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

Li Yuanchang squinted: "General?"

"What general?"

"Your Highness, it's still unclear. They only know of one general, and nothing else."

"Even Helian doesn't know much about him. He's very mysterious and has never shown himself. He only contacts Changji," Guo Chao said.

Li Yuanchang frowned.

He hadn't expected that last night's arrow would hit the leader squarely, and he didn't know whether to call it good luck or bad luck.

He stood up and picked up various weapons from the table, including scimitars, spears, and bows and arrows, but these weapons had no markings and their origins were impossible to trace.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Pack all these things up and send them back to Chang'an as fast as possible to report this matter."

"Also, inform Chi Lian to have them escort Princess Honghua in."

"Dispatch another messenger team immediately, carrying my token, and ride at full speed to Fu'ai City, so that the Tuyuhun Khan can send troops to meet them."

"Also, remind him to be careful of his subordinates!"

This matter has gone beyond the scope of his mission; it is no longer as simple as escorting a marriage procession.

He either had to join forces with the Tuyuhun Khan to investigate, or he had to wait for Li Shimin's orders.

Otherwise, if it causes unrest in Tuyuhun, Li Yuanchang will have to take the blame alone.

Although he had not been able to ascertain the other party's identity, he had a strong feeling that the problem lay with the Tuyuhun.

"yes!"

Guo Chao clasped his hands in a fist salute and quickly went to carry out the task.

After giving his instructions, Li Yuanchang intended to make another round of inspections, but as soon as he stood up, he felt a dull pain in the sole of his right foot.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Wu Yu asked attentively.

Li Yuanchang took off his boots and discovered that his feet were covered in blisters.

"I told you, it hurts this much."

"Your Highness, please wait." Wu Yu quickly left.

When she returned, she brought a basin of hot water, some silver needles, and some medicinal powder.

Li Yuanchang lay on the wooden couch, letting Wu Yu treat the blisters on his feet.

"Your Highness, it may hurt a little, please bear with it." Wu Yu was extremely serious, first cleaning and then disinfecting.

"That sounds familiar," Li Yuanchang joked.

Wu Yu was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening and instantly felt both amused and exasperated.

Having just weathered a crisis, His Highness is already back to cracking risqué jokes.

"Sigh, I guess I won't be able to get back for three months."

"Your Highness, are you referring to that general?"

Li Yuanchang frowned slightly, enduring the stinging pain from picking at the blisters.

"Right?"

"Moreover, there were already some powder kegs between the Tang Dynasty and Tuyuhun."

"In the eighth or ninth year of the Zhenguan era, the Tang Dynasty launched a campaign against the Tuyuhun and killed their Khan, Fuyun. It had only been a few years, and not all of that generation had died out yet, so it was inevitable that they would become enemies."

"The idea that the higher-ups want to bring Murong Khan under control to stabilize the border is correct, but judging from the looks of it, there are some ruthless people in Tuyuhun who are not convinced."

"It's just at this crucial moment that I've been dispatched. I'll take on the complicated matters myself."

"Speaking of which, it also involves the ink business. It has affected the interests of many people, and they have impeached me. Otherwise, I would still be taking care of the children in the Han Prince's Mansion. Seemingly unrelated things have caused a butterfly effect."

He smacked his lips, as if talking to himself, or perhaps lamenting the fickleness of fate.

"It's alright, Your Highness. I believe nothing is a problem in front of you." Wu Yu said earnestly.

Li Yuanchang grinned: "Am I that powerful in your eyes?"

Wu Yu nodded: "When I first saw Your Highness, you were just a prince who had been demoted, but now, Your Highness has become a truly important figure, far more than just a figurehead of the imperial family."

"Everyone in the Prince of Han's residence greatly admires the Prince of Han."

"You have a sweet tongue," Li Yuanchang said with a smile.

Wu Yu smiled and said, "What I said is true."

"Facts deserve a reward too." Li Yuanchang sat up and touched her cheek.

A hint of panic flashed in Wu Yu's eyes, and she was so flustered by his gaze that she almost couldn't hold a needle properly.

"..."

three days later.

The scout brigade escorted Princess Honghua onto the horse path, where the troops reunited.

However, due to the wounded soldiers, the team of more than 400 people was forced to reduce its size. About 100 wounded soldiers stayed behind to guard the area, while the rest rested for a while before continuing their journey.

To prevent another assassination attempt, Li Yuanchang changed his route after leaving Chiling, a necessary passage.

They chose a longer route to Fu'ai City and began making contact with Murong Khan.

Time passed day by day, and finally on December 20th they arrived at Black Stone Lake, which is about 100 miles north of Fuai City.

In the cold winter, the lake was frozen over.

A large army of Tuyuhun soldiers stood in the distance, their dark mass arrayed at the horizon. A broad road paved with tricolored flower petals and various musical instruments of the nomadic people appeared in front of the marriage procession.

After scouts from both sides exchanged letters to confirm their identities, musical instruments were played, creating a vast and grand atmosphere.

A young, robust man with striking features dismounted from his warhorse, dressed in the unique attire of the Tuyuhun people, and led his men forward on foot.

She was also holding a golden crown in her hands, which looked like something a woman would wear, similar to the ornaments worn by empresses of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Yuanchang grinned. It looked pretty good; he even paved the ground with flowers.

As the man approached, she loudly proclaimed, "Your subject respectfully welcomes the daughter of the Great Khan of the Tang Dynasty, Princess Honghua of the Tang Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Han, the envoy of the Great Tang Dynasty!"

"The Tuyuhun people have received such a great favor, and I, the Khan, am eternally grateful!"

"Long live the Great Khan of the Tang Dynasty! Long live the Great Khan! Long live the Great Khan!"

As soon as he finished reading, thousands of his followers behind him shouted in unison, creating a powerful and unparalleled spectacle.

From them, one can see a sense of awe for the Tang Dynasty.

The Tang Dynasty was incredibly powerful during this period. The fact that all nations paid tribute to it was no joke. Being married to a princess was an honor and a form of security.

The Tang Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty were once the most brilliant eras for the Han people.

Li Yuanchang turned around and looked at the golden-topped carriage. He saw Princess Honghua pull back a corner of the curtain and look at Murong Khan with shy eyes.

You could tell from her expression that she was quite satisfied.

Unlike other ethnic groups, especially the Turks, who were fierce and bloodthirsty, this Murong Khan was quite handsome, with well-defined features and no beard or scars on his face.

His speech and attitude were also quite good.

It's not easy for a princess to encounter someone like this, to be honest, as the foreign tribes of that era were quite barbaric.

Li Yuanchang then read the imperial edict aloud.

"The Secretariat!"

"At the invitation of Murong Khan of Tuyuhun, I have married Princess Honghua, establishing a marriage alliance. I have bestowed upon her a thousand volumes of scriptures, and also..."

"..."