Chapter Forty-Two: Tearing Up the Imperial Edict

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“Living cypress trees—certainly none to be found in the city. But… dead cypress used for construction, there must be plenty! With such a vast city as Chang’an, surely there’s no shortage of building materials?” Li Zhi’s eyes darted about as he pulled Luo Tong along, heading straight for the county magistrate’s office.

Sun Jiali, the magistrate of Chang’an County, came out to welcome them in person.

“Your humble servant greets Your Highness!”

“Rise!” Li Zhi affected a stern demeanor. “Magistrate Sun, I am here on my father’s orders to investigate the criminals who violated the curfew that night. Where are they being held, and have they been punished?”

“My father personally instructed me… to be thorough, lest the officials below accept bribes and abuse their power!”

At this, Sun Jiali was so frightened he prostrated himself. “Your Highness, I beg you to see clearly—I would never dare!”

“Take me there, quickly!”

“At once, Your Highness!” Sun Jiali, trembling, led Li Zhi and Luo Tong.

Entering the prison, they were assaulted by a foul stench.

“Ugh!” At barely three years old, Li Zhi was experiencing such a vile odor for the first time and immediately retched.

Luo Tong was equally appalled. “How can people live in such filth?”

“It’s utterly inhumane…”

“Your Highness, this is where the prisoners are housed, so the conditions are naturally poor. It is part of their punishment—to make them feel pain and deter them from further crime,” Sun Jiali explained.

Li Zhi walked a little further, feigning inability to endure, and waved his hands repeatedly. “Enough, enough… let’s go back!”

“Just report to me, Magistrate Sun.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Sun Jiali rolled his eyes and patiently gave a full account of the prison’s situation.

Li Zhi said, “Magistrate Sun, you are worthy of your office—everything here is in order. I will report faithfully to my father. Now, I have a small question for you, and I hope you will answer truthfully as well.”

“Please instruct me, Your Highness!”

“Where in the city are houses currently being built? Do you know?”

“I do. Anyone wishing to build must register here. Only after approval may they begin construction.”

Li Zhi and Luo Tong exchanged a glance, barely able to contain their delight.

“Tell me quickly!”

“At once!” Sun Jiali produced a register, listing all those who had built houses in recent months.

Addresses were clear. Identities detailed.

Li Zhi quickly discovered that in the West City’s 108 districts, several were expanding—likely encouraged by Li Shimin’s support for commerce, which had given people confidence.

“Let’s go see the districts!”

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Li Zhi, register in hand, left the magistrate’s office.

Luo Tong followed closely.

They soon arrived at the districts.

These areas were not mere marketplaces for vendors, but more often the residences of civil and military officials, located near the imperial palace for ease of attending court.

“That’s the Duke of Lu’s mansion up ahead, isn’t it?”

“I believe so.”

Li Zhi smiled. “Shall we take a look? And see if the Duke of Lu’s mansion has any cypress stored? According to the register, Cheng Yaojin built two rooms last month.”

Luo Tong seemed to recall something. “If Your Highness hadn’t mentioned it, I’d have forgotten. Indeed, the Duke’s mansion recently had a large shipment of timber delivered. I couldn’t tell the species, but perhaps it’s what we need!”

“Let’s go!” Li Zhi pulled Luo Tong, circling to the back of the mansion.

They scaled the wall.

In the rear courtyard, heaps of timber were piled up.

The bark was still intact—perfect for searching for resin.

“Cypress—these are truly cypress trees!” Li Zhi was ecstatic. Fortune seemed to favor him; a random visit and he found precisely what he needed.

“Is anyone there?”

“Fat Cheng, come out and greet your guests!” Li Zhi called twice toward the house.

Lady Bigfoot, hearing the commotion, thought it was a thief and rushed out brandishing a stick. “Who’s there? Who’s in my backyard?”

“It’s me!”

“Prince Jin?” Lady Bigfoot tossed aside her stick and bowed. “Your Highness, how did you end up in our backyard? I was in the front hall and didn’t see you come in—did you… climb over the wall?”

“Ahem!” Li Zhi straightened his posture. “You know I enjoy this sort of thing.”

“Where’s Fat Cheng?”

“Hasn’t returned from court yet!” Lady Bigfoot grumbled, “It’s nearly midday; he should have been back long ago… That useless fatso, probably off carousing again. Just wait till I break his legs!”

Luo Tong drew a sharp breath, teasing, “Aunt Bigfoot truly is formidable—no wonder Uncle Cheng fears you!”

“So, do you two have business here or not?”

“As the saying goes, one doesn’t visit the temple without reason. Since we’re here at the Duke’s mansion, of course we have business. The timber in your backyard—left over from building, I presume? Could you have someone strip off the bark and send it to the First Tavern?”

“Strip the bark?” Lady Bigfoot was puzzled.

“What do you want with the bark?”

“That’s not your concern… Will you give it or not?”

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“If Your Highness asks, how could I refuse?” Lady Bigfoot summoned several guards to help Li Zhi strip the bark. He instructed them carefully not to remove the pale yellow substance on the surface—that was the resin.

After wandering about the Duke’s mansion, Li Zhi encountered Cheng Yaojin, who had finally returned, only to be met with Lady Bigfoot’s relentless interrogation. “Where have you been? What wickedness have you been up to? Speak honestly!”

“I-I…”

“Can’t explain, can you? You must be up to something!” The rolling pin was already raised.

“Uncle Cheng, you’d better watch yourself!” Li Zhi and Luo Tong, seeing that the bark had been loaded, took their leave.

“Go on, go on!” Cheng Yaojin, dodging the rolling pin, had no time for Li Zhi.

Back at the First Tavern.

Li Zhi deposited the bark in the kitchen’s dormitory area and collected all the resin.

He set up a pot to boil it, then filtered out impurities with a sieve, producing genuine glue.

…

“Once the Ministry of Works has carved the template, we’ll print the membership cards. Then, a coating of glue—and it’s done. Chu Bi, you’re about to make a fortune!” Li Zhi laughed.

“Your Highness, your mind works wonders! Why didn’t I think of using this for anti-counterfeiting?” Cheng Chu Bi hurried to make preparations.

Over the next few days, the tavern operated as usual. Li Zhi toured the city, gathering resin and bringing it back to the tavern to process.

While he was enjoying himself, Li Shimin sent his men.

The aged eunuch arrived at the First Tavern, holding the imperial edict aloft, and in front of everyone, read it—summoning Li Zhi urgently back to the palace. He had brought four imperial guards, ready to use force if necessary.

Li Zhi respectfully received the edict, but as soon as he took it, he drew a dagger and sliced it open, tearing it in half with a flourish.

“Ah…” All in the tavern were stunned.

First, they marveled that Li Zhi was Prince Jin.

Then, they stared at the torn edict.

“Did he really destroy the imperial edict? Am I seeing this right?”

“He’s courting death!”

…

The crowd prostrated on the floor murmured anxiously.

Luo Tong collapsed in shock. “You—Your Highness… that’s the imperial edict!”

“So what? Isn’t it just a piece of worthless cloth? Tear it, and it’s torn!” Li Zhi seemed entirely oblivious to the gravity of his actions.