Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Furious Empress Wu (A Moment of Silence on National Memorial Day)

Kicking Xiao He to the ground, Helan Minzhi once again reached toward her face. “Come here, cousin!”

Li Yuechen did not retreat; instead, she stepped forward, grabbed his wrist, and delivered a swift kick.

Although Liu Rengui had only taught her some basic physical training routines, Li Yuechen exercised every morning, and her agility and flexibility were quite impressive. Doing a split was effortless for her.

This kick soared high—higher even than Li Yuechen’s own head.

“Oh…” Helan Minzhi let out a piercing scream, instinctively jumping nearly a meter high.

Unfortunately, his cry lasted only a moment. Though his mouth remained agape, he could not make a sound. He collapsed to the ground, clutching between his legs, mouth open but voiceless, his body convulsing again and again.

Watching Helan Minzhi on the ground—his eyes rolled back, drooling, body twitching—Li Yuechen glanced down at her wooden clogs, thinking, “That’s probably ruined him. Serves him right! Filthy degenerate!”

Beside her, Xiao He struggled to her feet, about to shout, “Come… mmph…”

Li Yuechen quickly covered her mouth. “Quiet!”

Xiao He, realizing what was happening, looked at Helan Minzhi on the ground, confused but managed to pull Li Yuechen’s hand away. “Your Highness…”

“Don’t speak. Go straight to the carriage!” Li Yuechen instructed.

It wasn’t that she wanted to spare Helan Minzhi; rather, if the guards burst in now and cut him down, word would inevitably spread!

The crime of molesting a princess—one Helan Minzhi’s death would never suffice!

Li Yuechen knew well that given Emperor Li Zhi’s current affection for her, once he learned of this, his fury would be unimaginable.

Even Xiao He and the guards would likely be punished for failing to protect her!

When the Son of Heaven is enraged, rivers run red.

At that point, Helan Minzhi’s death would solve nothing.

Li Yuechen had always believed that the guilty should bear their own punishment; she didn’t want others to suffer for Helan Minzhi’s crime.

If Li Zhi found out, it wouldn’t just be a matter of how many deaths—it might even make him ill with anger.

So, Li Yuechen resolved never to let Li Zhi know.

She pulled Xiao He up, warning her sternly, “Listen carefully. Go straight to the carriage. Say nothing.”

Xiao He glanced at Helan Minzhi still convulsing on the ground. “What about him…”

“Don’t worry about him! I’m a princess—if I want someone dead, it’s not hard!” Li Yuechen pushed her forward without further explanation.

Li Yuechen had considered grabbing a stone and finishing him off, but since they were at her grandmother’s residence, it was better not to let him die here.

As they walked out, she reminded, “Cover the marks on your face. Don’t let anyone see.”

The two left the estate and boarded the carriage directly.

Xiao He kept her head down, avoiding notice and arousing no suspicion.

As the carriage slowly moved, Li Yuechen instructed, “Listen, when we get back, tell no one about this!”

“Your Highness, why?” Xiao He asked, perplexed.

“If my father finds out, all these guards will be accused of failing to protect me! Understand?”

“But…”

Li Yuechen stared into her eyes, serious. “This is a princess’s command!”

Xiao He understood and nodded immediately. “I’ll follow your orders, Your Highness.”

Seeing her assent, Li Yuechen lifted the curtain and called to the guard driving the carriage, “Sir!”

“What are your orders, Your Highness?”

“Turn ahead and go to the Imperial City’s Department of Rites.”

“Yes!”

…

Arriving at the Department of Rites, Li Yuechen told Xiao He to stay in the carriage and ran to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Seeing the princess arrive, Liu Shenwei greeted her with a cheerful smile. “Your Highness, what brings you here today?”

“My maid was knocked down just now. I wanted to ask if you have any medicine…” Li Yuechen replied sweetly.

“The princess is kind-hearted, a blessing to her servants!” Liu Shenwei stroked his beard, praising her. “Please wait a moment, Your Highness. I’ll fetch it right away.”

“Thank you, Lord Liu!” Li Yuechen bowed.

She didn’t deliberately ask him not to inform Li Zhi; if she said nothing, Liu Shenwei might not think much of it.

But if she specifically told him not to, he might become suspicious.

…

After collecting the medicine, Li Yuechen jogged back to the carriage.

Her wooden clogs made running difficult, so she simply took them off and ran barefoot back.

She opened the jar, ready to apply the ointment to Xiao He’s face with a small wooden stick.

“How could I trouble Your Highness…” Xiao He was startled and tried to refuse.

“Don’t move! The injury is on your face—you can’t see it yourself.” Li Yuechen brushed her hand aside and began applying the medicine.

Xiao He sat stiffly, gripping her skirt in her hands, unsure where to put them, and tried to make conversation. “Your Highness just told me not to speak out, but what if…”

Li Yuechen sighed. “If he’s smart, he should be planning to escape by now. If things had already gone too far, there’d be nothing left to do, but since it hasn’t, his head is forfeit no matter what!”

Despite her words, Li Yuechen was troubled.

As a princess, ordering someone’s death was easy—but that would expose everything, and she had no reliable aides at hand!

For the first time, Li Yuechen thought she ought to cultivate some loyal followers; otherwise, when trouble arose, she’d have no one to rely on. The feeling was infuriating!

Returning to Chengxiang Hall, Li Yuechen decided to set these worries aside for now.

As for Helan Minzhi, she’d find an opportunity to catch him and punish him thoroughly. He was probably ruined now, and would not harm girls again.

…

Elsewhere, in Yan Ying Palace.

Zhang Chengxin walked in with small steps. “Your Majesty, Your Grace. Lady Rong of the State has entered the palace and requests an audience with Your Grace!”

Li Zhi, sitting and rolling his health balls, nodded. “Meiniang, you go.”

“Very well. Please rest, Your Majesty. I’ll speak with Mother and return shortly.”

“Mm.” Li Zhi nodded with eyes closed, still rolling his health balls, waiting for the tea to boil.

Wu Zetian arranged for her mother to wait in Chenghuan Hall, then sorted through the pile of memorials on her desk before rising to leave.

Just as she arrived, she saw Lady Rong waiting anxiously in the hall.

Curious, Wu Zetian hadn’t spoken yet when Lady Rong stepped forward, urgency in her stride.

“Meiniang, I won’t speak of anything else—I only hope you can spare his life!”

Wu Zetian was momentarily stunned. She didn’t know what had happened, but instinctively sensed something was wrong.

She waved her hand to those around. “Everyone, out!”

Once all the eunuchs and maids had left, Wu Zetian slowly sat on the wide couch, her expression stern. “If Mother has come to plead, he must know his offense is unforgivable?”

Lady Rong’s hands trembled. “But… but he is your cousin. As long as you’re willing to spare him…”

Helan Minzhi? Wu Zetian’s brows twitched slightly. What had he done?

Suppressing her doubts, Wu Zetian kept her expression unchanged. “This matter cannot be forgiven. Mother, please return.”

Lady Rong trembled. “I… I never thought he’d do such a beastly thing to Chen’er. But he’s already ruined…”

“What?!” Wu Zetian’s eyes widened with fury. She spun around and shouted, “To Chen’er, a beastly act?!”

Her roar echoed through the hall.

Lady Rong realized Wu Zetian hadn’t known and had tricked herself into confessing.

But it was too late. “Meiniang, let me explain…”

Wu Zetian ignored her, rising and going to the door, flinging it open. “Attend me!”

A eunuch rushed over. “Your Grace!”

“Bring Chen’er here!”

“Yes!”

Wu Zetian closed the door again, turning to Lady Rong.

Her beautiful eyes burned with rage. “That beast dared lay a hand on Chen’er? If anything happens to my daughter, I’ll tear him apart myself!!!”

“No, no…” Lady Rong hastily tried to explain. “Meiniang, let me explain…”

Wu Zetian wouldn’t listen, pacing back and forth, waiting for Li Yuechen to arrive.

…

Li Yuechen had just returned when Eunuch Fu curiously asked what happened to Xiao He.

“It’s nothing, she was just knocked down,” Li Yuechen smiled. “Eunuch Fu, let Xiao He rest for a few days. I’ll rely on you to handle things here!”

Eunuch Fu quickly bowed. “Rest assured, Your Highness. I understand!”

Li Yuechen nodded. Usually, Eunuch Fu and Xiao He got along well, and there wasn’t much to do—just oversee the maids and eunuchs, keep things tidy.

Eunuch Fu alone could manage; it was no big deal.

Shangguan Wan’er seemed to want to ask something, but seeing Li Yuechen’s expression, she said nothing.

After resting awhile, Li Yuechen was about to practice her calligraphy when Eunuch Fu came to report, “Your Highness, Her Grace is in Chenghuan Hall and requests your presence.”

“Oh…” Li Yuechen replied, rising to go.

Eunuch Fu asked cautiously, “Did Your Highness anger Her Grace? The one who delivered the message is close to me—seems Lady Rong went to complain to Her Grace…”

Lady Rong?

Li Yuechen immediately sensed trouble. Thinking it over, she waved her hand. “Have Xiao He come with me. You too.”

“Yes!” Eunuch Fu nodded.

The incident had happened at Lady Rong’s house; since she’d come, it was likely exposed.

Walking along, Li Yuechen slapped her forehead—she’d forgotten this detail.

Helan Minzhi was Lady Rong’s lover. When trouble arose, her first instinct would be to plead for him.

She must have assumed that a child would have already told Wu Zetian everything, and in such circumstances, she’d surely slip up!

A miscalculation!

Li Yuechen shook her head and sighed.

Now she could only hope the matter wouldn’t escalate—if it reached the emperor, who knew how many would die.

Arriving at Chenghuan Hall, the young eunuch outside said, “Her Grace has instructed—no need to announce, just go in.”

Li Yuechen nodded and entered with Eunuch Fu and Xiao He.

Everyone in the courtyard had been cleared out—it was clear they knew.

Helpless, Li Yuechen knocked on the door and then entered.

Inside, Lady Rong stood trembling to the side, her mother Wu Zetian standing without expression by the couch.

It seemed she understood what had happened, and was calm, not losing her composure.

“Mother, your child greets you!” Li Yuechen bowed.

“Very well. Such a serious matter, and you dare conceal it from me!” Wu Zetian nodded. “If I hadn’t learned of it now, would you have kept hiding it?”

“Mother…”

Wu Zetian didn’t want to hear explanations. She turned to Eunuch Fu and Xiao He, scolding loudly, “And you two! To conceal such a matter—how dare you! Guards! Execute them here and now!”

“Mother, no!” Li Yuechen stepped forward to stop her. “Eunuch Fu knew nothing of today’s events—he is innocent! Xiao He was injured protecting me! I ordered her to stay silent. If Mother must punish someone, punish me!”

“Then explain yourself!” Wu Zetian’s beautiful eyes radiated killing intent. “Why conceal it?”

Li Yuechen raised her hand and bowed. “I am a princess of the royal family. If this matter spreads, it would ruin our reputation. Besides, Father’s health is poor—if he hears, he might suffer. And since nothing happened to me, I didn’t want you to worry…”

Wu Zetian’s anger lingered, but she took a deep breath.

“You didn’t want me to worry? Aside from me, who else worries about you? Your grandmother has already come to plead for Helan Minzhi’s life!”

Lady Rong raised her head. “Meiniang… Chen’er, Grandmother didn’t mean that. It’s just that nothing happened, and Helan Minzhi has already been ruined, right? So…”

Her explanation was hesitant.

Li Yuechen understood her. Both grandson and granddaughter were family—flesh and blood. The old woman didn’t know what to do. She only hoped she could do something to save his life.

“Nothing happened?” Wu Zetian turned and shouted, “Daring to commit such an act is already outrageous! You want me to spare him? Leaving him a whole corpse is already mercy for family’s sake!”

Lady Rong’s tears flowed as she knelt and trembled. “Meiniang, I don’t ask for your or Chen’er’s forgiveness! But he’s my grandson, and he’s already ruined…”

“A grandson?” Wu Zetian countered. “Is Chen’er not your granddaughter?”

“That’s not what I meant, just… just…”

She couldn’t explain, only hoped to spare his life.

Li Yuechen stood silently. Wu Zetian was furious, and nothing she said would help.

At least for now, Wu Zetian cherished her daughter deeply.

This made Li Yuechen realize her years of effort had not been in vain.