Chapter 89: The Enigmatic Sacred Heart
“Elsewhere?” Wu Ning mused, caught in a dilemma.
Mediating between Wu and Li was a difficult matter, yet it was doable—and there were many ways to handle it.
Tai Ping could not manage it, but Wu Ning could—and he had numerous methods to accomplish the task well.
The difference lay only in whose interests the final outcome would serve, or rather, whose desires it would fulfill.
Was it the old Lady Wu’s wishes, or those of foolish Tai Ping, or did someone else have a hand in it?
...
After pondering for a long while, Wu Ning glanced up, only to find Tai Ping blinking expectantly.
Wu Ning thought to himself: once this is accomplished, Tai Ping’s standing in Wu Zetian’s eyes will surely be elevated. Should I really thrust this woman into the eye of the storm?
If in the end she still cannot escape the fate of dying for power, will I be at peace with myself, or filled with guilt?
“Your Highness!”
“Hm? What is it?”
Wu Ning did not rush to the main topic but instead engaged in casual conversation.
“People often say that power is like a potent wine; no matter man or woman, once they drink it, they become intoxicated and cannot extricate themselves.”
With a faint smile, he looked at Tai Ping. “At this moment...”
Tai Ping frowned slightly, unsure of Wu Ning’s purpose in saying this but listened on.
Wu Ning continued calmly: “At this moment, the princess has become the chess player—do you feel comfort in your heart?”
Tai Ping rolled her eyes teasingly. “I thought you were about to feign profundity again, but it’s just the old talk of chess.”
She laughed. “You’re the real chess master; I only watch the game. Is that alright?”
Wu Ning shook his head. “Your Highness, don’t you want to try your hand at the game?”
“...”
Tai Ping fell silent. She saw the seriousness in Wu Ning’s eyes—it was no jest.
She lowered her head to contemplate. “I don’t want to.”
She moved lazily. “Try playing? No, forget it.”
She looked at Wu Ning. “Don’t you think you look foolish, twisting your brain over all these calculations?”
Wu Ning: “...”
“Compared to playing chess, I prefer merely watching. Seeing you so-called masters sweat over every territory, every gain and loss—it’s far more interesting, isn’t it?”
Alright, you’re not only simple-minded but also emotionally inept!
Wu Ning had never met anyone like her. Here he was, sitting right in front of her, yet she was cursing him!
However, Tai Ping’s words convinced Wu Ning utterly that her struggles in the future were forced upon her, not born of natural likes or dislikes.
“Why do you ask these things?”
Tai Ping didn’t understand Wu Ning’s sudden reflections and had never doubted that mediating between Wu and Li was merely a difficulty for her, nothing serious.
---
“Nothing,” Wu Ning shook his head. Perhaps ignorance was a kind of blessing.
He steered the conversation back to business.
“Your Highness, there are two things to handle first; the rest can wait.”
“Which two?”
Wu Ning said, “First, make contact with Wu Sansi and have him present a memorial to the Empress Dowager, petitioning on behalf of Prince Ji, Li Shen.”
“Ah?” Tai Ping was startled. “Uncle Shen was implicated in Prince Chong’s rebellion and exiled beyond the mountains; he might still be en route. Will Mother agree to intercede now?”
Wu Ning said, “Don’t mention the implication in the crime. Just say Li Shen is aged and frail, fearing he might not endure, and hope the Empress Dowager will show mercy and lighten the punishment.”
“Oh,” Tai Ping nodded. “And the second?”
“The second...” Wu Ning looked around the lush surroundings.
“Year’s end is near. Your Highness should send a New Year’s memorial to the Empress Dowager now, along with some specialties from Fangzhou to accompany the tribute.”
“For Mother?”
“Pfft!” Wu Ning was somewhat speechless. “Mother? The entire Tang Dynasty is her domain; she doesn’t need your little gifts. Send them to your two elder sisters—the Princesses Xuancheng and Yiyang.”
Tai Ping was puzzled. “Why?”
“Just do as I say,” Wu Ning smiled mysteriously. “Don’t forget, I’m the one moving the pieces!”
“Hmph!”
Tai Ping secretly sneered. So what if you’re the player? I’m just watching the monkey show.
Little did she know, Wu Ning had chosen the most difficult path among many, allowing her to stay uninvolved and continue watching her own drama unfold.
...
---
Both tasks were easy to accomplish.
Wu Sansi had already submitted a memorial expressing a desire for harmony with the Li family. Having him speak on Li Shen’s behalf...
Although Li Shen’s exile was engineered by Wu Sansi and Wu Chengsi, Wu Ning had ways to make Wu Sansi eat his own words.
As for the second task, including gifts with the New Year’s memorial for the Empress Dowager to be passed on to Princesses Xuancheng and Yiyang was even easier for Tai Ping.
However, when Wu Sansi and Tai Ping’s memorials reached Wu Zetian, the Empress Dowager read them and...
She was furious.
She slammed the soup bowl onto the dragon-patterned desk with a loud bang!
“Wu Ning!?”
“Damn it! They’ve dared to scheme against me.”
Shangguan Xiaowan trembled beside her. It had been a while since the Empress Dowager had shown such anger.
“Your Majesty, please calm down!” she bowed deeply. “Isn’t this a good thing?”
“Hmph!?” The Empress Dowager’s eyes narrowed sharply. “What do you know!?”
Frightened, Xiaowan lowered her head even further. “Your servant is unworthy and does not understand Your Majesty’s will.”
Wu Zetian shot her a glance, bored. “Rise. I wasn’t speaking to you.”
Her eyes turned fierce as she looked at the two memorials.
“That Wu Ning—how dare he!”
Wu Zetian knew her precious daughter well; even without secret reports from Fangzhou, she understood that such a move was beyond Tai Ping’s ability and must have come from Wu Ning.
But she hadn’t expected Wu Ning to advise Tai Ping this way.
Petitioning for Prince Ji, Li Shen?
Who was Li Shen? The tenth son of Emperor Taizong and the last surviving Taizong descendant suppressed by Wu Zetian.
The few remaining sons of Taizong were few: Prince Yue, Li Zhen, had rebelled, lost, and poisoned himself last year; Prince Cao, Li Ming, was eliminated during the Li Xian affair.
Only Li Shen remained—over sixty, cautious and frail. Wu Sansi had coveted him for years and finally used Li Zhen’s rebellion to implicate the old man.
Though Wu Zetian did not want to harm Li Shen—wiping out Taizong’s descendants would sully her reputation—her two nephews’ reckless actions caused uproar. She had no choice but to exile Li Shen without executing him.
Under such circumstances, Wu Zetian could not understand what means Wu Ning had employed to get Wu Sansi to submit this petition.
...
As for Princesses Xuancheng and Yiyang—frankly, these two daughters of Gaozong and Consort Xiao had nothing to do with harmonizing Wu and Li or soothing court politics.
But their two brothers were connected to this matter—Li Sujie and Li Shangjin.
These princes, once falsely accused by Wu Sansi and nearly dead, now survived but lived in constant fear.
If someone now showed concern for Xuancheng and Yiyang, it would naturally ease Li Sujie and Li Shangjin’s minds. Meanwhile, the court’s so-called loyal ministers could view the Empress Dowager as merciful for sparing the two.
Yet, in the Empress Dowager’s grand strategy, wasn’t this Wu Sansi’s role?
Wu Sansi had previously petitioned for Li Sujie and Li Shangjin; now, if he showed goodwill to Xuancheng and Yiyang, wouldn’t that be natural?
But no—the scoundrel let Tai Ping submit this request.
Of course, don’t think this would credit Tai Ping at all.
No—gifts were wrapped with the memorial and delivered together to the capital, meaning they had to pass Wu Zetian’s scrutiny first. Only if the Empress Dowager agreed could the gifts be sent.
Yet once Wu Zetian agreed or tacitly approved, what role would Tai Ping have?
Everyone would think it was Wu Zetian herself who arranged this; no one would remember Tai Ping’s contribution.
This Wu Jiulang, with just these two moves, completely cleansed Tai Ping’s name.
No one would believe Tai Ping had exerted much effort to reconcile Wu and Li—her own Empress Dowager was even drawn into Wu Ning’s schemes.
...
.