As the hour of hai just passed, Shen Du changed his attire and stealthily entered Daming Palace under the cover of night.
In Qinzheng Hall, Zhou Zhao was waiting for him.
“Earlier today, you seemed hesitant to speak. What did you want to tell me?”
It turned out Zhou Zhao’s three taps were a signal for him to come to the third watch. Fortunately, Shen Du understood.
After careful consideration, Shen Du recounted Jin Cang’s last words and his experiences in Yingzhou. The Empress listened patiently, then sat lost in thought at her desk for a long while.
“Tell me, was I not good to him?”
Shen Du didn’t know how to answer.
Zhou Zhao suddenly looked over, her phoenix eyes narrowing: “And you? You want an answer too, don’t you?”
“Your subject trembles with fear.”
“Hehe, you tremble with fear?” Zhou Zhao closed her eyes, then opened them again, her gaze once more cold and clear. “After this matter is settled, I’ll grant you an answer about the old affairs of the Shen family.”
Shen Du’s heart surged with emotion as he departed under the cover of night.
The next day was the Laba Festival. The Empress was supposed to reward the officials for their year of hard work, but she suddenly fell gravely ill and canceled court.
Regarding the Crown Prince’s case, she issued an edict that day, ordering the Jin clan to enter the Court of Judicial Review. The case was to be presided over by Shen Du, with assistance from the Court.
Lai Luozhi’s expression was inscrutable. In the end, he said nothing and happily accepted the imperial edict, shocking everyone.
However, whether the Empress was truly ill or feigning illness, the officials had differing opinions. For a time, people’s hearts were in disarray, and various factions made their plans.
It’s unclear who spread the news of the Empress’s grave illness, but suddenly the common people felt change was coming.
In the prison of the Inner Court, Li Zhong had been placed in a solitary cell since his arrival. Shen Du didn’t give him any special treatment – the cell was dark, damp, cramped, and small. But Li Zhong was used to it and didn’t complain. He had some books sent in and read them daily, at peace.
After watching for a long while from outside, Shen Du opened the cell door and dismissed everyone, entering alone. A rat scurried to his feet and gnawed at his boots. Finding them too tough, it ran to nibble Li Zhong’s toes instead. Disturbed, Li Zhong set down his book and looked at the rat with a faint smile:
“Look at you a lot. If not forced, why would you choose to live in this sunless place rather than in broad daylight?”
Li Zhong truly didn’t seem like a Crown Prince. He lacked an imposing aura, had no edge to him, and didn’t possess the understated but forceful bearing of royalty. He just had the demeanor of a humble gentleman, a frail scholar, with a middle-aged uncle’s appearance.
If he were truly just a scholar, that would be fine. But he was destined to be far from ordinary.
“Your Highness…”
Li Zhong waved his hand: “What of Jin Cang?”
“Dead. He disemboweled himself in the street to plead Your Highness’s innocence.”
Li Zhong reached out to shoo away the rat: “Don’t call me Your Highness.”
Shen Du persisted: “You will always be the Crown Prince in my heart.”
Hearing this, Li Zhong stood up, draping a cloak over his shoulders as he hobbled over. He scrutinized Shen Du for a long moment, his tense face suddenly relaxing: “You chose me. Do you truly not regret it?”
Shen Du shook his head: “Once a move is made, there’s no taking it back.”
“You’re not afraid of the Empress?”
Shen Du’s expression flickered. Li Zhong sighed: “Jin Cang came that day saying he would be the vanguard. I promised him he would be safe. Only today did I learn he was prepared to die.”
This was something Shen Du hadn’t anticipated either. Years of planning culminated in Jin Cang’s sacrifice: “I am also at fault for not stopping him in time…”
Jin Cang was Zhu Yan’s uncle. Zhu Yan was heartbroken, and Shen Du felt terrible as well.
He never imagined Jin Cang had been prepared to die, let alone in such a brutal manner as disemboweling himself in the street. For a generation of musicians to meet such an end was truly lamentable.
“How is the Empress? Is she well?”
Remembering the Empress’s instructions, Shen Du’s thoughts became complicated: “Her Majesty ordered a review of the Crown Prince’s case. The Jin clan members are to be sent to the Court of Judicial Review. I am to preside, with assistance from the Court.”
Li Zhong nodded, his profile indistinct in the lamplight: “Have you discerned the Empress’s intentions?”
After pondering for a while, Shen Du still shook his head but said: “Her Majesty’s health is far worse than before. Princess Chaoyang keeps a low profile, while Princess Yong’an and the Zhou clan are restless.”
This was all within expectations: “What of that Lai fellow?”
“This is what I wanted to report. This time, Her Majesty claimed illness and didn’t hold court, entrusting the case to me. Lai Luozhi kept silent at first. But when Princess Chaoyang took over as regent, Lai Luozhi couldn’t sit still. He jumped out demanding Your Highness be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review, saying Your Highness has not made any substantial confessions here, yet “Qin Wang Po Zhen Yue” was indeed heard by many that day.”
“Grand Secretary Zhang and the others were unwilling and strongly opposed this, saying Lai Luozhi openly defied Her Majesty’s orders, even wanting to send the Crown Prince to that filthy Court of Judicial Review. Who doesn’t know that entering the Court of Judicial Review is a death sentence? In all these years, has anyone ever come out alive? The Crown Prince is the sole heir to the throne. Entering the Inner Court to monitor officials is one thing, but he absolutely cannot go to the Court of Judicial Review.”
“Lai Luozhi argued that the Crown Prince should be subject to the same laws as commoners when he breaks them and that since I am incompetent, it makes no difference if he oversees the case.”
Li Zhong wore casual clothes, his hair half-undone, looking lazy and casual. His shadow, elongated by the candlelight, was cast on the wall. Though damp, the cell was clean and tidy. He paced to the candlelight:
“I imagine you’ve already found a reason to refuse him.”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come so confidently today to see him.
Shen Du nodded, his cold eyes narrowing slightly: “Indeed. Since Her Majesty is not present, I publicly stated the words she left: ‘I only have this one son left.'”
Li Zhong hadn’t expected this sentence. Seeing the certainty in Shen Du’s eyes, his emotions surged, the mist in his eyes turning to hatred: “So she remembers she has a son. All these years, all these years, she’s killed off all her sons until only I remain. What now? Realizing if she kills again she’ll have no sons left? What does it matter to her if she has no sons? She has daughters, she is a woman. She can have Chaoyang follow in her footsteps and ascend the throne as Empress. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have empresses for thousands of generations to come?”
Shen Du remained silent. Everyone had heard that the Empress had used extreme measures to win the palace struggles and secure her position years ago. But politics was inherently bloody, and as outsiders, they shouldn’t pry.
When Li Zhong’s emotions stabilized, Shen Du continued: “With Her Majesty’s edict in hand, even Lai Luozhi’s silver tongue was no match. In the end, he had to give up.”
“But strangely, while Grand Secretary Zhang and the others objecting was expected, the Zhou clan also strongly opposed it. Led by Duke Rong, and Zhou Xian (Zhou Zhao’s elder brother), they not only opposed Your Highness entering the Court of Judicial Review, but also the Inner Court. Instead, they demanded Your Highness be sent to the Court of Judicial Review to be tried by Minister Tang Zheng, saying Tang Zheng is upright and clearheaded, and would surely give the Crown Prince a fair trial.”
“Hehe, what a scheme,” Li Zhong laughed coldly. “They fear I won’t die in your custody, so they’re roundabout in calling for my death.”
Shen Du agreed wholeheartedly. The Zhou clan was spread throughout the Three Departments and Six Ministries of the capital, and the government offices of the capital region. If he truly went to the Court of Judicial Review, even if Minister Tang Zheng was as upright as could be, he couldn’t guard against those operating in the shadows.
Li Zhong came before Shen Du again, emotion-stirring in his eyes: “You’ve worked hard.”
“I dare not accept such praise.”
“Hehe, this prince knows what you want to know. If this prince is fortunate enough to escape this calamity, I will surely give you, give the Shen family justice. After all,” Li Zhong sighed, his gaze distant, “the Shen family’s misfortune was related to this prince. Back then, this prince’s power was weak and I couldn’t save them. It was this prince who failed the Shen family. Fortunately, you’re still here. This prince still has a chance for redemption.”
These words stirred Shen Du’s heart as he thought of his family’s years of submission: “I only seek justice.”
Li Zhong patted his shoulder, looking at him with the fondness of an elder for a junior: “Be careful in all things.”
Shen Du agreed. Before leaving, he asked Li Zhong: “Would Your Highness like to change rooms?”
“No need,” Li Zhong gazed at the pitch-black ceiling. This was the bottom cell, with no sunlight from any direction. It was the greatest test of one’s mind. “This is this prince’s tribulation. This prince must endure it. You may go.”
As he stepped onto the stairs, Shen Du heard Li Zhong softly recite: “Accepting the law, we bid farewell to our leader. Together we go to suppress the rebel ministers. All sing the ‘Song of Breaking Formations’, sharing in the peace of the realm…”