Placid Chang’an

Chapter 8: Entering Officialdom

 "The lotus blooms in the monk's abode, each flower representing a world, each leaf embodying enlightenment."

There was a moment of silence at the banquet.

After a while, a slight movement could be heard.

Li Shi put down his chopsticks and said, "Well said."

While others focused on the trivial, Li Shi's "One flower, one world, one leaf, one Bodhi" revealed a broader perspective, capturing the essence in the details. It exuded a serene Zen-like quality, transcending the mundane.

Zheng Yan regained his composure and applauded, "Brother Su, this top scholar title is well deserved!"

Su Cen nodded and smiled at the crowd.

"I also like Su Caizi’s response," the young emperor sitting in the court spoke.

"Oh?" Li Shi smiled and asked, "Why is that?"

The young emperor scratched his head and said, "Only Su Caizi's response can be understood by me."

Li Shi smiled and remained silent.

As the reigning emperor was only nine years old, it was not easy for him to understand the profound meaning of the Three Teachings, Nine Schools, and the concept of "nine nines returning to one." Although Su Cen's response seemed simple, the young emperor probably only grasped its surface meaning without understanding the deeper implications.

"Since the Emperor likes Su Caizi, why not appoint him as a reader in the Imperial Court?" Liu Chen suggested, casting a meaningful glance at Su Cen. He emphasized, "This is also the intention of the Empress Dowager."

As the Empress Dowager couldn't attend today's banquet, Liu Chen acted as her eyes and spokesperson.

Anyone with discernment could tell that this proposal was meant to win favor. Even from across the spacious courtyard, Su Cen could feel the poisonous gaze from Cui Hao. Although the position of the Emperor's reader held no official rank, it was the highest honor. During the Emperor's enlightenment period, staying by the Emperor's side to impart knowledge and serve as a role model would lead to unlimited prospects once the Emperor assumed full power.

However, Su Cen didn't think much of it. The role of the Emperor's reader, in a nice way, was to educate the young Emperor. In a less flattering way, it was babysitting. The young Emperor was only nine years old, and with the threat of Prince Ning, who coveted power, lurking nearby, who knew when he would truly have political authority? Su Cen had just embarked on his official career and had ambitious aspirations. He didn't want to spend his time flattering and serving a young child. Whether it was due to his youthful arrogance or his refusal to compromise, in any case, he didn't want this job.

Before he could think of how to respond, a deep voice beside him said, "Sun Hanlin has taught him well. There's no need for a change."

The decision was made.

Su Cen followed the voice and looked over. In their previous three encounters, the first caught him off guard, the second left him in a sorry state, but this time he carefully and clearly observed the person's appearance.

He didn't know if Prince Ning was capable of murder or cannibalism without batting an eye, but his attractive appearance was undeniable. His features were handsome, his eyes deep and unfathomable, and he exuded a suffocating aura. With his head bowed, he held a jade cup in his hand. His fingers were slender and his knuckles distinct. There was a black jade thumb ring on his thumb, made of an unknown material, purely black.

Su Cen assured himself that his current admiration for Li Shi was purely superficial, but it might not be seen that way by others.

As the newly crowned top scholar, Su Cen had openly berated the powerful figures of the court during the palace examination, and afterward, he was deliberately suppressed by someone for personal gain. In an instant, the onlookers couldn't help but develop a sense of resentment towards Su Cen.

Liu Chen had already achieved his goal. He had no real intention of making Su Cen the Emperor's reader. Having one Liu Xiang in the court was enough, and there was no need to create another rival. He smiled subtly, then said, "Well then, Fu Xiang just became a minister, and there's still an empty position for the Imperial Academy's Scholar-Official. Su Cen can fill that spot."

The Imperial Academy's Scholar-Official was a fifth-rank position. They were in charge of presenting memorials and drafting imperial edicts. It was a prestigious position that scholars aspired to. As the saying goes, "The pinnacle of a scholar's appointment, the peak of the court's selection." Liu Zhen himself had started as an Imperial Academy's Scholar-Official and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming an official and even entering the cabinet. His career had been remarkable.

With this arrangement, Su Cen would have support from both sides, allowing him to be swayed. Those who had already aligned themselves, such as Cui Hao and Zheng Yang, would naturally not stir up any trouble.

Liu Chen's calculations were shrewd. As the Minister of the Imperial Academy, if Su Cen became his disciple, he would be able to utilize him. Moreover, Liu Chen could exert pressure from above. As long as he remained in power, Su Cen would have no chance to overstep his boundaries.

"He won't go."

His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an indisputable tone.

But immediately after, the person's expression softened, looking at Su Cen with a gentle gaze. He said, "You're not suitable."

Su Cen frowned, "How does the prince know that I'm not suitable?"

Li Shi turned the black jade thumb ring on his thumb and said, "I'll offer you a better choice."

"Oh?"

"The Ministry of Justice," Li Shi smiled at him, "You can choose for yourself."

Su Cen was momentarily stunned, then furrowed his brow.

To be honest, he was tempted.

The Ministry of Justice held authority over criminal punishments and oversaw all matters related to law and punishment. Although it didn't carry as much weight and power as the position of an Imperial Academy's Scholar-Official, it involved dealing with legal regulations and penalties without the need for pretense in front of others. While Su Cen disapproved of the political struggles in the court, he understood that he couldn't single-handedly change it. Joining the Ministry of Justice would at least allow him to remain independent from both sides. However, he didn't expect Li Shi to see through him after just three encounters. Those eyes, full of certainty, had already grasped his intentions.

If Li Shi had outright rejected him as the Emperor's reader, he might have been more at ease. But Li Shi's suggestion, allowing him to choose for himself, left him with no way to refuse.

Su Cen picked up the wine cup from his table, swiftly filled Li Shi's cup, then filled his own. With clenched teeth, he said, "Thank you, Prince, for your kindness."

The first toast was an act of respect.

After drinking the wine in his cup, Su Cen looked up at Li Shi. Seeing the momentary hesitation, he drew two circles on the rim of the cup with his middle finger and observed him with interest. Finally, Li Shi picked up the cup.

"Master..." Qi Lin, who had been standing behind all along, took a step forward.

Li Shi waved his hand, signaling the person to step back, then took a sip from the wine jug and finished it.

The eunuch had mentioned that Prince Ning didn't drink cold wine, indicating a weak stomach. It was only early spring, and Su Cen already felt discomfort from the cold wine he had just consumed. Now he wanted to see how Prince Ning would react.

After being humiliated twice in a day, Liu Chen's face had turned as cold as ice. He excused himself under the pretext of illness and left in a huff.

The crowd watched Liu Chen's departure and then shifted their gaze to Su Cen. To make a powerful figure like Liu Xiang angry enough to leave the gathering, this new top scholar was indeed extraordinary.

Su Cen sighed silently. He had now managed to offend both sides completely.

Venting his displeasure on the main culprit, Su Cen continued to toast Li Shi several more times, and Li Shi accepted with a smile. In the end, Su Cen was slightly intoxicated, but Li Shi seemed unaffected.

However, the gaze behind him grew colder and colder. Every time Su Cen toasted, he worried that Qi Lin's sword would be drawn, and blood would be spilled right then and there.

What was supposed to be a lavish feast turned into a tense atmosphere, but fortunately, nothing untoward happened in the end.

As the moon reached its zenith, the court banquet finally concluded. Su Cen was led out of the palace by a young eunuch carrying a lantern. Before leaving, he glanced back at the courtyard. Everyone had dispersed, leaving only Prince Ning sitting alone at the table. When he turned his head and saw Su Cen looking at him, he raised his cup, smiled, and emptied it in one gulp.

"Damn it, no more cold wine," Su Cen muttered as he followed the young eunuch guiding him into the night.

The Taiye Lake, now in the darkness of night, held a different charm compared to the daytime. The pavilions and terraces were illuminated by the colorful glass palace lamps, casting faint reflections on the surface of the lake. The candlelight flickered, accompanied by an unknown floral fragrance, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a moonlit dusk with a hint of hidden fragrance.

During the day, it was magnificent and grand, but at night, it transformed into something gentle and sentimental. Perhaps due to the wine he had consumed, Su Cen found the smile of the person bidding him farewell quite attractive, regardless of any deeper meaning behind it. The way their eyebrows arched and their eyes relaxed resembled a cup of clear wine rippling in a glass, intoxicating to behold.

When he snapped out of his reverie, Su Cen realized that these pavilions and buildings hadn't changed their appearance under the night sky. It was he who had never been to this place before.

"Official?" Su Cen quickened his steps. "Is this the way out of the palace?"

This person was clearly not the talkative one from the daytime, as he didn't even bother to come up with excuses. Succinctly, he replied, "Just follow along."

The palace's backyard was heavily guarded, and without a eunuch to guide him, Su Cen might be apprehended by the Imperial Guards on the grounds of trespassing.

After considering his options, Su Cen had no choice but to follow along.

After several twists and turns, the young eunuch finally stopped, and Su Cen looked up at the plaque in front of the hall—Qingning Palace. He immediately understood.

Another important figure in the palace wanted to see him.

As the Emperor was still young and unmarried, perhaps out of gratitude for the late Emperor's affection, Empress Chu still resided in the Qingning Palace, where she had once served as the Empress.

The young eunuch instructed, "Once you enter, kneel down and bow, not daring to meet the Empress's gaze directly."

Su Cen nodded. The palace doors opened slightly, and Su Cen followed the instructions, kneeling down and fixating his gaze on a Bat Holding Longevity tile on the ground for a quarter of an hour. Then, a voice came from behind the curtain, asking, "Are you Su Cen?"

The voice was crisp and pleasant, devoid of any signs of aging. Empress Chu was bestowed the title of Chu Consort at the age of sixteen and entered the inner palace with the late Emperor at the age of twenty-four. Now that the late Emperor had passed away, she was still in her thirties, yet she held half of the Da Zhou dynasty's power in her delicate hands.

Su Cen kowtowed, "This humble servant, Su Cen, pays respects to the Empress."

"The incident at the banquet earlier, Liu Xiang has informed me," the Empress said.

Su Cen's heart skipped a beat. He had offended Liu Xiang quite severely at the banquet, and now it seemed that the Empress had come to question him.

Su Cen heard someone continue, "I heard you wanted to enter the Dali Temple?"

Su Cen hesitated for a moment before truthfully replying, "Yes."

"Do you know that the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple are under the control of Prince Ning?" the person continued.

Su Cen remained prostrated on the ground but spoke firmly, "I intend to enter the Dali Temple to punish the wicked and seek justice for the people. I have no intention of getting involved in factions or becoming anyone's pawn."

"When you presented your argument during the court examination, highlighting the harm caused by factional struggles and pointing out the current problems, that's why I remember you," Empress Chu paused and continued, "So, in your opinion, which faction is righteous and which is wicked?"

"Factional struggles only lead to internal strife, and there is no clear distinction between right and wrong."

"You are mistaken," Empress Chu said sternly, "What I strive for is the principles of justice and the legitimacy of imperial power. As a subject, you should regard His Majesty as your sovereign and serve him wholeheartedly until death..."

"I am willing to sacrifice myself for the well-being of the people," Su Cen blurted out in one breath, even surprising himself. It was clear that he had been affected by the alcohol. Survival was crucial at this moment, so why cling to the identity of a righteous man? He immediately softened his tone, "If Your Majesty stands on the side of the people, I will naturally serve Your Majesty."

Empress Chu was probably infuriated but unable to refute him. In the end, she only said, "His Majesty naturally stands on the side of the people."

"His Majesty is wise and benevolent."

At this point, there was nothing more to be said. In the eyes of others, he was nothing more than a stubborn and unyielding block of wood. Empress Chu, however, enjoyed facing resistance and continued persistently, "Do you know why you were chosen to be the top scholar in the new imperial examination?"

Su Cen was taken aback.

"When you offended Prince Ning during the court examination, I personally protected you. If it weren't for me, forget about the title of top scholar; your life might not have been spared."

Before he could respond, Empress Chu continued, "Whether you go to the Dali Temple or not, you owe me a favor. When the time comes, I will ask you to repay it."