Chapter Fourteen: Socks (Please Keep Reading)

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“Your Majesty, Wu An did not keep a single coin for himself; he gave all the rewards to the soldiers of the Hundred Riders Division outside,” Shangguan Wan’er reported. She had been filled with astonishment—and even a touch of admiration—when she witnessed the scene outside just moments ago.

To openly scatter money outside the Empress Dowager’s chambers to win hearts and minds—that kind of audacity...

The Empress Dowager, engrossed in reading a scroll of poetry, did not look up but replied, “I’ve heard that in the battle at Hexi, several dozen of his comrades sacrificed themselves to cover his retreat so that he might survive. It seems this is yet another of his talents... the ability to command his subordinates.”

“Wan’er has something unclear,” Shangguan Wan’er said.

The Empress Dowager nodded faintly, inviting her to speak.

Wan’er continued, “I feel that Your Majesty does not seem to have high expectations for him, yet you are always willing to invest in him, often entrusting him with important tasks. Are you not afraid he might cause trouble?”

The Empress Dowager thought seriously for a moment, then said calmly, “Perhaps, aside from Wu Chengsi, there truly is no one else in the Wu family capable of shouldering the burden.”

When your initial expectations are low, you are more likely to be continuously surprised later because every detail you encounter exceeds your predictions.

“It’s like polishing a raw jade; with every inch polished, there is an inch more delight.”

She asked casually, “How much did you give him just now?”

“Three hundred copper coins and sixty pearls.”

The Empress Dowager signaled Shangguan Wan’er over and whispered a few words. Wan’er looked somewhat surprised but immediately rose and left.

Watching her slender figure depart, the Empress Dowager, seated behind the dragon desk, smiled faintly. Deep down, she felt this young girl was far more obedient than her grandfather had been.

Outside the hall.

“Thank you, Captain Wu, for the reward!”

The soldiers had received their rewards, their eyes shining with gratitude. Though they were soldiers of the Hundred Riders Division enjoying generous treatment, the bounty they held today was exceptionally abundant.

Not to mention, they had only passed by the Hao mansion without offending the Left Prime Minister.

Even if Wu An had allowed them to pillage inside the Hao residence, each would not have gained more than what they had been rewarded earlier.

“Silence.”

Wu An spoke.

Instantly, the thirty armored soldiers before him fell silent, respectfully watching him.

Wu An scanned their faces, meeting each soldier’s eyes briefly before moving on to the next.

He deliberately paused for a moment, then slowly said, “Thanks to the Empress Dowager for her generosity.”

Waving his hand, Wu An said, “You may all return to rest.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

After the Hundred Riders lined up and departed, Shangguan Wan’er approached him. Wu An noticed several palace attendants behind her, each holding a box.

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“Sister, what are these?”

Wu An deliberately dropped the formal title, instead using a familiar address, though his expression remained polite.

Shangguan Wan’er showed no emotion and said, “The Empress Dowager heard that Captain Wu had distributed all the rewards to the soldiers, so she granted another three hundred copper coins and sixty pearls.”

Earlier, Wu An had kept not a single coin for himself, dividing all the valuables equally among everyone. Now, the Empress Dowager had immediately bestowed an equally generous reward.

He lost nothing, gaining both wealth and the loyalty of the Hundred Riders.

Even Wu An was momentarily stunned, until Shangguan Wan’er cleared her throat softly, bringing him back to reality.

He solemnly bowed toward the hall’s entrance.

“Your servant thanks the Empress Dowager for her great kindness!”

...

Night had fallen, but the carriage was still entering Yongning Ward.

The huge signboard bearing the name “Wu Residence” seemed unnecessary to replace just because the owner had changed—after all, the new master’s surname was also Wu.

Moreover, Wu Chengsi appeared to have no intention of sending someone to take the two beautiful concubines; he tacitly allowed them to remain there.

Of course, the two concubines did not understand the disputes among the Wu family members.

But from their perspective, from this day forward, the food in their mouths and the clothes on their backs depended entirely on that young man. After much thought, the only way they could show respect was in the most base manner.

The night was deep.

When Shangguan Wan’er stood at the door, she coldly watched the two disheveled women hurriedly leave Wu An’s study. One of them had even lost a silk stocking from her foot in her haste, exposing her smooth white sole as they ran away.

Finally, Wu An’s face—once heroic but now somewhat detestable—appeared before her.

“I originally had some admiration for what you did today,” she said expressionlessly, pulling open the door and walking into the study past Wu An.

The scent of cosmetics and perfume inside made her frown slightly, and she could not help but reprimand him:

“A young man from Chang’an should be doing great things, achieving great merits.

You have just begun to rise, yet at night you play with other people’s women. This is not spirited ambition but reckless arrogance.”

Wu An smiled and nodded, her words going in one ear and out the other.

Shangguan Wan’er knelt properly before the desk, posture impeccable.

Wu An closed the door, seeing her absorbed in reading the letters on the desk. His gaze fell behind her—to a small, delicate foot wrapped in a white silk stocking beneath her slightly curved waist and hips.

Wu An found it amusing; this girl seemed to have made a habit of coming here every night. Perhaps the Empress Dowager had sent her?

“The Empress Dowager told me to come teach you how to speak at tomorrow’s morning court.”

Wu An sat opposite her and said earnestly, “Then please, sister, impart your wisdom.”

Though her voice was that of a woman, her tone and choice of words were deliberately affected, pretending to be mature and imposing. Especially after the little episode just now, her reminders and warnings were even sterner.

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Wu An listened quietly, occasionally raising a question that clearly required serious thought, causing Shangguan Wan’er to gradually forget the earlier incident and seriously discuss some details with him.

Finally, Wu An stood and escorted her to the door. Seeing the white silk stocking left on the floor by the entrance, his expression turned cold again. Saying, “No need to see me out,” he swept his sleeves and left.

“Heh...”

Wu An withdrew his gaze, looking at the stocking on the ground with amusement.

Then he walked over, crouched before it, and after a moment’s inspection, picked it up.

Fingertips gently twirling the fabric.

The silk stocking was of ordinary quality but surprisingly clean.

If those two concubines were secondary wives maintained by Wu Chengsi, their stockings would likely be of finer material.

Wu Chengsi was a lecherous man; precisely for this reason, even buying a few extra fine garments for women was a form of indulgence in female beauty for him.

A person’s expressions and words can be disguised, clothes can be changed, but such intimate items are seldom considered by ordinary people.

What truly caught Wu An’s attention was that this stocking’s fabric was remarkably similar to the one worn by Shangguan Wan’er.

Hmm... but such a judgment could not be certain unless he touched both himself to confirm they were made of identical cloth.

He held the stocking and slowly walked back into the study, placing it on the desk, staring at it lost in thought.

Those two concubines were women from the palace.

...

“Your Majesty, when Wan’er went this evening, Wu An was...”

Shangguan Wan’er related what she had seen and heard earlier, but she saw the Empress Dowager smile.

“Unexpectedly, he is still a kind-hearted good child.”

Ah?

Wan’er was stunned. As a lady-in-waiting, she dared not question the Empress Dowager’s words, but as a woman, her fists were already clenched hard.

She had already labeled Wu An a lecherous scoundrel in her heart.

The Empress Dowager said calmly, “He could not possibly know the true identity of those two women. So, if you put yourself in his position, you will understand why he acted as he did.”

“Wan’er is foolish... and cannot understand.”

The Empress Dowager sighed, “Setting aside their true identities, the entire mansion has been granted to Wu An by me. Wu Chengsi has not sent anyone to retrieve them. If Wu An refuses to accept them, the two women will have a very difficult time living in the residence.”

She seemed to recall some past memories, a trace of nostalgia in her eyes, and said softly, “He is a kind-hearted good child.”