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

Li Yuanchang left the hall with a somber expression.

This mission was suddenly dropped into our laps.

Going to find the elixir of immortality was inappropriate to begin with, let alone being made the Minister of War to do so. He simply didn't believe that no one was instigating him behind the scenes!

To find out what was going on, he went to find the eunuch on duty.

"Eunuch Chang, what's wrong with His Majesty lately?"

The eunuch frowned: "Your Majesty is referring to the search for immortality, isn't it?"

Li Yuanchang nodded.

The eunuch hesitated, looked around, and whispered, "Your Highness, His Majesty's health has been fluctuating for the past six months, and he has been tormented by wind-related illnesses."

"I felt better after taking some of the elixirs that were offered as tribute."

"But this can only maintain daily life. His Majesty always feels that he is getting old and not as good as before. Just a few days ago, His Majesty wanted to ride a horse, but he was too weak and fell off the horse..."

"Shh!"

"This matter is a secret; His Majesty does not wish for people to know that he is old."

Li Yuanchang was displeased: "Why didn't you stop them?"

"Who provided the elixirs as tribute?"

The eunuch asked blankly, "Your Highness, consuming elixirs is a common practice. There are always people testing them for poison. What's wrong with that?"

One sentence silenced Li Yuanchang, meaning he was the only one who was nervous.

He suddenly remembered that in the Tang Dynasty, taking elixirs of immortality was an extremely popular "royal activity," and even a symbol of status.

No matter how much he says, no one will understand the harm.

This is like casting pearls before swine.

Ugh!

He sighed helplessly.

"Since there are so many elixirs in the palace, why did Your Majesty suddenly decide to go to the East Sea to find them?"

The eunuch leaned closer and said, "Your Highness, I've told you, but you must not tell anyone."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang wondered if there was more to the story.

"Don't worry, we've known each other for so many years, when have I ever dragged you into this mess?"

The eunuch nodded. Over the years, he had received many benefits, and as long as it wasn't too sensitive, he would usually tell Li Yuanchang any news.

He lowered his voice and covered his mouth with his sleeve: "Your Highness, Goguryeo!"

"Goguryeo?" Li Yuanchang's eyes suddenly sharpened!

These three words are indispensable to both the Sui and Tang dynasties; they represent Li Shimin's swan song in military strategy.

"right!"

The eunuch nodded: "His Majesty has reached his limit with Yeon Gaesomun of Goguryeo. He has smashed things in the palace more than once in a fit of rage."

"Shortly afterward, Yeon Gaesomun heard that the Great Khan of the Tang Dynasty was ill and in internal turmoil, and formally refused the Tang Dynasty's investiture."

"His Majesty was furious and vowed to make Yeon Gaesomun pay the price!"

Li Yuanchang was slightly surprised.

A formal refusal of investiture?

No wonder, no wonder Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin) fought against Goguryeo three times in his later years, regardless of the consequences.

Refusing to be granted a title was tantamount to a slap in the face, a serious challenge to Li Shimin's authority, and a form of resistance against the East Asian tributary system led by the Tang Dynasty.

"Is His Majesty searching for medicine in preparation for a personal campaign?"

The eunuch was shocked: "Your Highness, how...how did you know?"

Li Yuanchang frowned and asked again, "Then why is it me who's looking for medicine? I'm the Minister of War; I should be going to war. How did I end up looking for medicine?"

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Chang's face immediately turned awkward, and his eyes began to flicker.

"This... this, I don't know."

Judging from his reaction, Li Yuanchang knew that someone was interfering, and it was obvious who it was.

Even the eunuch Chang dared not say, so who else could it be but Changsun Wuji?

"That despicable scoundrel!" Li Yuanchang cursed inwardly.

If you can't bring back the elixir and the immortals yourself, it means you've failed in your mission and will be punished.

Even if I bring it back, I don't know how much time will have passed, and I will definitely miss the first attack on Goguryeo.

Most importantly, since he himself was not subject to checks and balances in the court, Changsun Wuji could act freely without hindrance.

Surprisingly, Li Shimin actually allowed it!

Li Yuanchang clenched his fists until they turned white, finally understanding how terrifying civil officials could be; a few casual words could cause serious harm.

a long time.

He took a deep breath.

"Thank you, Lord Chang."

The eunuch hesitated, though he was a eunuch, he knew more than anyone else, and he was naturally aware of the situation in the court.

But when the words reached his lips, he didn't know how to say them, and in the end, he could only smile and say, "I wish Your Highness a safe journey."

Li Yuanchang nodded, then quickly left.

As he left the palace, his mind was in turmoil. Since Li Chengqian's rebellion, everything had happened too fast and too unexpectedly.

So much so that every time he was ready, he was immediately disrupted by a new unexpected event.

Throughout the journey, he kept thinking about how to deal with the situation.

Pretend to be sick, then you won't have to look for that damn magic pill.

But this method is a bit clumsy, unless you pretend to be very convincing, or even harm yourself!

If he absolutely had to go, the Prince of Han's residence would need a reliable person to oversee things and take his place. Perhaps only Wang Hongzhi could shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

But Wang Hongzhi couldn't come to Chang'an at all. He was serving in Liangzhou, and if he left, what would happen to the main base in Liangzhou?

After much thought, I still couldn't find the best solution, and before I knew it, I had returned to the Prince of Han's residence.

"Your Highness, you're back!"

Fang Weng led his men forward to greet them.

Li Yuanchang smiled at his family: "Fang Weng, why are you waiting outside again today?"

With a broad smile, Fang Weng hunched over as he dusted off Li Yuanchang, just as he had done for Li Yuanchang when he was an infant.

"Your Highness, we have guests at your residence."

"I will come out and wait for Your Highness to inform you."

"guest?"

Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow; his Prince of Han's residence usually didn't have any guests.

"Who?"

"Su Gui, a member of the Su family of Jingzhao martial arts." Fang Weng lowered his voice.

Li Yuanchang's eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped inside.

In the lobby, Su Gui, dressed in simple clothes, had been waiting for a long time.

After several years, he had matured, his youthful face now bearing some stubble, making him appear more composed.

"Your Highness, the Prince of Han."

"Haha, Brother Su, I knew the magpies in the Han Prince's mansion had been chirping away all morning. I never expected it was Brother Su who was arriving."

"Come, come, sit down and let's talk. No need for formalities!" Li Yuanchang patted his shoulder, acting as if they were very familiar with each other.

Besides Li Ke, Su Gui was another top talent he admired, and this guy was also extremely remarkable in history.

Su Gui, travel-worn but with a smile on her face, was delighted to see Li Yuanchang and showed no signs of unfamiliarity.

The two had only met twice, but they admired each other and once drank themselves into oblivion in Liangzhou.

"Brother Su, why are you only arriving now? I've been looking for you for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Su Gui sighed, "It's a long story. I almost didn't receive His Highness's message; it was a classmate who forwarded it to me."

"When Your Highness came looking for me, I was not in Huaizhou."

Li Yuanchang frowned upon hearing this and glanced at his plain clothes.

"Were you affected too?"