Leaving the Hall of Two Instruments and heading straight north, one soon reached the Xuanwu Gate, guarded by imperial troops.
Chu Suiliang followed beside Li Shimin. His eyes fixed on Xuanwu Gate, his mind automatically recalling the flashing blades and bloodshed that had taken place here five years earlier.
Even though he knew such thoughts were dangerous, Chu Suiliang could not help slightly turning his head, stealing a glance at His Majesty's expression from the corner of his eye.
In Chu Suiliang's imagination, His Majesty ought to feel at least some pride.
After all, in just five short years, two powerful enemies had been defeated. Northern threats were pacified, western foes destroyed. Now only awaited Li Jing, Grand Commander of the Qinghai Route Army, escorting the enemy chieftain back to the capital. Then, like Illig Qaghan before, he could be presented at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Combined, these would be achievements never before seen since the founding of Tang.
Yet to his surprise, what Chu Suiliang saw on Li Shimin's face was loneliness and a hint of confusion.
The ruler simply stared at the heavily guarded Xuanwu Gate, lost in thought.
Fortunately, Li Shimin did not linger in this state for long.
"Dengshan."
Li Shimin called Chu Suiliang by his courtesy name in a gentle tone, then asked a question that was anything but gentle.
"Did Zheng Zuochi record the events of Xuanwu Gate on the fourth day of the sixth month?"
Chu Suiliang immediately felt put on the spot. After a moment's hesitation, he answered truthfully:
"Zheng Zuochi recorded the old Xuanwu Gate matter in subtle wording."
Hidden and indirect, with many euphemisms, likely leaving much unsaid.
Considering Old Scholar Zheng's personality, that was only natural.
Li Shimin nodded in understanding and said nothing more, continuing forward.
Killing brothers, slaying a younger sibling, forcing a father to abdicate were all acts that could hardly be called righteous. Thus, in the early Zhenguan years, he had long felt uneasy about this place.
But after seeing later generations' statues of the Zhenguan Supreme General in the sleepless city of Chang'an, that unease had long since faded.
What made him pause just now was more due to recalling the later chain of coups.
From the Shenlong Coup that removed Empress Wu, to Li Longji's preemptive Xiantian Coup, in just eight short years there were three uprisings. Court nobles and officials slaughtered one another around this very gate, blood flowing like rivers. It was hard to say that he, as the original trailblazer, bore no responsibility.
Fortunately, there was still time now.
With help from later generations, Tang must not only advance on land and sea, but also cultivate itself internally and externally.
Chu Suiliang did not know how many thoughts had passed through His Majesty's mind in that brief moment, but he faintly sensed that this emperor was quite different from the one described in Zheng's court records.
For example, the direction His Majesty now led them was something Chu Suiliang had never seen mentioned in the previous court recorder's notes.
They went north out of Xuanwu Gate, crossed the Western Inner Garden, mounted fine horses, and rode straight north deep into the Forbidden Park.
By rights, when the emperor came here, it was usually for hunting and leisure. Yet Chu Suiliang saw no change into hunting attire, no powerful bow, and no trace of amusement on His Majesty's face.
Moreover, the deeper they went, the more imperial guards appeared in the shadows.
Just as Chu Suiliang's unease grew and he was about to speak, the view suddenly opened up.
Deep within the secluded Forbidden Park, a cluster of low buildings had risen from the ground.
Patrolling soldiers immediately surrounded them. After verifying identities, they began searching everyone for fire-starting items. Only after repeated checks, to the point that even Chu Suiliang grew impatient, did the guards finally perform a crossed-hand salute to His Majesty and withdraw.
As the guards dispersed, Chu Suiliang clearly saw the plaque above the main gate:
Five Thunder Bureau.
Beside it stood another sign, bearing His Majesty's bold, forceful calligraphy:
Those who bring fire into the Five Thunder Complex without permission shall be beheaded.
"So this Five Thunder Bureau is the Five Thunder Temple?"
Chu Suiliang had broad knowledge from his time serving at the Hongwen Academy. Most students there were either rich or noble, and news traveled fast.
Last year, he had heard people chatting that Chang'an had gained two strange places in recent years.
The first was Yining Ward, gloomy and sinister. Nearby residents spread rumors that prison guards from the Court of Judicial Review sent convicts there every month. Yet judging by cooking smoke, not many people actually lived there. Some said man-eating ghosts haunted the place, and children avoided it.
The second was Yongxing Ward, filled with constant thunder. Inside was the Five Thunder Temple. Nearby residents could hear thunder in broad daylight, calling it a divine sign.
There were even more rumors about that temple. The only confirmed fact was that it was difficult to enter and worship, and that His Majesty's own calligraphy was used there as a talisman.
Because of his father, Chu Suiliang also knew that the Directorate of Works had later established the Five Thunder Bureau. He had guessed the similar names meant a connection, but never expected to see it with his own eyes today.
"Dengshan, would you like to enter and behold Tang's secrets?"
Li Shimin turned back with interest and asked.
Chu Suiliang hesitated. But whether from curiosity or from the duty of a court recorder, he finally said firmly:
"What your servant sees here, even my own father will never hear a single word of. What I record shall only be Your Majesty's words and actions in the court record. I will not record a single word of what I see."
Li Shimin smiled.
"Ximing was a man of letters, refined and elegant, a flower of good governance, a worthy minister to revive Tang."
"Having such a father, I trust Dengshan's words completely."
Chu Suiliang's father, Chu Liang, courtesy name Ximing, was indeed famous. But Chu Suiliang had never imagined hearing such high praise directly from the emperor. His heart could not help but warm.
After yet another inspection to confirm he carried no fire-starting items, Chu Suiliang finally entered the Five Thunder Bureau.
The Five Thunder Temple he had imagined should have been filled with towering statues and the sound of chanting.
Instead, what he saw was craftsmen and technicians moving back and forth, mixed together, all walking briskly.
What reached his nose was not incense, but a far more unpleasant smell, like rotten eggs left too long, mixed with a faint sour odor.
"Your Majesty has come. This humble servant failed to greet you from afar."
With that apology, Chu Suiliang saw a man dressed as a Daoist almost roll out in a hurry.
Li Shimin looked him over and joked:
"Daoist Zhengyang, you have lived here so long. Instead of cultivating yourself, your meals seem to have improved quite a bit."
Chu Suiliang did not find it disrespectful. The Daoist was indeed plump. In these post-war years, when most people were thin, such a figure would surely be envied in Chang'an.
"Please call me Director of Smelting instead, Your Majesty. And this servant has changed his name from Zhengyang to Tongxuan."
Chu Suiliang burst out laughing, earning a sideways glance from Li Shimin.
"Why does Dengshan laugh?"
Chu Suiliang reported properly:
"As I understand it, Zhengyang means true south, associated with fire and the color red. Tongxuan implies connection to the north, associated with water and the color black."
"Changing the name like this is likely to align with Your Majesty's fire restrictions."
Daoist Tongxuan immediately showed a grateful expression. Li Shimin was momentarily stunned, then shook his head.
"You need not go this far."
After some polite exchanges, Daoist Tongxuan carefully asked:
"Your Majesty's visit must mean that the Duke of Wei has highly praised the Five Thunder Bureau's weapons?"
Li Shimin neither confirmed nor denied. He simply nodded toward the interior.
"Since we are here, take me to see how the Five Thunder Bureau stands now."