Chapter 49 No Gifts This Holiday

The session of "calling out the dishes" ended with Zhou Xing stepping forward to introduce himself.

"Zhou Xing, Imperial Secretary of the Bureau of Merits in the Ministry of Personnel."

Except for Di Renjie, the others all involuntarily cast their gazes toward him, their eyes genuinely filled with astonishment—much like seeing a cute little Husky wandering among a pack of wolves.

Did a low-ranking civil official like him deserve to stand here?

The haughty-looking Qiu Shenji spoke up first, saying in a deep voice, "When Lord Wu invited us here today to discuss matters, I was deeply honored and truly grateful. But why invite such a mere clerk to take up space here?"

Zhou Xing's face instantly flushed red, yet he neither retorted nor lowered his head. He simply stood there, meeting everyone's gaze with a calm expression.

Wu An suddenly turned his gaze toward him and said coldly, "Both you and he are my guests. If you are unwilling to sit together, one of you must leave. If the Colonel does not wish to sit and converse together, you may leave right now."

Qiu Shenji's face flushed red as well. He opened his mouth, caught off guard and unable to back down gracefully. Di Renjie timely intervened, saying, "The matter to be discussed tonight is of great importance. One more person means one more helper. This is precisely the time when virtue finds many allies, so how can we drive people away?"

Qiu Shenji gritted his teeth, muttered a reluctant agreement, lowered his head, and resumed his seat. After bowing deeply to everyone, Zhou Xing found a seat and sat down.

Most of those present were military officers. While some had a slight acquaintance with one another, the majority were strangers. The only reason they were able to sit together today was because of a single person's invitation.

"I am Wu An."

The young man in black slowly seated himself behind the desk. All eyes turned toward him. Pausing for a moment, Wu An continued, "For now, all of you need only listen."

"Over the past half-month, fifteen corpses of palace attendants have been dragged out from within the palace, three of whom were imperial physicians. Beyond that, security is tight everywhere. By the Empress's decree, fifty thousand garrison troops are being mobilized from the Jingji region—one route heading to the camp outside Chang'an City, and the other to Tongguan Pass. This is an edict that will not be officially issued until tomorrow."

The crowd's breathing hitched. Wu An gave them no time to reflect, pressing on immediately:

"Among the court ministers and nobles, no fewer than ten individuals wearing purple robes have been frequenting the East Palace. Within the past three days, large-scale troop movements have occurred within the Ten Guards of the East Palace, and the number of peddlers and commoners secretly entering and exiting the East Palace to relay messages is countless."

One heavy piece of news after another slammed heavily into everyone's hearts. Wu An spoke up: "With a little thought, you all will realize that these matters are not something we can afford to touch."

"However... once what comes after truly happens, we martial men will inevitably bear the brunt of it."

"Lord Wu is the Empress's nephew, yet you invite us here to discuss this—what is your meaning?" someone asked coldly. Wu An's open and forthright attitude upon opening had indirectly verified the authenticity of these reports.

Yet once these facts were laid bare before everyone's eyes, each of them would be forced to take a stance.

"In your hands, you either command a garrison or lead a hundred or so soldiers; the rest of you occupy crucial, pivotal positions."

Wu An pressed both hands down on the desk, slowly stood up, and swept his gaze around the room.

"I ask only one question: if the palace gates undergo a sudden change overnight and each of you is at your post facing the crisis, whom will you serve as master at that time?"

Someone seated in the audience spoke up in a loud voice: "Such a question may be asked by the Emperor, and it may be asked by the East Palace, but it is precisely you who must not ask it!"

Wu An retrieved a dark golden fish-shaped tally from his bosom, pinched its cord to suspend it in the air, and gently swung it before them.

"The Emperor's personal bestowal is right here, granting passage through the palace prohibitions and command over the Thousand Cavalry."

"Yet, the East Palace..."

"Why are you all so certain that I am not sent by the East Palace?"

Putting away the fish tally, Wu An asked with a playful expression:

"Even if it is not for the Emperor or the Crown Prince, when the event actually transpires, do you intend to bare your necks for the executioner's blade, or will you assist the Imperial Family in slaughtering one another like brothers, only to peacefully wait for the aftermath to purge and sideline you?"

No one rushed to speak. A moment later, someone asked, "Since Lord Wu has been so forthright in saying all this, perhaps you could explain in detail what exactly you expect us to do?"

"Wu simply wishes to lead you all in saving yourselves."

I'll believe that when I see it... The crowd watched him silently. Although each had their own allegiances, the Wu An before them had already manifested three distinct stances.

He possessed a token bestowed by the Emperor, yet could speak on behalf of the East Palace, and furthermore... his surname was Wu.

Some gazes fell upon Di Renjie and Pei Juandao. In fact, compared to Wu An's "nonsense," the very presence of these two men sitting here served as proof in itself.

If none of this were true, they could not possibly be here.

Was this scheme masterminded by the Emperor or the Empress...

Aside from Zhou Xing, nearly everyone present possessed family backgrounds and lineages, and none of them were fools.

Precisely because of this, they thought far more deeply than ordinary people and simply refused to believe that a mere commanding officer of a middle-ranked garrison would boldly summon them here just to blurt out such things.

It must have been instigated by someone behind Wu An, using him as a mouthpiece.

"Rest assured, I do not expect any of you to kill anyone or help me commit any treasonous acts. I merely hope to reach a simple understanding with you all."

Wu An stood with his hands behind his back, his voice calm:

"Logically speaking, if the palace gates undergo a sudden change overnight, united we hold thousands of troops—the law cannot punish the masses. Even if an upheaval truly occurs at that time, the court will be unable to hold us accountable."

Indeed, indeed. For him to speak with such confidence, someone must be laying out the pieces in advance.

Someone spoke up in response: "If an upheaval truly occurs when the time comes, this Li remains loyal only to the court, but neither do I wish to become someone else's ghost under the blade for no reason. Lord Wu's words, this Li has remembered."

Everyone present was a stranger, yet the first to agree was Li Duozuo, who commanded a portion of the Northern Gate's imperial guards.

Wu An nodded slightly, not waiting for others to speak, and slowly continued:

"Sentimentally speaking, which of you is not a subject of the Li-Tang Dynasty?"

The study seemed filled only with the sound of deep contemplation, and one by one, the others began to declare their stances.

Those seated here were mostly imperial guard officers who had caught wind of rumors to varying degrees over the past few days. Coupled with the sight of Di Renjie and Pei Juandao, they had already weighed their options in their hearts.

Even if they needed to make a different choice later, it wouldn't hurt to add an extra layer of security for themselves right now.

Regardless of everything, at least for the moment, everyone in the study had reached a temporary consensus.

Wu An did not strike while the iron was hot to demand further promises or conditions; instead, he simply continued a bit further, focusing mostly on inquiring about the specific troop strength under each person's command.

Zhou Xing had long since noticed the writing brush and ink prepared on his desk. Casting an imperceptible glance toward Wu An, he silently picked up the brush and began recording without needing instructions.

As night fell, the study had long since returned to silence. Wu An sat behind his desk reading.

Swish...

The door was pulled open.

Shangguan Wan'er kicked off her shoes and walked in, draped in a snow-white fox fur cloak that made her delicate face appear even more charming.

She knelt beside the desk and said, "The Empress asked me to ask you how your preparations are going. Tomorrow, you must bring the exact date and the roster of all participants into the palace for her review."

A son plotting rebellion, with his birth mother acting as full-time supervisor.

Are you people playing a family game?

Wu An could only feel that this affair was imbued with a certain dark humor.

He shook his head slightly and said, "This matter may happen very quickly. I cannot afford to give both the Crown Prince and the Empress ample time to prepare. Only by muddying these waters can we slowly find our opportunities afterward."

Only by letting them truly clash, fighting until blood flows like rivers, until they forget they are mother and son.

Shangguan Wan'er hesitated for a moment before asking, "Yet, why should the people you summoned today ever believe you?"

Among those individuals—setting aside family background—the official ranks and positions of some were even vaguely superior to Wu An's, and they shared one common trait: commanding the various imperial guards.

Tonight's conversation was, in effect, internal communication among the imperial guards.

"They do not believe me at all right now, but when the time comes, they will all stand on my side."

"Why?"

Without answering, Wu An asked instead, "Also, did you bring the terrain and layout of the palace that I asked you to draw for me?"

"That thing isn't easy to draw."

Hesitating for a moment, Shangguan Wan'er reached into her bosom and pulled out a stack of papers, placing them before him.

"Only a portion of it. As for the terrain near the Northern Gate, the Inner Gardens, and the Taiji Palace, even I have no reason to wander around there; getting caught means certain death."

"That is enough."

"When does it begin?"

"Three days from now, I am taking a bride. On the night of the grand wedding, the East Palace will make its move, and I must immediately lead my troops to the Northern Gate to respond."

By that time, it would be the mother and son's true showdown.

Shangguan Wan'er pondered in silence for a moment, asking no further details, but suddenly inquired: "Do you truly intend to kill her?"

"Who?"

"That young lady of the Pei clan."

"You already guessed it, so there is no need to ask."

"Oh..."

Lowering her head, Shangguan Wan'er muttered dejectedly, "Can you give me that piece of calligraphy you wrote earlier?"

"Which one?"

"Apart from the three feet of snow on your lord's body..."

"That piece has already been given to the young lady of the Pei clan. She likes it very much."

Raising her head to glare at him, Shangguan Wan'er muttered, "What good is giving it to her?"

"The reason Pei Juandao was able to sit here today was entirely for the sake of his daughter."

"Killing a daughter of the Pei family could have pleased the East Palace or the Empress, yet you prefer to spare her life in exchange for the hundred or so armored soldiers under the General of the Jinwu Guards."

"Having a hundred more armored soldiers under your command—what is wrong with that?"

Helplessly, Shangguan Wan'er sighed, "You are going to get me killed."

The Crown Prince aside, if one truly wished to please the Empress, she had casually handed the Hundred Riders Corps over to Wu An's command right from the beginning; a single edict from her could mobilize far more than mere thousands of troops.

"What the Empress can give you goes far beyond a hundred armored soldiers. Act the part of the Wu clan's kinswoman, and the benefits will reveal themselves later—abundantly so."

Wu An shook his head.

"But I must exact my revenge before this year ends."

Sighing, Shangguan Wan'er looked silently at Wu An. After what felt like a long time, she softly said, "I have vengeance to seek as well."

Taking a deep breath, as if realizing something, she immediately changed the subject.

"Before leaving, Empress Dowager also asked me to ask if there is a way to force the Crown Prince to make his move earlier."

"There is."

Looking at him, Shangguan Wan'er felt a familiar surge of respect for Wu An's belly full of wicked schemes, wondering not for the first time:

If only I could be as wicked as him...

"Tell the Empress to have a batch of abalone purchased overnight and sent into the palace. Do not eat them; just leave them there."

"Why?"

Shangguan Wan'er blinked.

Acting cute is shameless... Coughing lightly, Wu An instructed, "Just do as I say. The Crown Prince will understand."

...

By morning, the corpses left sprawled across the courtyard had frozen as hard as wood. Two concubines of the Duke's estate stood beside the bodies, and upon seeing the young man in black walking toward them, they hurriedly bowed in salutation.

"Greetings, My Lord."

The people killed last night were all informants left behind in the Duke's estate, but Wu An had not touched these two young women. Leaving them alive served little real purpose; it was simply because he had grown accustomed to them, and killing them was a matter of indifference.

"Mm."

Lowering his gaze, Wu An glanced at the corpses wrapped in straw mats, thinking to himself how he had somehow acquired the power to end lives with a single word.

Without giving further instructions, he merely commanded: "Clear away the bodies and clean the entire Duke's estate."

"But..."

Glancing toward the front gate, Wu An said calmly, "I am getting married."

At the end of the twelfth month, heavy snow fell.

Wu An maintained contact with the Prince of Han and the East Palace solely through letters, growing increasingly certain that the Crown Prince held low odds of winning this endeavor.

Yet the Emperor had not "appeared" for half a month, and regardless of whether the rumors drifting from within the palace were true or false, they drifted into people's hearts along with the cold wind.

In the imperial court, the purge of Li Jingxuan's faction was steadily advancing. The Empress was personally overseeing the matter, and with the Emperor failing to step in and stop it, the machinery of the court began to grind everything down with agonizing slowness.

While the court was in a frenzy, Yongning Ward also began to grow lively. Over the next few days, the paths along the way and the main gates were meticulously decorated.

Even within the Duke's estate, craftsmen explicitly dispatched from the palace came to perform renovations.

Uninterested in any of this, Wu An familiarized himself completely with the Hexi troops under his command and the armored soldiers originating from the old Hundred Riders. As for the remaining three hundred odd armored soldiers, Wu An distributed all the wealth bestowed upon him by the Empress among them once again.

When a sum of money is evenly divided among three hundred people, the individual share remains limited.

However, after so many rounds of bestowal, even a group of three hundred accumulated an amount that left every single one of them thoroughly satisfied.

Liang Xin and Zhang Wu stood side by side in the drill ground, watching the drilling soldiers. The latter broke the silence:

"They all know those funds were bestowed by the Empress."

Liang Xin was delighted by his companion's enduring lack of brains.

He replied, "But they also know that without Lord Wu, they would never have received so much wealth."

The origin of the wealth is sometimes unimportant; what matters is through whom you manage to acquire more of it.

The vault in the bank disburses funds daily, but the boss is the one who hands the wages to you.

"Today, the Commander is getting married... and to a lady of the Pei clan, no less."

A trace of wistfulness colored Zhang Wu's tone.

Although his own wife was passable, compared to a noble daughter of the Pei clan, a breathtaking beauty, and the former Crown Prince's primary consort, the two were simply incomparable.

Liang Xin shook his head slightly. He knew a bit of the inside story. Although Yongning Ward and the Duke's estate had been meticulously adorned, the actual ceremonies, processions, and carriages that truly mattered had basically been kept to a bare minimum.

This couldn't even be counted as a political marriage.

Furthermore, while the Pei family at least had their maternal relatives to look out for them before and after, Lord Wu's side could be described as "few carriages and sparse visitors at the gate" even on his wedding day.

Several neighbors in Yongning Ward had sent wedding gifts early in the morning, dispatching only a few younger family members to attend the ceremony just to maintain a veneer of civility.

Inside a certain residential courtyard:

A youth in magnificent attire was patiently allowing a maidservant to dress him while asking with curiosity:

"Mother, why aren't you going?"

The middle-aged noblewoman watching beside him scolded him playfully, "You know full well how poor Wu An's reputation is. Just yesterday, Aunt Zheng was saying that fellow is as lustful as they come. Why would you want me to go?"

"Ah?"

Startled for a moment, the youth took a serious look at his mother and asked in puzzlement, "Even if he were desperate for women, he wouldn't commit outrages against someone of your standing, would he?"

"I see you're simply asking to die..."

The middle-aged lady set upon her son with playful blows.

Before he left, she grabbed his ear and instructed, "There probably won't be many guests at Wu An's estate. When you get over there, try your best to help prop up the atmosphere. Although your father refuses to go, we must still observe the proprieties and show them some face."

Covering his head, the youth asked, "Even if Lord Wu is a newly favored noble in front of the Empress, Father is still a fifth-rank official. Why on earth should I lower myself to go be a stepping stone for him?"

"What do you know?"

Feeling the exhaustion in her heart, his mother dealt another slap to his son's head.

Lowering her voice, she said, "I also heard something else..."

"What is it?"

"That Wu An isn't actually a scion of the Wu clan at all, but rather the Empress's..."

A moment later, the youth raised his head to look at his mother, his face full of astonishment.

"Is that truly so?"

"So you see! Right now, because our family must guard your father's reputation, it's inconvenient to become too openly close to him. But if you handle this human favor well and make him comfortable, that means making the Empress Dowager happy... and that would bring boundless benefits!"

"Mother, rest assured, son understands."

"That's more like it. I imagine Lord Wu won't have many guests today anyway. As long as you are courteous and say a few pleasant words when you go over, this favor will be easily won."

Bidding farewell to his mother, the youth set out.

Living within the same ward, the distance was short—just a few steps across the street.

"Please announce me. Second Young Master Cui of the Cui family has come to congratulate Lord Wu."

The wedding gift had been sent early in the morning, so the youth did not feel that showing up empty-handed was impolite. Moreover, the moment he stepped inside, he spotted the younger relatives of several other "households" in Yongning Ward, all of whom he knew.

Sure enough, this Lord Wu seemed to have no friends at court.

Did he not even have family?

Recalling his mother's words, the youth put on a polite facade to deal with the foolish peers around him while pondering how to gracefully and decorously step forward to help out this Lord Wu a little later.

Before long, he quietly slipped away from the side hall, wandering around the sprawling Duke's estate while wondering which way to go.

Just then, he spotted an extravagantly dressed young man sitting in a pavilion, drinking tea amidst the snow with an utterly dashing air. Hurrying over to strike up a conversation, he reached the spot only to be instantly blocked by several burly guards.

The young man glanced at him and waved a hand to signal permission to pass.

Straightening his clothes without a trace of annoyance, the youth sat down boldly across from the young man and asked, "Are you here to congratulate Lord Wu today as well, brother?"

The young man nodded slightly, sipping his tea in silence.

"Then we can consider ourselves destined to meet today," the youth said warmly. "I am a next-door neighbor to Lord Wu. Might you also reside here in Yongning Ward?"

"Why do you ask?"

The young man spoke, his voice calm.

Being a guest in someone else's home, the youth certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to air the gossip his mother mentioned as casual conversation.

Pondering for a moment, he smiled and said, "Lord Wu is actually a man of utmost sincerity, and his reputation in the neighborhood is exceptionally good. My mother often praises him as an immensely fine person."

"Oh?"

A strange look crossed the young man's face as he calmly asked, "Yet I've heard that this Lord Wu's reputation among the common folk is rather poor."

Mocking the host inside his own home—did this fellow understand any courtesy at all?

The youth's smile stiffened slightly. Mentally looking down on the other person, he continued to flatter: "Those are just groundless rumors. Lord Wu is a person of exceptional character, consistently loyal to the sovereign and devoted to the country. Others might not know, but as his neighbor, how could I not?"

"Really?"

"Could it possibly be false?"

The young man fell silent for a moment before nodding slightly. "Perhaps so."

Seeing the other person remain entirely indifferent to his words, the youth's smile faded somewhat, and he asked casually, "Since I feel a mutual affinity with you, brother, I shall pay a visit another day. May I ask where you live..."

Before he could finish, the young man said calmly:

"I live in the East Palace."

The youth frowned. He felt the name sounded somewhat familiar, but after racking his brains, he concluded there was no such place as "East Palace Ward" in Chang'an City.

A moment later,

The youth: "Ah?"

...

"What kind of guests have you been inviting to your estate?"

The Crown Prince seated himself in the study, gesturing for Wu An to pour him tea while complaining irritably, "The deed is tonight; don't you forget it."

"His Highness doesn't seem very nervous?" Wu An looked at him without moving.

"Hmph... The Ten Guards of the East Palace can mobilize several thousand men tonight, entering the Taiji Palace and Inner Gardens from the east. You will lead your men to the Northern Gate according to the original plan to draw the attention of the Empress's ambush."

The greater part of the Empress's preparations was stationed at the Northern Gate, yet her true fatal strike lay hidden within the palace.

Much like someone suffering from diarrhea finally sitting down on the toilet with joy, only to be met by a millennium-old ambush brewing underneath.

What caught Wu An somewhat off guard was that once they initially committed to action, every subsequent move made by Crown Prince Li Xian was exceptionally decisive, utterly devoid of hesitation.

Lowering his head to gaze at the desk, the Crown Prince spoke in a soft voice:

"Besides, there has been no news of the Emperor from within the palace for half a month. Am I supposed to just keep waiting?"

"And..."

Taking a deep breath, he lowered his voice even further.

"A few days ago, a cart full of abalone was purchased and sent into the palace overnight. You cannot possibly fail to understand what that means?"

Abalone, meaning salted fish, carries a strong stench; years ago, Zhao Gao and his cohorts once presented such items to the First Emperor at Shaqiu to preserve the secrecy of his demise.

"Your subordinate has never read books and does not understand His Highness's meaning."

"Then... let me make it plain."

Leaning in closer, the Crown Prince said slowly:

"The matter you suspected may have come true."

He stared at Wu An for a moment.

"If tonight's endeavor succeeds, I... will certainly not treat you poorly."

"Your subordinate has five hundred men from the Thousand Cavalry standing by at a moment's notice. Furthermore, among the Northern Gate and various imperial guards, I have arranged personnel who can respond with several hundred men—five or six hundred at most, two or three hundred at least."

Calculate that and, rounded up, it seemed to approach a scale of a thousand men.

The Crown Prince's gaze shifted. A moment later, he rose, picked up the teapot, and refilled the teacup before Wu An.

"Then I wish Lord Wu a harmonious new marriage and conjugal bliss."

"Tap, tap, tap..."

The door was lightly rapped upon at that moment. The Crown Prince paused in his movements, walked to the door, opened it, and inquired:

"What is it?"

"Uh..."

The maidservant at the door glanced at the Crown Prince, cast her gaze into the room, and reported to Wu An, "My Lord, a distinguished guest has arrived outside..."

"What distinguished guest?"

Growing impatient, the Crown Prince was anxious to continue discussing next steps with Wu An and wanted no external interruptions.

"I hear it is the Princess dispatched by the Empress, delivering a wedding gift to Lord Wu."

"Taiping?"

Growing even more impatient, the Crown Prince waved a hand:

"Tell the people outside not to let her randomly buy things to eat. That's all."

"Hey..."

Reaching out to block the door, the maidservant said with slight displeasure, "There's someone else too... claiming to be the Grand Administrator of the Taohe River Route, Li Jingxuan. He's also here to deliver a gift and insists on seeing My Lord."

"Your Highness..."

Wu An lowered his head to take a sip of tea and asked, "I am marrying today, and Your Highness hasn't given a gift yet, have you?"

The Crown Prince turned to look at him as Wu An calmly stated:

"If not, why bother choosing? Let's just use him."