Chapter 31: You Are Not Even Worth as Much as a Dog

"Please do not take offense, my two aunts. Chengqian is still young and does not know any better."

After sending Li Chengqian away, Empress Zhangsun immediately offered her apologies to Consort Zhang and Consort Yin.

Consort Zhang cast a glance at her and, using a veiled remark to point at the mulberry while cursing the locust tree, retorted, "The ancients said that when parents teach, one must listen with respect, and when parents scold, one must submit and follow. If a child is not taught well, it still reflects upon the parents..."

"Indeed, that child Chengqian simply lacks discipline!" Having been mocked by Li Chengqian for being old for the second time, Consort Yin could not help but show her indignation.

However, when Empress Zhangsun heard the two criticizing Li Chengqian, her brows suddenly furrowed. How she disciplined her own child was her business; did she need outsiders to chime in?

"Well, where were we? Oh, right, the new scent. Empress, have you noticed anything different about us today?"

Noticing the rare expression of displeasure on Empress Zhangsun's face, Consort Zhang quickly smiled and changed the subject.

Empress Zhangsun was slightly taken aback, then turned her head to sniff lightly. She immediately recognized a familiar scent and could not help but ask, "Is that soap?"

"Hehe, it seems the Empress has a discerning eye!" Consort Zhang teased with a smile, then looked around the room and sighed, "Although this is the same old place, it hardly feels like an Empress's bedchamber."

"I prefer simplicity; I do not fuss over such things," Empress Zhangsun replied with a polite smile.

"Er'lang is now the Emperor, and you are the Empress. Even if you don't fuss, you shouldn't let it reach the point of losing face!" Consort Yin interjected.

"Exactly!" Consort Zhang added with a smile. "You see, this soap—even if people outside want to buy it, they can't. Yet the palace maids in our Da'an Palace are all using it. What does that signify? It signifies the standards of the Imperial family!"

"Right! That is the true bearing of those who hold the world!"

"Back in the Jinyang Palace, Emperor Yang of Sui rarely visited, yet the Imperial standards were never lacking. Now that our Great Tang holds the world, surely the people in the Empress's palace shouldn't be unable to afford even soap..."

"Woof, woof, woof!"

Before Consort Zhang and Consort Yin could finish their sour remarks toward Empress Zhangsun, 'Ping'an,' who was held by Xiangling, suddenly began to bark. It broke free from Xiangling's arms and, wagging its tail, ran into Empress Zhangsun's embrace.

Although it was not moving very fast, the gust of fragrant air it stirred up filled the noses of Consort Zhang and Consort Yin entirely.

"What is that smell?" Consort Yin asked subconsciously.

Consort Zhang’s brows furrowed deeply, and she felt a vague sense of unease.

They watched as Empress Zhangsun stroked 'Ping'an' in her arms and said with a calm, unhurried smile, "Xiangling just gave it a bath. Perhaps it is the scent of the soap..."

Boom!

Upon hearing this, Consort Zhang and Consort Yin were struck as if by lightning. They felt a wave of shame and wished they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

What "extravagant Empress life"? She was actually using soap to bathe a dog!?

Are you saying we aren't even worth as much as your dog?!

This is too insulting!!

Originally, they had come to hold Empress Zhangsun accountable for cutting back on palace expenses, but now, having lost all face, they left in a dejected, scurrying fashion.

...

Elsewhere.

Zhangsun Wuji rushed to find Li Chengqian, informing him that the Prince of Yan, Li Yi, had rebelled. Emperor Li Er had ordered him to serve as the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force to suppress Li Yi.

Although Zhangsun Wuji knew this was a move to grant him merit so he could be promoted to Right Vice-Chancellor, it was his first time leading an army into battle, and he could not help but be nervous.

Thus, having just received notice from Du Ruhui, the Minister of War, he ran non-stop to find Li Chengqian, hoping for some advice.

Had it been before, he would have gone straight to Emperor Li Er, but now, his first thought was his eldest nephew. There was no helping it; his nephew was more miraculous than a prodigy.

"Chengqian, why aren't you saying anything! Your uncle is about to go receive the military tally!"

Seeing Li Chengqian silent, Zhangsun Wuji hurriedly urged him.

Li Chengqian frowned, then said with some helplessness, "Uncle, I know you are in a rush! But do not be anxious! Let me think a bit more!"

"Yes, yes, yes. You think, you think, your uncle is not in a rush!"

If this was a matter that made Chengqian ponder for so long, it must be fraught with unforeseen dangers; he could not rush him further. Otherwise, one wrong step would lead to another, and that would be troublesome. That was what Zhangsun Wuji thought.

After a while, Li Chengqian said solemnly, "Li Yi is not easy to deal with. Uncle, you do not need to fight him to the death; you only need to stop him from joining forces with the Turks!"

"And what if he has already joined forces with the Turks?"

"If that is the case, then Uncle, you are in grave danger!"

"Ah?"

Zhangsun Wuji was startled and quickly asked, "Then what should your uncle do? Chengqian, my good nephew..."

"Look at you, rushing again!"

"I..."

Zhangsun Wuji opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping himself. When it came to civil administration and schemes, he was proficient in everything, but he was truly not well-versed in warfare.

He then heard Li Chengqian suddenly say, "Uncle, do you know a man named Xue Wanche? If I ask you to choose him as your deputy general, would His Majesty agree?"

"Xue Wanche?"

Zhangsun Wuji was stunned, then waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, that won't do. He was a former subordinate of Li Yi. Although he has already surrendered to His Majesty, he previously helped the former Crown Prince..."

"Is Uncle afraid that his heart remains with his old master?" Li Chengqian interrupted.

"This..." Zhangsun Wuji sighed hesitantly, "One must be on guard, Chengqian!"

"No need to guard against him! He is not so unwise, or he would not have abandoned the darkness for the light." Li Chengqian shook his head and continued, "For him, this is the best opportunity to completely sever ties with the past. Besides, you and I know far less about Li Yi and Jingzhou than he does; even His Majesty likely knows less than him. So, why shouldn't Uncle have him go?"

"But..."

"Why does Uncle still not understand?" Seeing Zhangsun Wuji's hesitant look, Li Chengqian could not help but say with a sense of "wishing iron could become steel," "You are merely a civil official. Why does my father trust you to suppress the rebellion? It is because he trusts your insight! If you do not even have this bit of insight, how will you take your nephew to fly in the future!?"

"Take you to fly?"

"Fine, let us not speak of that. Let's just say you choose a general like Yuchi Gong or Hou Junji as your deputy. What would they think? Oh, they do the fighting, and you, Zhangsun Wuji, reap the merit. Who would do such a job?"

"However," Li Chengqian changed his tone, his voice becoming meaningful, "if you choose Xue Wanche, he will work tirelessly for you without complaint. In the future, perhaps he can even be cultivated into one of our own!"

"This..."

Zhangsun Wuji's eyes lit up. If he did not understand this, he would not be Zhangsun Wuji. His expression shifted, and he decided decisively, "Chengqian's words are all reasonable; your uncle has no reason not to listen to you! I will go report to His Majesty now and choose Xue Wanche as my deputy general!"

"Good!" Li Chengqian laughed heartily. "Your nephew will await your triumphant return in the palace!"

Hearing this, Zhangsun Wuji did not say another word and rushed directly toward the Taiji Palace.

Li Chengqian, watching him leave, slowly restrained his smile and murmured thoughtfully, "The fiercest general under Li Jiancheng—this debt of gratitude for recognizing his talent is much stronger than merely abandoning the darkness for the light!"

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something and slapped his forehead: "Almost forgot, there is still another fierce general with the surname Xue!"