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

"Anyone who goes now will only cause trouble!"

"You two finished fighting, and the whole of Chang'an knew about it the next day. It's obvious someone deliberately stirred things up! What could have been handled behind closed doors has now become a scandal and Chang'an's infamous brothel case!"

"Even my father's and several dukes' pleas were to no avail."

"Do you think His Majesty would disregard the laws of the land and let the Prince of Han off lightly?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Chuliang's eyes immediately turned red.

"Chai Lingwu, I curse his ancestors! I'm not finished with him!"

"Let me out! Let me out!!"

He shouted with all his might, nearly breaking the wooden plank. They had agreed to be punished together, but now Li Yuanchang was the only one bearing the burden, and he felt terrible.

Cheng Chu remained silent. Chu Liang's thinking was too superficial. Chai Lingwu?

Why does Chai Lingwu dare to target the Prince of Han like this?

After having the wooden planks reinforced, he left without paying any attention to Cheng Chuliang's protests.

The Duke of Lu's family was like this, and the other three families were basically the same.

Soon after, proclamations of punishment for the King of Han were spread throughout Chang'an.

The people of Chang'an were unaware of the details of the fight; they only knew that Li Shimin was impartial and that even princes were subject to the same laws as commoners.

……

Hongfu Temple.

This place is located within the city of Chang'an, but it is completely isolated from the outside world.

Buddhist meditation sites are far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world, where every blade of grass and every tree exudes tranquility.

Wu Zetian was placed under house arrest here, forced to eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and cultivate her character.

"Girl, it's getting dark, stop looking." An old monk with a white beard appeared behind Wu Meiniang with his hands clasped together.

Wu Meiniang finally snapped out of her daze, glanced once more at the old tree with its gnarled roots and the pitch-black mountain gate, and a tear silently slid down her cheek.

"Master Yuanping, I'd like to wait a little longer."

The old monk sighed: "Bodhi is originally nothing, the bright mirror is also not a stand; originally there is nothing, where can dust alight?"

"No!"

"He's not empty!"

The dejected Wu Zetian suddenly became resolute, her eyes even stubborn and sharp.

"He is the best man in the world. He loves me, and I love him. We are husband and wife. How can it be empty?"

"You monks simply don't understand!"

The old monk shook his head, his wise eyes seemingly having already seen through the secrets of heaven.

"Young lady, you and the Prince of Han are deeply in love, but I'm afraid you are destined to be apart."

"Old monk, you're talking nonsense!!" Wu Meiniang's beautiful young face suddenly turned angry. The most sensitive and vulnerable part of her heart had been touched, and then her sharp edge was revealed, as if she was protecting her most precious thing.

The old monk was neither angry nor did he offer any explanation.

"Amitabha Buddha, young lady, please go back."

"It's time to transcribe the scriptures."

Wu Zetian's emotions surged again, and she bit her red lips tightly: "I'll stay right here, I'm not going anywhere! What if you imprison me for three days, three years, or thirty years?"

"I will wait and wait until he comes to pick me up!"

The old monk hesitated, clearly knowing a lot, but in the end he only uttered "Amitabha."

"Girl, if you're willing to wait, then wait until he comes."

"But it's chilly at night, so put on your coat. There are guards outside, so don't go out."

After offering his kind reminder, the old monk left.

Wu Meiniang was left alone at the scene, in the southeast corner of the ancient temple. The pale moonlight stretched her shadow long, and the only sound around her was the chirping of insects.

At that moment, Wu Zetian was enveloped by endless unease and helplessness, and all her sharp edges and brilliance vanished.

Suddenly, she knelt down with a thud, two lines of clear tears sliding down her fair and pink face.

"Seventh Brother, where are you? Meiniang is so scared."

"They won't let me come to you, and you won't come to me either?"

"His Majesty has broken off the engagement, are you truly accepting it?"

Her plaintive cries went unanswered.

History seems to have changed, but it also seems to have remained stagnant. Wu Zetian was ultimately placed under house arrest in a temple, still a young girl bearing a burden she should not have had to bear.

She clasped her hands together and placed them on her chest, where a ring engraved with their names, a token of their love, lay.

Then she looked up at the sky and the bright moon, as if making a vow.

"Qilang, I know you must be going through a difficult time right now, but I know you won't lie to me. I will wait for you, I will always wait for you! Even if we grow old together, I will wait for you, until death do us part!"

Tears dripped from her snow-white chin, shimmering with a white light in the moonlight, before falling to the ground with a soft thud.

At that moment, the young Wu Zetian seemed to grow even stronger amidst the hardships.

"..."

Zongzheng Temple.

Li Yuanchang, who was in a coma, was awakened by water droplets hitting his face. He opened his eyes groggily and was met with pitch-black darkness, followed by excruciating pain that pierced his heart!

"what……"

He reflexively let out a painful groan and tried to move his body, but apart from his hands, he couldn't move any part of his body.

If you exert any force, the pain in your lower back and buttocks will be unbearable!

boom!

Li Yuanchang's face slammed hard onto the dry grass on the ground, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and he gasped for breath in pain.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

After taking several deep breaths, Li Yuanchang finally came to his senses. He looked around in the dim moonlight, finding everything unfamiliar.

He slammed his palm on the ground, making a sound.

This quickly attracted the attention of the Imperial Guards.

"King Han!"

"King Han, you're awake!"

Li Yuanchang's voice was hoarse: "Where is this?"

"Your Highness, this is the Imperial Clan Court's prison," the guards of the Imperial Guards said respectfully, without taking advantage of the situation.

"How long have I been unconscious?" Li Yuanchang asked again.

"It's been a day and a night."

"What's happening outside? Is there any news about Lady Wu?" Li Yuanchang asked again.

The Imperial Guard said, "His Majesty has issued a proclamation to the world, severely punishing you. That's all."

Li Yuanchang breathed a sigh of relief, a huge weight lifted from his heart, even though the prophecy that the woodcutter and the woman would become the ruler of the world were two different things.

But the trigger was Wu Meiniang. He was very afraid that Li Shimin would take action against Wu Meiniang because he refused to submit.

"Where are Cheng Chuliang and the other three?" Li Yuanchang suddenly remembered.

The four men were arrested because of him, and he didn't want them to suffer the same fate.

"Your Highness, they are all fine. They were all taken back by the dukes. His Majesty only ordered them to be under strict supervision and education, but did not impose any substantial punishment."

"You should take care of yourself."

Would you like some water?

He untied a kettle and offered it to him.

Li Yuanchang struggled to accept it, remaining prostrate on the ground, unable to move: "Thank you very much. I will repay you handsomely once I get out!"

The Imperial Guard showed a look of reluctance.

"Your Majesty, you flatter me. You are a true man; you endured fifty strokes of the cane without uttering a sound, and everyone respects you."

"Furthermore, General Hou has given instructions that, without violating the laws of the Zhenguan era, the Prince of Han should be treated with extra care!"

Li Yuanchang remained silent upon hearing this, expressing both gratitude and caution towards Hou Junji.

Inside the prison, the gurgling sound of drinking water was like that of a cow. Li Yuanchang didn't feel alive again until he drank it all.

"Young man, what's your name?"

"Your Majesty, my name is Chen Su."

Li Yuanchang nodded: "Thank you."