Volume One: The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter 136: Monitoring Chen Chang'an

While waiting inside the Purple Imperial Hall, Chen Chang’an glanced around out of boredom and rhythmically tapped his toes, whistling softly. When a breeze brushed past him, a strange, almost familiar sensation suddenly stirred his nerves. “Why does this inexplicable atmosphere, or feeling, resemble that of the Fragrant Courtyard?” he mused.

It was an odd intuition he could hardly articulate, yet undeniably real.

“What did you say?” a nearby eunuch asked.

“Oh... nothing!” Chen Chang’an waved dismissively.

About fifteen minutes later, Bai Zhuo, clad in casual attire, emerged from the inner chamber. Though she strained to project the dignity of an emperor, a faint smile still lingered at the corner of her eyes, a remnant from the recent transformation of the palace plaque bearing the character for “Courtyard.”

“Your Majesty!” Chen Chang’an bowed as soon as she appeared.

“Spare me the ceremony,” Bai Zhuo waved her sleeve, signaling the eunuch beside her to offer a seat and tea. The attendant, long accustomed to serving the emperor, immediately complied.

Once Chen Chang’an was seated, the empress spoke with a tone rich in meaning: “Thanks to you unearthing Prince Jing’an, a matter vital to the realm, I have decreed the release of all the Su family members held in the Heavenly Prison. They have been granted homes, gold, cloth, and more. If you have any other requests, speak freely—I will fulfill them.”

Hmm, no punishment? No reckoning after the fact?

Chen Chang’an was momentarily stunned, but quickly realized she was employing a tactic of courtesy before force. Adopting a grateful expression, he replied, “Your Majesty’s wisdom and decisive action have freed my family and granted them rewards. Your boundless grace leaves me with no further requests, save to continue serving the court in the Wuying Guard.”

“Very well. Your loyalty is commendable; I hope you will continue to exert yourself,” Bai Zhuo nodded approvingly. After a pause, her tone suddenly hardened as she struck the table: “Chen Chang’an, since your merits and rewards are settled, shouldn’t we also enumerate your crimes, hmm?”

A vein throbbed in Chen Chang’an’s forehead—there was no escaping fate. With a bang, he prostrated himself and declared passionately, “Your Majesty, abducting Your Majesty from the palace last night was a desperate act. I was wanted throughout the city. A straightforward explanation would not be believed; only…”

“Please forgive me, Your Majesty!”

When Bai Zhuo remained silent for a long while, he continued with measured solemnity, “Of course, if Your Majesty wishes to punish me—even beheading—I will bear it without complaint.”

A meaningful smile flickered at Bai Zhuo’s cheek. “You know well I will not punish you. After all, at Prince Jing’an’s mansion, you earned the title of wise and martial strategist.”

“If I were to punish you, wouldn’t that mean discarding such a title and admitting to folly? To the civil and military officials, you are now a great hero; punishing you would chill their hearts and discourage loyalty.”

“Your Majesty, I…”

Chen Chang’an began, but Bai Zhuo’s voice suddenly rose: “However, if I do not impose some discipline, I feel my imperial dignity is compromised. Very well, you are to be relieved of duty for half a month and sent home to reflect.”

Chen Chang’an’s brow arched immediately. “Yes, Your Majesty, I accept your order.”

Though outwardly composed, he was inwardly anxious. Kidnapping Bai Zhuo was a dangerous gambit, relying on the temperament and methods of the Great Min Empress. Now it seemed his gamble had paid off; a half-month leave from the Wuying Guard was essentially a paid holiday.

Truly brilliant, a sage monarch for the ages!

“Hmm!”

The exalted Bai Zhuo then placed a record seized from Chancellor Cheng Jian on the desk and said, “Chen Chang’an, I have two more questions. First, does the record truly contain incriminating evidence against the court officials, and is it only Princess Changning who knows how to access it?”

“Second, who exactly is Bao’er, and is he in cahoots with Bai Jinghu?”

Well, just as he suspected... Chen Chang’an’s thoughts raced. The first question could be answered by asking Princess Changning directly; the second by interrogating Chancellor Cheng Jian. Why ask him? A test? No, more likely a warning—not to speak recklessly on matters affecting royal dignity.

Confident in his understanding of Bai Zhuo’s mind, Chen Chang’an promptly answered, “Your Majesty, the claim that the record holds compromising material on court officials and that only Princess Changning knows how to view it is baseless. It is misinformation spread by the Dragon-Slaying Society.”

“As for Bao’er, he has no connection with Bai Jinghu. He was kidnapped from Ganquan Village and controlled by some mental magic. Now that Bai Jinghu is dead, the spell has broken.”

“Hmm.”

Bai Zhuo, expression unreadable, nodded and pressed on, “What do you think I should do about Bao’er?”

Chen Chang’an knew this decision would determine Bao’er’s fate. He had promised Lady Zhou Guifeng to find him and return him to Ganquan Village. But the land was barren, and without family, could Bao’er truly thrive?

Better to keep him in the palace, living in luxury!

Clenching his fist, Chen Chang’an answered with fervor, “Your Majesty, Bao’er has no home to return to. It would be best to keep him here in the palace, providing him a refuge and demonstrating the emperor’s boundless grace.”

“Ha! Ha ha ha! Well said, well said!”

Bai Zhuo laughed heartily. Keeping Bao’er in the palace was exactly what she desired—how else could she fly in tandem with Zhang Youzhi? Chen Chang’an had spoken well. She immediately turned to the eunuch and ordered loudly, “Hear this! Draft Chen Chang’an’s words into an imperial edict and read it aloud at tomorrow’s court assembly.”

“Yes!” The eunuch bowed.

This sudden move made Chen Chang’an realize that Bai Zhuo had her own plans for every question. His visit was merely procedural—to establish a target for court gossip.

No matter what, as long as Bao’er was safe and happy, he didn’t mind taking the blame.

Sensing no more topics, Chen Chang’an cupped his hands. “Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, I take my leave.”

“Hmm, go ahead,” Bai Zhuo waved her sleeve lightly.

Chen Chang’an rose and bowed before exiting the Purple Imperial Hall. Once the eunuch escort had left, Bai Zhuo closed the doors and returned to the inner chamber. She knelt before the ancestral shrine, clasped her hands in sincere prayer, then lifted the red cloth covering the plaque.

Immediately, her face darkened beyond measure.

Her breathing grew long and labored, her expression complex.

The half-plaque bearing the character for “Courtyard” before her had reverted to its previous form—its brilliance dimmed, its once-rich fragrance now faint and weak.

Bai Zhuo endured, then finally burst out in anguish: “Why? Why has it come to this? It had just shone so brilliantly! How little time has passed? No… it cannot be!”

“How could this happen?”

She lost control, her imperial dignity shattered, stomping and flinging her sleeves like a furious woman. Suddenly, a thought struck her. With a strained expression, she muttered to herself, “Chen Chang’an… could it be because of Chen Chang’an?”

“The plaque’s light surged when he arrived at the Purple Imperial Hall, and now… after he left, it has faded again!”

Composing herself, Bai Zhuo retrieved a jade whistle and blew a sequence of long and short notes. Soon, Ying Hong, captain of the Blue-and-White palace guards, appeared behind the curtain.

“Your Majesty summoned me?” he inquired.

Bai Zhuo declared firmly, “I want you to secretly follow Chen Chang’an. Observe his daily activities and where he goes.”

Her words were resolute—this half-plaque was too important to her. Now that Chen Chang’an seemed linked to it in some subtle way, she must uncover the truth.

Ying Hong hesitated briefly, puzzled but without question, nodded, “Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey.”

...

Chen Chang’an left the Purple Imperial Hall and headed straight out of the Grand Yang Palace. After asking the eunuch accompanying him about the exact location of the estates Bai Zhuo had granted to the Su family, he hurried off—perhaps they were still bewildered, caught and released without understanding, so he needed to explain.

At a corner on the main road leading to the Xuanwu Gate, he unexpectedly saw Princess Changning’s carriage pass by without stopping.

“Huh... Bai Zhuo is quite curious about the contents of that record after all. The record probably doesn’t exist—it’s just a reassurance for the officials.”

“Sigh, well, my affairs are mostly settled. Time to rest for half a month, then take it easy.”

Muttering as he walked, Chen Chang’an passed the Tianxiang Garden, where he had dined over half a month ago with Princess Changning, Wu Yuanheng, Li Shu, and Ye Lin. Suddenly, a loud, bold chorus rang out from the second floor—the verses of Li Bai’s “Bring in the Wine”!

“What the—? Since arriving in the Great Min, have I ever used this poem to show off? I don’t think so. Could there be... another time traveler?” Chen Chang’an stopped, his handsome brows furrowing deeply.

“Whoosh!”

At that moment, the hidden blade at his waist unsheathed itself, slicing through the air with a clear whistle, tracing several arcs before flying toward the Tianxiang Garden—the source of the singing.

(End of chapter)