Chapter Ninety-Four: The Art of Compromise (Part Two)

In the bedroom of Yide Hall, the little princess Li Lingyue, dressed in a pink single-layer frock and exposing her plump, fair little arms, was crawling about excitedly on the broad hu bed, now and then even tumbling head over heels. Her tiny white face was flushed with delight, like a freshly ripened apple, sweet enough to make one smile.

“Mother, mother, ooh, mm, Mother…”

The Empress Wu sat by the bed with an expression of loving indulgence, watching the little creature’s noisy antics. With a light flick of her hand, as though performing a trick, she produced a bright red dried jujube, balancing it in her palm as she gently bobbed it up and down, coaxing her with a smile.

“Be good, little one. Come here to Mother.”

“Mother, Mother, I want it, I want it…”

Little Taiping, only a year and a half old, had just grown a few large teeth and was now in the stage of teething. Her favorite thing in the world was chewing dried jujubes. The moment she saw the bright red fruit in Wu’s hand, her big black eyes widened at once. She stared at it unblinking for quite a while, then suddenly gave a cry of delight and came scrambling and rolling toward Wu, all the while babbling incoherently. Though she was small, she moved with astonishing speed, and her anxious little manner made Wu laugh aloud.

“Your Majesty, Chancellor Xu has arrived at Liangyi Hall and awaits your instructions.”

Just as mother and daughter were laughing and frolicking, the chief eunuch of Yide Hall, Yan Desheng, hurried into the room from outside. Seeing Wu teasing little Taiping, he involuntarily slowed his steps. After a brief hesitation, he still forced himself forward and bowed to report.

“Mmm, I know.”

Hearing that Xu Jingsong had arrived, Wu gave no special reaction. Without turning her head, she gave a soft acknowledgement, then gathered little Taiping, who had already crawled up beside her, into her arms. After embracing her affectionately, she lovingly placed the jujube into the child’s hands.

“Ooh, Mother, mm…”

The moment little Taiping got the jujube, she was overjoyed. She stuffed it straight into her mouth and bit at it as she mumbled aimlessly. Her satisfied little expression was so adorable that even though Wu had matters on her mind, she could not help lingering a little longer. Only when she had taken her fill of the child did she quietly leave the bedroom without attracting attention, leading her eunuchs and palace maids toward Liangyi Hall.

But before Wu had even left the rear hall of Yide Hall, little Taiping’s sobbing cry burst out from behind her. Wu’s steps faltered for an instant, yet in the end she did not look back. She simply led the group onward, disappearing into the distance, while little Taiping’s heartbroken cries echoed on and on through the hall…

Xu Jingsong had not come to Liangyi Hall alone. In fact, there were already two young officials in pale-purple robes waiting there: one was broad-browed and big-eyed, tall and long-armed. Though he wore the robes of a fifth-rank civil official, he carried himself with the vigor of a military man. This was Zhou Simao, one of the two chief figures among the Northern Gate Scholars. The other, handsome of face, was Liu Yizhi, who stood on equal footing with Zhou Simao in reputation. Both had come from the Hongwen Academy, both were famed men of letters, and both had been valued by Empress Wu, who had used the opportunity of the Fengshan rites at Mount Tai to advance them into the fifth rank. They were, in truth, among the new aristocrats of the present Great Tang.

All three men in the hall could be counted as part of Empress Wu’s faction. By rights, they ought to have been on good terms with one another, but the reality was otherwise. One need only look at where they stood to sense the oddness. Xu Jingsong stood with utmost composure at the foremost position on the left side below the front steps, as though he had every right to be there. Naturally, with his status as chancellor, that placement was entirely proper. Yet Liu and Zhou were clearly not willing to defer to him. Rather than standing behind Xu Jingsong, they had moved to the right side. Though not exactly lined up with him, they were plainly holding him at bay in an attitude of equal opposition. Not only that, Liu and Zhou had even gathered together in low whispers, treating Xu Jingsong as though he were air.

As for Xu Jingsong himself, he seemed not to care at all about their slight. He did not even glance at them, yet from time to time a faint shadow slipped through the depths of his eyes, betraying his true feelings.

“Her Majesty the Empress arrives!”

A shrill voice suddenly rang out. The three men in the hall naturally had no mind to continue their little games. They hurriedly straightened their robes and stood with bowed bodies, awaiting Wu’s arrival.

“Your servants respectfully welcome the Empress.”

At the sound of approaching footsteps, Wu emerged from the rear hall, surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids, and walked straight up onto the front steps. Without the least hesitation, she took her seat upon the dragon couch.

By the laws of the Great Tang, only the emperor was permitted to sit on the dragon couch. Anyone else who dared to do so committed a capital offense. Even as empress, Wu had no right to sit there. Yet she sat down all the same, and with remarkable ease at that. The sight instantly sharpened Xu Jingsong’s and the others’ gazes, but none of them dared display anything further. They could only bow and offer their greetings.

“Rise. Ximei, how have matters I entrusted to you been handled?”

The Empress Wu seated on the dragon couch bore none of the tenderness she had shown in Yide Hall. What remained was an awe-inspiring majesty that made the heart tremble. Even though the three men were all no ordinary figures, they still felt their hearts pounding wildly under that oppressive force. Before they could recover, Wu’s calm voice, edged with a trace of killing intent, came down from above.

“Your Majesty, since receiving your gracious decree, I have spent nights discussing the matter with my colleagues. After three days of repeated calculations, we are broadly of the view that Prince Lu’s memorial on hydraulic works does indeed have merit. If carried out according to his plan, it may truly resolve the difficulties of the grain transport system.”

Liu Yizhi had been shaken to the core. Suddenly hearing Wu call his name, he could not help shuddering slightly. He hurried forward and bowed as he answered.

“Mm. How confident are you?”

Wu did not rush to express an opinion. Instead she faintly furrowed her brow, fell silent for a moment, and only then asked with some measure of caution.

“Your Majesty’s discernment is perfect. The result of our deliberations is sixty percent. However, the funds required would likely be far more than a mere million. In our estimation, it would take no less than fifteen million strings of cash to accomplish.”

After this exchange, Liu Yizhi had fully steadied himself. When Wu pressed him again, he clasped his hands calmly and replied with certainty.

“Fifteen million? That is not much. What do the rest of you think of this matter?”

Wu lifted her brow. She did not seem at all concerned with the extra five million strings. After murmuring the number once, she immediately pressed the Northern Gate Scholars for their decision.

“This…”

It was obvious that Liu Yizhi had reservations about the conclusion reached by the group. Hearing Wu ask, his face changed slightly, and he actually hesitated.

“Your Majesty, after our collective discussion, we judged this plan feasible. However, it must not be carried out by Prince Lu. We recommend that Your Majesty entrust this matter to us instead. With our abilities, and with Your Majesty’s support, there is no reason it should fail!”

While Liu Yizhi was still wavering, Zhou Simao stepped forward with an upright bearing and reported in a loud voice.

“Oh? Is that so?”

Wu raised an eyebrow and gave a noncommittal sound. Then she turned her face toward Xu Jingsong, who stood there with serene composure, and politely asked, “Chancellor Xu, what have you to say on the matter?”

Xu Jingsong bowed slightly. His long white brows trembled, and with complete calm he said, “Your Majesty, this old minister once heard a joke that I found most amusing, and I would not dare keep it to myself. I have come specially to offer it so that Your Majesty may have a laugh.

“Among the common people there is a tale that tiger teeth can cure weakness in the limbs, and so they are extraordinarily precious. One tooth can fetch a thousand pieces of gold, yet is hard to obtain. A certain man heard this and was overjoyed. Believing his fortune was about to come, he went alone into the mountains, intending to hunt down a tiger and pull out its teeth. When others tried to dissuade him, they said, ‘Tiger teeth may be good, but only if you still have your life.’ He refused to believe them, thinking they were merely jealous of his coming wealth. So he resolved to climb the mountain anyway. On the road he met a tiger, whereupon he shouted, ‘Leave your teeth behind!’ and rushed it in a frenzy. At that very moment the tiger, being hungry, was delighted to see a man come along. One bite, and it ate him. The moral, it seems, is that he was the sort who wanted money but not his life.”

Wu could not help but burst out laughing.

Xu Jingsong’s words were spoken slowly, and his expression was stiff and wooden. He did not look in the least as though he were telling a joke. Yet what kind of woman was Wu? At a single hearing, she knew Xu Jingsong was indirectly mocking Zhou Simao as someone willing to risk his life for money. That realization made her laugh even harder.

“You…”

Zhou Simao had been known as a child prodigy since youth, and naturally he was no fool. How could he fail to understand that Xu Jingsong was insulting him? His face at once turned iron-blue. Yet with Wu seated above, he did not dare act out. He could not swallow his anger, and it left him choking with humiliation.

“Chancellor Xu’s wit remains as sharp as ever. Age has only made you more vigorous; truly, this is a blessing for the realm. I have not laughed so heartily in a long time.”

Smiling brightly, Wu praised Xu Jingsong. Then, with a wave of her hand toward Liu and Zhou, who were standing there awkwardly, she said, “I understand your meaning. We shall discuss this matter further. You may all withdraw.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Liu and Zhou had come full of confidence, only to be stunned senseless by a single blow from Xu Jingsong. Now that Wu had dismissed them, despite the unwillingness in their hearts, they could only take their leave carefully and quietly.

“Chancellor Xu, these young men are inexperienced and not yet tempered by the world. A little arrogance is only natural. I hope you will guide your juniors more often.”

Wu was astute enough to see that Xu Jingsong had taken the opportunity to teach Liu, Zhou, and the others a lesson. So she offered a gentle word of mediation.

“Your Majesty need not worry. This old minister would never let private feelings interfere with public business.”

Xu Jingsong had always been a man who bore grudges, and he found that band of Northern Gate Scholars unbearably arrogant. He had long wanted to give them a lesson, and even if Wu herself stepped in to smooth matters over, he would not change his mind. Still, his answer was sincere beyond measure.

“I trust Chancellor Xu’s word.”

Out of the need to manage her subordinates, Wu herself did not wish for Xu Jingsong and the Northern Gate Scholars to be on friendly terms. Her words of mediation were in truth little more than a formality, and she had no intention of dwelling on the matter. After offering a single reminder, she steered the conversation to the real issue.

“In your view, Chancellor Xu, how should I handle this memorial on hydraulic works?”

“Prince Lu is a man of talent and virtue. This old minister greatly admires him.”

Xu Jingsong did not answer the question directly. Instead he stroked his white beard and replied with a sigh full of meaning.

“Oh?”

Wu’s brow first furrowed, then lifted again. After giving a soft exclamation, her gaze gradually sharpened...