Chapter 114: Shedding the Cicada’s Skin

In the Song Dynasty, the Censorate held the authority to maintain administrative discipline and impeach those acting unlawfully. From the imperial court down to the prefectures and counties, any official—from the Prime Minister to the lowest functionary—who failed to uphold the law was subject to their impeachment.

The censors possessed the right to "report based on hearsay," meaning they were not required to disclose their sources, were not obligated to verify the absolute truth of their claims, and did not need to seek prior approval from the Censor-in-Chief. In practice, this meant that even if the censors fabricated accusations based on mere shadows and whispers, they were almost never held accountable for slander. Consequently, the system of remonstrance became a formidable and unrestrained tool for political factions within the court to attack one another.

"Sanlang, they’re catching up!" Li Sanjian and Gao Er were shielding Zhao Ji, having not yet cleared the Fengle Tower, when they heard a flurry of footsteps behind them. It sounded as if a whole group was in pursuit. Gao Er said anxiously.

"What? Where did so many people come from?" Zhao Ji turned pale at the sound. "What are we to do?"

"Your Highness, do not panic." Li Sanjian was just as puzzled about where the crowd had emerged from. Had they been ambushed? And who would go to such lengths to target Prince Duan, Zhao Ji? Li Sanjian couldn't fathom it.

"Brother, block them. Hold them off as long as you can. I will escort His Highness out first," Li Sanjian decided quickly, turning to Gao Er.

Gao Er rolled up his sleeves and nodded. "Your Highness, Sanlang, go ahead! Damn those bastards, I'll fight them to the death!"

Gao Er then charged toward an arched doorway to intercept the pursuers.

"Be careful, Brother," Li Sanjian cautioned, then quickly hurried Zhao Ji toward a smaller side door.

A moment later, sounds of intense arguing and fighting erupted from the archway. Knowing Gao Er could not hold out for long, Li Sanjian and Zhao Ji quickened their pace. If they could just get outside the Fengle Tower, all would be well.

But as they reached the door, they heard another chaotic surge of footsteps, and the glow of torches appeared.

"Someone is causing trouble and committing crimes in the Fengle Tower!"

"Who is it? You lot, guard the back door! Don't let the perpetrators escape!"

Li Sanjian and Zhao Ji exchanged a look of terror.

"It’s the Patrol Office. What do we do now? Ah, if only I had known..." Zhao Ji asked in a panic.

It’s over, it’s all over, Zhao Ji thought. They had been caught red-handed. While his life might not be in danger, he would inevitably face a fierce reprimand from the Empress Dowager and his brother, the Emperor, and his reputation would be utterly ruined.

If only I had known, why did I ever come? Li Sanjian thought to himself. You had a perfectly good life as a new groom; why run out here to seek pleasure? Now look, you’ve been cornered at the door.

However, blaming Zhao Ji now was useless. He had to protect the Prince at any cost; as long as Zhao Ji remained unharmed, he and Gao Er would also be safe.

"Your Highness, do not worry," Li Sanjian said after a moment of reflection. "Quickly, take off your outer robe."

"Why take off my clothes?" With things as they were, Zhao Ji had no choice but to trust Li Sanjian. Despite his confusion, he hurriedly stripped off his dark green outer garment and handed it over.

"Your Highness, put on my clothes and hide." Li Sanjian changed into the Prince's robe as he spoke. "When the confusion begins, find an opportunity to return to the Prince's estate and go straight to the bridal chamber. Remember, tell the Princess that you never left the room for the entire night. The entire household must keep their mouths shut."

"Sanlang... you are making a great sacrifice for me." By now, how could Zhao Ji not understand? Li Sanjian was performing a "cat-for-prince" substitution to let him escape. Zhao Ji was overcome with gratitude.

"Your Highness, say no more. Just remember what I told you." Li Sanjian shoved Zhao Ji into the shadows and strode toward the doorway.

"The one in green up ahead is the perpetrator! Don't let him get away!"

"Quick, chase him!"

As Li Sanjian stepped out the door, he saw several men in the uniform of the Patrol Office blocking his path.

"Who goes there? Halt!" Seeing Li Sanjian, the patrolmen drew their blades and stepped forward.

Li Sanjian walked up with a calm expression. As he neared the patrolmen, he suddenly shoved the two men blocking his path to the ground and bolted.

"Ouch!" Caught off guard, the two patrolmen fell backward and landed hard on their backsides. "These thieves are vicious! Help! The criminal is running away, catch him!"

The patrolmen erupted into a chaotic mess. Some wanted to chase, while others stopped to help their colleagues up, shouting and milling about in disarray.

This was exactly the effect Li Sanjian wanted. The more chaotic, the better; the more chaotic it was, the better the chance for Zhao Ji to slip back to the estate, and for himself to escape.

*Thump, thump, thump.* Li Sanjian had been practicing running for years, and he moved with great speed. The patrolmen behind him gave chase, but they were no match for him, and it looked like he was about to get away.

*Whiz!* At that critical moment, an arrow whistled through the air with a chilling sound, grazing Li Sanjian’s scalp and embedding itself into the wall in front of him with a *thud*, the fletching vibrating with a low hum.

Li Sanjian turned pale with fright and came to an immediate, screeching halt. He didn't dare move another step; he knew all too well that the next arrow would be aimed at his body.

"Stop right there, thief! Run again and you'll eat another arrow!" A young, heroic-looking officer rode toward him at full gallop, wielding a powerful bow.

*Well, obviously,* Li Sanjian thought, *I’ve stopped, haven't I?* A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him, so he stood perfectly still.

"You scoundrel, you were running fast enough earlier! Why aren't you running now?"

"Little thief, wait until you're in the dungeon; we'll see how tough you are then."

The other patrolmen arrived, panting, and surrounded Li Sanjian.

The heroic officer rode up and held his torch to Li Sanjian’s face. He had barely caught a glimpse of him when he nearly dropped the torch.

"Un... Uncle... You... you... you..." the officer stammered.

This young, heroic officer was none other than Yao Xing.

"You... nephew, why are you here?" Li Sanjian recognized him and was equally shocked.

Yao Xing and Ran Yunbiao had both taken the imperial military examinations and passed, earning the title of Military Jinshi. Ran Yunbiao had been appointed as the County Magistrate of Renhe, but Yao Xing had remained in Kaifeng to serve as a patrol officer.

Although Yao Xing was only a low-ranking military official under the Kaifeng Patrol Office and not a high-ranking court official, he was in the capital, which offered much better prospects than Ran Yunbiao’s position.

It was the common consensus among Song officials that it was better to be a small official in the capital—even a minor one or someone waiting for a vacancy—than to hold a major post in the provinces. The capital was where the Emperor resided, and the opportunities for advancement were far greater, not to mention the living conditions were a hundred times better.

Yao Xing leaped from his horse and hurriedly helped Li Sanjian up. "Uncle, why are you here? What happened?"

The surrounding patrolmen looked on in astonishment. Yao Xing appeared older than Li Sanjian, so why was this "thief" his uncle? Yet, Yao Xing’s profound respect for him seemed genuine. Could it be that Li Sanjian possessed some secret to eternal youth? They all wondered if he was actually much older than he looked. Consequently, the patrolmen grew much more polite.

*Respect the monk for the sake of the Buddha.*

"Your archery is not bad," Li Sanjian said, his heart still pounding. "I just felt like a stroll through the Fengle Tower today. What, is that not allowed?"

"Allowed? Of course it is!" Yao Xing laughed heartily.

*Seeking pleasure at the Fengle Tower and nearly getting arrested as a thief? You really are something,* Yao Xing thought, amused by Li Sanjian’s disheveled state.

"Where is he?" At that moment, Censor Wu arrived with his attendants, panting. His robes were torn, and a footprint was clearly visible on his face; he looked utterly pathetic.

"Who are you?" Censor Wu was deeply disappointed to see Li Sanjian and roared at him.

Censor Wu knew Prince Duan. He had hoped to catch him red-handed and impeach him, which would have humiliated the Prince and earned him great favor with Zhang Dun. He never expected that the man before him was not Prince Duan, but a complete nobody.

Li Sanjian and Zhao Ji were of similar age and build, and in the darkness, it was easy to mistake them for one another. That was why Censor Wu had followed them.

"Just a failed examinee," Li Sanjian replied calmly, showing no fear.

"What is your name?" Censor Wu demanded.

"A man who failed has no name. To speak it would only disgrace my ancestors," Li Sanjian replied.

"Hmph!" Censor Wu snorted. "Assaulting a court official and causing a public disturbance? Men, seize him!"

He would throw Li Sanjian into prison, beat a confession out of him, and surely force him to admit that Prince Duan had instigated the incident.

"Who are you?" Yao Xing asked, unwilling to take Li Sanjian into custody.

"I am a Censor of the Censorate! What, do you dare defy an official order?" Censor Wu glared at Yao Xing.

"A Censor?" Yao Xing shook his head. "The Patrol Office has its own regulations. Your Censorate’s reach doesn't extend that far."

"You... you dare shield a criminal? Wait until you are impeached for this!" Censor Wu roared in fury.

Even the Chief of the Patrol Office would have to treat him with respect, yet this low-ranking officer dared to refuse him. He was incandescent with rage.

"Say no more. I will go with you," Li Sanjian said, stopping Yao Xing before he could respond further.

It wasn't a major offense—just a brawl. Why make things difficult for Yao Xing?

The Song Dynasty followed a policy of "valuing civil service and suppressing the military." Even high-ranking military officers were considered inferior to civil officials, let alone someone like Yao Xing, a mere patrol officer.