Chapter 41: The Residence of Prince Ning

It is often said: only the heart can heal a heartache; to untie a knot, one must seek the person who tied it.

The troublemaker known as Flower Taishan dared to commit all sorts of misdeeds, relying entirely on the power of Prince Ning. Likewise, to deal with Flower Taishan, one must have Prince Ning himself intervene.

However, this matter was too complicated for a direct confrontation. It was best to take a roundabout approach—first deal with the usurer Shen, then implicate Flower Taishan, and finally rescue Xiao Wu and the young ladies.

After pacing around dozens of times, Li Zhao finally came up with a plan.

“Yun’er, do you know where the IOUs that Shen the Usurer left at the shop are kept?”

“I do. They’re in one of Uncle’s boxes, a thick, tall stack of them.”

“Bring them all to me. I’ll use these IOUs to save your sister!”

“Alright!”

After receiving the IOUs, Li Zhao quietly left the Zhou family estate and headed straight for Prince Ning’s mansion, not even bringing a steamed bun.

This mission was too dangerous. If successful, he alone would suffice; if not, bringing another person would only mean sending them to their deaths.

Everyone in Chang’an knew that the emperor currently resided at Xingqing Palace, and right next to it, separated by only a wall, was Prince Ning’s mansion.

The mansion occupied about half a neighborhood. From a distance, one could see pavilions, towers, and imposing buildings, surrounded by flourishing flowers, grasses, and trees—a scene of great prosperity.

But what caught the eye most was the crimson-lacquered gate, above which hung a golden plaque inscribed with five large characters: "Imperially Commissioned Prince Ning Mansion."

The words “Imperially Commissioned” indicated that this mansion was built by the court’s special allocation under the emperor’s decree. Even the calligraphy on the plaque was penned by the emperor himself. Such honor was unparalleled among all imperial relatives, officials, and nobles.

Two rows of burly, muscular guards stood on the steps before the gate, clad in iron armor and armed with long knives, led by a gate captain who was responsible for guarding the mansion and forbidding strangers from entering.

Around noon, Li Zhao arrived at the main gate of Prince Ning’s mansion, but how could he get inside?

Forcing his way in risked a beating at best, or being dragged to the authorities and imprisoned for years at worst.

Could he claim to be visiting Prince Ning? That was unlikely. So many sought an audience with the prince that even high-ranking officials had to submit formal requests and wait patiently, sometimes three to five days was normal.

If even senior ministers faced such waits, someone like Li Zhao—a low-ranking minor official—would have to wait months without any guarantee of success.

He couldn’t wait three or five months, not even three or five hours. If he couldn’t see Prince Ning today, Xiao Wu’s life might be in danger.

What to do?

Simple—just like in battle, if a frontal assault won’t work, then encircle and flank.

Li Zhao went around to the back gate of the mansion, which was also guarded, barring strangers.

However, carriages often arrived here, bringing charcoal, vegetables, live fish, cattle, and sheep—supplies for the mansion’s daily needs. Guards always let these deliveries through.

“Heh, if others can get in, so can I!” he thought.

With that, Li Zhao came up with a good idea and patiently waited at a nearby intersection.

Soon, several more horse-drawn carts arrived, loaded with live chickens, ducks, geese, and large barrels of live fish—also deliveries for Prince Ning’s mansion.

Li Zhao stepped forward and stopped the convoy.

“Hold on, are you delivering live poultry to Prince Ning’s mansion?”

“Yes, young sir. What’s the matter?”

“Today, the prince is hosting honored guests and must not be disturbed. Manager Shen has instructed that all live poultry delivered must have their beaks tied shut to prevent noise. If the prince is disturbed, no one will escape punishment!”

“Understood, understood. Thank you for the reminder, young sir!”

The delivery men didn’t recognize Li Zhao but saw his fine attire and dignified bearing. When he mentioned Manager Shen, they assumed he was someone from the mansion sent to deliver orders.

The leader thanked him repeatedly, quickly tying the beaks of the chickens, ducks, and geese to silence them, and secretly handed Li Zhao a small pouch containing a few taels of silver.

Naturally, Li Zhao accepted the bribe, pocketed the pouch, and accompanied the convoy to the back gate, helping the men unload with much bustle.

The guards, unaware of the ruse, assumed Li Zhao was part of the delivery team and let them in without question.

The live poultry were taken to the kitchen in the mansion’s northeast corner, where hundreds of cooks, servants, and helpers worked, preparing food and chatting about happenings in the mansion.

Li Zhao pricked up his ears to catch their conversations and learn where Prince Ning was and what he was doing.

“Our prince loves music. Today he invited more than a dozen famous musicians from Chang’an to discuss the ways of the musical notes in the rear garden. Tonight there will be a grand banquet. Everyone’s working hard to prepare the best dishes. If the prince enjoys it, he’ll surely reward us generously!”

“Understood!”

So Prince Ning—Li Chengqi—was in the rear garden, entertaining a group of musicians. What an excellent opportunity!

Thinking this, Li Zhao quietly left the kitchen and cautiously made his way toward the garden, which he had already scouted. It was at the back of the mansion, not far from the kitchen.

Using his agility and hiding behind various buildings, Li Zhao easily found the rear garden. He pressed his ear and faintly heard the sounds of strings and bamboo pipes—just as the kitchen staff had said, the prince was indeed there.

The problem was that the garden was surrounded by tall walls, with guards stationed at the entrance. How could he get inside?

Asking to see the prince openly was impossible—he had snuck in secretly.

Forcing his way in was out of the question; too many guards were posted.

Climbing the wall risked being mistaken for an assassin.

He had labored mightily just to get into Prince Ning’s mansion; now, with only a single wall between him and his goal, could he afford to fail?

At that moment, a melodious and gentle zither tune floated out from the garden—the classical piece “Fisherman and Woodcutter’s Dialogue.”

Li Zhao, being clever, was instantly inspired by the soothing music.

In ancient times, there was a legend of luring a phoenix by playing the flute—he would try the same.

He drew a nine-holed purple-gold flute from his belt and began playing with effort, performing “Fisherman and Woodcutter’s Dialogue.”

This piece tells the story of a fisherman and a woodcutter exchanging questions and answers, reflecting on the rise and fall of dynasties. Though the earlier zither was pleasant, it had felt somewhat lonely. Now, with the flute joining in, the music took on a new dimension.

The duet of zither and flute, question and answer, harmonized perfectly to express the ancient piece’s spirit, bringing peace and delight to the listener.

When the music ended, silence fell.

Suddenly, a young attendant in blue robes ran out.

“The prince asks, who is playing the flute here?”

“I am Li Zhao, a member of the royal clan, here to seek an audience with Prince Ning. Please inform him at once.”

“The prince’s order: please enter the garden for a meeting!”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Led by the attendant, Li Zhao smoothly entered the garden and followed a path until an octagonal pavilion appeared. Its eaves, beams, and brackets were all carved from the finest white marble, simple and bright in design.

Seated at the center was an elderly man with graying beard and hair, wearing a pearl-studded purple-gold crown and a richly embroidered robe adorned with dragon patterns. A thirteen-holed white jade belt circled his waist. His entire bearing exuded wealth and nobility. This was undoubtedly Li Chengqi, Prince Ning, eldest son of Emperor Ruizong of Tang and brother to the current emperor.

Beside him sat a tall, handsome young man, more striking even than Li Zhao, with a jade zither before him. This must have been the one who had just played “Fisherman and Woodcutter’s Dialogue.”

Judging by his appearance, he bore a strong resemblance to Prince Ning, likely another prince.

The pavilion held seven or eight others, men and women, old and young, all holding instruments—clearly the musicians invited by Prince Ning.

“Your humble servant Li Zhao pays respects to Your Highness, Prince Ning!” Li Zhao stepped forward and knelt, not out of fear or flattery, but because of the high status of the prince’s clan.

Prince Ning was the grandson of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi and of the same generation as Li Zhao’s father, but senior in age—a clan uncle to Li Zhao.

Since it was their first meeting, protocol demanded kneeling. Once they became acquainted, a respectful bow would suffice.

“Rise. I heard there is a talented young man among the royal clan who shone brilliantly at the Qujiang banquet recently. Could that be you?”

“It is indeed this humble one.”

“You were the one playing the flute outside the garden?”

“Yes. I have urgent business to see Your Highness but could not find a way in. Desperate, I played this tune outside to catch your attention. I apologize if I was impolite.”

While speaking, Prince Ning appraised Li Zhao, noting his handsome features, noble bearing, and graceful manners, nodding slightly in approval.

But the conversation soon took a sharp turn.

“Speak plainly. What is this urgent business you seek with me?”

“To collect a debt!”