Chapter 33 A Good Show

Chapter 33: A Good Show

The same prison, yet the cell Cen Maoshi found himself in was a world away from the one Li Zhicai had occupied.

Li Zhicai's had been filthy, dilapidated, containing only damp straw and scurrying rats.

This one, however, was much cleaner and even had a small window for ventilation. Besides a bed and a bookshelf, it was furnished with a table and chairs. On the table, a freshly brewed pot of tea gave off a fragrant, wispy steam.

Cen Maoshi sat on one side of the table, Fang Fengshi on the other.

In such surroundings, it felt less like an interrogation and more like a catch-up between old friends.

Before Fang Fengshi could speak, Cen Maoshi spoke up first. "And to what do I owe this 'invitation,' Commander Fang?"

Invited here?

Cen Maoshi was certainly putting on airs. Throughout history, how many dragged off by the Imperial Guards ever came to a good end?

Yet Fang Fengshi did not voice these thoughts. Dealing with such an old fox required a different approach from brute force.

He said politely, "There are many puzzling aspects regarding the assassin case. I specifically asked Chief Steward Cen here for a discussion."

So saying, he even stood up to pour Cen Maoshi a cup of tea. The tea was clear and luminous, giving off a faint, delicate aroma.

Cen Maoshi glanced at it but did not drink.

"Commander Fang might as well speak plainly. This old servant still has many matters to attend to."

Seeing this, Fang Fengshi got straight to the point. He simply asked if anything unusual had happened on the day of the assassination attempt and the day the assassin succumbed to the poison.

His attitude was humble, as if he were genuinely there to seek guidance.

Cen Maoshi pondered for a moment but did not speak, merely shaking his head.

On the other side of the wall, Xiao Yan sat against the partition, listening intently to the sounds from next door.

Of course, Li Zhicai was also there, gagged and held down by someone.

Hearing Cen Maoshi remain silent, Li Zhicai felt his heart ease.

Even though he had been utterly disappointed in Cen Maoshi moments before, knowing his master was nearby stirred an inexplicable flicker of hope deep within him.

His master hadn't saved him, but he also hadn't slandered him. It seemed like his master was doing his duty one last time.

Perhaps this was the last bit of "softness" his master would leave him...

But before he could finish that sigh of relief, he heard Cen Maoshi from next door give a soft cry of surprise, as if suddenly remembering something.

"Commander Fang, this old servant just remembered that Li Zhicai once asked me for a black robe. I wonder if it's connected to this case."

"A black robe?" Fang Fengshi murmured, feigning ignorance. "He never mentioned this..."

Cen Maoshi let out a deep breath, his tense nerves gradually relaxing.

It seemed Li Zhicai hadn't said anything, hadn't betrayed him. What a good disciple. He really hadn't doted on him for nothing all these years.

In over a decade since entering the palace, he had only ever had this one disciple. It wasn't as if he hadn't cared; they had indeed shared some good times in the past.

But when life and death were at stake, he couldn't be blamed for being ruthless. Every man for himself. Once Li Zhicai was dead, he would surely burn paper offerings for him every year.

As for the so-called Imperial Guard Commander before him, Cen Maoshi glanced up at the frowning, hair-scratching Fang Fengshi—a good-for-nothing playboy who had only climbed to his position thanks to his close relationship with the Emperor. In reality, he was still just a useless fool who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun.

Even if the Emperor had put him in charge of this case, he certainly wouldn't be able to uncover anything. Might as well "help" him along, let him pin it on Li Zhicai.

Closing the case this way would be good for everyone, a win-win. Fang Fengshi would catch the "culprit," and he himself could smoothly escape.

Cen Maoshi "helpfully" added, "A few days ago, this old servant often saw him frequently going outside the palace. He brought back several bottles of pills, always hiding them away. They had some creepy-looking talismans pasted on them. Could those be related to this case as well?"

"Pills? Talismans?" Fang Fengshi exclaimed in surprise. "That can't be anything good! Could that be the poison?"

Fang Fengshi was playing right into his hands. Cen Maoshi revealed a knowing smile.

"Commander Fang, that wretched disciple of mine will certainly not admit to it. You must not fall for his tricks."

Cen Maoshi appeared to be giving Fang Fengshi careful advice, but in reality, he was bit by bit sealing off Li Zhicai's escape routes.

If he admitted it, it would confirm his guilt; if he didn't, it would be seen as stubborn resistance.

Either path led to death.

In the adjacent room, Li Zhicai struggled desperately. If his mouth hadn't been gagged in advance, he truly would have cried out.

He didn't want to escape; it was just the first time he was directly facing Cen Maoshi's distortion of the truth, and the rage in his heart was ready to burst.

What black robe he had asked for? It was clearly given to him by Cen Maoshi!

What pills he had brought from outside the palace? They were clearly taken from Cen Maoshi!

With just a few words, Cen Maoshi was pinning several major accusations on him? He refused to accept it!

Yet his refusal was useless. Ling Shan applied a bit more force, his large hand like a vise pressing Li Zhicai to the ground, rendering him immobile.

Ling Shan threatened in a low voice, "Move again, and I'll really make you die here."

Really die here?

Did that mean he wouldn't die, that he could still live?!

Li Zhicai's eyes widened, looking hopefully at Xiao Yan beside him.

Xiao Yan looked down and nodded slightly, tacitly confirming Ling Shan's words.

After all, he had never intended for Li Zhicai to die. Li Zhicai was guilty, but his crimes did not warrant death. The earlier words were just to frighten him.

Moreover, all the previous wrongdoings were entirely because he'd been led astray by Cen Maoshi. Cen Maoshi was the one who truly deserved to die.

Li Zhicai quieted down. He looked at Xiao Yan with gratitude, his tear-filled eyes seeming to say he was willing to do anything.

Just then, the table slammed with full force from next door—followed by Fang Fengshi's angry voice: "Thank you, Chief Steward Cen. Let me go deal with that fool!"

Fang Fengshi appeared "so enraged" his face was flushed red, and his strength got away from him. As he left, he forcefully slammed the door. The doorframe shook, the latch fell, and Cen Maoshi was locked inside.

The Imperial Guards standing around were amused but thought it improper. What was the idea locking the Chief Eunuch in there? However, out of deference to Commander Fang's authority, they did not act rashly, leaving Cen Maoshi locked inside for the time being.

As for Cen Maoshi, although somewhat put out at being locked in, he didn't dwell on it, simply attributing it to Fang Fengshi's carelessness.

He patiently sat down, waiting for Fang Fengshi to return with good news.

But Fang Fengshi, pretending to stomp off angrily into the distance, just as he disappeared from Cen Maoshi's view, quietly doubled back along the wall and entered the room next to Cen Maoshi's.

As soon as he entered the room, Fang Fengshi crossed his arms and looked at Li Zhicai, his questioning look plain to see—he was asking if Li had made up his mind.

Previously, Li Zhicai had laid out everything in front of him and Xiao Yan, but when asked to confront Cen Maoshi directly, he had refused.

That earlier scene was simply to let Li Zhicai witness firsthand just how ruthless and heartless his "good master," Cen Maoshi, truly was.

A person who had once been a long-time companion had now become nothing more than disposable trash.

In just a brief inquiry, not even a formal interrogation, Cen Maoshi had shifted all the blame onto Li Zhicai, leaving himself completely untouched.

Li Zhicai wondered if his repeated attachment to that meager master-disciple bond had brought him even the slightest benefit.

After hearing those words, Li Zhicai realized how wrong he had been.

He had never considered himself a good person. An orphan since childhood, he had been wandering the streets when he happened to meet Cen Maoshi, who then brought him into the palace to survive.

In his heart, Cen Maoshi was less a master and more like a father figure.

Cen had given him food, drink, and shelter, taught him the palace rules, and allowed him to live within the palace walls.

Now it seemed that Cen Maoshi had shown no regard for their past ties at all.

And he, Li Zhicai, was nothing more than a worthless scapegoat. The affection he had clung to had instead become chains binding him.

Li Zhicai locked eyes with Fang Fengshi, his gaze filled with nothing but the resolve for revenge.

Fang Fengshi nodded. Good. The effect he wanted had been achieved.

The real show was about to begin.

*

The dark night sky was dotted with stars. It was almost time to rest, but several fast horses galloping out from the palace gates disrupted the peaceful atmosphere.

An hour later, all officials of the sixth rank and above in the capital had gathered in the Chonghe Hall.

They exchanged glances, seemingly unsure why the emperor had summoned them in the middle of the night.

Just as they were huddled in small groups, whispering among themselves, the sound of orderly footsteps grew closer, and the clanking of armor became increasingly distinct.

Two rows of imperial guards filed in, expressionless as they took their positions on either side of the hall, adding a layer of tension and solemnity to the already uncertain atmosphere.

At the end of the procession, someone strolled in leisurely.

Fang Fengshi sported a smug smile as he walked in, greeting his colleagues in the hall with a grin and occasionally turning to scold the two behind him to hurry up.

He was the very picture of a petty man reveling in his newfound power.

The others in the hall were no fools. Although the emperor had not yet appeared or explained the reason for their summons tonight, seeing this scene gave them a pretty good idea.

They had long heard rumors about the emperor’s assassination attempt but had not been informed, so they dared not speculate recklessly. Now, it seemed almost certain that the rumors were true.

Commander Fang’s confident smile clearly indicated that he had caught the culprit, and the culprit was among the two people following him.

However, when they got a clear look at the faces of those two, every one of them wore an expression of shock.

How could those two be Chief Steward Cen and his disciple, Li Zhicai?!

Before they could even express their surprise to those around them, the hall suddenly fell into complete silence.

The emperor had arrived.

Xiao Yan stormed in, took his seat on the dragon throne, and glared furiously at the crowd below. Even those who weren’t the ones being detained felt the pressure and instinctively lowered their heads to avoid meeting his gaze.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wang was trotting behind Xiao Yan, holding a notebook in one hand and a brush in the other, skillfully taking his usual position.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, he knew something big was about to happen. So this was why he had been dragged out in the middle of the night.

Xiao Yan cleared his throat softly, but the entire hall fell silent.

His voice was icy: "Commander Fang, begin."

Fang Fengshi was no longer the timid, cowering figure who had knelt and admitted his mistakes earlier. After catching the culprit, his attitude had done a complete one-eighty. His demeanor had changed on a dime, appearing much more assertive now, though his carefree air remained unchanged.

Jiang Wang clicked his tongue in disapproval. Although he couldn’t stand Fang Fengshi’s attitude, this was the first time he had seen such a vivid and accurate portrayal of the phrase "a petty man reveling in his newfound power."

Fang Fengshi kicked Li Zhicai, who was kneeling on the ground: "Speak up. What do you know?"

Li Zhicai didn’t say a word, merely turning to glance at his "good master" beside him.

Seeing that smile, Cen Maoshi’s eyes twitched, and an inexplicable panic surged within him.

Author's Note:

Cen Maoshi: All I have to do is act!

Everyone else: Look, a clown.