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

a long time.

A flame rose from the secret room, and the letter was gradually consumed by the flames, disappearing into the world.

Li Yuanchang's grim and unpleasant face was reflected in the firelight, and he remained silent for a long time.

Not long after.

He walked out of the dark room and brought out some letters from the desk in the secret room.

"Arrest all the people listed here; they are all accomplices."

"There are also spirit tablets of the Yin family enshrined in the secret room. Raze this place to the ground."

"Yes!" The guards clasped their hands in a fist salute.

Li Yuanchang left quickly.

However, Guo Chao and his close associates could clearly sense that His Highness was noticeably different before he went in and after he came out.

……

Three days later, all 78 accomplices in Li You's treason case were arrested, except for ten who died in the chaos of battle.

This group consisted of core members, and along with several hundred assassins, they were escorted back to Chang'an.

Before setting off, Li Yuanchang temporarily entrusted the money and grain of Qizhou to the Jiuzhou Prefecture soldiers for management, and asked them to handle the aftermath while awaiting further instructions from the imperial court.

Despite its many twists and turns, the rebellion ended quickly, lasting only about a month in total.

Time flies, and we've entered the first ten days of December.

Another winter has arrived. Chang'an in the 7th century was much colder than in later times due to ocean currents.

The heavy wheels of the carts rolled over the post road outside Chang'an, and cold air swept across the wilderness. The grand procession headed towards the city gate of Chang'an, where a large number of officials were already waiting.

The case was primarily handled by the Dali Temple, the highest judicial body in the Tang Dynasty, and only they could adjudicate Li You's case.

The prisoners in the prison van all had blank, empty, and terrified expressions!

They even vomited.

Only Li You sat in the prison cart, expressionless and extremely calm, completely different from before the city fell, as if he had seen through everything.

He was not mistreated; Li Yuanchang provided him with enough food and clothing along the way, allowing him to at least retain the dignity of a prince.

But that was all Li Yuanchang could do.

As the prison cart drew closer, the prisoners would be handed over to the Dali Temple immediately upon arrival at Chang'an City. The rest of the prisoners would no longer be under Li Yuanchang's jurisdiction.

"Seventh Uncle".

Suddenly, Li You, who had been silent the whole way, spoke in a hoarse voice, his eyes looking over as if frozen in place.

"Is that Chang'an?"

Li Yuanchang nodded from horseback.

Li You forced a smile: "It's been many years since I've been back. The last time was when my mother saw me off."

His gaze was filled with reminiscence and fond memories.

Stripped of his princely and rebellious persona, he was just a loveless child, barely twenty years old, still in school in later generations.

Li Yuanchang exhaled a puff of white mist; according to the course of history, Li You was destined to die.

But the details of history have changed dramatically, and perhaps there is a chance for everything to turn around.

As Chang'an drew ever closer, Li Yuanchang spoke in a low voice, as if speaking to an elder.

"If you can deny it, then don't admit it."

"Cry more, make less noise, and play the family card."

The eight-character mantra was Li Yuanchang's method of survival for Li You, at least he felt that doing so would give him a 70-80% chance of surviving.

After all, Yin Hongzhi had already taken the main responsibility, and Li You had also gained a reputation for surrendering.

As the saying goes, it's better to live a miserable life than to die a good death. Even being imprisoned or exiled is worse than being beheaded. Perhaps when the next leader of the Tang Dynasty comes up, a general amnesty can spare Li You from imprisonment.

Upon hearing this, Li You smiled again, but then he burst into tears.

"I never imagined that in the end, it would be my seventh uncle who cared about me, the one who defeated me."

"You are more humane than they are."

Li Yuanchang remained silent.

Li You wiped away his tears and said, "Seventh Uncle, can I ask you for one more thing?"

"Speak," Li Yuanchang said decisively. He had his own standards for doing things and never followed the crowd.

"Please tell my mother that I am sorry for her and that I may never see her again in this life. She will definitely be implicated. If possible, please ask Seventh Uncle to take care of her and not let her freeze or starve to death in the deep palace." Li You choked up.

"Okay." Li Yuanchang agreed immediately; this was not an unreasonable request.

Moreover, it's worth mentioning that Consort Yin also had some dealings with the Prince of Han's residence.

When news of Li Yuanchang's death in battle spread, besides Consort Yang and the Crown Princess, Consort Yin was one of the few who wrote letters and sent condolences to comfort Situ Lan.

It can be considered a good connection.

Our ancestors' advice to be kind to others is truly wise.

"Thank you so much, Uncle Seven, for your great kindness. You bids farewell!" Li You kowtowed heavily inside the prison cart.

He seemed to have shed his violent nature and revealed his pure heart, but unfortunately, he went astray.

Li Yuanchang nodded to him.

Soon, the convoy arrived at the gates of Chang'an.

Li Yuanchang personally handed all the people over to the Dali Temple, and then went to the palace to report back.

But this time, he failed to meet Li Shimin.

He only saw the eunuch holding the imperial edict in front of the Dacheng Gate.

As usual, those who had rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion were rewarded. Li Yuanchang once again received a large reward and was also given the honorary title of General.

But this time, Li Yuanchang wasn't particularly happy. After all, this wasn't an external event, and he had personally witnessed a tragedy from the Zhenguan era.

This tragedy will trigger a massive chain reaction.

"Your Highness, His Majesty said he is not feeling well and will not be receiving you personally. He wants you to go back and rest for a few days and not attend court for the time being, so you can spend some time with the Princess Consort," said the eunuch with a smile.

Li Yuanchang nodded: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Eunuch Chang, how is His Majesty's condition?"

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Chang took a deep breath, frowned, and shook his head.

"Since the King of Qi rebelled, His Majesty has become unpredictable and in a bad mood. No one in the palace dares to offend him."

"On His Highness's return to Chang'an, Consort Yin pleaded for her son, which angered His Majesty. His Majesty has already ordered that Consort Yin's title be revoked and that she be demoted to the rank of Beauty."

Consort Yin was one of the four great consorts, while a beauty was almost the lowest rank among the concubines in the palace. It was equivalent to a minister being demoted to a low-ranking official, a complete loss.

Not only was there a huge disparity in their treatment, but Consort Yin also faced neglect, which was tantamount to a death sentence in the cannibalistic inner palace.

This was common in ancient times, but for Li Yuanchang, a man with a modern soul, this kind of collective punishment was indeed hard to accept.

"All right."

"Please trouble Eunuch Chang to convey to His Majesty that he should take care of his health. I will report back to him another day."

"Yes."

After receiving the imperial edict, Li Yuanchang left the palace without rushing to help Consort Yin.

At this juncture, it's not appropriate. He can only wait until things calm down and then ask someone to help her out in her daily life. That would fulfill his promise and that good deed.

He couldn't help with anything else.

Li You did what he wanted to do, so he has to bear the consequences; this is cause and effect.