Chapter Seventy-Nine: Get Out of My Sight

This is reality!
No matter how strict the law may be, sometimes it must bow to sentiment!
“Enough!” Li Zhi waved his hand. “If Mother wants to intervene, I can’t go against her. Let’s consider this a lesson for Changsun Chong!”
“He’s getting off too easily!”
Luo Tong clenched his fists, then slowly released them.

Returning to Lizheng Hall, Changsun Wuji was kneeling in the center of the drawing room, enduring a fierce scolding from Empress Changsun. She raised her hand and berated him, “You… you actually plotted to assassinate Zhi’er! Now you’re facing execution, and you still have the nerve to come to me?”
“Get out!”
“Your Majesty…”
“Out!”
Empress Changsun summoned the guards at the door and had Changsun Wuji thrown out of Lizheng Hall. “Tell the guards outside not to let him back in!”
“Yes!”

Watching Changsun Wuji being expelled, Luo Tong was the happiest of all.
“Heh heh… Your Highness, it seems Changsun Chong is doomed this time!”
“Eh!”
Even Li Zhi hadn’t expected Empress Changsun to reject Changsun Wuji’s plea. It was a bit of a surprise, but considering Changsun Chong had plotted to assassinate him, her anger was understandable.
If she forgave even this, how would she face Li Zhi in the future?
“Perhaps,” Li Zhi replied with a smile and strode into the drawing room.

“Mother, was that Lord Changsun who just left?”
“Yes.”
“He came to plead for Changsun Chong?”
…

Empress Changsun glanced at Li Zhi, took his hand, and said coldly, “They dared to plot against you—an unforgivable crime! Your mother will not let you suffer injustice—not even for family!”
“Is Changsun Chong still being held at the county yamen?”
She asked Luo Tong, who nodded. “Reporting to Your Majesty, Young Master Changsun is still there. He may… be condemned to death.”
“He deserves it!”
Empress Changsun said through gritted teeth.

Night fell.
The moon hung in a sparsely clouded sky, the air especially cool.
Li Shimin strolled over to Lizheng Hall and decided to sit for a while.

The emperor’s arrival prompted everyone to bow in greeting.
Li Shimin picked up Li Zhi with doting affection. “You’re quite something, aren’t you! Everywhere I go, I hear people talking about how you toppled the Changsun family!”
“You must be joking, Father. I only spent a few days at the county yamen. Sun Jiali handled the case!”
“Hmm! My son is so young and yet not arrogant or boastful. Excellent, excellent…” The more modest Li Zhi was, the happier Li Shimin felt.
Nothing that happened recently in Chang’an County had escaped his notice—he was well aware of Li Zhi’s conduct.

“Hahaha… Good!” Li Shimin couldn’t help but cover Li Zhi’s face with fatherly kisses.
“Yah yah yah!”
Li Zhi struggled free and rushed off to wash his face.

“I heard Lord Changsun came by earlier?” Li Shimin asked casually after sitting down.
“Yes, he came to plead for mercy, hoping for leniency for Changsun Chong. I refused,” Empress Changsun replied truthfully.
Li Shimin frowned, then suddenly smiled. “We’re all family—why pursue things to the bitter end?”
“…That’s not like you, Your Majesty.”
Empress Changsun found it odd. In the past, she had always been the one to plead for mercy, and he would reluctantly relent. Why was he taking the initiative to bend the rules today?
“Changsun Wuji is an important minister. I rely on him for many things. If his son were executed over this, how could I entrust him with state affairs in the future?”
“But we can’t just let this pass, can we?”
…

Li Shimin had already made up his mind. “Changsun Chong attempted to assassinate a prince. By law, he should be executed. But out of consideration for his father’s years of loyal service, he’ll be imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon for life, never to be released!”
“Changsun Wuji, for failing to properly raise his son, will forfeit three years’ salary as punishment!”
“Does this suffice?”
Empress Changsun still felt it was too lenient. “They tried to kill Zhi’er—unforgivable! Mere imprisonment… won’t satisfy the public. If everyone follows their example, how will Zhi’er survive?”
Li Zhi, eavesdropping from behind the door, could tell—Li Shimin was in a difficult position.
Even if Empress Changsun disagreed, he would not execute Changsun Chong. There was no one in the court to replace Changsun Wuji, and if his son were killed, he could no longer be entrusted with important matters.

Li Zhi hurried out and played along. “Father, please pardon my cousin. After all, I wasn’t hurt—let’s just call it a childish prank between us!”
“Zhi’er, what are you saying?” Empress Changsun exclaimed in alarm.
“Zhi’er is the sensible one!” Li Shimin nodded. “But… his crime is too great. I cannot release him. Permanent imprisonment is the greatest mercy I can show!”
“Father is wise!”
Thus, the father and son, in perfect accord, decided Changsun Chong’s fate.

…

A few days later, the attempted assassination case was settled.
Changsun Chong was sentenced to life imprisonment, with no possibility of pardon.
The Five Tigers of the Eastern Market, notorious for their crimes and abuse, were sentenced to immediate execution.
Their assets were confiscated and forfeited to the state.

“In two days, it’s the God of Cooking Competition. Is Cheng Chubi going or not? Check for me!” Li Zhi instructed Luo Tong, who visited a tavern outside the palace.
The answer was—he’s not going!

Li Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness…”
“With your skills, why would you be afraid of Cheng Chubi?” Luo Tong couldn’t understand.
Cheng Chubi had learned everything from Li Zhi—what was there to fear?

“I won’t repeat myself about this again!” Li Zhi had explained before—he was doing it for Cheng Chubi’s sake, to save him from defeat and humiliation.
“Alright then,” Luo Tong said with a wry smile. “I never thought Your Highness could be so merciful!”
“Of course! He’s my disciple, after all. If I don’t look out for him, who will?” Li Zhi chuckled, though inwardly he thought, as long as Cheng Chubi didn’t compete, the championship would be much easier to win.

No, wait!
There was still another formidable opponent—Princess Changle, Li Lizhi!
Recently, Li Lizhi had insisted on participating in the contest, determined to showcase her skills. Even if she didn’t win, she wanted everyone to see her extraordinary cooking.
Though her repertoire was limited and her technique flawed, compared to his plan to use clay as an ingredient, she would surely fare better. If she ended up winning, he wouldn’t be able to complete the system’s task—the whole plan would fall apart!

At this thought, Li Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. “Luo Tong, do you know where the princess is?”
“She’s probably in the Imperial Library.”
“What’s she doing there?”
Luo Tong rolled his eyes. “Your Highness, you’re really too much! Of course the princess is attending lessons! You haven’t been to class for nearly a month—have you forgotten?”
If Luo Tong hadn’t mentioned it, Li Zhi would never have remembered.
He’d been so busy outside the palace lately that even Lord Fang Xuanling hadn’t forced him to attend lessons. Over time, he had simply put the matter out of his mind.

“Ahem… If you hadn’t brought it up, I’d have forgotten. Since she’s in the library, let’s go there too. I have something to discuss with her—and might as well attend a class while I’m at it!”
Li Zhi’s lips curled in a mischievous smile.
Luo Tong muttered to himself, “Looks like Lord Fang is in for trouble again…”