Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 317 The Last Day of the 9th Year of Wude

Chapter 317 The Last Day of the Ninth Year of Wude (Part 1)
"Greetings, young master."

The newcomer was dressed in a short blue cloth outfit, and looked no different from an ordinary commoner.

But this person was indeed a mole that Wen He had personally arranged to lurk near the Honglu Guest House, near the Japanese delegation.

"Has something happened to the Japanese delegation?"

Is the Japanese planning something in Chang'an during the Lunar New Year?

The 100 riders looked around and lowered their voices, saying, "Reporting to the young master, in the past few days, Soga no Emishi has secretly sent people to contact many craftsmen in Chang'an, especially those skilled in forging horizontal swords."

"Oh? So you've seen through the flaw?"

Wen He narrowed her eyes slightly, her fingertips hovering over the table.

Previously, he had specially ordered the Hundred Riders to disguise themselves as skilled craftsmen and use the pretext of "teaching skills" to deceive Ono no Imoko. He thought he could fool her for a while, but unexpectedly, Soga no Emishi personally went to find the craftsmen.

"Probably not."

The hundred riders quickly explained.

"According to my observation, Soga no Emishi still values Zhang Dong and his group highly. When we talked about them before, he seemed very satisfied."

"But... something big seems to be happening in Japan, and they urgently need more people to manufacture weapons."

Wen He nodded slightly; this explanation made sense.

If Soga no Emishi had truly discovered the flaw, given his personality, he would never have come to Chang'an in person.

He is now risking being held accountable by the Tang Dynasty by secretly recruiting craftsmen.

They probably didn't want to waste money buying craftsmen from the Tang Dynasty anymore.

After all, a craftsman would need to pay 100,000 catties of silver. Even with Japan's abundant silver reserves, it could not afford such extravagance.

Therefore, it seems that Soga no Emishi's private recruitment of craftsmen was mostly an attempt to bypass official channels and win over manpower at a lower cost for domestic needs.

"Okay, I understand."

Wen He tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, her rhythm steady, but a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes.

"Have your men secretly keep an eye on the artisans they come into contact with. Whether they are genuinely interested or just going through the motions, if anyone dares to actually follow the Japanese, detain them without asking for permission." His tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Also, have the brothers investigate what exactly this 'major event' Soga no Emishi was talking about."

Wen He looked at the 100 riders and specifically instructed him, "This matter is suspicious; we need to find out the details as soon as possible."

"Yes." The hundred riders bowed and retreated, their figures quickly disappearing into the streets and alleys outside the gate, like ink dots blending into a traditional Chinese ink painting.

After he left, a small figure suddenly ran in from outside the door, with her hair in two buns and her face red from the cold.

"Brother, are you done yet?"

She tilted her head gently, her tone carrying a hint of urging.

"We're too late, Wu Erniang and the others from across the street have already left!"

She waited patiently outside, but she didn't dare to come in until the people who came to see her brother left.

"You're here." Wen He smiled as she stood up and ruffled her hair.

This little girl is unusually eager to see Li Lizhi, unlike usual.

Wen He walked over with a chuckle, and Wen Rou immediately stepped forward with a bright smile and took his hand, her palm feeling warm.

When the brother and sister came out, Adong was already waiting by the roadside with the carriage. When he saw them come out, he quickly bowed and greeted them.

"After you take us to the palace, come back first," Wen He instructed before getting into the carriage.

"We might be waiting for a long time before we can come out. It's so cold outside, there's no need to wait outside the palace gates."

Upon hearing this, A-Dong looked flattered and surprised: "Young master, this...this is not in accordance with the rules, is it?"

He was naturally moved.

In all of Chang'an, perhaps no other master would be as considerate of his servants as his young master. But as a servant, it was his duty to wait outside the palace.

"What rules or regulations?" Wen He raised an eyebrow, feigning a fierce expression.

"Does that mean what I said doesn't count as a rule?"

A Dong was speechless for a moment, and upon closer reflection, it seemed to make sense.

"Yes, I obey."

He nodded quickly in agreement, his eyes slightly warm.

Before long, the carriage arrived outside Chengtian Gate.

Those who can enter the palace today are either rich or noble; even ordinary officials of the fourth rank or lower are not qualified to step through this gate.

The palace gates were bustling with carriages and horses, and the people coming and going were all powerful and wealthy people in brocade robes and jade belts.

Wen He was about to get out of the car when she glanced around and saw two familiar figures standing not far away.

Xu Jingzong and Su Dingfang greeted the group of dignitaries with smiles, each holding a booklet and occasionally checking their notes.

"Old Xu, General, what's going on here today...?"

Wen He walked over, quite surprised.

Why are those two working as greeters here?

Su Dingfang explained in a calm voice: "His Majesty has ordered that today, the Hundred Cavalry will be in charge of guarding the Taiji Hall and Chengtian Gate."

Xu Jingzong smiled helplessly and nodded silently.

Upon hearing this, Wen He finally understood.

So, the two of them weren't greeting guests, but rather checking the identities of those entering the palace and screening for potential dangers.

To put it simply, it was a body search and a check of the roster.

This is a thankless and demanding task. It requires meticulousness and attention to detail, while also avoiding offending powerful figures. If an ordinary person were to do it, they might not be able to keep things under control.

However, the Hundred Riders were different.

Firstly, the Hundred Riders had previously been ordered to raid the mansions of powerful and wealthy people several times, and their decisive methods had already made many people secretly wary of them.

Secondly, the Hundred Cavalry were directly under the emperor's command and were the emperor's personal guard. They were more intimidating than ordinary imperial guards, and with them in charge of protection, no one dared to easily object.

"Thank you for your hard work, both of you."

Wen He cupped his hands in greeting. Compared to Xu Jingzong and Su Dingfang standing in the cold wind, his treatment was indeed much better; at least he could enter the Taiji Hall and didn't have to suffer in the cold outside.

"Xiao Rou, pay your respects to Military Advisor Xu and General Xu."

Wen He turned to Wenrou beside her and asked her to greet the two of them.

Xu Jingzong and Wenrou had met before, but they hadn't spoken much. Wenrou blinked her big, dark eyes and gave him a polite curtsy: "Greetings, Military Advisor Xu."

"This is your sister? She's become even more adorable."

Xu Jingzong smiled so much that his eyes curved into crescent moons, his tone full of affection.

"Thank you, Military Advisor Xu." Wenrou chuckled softly, but when her gaze fell on Su Dingfang beside her, the little girl paused in surprise.

Su Dingfang wasn't deliberately putting on a stern face; it was just that he had spent many years in the military and was used to being serious, and he wasn't good at dealing with children.

Standing there now, with his brows slightly furrowed and his eyes sharp, he did look rather frightening.

"Ahem, Jiaying, it's getting late, hurry up and take your sister inside."

Xu Jingzong noticed Su Dingfang's unease and quickly tried to smooth things over to prevent the little girl from being frightened.

"Then I will take my younger sister into the palace first."

Wen He smiled and bowed to the two of them, then took Wen Rou's hand, who was still in a daze, and walked into Chengtian Gate.

Just after passing through the city gate, Wenrou tugged at Wenhe's sleeve and asked timidly, "Brother, was I impolite just now? That lieutenant general looked a bit fierce, but he should be a good person, right?"

The young girl snapped out of her daze, her heart filled with unease. She was afraid that her momentary lapse in concentration had displeased the other party, and she was also worried that the seemingly "fierce" magistrate was her brother's superior and would make things difficult for him in the future.

“Yes, he’s a good person.” Wen He chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"General Su is just straightforward and not good with words."

Although the brother and sister's voices were not loud, they still reached the ears of Su Dingfang and Xu Jingzong, who were not far away.

"Ahem, General, children speak without thinking, children speak without thinking, hehe."

Xu Jingzong quickly smiled and smoothed things over, afraid that Su Dingfang would take it to heart.

Su Dingfang gave a faint "hmm" and said, "I know."

Seeing his calm demeanor, Xu Jingzong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems they didn't take the gentle words to heart.

However, while Su Dingfang wasn't ugly, the menacing aura left by years of battles, coupled with his stern and unsmiling demeanor, could easily frighten children.

……

After entering through Chengtian Gate.

Night had fallen, and every few steps along the palace wall hung a large red palace lantern, its tassels swaying gently in the cold wind, casting a warm glow on the vermilion walls.

Colorful silk flowers are wrapped around the eaves. Although they lack the fragrance of real flowers, they are bright and long-lasting, and they complement the glow of the palace lanterns, adding to the festive atmosphere.

The snow on the ground was carefully swept to both sides, revealing a clean bluestone path, with occasional bits of snow still reflecting the lamplight.

A thin layer of snow covered the roof of the distant palace, and the animal figures on the eaves were clearly outlined under the night lights, adding to its majesty and tranquility.

A faint scent of pine resin wafted in the air, mingled with the distant sounds of string and wind instruments and faint laughter.

The Imperial Guards who used to be on duty along the passageway from Chengtian Gate to Taiji Gate have been replaced by Left and Right Guards.

That is, the people of the Left and Right Offices.

They wore brocade robes embroidered with auspicious beasts and carried their signature thousand-ox knives at their waists.

These men stood tall and straight like pine trees, their eyes sharp as eagles. Although they were not as flamboyant as the Hundred Cavalry, they possessed a calm and composed demeanor that came from long-term residence in the palace.

The so-called Left and Right Offices are the future Thousand Ox Guards.

To be precise, they were once Qianniu Beishen (a type of imperial guard).

This title existed during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Yang Guang changed it to the Left and Right Guards Office. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, it was changed to the Left and Right Commanders Office. Because they always wore the Thousand Ox Knife, it was still commonly known as the "Thousand Ox Guard".

"Little Doll!"

As she was walking, Wen He suddenly heard a familiar voice, with a hint of hearty laughter.

"Oh, little sister is here too."

Today, Li Daozong was dressed in a gleaming suit of armor, the red tassel on his helmet swaying gently in the wind, making him appear even more imposing and majestic.

However, the slightly frivolous smile at the corner of his mouth softened the grimness brought by the armor, making him appear more approachable.

"Greetings, Prince Rencheng." Wen He and Wen Rou bowed one after the other, their voices exceptionally clear in the night.

"No need for formalities." Li Daozong offered a gesture of support, then patted his breastplate, the plates clanging together with a crisp sound.

"I waited for you here. Oh, by the way, Gao Yue is just ahead. He will take the young lady to Wanchun Palace to see the Empress in a while."

As he spoke, he took out an oil paper package from his sleeve and handed it to Wenrou. The package still had faint oil stains on it: "These are the candied fruits that my cook made. They are sweet and sour and delicious. Take them and try them."

Wenrou didn't accept it immediately. Instead, she looked up at Wenhe with her little face. Seeing her brother nod slightly, she reached out her little hand to take it and said sweetly, "Thank you, Prince Rencheng."

"You are welcome."

Li Daozong laughed even harder.

"If you like to eat this in the future, I will have your elder brother take you to my house and have the cook make you a box of it."

Just then, Gao Yue walked over with small, quick steps from under the corridor not far away.

After exchanging greetings, she said to Wen He, "Her Majesty the Empress specifically instructed me to wait here. I will personally escort you to Wanchun Palace in a moment. You can rest assured, Prince Gaoyang."

"Thank you for your help, sir."

Wen He nodded in agreement.

This wasn't Wenrou's first time entering the palace, and she was going to the Empress's palace, so there was nothing to worry about, except...

He looked at Wenrou and deliberately put on a stern face: "Don't eat too much later, or you won't be able to sleep tonight."

"Understood, brother."

She pouted playfully, but secretly hid the oil paper package behind her back, thinking to herself, 'Since my brother isn't around, it shouldn't be a problem to eat a little less, right?'

Gao Yue chuckled and said to Wenrou, "Little lady, let's go."

"Okay." Gentle and obedient, she waved goodbye to Wen He and Li Daozong, and followed Gao Yue toward the other side of the palace path.

After they left, Li Daozong casually put his hand on Wen He's shoulder and asked with a smile, "Would you like to go wander around somewhere else? The banquet won't start for at least another hour."

"You're heavy."

Wen He suddenly crouched down, dodging his hand.

The Mingguang armor on Li Daozong's body weighed at least several dozen kilograms, and under such pressure, his bones were almost bent.

"I also find it heavy."

Li Daozong tugged at his collar and sighed helplessly, but there was not a trace of disgust on his face.

The armor plates on his chest were carved with intertwined python patterns, clearly ceremonial armor bestowed by the emperor himself, and certainly not something that military generals could wear.

"Never mind. Let's go."

Li Daozong laughed and grabbed Wen He's wrist, pulling him straight toward the Taiji Hall regardless of his willingness.

"There are quite a few people inside now. Although I don't like these formal occasions, I can't neglect them."

As he said, there were already people waiting inside the Taiji Hall.

The ceiling of the hall is painted with gold and colorful caissons, and nine huge palace lanterns hanging down illuminate the hall as if it were daytime, with fine dust floating in the lamplight.

The floor was covered with thick Persian carpets, which complemented the colorful silk flowers hanging on the pillars of the palace.

Dozens of tables were set up in the hall, upon which were displayed exquisite food boxes and wine vessels. Celadon bowls held candied fruit, and silver platters were piled high with dried fruit. A faint aroma of wine and the sweet scent of pastries filled the air.

By this time, many court officials had gathered in the hall, whispering in small groups.

Just as Li Daozong and Wen He entered.

Inside the main hall, the conversation suddenly stopped, and everyone turned to look in their direction.

"Forehead."

Wen He was stunned for a moment.

Although his identity is special, it shouldn't attract so much attention.

Just then, some people straightened their robes and walked towards them.

As Wen He and Li Daozong looked at each other in bewilderment, they heard a soft cough coming from behind them.

"Prince Rencheng, Viscount of Gaoyang, why are you blocking the doorway?"

Upon hearing this, the two turned around.

Yuwen Shiji, Xiao Yu, and Feng Deyi were standing behind them, watching them with smiles.

Wen He immediately understood.