned, he gestured to his companion: “You, go inside and ask if His Majesty has summoned such a person.”
That person had only run two steps when he bumped into someone coming the other way. Looking up to see who it was, he immediately knelt on one knee: “Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Su Cen looked past the two kneeling men to see a figure slowly emerging from the dark doorway into the range of his candlelight.
It was Song Fan.
Song Fan looked at Su Cen and smiled: “Su Cen, you really did come after all.”
Following Song Fan into Taiji Palace, there were indeed no more obstructions along the way. Su Cen didn’t ask how Song Fan knew he would come, nor why Song Fan had come to meet him. Even Song Fan was unusually quiet, with only the rustling of their footsteps on the path.
After entering Changle Gate, just as they were about to reach Li Sheng’s sleeping quarters, Song Fan suddenly stopped.
Su Cen had maintained a two-step distance from Song Fan throughout. Seeing Song Fan stop, he also stopped, watching as Song Fan frowned and turned back to ask: “Why did you come?”
Su Cen couldn’t help but laugh, his smile flickering in the candlelight: “Didn’t you call me here?”
“Do you know what he’ll do to you when you come?” Song Fan looked directly at him, those peach blossom eyes rarely showing some seriousness. “He’s much crazier than I am.”
Seeing Su Cen remain silent, Song Fan continued: “If you regret it now, I can send you back.”
“Since I’ve come, I won’t leave,” Su Cen stepped past Song Fan, then stopped. “Besides, haven’t you already let me go twice?”
Once sending him back to Yangzhou, once sending him out of the city.
Song Fan turned back and smiled: “You figured it out?”
Su Cen shook his head: “I only understood afterward. You appearing at the city gate so early that day probably wasn’t a coincidence, and if you really wanted to lift that carriage curtain, Ning San couldn’t have stopped you.”
Su Cen paused before continuing: “So you must have been waiting for me there early on. As for the reason, perhaps to scare me?”
Song Fan’s peach blossom eyes curved downward: “Were you scared?”
Su Cen also smiled. That they could one day stand here and talk calmly was truly quite remarkable.
“Alright, go in by yourself then,” Song Fan waved dismissively. “Try not to die too ugly—I can still help collect your corpse.”
“Song Fan,” Su Cen suddenly called out from behind. “I don’t know what your real name is, so I’ll keep calling you this. I’ve asked you many times before, and I want to ask once more—have you found what you’re looking for? Or do you know what it is you want?”
Song Fan tilted his head, those peach blossom eyes narrowing slightly with a flash of confusion.
“But I know,” Su Cen said. “I want the Great Zhou’s fortune to continue, for the people to live and work in peace, to have support in life and care in old age, for justice to be upheld and grievances to be heard. What Li Sheng wants to do is ultimately just revenge, and someone full of hatred cannot bring these things to the people of the Great Zhou. So I’ve come to stop him.”
Without waiting for Song Fan’s reaction, he strode forward with his head held high.
Only after the person had gone far did Song Fan withdraw his gaze. Something stirred in his chest, yet seemed like nothing at all. Song Fan frowned, then slowly relaxed, smiling lightly: “Actually, you’re the crazy ones.”
Li Sheng’s sleeping quarters had only one lamp left burning, and the servants had long been dismissed. When Su Cen entered, he saw Li Sheng reclining in an armchair. He wasn’t wearing dragon robes or any extravagant decorations, but rather a black robe, staring at the vast night sky, lost in thought.
Sensing Su Cen’s entrance, Li Sheng slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Su Cen: “Where is my man?”
Su Cen said indifferently: “Fed to the dogs.”
Li Sheng was stunned, then laughed instead of getting angry: “That’s Li Shi’s style.”
People like Chen You, once they gained power, would jump around like grasshoppers after autumn, but couldn’t recognize their own worth. Dead was dead—no one cared.
Li Sheng supported himself on the armrest to sit up: “Do you know why I called you here?”
“Nothing more than wanting to hear me sing your praises,” Su Cen paused, “and to accompany you in cursing Li Shi.”
Li Sheng laughed heartily: “Talking with smart people is so convenient.”
He then propped his forehead and looked over: “So what are you standing there for? Begin.”
Su Cen stood straight and unmoved, saying: “I want to see the young emperor.”
Li Sheng’s gaze turned cold, his smile faded: “What do you think this place is? It’s not your turn to bargain here.”
“I won’t say anything until I see the young emperor.”
Li Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly, then suddenly smiled after a moment and ordered outside: “Bring them all here.”
The people waiting outside moved quickly. Soon there were rustling sounds outside, and someone reported that everyone had been brought. After Li Sheng hummed in acknowledgment, the door opened from outside.
Not only the young emperor came, but also Wen Xiu, Zhang Jun, Zheng Yang… and that half of the court ministers.
Forty to fifty people filled half the room. The young emperor was well protected behind Wen Xiu and Zhang Jun, not a hair harmed.
“Su Cen,” the young emperor was delighted to see Su Cen, a flash of childishness in his eyes. Then noticing Li Sheng sitting inside, he had to assume an imperial demeanor and said properly: “You’ve come.”
Su Cen knelt on both knees: “This subject came late to protect Your Majesty.”
“Rise, rise,” the young emperor said hurriedly. “You’ve returned, so Imperial Uncle should have returned too. Where is Imperial Uncle?”
“The Prince is now outside Mingde Gate. Your Majesty will see him soon.”
Wen Xiu asked: “Did he find the people we left for him?”
Su Cen nodded, but before he could speak, Zheng Yang interrupted: “Why are you here?”
Only then did everyone realize—Li Shi was still outside the city, but Su Cen had appeared here. Did this mean Li Shi was at a disadvantage and couldn’t even protect his own people?
Su Cen shook his head: “I came of my own accord. The Prince is deploying troops outside the city. Please endure a little longer—the Prince will come to take everyone out.”
“Enough,” Li Sheng impatiently interrupted. “You’ve seen everyone. Shouldn’t you get down to business now?”
Su Cen turned back to look at Li Sheng: “What do you want to do?”
Li Sheng smiled: “I’m thinking about how to convict Li Shi of his crimes.”
Su Cen replied openly: “What crimes does the Prince have?”
“That’s for you to tell me, Lord Su.” Li Sheng assumed the posture of a victor, casually pointing at the half-room of ministers. “Didn’t you come from the Dali Temple? You oversee the laws of the realm. For however many people are standing here today, you must list that many charges against Li Shi for me. For every charge you’re short, I’ll use these people’s heads to make up for it.”
“You’re too despicable,” Zheng Yang was the first to object. “You can’t defeat my uncle yourself, so you’re framing him here. What petty behavior!”
Li Sheng raised his hand, and immediately two guards entered from outside. Li Sheng pointed at Zheng Yang: “Start with him first.”
The two stepped forward to seize Zheng Yang from both sides. Zheng Yang pushed them away with disgust: “I’ll walk myself.”
“Brother Yang, let go of Brother Yang!” The young emperor grabbed half of Zheng Yang’s sleeve and wouldn’t let go. The tears he had been holding back finally couldn’t be contained.
The ministers pulled and tugged, the whole court in uproar.
“Wait,” Su Cen spoke, and the room fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.
They heard him say word by word: “I’ll list them for you.”
Li Sheng smiled meaningfully and raised his hand slightly. The two guards bowed and withdrew.
Su Cen ignored the confused looks from behind him and stepped forward: “The Prince’s first crime is not competing!”
Everyone was stunned.
“In the Battle of Shoucheng, the Prince voluntarily gave up the throne, pledging with his own body to live or die with the frontier. I must say, your scheme back then was very successful. You calculated that the Prince wouldn’t abandon the frontier, exploiting his kind heart, because you knew that in his eyes, national stability was more important than the throne, and the common people were more important than being above ten thousand! To say today’s situation was caused by the Prince is not unreasonable—if the Prince had been willing to compete back then, today wouldn’t be this scene!”
Su Cen stood firm and continued: “The Prince’s second crime is being too benevolent.”
“Because of his benevolence, he still remembered that bit of brotherly affection, remembered the trace of Crown Prince Chongde’s bloodline in you, and never moved decisively to eliminate you completely. Because of his benevolence, no matter how the former emperor treated him, he never held that account against the young emperor, wholeheartedly supporting the legitimate line, never harboring half a thought of usurpation.”
“The Prince’s third crime is selflessness.”
“In Xingqing Palace, candles burned until dawn every day. He worked tirelessly, handling everything personally. How many in the court coveted the orphaned emperor and widowed mother, yet under his governance, the throne remained stable, Empress Dowager Chu sat securely in the central palace, and nothing ever went wrong. He suffered injuries and illness at the frontier—how cold were those northern desert nights, warming himself only with strong liquor, sleeping with weapons at hand every night. His headache condition couldn’t even be suppressed by calming incense as strong as sleeping drugs. Yet since taking the regency, he pacified the Turks, conquered Tibet, abolished the salt monopoly, stabilized the nation and comforted the people—which morning court did he ever slack off? Which state affair did he ever neglect? He exhausted his body, which allowed you petty people to jump around and cause trouble. He voluntarily relinquished power for national stability, which enabled you to run wild on Great Zhou’s territory!”
“Enough!” Li Sheng slammed the armrest, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Are you listing his crimes or praising him?”
Su Cen smiled lightly: “With crimes like these, never mind these people—even if you brought all your people in, I could list them clearly for you!”
“Ha,” Li Sheng laughed inexplicably and stood up supporting the chair. “You say he’s benevolent—wasn’t my father emperor benevolent too? He was famous as a benevolent ruler, praised by the entire court. It was Li Yu who shamelessly seized my father’s throne—why can’t I seize theirs?!”
Su Cen lowered his eyes slightly: “Actually, I think Emperor Taizong did the right thing back then.”
Li Sheng was stunned: “What?”
“At the founding of the nation, Emperor Taizu’s great achievements were unquestionable, but the national foundation was still shallow, borders still turbulent, people still couldn’t fill their stomachs. Crown Prince Chongde was benevolent, but benevolence couldn’t bring border stability and universal submission. What Great Zhou needed then wasn’t a benevolent ruler—only Emperor Taizong’s iron-blooded methods could consolidate and strengthen Great Zhou’s still-fragile territory.”
Li Sheng suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Su Cen by the throat, lifting him up.
He didn’t mind people calling him a wolf with wild ambitions or cursing him for regicide and usurpation. Once he ascended to that position, all of this could be washed away.
Just like Li Yu had done back then.
But he would not allow anyone to speak ill of Crown Prince Chongde—not even half a sentence!
That was his root, his source, the origin of his everything, the foundational pillar that supported him to this day. Not even the slightest flaw could exist!
Yet this person actually said Li Yu had done right back then, that his father emperor deserved to die, that Li Yu, that usurping villain, should have been emperor!
Su Cen’s face gradually turned red, but his eyes stared at Li Sheng without blinking. In his eyes was not fear, not pleading, but a kind of almost pitying calm.
Li Sheng only released his grip just before the man would suffocate. Su Cen collapsed weakly to the ground and was caught by Zheng Yang behind him.
“I won’t kill you,” Li Sheng suddenly smiled, but his eyes were frighteningly cold. “But I have a hundred ways to make you wish you were dead. Guards!”
The door was pushed open again, but two eunuchs entered.
Li Sheng’s smile carried a hint of ferocity, like a beast eyeing its prey: “These are the best eunuchs from the castration chamber. Their blades are swift—they won’t let you suffer too much.”
##
