Chapter 032: Paragon of Ruler and Minister

When Wang Bo left the imperial palace last time, Lian Nishang was kept behind. Wang Bo later guessed that Lian Nishang was very likely recruited by Wu Zetian, but as for the specific situation and whether Lian Nishang agreed, Wang Bo did not know.

After all, he is not a brilliant detective like Bruce Wayne with an exceptionally sharp mind.

He was merely an ordinary person with slightly better luck and a bit of cleverness, that's all.

For instance, he had not deduced that Lian Nishang would appear in his home today, and for the moment he could not fathom her purpose in coming.

"Someone wants to see you, right in your room," Lian Nishang said, setting down her teacup.

Wang Bo turned his head to glance at Liu'er and Yu'er; the two girls nodded, indicating that there was indeed someone in Wang Bo's room.

But they did not know who the mysterious person occupying Wang Bo's room was.

Wang Bo turned and walked toward his own room. Since the other party had already arrived, Wang Bo felt it would be impolite to avoid meeting them. Moreover, since they had already occupied his room, he had no choice but to see them.

But who exactly is this person?

As Wang Bo walked, he speculated that if Lian Nishang had truly been subdued by Wu Zetian, then this mysterious person occupying his room was very likely someone from the palace.

Was it Yuchi Zhenjin, or Eunuch Li, or perhaps someone else.

After thinking it over, Wang Bo quickly ruled out Yuchi Zhenjin. When they had fought in the imperial study, Wang Bo had beaten Yuchi Zhenjin severely, and with such injuries it would be difficult for him to get out of bed and walk for ten days to half a month.

Only a few days had passed; Yuchi Zhenjin should not have been in any condition to come see him.

Besides, as the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicature and Revision, even if he were to see me, he would not need to be so sneaky.

Therefore, Wang Bo was more inclined toward Eunuch Li.

Only those within the imperial palace would be so secretive, not wishing others to know their whereabouts, and even less wanting anyone to know what they have done.

After all, a place like the imperial palace is rife with endless schemes and intrigues; it is by no means a harmonious place.

Wang Bo pushed open his door, strode in, and saw a figure in a black robe sitting on a chair.

The room had no lights on, and this person, wearing a robe, kept their face hidden in the shadows. Even Wang Bo could not immediately tell who it was.

After all, he still didn't have X-ray vision.

Wang Bo closed the door, walked over, lit the candle, and after carefully sizing up the other person, couldn't help but be greatly startled.

"Why, it's you!"

In the flickering candlelight, a beautiful and charming face appeared before Wang Bo.

And this person, Wang Bo had seen inside the imperial palace.

It was none other than the present Heavenly Empress, Wu Zetian, who together with the Emperor is called the Two Sages.

"Who did you think it was?" Wu Zetian looked at Wang Bo and asked with a smile.

"Eunuch Li," Wang Bo answered truthfully.

“You were hoping the person coming to see you today would be Eunuch Li?” Wu Zetian said pointedly.

"I wish no one had come to see me today." Wang Bo knew all too well that whether it was Wu Zetian or Eunuch Li, their appearance here could only mean trouble.

And Wu Zetian appearing here was especially bad.

In the imperial palace, he and this Heavenly Empress had parted on extremely unpleasant terms. Had his martial arts not been unfathomably profound, Wu Zetian would likely have already ordered his execution.

But a few days later, she brought Lian Nishang to her own residence and quietly appeared alone in her room. Wang Bo would sooner be beaten to death than believe she had no scheme.

"Is there something you want from me?" Wang Bo asked unhappily.

Wu Zetian did not mince words and said straightforwardly, "I want you to help me find the Demon Pearl."

She did not use the royal 'we' here, clearly wanting to speak with Wang Bo as an equal.

"I don't have time," Wang Bo flatly refused.

“To the best of my knowledge, you are the owner of Tai’an Tavern, yet the tavern’s affairs are handled by the manager. You merely collect the profits each year and spend your days idling in the pleasure quarters. How dare you claim you have no time.”

Wang Bo looked at Wu Zetian seriously and said, “I do have time, but I won’t serve you. You haven’t forgotten, have you? We had such an unpleasant falling-out. I’m certain that right now you hate me to death. If you had the chance, you would never let me off.”

Wu Zetian couldn't help but laugh. "You're certainly a straightforward person."

She did not deny Wang Bo's words, because she knew that Wang Bo would absolutely not believe her excuses, and moreover, she herself indeed hated Wang Bo so much that she would gladly cut him into a thousand pieces.

But that did not stop her from lowering herself, currying favor with Wang Bo, and making use of him.

To be an emperor, one must possess such magnanimity and breadth of spirit.

This, she had learned from Li Shimin.

She had witnessed firsthand the relationship between Li Shimin and Wei Zheng back then.

One of these two was a model for emperors, the other a model for ministers; together they perfectly exemplified the ideal sovereign and subject. While Wei Zheng was alive, Emperor Taizong once said with his own lips that he would take Wei Zheng as his mirror, and he also took the initiative to arrange a marriage alliance with Wei Zheng's family.

But in reality, did Li Shimin truly regard Wei Zheng with such favor?

Others might not know, but could Wu Zetian not know?

In truth, Li Shimin's antipathy toward Wei Zheng far exceeded that toward any other minister.

And Wei Zheng showed Li Shimin no courtesy either.

During the seventeen years that Wei Zheng served under Emperor Taizong of Tang, he remonstrated over two hundred times, covering politics, economy, culture, foreign relations, and every other aspect; even the emperor's private life was a disaster zone ravaged by Wei Zheng's hand.

In other words, whatever Li Shimin approved of, Wei Zheng would oppose.

Every time it would provoke Li Shimin into a towering rage. And Li Shimin more than once said to the empress that sooner or later he would kill Wei Zheng. But later, before Li Shimin could strike the fatal blow, Wei Zheng died.

But before Wei Zheng's bones had even gone cold, Li Shimin unexpectedly changed his mind. Not only did he have the engagement between Princess Hengshan and Wei Zheng's son annulled, but in a fit of rage he personally smashed Wei Zheng's tombstone.

From this it can be seen that the relationship between Li Shimin and Wei Zheng was far less intimate than others perceived.

Yet while Wei Zheng lived, Li Shimin endured him all along, leaving behind a much-praised tale of the ideal sovereign and minister.

Wu Zetian also harbored a dream of becoming an emperor.

So she felt she could also learn from Li Shimin; even if she hated Wang Bo to death, she could still put him in an important position and use him to find the demon pearl.

After all, the matter of the demonic pearl is of grave importance; once it falls into the hands of rebels, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Wu Zetian would absolutely not let her personal feelings dictate her actions in this matter.

This much, she could still manage.

Although Wang Bo was not entirely clear on what Wu Zetian was thinking, upon hearing the other party praise his forthrightness, he could not help but sneer inwardly.

When the weasel pays the chicken a New Year's visit, it harbors no good intentions.

"Enough, go back," Wang Bo said calmly. "I will not help you search for the Demon Pearl, nor do I have the ability to find it. You are the Heavenly Empress, with vast resources at your command; a single word from you can mobilize tens of thousands to serve you."

"If even you can't find the Demon Pearl, how could I possibly find it alone?"

I think you're overthinking it.