Chapter Ten: Yang Guifei’s Jealousy and Rivalry

Not long after, a commotion arose outside the palace doors. Gao Buyi was puzzled. “Go see what’s going on,” he said.

Before Shangguan Peihui could move, a palace maid hurried in. Gao Buyi spoke gently, “Don’t panic. Tell me slowly.”

“Your Majesty, the Imperial Consort insists on seeing you. We couldn’t stop her—she’s already outside.”

Gao Buyi frowned slightly. “Doesn’t she know my orders?”

“She’s spoiled by your favor, after all,” thought Shangguan Peihui privately, though she wouldn’t dare utter such words. Instead, she bowed and said, “Her Grace is aware, but it seems she truly has urgent business.”

“I see. Let her in.”

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! What have I done wrong, that you would punish me so?” The Imperial Consort, blessed with beauty and in the prime of youth, now wept like a pear blossom in the rain.

She was about to rush forward, but Gao Buyi sprang up instantly. “Don't come any closer. If you have something to say, say it from there.”

His words gave the Imperial Consort pause. In the past, tears and tantrums would always win the Emperor’s comfort, but now he was clearly unmoved. This left her both surprised and uncertain.

Truth be told, even the loveliest woman loses her charm in a fit of hysterics. Seeing her halt, Gao Buyi calmly sat down again. “Enough tears. Speak your mind.”

She gathered her thoughts before saying, “I love lychees, but you stopped having them brought to me—I accept that, for it burdens the people. But you can’t take me for granted just because I relent; you can’t bully me endlessly.”

Gao Buyi was baffled, unsure what she meant. He kept his face stern. “Get to the point.” Women, he thought, mustn’t be coddled, or they’ll cry over nothing.

Sensing his displeasure, the Imperial Consort dared not continue her theatrics. This was, after all, the first time the Emperor had treated her so coldly. Remembering his odd behavior in recent days, she could only proceed cautiously. After fixing her makeup, she knelt and said, “I heard you intend to release Consort Mei. Is this my fault?”

“What are you talking about? Who is Consort Mei? And what’s it got to do with you?”

Both the Imperial Consort and Shangguan Peihui were stunned by his question. Was he truly suffering from amnesia? Consort Mei was once his favorite, until the Imperial Consort won his favor and Consort Mei was sent to the Cold Palace for failing to compete—she was, after all, the mother of the Fourteenth Prince.

Seeing the Imperial Consort’s jaw drop wide enough to fit an egg, Gao Buyi found himself even more perplexed. What had he said? Shangguan Peihui looked just as astounded. He couldn’t help but complain inwardly, “Women are so inexplicable.”

“Do you have anything else? If not, return to your quarters. And remember to follow palace rules—without order, there can be no harmony.”

The Emperor’s impatience alarmed the Imperial Consort. With his recent oddness, she began to suspect he truly did not remember. That would be disastrous.

“Does Your Majesty not remember me?”

“Are you ill? Aren’t you Yang Yuhuan? What’s wrong? If you’re unwell, see a doctor.”

“Then… do you remember anything about Consort Mei and me?”

“What could there be? Just jealousy, isn’t it? Families should live in harmony. Don’t stir up trouble over little things. Even if there are minor grievances, it’s not worth making a scene over. You all eat at the same table—what great enmity could there be? Consort Mei has suffered these years. I’ll promote her to Imperial Noble Consort. She deserves it. All right? Settle down, both of you. Manage the household well. If you were commoners, you’d both deserve a spanking for this nonsense. Enough, return to your quarters.”

He rattled off his commands, then ordered the Imperial Consort out. Back in her chambers, Yang Yuhuan could only puzzle over the Emperor’s behavior.

In the Hall of Purple Radiance.

“Hui’er,” Gao Buyi asked, “do you know what really happened between Consort Mei and the Imperial Consort?”

“Didn’t you just say?” she replied, uncertain.

“That was only my guess. Other than jealousy, what else could women feud over? I don’t recall the details. Tell me.”

You certainly know how to handle women, Shangguan Peihui thought, but assumed it was just a matter of poor memory with age. Softly, she recounted the story for him again.

“See? All this jealousy and bickering is exhausting. A bunch of idle women with nothing better to do. I must find them something worthwhile, or they’ll cause trouble every day.”

Shangguan Peihui dared not respond.

Gao Buyi had been in the Tang Dynasty for over ten days, and the one thing he truly appreciated was the efficiency. Under his orders, Lishi had already established a chain of exchange shops in populous cities like Chang’an, Luoyang, and Yangzhou. He’d asked Wang Sizhong to arrive before the Lantern Festival, but the man came a day early.

Before Wang Sizhong reached Chang’an, Prime Minister Li Linfu, frustrated by the recent palace reshuffling that left him unable to track the Emperor, learned of Wang Sizhong’s imminent arrival. He then instructed his subordinates to forge evidence of Wang’s supposed treachery, intending to present it to the Emperor himself.

To his dismay, the Emperor had decreed no audiences before the first New Year’s court session, rendering his evidence useless. Forced to submit his report through the Secretariat, it vanished without a trace.

After Gao Buyi’s sweeping reforms, even the palace guards knew nothing of the Emperor’s movements; threats and bribes alike were futile, for they truly did not know.

Now, the palace guard was divided into three shifts—front, middle, and rear—each led by its own general, with no authority over each other and forbidden to leave their posts. The three units supervised one another, with execution as the penalty for disobedience. Thus, save for the rear guard, the others knew nothing of palace events. The middle and rear guards were forbidden to leave the palace without orders.

Behind the rear guard stood a personal force of exactly one hundred men—hardened veterans handpicked by Geshu Han from the frontier under Gao Buyi’s orders, all highly skilled.

Moreover, all palace security was under the unified command of Chen Xuan, who answered directly to Gao Buyi.

Chen Xuan was a staunch loyalist to the former Emperor, Xuanzong. In history, he remained steadfast even during the An Lushan Rebellion, and it was thanks to Chen Xuan and his ilk that Xuanzong survived An Lushan’s pursuit.

When Wang Sizhong arrived, Gao Buyi dismissed everyone from the Hall of Purple Radiance, then smiled, “General, rise. I summoned you for a task.”

Wang Sizhong had already heard rumors of Li Linfu’s intrigues and had prepared to explain himself. But Gao Buyi went straight to the point, not mentioning the past at all, leaving Wang unsure how to proceed. He could only bow and say, “Your Majesty, I await your command.”

“You’ve long doubted An Lushan’s loyalty, haven’t you? I share your concerns. But that fat man wields great power at court—we must move against him slowly. If we act rashly, disaster could follow. I called you back for this very matter.”

At these words, Wang Sizhong dropped to his knees, terror and relief mingling in his heart. Heaven has finally opened its eyes, he thought. At last, His Majesty is clear-headed again. May he never return to confusion.