Chapter 78: Deliberations in the Palace of Sweet Dew

The two brothers stood together—one gazing intently at the portrait of Emperor Taizong, the other lifting his eyes to the gloomy sky. At this hour, when day and night exchanged places, the wind carried the yellow dust from beyond the city, sweeping it over the rooftops. The vast city of Chang'an seemed to be stirring from its slumber.

After listening to Lu Xin’s words, Lu Tingfang remained silent for a long time. It was only when the youth’s footsteps sounded again that he closed his eyes, which had been fixed on the portrait.

“In that case, leave through the main gate with dignity. I, as your brother, am curious to see how you’ll extricate yourself from this turmoil, and how you’ll assist Li Shimin in pacifying the realm.”

Lu Tingfang’s tone became suddenly calm, as if he had seen through all the affairs of the world, or perhaps as if he were detached and indifferent to the outcome. Lu Xin understood perfectly well what he meant. Turning around, he broke into peals of laughter.

“What are you laughing at?”

“I laugh at this world, as terrifying as a wild beast. In the end, men are but pieces on the chessboard of fate. Life and death are unpredictable; change is constant.”

Lu Xin laughed heartily as he strode forward, passing through twisting corridors and gardens ablaze with flowers. Without looking back, he walked straight to the grand entrance of the residence.

Behind him stood the only kin he had in this world. Their reunion had been Lu Xin’s deepest wish for two years, but now that wish was fulfilled, his heart felt cold and empty.

When he opened the door, he found it blocked by a throng of officials from the court: the Prefecture of Yongzhou, the Court of Judicial Review, the Flying Cavalry Battalion, and the Divine Shrine. Every one of them watched the young man emerge, their gazes cold and murderous. In their eyes, Lu Xin was no less than a ruthless demon.

“Well, well, I never imagined you’d walk out through that door. Boy, I must have underestimated you,” the Spiritual Officer from the Divine Shrine remarked, momentarily stunned before letting out a low, grim laugh. He no longer worried about the youth escaping; his only concern now was whether the Divine Shrine would be allowed to take him away.

“Court of Judicial Review, Prefecture of Yongzhou… So many of you, whom should I accompany? Sir Spiritual Officer, if I’m not mistaken, the Divine Shrine isn’t part of the three judicial offices. Even the fabled Yin-Yang Office must have the Demon Suppression Bureau make the arrest. I’m afraid your shrine lacks the authority to take me.”

“You’re right on every count. Unfortunately, knowing too much is seldom a good thing. Whether you end up in the dungeons of the Court of Judicial Review or the Execution Prison of the Ministry of Justice, you won’t be leaving Chang’an again.”

At this, the Spiritual Officer signaled the Court of Judicial Review. Two men stepped forward, one producing a hemp rope and binding Lu Xin’s hands with a dead knot when the youth offered no resistance. Then, the Spiritual Officer drew forth a talisman, directing another man to affix it to Lu Xin’s navel.

“This talisman is forged with earth-element magic, sealing your meridians and dantian. Even without the Demon Suppression Bureau, you won’t be able to wield any power. Boy, today’s matter is grave—His Majesty himself has intervened. We’ll meet again on the execution grounds. If there’s a next life, remember: don’t defy the imperial court.”

With that, the Spiritual Officer laughed and strode out of the alley, followed by the withdrawal of officials and soldiers from each agency. The officers of the Court of Judicial Review, meanwhile, escorted Lu Xin towards Yining Ward, home to their headquarters and one of the state’s most secure prisons for serious offenders.

Night fell, and darkness thickened over the city. Owing to the curfew, there was not a single lamp lit in Chang’an’s streets and alleys. The broad avenues were empty save for patrolling soldiers; not a trace remained of the common folk.

Yining Ward lay in the city’s northwest, just a street away from Kaiyuan Gate. Here, the various government offices of the Six Ministries were scattered, and even by day, ordinary citizens were rarely seen. No sooner had Lu Xin been taken into the Court of Judicial Review than four figures—two men and two women—emerged at the end of the street.

“Damn it, are those idiots at the Court of Judicial Review brainless? They’ve actually arrested my Brother Xin! When I pass the imperial exams and become an official, I’ll make sure to deal with their chief myself, curse them!”

“Hmph, you talk big. They just walked right past you, and you didn’t show any of this bravado. Why don’t I go in with you now? Maybe you’ll get to meet the chief immediately.”

“Damn fox! What’s your problem with me? I’m just venting my frustration here!”

“Enough complaining! Sister, it’s clear that Young Hero Lu is innocent. Let’s sneak in and rescue him now. What’s the Court of Judicial Review? Just a bigger mansion, that’s all.”

Yang Qin shot a scornful glare at the scholar and readied herself to charge forward, but Yang Xiu quickly held her back.

“Don’t forget what Father said before we left: there are wolves and tigers under the imperial city. Unless absolutely necessary, don’t provoke the Tang court. If we were going to storm in, we’d have done it already—why wait until now?”

“Nothing works, huh? Then what do you suggest we do?” Yang Qin, both anxious and angry, sank to a crouch with her chin in her hand. Moonless Night frowned in thought, casting his gaze up at the sky. Massive clouds drifted in from all directions, swallowing the light of stars and moon, making the night ever darker, ever more foreboding.

“I remember before we left Wuzhou, the Grand Elder warned us at the farewell banquet—Chang’an faces grave danger; we must be cautious. The more critical the time, the less rash we should be. So many have died in the city today—court officials and foreign envoys alike. The matter is serious and will certainly alarm Emperor Taizong. Since Brother Xin was detained by the Court of Judicial Review, not the Yin-Yang Office, that means the authorities will question him through official channels. As long as the Emperor isn’t a tyrant, the truth should come out. After all, Xin didn’t kill anyone.”

“That’s right! I can vouch for him. In the ruined temple in Xuanzhou, Brother Xin didn’t kill anyone either. Those soldiers were all slaughtered by that demon monk. At most, Xin just severed the Yin-Yang Master’s arm. And even if he had killed someone, the authorities would never find proof, heh heh heh…”

The scholar finished with a lecherous grin, but Moonless Night and the Yang sisters shot him a glare, silencing him instantly.

“What are you all looking at me for?”

“Enough. What’s done is done. Let’s find a place to stay for the night. Tomorrow I’ll use illusions to sneak into the prison and speak with Xin, see how things stand. If, worst comes to worst, the court truly intends to execute him unjustly, we can always stage a rescue at the execution grounds.”

“Yes, that will work. Fox, when it really matters, your charm magic always comes in handy. Tomorrow, make yourself an unrivaled beauty and bewitch all those foul men at the Court of Judicial Review for me!”

“Get lost!”

While Moonless Night and his companions considered their next move after seeing Lu Xin taken away, the palace was ablaze with light, as though facing a great enemy. Nearly half the Imperial Guards of the Northern Division had been summoned to patrol the palace, joining the Left and Right Imperial Guards and the twelve Southern Divisions already in place. The palace, though vast, was sealed tight as an iron fortress; not even a fly could enter.

Within the Hall of Sweet Dew, the emperor’s private chambers, the lights shone as bright as day. Emperor Taizong should have been finished with his memorials by now, resting with his consorts. Instead, nine figures stood before his dragon bed, each somber and silent, their faces heavy with concern.

Among them were the Left and Right Chancellors of the Department of State Affairs—Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui; the Minister of Personnel and Duke of Qi, Zhangsun Wuji. Alongside them were the Chief Justice, the Minister of Rites, the Prefect of Yongzhou, the Imperial Librarian Wei Zheng, and two others. One was clad in golden armor, holding a cavalry spear as long as eight feet, standing ramrod straight and imposing. He was well into his forties, his weathered face the only part visible.

The other had long hair over his shoulders and wore an extraordinarily wide white robe that nearly swept the floor. He was the only one seated—his chair placed at the emperor’s bedside—and appeared not yet thirty. His brows were sharp as swords, his features chiseled and handsome, but his eyes and lips were gently shut, his expression utterly blank. If not for the steady sound of his breathing, he might have been mistaken for a corpse.

Though this man neither spoke nor opened his eyes, the other ministers stole wary, if not hostile, glances in his direction. At this moment, Emperor Taizong seemed to have just awoken from slumber, traces of fatigue lingering on his face, though his eyes shone bright as lanterns in the night.

“Is everyone here?”

“Your Majesty, only Minister Li of the Ministry of Justice is absent; all others you summoned have arrived,” Zhangsun Wuji answered, bowing with both hands as he stepped forward. Li Shimin nodded, gesturing for the ministers to stand at ease.

“The Turkic diplomatic mission will arrive in Chang’an by noon tomorrow. Li Jing is well-versed in their affairs; yesterday I ordered him to arrange a proper welcome. He’s probably still preparing. No matter, we won’t wait for him.”

When Li Shimin finished, he glanced over the ministers one by one, his expression growing darker with each passing moment. The tension in the Hall of Sweet Dew thickened palpably.

“Chief Justice, Prefect of Yongzhou, you two speak first. What have you discovered regarding last night’s fire in the West Market?”

“Your Majesty!” The Chief Justice stepped forward, followed by the Prefect of Yongzhou, both men in their fifties and the eldest among those present.

“According to the evidence Lord Zhang and I have gathered, three arsonists were involved, all Yin-Yang Masters. These men disguised themselves as disciples of the Nether Dao Sect to deceive Your Majesty, their motives clearly malicious—no doubt aiming to sow discord between Great Tang and the Turks.”

“Yin-Yang Masters?” Li Shimin frowned, casting a glance at the white-robed man seated by his bed. Finding no reaction, he turned his gaze to Zhangsun Wuji.

“I heard from Fuzhu just now that dozens perished in the city today, including envoys from Persia and Byzantium. How did this happen? Minister of Rites, how did these envoys die under your very nose?”

“Your Majesty, forgive me—I am guilty beyond pardon!” With a wail, the Minister of Rites dropped to his knees.