Chapter 90: The Bastinado

Empress Dowager Wu did not know why Wu Ning had gone to such lengths to clear Princess Taiping’s name, and what infuriated her even more was…

She looked at Shangguan Wan’er with a dark expression. "Did that girl Taiping really manage to retrieve the letter she sent to Xian?"

Shangguan Wan’er lowered her head. "Yes."

Bang! This time, the Empress Dowager truly smashed her soup bowl.

"Trying to be clever!"

Shangguan Wan’er did not dare to respond. "..."

In truth, it was not Wu Ning who was trying to be clever; it was simply that in this matter, no one could truly understand the Empress’s painstaking intentions.

***

How vast was the Empress’s vision, how deep her machinations?

How could she not know that Taiping was not the right person for such a task? How could she not have known that she might fail?

Yet, even if Taiping failed, she, the Empress, could still rectify the situation.

In fact, the Empress Dowager had already planned how she would intervene should Taiping prove incompetent. The very reason she used Taiping was because of her daughter’s immaturity.

She knew her own daughter better than anyone; she knew exactly how Taiping would interpret this "reconciliation." Taiping would undoubtedly think of her brother, Li Xian, first and seize the opportunity to help him.

And Shangguan Wan’er, having served Wu Zetian for so many years, had always felt that this was perhaps exactly what the seemingly cold-hearted woman wanted to see. No matter how much she reigned supreme over the world or how iron-fisted she appeared to outsiders, when she returned to the depths of the inner palace and shed her dragon robes, she remained a woman, a mother.

It had been ten years since she had last seen her son, Li Xian, ever since he was imprisoned.

Yet, who would have thought that this rare, fragile glimmer of maternal warmth would be utterly ruined by that boy named Wu Ning in Fangzhou?

***

"Your Majesty!"

After a long silence, Shangguan Wan’er finally spoke. "Actually..."

Wu Zetian glared at her, seemingly guessing what she was about to say.

"Actually what!?"

Shangguan Wan’er panicked, but she persisted: "Actually, if Your Majesty misses..."

"Shut up!"

Before Shangguan Wan’er could finish, the Empress barked, "That unfilial son! How could there be any missing?! You have a lot of nerve, presuming to guess the Imperial will!"

Shangguan Wan’er dared not speak further and prostrated herself. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I deserve death."

The Empress Dowager leaned forward, her body tilting toward Shangguan Wan’er. When the official looked up, she met the Empress’s wide, phoenix eyes and trembling lips.

"Get out! No one can control my affairs! No one is to guess my thoughts!"

"Get out!!"

"Get out of my sight!"

"Yes," Shangguan Wan’er replied timidly, backing away.

She had been by Wu Zetian’s side since she was fourteen, and this was the first time she had ever seen this Empress, who was never inferior to any man, in such a state of frenzy.

***

When only Wu Zetian remained in the hall, she stayed leaning forward. After remaining rigid for a long time, she finally slumped back onto the dragon couch as if drained of all strength, closing her eyes to rest.

***

After a long while, "Someone, come!"

The Empress lay on the couch, her eyes still closed.

"Send an imperial decree to Zhou Xing: Wu Ning of Fangzhou remains immature and requires tempering. Order forty strokes of the rod as a warning to others."

...

"Wait."

She called back the eunuch, her phoenix eyes opening just a sliver.

"The boy is still ill. Never mind, make it twenty strokes! Tell Zhou Xing to handle it with care; don’t break him."

***

"The Imperial Decree has arrived!"

Wu Ning had been having a pleasant time lately, sitting in the courtyard with Qin Miaoniang, checking the accounts of the Yuanning Cloth Shop before the end of the year.

In the kitchen, Chef Luo had press-ganged Li Wenbo into helping him prepare dinner. Princess Taiping sat quietly in her room, staring at the faint, scrubbed-away traces of poetry on the wall.

Unless one knew the truth, one would never imagine that such a tranquil, pastoral scene contained a Tang princess, a fugitive, and a merchant. Everything was almost perfect.

No one would have guessed that the voice of Zhou Xing calling out from outside the courtyard would shatter this peace completely.

***

Wu Ning looked up to see Zhou Xing entering the yard with a crooked, wicked grin.

"Young Master Wu, an imperial decree has arrived!"

"For me?" Wu Ning was stunned. *Is the Imperial Court really that bored? Why do they keep sending me decrees?*

He bowed to receive the order, but as he listened...

Zhou Xing unfurled the scroll. He cleared his throat, maintaining that insufferable, high-pitched tone.

"By the Imperial Secretariat: ... Wu Ning of Fangzhou, being of youthful disposition, requires tempering... The Empress treasures talent and does not wish to see it wasted... Specially ordered, twenty strokes of the rod, as a warning to others!"

"Let the executor carry this out."

"First year of Zaichu, twelfth month, Dingmao day. Official of the Ministry of Rites, Zhou Xing, proclaims."

"Imperial order for Wu Ning of Fangzhou—acknowledge!"

"Authorized by the Ministry of Rites official Zhou Xing and Princess Taiping to carry out the punishment."

"The decree is as stated; act upon it immediately."

With that, Zhou Xing closed the decree and looked at Wu Ning with a smile. "Young Master Wu, will you accept the decree?"

"..."

Wu Ning looked as if he had just lost his parents, his face a mix of confusion and terror. He looked to the left at Qin Miaoniang, then to the right at Princess Taiping.

"Wait..."

*What is happening? Why am I receiving a decree? What did I do? What crime did I commit to warrant this?*

Zhou Xing, still wearing that villainous smirk, shoved the decree into Wu Ning’s arms.

"Young Master, don't be afraid. It’s only twenty strokes. I will watch over it myself; I won't let them break you."

"..."

*Damn you!* Wu Ning nearly shouted. *On what grounds? What kind of decree is this? It doesn’t mention a single crime, and just because I’m 'youthful,' you’re going to spank me? That doesn't make any sense! It's almost the New Year, and you’re going to hit my backside... that's just not right!*

Princess Taiping had already stepped out of the guest room, looking equally perplexed. Why would a decree be issued to beat Wu Ning for no reason?

She stepped forward. "Director Zhou, what is the meaning of this?"

Zhou Xing dared not show his usual wicked demeanor toward Taiping. Respectfully, he said, "It is the Empress’s will; how would this humble servant dare to guess?" He bowed to Taiping. "I am merely carrying out the decree. Perhaps Your Highness would like to step aside?"

*Step aside?*

Wu Ning became even more agitated. *Why should she step aside? Is this guy going to beat me to death? Could it be that the Empress Dowager found out about what happened five years ago?* He had heard that there was an art to the rod; twenty strokes, if done maliciously, could easily kill a man!

He blurted out, "No! Her Highness is fine right here, why should she step aside?"

But just as he spoke, Zhou Xing gave the order: "Men, help Young Master Wu remove his trousers."

"Are you serious?" Wu Ning was on the verge of tears. "Right here? Can’t we go somewhere private, or maybe do it at night?"

"Heh," Zhou Xing let out a dry laugh. "My apologies, Young Master Wu. The Empress specifically instructed that the punishment be carried out on the spot. Young Master, bear with it."

*Oh, damn it!!*

"Go, go, go, go!!" He changed his mind again. "Everyone, just leave!"

Taiping watched him hopping about, both amused and worried. She said to Zhou Xing, "Director Zhou, Jiulang is currently unwell."

Zhou Xing nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, the Empress accounted for that. She specifically instructed me to be measured and not to break him."

Taiping: "..."

*Well,* even the adorable Princess Taiping was speechless. *Why is Mother picking on a boy like Wu Ning?*

However, Zhou Xing’s words reassured her. Since the Empress had given specific instructions, it was likely just a standard punishment and nothing would go wrong. She looked at Wu Ning with sympathy and beckoned to Qin Miaoniang. "Let’s go. Do you really intend to watch?"

***

"Ah!!!!"

"It hurts!!!"

As soon as they stepped outside the courtyard gate, they heard Wu Ning’s heart-wrenching wail.

Qin Miaoniang instinctively looked back in anxiety, her face turning crimson with embarrassment.

She saw a pair of large, pale buttocks, covered in heat rash, trembling in the cold wind...

The bailiff tasked with the punishment, however, had a darkened face:

*Damn it! I haven't even brought the rod down yet, what are you screaming for?*