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

Just then, a eunuch came running up.

"Report!"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

Li Shimin was in a bad mood and said in a low voice, "What is it now?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Consort Yin is grieving for her deceased son and wishes to cut her hair and become a nun..."

Cutting one's hair was a serious matter in ancient times, considered disrespectful to one's husband.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin instantly flew into a rage, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.

"How dare you!"

"The King of Qi rebelled, and she still feels wronged? She even dared to cut her hair and become a nun. Does she even respect me, the emperor?"

"Someone come here!"

In his rage, Li Shimin was determined to punish severely, giving the impression that he intended to execute the perpetrator.

At the critical moment, Li Yuanchang suddenly stood up: "Your Majesty, please calm down."

Li Shimin paused.

Li Yuanchang quickly whispered, "Your Majesty, royal family matters should not be made public."

"King Qi is dead, and there is already talk of it outside. If we do anything to Consort Yin now, it will only increase the rumors."

Li Shimin calmed down a little, but his anger was still hard to quell.

"Your Majesty, consider this from another perspective. A mother losing her son is bound to feel grief, which is only natural. If Consort Yin remained silent, wouldn't that be contrary to human ethics?"

"Given what has happened, stopping now is the best way to end things and maintain the dignity of the royal family."

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger, take care of your health, and do not let your emotions cloud your judgment," Li Yuanchang said.

A single sentence about royal dignity gradually calmed Li Shimin's uncontrollable rage, bringing him back to his senses.

His expression remained grim, his face ashen: "But she cut her hair and entered into a nunnery, which is tantamount to a blatant act of defiance against me! She is using her actions to tell the whole world that it is my fault!"

Li Yuanchang advised, "Your Majesty, Consort Yin is grieving the loss of her son; she is probably just confused for a moment."

"I believe that the most important thing is to minimize the problem and let it pass."

As he spoke, he added, "Your Majesty, why don't you allow me to go and persuade Consort Yin, and explain to her the ins and outs of the rebellion in Qizhou?"

"Explain to her that His Majesty has been merciful enough; it was not His Majesty who forced Prince Qi to his death."

"This way, it will end gracefully, which is better than both sides hurting each other. If the feud continues, it will only affect His Majesty's reputation."

These words perfectly struck a nerve with Li Shimin.

The fact that his son committed suicide in front of him would be a huge scandal for anyone, and Li Shimin, who was deeply mired in the infamy of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, was very bothered by this.

"good!"

"Go, you quelled the rebellion, and you know the most about the situation in Qizhou."

"Go and explain to Consort Yin that she shouldn't be making trouble!"

"And remember to tell her not to take my mercy for granted!" As he spoke, a hint of imperial murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

They truly intended to kill!

Li Yuanchang felt inexplicably desolate after reading it.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; the ancients were right.

For a woman who has borne him a child, once she crosses the line, he will kill her without hesitation.

Perhaps for emperors, kinship is possible, but it is never the most important thing.

"Yes."

"..."

A short while later, Li Yuanchang left.

He openly and legitimately went to the "Hanlu Palace" on Li Shimin's orders.

The name of this palace sounds like a cold palace. It was not Yin Defei's original residence at all. It was the palace where she was sent after being demoted.

It occupies a small area, with only a dozen or so side rooms and a main hall.

When Li Yuanchang arrived, a number of eunuchs and palace maids had already gathered in the main hall. They surrounded a woman with disheveled hair and prevented her from cutting her hair.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Prince of Han!"

Everyone bowed.

The woman's empty eyes remained unchanged, as if she were oblivious to the outside world.

She had long, flowing, jet-black hair that cascaded down her back, beneath which lay a stunningly beautiful oval face, exuding an air of refined elegance.

She was around thirty-five years old, but looked like she was in her mid-twenties. She was like a traditional Chinese ink painting, with an elegant and graceful demeanor.

It is said that time never defeats a beauty, but this Consort Yin De cannot be described as an ordinary beauty; she is absolutely stunning!

She might even be half a step prettier than Consort Yang.

At this moment, her empty, desperate phoenix eyes were red and swollen from crying until she had no more tears left. Her neatly trimmed nails were tightly gripping a white dress.

Everything around her seemed to have nothing to do with her.

The greatest sorrow is a broken heart; this is the truest description of Consort Yin's state at this moment.

"You may leave now."

"Yes."

Due to Li Shimin's order, everyone quickly withdrew.

Soon, only Li Yuanchang and Consort Yin remained in the main hall.

The two had never met, but their relationship was that of brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

At this moment, Consort Yin finally made a move. She looked up at Li Yuanchang, her eyes filled with no hatred or hostility, only a desolate and indifferent acceptance of everything.

"Your Highness, did You'er and Hongzhi leave any words before they died?"

Li Yuanchang said, "Yin Hongzhi committed suicide without suffering."

"As for the King of Qi, he said he was sorry and begged me to take care of you."

Upon hearing this, another tear slid down Consort Yin's cheek. Her oval face showed little expression, but her bitterness was unsettling.

The deaths of her son and brother were undoubtedly the heaviest blow to this woman whose life had been filled with misfortune!

"Thank you, Your Highness," she choked out.

Li Yuanchang asked in surprise, "You don't hate me?"

Consort Yin shook her head: "You were just following orders."

"They made a mistake first."

Li Yuanchang was taken aback; this Consort Yin was quite sensible.

"Consort Yin, since you understand this principle, why do you have to do this? If word gets out that you want to cut your hair and become a nun, it will be tantamount to slapping His Majesty in the face."

"If I didn't do it this way, would His Majesty have compromised?"

"What in this world is more important than his power and reputation?" she retorted directly.

These words already carried a strong sense of sarcasm, implying that if no one else was around, and someone betrayed her, Consort Yin would be in serious trouble.

Li Yuanchang was speechless. She did it on purpose, but she did win the gamble.

However, luck played a huge part. Without him, Li Shimin might have already given the order, or at the very least, banished him to the cold palace, where he would suffer a fate worse than death.

"What does Consort Yin want to do?"

"I want to see You'er one last time." Consort Yin was extremely frank; at this moment, she was simply a mother.

Li Yuanchang nodded: "I can convey the message."

"But the condition is that Consort Yin must no longer cut her hair to cultivate herself, or engage in any form of opposition to His Majesty."

"In that case, even I can't help you."

"King Qi is dead, but you are still young."

Consort Yin gave him a desolate smile.

"Your Highness, I am no longer Consort Yin."

"However, let me watch You'er's burial. I can remain quiet and do nothing to hinder the glorious reputation of this Heavenly Khan."

Li Yuanchang frowned: "This request is not excessive. I will put in a good word for you, and His Majesty should be able to agree."

"However, you must not say these things if His Majesty sees you."

"You'll get yourself into trouble."