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

"No way, something must have happened. Open the door right now, or it'll be too late!"

"Departing in three days is absolutely not feasible!" Li Yuanchang said in a deep voice, not daring to raise his voice, but only pressing it against the door.

"Your Highness, really, I did it voluntarily."

"I want to go to Tibet and become a queen. It's so prestigious. Please, Your Highness, go as soon as possible so I can be free sooner!" Li Su's voice even carried a hint of pleading.

Li Yuanchang stood there stunned, feeling a pang of pity, but unsure of what to say, he could only ask gently.

"Susu, you could never have gone willingly. What happened?"

"Nothing happened, Your Highness, please go back. I'm tired, I'm leaving." Li Su's attitude was firm, and he refused to see her.

"Susu, Susu."

Li Yuanchang called out several times, but Li Su did not respond, and her footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

He looked unwell, but he had no way to force his way in.

"Your Highness, the Prince of Han." The female officials approached and asked cautiously.

Li Yuanchang glanced at the palace, a situation fraught with difficulties, but in the end he could only instruct: "Take good care of the princess and do not leave her unattended."

"yes!"

"Princess, I must take my leave now. I will come again tomorrow," Li Yuanchang called out again before leaving.

There was still no reply.

Only after Li Yuanchang's figure disappeared through the doorway did some faint sounds emanate from inside the hall.

"Your Highness, I'm so sorry, so sorry..."

"I broke my promise, and I have failed you."

"But Susu doesn't want to hurt you because of herself."

"The Taoist priest is right. The marriage alliance is inevitable. If you are involved, it will surely lead to your utter ruin. Neither the Tang Dynasty nor Tibet will allow any accidents to occur during the marriage alliance. Susu, you cannot be so selfish."

"You've always been the one protecting Susu. This time, it's Susu's turn to protect you."

Her voice was choked with sobs, and tears streamed down Li Su's face. She huddled in a corner, hugging her knees, her frail body trembling with sobs, her face, as delicate as an iceberg lotus, filled with a poignant beauty.

Despite her reluctance and grievances, she found reasons to swallow them all.

If not going to Tibet would mean Li Yuanchang paying a heavy price, then she would rather go!

……

With the request from the Tibetan envoy, the countdown to the marriage alliance had officially begun.

The more Li Yuanchang struggled, the more things spiraled out of control, and this marriage alliance, which was poised to influence the Tang Dynasty for nearly a century, seemed unstoppable!

He was forced to take command of three thousand imperial guards and at the same time began making contact with Tibetan envoys.

This was an extremely honorable event, but Li Yuanchang was not happy at all. He didn't care about the so-called Tang-Tibet alliance at all; he only cared about the people around him!

He didn't believe Li Su would do it voluntarily; there must be something going on, but he had no way of knowing.

On the third-to-last day, he still went to see Li Su under the pretext of official business, but Li Su still refused to meet him, no matter what.

Li Yuanchang forced Li Su to go to him and asked her to postpone the marriage on the grounds of illness or some other reason, but Li Su threatened to kill herself and said that she was doing it voluntarily.

The speed and determination of his change of attitude caught Li Yuanchang off guard, and in the end, he dared not press him any further.

On the penultimate day, still unwilling to let Li Su become a sacrifice in Tibet, he turned around and went to Li Chunfeng for help again, but this time, he came up empty-handed.

As if he knew Li Chunfeng was coming to visit, he simply went on a journey around the world.

Li Yuanchang was so angry that he started cursing!

On the last day of the countdown, under the operation of the entire vast power center of the Tang Dynasty, the massive marriage alliance had been assembled and was ready to go!

Li Shimin personally summoned everyone and issued another edict to Li Yuanchang, instructing him on various matters, none of which concerned Princess Wencheng.

All of these discussions revolved around the interests of both countries and various agreements.

With the final day over, everything is settled!

Even Li Su himself had resigned himself to his fate; Li Yuanchang truly had no other options.

Even his last resort was unusable.

As the envoy for the peace treaty and the person in charge of this Tang-Tibetan marriage alliance, he could easily have manipulated things behind the scenes, such as replacing the crown prince with a cat.

But all of this depended on Li Su's cooperation. However, she seemed to be under a spell, insisting on going no matter what and refusing to meet with Li Yuanchang at all.

Back at the Prince of Han's residence.

His feelings were complicated. In the face of no hope, he even considered giving up on escorting Princess Wencheng to the marriage. He would rather not go than send Princess Wencheng to the abyss!

But as soon as the thought arose, he quickly suppressed it.

If the ending is inevitable, he would rather accompany Li Su on this final journey in the Tang Dynasty.

"Your Highness, you're back."

Li Yuanchang then came to his senses and realized that he had unknowingly arrived at the mansion.

Torches were lit throughout the mansion, and the elite troops of the Prince of Han were all present, preparing to depart early the next morning.

Li Yuanchang took a deep breath and nodded listlessly.

Chi Lian stepped forward, removed her robe and whisk, her beautiful peach-blossom eyes serious: "Your Highness, there's been progress on the matter you had the Black Ice Guard investigate a couple of days ago."

"Chai Lingwu did indeed secretly visit the Honglu Temple and meet with the Tibetan envoy once, bringing with him no less than ten cartloads of gold and silver jewelry."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang's eyes flashed with a cold light, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"I knew it!"

"Things aren't that simple!"

"It's that bastard Chai Lingwu again! I should have beaten him to death back then!"

"His going there must have been orchestrated by that fat bastard Li Tai."

"The literary museum is gone, yet they still dare to stir up trouble!"

At that moment, he even considered secretly eliminating the two men, but reason forced him to suppress it.

If a Prince of Wei and his consort were to die under mysterious circumstances, the consequences would be earth-shattering, and the power center headed by Li Shimin would certainly be able to find out.

Even if the truth cannot be found, many innocent people will be killed. Li Yuanchang is not a saint, but he will never disregard human life.

"Your Highness, should we teach Prince Wei another lesson?" Chi Lian suggested.

"It's too late. We have to leave first thing tomorrow morning. Let's talk about it when we get back. Just remember this debt for now!" Li Yuanchang said coldly.

He repays kindness with gratitude, but he also seeks revenge for wrongs!

Chi Lian nodded, a hint of worry in her eyes. She knew that Li Yuanchang didn't want Li Su to go for a political marriage, but it seemed that it was now impossible to change the situation.

"Your Highness, please get some rest."

"Chi Lian will accompany Your Highness tonight."

Li Yuanchang took a deep breath, casually touched Chi Lian's plump buttocks, his eyes deep.

Now we're in a situation where the die is cast and there's no turning back, so we can only ask Li Su when we get on the road.

As long as Li Su doesn't want to go to Tibet, Li Yuanchang still has ways to take the risk.

"By the way, did you find out about what I asked you to inquire about?"

"I've found out."

"There is a drug that can induce a state of suspended animation."

"Shh, let's go inside and talk. There are still Imperial Guards in the mansion."

"yes!"

"..."