Volume One, Chapter Seven: Judging Without Discrimination?

At midday, Li Chengqian set about organizing matters within the estate. He ordered an audit of the household accounts and summoned every member of the staff—servants, attendants, and consorts—to assemble. Since he was currently under house arrest and unable to leave, he decided to use this time to put his domestic affairs in order, ensuring he left no hidden threats behind.

Su Chan’er looked on with curiosity. "Your Highness, why have you summoned everyone?"

The Crown Princess gazed at the gold and silver laid out on the table, her face filled with confusion. The concubines, servants, and the head steward all stood in stunned silence, uncertain of what game Li Chengqian was playing.

In truth, Li Chengqian had already prepared a list that morning. It was a roster of new servants he intended to recruit. Naturally, the arrangements would fall to Su Chan’er. It was fortunate that, before his soul transmigrated into the body of this Crown Prince, he had been a history buff with a penchant for unofficial records and legends, which allowed him to recall many figures known for their unwavering loyalty. Some of these individuals were scattered throughout the Great Tang, many having been slandered or framed as prisoners, while others were simply commoners without status. Compared to them, the current lot in his estate were not even worth mentioning.

Li Chengqian smiled warmly. "I am distributing severance pay to all of you. You are permitted to leave."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, the head steward immediately knelt on the floor, weeping and blowing his nose. "Your Highness, I have served you for twenty years! I cannot bear to leave you!"

The head steward had previously considered abandoning Li Chengqian, but after the events of last night, he had changed his mind. Li Chengqian had hoped to spare them some dignity and avoid speaking too harshly, but the steward’s words only served to irritate him.

"Are you afraid you won't survive outside the estate? This money is more than enough for your retirement."

"No, no, Your Highness! It is just that this old servant is unwilling to leave your side."

The other servants and attendants in the Crown Prince's residence followed suit, wailing and sobbing as if they were truly heartbroken at the thought of leaving.

Li Chengqian’s expression darkened. "Are you trying to force me to lose my temper? You only want to stay because you think life is more comfortable here in the Crown Prince's residence. Didn't you all want to leave just a few days ago? Now that the Emperor has spared my life, you want to stay?"

Li Chengqian tossed a pile of gathered evidence before the steward and the others. "Leave, or die. Choose for yourselves."

Su Chan’er saw the evidence and suddenly understood Li Chengqian’s intent. Just then, however, the aged voice of Su Kui echoed from behind them. "Heh, Your Highness, if you are in a bad mood, there is no need to make things difficult for your servants, is there?"

The Su family had been a powerful, deep-rooted aristocratic clan since the Northern Zhou Dynasty; their influence could not be underestimated. Even Li Er had to show them a degree of respect. Although Li Chengqian was the Crown Prince, he still had to treat Su Kui with deference.

"Grandfather?" Su Chan’er was surprised to see him and quickly stepped forward to support him.

Su Kui doted on his granddaughter. As she approached, he patted her hand gently and said, "Chan’er, I have come today on your account."

"On my account?" she asked, bewildered.

Su Kui nodded slightly, his expression stern as he turned to Li Chengqian. "Your Highness, these servants have only committed minor faults. Is it not excessive to drive them away?"

Li Chengqian had already risen and walked over to meet him. He smiled faintly and said, "Grandfather, this is no minor matter. Furthermore, they feared the Crown Prince’s residence was in jeopardy and had long wished to leave. It is only reasonable that I grant their request."

"Hmph..." Su Kui sneered. "Are you saying the fault lies with them? People wish to survive; what is wrong with that? As a dignified Crown Prince, how can you lack even this shred of tolerance?"

Su Chan’er gently tugged on Su Kui’s hand. "Grandfather, the Crown Prince has his own concerns."

"Oh, you," Su Kui sighed. "You cannot always indulge his mistakes."

Li Chengqian had shown enough respect, but the old man’s indiscriminate blame made his expression harden. "Grandfather, you are mistaken! This is not a minor matter. Betrayal happens once, and it will happen again. According to the laws of the Great Tang, they abandoned me and secretly colluded with enemies, which is detrimental to the Crown Prince. They deserve to be beheaded. I am merely giving them pay and sending them away—what fault is there in that?"

Su Chan’er added softly, "Indeed, Grandfather, the Crown Prince is acting correctly."

Su Kui scoffed. "Correct? Ha... in any case, this is your household, and I, Su Kui, have no say in it. But as for my granddaughter, I will have my say."

Back when Li Chengqian was a firmly established Crown Prince, Su Kui had never treated him this way. He used to address him as "Your Highness" with great affection! Today, however, his attitude had completely changed.

When a dragon is in shallow water, it is mocked by shrimp; when a tiger falls to the plains, it is bullied by dogs. When he was in power, everyone gravitated toward him; now that he had fallen, everyone turned their backs on him.

Li Chengqian let out a cold, sharp laugh.

Su Kui’s face grew even uglier. "What are you laughing at, Your Highness?"

Li Chengqian could not be bothered to explain. He asked directly, "What I am laughing at is unimportant. The question is, why has Grandfather come?"

"Oh..." Su Kui had no desire to converse with a man who indulged in illicit affairs with other men, staining the reputation of the Imperial house. He found even a single extra word to be nauseating. "I have come for only one thing. Your Highness, since you are fond of men, why must you cling to my granddaughter?"

Was this the way to speak to a Crown Prince? As the sovereign heir to the dynasty, even if he were under house arrest, he was still an Imperial prince! How dared Su Kui? Was it only because his power had waned?

Li Chengqian’s gaze gradually turned icy. "What do you mean, Master Su?"

He had changed his address from "Grandfather" to "Master Su."

Su Kui, however, remained indifferent. "Chan’er is a daughter of the Su family. Our family is wealthy and powerful; we do not fear that she has been married, even if she was the Crown Princess. Besides, Chan’er should still be a virgin, correct? If the two of you legally separate, it will have no impact on her."

Su Chan’er was stunned. "Grandfather, what are you saying?"

Su Kui continued, "Come, bring it forth. Your Highness, your being with Chan’er is bad for everyone. Sign this letter of separation, and you can continue to keep your male favorites. From this day forward, the Su family will have no further ties to you."

The servants and concubines felt their hearts skip a beat. The only reason the Crown Prince was still alive and treated with leniency was likely due to the Su family's influence. If the Su family severed ties with him, would he not be left completely isolated? Why would they stay in this house then? To wait until their own heads were on the chopping block?

No! They would ask to leave immediately! If they took the money, they could at least save their lives!

Li Chengqian, however, seemed entirely unbothered. He let out a cold laugh and turned to Su Chan’er. "Chan’er, are you willing to sign? If this is your wish as well, I shall not stand in your way."