Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 505 Wu Zetian Meets Pei Xingjian Again
Pei Xingjian was resting in his room when he suddenly heard a knock on the door. When he opened it, he saw a palace maid standing behind him, followed by a noblewoman in full regalia—none other than Wu Meiniang!

Pei Xingjian was taken aback and quickly bowed, saying, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress!"

Wu Meiniang stepped into the room, looked around, and asked, "Is Protector Pei satisfied with this room?"

Wu Meiniang personally arranged the housing for Pei Xingjian and Xue Rengui.

Pei Xingjian quickly replied, "This place is quiet and secluded; I am very satisfied."

Wu Meiniang hummed in agreement, walked to the chair and sat down. She looked up at Pei Xingjian with a strange expression on her face and remained silent for a long time.

Pei Xingjian lowered his head and remained silent, but he was secretly wondering what the Empress had come for.

After a long while, Wu Meiniang said calmly, "Does Protector Pei still remember the first time you and I met?"

Pei Xingjian was startled.

How could he not remember? At that time, because of the matter of deposing the king and establishing Wu as empress, he opposed Wu Meiniang becoming empress and was summoned to the Lizheng Hall by her.

Empress Wu tried to subdue him by using both kindness and force.

Pei Xingjian refused to comply, thus offending Empress Wu.

Later, at the court assembly, Yuan Gongyu, a pro-military official, challenged him. Fortunately, the emperor protected him once and sent him to the army that was attacking Helu, under the command of Su Dingfang.

Since then, Pei Xingjian has stayed in Anxi for a long time. Thanks to his merits in several major battles, his career has been smooth and he eventually became the Protector-General of Anxi.

However, deep down, he knew that the Empress was vengeful and would never forget what happened back then. She was just mindful of the Emperor and his contributions over the years and didn't want to cause trouble easily.

For this reason, he was unwilling to return to Chang'an, lest he give the Empress an opportunity to deal with him.

Wu Meiniang's gaze was deep, as if she could see through his thoughts, and she said calmly, "It seems that Protector Pei still harbors resentment about what happened back then."

Pei Xingjian hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, I dare not, but I have been filled with trepidation."

Wu Meiniang snorted and said, "You opposed me becoming empress back then, saying that I would bring chaos to the world. Has that come true now?"

Pei Xingjian knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject is ignorant and speaks nonsense. Please punish me, Your Highness!"

Wu Meiniang looked down at him and said softly, "Get up. Although you have always held a grudge against me, I have always admired your talent. You have indeed not disappointed me. Over the years, you have made many great contributions to His Majesty and the court."

Pei Xingjian looked up at Wu Meiniang's expression before standing up and saying, "I was just doing my duty and dare not take credit for it."

Wu Meiniang smiled slightly and said, "You don't need to be nervous. His Majesty always tells me that an empress must have a broad mind in order to be a model for the world. I don't even care about Changsun Wuji, so why would I keep holding a grudge against you?"

Pei Xingjian was both surprised and delighted. He glanced at Wu Meiniang, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Highness. I am deeply ashamed."

Wu Zetian smiled and said, "Since I'm not going to hold it against you anymore, you don't need to hide from me anymore and stay in Anxi all the time, right?"

Pei Xingjian was slightly startled. Only now did he finally understand the purpose of the Empress's visit today.

For a moment, he didn't know how to answer. He remained silent.

Even without Wu Zetian, he didn't really want to return to Chang'an; he preferred to stay on the border and defend the country.

Seeing that he remained silent, Wu Meiniang slowly raised her phoenix eyebrows a few more degrees, glanced at him, and said, "Protector Pei, if I remember correctly, you are five years older than me, right?"

Pei Xingjian hurriedly replied, "Yes, I was born in the second year of the Wude era."

Wu Meiniang said, "Then you must be forty-six or forty-seven years old. I heard that your first wife has passed away."

Pei Xingjian said in a low voice, "My wife died of illness in the second year of Yonghui."

Wu Meiniang murmured, "The second year of Yonghui, that must have been more than ten years ago. Haven't you ever thought about remarrying?"

Pei Xingjian hesitated and said, "I have been busy with official duties in Anxi these years and have not dared to slack off, so I have not had time to remarry."

Wu Meiniang sighed, "Protector Pei has worked so hard for the country, which is admirable. Now that Anxi is stable, why doesn't Protector Pei return to Chang'an and rest for a while? His Majesty and I can then arrange for you to take a second wife. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Pei Xingjian was truly unwilling.

However, he also realized that he had stayed in Anxi for too long and his prestige was too high, which had aroused the emperor's suspicion. It was also possible that the empress had slandered him to the emperor.

In short, if one does not agree, one will surely lose the emperor's trust and also arouse the empress's jealousy.

He took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Highness, I thank you for your concern. I will follow your arrangements."

Wu Meiniang readily agreed, "That's wonderful. Don't worry, I will definitely choose a woman who will satisfy you."

After saying that, he got up and left.

The following day, Li Zhi summoned Pei Xingjian.

Pei Xingjian volunteered, saying that he had been away from the capital for too long and was longing for his hometown, and hoped to return to Chang'an to take up his post.

Li Zhi immediately granted his request and appointed him as the Right Guard General and concurrently Minister of Works, holding both civil and military positions, just like Li Ji.

Pei Xingjian's previous title was Duke of Wenxi County, and Emperor Li Zhi specially ordered him to be promoted to Duke of Wei.

Of course, this was only a verbal investiture; the actual investiture would have to wait until they returned to Chang'an, at which time all the generals of the western expedition would be rewarded according to their merits.

Regarding the selection of the new Protector-General of Anxi, Li Zhi asked Pei Xingjian to make a recommendation.

Pei Xingjian recommended Cui Zhibian, and Li Zhi then appointed Cui Zhibian as the new Protector-General of Anxi.

Three days later, Emperor Li Zhi's imperial entourage and army returned to Chang'an.

On this day, upon arriving at Qin Prefecture, the army set up camp on the north bank of the Wei River.

At night, Li Zhi was reading in his tent when Wang Fusheng tiptoed in and whispered to him, "Your Majesty, Prince Yan has arrived and is requesting an audience outside."

Li Zhi was taken aback and asked, "Fourth Prince? What's he doing here all of a sudden?"

Wang Fusheng said, "Perhaps it has something to do with the Xiao family."

Li Zhi nodded and asked, "How is the investigation into Wei Shen's case going in Chang'an?"

Wang Fusheng said, "Under the guidance of Minister Di, His Highness the Crown Prince has found out that the person who killed Wei Shen was Xiao Zhiyan's younger brother, Xiao Zhifan."

Li Zhi frowned and said, "Xiao Zhiyan actually made his younger brother do it himself?"

Wang Fusheng said, "Given the current situation of the Xiao family, Xiao Zhiyan probably can't afford to hire the Hunter of Gold, so he has no choice but to let his younger brother take action."

Li Zhi sighed, "It must be Consort Xiao who sent someone to find the Fourth Prince and ask him to come and plead for mercy. Go and tell him that I have already retired for the night."

Wang Fusheng acknowledged and turned to leave. After a short while, he returned to the tent and said, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is kneeling outside and refuses to leave."

Li Zhi was furious and said, "How can he be so ignorant? The Xiao family has done so much over the years, and I have already been very lenient with them. What is he pleading for? Let him in!"

A moment later, Li Lian entered the tent. Before he could even speak, he knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and wept, saying, "Your subject is guilty, please punish me, Father!"

Li Zhizheng, with a stern face, was about to reprimand him, but upon hearing his words, he paused for a moment and asked, "What crime have you committed?"

Li Lian said, "Your son has committed heinous crimes, having been controlled by the Xiao family and plotting to seize the position of crown prince. I beg Father to grant me death!"

Li Zhi's heart skipped a beat. He stared at him and asked, "When did this happen?"

Li Lian said, "It is precisely the time when Father is on an inspection tour."

Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi) made his tour in the thirteenth year of the Yonghui era, which was five or six years ago. At that time, Li Lian was still young, and Xiao Siye was still alive.

Li Zhi immediately understood. This was clearly Xiao Siye's plan. Li Lian was too young to know anything; he was obviously being manipulated by the Xiao clan and had not acted on his own initiative. Li Zhi inquired about the details and learned that Li Lian had met with a member of the Xiao clan in the Flying Dragon Courtyard of the Eastern Palace. That member was none other than Xiao Zhiyan.

"Si Lang, why didn't you say these things before? Why are you saying them now?" Li Zhi looked at his son with a stern expression.

Li Lian said in a low voice, "Because Xiao Zhiyan was captured by Wu Lang, he had Xiao Zhifan threaten me, asking me to save his life, or else he would reveal this secret."

“I do not wish to be threatened by him, so I have no choice but to come and apologize to my father.”

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Good, at least it wasn't completely wrong. Mo Jiaxuan's training wasn't in vain. After returning to the capital, you will be confined to your home for three months, and that will be the end of this matter."

Li Lian was overjoyed and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, Father!"

……

Early in the morning, just as Li Ji woke up, a servant came to report that the Crown Prince urgently summoned him to the Eastern Palace.

Li Ji dressed and rode his horse to the outside of Anshang Gate. He then went to the East Palace, where a palace attendant greeted him and led him into the inner hall.

Crown Prince Li Hong was pacing anxiously around the room. When he saw Li Ji arrive, he rushed forward and said, "Cousin, something has happened!"

Li Ji reassured him, "Your Highness, don't panic. What happened?"

Li Hongdao: "Fourth brother has disappeared!"

Li Ji was taken aback: "You mean His Highness the Prince of Yan has gone missing? Are you sure?"

Li Hong said, "There's no mistake. I sent someone to the Prince's residence to invite him, but the people there said he left three days ago and hasn't returned yet."

Li Ji frowned and said, "Could they have gone out for a trip?"

Li Hong sighed, "Probably not. After something like this happened, he definitely wouldn't be in the mood for sightseeing."

"What happened?" Li Jiqi asked.

Li Hong walked to the couch and sat down, then gestured for Li Ji to sit down as well, and said in a low voice, "You must have heard about my investigation into Wei Shen these past few days, right?"

Li Ji nodded. He, Li Ji, and Di Renjie had been to Shanzhou to meet the emperor, so of course they knew.

Li Hongdao said, "The previous investigation was wrong. It was not Yuwen Kang who sent people to kill Wei Shen, but the brothers Xiao Zhiyan and Xiao Zhifan who killed Wei Shen."

Li Ji said, "I've heard about it."

Li Hong continued, "During the interrogation, the Xiao brothers made a fuss about wanting to see their fourth brother. Later, when they couldn't see their fourth brother, they revealed a secret."

"What secret?"

Li Hong said in a low voice, "Xiao Zhiyan said that he was ordered by Xiao Siye to enter the Flying Dragon Academy of the Eastern Palace and secretly teach my fourth brother to plot for the position of crown prince!"

Li Ji's expression changed drastically: "This must be him talking nonsense, you absolutely mustn't believe him!"

Li Hong asked softly, "Why did Fourth Brother suddenly disappear?"

In fact, Li Hong didn't believe it at first either, but Li Xian was summoned to Shanzhou by Li Zhi and had no one to consult with, so he planned to invite Li Lian to the palace to tell him about it.

To his surprise, Li Lian was not in the mansion, as if he had fled, which aroused his suspicion.

Li Ji asked, "What did the people from the Prince of Yan's residence say?"

Li Hong frowned and said, "They said that three days ago, Fourth Brother went out as usual, without taking anything with him or saying what he was going to do, and then he never came back."

Li Ji laughed and said, "Doesn't this prove that His Highness Prince Yan did not flee out of fear of punishment? Think about it, if he really had fled, would he have taken nothing with him?"

Li Hongdao said, "That's true, but where exactly did Fourth Brother go?"

Li Ji laughed and said, "You forgot, His Majesty is on his way back to the palace. Perhaps Prince Yan is going to greet His Majesty."

Li Hong's eyes lit up, and he slapped his forehead, saying, "That's right, how come I didn't think of that?"

With Li Ji's encouragement, Li Hong was immediately relieved. The two chatted for a few more minutes before Li Ji took his leave of the Eastern Palace.

After leaving the palace, Li Ji went to Yongzhou Prefecture to take up his post.

Because of his experience visiting Guangxingfang with Di Renjie that day, he became more interested in the neighborhoods in the south of the city and asked some yamen runners about the situation in the south of the city.

As Di Renjie said, the yamen runners of Yongzhou Prefecture rarely ventured into the south of the city, and not many people knew about it.

Li Ji suddenly remembered Wei, the county magistrate who had followed Di Renjie that day, and asked those around him, "Are there any county magistrates surnamed Wei in Chang'an County and Wannian County?"

A clerk said, "There is a county constable named Wei in Wannian County. He was originally a member of the Bad People."

Li Jixi said, "Yes, that's him. You should go to Wannian County right away and invite him over."

About half an hour later, Wei, the county magistrate, arrived at Yongzhou Prefecture and paid his respects to Li Ji.

Li Ji recognized him as Wei County Magistrate, whom he had met that day. He warmly pulled him to sit down, ordered tea to be served, and then inquired about the situation in the south of the city.

From Wei County Magistrate's words, Li Jicai realized that in the southern part of Chang'an City, many places followed a unique set of underground rules that were not entirely governed by the Yonghui Law.

Li Ji was quite puzzled and asked, "County Commandant Wei, since you know that there are illegal activities in those places, why don't you arrest all those people?"

Actually, he had a question in his mind when he went to Guangxingfang with Di Renjie that day.

Di Renjie knew that Kuai Alang was a fake fortune teller, but he let him go unpunished, and he also failed to arrest the contact person at the coffin shop.

Did Di Renjie accept bribes from them, which is why he didn't arrest them?

County Magistrate Wei was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, do you know how many people are in Chang'an?"

As the Sima of Yongzhou Prefecture, Li Ji was quite familiar with these matters and said, "It seems to be more than 1.3 million."

County Magistrate Wei nodded: "Yes, Chang'an City has too many people, but too few people to handle cases. There are countless cases to deal with every day, and it is impossible to handle them all."

Li Ji said, "So that's why you've been neglecting the south of the city?"

County Magistrate Wei said, "This is actually to maintain stability. That Kuai Alang is the head of the smugglers in Guangxing Ward. If we arrest him, Guangxing Ward will be thrown into chaos as people fight for a new head. Moreover, the new head is likely to be even more brutal and unruly than Kuai Alang, causing further disorder. Therefore, maintaining the current situation is the best option."

Li Ji frowned and said, "Can't we arrest all those who are fighting over the snake head as well?"

County Commandant Wei said, "That's fine, but if we do that, we won't have the energy to take charge of other places, such as large wards like Pingkang and Xuanyang. If the security deteriorates as a result, it will be a loss."

Li Ji then realized that governing a large city with a population of over a million was far more difficult than he had imagined.

His position as the Sima of Yongzhou was only responsible for the public order of Chang'an.

As for those dirty and tiring jobs in the shadows, they were all silently protected and maintained by scoundrels like County Magistrate Wei.

At that moment, Li Ji felt great respect for County Magistrate Wei and bowed to him, saying, "Thank you for your guidance. I have learned a lot."

County Lieutenant Wei quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "This humble officer dares not."

Li Ji added, "If you encounter any difficulties or need any help in the future, feel free to come to me."

County Magistrate Wei smiled and said, "In that case, thank you, Your Highness King Wu."

Two days later, the Crown Prince sent someone to the Prince of Wu's residence to inform him that the Emperor's entourage would arrive at the Forbidden Garden that afternoon, and that the Prince of Wu should also go to greet him.

After finishing his morning's work and having lunch, Li Ji hurriedly went to the palace to greet the emperor.

(End of this chapter)