PC Chapter 58

Su Cen was well-acquainted with Xingqing Palace by now. As he was about to push open the door, Qi Lin gently blocked him.

 

Su Cen looked at him, puzzled.

 

After a moment’s hesitation, Qi Lin spoke. “Today, the Northern Liang King has already been sent to Liangzhou to relinquish his military command.”

 

Su Cen froze slightly.

 

Qi Lin continued, “Xiao Yan has fought alongside master on the battlefield. This departure will likely be their final farewell. Even if the master doesn’t show it, he must be feeling it deeply. Please, be considerate.”

 

Su Cen nodded quietly before finally pushing the door open.

 

Inside the study, Li Shi was reviewing documents, seemingly unfazed, giving no sign of his mood.

 

Su Cen approached quietly, paused at the desk, dismissed the attendants, and rolled up his sleeves to grind ink.

 

Unless Li Shi allowed him, he refrained from reading any official documents, knowing his boundaries well. No matter how kindly Li Shi treated him, the Li family’s world wasn’t open to outsiders’ ambitions.

 

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Li Shi closed the report, set down his red brush, and leaned back, massaging his brow. Then, he held out his hand toward Su Cen. “Come.”

 

Su Cen put down the ink stone and moved behind him, gently massaging his shoulders and neck.

 

“Finished reading?” he asked softly.

 

Leaning back, Li Shi closed his eyes, replying, “Just a bunch of petty, trivial matters they report on daily. If the court has to decide everything, what’s the point of keeping them around?”

 

Indeed, his frustration was evident.

 

Su Cen continued to massage him leisurely. “Then let me cheer you up with an interesting case that was just reported from a local court.”

 

Li Shi nodded, so Su Cen began, “So, there was an old woman walking at night, carrying a bundle. A young thief saw her and tried to snatch it from behind. A passerby saw it and chased after the thief, and they fought. By the time a crowd gathered, the thief turned the tables and claimed he was the one helping. Since it was dark, the old woman couldn’t recognize the thief, so all three ended up in court. Both men insisted the other was the thief. Now, guess how the magistrate solved it?”

 

Li Shi opened his eyes with a smile. “How did he solve it?”

 

Su Cen chuckled. “Well, everyone has their own approach. If Xue Chengzhen were presiding, he’d probably start by having both men flogged. If it were Lord Zhang, he’d likely persuade them to let it go, since nothing was actually stolen. But the magistrate in question had a clever approach: he brought in a fierce dog and set it to chase both men. The slower runner would be the thief, since the passerby was able to chase the thief down initially.”

 

“Not bad,” Li Shi remarked with a slight smile.

 

“But I have an even simpler way to solve it.”

 

“Oh?” Li Shi glanced back at him. “And what’s that?”

 

Su Cen raised an eyebrow. “But what will you reward me if I tell?”

 

Li Shi chuckled. “Tell me first.”

 

Su Cen’s eyes sparkled as he said, “I’d only need to look at their shoes to tell who’s who. Ordinary people walk with their eyes forward, with most of the wear at the back of the shoe. But a thief’s eyes are often on someone’s purse, so they’re looking downward, making their steps unsteady and putting their weight on the front of the foot. This causes the front of their shoes to wear out. Just by checking the wear pattern on their soles, I’d know which one is the thief and which one is the passerby.”

 

After explaining, he rested his head on Li Shi’s shoulder, asking with a smile, “Do you think I’m right, my lord?”

 

Li Shi lifted his hand, gently pinched Su Cen’s chin, and chuckled, “Go ahead, what do you want?”

 

Su Cen circled around to face him, leaning back against the table as he looked at Li Shi. “Do you remember the Qionglin Banquet? Chancellor Liu suggested I become the Emperor’s tutor. I didn’t accept back then, but…can I change my mind now?”

 

“Oh?” Li Shi narrowed his eyes slightly. “Why the change of heart?”

 

Su Cen straightened up, bowing solemnly. “Back then, I was prideful, thinking I could help the people single-handedly. It was naive. The Emperor is the foundation of the nation. If I can teach him to prioritize the welfare of the people and distinguish right from wrong, that would be the true blessing for the nation.”

 

As he finished, Su Cen kept his head down, watching Li Shi idly fiddle with the dark jade thumb ring on his finger without giving a reply.

 

Just when Su Cen thought he’d angered him, Li Shi suddenly extended his hand. Instinctively, Su Cen reached out, and Li Shi pulled him into his lap.

 

“That’s it?” Li Shi asked, gripping his chin.

 

Su Cen didn’t dare meet his gaze. Those eyes were too penetrating, so he lowered his gaze and replied, “That’s it.”

 

Li Shi tightened his grip, forcing Su Cen to look up as he stated, “You’re afraid we’ll end up like Mojie and Mohe.”

 

His tone held no doubt—just a firm conclusion.

 

Su Cen sighed inwardly. He had no way to hide his thoughts from this man.

 

Since their return from the outskirts, he had been on edge—not only because of Xiao Yan but also due to the far-off turmoil he hadn’t witnessed.

 

Back then, Moge held absolute power while Mohe was still young, and when Mohe came of age, he naturally saw Moge as an obstacle. Li Shi had used this animosity to instigate inner conflict in the Turkic kingdom, averting disaster.

 

But Su Cen couldn’t shake his fear.

 

It was all too similar—Moge and Mohe back then were so much like the young Emperor and Li Shi now.

 

In the six months since entering court, Su Cen had seen it firsthand: while Li Shi was arrogant and domineering, every action he took truly benefited the country and the people. He held up Great Zhou single-handedly, blocking the countless officials who sought to exploit the young Emperor’s youth to pursue selfish gains. But because of this, he had made countless enemies, bearing countless visible and invisible wounds from the court’s schemes.

 

But the young Emperor didn’t see any of this. All he knew was that his imperial uncle was harsh, scolding him unmercifully in court. At his young age, he couldn’t yet distinguish truth from deceit. If someone stirred resentment within him, would he grow to resent this imperial uncle? And when he finally held power, with his own claws and fangs—who would be the first person he’d target?

 

So, someone needs to explain all this to him.

 

Su Cen wasn’t sure why Li Shi had raised, promoted, and protected him all along. If it was to recruit him into the Ning faction, then Li Shi had succeeded. At least now, whether out of public duty or personal loyalty, he was an unwavering member of the Ning faction. He was willing to plan for this man’s sake, to do things he once looked down upon.

 

After a while, Li Shi merely smiled. “There’s no need.”

 

Su Cen looked up, puzzled, and fell into those star-like eyes.

 

“Don’t worry,” Li Shi gently patted his head, “it won’t come to that. You don’t need to worry.”

 

A sense of warmth filled Su Cen’s heart. Nestled in Li Shi’s embrace, he nodded obediently. There was something about this man; whenever he said there was no need to worry, Su Cen’s heart would truly calm down.

 

Of course, Li Shi wasn’t Mojie. He was brilliant—there’s no way he’d let himself end up in that kind of situation.

 

The remaining time passed peacefully as Su Cen leaned against Li Shi, holding a casual book while Li Shi finished reviewing memorials. As the lamps were lit, the light cast a soft halo around Li Shi’s jawline, making his features appear even more elegant and formidable.

 

Su Cen couldn’t help but reach out to touch it. Li Shi lowered his gaze to look at him. “What’s wrong? Are you bored?”

 

Su Cen shook his head. “No.”

 

Li Shi put down his red brush and gently touched Su Cen’s forehead with it, leaving a small dot of red.

 

A cinnabar mark on his forehead, like a little red spark on his heart.

 

As he watched the desire in Li Shi’s eyes ignite bit by bit, Su Cen felt a certain tension build up within him and hurriedly held up the memorial in front of Li Shi’s face. “State affairs are important.”

 

Li Shi didn’t take the document but said, “You read it for me.”

 

“Huh?” Su Cen blinked in surprise. “Me?”

 

Seeing Li Shi nod with genuine intent, Su Cen opened the memorial slowly.

 

Li Shi watched him, gently twirling a strand of his hair, gaze hot and unwavering.

 

If not for the memorial as a shield, Su Cen felt his face would have melted under that gaze.

 

After reading, Li Shi asked, “What do you think?”

 

Su Cen smiled, realizing why Li Shi had handed it to him—it was nothing serious. Official Wang Yan, who had recently been exiled to Guizhou, was asking the Emperor for a calligraphy piece celebrating his defiance of authority, hoping to pass it down as an heirloom.

 

Su Cen had no liking for this official. As a censor, he only focused his eyes on Xingqing Palace, gaining recognition by impeaching Prince Ning. Nothing epitomized pretension more than that.

 

Closing the memorial, he smirked and said, “A hypocrite wanting to be remembered as noble.”

 

Li Shi burst into laughter, patting Su Cen on the back and motioning for him to stand up. He then stretched and said, “Then let’s give him his tribute. Prepare the ink.”

 

Su Cen swapped out the red ink for black, watching as Li Shi took up a brush, dipped it in ink, and, with powerful, fluid strokes, wrote with immense grandeur:

 

Frog in a Shallow Well.

 

Su Cen couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

 

This phrase came from a poem: “The pond frog glares angrily, the toad roams arrogantly. It thinks it’s greeted by the king, and makes noise as though it’s music.”

 

It was a perfect metaphor, subtly likening Wang Yan to a shallow-well frog—short-sighted and irritatingly noisy.

 

After all, since it was a royal bestowal, Wang Yan would have to hang it prominently in his main hall as a mark of respect. But how would he proudly display these four characters for future generations?

 

Su Cen could almost picture the old man’s beard twitching in fury, yet helplessly swallowing his anger.

 

Looking up at Li Shi, Su Cen thought, He’s ruthless; truly someone not to cross.

 

Just then, Li Shi met his gaze. “The state matters are done. Now, shouldn’t we attend to personal ones?”

 

“Hmm?” Su Cen looked down, realizing the last memorial was complete.

 

Before he could make a getaway, Li Shi grabbed him, lifted him up, and carried him straight to the bed.

 

Su Cen stared helplessly at the ceiling, thinking, Truly… this is someone best not provoked.

 

---