Tang Dynasty Hidden Guards

"You mean the relationship between Gao Jian and my mother?" Xue Wei asked.

Yuan Min found it difficult to talk about her former mother-in-law's affair, so she carefully chose her words and avoided mentioning the word "mother".

"Gao Jian and Princess Taiping have more than just a romantic relationship. Gao Jian was also promoted by her and is one of the most important members of her faction. She will never allow you to kill Gao Jian. In addition, there are rumors that Gao Jian has been getting close to Shangguan Wan'er in the past few months. Shangguan Wan'er is an ally of the Wu family. It is possible that Gao Jian is going to betray Princess Taiping."

"Then shouldn't we tell my mother even more?"

"You underestimate Princess Taiping. Do you think she doesn't know? She's just holding back. She's not taking sides right now, neither with the Li Tang nor with the Wu Zhou. She's probably waiting for the final opportunity."

Xue Wei suddenly understood, "So Zhang Changzong ordered me to kill Gao Jian to force my mother to take sides?"

"It should be that he released you to force your mother to take sides. That's why I agree with you not to go to your mother, but to go directly to the Emperor. Moreover... Gao Jian, that fool, wants to take sides. I suspect that Zhang Changzong's desire to kill Gao Jian is actually the Emperor's intention, or the Emperor has this idea, which the Zhang brothers have figured out."

Xue Wei suddenly felt a headache coming on. "What if... what if I find the Emperor, and the Emperor orders me to continue killing Gao Jian?"

Yuan Min laughed, "You're such a blockhead, why can't you understand? Just don't tell the Emperor that Zhang Changzong ordered you to kill Gao Jian, okay? You're just asking the Emperor to pardon you, not to cancel your mission, understand?"

Xue Wei laughed, patted his forehead, and said, "I'm so stupid!"

"You're not stupid, you're just too close to the situation to see things clearly."

Looking at Yuan Min's radiant smile, Xue Wei felt a deep sense of regret. The woman in front of him was a combination of beauty and wisdom, as well as gentleness and understanding. How could he have lost such a wonderful wife?

Previously, he was terrified of having a wife from the Tang Dynasty, but now his mindset has completely changed. He longs for such a wife. At this moment, Xue Wei made up his mind that he must win her back.

Xue Wei's mind started working again. He smiled and said, "Now we're back to square one. How can we get to see the Emperor?"

"Of course I have a way!"

Yuan Min took out a piece of paper, unfolded it, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards Xue Wei, asking with a half-smile, "We've been married for three years, and I've never seen you write a poem. Now tell me, did you write this?"

Xue Wei was stunned. Didn't he burn this poem? How did it end up in Yuan Min's hands?

"I am also well-versed in poetry and literature. This poem has never been published before. It was either written by a recluse or it is something you have been hiding."

Yuan Min had already concluded that the latter was a poem written by Xue Wei during his most painful experience. She was eager to see other good poems written by Xue Wei, especially those that could help him completely exonerate himself.

"How many more poems like these do you have? Write a few more for me, and I'll find a way to send them to the Emperor's desk. The Emperor loves poetry dearly, and she will surely grant you an audience."

Xue Wei stood motionless like a statue. He was now facing a difficult choice. If he said yes, he would become the most despicable literary thief in history. If he said no, he would lose his only chance to see Wu Zetian. Moreover, this concerned his life and safety.

His heart finally hardened, and his lips trembled as he uttered the syllable: "Yes!"

Upon uttering the word, his tense heart calmed down, and he added, "It was written by me... in prison."

Yuan Min took out paper and pen from the drawer next to her and pushed them towards him, "Write a few more poems!"

Xue Wei gave Yuan Min a deep look, then picked up his pen and wrote a poem.

Sending a letter to the North on a rainy night

You ask when I will return, but there is no set date.

The autumn rain in Bashan swells the pond at night.

When shall we trim the candle by the west window together?

But we talked about the night rain in Bashan.

After finishing writing, he gently pushed it to Yuan Min. "When this poem flowed through my mind, I didn't know I had a wife. I was thinking that in the future, when I meet the girl who moves my heart, the girl I am willing to spend my life with, I will give this poem to her. I will tell her that I will cherish her and love her wholeheartedly. Now I am writing it to you, although it is a little too late."

Although this poem was not Xue Wei's original work, it expresses his feelings at this moment. He is willing and looks forward to the day when he can trim the candle by the west window with her again.

This poem was written by him, at least at this moment, it was written with his heart.

Yuan Min held the poem, her hand trembling slightly. Suddenly, her eyes reddened, and tears welled up again, ruining her makeup.

She sniffed, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and said in a choked voice, "This one doesn't count. Write a few more, expressing family affection or Zen philosophy, but don't write love poems anymore. You can write them for me later... later."

…………

Xue Wei returned home in a wine shop's oxcart that delivered wine. Yuan Min's grandfather had urgent business with her, so she hurried back to the mansion.

Xue Wei sat in the oxcart, watching the sunset quietly appear in the sky. Beautiful times are always so short. He and Yuan Min had unknowingly stayed in the teahouse for three hours. He felt that his long-dead heart was being nourished by the spring rain again.

He thought of his ex-wife in his future life, who was his junior at the sports academy. They lived together for eight years, from lovers to marriage, but their hearts never truly merged.

She was vain and materialistic. Although she did not betray him, she never cared about him. She envied her wealthy classmates and looked down on his poor background. When he was diagnosed with a terminal illness and the fencing club faced bankruptcy, she took all the savings without hesitation.

Now he has met Tang Chao's ex-wife. Although Xue Wei had hurt her deeply, she helped him without holding a grudge when he was down and helpless. He had not tasted this feeling of being cared for and loved for a very long time.

How could he let go of such a good woman? He had to win her back, even if it meant kneeling down and begging for her forgiveness. He wanted her back by his side.

As Xue Wei watched a shooting star streak across the sky, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. It turned out that fate had already been decided, and the woman who truly cared for and loved him was waiting for him to meet her in another time and space.

...........

Upon returning to his residence, he unexpectedly saw the donkey tied up in the yard. Only then did he remember that his belongings had been stolen. He had completely forgotten about it while he was with Yuan Min.

A female warrior in blue stood in the courtyard. She pointed to a box on the ground, and Xue Wei then realized that the box contained his weapons: bow and arrows, the Zhijie sword, the horizontal saber, the polo mallet, and the envelope containing the counter tickets, all returned untouched.

Xue Wei was both surprised and delighted. "How did you get it back?"

"By seizing upon what the Indians feared most, they obediently returned it."

What are they most afraid of?

"He was most afraid that the Court of Imperial Sacrifices would revoke their performance permits. Without a permit, they would be arrested and sent back to India if they performed without permission. I took the girl's gold token to Dugu Tong, the head of the Drum and Flute Department of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The Dugu family and the Yuan family were old friends, and he was happy to help with this small favor."

Two officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices arrived quickly and ordered the Indians to hand over the stolen goods, or their entertainment license would be revoked. The Indians obediently retrieved the goods from the well, brought the donkey back from the riverbank, and the landlord kicked them out.

Xue Wei was overjoyed. Not only were the goods returned, but those Indians were also driven away. It was truly gratifying.

"May I ask your name, young lady?"

The female warrior in blue covered her mouth and laughed, "Former son-in-law, have you really forgotten me?"

"I...I really forgot."

"My name is Zuo Qingling, which is the name given to me by the young lady. I like to wear blue dresses, so you can call me Xiao Qing, young master."

"Thank you, Miss Xiaoqing!"

"It was nothing, young master, I'll be going now!"

Zuo Qingling nimbly leaped onto the wall, and in a flash, she disappeared.

Xue Wei sighed. The gate was clearly open, yet he insisted on jumping over the wall to leave. Was this an occupational hazard?

Just as Xue Wei was about to close the door, several more oxcarts arrived, bringing dozens of pieces of various furniture, as well as a large amount of clothing and daily necessities. Among the furniture was a very heavy ceramic box.

"Young master, there's also this!"

The manager handed Xue Wei a rather heavy box with a smile. Xue Wei opened the box and found it full of lemons.