Chapter 52: Opening Peace for All Generations to Come

"Your humble subject, Lu Jingshuo, a Thousand-Household Officer of the Jinyiwei in the Northern Zhenzhusi, pays his respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, and ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

Lu Jingshuo's voice echoed through the deep, silent recesses of the Zhaoyu Prison, filled with profound loyalty and reverence.

With that, he abruptly slammed his forehead hard against the ground. The dull thud sounded like a heavy blow to his own convictions; his forehead instantly swelled and turned red, yet he remained entirely oblivious to the pain.

"Lu Jingshuo, student of the first cohort of the Xianyang National University guard class, pays his respects to you, Teacher!"

His voice trembled slightly, his eyes brimming with deep affection.

The moment the words fell, he struck the ground once, twice, three times with all his might, putting his entire strength into every single impact.

As the hard floor collided with his forehead, fresh blood burst forth instantly, tracing a path down his brow, staining his eyes, and flowing along his cheeks to his chin, dripping onto the ground and forming a small, glaring patch of vivid red in the dim cell.

"Teacher! You must take care of yourself!"

He raised his head, the determination and concern in his eyes completely unmasked. That gaze seemed to pierce through the darkness, transmitting all his emotions to the man before him, who was simultaneously his sovereign and his mentor.

...

Li Chengqian removed his hood and silently gazed at Lu Jingshuo. His lips trembled slightly as he fought desperately to suppress the surging waves of emotion within his heart.

It was an emotion complex to the extreme: heartache for his student, helplessness in the face of the current situation, and sorrow for the destiny that was about to unfold.

In the end, he closed his eyes in resignation, as if unable to bear looking at the cruel scene before him any longer.

After a long while, he slowly opened his mouth and said, "Jingshuo, Teacher asks you—is doing this truly worth it?"

His voice was somewhat hoarse, every single word seemingly squeezed with difficulty from between clenched teeth, carrying a trace of an imperceptible tremor.

The corners of Lu Jingshuo's mouth curved upward slightly, revealing a look of serene relief. That smile appeared somewhat tragically beautiful upon his blood-stained face.

He nodded gently, without the slightest hesitation.

Following that, he no longer maintained a kneeling posture, but instead slowly sat cross-legged on the floor, just as he used to do back in the school days.

He adjusted his posture, finding a comfortable way to sit as if he were not in the gloomy and terrifying Zhaoyu Prison, but rather in a classroom filled with sunlight and laughter.

"Teacher, in the past, I was simply a person lost in the darkness, with no goal and no hope, crashing around blindly like a headless fly."

"Even after you saved me back then, I still lived in a daze, like a walking corpse, not knowing what on earth I ought to do."

"At that time, I was truly bewildered, Teacher. I still remember when I asked you in utter confusion, and you told me that every person is born with a path of their own to walk."

"Although I nodded at you then, the truth is, far from only half-understanding your words, student really did not comprehend them at all. My heart remained a vast expanse of blankness."

He tilted his head slightly upward, a reminiscent look appearing in his eyes as if he had returned once more to that moment of bewilderment.

"Until you brought me into the school—for me, that was no different from a man dying of thirst for days discovering a clear spring, and a door leading to a new world slowly swung open before me."

The light of hope flickered in Lu Jingshuo's eyes, growing brighter and brighter like the most dazzling star in the night sky, just like the innocent and yearning youth who had first stepped into the school gates all those years ago.

"I still remember the four phrases posted at the school gates. They were the most crucial guiding lights of my life, shining like a beam of light into my dark world, allowing me to find the meaning of my existence for the very first time."

"To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth!"

His voice unconsciously rose a fraction, his tone filled with reverence and steadfastness.

"This made me understand that living between Heaven and Earth, we ought to establish upright and benevolent values for this world, becoming the guardians of justice, filling the realm between Heaven and Earth with a mighty, righteous spirit, and making kindness and fairness the faith within people's hearts."

"To establish a life for the people!"

He continued, his eyes full of pity and a sense of responsibility toward the common folk.

"Everything we do should be for the sake of the people so that they can live better lives. We must hold up the sky for them, shielding them from the sufferings of war, hunger, and oppression, allowing them to live with dignity and hope—this is our mission."

"To continue the lost teachings for past sages!"

He clenched his fists, an excited gleam flashing in his eyes.

"We cannot let the wisdom and learning of our ancestors be lost in our generation. Those ancient classics and profound thoughts are all the treasures of our nation. We must inherit them and carry them forward, letting them shine forever in the long river of history and become the driving force for our advancement."

"To bring permanent peace for all generations!"

At this point, his face radiated pride and heroic spirit.

"This is our ultimate goal, Teacher. We are to forge an era of everlasting prosperity for our descendants, banishing war far from the mortal world and allowing the people to live and work in peace and contentment."

"Those four phrases are deafening. Whenever they echo in my heart, I feel the blood in my veins surge uncontrollably, filling me with boundless strength."

"I must have asked you the meaning of those words no less than ten times, Teacher. Back then, you would grow annoyed just looking at me and make me write down the meanings myself to read every day. By now, I have long since memorized them backward."

"Those four phrases are the most stirring words Lu Jingshuo has ever heard in his entire life!"

"Teacher, I feel that everything I have done is worth it, even if it costs me my life."

Lu Jingshuo smiled, his expression entirely unconcerned, as if the impending death before him were merely a trivial matter. In his eyes, there was only a steadfast devotion to his ideals.

Li Chengqian slowly opened his eyes, and something crystalline shimmered within them—tears he tried desperately to hold back yet could not help but shed.

His voice choked slightly: "My student feels it is worth it, but your teacher's heart aches!"

He took a deep breath, as if trying to calm the turmoil within his soul.

"Jingshuo, do you really wish to die bearing the infamy of disloyalty? Are you resigned to this? Is such a sacrifice truly necessary?"

Li Chengqian's tone was heavy with reluctance to let go, like a father watching his child walk toward a desperate precipice yet feeling utterly powerless. The pain in his gaze was heart-wrenching.

Lu Jingshuo nodded earnestly, his gaze growing even firmer, as unshakeable as a boulder: "Teacher, it is necessary! The scourge of the aristocratic families is like a malignant tumor deeply rooted in the soil of our Tang Dynasty, continuously eroding its foundations."

"For their own benefits, they stop at nothing, and the common people suffer unspeakably under their oppression."

"If they are not eradicated, the Great Tang will never know peace. Your student is willing to be your blade, striking the aristocratic families first! Even if I am smashed to pieces, I will have no regrets."

...

"Even if you did not do this, Teacher would still uproot every single aristocratic family."

Suppressing the sorrow in his heart, Li Chengqian spoke with a forced sternness, his eyes overflowing with heartache.

"Teacher, everything you have done has long since placed you in direct opposition to the aristocratic families."

"Right now, our Great Tang is fighting wars on two fronts, beset by troubles both internal and external. Like a ship sailing through violent winds and towering waves, it simply cannot endure any more turmoil!"

Lu Jingshuo spoke at a faster pace, a deep worry flashing in his eyes.

"If those aristocratic families were to exert their influence at this moment to harm our Great Tang..."

"The consequences would be unimaginable, and our Great Tang could simply not bear it."

"We cannot let the people plunge into deeper suffering, nor can we allow the rivers and mountains of the Great Tang to be destroyed."

"Therefore, Teacher, this head of your student has three uses."

Lu Jingshuo said slowly, a calm and wise gleam showing in his eyes.

"The first use is to pacify the hearts of these aristocratic families."

"I am a student you brought out from Xianyang, yet now that I have led the people to appeal to the throne, I am instead executed by you."

"Those aristocratic families will then believe that all of Teacher's previous actions were merely the result of youthful ignorance, and that now, having taken charge of the nation, you have realized the importance of these aristocratic families."

"They will feel at ease, buying us at least a year and buying precious time for us to stabilize the situation."

"The second use is that I am your student."

"When Teacher previously raised the blade against the aristocratic families, the justification lacked proper footing. If in the future our Great Tang has sufficient capability to deal with them once and for all, I implore Teacher to clear my name!"

"Let student's death be the cause! Eradicating the aristocratic families be the effect! Let our actions have a righteous banner! Let the world know that everything we did was for the long-term peace and stability of the Great Tang, bringing the wicked deeds of those families to light and allowing justice to be vindicated."

"The third use! To establish a life for the people."

"For Lu Jingshuo to beat the Dengwen Drum for the common people is enough to make my name resound across the realm and be recorded in history."

"Only, before Teacher clears my name, Teacher will inevitably suffer the grievance of idle gossip from the common folk."

"The people's misunderstandings are only temporary. Once Teacher eradicates the aristocratic families, your prestige will reach its zenith, and I will share in that glory as well."

"I shall also bask in Teacher's light, forever leaving my name in history as a hero of the Great Tang, praised by generations to come."

"Your student thanks Teacher in advance for this!"

Lu Jingshuo scrambled up from the floor, resumed a kneeling posture, and once again kowtowed respectfully to his teacher. The moment his forehead touched the ground, fresh blood oozed out a little more.

"Student is unfilial and has acted on his own accord. Please forgive me, Teacher!"

With those words, he struck the ground heavily once more, his eyes full of guilt.

"Teacher need not worry about student. Seeking redress for Song Jingshuo was also student's original intention."

Lu Jingshuo raised his head, a trace of resolute determination flashing in his eyes. "My classmates all say that I, Lu Jingshuo, am rigid."

"Conventional and proper, utterly incapable of bearing great responsibilities."

"Whenever I see injustice, I always love to step forward, regardless of my own safety. They call this the rash courage of a brute, unable to go far."

"Teacher, those lads misjudged me yesterday, and they misjudged me again today."

"Only Teacher's eyes are like torches, instantly understanding my intent. Your student bows once more to thank Teacher for the grace of recognition!"

"In this life, student has no way to repay you, so I pray that in the next life, I may still serve as an ox and a horse for Teacher, to repay the grace of this lifetime!"

Having spoken, Lu Jingshuo kowtowed once more in gratitude, his eyes brimming with profound appreciation for his mentor.

Li Chengqian closed his eyes, and two trails of clear tears flowed down, sliding past his cheeks and dripping onto the ground.

His voice trembled slightly: "You rascal... Teacher admits, Teacher misjudged you as well, thinking you were merely a conventional, reckless brute, which is why Teacher let Master Qi arrange the post of a Thousand-Household Officer for you."

"I never expected that beneath your rashness you possess meticulous detail, even surpassing Xianhuai by a margin. Magnificent!"

"The day Teacher clears your name! I will summon every single student from your cohort and recount everything you said to Teacher today, every thought you held, word for word."

"Then I will make them die of shame and worship you with absolute awe. How does that sound, Jingshuo?"

"It could not be better. Thank you, Teacher!"

Lu Jingshuo wore an air of serene composure, his eyes filled with gratitude toward his mentor, as if he could already see the arrival of that day, a smile involuntarily rising to his face.

Li Chengqian stood up unsteadily, his body swaying slightly as if he had aged several years in a single moment.

He took one final look at his student, his gaze pregnant with deep affection and reluctance to part, as though he wanted to carve Lu Jingshuo's appearance into his heart for eternity.

Just as he turned to leave, Lu Jingshuo lunged forward, using every ounce of his remaining strength to wrap his arms tightly around Li Chengqian's legs, like a child about to part from his father, his eyes full of reluctance and worry.

"Teacher! You must take good care of yourself!"

Lu Jingshuo cried aloud, tears streaming down unceasingly.

The sound echoed through the silent cell, heartbreaking to the extreme.

Li Chengqian gently stroked Lu Jingshuo's head, his eyes overflowing with paternal love: "I know, Jingshuo. Teacher is proud of you!"

...

That day, in Zhaoyu Prison, the scorching sun hung high in the sky outside.

His Majesty issued a single decree.

Lu Jingshuo defied his superiors and rebelled, deemed unfilial and disloyal. Tomorrow at the hour of the midday horse, he is to be beheaded at the West Market! No delays permitted!

History will never record that on that day, the sovereign wept bitterly as he issued this decree.