Chapter Eleven: The Two Princes Stir Up the Capital (Part Two)

“Qiao Zhao acted as if plotting rebellion; his crime is punishable by death and his entire family must be executed. Cui Xuanche, you are an imperial censor, yet you knowingly broke the law; your crime is even greater, demanding the eradication of three clans. Guards, seize this villain!” Seeing that Cui Xuanche remained silent, Li Xian, who intended to use this incident to assert his authority in court, grew spirited, let out a cold laugh, and waved his hand for his guards to act. The royal guards of Prince Lu behind him responded in unison, stepping forward to apprehend their targets.

“Wait!” Hou Shanye, though deeply dissatisfied with Cui Xuanche and wishing to see him suffer, dared not stand by as the Prince Lu’s guards moved to seize him. After all, Hou himself was entangled in this case; if he could not extricate himself beforehand and matters escalated, he too would not escape unscathed. Seeing the guards about to act, Hou rushed out, calling out loudly and leading a group of Dali Temple officers to block their advance before Cui Xuanche.

“Hmph, Lord Hou, as chief justice of Dali Temple, you should be well-versed in the court’s laws. Yet now you collude with the traitor Cui, seeking to disrupt the court’s order, is that your intent?” Though Li Xian wished to apprehend both Cui and Hou together, he hesitated before the numerous officers present in the imperial prison. With a cold face, he signaled his guards to retreat and questioned Hou in a biting tone.

“Your Highness exaggerates. I dare not act unlawfully. The matter of Shangguan Yi’s alleged treason has already been reviewed and adjudicated by the three judicial offices, and His Majesty issued a decree for its resolution. The decree has been made public and is archived in the Dali Temple. If Your Highness doubts this, you may check. Lord Cui is from the supervisory department and has brought an imperial verbal command. I have no authority to override him; administering punishment in the prison is within my jurisdiction. I ask Your Highness to discern the truth.” Hou Shanye, a veteran steeped in law and experienced in countless cases, was not intimidated by Li Xian’s threats. However, he obviously did not wish to clash openly with the two princes, so he answered with measured respect.

“Oh? So you imply that Cui Xuanche must have forged the imperial command—what audacity!” No sooner had Hou finished speaking than Li Xian’s brother, Li Xian, interjected, pushing all blame onto Cui Xuanche.

“Seventh Brother…” Li Xian was already displeased by Li Xian’s earlier interruption. Now, seeing Li Xian deftly absolve Hou Shanye, his dissatisfaction boiled over. Frowning, he prepared to assert his seniority.

Ah, Sixth Brother, you really are so stubborn; where has your usual cleverness gone? Could it be you possess a clever face but a foolish mind, an utter novice in politics! Watching Li Xian’s impending outburst, Li Xian was filled with helplessness. True, before coming to the prison, they had agreed to seize both Cui and Hou, stirring up a major incident. Yet Hou Shanye obviously wished to distance himself; was it necessary to apprehend him as well? As long as they could save Shangguan Yi from certain death, each brother’s plan would be fulfilled. Moreover, if they prevailed, dealing with Hou—a mere minor official—would be easy. Was there any need to act now?

“Sixth Brother, Lord Hou was misled by the traitor Cui. His faults are minor and understandable. Cui, a mere eighth-rank official, dared commit such outrageous acts; his motives are suspicious and must be reported to Father for thorough investigation. We must not let this villain go unpunished!” Though dissatisfied with Li Xian’s misplaced priorities, Li Xian could not afford to quarrel at such a moment. Seeing Li Xian’s displeasure, he quickly bowed and explained.

“Mm, you are right, Seventh Brother. Guards, seize the traitor Cui. I shall proceed to the palace to see His Majesty!” Li Xian, no fool, immediately grasped Li Xian’s reasoning. After a brief pause, he waved his hand and renewed the order.

With Li Xian’s command, Hou Shanye finally relaxed and no longer blocked the guards. The royal guards surged forward, easily pinning Cui Xuanche to the ground and tying him up, causing Cui to cry out desperately, “I am an official of the court! Do not disrespect me! Release me! Release me now!”

Cui Xuanche, merely a civil official, struggled in vain against the burly royal guards. Soon he was tied up tightly, and despite his loud protests, no one stepped forward to help. Before he could struggle any further, the impatient guards stuffed a rag into his mouth and dragged him toward the exit.

“Shangguan Fu has been apprehended; Lord Shangguan, take care.” Amidst the chaos as the guards seized Cui Xuanche, Li Xian quietly slipped through the crowd to where Shangguan Yi was shielded by his own guards and whispered a low warning.

“Oh?” Shangguan Yi had believed himself doomed, but the spectacle staged by the two princes left him baffled. Hearing Li Xian’s words, his eyes suddenly brightened. He wanted to ask more, but Li Xian was already returning to Li Xian’s side, leaving Shangguan Yi both confused and newly hopeful.

Li Xian watched his guards subdue Cui Xuanche, his face stern until Li Xian returned and signaled him. Only then did his expression soften a little. He glanced at Hou Shanye, who was now feeling the sorrow of a fellow sufferer, and said, “Lord Hou, since the traitor Cui tried to execute Lord Shangguan through a forged decree, there must be more to this. Now exposed, it needs thorough investigation. If Lord Shangguan remains here, he may still be in danger. I shall enter the palace to see Father; if it is convenient for you, perhaps you could ensure Lord Shangguan’s safety and accompany us?”

“Ah…this…” Hou Shanye was momentarily stunned by Li Xian’s invitation. As a member of the rear party, he well knew Cui Xuanche’s purpose and whose orders he followed. Earlier, his reluctance to resist was not due to unwillingness, but fear. He knew that the two princes, having dared to breach the rule that princes must not interfere in court affairs, must have come prepared. If he confronted them and was killed, it would be for nothing. So he ignored Cui’s fate, trusting in Empress Wu’s power and doubting the brothers could cause much trouble. As long as he could avoid entanglement, he would be safe. He was unwilling to involve himself in this case and now, hearing Li Xian invite him to the palace, his heart sank and he hesitated, unable to respond.

“Lord Hou, Lord Shangguan is key to this case; only by meeting His Majesty can right and wrong be clarified. However, Lord Shangguan is a prisoner awaiting judgment in the imperial prison. My brother and I cannot make decisions for him; only you can ensure his safety. I have always known you to be a loyal and upright official; in matters of such importance, surely you will not refuse?” Though young, Li Xian was shrewd, giving Hou Shanye no time to devise a countermeasure, piling on praise so that Hou had no way out.

“This…well, since both Your Highnesses have entrusted me, I shall obey.” Pressed by Li Xian’s words, Hou Shanye had no retreat. Besides, he dared not hand over such a key prisoner to the princes. Helpless, he bowed in acceptance.

“Good, Lord Hou understands the greater good—truly a man of virtue. When this matter is resolved, I shall petition Father to commend you for your service!” Li Xian, seeing Hou submit, was overjoyed and applauded, offering a few words of encouragement. Then, with a wave of his hand, he ordered loudly, “Guards, protect Lord Shangguan well and accompany me to the palace. Also, summon the chancellors of each ministry; assemble at the Hall of Supreme Harmony to deliberate this major case!”

“Yes, Your Highness!” The guards dared not delay, bowing in acceptance. Several stepped forward to take charge of Shangguan Yi from the guards of Prince Zhou’s household, while others rode out from the prison, dispersing to the residences of the various chancellors. Thus the capital’s political scene was thrown into turmoil, strange clouds gathering, and a storm on the court was about to unfold…

Emperor Gaozong had been frail since childhood, and his health had not improved much in adulthood. Though only thirty-six now, his body was weak, plagued by dizziness and frequent headaches, often lethargic and prone to sleep. In recent days, constant disputes over the matter of the general amnesty with Xu Jingzong had left him further exhausted. Today, during the seasonal holiday, Li Zhi managed to steal a rare moment of leisure. Just after noon, he hurried through lunch, dismissed his attendants, and settled in the Wude Hall to nap, hoping to refresh himself before the afternoon’s renewed debate with Xu Jingzong. Unexpectedly, just as he lay down, he heard faint footsteps outside the warm chamber, and annoyance welled up within him. He opened his eyes in anger and saw a small eunuch peering anxiously at the entrance. Fury rose; he sprang upright, glaring fiercely at the intruder.

“Your servant Zhang Dekai has urgent news for Your Majesty.” The young eunuch, caught peeking, panicked as Gaozong’s gaze fell upon him. He hurried forward, dropped to his knees, and nervously reported, his head bowed.

Li Zhi’s eyesight was poor; his earlier wide-eyed glare had not clearly revealed who the visitor was. Hearing the eunuch announce himself, Li Zhi paused, then recalled that Zhang Dekai was one of the recently promoted attendants. He did not lose his temper but let out a cold hum, full of displeasure.

“Your Majesty, I have received reliable word: the censor Cui Xuanche has forged an imperial decree, intending to execute Lord Shangguan and his entire family in the imperial prison. Princes Lu and Zhou have learned of this and rushed to intervene. The matter is urgent; I dared not delay and beg Your Majesty’s judgment.” Hearing Li Zhi’s icy tone, Zhang Dekai dared not lift his head, trembling nervously as he reported the situation.

“What? How can this be? You—how dare you deceive me!” Li Zhi was deeply shocked by the news, his anger forgotten as he jumped from his couch, pointing at Zhang Dekai, his whole body trembling. His words revealed anxiety, urgency, and even a trace of hope…