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

Li Yuanchang said, "How could it not be?"

"Besides me, who else can help you?"

"The conflict between your Ōtomo clan and the Nakatomi clan is known throughout the land. Although things are peaceful for the time being, you know very well that this is only temporary."

"The two sides have been locked in a life-or-death struggle for interests, and this has never stopped."

"If you don't act this time, they'll be the ones to target you next time. And the Ōtomo clan is declining and is no longer a match for them."

"You need me, and I need you. Let's work together to deal with the Zhongchen clan. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Moreover, this operation is carried out on the orders of the Heavenly Khan. If you participate in the cooperation, you will be a friend of the Great Tang."

"In the future, the Tang Dynasty might even surpass the Emperor and interact with the head of the family."

His concise words struck at the most sensitive spot in the hearts of Jisaburo and even the entire Ōtomo clan.

Their silence was the best answer; Li Yuanchang was absolutely right.

The phrase "friends of the Tang Dynasty" undoubtedly increased the likelihood of cooperation.

Initially, Jisaburo was extremely wary upon first meeting, even finding him unreliable. After hesitating, he suddenly looked over.

"This is too big of a deal, and it came too suddenly. I need some time to think about it."

"Why don't you stay at Wushe first, Your Highness? I promise that whether you accept or not, I will treat the Prince of Han with the highest honors, unlike what the Nakatomi clan did."

He was extremely polite and sincere.

Li Yuanchang knew, of course, that this kind of thing couldn't be settled in one or two attempts, so he wasn't in a hurry.

"it is good."

"Then I'll have to trouble your department."

Jisaburo took a deep breath, glanced at his subordinates and clansmen, clearly indicating that it was inconvenient to speak here.

"Someone, prepare a courtyard large enough for His Highness the Prince of Han, and serve him carefully."

"Hi!"

Several men responded.

Not long after, Li Yuanchang moved into the deepest part of Wushe.

There are mountains, water, bamboo forests, and architectural complexes here. Overall, it is extremely elegant and even has a sense of paradise, but it also has a somewhat eerie tone.

"Your Highness, these tiles..." Pei Xuan looked frightened.

"Those are ghost tiles, carved with evil spirits, used to ward off evil."

"That's how it is in Japan; the tone has a unique sense of terror," Li Yuanchang said calmly.

Pei Xuan looked around and tensed up involuntarily.

"Your Highness, the architecture of the Tang Dynasty is still grand and beautiful. Even the architecture of Goguryeo is better than this."

"So, do you think the Tang Dynasty is better, or Goguryeo?" Li Yuanchang joked.

Without hesitation, Pei Xuan replied with high emotional intelligence, "Of course, it's the Tang Dynasty!"

"It has the oldest culture, the largest population, and the most skilled craftsmen. I lived there, and when I left Chang'an, I was reluctant to leave and shed tears, thinking that I would never have the chance to go back in this lifetime."

Li Yuanchang laughed and said, "After we finish this mission, I will take you back to Chang'an. From now on, you will follow me."

"Yes, thank you, Your Highness!"

Pei Xuan was extremely grateful and overjoyed.

Then she went forward to help Li Yuanchang change his clothes.

"But Your Highness, in the current state, do you really think it can be completed smoothly?"

Li Yuanchang said, "Yes, but it might be fraught with difficulties."

"A series of twists and turns?"

"What does Your Highness mean?"

Li Yuanchang said, "It's precisely because we didn't know that things went through so many twists and turns."

"But as the saying goes, when soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it."

"This tiny Japanese country cannot contain me."

"I believe in Your Highness!" Bae Hyun said with a serious look in her eyes, like a young girl.

Li Yuanchang was stunned for a moment.

It seems that women, regardless of age, can always be petite and charming, like young girls, in front of the men they admire.

Conversely, it's highly likely that they don't love each other that much.

He scooped the person up with his back hand, then lifted them up by their buttocks.

Pei Xuan had no choice but to wrap her legs around Li Yuanchang's waist.

"Your Highness, the door," Pei Xuan reminded him.

boom!

Ben was taken away by Guo Chao, and then the footsteps faded away.

Pei Xuan blushed and felt extremely embarrassed. Before she could do anything, Li Yuanchang's kiss landed on her.

She tilted her head back, revealing her collarbone, and hugged Li Yuanchang's head, closing her eyes to feel the warmth, sinking into it.

This was originally just a kiss.

But Bae Hyun reached out and untied the thin strap at the back, causing her clothes to slip down.

Seeing that the atmosphere had been built up to this point, Li Yuanchang felt it would be impolite not to do something, so he had no choice but to "mount his horse and fight the enemy".

"..."

After nightfall.

Pei Xuan was fast asleep, so exhausted that she could barely move a finger, and she had almost died several times.

Li Yuanchang couldn't fall asleep no matter what, so he got up, put on his clothes, and went outside.

The pale moonlight shone on the bamboo and wood houses, creating a scene reminiscent of a horror movie.

He told people not to follow him and wandered around the courtyard alone.

As we walked to a corner of a long corridor, we heard ethereal singing coming from behind a high wall. It was in Japanese, and the voices were beautiful, but the songs had a slightly eerie quality.

Li Yuanchang, feeling a bit curious, climbed over the wall.

Following the sound, he saw an arched wall over a pond, upon which sat a girl in white, holding a strange musical instrument and chanting to the water.

The singing was ethereal, but under the pale moonlight it sounded slightly eerie; most people would probably get goosebumps just listening to it.

Li Yuanchang sat on the wall, a smile playing on his lips, listening quietly.

This took a full half-incense stick's time to hear.

The girl's singing stopped, and tranquility returned to the pond.

Li Yuanchang was still immersed in his comfort when, two hundred meters away, the girl seemed to sense it. Suddenly, she turned her head and gave Li Yuanchang a smile.

That laugh made Li Yuanchang laugh so hard he fell off the wall.

Her red lips and pale face, along with her loose black hair, gave her an overwhelming ghostly aura. It was the dead of night, and under the Japanese architecture, all the best auras seemed to be stacked up.

Li Yuanchang almost screamed.

Is it a human or a ghost?

This idea just popped into his head.

He swallowed hard, ultimately deciding not to go forward to check. After all, this was Otomo's territory, and it wouldn't be good if he accidentally trespassed into some forbidden area.

He was about to flip back when he was already in mid-air.

Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind him: "My lord."

Her voice was ethereal, as if it were floating.

Holy shit! !

Li Yuanchang felt a chill run down his spine, landed with a thud, and whirled around.

A girl in white with flowing hair had already arrived not far from him, blending into the night, the kind that could scare a person to death.

"Sir, did I frighten you?"

If it weren't for the warmth in her voice, Li Yuanchang would have thought he was seeing a ghost. He exhaled a breath of stale air, then took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"Who are you?"

"My lord, I am from the Ōtomo Shogunate, and my name is Hinako."

"Don't be afraid," the girl said, showing no shyness whatsoever.

Li Yuanchang nodded: "I see. I was wondering why someone would be singing in the middle of the night. You sang very well. I even eavesdropped for a while."

The girl smiled and stepped out of the darkness.

"My lord, I recognize you. You are a distinguished guest of our family, and I've heard you come from the Tang Dynasty in the East, is that right?"