Chapter Five: The Truth

Li Jingxuan’s connections were something Wu An witnessed firsthand.

Those ministers clad in crimson and purple official robes, including Wu Chengsi, lined up on the ground before him—heads aligned with heads, feet with feet—and began to roll outward. This was done openly, under the watchful eyes of the palace guards, eunuchs, and attendants.

The young female attendant seemed unfazed by the spectacle. She started leading Wu An toward the palace gates without looking back and said, “If I were you, I wouldn’t dare offend Her Majesty the Empress now.”

Wu An followed behind, watching her slender figure, his mind free of distractions as he simply replied with a grunt.

Hearing his response, the attendant paused, turned around, and spoke earnestly, “Right now, you should focus on flattering the Empress Dowager, speak kindly, and mend this relationship.”

In her view, since the Empress Dowager claimed there was a kinship, then it must be true. Wu An ought to fulfill his duty as a humble junior, patiently awaiting whenever the Empress Dowager wished to call upon him.

Wu An detected no malice in her words and nodded slightly. “Thank you for your guidance.”

Yet his lukewarm demeanor caused the young attendant to furrow her brow, asking, “I heard you killed many Tibetan bandits when you were in Hexi?”

“That is true,” he answered.

The attendant seemed skeptical, glancing at Wu An, then looking again. He had just changed into a fresh set of clothes outside the hall and now appeared more like a refined young gentleman than a fierce warrior. Such an appearance made it hard to imagine him amidst scenes of carnage and bloodshed.

“I’ll take you to Yongning Lane. You should settle in there first.”

She sighed softly, then took the initiative to introduce herself: “My surname is Shangguan, given name Wan’er. From now on, I will be the one to pass messages from the palace to you. You’d better remember my name.”

Wu An studied the slender, long-faced female attendant once more and acknowledged with a grunt.

The palace corridors were long and winding. With Shangguan Wan’er leading the way and whispering instructions, Wu An merely kept his head down, responding faintly. He sensed her aura remained taut, never allowing herself to relax.

Still, Wu An had no desire to engage in much conversation. His mind dwelled on the ministers who had been forced to roll out in perfect formation, silently realizing he had probably made more enemies.

Fortunately, despite some reprimands, Wu An understood that by now he had boarded the Empress Dowager’s ship, securing a platform for advancement.

Whether this path would prove to be a guiding light or an entangling root depended entirely on how the Empress Dowager chose to wield him.

He sighed inwardly. It was a pity that as a resolute Captain, his title seemed to have been elevated, but he commanded no soldiers beneath him.

---

Having spent much time in the military, Wu An felt insecure about this. He knew that without a loyal band of guards backing you in the army, even a grand general’s rank would earn you no respect.

Wu An silently resolved to climb higher—not only for fallen comrades but for his own future.

Therefore... Li Jingxuan’s petition demanding Wu An’s execution suited his purpose perfectly.

He was not afraid of the matter escalating; rather, he feared it would not escalate enough. Now, he sought not only to clear his name but to establish merit.

As they walked, Wu An gradually tried to draw information from Shangguan Wan’er, who was no fool and would halt whenever sensitive topics arose. Nonetheless, he gleaned some hidden tidbits.

Outsiders believed the Emperor and Empress were deeply affectionate, but as the Emperor’s minor ailments, like headaches, worsened over recent years, many political decisions had gradually fallen into the Empress Dowager’s hands.

Wu An’s memory of this historical period was vague, but he clearly understood that once someone tasted power, they would never refuse it, instead crying out, “I can have more! I want more!”

The Empress Dowager must be seeking greater authority.

Could he find a way to leverage her ambitions?

“Today, the Empress Dowager was benevolent and did not make things difficult for you,” Shangguan Wan’er reminded him as they walked, “Don’t think she is easygoing or underestimate her...” She stopped short of saying the word “stupid,” but the meaning was clear.

Wu An acknowledged her warning. By now, they had reached the palace gate, where a middle-aged man with bright eyes, dressed in a green official robe, slightly plump with graying temples, awaited them.

Seeing the two, he stepped forward and asked, “Is this the Hexi soldier Wu An?”

Shangguan Wan’er scrutinized the man briefly before replying, “The Empress Dowager has already summoned him, recognized him as her nephew, and ordered him confined to Yongning Lane for study. As for when he should go to the Court of Judicial Review, the Empress Dowager will decide.”

The elder shook his head. “Right is right and wrong is wrong. Whether he is the Empress Dowager’s nephew or not, the court and the nation are already in turmoil. I came simply to speak with him, to get a general understanding and prepare myself.”

Shangguan Wan’er glanced back at Wu An and said immediately, “You can ask here.”

The elder looked at the calm-faced young man and still shook his head.

“You must come with me to the Court of Judicial Review.”

Shangguan Wan’er, evidently recognizing the man, could not help but protest, “The Empress Dowager will decide. I beg Inspector Di not to act on his own.”

Wu An thought bitterly about how extensive Li Jingxuan’s network was. He had been in the palace less than half a day, yet one blow after another was already being dealt—now even an imperial censor had appeared.

---

If he were forcibly taken to the Court of Judicial Review, would he face dark imprisonment and interrogation, forced to reveal things he should not?

Wu An appraised the seemingly gaunt middle-aged official, realizing he had no cards to play. If all else failed, he would have to immediately return to cling to the Empress Dowager’s favor and scream for help.

“Heh...”

The elder saw through the young female attendant’s feigned severity—it was all bluff, like a snarling kitten.

Turning to Wu An, he stood with hands folded behind his back and spoke calmly, “I am Di Renjie, an imperial censor. Today I am not here to interrogate you but to invite you for tea and ask you some questions.”

Di Renjie?

Wu An had been somewhat surprised when he learned the female attendant’s name was Shangguan Wan’er. But when the middle-aged official introduced himself as Di Renjie, his heart stirred and he scrutinized the man carefully.

After a moment, he nodded slightly.

“I have long heard of Lord Di of Chang’an, known for his fairness and integrity. Since this is an official inquiry, I dare not refuse.”

Shangguan Wan’er frowned nearby—not because she thought Wu An spoke recklessly, but because she understood that people like him were small figures without freedom of choice, just like herself.

“I must inform Her Majesty the Empress Dowager,” she said coldly.

Di Renjie nodded and watched as Shangguan Wan’er turned and swiftly left, then focused on Wu An.

“From the moment I saw you, I knew you were no innocent.”

His gaze carried the weight of seeing through a person, then he added matter-of-factly, “You have killed many.”

The old man indeed had sharp insight.

Wu An pondered briefly, then admitted, “My hands have been stained with the blood of countless descendants.”

Di Renjie: ?????