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

Li Yuanchang had never seen Fang Xuanling like this before, and a sense of sadness suddenly overwhelmed him.

He suddenly realized that his departure might be a final farewell.

Fang Xuanling died in the 22nd year of the Zhenguan era in history. He was seventy years old this year, which was a rare advanced age in ancient times.

At his age, he still has to come out to put out fires. It's not that the Tang Dynasty has no one else, but that only he can help, and only he has an absolutely neutral stance.

"Lord Fang, this is what I should do."

He suddenly came to Fang Xuanling's side and said with emotion, "I think that even a thousand years from now, future generations will remember that the Tang Dynasty had such a famous prime minister as you."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling immediately beamed with joy: "Your Highness, I appreciate your kind words, but who can know what will happen a thousand years from now?"

"As the saying goes, time flies and the sun and moon are merciless. A lifetime is really too fast. In the blink of an eye, we will all be buried."

"However, Your Highness, you still retain your charm."

"If possible, I would like to drink with Your Highness a few more times."

Cheng Yaojin, standing to the side, was also quite moved. How could he not see that his old friend's days were numbered? The Rough Demon King forced back his tears.

"Hehehe, wanna go for a night of drinking and womanizing?"

Li Yuanchang burst out laughing on the spot.

Fang Xuanling said disdainfully, "You old fool, you're an insult to scholarship."

"Hahaha!" Cheng Yaojin laughed shamelessly, "I almost forgot, Brother Fang, you have a shrewish wife!"

"Fool, take this!" Fang Xuanling grabbed his cane and struck.

Cheng Yaojin, a fierce general, was struck squarely on the head by him.

Seeing the two old men joking around, Li Yuanchang couldn't help but smile.

"..."

The three drank for a full hour. Cheng Yaojin got drunk, and Fang Xuanling, who was only drinking tea, also became somewhat drunk. Perhaps sensing that time was passing and life was coming to an end, he became somewhat melancholy.

Once both of them had fallen asleep, Li Yuanchang, who had been drunk, sobered up. Although his face was red, his eyes were incredibly clear.

He went to the two seniors and covered them with a blanket.

"Your Highness."

At that moment, a guard slipped in.

"Is it done?" Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow.

"Your Highness, everything is arranged. All the Imperial Guards outside have been drugged and incapacitated. Our men around the post station have also arrived and are ready to move at any time!" the guard said in a low voice.

Not long ago, Li Yuanchang had already received the news, even faster than Fang Xuanling and the other two, that Li Yi had succeeded.

Once the hostages were rescued, he became someone without any worries, and escaping would be too easy for him.

Frankly, no one can keep an eye on him if he doesn't want to.

"it is good."

He nodded, then turned back for one last look at Fang Xuanling and Cheng Yaojin.

This departure means I don't know when we'll meet again, or even if we'll ever see each other again.

If nothing unexpected happens, it will be difficult for him to return to Chang'an.

He sighed, then bowed deeply to the two of them.

The bright moon hangs high, and farewell is silent.

A short while later, there was another fire, and another post station, but in a different location.

"Fire!"

"Fire!"

"quick!!"

The post station was thrown into chaos as a large number of imperial guards rushed to put out the fire and headed towards the location of Li Yuanchang and his two companions, drawing all attention to the area.

But by this time, Li Yuanchang had already changed into the armor of an ordinary imperial guard, blended into the crowd, and took advantage of the chaos to reach the stable.

It can be said that travel is unimpeded.

After all, eleven people is too small a target and cannot be equated with the relocation of the Han Prince's family.

To help Li Yuanchang escape, his subordinates outside launched a feint attack. A deafening battle cry pierced the night, drawing the attention of all the imperial guards.

"Walk!"

Seizing the opportunity, Li Yuanchang pulled on the reins with both hands, and the horse quickly neighed.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, wait!!"

A series of urgent shouts rang out.

All eyes turned to him, and there was a white-haired Fang Xuanling who had chased after them. He was so anxious that he even tripped and fell.

"Your Highness, let's go!"

Li Yuanchang had intended to leave, but seeing the elderly Fang Xuanling fall, he couldn't bear it, so he dismounted and rushed forward.

"Fang Gong!"

Fang Xuanling fell hard, but he seized the opportunity to grab Li Yuanchang tightly: "Your Highness, what are you doing?"

"Didn't we agree to go back to Chang'an together to confess our sins?"

His voice trembled, not with anger or blame, but with worry—worry that Li Yuanchang was going astray.

Li Yuanchang frowned, scanning his surroundings warily, and said in a deep voice.

"Master Fang, you and I both understand that there is no such thing as surrendering when you rebel, and that means you lose half the battle."

Fang Xuanling trembled, speechless, and suddenly understood why Li Yuanchang had said it was the last drinking session not long ago; it turned out he had no intention of going back.

"If I return, even if I survive, I will likely be stripped of my freedom. And those soldiers who depend on me, will they truly be able to live with dignity?"

"His Majesty is no longer the same as before; he needs to consider the smooth transfer of power."

"But Your Highness, once you leave, there will be no turning back!"

"His Majesty will surely send a large army to quell the rebellion, which will bring devastation and even more deaths!"

Why are you doing this to yourself?

"As long as you return to Chang'an, are willing to humble yourself, and admit your mistakes, this major issue can be resolved!"

"Wouldn't it be better to leave future matters for the future?" Fang Xuanling said impatiently, unwilling to let go. In his view, Li Yuanchang was courting death.

If we return to Chang'an, at least the Prince of Han's residence can be preserved, and at least our lives can be saved!

Li Yuanchang couldn't help but smile wryly: "Lord Fang, you have your stance, and I have mine."

"His Majesty is unwilling to tolerate a Han king who poses a danger to him."

"And I, too, am unwilling to entrust my life to the decision of others."

"Your Highness, so you're willing to go to war? Do you know how many people will die? This is a road of no return!"

"I don't want to see you go astray! Even if they force you, you can't act impulsively!" Fang Xuanling, with his white hair, grabbed him tightly, his eyes almost pleading.

Li Yuanchang felt reluctant, but he couldn't go back. If he did, his life would be over. If the emperor could believe the promises made to princes who had rebelled, the sun would rise in the west and pigs would fly.

Having come this far, there's no turning back.

There was already a fundamental conflict between him and Li Shimin.

"Lord Fang, I lied to you about this matter; it was my fault."

"But I promise you that as long as the court doesn't cause me any trouble, I will always be a subject of the Tang Dynasty."

"I will try my best not to kill a single person."

"Your Highness!!" Fang Xuanling shouted with all his might, refusing to let go.

Li Yuanchang glanced at the post station engulfed in flames and surrounded by imperial guards, knowing he could not delay any longer.

"Master Fang, please forgive me, and please take good care of yourself."

As he spoke, his eyes became serious, and then he forcefully withdrew his hand. He intended to knock the man unconscious with a chop, but then he worried that the elderly Fang Xuanling might not be able to withstand a chop.

"Your Highness, the Prince of Han!"

"You can't leave!"

"Someone come quickly!" Fang Xuanling shouted repeatedly.

Li Yuanchang did not look back, but quickly mounted his horse and fled in the chaos.