Chapter 103: Immature

The two walked to a secluded palace, where Li Shimin finally spoke: "Are you very dissatisfied with My decision to place Gan Xinda by your side?"

"At first, there was resentment, but with Gan Xinda’s death, it dissipated like smoke."

"Then are you dissatisfied that I did not allow you to massacre the gentry of Shandong?"

"I killed everyone who deserved to be killed and shifted the blame onto Wei Zheng; I have no complaints."

Hearing this, Li Shimin's expression darkened further. He gritted his teeth and asked, "Dissatisfied with being granted a title of nobility? Do you wish to be made a Duke?"

"Your Majesty, the Empress treats me like a nephew, and we are as close as family. Titles of Duke or Marquis are of no importance; I have no cause for dissatisfaction."

"Then tell me, what was the meaning of your conduct in court today?" Li Shimin shouted, the sound echoing so loudly that dust fell from the rafters.

"It was for those commoners who were erased from this world like chess pieces—more than seventy thousand lives! When Your Majesty wakes from your dreams at midnight, does your heart not ache?" Cai Cong shouted through tears, his eyes locked onto Li Shimin’s tiger-like gaze, refusing to back down.

"Amidst natural disasters, I have done my best. It was their fate," Li Shimin replied, his voice softening considerably.

"After the natural disaster came the man-made calamity. If not for the endless posturing between you and the noble clans, how could so many have died? Over seventy thousand people! They were living, breathing souls!"

"I have told you that the clans hold great power, and even in Shandong, I am beyond my reach. Have you forgotten?"

"Heh, there are so many officials in this empire, and countless who dare to be upright magistrates. Look at the officials you placed in Shandong. Look at those soldiers who had their grain stolen—they lived quite comfortably in Shandong. Only this fool of a subject was ready to carry his own coffin out the door."

Cai Cong spoke with self-mockery. Li Shimin remained silent. He did not dare to move directly against the noble clans; he would not dare even until the day he died. He could only slowly weaken them through such tests of strength.

"I know you have been wronged, but I cannot afford to gamble. The whole body is affected by the slightest movement! If I were to strike at these people, they would surely unite with the officials and the gentry, and even the Turks and Goguryeo would take advantage to attack the Great Tang. The world would surely fall into chaos."

"You are right, and I am afraid too; otherwise, the heads of those seven old dogs would have been hanging from the city walls that day," Cai Cong said in a low voice, before suddenly looking up and shouting, "But that is no reason for us to sacrifice innocent commoners! What I mean to say is that even a glorious battle would be better than watching the people die like this."

"Foolish!" Li Shimin bellowed, glaring at Cai Cong. "With your youthful arrogance, do you know how many would die? During the late Sui Dynasty, there were eight million households. By the beginning of the Wude era, there were less than two million. After ten years of recovery, there are only three million now. Do you know how many die when the world is in chaos?"

Cai Cong fell silent. Li Shimin spoke the truth; war costs too many lives, and those in power cannot easily draw the sword.

"Even with your sharp wit, your perspective is too extreme. Reflect on this! I love my subjects deeply, but sometimes, one must issue orders one wishes not to give. You had best consider how to deal with Wei Zheng; he should be returning soon. In Shandong, they say he was even more ruthless than you, killing without count. To prove his innocence, he has sworn that the moment he reaches Chang'an, he will dash his head against your front doorpost."

"When I return, I’ll have someone tear down the doorpost. Then it won't be my problem anymore."

"Slippery! Reflect well. I must return to the banquet," Li Shimin said with a smile. As he passed Cai Cong, he suddenly kicked him in the backside. Cai Cong cried out about the sneak attack, but Li Shimin laughed deviously: "If you dare to make me lose face in court like that again, I will have your trousers pulled down and parade you through the streets."

Seeing Li Shimin laughing as he walked around the corner, Cai Cong finally exhaled. The performance today had concluded perfectly. While letting Xu Jie kill so many people was cathartic, publicly defying an imperial decree was dangerous. How would Li Shimin view him? By acting like a hot-headed, righteous youth, Li Shimin would not hold too much against him.

In fact, it *was* the act of a hot-headed youth. The key was making Li Shimin believe it. As the most suspicious of emperors, if Cai Cong hadn't made such a scene, Li Shimin would surely have suspected him of trying to incite rebellion across the land.

When Cai Cong rubbed his backside and returned to where Empress Zhangsun was, the four people present burst into laughter. Cai Cong’s backside was like a sandbag; whoever came along could give it a few thumps, whether it was Li Gang or Li Shimin.

"Laugh, laugh away. When I am old, I will grab young talents and kick them in the backside too," Cai Cong said indignantly. His backside was swollen; it was truly swollen now.

"Mother, look at how shameless he is! He is finding ways to praise himself," Li Chengqian laughed until tears came, while Li Tai pounded the table in exaggeration.

Cai Cong felt a warmth in his heart and a soreness in his nose. The most noble family in the world was trying every way to ease his troubled mood. How could he ever repay such kindness?

"I'm hungry! Once I'm full, I'm going home!" Cai Cong shouted with a deep breath. Zhangsun smiled, and Li Chengqian laughed heartily. The family regained their graceful demeanor, eating delicately and speaking softly. The protocol officials finally showed smiles; this was in accordance with imperial standards.

It was only noon when Cai Cong left the palace. The sky was gray, laced with strands of rain. Cai Cong did not go to the imperial banquet to eat; there was still a knot in his heart.

"Master, you're out?" Fang Yuan asked, confused. How long had he been inside? Was it just a light meal?

"If I didn't come out, was I supposed to stay for dinner? Have the brothers been sent home?" Cai Cong glared at him, then asked with sorrow.

"They have been sent home. The court officials followed, and the compensation was not shortchanged," Fang Yuan replied calmly.

"And their families?"

"Don't worry. Although they are sad, no one is blaming the heavens or others. Since they chose to live by the blade, they knew this day might come. They are all grateful to you; at the very least, you did not skim any of the compensation."

Fang Yuan said this earnestly. He was not trying to comfort Cai Cong. Only those who grew up in this era, who understood it, knew how rare it was to find a superior who did not withhold military pay or skim compensation. For this reason alone, others would gladly block blades for Cai Cong in the future.

"Help me check if their families need any other help. I still cannot get past this hurdle in my heart, and I am not yet ready to see them," Cai Cong said with fear. Don't call him shameful; as a thief in his past life, he was never a good person, and those who died simply died; there was no need to answer to anyone. But now, it was different. He could not yet handle this transformation and could only choose to escape.

"You are just too soft-hearted. Where to now?" Fang Yuan asked casually. In his view, death was normal; one could be sad for a while, but one must not dwell on it.

"Back to the village! If I don't go back, I fear my mother will chase me all the way to Chang'an," Cai Cong said with a smile. Cai Jie would likely not come herself, but sending a maid was very possible.

However, he could not have imagined that Cai Jie was currently suffering. With two books tucked under her arms and red ropes less than two inches long binding her feet, she was walking on a wooden plank only wide enough for one foot. Every step was delicate and graceful.

Nearby, an old crone sat on a chair, holding a bamboo paddle in her left hand and a teacup in her right, sipping occasionally from the tea, which was a high-grade variety Cai Cong had specifically set aside for her.

Cai Jie was likely exhausted. Losing her balance, one foot stepped off the plank. The old crone put down her cup and stood up abruptly, shouting at her: "Hold out your hand! Have you forgotten the etiquette of a noble lady?"

Cai Jie dared not talk back. Glancing at her swollen left hand, she held out her right. The old crone smiled and said, "Hold out your left hand. I'll need your right hand to practice dining etiquette later; hitting you now gives me an excuse."

Tears instantly welled up in Cai Jie's eyes. She gritted her teeth and held out her left hand. The two maids nearby watched with red eyes, wishing they could bite the old crone to death.

The old crone sneered, swung the bamboo paddle, and struck Cai Jie three times. Looking at the swollen left hand, she nodded in satisfaction and said with a light laugh, "Continue."