Chapter 11: The Civet Cat Replaces the Crown Prince

Upon hearing this, Wang Anshi remained calm and instead stepped in front of Su Ze, saying, “Just so. My father once served as the deputy magistrate of Jiangling Prefecture, and my mother holds an imperial title granted by the court. I also have a hereditary title. According to our dynasty’s laws, if the Imperial City Bureau wishes to arrest an official, they must obtain an imperial edict from the official’s family.”

The two officers—one stout, one lean—looked somewhat baffled. Su Ze, meanwhile, began to grasp the gravity of his situation. He pulled Zhang Chulan aside and urged, “This place is dangerous. You must leave quickly!”

Zhang Chulan, however, wore an expression of steadfast loyalty and replied, “We’ve faced trouble together since childhood. I won’t abandon you now.”

Su Ze said anxiously, “This is a matter of utmost calamity. Are you sure you can bear it?”

Zhang Chulan paused, then asked, “Are you truly involved with the demon book?”

Su Ze couldn’t help but laugh at her innocence. “Nonsense, of course not. But now someone is pinning it on me! If you stay here, you’ll only implicate Master Zhang. If you leave, you can find someone to help me.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chulan’s eyes brightened. “I will return and beseech my father, to petition Lady Zhang Xiuyuan at the palace!”

Having said this, Zhang Chulan led her maid and attendants to leave. The lean officer intended to stop them but was restrained by the stout captain.

“The priority now is to take the prisoner Su Ze away. Do not cause unnecessary trouble!” the stout captain commanded.

As Zhang Chulan and her party departed, the stout captain approached Wang Anshi.

“This case is of great consequence. Young sir, with your promising future, why associate with such treacherous rebels?”

“Su Ze holds no official position. Bringing him back requires no imperial decree, correct? The Imperial City Bureau’s affairs should be convenient for young sir, so as not to harm your family.”

Wang Anshi, unshaken by the captain’s mix of threat and favor, replied with ease, “Brother Su is my guest. If I were to act so, would the world not accuse me of betraying a friend for personal gain? Tonight, my family holds a banquet. We shall discuss this after.”

With that, Wang Anshi opened the courtyard gate and led Su Ze inside. Zeng Gong followed without hesitation.

Once the gate was closed, Wang Anshi’s brothers, sent by Lady Wu to gather information, surrounded them. Wang Anshi turned to Su Ze. “I will visit my mother. Brother Su, please remain seated indoors.”

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Wang Anshi’s home was already surrounded by soldiers. With nowhere else to turn, Su Ze sat inside, contemplating the situation.

Though details were unclear, Su Ze understood he was entangled in grave trouble.

The Imperial City Bureau, akin to the Ming dynasty’s Jinyiwei, was the emperor’s direct secret service.

Currently commanding the Bureau was Li Yonghe, the Military Commissioner of the Front Palace Office.

The so-called “demon book” mentioned by the two officers was an underground manuscript recently circulating in Bianjing city—an illicit storybook concerning the infamous “Raccoon Cat Switches the Crown Prince” incident.

This “Raccoon Cat Switch” was a notorious case from Emperor Renzong’s accession, dating back to the reign of Emperor Zhenzong.

It involved the imperial harem of Zhenzong’s era.

The current emperor, Zhao Zhen’s birth mother was Consort Li, but he was raised from childhood by Empress Liu E, who publicly claimed him as her own son.

This, naturally, implicated the palace intrigues of the Zhenzong court. As the defeated party, Consort Li was not only deprived of her son but forbidden from recognizing him.

After Emperor Zhenzong’s death, Empress Liu E ascended from empress to empress dowager and began ruling in regency.

Though Consort Li remained in the palace, Liu E—dubbed the “Second Wu Zetian”—would not allow Zhao Zhen to reunite with his birth mother, even concealing her death from the newly enthroned emperor so that he never saw her one last time.

Only after Liu E’s death did Emperor Zhao Zhen learn the truth, leaving him deeply sorrowful.

This palace drama gave rise to many versions among the common folk, with the “Raccoon Cat Switch” tale being the most popular.

In this version, both Empress Liu E and Consort Li were pregnant simultaneously. Liu E’s son died shortly after birth, while Consort Li gave birth to a son.

However, the empress conspired with eunuchs to replace Consort Li’s son with a raccoon cat, and swapped her own deceased son with Consort Li’s child—who is now Emperor Zhao Zhen.

Upon witnessing Consort Li’s “monstrous” birth, Emperor Zhenzong was furious and imprisoned her in the cold palace.

Meanwhile, Empress Liu E secured her son’s position and suppressed her rivals, ultimately prevailing.

Though the “Raccoon Cat Switch” story had circulated since Emperor Zhenzong’s reign, Bianjing was never short of royal gossip.

Recently, an underground book about this incident gained popularity among clandestine merchants.

This “demon book” was even presented to the emperor, who was outraged and ordered the Imperial City Bureau to investigate thoroughly.

Yet, the investigation unexpectedly implicated Su Ze.

Reviewing his memories, Su Ze was certain he had never committed such acts.

His predicament likely stemmed from his reckless behavior in his past life and frequent drunken indiscretions, making him a convenient scapegoat.

Having pieced together the cause and effect, Su Ze found no way out.

Flee to the Peach Blossom Spring?

One might evade danger for a while, but can one hide forever?

Still, it could serve as a fallback plan.

At that moment, a shout came from outside the door: “The Military Commissioner has arrived!”

Wang Anshi had already explained the situation to his mother. Lady Wu emerged from the back courtyard, and Su Ze hurried to pay his respects.

Su Ze sincerely thanked Lady Wu, saying, “Madam Wu, Brother Wang’s noble loyalty is clear, but this matter is grave. To avoid jeopardizing Brother Wang’s future, I shall go out and surrender myself.”

Unexpectedly, Lady Wu replied, “Betraying friends to save oneself is not how I raised my son. You have witnessed your brother’s conduct—remember this well.”

Wang Anshi’s younger siblings all nodded in agreement.

No wonder such a mother could raise a son like Wang Anshi—Lady Wu was truly extraordinary.

Yet Su Ze had no time to dwell on this. Outside, the soldiers resumed banging on the gate.

Resolute, Su Ze had already devised a plan to take a gamble.

After all, at worst, he could hide in the Peach Blossom Spring.

Turning to Wang Anshi, he said, “Each must bear the consequences of their own actions. The Imperial City Bureau will not relent.”

With that, he opened the door and stepped out, only to find a middle-aged general clad in armor and a red helmet, flanked by the stout and lean officers.

The stout captain immediately announced, “I am Li, Military Commissioner of the Front Palace Office and head of the Imperial City Bureau! Prisoner Su Ze, confess your guilt at once!”

Su Ze’s heart trembled. This red-helmeted general was none other than Li Yonghe, a high-ranking minister of the court.

Yet Su Ze quickly understood why Li himself had come personally.

Besides heading the Imperial City Bureau, Li Yonghe was Consort Li’s brother—the emperor’s maternal uncle.

The demon book case touched upon palace secrets, involving the emperor’s birth and foster mothers, and even the legitimacy of the emperor’s succession. No wonder the Imperial City Bureau was mobilized so heavily!

Taking a deep breath, Su Ze thought, Li’s presence could be an opportunity. It was time to take his chance!