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

Yuchi Gong quickly helped to report the incident.

But after waiting for two whole hours, when the sun was almost setting, Li Shimin finally sent word to Li Yuanchang to come to Changgui Palace.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

In the empty palace, Li Shimin was practicing calligraphy, with only a few people, including Chu Suiliang, by his side.

Li Shimin didn't even glance at Li Yuanchang.

"King Han, what is it?"

Li Yuanchang pursed his lips.

"Your Majesty, I have come regarding the morning court session."

"Morning court? What's the matter with the morning court?" Li Shimin raised his eyes in confusion.

Chu Suiliang and the other old men were all suppressing their laughter, clearly knowing the inside story.

Li Yuanchang was completely speechless; this was intentional!

"Your Majesty, those twenty-odd tribes followed me on the expedition, launched a surprise attack on the Duluo River, and made outstanding contributions. The court cannot treat them like this."

Li Shimin avoided the topic.

"Whether to send troops or not, whether to punish or not, is the court's decision. You're worrying too much."

"I think you should go back to Liangzhou," he said indifferently.

puff……

Someone couldn't hold back and laughed, which Li Yuanchang heard.

His forehead was covered in black lines. How could Li Shimin, a dignified emperor, be so stingy?

"Your Majesty, this matter concerns the stability of the northern deserts and whether the Tang Dynasty can maintain control over the entire grasslands. We cannot act rashly."

"This has nothing to do with whether I return to Liangzhou or not, does it?"

Li Shimin glared: "It's none of your business, but it's none of your business either."

Li Yuanchang was speechless.

At this moment, Chu Suiliang glanced at Li Shimin's expression and stepped forward to play the good cop.

"Your Majesty, what Prince Han said is not without merit."

"Those twenty-odd departments may have made mistakes, but they can still be redeemed. The only problem is that the court currently lacks someone who can persuade those twenty-odd departments."

"Peaceful resolution and effective restraint are the right path."

Li Shimin glanced sideways and stroked his mustache: "What you say is quite right, my dear minister, but who is suitable to do this?"

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Han!"

"The King of Han has been to the northern deserts and is familiar with the area. More than twenty tribes have fought alongside him. The King of Han is the most suitable person to act as the mediator."

Li Shimin frowned: "But the Prince of Han has no official title. He only wants to remain in retirement and doesn't want to stay in Chang'an. I don't want to be the villain either!"

"This... hiss..." Chu Suiliang and the others were in a dilemma.

Watching these old foxes put on a show together, Li Yuanchang felt like throwing up his dinner from the night before. Why couldn't they be more obvious?

Isn't it just that he insists on becoming the Minister of War himself and staying in Chang'an?

He really didn't want to do it!

The position of Minister of War is a hot potato, completely contrary to the principles of self-preservation.

But Li Shimin insisted on this matter.

A long silence ensued.

Seeing that Li Yuanchang remained silent, Li Shimin said directly, "Fine, order Li Ji to send troops to punish him, as a warning to others!"

Chu Suiliang and the others' expressions changed slightly. Were they serious?

"Yes!" A member of the Imperial Guard had already answered.

"etc!"

Li Yuanchang was forced to shout.

Chu Suiliang and the others breathed a sigh of relief. They knew that sending troops to attack was not a good idea.

In Li Shimin's view.

Although Li Yuanchang was extremely unwilling, he knew in his heart that he could not win against Li Shimin in this matter.

If they just stay here like this, they'll most likely never be able to leave Chang'an.

If one must remain in Chang'an, then serving as Minister of War and wielding power is better than being a leisurely Prince of Han.

Most importantly, if the affairs of the grasslands were left to others to handle, the more than twenty small tribes that had followed him might not fare well.

Politics is perhaps the art of compromise.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to take up the post and will no longer be idle." He suddenly cupped his hands in greeting.

Upon hearing this, Chu Suiliang and the others immediately looked at Li Shimin.

Li Shimin's mouth almost stretched to his ears in a wide grin, his chin slightly raised, as if to say, "Are you going to fight me?"

"King of Han, have you thought this through? Deceiving the emperor is a serious crime."

"Don't come later saying I forced you; I didn't force you."

Li Yuanchang was cursing under his breath, but on the surface he had to keep smiling.

"Your Majesty, I know that I did this voluntarily."

"But why do you seem a little unhappy?" Li Shimin said calmly.

Li Yuanchang was speechless.

"Your Majesty, I did not."

"Everyone here heard that the King of Han came to ask me to stay in Chang'an."

"Yes!" Chu Suiliang and the others echoed.

Li Shimin said, "Alright, you may leave now and go back to await the imperial edict."

Li Yuanchang took a deep breath. The affairs of the various tribes on the grasslands were considered stable, but he could no longer leave.

This all started with Princess Wencheng and is part of a series of domino effects!

"yes!"

"..."

Less than a quarter of an hour after Li Yuanchang returned to the Prince of Han's residence, the imperial edict was officially issued, appointing him as the Minister of War.

Furthermore, he remotely oversaw the affairs of Liangzhou, while retaining the real power of the General of Lantian County.

The imperial edict caused a stir throughout the entire prefecture!

To the family members who lack a God's-eye view, this was undoubtedly a meteoric rise to power.

The Minister of War, a third-rank official, was equivalent to a prime minister. He was in charge of the promotion of military officers nationwide and the administration of equipment and horses, and was the emperor's highest military and administrative assistant.

Except for the lack of direct command and troop deployment authority on the battlefield, which are strictly limited, they have almost everything else!

From this moment on, Li Yuanchang effectively became a pillar of the Tang Dynasty, a true leader among the few.

He was only twenty-two years old, much younger than people like Changsun Wuji.

The entire government was in a state of jubilation, filled with pride and joy.

Li Yuanchang sat alone in his study, looking at the official robes, gold fish pouches, and other items that Li Shimin had sent to him as the Minister of War. He felt no joy whatsoever.

He knew that, after all his twists and turns, he had finally returned to Chang'an.

The more he wanted to get away, the more fate wouldn't let him leave.

Chang'an offers a larger stage, but also carries greater risks.

creak...

The sound of the door opening pulled Li Yuanchang back to reality by the candlelight.

"Your Highness."

"Susu." Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Li Su was dressed in a low-key blue dress that accentuated her beautiful figure, and her eyes were as clear as snow-capped mountains, making her unforgettable.

"Your Highness, I made you some tea, but you seem unhappy?" she asked tentatively in a low voice.

Li Su's current status in the Prince of Han's residence is that of a distant relative of Situ Lan.

"Not really," Li Yuanchang said with a smile.

"Go and close the door."

Li Su nodded, put down the teapot, and turned back to close the study door.

The night was quiet, and there were only the two of them.

"I haven't had a chance to spend time alone with you since I got back. How are you? Are you getting used to not being able to go out?" Li Yuanchang asked.

Li Su smiled like a snow lotus and nodded emphatically: "Your Highness, it's a habit!"

"I'm already so happy to see His Highness and the Princess every day. Even if I could never leave the country again, I would still be happy."

"It's better than being in Tibet..."

She stopped mid-sentence.

Li Yuanchang smiled and said, "Wait two years, and the storm will have passed completely."

"I'm afraid I'll have to make you suffer now."

"It's not that I'm wronged, it's that Your Highness is wronged, having suffered so much for me." As she spoke, Li Su's eyes were already filled with tears, and she suddenly rushed into Li Yuanchang's arms.