Disclaimer: Chang Ge Xing belongs to Xia Da. Special thanks to xNightDreamerx for beta-ing.
Truth in Wine
© 2015
If you walk on snow, you cannot hide your footprints.
Legally deceased. A dormant threat. They wished for her to silently disappear, retreat peacefully into the countryside and away from the heart of Tang.
She had fallen out from her path of vengeance, and sought out what she truly wished for. It had not been easy, for she was a threat to the dynasty with formidable emissaries seeking out her head to present to their master. Chang Ge had two options spread out for her, and she could have chosen the easy way out-lay low meekly, not attempting to exacerbate the situation; leaving the black blots of her wrongs toward the dynasty stay stagnant, not letting it bleed across like a horrible plague on the scroll of her life.
However, Li Chang Ge simply was not the person to lay low and live peacefully. She yearned to redeem herself. Not to the dynasty, but to the people. Smothering the black of her past with a cathartic white coat of altruistic deeds was the true challenge.
Thirteen years did not weather her resolve. After finding a new path, one that had resonated with the wishes of her heart, she had tried to assure her pursuers many times over with valiant feats that compromises no such harm to the empire, even aiding it to its present glory. Tang then had to struggle from threats within and without. While her second uncle brought his house to order, she initiated chaos in the empire's enemies.
Spring of 629, she had brazenly breached enemy territory to wake Du Ruhui as he slept, blade to his neck, to discuss matters over tea before disappearing into the shadows with none of his men the wiser. Simply put, he was a stubborn old ox and ceaselessly sought after her even then. His retreat due to illness did not falter his search. A year after, she stood by his bed side, the shortest of moments where no visitors meandered. They traded idle chatter to agreeable chuckles, The chancellor too weak to remove himself from bed, and his invader leaning by a window, throwing occasional glances outside. They talked about the cherry blossom's bloom. Chang Ge mentioned the impending operations on purging the Turks while Du Ruhui demanded to know how far the chain of plans she laid had spread, whom she met, whom she influenced, whom she inadvertently enticed into pledging their loyalty.
"Governor Gong Sun Heng. Yanhang Men. Jiali Khan's adopted son. Liu Yun temple-I knew it was you. Xueyantuo. Pusa Ilteber of Uyghur." Du Ruhui's laugh was but a weak wheeze. "I used to yen for enlightenment when I was young, but when I met the Prince of Qin, enlightenment ceased to matter. I knew the path I would follow was with him,"
Chang Ge didn't speak, watching the wisps of smoke from the burning incense.
"They say beauty is the wisdom of women, and wisdom is the beauty of men," he said, eyes unfocused, "Which one are you?"
"I am both," she said, "But I am neither,"
"I am Li Chang Ge, and I do not let my gender define me,"
He was silent before he laughed until he coughed. "Who could possibly trust one who defies their gender?"
"There are those who trust me despite that. You can, too,"
The Chancellor paused, the mirth dying as he closed his eyes and said with finality. "Retreat for the night, Li Chang Ge."
The next morning, news of Chancellor Du's passing doused the imperial palace in a mournful lethargy. Chang Ge knew his response when Hao Dou appeared before her, pledging his life. No achievement made her prouder.
