Chapter 152 First Cover the Shamed Parts

In Princess Taiping's residence, inside Quan Ce's small courtyard.

The morning light was faint and hazy. Shangguan Wan'er had her dark hair cascading down, her face entirely unadorned, wearing only a single layer of pink gauze. Humming a tune, she held a fine-toothed comb and a regular comb, leisurely styling Quan Ce's topknot.

Looking at the man in the mirror with his sword-like brows, star-like eyes, and resolute expression, she suddenly cast aside the tools, pulled his head into her embrace, and rubbed her chin against the top of his head for a long time. Closing her eyes, she asked, "Big Brother, what are you going to do next?"

Quan Ce wore a leisurely smile. "My cousin is getting older and cannot remain unwed. The Yun family is blind, so I will naturally find him another suitable match."

Shangguan Wan'er let out a soft chuckle, and her earlier worries about his reckless haste dissipated like smoke. "Marquis Hou was matched by Big Brother, and now they are a devoted couple, harmonious as the zither and se. Surely Big Brother Wang can also be granted a fulfilling union."

A sharp glint flashed in Quan Ce's eyes. He turned his hand to gently stroke Shangguan Wan'er's cheek and spoke with absolute candor, "Naturally it must be fulfilling. Not only must my cousin be satisfied, but Her Majesty must also be satisfied."

Shangguan Wan'er indulgently relished this moment, her heart a tangled web of myriad emotions. She indulged in the fanciful thought of what it would have been like had she come to him sooner. Then, recalling Empress Wu's strict commands—that she must not surrender herself to Quan Ce, nor bestow her affections upon him—she realized that had she come earlier, she probably would have long since turned into a mound of yellow earth. Instead, as things stood now, she was already thoroughly defiled; that wise and martial Empress would likely no longer care to whom she gave herself, allowing her at last to whisper intimately with the man in her heart.

This was probably the will of heaven. "Big Brother, the last time you saw me, you recited a line: *At the time, we only thought it ordinary.* It made this handmaiden weep for an entire night. How does the complete poem go? Why won't you recite it quickly?"

Quan Ce's devilish smile appeared once more. "Wan'er, I do not wish to tell you the full poem today. Instead, I have another half-stanza. Will you listen to it, or will you not?"

Shangguan Wan'er's pretty face turned frosty. She glared at him for a long time, then turned her head away in silent refusal.

Quan Ce did not bother to coax her. He looked out the window on his own accord. "Men have sorrow and joy, parting and meeting; the moon has brightness and darkness, waxing and waning. These things have been difficult to perfection since ancient times."

Shangguan Wan'er savored the words for a long time. Naturally, she knew this was intended to comfort her, and she slowly snuggled her body against his. "This is set to the tune of *Shuidiao Getou*. The melody was composed back during the reign of Emperor Yang of the former Sui, and almost no one has ever written lyrics for it. What a pity that it is yet again only the latter half-stanza. Big Brother is gentle and considerate in his ways, yet when it comes to poetry, he is remarkably ruthless."

Quan Ce smiled without a word.

The hour was growing late, and the two parted with graceful ease. Shangguan Wan'er returned to the palace for her duties, while Quan Ce went to the main hall to pay his respects to Princess Taiping.

Avoiding Princess Taiping's unusual gaze, Quan Ce bowed and said, "Aunt, I have some private matters to attend to and wish to take a few days of leave."

"Oh?" Princess Taiping stepped down from the platform, walked around him in a circle, tilted her head toward the sky, and sighed with emotion, "Big Brother has grown up."

Quan Ce raised his head to meet her gaze. "Aunt, I am already eighteen; naturally, I have grown up."

A cool expression settled on Princess Taiping's cheeks. "Tell me, why are you asking for leave? If it is reasonable and proper, I will grant it."

Quan Ce spoke directly, "Your nephew is going to find a marriage match for his cousin."

Princess Taiping burst out laughing. "Oh? Our Big Brother certainly has backbone. Very well, Aunt grants it. If you can win back this bit of face for Gao'an, Aunt will surely reward you handsomely."

Quan Ce bowed in gratitude and strode out the door.

Princess Taiping's gaze followed his retreating figure until he completely vanished from sight, whereupon she shook her head with a self-deprecating smile. "He is different now, after all."

Hebei Circuit, Mingzhou, Wu'an County.

Quan Ce brought Ge Hui out of the capital to this place, accompanied only by two guards, Shatuofu and Juedi. Quan Li led a caravan numbering several dozen people, along with more than a dozen large carts loaded with various funds, silks, and precious gifts. His departure attracted the attention of quite a few people in the court, who wanted to see how Quan Ce would turn the tables. Those with weaker nerves were even hoping Quan Ce would lock horns with Li Zhaode—watching a real-life brawl unfold, wouldn't that be a delightful spectacle?

The gazes from Divine Capital Luoyang followed him out of Henan Circuit and then into Hebei Circuit, but once they crossed the Yellow River, those gazes abruptly stopped. From here northward, there were no longer any prominent nobles.

Ge Hui was also curious. The summer dog days in the northern region were overwhelmingly oppressive. Sitting inside the carriage felt stuffy, and riding on horseback felt scorching, leaving one with a sense of utter despair. "Big Brother, kicking up dust all the way, why have we come to Hebei Circuit?"

Quan Ce reached out to wipe away a layer of greasy sweat and smiled amiably, "Brother Ge, I have a story to tell you."

Ge Hui readied himself to listen attentively.

During the reign of Emperor Taizhou, the planet Venus repeatedly appeared in broad daylight. Court historians performed divination and interpreted this as an omen of a female ruler ascending the throne, while rumors circulated among the common people saying, "A female ruler possesses the world." Emperor Taizong loathed this deeply. One day, during a palace banquet for various military officers, a drinking game was played where everyone was required to state their childhood nicknames. General of the Right Wulin Guards, Li Junxian, had the childhood nickname "Fifth Maiden." Emperor Taizong was startled upon hearing this. Li Junxian's official post was General of the Wulin Guards, and his title was Duke of Wu'an County; both contained the character "Wu," and his childhood nickname was "Fifth Maiden," which eerily matched the rumors. Deeply suspicious and wary of this, Emperor Taizong stripped him of his Imperial Guard post, and a month later, dispatched an emissary with an imperial edict to execute him and strip him of his peerage.

As Quan Ce narrated the tale, Ge Hui listened with a mixture of shock and wariness. He anxiously looked all around, lowered his voice, and asked, "This is a profound palace secret. How did Big Brother come to know of it?"

Quan Ce shook his head without answering. Naturally, he wouldn't say that he had watched *The Empress of China* and specifically dug through historical records to try and disprove it, only to find that real history was even more coincidental and cruel than the television dramatization.

Historical records never mentioned any interaction between Li Junxian and Empress Wu, but it was true that Li Junxian's death served as a scapegoat for the Empress. Moreover, exposing this matter now could also cast dirt upon Emperor Taizong, an outcome the Empress would surely be happy to see.

Finishing the story, Quan Ce asked, "Brother Ge, do you have any ambitions for the imperial court?"

Ge Hui hesitated. "Big Brother is resolute and extraordinarily talented. Why not pursue it yourself?"

Quan Ce smiled and flicked his riding crop a few times. "When I re-enter the imperial court, I shall no longer be reduced to a lowly official."

Ge Hui remained bewildered for a moment, failing to grasp the hidden meaning, and rubbed his chin. "In that case, I shall follow Big Brother's lead. It's just that Second Brother will probably need to find another tutor. I might as well try out this official career. If it doesn't suit my inclinations, it won't be too late to return."

Quan Ce laughed heartily. "The official world is a realm of fame and fortune, full of rising and falling billows and ever-changing tricks. I wish Brother Ge a joyous time amidst it all."

The two arrived at Wu'an County city, rested for a night, and then headed to the surrounding towns to inquire everywhere about the former residence and family of Li Junxian. They claimed only to have received favors from him in the past and had come to repay a debt of gratitude. Since the incident had not happened all that long ago, quite a few people were in the know, and helpful villagers led them to the residence of Li Junxian's family. Along the way, they sighed and shook their heads: when Li Junxian was executed, he left behind two sons and a daughter. Neither of the sons lived to adulthood, both dying of sudden illnesses, leaving only the daughter, Li Zhen, to grow to maturity. She later married a local wealthy merchant and gave birth to a pair of fraternal twins. Just as they saw their days beginning to improve, the merchant met with an unexpected misfortune on a trading journey, and his clansmen fought over the property, driving the mother and her two children out of the house. They had returned to her maiden home to live as a widow, bitterly doing needlework to make ends meet. For a family of a loyal meritorious official to be reduced to such a state was truly sigh-worthy.

Though it sounded like a thoroughly desolate scene, upon stepping through the gates and witnessing it with their own eyes, it was not quite as portrayed. The household utensils and furnishings were old and inexpensive, but they were clean, orderly, and impeccably neat, entirely free of filth. A few chickens and ducks roamed the courtyard, and a middle-aged woman was bending over to sweep, her expression serene and devoid of sorrow.

Quan Ce stepped forward to offer greetings. Upon hearing that he was of imperial lineage, Li Zhen's expression turned ugly; although she did not actually drive away the guests, her demeanor grew cold.

"Though I am of imperial lineage, I am even worse off than the common folk. Without meaning to invite the lady's ridicule, my own cousin is also of imperial lineage, yet prominent nobles in the court seized his prospective marriage, turning him into a laughingstock in Luoyang. Because of this, my family has no intention of seeking matches within the courtly circles of the capital, and thus we have come to this place, wishing to take a descendant of a loyal and righteous family to peacefully manage a household. I beg the lady not to refuse hastily. After all, the Duke of Wu'an County was prominent in the court; if his bloodline is left to fade into oblivion, how can his spirit ever rest in peace? Even if you do not think of the dead beneath the earth, I ask you to think of your children at home. With your lofty character, you can endure poverty and find joy in the Dao, but how can you bear to let them rot away in the fields alongside you?"

Quan Ce's words struck a chord with Li Zhen. She asked another question, "As the descendants of a convicted official, will this bring trouble upon your household?"

Rare for someone who had suffered a lifetime of setbacks yet remained so kind, Quan Ce's respect for her deepened even further. "To take a wife is to take a virtuous one; what does it have to do with background?"

Hearing this, Li Zhen completely set her mind at ease and called out her son and daughter. The daughter was the elder, named Li Jia, and the son was named Li Zha. Both were seventeen years old and shared their mother's surname, also carrying on the incense and ancestral fire of their maternal grandfather. Their appearances were quite ordinary, but their bearing and demeanor in social interactions were cultured and generous, entirely devoid of timidity or awkwardness.

After reaching an agreement, Quan Ce unloaded the money, silks, and gifts from the carriages, had Li Zhen distribute them to the villagers, and set off on the return journey to Luoyang.

Ge Hui returned to the capital a step ahead, marched straight into Taichu Palace, and struck the Dengwen Drum to lodge an imperial grievance, seeking redress for the late Duke of Wu'an County, Li Junxian.

Empress Wu personally summoned him, ordering all the chancellors to attend and listen alongside her. She heard his deeply moving and emotional plea, especially when he mentioned the current plight of Li Junxian's family, which was filled with such sorrow that the palace diarists in the hall shed tears.

Cen Changqian and the others cast meaningful glances at Li Zhaode. Quan Ce's move was brilliant indeed, hitting multiple birds with one stone.

A look of fond remembrance crossed Empress Wu's face, and with a sigh, she issued an imperial decree restoring Li Junxian's official titles and peerage, to be inherited by Li Zha, the son of Li Zhen.

She moved her lips, yet in the end did not issue an edict to bestow a marriage upon Wang Hui. Instead, she turned to ask about Ge Hui's background: "Our Great Zhou has founded its state and is thirsting for talents. How can we let a man of virtue remain in the wilderness? You possess scholarly talent, a backbone of integrity, and the merit of rectification. You may enter the Hantai as a Censor-in-Chief."

*(The End)*