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

"Your Highness, have you heard?"

"His Majesty recently issued an edict to offer sacrifices at Wei Zheng's tomb, and re-erected the stele that had been toppled before the expedition. He also summoned Wei Zheng's wife and children and bestowed upon them many rewards." Cheng Yaojin said in a low voice, looking much older.

Wei Zheng had already passed away before Li Yuanchang went to the East China Sea, and Li Yuanchang went to pay his respects at that time.

It was a very grand occasion; Li Shimin even suspended court for five days.

However, after Li Yuanchang went to Donghai, Li Shimin unexpectedly learned that Wei Zheng had shown his remonstrances to the historians.

This infuriated Li Shimin, who believed that Wei Zheng's actions were an attempt to elevate himself while belittling Li Shimin, coupled with the many long-standing conflicts between the emperor and his minister.

Over the course of seventeen years, Wei Zheng made more than two hundred remonstrances, each of which was sarcastic and mocking towards Li Shimin.

So, in a fit of anger, Li Shimin ordered Wei Zheng's tombstone to be leveled.

Li Yuanchang nodded: "I've heard about it."

Cheng Yaojin sighed, "Wei Zheng was annoying, but after he died, Chang'an doesn't seem as lively anymore."

"It is a great thing that His Majesty has erected an official stele for him. In any case, Wei Zheng has made contributions to the country and was selfless."

Li Yuanchang nodded: "Yes."

"Perhaps...perhaps His Majesty is also blaming himself for this campaign against Goguryeo."

"If Wei Zheng were here, this battle might not have been fought."

Cheng Yaojin nodded repeatedly and sighed, "Yes."

"If that old man Wei Zheng were here, he would probably bang his head against the Liangyi Hall to stop the army from setting off."

"Only he can control His Majesty."

"It's a pity he died of illness; perhaps everything is preordained."

"Shh, someone's coming," Li Yuanchang warned.

In an instant, all the civil and military officials waiting outside straightened their postures, straightened their clothes, and the eunuchs came out, announcing, "Summon the officials to an audience!"

"yes!!"

"..."

A large number of officials entered the Liangyi Hall. This was Li Shimin's first formal public appearance after seven days of seclusion since his return.

He had fallen ill before the expedition.

When he returned from the campaign, he looked much older than before, even his beard had turned whiter and his eyes were full of wrinkles.

You could say it was the hardships of war, or you could say it was the blows of a failed attack.

Such a retreat, though allowing for free movement, was indeed a disgrace for the Heavenly Khan and the Tang Dynasty.

Officials paid homage and performed the rites.

Li Shimin lifted him up with a wave of his hand, and all the officials straightened their backs.

His first words were: "If Wei Zheng were alive, he would not have allowed me to do this!"

The Liangyi Hall fell into a deathly silence.

His words implied that if Wei Zheng were still alive, he would never have allowed me to do something like attacking Goguryeo.

Almost no one dared to respond to that.

Only Li Shimin spoke, his expression tinged with dejection: "This time, I made a mistake!"

"I shouldn't have acted impulsively and attacked Goguryeo, causing such terrible consequences."

Li Yuanchang couldn't help but steal a glance at him from the crowd. The defeat of Goguryeo seemed to have made Li Shimin, in his later years, a little more sober.

The Heavenly Khan is indeed the Heavenly Khan; his moral standards are very high. Putting aside other factors, if it were that emperor who performed the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, he would probably have held a victory celebration banquet for himself.

But Li Shimin did not; instead, he directly admitted his mistake.

At this moment, Changsun Wuji stepped forward and offered a way out, saying, "Your Majesty, although this attack failed to achieve its objective, it did yield some gains. This battle thwarted Goguryeo's potential to become too powerful."

"In my opinion, the consequences are not dire."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

As soon as he opened his mouth, ministers followed suit and spoke up one after another.

This is the way of being an official: if the emperor admits his mistake, then those below him must give him a way out so that everyone can benefit.

"No!"

Li Shimin shook his head, his face grim: "That's true, but this debt just doesn't add up."

"The number of fallen soldiers and the resources consumed were too great."

"I will issue an edict of self-reproach!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials were shocked; this thing could not be administered lightly.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Senior officials such as Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling all stepped forward to stop him, and after much persuasion, they finally managed to dissuade Li Shimin from doing so.

But Li Shimin probably didn't really intend to do this; he was just expressing his attitude and reflecting on his mistakes.

Only after he had finished reflecting on his mistakes and making self-criticisms did Li Shimin gradually begin to concern himself with state affairs.

Li Zhi talked for a long time by himself, but when he mentioned Li Yuanchang's assassination attempt, his brows furrowed slightly.

Upon hearing that the mastermind had been executed, he said nothing more, only glancing at Changsun Wuji.

That one glance sent chills down Changsun Wuji's spine!

He seemed to be saying that the Guanlong aristocracy had gone a bit too far!

"Where is the King of Han?" he asked, as if he had just remembered the matter of the East Sea.

Li Yuanchang was still lost in thought when Cheng Yaojin pulled him back to his senses, and he immediately walked out.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

Li Shimin looked him up and down, first asking with concern, "How are your injuries?"

"Your Majesty, I have recovered long ago and it's nothing serious."

Li Shimin nodded.

"Thanks a lot."

"Upon returning from the East China Sea, you immediately took over logistics. I was aware of the fundraising efforts between the Northern Song and Southern Qin dynasties while I was in Liaodong. You did a great job!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Yuanchang said.

Immediately afterwards, Li Shimin changed the subject, his eyes revealing a hint of curiosity and eagerness.

"Did you find it?"

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials turned their gazes toward him, all filled with curiosity.

Li Yuanchang has been back for a long time, but no one knows the outcome, and no one dares to ask, including Li Zhi.

This is mainly because the elixir of immortality is too sensitive. If you ask one more question, you might be misunderstood as wanting the elixir of immortality or not wanting Li Shimin to live forever.

Li Yuanchang looked up and saw an even stronger desire for immortality in Li Shimin's eyes.

The defeat of Goguryeo made him reflect on his actions, but it also made him even more resentful!

"Your Majesty, I have indeed found the legendary Penglai Island."

Upon hearing this, many people held their breath. Is there really an elixir of immortality?

Li Zhi's face lit up with joy; he truly has no guile.

If his father is immortal, he can forget about ascending to the heavens in this lifetime.

"What about the elixir of immortality and the immortals?" Li Shimin pressed.

Li Yuanchang initially wanted to say that he hadn't found it, but after thinking for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, you will understand once you see what I brought back from the East Sea."

Li Shimin frowned. What did they bring back?

Li Yuanchang's statement clearly indicates that it is not an elixir of immortality.

A short while later, twenty imperial guards laboriously carried in a huge object, which was the stone disc that Li Yuanchang had brought back from overseas.

This item had always been kept in the Ministry of War, and when he came to pay his respects, he had it brought in advance.

The court officials immediately began to discuss it.

Li Shimin slowly descended the steps, his expression shifting between light and shadow: "What is this?"

Li Yuanchang stepped forward and ripped off the cloth, immediately revealing the mottled and beautiful stone wall.

"What is this?"

"There are words on it!"

"What did you write?"

"Xu Fu, this is an autobiography left by a man named Xu Fu!"

"Xu Fu? Penglai Island, isn't he the one from the Qin Dynasty who was ordered to cross the sea to find medicine?" someone exclaimed in surprise.

boom!

The Liangyi Hall immediately erupted in chaos.