In fact, the reason why the Western Turks existed and were not destroyed by Li Er was that their greatest purpose was to restrain the Xueyantuo.

Since Li Jing destroyed the Turks on a snowy night in the fourth year of Zhenguan and captured the Khaganate Jieli alive, thus completely declaring the demise of the Turks, the former Turkic lands, livestock, and people were occupied by the Xueyantuo.

To prevent the Xueyantuo from becoming too powerful and turning into another threat after the Turks, Li Shimin sent envoys to invite the Western Turks, who had fled to the far west, back to the west. He then redivided the grasslands for them, making them a force to restrain the Xueyantuo.

At this time, the Tang Dynasty did not adopt a direct control strategy towards the Western Regions, but rather a policy of indirect control, which meant using people from the Western Regions to govern other people from the Western Regions, restraining them, and weakening their power so that they could not become a threat to the Tang Dynasty.

Currently, the most powerful force in the northern and western parts of the Tang Dynasty is the Xueyantuo tribe. Compared to the Xueyantuo, the Western Turks are simply inferior and have always been suppressed and beaten by the Xueyantuo.

Therefore, Wu Nushibi and others were very happy to learn that Yipi Shekui Khan's sworn brother was the eldest grandson of the Tang Dynasty.

As for the loss of 50,000 tented herders, they considered it insignificant.

While the Western Turks were singing and dancing, celebrating that they had finally found a powerful patron, Si Zi groggily woke up.

"Huh!"

"Nephew, this medicine is amazing! I only drank one bowl, and not only did my fever go down, but I also feel lighter than ever before!"

This is actually the analgesic effect of willow bark. After taking the medicine, you will no longer feel tired or in pain, and you will naturally feel light.

Sizi looked down at the silk ribbon in her hand and frowned as she asked the little panda in her arms.

Where is my eldest nephew?

"Waaaaah..."

Before long, Si Zi, carrying a panda with its tongue sticking out, captured Li Jue in Yu Chi Jingde's tent.

"Uncle Yuchi, when are we going home?"

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Jingde glanced at Li Jue standing to the side.

"Don't ask me, ask your nephew!"

"Nephew, let's go home tomorrow!"

"go home?"

"Will your dad chop your head off when you get home?"

"Don't worry, nephew. Your grandfather would never be willing to kill you. Otherwise, why would he send General Yuchi and 20,000 soldiers to welcome you?"

"well……"

Li Jue sighed inwardly.

"I still have 50,000 herders, I have to take them back with me..."

Si Zi replied indifferently upon hearing this.

"sure!"

"Your grandfather misses you so much. You've entrusted the relocation of the herders to your men and let them do it for you. You and I should hurry back!"

"this……"

Although Yuchi Jingde and Sizi both came to see Li Jue, Li Jue was still a little uneasy, afraid that he would not be able to adapt to his new identity.

"I'll think about it..."

Upon hearing this, Si Zi immediately became anxious.

"What are you still thinking about? If you go back to the Tang Dynasty, you'll be the Prince of Yong. Isn't that better than being a minor khan on the grasslands?"

This is the Tang Dynasty princess, a powerful ruler of 50,000 nomadic herders in the Western Regions, who in her words is merely a minor Khan...

Li Jue was immediately displeased upon hearing this.

He could reign supreme in the Western Regions, and even the Khan of the Western Turks couldn't control him. But what could he do if he returned to the Tang Dynasty? Be someone's grandson?

Thinking of this, Li Jue got up and left the tent, going straight to the outside of the camp. He sat on the grass on a hillside and gazed at the bright Milky Way.

Upon seeing this, Si Zi immediately led a group of guards out to chase after him. When they saw that his nephew had not gone far and was just sitting on the grass in a daze, he couldn't help but go over and sit next to him.

Are you scared?

"A little..."

"Afraid your grandfather will beat you?"

Li Jue shook his head upon hearing this.

"If it's just a beating, I think I'm tough enough to take it. But I'm afraid that if I go back to the Tang Dynasty, I'll be exiled or beheaded again for some inexplicable crime..."

“Aunt, you know that my father and mother are both dead. I don’t want to die an unjust death as well…”

Upon hearing this, Si Zi felt a pang of heartache and immediately embraced Li Jue tightly.

“Nephew, your aunt knows your grandfather wronged you, and your aunt apologizes on his behalf…”

"You may not know how grief-stricken your grandfather was when he learned of your father's death. Upon learning that you died in the fire, he didn't attend court for a month, spending his days in tears..."

"Actually, your grandfather also suffered a lot. He only wanted to protect his three beloved sons, but unfortunately, he still couldn't protect them in the end..."

Li Jue was slightly moved by these words, but he still had some concerns.

"Aunt, if I return to the Tang Dynasty, will I no longer be able to live as an ordinary citizen?"

"yes!"

"When you return to the Tang Dynasty, you will be the Prince of Yong, with a fief, a fief, and your own royal palace and subjects."

"If I do something wrong and make your father angry, will you plead for me?"

Of course!

"You saved my life, I'll protect you even if it costs me my life!"

"Thank you, Auntie. I agree to go back with you..."

“That’s wonderful! I’ll write to your grandfather right away and tell him the good news!”

A month later, Li Jue led more than a thousand men from the Sanglin Garrison and Princess Jinyang back to the Tang Dynasty.

As for Yuchi Jingde, he led 20,000 soldiers and 50,000 herdsmen to slowly make their way behind.

Taiji Palace.

Upon learning that his grandson and daughter had returned to Chang'an, Li Shimin immediately led his civil and military officials to greet them ten miles outside the Kaiyuan Gate!

As soon as Li Jue and his party crossed the Wei River Bridge, they saw a cluster of banners fluttering in the wind. As they approached, the sound of gongs and drums gradually began to rise.

"Nephew, this is all to welcome you!"

"Isn't this... a bit too much?"

"Should we pass?"

"As the eldest grandson of the Tang Dynasty, it is only right that civil and military officials welcome you."

With a heavy heart, Li Jue walked onto Ba Bridge. When he saw Old Li's familiar face, he suddenly felt a surge of grievance and resentment.

This old geezer has fooled me so badly! He even went so far as to hire someone to impersonate the emperor just to deceive me!

Upon seeing his long-lost grandson, Li Shimin excitedly stepped forward and embraced him tightly.

"You big brat, I've missed you so much! Waaaaah!"

"You old rascal, you really fooled me, waaaaah..."

"cheat?"

"I didn't dare to acknowledge you back then, for fear of hurting you!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jue looked at Old Li with confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Li Shimin smiled bitterly upon hearing this.

"Silly child, think about it. I'm already this old, and the crown prince has been established. If I rashly acknowledge you as my eldest grandson, how will you stand in front of the new emperor in the future?"

"this……"

"You old codger, if you acknowledge me now, will I be able to stand in the eyes of the new emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin smiled mysteriously and said...

"certainly!"

"I dare to acknowledge you back, naturally because I have a foolproof plan!"

"If the Crown Prince can tolerate you, that would be best; if he cannot..."

"Hmph!"

"Then I will change the crown prince!"