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

From a human nature perspective, even someone as carefree and guileless as Cheng Chuliang is better than someone like Fang Yi'ai.

"Your Highness, I have swallowed my pride and pleaded with His Majesty to allow my son to accompany me in overseeing the sacrificial rites."

"If there are any shortcomings, I hope Your Highness the Prince of Han will offer your guidance," Fang Xuanling said with a kind smile.

High-level conversations never explicitly state the facts.

Li Yuanchang understood that Fang Xuanling was paving the way for his second son. According to ancient etiquette, the eldest son inherited the title, while the second son would at most inherit some of the family property.

But Fang Yi'ai was different from ordinary second sons. He was a prince consort, and the fact that he was introduced to Fang Yi'ai was, frankly speaking, a way of promoting him, as Fang Yi'ai wanted to emulate Cheng Yaojin and others.

Even if all else fails, just becoming a familiar face is still a form of connection.

Parents' hearts are always full of love and worry. Even with such a high position, Fang Xuanling still had to worry about having children.

Generally speaking, a second son wouldn't need to do this. It's likely that Fang Xuanling also realized that Fang Yi'ai, the son-in-law, would have difficulty even defending Chengdu.

"Master Fang is overthinking things; I dare not offer any guidance."

"During this autumn hunt, Erlang can make a lot of appearances."

Li Yuanchang was very accommodating, but showing his face more often meant giving him more opportunities to be in the spotlight.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling smiled broadly and clasped his hands slightly, saying, "Thank you, Prince of Han."

"Thank you, Prince Han!" Fang Yi'ai was so excited that he could hardly control his emotions.

Li Yuanchang glanced at the elderly Fang Xuanling and, out of goodwill, smiled and said, "Second Brother, you should learn from your father. He was undoubtedly a great minister of the Tang Dynasty."

"You need to muster the courage you need."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling's cloudy eyes flickered slightly, startled by Li Yuanchang's incisive words.

Then he looked at Fang Yi'ai, his eyes filled with a hint of helplessness.

"Yiai, remember the King of Han's words well: A gentleman should have courage!"

Li Yuanchang noticed the helplessness in his eyes. Indeed, how could someone like Fang Xuanling not see the hidden dangers in Fang Yi'ai's marriage?

"yes!"

"I will remember my father's teachings and the King of Han's reminder."

"Alright, you may leave now. I have official business to discuss with the Prince of Han." Fang Xuanling was very tactful, stopping short of pressing Li Yuanchang further.

"It's alright. Since Erlang is also here, let's all go together." Li Yuanchang was very generous, which was completely different from how he treated others.

This was purely out of respect and gratitude for Fang Xuanling.

"..."

Night has fallen.

Chang'an remains unchanged, its night sky majestic and imposing.

Outside the city, on a desolate mountain, pitch black, a will-o'-the-wisp flickered, accompanied by the crackling sound of burning firewood.

The blinding firelight illuminated each face, revealing high noses, brown eyes, and deep-set eye sockets—typical features of a Central Asian.

The sound of soft, rustling footsteps arose, and the Hu people all looked in one direction.

A man in gray rushed out and knelt down in worship.

"Ye Hu, it's confirmed, it's Wangchuan in Lantian County."

"Where will the Tang emperor hunt?"

Upon hearing this, the Hu people all shot out fierce glares, then looked at a tall, hook-nosed man in the crowd.

Snapped!

The hook-nosed man snapped the tree branch in half with one hand, then slowly stood up. The scar on the corner of his mouth gave off a ruthless vibe, and his brown eyes were filled with hatred, just like a... extremist!

"Half a year ago, Guo Xiaoke, the Protector-General of Anxi, was ordered by the Emperor of Tang to attack the Western Turks. Our tribe was almost completely wiped out, Mochuo died a violent death, and your fathers, your brothers, and your families all died there."

"Now there are only about a hundred of us left."

"Do you know why I've brought you all this way?"

He scanned everyone's faces.

In the firelight, those faces looked like jackals in the wilderness.

"I know, I know!!"

Ye Hu nodded and said coldly, "Good to know."

"Although we only have a little over a hundred people, our advantage lies in the fact that we are in the dark while they are in the light."

"If we succeed this time, I will die without regret!"

"Let the Heavenly Khan of the Tang Dynasty be buried with our people, let the blood of the Tang Dynasty's high officials and royal family be offered as a sacrifice to the wronged souls of our tribe!"

He raised his scimitar, slashed his palm with a sharp sound, and held it above his head.

"To be buried with them! To be buried with them! To be buried with them!!"

The group of Hu people shouted, then simultaneously drew their daggers and cut their palms, as if performing some kind of demonstration.

The echoing sound startled a flock of crows in the desolate mountains and wilderness.

……

The next day.

Li Yuanchang slept in late, with Chi Lian on his left and Wu Yu on his right, and reported on his work throughout the night.

The autumn hunt was scheduled for October 12th and would last for three days. With ten days to go, Li Yuanchang simply and openly "skipped class".

He slept until the sun was high in the sky before Situ Lan personally led people to wake him.

"Your Highness, you seem to have gained some weight in the few months since you came back. You're not as thin as before," Situ Lan said with a smile, her beautiful figure as she carefully combed his hair.

Li Yuanchang looked at him with appreciation and smiled, "Of course!"

"My wife feeds me the best food every day; how could I not gain weight?"

Situ Lan was stunned for a moment and didn't react immediately until she saw Li Yuanchang's eyes staring at her proud figure in the bronze mirror, and she instantly realized what was happening.

Her face flushed red, she quickly covered Li Yuanchang's mouth, feeling ashamed and indignant: "Your Highness, with so many people around, how could you say everything to outsiders?"

"Hahaha!"

Li Yuanchang laughed loudly and then swept Situ Lan from behind him into his arms.

Seeing this, the maids smiled shyly and left one by one, closing the door behind them.

"Your Highness, it's already noon, what are you doing?" Situ Lan blushed, her beauty as lovely as a flower, truly the epitome of a young married woman, and a gentle one at that.

With a whoosh, Situ Lan felt a chill on her shoulder as her outer garment, along with its strap, slipped down to her arm, exposing her fair skin.

She turned pale. The old married couple weren't embarrassed, but Li Yuanchang was simply too outrageous, doing this in broad daylight without warning.

Immediately afterwards, Situ Lan frowned slightly and wrapped her long, beautiful fingers around his head.

It took about 15 minutes before the couple finally came out together.

"My lady, I will come again tonight."

Situ Lan gave her a reproachful look, but she was still happy inside. Although they already had a child together, she wasn't the youngest one.

But Li Yuanchang still needed her.

As the mistress of the house, how could she not be happy? She granted Li Yuanchang's every request.

No matter how beautiful a woman is, even if she is as beautiful as a classical beauty like Situ Lan, she is still just a mortal.

As soon as Li Yuanchang stepped out of the backyard, he bumped into Guo Chao.

"Your Highness!"

"We've found Wu Yuanqing and his companion," he whispered in Li Yuanchang's ear.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang's eyes flashed with a cold light.