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

"Your subordinate greets the King of Han."

Li Daxun bowed from a distance.

Li Yuanchang's figure appeared behind the curtain, then he stepped out: "What is it?"

"Your Highness, it is freezing cold and the city is in dire need of repairs. I came here specifically to visit you and, by the way, to recommend someone to you," Li Daxun said.

"Introduce someone? Is this what you call very important?" Li Yuanchang asked.

"Yes!" Li Daxun kept his head down the whole time.

"Who?"

"The most famous courtesan in Lugan City—no, within a hundred miles—is Xuanzhu. Legend has it that she is as beautiful as a flower, her voice as melodious as heavenly music, and that her buttocks can pluck paper, and her tongue can entwine flowers!"

Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow. "Can your buttocks move paper?"

"Countless high-ranking officials and nobles in Goguryeo have wanted to meet her but have failed. I believe that no one but Your Highness is worthy of such a woman."

"Therefore, I dare to introduce you to His Highness!"

As he spoke, he slightly raised his head and tentatively looked at Li Yuanchang.

Li Yuanchang smiled slightly. Isn't this just offering a beauty?

He wasn't interested at first, but when he heard the words "his buttocks can pluck paper, and his tongue can entwine flowers," he stayed, as eagle-like as he was.

"Send the person over here."

Seeing that he was interested, Li Daxun was overjoyed and said, "Your Highness, no problem! I will take care of it right away."

"Just, only..."

"Just what?" Li Yuanchang asked.

Li Daxun hesitated, "But Miss Xuanzhu is wary of strangers and afraid of weapons. She has never associated with soldiers. There are troops everywhere outside, which might cause some trouble..."

Li Yuanchang frowned, but did not suspect anything.

The idea that courtesans in ancient times disliked soldiers was not unfounded. To a large extent, it was because soldiers had fiery tempers, did not know how to be kind, and some even dined and dashed.

They prefer to associate with celebrities and wealthy young men.

"Your Highness, what do you think? Perhaps we could redeploy some of the guards? That would be more convenient?" Li Daxun suggested at this moment.

Li Yuanchang squinted at him.

Li Daxun reflexively lowered his head, his eyes darting away.

Li Yuanchang gave him a deep look.

Then a long silence fell over the hall, broken only by the crackling sound of firewood burning out in the stove.

Li Daxun tensed up and asked again, "Your Highness, what do you think?"

Li Yuanchang slowly sat down. If an ordinary person heard that this woman was so powerful, they would probably be driven by lust and have sex with her immediately.

It's just a matter of relocating some of the guards.

But he didn't.

"I think it's best to pass. I've seen far too many songstresses and have lost all interest in them."

Li Daxun immediately said, "Your Highness, this woman is truly an unparalleled beauty, with an extremely high reputation!"

"If Your Highness is willing to meet me, this trip will certainly not be in vain."

Li Yuanchang shook his head: "Not interested."

Li Daxun was disappointed.

"However," Li Yuanchang then changed the subject, "it is indeed lonely on such a freezing night without a beautiful woman to warm the bed beside you."

Upon hearing this, Li Daxun's disappointed face brightened with joy.

"How about this?"

"Find someone else, find someone else."

"I have a lifelong fondness for other men's wives; I wonder if the city lord would be willing to part with them?"

Married woman, should I give her up?

Li Daxun was stunned for a moment, then he figured out what Li Yuanchang meant, and his face turned green on the spot!

If anyone else dared to talk to him like that, he would have drawn his knife and attacked.

But right now, he didn't dare to get angry at all. Not to mention he couldn't bring his knife in, even if he did something, the fierce guards outside would probably rush in and kill him first.

"Your Highness, this..." he said, hesitantly.

"Never mind, I was just joking with the city lord. If the city lord is in a difficult position, then so be it." Li Yuanchang waved his hand, dismissing him.

Li Daxun became anxious.

"Your Highness!"

"No, that's not what I meant!"

"Since Your Highness likes it, of course, I'm willing to give everything for Your Highness!" He gritted his teeth, his face flushed, looking like he was ready to risk everything.

"However, Your Highness, it is inconvenient here with so many people around. Would you be willing to move your carriage or transfer some of the guards? That way, I can bring the person here more easily."

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed subtly in the depths of Li Yuanchang's eyes.

He was just testing the waters.

If the other party gets angry, it means there's still room for verification; they might just be trying to curry favor.

But he actually agreed to offer his wife!

This is too obvious. To agree to such a request is already a bit unscrupulous. Although nobles in the Tang Dynasty exchanged concubines, they were concubines, not wives!

This is linked to a series of unusual behaviors.

First, he knew my whereabouts in advance and took the initiative to stay, then he brought me wine, and now he's offering me his wife.

Everything seemed to revolve around transferring the guards away to leave the defenses vulnerable.

Li Yuanchang was on high alert, almost certain that Li Daxun was a problem, but he didn't make a sound. Instead, he showed a satisfied smile: "Very good."

"Lord Li, you are very sensible and deserve promotion. I will increase your food and salary subsidies next time."

Li Daxun forced a smile: "Yes, yes."

"Then, Your Highness, now?" Li Daxun asked tentatively, glancing outside.

It seems that for him, transferring the guards away was the most important thing, while his wife was not.

Li Yuanchang saw through it but didn't say anything.

"Guo Chao".

"Your humble servant is here." Guo Chao strode in.

"Go and move half of the guards outside away, and don't let the rest get too close."

Upon hearing this, Guo Chao's expression changed.

But when he saw the meaningful look in Li Yuanchang's eyes, he was taken aback. Years of tacit understanding made him instantly understand that this meant he was putting on a show.

"yes!"

Seeing this, Li Daxun breathed a sigh of relief, and his eyes lit up with smug joy.

Li Yuanchang took in all of these micro-expressions.

"Your Highness, I will immediately go back and bring the person here."

Li Yuanchang nodded: "Go quickly and come back quickly."

"yes!"

Li Daxun clasped his hands in a fist salute. Although his expression was somewhat unnatural, he showed no sign of displeasure. He then turned and disappeared into the snowy night.

After he left, Guo Chao returned.

"Your Highness."

"This person is suspicious!" Li Yuanchang blurted out, his eyes fixed on the direction where Li Daxun had disappeared, like torches.

"Your Highness, should we notify reinforcements?" Guo Chao asked cautiously.

"No need, that would alert them. Besides, Li Daxun is nothing to cause much trouble. There aren't many troops in Lugan City."

"He will send someone over in a moment; just let them pass. Also, as I just said, move half of the guards away, and make sure they don't show themselves; have them all lie in ambush around the palace."

"The guards deliberately left a loophole, but in reality, no one will be able to rest tonight; something must be about to happen." Li Yuanchang said calmly but with a chilling air.

He wasn't worried about anything at all. With over a thousand elite, fully armored soldiers and gunpowder, and with proper defenses, the combined armies of the three cities of Lugan wouldn't be able to break through.

He wanted to see who dared to come, and he would wipe them all out in one fell swoop!

"Yes!" Guo Chao clasped his hands in a fist salute, then quickly left to relay the instructions.

In just a short while, the once heavily guarded and airtight palace suddenly became deserted, the guard force was halved and gradually relaxed, and some areas were even completely plunged into darkness without any fires for lighting.