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

Li Ke might not have taken what others said to heart, but as a pillar of the Tang Dynasty, a vital official, Li Yuanchang had no choice but to believe it.

Li Ke's expression began to look somewhat unnatural, even a little ugly.

"Seventh Uncle, do you think that Ke is destined to be nothing more than a carefree prince for the rest of his life?"

There was a hint of resentment in his voice.

For a prince who was pleasure-seeking and lacked ambition, leaving Chang'an for his fiefdom was like finding a fish in the sea—a great joy.

As long as you don't make any major mistakes, almost no one in the local area will care.

But the real fear is that this prince is capable and ambitious!

Clearly, Li Ke belongs to the latter category.

Li Yuanchang sighed, unsure how to proceed. He already knew the entire script; if Li Ke continued like this, he would not only lose his chance at the position but also bring about his own demise.

At this point, Li Ke had already touched on this sensitive issue, and he realized that Li Yuanchang was helping him and had good intentions, so he simply spoke up.

"Seventh Uncle, His Majesty values ​​Ke, and renowned ministers like Xiao Yu have repeatedly encouraged Ke. Ke's aspirations are not grand; he only wishes to be like Seventh Uncle, wielding sword and riding into battle, and to live a life worthy of his duty!"

He stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed.

It was a refusal to leave Chang'an, and also a statement of their stance.

On the surface, he wanted to do his part and didn't want to be mediocre, but the phrase "Xiao Yu, Wei Zheng and other famous ministers have encouraged me many times" actually meant that someone supported him to run for office.

Everyone knows the background of Xiao and Wei; they were officials at the end of the Sui Dynasty, so they naturally had some connection with Li Ke.

But it was all just an illusion.

The change of imperial power was as fleeting as a mirage; almost no one could have predicted the final outcome of the Zhenguan era.

This even includes Li Yunchang himself.

"Very well, King Wu has great ambitions; I underestimated him."

"However, it's always good to keep a low profile. I wish His Highness Prince Wu all the best at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices." Li Yuanchang stood up.

He had said everything he needed to say and reminded everyone of everything he needed to remind them of, but Li Ke was unwilling to leave, and he couldn't possibly kick him out.

All I can say is that if anything happens in the future, he will repay the favor within his ability.

But he wouldn't say anything about supporting Li Ke or anything like that.

At this moment, Li Ke seemed to want to say something, but after hesitating and struggling, he ultimately did not speak.

Instead, he smiled and said, "Seventh Uncle, since you're here, why don't you stay for a meal?"

"I've heard that Uncle Qi is an exceptional chess player, and I'd like to learn a thing or two from him."

Li Yuanchang said, "I came mainly to visit the King of Wu. The King of Wu is alright, so he should rest well and we can go back to bed later."

"Perfect timing. There's a banquet waiting at home, and the Princess is still waiting, so I won't keep you any longer."

"From now on, we'll both be in Chang'an, so there will be plenty of opportunities to meet."

He smiled, and what he said was no polite remark.

Li Ke was the only prince he was willing to associate with; he was of good character, eloquence, and ability, and knew how to restrain himself.

If this conversation had been between Li Chengqian and Li Chengqian, Li Chengqian would have already tried to win him over.

But Li Ke held back what he wanted to say, avoiding any abruptness, which actually made it easier for him to gain favor.

Li Ke didn't insist on keeping him, forcing a smile: "Alright, then I'll see Seventh Uncle off."

"good."

The two walked side by side toward the gate of the mansion. They walked slowly and chatted for a while before finally parting ways at the gate of the Wu Prince's mansion.

Li Ke watched them go, remaining lost in thought for a long time.

A guard captain from the Wu King's palace couldn't help but whisper, "King Wu, why didn't you speak up when you had such a good opportunity? You took a knife for the King of Han."

"I have always believed that the King of Han is a man of loyalty and righteousness; perhaps he will agree."

"With the Crown Prince out of favor, the King of Wei deposed, and the King of Jin too young, your chances are excellent!"

Li Ke smiled and shook his head, his face showing some regret, but his eyes were clear.

"The King of Han advised me to take a step back and see the bigger picture; this already shows his attitude."

"If I were to presume to plead for him by mentioning the incident of him taking the knife at Wangchuan, I might receive a reward and some benefits, but that would only damage our relationship and cause the King of Han to distance himself from me."

"I do not wish for this. Some things require one to be strong oneself."

"Sometimes, it's better to cultivate good relationships than to form alliances."

The head guard looked puzzled, unable to understand what Li Ke meant.

This is like loving someone: it's not about possessing her, but about letting her go.

What better way to gain Li Yuanchang's support than through his favor with the emperor? He is a favorite of the emperor, the current Minister of War, who remotely commands Liangzhou and eight thousand soldiers, and oversees three thousand soldiers in the capital region.

We have people, money, and power!

He was the kind of person who dared to stand up to Changsun Wuji!

……

Back at night, the Han Prince's Mansion was filled with joy and laughter, which could be seen from top to bottom, from men, women, and children.

This place was unique in Chang'an; it was a "Shangri-La" that Li Yuanchang had protected with his fists and his schemes.

The next day.

As usual, Li Yuanchang went to court very early.

Now, when he passes through Xuanwu Gate, he doesn't walk to the side, but directly to the middle, and can even ride in a carriage. His appearance immediately attracts the sycophancy of various forces.

Many scholars and students who were new to Xuanwu Gate cast envious glances at him.

The practice of taking civil service exams in later generations is not without reason.

There's a reason why many people are willing to risk their lives to take a gamble.

Once it takes off, even if the glory at the top lasts only a year, countless ruthless people will flock to it.

But only those who rise up know how difficult this path is, how every step is like walking on thin ice, or fraught with danger.

Morning.

The assassination case was brought up again, and the truth about the more than one hundred Turkic assassins who entered Wangchuan was revealed in just two days.

Those military armors came from Cangzhou; they were stolen by local officials and sold at a high price.

Li Shimin was furious and dispatched the imperial guards to confiscate their property and exterminate their families!

Meanwhile, the emperor's revenge did not stop. He not only ordered Guo Xiaoke to attack the Western Turks, but also, as the Heavenly Khan, ordered all the tribes of the grasslands to assist him. Anyone who took the head of the Western Turk Khan would be directly made a king!

This was also a historically significant event involving the Western Turks.

Besides this incident, another major historical event occurred.

Dramatic changes occurred in the northeastern part of the Tang Dynasty.

The powerful minister of Goryeo, Yeon Gaesomun, launched a coup and assassinated King Go Geonmu, which aroused Li Shimin's anger once again.

Why the fury?

Because Gao Jianwu's regime was a subordinate regime supported by Li Shimin.

However, because the Western Turkic situation was still ongoing, the court officials were discussing taking the opportunity to seize control of the Western Regions. Even Li Yuanchang, the Minister of War, advised Li Shimin not to take action for strategic reasons.

Ultimately, persuaded by Li Yuanchang, Fang Xuanling, and others, he did not choose to send troops immediately.

But Li Yuanchang knew that the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo would collapse as a result, which foreshadowed Li Shimin's later decision to personally lead an expedition against Goguryeo.

Only after leaving the palace did he belatedly realize that he had actually become a part of the process of history, because that was how it was in history. After the Goguryeo Incident in the sixteenth year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin did not send troops immediately.