Taiji Palace, Two Yi Halls.

In just a few decades, Jingzhao Prefecture changed hands several times. The palace buildings and pavilions fell into disrepair and were burned down several times. They were no longer as grand and magnificent as they once were. The palace walls were mottled and traces of burning could be seen everywhere between the columns.

Li Xuanzhen followed behind the eunuch and slowly walked up the long stairs.

The first rays of morning light filtered through the thin clouds, pouring down on the empty corridors and halls. The vermilion arches, colorfully painted eaves, and green glazed tiles were shimmering with sparkling light.

Li De had a secret conversation with high-ranking officials in the Council of State in the inner hall.

The emperor and his ministers were discussing matters, and the eunuchs all retreated to the corridor outside the hall. A dozen people stood at the window sill for a long time, but not a single cough was heard.

Li Xuanzhen waited for a while, and then heavy footsteps were heard from the inner hall.

Before anyone was seen, Commander Pei's loud voice came out first: "Your Majesty risked his life to attack the Allen clan in order to subdue the other nine clans with force, not to send the princess to marry! If she wants to marry, then marry! The farther the better! Three thousand Wei soldiers were buried in the icy river to get the chance to negotiate with those barbarians, but she ruined it all!"

A few gentle voices interrupted Governor Pei's complaints, and whispered to him to stay calm.

Afterwards, several old men in purple official robes walked out, all with solemn expressions.

Walking in front was Prime Minister Zheng Yu.

When he saw Li Xuanzhen with dark circles under his eyes, he sighed, stopped and signaled others to go first.

Commander Pei stepped out of the doorway cursing. With the rest of his eyes he saw Li Xuanzhen. He looked haggard and his clothes were tattered. He realized that he had been locked up for a whole night because of Zhu Luyun and his mouth dropped open.

"Da Lang, you——"

Just as he was about to utter a few words, someone guessed his intention, immediately grabbed his arm and dragged him away.

Prime Minister Zheng stood in front of the corridor. After Commander Pei and his party had gone far away, he glanced at Li Xuanzhen with a gentle and deep look in his eyes.

"Your Highness, Princess Fukang is arrogant and capricious. As the crown prince, you should not have anything to do with her in the future."

His tone was calm, as if he was chatting casually, but there was a solemnity and majesty that came from the passage of time.

Li Xuanzhen said nothing.

Zheng Zai shook his head with a half-smile in his face and walked down the stairs slowly.

The eunuch invited Li Xuanzhen into the hall.

Brilliant sunlight streamed into the inner hall through the half-open rows of bright green windows, casting half-bright, half-dark silhouettes through the swaying brocade tents. A gilded incense burner with a lion-like head sat in front of the dragon table, spewing out mist, and the air was filled with a faint scent of green tulips.

Li Xuanzhen entered the hall and walked to the dragon table.

Documents and memorials were piled up like a mountain on the desk. Vermilion pens, inkstones, pen piles, paper weights, and water pots were crowded in a corner. Book boxes were piled up in a mess.

Li De was holding a scroll of notes in his hand and reading it.

The minister's handwriting was beautiful and neat, but the font was very small, so he had to squint his eyes to get closer, and wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes.

A beam of light cut obliquely across his weathered and sun-bathed face, and his temples, wrapped in a black turban, were as white as fresh snow.

At first glance, the founding emperor of the Wei Dynasty looked like an ordinary old man, gentle and kind, and very old.

After he finished reading the list, he slowly raised his eyelids. In just a moment, the floating light in the entire inner hall seemed to be focused on him.

He sat there, looking at Li Xuanzhen quietly without saying a word. There was a gleam of light in his bottomless black eyes, which made people feel as if they dared not look at him closely.

Li Xuanzhen looked at his father and couldn't help but think of the things his mother often talked about when she was alive.

Li De was the illegitimate son of the Li family. His biological mother was a maid and he had a rough childhood. However, he was born with a unique face, picturesque features, and a romantic temperament.

There was a saying among people at that time: Li Lang of Wei County is unparalleled in the world.

When Li De was 24 years old, he accompanied the elders of the clan to a banquet. He was wearing an ordinary white robe. While others looked shabby and plain, he looked elegant and graceful.

The eldest lady of the Tang family happened to be at the table as well. She took one look at Li De and couldn't take her eyes off him.

A few years later, Li De's army was defeated and he came to the gate of Xie's mansion to seek help. He rode his horse across the plank bridge under Jingnan City. He was wearing a plain shirt that was neither new nor old, and he was thin and haggard. However, he was still able to make the eldest daughter of Xie family fall in love with him at first sight.

Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian both inherited Li De's beautiful eyes, but in terms of grace and elegance, they were not as good as Li De when he was young.

Li De's cousin once said that both nephews looked a bit like Li De, but Li Xuanzhen was reserved and gloomy, lacking some of Li De's heroic spirit, while Li Zhongqian was moody and violent, and lacked the gentleness and calmness that came from Li De's generosity.

She also said that among the children of the Li family, only Li Yaoying did not have pierced eyes. She looked the least like a member of the Li family, but she was naturally beautiful and had the same kind of charm that Li De had when he was young.

The young Li De was admired by countless noble ladies.

Time flies, and nearly twenty years have passed in a flash. The years have left traces of wind and frost on his face, but have not damaged his complexion at all, but have only made him more gentle and soft.

He was born with a good appearance that makes people unable to hate him, but he is actually very cold-hearted.

The father and son looked at each other for a moment.

Li De asked, "Have you figured it out?"

Li Xuanzhen did not answer but asked: "Has His Majesty issued an edict to grant me marriage?"

Li De's eyes flashed with disappointment, and he lowered his head to unfold another pile of scrolls: "I cannot break my promise to the world. Since Zhu Luyun is determined to get married, I will let her get what she wants."

Li Xuanzhen clenched his fists and said, "What if I don't agree?"

Li De said without raising his head: "Zhangnu, this is a matter of state, don't act so willfully."

Li Xuanzhen said: "It is a state affair, but also a family affair."

Li De raised his head, his eyes were deep and full of reproach: "State affairs, family affairs, world affairs, which one is more important? Which one is less important? Is a mere woman worth it for you to do this?"

Li Xuanzhen was silent for a while, with a sarcastic smile on his face.

"Just a woman."

He repeated it, every word piercing his blood.

Reed looked away.

That year, Li De kept his promise and married Xie Manyan, but Tang Ying suddenly appeared and made a scene at the wedding banquet.

Li De, dressed in military uniform, glanced at Tang Ying, who had a determined look on her face, then looked at his loyal subordinates in the court, with a look of hesitation on his face.

The military advisor appeared beside him and whispered, "General, the alliance between the Li and Xie families has been concluded."

Li De closed his eyes, thinking of the tens of thousands of Wei soldiers who died in battle because of his recklessness, of his cousin who was killed while escorting him to break out of the siege, of the soldiers who were emaciated from hunger, and of the Xie family's warehouses filled with food.

"Just a woman."

He murmured, turning and taking the grateful hand.

When he was young, Li De was arrogant and thought he could handle the disputes within the palace.

In the past, Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Wen, offended Huo Guang because of his deep love for his wife, Xu Pingjun, who died tragically at the hands of Mrs. Huo. Although he later secured the throne and avenged Xu Pingjun, he could never bring back his wife who had supported him through thick and thin.

Li De is confident that he will not become Liu Xun.

It is even less likely that Tang Ying will become the second Xu Pingjun.

He could use the power of the aristocratic family to strengthen his strength while protecting his wife and son, gradually weakening the aristocratic family. When he ascended the throne, Tang Ying would definitely be the empress.

If you want to be an official, you should be the Imperial Guards, and if you want to marry, you should marry Yin Lihua.

Yin Lihua waited for seventeen years and became the empress of the country.

However, Tang Ying died in a fire before the day Li De ascended the throne.

She left a last letter, each word was sharp and powerful enough to penetrate the paper: My dear husband, I bow three times to you. Today I am done with you. I hope that we will never see each other again in this life, no matter whether it is heaven or hell!

Green smoke swirled in front of the beast-head incense burner, with a fresh and fragrant aroma.

Li De slowly unfolded a memorial, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

After reading the suicide note that day, the heart-wrenching pain once again came over me.

He should have thought of it earlier. Tang Ying had a strong temper. How could she be as knowledgeable and sensible as Yin Lihua and endure with him for more than ten years?

When she found out that he had married Xie, she had already wanted to leave him. The reason she endured it and stayed with him was all for Li Xuanzhen.

It was also for Li Xuanzhen that she burned herself to death and the child in her womb.

Mother and son, two lives lost in one body.

Li De was distracted for a moment, "Zhangnu, state affairs come first. You are the heir apparent of a country, so you must remember your identity."

Li Xuanzhen was unmoved and sneered: "Your Majesty, you adopted Yunniang, condoned her, and used her. She ruined your plan, and you reaped the consequences."

Li De smiled. Although his hair was grey, his charm remained the same when he smiled. "I never made things difficult for her. I gave her whatever she wanted. Now she wants to marry into the Yelu tribe, and I agreed."

Li Xuanzhen looked calm.

It was indeed Zhu Luyun who caused the incident, and the fault lies with Zhu Luyun.

He was also wrong. He thought Zhu Luyun was jealous for a while and let her guard down. He didn't expect that she would get involved with the Hu people.

The only solution for now is to do as the Crown Princess said. Since there is no way to stop the marriage, then we must find a way to save Zhu Luyun.

Li Xuanzhen sorted out his thoughts and said, "Your Majesty, have you ever thought about why the Yelu tribe insisted on marrying Yunniang?"

Li De's expression was slightly gloomy.

Li Xuanzhen continued, "Your Majesty used gold, silver and treasures to impress Chief Yelu, so he brought his sons to the capital to pay tribute. Now Chief Yelu is deliberately making things difficult for you in order to marry Yunniang, inciting other tribes and putting pressure on the court. What on earth is there in Yunniang that is worth the Yelu tribe taking such a big risk?"

Li De said nothing, but his eyes were shining.

Li Xuanzhen knew that his goal had been achieved.

"It is too risky to let Yunniang marry into the Yelu tribe. If Yunniang joins forces with the Yelu tribe to attack Chang'an, will Chang'an be able to defend it? Or, if the Yelu tribe recruits soldiers and horses under the banner of Zhu's son-in-law, what should Your Majesty do?"

Li De frowned.

Li Xuanzhen said calmly: "Before you figure out Chief Yelu's purpose, Your Majesty had better change a candidate for marriage. As for Yunniang, she is indeed too ignorant of the seriousness of the matter. I will discipline her and will never let her appear in front of the Saint again."

Li De pondered for a moment, waved his hand and asked Li Xuanzhen to leave.

Li Xuanzhen left the Liangyi Hall and immediately went to the Princess's Mansion to see Zhu Luyun who was under house arrest.

The Chief Secretary had been waiting outside the palace gate for a long time and came forward to greet him.

Before he could open his mouth, Li Xuanzhen whipped his horse whip and sped away in a cloud of dust.

The Chief Secretary sighed deeply.

…

The princess's mansion was heavily guarded, with three layers of Jinwu guards inside and three layers outside, guarding every layer. Even the inner courtyard was dotted with soldiers.

As Li Xuanzhen walked inside, he carefully observed his surroundings and completely gave up the idea of ​​kidnapping Zhu Luyun and sent her away quietly.

The sentries are too dense.

Zhu Luyun sat with her long hair loose, hugged her legs and worked all night, her eyes swollen from crying.

Li Xuanzhen strode into the room, grabbed Zhu Luyun's hand, pulled her up, and asked in a sharp voice: "Who instigated you?"

Zhu Luyun staggered for a moment, raised her face, and smiled with tears in her eyes: "No one instigated me! I just want to marry! I don't want to be entangled with you anymore! I will marry far away and go to find my aunt. She is my only relative in this world. From now on, you can get rid of me. I wish you and the Crown Princess will love each other forever."

Li Xuanzhen reluctantly let go of her hand and rubbed his brows: "Yunniang, tell me honestly, what did you exchange with the Yelu tribe? Why did they want to marry you?"

How could she get to know the people of the Yelu tribe without someone to help her?

Li Xuanzhen didn't know what the Yelu tribe's purpose was, but he was sure of one thing: Zhu Luyun was being used again.

She has been a chess piece in Li De's hands all these years. Now she wants to escape the fate of being a chess piece, but she has fallen into another trap.

He had to stop her, otherwise, given her personality, how much suffering would she have to endure without his protection?

Zhu Luyun wiped her eyes and said, "Don't meddle in my business!"

Li Xuanzhen's forehead was throbbing with veins. "Do you really want to marry into the grassland tribe? Do you know that Chief Yelu is already over sixty years old? They are barbarians with wild customs. The son inherits the throne after the father dies. Except for the mother, all other women are concubines of the new chief! They live wherever there is water and grass, and have no fixed place to live. When the grass and water are lush, they can barely eat enough. If they can't eat enough, they will herd horses in the Central Plains and rob the people. Do you know where their women live? What do they eat? What do they wear?"

He had never lost his temper in front of Zhu Luyun before. After a series of questions, Zhu Luyun was speechless. She twisted her body in anger, fell down in front of the bed, covered her face and cried.

While crying, she kept saying, "Don't bother me, don't bother me! From now on, I, Zhu Luyun, will draw a clear line between myself and you, the Li family! Whether I live or die, it has nothing to do with you!"

Li Xuanzhen looked at Zhu Luyun and felt deeply tired.

He thought of her mother, that poor woman, holding him tightly, her burned face full of pleading.

"If I don't take care of you, who will?"

Li Xuanzhen sighed, turned and left.

The chief historian chased after the princess and asked, "Your Highness, what did the emperor say?"

Li Xuanzhen climbed onto his horse and said solemnly, "The emperor is suspicious of the Yelu tribe. He will agree to replace them."

The chief historian let out a long sigh.

The emperor acquiesced, and the next challenge was the Yelu tribe.

Who can impress Chief Yelu if he goes to marry the princess?

The author has something to say: Thanks to the little angel who cast the mine: Bai Zhou Meng Zhou

Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: Mo Zhaoyu;