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

The palace maids around him were astonished. What had the King of Han seen? His voice trembled.

Consort Yang took it and glanced at it, then whispered, "Wu, Mei."

bass!

Li Yuanchang immediately stood up, utterly horrified, startling everyone around him.

It really is her!

He suddenly remembered that the eleventh year of Zhenguan was exactly the year Wu Zetian entered the palace. Steward Fang also said that the princesses selected for him were originally intended to enter the palace.

However, due to what happened yesterday, things changed at the last minute. In order to show his image as a good elder brother, Li Shimin asked Consort Yang to choose for Li Yuanchang first.

Judging from this, it seems that this Wu Mei is probably not just a coincidence of names!

What the hell!

This is such a coincidence!

This is Wu Zetian, a woman who dominated an era!

Seeing Li Yuanchang's unusual behavior, Consort Yang couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

"Your Highness, please forgive my rudeness, but I have only heard of this woman." Li Yuanchang took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

"oh?"

"Is this the young lady from the Wu family?"

"right."

Consort Yang frowned slightly, glanced at the portrait, and seemed puzzled as to why the woman's portrait was here.

"Your Highness, I have also heard of this woman. It is said that she is exceptionally beautiful, and even His Majesty has heard of her."

"But since his father Wu Shihuo died, there has been no successor, the family has declined, and his family has a bad reputation in Chang'an. If he marries a woman from the Wu family as his princess, it will probably ruin the prince's reputation."

"Besides, the Wu family is not worthy of the prince," Consort Yang urged.

Li Yuanchang knew exactly what was going on.

In fact, Consort Yang also came with a mission. She couldn't make the decision herself; she was just looking for candidates, and ultimately, Li Shimin had to give his approval.

The so-called decline of the Wu family was actually a facade. The core reason was that Li Shimin wanted him to marry a woman from one of the five prominent families or at least a member of the imperial clan, in order to achieve a political marriage and stabilize public sentiment.

But Wu Zetian is a recognized beauty, and a real gem with immense potential. If we don't let her enter the palace and kill indiscriminately, and instead nurture her properly, she will surely become a virtuous and capable wife!

Since he has to choose a woman to marry, why doesn't he just find the best one?

In just a few seconds, he made up his mind.

"Your Highness, to be honest, Yuan Chang thinks this Wu Mei is quite good." He dared not show too much liking, lest it arouse suspicion.

"Oh?" Consort Yang frowned, glancing at the people below, seemingly scolding them for bringing up this person's portrait.

After all, she understood Li Shimin's intentions very well.

"Your Highness, there are some things I'm unsure whether I should say."

Consort Yang understood, waved her hand, and the rest of the people retreated at least thirty or forty meters.

"Your Highness, please speak freely."

Li Yuanchang bowed in gratitude.

He immediately put his silver tongue to use and said, "Your Majesty, Yuan Chang also knows that this Wu family is very ordinary, even second-rate."

"But Yuan Chang felt that this was the right point."

"Oh?" Consort Yang looked even more puzzled.

"Most of the women on these lists come from prominent families and the Five Clans and Seven Families. Their elders hold important positions in the court. Although they are illustrious, Yuan Chang is about to take up his post in his fiefdom."

"If we get too close to certain families in the court, wouldn't that be seen as forming a faction? After all, Yuan Chang is His Majesty's brother, one of His Majesty's men!"

Li Yuanchang deliberately emphasized the last sentence.

A smart person doesn't need to explain things too clearly.

Born into nobility and having lived in the palace for a long time, Consort Yang was well aware of this, and her gentle eyes narrowed slightly.

"I see."

"Then I will consider it on behalf of Your Highness. If there is any news, I will send someone to inform you, what do you say?"

Li Yuanchang smiled knowingly upon hearing this.

He succeeded.

Consort Yang's so-called deliberation was actually a report to Li Shimin, which was exactly the kind of person he needed to speak for.

If he said it himself, it would seem too fake and too purposeful, but if Consort Yang relayed it, it would seem more sincere.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; there's a lot to learn about everything.

"it is good."

"Thank you for your trouble, Your Majesty."

"Yuan Chang was summoned to the palace this time, and he doesn't know when he will be able to do so again. So when he entered the palace, he specially found a gift from his residence to present to the Empress."

"Oh? Your Highness is so thoughtful?" Consort Yang was very polite and offered emotional support, but in reality, she had received countless tributes.

Li Yuanchang took out a small box and presented it with both hands.

For the first time, Consort Yang's slender hand emerged from beneath her sleeve.

Her skin was as smooth as ice and her bones as delicate as jade; she was so soft and frail that she seemed to have no bones at all

Her slender fingers were as exquisite as works of art, and her nails were neatly arranged like lotus flowers. It's hard to imagine that in ancient times, without cosmetic surgery, her naturally beautiful hands could be so stunning.

Li Yuanchang couldn't help but take a second look.

Consort Yang opened the box and found an ordinary wooden hairpin inside, made of blue and white wood with some natural patterns.

When Consort Yang saw it for the first time, she was surprised that someone would send her such an ordinary gift.

At first glance, she liked it. Having seen so many fine things like gold, jade, and agate, she was immediately struck by the beauty of this object.

She revealed a faint smile, completely different from her previous polite one, and her radiant smile instantly materialized.

Li Yuanchang smiled and said, wanting to build a good relationship since she was favored: "Your Majesty, just as Xi Shi is beautiful whether adorned or plain."

How could a woman of Yang Shufei's noble birth, who was born into a top-tier aristocratic family, not recognize the poetry?

A pair of beautiful, watery eyes suddenly shone with stunning brilliance.

"Your Highness, did you write this poem?" she asked incredulously.

The Tang Dynasty not only valued martial arts, but also poetry.

Being able to write a good poem is highly sought after; even the emperor might be a fan.

This poem is by Su Shi, whose great-grandfather might not even have been born yet, so Li Yuanchang isn't afraid of being caught.

This poem can be used as a metaphor to suggest that a beautiful woman looks good whether she is wearing heavy makeup or not, which also serves as a fitting backdrop.

"Your Majesty, this is Yuan Chang's inferior work. Please do not laugh at it."

Consort Yang smiled and glanced at Li Yuanchang.

If this were a poor work, all the scholars of the Tang Dynasty would be ashamed.

"Your Highness is too modest, thank you."

"Although this hairpin is made of ordinary wood, it is extremely beautiful and fits His Majesty's admonition to the harem and the court to be frugal and not extravagant. I like it very much."

Li Yuanchang said, "That's good."

"If Your Majesty has no other instructions, then Yuan Chang will take his leave."

Consort Yang nodded.

Although I really wanted to ask about the first two lines of the poem, considering our relationship, I could only talk about business.

"Someone, see the Prince of Han off."

"yes!"

Below the Imperial Pavilion.

Consort Yang rose and watched Li Yuanchang leave.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" her personal maid asked, puzzled.

Consort Yang withdrew her gaze, smiled, and parted her red lips slightly, exuding a subtle orchid fragrance.

"It's nothing, I just feel that His Highness the Prince of Han's character doesn't match the rumors."

As she spoke, she glanced down at the wooden hairpin, and couldn't help but shake her head and smile. It was the first time she had ever met someone who gave her such a down-to-earth gift.

"Let's go and report to His Majesty."

……