Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 514 Duke Wei's Mansion
At dawn, roosters crowed everywhere, but the sky was still dark, and the morning light was still hidden behind the clouds, not yet risen.

A whooshing sound came from the courtyard, and in the dim light, a person could be vaguely seen tumbling and maneuvering in the courtyard, wielding a weapon.

Soon, dawn broke and the east gradually turned white, and the man's appearance could finally be clearly seen. It was Pei Xingjian, who had just been conferred the title of Duke of Wei.

After Pei Xingjian returned to Chang'an, he was first granted the title of Duke, and then the emperor bestowed a marriage upon him, allowing him to remarry. Others were extremely envious of him.

However, he himself did not feel happy.

He wielded a long spear with increasing speed, making it resemble a swimming dragon, swirling around him.

Suddenly, with a "thud," Pei Xingjian swung his spear around and plunged it into a large locust tree, a foot deep.

Pei Xingjian, panting, stared at the big locust tree. His gaze seemed to penetrate the trunk, cross thousands of mountains and rivers, and see the familiar Suyab City, and the Mo Dao team that he had personally trained, who were doing their morning exercises!

Just then, a soft voice came from the side.

"Husband, are you thinking about Anxi again?"

Upon hearing the voice, Pei Xingjian's sorrowful expression vanished instantly. He sheathed his spear and said calmly to his newlywed wife, "No."

After saying that, he headed towards the side hall to prepare for breakfast.

Kudi suddenly grabbed him and looked at him with a serious expression.

"Don't give me that attitude. Let's get this straight today!"

Pei Xingjian frowned, brushed her hand away, and said, "Don't be unreasonable!"

Kudi gazed at him and said, “I know you have many grievances, grievances against Chang’an, and grievances against me. You might as well say them out loud, and perhaps you will feel better.”

Pei Xingjian said coldly, "I have no complaints."

Kudi scoffed and said, "A mighty warrior like you doesn't even have the courage to tell a woman the truth."

Pei Xingjian turned his head sharply, staring at her with eyes as sharp as knives, and said coldly, "What exactly do you want?"

Kudi was not afraid of his gaze at all. Instead, she took a step forward to meet his gaze, and their eyes met tightly.

"I don't want anything, I just want to know what you want?"

Pei Xingjian said, "You've already gotten everything you wanted, so just be a good lady of the Duke's mansion and don't need to concern yourself with my affairs anymore!"

Kudi sneered, "General Pei, you don't need to hurt me with your words. I won't put up with your temper. What I want is your person, not some duke's wife. You know that perfectly well."

Pei Xingjian laughed in exasperation and said, "I have never seen a woman like you!"

Kudi smiled and said, "I'll take this as a compliment. Do you dare to open your heart to me?"

Pei Xingjian sheathed his spear at his side, crossed his arms, and said calmly, "Say what you want to say."

Kudi stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve, saying, "We can't talk about this here. Some things can get you beheaded. Let's go to the pavilion in the middle of the lake."

When Pei Xingjian heard her say those words so casually, he felt a chill run down his spine. What exactly was this woman trying to say?
Before long, the two arrived at the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

Pei Xingjian stared at her coldly without speaking. Kudi seemed oblivious to his piercing gaze, looking at the frozen water, and spoke slowly.

“I know you are actually willing to marry me, but you don’t like that I asked His Majesty and the Empress for a marriage decree because you feel that I have the upper hand, which makes you, General Pei, feel very embarrassed.”

Pei Xingjian's eyes flickered, but he remained silent.

Kudi continued, "You, General Pei, are an extremely intelligent man. You must also know that your prestige in Anxi is too high, and for now you can only return to Chang'an."

"However, you don't like me, a woman, handling this matter, nor do you like compromising because of the Empress's threats. In fact, even if the Empress and I did nothing, you would still take the initiative to request permission to return to Chang'an."

Pei Xingjian remained silent, but the sharpness in his eyes had disappeared. He raised his head, silently gazed at the water, and sighed softly.

Kudi turned to look at him, her eyes filled with pity, and said softly, "Pei Lang, sometimes you're just too clever for your own good. You like to have everything under your control. Have you ever thought about what His Majesty and the Empress would think if you were to bring it up yourself?"

Pei Xingjian was taken aback; he hadn't actually thought about that question.

Kudi said, "I have met Empress Wu. She is a terrible woman and one who likes to control everything."

"You were threatened by her and had no choice but to marry me, and you had no choice but to stay in Chang'an. Although you were not happy, this was the only way to let her vent her anger and stop pursuing the matter of your opposition to her becoming empress back then."

Pei Xingjian remained silent, stunned.

Indeed, when she met Empress Wu that day, she said that as the empress, she would no longer hold grudges about what happened back then.

But how easy is it to change a person's temperament? If she isn't allowed to vent, her resentment towards herself will never be easily eliminated.

Kudi said softly, "I asked the Queen for a marriage decree and then deliberately showed weakness to her, letting her completely control our marriage. Although you are uncomfortable, only in this way will she be completely at ease with you."

Pei Xingjian glanced at her, opened his mouth as if to say something, hesitated for a moment, and then swallowed his words.

Kudi glanced at him and said, "I know you're thinking that with His Majesty protecting you, the Empress might not be able to do anything to you. But have you ever thought about why His Majesty still protected you when you offended both the Empress and His Majesty back then?"

Pei Xingjian's heart skipped a beat.

This was indeed his biggest question.

He had opposed the deposition of the emperor and the establishment of Empress Wu, which offended the emperor and empress, and he was not tolerated by the aristocratic faction led by Changsun Wuji. He really did not understand why the emperor would protect him at that time.

At the time, he was just a minor official in Chang'an and had never even met the emperor alone. Later, he asked Su Dingfang about it and assumed that Su Dingfang had recommended him to the emperor.

However, Su Dingfang said that he had never mentioned his name in front of the emperor.

Pei Xingjian was completely puzzled. What were the emperor's considerations at the time that led him to disregard Pei Xingjian's stance against deposing the emperor and establishing Wu as emperor, and instead send him, a scion of a noble family and a civil official, to develop his career in the military? "Do you know the reason?" he couldn't help but ask.

Kudi smiled slightly and said, "Look at what His Majesty has done over the years. You should know that His Majesty has been conquering the barbarians and expanding the territory. All his actions have a strategy, as if he has been thinking about it for many years."

“I think His Majesty was already planning these things when he was being suppressed by Changsun Wuji, and he inadvertently discovered your talent. He had already made a decision to make you a part of his grand plan.”

These statements sound somewhat unbelievable, such as how the emperor discovered his talents?
But looking back at the results, that's really the case.

Every plan the emperor made seemed to have been meticulously crafted and was the most correct course of action at the time.

It would be impossible to achieve this without three to five years of planning.

The emperor was almost impeccable in his use of people, discovering not only his own talents, but also those of Xue Rengui and Liu Rengui, and even sending veteran generals like Li Ji to attack Goguryeo.

Kudi looked at him and said, "So you must understand that His Majesty protected you back then only because you were a part of his great cause."

"Now that His Majesty's great cause is complete, it is time for you, Pei Lang, to retire gracefully. His Majesty may not have forgotten your opposition to deposing the king and establishing Wu, but he simply needs you and has temporarily set you aside."

Pei Xingjian took a deep breath and said, "Ninth Sister, you are right to remind me. I was too arrogant and failed to see the situation clearly. His Majesty will not use me again in the future."

Kudi said softly, "His Majesty is still very tolerant of those who have made contributions. Look at Changsun Wuji, he was able to retire peacefully. As long as you stay in Chang'an, His Majesty should not pursue the matter of that year."

Pei Xingjian nodded, stepped forward and took Kudi's hand, saying, "I know that everything you have done is for me."

Kudi smiled slightly and said, "Half for you, and half for myself. Now you can no longer escape my grasp."

Pei Xingjian smiled and said, "So, am I held in the Empress's palm, or in yours?"

Kudi blinked and said, "I hold you in my palm, and the Queen holds me in her palm."

Pei Xingjian suddenly picked her up by the waist and laughed, "You fiery woman, it seems I'll have to assert my authority as husband today!"

"Then give it a try!" Kudi said, her eyes full of seductive charm.

Pei Xingjian carried her and strode towards the back bedroom.

As they were walking, the steward came running up, cupped his hands and said, "My lord, His Majesty has decreed that you be summoned to the palace for an audience."

Pei Xingjian was stunned. Looking at his wife in his arms, he asked, "Why did Your Majesty suddenly summon me?"

Kudi frowned and pondered deeply, but could not figure out the reason for a while.

Pei Xingjian put her down and said calmly, "Don't overthink it. You'll know when you enter the palace and meet the Emperor."

After changing his clothes, Pei Xingjian rode his horse toward the palace. When he arrived at Linhu Palace, he saw Li Zhi wearing a black cloak, standing on the viewing platform, admiring the cool lake surface.

Pei Xingjian stepped forward to greet him, and Li Zhi took his hand and smiled, saying, "Minister Pei, there's no need for such formalities. There's something I'd like to ask your opinion on."

He pulled Pei Xingjian to the table, offered him a seat, and said, "I know you are newly married and I didn't want to disturb you, but affairs of state are of utmost importance, so I can't worry about that."

Pei Xingjian was half delighted and half suspicious, wondering if His Majesty intended to use him again.
"Your Majesty is too kind. I am always waiting for Your Majesty's summons."

Li Zhi nodded and asked, "Have you heard anything about the Mohe people these past few days?"

Pei Xingjian's expression hardened, and he said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, on the day of my wedding, Zuo Rong came to my residence to offer his congratulations."

Li Zhi looked at him and asked, "Do you think the Mohe pose any threat to our Tang Dynasty?"

Pei Xingjian said, "Even if the Mohe continue to develop, they will at most become the next Goguryeo and will not pose a threat to us. However, if Your Majesty wishes to deal with them, I believe it is feasible."

Li Zhi's eyes flashed: "Why?"

Pei Xingjian cupped his hands and said, "What I am about to say may be somewhat treasonous. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me before I dare to speak."

Li Zhi laughed loudly and waved his hand, saying, "Speak freely, I will pardon you."

Pei Xingjian slowly said, "The Mohe people are a tribal alliance that is half nomadic and half fishing and hunting. No matter how they develop, their national strength has an upper limit, and they are indeed no threat to us."

"However, judging from the history of the Six Dynasties, no dynasty can remain strong forever. Although the Tang Dynasty is powerful now, it cannot guarantee that it will remain so in the future."

As he spoke, he carefully observed Li Zhi's expression, and would immediately stop speaking if he noticed that the emperor's expression was not right.

After hearing this, Li Zhi was not angry at all; instead, a look of joy appeared on his face.

"Very well, among all the civil and military officials, you are the first person to dare to say such things to me. Your words may be harsh, but they make a lot of sense. Continue!"

Pei Xingjian cupped his hands and said, "Looking to the future, I believe the Mohe pose a certain threat to us because they are not satisfied with the current tribal alliance and want to establish a state. This shows that the Mohe people are different from ordinary nomadic peoples!"

Li Zhi's smile deepened as he said, "Minister Pei, you always manage to surprise me. If I were to attack the Mohe, would you support me?"

Pei Xingjian replied without hesitation, "Of course I support Your Majesty!"

"Good!" Li Zhi clapped his hands and said, "I have a plan to deal with the Mohe, and I need someone to carry it out. I think you are the best candidate."

Pei Xingjian asked in a daze, "Does Your Majesty intend to employ me?"

Li Zhi said with emotion, "I know you have just gotten married, but this concerns matters of state, and I hope you will not refuse!"

Pei Xingjian took a deep breath and said resolutely, "Since Your Majesty needs my help, I will never refuse!"

Li Zhi said, "Very well, I will issue an imperial decree immediately appointing you as the Protector-General of Yingzhou. I hope you can conquer the entire Yingzhou Island for me!"

(End of this chapter)