Chapter Six: Surveillance

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Li Shimin’s face was grim as he led Changsun Wuji away from the Heavenly Paradise.

Inside the carriage.

Changsun Wuji cautiously observed Li Shimin.

For a moment, the atmosphere within the carriage felt like a frozen tomb, radiating an endless chill.

Li Shimin’s fingers tapped lightly on his knee; deep within his profound eyes glimmered a sharp, cold light.

“Fuj,” after a long pause, Li Shimin finally spoke in a voice that was extremely low and heavy.

“I am... at your service!” Changsun Wuji snapped back to attention and quickly raised his hand in response.

“From now on, have someone keep a close watch here, to monitor that young man carefully.”

“Most importantly, ensure his safety.”

“I want to see what choice Gaoming will ultimately make.”

Hearing this, a shock ran through Changsun Wuji’s heart!

Just moments before, he had been contemplating how to discreetly eliminate that reckless youth who spoke without knowing the consequences.

Now it seemed impossible.

Judging from His Majesty’s words, if he were to rashly do away with him, it would only arouse suspicion in the emperor’s mind.

“I... obey your command!” Changsun Wuji quickly calculated in his mind and respectfully acknowledged the order.

Li Shimin nodded slightly, the murderous aura that had filled his face earlier finally softening considerably.

Leaning back in the carriage, he narrowed his eyes and added, “Go to the Supreme Court.”

“I want to see Hou Junji.”

Changsun Wuji’s eyes suddenly contracted but he dared not say more. Hastily, he ordered the carriage to change course and head toward the Supreme Court.

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In the dark, damp prison of the Supreme Court.

The prison guards, upon seeing the emperor himself arrive, followed quickly by Lord Changsun, were all terrified and prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads against the cold, filthy ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Li Shimin strode in with great steps, heading straight to the deepest corner of the prison.

Hou Junji leaned against the cold stone wall.

Having been imprisoned for some time, he had moved from initial resentment to a resigned acceptance, even able to sleep peacefully in this chilling cell.

But at the sound outside, Hou Junji suddenly opened his eyes!

Seeing the visitors—Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji—he was momentarily stunned, then sneered coldly, not even rising to greet them.

“Brazen!” Changsun Wuji stepped forward angrily. “Hou Junji, His Majesty has arrived, and you dare not stand to receive him?”

Hou Junji merely stared fixedly at Li Shimin.

He prided himself on his hard-earned merits and paid no heed to the accusations of embezzling the treasury of Gaochang. He even harbored resentment toward Li Shimin for imprisoning him.

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He had thought that no matter how serious the matter, Li Shimin and the court would only lightly punish him.

Now, seeing Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji arriving together, he believed he was surely doomed.

After all, why else would the emperor come to the Supreme Court prison late at night?

The more Hou Junji thought about it, the angrier he grew, deciding to throw caution to the wind.

“What? Has Your Majesty finally remembered me?” he said mockingly, casting a sidelong glance at Changsun Wuji.

“Bringing Lord Changsun along to visit me here—is this to grant me a death sentence?”

Li Shimin’s gaze was as sharp as a blade, coldly fixed on him.

Then, suddenly, his tone softened.

“Junji, you entered the Qin Prince’s mansion when you were young, and we have known each other since then.”

“Over the years, you have followed me through countless campaigns, earning great merits for our Tang Empire!”

“In the ninth year of Wude, you personally led troops in bloody battle, storming the Xuanwu Gate.”

“It can be said that without you, Hou Junji, there would be no me today!”

“But why then...”

Li Shimin grew increasingly emotional, wearing an expression of deep sorrow.

Before he could finish, Hou Junji, still leaning against the wall, suddenly burst into loud laughter.

“Hahaha... I never expected Your Majesty to still remember those things.”

“I thought by now I was a villain beyond redemption in your eyes.”

“Why would Junji think such a thing?” Li Shimin asked, feigning surprise.

“Why?” Hou Junji, a rough man by nature, who had been courting death in his cell, smirked.

“Ever since I entered the Qin Prince’s mansion, I have been loyal to Your Majesty.”

“Otherwise, fifteen years ago, I would never have risked extermination of my entire clan to join your rebellion!”

“I believed Your Majesty to be a man of grand vision, not one to discard useful tools like old bows.”

As he spoke, Hou Junji lifted his heavy shackles, the chains clinking, and sneered.

“But now it seems... I was too naive.”

“A mere trifle of treasure has enraged His Majesty beyond measure.”

“Yet... Your Majesty was gracious enough to personally visit me in this prison to see me off...”

“Allowing me to die with some semblance of peace!”

He closed his eyes, resting his head once more against the wall, adopting an air of noble resignation.

Li Shimin laughed, amused and exasperated.

He had intended to question Hou Junji about whether he had incited the Crown Prince to rebel.

But now it seemed unnecessary.

This man clearly no longer feared him.

It appeared the boy from the Heavenly Paradise had spoken truly.

Looking at Hou Junji, Li Shimin’s eyes flickered with disappointment. He shook his head slowly.

“Junji, how did our relationship between sovereign and subject come to this?”

“When did I ever say I wanted you dead? Coming here to the prison late at night—could it not be to release you?”

Hou Junji was stunned.

Beside him, Changsun Wuji’s eyes were full of shock.

He glanced secretly at the anguished expression on Li Shimin’s face.

Before, His Majesty seemed ready to have Hou Junji torn apart; now, in an instant, he had completely changed?

Li Shimin ignored their expressions and continued.

“Junji, as I said, not to mention our acquaintance since youth, but simply for your long service to the Tang, embezzling some treasure is a minor fault.”

“Besides, it was spoils you won on the battlefield. How could I punish you with death for that?”

“No more talk!” Li Shimin grew more impassioned, waving his hand dramatically.

“I decree that the treasure shall be awarded to you as a reward!”

The air suddenly froze.

Hou Junji was dumbfounded.

Wasn’t His Majesty furious over his embezzlement, coming personally to the prison to send him off?

How did it suddenly become so magnanimous?

He had embezzled the Gaochang treasury, then just now insulted the emperor viciously, slapping His Majesty’s face with scorn.

Yet now the emperor... was not killing him?

Could it be... that recalling past deeds made the emperor remember his merits?

The more he thought about it, the more Hou Junji believed this was true.

Overjoyed beyond measure, he could hardly contain a smile.

Knowing he would not die, Hou Junji discarded all pretense.

Though foolish, he was an old actor. He scrambled to the cell door, banging his head on the ground, tears streaming as he wailed:

“Your Majesty... Your Majesty!”

“I... I am ashamed!”