Chapter Twelve: Peace

Today was a rare sunny day in the heart of winter, yet within the residence of the Left Chancellor, a chilling wind swept through the halls.

In later eras, when a newcomer joined the company’s intelligence section, the seasoned veterans would have no trouble uncovering every detail about them within days. But here in the Tang Dynasty, the Hundred Riders Division only knew of a man named Wu An, and no one dared to gossip or speculate about him.

As the young man clad in black armor strode forward, the soldiers silently parted to either side, their eyes tinged with suspicion.

He looked like nothing more than a pretty face.

Though he had shown some bravery earlier outside, executing a house search was a different matter entirely—without an experienced hand to guide him, it simply couldn’t be done.

Hao Chujun’s mansion was vast. Even discounting his status as Left Chancellor, his noble birth and lifestyle ensured no shortage of wealth or influence.

The thirty soldiers from the Hundred Riders might seem imposing, but they barely filled a single courtyard.

Using them to intimidate was like stirring a huge vat with toothpicks—no matter their effort, their blows lacked piercing power and were unlikely to be fatal.

Wu An looked up at the sprawling mansion before him, fully aware this was the extent of the forces he could command.

“Search the study, the bedrooms, the rear quarters...” he hesitated briefly before adding, “First, have all the women of the rear quarters evacuated. Today’s matter, I shall report in full to Her Majesty the Empress... Any who dare violate the women or conceal private treasures will be executed!”

At last, the soldiers’ expressions grew solemn. Wu An stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, and a sharp, commanding aura suddenly poured out from him.

He glanced back once more. At the gate stood Hao Chujun in his purple official robe, his face dark and sullen.

“If anyone in the Hao household resists, kill them!”

The soldiers moved swiftly, their intelligence evident—they arrested those who needed questioning and searched every nook and cranny, leaving only Wu An and Hao Chujun standing outside.

Hao Chujun sighed softly, his gaze gradually softening as if looking upon a reckless junior, and said calmly:

“Captain Wu, are you satisfied now?”

The young man seemed not to hear. Hao Chujun frowned and repeated the question.

Wu An merely lifted his head and looked to the sky.

He was certain he might uncover a few suspicious or “contraband” items within the Hao residence, but to find a charge capable of destroying Hao Chujun outright would require a more thorough search.

Since today’s objective had been achieved, there was no need to waste words with Hao Chujun, lest the older man find some leverage against him.

After a moment’s pause, unwilling to stand about with an old man any longer, Wu An beckoned two soldiers over to guard Hao Chujun, as if fearing his escape, and then stepped inside.

Seeing the two soldiers by his side, Hao Chujun’s face darkened further.

Inside the study, several soldiers were already conducting the search. Upon seeing him, they immediately bowed.

“Greetings, Captain.”

Wu An responded with a nod, his eyes scanning the desk where several volumes of books lay.

One soldier took the initiative to open a book, revealing aged pages with the title “Hao’s Poems” on the first page.

“A poetry collection...” Wu An mused for a moment, then realized it was likely authored by Hao Chujun himself. An idea formed in his mind as he gestured to the others to continue searching elsewhere while he sat by the desk and began leafing through the book leisurely.

Before long, he picked up a brush, dipped it into the inkstone’s still-wet ink, and began marking the pages with circles and dots.

...

Outside the Hao mansion, the street had been completely cleared. The Golden Guard, who had earlier attempted to block the Hundred Riders’ soldiers, were now actively dispersing the crowds, seemingly clearing the way for someone.

Soon, a lavish carriage rolled onto the street and stopped before the Hao mansion’s gates.

A youth dressed in elegant blue brocade stepped down and strode quickly inside, led by soldiers.

...

Hao Chujun stood at the entrance. Upon seeing the youth in brocade, his eyes glistened with emotion before tears suddenly streamed down his face.

“You... you’ve come?”

“Lord Hao, has something happened?”

The young man was strikingly handsome, his fair skin slightly tinged with the faint pallor of indulgence.

He grasped Hao Chujun’s trembling hand, offering a few comforting words, then looked inside with a flash of indignation:

“Who inside dares act so recklessly?”

Though there was no sound of smashing or fighting, the muffled cries of women and children from the rear quarters drifted faintly to the front gate, sorrowful and heart-wrenching to all who heard.

“Your Highness...” Hao Chujun’s suppressed anguish overflowed, and he lamented tearfully:

“Had Your Highness not come today, I would tomorrow weep my grievances before the Zhaoling Mausoleum. That the Empress would allow a mere disgraced commoner to search my residence—where is the dignity of a high official of the realm?”

Disgraced commoner?

The youth in brocade was puzzled. He had only just heard that Left Chancellor Hao Chujun was to be subjected to a house search, and hurried here to see what had happened.

Hearing Hao Chujun’s words, he bristled with righteous anger:

“That lowly commoner dares rashly search the Left Chancellor’s private home today. Tomorrow he might dare rebel... You say it was the Empress who sent him?”

Hao Chujun nodded tearfully.

The youth’s concern quickly faded, leaving him standing silently.

Hao Chujun wiped his tears, showing no real sorrow in his eyes. Seeing the youth no longer pressing him, disappointment welled within his heart.

After a moment, feeling awkward standing there, the youth offered a perfunctory word to Hao Chujun, then turned to the two Hundred Riders soldiers by his side.

“Keep a good watch, don’t slack off.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As he spoke, their eyes met, and the youth instinctively stepped back.

Hao Chujun was left speechless.

...

Wu An was bent over the poetry, occasionally marking it, when he suddenly looked up toward the doorway and saw a coldly composed youth in blue brocade enter.

The youth wore a blue robe with a fur cloak draped over his shoulders.

Their eyes met, and reflected in the youth’s gaze was the figure of the black-armored man.

“The Hundred Riders soldiers outside told me you came by order of the Empress.”

At that first glance, the youth was certain this man could not be a scion of the Wu family. The Wu clan’s children, though born lowly, lived in comfort, and were mostly ostentatious but inwardly corrupt.

Wu An’s handsome, heroic face was striking, but his eyes were like knives, piercing and unsettling.

“Who might you be?”

Wu An calmly closed the poetry volume and looked at him.

“I am Captain Wu An, bestowed by the Empress herself with the title of Resolute Commander.”

“Wu?” The youth chuckled with a hint of amusement.

He stepped closer, straightening his posture slightly.

“Though I hold no official position, I come by my lord’s command to observe today’s matter. I am Wang Bo, styled Zian...”

At this, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a faint air of disdain.

“My lord is none other than the Crown Prince.”

Crown Prince... the Eastern Palace?

Wu An was not unfamiliar with the name Wang Bo, but the timeline just didn’t match, and besides...

He cupped his hands politely.

“So you are an attendant of the Eastern Palace.”

An attendant of the Eastern Palace?

The youth found the title amusing and probed:

“Lord Hao is a senior minister; if you find nothing here today, it will be difficult to explain when you return, won’t it?”

Before he finished, his eyes landed on the poetry volume Wu An held.

Wu An handed it over openly and flipped through a few pages in front of him.

“Lord Hao is indeed a senior minister, with considerable literary talent. I’ve only seen this poetry collection so far, and I confess, I’m tempted to take it home for further reading.”

If it had been the imperial robe or jade seal, the suspicion would have been obvious.

But how could a mere poetry collection threaten the Left Chancellor?

The youth originally hoped to negotiate a bit, at least to prevent Hao Chujun from truly being “found out” for anything. Seeing that the black-armored youth showed no intent to harm Hao Chujun, he relaxed.

Within a few words, the youth had already roughly deduced this man’s identity. Though he had been in the Eastern Palace these past days and knew little of the outside turmoil, he had overheard a few names.

As a prince, such political awareness was necessary.

“Finished searching?”

He gestured outside and asked, “Captain Wu, you’ll soon report to the palace, yes?”

“Why not come together?”

Wu An did not hesitate. Calmly, he packed away the poetry collection and followed the youth outside.

The Hundred Riders soldiers emerged one by one, reassembling in the courtyard.

The youth appraised them, quickly noticing none concealed any private treasures, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

Hao Chujun was about to speak, but then saw the youth throw an arm around Wu An’s shoulder as if they were close brothers.

That title of “Your Highness” stuck painfully in his throat.

Once outside, the Hundred Riders soldiers mounted their horses. The youth first climbed into the carriage and spoke briefly with someone inside, then lifted the curtain, motioning for Wu An to enter.

Wu An raised the curtain and felt a wave of warmth emanate from within. There, beside the youth, sat a girl with an oval face.

Her delicate features were like a painting, her bright eyes framed by simple robes, a black cloak draped over her shoulders highlighting the porcelain smoothness of her skin, making one almost want to reach out and pinch her adorable little face.

But Wu An restrained himself.

The youth looked at Wu An, certain the man knew little of the imperial household’s affairs, and pointed to the girl:

“This is my sister. I can’t tell you her given name, but she once took monastic vows and had a Taoist name...”

He paused, then said, “Taiping.”