Volume One, Chapter 16: Su Chen, You Bastard, Was It Intentional?!
At this moment, the atmosphere in the Hall of Justice was oppressively heavy, as if a brewing storm was about to unleash its fury.
On the podium, Master Song’s face was ashen, his beard bristling and eyes glaring fiercely. Two puffs of white breath escaped his nostrils, resembling a stubborn old ox at the peak of its obstinacy.
Meanwhile, Su Chen stared innocently around the room filled with teachers and students, yet with one hand he gripped Master Song’s disciplinary ruler, and with the other, he pressed a book—still damp with Su Chen’s saliva—right in front of Master Song’s eyes.
Not a single person in the entire Hall of Justice dared to utter a word. The silence was so profound it felt as though the faintest pin drop would explode like thunder.
The tension was unbearable, reaching an almost eerie extreme.
Just as everyone was about to collapse under such pressure, Grand Tutor Guo Qingshu finally arrived on the scene.
“Bold Su Chen! What have you done? Release him at once!”
Grand Tutor Guo’s eyes were wide with disbelief as he witnessed Su Chen gripping Master Song and shoving a book in his face. He was visibly flustered.
Su Chen’s actions were nothing short of heretical, a brazen affront to his teacher and ancestors!
“Oh… Grand Tutor, you’re here. I’ll let go, but first, Master, no hitting after I release you!” Su Chen said cautiously.
“Impudent! What nonsense conditions are you proposing? Let go immediately! Such behavior is utterly disgraceful!” Guo Qingshu was nearly losing his composure.
This arrogance, this overbearing defiance—how dare Su Chen show such disrespect in front of Grand Tutor Guo and Master Song, behaving so wildly without regard for elders!
“Fine, I’ll let go—just consider it a favor to my brother!” Su Chen snorted indignantly but reluctantly released the ruler he was holding. Unexpectedly, Su Chen’s sudden withdrawal caught Master Song off guard, causing him to stumble backward several steps, nearly falling flat on his behind.
Master Song’s face, already dark, flushed an unbelievable shade of red at the humiliation. He sprang to his feet, trembling as he pointed a finger at Su Chen: “You… how dare you betray your teacher and ancestors!”
In ancient times, a day as teacher meant a lifetime as father—a belief that gave these so-called great scholars of the Hall of Justice their pride.
But after Su Chen’s provocation, Master Song’s dignity was utterly shattered.
“I didn’t mean to—it’s you who lost your footing!” Su Chen mumbled, feeling a bit wronged as he glanced at Grand Tutor Guo, thinking: You told me to let go, and now look at the mess. You can’t blame me, right?
At this moment, Grand Tutor Guo was overwhelmed, his head throbbing with the difficulty of managing this situation. What curse had he fallen under to encounter such a pest?
Just then, outside the Hall of Justice, a peculiar voice rang out: “Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!”
With that announcement, a host of young eunuchs and female attendants suddenly flooded into the hall, arranging ceremonial formations.
Then, the Empress Wu Zetian appeared before everyone—though a hen announcing dawn, she was a figure of incomparable beauty and majestic demeanor.
“We humbly welcome Your Majesty! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress forever!”
The sudden arrival of Empress Wu left everyone in the Hall of Justice startled. Fortunately, Grand Tutor Guo reacted swiftly and bowed respectfully.
Su Chen, however, was utterly dumbfounded.
“What the hell is going on? Even the little enchantress is here? Has she set her sights on me? I just got into trouble, and now she shows up?”
By all rights, the Hall of Justice was not a place where such a high-ranking Empress should appear, yet here she was. Su Chen couldn’t help but be suspicious.
…
As Empress Wu Zetian stepped into the Hall of Justice, she suddenly overheard Su Chen’s mental complaint.
Her stride faltered for a moment.
This bastard must be doing this on purpose.
Damn it, I hesitated—yes, this scoundrel is deliberately trying to provoke me.
I am the magnificent first Empress of the Great Qian Dynasty; there’s no way I would make a special trip just for his nonsense!
…
“Ministers, no need for formalities. I came to the Hall of Justice to consult some records when I heard a commotion. I came to see what was happening,” Empress Wu said, biting her lip inwardly but offering a rare explanation.
Everyone suddenly understood—Her Majesty had come to research historical materials. Yet, this coincidence was rather too convenient.
“Grand Tutor Guo Qingshu, what exactly is the meaning of this?” the Empress’s gaze fixed on Guo, for the Hall of Justice was his domain, and naturally, he was to answer.
“Ah…” Beads of cold sweat slid down Guo’s forehead. How was he to explain this? The matter was delicate and somewhat humiliating.
After all, Su Chen’s admission to the Hall of Justice was by the Empress’s own decree.
Yet on his very first day, such a scandal occurred. It would be an embarrassment to Her Majesty’s dignity.
Guo remained silent, but Master Song suddenly rose with a bang, speaking solemnly:
“Your Majesty, this student is unruly. On his first day, he not only slept soundly in class but also scribbled on the Records of the Grand Historian, insulting the sages. I beseech Your Majesty to expel him from the Hall of Justice!”
Master Song’s eyes blazed with fury, addressing the Empress without restraint.
At this moment, all the students in the Hall of Justice were stunned, including Yan Danqing and Changsun Yan. Their minds were in a whirl.
In such a brief span, Grand Tutor Guo had appeared—and now even the Empress herself!
What an astonishing coincidence.
“Is that so? Grand Tutor Guo, is this true?” Empress Wu’s gaze turned icy as she looked at Guo with a hint of displeasure.
Perhaps Su Chen’s being targeted today in the Hall of Justice involved more than just this incident.
According to intelligence, Master Song had close ties with Prince Zhou Wusan; indeed, his two most outstanding disciples now served in the prince’s mansion.
Moreover, the Empress had just learned that a visitor came to Master Song’s home last night.
And today, such an incident occurred. The coincidence was too great to ignore, inviting much speculation…
…