Chapter 205: My Word Is Final

Gripping the golden token tightly, Zhou Ci's hand trembled uncontrollably, his voice hoarse and faltering, barely able to stand from fear and despair.

"Claim you are the King of Chu?" he retorted defiantly. "Even if you are the King, this token I hold is genuine!"

"Whether true or false, we shall settle this before the Emperor himself," Li Ce replied calmly, "but for today, here and now, my word is law."

His steely gaze swept over the crowd as he raised his hand: "All city soldiers, fall back ten paces!"

The soldiers glanced at him, then at the golden token in his hand, and silently obeyed. They sheathed their blades and retreated. With the soldiers withdrawn, the commoners and the Puzhou troops were free to act as they pleased.

Yet, with the King of Chu in command, what would happen next? Would Zhou Ci be allowed to leave unscathed?

The angry populace fixed their eyes on Zhou Ci, but this time they did not scramble desperately onto the platform. They waited. Waiting to see whether King Li Ce would dispense true justice or, like others, merely quell the unrest at any cost. Was there still an official who would stand for the people?

Amidst the silence, Li Ce spoke: "Seize Zhou Ci."

The crowd exhaled in relief. To seize meant to interrogate—and they could wait for that.

"Who dares?" Zhou Ci brandished his token, retreating and swaying as if to shield himself with that mere sliver of metal against the advancing guards.

"I do." From the stillness, Zheng Feng'an rose and approached Zhou Ci.

"You?" Zhou Ci laughed bitterly. "Traitor! Even if they win, you won't survive! Don't forget whose dog you are!"

Zheng Feng'an's handsome face was cold and impassive. Shaking his head, he said, "Your fate matters little to me. But mark my words—you will be torn limb from limb and reviled by all."

Zhou Ci could not accept that his token was counterfeit. Nearly maddened, he dodged and stumbled backward, only to be kicked down from the high platform by Zheng Feng'an.

A thud echoed, dust swirling around his motionless form.

The crowd surged forward, some eager to help Zheng Feng'an restrain Zhou Ci, others to trample him into the dust.

"Please, everyone, remain restrained," Li Ce called from the platform. "Zhou Ci acted under orders. He lives so we may uncover the truth and expose the true culprit behind the Jinzhou case. Rest assured, whoever that may be, no matter rank or status, I shall seek justice for the people and cleanse the court!"

Heads lifted, and someone shouted: "What if his rank surpasses even Your Highness, or his status is nobler?"

Li Ce paused briefly. Above his rank were only a few senior ministers of the highest order; above his status, only the princely brothers or the Crown Prince himself.

Would he dare to battle a mighty dragon recklessly if it were them?

After a moment, his voice hardened with resolve.

"Unless I die," he declared solemnly, "I shall pursue this to the very end and restore justice to you all."

The emotionally stirred crowd gazed at Li Ce in stunned silence, lips trembling, bodies swaying, tears brimming.

Heaven be praised—someone stood among them to champion their cause.

The people bowed deeply in gratitude, some even kneeling, heads to the ground. Who would not wish for a simple life of honest toil? They gathered here only to clear their grievances.

Having soothed the populace, Li Ce turned to the Puzhou troops who had left their posts to assemble here.

"Captain Peng," Li Ce called to the grieving, furious man, signaling him to step onto the wooden platform.

"Do you know how the provincial troops are punished for deserting their posts?" His tone turned cold and severe, unlike when addressing the common folk.

Peng Jinrui remained silent, bowing his head.

Li Ce continued, "According to Tang law, deploying troops without immediate report is punishable by a year and a half of imprisonment. Zhou Ci is guilty, but his claim that you will be dismissed and investigated is true."

Peng Jinrui listened quietly, then solemnly said, "If Your Highness keeps your promises and vindicates my son, I shall lay down my arms at once."

"Rest assured," Li Ce promised again.

Peng Jinrui hesitated, then finally surrendered his sword and helmet. Yet, he asked, "My men—those compelled to come by my orders—will they also be punished?"

"Tang military discipline is strict, but I shall consider each case carefully." Li Ce's gaze was sharp yet resolute.

Peng Jinrui sighed heavily and asked, "May my son be properly laid to rest first?"

Li Ce nodded and gestured for his attendants to escort Peng Jinrui away.

Troops threatening the court, no matter their grievances or hidden truths, cannot go unpunished. Otherwise, if all provinces followed suit, disaster would be inevitable.

Though eager to leave swiftly, proper arrangements had to be made.

After Zheng Feng'an's official hat was removed, he never wore it again.

He ordered Zhou Ci to be taken into custody, then stood quietly at a corner of the platform, composed yet somewhat unsettled.

Li Ce approached him.

The wind blew fiercely, yet it could not dispel the wary tension between them.

Breaking the silence, Li Ce asked, "Those crossbows were brought into Jinzhou openly—surely with a military commissioner's pass?"

To transport bows and crossbows through other provinces to Jinzhou required cooperation, something Zhou Ci alone could not achieve.

Li Ce's tone was earnest; Zheng Feng'an answered candidly.

"Please, Your Highness, allow me to settle these troops before imprisoning me for questioning."

"Imprison you?" Li Ce chuckled lightly. "Then who governs Jinzhou without its governor?"

Zheng Feng'an looked away, speechless.

"I have other matters," Li Ce said. "You govern Jinzhou and prevent troublemakers from rekindling unrest. Also, I must ask—if today's plan succeeds, how will you send word to the capital?"

A greater storm awaited in the capital; this was but a prelude.

"If it succeeds..." Zheng Feng'an lowered his gaze, whispering, "The dispatch will claim the Crown Prince sent forces to suppress and massacre the rebels, provoking a mutiny of the Puzhou troops, and that the King of Chu... the King of Chu died in Jinzhou."

Though he knew the letter's contents, it was only today that Zheng Feng'an grasped the "Crown Prince's suppression" was a fabrication, deliberately inciting rebellion through a forged token.

Li Ce's face remained impassive, as if he had foreseen this report.

"Is this dispatch meant for Prince Wei, Li Chen?" he asked.

"No," Zheng Feng'an showed a flicker of surprise at being anticipated, then shook his head, "It will be an urgent memorial sent directly to the court, eight hundred miles away."

That was also destined for Li Chen, who now sat beside the emperor assisting governance. He would likely stay awake through the night awaiting this news.

"Send it as is," Li Ce ordered, locking eyes with Zheng Feng'an. "But be sure to mention the Crown Prince's token."

The letter was full of deceit, enough to merit death for treason.

"You are already condemned," Li Ce intoned gravely, anticipating Zheng Feng'an's fears, "You did not kill me today, so in someone's eyes, you cannot live. I had you do this so that person believes they have succeeded and reveals their true colors. Besides, Zhou Ci did brandish the Crown Prince's token to suppress the people. The memorial is not entirely false."

Zheng Feng'an hesitated. To him, today's actions were already a betrayal of Li Chen. To deceive him further in the memorial was not only betrayal but a trap.

"But Your Highness..." he began.

"You will live," Li Ce interrupted thoughtfully. "Say I was wounded." That would spare his loved ones worry.

"One letter only," Li Ce said, hands behind his back, voice low and firm. "How Prince Wei responds is his affair. But today, you have made your choice."

Zheng Feng'an's choice was clear: between the boundless power of serving the dragon and the lives of the people, he chose the latter.

Li Ce concluded: "I will write two letters. Deliver them to the capital, to the commander of the imperial guards, Bai Fanxi, and to my fiancée, Ye Jiao."

Imperial guards involved? Zheng Feng'an's eyes widened with concern.

"Will Prince Wei—"

"That will be known tomorrow." Li Ce fixed Zheng Feng'an with a serious look. "Except for these three letters, all gates around Jinzhou are to be sealed today. No messages shall pass to the capital."

He intended to make Li Chen believe he had won and captured the Crown Prince's evidence. Li Chen would await imperial investigation before deciding whether to act further or make a more reckless move.

Zheng Feng'an stepped back and knelt on one knee: "I shall obey."

The river hugged the mountain gorge, its torrent roaring, with only a narrow strip of forest far downstream for landing.

This river was once prone to drying in spring, but recently the Ministry of Works had repaired it, channeling water to irrigate fertile fields, swelling the current.

Though the water was deep, the archer had fallen onto rocks and perished.

It was fortunate—for without him, someone else might have lost an arm impersonating General Ye Changg

ong.

But Zheng Feng'an would not forget this day, not for a long time.