Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 521 The Mistress of the Zhao Family
After Wu Meiniang relayed her message to Li Yizhen and explained some details, Li Yizhen took her leave.

Wu Meiniang sat on the phoenix couch, carefully considering the entire plan, wondering if there were any oversights.

In fact, the current plan differs slightly from what Li Zhi told her.

Originally, Wu Zetian also planned to follow Li Zhi's advice, first subdue Li Yizhen, and then have her unintentionally pass the message to Wang Xiaoxian.

However, after investigating Wang Xiaoxian, Wu Meiniang discovered that the woman was not satisfied with the current situation. She was not very willing when Fuyu Fuxin took her as a concubine.

Because Fu Yu Fu Xin paid a lot of money, her stepmother sold her.

Later, Fu Yu Fu Xin doted on her, but she was very cold to him and rarely smiled after entering the mansion.

After learning about this, Wu Zetian felt that she could directly control Wang Xiaoxian, thus more reliably completing the task assigned by Li Zhi.

Her words to Li Yizhen, seemingly a rebuke, were, from another perspective, a defense of Wang Xiaoxian.

If Wang Xiaoxian knew these things, she would be grateful to tears and serve her for life.

On the other hand, after Li Yizhen left the palace and returned to the Zhao residence, he immediately sent someone to deliver an invitation to Wang Xiaoxian, asking her to come to the residence for a chat.

Not long after the person was sent out, Madam Changsun suddenly came over and asked her if she had sent someone to Wang Fuxin's residence to invite Wang Xiaoxian over.
Li Yizhen readily admitted it.

Madam Changsun said calmly, "Yizhen, don't blame your mother for being nosy, but I know you know Wang Xiaoxian. However, you are now the matriarch of the Zhao family in Tianshui, while Wang Xiaoxian is merely a concubine of a mid-level military officer and a surrendered general of Baekje with no future. Your statuses are worlds apart from hers. If you continue to associate with her, it will damage the reputation of our Zhao family. Do you understand?"

Li Yizhen had long anticipated that as long as she associated with Wang Xiaoxian, she would be reprimanded by Lady Changsun.

In the past, she would have had no choice but to humbly yield. Now, with Empress Wu as her backer, she was full of confidence and said solemnly, "Mother, since the Zhao family has accepted me as their mistress, they should accept everything about me, including my friends."

Lady Changsun frowned and said, "What kind of talk is that?"

Li Yizhen said solemnly, "These are my heartfelt words. I believe that maintaining friendships with old friends is a common practice and will not damage the reputation of the Zhao family."

Lady Changsun stared at her for a long time, then snorted and turned to leave.

That evening, Wang Xiaoxian sent a reply, in which she expressed her great joy and said she would definitely visit the next day.

After reading it, Li Yizhen felt even more ashamed.

She thought that Wang Xiaoxian would hold a grudge against her for treating her old friend so coldly, but she didn't expect her to be so magnanimous and not care about the past at all.

The next day, early in the morning, Li Yizhen directed his servants to bustle about, preparing to welcome the guests.

In the past, although she was the mistress of the Zhao family, everything was decided by Madam Changsun, and she, as the daughter-in-law, could only follow Madam Changsun's lead.

Only now can she be considered the rightful and legitimate mistress of the house.

Lady Changsun probably didn't want to see Wang Xiaoxian, so she went to visit Princess Xincheng at the Princess's residence early in the morning.

Around noon, Wang Xiaoxian arrived in a carriage.

Upon learning this, Li Yizhen personally greeted his friend at the second gate courtyard, and led him, whom he hadn't seen for many years, all the way to the lakeside pavilion in the back garden.

Purple gauze curtains hung around the waterside pavilion, and the table was laden with fruits, vegetables, wine, and food. The lake water was clear, a gentle breeze blew, and the air was filled with the fragrance of grass and trees.

Li Yizhen was a Qiang person from Liangzhou. She liked sweet glutinous rice wine, and she knew that Wang Xiaoxian also liked to drink it, so she served her glutinous rice wine.

Wang Xiaoxian is two years younger than Li Yizhen. She is petite with delicate features, like an elf from a painting.

She smiled as Li Yizhen poured her a drink. After Li Yizhen handed her the drink, she drank it all in one gulp and then let out a long, satisfied sigh.

"Today has been the most comfortable day in the past six months. Thank you, Brother Xian."

The two met as dancers and thus continued to address each other by their old names.

Li Yizhen said softly, "Little Fairy, I'm sorry for only inviting you to my residence today."

Wang Xiaoxian smiled and said, "Others don't understand you. They all think that you've climbed the social ladder and forgotten your old friends, but I know that you're not that kind of person."

"I was too hasty. Your position was unstable at the time, so it was inconvenient for you to see me. I always believed that once your position in the Zhao family was secure, you would come to me, and sure enough, I waited in vain!"

After hearing this, Li Yizhen was stunned for a long time, feeling even more ashamed. He sighed, "Little Fairy, you think too highly of me. I have let you down."

Wang Xiaoxian frowned and said, "What do you mean by that? I'm in a rare good mood today, so why are you frowning and saying such discouraging things?"

Li Yizhen said in a low voice, "Actually... if it weren't for Her Majesty the Empress, I wouldn't have invited you to my residence today."

"Your Majesty the Empress?" Wang Xiaoxian was stunned.

Li Yizhen then recounted how Wu Meiniang had invited him to a palace banquet and how she had scolded him for forgetting his old friends.

Wang Xiaoxian was astonished. There was too much information in this, and she didn't know which point to focus on.

After a long while, she stammered, "Her Majesty the Empress is such a noble person, why would she care about you and me?"

Li Yizhen then told the story of how the Emperor and Empress went on an incognito tour to watch the two dance contest. From then on, the Empress kept an eye on the two.

Wang Xiaoxian blushed deeply upon hearing this. She had never imagined that someone as lowly as her would be secretly favored by the Empress, who even blamed Li Yizhen because of her.

"Woooo..."

For some reason, Wang Xiaoxian felt a surge of grievance welling up in her heart, and she could no longer hold back, so she covered her face and cried bitterly.

Li Yizhen went over and hugged her, sobbing, "I know you're not happy after marrying Fuyu Fuxin, but I never thought of helping you, Xiaoxian, I'm sorry."

Wang Xiaoxian shook her head, choking back tears, and said, "Let's not talk about the past anymore, Brother Xian. I want to drink."

He reached out to pour another bowl of glutinous rice wine.

Li Yizhen grabbed her hand and said, "Don't drink anymore, there's something important I need to tell you."

Wang Xiaoxian looked up at her, her face still wet with tears, looking like a pear blossom in the rain.

"what's up?"

Lee Yi-jin then recounted how Buyeo Bok-shin had been bribed by the Silla people.

Wang Xiaoxian was both shocked and frightened, and said, "He...he actually dared to do such a thing as annihilating a clan?"

Li Yizhen said, "If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have the money to redeem you. Her Majesty the Empress was afraid that you would be implicated, so she asked His Majesty to help you get a chance to redeem yourself."

"Waaah..." Wang Xiaoxian cried again.

Li Yizhen said, "His Highness has already secured an opportunity for you, so why are you crying again?"

Wang Xiaoxian choked up as she said, "I just feel... Her Majesty the Empress is too good to me... just like... just like my mother..."

As the conversation progressed, his voice became barely audible.

Li Yizhen chuckled and said, "That's because you haven't seen Her Majesty the Empress. She looks extremely young and beautiful. At first, she seems quite dignified, but she actually has a very kind heart."

Wang Xiaoxian nodded repeatedly, whimpering like a puppy being held and cared for. Li Yizhen's expression turned serious, and he said, "Xiaoxian, since Her Majesty the Empress secured this task for you to redeem yourself, you must not mess it up. Otherwise, you will not only harm yourself but also implicate Her Majesty."

With tears welling up in her eyes, Wang Xiaoxian declared loudly, "I will definitely handle this matter well and will never fail Her Majesty the Empress's kindness!"

Li Yizhen immediately relayed Wu Meiniang's instructions to Wang Xiaoxian.

Wang Xiaoxian listened attentively, repeating the words over and over until she could recite them fluently from memory, before she stopped.

The sun was setting, and it was nearing dusk.

A servant came to report that Lady Changsun had returned. She had spent the afternoon talking with the princess at the princess's residence and was too tired to receive guests, so she sent someone to send her regards to Wang Xiaoxian.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaoxian knew that Lady Changsun did not want to see her, which indicated that Li Yizhen's days in the Zhao residence were not easy either.

"Brother Xian, I'll head back now. Let's meet at the Great Ci'en Temple in three days." Wang Xiaoxian grasped Li Yizhen's hand.

Li Yizhen patted her hand and said, "Alright, I'll wait for your good news."

After Wang Xiaoxian left, Li Yizhen went to the palace again to report the situation to Empress Wu.

Meanwhile, Wang Xiaoxian also returned home.

Fuyu Fuxin originally lived in a small courtyard house. When Jin Renwen bribed him, he gave him thirty catties of gold.

Fu Yu Fu used the money to redeem Wang Xiaoxian and then bought a large three-courtyard house.

While Wang Xiaoxian was resting in the lobby, Fuyu Fuxin received the news and came to the lobby, smiling and saying, "Xian'er is back."

Wang Xiaoxian hummed in agreement, patted her shoulder, and said in a sweet voice, "I'm exhausted today."

Fuyu Fuxin hurried over, massaged her shoulders, and said with a smile, "It's rare that you know the mistress of the Zhao family. You must have talked to her quite a bit today."

Wang Xiaoxian sighed, "She may seem glamorous, but she's actually a pitiful person. I'm afraid this mistress will soon become a widow."

Fu Yu Fu Xin asked in surprise, "Why is this?"

Just as Wang Xiaoxian was about to answer, she suddenly reached out and covered her mouth.

"Ah! When she told me this, she reminded me that I shouldn't say these things to others."

Fu Yu Fuxin laughed and said, "I am your husband, it doesn't matter if you tell me."

Wang Xiaoxian frowned and shook her head, saying, "I can't say. Brother Xian said this matter is of great importance and is a government secret. We absolutely cannot let anyone know, or we will be punished."

When Fuyu Fuxin heard about this, his heart pounded.

A while ago, his contact sent word that the King of Silla had ordered him to find out why the Tang army used surrendered Baekje troops when attacking Silla.

He was both the former King of Baekje and the current General of the Tang Dynasty.

The King of Silla's original words were that he would reward anyone who could find out the truth, whether from the former Baekje troops or from the Tang army.

However, he had long been distrusted within Baekje, and in the Tang army, he only held a nominal title.

Although he has been frequently visiting the Right Valiant Guard headquarters lately, no one pays him much attention, and he can't get any useful information out of them.

Just when he was troubled by this, Wang Xiaoxian's words gave him a glimmer of hope.

Zhao Chiman was the Deputy Protector-General of Yingzhou and a high-ranking officer in the Tang army. He must have known Tang army secrets and may have told his wife, Li Yizhen.

The information Wang Xiaoxian heard from Li Yizhen was very likely the secret he wanted to know!
Fu Yu Fu Xin knew that his newlywed concubine was very stubborn and quite resistant to him. If he asked her directly, she would definitely not speak. With a quick thought, he came up with an idea.

"Xian'er, have you been drinking?" he suddenly asked.

Wang Xiaoxian chuckled and said, "How did you know I only had a few cups of glutinous rice wine?"

Fu Yu Fuxin laughed and said, "You usually smell wonderful, but today you smell a bit like alcohol. What else could it be but drinking?"

Wang Xiaoxian blushed slightly and said reproachfully, "My lord has a really keen nose."

Fu Yu Fuxin noticed that she was acting differently than usual, and thought that either she had seen a good friend and was in a good mood, or she had drunk too much and couldn't control herself.

This is a rare opportunity. It won't be easy to get her to talk after she sobers up tomorrow.

"Oh dear, Xian'er, you can't hold your liquor. You get drunk after just one cup. How can you possibly drink more?"

Wang Xiaoxian retorted, "Nonsense! When I was at Chunfeng Tower, I drank with many people. My alcohol tolerance is probably even better than yours, sir."

Fu Yu Fuxin laughed and said, "I don't believe it."

Wang Xiaoxian snorted, "If you don't believe me, let's have a competition."

"Are you really going to have a competition?"

"Of course, I would like to drink wine today."

Fu Xin smiled and said, "Since Xian'er wants to drink, I'll have a few drinks with you, but don't drink too much, lest you get drunk."

Wang Xiaoxian snorted and said, "Even if my husband is drunk, I won't get drunk."

Fu Xin immediately sent his servants to bring wine and drank with Wang Xiaoxian. Before long, Wang Xiaoxian was drunk and her eyes were blurry. She felt like she had no bones and could barely sit up straight.

Fuxin hugged her and took the opportunity to ask her a few questions, which she answered one by one.

Fu Xin then asked, "Xian'er, you just said that Madam Zhao is going to become a widow, why is that?"

Wang Xiaoxian whispered, "Because her husband is in great danger in Yingzhou. As soon as someone discovers the secret of the Tang Dynasty's empty treasury, rebellions will surely break out, and Yingzhou Island will be thrown into chaos!"

Fu Xin was both surprised and delighted: "You said the Tang Dynasty's treasury is empty?"

Wang Xiaoxian frowned and said, "That's what she said, but I don't believe it. Our Tang Dynasty is so powerful, how could the national treasury be empty?"

Fu Xin sneered and said, "In the past ten years, how many battles has the Tang Dynasty fought? Heh heh, it's no wonder it's so empty. It's just a pity it's a bit too late!"

Wang Xiaoxian was stunned for a moment: "Husband, what did you just say?"

Fu Xin quickly put on a smile and said, "It's nothing. I just mean that we've fought too many battles, and it's normal that our financial resources are exhausted and the national treasury is empty."

Wang Xiaoxian nodded and murmured, "She also said that Liaodong has been secretly withdrawing troops and replacing the Tang army with local soldiers because the Tang army's pay was too high after the military reform, so the local army doesn't have to spend money."

Fuxin sneered inwardly: "No wonder the Tang army allowed the surrendered Baekje soldiers to attack; it turns out they couldn't afford to support their army!"

The next morning, Fuxin went out early to tell his superior the news.

That afternoon, a Silla spy returned to Silla with the news.

(End of this chapter)