In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

Late at night, in Chang'an, at the Eastern Palace.

The wine vessel was overturned, leaving a mess.

"Father has allowed him to live in the Martial Virtue Hall! Father has allowed him to live in the Martial Virtue Hall!!"

The sounds of unease, fear, anger, and jealousy startled a flock of birds within the forbidden area of ​​the Eastern Palace, which then flew towards the waning moon.

A young man, who bore a striking resemblance to Li Shimin and possessed a noble air, drunkenly vented his dissatisfaction, grievances, and hatred.

The eunuchs, maids, guards, and even officials of the Eastern Palace kneeling outside the door were trembling with fear, their faces filled with terror, and they dared not utter a single word.

Since the passing of Empress Zhangsun, the gentle and approachable Crown Prince of the past is gone forever.

The rise of the King of Wei gradually changed the Crown Prince's temperament.

boom!

Click!

Deep within the palace, sounds of smashing and cursing echoed continuously.

"You're all against me!"

"I hate you all, I hate you all!"

Amidst the out-of-control cursing, no one dared to go in, except for one woman—a young, beautiful woman with exceptional poise and elegance—who walked in.

Seeing Li Chengqian go mad, she simply picked up the files that had been thrown on the ground.

What are you doing here?

"go out!"

Li Chengqian turned his back and angrily hissed.

"Your Highness, I just don't want to see you become more and more depressed. If this continues, the Crown Prince will really change hands."

That phrase, "changed hands," struck at the most sensitive and vulnerable spot in Li Chengqian's heart.

boom!

He frantically grabbed the woman's fair neck with both hands and slammed her hard against the vermilion pillar.

Crown Princess Su let out a painful groan.

"Do you also look down on me?"

"Do you also think I'm unworthy to be the Crown Prince?" Li Chengqian asked menacingly.

"No!"

"Your Highness, that's not what I meant."

"Your Highness, please spare my life!"

"Your Majesty, I only came to advise you not to give up on yourself. The Wude Hall has already begun recruiting soldiers and horses and seeking out talented people."

boom!

This news struck Li Chengqian like a bolt from the blue, sending chills down his spine.

"If Your Highness does not wish to be captured so easily, you should act quickly!" Madam Su pleaded earnestly.

Li Chengqian suddenly loosened his grip, and his expression gradually returned to normal.

"My beloved concubine, is there any way?"

Su's delicate face was contorted with pain as she coughed incessantly.

"Your Highness, you should try to win over the Prince of Han as soon as possible."

"My cousin just wrote to me not long ago, saying that people from the Prince of Wei's residence have invited the Prince of Han to a banquet at the Literary Academy."

"But His Highness the Prince of Han declined."

"There are already rumors in the court that His Majesty has almost decided to send Prince Han to Liangzhou to serve as both governor and commander-in-chief."

"That's a position that combines military and political power, and it's for the Prince of Han, His Majesty's seventh brother!"

Su spoke earnestly and patiently, showing that he was far more clear-headed than Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian was stunned. His emotions went from madness to calmness, from complete confusion to a bright look in his eyes, and then back to darkness. His state of mind was extremely complex.

"But the King of Han has closed his doors to guests, and won't even see my people. This clearly shows that he doesn't want to interfere in the matter between me and Qingque."

"The King of Wei doesn't go anywhere else, so why would he come here to me?"

Upon hearing this, a look of disappointment flashed in Madam Su's eyes, but she had no choice.

She first secretly closed the palace gates.

Then he said, "Your Highness, the Prince of Han is closing his doors to guests and refusing to see anyone. The more he does this, the more you should try to win him over!"

"Not only the Prince of Han, but everyone in the court is the target."

"How can we win him over?" Li Chengqian gritted his teeth.

"Your Highness, let me handle this. Since the Prince of Han is closing his doors to guests to avoid suspicion, let's try to win him over indirectly."

"A roundabout way to win them over?"

"You mean...?"

Su nodded emphatically.

……

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, but for Li Yuanchang, it felt like an eternity.

On one hand, he was caught in a political vortex; on the other hand, he missed Wu Zetian; and there was also a great deal of business to attend to at the Prince of Han's residence.

He was about to take up his post in Liangzhou, and to protect himself, he quickly took stock of the Han Prince's estate and all the personnel.

He first "dismissed" a large number of idle personnel from the Han Prince's mansion. They were nominally staff members and guards, but in reality, they were just a group of cronies that Li Yuanchang had previously kept.

These people are not only unreliable in important matters, but they may even bully men and women. This was the reason why Li Shimin punished them last time.

The Han Prince's mansion, which had 327 people, was reduced to 133.

In addition, he promoted two people, one a civil official and the other a military officer.

One of them was named Wang Hongzhi, who was in charge of managing the affairs of the Prince's Mansion. He was essentially Wang Hongzhi's right-hand man.

One of them, Guo Chao, was promoted to Commandant of the Army in the Prince of Han's Palace, and eighty guards were under his command.

In addition, there were some changes in the servants of the Prince of Han's mansion, with most of those with unreliable backgrounds being let go.

He also proactively increased the monthly wages of everyone in the Prince of Han's residence, which was considered a sign of benevolence towards his subordinates and an attempt to win their hearts.

It was noon on September 21st.

Li Yuanchang finally cleaned up the chaotic Han Prince's Mansion and, with lightning speed, settled the internal affairs!

"Your Highness, are you ready to go out?" A middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance and upright eyes asked, bowing respectfully.

He was Wang Hongzhi, the only confidant of Li Yuanchang whose name has been recorded in history.

When Li Yuanchang hunted excessively and violated the law, this man dared to write a letter of remonstrance, advising him to cultivate virtue and abide by the law. However, because of this, he was disliked and alienated by Li Yuanchang.

If Li Yuanchang had listened to this advice, he might not have ended up with his entire family being wiped out.

Li Yuanchang wouldn't be foolish enough to distance himself from such an obviously loyal confidant; he needed such a person at the right time.

"Yes, I will go to the Wu Mansion and also check with the Ministry of Rites to confirm the wedding arrangements."

"You don't need to worry about me going out and causing trouble," Li Yuanchang said.

Wang Hong smiled wryly, looking at the Han King who seemed like a completely different person, but also feeling genuine joy.

"No, Your Highness, you no longer indulge in pleasure. Hongzhi has seen this for the past few days."

"Hongzhi has come to discuss the appointment of personnel for the Prince's Palace."

"After all, the prince will eventually have to take up his post in his fiefdom, so it's good to have more people to handle things..."

Li Yuanchang smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"This is a small matter, you can make the decision yourself."

"I have great confidence in your abilities and loyalty. When we go to Liangzhou, bring your mother here with you so she can live with you and not be separated from you, thus ensuring you can fulfill your filial duties."

Upon hearing this, Wang Hongzhi, a middle-aged man, suddenly had tears in his eyes.

She choked back tears, saying, "Your Highness, this is inappropriate..."

"There's nothing inappropriate about it. Commander Guo's wife and children will also come with him. You are all my confidants and brothers. Wherever I go, I will take care of your feelings."

Li Yuanchang glanced very kindly at the burly man standing not far away; that was Guo Chao, the new military officer of the guard.

The one with poor character was dismissed by Li Yuanchang, but this Guo Chao is no ordinary man. He comes from the border army of the Tang Dynasty and is as tall and strong as a mountain.

He participated in the war in which the Tang Dynasty destroyed the Eastern Turks, but because he did not know how to show respect to his superiors, he could not be promoted despite his merits. He was a typical tough guy who did not know how to be shrewd and was just a lowly soldier in the Prince of Han's mansion.

Li Yuanchang, with his keen eye, spotted the opportunity and snagged it.