PC Chapter 42

Xiao Yuancheng’s tense expression instantly relaxed as he quickly took his place behind Qi Lin. “You finally came! Let’s go, I can’t stand staying here another second.”

Su Cen subtly furrowed his brow. The Prince Ning really is meticulous—barely any time had passed since Xiao Yuancheng was brought in, and already someone was here to take him away. If he cared so much, he should’ve just locked him in his room and kept him close. Letting him out for lotus leaf pastries, only to create a mess, and then needing someone to clean it up.

“Hold on,” Su Cen stepped forward, cupping his hands respectfully towards Qi Lin. “I’m afraid you might not know, but we are in the middle of a case.”

“Oh?” Qi Lin’s calm eyes flickered slightly. “What case could possibly be more important than the prince?”

“Of course, the prince is more important,” Su Cen nodded. “But since that’s the case, the young lord should quickly pay the compensation, so we can wrap up the case and not delay the prince’s… urgent business.”

“I’m not paying! I won’t pay! What can you do about it?” Xiao Yuancheng stubbornly stood his ground, determined to make Su Cen lose face. It wasn’t about the money anymore—silver was trivial, but pride was everything. Paying the silver meant admitting defeat to Su Cen, not just in this case but in everything else as well.

Su Cen smiled at Qi Lin, “As you can see, the young heir is refusing to cooperate. There’s not much I can do.”

Xiao Yuancheng glared fiercely at Su Cen, tugging on Qi Lin’s sleeve as he stubbornly insisted, “We’re leaving!”

“How dare you!” Su Cen’s tone suddenly turned stern, his face cold as jade. “Do you think this is a place where you can come and go as you please?”

Xiao Yuancheng was momentarily stunned. In his mind, Su Cen had always been troublesome, but never intimidating. Whether it was tripping someone up at the lakeside pavilion or stirring up trouble in court, or even getting slapped in front of Su’s residence, Xiao Yuancheng had always seen Su Cen as someone with a hidden sharpness beneath a soft exterior. He never imagined this man had such an upright and commanding side.

Xiao Yuancheng paused, narrowing his eyes as he reevaluated Su Cen. Is it the uniform? Despite having a powerful backing, why did it seem like Su Cen’s spine was straighter than his?

Feeling his confidence wane, Xiao Yuancheng snapped, “I’m under the prince’s orders to return. Do you dare defy him?”

“If the prince blames someone, I’ll take responsibility,” Su Cen waved to his men. “Close the doors.”

Immediately, two guards stepped forward and closed the vermilion doors of the Dali Temple.

“This is defying royal orders! It’s rebellion!” Xiao Yuancheng shouted in panic as he saw the doors shut. “Qi Lin! Do something!”

Qi Lin gripped his sword for a moment but then slowly released his hold, shaking his head slightly.

Su Cen walked forward to stand behind the doors. “Don’t you see? What’s truly holding you back isn’t these doors—it’s the will of the people.”

Outside, the crowd that had been watching the spectacle had already followed them inside, blocking the entrance completely, making it impossible to leave.

To Xiao Yuancheng, those were just a few boxes of lotus leaf pastries and a couple of bolts of brocade, but to these people, they were the fruits of a year’s hard work. In the past, the people would never dare to challenge an official. But this time, someone was finally standing on their side, and they were determined to fight back, even if it cost them everything!

If he wanted to leave, he’d have to walk over all of them!

“You!” Xiao Yuancheng pointed at Su Cen, then turned to Qi Lin and ordered, “Drive all these people away!”

Qi Lin squinted slightly but didn’t move. How could he lay hands on a group of unarmed people?

“Are you all defying royal orders?!” Xiao Yuancheng roared, glaring at Su Cen and then at Qi Lin. But neither of them showed any intention of moving.

After a long standoff, Xiao Yuancheng finally gritted his teeth and pulled out his money pouch. He took out a silver tael and threw it on the ground. “Is that enough?”

Su Cen’s face slowly shifted into a smile. He stepped aside and gestured for the doors to be opened. “Take care, Young heir.”

Xiao Yuancheng angrily led his horse and stormed off. Su Cen bent down to pick up the silver, wiped it off with his sleeve, and handed it to the woman. “Next time, if you run into people like him, just steer clear.”

The woman gratefully accepted the silver, nodding repeatedly, and pulled her son into three deep bows before standing up.

“Study hard,” Su Cen said as he patted the child’s head.

“When I grow up, I want to be a good official like Lord Su,” the child declared with determination.

Su Cen watched as the mother and son walked away, and as the crowd outside gradually dispersed, he finally exhaled softly. As firm as he had to be, he still valued his life.

It’s always easier to be fearless when you have someone to rely on, but some people, spoiled by favor, forget their limits.

Was I this annoying when I forced Song Jiancheng out and demanded the list from the Ministry of Rites?

No… I wasn’t… right?

Su Cen stared at the now-empty courtroom for a moment before turning around, only to be met by Zhang Jun’s stormy expression.

Su Cen quickly took two steps back. “Lord Zhang…”

“Even a small case like this, and you turn it into such a spectacle? You’re like an old man tying a noose—courting death, aren’t you? Do you have any idea who you just crossed?”

Fearing that Zhang Jun might stop him from handling cases in the future, Su Cen quickly softened his tone and spoke politely, “Lord Zhang, didn’t I manage to resolve it in the end?”

“Next time, think carefully about your own neck before you act,” Zhang Jun grumbled, shaking his sleeves forcefully as he left. “Humph!”

Two miles down the road, Xiao Yuancheng was still fuming, hearing whispers behind him. The further he walked, the angrier he became. Who does Su Cen think he is? To make me lose face in front of so many people! And that woman, daring to accuse me? I’m the heir to the Prince of Northern Liang, living in Xingqing Palace, and these lowly ants dare to talk behind my back!

Xiao Yuancheng suddenly stopped and glared at Qi Lin. “Why didn’t you help me back there?”

Qi Lin stopped, looking at him in silence, offering no response.

“You think he’s better than me, don’t you?” Xiao Yuancheng asked.

Qi Lin responded calmly, “I only follow orders.”

“Orders?” Xiao Yuancheng sneered. “Then why didn’t you drag me back when the prince ordered you to? Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to him? Want the leftovers from the prince?”

A flicker of coldness flashed in Qi Lin’s eyes, but he held back.

“You lowly servant, you wouldn’t dare touch me without the prince’s orders.” Xiao Yuancheng smirked, then mounted his horse. “I don’t feel like going back right now. You can crawl back on your own.” With that, he whipped his horse and sped off, leaving behind a trail of curses from startled pedestrians.

Later that day, after finishing his duties, Su Cen made a special detour to an Eastern Market tavern and bought two jars of Monkey Wine. On a whim, he also ordered some peanuts and braised beef and took everything back to his residence. That evening, he and Qu Ling’er drank to their heart’s content.

The two of them sat with their cups, gazing at each other with tearful eyes, saying nothing, but understanding everything.

After a few rounds of drinks, Su Cen, feigning drunkenness, pulled Qu Ling’er closer and asked, “Why did you escape through the Secret Door?”

Qu Ling’er’s eyes were already glazed over. He stared at Su Cen for a long while, then grinned and waved his hand. “Can’t say… I can’t tell you.”

With that, he collapsed onto the table, soon snoring loudly.

Su Cen chuckled, poured himself another drink, clinked his cup against Qu Ling’er’s forehead, and downed it in one go.

The sound of the city gongs knocking three times echoed through Chang’an, and Ah Fu came over to clean up the mess left by the two.

As soon as he entered, he wrinkled his nose. What were these two drinking? The whole place reeked of vinegar.

Su Cen had barely lain down when sleep was interrupted by a sudden, urgent knocking at the door.

Frowning, he wondered who could be visiting at this hour, especially with the city under curfew.

Throwing on his robe, he stepped out of his room to find Ah Fu already leading Xiao Sun, who was breathless with urgency. As soon as he approached, Xiao Sun gave a hurried bow and exclaimed, “Sir, there’s been a murder.”

Standing in the main hall of Dali Temple, Su Cen felt a heavy pressure on his chest. His ears buzzed, and for a moment, he could barely stand.

The mother and child who had knelt and thanked him earlier that day now lay on the floor, their faces pale, bodies covered in blood, and no longer breathing.

The boy’s tiny hand still clutched the two coins Su Cen had given him.

Su Cen gripped the table for support, barely steadying himself, and asked in a hoarse voice, “What happened?”

One of the officers standing nearby answered, “They were found in a drainage ditch outside the city. A drunkard fell in by accident and discovered them. By the time we arrived, they were already dead. And…” The officer glanced nervously at Su Cen, hesitating to continue.

“Speak!” Su Cen ordered coldly.

“And… the gatekeeper saw Young Lord Xiao leaving the city shortly after the mother and child left. He only returned right before the city gates closed…”

Xiao Yuancheng!

Su Cen’s eyes suddenly turned cold.

“Let’s go.” Su Cen stood up.

“Where to?”

“Xingqing Palace.”

 

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