Su Qiuchi never thought that he would visit the imperial palace for the first time by passing through walls.
Li Huai, wearing a formal silk robe and crown, adorned with precious tinkling accessories, and her hair meticulously arranged into a beautiful and graceful bun, was sitting in front of a bronze mirror in a daze. She was so startled when the two men suddenly appeared before her that she knocked over the rouge box.
"You guys..." Li Huai covered her mouth in astonishment, pointing at Jiu Jue and Su Qiuchi, speechless. Within moments of hearing unusual sounds inside, there were chaotic footsteps and urgent knocking on the tightly closed door. "Your Highness! What happened!"
Li Huai regained her composure and chided sternly, "What's all this hollering! I accidentally broke a box of rouge; now leave!" Soon, there was silence outside.
"How did you find this place?" Li Huai turned around and asked in a low voice.
"Don't ask a god such questions," Jiu Jue, as usual, gave her a crooked smile.
"You, you, you..." Su Qiuchi's mouth fell open and he circled Li Huai a full ten times, "You're actually a princess?"
Seeing that her identity could no longer be concealed, Li Huai held her head high and said with feigned disdain, "Yes! Princess Duanyi of the Tang Dynasty, surnamed Li, named Zhun[1]. You better be careful in the future, or you won't even know how you lost your head!"
Li Huai... Li Zhun... one word change, but a world of difference. Jiu Jue looked around and sneered, "I'm afraid those people outside are not here to serve you?"
"Monitoring." Li Zhun looked at the tightly closed doors and windows around her and smiled bitterly, "Since you are an omniscient god, you should know that this place has been completely sealed, with no way in or out."
"Why did they put you under house arrest?" Su Qiuchi suddenly realized the seriousness of the situation. "You are the current princess!"
"Five days ago, Empress Wu issued an edict commanding me to marry into the Turks[2]. Before the marriage, I am not allowed to step out of the palace gate." Li Zhun's face was expressionless, a far cry from the once playful and willful "Li Huai." "The imperial court received news that the twenty-four chieftains of the Eastern Turks may have the intention to betray, and there have been frequent exchanges between the Western Turks and Tubo[3]. With threats on both sides, the situation on the borders of the Tang Dynasty is extremely critical."
"What does the trouble caused by the barbarians have to do with you!" Su Qiuchi asked urgently.
"In the past, Princess Wencheng married into Tubo, fostering good relations between the two sides and ensuring stability on the border. Now, it seems I'll also have to shoulder this heavy responsibility." Li Zhun played with the jade pendant on her dress and sneered.
"Although I haven't read many history books, I'm sure that Princess Wencheng was just a royal family member, not a true descendant of the emperor. But you, as a genuine princess, with your mother being the empress, how could she bear to issue such an edict!" Su Qiuchi didn't believe that any mother would push her daughter into a living hell.
Li Zhun raised her head and calmly said, "I'm not really of the lineage of the Emperor and Empress. My father was a close bodyguard to the Emperor and his official title was General Huaihua. Ten years ago, during the Autumn Hunt, my father was killed by a monstrous python while saving the Emperor's life. He saved the Emperor who overreached himself, but he himself was buried in the python's belly. The Emperor, remembering my father's gruesome death and his loyalty and integrity during his lifetime, and considering my mother's early death that had left me an orphan with no one to depend upon, made an exception and took me in as an adopted daughter. He granted me the imperial clan's surname and bestowed the title of Princess Duanyi. Since I entered the palace, Empress Wu initially treated me like her own daughter. However, after she saw the plum blossom mark on my palm, her attitude changed drastically and she distanced herself from me. With each passing year, her gaze became colder. I still don't understand why. In any case, now is the perfect opportunity. She is seizing the chance to remove the thorn in her side." After speaking, Li Zhun held out her right hand and opened her palm. In the center, five tiny vermilion moles happened to form a beautiful and delicate plum blossom.
"This woman is insane!" Su Qiuchi exclaimed in annoyance. "Is she jealous of this pretty flower or something?"
Taking the opportunity to examine the plum blossom mark, Jiu Jue said lightly, "When Empress Wu was still a Zhaoyi[4], in order to seize the position of Empress, she personally killed her own flesh and blood daughter who was still in swaddling clothes. Later, she framed Empress Wang for the crime, which eventually led to Li Zhi[5], who was furious, deposing Empress Wang. From then on, Empress Wu rose through the ranks rapidly and gained power over the country. I heard that the deceased little princess had vermilion mole marks in the shape of a plum blossom on the palm of her right hand." At this point, he looked at Li Zhun and added, "You're unlucky to be caught up in such a coincidental matter. Empress Wu has always had a knot in her heart regarding her deceased daughter. You entered the palace out of the blue, and when Empress Wu saw the plum blossom mark on your hand, coupled with the fact that you are the daughter of a military general, with a resolute personality and don't abide etiquette, she must think you are a monster sent by the heavens to seek revenge on her. Given Empress Wu's ruthlessness, the fact that you've survived until now is quite a blessing."
Jiu Jue's insightful analysis awakened those lost in their thoughts. Li Zhun gritted her teeth, unable to utter a single word. "Absurd!" Su Qiuchi cursed under his breath.
"Come with me," Jiu Jue reached out to her. "The imperial palace is not your place."
"I can't," Li Zhun shook her head, looking at Su Qiuchi. "If I escape, the Su family will be punished for the crime of deceiving the emperor and the entire clan will be executed. His maternal grandfather will also be implicated."
"Are you out of your mind?" Su Qiuchi's eyes widened, "Who knows I've been here? I came in through the walls following this god!"
"I heard from some old palace maids that there's an evil monk by the empress's side who has godly powers and can summon armies with a snap of his fingers. As long as you've been close to me, he can discern your identity from any trace that ordinary people can't see." Li Zhun took a deep breath, trying hard to force a mocking smile. "Although I don't have any friendship with a fool like you, and you always annoy me, I can't bring myself to do something that would bring irrevocable harm to your entire family. Leave quickly." She pushed Jiu Jue and Su Qiuchi out. "There will be a chance for us to drink, talk, have music and dance together again in the future."
"Cut the crap!" Jiu Jue showed a rare hint of anger. He grabbed her wrist with one hand and held onto Su Qiuchi with the other. "Both of you are coming with me!"
Jiu Jue's hand touched the jade bracelet on Li Zhun's right wrist when he pulled her. His brow furrowed momentarily, but soon he regained his composure, pulling the two of them through the walls and out of the palace.
Footnotes:
[1] 准: to allow; to grant; in accordance with; in the light of.
[2] Göktürks. Turks is the collective name for various Turkic ethnic groups.
[3] The Tibetan Tubo dynasty 7th-11th century AD.
[4] 6th rank imperial consort. Empress is 1st rank.
[5] Emperor Gaozong of Tang. He handed power over the empire to his second wife Empress Wu (the future Wu Zetian), and her decrees were carried out with greater force than the decrees of Emperor Gaozong.
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