Chapter Fifty: True Colors Revealed
Changsun Wuji still wore an expression of dissatisfaction.
“Lord Changsun, you must understand... This is all I can do. If you remain ungrateful and wish for me to indulge your son further, should I unleash my wrath, I fear you could not bear the consequences!” Li Shimin spoke coldly.
Changsun Wuji hurriedly knelt. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger! I merely wish to say... His Highness the Prince of Jin is at the county yamen; he might take charge of this matter. With the Prince of Jin backing him, Sun Jiali will not let this go easily!”
Li Shimin seemed to ponder this.
“Zhi’er is at the county yamen! Lord Changsun, I warn you, there must be no favoritism in this matter! Whatever crime Changsun Chong has committed, it must be handled according to the law!”
“You may go now!” Li Shimin suddenly turned cold, catching Changsun Wuji off guard.
“Your Majesty…”
“Are you still here?”
Changsun Wuji glanced at the eunuch beside him, his meaning clear. Li Shimin had promised to send a eunuch to the county yamen, presumably to accompany him.
However, Li Shimin now went back on his word. “Lord Changsun, I trust your abilities. You will handle this well! I have other matters; you are dismissed.”
“Very well, your servant takes his leave!” Changsun Wuji understood. Before Li Zhi, Li Shimin wished to establish his image as a wise ruler. He would not give Changsun Chong even the slightest favor, let alone bend the law for him.
“In the end... he’s just a three-year-old child! I refuse to believe you can overturn the heavens!” Leaving the imperial study, Changsun Wuji resolved to contend with Li Zhi and personally rescue his son.
This day—
Changsun Chong could not bear staying in the cell any longer, and made a ruckus: “Li Zhi, Luo Tong, Sun Jiali, come out! How dare you detain me? You’re doomed!”
While he shouted, Li Zhi and Luo Tong were playing chess in the main hall.
“Your Highness’s chess skills are truly extraordinary. I’ve lost again!” Luo Tong exclaimed.
“Your mind isn’t on the chessboard at all; you’re worried about how to avoid punishment, aren’t you?”
“How did Your Highness know?”
“With your little schemes, I guessed easily!” Li Zhi waved his hand, signaling the bailiffs to clear the chessboard. He then said, “You’re a marquis; do you need to be so afraid?”
“Sigh!” Luo Tong sighed inwardly. It was not that he feared punishment, but his status forbade it. He thought of his mother at home who still needed his care. What would happen if something went wrong?
“Don’t worry… I’m here!” Li Zhi laughed softly. “No matter how big the trouble, I’ll cover it for you!”
“Luo Tong, Sun Jiali… you bastards!” Changsun Chong continued to curse. The cell’s poor soundproofing meant his words carried for hundreds of meters.
He shouted all manner of obscenities. If not for appearances, Luo Tong would have beaten him senseless!
“What insolence! The dignified young lord, yet so lacking in manners. Clearly, he’s accustomed to bullying the people and committing all sorts of evil! Simply locking him up is too lenient—he deserves a beating!”
Luo Tong cursed for a bit, then leaned closer to Li Zhi. “Your Highness, you must resist the pressure and keep Changsun Chong locked up for longer. Let him taste what it’s like to be in prison!”
Li Zhi’s plans went far beyond detaining Changsun Chong. He intended to make Changsun Wuji bleed! The First Tavern had been smashed, losses were heavy—how could this be easily swept aside?
“Hmph!” Li Zhi stood. “Changsun Chong won’t get out so easily!”
“He must pay the price!”
Li Zhi’s only worry was that Li Shimin might intervene and force Changsun Chong’s release. That would be troublesome. But Li Zhi would not back down, for behind him stood the law!
No matter how high one’s status, the law must be upheld!
Even if Li Shimin interfered, he could not change the final outcome!
“Go urge Sun Jiali to open court and hear the case quickly!”
“Yes!”
Sun Jiali had delayed for half a day, likely waiting for Changsun Wuji. After all, Changsun Wuji was Li Zhi’s uncle; if he and Li Zhi reconciled, everything could be settled. Sun Jiali would not have to risk offending the Changsun family by trying the case.
Unfortunately…
Li Zhi would not reconcile!
Nor did Changsun Wuji intend to!
At noon, pressured by Li Zhi, Sun Jiali posted a notice, announcing that the trial would be held the next day. All Chang’an’s citizens would come to watch, and the Ministry of Justice would send officials to supervise.
“Chubei has sent the bill for the First Tavern’s damages, please review it, Your Highness!” Luo Tong handed Li Zhi several silk slips.
Opening them, Li Zhi saw a list of all destroyed items, totaling twenty-five thousand coins.
“So little? Far too little!”
“Your Highness… the man Chubei sent said he’d done everything he could and could only tally up twenty-five thousand coins. If he added more, it wouldn’t be credible.”
“Heh…” Li Zhi smiled. “Chubei is far too honest! If the loss is twenty-five thousand, he reports twenty-five thousand?”
“Tell him to quadruple the amount!”
“Ah?” Luo Tong was astonished. Four times would be one hundred thousand!
The Changsun family was no fool—would they really pay up?
Upon seeing the notice, the citizens gathered at the county yamen’s gates.
Sun Jiali, dressed in official robes, swaggered to the bench and slammed the gavel.
“Bring in the accused!”
Changsun Chong, shackled at wrists and ankles, hair disheveled and reeking, entered the court slowly. He glared at Sun Jiali, furious. “Sun Jiali, how dare you! You detained me—do you know what fate awaits you?”
Sun Jiali was already fearful, and now even more so.
“Young Lord Changsun, I am merely fulfilling my duty. I hope you understand.”
“Enough nonsense! Unshackle me!” Changsun Chong shook his chains.
The crowd held their breath, fixated on Sun Jiali.
Would he compromise, or uphold the law against the most powerful young lord in the realm?
“Hmph! Sun Jiali, do you intend to bend the law for personal gain?” Li Zhi entered with Luo Tong.
Sun Jiali was shocked. “I wouldn’t dare!”
“Then hurry and open the trial!”
“Yes!”
Sun Jiali was clever. He quickly realized that Li Zhi was favored, summoned to court every few days. In this sense, Li Zhi was Li Shimin’s equal. If Sun Jiali continued to waver, trying to ingratiate himself with Changsun Wuji, disaster would surely follow!
He slammed the gavel again. “Changsun Chong, how dare you threaten the court! Guards… make him kneel!”
“You!”
“What do you mean ‘you’? Kneel!” Li Zhi seated himself beside Sun Jiali.
Two bailiffs pressed Changsun Chong’s neck, forcing him to the ground. The pain was unbearable, and he screamed in anguish.
“Stop! Stop!!” A weighty voice rang out.
Changsun Wuji entered, leading officials from the Ministry of Justice.
“At last you’ve arrived…” Li Zhi thought to himself. “Old Changsun, you own the Tianyi Tavern, worth a million coins—I refuse to believe your wealth is clean! This time, I’ll make you reveal your true nature!”