Chapter 50: Double Happiness

The Crown Prince stared at him for a moment before suddenly breaking into a smile.

"Very well," he replied, and then strode out of the study.

Many people easily lose themselves after acquiring sudden wealth overnight, yet Wu An had just obtained a blank check with no limit from the Crown Prince.

When Li Jingxuan saw Wu An and the Crown Prince walking into the main hall one after the other, the fake smile on his face instantly vanished.

He, too, desired such a blank check.

"This old minister pays his respects to Your Highness, and to... General Wu."

He stood up and bowed deeply to the Crown Prince.

"Lord Li is well aware of our affairs."

The Crown Prince said softly, "Someone in the Hexi army reported him for colluding with the Tibetans, and even submitted a personal letter written by Li Jingxuan to Gar Qinling. Even I received a copy. Though I know not who sent it, those two in the palace must have received it as well."

Perhaps, what they received was the original.

Li Jingxuan had served at court for many years, cultivating deep-rooted connections and influence. If the Emperor had initially needed to exercise caution on account of these factors, the moment that letter was intercepted, the survival of Li Jingxuan's entire clan rested entirely at the Emperor's discretion.

Wu An did not sit down, so the Crown Prince remained standing beside him. Acting as though Li Jingxuan were entirely invisible, the two of them huddled together like a pair of whispering sparrows, heads bowed as they exchanged murmurs.

Li Jingxuan took a deep breath.

He endured it.

"What is the meaning of this?" Wu An demanded.

"Do not misunderstand. With Lord Li's assistance, I can bring more guards from the Ten Elite Regiments into the palace. Besides, having him facilitate certain matters makes things infinitely more convenient."

The Crown Prince explained, "He is entirely trustworthy. In any case, aside from myself, there is no one else left for him to rely upon."

Appearing genuinely provoked, Wu An unconsciously raised his voice, "And how do you know he will not defect to the Empress?"

The wretched dog actually dares to speak ill of me behind my back... Li Jingxuan's expression shifted drastically, "Wu An, do not talk nonsense!"

"Look, he is flustered."

"Let us keep things restrained," the Crown Prince coughed, sitting down opposite Li Jingxuan and asking directly, "Have all the preparations been completed?"

"Thirteen spare keys to the armory have already been forged. When the time comes, whether in the outer city or within the imperial city, we need only eliminate the guards to directly open the armories."

Li Jingxuan clearly anticipated the Crown Prince's inquiry, answering every question with practiced fluency.

Even Wu An had to admit that Li Jingxuan's assistance in tonight's plot was immensely valuable, which made the Crown Prince's altered attitude somewhat understandable.

Even if not all the courtiers standing by his side possessed Li Jingxuan's weight, having just two or three of such caliber would instantly elevate the probability of success.

With the matter bearing down upon them, there was nothing left to negotiate. Everyone simply sat together to review all the critical points one final time before stepping into the examination hall.

"Very well, that is nearly all. We must not delay the matters you have scheduled for today."

The Crown Prince rose to his feet, looking down from above at Wu An beside him.

"Have the wild goose gifts been prepared?"

Knowing what the Crown Prince implied, Wu An nodded slightly.

The Crown Prince glanced sideways at Li Jingxuan, slowly saying, "Since Lord Li harbors intentions of reconciliation, this is a most opportune occasion."

Li Jingxuan had no choice but to stand, wearing a forced, rigid smile.

"I dare not disobey."

The Crown Prince and Li Jingxuan watched as several female attendants and maids entered, bearing an entire set of elaborate black ceremonial robes. Wu An spread his arms to allow them to dress him.

Li Jingxuan could not help muttering under his breath, "Does he think he is putting on armor?"

The Crown Prince smiled and remained silent.

Once the ceremonial attire was secured, Wu An straightened his official headwear. A maid knelt before him, holding a bronze mirror aloft in both hands.

The heroic young man reflected in the mirror gazed back at him, a fierce arrogance radiating from his brow and eyes.

For a brief moment, the Crown Prince himself fell into a trance. After studying him for a while, he spoke: "You remarked earlier that I came to see you today without bringing any gifts."

"You were mistaken in saying so."

Turning on his heel, the Crown Prince strode toward the exit without looking back. "Observe the gift I have brought you."

Li Jingxuan immediately hurried after him step for step.

Wu An did not follow instantly, instead asking, "Where is my blade?"

"My lord, today is the wedding procession, weapons are..."

"Fetch my blade."

The maid immediately scurried away, returning a moment later at a run to deliver the saber. Wu An took the weapon, his gaze lingering briefly on the rough scabbard before he fastened the side arm to his waist.

Standing in the courtyard, the Crown Prince solemnly adjusted his robes. Seeing Wu An approach clad in black with a saber at his waist, he offered no further words, instead turning to point toward the front gate.

"Open the gates to welcome the guests."

The tightly sealed gates of the estate swung open with a resounding boom. The outside world remained utterly silent, save for the soft sound of falling snow.

Reflected in Wu An's eyes was a sea of crimson and purple.

At some point, Li Jingxuan had changed into his purple official robes. He stepped past the threshold, merged into the crowd, and took his stand at the very front.

When ordinary folk held wedding processions, they naturally called upon friends and relatives to make a lively spectacle.

Among ordinary well-wishers, even if a local magistrate or a minor registrar from the county office deigned to visit, the host would treat them as honored guests and welcome them with utmost pomp.

Yet today, before the magnificent gates of the Duke's estate amidst a flurry of falling snowflakes, stood rows upon rows of figures clad in scarlet and purple official robes.

According to the legal codes of the Tang Dynasty, officials of the fifth rank and above wore crimson robes and carried silver fish bags, while those of the third rank and above wore purple robes and carried gold fish bags.

This meant that among this multitude, the lowest-ranking official was of the fifth rank—a stature that already constituted a person of considerable weight within any governmental department at court.

And standing at the forefront of the crowd, including Li Jingxuan, were five grand ministers draped in purple robes!

Their gazes converged within the crimson-lacquered doors of the estate.

At that moment, the Crown Prince took Wu An by the hand and stepped across the threshold into the open air.

The next instant, every official bowed deeply to the two figures, speaking in unison.

"Your ministers pay homage to Your Highness!"

The Crown Prince did not return the bow, accepting the homage with unblinking composure as he spoke without looking back:

"Let tonight's affairs wait. Today, I am bringing half the imperial court to assist you... in claiming your bride."

...

Within the palace.

The Empress sat behind her desk, listening silently to the report. Far from displaying anger, a faint smile played upon her lips.

"Though he falls short of his elder brother, he has at last learned how to buy people's hearts."

"Leading half the court to prop up a military man's wedding procession not only displays his power but also secures allegiance. Regardless of who it is, to be treated thus by the Crown Prince of the Great Tang would surely evoke boundless gratitude and a pledge of loyalty unto death."

The Empress murmured to herself:

"Furthermore, it serves the purpose of purchasing a fine horse's bones with a thousand gold... Is he indirectly drawing over the Pei family and various military generals as well?"

Standing by her side, Shangguan Wan'er listened to the Empress's soliloquy, a trace of sorrow welling up in the depths of her eyes.

Had her grandfather still been alive, regardless of the circumstances, the prestige of the Shangguan household should surely have commanded such a grand spectacle today!

"Wan'er."

Shangguan Wan'er shivered slightly, quickly snapping back to reality.

The Empress cast a deep, searching look at her and said:

"Since the Crown Prince is so fond of showing off today, I shall give him a lesson he won't forget. I will show him that even if he spends a thousand gold for a horse's bones, what harm is there in me spending ten thousand?"

"From the palace treasury, dispense thirty thousand strings of cash for cosmetic expenses, a pair of wild geese for the betrothal ritual, three bushels of pearls, five clusters of coral, and ten pairs of fine jade. Order people to scatter coins of joy along the Heavenly Street so the common folk may share in the celebration.

Furthermore, summon Minister of the Left Liu Xingjian, Grand Censor Gao Zhizhou, and the Duke of Liang, Li Xiaoyi, each bearing gifts, to act as matchmakers on behalf of my nephew and present the betrothal gifts to the Pei family."

Old ministers, incorruptible scholars, and members of the imperial clan—

Every single one of them held immense power and high office!

Shock rippled through Shangguan Wan'er as she mechanically memorized the names.

At the mere thought of the expression her son would wear upon witnessing these gifts, an amused smile bloomed across the Empress's face:

"I need only dispatch three men to utterly overshadow his half of the court."