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

But Consort Yin felt only gratitude and emotion upon hearing this. She pursed her dry, pale lips, and her face revealed an expression that was both tearful and smiling.

"King of Han, please accept my bow!"

She put her legs down from the bed and knelt down.

Li Yuanchang was startled and instinctively rushed forward to support her arms.

"Consort De, this is unacceptable!"

"I am no longer Consort De," she said with a smile.

"Sister-in-law, this won't do," Li Yuanchang said with a wry smile.

"I have been deposed and am no longer a member of the royal family. I have long since severed ties with that palace."

Li Yuanchang was speechless.

That's true. Not to mention that she was completely stripped of her titles this time, all of them had already been taken away when she came to Changhong Temple before.

According to ancient customs, at this moment, Consort Yin belonged to the lowest class of people, commoners!

"Regardless, you are a woman I deeply respect. Please stop this and get up." His expression was serious and without any impurities.

Consort Yin was stunned for a moment.

This was the first time in so many years that she had heard someone say they respected her.

She was gently helped to her feet. Li Yuanchang was very gentlemanly; he withdrew his hand after helping her up and kept a certain distance between them.

"Your Highness, why do you speak of respect?" Consort Yin asked curiously, and coughed a few more times.

Cough cough cough...

Her voice sounded like she was coughing her lungs out.

This would be considered a minor illness in later generations, but in ancient times, if not treated properly, it could be fatal.

Li Yuanchang took off his coat embroidered with python patterns and handed it to her.

Consort Yin hesitated slightly before accepting it, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"You are a resilient woman. From the Sui Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, you have experienced too much, carried too much, and endured too much."

"perhaps……"

Li Yuanchang had barely begun speaking when the very first sentence brought tears to Consort Yin's eyes.

She lowered her head and closed her eyes, crying silently, only the trembling of her shoulders and the patter of her tears on the ground could be heard.

That kind of crying is different from the desolate sight of pear blossoms in the rain; it's more like the feeling of having gone through a long period of time and experienced countless vicissitudes.

Li Yuanchang did not continue speaking, but sighed inwardly.

He truly respected this woman. Most women, if they were Consort Yin, would have either committed suicide or gone with the tide.

But she endured the pain and carried the hatred, following her enemy for so many years without ever complaining.

When his younger brother and son died, he refused to compromise and stood up to Li Shimin. Even in dire straits, he did not beg for mercy.

The last person who was so decisive and capable of bearing such a burden was probably the empress of the Han Dynasty.

At that moment, the howling wind and snow in the temple at dawn replaced her silent weeping.

The bodhisattva, with hands clasped together and face down, seemed to pity the woman.

I don't know how much time has passed.

Finally, Consort Yin gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, raised her head again to look at Li Yuanchang, and the look in her eyes was completely different.

That's a kind of trust, a trust that you understand me!

In one's life, it's hard to find someone who truly understands you.

For the first time in over thirty years, she experienced this feeling—a feeling that even if she were reduced to insignificant worth, the thought of it would make her life worthwhile.

"It's a pity we met so late. Your Highness's kindness is immense; I fear I can only repay it in the next life," she said softly, her eyes smiling.

"Eh!"

Li Yuanchang waved his hand: "Pah, pah, pah, that's bad luck."

For no apparent reason, Consort Yin was amused by his childish behavior.

"What talk of an afterlife? That's all a lie. I don't believe that people can have a next life after they die."

"If you truly wish to repay this debt, then take good care of yourself and stop dwelling on the past. In your spare time, pray for me and the Han Prince's Palace, and light the eternal lamp."

"Consider it your way of repaying me," Li Yuanchang said with a smile.

Consort Yin smiled, knowing that Li Yuanchang wanted to give her something to do to distract her, but she still agreed: "Alright, I agree to the Prince of Han's request."

"become!"

"Then I'll take it as true. Liars will have to swallow a thousand needles!"

That funny appearance immediately made Consort Yin laugh, but her weak body couldn't withstand it and she immediately started coughing violently!

"Cough cough!!"

Her body trembled, and she involuntarily leaned forward, her face contorted in pain.

"Consort De!"

Li Yuanchang stepped forward.

"No, it's nothing, cough cough cough!" She continued coughing, almost coughing up her lungs, her face turning red.

Li Yuanchang didn't know what to do, so he could only hand over a glass of water.

She looked up and reached out to take it.

Li Yuanchang's gaze unconsciously followed her loosened hand and glanced at her chest. Her clothes were just ordinary linen, not very supportive, and the size was not right.

With that cough, and the corner folded up, there was a bit of exposure.

His glance lasted only a moment, but by sheer coincidence, Consort Yin caught him.

Li Yuanchang's face instantly turned red with embarrassment. He hadn't done it on purpose; any man would have glanced at him in that situation.

Consort Yin was also a little uncomfortable, but she quickly calmed down and did not blame him, trusting Li Yuanchang's character.

"Your Highness, I heard you went to the East Sea. Did it go smoothly?" She took the initiative to change the subject.

Li Yuanchang exhaled, shaking off the distracting thoughts in his mind.

"Consort Yin... Oh, no, sister-in-law... that's not right either."

Consort Yin gave a sickly smile: "If Your Highness doesn't mind, please call me by my name, Yin Yao."

"Yin Yao?"

"Is this your name?"

She nodded: "This was my original name, but after the Sui Dynasty fell, the character was considered inauspicious, so I changed it."

"But now that I'm not in the palace, I can switch back."

"Good!" Li Yuanchang thought to himself, "It sounds pretty good."

"It went smoothly, quite smoothly."

"Although it was full of twists and turns, we finally made it back."

Yin Yao nodded: "You've been traveling all over the country these past years and have been very busy for the country, but you're still young, Your Highness, please take good care of your health."

Li Yuanchang sat on a wooden board and laughed, "You sound like you're very old."

"Your Highness, I am indeed getting old."

Li Yuanchang felt ashamed. In ancient times, one was considered young in their teens, and after twenty, one was considered an unwanted young woman. By thirty, one was considered old and past one's beauty.

This is a matter of aesthetics, not really.

How old are you?

Thirty-three.

"Hiss!!" Li Yuanchang gasped.

Yin Yao smiled and smoothed her hair, seemingly unconcerned about her age, as if she had seen through everything.

"Too young," Li Yuanchang suddenly remarked.

Yin Yao was stunned for a moment.

This was the first time she had heard someone say that thirty-three was young; in the palace, a maid who was over twenty basically had no chance of being promoted.

Many concubines who were not favored by the emperor rarely saw him after the age of twenty. Even those who were favored by the emperor had no competitive advantage after the age of twenty-four or twenty-five.

She thought she had misheard: "Your Highness, what did you say?"