Chapter Four: The Dog's Bark

The weather in Chang'an is rarely pleasant, which is why, historically, Emperor Li Zhi and Empress Wu Zetian frequently traveled to tour their secondary palaces or retreated directly to the Eastern Capital, Luoyang.

As winter approached, a damp, bone-chilling cold began to seep up from the ground, burrowing straight into the marrow. Yet, if the Empress were to be more generous—perhaps bestowing a reward as grand as a generalship or a title—Wu An would not mind kneeling on the icy floor, rear end hoisted high, to repeat his previous words once more.

Before long, an elderly palace attendant emerged from the hall and summoned Wu An inside.

After Wu An entered, Wu Chengsi glanced at the attractive, pure-looking young court lady before him and chuckled softly, "He was arrogant at first and subservient later; he is truly no different from a dog."

The court lady cast a sideways glance at him. A moment later, she actually spoke, "This dog loves to bark; it is indeed rather annoying."

Wu Chengsi grunted, nodding in agreement. However, as soon as the court lady turned to leave, his expression underwent a sudden change.

...

"Do you even know who you are insulting with those words?"

Behind a long desk sat a middle-aged woman of luxurious beauty. The empresses of the early Tang, like the Empress Changsun, were known for their frugality; she had been the Emperor Taizong's wife from his youth, and the two had lived their lives with mutual respect. The Wu woman, however, relied on her beauty to please; her first half of life was a perfect illustration of a world that values appearance above all else.

Perhaps due to her advancing age, her once overly flamboyant beauty had settled into a truly dignified and regal grace.

There were few crow's feet at the corners of her eyes. Her bee-waisted, full-hipped figure was draped in magnificent robes, and her brows and eyes held a warmth that made one instinctively want to draw near.

Court rules were strict, and it was nearly impossible for male relatives to enter the inner sanctum, but all rules were mere formalities before the Empress.

Her word was the law.

The Empress studied the young man standing before her. Her expression was momentarily dazed, as if she were seeing an old friend, before a gentle, unmasked smile emerged.

Wu An pondered for a moment and bowed to her again.

"Forgive your nephew for his dullness."

Upon hearing the word "nephew," the smile on the Empress's face deepened. She disliked convoluted rules and platitudes; to her, self-interest was the most direct form of communication.

This child understood her mind. He had skipped all the tedious steps of double entendres, frantic hints, and back-and-forth posturing. This, she liked very much.

The Empress began to hope that this child was even sharper than she thought.

Without any pleasantries or preamble, she began to explain patiently: "Li Jingxuan has been the Emperor's study companion since childhood. He rose through the ranks all the way to the position of minister, was granted titles, and was even entrusted with eighteen thousand troops to defend the Hexi Corridor. These achievements were not due to his own merit, but to the Emperor's boundless grace."

"By comparison, you are nothing but a foot soldier and a commoner. Even if you were to walk for eight lifetimes, you would never catch up to him."

Looking at the handsome young man before her, she said calmly, "Now, he has submitted a memorial stating that his recent defeat was not his fault. The witnesses, material evidence, and proof of guilt are all there... As long as you die, he remains a key minister of both literary and military prowess, and the Emperor remains a wise judge of talent."

She paused, then added, "Now that the memorial has been presented, many in the court and across the country agree with him: you must be killed."

Wu An’s expression remained calm. The most prestigious minister in the Tang court was using his power and connections to kill him, simply because Wu An had nearly killed him first.

Li Jingxuan had the connections and the status. Coupled with his long-standing bond with the Emperor, by pushing the blame onto his subordinates, he was not only covering his own tracks but also restoring the Emperor's face.

The Emperor was a "Holy Son of Heaven," and his selection of officials must be correct. If the Emperor’s choice led to failure, then it could not be a mistake in judgment—it had to be that the situation itself was flawed.

...

"Li Jingxuan..." Wu An thought silently. After a moment, he spoke frankly:

"I have been wandering in exile for years. Now, I only wish to seek justice for the comrades who died in battle."

The Empress sneered.

"If a thing must be 'sought' through struggle, then it is not about justice or the hearts of the people—it is about your methods! Among the common folk, people will kill each other over a single plot of land. In the official world, one's 'face' is the most vital thing of all."

She tapped the desk, signaling Wu An to look up.

Wu An looked once more at the middle-aged woman who still retained her charm. Her tone shifted, becoming that of an elder reprimanding a younger one without mercy:

"The words you spoke to Heichi Changzhi are acts of defiance against the sage. How many heads and mouths do you think you have to dare speak like that?"

Seeing Wu An remain silent, her tone softened once more.

"Let this matter end here."

Let the grudge be forgotten.

To the Empress's surprise, the sharp-edged young man did not lose his composure. He only appeared somewhat puzzled.

"I was consumed by rage at the time and openly shot at Li Jingxuan in Hexi. Do you truly believe he can forget this?"

This disrespectful retort only made the light in the Empress's eyes grow brighter. She pondered for a moment and continued:

"Enemies should be reconciled rather than provoked. Li Jingxuan is a major official; he knows the weight of things. Since you are my nephew, I will restore your status in a few days. Once that is done, I expect he will not dare to say anything more. As for the memorial, I will see that it is suppressed."

She was right. Once Wu An became her nephew, he would no longer be the low-born soldier he once was. If Li Jingxuan weighed the situation, he would understand that his opponent was no longer Wu An, but the Empress herself.

The Empress stared into Wu An’s eyes, which were as calm as a cold pool, and felt a growing sense of anticipation.

The men of Chang'an loved the reckless spirit of youth; horse racing, dog fighting, gambling, and visiting brothels were common, and even acts of violence committed in moments of passion occurred every year.

If this young man were willing to discard his hatred just to secure a safe harbor, he would be nothing more than a sycophant, unworthy of standing firm in Chang'an.

The Empress was not so desperate for talent that she would nurture such a person; if he were truly that type, she would at most keep him as a disposable pawn, never as a protégé.

Under her gaze, Wu An shook his head slightly.

"My comrades saved my life; Li Jingxuan is a mortal enemy. If I see Li Jingxuan again, I will kill him."

The Empress’s face turned cold. She scolded:

"I did not expect you to be so ungrateful. I have no desire to speak with you further. Guards!"

The young court lady who had brought Wu An into the palace walked in from outside, followed by Wu Chengsi, who had been waiting.

Seeing the Empress’s visible anger, the young court lady was stunned, while Wu Chengsi secretly rejoiced.

As expected, this boorish commoner was beneath contempt. He hadn't even managed three sentences before infuriating the Empress.

He thought for a moment, then looked at the Empress, eager to add:

"Eight more memorials were delivered from outside the palace just now, all calling for the execution of the traitor. The Emperor said to bring them to you and ask that you take a good look."

The Empress stood up. Her aura of benevolence and kindness faded, replaced by cold sharpness.

She stared at Wu An, enunciating each word:

"Since Li Jingxuan and the other ministers have petitioned that you are guilty, I cannot shield you. I will have the Dali Temple investigate... You are not to go anywhere for the next few days. The Duke of Zhou, Wu Chengsi, has a residence in Yongning Ward. You will get yourself there and stay. You are forbidden from leaving, and you will spend your days reading to fix that pig-brained head of yours!"

Wu Chengsi froze.

The Empress’s gaze slowly shifted to him. Wu Chengsi felt the bitterness in his heart, but could only steel himself and say: "Nephew... I mean, this official will go clean the residence immediately."

"Get out."

The Empress waved her hand, her voice sounding weary.

Wu Chengsi felt a surge of anxiety and blurted out: "Your Majesty, I have brought those memorials; they are from the ministers of the three departments and various bureaus... They are waiting outside the palace, saying they want a resolution for Li Jingxuan. If there is no result, they will not leave."

"Oh..."

The Empress looked at him, her brow slightly furrowed.

Wu Chengsi took the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot, reminding her: "Your Majesty, they are, after all, high-ranking officials. If these words get out, won't it be too damaging to them?"

Wu An watched them coldly from the side. He accidentally locked eyes with the young court lady; both were startled, and they quickly looked away.

"Hoo..."

The Empress exhaled softly. She looked at Wu An and said calmly: "Commandant of the Valiant Cavalry."

"I am here."

Wu An immediately bowed in salute.

The Empress swept a glance over him, and in front of the young court lady and Wu Chengsi, she corrected him:

"In front of outsiders, when you address me, you are to call yourself 'your servant'."

"Your servant understands."

"Pass on my decree."

She pointed outside:

"As for those waiting outside for a reply, count them one by one. They are to get out, along with the Duke of Zhou."