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

boom!

The dark-faced youth flew into a rage and kicked another stool, smashing it to pieces.

The three people accompanying him were also furious, cursing and swearing, rolling up their sleeves, almost losing control.

This was extremely dangerous in Chang'an. The laws of the Tang Dynasty in the eleventh year of the Zhenguan era were very comprehensive, and Li Yuanchang was held accountable by Li Shimin for disturbing the people.

If a fight breaks out and people are injured, the consequences are predictable.

Wu Meiniang frowned slightly and murmured softly, "These four are so impulsive. It seems like the shopkeeper is deliberately provoking them."

"Insisting on arguing about who is right and who is wrong only leads to a predicament of self-justification."

Li Yuanchang nodded, and Meiniang, with her sharp eyes, immediately saw the problem.

These four people are definitely not ordinary; you can tell from their behavior that they are simple-minded and lack common sense. The other party knew their identities, yet still provoked them over a bowl of noodles. This is probably more than just a dispute over money.

He didn't want to get involved, after all, even a single tile falling from a roof in Chang'an could hit a spoiled brat.

But as the situation became increasingly out of control, the dark-faced youth drew his knife, whether he intended to fight or sacrifice himself to prove his innocence was unclear.

He couldn't stand by and watch, so he decided to help secretly. He found Guo Chao and whispered something in his ear.

Guo Chao nodded immediately and then disappeared.

In just a short while, shouts rang out from outside Yipin Tianxia.

"The soldiers from the Jingzhao Prefecture have arrived!"

"People from the Jingzhao Prefecture have arrived!"

Shouts pierced through the world of Yipin Tianxia, ​​like a bucket of cold water, forcibly bringing the escalating situation to a halt.

The Jingzhao Prefecture was in charge of administration, security, and household registration in Chang'an.

They have the right to arrest all troublemakers.

The four demon kings' expressions changed instantly, and even the most impulsive and stubborn, burly young man with a dark face became more sober.

"Chu Liang, the people from the Jingzhao Prefecture are here. Never mind, let's go."

"If this gets out of hand and His Majesty and our families find out, we'll be in big trouble. Even the Prince of Han was dealt with recently," one of them advised.

The burly, dark-faced young man was furious and couldn't swallow his anger.

He slammed the copper coin hard onto the table.

He yelled in a hoarse, shrill voice, "We'll pay you back!"

"But you, surnamed Changsun, just you wait, I'll settle this score with you sooner or later, it's not over yet!!"

After uttering these harsh words, the four demon kings left without anyone daring to stop them.

The shopkeeper, his eyes clearly showing a hint of disappointment, glanced back into the depths of Yipin Tianxia.

Thus, the farce that began with a bowl of noodles came to a complete end.

However, the officials and soldiers of Jingzhao Prefecture never appeared, and no one knew that it was Li Yuanchang who had secretly taken action.

Even Li Yuanchang was unaware that he had inadvertently resolved a conflict that could have ignited a major conflict in Chang'an!

"..."

After lunch, Li Yuanchang took Wu Meiniang to visit the bustling West Market in Chang'an, where they bought a lot of rouge, face powder, and silk.

When you like a woman, you really can't help but spend money on her.

The difference between later generations and ancient times is that women in ancient times would cherish what they had, be genuinely moved, and remain faithful.

It was nearly dusk when we left the West Market.

Li Yuanchang originally wanted to go for a walk outside the city, but during the Zhenguan era, Chang'an implemented a curfew in the streets, which was considered a partial curfew.

In Chang'an, there were more than a hundred neighborhoods. After nightfall, people were not allowed to visit each other freely. Their activity area was limited to their own neighborhood, except for major festivals such as the Lantern Festival, when the restrictions would be lifted.

Ultimately, the first date ended with a feeling of wanting more.

On the way back, Wu Meiniang was clearly reluctant to leave.

When the carriage stopped in the familiar back alley, it was already dark, and there were few pedestrians left on the streets and alleys.

"Your Highness, Meiniang has arrived. You should go back now."

"Thank you for accompanying Meiniang today, Your Highness." Her beautiful eyes seemed to shimmer with light, making her extremely attractive.

"hey-hey."

"No rush."

"I have another very important matter to discuss," Li Yuanchang said.

"What's wrong?"

"Have you forgotten what I said at the Martial Academy last time—that I had a surprise for you?"

Wu Mei paused for a moment, then smiled, slightly embarrassed: "Your Highness, wasn't it those rouge, face powder, and silks you bought for Meiniang today?"

"Of course not," Li Yuanchang shook his head.

"Come with me."

"Guo Chao, you guys wait here."

"yes!"

With anticipation in her eyes, Wu Mei followed Li Yuanchang to the dark and secluded grove without a second thought.

She wouldn't even be able to speak to anyone else, but she felt very at ease with Li Yuanchang. Firstly, after spending time with him, she knew that Li Yuanchang was different from all other men!

Secondly, she and Li Yuanchang were already engaged, and His Majesty had already issued an edict; they would be married soon.

Li Yuanchang led his men through the grove.

Moonlight spilled through the woods, scattering silver foil across the winding paths. Every leaf in the lotus pond appeared shimmering white, and the croaking of frogs rose from the pond before disappearing into the shadows of the clouds beneath the water.

The whole environment was absolutely beautiful; it was truly blessed by the heavens.

When the wind blew, it not only lifted Wu Zetian's beautiful hair at her temples, but also swirled fallen leaves, making the whole forest sound like it was filled with the delicate sound of silver bells.

"Your Highness, it's so beautiful! Is this the surprise you were talking about?" Wu Meiniang didn't care about the gift at all; she even thought the grove was the surprise.

"Look over there," Li Yuanchang pointed.

Wu Zetian turned her head.

Li Yuanchang quickly produced the gift that he had asked Fang Weng to make three days ago.

Wu Zetian saw nothing and turned around, saying, "Your Highness..."

She had barely uttered a single word when her beautiful eyes were immediately drawn to what Li Yuanchang was holding.

It was a pair of rings, one large and one small, much smaller in overall size than rings from the same period in the Tang Dynasty, and it abandoned the most popular materials in the Tang Dynasty, such as gold, silver, copper, bone and horn.

It was not made with emeralds or other precious gemstones, but simply with Hetian jade.

However, the Hetian jade brought out by the Tang Dynasty royal palace is different from the stuff that tourist attractions use to fool people in later generations; this is genuine Hetian jade.

It is warm, tough, and has a color like solidified fat.

Bathed in moonlight, it seemed to shimmer with a flowing luster, simple yet sophisticated.

What's truly remarkable is that these rings are a pair, with their pale green patterns complementing each other perfectly, as if they were made for each other.

It should be noted that although rings were widely used in the Tang Dynasty and some people used them as engagement tokens, almost no one made a pair.

Without a doubt, a pair is more meaningful.

Li Yuanchang glanced at the bright waning moon, then suddenly knelt down on one knee, a smile playing on his lips.

"Your Highness, you!" Wu Meiniang was startled; she couldn't bear the responsibility.

Li Yuanchang insisted on kneeling on one knee.

He was reborn twice and never lacked women, but he never married. This was a very important moment for him.

"Meiniang".

"This is an ancient custom."

"A man who wants to marry a woman needs to propose to her."

Wu Zetian was stunned.

"These rings are our tokens of love, bearing each other's surnames. By wearing these rings, from this day forward, we, as husband and wife, will weather all the hardships and storms of this world together."

As he spoke, Li Yuanchang suddenly cleared his throat, smiled, and raised his voice, shouting in a way that everyone could hear in this quiet, deserted place.

"Now, here's the problem!"