Tang Dynasty: Consort Wu? Your Majesty, please address her as the Crown Prince's Consort.

However, upon hearing this, Zheng Yang smiled slightly and said nonchalantly:

"Lord Wang, there's no need to worry. This matter will be handled by the Zheng family of Xingyang. All the Wang family needs to do is focus on helping Li Tai ascend to the throne after Li Chengqian's incident!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Gui and Wang Shan couldn't help but exchange a glance before slowly speaking:

"Very good!"

What they didn't know was that while they were talking, a shadow behind a door frame not far away recorded their conversation word for word.

……

The Eastern Palace Study!

"Your Highness! This is lotus seed soup that I personally cooked! Please try some!"

Looking at the lotus seed soup that Wu Zetian had pushed in front of him, Li Chengqian couldn't help but show a hint of suspicion.

"Didn't they add anything this time?"

Upon hearing her prince's words, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but reveal a sly glint in her beautiful eyes.

"Does Your Highness prefer it to be inside or not?"

Under Li Chengqian's horrified gaze, Wu Zetian pulled out a small paper packet from somewhere and opened it, revealing some white powder inside.

She nonchalantly poured the powder into the container right in front of Li Chengqian, then stretched out a delicate finger to stir it evenly.

After doing all this, Wu Zetian even licked her jade-like fingers that had just been stirring the lotus seed soup, looking extremely alluring.

"Your Highness, I've fallen for it too, and she actually dared to drug you! That's incredibly audacious! I wonder how Your Highness intends to deal with me?"

Holy crap?

This...this is too good!

As the medicine took effect, a blush gradually appeared on Wu Meiniang's pretty face, making her look as delicate and alluring as if she were ready to be picked.

Seeing this, Li Chengqian couldn't help but swallow hard.

Who the hell can handle this?

If he could withstand that, would he even be human?

With this thought in mind, Li Chengqian immediately steeled his resolve, picked up the lotus seed soup in front of him, and drank it all in one gulp.

Then he picked up Wu Meiniang and carried her into the house.

……

The next morning.

Li Chengqian slowly opened the door and then stretched comfortably twice.

Li Chengqian had worked hard all night, but because certain parts of his body had been enhanced by the system, he did not feel tired at all.

When Li Chengqian arrived at the gate of the East Palace, Xue Rengui and Yang Zaixing were already waiting there.

Upon seeing Li Chengqian emerge, the two quickly bowed in greeting.

"Your Highness!"

"Okay! Is everything ready?"

Xue Rengui: "We're all ready. The Duke of Lu is already waiting at the camp outside the city. The Ministry of Revenue has already allocated provisions and supplies along the way, but once we reach the pass, we'll have to rely on ourselves!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian immediately nodded. He had originally planned to supply the army himself, since the tea business had been booming recently and it would be enough to supply the wages and provisions for three thousand soldiers.

However, Old Li was all bark and no bite. Not only did the Ministry of Revenue prepare provisions for the route beyond the pass, but he also equipped his Eastern Palace's six guards with the best equipment.

Adding to that the three thousand Xuanjia soldiers who had roamed the world, Li Chengqian felt a warmth in his heart.

My father works so hard, with so many official duties to handle every day, while I, his son, am so comfortable.

That's really unfilial. Now that we have the ability, why don't we help our father retire early?

All he had to do was order the army to charge towards Xuanwu Gate, and Old Li could simply write an imperial edict to pass on the throne without having to go through all that trouble.

I am so filial. Old Li would be very touched if he knew what I was thinking, right?

Just as Li Chengqian was indulging in his fantasies, Xue Rengui and Yang Zaixing, who were standing to the side, were also looking at him with strange expressions.

"Your Highness! We should set off!"

"Huh? Oh my! Let's go, let's go! *slurp*"

Upon hearing Xue Rengui's words, Li Chengqian quickly wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, then mounted his horse and led the group out of Chang'an.

……

Inside the Liangyi Hall.

Li Shimin glanced at the crescent moon beside him and said:

"That unfilial son should have set off by now, right?"

Upon hearing his emperor's question, Canyue quickly replied:

"Your Majesty! His Highness the Crown Prince left the city an hour ago!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately nodded.

He couldn't help but let out a long sigh, then muttered under his breath:

"Sigh! This kid's probably going to be even more unruly now that he's back. Qingque isn't any good either; he poses no threat at all!"

The thought of Qingque being so thoroughly suppressed by that rebellious son left Li Shimin unsure whether to feel gratified or distressed.

Be pleased, this kid really has something. Aside from occasionally making you angry, his abilities are undeniable.

But if we're talking about a source of distress, it's a real source of distress. None of his many princes can rival him, so they don't serve any purpose of training him!

Ok?

Thinking of this, a sudden inspiration flashed in Li Shimin's mind.

If one isn't enough, then two will do.

If Qingque alone is not enough, how about adding Ke'er as well?

Let that rebellious son experience what it means to be surrounded by wolves.

Hehe! I am simply a genius.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin no longer hesitated and immediately turned to look at Canyue beside him and said:

"Wanyue, have someone draft an imperial edict summoning the Prince of Shu back to the capital, saying that Consort Yang misses him!"

Upon hearing this, Canyue was slightly taken aback, but then quickly obeyed.

"promise!"

……

Half a month later!

Lingzhou!

Li Chengqian gazed at the vast grassland before him and fell into deep thought!

Seeing Li Chengqian's hesitant expression, Hou Junji couldn't help but ask:

"Your Highness! How do you plan to fight this battle?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian did not answer immediately, but instead looked at Hou Junji and asked in return:

"I wonder if the Duke of Lu knows anything about the Xueyantuo?"

Hearing this, Hou Junji was also stunned, and some doubts arose in his heart.

Doesn't the Ministry of War already have all the information he knows? Why is His Highness asking him? Is he testing him?

However, what he didn't know was that Li Chengqian had been either sleeping or having fun with Meiniang these past few days, and he hadn't looked at the Ministry of War's intelligence reports at all.

Hou Junji quickly explained:

"Your Highness, the current leader of Xueyantuo is Yinan Khan. This man is ambitious. After the fall of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, he took the opportunity to expand rapidly, gradually annexing surrounding tribes to form the current scale."

The Xueyantuo had 30,000 combat-ready cavalry, far fewer than the Eastern Turks of the past, but still enough to threaten the safety of the Tang Dynasty's borders. However…”

Ok?

Seeing Hou Junji suddenly pause, Li Chengqian couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

"Just what?"

"Although we know the strength and background of the Xueyantuo, they are ultimately a nomadic people. They live by water and pasture, and their whereabouts are unpredictable. To fight them, we must first find them!"

Hearing this answer, Li Chengqian was not too surprised. If it were that easy to find someone, there would be no one left on the grasslands.

P.S.: Dear godparents, please help me! I'm begging for a five-star review! The recent barrage of negative reviews is driving me crazy! It's so awful! ╥﹏╥