Chapter Six: Old Li's Probing

Old Li glanced at Eunuch Fu for confirmation, and the latter nodded. Then Old Li lifted her foot and walked over.

When Princess Xuancheng and Princess Yiyang saw Old Li approaching, they were momentarily puzzled, for they had never met her before. Yet, spotting the respectful demeanor of Eunuch Fu and Lady Liu trailing behind, they could already surmise her identity.

The two immediately rose and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Your Highness!”

Old Li hurried forward, supporting each of them with a hand. “Please, sisters, rise. There is no need for such formality.”

Princess Xuancheng quickly replied, “We do not deserve such honor from Your Highness…”

“It is as it should be—why would you not deserve it?” Old Li shook her head, seizing this moment for a closer look at her two elder sisters.

They appeared to be in their twenties, though their faces were somewhat wan, likely from poor nutrition and hard living. Even so, one could still trace the vestiges of their youthful beauty. After all, true beauty lies in one’s very bones, and with a beautiful mother’s bloodline, they could hardly be plain.

No visible marks or scars marred their bodies, which suggested that overt violence or abuse had not been visited upon them.

Old Li turned and spoke, “Lady Liu, I would like a moment alone with my two elder sisters, if that is convenient?”

“Of course,” Lady Liu replied, making her obeisance before departing.

Old Li then said, “Eunuch Fu, please find us a place where my sisters and I may sit and converse.”

Eunuch Fu assented and led them to a quiet room, where they sat together on cushions. Xuancheng and Yiyang seemed nervous at their sister’s arrival, sitting in silence, stiff and reserved.

Old Li smiled gently. “Sisters, my visit today is of no other intent. As daughters of the same father, it is only right that we draw close.”

The two exchanged a glance and nodded. “Yes.”

“There’s no need for formality between us,” Old Li added with a sweet, childlike smile.

She understood that her sisters must be overthinking things. After all, her sudden appearance could easily be interpreted as an errand at Wu Zetian’s behest; their anxiety was understandable.

“I know little of other matters. It’s just that by chance I learned you both were here, and wished to come and see you,” Old Li continued.

Her honest gaze reassured her sisters, who nodded wordlessly, signaling their understanding.

Old Li smiled again, then affected a relaxed air and began chatting with them—not interrogating, but simply asking how they had been faring.

After all, she was but a three-year-old girl; she could be precocious, but not overly so.

After a quarter of an hour, Old Li said, “It brings me great joy to know I have two elder sisters. From now on, I shall visit you often.”

She then reached out her small hand, took Princess Xuancheng’s callused right hand, and placed two strings of copper coins into her palm.

“I know how hard life can be here. I hope you both take good care of yourselves.”

“This is not proper—this…,” Xuancheng stammered, surprised at the sudden gift, instinctively wishing to refuse.

“No need for words, sister,” Old Li said, clasping her sister’s hand between her own tiny ones, her face aglow with a smile. “We are true sisters, bound by blood.”

Xuancheng seemed dazed and at a loss for words.

Old Li did not linger. She called for Eunuch Fu and prepared to leave.

At the door, Lady Liu came to see her off.

After taking a few steps, Old Li looked up. “I hope, Lady Liu, that you will look after my sisters in the days to come. You will have my deepest gratitude.”

“Your Highness is too kind,” Lady Liu replied quickly, bowing deeply. “If Your Highness commands it, I will certainly do as you say!”

Old Li nodded and said nothing more, turning to leave with Eunuch Fu.

So long as her mother Wu Zetian did not object, Lady Liu would surely obey her. After all, as long as she remained in favor, her words were as good as imperial command to the servants.

Stepping through the snow as she left the Palace of Internal Affairs, Old Li walked in silence, curious to see what consequences might follow.

Her visit was partly out of compassion, for as an orphan herself, she could not bear to see her sisters suffer. Yet, her principal motive was to test the waters with Li Zhi and Wu Zetian.

Through this small act, she could better gauge her standing in their hearts, and discern what their attitude toward her might become.

In this era, beneath heaven and earth, the Emperor is supreme.

Only by understanding her place with Li Zhi and Wu Zetian could she know what she might or might not do in the future. Crossing that line would bring disaster beyond redemption.

In winter, one’s breath becomes strikingly visible. Old Li walked through the snow-laden, resplendent Daming Palace, her small body pondering her fate.

Having come to this world, her first thought was simply survival. Once that was secured, she could not help but wonder why she was here at all.

Old Li had no intention of changing history; she only wished to be a witness, a bystander to the unfolding of time.

And yet… she paused, turning back to look at the Palace of Internal Affairs now wrapped in swirling snow. From the very moment she visited her two sisters, the butterfly effect must have already begun.

…

A bright crescent moon hung high in the sky, and the candlelight in the palace flickered gently.

Wu Zetian set aside her memorials, closed her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose, hoping to ease the fatigue of the long day.

Beside her, Li Zhi seemed weary, but still poured her a cup of warm tea. “Meiniang, it’s getting late. You should rest.”

“Yes,” Wu Zetian agreed, and reached out to settle beside him. “Your Majesty, you are not well. These affairs should be left for others to manage.”

“It’s nothing,” Li Zhi replied, taking her hand with a smile. “A little activity is good for me now and then.”

At this moment, Chief Steward Zhang Chengxin entered. “Your Majesty, Empress, Eunuch Fu seeks an audience.”

“Let him enter.”

“Yes.”

Eunuch Fu entered, but before he could make his salute, Wu Zetian interrupted him. “No need. Where is Chen’er?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the princess is already asleep,” Eunuch Fu answered.

Li Zhi asked casually, “How has Chen’er behaved lately?”

“Your Majesty, the princess is diligent in her studies and extremely self-disciplined.” At this, a hint of hesitation crossed his face. “It’s just that today, the princess came across records concerning Princess Xuancheng and Princess Yiyang, and went to the Palace of Internal Affairs to visit them.”

He did not intend to tattle, but such an incident could hardly go unreported.

“Oh?”

Wu Zetian’s brows immediately furrowed at these words. “Explain in detail!”

When the Empress frowned, a natural majesty radiated from her, intimidating without anger.

Eunuch Fu quickly recounted all that had transpired, omitting nothing and exaggerating nothing.

When he finished, Wu Zetian waved him away, then turned to Li Zhi. “What is Your Majesty’s opinion?”

Wu Zetian certainly did not favor these two princesses, but since Consort Xiao was dead, she had little to say about the woman’s daughters. She deftly passed the question to Li Zhi, seeking his view.

“Blood is thicker than water… well said!” Li Zhi sighed. “Whatever else, they are still my daughters!”

Wu Zetian said nothing, for she understood Li Zhi well. In truth, it had not been the Queen or Consort Xiao themselves that he despised, but the aristocratic clans they represented.

Queen Wang had grown arrogant, relying on her family’s power, allying with Zhangsun Wuji to control the court, her attitude insufferably brazen. She had promoted her kin and uncle, who would enter the palace without ever bowing, showing no respect for the Emperor at all.

The Queen’s sole ambition was to bear a son. With her family’s strength as backing, if she succeeded, he would surely be named Crown Prince, and she would then wait idly for Li Zhi’s death.

Even now, though Queen Wang and Consort Xiao were long dead, the thought still filled Li Zhi with rage.

Yet, the imprisonment of his two daughters in the Palace of Internal Affairs was only because of Consort Xiao, and merely to appease Wu Zetian.

Wu Zetian knew this. Yet, she had not expected her own daughter to visit them today.

And, as Eunuch Fu’s report made clear, the girl had no ulterior motive—she simply wanted to play with her sisters.

From birth to now, Old Li had always been gentle and filial. That much, at least, aroused no suspicion.

Wu Zetian smiled softly. “Chen’er is kind and filial. That is a good thing.”

Li Zhi turned, a look of mild surprise crossing his face.

Seeing his expression, Wu Zetian gently stroked the back of his hand. “I know you are concerned for my feelings, but Chen’er is right. Blood is thicker than water—she is your daughter and a princess of the Tang Dynasty. Perhaps…”

Her words were cut short as Li Zhi raised his hand. “There’s no need. Let us wait until Chen’er comes to plead for them herself. Meiniang, you must not prompt her!”

Though husband and wife for many years, their affection had not waned in the slightest.

Wu Zetian, considering Li Zhi’s guilt, had been about to suggest releasing Xuancheng and Yiyang. Li Zhi, mindful that Wu Zetian had been by his side through everything, decided to wait until Old Li herself asked for clemency, so he might grant it graciously.

Their understanding was tacit and deep; they exchanged a silent smile, and all was conveyed without words.

Wu Zetian took Li Zhi’s arm, and the two rose together. “It’s late. Let us rest.”

“Yes.” Li Zhi smiled and nodded, slipping an arm around her shoulder as they walked side by side into the rear chambers.

…

The next day, Li Zhi summoned Eunuch Fu, rewarding him with silver and instructing a maid to bring out a separate tray of silver coins.

“Take these. If Chen’er wishes to do anything, give them to her. But do not say it is my order.”

“Yes!”

Eunuch Fu, overjoyed, nearly skipped out of the hall. The Emperor’s intentions were plain. As long as he remained close to this princess, he too would rise in fortune.

Upon returning, he found Old Li already awake, freshly washed, seated before a bronze mirror while Xiao He helped arrange her hair.

It had to be said, the hairstyles of princesses in this era were truly elaborate. Old Li simply couldn’t manage them herself, so she relied on Xiao He’s skill. Even so, it took over ten minutes each morning—only less because she was young and her hair still short.

Her mother, Wu Zetian, would spend half an hour each day just on her hair—what a bother.

Seeing Eunuch Fu’s beaming face, Xiao He realized that yesterday’s matter had been settled, and her spirits lifted as well.

…

Days slipped by, and soon it was the end of the first year of Zongzhang, in December.

Goguryeo had fallen. The triumphant army was returning, and Li Zhi would welcome them in person.

On the fifth day of the twelfth month, Old Li was wakened early by Xiao He, for Li Zhi had promised she could secretly watch the army’s homecoming ceremony from Hanyuan Hall.

The commander was Li Ji—later hailed as the God of War—and his deputy was Liu Rengui, destined to become her future master.

As the sun rose and light flooded the sky, Old Li and Eunuch Fu climbed up to Xiangluan Pavilion, beside Hanyuan Hall.

She crouched down, peering through the gaps in the railing.

A procession of several hundred entered through the towering Danfeng Gate at the heart of Daming Palace, marching in perfect order.

At the front, three men rode tall horses, advancing at an even pace toward the palace.

Old Li understood this must be by imperial command—for ordinarily, riding into the palace meant certain death.

Between Hanyuan Hall and Danfeng Gate lay a vast square some seven hundred meters long, rendering those crossing it small and distant.

At their pace, it would take about five minutes to cross.

Hanyuan Hall stood nearly fifteen meters above the square, perched atop three tiers of terraces. Looking up from below, the grand hall seemed to float in the air, the majesty of imperial power palpable.

The three leaders dismounted below the hall, straightened their attire, and strode up the broad dragon-tail steps.

At the hall’s entrance, the Gold Bird Guards would check each in turn for weapons or contraband.

Old Li descended from Xiangluan Pavilion, entered the hall from the rear, and waited behind a screen along the side passage to observe the proceedings up close.

Within the grand hall, Li Zhi, Wu Zetian, and the assembled ministers were already gathered, awaiting the ceremony.

Today, Li Zhi wore not his usual round-collared dragon robe, but the grand, solemn imperial regalia.

His upper garment was black, the lower crimson, embroidered with gold threads depicting dragons, phoenixes, mountains, fire, and other patterns.

Unlike the narrow sleeves of his daily robe, the ceremonial robe’s sleeves were so long they nearly brushed his knees.

Upon his head sat the imperial crown, adorned with twelve golden chains and strings of colored jade beads—splendid beyond compare.