Wu not merely working in the palace, but at the Emperor's side in a paddock, engaging him in conversation on his favourite subject, horses. Wu herself recounted a moment of teenage bravado: When I was serving Taizong, he had a grey horse called Shizicong [Dappled Lion]. It was such an unruly horse that nobody could tame him. I said: 'I can tame him, but I will require three things: a metal whip, an iron rod, and a dagger. I will whip him, then if it does not work, I will strike his neck with the stick and if that does not work, I will cut his throat with the dagger.' Taizong admired my spirit.
