Placid Chang’an Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Transaction

Xingqing Palace, along with Taiji Palace and Daming Palace, is collectively known as the “Three Great Inner Palaces.” Located within the eastern city of Chang’an, within the Chunming Gate, it occupies a large area and has been regarded as a royal garden throughout the dynasties. 

It combines the world’s landscapes in one place, featuring pavilions, towers, clear ponds, and luxurious surroundings that surpass even the other two palaces. After the passing of the late emperor, Prince Ning was urgently recalled from the border and temporarily resided in Xingqing Palace. Since then, he never moved out.

In his early years, some audacious censors accused Prince Ning of disregarding court etiquette and exceeding his authority. However, Li Shi paid no heed to this and simply cohabited with them. If the censors’ words got too intense, he would bring them to live with him, though he resided in the grandest building, the “Radiant Petal Tower,” while they were relegated to the dungeon in the rear of Xingqing Palace. As time passed and Li Shi’s power grew, no one dared to utter such words anymore.

Unconcerned with the scenic beauty of the imperial gardens, Su Cen followed Qi Lin inside. They stopped before the Qinpeng Administrative Hall, where Qi Lin entered to announce their arrival before leading Su Cen in.

Contrary to rumors of his extravagant and indulgent lifestyle, Prince Ning’s study was simple and elegant. When Su Cen entered, he found Li Shi seated at a table, responding to official memorials from all directions.

Su Cen knelt down and paid his respects. Li Shi, whether by oversight or intention, did not acknowledge him, leaving him to kneel throughout. From the golden glow of sunset to the emergence of evening lanterns, Su Cen’s legs had gone from tingling to a complete lack of sensation. His spine had stiffened, and any movement produced a distinct cracking sound from his stiffened vertebrae.

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“Ebu yal usw blal?”

Su Cen regained his composure, kneeling respectfully, “I wish to undertake the investigation of the recent scholar’s case.”

Li Shi tapped the jade finger ring on his thumb, “Haven’t they already caught the culprit?”

Su Cen gritted his teeth. Song Jiancheng was too eager for credit. Although the person hadn’t been transferred to the Ministry of Justice yet, the news had already been leaked. Bypassing higher authorities had always been looked down upon. Su Cen cautiously chose his words, “There are still a few doubts in the case. I wish to clarify them before closing it.”

“You want to review the case,” Li Shi hit the nail on the head.

“Yes, I want to review the case,” Su Cen no longer felt the need to use elaborate language, “I initially pointed in the wrong direction, leading to the wrong arrest. I have no complaints about the punishment I deserve for that mistake. However, Song Shisi is too eager for a conviction, and under duress, a confession was obtained. I cannot stand by while an innocent person is wronged and the real culprit escapes. I request a reexamination of this case.”

Li Shi tapped his inkstone with his finger, his gaze penetrating Su Cen’s eyes, “Do you believe in the person you’ve wrongly accused?”

Su Cen maintained eye contact, his voice unwavering, “I trust him. He may not be perfect, but he’s not a murderer.”

Li Shi’s lips curled slightly, “You have a keen eye for people.”

Su Cen bowed his head, “I will do everything in my power to uncover the truth and bring justice.”

Li Shi chuckled, “That’s good. If you believe in him, then you should fight for his innocence.”

Su Cen raised his head, gratitude shining in his eyes, “Thank you, Prince.”

Li Shi waved his hand, “There’s no need to thank me. I have my reasons for agreeing to this.”

Su Cen’s heart stirred, but he didn’t ask further. He understood that the intricacies of the palace were beyond his grasp. He bowed again and retreated, “Then I will prepare to take over the case.”

Li Shi nodded, “Go ahead. If you need assistance, you can find me.”

Su Cen nodded, and with another bow

“What about the evidence?” Li Shi inquired.

Su Cen fell silent. Ultimately, his belief in Gao Miao’s innocence was based on his judgment alone. The case had progressed too smoothly, with a convenient suspect appearing just when they needed one. All the necessary evidence had been gathered, awaiting investigation by the court. However, he couldn’t bring himself to believe that someone who had committed murder within his own home could sleep soundly. But judgments weren’t equivalent to evidence. While there were doubts surrounding Wu Deshui’s death, anyone could have been his murderer, including Gao Miao.

In the end, Su Cen could only say, “I’m still investigating…”

“Do you realize the negative impact this case is having in the capital? The newly enrolled scholars are all anxious, and rumors of evil spirits killing people are rampant. People within the court are using this as an opportunity to pressure us further. You can continue with the investigation, and if you do uncover something, I will provide an explanation to the victim’s family afterward. But right now, I need a suspect to quell public unease.”

Su Cen was taken aback, and a chill ran down his spine. He felt like he had plunged into an icy abyss.

Li Shi knew. He knew that Gao Miao was wrongfully accused, that Song Jiancheng had forced a confession, and that the real culprit was still at large. He knew everything, yet he didn’t care.

To Li Shi, a human life was as insignificant as a blade of grass. He held the lives of countless people in his hands, rising above them all. Gao Miao, or even Su Cen himself, were merely among those countless individuals, hardly worth mentioning.

“I propose a trade.” Su Cen gritted his teeth and slowly rose from the ground. “You’ve said it yourself, everything is a transaction. I want to make a deal with you. Give me three more days, and I’ll undoubtedly find the real culprit.”

Li Shi raised an intrigued eyebrow, “What do you have to offer in exchange?”

Su Cen couldn’t help but laugh at himself. He was actually trying to negotiate with Prince Ning, a man of immense power and wealth? A tear glistened in the corner of his eye as he unceremoniously discarded his outer robe. “My own flesh and blood. Let’s see if Your Highness finds me worthy.”

Earlier, he went back to his residence, had a meal, and drank water. He suppressed the pallor on his face and took a moment to bathe and change. The fragrance of sandalwood wafted through his room as he changed into a luxurious robe adorned with cranes soaring through the moonlit sky. Before leaving, he asked Qu Ling’er, “Do you know what happens between men?”

Back at the teahouse, he had observed Li Shi from behind a thin veil. Later, when Zheng Yang mentioned Li Shi’s interest, he didn’t imagine it himself. He had acted boldly based on that slight “interest.”

It was rather amusing in hindsight. He had once avoided Li Shi, but little did he know that in the end, Li Shi would make no move, while he himself would take the initiative.

He had set his own price—his flesh and blood—in exchange for three more days. One life for another. It was a good deal.

Li Shi seemed unsurprised, twirling his finger ring, “Did you gather all the information?”

Su Cen’s near-death experience at the palace meant he was in no mood for sentiment. He had barely saved his life by kneeling there for hours, and now he was bargaining with Prince Ning to exchange days for the truth.

“Emperor Taizong’s edict mandates discretion. Once I step out of the Xingqing Palace, I’ll keep my lips sealed, not uttering a word,” Su Cen asserted.

“You can speak if you wish, but it won’t change anything—just a few more lives,” Li Shi responded, raising his chin. “Come here.”

Dragging his numb legs, Su Cen approached him step by step. In the candlelight, the contours of Li Shi’s face appeared even more mature and stern. Su Cen instinctively held his breath. Li Shi continued, “Sit.”

Su Cen hesitated for a moment. There was only a carved mahogany chair with intertwined dragons and pearls behind the desk—a seat reserved for Li Shi. How could Su Cen possibly sit there?

After pondering briefly, Su Cen slowly shuffled closer to Li Shi and gingerly seated himself on the man’s leg.

Li Shi rewarded his sensibility with a smile. The sound of his laughter resonated huskily from behind, echoing within Su Cen’s chest.

A tingling sensation surged through Su Cen’s entire back.

He wasn’t as petite or delicate as Qu Ling’er, and he didn’t dare to fully sit, so he was unsure where to place his hands. Unfortunately, the cool sandalwood scent enveloped him, encasing him entirely, while each inhale and exhale carried the essence of this man.

Before long, he found himself breaking into a sweat.

Li Shi remained patient and pointed at the table. “Take a look.”

Spread across the table were memorials from various regions. Since Li Shi didn’t seem to mind him, Su Cen picked one up to glance at it.

It was a memorial from the Jiangzhou Prefect detailing the rampant smuggling of private salt, highlighting the ineffectiveness of bans and urging the court to take action to deter such activities.

Su Cen furrowed his brows and set the memorial down. 

“What do you think?” Li Shi inquired.

“If I may speak my mind, these are one-sided allegations,” Su Cen began. “The court’s rigorous crackdown on private salt trade is evident, but if these activities persist, it may be necessary to scrutinize the court’s own actions.”

“Your Highness is likely aware that during the Yonglong reign, the Turks posed a significant threat on our borders, and years of continuous warfare depleted the imperial treasury. Emperor Taizong implemented the salt monopoly, where the court would manage the salt trade, merchants would sell, and the merchants would remit their share to the court. Initially, this strategy worked well—fulfilling the treasury’s needs and conserving both labor and resources. However, with time, its flaws became apparent. The salt monopoly merchants continually profited, driving up official salt prices. People even composed poems lamenting ‘In life, we don’t aspire to be wealthy nobles, only to reap profits from salt in Huai Xi,’ highlighting the scale of the salt trade. As a result, commoners were deprived of affordable salt, creating a breeding ground for the proliferation of private salt.”

Su Cen finished speaking and glanced at Li Shi. He realized his words might have sounded a bit radical, fearing that he might have annoyed the man. However, Li Shi’s expression remained unreadable. Li Shi then asked him, “In your opinion, what should be done?”

“Rather than trying to calm the storm, it’s better to remove the root cause,” Su Cen responded.

Li Shi chuckled. “That’s a straightforward approach. In the past, the salt merchants gained the salt monopoly from the court, ostensibly to alleviate the court’s financial troubles. But the court couldn’t undertake such drastic measures. Moreover, over the years, the collusion between local salt merchants and officials has woven a vast and intricate web. If you pull out the radish, you’ll bring out the mud. Do you still want this piece of land?”

Su Cen lowered his head, pondering for a moment. “Since the court can’t act directly, we can use someone else’s hand. The reason why the monopoly merchants can manipulate salt prices is due to the strict supervision of salt by the court and the prohibition of private salt trade. If private salt leaks into the market, it will impact the official salt market and cause prices to drop. Furthermore, since the monopoly merchants acquire salt from the court, their costs are inherently higher than those of private salt. Over time, they will naturally relinquish their rights to the salt monopoly. At that point, abolishing the salt monopoly becomes straightforward.”

As Su Cen spoke, his excitement grew, and he relaxed. Looking at Li Shi, he continued, “Once the salt monopoly is abolished, dealing with those private salt smugglers becomes much simpler. Their foundations are shallow, and their activities are already illicit. With the decrease in official salt prices and a little pressure, they will scatter.”

Suddenly, something occurred to Su Cen, and he jumped up in alarm. “Those private salt smugglers are… you?”

Li Shi smoothly pressed him onto the table. “You’re getting interesting.”

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