Chapter 122: The Tragedy of the Internal Guard (Part Two)

Quan Ce had long possessed the privilege of entering and exiting the palace gates without restriction, though he had never exercised it.

Now, however, he had no choice. Stripped of his official titles and rank, he was merely a member of the imperial clan; he could only traverse the palace gates by invoking this special privilege.

"Da Lang? What brings you into the palace? Has some base creature been causing you trouble?" At the Shenwu Gate, he encountered Cui Rong, who had recently been promoted to Gentleman of the Phoenix Pavilion. Cui had visited the estate of Princess Yiyang just yesterday. Being dismissed from office was, after all, a significant setback, and having seen the strange look on Quan Ce’s face, Cui had assumed it was merely sorrow. He had not expected to see him in the palace again so soon.

"Brother Cui, it is nothing of the sort. I am merely here to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager," Quan Ce replied with a bitter smile. He had taken over as Commander of the Plum Blossom Inner Guard a fortnight ago, methodically organizing its internal affairs. Now that the tasks were complete, he feared that if he did not enter the palace to seek an imperial decree, disaster would surely follow.

"I see." Cui Rong looked slightly startled, though he found it inconvenient to probe further. He surveyed Quan Ce, then teased, "This embroidered robe is quite magnificent. I thought that, given the twists and turns you’ve endured, a refined youth like yourself might have become a bit more melancholy, perhaps losing some of your luster. I never expected you to look so full of spirit. It is truly enviable. Had it not been for that bout of flower-wine at Yongfeng Lane, I fear you would not have overcome this hurdle so easily." Lowering his voice, he added urgently, "Brother, if you have no pressing matters, do not enter the palace. This place has become a dragon’s den and a tiger’s lair."

Quan Ce closed his eyes and nodded, offering a respectful salute. "If you have time in the future, Brother Cui, we shall certainly get drunk together."

He knew full well that this was a den of dragons and tigers. The Six Dao Envoys had already scattered to the four winds. Despite the complex power struggle, Fu Youyi had not fully succeeded, and several chancellors had managed to escape the mire. However, Di Renjie and Doulu Qinwang had been struck by dark machinations and were forced to face the bloody storms of the provinces. As the hub of the empire, the palace was swirling with undercurrents; some were busy saving lives, while others were busy orchestrating deaths. Every decree that emerged was stained with blood.

As they passed one another, Quan Ce looked at his white silk robe, embroidered with faint blue patterns—a serene little deer on the chest and two tridents on the shoulders. This had been bestowed by the Empress Dowager, who claimed it signified both prosperity and a triple promotion. Quan Ce had merely listened politely; this robe, along with his crimson cloak, was effectively the uniform of the Plum Blossom Inner Guard. No matter how auspicious the meaning, it remained what it was.

In the Hall of Longevity, Quan Ce met Empress Wu. Whether it was an illusion or a psychological reaction, she seemed to have grown much younger. It was not just that her skin and features appeared fairer and more supple; her vitality and passion were overflowing, and merely being near her made one feel involuntarily exhilarated.

"Your subject, Quan Ce, pays respects to the Empress Dowager."

Empress Wu tossed a memorial aside and waved her hand. "You may all withdraw."

Shangguan Wan’er and Xie Yaohuan led the palace attendants and court ladies away in haste. Clearly, they, like Quan Ce, sensed the shift in the atmosphere.

"It is fortunate that you still have a shred of conscience and did not make me wait until the sixth month." Empress Wu stood up and paced over to his side. "You have been organizing the internal affairs for so long; you must have grown quite adept at it."

"Your subject is filled with trepidation," Quan Ce said, bowing his head in admission. "The Inner Guards are all capable men, acting with swiftness and resolution. I believe the implementation of tasks can be handled well by the veteran retainer Aohan. The surveillance and intelligence gathering have been entrusted to Lady Green Snake, who is skilled in analysis and organization. As for the logistics, Black Widow is managing them; though she appears ruthless, her mind is exceptionally meticulous. With her in the rear, there will be no cause for concern."

"Heh, they are all familiar faces, aren't they?" Empress Wu cast a glance at him, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Rise. These people have long been in my service. Since you find them suitable, then proceed as you have arranged. I have placed these subordinates in your hands not for you to play with. Do you have a strategy for how to proceed?"

"Your subject believes that the Inner Guards are not of the regular court and should not interfere too deeply," Quan Ce said, summoning his courage to minimize the future sins he was about to commit. "The Court of Judicial Review, the Lijing Gate, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice have already woven a vast net, each with their own duties. If every official performs their duty with dedication, it should be enough to deter the hearts of men. What we must guard against are those who pervert the law, neglect their duties, or harbor malicious intent. I wish to be the Empress Dowager’s whip, to lash those who are immoral and disloyal, and to be your sword, to punish those who are ungrateful and treacherous."

"A whip, or a sword—it matters not." Empress Wu smiled, reaching out to press her hand against Quan Ce’s chest. "As long as what you carry here is a loyal heart, and it retains some warmth, you may act with a free hand. I shall merely watch. Just ensure that your sword and your whip are not used in the wrong places."

"I would not dare. Having received such exceptional favor from the Empress Dowager, I would not dare to belittle myself. Those who break the law are the targets Your Majesty points out; I would not dare to show bias." Quan Ce chose his words with extreme care.

Empress Wu pinched his chin, waves of emotion rippling in her eyes. "You are very clever. I believe you will not disappoint me."

Quan Ce bowed deeply, allowing her to hold him steady; he was already a head and a half taller than she. "Your subject accepts your instruction."

Empress Wu’s fingers moved slightly, brushing against the light, dark stubble on his face. "I remember you once said that loyalty to the Li family is loyalty to me, and loyalty to me is loyalty to the Li family. What are your thoughts on that now?"

Quan Ce raised his head slightly, locking eyes with her briefly. "Of all the affections in the world, filial duty to one's parents is the weightiest. The Empress Dowager is the mother of the Li family; this is an eternal truth. My heart, loyal to the Empress Dowager, is also eternal."

Empress Wu was stunned for a moment. In an unprecedented move, she looked away first, glancing to the left and right. Her hands unconsciously gripped Quan Ce’s lapels before quickly releasing them. A cold smile touched her lips. "You may withdraw. Let me see how long this 'eternal' devotion of yours lasts."

Quan Ce bowed and took his leave. Not until he had exited the hall did Empress Wu pull back her gaze. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, they were once more brimming with sharp light. She issued orders in a rapid, urgent tone: "Summon someone! Send Zhao Liu, General of the Left Wei Guard, to be the Protector-General of the Beiting Protectorate. Send Zheng Zhong, General of the Thousand Ox Guard in the Eastern Capital, to be the Prefect of Huangzhou. Send Linghu Lun, General of the Thousand Cavalry, to be the Governor of Yangzhou. They are to depart immediately, with no delays."

Southwest of the Eastern Capital, Luoyang, lay the Luhun Reservoir, and beside it, the Heming Gorge. At the mouth of the gorge, by a waterfall, stood a few thatched huts—unpretentious and full of rustic charm. No one would ever suspect that this was a stronghold of the Plum Blossom Inner Guard.

"Aohan, act immediately. Execute the 'living sentences' for the Duke of Guanghua, the Duke of Huailu, and the others, as we cannot solidify the charges against them. Lady Green Snake, shift your focus of surveillance to the primary and secondary Six Dao Envoys—specifically Di Renjie and Doulu Qinwang. Also, keep an eye on the movements of Hou Sizi of the Lijing Gate. If an opportunity arises, snatch a few of his merits to avenge the two arrows I took." Quan Ce sat in the center, issuing orders bluntly, making no attempt to hide his personal motives. "Black Widow, resolve a worry for me: find something to occupy Wu Yanxiu so he stops bothering me."

"Understood, Commander." Lady Green Snake, her figure as supple as a serpent, swayed as she accepted the order, her demeanor dripping with charm.

"Oh, Master Quan, if I’m working for you, and even provoking the Wu family, I need some benefits before I’m willing to do it," said Black Widow—the woman in black. She no longer dared to cling to Quan Ce, but her tone remained as seductive as ever.

"Call me Commander, or else return the three hundred strings of cash you took for face powder," Quan Ce said with a smile.

Black Widow’s face shifted between shadow and light. She managed logistics, and in the Plum Blossom Inner Guard, such misappropriation was common. She had indeed taken three hundred strings of cash yesterday, but it was not for powder; it was for the life of a steward working under Suo Yuanli.

Quan Ce reached out and pressed her shoulder, addressing the group. "Small squabbles are useless; competing for merit and favor is merely a moment of temperament. We are the sharp arrows in the Empress Dowager’s hand. We must respect our own status and not exhaust ourselves for petty gains. They may kill as they please, but we only need to strike them down when the time is right, or kill them when the opportunity arises. Do you understand?"

"Can you really kill Suo Yuanli?" Black Widow could no longer maintain her coquettish facade. She grabbed Quan Ce’s hand. Her husband had also been a member of the Inner Guard, but he had fallen into Suo Yuanli’s hands, suffering the iron-hoop torture until his brains were squeezed out. His death had been unimaginably wretched.

Quan Ce raised his head and laughed heartily. "The one I can kill is certainly not just Suo Yuanli alone."

Without another word, Black Widow knelt on both knees, her face flickering between grief and hatred. "This subordinate is willing to die for the Commander, even if it means my own body..."

Quan Ce stood up to lift her, cutting her off, and invited her to be seated, showing no signs of impropriety.

Aohan, the white-haired veteran, acted as if he had seen nothing. He spoke up, "Executing the 'living sentences' is easy, but there are still unresolved files. As for the Duke of Chu, Li Rui, his treason has been confirmed. How does the Commander intend to proceed?"

Quan Ce looked at him deeply, a meaningful smile on his face. "Aohan, I have two plans for dealing with the Duke of Chu. I will let you choose for yourself. How does that sound?"

My dear readers, writing a book is not easy, and it is hard to please everyone. I have always written with trepidation, but I promise that this book will not destroy your sensibilities, nor will it be filled with cheap melodrama. It may seem heavy at times, but there is always a lingering aftertaste. Life is rarely as one wishes; in a sense, the "Dawn" is the overt thread, but "Sacrifice" is the true theme.