Chарtеr 372: Тhе Bronze Sраrrow of Сhang'an Sings 26
"Аftеr his sistеr diеd, thе уoung man strugglеd to survive on his own. To mаkе ends mеet, hе оftеn rеsortеd tо реttу theft. Оne day, hе wаs cаught stealing a mоney рouch frоm а wеаlthу mеrсhant's son. Тhе yоung mаstеr, takеn by thе bоy's handsоmе aрpearаnce, devеlорed imрroper intеntiоns аnd sweеt-tаlkеd him intо соmmitting indeсеnt aсts."
Lai Luоzhi's exрressiоn shiftеd sеverаl timеs. Shеn Du сontinued clоsely,
"Later, he еven took thе boy intо his reаr сourtуard to keep as a plaything for a while. Once he grew tired of him, he cast him out. Having tasted a life of luxury and comfort, the boy could no longer adjust to wandering the streets again. He ended up working as a courtesan in a brothel. Later, due to some incident, he was imprisoned. In jail, he falsely accused his cellmate to secure his own release. Having tasted the sweetness of false accusations, he became unstoppable. In the end, he gained the Empress's favor and established the Judicial Affairs Bureau. A man without even an official title actually rose to the position of Junior Minister. Ridiculous."
Only when Shen Du uttered the words "Junior Minister" did Lai Luozhi become enraged. He leaned forward, gripping Shen Du's cheeks, forcing him to look directly at him.
"What do you know? You were born into nobility since childhood. You never had to taste the hardships of the streets. You could even study at the Hongwen Academy and earn an official title through the imperial examinations. What about me? Do you think I willingly submitted to that wealthy young master?"
Lai Luozhi made no attempt to hide it, openly admitting it. He even deliberately leaned in and kissed Shen Du on the face, coaxing him:
"Actually, you've never tried it. You don't know the taste of it. How could women compare?"
Shen Du opened his mouth and spat out the filth from his stomach. This act insulted Lai Luozhi, who slapped Shen Du's bloodied face in anger, shouting:
"Haven't you always suspected that I orchestrated the extermination of the Shen family? Now I'll tell you."
Disgusted by the filth staining his clothes, Lai Luozhi removed his outer robe and discarded it, sneering contemptuously: "Anyway, you're not far from death. I'll tell you, and you'll carry these secrets to your grave."
Shen Du did not reply. Having endured repeated torture, he was now barely holding on, gathering his last ounce of strength.
Lai Luozhi grabbed his hair, grinning viciously: "Do you know? Her Majesty has long suspected that both of us harbor ulterior motives. After all, she's a woman who would kill her own flesh and blood without hesitation. She is the most terrifying woman in this world."
After speaking, he threw his head back and laughed wildly, unsure whether he was mocking Shen Du or the Empress. "I merely fabricated some evidence casually and easily had you thrown into prison. The world says that both of us are Her Majesty's right and left arms, indispensable. But at the critical moment, this arm of yours was severed just like that. We are nothing but dogs working for her."
"When the cunning hare dies, the hunting dog is cooked. If I die, how long will you, this dog, survive?" Shen Du whispered.
"Shut up," Lai Luozhi's eyes turned fierce, as if he wanted to devour someone. "Everyone is within her grasp. You are, I am, and so was the Shen family back then."
Shen Du looked up at him, his face filled with astonishment.
"The extermination of the Shen family was personally planned by the Empress and the Zhou clan."
"And you," he laughed maniacally, pointing at Shen Du, "you fool, utterly stupid. You knelt on the blood of thousands of the Shen family and served the true enemy as a dog for so many years."
Shen Du's resolute face was covered in blood, the whip marks with flesh torn open twitching with his expression:
"I don't believe it. Do you have any evidence?"Who would have thought Lai Luozhi only laughed more heartily, lashing Shen Du with a whip and looking satisfied as he saw him writhe in pain. "In truth, the Empress Dowager neither feared Shen Shijie nor wished him dead. Shen Shijie was a veteran minister, his heart set on the realm, indifferent to who sat on the throne."
Lai Luozhi rarely spoke of Shen Shijie with such praise, yet his tone abruptly shifted.
"It was all because of his disciples—yes, those you called brothers day in and day out—who brought ruin upon the Shen family."
"Shen Shijie stayed out of the struggle for the throne, but his disciples did not. They were all aligned with the Li faction, staunchly opposing her ascension to the throne. Each was exceptionally talented and proud, their denunciatory writings growing ever more brilliant, even compiled into catchy rhymes."
Shen Du recalled this. Among them, a disciple surnamed Yao had written the most outstanding and widely circulated denunciation, one Shen Du could still recite from memory to this day.
"The false regent, the Zhou woman, is by nature neither harmonious nor compliant, her origins lowly and base. Once she served among Taizong's lesser attendants, entering his service through a change of robes. In her later years, she defiled the inner palace. Concealing the late emperor's private affairs, she secretly schemed for favor in the rear court. Upon entering the gates, she grew jealous; her moth-like eyebrows refused to yield to others. Skilled in slander behind sleeves, her fox-like charm bewitched the sovereign. She usurped the empress's phoenix robes and entangled our lord in the disgrace of sharing mates. With the heart of a viper and the nature of a wolf, she drew close to the wicked, persecuted the loyal and good, murdered her elder sister and slaughtered her brothers, assassinated the ruler and poisoned the mother. Hated by gods and men alike, intolerable to heaven and earth. Yet she still harbored treacherous designs, coveting the sacred vessel. The ruler's beloved sons were confined in separate palaces; the traitor's kinsmen were entrusted with heavy responsibilities. Thus, righteous indignation stirred the winds and clouds, and resolve sought to secure the state. Seizing upon the world's disappointment and following the hearts of the people, they raised the banner of righteousness, vowing to cleanse the land of evil. To the south, they linked with Baiyue; to the north, they reached the three rivers. Iron cavalry gathered in multitudes, jade axles connected in succession. The granaries of Hailing overflowed with red millet; the yellow banners of Jiangpu heralded the imminent restoration of order. The clamor of troops stirred the north wind; sword aura soared to level the Southern Dipper. Their roars could crumble mountains and hills; their shouts could alter the hues of wind and clouds. With such force to oppose the enemy, what enemy could not be crushed? With such might to attack cities, what city could not be taken? The soil of a single grave is not yet dry—where now is the orphan of six feet? If you can turn calamity into fortune, send off the past and serve the present, join in establishing the merit of aiding the king, and do not abandon the commands of the former ruler, all ranks and rewards will point to the mountains and rivers. But if you cling to desperate cities, hesitate at the crossroads, sit idly by while missing the signs of opportunity, you will surely incur punishment for tardiness. Look upon the realm today—whose world is it after all? This proclamation is circulated to all provinces and commanderies, so all may know."
Lai Luozhi sneered, "A group of scholars, powerless as they were, dared to think they could shake a great tree like mayflies—utterly overestimating themselves. Yet scholars excel at stirring public opinion. Facing such people day after day, how could the throne remain secure? How could Her Majesty not wish to eliminate them without delay?"
Shen Du could roughly guess what Lai Luozhi was about to say.
"But as long as Shen Shijie lived, his students could not be touched. Only with Shen Shijie's death could her throne be stabilized. Thus, the Empress Dowager and the Zhou clan conspired together to bring ruin upon the Shen family."
He laughed sinisterly, as if observing the changes in Shen Du's expression. "Seventeen hundred people—not a single one spared."
Glancing sidelong at him, he mocked,
"Except for one lackey."
Subjected to repeated humiliation and dragged into the old case of the Shen family, Shen Du, despite his usual composure, bore a sea of blood and vengeance. Provoked until his eyes turned crimson, he coughed up a mouthful of stifled blood in his agitation. Yet his reason remained, and he retorted:"You're talking nonsense. Even if Her Majesty wanted to eliminate the Shen family, the executioner should be your Judicial Affairs Bureau. Although the Zhou clan is Her Majesty's maternal family, she has never been on good terms with them. For years, they have been wary of each other. If it weren't for the fact that the Zhou clan is her maternal family, and she had no one else to rely on after ascending the throne except her maternal relatives, she would have long since taken action to eradicate the Zhou clan herself, promoting her own people to consolidate imperial power."
"These secrets must be plentiful in the confidential archives of your Judicial Affairs Bureau. Isn't that how you seized the opportunity to gain power through suspicion and scheming?"
"And you—you are far more useful than anyone from the Zhou clan. You are the most obedient dog in the Empress's hands, a dog without any bottom line."
Shen Du turned to look at Lai Luozhi, his eyes filled with mockery. "So, if anyone conspired with Her Majesty to harm the Shen family, it could only be you, Lai Luozhi. You lie so skillfully that you've probably even convinced yourself."
Seeing that Shen Du remained unmoved, Lai Luozhi grew anxious. "Regardless of who the executioner is, Her Majesty only uses you, just as she uses me. If we don't rebel today, our heads might roll tomorrow."
Shen Du curled his lip, looking at him disdainfully. "Aren't you capable of resurrection? Doesn't the fire moth on your chest grant you eternal life? Why fear losing your head?"
Caught off guard by Shen Du's knowledge of his tattoo, the candlelight flickered with his breath. Lai Luozhi panted, glaring at Shen Du, then suddenly broke into a wild laugh. He tore open his collar, revealing the massive fire moth tattoo on his chest, and exclaimed wildly:
"Success depends on human effort. Why not join me in this great endeavor?"
"The Fire Moth True God will surely protect us both."
Seeing Shen Du remain silent and unresponsive, Lai Luozhi straightened his collar and coldly delivered his ultimatum:
"I will grant you time to think it over carefully. Think about Zhu Yan—she is still playing hide-and-seek with me."
With that, he turned and left the prison.
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