The world of film and television begins with Hikaru no Go

Li Gui heard the door open but didn't look up.

Di Renjie sat down on the bench opposite him, the corner of his robe draped over his knees: "Your Highness, you have suffered all these years."

Li Gui lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of the rough porcelain bowl on the table.

"Three years ago, when I met the Crown Prince, he said that his situation was precarious and that he was powerless to save the Tang Dynasty. If he thought he was weak and incompetent, he could choose another wise ruler."

"In a fit of anger, I ran to Liu Chali's place. I thought there must be another way. I could succeed without relying on the Crown Prince."

"That's what my father was thinking when he raised the flag back then, wasn't it?"

"Outside Yuzhou City, I watched helplessly as Wu Zhou's soldiers charged forward. I held my sword, but before I could even reach them..."

Li Gui raised his head and finally looked at Di Renjie.

"My lord, if it weren't for your life protecting him before His Majesty back then... the lineage of the King of Yue would have been wiped out long ago. Li Gui will always remember this kindness."

"Now that you have come so late at night, I dare not lie. I have indeed considered starting another uprising, and I have indeed contacted my old subordinates. But every time I think of how you fought for us in court, I..."

Judge Di listened quietly and said, "It's enough that you have the will. But your father raised the flag not so that you would die with him."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince... has never forgotten your father. He once told me that the Prince of Yue was a loyal minister, but he had taken the wrong path. But he also said something else: his circumstances made him unsuitable to be Emperor Taizong. If he were to rashly raise an army, the lineage of the Li Tang dynasty might truly be extinguished in his hands."

"He said that three years ago, and you resented him. I understand that resentment. But think about it: if it hadn't been the King of Yue outside Yuzhou City back then, but the Crown Prince... who would be sitting in the Eastern Palace now?"

These words, though not harsh, hit the nail on the head.

Li Gui opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Di Renjie looked up at the pitch-black night outside the window: "The number of times I can fight for my life in the court is limited. Liu Jin is dead, and the court can let go of the people from the Xiangyang Conference that year. But if there is another one, even if I kneel outside the palace and kowtow until my head breaks, it won't bring anything back."

The room fell silent again. The candle flame on the table flickered, the lamp wick popped open, the light dimmed for a moment, and then brightened again.

Li Gui lowered his head, looking at his hands resting on his knees.

"Won't my father be angry with me?"

"No, I think he'd rather you live a good life." Di Renjie looked at him. "Change your identity, go somewhere far away from the capital, and live a good life."

Li Gui closed his eyes briefly, then stood up, straightened his worn-out robe, clasped his hands together, bowed slowly, and knelt down.

"Sir, you saved Li Gui's life three years ago, and you have saved him again today. I have no way to repay this kindness."

"Preserve yourself, change your identity, go to a place far away from the capital...and live a good life."

"Okay, I promise."

Di Gong reached out and supported his arm, lifting him up from the ground.

The door was gently pushed open, and Wu Xiaojie stepped across the threshold.

The two looked at each other, but neither of them spoke.

The next morning, before dawn, Li Yuanfang led his team into Liu Family Village.

The gate to the manor was ajar, probably because Zeng Tai had held Liu Chali back last night, and the men below had relaxed their guard.

Before the servants in the front yard could react, they were pinned down. When Liu Chali was captured in the bedroom, he was only wearing an undergarment with the collar open and his hair loose over his shoulders.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Liu Da tried to sneak out through the back door, but was caught red-handed by the guards waiting outside.

Di Jinghui slapped his shoulder with his sword, and with a dull thud, he fell onto the bluestone slab, the short sword flying more than ten feet away from his hand.

Two guards stepped forward and pinned him down. The rope tightened around his wrists, and he struggled twice but couldn't break free.

During the search of the study, a worn wooden box was dragged out from behind the display shelf, containing dozens of letters neatly stacked inside, including letters from Xu Shide and drafts of replies from Liu Chali...

Zhang Rui had already secretly retrieved the other two copies of "The Blue Shirt Chronicles," and now they were placed on the table along with the letters and confessions, completing the chain of evidence.

Liu Chali was brought to the courtroom, and after reading the letter and confession, he confessed without much struggle.

Zeng Tai was taking notes, the rustling sound of the pen tip scratching across the paper coming and going.

That afternoon, the convoy left Huzhou.

Wu Xiaojie accompanied him, sitting in the car behind. He lifted a corner of the curtain and watched as Huzhou City gradually shrank into a hazy gray shadow. After watching for a while, he lowered the curtain.

Li Gui had already made arrangements to leave the city and would no longer accompany the team.

On the way back to the capital, Di Renjie leaned against the carriage wall and looked out the window at the winter wheat fields passing by.

The wheat was still green, but a heavy, dull green. Occasionally, one or two farmers in short brown coats would walk by on the ridges of the fields, carrying loads that swayed back and forth.

Zhang Rui floated to the side and sat down next to the cushion.

"Grandpa, you'll be meeting His Majesty soon."

"Hmm." Judge Di lowered the carriage curtain and leaned back. "This case should be closed."

In mid-December, Chang'an was blanketed in snow again.

The fine, dense dust fell onto the stone slabs of Zhuque Street, only to be crushed into a thin layer of mortar by the wheels of vehicles in the blink of an eye.

Li Yuanfang rode ahead, clearing the way. A thin layer of snow settled on the shoulders of his cloak. Di Jinghui followed behind the carriage, the sound of the horse's hooves pounding in the snow more muffled than usual.

It was the second day since I returned to the capital. Last night, a eunuch came to deliver a message that His Majesty had summoned me this morning.

The carriage rumbled along Zhuque Avenue, turned into the west gate of the imperial city, and stopped outside the side hall.

Di Renjie, dressed in a scarlet robe with wide sleeves, gold belt, black leather boots, and wearing a Jinxian crown, walked through several corridors led by a palace attendant.

The snow under the eaves was swept to both sides, piling up into two shallow gray lines. The air was dry and cold, and the white vapor exhaled dissipated in the blink of an eye.

The charcoal fire in the side room burned brightly, and occasionally a soft popping sound came from the copper basin, with sparks splashing onto the rim of the basin before going out again.

Wu Zetian sat behind her desk with a thin blanket draped over her knees.

The memorial lay open on the table, its pages slightly curled at the edges, a sign of repeated reading.

"Huaiying is here, please have a seat."

Di Gong bowed and sat down opposite him.

"I've read the memorial. The three copies of 'The Blue Robe Record,' the correspondence, Liu Chali's confession... the evidence is complete." Wu Zetian moved the memorial aside, her fingers pressing on the paper, and raised her eyes. "Xu Shide is a member of the Imperial Guard. Who instructed him to frame the Crown Prince?"

"Xu Shide confessed during interrogation that he only wanted to curry favor with Wu Sansi by using the matter of the Crown Prince. He planned this on his own and was not instructed by anyone else."

Wu Zetian picked up the teacup and twirled it in her palm.

"You believe it?"

"I have carefully reviewed all of his correspondence with Liu Chali and found no evidence of a direct connection to Wu Sansi. Based on the evidence, this case can only be investigated up to Xu Shide."

Wu Zetian did not respond. She leaned against the armrest, ran her fingers back and forth along the rim of the teacup, and her gaze fell on the slightly curled piece of paper on the table.

Someone walked by in the corridor outside the hall. Most of the sound of their footsteps was absorbed by the snow, leaving only a very light rustling sound, which faded away and then returned to silence.