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

Upon feeling the warmth emanating from Li Chengqian, Wu Meiniang could no longer control her emotions, and tears began to stream down her face.

Feeling the person sobbing in his arms, Li Chengqian felt a pang of heartache.

He gently patted Wu Meiniang's back and said:

"Alright, alright, I'm back now, and who am I? No one in this world can hurt me yet!"

puff!

Upon hearing her prince's words, Wu Meiniang instantly burst into laughter through her tears.

"Your Highness is just bragging!"

Just then, Li Ke, who was standing to the side, was so embarrassed by the sight of the two of them being so affectionate that he couldn't help but pick his toes.

"You two, have some decency! I'm still here, in broad daylight, under the clear sky, what kind of behavior is this... what kind of behavior is this?"

"You two don't treat me like a human being, do you?"

Upon hearing Li Ke's words, Wu Meiniang realized that there was someone else beside her. She immediately fled from Li Chengqian's embrace like a frightened kitten, her pretty face turning as red as an apple.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian couldn't help but roll his eyes at him, his gaze seemingly saying, "You're such a busybody!"

Wu Meiniang then turned her gaze to Ashina Qingya beside her. The latter, noticing Wu Meiniang's gaze, lowered her head, her fingers clenched together, and she spoke with a tense expression:

"Hello, sister! My name is Ashina Qingya. I am also my husband's woman. But don't worry, sister, I will be very good. You arrived earlier than me, so I will listen to you from now on!"

Upon hearing this, even Wu Meiniang couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

She had already received news about Ashina Qingya's situation.

Moreover, she also knew that it was because of this little princess Ashina that Ashina had surrendered to the Tang Dynasty so smoothly. In addition, her brother was now a capable general of the prince, commanding one-third of the Eastern Palace's troops.

On the contrary, although she is now the Crown Prince's concubine, her family does not provide him with any assistance, so she was initially very worried.

But when she saw the innocent-looking girl in front of her, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.

She knew that only women who had been well protected since childhood would show such an expression.

And her… Hah! Thinking of her two useless older brothers, Wu Zetian was furious.

She immediately smiled, then stepped forward, took Qingya's small hand, and said:

"From now on, my sister will come with me. The most important thing is for us to work together to serve His Highness well!"

Upon hearing this, Qingya's eyes lit up, and she quickly and happily exclaimed:

"Oh, oh, oh, sister, you're so kind. My mother said that women in the Central Plains all like to compete for the emperor's favor, especially in the royal family. I never expected you to be so kind, sister. I thought..."

Seeing the girl's joyful expression, Li Chengqian and Wu Meiniang couldn't help but chuckle.

Li Ke looked at the innocent girl in front of him with disbelief.

Holy crap?

My older brother is such a beast! He even deceived such an innocent girl!

Just then, she patted her chest triumphantly and said:

"Sister! I'll protect you from now on. I'll tell you a secret: actually, even Second Brother can't beat me! Hehehe! If anyone dares to bully you, I'll beat them up for you!"

I was originally planning to keep my skills to myself, and if my sister tried to compete with me for my affections, I would beat her up. But I didn't expect my sister to be so kind. From now on, I'll protect my sister!

Upon hearing this, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but twitch her lips slightly.

She naturally knew who Qingya's "second brother" was. He was a capable general under His Highness. You're telling me now that your second brother can't beat you?!

Looking at her delicate and frail appearance, it's hard to imagine that such a small body could possess such great strength.

However, Li Chengqian, who was standing to the side, almost burst out laughing when he heard this.

Duer had already told him about Qingya on the way back.

When he first heard Duer say that he couldn't beat Qingya, he didn't believe it. But when he saw Qingya throw Duer over her shoulder and turn him into a muggle, he believed it!

Goodness, a 1.9-meter-tall strong man was thrown around by a 1.67-meter-tall little girl. Do you understand the visual impact of that?

Wu Meiniang, realizing what was happening, couldn't help but sigh and say:

"Come on! I'll take you to your courtyard. Let the brothers catch up here!"

"Mmm! Okay~"

……

Watching the two beautiful figures depart, Li Ke couldn't help but say with a look of envy:

"Big brother! I'm so envious of you! Suddenly, even my life as a pampered princess doesn't seem so appealing anymore!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian couldn't help but roll his eyes at him.

"You should be content, kid. What's wrong with being a well-bred young lady? Do you think your older brother is happy like this?"

"Isn't it...?" Li Ke asked uncertainly.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian said with a helpless expression:

"Wow! You can't imagine how happy my brother is, you know!"

"Holy crap! Bro, stop talking, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist killing my brother!"

Seeing his younger brother's resentful look, Li Chengqian couldn't help but smile slightly.

Meiniang has indeed worked hard during this time. Although he was away, everything in the East Palace was still in good order, all thanks to Meiniang!

No way! I have to reward her properly tonight.

At this thought, the mysterious techniques of those mysterious teachers from his previous life began to surface in his mind, with a capacity of at least a dozen terabytes.

at the same time.

Ritsujeon Hall!

"Unfilial sons! Unfilial sons! Both of you are unfilial sons!!! Instead of paying respects to your father, the Emperor, after returning to the capital, you two went back to the Eastern Palace to drink!!"

Seeing her second son's indignant expression, Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but smile slightly and say:

"Erlang! Gaoming must be exhausted from the journey. Let him rest. Besides, he and Meiniang haven't seen each other for a long time. Meiniang has come to me many times to ask about Gaoming's situation. Gaoming has been gone for more than two months. That girl must be worried sick!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but sigh.

"Alas! This unfilial son has indeed returned victorious this time and should get a good rest."

Speaking of which, this kid is really something. I heard from Hou Junji that Gao Ming knocked away a thousand-pound barricade with a single spear thrust, and even shot and killed a barbarian man from 150 paces away with an arrow.

"Tsk tsk tsk! He truly lives up to his reputation as my son; he does have some of my former flair. But he's such a worry! I wasn't like him when I was young!"

Seeing her second son's narcissistic appearance, Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Do you think I don't know what you were like when you were young?

Back then, no one knew who it was who associated with those江湖人士 (jianghu figures) every day. As a result, a traitor emerged from among them, causing the then-Duke of Tang's father to almost be accused of being the mastermind by Emperor Yang of Sui!