Chapter 79: Ruthless Extermination (Part Two)

Empress Wu and the Wu brothers, Wu Weiliang and Wu Huaiyun, were cousins, sharing the same grandfather and thus closely related by blood. Yet their relationship was more akin to sworn enemies, and the reasons for this ran deep. Wu’s father, Wu Shihuo, was one of the founding heroes of the Tang dynasty, ennobled as Duke of Ying of the First Rank, and shared a close friendship with Gaozu Li Yuan. In the sixth year of the Wude era, Wu Shihuo’s first wife passed away. Through the personal mediation of Gaozu Li Yuan, he married Lady Yang as his second wife, with whom he had three daughters—the second of whom would become Empress Wu.

After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Wu Shihuo, having chosen the wrong side, was pushed out of court and ultimately died as governor of Jingzhou in the ninth year of the Zhenguan era. Lady Yang, with her three daughters, returned to their native Wenshui, seeking refuge with their uncles and cousins. Unexpectedly, instead of offering any support, the Wu brothers not only refused to help but even colluded with Wu Hou’s two half-brothers to bully the widowed Lady Yang and her daughters. Among them, the most beautiful, Wu Hou herself, suffered the greatest humiliation. The bitterness she endured was unspeakable to outsiders. It was precisely for this reason that Wu Hou never forgave these brothers; to say she wished for their complete destruction would be no exaggeration. She simply awaited her moment, forced to swallow her hatred—until now, when the perfect opportunity for revenge finally presented itself, and Wu Hou was determined not to let it slip away.

“Well, very well. All your filial piety is in that bowl of tofu. I must thank you properly for it,” Wu Hou said coldly, fixing the tearful and pleading Wu brothers with a chilling stare. After a long silence, she spoke, enunciating each word with undisguised murderous intent.

“No, no, Your Majesty! I swear to Heaven, I did not poison it! Your Majesty, I have been wronged, truly—!” Wu Weiliang, sobbing uncontrollably, sensed the danger in Empress Wu’s words. Panic overtook him, and crawling forward on his knees, he desperately swore his innocence, tears and snot streaming down his face.

“Imperial Guards, hear my command! Seize these traitorous rebels, and execute them!” Wu Hou gave him no chance to approach, nor did she intend to listen to any further protest. With a wave of her hand and a face like frost, she issued the order in an icy tone.

“At once!”

At the Empress’s command, the waiting officers and soldiers of the Imperial Guards dared not hesitate. Responding loudly, several soldiers surged forward, determined to seize the Wu brothers without delay or mercy.

“Innocent, Your Majesty! I am innocent—!” Wu Weiliang, so terrified that he wet himself, wailed desperately, his voice hoarse. But the Imperial Guards paid him no heed, dragging him off the dais. Wu Huaiyun, somewhat bolder, seeing that escape was impossible, relied on his martial skills to resist the soldiers, struggling fiercely. As he fought back, he cried out, “We are senior officials of the court! Without trial, how dare you execute us? This is treason! Treason!”

“Rebels and traitors deserve death at the hands of all! Why are you standing around? Seize them, drag them out, and behead them!”

Wu Huaiyun’s outburst made a few of the guards hesitate, and the situation threatened to spiral out of control. Wu Hou’s expression darkened, and she barked another order, utterly without pity. At her anger, the guards no longer dared to hold back. Shouting, they threw themselves into their task, quickly overpowering Wu Huaiyun, hoisting him up, and dragging him out of the hall.

“You filthy whore! Incestuous slut—you’ll die a wretched death! Why didn’t I kill you myself all those years ago, you foul—!”

Unlike Wu Weiliang, who only begged for mercy as he was pinned to the ground, Wu Huaiyun hurled a torrent of vile curses. Yet he had barely finished before a guard swung his blade in a flash of steel, and with a strangled scream, Wu Huaiyun’s head rolled to the floor, a spurt of dark blood shooting skyward from the stump of his neck, splattering onto the thin layer of snow and staining it a jarring crimson.

“Second brother! Second brother! Ah—!”

Witnessing his brother’s grisly death, Wu Weiliang, shocked, found some hidden strength and managed to break free from the guards’ grip. Leaping up, he frantically tried to rush toward Wu Huaiyun’s corpse. But it was a vain hope. Before he could take another step, a quick-witted guard slashed him across the waist, cleaving him in two.

Execution by waist-cutting—second only in cruelty to death by a thousand cuts—meant certain death, but not instantaneous. The victim, split in half, suffered agonies both physical and mental, a fate too gruesome for words. Poor Wu Weiliang, by a twist of fate, suffered just such a blow: his body severed, his lower half still, his upper half thrashing and wailing in the snow, his piercing screams echoing through the night and sending shivers down the spine of all who heard them. Even Li Xian, brave as he was, turned pale at the sight, while Li Xian’s brother fared even worse, his face ashen, legs shaking uncontrollably. Only Wu Hou appeared unmoved; far from being shocked, her taut features now glowed with the satisfaction of vengeance fulfilled.

“Oh, heavens—!”

“Husband! Oh, my husband!”

“Father! Father!”

…

Those present at the banquet that night were of the highest status. Among the Wu family, only the brothers Wu Weiliang and Wu Huaiyun, as hosts, were permitted to remain in the main hall. The rest were not even allowed near it. Even the grown sons, Wu Youning and Wu Youji, at most could dine with accompanying officials, while the wives and concubines only appeared during the welcoming ceremony, spending the rest of their time sequestered in the rear quarters. When calamity struck in the main hall, the Wu family rushed over, but were all kept at a distance by the Imperial Guards, unable to approach or see what was happening inside. It was only after the imperial entourage hastened away that the family realized something terrible had occurred. Voices murmured in anxious speculation, clinging to a sliver of hope. But no sooner had the emperor departed than the Wu brothers lay dead, their bodies warm. In their outrage, the family began to push and shout at the guards, and the scene threatened to spiral out of control.

“Mother, it is late and dark; there may be danger. I beg you to return to the palace at once,” Li Xian, long aware that the Wu brothers would not survive, was nonetheless shaken by the horror of Wu Weiliang’s execution. Seeing the Wu family crowd growing agitated, he set aside his shock and, stepping forward, bowed to the Empress with urgent advice.

“Danger? I would like to see just what danger there might be. Don’t fret, Xian’er. Your mother is here; nothing will get out of hand!” Wu Hou, still savoring her revenge, seemed utterly unconcerned by the chaos outside and failed to catch the subtle hint in Li Xian’s words. She only curled her lip in disdain and gave a cold snort.

Frightened? What would I have to fear? You’ve killed more than your share, after all. Hmph! Though this was the first time Li Xian had seen such bloodshed in this life, in his previous life he was no stranger to such scenes. His initial shock at Wu Weiliang’s execution quickly faded, and the startled look he wore now was merely a ploy—hoping to prod Wu Hou into eliminating the rest of the Wu clan. But seeing her engrossed in vengeance and missing his unspoken suggestion, he felt helpless. Yet, unwilling to give up on rooting out the Wu sons, and unable to speak too plainly, he could only bow again: “Mother, your wisdom is beyond compare. With you here, I have nothing to fear. Only…”

“Hm? Xian’er, if you have any concerns, speak freely,” said Wu Hou, noticing his hesitation and softening her tone with a quick flicker of suspicion.

“Mother, tonight’s events came so suddenly and with so many suspicious points. The court has not yet investigated, yet the accused are already dead. If some fool tries to plead their case, it could mislead the people. Therefore, I believe it unwise for you to remain here. If you trust me, may I handle matters in your stead?” Li Xian, already having planned his words, quietly moved closer to Wu Hou and reported in a low voice.

“Oh? You are thoughtful indeed, my son. I am very gratified. And how, pray, do you intend to handle matters? Tell me your plan,” Wu Hou replied. She’d had her own reasons for executing the Wu brothers on the spot, but such justifications would not silence public opinion. Though she cared little for idle gossip, she would avoid trouble if she could. Li Xian’s volunteering thus intrigued her, but she pressed for details rather than immediately agreeing.

“Mother, with your insight, you will see that though the culprits are dead, the case must still be investigated. A conspiracy of this magnitude cannot be treated lightly; it must be prosecuted thoroughly, with all evidence—testimony and material—secured as soon as possible. The matter is complicated, and I would not wish you to be burdened. Please allow me to take on this task,” Li Xian replied, his concern for Wu Hou’s reputation seeming entirely genuine.

“Mother, I too wish to help my brother shoulder this responsibility. Please grant your approval,” stammered Li Xian’s brother, finally regaining his composure and, as previously instructed by Li Xian, quickly stepped forward to request the assignment.

“Oh?”

Wu Hou’s scheme this night had aimed to kill three birds with one stone. Now, the greatest threats—Helan Minyue and her mother, as well as the most detested Wu brothers—were dead, and her main objectives achieved. Her third aim, to teach the Li brothers a lesson, was thwarted by Li Xian’s quick thinking. She remained wary, suspecting the brothers might make an issue of the Wu brothers’ hasty deaths. Yet their volunteering for the aftermath made her even more suspicious. Still, their proposal was not without merit, and Wu Hou, unable to decide immediately, gave a short grunt and furrowed her brow in contemplation…