Сhаpter 370: Тhe Brоnzе Sраrrоw оf Chang'аn Sings 24
In the blink of an eye, thе hоur of Нai hаd just раssеd. Shen Du сhаngеd his сlоthes аnd, taking advantаgе of thе night, stealthily infiltrаted the Dаming Palасе.
In thе Наll оf Diligent Govеrnаncе, Zhоu Zhаo wаs waiting fоr him.
“During thе day, уоu seеmed hesitant tо speak. Whаt ехaсtly did you wаnt tо tеll me?”
It turnеd оut thаt Zhоu Zhао’s threе tаps еarliеr were а signal fоr him tо mеet аt thе third wаtсh. Fortunatelу, Shen Du understood.
Aftеr careful сonsiderаtion, Shеn Du rеcоunted what Jin Cang had said before his death during the day and described what he had witnessed during his trip to Yingzhou. The Empress listened patiently, then sat before the imperial desk, lost in thought for a long time.
“Tell me, have I not treated him well?”
Shen Du did not know how to answer.
Zhou Zhao suddenly looked over, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly. “And you? You also want an answer, don’t you?”
“Your subject is filled with trepidation.”
“Heh heh heh, trepidation?” Zhou Zhao closed her eyes, then opened them again, her phoenix eyes regaining their cool detachment. “After this matter is settled, I will grant you an answer regarding the old affairs of the Shen residence.”
Shen Du’s heart stirred, and he left under the cover of night.
The next day was Laba Festival, a day when the Empress should have appeared to reward the officials for their hard work over the past year. However, the Empress suddenly fell gravely ill and suspended court.
Regarding the Crown Prince’s case, she also issued an edict that day, ordering the Jin clan to enter the Dali Temple. The case was to be presided over by Shen Du, with the Dali Temple assisting from the sidelines.
Lai Luozhi’s expression was inscrutable, but in the end, he said nothing more and happily accepted the imperial decree, much to everyone’s surprise.
However, whether the Empress was truly ill or feigning illness became a topic of debate among the ministers. For a time, morale wavered, and various factions began making their own plans.
No one knew who spread the news of the Empress’s grave illness, but the common people suddenly felt that a great change was imminent.
In the prison of the Inner Court, Li Chong had been placed in a solitary cell since his arrival. Shen Du had not given him any special treatment—the cell was dark, damp, cramped, and narrow. Yet Li Chong had grown accustomed to it, never complaining. He had asked for a few books to be sent in and spent his days reading peacefully, content and at ease.
After watching from outside the door for a long time, Shen Du ordered the cell door opened, dismissed the others, and walked in alone. A rat scurried to his feet, gnawing at his boots. Finding them too tough, it ran over to Li Chong’s feet to nibble at his toes instead. Disturbed, Li Chong set aside his book and looked down at the rat, smiling faintly.
“Look at you all. If not forced, why would you abandon the bright sunlight and choose to live in this sunless place?”
Li Chong truly did not resemble a Crown Prince. He lacked an imposing aura, sharp edges, or even a restrained yet compelling presence. Instead, he appeared as a modest gentleman, a frail scholar, with the look of a middle-aged uncle.
If he had truly been a scholar, it would have been fine. But he was destined for more than such an ordinary life.
“Your Highness…”
Li Chong waved his hand. “What about Jin Cang?”
“He is dead. He disemboweled himself in the street to plead for Your Highness’s innocence.”
Li Chong reached out to shoo the rat away. “Do not call me Crown Prince.”
Shen Du insisted, “You will always be the Crown Prince in my heart.”
Hearing this, Li Chong stood up, draped in a cloak, and hobbled over. After scrutinizing Shen Du for a long moment, his tense face suddenly relaxed. “You chose me. Do you truly have no regrets?”
Shen Du shook his head. “Once the move is made, there are no regrets.”
“Are you not afraid of my mother, the Empress?”
Shen Du’s expression flickered. Li Chong sighed. “That day, Jin Cang came and said he would be the vanguard. I promised him I would keep him safe. But only today did I realize he had prepared himself for certain death.”
This was something Shen Du had not anticipated either. Years of planning had ultimately begun with Jin Cang’s sacrifice. “Your subject is also at fault for not stopping him in time…”
Jin Cang was Zhu Yan’s uncle. Zhu Yan was heartbroken, and Shen Du also felt deeply troubled.He never expected Jin Cang to be so determined to die, resorting to such a tragic method as disemboweling himself in the street. A musician of his generation, meeting such an end, was truly lamentable.
"How is Mother? Is she well?"
Shen Du recalled the Empress's instructions, his thoughts in turmoil: "Her Majesty has ordered a retrial of the Crown Prince's case. The Jin clan members are to be escorted to the Dali Temple, where I will preside over the trial with the assistance of the Dali Temple."
Nodding, Li Chong's profile appeared somewhat indistinct in the lamplight. "Have you discerned Mother's intentions?"
After pondering for a long while, Shen Du still shook his head, but added, "Her Majesty's health has declined significantly. Princess Chaoyang, however, shows no signs of concern, while Princess Yong'an and the Zhou clan are growing restless."
This was all within expectations. "What about that man surnamed Lai?"
"This is what I intended to say. This time, Her Majesty claimed illness and did not attend court, entrusting the case to me for investigation. Lai Luozhi remained silent at first, but after Princess Chaoyang took charge of state affairs, he could no longer sit still. He jumped out and demanded that Your Highness be handed over to the Judicial Affairs Bureau, solely because Your Highness has not provided any substantial confession while in my custody. Yet, that day, 'The Prince of Qin Breaks the Formation' was indeed heard by many."
"Chancellor Zhang and others were unwilling and strongly opposed, stating that Lai Luozhi had openly defied Her Majesty's orders. Even the Crown Prince, they argued, should not be sent to that filthy Judicial Affairs Bureau. Who doesn't know that entering the Judicial Affairs Bureau is a death sentence? How many have entered and emerged alive over all these years? The Crown Prince is the sole heir to the throne. Entering the Grand Secretariat, which oversees all officials, is one thing, but the Judicial Affairs Bureau is absolutely out of the question."
"Lai Luozhi presented his argument: the Crown Prince, if guilty, should be treated the same as any commoner. And since I am incompetent, it would be no different for him to oversee the case."
Li Chong was dressed in casual attire, his hair half-loosened, appearing lazy and relaxed. His shadow stretched long against the wall in the candlelight. The cell, though damp, was relatively clean and tidy. He paced over to the candle.
"I suppose you have already found a reason to refuse him."
Otherwise, he would not have come to see him with such certainty today.
Shen Du nodded, his cold eyes narrowing slightly. "Exactly. Since Her Majesty was absent, I publicly announced the words she left behind." Seeing Li Chong shift his attention to him, he continued, "I have only this one son left."
Li Chong clearly had not expected this statement. After confirming it in Shen Du's eyes, his emotions surged, the mist in his eyes turning to hatred. "So she still remembers she has a son? All these years, all these years, she has killed off her sons until only I remain. What? Has she realized that if she kills me too, she will have no sons left? What does it matter to her if she has no sons? She has daughters. She herself is a woman. She can have Chaoyang emulate her and ascend the throne as Empress, ensuring that for generations to come, only Empresses rule. Wouldn't that be splendid?"
Shen Du remained silent. It was widely known that the Empress had employed extreme measures to win the palace struggle and secure her position. But politics was inherently stained with blood, and as outsiders, it was not their place to pry.
Once Li Chong's emotions had settled, Shen Du continued, "I hold Her Majesty's imperial decree. No matter how eloquent Lai Luozhi may be, he could do nothing and ultimately had to relent."
"However, what is strange is that while Chancellor Zhang and the others opposed it, the Zhou clan also strongly objected. Led by Duke Rong, Zhou Xian (elder brother of Zhou Zhao), they not only opposed Your Highness entering the Judicial Affairs Bureau but also opposed Your Highness entering the Grand Secretariat. Instead, they demanded that Your Highness be handed over to the Dali Temple for trial by Chief Minister Tang Zheng, claiming that Tang Zheng is upright and fair, and would surely deliver justice for the Crown Prince."
"Heh heh, what clever scheming," Li Chong sneered lightly. "They fear I won't die in your hands, so they're finding roundabout ways to ensure my death."Shen Du also deeply agreed. The Zhou clan had members spread throughout the three provinces and six ministries of the capital, as well as the capital's yamen. If they truly went to the Dali Temple, even if the Dali Temple Minister Tang Zheng was upright, he could not guard against those who would strike from the shadows.
Li Chong approached Shen Du, his eyes showing a hint of emotion. "You've worked hard."
"I dare not accept such praise."
"Heh heh heh, I know what you want to know. If I am fortunate enough to survive this calamity, I will surely restore justice to you and to the Shen family. After all," Li Chong sighed, his gaze distant, "the Shen family's misfortune back then was also related to me. At that time, my power was weak, and I was unable to help. It was my fault that the Shen family suffered. Fortunately, fortunately you are still here. I still have a chance to atone."
These words stirred Shen Du's heart, reminding him of the Shen family's years of hardship. "I only seek justice."
Li Chong patted his shoulder, looking at him with the affection of an elder for a junior. "Be careful in everything."
Shen Du agreed. Before leaving, he asked Li Chong, "Your Highness, why not change rooms?"
"No need," Li Chong gazed at the dark ceiling. This was an underground cell, with no sunlight from any direction, testing one's willpower to the utmost. "This is my trial, and I must endure it. You may go now."
As Shen Du stepped onto the stairs, he heard Li Chong softly recite:
"Receiving orders from the sovereign, together we march to quell the rebels.
Singing the 'Song of Breaking the Formation,' we celebrate the peace among the people..."
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