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

Li Yuanchang stared at it intently.

"Sister-in-law, you've maintained your figure remarkably well."

Murong Ji blushed instantly, her heart racing. So direct?

She lowered her head, not daring to look at him: "Your Highness, what, what is meant by 'maintenance'?"

"Maintenance is the key to preserving youth. There are some alchemists in the Central Plains who specialize in this, all for the sake of eternal youth, immortality, and a youthful appearance despite white hair," Li Yuanchang said.

Murong Ji asked in surprise, "Birth, aging, sickness, and death, like the cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, can this be changed?"

Li Yuanchang laughed and said, "Indeed, it's impossible. Immortality is just a desire. Even with the best techniques for preserving youth, you'll only look a little better than your peers."

"But my sister-in-law is truly one of the best among them."

Murong Ji smiled, pursing her lips: "Your Highness really knows how to make people happy."

"I feel that I am old and ashamed compared to Your Highness's youthful vigor."

"Hey, you're being modest. Look at your hands, how white and tender they are." With that, Li Yuanchang took a hand.

Murong Ji felt as if she had been electrocuted. Her face flushed red, and her eyes began to dart around Li Yuanchang.

What a handsome Far East King!

Young, valiant, and commanding a large army—he's practically the epitome of manhood!

So much so that she didn't say a word when Li Yuanchang made unwanted advances.

"Does Your Highness prefer fair-skinned women?" she asked, trying to ease the awkwardness.

"That's natural."

"The Tang Dynasty valued plumpness and fair skin as beauty, and you fit both criteria."

Murong Ji was slightly pleased, and then, at Li Yuanchang's prompting, she stepped into the bucket, getting soaked on the spot, her proud figure mysteriously revealed.

"To be honest, Your Highness, the Tuyuhun are not like that."

"Most women of the Tuyuhun people have yellowish-black skin, which men consider beautiful, and they generally prefer to marry women with this complexion."

They believed that fair-skinned women were sickly and frail, and that they wouldn't be able to do any work if married.

Li Yuanchang was both amused and exasperated.

That's true. In ancient times, commoners who wanted to marry women hoped to find someone strong and capable of doing manual labor.

The kind of "pale, thin, and young" child in the 21st century would have been considered practically unfeasible in ancient times, and no one would have liked them.

This leads to many beautiful women being insecure despite their good looks.

"When everyone can have enough to eat in the future, these aesthetics and needs will probably change."

"Everyone has enough to eat?" Murong Ji asked in surprise.

"Yes." Li Yuanchang's gaze was deep and thoughtful.

If his calculations are correct, Tuyuhun was actually equivalent to the "western Sichuan region" in later times.

In his mind, this was Han territory, and it would eventually be returned to one China.

"Will that day ever come?" Murong Ji couldn't help but ask.

In her view, this was almost impossible.

Many poor people starve to death every year, let alone in a poor place like Tuyuhun.

"Yes, I will," Li Yuanchang blurted out.

Murong Ji was stunned for a moment, and surprisingly believed it for no apparent reason.

Then the two fell silent, the only sound the rushing water.

Li Yuanchang had one foot sticking out, so it couldn't get wet. He was also lying down, so it wasn't suitable for him to make any big movements, otherwise he would have been unable to hold back long ago.

After his bath, his black hair was loose, dripping with water droplets. As soon as his heroic body emerged from the water, the beautiful woman Murong Ji's heart raced and her mind went blank.

"Sister-in-law, the night is still long. Why don't you sit with me for a while and have a chat?" Li Yuanchang extended an invitation.

Murong Ji looked in that direction and saw a bed.

Talking in bed?

She wasn't a naive girl who didn't understand matters between men and women; she naturally understood what Li Yuanchang was planning.

"Your Highness, this humble woman will go change her clothes."

"These clothes are a bit dirty."

After she finished speaking, her cheeks burned and her heart pounded faster.

"It's not dirty, it's not dirty, just take it off."

"Huh?" Murong Ji blushed.

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. Don't worry, my sister-in-law, I am by no means a despicable and lecherous man. I just hit it off with you at first sight and wanted to have a chat," Li Yuanchang assured him, patting his chest.

That look made Murong Ji's beautiful eyes suspicious. Had she really been overthinking things?

"Yes."

"As Your Highness commands."

As she spoke, she awkwardly took off her outer clothes again, leaving only her close-fitting dress, and climbed onto the bed to tidy herself up.

Just as she was about to get down, Li Yuanchang came up.

"Sister-in-law, do you have any other relatives at home?" Li Yuanchang asked.

Being so close made Murong Ji feel somewhat flustered; she lowered her eyes and looked at her knees.

"Your Highness, I have a younger brother at home."

"However, he had previously committed fraud in business, which displeased the Khan, and he had been imprisoned ever since."

"I see."

"How long have you been detained?"

"Your Highness, it has been almost two years. He narrowly escaped the calamity of Tuyuhun this time. Later, when Your Highness attacked, he broke the chains and led his men to cooperate with the Tang army to attack the Tibetans."

As she spoke, she gave me a pleading and expectant look.

Li Yuanchang, of course, knew her intention when she said that.

"Oh, so you're saying this is a way of redeeming yourself?"

"How about this, I'll send someone tomorrow to inform Khan Murong to release the man. I'll also try to find him a good job. What do you think, my sister-in-law?"

Upon hearing this, Murong Ji was overjoyed, tears welling up in her eyes as she exclaimed, "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"

She knelt before the bed, her voice choked with emotion.

Li Yuanchang looked down at her and almost fainted. So dazzling, so white, the tiny blue veins were so sexy.

"Sister-in-law, you flatter me."

"These things are nothing to worry about, get up."

As he spoke, he patted the other person's hand.

Murong Ji looked up, their eyes met, and she slowly stood up and sat back down.

"Sister-in-law, how about having a few drinks?" Li Yuanchang suddenly suggested.

Murong Ji looked troubled: "Your Highness, I am not a good drinker."

"It's okay, just drink a little."

Murong Ji was afraid of making a fool of herself while drunk, but Li Yuanchang insisted, so she had no choice but to risk her life to keep him company.

She brought the drinks.

Sure enough, after one glass of wine, her whole body turned red, her eyes became glazed, and her beautiful womanly aura became even more pronounced.

He also had more and more physical contact with Li Yuanchang.

In less than fifteen minutes, she was completely tipsy and burning hot, and collapsed into Li Yuanchang's arms.

At this moment, Li Yuanchang didn't care about anything else and buried his head in a passionate kiss.

The Holy Body is the Holy Body; it cannot be compared to ordinary fair skin.

As a pair of close-fitting clothes slipped off.

"Your Highness, please don't..." she mumbled drunkenly, trying to stop him with her legs, but this was not a refusal at all, but rather a half-hearted attempt to persuade him.

"Don't worry, my sister-in-law, I will take responsibility."

After saying that, Li Yuanchang grabbed her wrist, took a deep breath, and then forcefully took Murong Ji into his own hands.