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

Song Sanlang scoffed, "Your Highness, the Prince of Han, is meddling a bit too much. Do you think everyone is afraid of you, the Minister of War?"

"There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding. My Northern Song family will not back down, so what can you do to me?"

Despite the constant provocations, Li Yuanchang remained unperturbed. His words revealed his strong support for Wu Meiniang, suggesting they might be comrades-in-arms.

However, he also sensed that the Northern Song family might have already entered the power arena, otherwise they wouldn't have the confidence to do so. This meant that Wu Zetian was also beginning to be bound to power.

Betting on Li Zhi was actually the right decision.

But are there really any winners on the path to power?

Did Li Shimin really feel like a winner when he was alone at night?

Li Yuanchang was very reluctant for Wu Meiniang to take this path.

"If I wanted to do anything to you, I would have done it two years ago."

"Why wait until you've gained enough influence?"

With just one sentence, Song Sanlang felt as if all his strength had been wasted on cotton.

He suddenly realized that Li Yuanchang truly didn't care, but he refused to admit it. He stepped forward and gritted his teeth, saying, "Then why are you here?"

"You shouldn't have been here!"

"She's fine, as long as you stay away!"

Li Yuanchang looked directly at him and said, "I've come to persuade you to stop."

"Strictly speaking, it was an attempt to persuade her to stop."

"Entering Chang'an and getting close to the Prince of Jin, this must be her idea."

"I know all about her ambitions."

Song Sanlang's eyes shifted.

"This doesn't seem to concern you, does it?"

"Yes, of course. I do not wish for a future day when I will become her mortal enemy."

"I also do not wish to see her gradually become a puppet of power, losing her original innocence."

"This Chang'an, I can't even escape it, and she's still going to go in!"

As he spoke, Li Yuanchang also became somewhat annoyed.

He had made an agreement with Li Shimin in exchange for Wu Zetian's freedom.

But a few years later, she came back and has already embarked on that path.

If history had followed its original course, Wu Zetian would have married someone else.

Moreover, many years later, Wu Zetian will take up the butcher's knife for power, and at that time she will have no choice but to take up the knife.

That was the moment when Li Yuanchang and she were locked in a life-or-death struggle.

Anyone who has studied history knows that the Li Tang imperial family was nearly wiped out by Wu Zetian. This was not a personal feud, but a life-or-death struggle for power, representing the interests of the groups they represented.

Li Yuanchang was a member of the royal family, a core supporter of the Tang Dynasty, and even a key minister to assist the next generation.

If Wu Zetian were to become Wu Zetian, she would definitely turn evil and stop at nothing, and the two sides would immediately become enemies.

This is something that cannot be changed by human will; it involves the life and death of countless people, and this is the inevitable trend!

"I can see that you care about Meiniang very much, and you consider her a comrade-in-arms. But precisely because of this, you should persuade her even more."

"Regardless of how you view me, I always hope that you can leave unscathed."

"While there's still time!" He pleaded earnestly, advising one person after another, simply because he knew the script.

Wu Zetian was definitely the person he most wanted to interfere with, because the two had genuine feelings, grudges, and concerns.

Song Sanlang stood frozen in place, speechless after hearing these words, unable to muster any fierceness in his eyes.

Despite how much he disliked it, these words struck a chord with him.

Seeing that the other party's attitude had softened and that he was not a brainless person, Li Yuanchang immediately went along with it.

"Instead of you trying to persuade me, I, the king, will."

"Take me to see her."

"I can stop her from going too far!"

Song Sanlang's eyes showed hesitation and struggle, and he was even about to be persuaded, but in the end he turned away.

"You can leave now."

"Our affairs are none of your concern!"

"You go your way, we have our own way."

Li Yuanchang was disappointed, but was quickly replaced by a resolute decision.

Since that didn't work, he had to resort to other methods.

As long as the connection between her and the Prince of Jin is severed, Wu Meiniang will not be able to become Wu Zetian, and the two sides can avoid becoming mortal enemies.

He left without saying a word, nor did he cause a scene at the Begonia Villa or send troops to search it.

Although he longed to see Wu Zetian, his sense of the bigger picture always took precedence over his emotions. What he needed to do now was remain calm, without disturbing Li Shimin or any of his enemies.

Song Sanlang watched Li Yuanchang leave, his gaze complex, a mixture of hostility and doubt. Their first meeting was different from what he had imagined.

……

The next day, after attending the morning court session, Li Yuanchang immediately began his micro-management.

He first visited Li Zhi, who lived in the palace year-round, under the pretext of a visit, but Li Yuanchang said nothing and asked no questions.

Even though he knew that the other party had a complicated relationship with Ling Shuang, also known as Wu Meiniang, he did not show it.

After that, he directly requested an audience with Consort Yang.

Consort Yang was a concubine in the imperial harem, and she rarely appeared in public except for some major festivals. Li Yuanchang had not seen her for a long time.

But they were fairly familiar with each other.

Li Yuanchang requested an audience with Li Shimin on the grounds of returning a gift on behalf of the Princess of Han, which was a strict procedure for Tang Dynasty officials to request an audience with the imperial concubine.

If Li Shimin agrees, then the audience can be arranged through the Inner Palace Bureau; otherwise, it's courting death.

The idea that a prince could easily meet with the concubines in the imperial harem in later TV dramas is pure nonsense.

The Tang Dynasty was relatively open, but it also strictly prohibited such behavior.

Although Situ Lan and Consort Yang had never met, they often exchanged gifts, especially novelties such as soap. In addition, Consort Yang took good care of Situ Lan during her pregnancy and after she returned to Chang'an.

Therefore, Li Yuanchang's request was reasonable, and Li Shimin agreed to it immediately.

Finally, through the arrangement of the Inner Palace Secretariat, they met at the "Qunyu Pavilion" of the previous dynasty.

"Your subject pays respects to Consort Shu!"

Li Yuanchang bowed from a distance, maintaining a polite distance of almost ten meters.

"Your Highness, please rise," Consort Yang said with a smile. Before she even arrived, her fragrance filled the air, and she moved with the grace of a willow swaying in the breeze.

Products made by royalty are guaranteed to be of the highest quality.

"Your Highness, this is a soap that my princess consort asked me to bring to the palace on this occasion. It's a brand new one from Liangzhou and it's not yet available in the market."

"In addition, there were some sachets that she sewed herself, saying that she was repaying Consort Shu for her care."

Li Yuanchang first handed the items over to the eunuch.

Upon hearing this, Consort Yang was overjoyed, her face beaming with smiles.

In any era, women have no resistance to fragrant and beautiful cosmetics.

"The Princess Consort of Han is so thoughtful."

"You have been giving me gifts for so many years that I don't know how to thank you enough."

"Someone, go and fetch some of my Jade Moisturizing Cream. I want to return it to the Princess Consort of Han."

"Yes!" A palace maid immediately left.

Li Yuanchang smiled and said, "Your Highness, there's no need for such trouble. It's only right."

"This trip was on the way after visiting Prince Jin."