The fragrance of winter plum blossoms
The first snow of the twelfth lunar month falls, and the red plum blossoms at Daming Palace begin to bloom.
Wu Meiniang held Princess Taiping's small hand as she painted plum blossoms on the Xuan paper, when she suddenly felt unsteady footsteps behind her.
Turning around, she helped the slightly staggering Li Zhi and saw that his forehead was covered in fine cold sweat.
"Is Your Majesty dizzy again?" She quickly took away the vermilion brush used to dye plum blossoms and helped the person sit on the sable-covered couch.
Li Zhi closed his eyes to recover, then forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, just an old ailment. But Meiniang's red plum blossoms are even more vibrant than the new window decorations made by the Imperial Wardrobe."
(OS: Something's not right! Historical records state that Emperor Gaozong's illness worsened in the sixth year of the Yonghui era, but it's already the second year of the Xianqing era. Sun Simiao's acupuncture and the rehabilitation training I brought were clearly controlling it well, so why did it flare up again? Is historical inertia really that strong?)
Three days ago, during a political discussion, Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi) suddenly experienced dizziness, and Wu Zetian listened to the petition from the Tibetan envoy on his behalf.
As she massaged his temples, she said to Shangguan Wan'er, "Continue, what other tricks does Lu Dongzan have up his sleeve?"
"He sent a nine-foot-long red coral as an apology gift, along with a letter from his grandson expressing his wish to come to Chang'an to study the laws and regulations." Shangguan Wan'er unfolded the gift list and secretly glanced at the emperor's pale face.
Wu Zetian's brush continued, the vermilion ink spreading across the Xuan paper, creating plum blossom patterns of varying shades: "He is permitted to enter the Imperial Academy, but must pass the Thousand Character Classic examination."
She felt Li Zhi's veins throbbing under her fingers, so she lightened her grip even more.
(OS: In the original story, Emperor Gaozong was already frequently having me act as his regent at this point, but he can still review memorials now. Wait... could it be that my actions, such as changing the Grand Canal and suppressing Tibet, indirectly increased his workload?)
Taiping, imitating her mother, dipped her hand in ink and left a small handprint in the corner of the drawing.
Wu Zetian added a few strokes to the child's handprint, which turned it into a bird perched on a plum blossom.
Li Zhi opened his eyes and saw it, a smile appearing on his pale face: "Our Taiping handprint is more precious than the imperial seal."
(OS: Historical records state that Emperor Gaozong's vision became blurred in his later years, but he can still clearly see Princess Taiping's palm lines. This shows that our treatment plan is effective! Perhaps... perhaps we can really break the historical record's ending?)
On the day of Laba Festival, the young Tibetan prince Chisong scratched his head in the Imperial Academy examination hall.
When Di Renjie returned from his inspection, he reported: "They couldn't even write 'heaven and earth, black and yellow' properly, but they ate the whole sugar melon."
"Perfect." Wu Meiniang looked at Princess Taiping, who was feeding Li Zhi medicine. "Let him start his education from elementary school, and for three years he is forbidden from touching Tibetan texts."
(OS: In the original novel, Tibet was always a threat during Li Zhi's reign. Since the medical line might change, the geopolitical line also needs to be adjusted. Cultural indoctrination should start from childhood!)
As the year drew to a close, Li Zhi's dizziness attacks became more frequent.
That day, he had just finished reviewing the Ministry of Revenue's memorials when his vision blurred. Wu Meiniang took the vermilion brush and wrote down her annotations in red ink. Seeing him leaning against the cushion, she smiled bitterly and said, "My health is such a burden on the Empress."
She handed him the warmed medicine cup: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? We agreed at Ganye Temple that we would share the responsibility for this vast empire."
(OS: In the original story, Wu Zetian gradually seized power while Li Zhi was seriously ill. But now... now I really want to cure him. Wait, am I repeating the same old path as history? But my motivation is completely different!)
Suddenly, a child's voice came from outside the window.
Chisong brought his "Ode to Snow" to ask for advice, only to find Taiping playing with tangrams in the palace.
The little princess pushed over the wooden blocks and instructed in a childish voice, "Arrange... wild geese!" The Tibetan boy obediently lay down on the ground and began to assemble them.
Looking at the children playing on the felt carpet, Wu Zetian suddenly said, "Issue an imperial decree to establish a 'National School for Children' and order all vassal states to send their children to study there."
She turned to Li Zhi and explained softly, "Once these children grow up, the border will enjoy thirty years of peace."
(OS: We need to speed up our preparations. If... if Li Zhi really recovers, the prosperous era we're about to create will require a more lasting safe environment.)
At the New Year's Eve banquet, Chishong recited "New Year's Day" in broken Chinese.
Listening to the standard Luoyang Mandarin, Cheng Wuting whispered to Di Renjie, "This is more effective than an army of 100,000."
Wu Zetian raised her cup with a smile, her gaze sweeping over Li Zhi's back, which he was trying to straighten.
Taiping was climbing onto his lap to learn how to cut paper snowflakes. The small plum blossom pattern was exactly the same as the one her mother had drawn during the day.
(OS: Historical records state that Li Zhi died at the age of fifty-six, which is more than ten years away. Enough time for us to raise Princess Taiping, raise the princes, and stabilize the court... Wait, what am I thinking? If we can change the illness, why can't we change the lifespan?)
Snowflakes drifted past the plum branches outside the palace, and she quietly grasped Li Zhi's trembling hand hidden in his sleeve.
(OS: To hell with historical dramas! I want more than just two emperors ruling together; I want a true lifelong partnership.)
——
This empress desires both power and love.
by: Wu Mei Niang (Wu Wants Both)
When Li Zhi felt dizzy today, I almost broke my cinnabar brush.
(OS: The history books clearly say that he fell seriously ill in the sixth year of the Yonghui era, but it dragged on for two years. Does that mean I won?)
Looking at him leaning against the tatami mat, forcing a smile, I suddenly remembered that rainy day at Ganye Temple.
He held up an umbrella and said to me, "Meiniang, I'll give you half of my empire."
(OS: I thought it was just a sweet nothing back then, but who knew I'd actually be reviewing memorials until midnight every day.)
The Tibetan prince, Chisong, was quite amusing; he was easily bribed by Taiping using a tangram puzzle.
It seems that cultural infiltration is more effective than war; this deal is worthwhile.
(OS: Once all these vassal state heirs are turned into devoted fans of the Tang Dynasty, let's see who dares to rebel.)
Di Renjie always looked at me with a probing gaze, probably unable to understand why the Empress knew about the auditing of the Grand Canal.
(OS: Should I tell him that this is a skill I honed from being tormented by clients in my past life?)
What's most worrying is Li Zhi's health.
It took a combination of Sun Zhenren's acupuncture, the rehabilitation training I brought, and strict dietary control to barely stabilize the condition.
(OS: If history were to follow the course of events, he would have already let me rule from behind the curtain by now. But now... I'd rather he stay healthy forever.)
While reviewing memorials today, he quietly took my hand and said, "Meiniang, if I really..."
I immediately interrupted, "If Your Majesty dares to finish speaking, I will take Princess Taiping tomorrow to convert the grain transport into recreational boats, and we will go boating on the lake every day."
(OS: Just kidding, if I, Wu Zetian, set my sights on a man, not even the King of Hell can take him away.)
Cheng Wuting and the others said I was a hen crowing at dawn.
Ha, what do they know? I'm just helping my man relieve some of the pressure!
(OS: After all, the capable should do more, and besides, I'm a time traveler.)
I need to review the medical books again tonight; I refuse to believe I can't find a way to cure this ailment.
(OS: If you can change the course of history, why can't you change life and death?)
Li Hong, as the crown prince, was indeed intelligent and quick to understand.
When Taiping is a little older, we will teach her how to govern.
That way, my husband and I can sneak out of the palace and travel the world...
(OS: Wait, does this count as grooming a successor? Wu Zetian, you really are an ambitious woman.)
But what does it matter?
What I've always wanted is everything—the complete empire, and him completely.
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