Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 145 Your second uncle is Li Bai, and your eldest uncle is Huo Qubing! [Seeking monthly votes]

"Brothers, capture the princess and bestow upon her the title of Duke!"

Commander Wang Maozhong of the Ten Thousand Cavalry followed Princess Taiping all the way to Daozhengfang. He wanted to see what kind of ugly behavior this arrogant princess would show when she got tired of running, but he did not expect that she would turn a corner and enter the Taoist temple in Daozhengfang.

Eager to make a name for himself, Wang Maozhong planned to rush in and capture Princess Taiping to claim the credit without saying a word.

The deputy beside him reminded him:
"This is the Yiyuan Temple. His Majesty personally attended the consecration ceremony..."

Wang Maozhong remained unmoved:
"Regardless of one's beliefs, harboring a wanted criminal is a serious crime. If we storm in and kidnap Princess Taiping, the title of Duke will be within our grasp!"

After saying that, he shouted at Li Bai, who was blocking the doorway:
"Get out of my way, little brat, or I'll tie you up and execute you too!"

Three hundred heavily armored cavalry charged in a wedge formation, their intimidation overwhelming. But Li Bai showed no fear, standing like a javelin at the gate of Yiyuan Temple, his token held high.

"This temple is a place of quiet cultivation; weapons are strictly prohibited inside!"

Wang Maozhong snorted:
"You little brat, how dare you block my way? You're asking for trouble!"

As he spoke, the clear sky suddenly became overcast, and thunder could be faintly heard from deep within the clouds.

Wang Maozhong continued charging forward, and just as he was about to reach the entrance of Yiyuan Temple, a whip suddenly lashed his face, nearly knocking him off his horse.

Prince Shen, Li Chengyi, rode up on horseback, carrying a long whip, and launched into a tirade of abuse at Wang Maozhong:
"What kind of dog are you, daring to bark at my gate? Take your people and get out of Daozhengfang, or I'll chop off your head and send your wife, daughters, and concubines to brothels. I might even patronize one myself, raising your wife and daughters' value a bit..."

Li Chengyi's words enraged Wang Maozhong, but he quickly calmed down.

As the commander of ten thousand cavalry, no matter how justified he was, clashing with the emperor's brother would mean certain death... Moreover, Li Chengyi still had the favor of relinquishing the throne, so even if he made a serious mistake, Li Longji would forgive him.

After much deliberation, Wang Maozhong had no choice but to admit defeat. Covering his swollen face, he led his 10,000 cavalrymen away from Daozhengfang. However, they did not return to the palace to report back. Instead, they guarded the several entrances and exits of Daozhengfang, not believing that Princess Taiping could grow wings and fly away.

Inside the main hall of Yiyuan Temple, Granny Gongsun pointed her phone camera at Princess Taiping:
“If there’s anything you want to say to your mother, you can say it now. I can take a picture and bring it over there so that Sister Meiniang can answer it… Strictly speaking, Sister Meiniang shouldn’t be considered your mother, because she’s only twenty years old, far from the age to give birth to you.”

Upon hearing this, Princess Taiping's face softened with warmth:
"As far back as I can remember, my mother was never one to smile and often got angry... I've never seen her when she was twenty, she must have been extremely beautiful."

Gongsun Da Niang said shamelessly:
"Among the three sisters, she has the best figure, Sister Zhao'er is elegant and charming, and as for me, I only have an ordinary, unremarkable appearance."

Princess Taiping felt as if she had opened the door to a new world:

"Who is this Sister Zhao'er you're talking about?"

"Li Qingzhao of the Song Dynasty, a person from hundreds of years after the Tang Dynasty... I'll talk about these things when I get back. Talk to your mother first. I'm starting to record now."

The girl pressed the record button and started filming Princess Taiping...

Princess Taiping was over 1.7 meters tall and had a full and robust figure. In her youth, she was considered a standard plus-size beauty.

When she came of age, the Tibetan Empire sought her hand in marriage, but Princess Taiping refused. Empress Wu Zetian also thought it was too far away and worried that it would be unfair to her daughter, so she rejected the marriage proposal on the grounds that her daughter was seeking immortality and would not marry.

She bestowed upon her daughter the Taoist name Taiping, and built her a Taoist temple and a princess mansion covering more than 200 acres in Luoyang, showering her with the utmost favor.

Now, the princess who refused to marry into Tibet is nearly fifty years old, and the marks of time are on her face, but her power remains, and she can even be said to be the most powerful princess in the entire Tang Dynasty.

Facing the camera, Princess Taiping spoke of the feeling of being held in her mother's arms as a child, and the many lessons she learned from her mother as she grew up...

At the main gate of Yiyuan Temple, Li Chengyi, watching the gradually receding dark clouds in the sky, wiped the sweat from his brow and asked:

"If I hadn't intervened, would I have witnessed divine lightning descending from the sky?"

Li Bai nodded:

"The Master's sacred grounds are not to be violated. Anyone who dares to offend them will surely die a horrible death."

Li Chengyi didn't like Wang Maozhong, and angrily clenched his fist:
"You've been diligent this time, but in the wrong way... The steamed dumplings are almost done. Should you come over to eat them later, or should I bring them over?"

Li Bai said:

"Bring it here; we have distinguished guests at Yiyuan Temple today."

My niece came to visit, and although she came empty-handed, we still had to prepare a table for her.

Li Chengyi nodded:
"Okay, I'll bring it over when it's done cooking."

He strode home, whip in hand, while Li Bai put away his token, picked up his sword, and returned to the main hall of Yiyuan Temple. Only after Princess Taiping finished recording the video did he speak:

"Wang Maozhong was whipped away by Li Chengyi, so no one will bother him for the time being."

Granny Gongsun put away her phone and pointed to Li Bai, introducing him as follows:
"Little Taiping, this is your second uncle."

Princess Taiping knelt on the prayer mat and asked with a smile:
"Why my second uncle? Don't I have an eldest uncle?" "Yes, your eldest uncle is Huo Qubing."

Princess Taiping: "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

It seems my mother has made quite a few friends in that fairy-like abode!

Granny Gongsun shouldered her backpack and instructed her niece:
“Little Taiping, stay at Yiyuan Temple and no one will do anything to you. I’m going to find your mother. When I come back, you will see the Empress’s stunning beauty at the age of twenty.”

After saying that, she took a step and disappeared into thin air. Princess Taiping did not expect that going to the Immortal Realm would be so simple. She had many questions she wanted to ask, but she felt that there was no need to ask them.

She sat down and saw the text of the "Taishang Ganying Pian" (Treatise on the Response of the Supreme Being) next to her. She picked it up and began to read it silently. The more she read, the more she felt that it made sense. Her originally uneasy and restless heart gradually calmed down.

On the other side, as soon as Granny Gongsun appeared in Hunyuan Palace, she followed the aroma of stewed pork ribs to the dining room:
"Sister Meiniang, hurry, hurry, my niece recorded a video for you, she has a lot to say to you."

Wu Meiniang put down her chopsticks and asked curiously:
"The niece you're referring to is Princess Taiping?"

"Yes, today the eldest grandson suddenly made a move and wiped out Xiao Taiping's henchmen. Xiao Taiping fled to Daozhengfang and took refuge in Yiyuan Temple. The commander of the 10,000 cavalry, Wang Maozhong, led his troops to attack Yiyuan Temple, but was scolded away by the eldest grandson, Li Chengyi... It's all his fault for making a rash move, otherwise we would have seen Wang Maozhong struck by lightning."

The girl tossed her phone to Wu Meiniang, then served herself a large bowl of rice without a word, before picking at some fragrant stewed ribs and green beans, ready to feast.

I didn't get to try the steamed dumplings at Shenwangfu, but I can still show off my braised pork ribs with green beans, okay?
Wu Meiniang picked up Gongsun Da Niang's phone, unlocked it, and went to Zhou Yi's side. She selected play and watched the video, which spanned more than a thousand years, with Zhou Yi.

After watching the video, which lasted for more than ten minutes, Zhou Yi remarked:

"I never imagined that this powerful princess was actually a little girl who desperately craved her mother's approval."

Wu Zetian asked for instructions:

"Master, what are your plans regarding Princess Taiping?"

Zhou Yi has no plans:
"You decide what to do, as long as you don't disrupt the existing order of the Tang Dynasty and don't plunge the people into misery."

Zhou Yi didn't understand political intrigue and was too lazy to get involved. With the Empress by his side to assist him, he comfortably became a hands-off manager.

Wu Zetian thought for a moment, then returned to her room, placed Gongsun Da Niang's phone on the selfie stick, and started recording a video...

Inside the Yiyuan Temple, Princess Taiping was reciting the "Treatise on the Response of the Supreme Being" when Li Chengyi entered carrying a large tray.

"Auntie, dinner's ready."

Although we fought to the death today and many people lost their heads, we are all relatives. We should eat when we should eat, and we should call each other "aunt" when we should call each other "aunt".

Princess Taiping put down the scriptures and said:

"On the day of the consecration, Chongjian brought me a copy of the scripture, but I couldn't get into it no matter what I read. Only today do I understand the mystery of this scripture."

Li Bai led the two to the kitchen, where steamed dumplings and dipping sauces were laid out, along with a few side dishes, and lunch began.

Princess Taiping appeared very composed, showing no signs of being a fallen member of the royal family who had lost a power struggle and was being chased to the point of desperation by her nephew.

On the Chengtianmen city tower, the retired Emperor Li Dan, accompanied by Guo Yuanzhen, the Minister of War, was "enjoying the beautiful scenery".

Of course, no one present was paying attention to the scenery; instead, they were focused on how things were going and what their next plans were.

Li Dan appeared very angry, but dared not be too angry, fearing that he would end up jumping off a building to commit suicide... Suicide and being forced to commit suicide are always unclear.

At noon, Li Longji arrived at the city gate tower.

Li Dan asked anxiously:
"Sanlang, can't you spare your aunt's life?"

Li Longji remained silent. Given his past personality, he would have refused without hesitation. But what if the royal ancestor of Hunyuan Palace did not want to see this scene?

What if the world thought of him as a cruel and heartless emperor who didn't even care about blood ties?
He hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said to Li Dan:
“Father, I need to go to Yiyuan Temple to ask the gods for a decision.”

Li Dan felt that if his son hesitated, his sister's chances of survival would be much higher, so he waved his hand and said:
"Go, don't go empty-handed, lest the gods blame our royal family for not knowing etiquette."

Li Longji nodded, quickly walked down the city gate tower, and rode to Daozhengfang under the protection of the newly appointed Imperial Guard General Li Longfan and Left Jinwu Guard General Li Longye.

Upon seeing Wang Maozhong's bruised and swollen face, Li Longji inquired about the cause, told him to go home and reflect on his actions, then rode his horse into Daozhengfang, arrived at the entrance of Yiyuan Temple, dismounted, and stepped inside.

Hearing a noise from the kitchen, Li Longji lifted the curtain and said loudly:
"You made something delicious but didn't invite me, huh? Auntie, can your nephew sit down and eat with us?"

Princess Taiping glanced at him and nodded slightly.

And so, the aunt and niece, who had just been fighting to the death, now enjoyed the mutton dumplings that Li Chengyi had brought, just like a family...

(End of this chapter)