Chapter Forty-Six: What Should We Do Then

Li Zhi took off his brocade attire and donned the clothes of an ordinary man. With his unusually short stature, he was utterly inconspicuous; even on a crowded street, no one would pay him the slightest attention.

Luo Tong, on the other hand, was dressed in splendid regalia. He wore a golden helmet and a suit of red-and-gold armor, a dragon-engraved saber at his waist. In Chang’an, only the Imperial Guard could dress so magnificently.

Indeed, Luo Tong was impersonating an Imperial Guard. He planned to use this identity to escort Li Zhi out of the palace.

“Your Highness, are you sure this will work? Are we not courting disaster?” Luo Tong asked anxiously.

“Nothing will happen,” Li Zhi replied with confidence.

“Don’t drag me into trouble… Impersonating the Imperial Guard is a serious crime, isn’t it?” Luo Tong remembered his mother’s countless admonitions—never stir up trouble when outside.

Truth be told, following Li Zhi was more than he could handle. A single misstep could cost him his life.

“I’ve noticed your courage is no bigger than a sesame seed!” Li Zhi teased.

“Remember… to accomplish great things, you need decisiveness!” Li Zhi continued.

“Hmph!” Luo Tong snorted. “Decisiveness sounds nice—just like you, tearing up edicts, smashing the imperial seal. Even if I had a thousand heads, it wouldn’t be enough!”

Li Zhi burst into laughter. He enjoyed such words; after all, his status spoke for itself—he was the Prince of Jin.

Having slipped past the many guards of Lizheng Hall, they reached the palace gates, ready to make their escape. They thought their plan flawless, but Li Shimin, ever shrewd, had already dispatched men to wait for them.

“Your Highness… please step forward,” a eunuch stood before them.

At that moment, Luo Tong sat astride a horse, his crimson cloak swirling forward to conceal Li Zhi. Even upon close inspection, Li Zhi was difficult to spot. Besides, Luo Tong held the Imperial Guard’s token, allowing him easy passage. Yet, Li Shimin’s men were not so easily fooled.

Keeping his composure, Luo Tong declared, “Your Highness? You must be mistaken. I am acting under the Empress’s orders, on official business. Stand aside!”

The eunuch smiled. “Captain Luo, there’s no need to pretend… No matter how you disguise yourself, your height remains unchanged, and your armor comes from Lizheng Hall. The Emperor has ordered that anyone leaving Lizheng Hall must be thoroughly searched.”

“You—!”

“Please cooperate, Captain Luo.”

After a brief standoff, Li Zhi poked his head out from under the cloak, glancing at the eunuch. “You’re quite capable—despite my disguise, you still recognized me!”

“But… so what?”

“If you dare chase me and I fall from my horse, any mishap will cost you your lives!” Li Zhi threatened, then ducked back under the cloak and growled, “Luo Tong, what are you waiting for? Charge!”

“Ah?” Luo Tong realized he was carrying the Emperor’s favorite prince. Who would dare give chase? Should any harm befall him, who could bear the blame?

“Hyah!” he shouted, urging the horse forward with Li Zhi in tow.

As expected, not a single guard at the palace gates dared pursue them. The eunuch called out anxiously, “Your Highness, be careful, don’t fall!”

Li Zhi and Luo Tong escaped the palace unhindered, heading straight for First Tavern.

Li Zhi laughed heartily, “If I’d known it would be this easy, we needn’t have bothered with disguises! We could have stormed out openly!”

“Hmph!” Luo Tong seemed displeased, slowing the horse.

“What’s wrong?” Li Zhi asked, puzzled.

“You can storm out, but I cannot! At the gate, I focused on getting you out and forgot the consequences. Your Highness… do you realize the crime for impersonating the Imperial Guard and forcing the palace gates?”

“I do not,” Li Zhi replied.

Luo Tong was speechless. What was he to do now? Was he truly to follow Li Zhi down this dark path?

“Given the circumstances, are you thinking of returning?” Li Zhi asked.

Returning was out of the question. He could only await punishment. Luo Tong’s face was bitter. “Meeting you has brought me nothing but misfortune.”

Outside First Tavern, the streets teemed with people, shoulder to shoulder, bustling with life. Many had not come to dine, but to acquire the so-called membership card. Only with such a card could one enter the tavern.

In fact, since yesterday, First Tavern served only members. No matter how wealthy or distinguished, without a card, entry was impossible. The tavern was simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of guests.

They could only serve members and let go of the rest.

“What is this?” Luo Tong gaped. “Am I seeing this right? All this fuss just for a meal?”

Li Zhi laughed, “This shows that Cheng Chubi’s culinary skills have grown immensely!” He rushed inside, eager.

Cheng Chubi came down the stairs, greeting him, “Master…”

“Excellent work!” Li Zhi praised.

“Thank you, Master!” Cheng Chubi said, pulling Li Zhi upstairs to a private room. He pointed out the window, “Look, Master, Changsun Chong from Tianyi Tavern is right over there!”

Changsun Chong stood at the entrance across the street, his eyes darting about, clearly plotting something. Every now and then he glanced enviously at Cheng Chubi’s tavern, his face full of jealousy and spite.

“That fellow isn’t one to be trifled with! Chubi, you must guard against him trying to wreck your tavern,” Luo Tong warned.

“Don’t worry, I’m prepared!” Cheng Chubi smiled, clapping his hands. The sound of doors opening came from behind. Twenty robust men sat in a room, some reading, some practicing martial arts, others playing chess.

“Little Lord…” they stood in unison, weapons in hand, standing solemnly.

“I’ve transferred half the guards from Duke Lu’s manor here. If Changsun Chong tries anything, I guarantee he’ll leave looking like a beaten pig. But he’s been patient—days have passed and he hasn’t acted. He must suspect that the guards at Duke Lu’s manor have been reduced and reassigned here, so he doesn’t dare make a move!”

Luo Tong exclaimed excitedly, “Looks like you’re thriving here!”

“Of course!” Cheng Chubi boasted. “My culinary skills are unrivaled in Chang’an—well, aside from Master, I’m number one! Everyone needs to eat, and everyone wants to taste my cooking. Even dukes, generals, and ministers must treat me respectfully, or I’ll ‘season’ their dishes and they’ll suffer!”

Cheng Chubi was immensely proud. Learning from Li Zhi was the best decision of his life. He had never known what it was to be respected, nor had he experienced the delight of relying on his own abilities to command the deference of Chang’an’s nobility and wealthy families. Now he had achieved all of it.

Li Zhi looked out the window. “Transferring guards from the Duke’s manor does prevent Changsun Chong from causing trouble, but it also incurs considerable expense. All for that useless fellow—not really worth it.”

“Ah?” Cheng Chubi signaled the guards to close the door and asked, “Then what should we do?”