Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 613: I Shall Repay Him With My Life

Midnight.

Tang Wanzhuang sat beneath the lamp, draped in the thick fur coat she had worn when they first met, reviewing documents.

The coughing had stopped. The last treatment Zhao Changhe had given her before leaving was enough to sustain her for at least a year.

However, overwork had taken its toll. Her frail frame still lacked the vitality of a martial artist, her susceptibility to cold and general weakness prompting Baoqin to shake her head in disapproval.

She’s at the third layer of the Profound Mysteries, yet she looks to be even more delicate than me when I was only at the third layer of the Profound Gate.

Baoqin was no longer a child. At eighteen, she was a poised young woman, and her cultivation had reached the seventh layer of the Profound Gate; her cold demeanor now lent her a formidable air. She could be sent out to handle affairs of the jianghu. When Zhao Changhe first encountered her, she had already reached the fifth layer of the Profound Gate, while he was only at the fourth. His cultivation was below her back then, yet whether it was back then or now, he mistakenly regarded her as a defenseless maid all the same.

His misconceptions did not end there. He also misunderstood Tang Wanzhuang.

For instance, he found it perfectly natural that Tang Wanzhuang and Tang Buqi argued. Zhao Changhe had a slightly better grasp of the situation, understanding that if Tang Buqi had only been advocating for self-preservation, Tang Wanzhuang would not have quarreled with him. In his opinion, it was Tang Buqi who truly did not understand his aunt.

But in reality, even if Tang Buqi had chosen secession, Tang Wanzhuang would not have opposed him.

Many of her loyal subordinates, including Wu Weiyang, had ambitions of their own. She did not wish to stand in the way of their futures or aspirations.

No one’s ideals were more precious than anyone else’s. She had no right to drag others into her sacrifices. As long as everyone was safe and at peace, that was enough for her.

No... What truly made her oppose Tang Buqi’s bid for independence was not misplaced loyalty, but a nagging sense that something was off. Recent events had unsettled her, and she did not want Tang Buqi to be manipulated into taking a perilous path.

Unfortunately, the Demon Suppression Bureau had decayed in many regions, with numerous agents defecting. Her once-extensive intelligence network was no longer as reliable. She could only deduce and infer from scattered clues.

One thing was clear: the Li Clan of Longxi had become a problem. The evidence was unmistakable. The tax revenue from Guanzhong had stopped. The official excuse was rampant banditry, but no one would believe that. It was a classic sign of secession.

This development had been anticipated. Once Xia Longyuan’s injuries became known, such events were inevitable.

What troubled Tang Wanzhuang was that Li Shentong of Bashu, who had been preparing to march north, had suddenly halted his mobilization.

Li Shentong was unlike small-time schemers like Tang Buqi, content with carving out a tiny domain in Jiangnan. Whether his initial uprising was for the sake of Bashu’s people or some other cause, once rebellion was underway, a hero of his caliber would never settle for a patch of land and call it done. His aggression and capacity for action were top-notch. His natural course of action would be to press into Hanzhong and Guanzhong. Would he abandon his strategy simply because the banners in Guanzhong bore the name of Xia instead of Li? Impossible.

What, then, had caused him to stand down?

And the Yang Clan’s attitude had turned ambiguous. The ceding of Xuzhou was suspicious. Officially, it was framed as a brilliant stratagem by the imperial court, intended to provoke conflict between the Wang Clan and Wan Tianxiong. Some within the imperial court even praised Grand Commandant Yang for his cunning maneuver. However, Tang Wanzhuang knew better. There had been no such deliberation in the imperial court. She had not even known about the decision until it was done.

This was the Yang Clan’s own initiative. It seemed calculated to nurture Wan Tianxiong’s ambitions. Tang Wanzhuang could well imagine the shift in mindset: the Cao Gang, once a waterborne power rooted in Jianghuai, now poised in Xuzhou, looking north. The allure of greater power was something few could resist.

Wan Dongliu had been too embarrassed to tell Zhao Changhe that Wan Tianxiong harbored thoughts of declaring himself king. Of course, they also had to take into account a simple fact: they were under the aegis of the Four Idols Cult. Most of the gang members were loyal cultists. Without Vermilion Bird’s approval, Wan Tianxiong’s ambitions would remain just that—ambitions.

But for the Four Idols Cult, it hardly mattered who claimed a throne. If Wan Tianxiong formally petitioned to Vermilion Bird, she would likely grant her blessing. If she objected, it would be a matter of timing—she might insist on stockpiling resources and delaying any declaration of kingship.

In this web of bizarre and shifting alliances, why was Tang Buqi getting involved? What infuriated Tang Wanzhuang even more was that he was not even aware of the bigger picture. After exchanging several letters with him, she realized Tang Buqi had no idea what was truly happening. It made her want to storm down to Jiangnan, knock her nephew flat, and beat him senseless with a broom.

That brat is fumbling around in the dark. He’s but a pawn for others, yet he still dreams of becoming the King of Wu?! The rumors of his kingship have even reached the capital. How could we not have quarreled?

Tang Wanzhuang rubbed her temples, the strain of overthinking worsening her condition. A wave of dizziness washed over her.

At that moment, a delicate fragrance wafted through the air. A figure appeared before her.

It was Huangfu Qing, dressed in elegant palace robes, her face unmasked.

Before Baoqin could react, Huangfu Qing struck a pressure point, freezing her in place. “You sharp-tongued little maid, stay out of the way for now.”

Baoqin’s eyes widened in disbelief. What did I do to deserve this?

Tang Wanzhuang set her pen down, her voice cool and composed. “An imperial consort visiting at midnight and taking her frustrations out on my maid? How unexpected.”

Huangfu Qing glanced over Baoqin’s figure, her lips curling in a barely perceptible sneer. This girl’s body is surprisingly firm—more so than a certain someone who spends her days copying scriptures. Some people really are hopeless.

Imagining certain future scenarios, Huangfu Qing thought, You’re lucky I don’t kill you all outright. And you wonder why I’m annoyed?

Of course, she would not say that out loud. Instead, she coldly remarked, “I’m here to offer you some advice.”

Tang Wanzhuang was silent for a moment before murmuring, “Thank you.”

Huangfu Qing paused, taken aback, just as Tang Wanzhuang continued, “You’re closing the net, aren’t you? I was supposed to be one of the targets for elimination. But you’re worried Changhe will resent you later, so you’ve come to warn me to leave.”

This woman truly is sharp. Huangfu Qing sighed inwardly. Unfortunately, her resolve is utterly meaningless. With a cold expression, she replied, “Don’t flatter yourself. You’re hardly a primary target. If you stand in the way, you’ll just be throwing yourself into the fire. We’ve fought each other for years; maybe I’ve grown used to it. This is simply a gesture of camaraderie. Besides, I’ve already withdrawn on the venerable’s orders. Whether you leave or not is up to you.”

Baoqin was not gagged, but if she could speak, she would have pointed out Huangfu Qing’s transparent lie. Camaraderie? More like you’re afraid of being scolded by a certain man. An imperial noble consort, and yet so deeply entangled with another man... How absurd.

“You’ve withdrawn on the venerable’s orders...” Tang Wanzhuang repeated, her expression turning slightly strange. She shook her head. “Thank you... But by doing this, you risk exposing your entire plan. That’s no small burden to bear.”

Huangfu Qing smiled faintly. “Even if you know, you can’t change anything now.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Tang Wanzhuang said slowly. “Piecing together everything, I’ve deduced a few things...”

Huangfu Qing’s eyes narrowed, intrigued. “Oh? Let’s hear what you think you know.”

“The emperor isn’t power-hungry. He has no real desire for worldly authority. By all logic, a man like him should be roaming free, enjoying life far beyond the confines of the palace. The fact that he clings to the throne suggests two things: one, it’s simply too convenient for him to wield power when he needs it. And two...”—Tang Wanzhuang’s voice dropped—“I suspect his cultivation is tied to the throne itself. He needs the position to support his cultivation.”

Huangfu Qing’s expression subtly shifted.

“Your recent moves all point to a singular conclusion: you’re orchestrating a nationwide belief that there is no longer a single sovereign. Every region now has its own king, and they are rejecting the emperor’s authority. In the past, this might not have had a tangible impact. But with the emperor returning wounded, it might just work.” Tang Wanzhuang smiled faintly. “You’re closing the net, and there must be a trigger to set it off. I can even guess what that trigger is. If I leave now to stop it, I might actually succeed. But with you standing here, I doubt I’ll get very far.”

Huangfu Qing sighed. “If you leave now, you’ll die. You know, I find it hard to understand... You’ve pieced together the entire truth from mere fragments of information. Such wisdom is truly remarkable. How can someone like you be so blindly loyal?”

Tang Wanzhuang gazed at the flickering remnants of the lamp’s flame, her voice low. “Perhaps it is foolish. But, Huangfu Qing, if everyone calculates risks and only makes the most logical choices, then throughout the ages, why have so many willingly laid down their lives, shedding their blood to protect those behind them? Were they all fools?”

Huangfu Qing fell silent.

“Perhaps you’ll argue about who is worth protecting and who isn’t... Take Xia Longyuan, for example,” Tang Wanzhuang paused as if unaccustomed to speaking his name so plainly. Then, she continued, “You might say that the chaos of this world is his own doing, that he is destroying the nation, and that overthrowing him is the true path to saving the empire. You might say that it’s not regicide, but the punishment of a tyrant. I know that’s how Changhe sees it. Once, I worked tirelessly for the people’s safety. Now, I seem to stand against them. He has long wished for me to lay down my burdens and return to a simple life.”

Huangfu Qing looked at her curiously. “You understand this, and you seem to agree with him. Then why are you doing this?”

Tang Wanzhuang replied calmly, “First, only His Majesty can truly keep the tribes to the north at bay. None of the other factions, including your Four Idols Cult, have the strength to do it. Huangfu Qing, this is crucial. Your father understood this as well. That’s why, despite his command over powerful forces, he never supported your rebellion.”

Huangfu Qing’s expression hardened. “Don’t call me by my name.”

“There’s the public reason, and then there’s the private one.” Ignoring her request, Tang Wanzhuang continued, “Years ago, His Majesty defied the imperial court’s objections and promoted me, a young woman, to the position of chief of the Demon Suppression Bureau. The imperial court was in an uproar, but he remained unwavering. For over a decade, he trusted me completely. Though he didn’t always heed my advice, he gave me whatever I needed—authority, freedom to act—never questioning me, never restricting me, not once raising his voice in anger. Such trust between a ruler and his minister is virtually unheard of.”

Huangfu Qing considered this and had to admit it was true.

Xia Longyuan’s trust in Tang Wanzhuang was absolute. Even matters like using body doubles or killing the crown prince were not kept from her[1]. This was trust at its deepest. That he did not always follow her counsel was hardly surprising; no ruler could adhere to every piece of advice.

Tang Wanzhuang continued, “Years ago, my parents wanted me to marry the crown prince. I told His Majesty I didn’t want to. He laughed and said, ‘You are a national treasure, Wanzhuang. You shouldn’t be constrained by the palace.’ And that was the end of it.”

Some had once speculated that Xia Longyuan desired Tang Wanzhuang for her beauty. But time had proven that was not the case. He truly saw her as a national treasure, entrusting her with the world during his years of retreat.

Such loyalty between sovereign and minister was indeed a rarity through the ages.

Tang Wanzhuang whispered, “Though he has betrayed the world, he has never betrayed me. He treated me as a treasure; I shall repay him with my life. That is all. If you see Changhe, tell him I’m sorry. If there’s a next life, I’ll serve him instead.”

“Chief!” There was a knock on the door, and a guard’s voice followed, “The Marquis of Wuping is here, bearing an edict from His Majesty.”

Tang Wanzhuang smiled faintly. “Understood.”

She rose slowly, her voice soft as she said, “Go now... Whatever you choose to do, I won’t blame you.”

1. This is rather inconsistent with the previous chapters, where it’s made clear that Tang Wanzhuang herself figured out that the emperor on the throne was not Xia Longyuan, and was not actually told about it, at least not by the emperor. ☜