Chapter 121: The Tragedy of the Internal Guard (Part One)

As soon as Quan Ce stepped into the inner hall, he realized he had been mistaken.

The person Princess Taiping wanted him to meet was not some favored guest. Inside the hall, eight people stood or sat—three were elderly men with white hair, and five were alluring, enchanting young women. If they had anything in common, it was an aura of rugged lawlessness and unbridled temperaments. When the Princess entered, they merely offered a slight nod, showing no regard for protocol. One glance was enough to see that these were all figures of significant background and absolute defiance of authority.

Though these people treated the Princess with mere indifference, their gaze upon Quan Ce was scorching. They stared at him intently, particularly one of the old men, who stood up abruptly. His eyes gleamed as he scanned Quan Ce from head to toe, as if he intended to peel back his skin to see what lay beneath—a truly chilling sight.

Hesitant, Quan Ce followed the Princess, his feet dragging. His sense of foreboding grew heavier, his steps feeling as if they weighed a thousand pounds, until he finally came to a complete stop.

Princess Taiping turned back to look at him. There was a flicker of reluctance and regret in her eyes, but her resolve was stronger. "Dalang, my child, you need only take these few steps to secure your lasting peace."

Quan Ce’s eyes suddenly reddened, and tears began to pour down like a bursting dam, falling in large drops onto his lapels and their clasped hands.

Struck by his warmth and moisture, the Princess felt a momentary flicker of confusion. This nephew of hers was only seventeen, still a half-grown boy, a hidden gem of talent and brilliance, truly deserving of pity. Why must he endure such torment?

The hesitation lasted only an instant. Her eyes quickly cleared, and her willow-leaf brows arched sharply. She flung his hand away, rose on her tiptoes, and with all her strength, delivered a heavy slap. The blow sent Quan Ce stumbling; the old injury on his ankle flared up, and waves of sharp pain surged through him. Quan Ce gritted his teeth, silent, then adjusted his posture and knelt properly. "Forgive my offense, Aunt. I know I was wrong."

Princess Taiping raised her hand for a second strike, but it landed lightly, brushing the tears from his face. "To be trusted by the Empress and treated as a confidant—you should cherish this and serve with all your might. Have you not had enough of living your life in constant, trembling fear?"

Quan Ce listened blankly at first, then a faint, bitter smile appeared on his lips. When one is inferior in skill and trapped by circumstance, what choice is there but to accept one's fate?

He had been too naive, thinking that by resigning from office, he could bypass the deadly vortex of the Wu Zhou Revolution and watch the tides turn from the sidelines. It was mere self-deception. He had escaped the trap of the Six Dao Envoys, only to find the Plum Blossom Inner Guards waiting for him. He wondered if this "great favor" was a sign of special regard from Empress Wu, or something his aunt had painstakingly begged for on his behalf.

It was truly a kindness as vast as the heavens and as deep as the earth.

Quan Ce’s heart surged with conflicting emotions. If he were merely mediocre, would he be spared from being held in the Empress's heart and tasked with these endless, thorny problems? Yet, if he were truly incompetent, his maternal grandmother’s family—the Consort Xiao branch—would have been wiped out two years ago during the New Year’s feast.

It was a matter of time, and a matter of fate.

"Dalang, do not worry. The Plum Blossom Inner Guards do not act like others," Princess Taiping said, reaching out to pull him up and comforting him with gentle words. "You need not show your true face. No one will know your identity, and no one will blame you for it. Remember, your aunt, Princess Taiping, is also a member of the Li family. As long as I am here, I can keep you safe."

Quan Ce’s heart skipped a beat. The Princess’s soft, warm hand suddenly felt cold and piercing. Why did these words of comfort not feel like the concern of an elder, but rather like the recruitment of a pawn?

His thoughts raced, but his actions allowed no hesitation. He twisted his aching ankle and knelt down again. "My future shall depend entirely on your protection, Aunt."

He bowed his head heavily, his forehead striking the ground until it bled. Princess Taiping gently helped him up, wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, and told him that a body of such noble lineage must be cherished and not easily marred.

Quan Ce looked up at the Princess with a face full of reverence and gratitude, though his heart was a storm of conflicting feelings. Circumstances forced his hand; this once-beloved aunt had become unrecognizable. By making him lead the Plum Blossom Inner Guards, she was outwardly currying favor with the Empress, using a sharpened blade to do her bidding, while secretly holding him hostage, turning him into a dog at her door.

He remained dazed long after Princess Taiping had departed with her graceful steps.

"We greet our Commander," those people said, ignoring all etiquette. Having watched the dramatic performance of the nobles, they simply stood straight and offered a perfunctory salute.

"Greetings to you all. You are all my seniors and experts in this craft. I am but a youth, fortunate in my position. In the days to come, I ask for your guidance," Quan Ce said, bowing and returning the salute. His etiquette was flawless. Establishing authority did not come from scowling; it depended on the future. He had no desires and no needs; as long as he got the job done, they would eventually learn the extent of his mettle.

"The Commander is too humble. I have crossed blades with you a few times, old man that I am, and never gained the upper hand—I couldn't even snatch a hair from you, while you remained sprightly. That is true skill," said the thin, tall old man with white hair and beard. Although he looked at Quan Ce askance, the respect on his face did not seem feigned.

"I think you misunderstand. Since we all serve the Empress, we should move forward together. We should avoid killing each other whenever possible," Quan Ce said, his face darkening, his gaze like a knife, his words carrying a double meaning.

The old man snorted but did not argue. A lithe woman veiled in black stepped forward, leaning on Quan Ce’s shoulder, her breath smelling like orchids. "The Commander is our leader, so naturally, it is you who decides. Whoever you want killed, we shall kill."

As she spoke, another woman approached, offering a pile of unsettled dossiers. The administrative procedures of the Plum Blossom Inner Guards were extremely concise: investigate whoever was acting suspiciously, verify it, and then either arrest them or execute them on the spot. If they couldn't be caught in the act, they would kill a few of their family members in horrific, mysterious accidents as a warning. They called this "living punishment," to contrast with the death penalty. These were the only two punishments the Plum Blossom Inner Guards recognized.

Quan Ce was no moral saint, but he was not a man to be trifled with. The high-ranking women of the Inner Guards, seemingly wanton, were each harboring their own schemes, testing him at every turn. Too tired to engage, Quan Ce briskly demanded the roster and the locations of their strongholds, set a time and place for their next meeting, and took his leave.

"Hmph, wriggling your hips won't do any good. You couldn't even handle a mere boy. We didn't learn his secrets, but he's got all of ours," a white-bearded elder sneered.

"Giggle, it’s rare to have such a young commander. I’m fond of him—if I don't give it to him, who else would I give it to?" the woman in the black veil said, her voice like silver bells, though her expression remained hidden behind the fabric.

Quan Ce left the Princess’s residence, riding his horse with a clear face but a turbulent heart. As he digested the grim news of having to lead the Plum Blossom Inner Guards, he concluded two things: the Empress’s doting love for her only daughter, Princess Taiping, was extraordinary, as she even revealed the existence of the Inner Guards to her; and Princess Taiping, in turn, had gradually developed a hunger for power, just like her mother.

He felt lost, his thoughts uncontrollably drifting to Wu Youji. Women are like flowers, and women like the mother and daughter were like wolfsbane. If someone could nurture and conquer their body and soul, they would bloom with brilliant, mesmerizing splendor. If no one understood them or conquered them, their roots would suck the earth dry of all sustenance, and their stems and leaves would be filled with lethal poison, killing anyone who touched them.

If Emperor Taizong were still alive, with his grace and machinations, there would be no Empress Wu today. If Xue Shao were still alive, with his talent and grace, there would be no Princess Taiping as she is today.

Quan Ce’s thoughts were in disarray when he saw a crowd blocking the road ahead.

"Shazha, go and see what is happening."

Shazha Fu returned after a moment. "Master, it is the Duke of E. He is dead drunk, riding through the streets, wounding citizens, and ravaging a woman. The local officials are protecting him, causing the public to riot. The Right Guard is arriving now, so there should be no major incident."

Xue Huaiyi?

Probably rejected by the Empress again. Serving the Empress with his looks, he was, in the end, nothing more than a plaything.

Quan Ce narrowed his eyes, watching from afar as the disheveled, burly monk rode away on a tall horse, protected by a heavy escort of soldiers.