Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 33 Princess Honghua
Before noon, Pingkangfang South Street was already crowded with people. The road was blocked by carriages coming to celebrate the birthday, making it difficult to move.

Queen Binjiu's carriage was a hundred feet away and could not go any further, so she had to get off the carriage and lead her people to walk to the outside of Wu Mansion.

Outside the gate, there were lights and decorations, and the atmosphere was festive. Not only did court officials come to celebrate the birthday, but many foreign envoys also came to congratulate him.

A female guard whispered, "It seems that there are more foreigners coming to celebrate the birthday than just our Dongnu Country. This way, it won't attract too much attention."

Outside the Wu Mansion, a young man was in charge of entertaining the guests.

When the Queen was waiting in line, she heard people around her mention that this person was a military officer named Wu Sansi, who entered the officialdom through family connections and served as a seventh-rank official called "Zhichang".

Wu Sansi was only about twenty years old, but he had already developed the ability to see and hear in all directions.

He was originally talking to a guest, and when he saw Li Yifu coming, he turned away from the guest and went to greet Li Yifu.

"Lord Li, I've finally met you. Father just sent someone to ask about me!"

Among the officials of the two provinces in the Tang Dynasty, as long as they were over forty years old and had a rank above the fourth grade, they could be respectfully called Ge Lao. Li Yifu was the deputy director of the Secretariat and deserved this title.

He twirled his beard and smiled, "I should have come earlier, but I met a good friend on the way and talked to him, so I got delayed."

He turned sideways, pointed at a burly man behind him, and said with a smile, "Let me introduce you, my nephew. This is the most famous general of Tuyuhun, General Murong Xin."

Murong Xin was in high spirits and smiled as he said, "Murong Xin, nice to meet you, Commander Wu." He also glanced sideways at Queen Binjiu.

Queen Binjiu's eyes flickered as she thought to herself, "It's said that at the foreign envoys' banquet, the Tang Dynasty arranged for Murong Xin to sit at the head of the table. Now that I see how familiar he is with the Tang Dynasty officials, I'm afraid it's true."

A female guard nearby whispered, "Queen, it seems Murong Xin has gained the support of the Tang people."

Queen Bin said calmly: "No hurry, let's wait and see."

Murong Xin and Li Yifu were led in personally by Wu Sansi.

Queen Binjiu was ignored. Only a steward from the Wu Mansion said a few cold words to her, accepted her gift, and let her in.

The interior of the Wu Mansion was decorated with a riot of colors and flowers. Not only was the courtyard covered with red cloth, but the treetops were also hung with colorful silk.

Queen Binjiu entered the hall and sat down in a corner. She didn't know anyone and no one paid any attention to her.

On the other hand, Murong Xin sat at the innermost table, chatting and laughing with the Tang Dynasty dignitaries sitting at the same table.

Queen Bin waited for a long time, but he didn't come to talk to her, so she frowned.

A female guard said, "Hmph, Queen, I think Murong Xin is just showing off to us. He has no sincerity in forming an alliance with us. Why don't you just leave?"

Another female guard said, "That's right. He invited us over, but then left us aside. How can that be justified?"

Bin said to the Queen, "If he can't endure even the slightest humiliation, how can he accomplish anything great? I haven't seen him before, and he's angry. Let him vent his anger."

At this moment, a Wufu steward came over, looked them over for a moment, and whispered, "Are there any Dongnu envoys among you?"

The guest said to the queen, "I am it."

The Wu Mansion steward smiled and said, "There is a distinguished person who wants to see you. Please follow me to the backyard."

Bin said to the Queen, "Thank you for leading the way." He ordered two female guards to wait here and followed the deacon.

While the outside of the Wu Mansion was bustling with people of color, the inner courtyard was silent.

Queen Bin followed the Wufu steward and carefully looked around.

After a while, she was taken to a secluded room. The butler said to her, "The distinguished person is waiting for you in the room. I will take my leave."

Queen Bin turned around and watched the butler turn around an abandoned rockery before pushing the door and entering the house.

It was a simple room with a south-facing window covered with cloth and a small table in the center.

There was a woman sitting at the table. The light was dim and only a faint outline could be seen. She seemed to be a young woman.

Queen Binjiu closed the door, bolted it, and asked the woman, "Did Murong Xin ask you to come to me?"

The woman slowly stood up and performed a Tuyuhun ceremony towards her, saying, "Princess of Tuyuhun, Li Ping, greets Her Majesty the Queen."

Queen Bin was surprised and asked, "Are you the Tang princess who married into Tuyuhun?"

Princess Honghua said calmly, "I am now standing before the Queen as the Princess of Tuyuhun." Queen Binjiu nodded and said, "So you have come to Chang'an as well. No wonder the Tang people are so courteous to Murong Xin. No need to beat around the bush. State your purpose!"

Princess Honghua said, "I believe the Queen has guessed that we want to ally with the Dongnu Qiang again!"

Queen Binjiu snorted and said, "How dare you mention an alliance? We were allies back then. My Dongnu Qiang tribe sent troops to help you fight against the Tang Dynasty. But Fu Yun ran away, and out of my 30,000 warriors, only a little over 10,000 returned alive. The previous queen was furious!"

Princess Honghua sighed, "This matter has passed. I hope the Queen can move on."

Queen Binjiu sneered, "You're going to let it go with just one word from you. Is this your sincerity?"

Princess Honghua said, "Over the years, since the 'Fa Qiang' established Tubo, they have successively destroyed powerful nations such as Tangmao, Subi, and Yangtong. The next target will be either you Dongnu or me, Tuyuhun. Isn't your Majesty afraid?"

The Queen was silent.

Princess Honghua said, "For now, the only way to fight against Tubo is for us to unite."

Queen Binjiu suddenly said, "Since you want to join forces with me, why didn't you send an envoy to see me earlier? Why did you have to wait until now?"

Princess Honghua sighed and said, "We've actually already sent one. There's always been a force within our country that wants to ally with Tubo. Every time we send an envoy, the Tubo people find out and kill them mid-journey."

Queen Binjiu suddenly realized, "You chose to meet me here because you're afraid the Tibetans will interfere?"

Princess Honghua said seriously, "Yes, and I also don't want them to know that our two countries have formed an alliance."

The Queen nodded.

It is indeed the best strategy not to let the Tibetans know. When we join forces to deal with the Tibetans in the future, we can catch them by surprise.

"Is this place safe?" she asked.

Princess Honghua smiled and said, "My grandmother and Madam Wu have been friends for many years, and Madam Yang's daughter is the current empress. No matter how arrogant the Tibetans are, they dare not act recklessly here."

……

Du Bu walked in the backyard of the Wu Mansion with a smile on his face. Next to him was a man in his forties, who was Wu Yuanqing, the eldest son of the Wu Mansion.

Wu Yuanqing smiled as he walked, saying, "There used to be many rare flowers in the back garden, but it's a pity they're not in bloom at this time of year. Otherwise, I would have let the envoy enjoy them."

Du Bu smiled and said, "That's all right. I heard that your sister has been crowned empress, and that Wu Shaoqing will soon be made a marquis and become prime minister. I'll be satisfied as long as I can get a taste of their nobility."

Wu Yuanqing was overjoyed by what he said.

"Thank you for your kind words. If I become the prime minister, I will submit a memorial to the emperor, urging him to maintain peace with Tubo for a hundred years!" he said with a smile.

Dubu smiled and said, "Thank you very much. After returning to Tubo, I will definitely send someone to deliver a more precious gift."

Wu Yuanqing's eyes lit up, but he said modestly, "No, no, this gift is already expensive enough."

Du Bu suddenly said, "I am a good friend of the King of Dongnu, also known as Queen Binjiu. I saw her at the banquet just now, but she disappeared in the blink of an eye. Does Wu Shaoqing know where she went?"

Wu Yuanqing frowned and said, "That's not what I noticed. Please wait a moment, envoy. I'll call the butler to ask."

Dubu bowed and said, "Thank you."

A moment later, the butler was called over. Wu Yuanqing asked about the Queen, and the butler said, "She seems to be in the backyard."

Wu Yuanqing frowned and asked, "Who brought the queen to the backyard?"

The housekeeper said, "It's the old lady's people."

Wu Yuanqing asked curiously, "Why does mother want to see the Queen of Dongnu?"

The housekeeper said, "It's not that the old lady wants to see the queen. She is praying in the Buddhist temple in the east courtyard. The queen has been taken to the west courtyard."

Wu Yuanqing was even more puzzled and asked, "Who wants to see the Queen, the Second Lady, or the Third Lady?"

The housekeeper said, "I don't know either."

Du Bu smiled and said, "That's fine. Please ask General Wu to take me there. He's the queen's friend, and also my friend. It's a good opportunity to meet him."

Wu Yuanqing nodded: "Alright, please follow me, envoy."

(End of this chapter)