My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

The backyard of the Prince of Qin's mansion is as warm as spring all year round.

Although the city of Chang'an outside was already showing signs of early winter's desolation, the mansion, filled with spirit-gathering arrays, remained lush and fragrant with flowers.

Li Chen lay on a rocking chair covered with expensive fox fur, toying with a piece of deep-sea ice essence that emitted a faint chill in his hand.

This was a top-quality treasure that Li Shimin had extorted from those powerful families just two days ago.

Looking at the dozen or so large red lacquered wooden boxes piled up like a small mountain in the courtyard, Li Chen's smile never faded. This "delivery to his door" from the aristocratic families had completely filled his private coffers, enough for him to forge several handy magical artifacts.

"Sixteenth Brother! Look, look! I hit it again!"

On the lawn not far away, Little Sizi was having a great time playing with the jet-black ice crystal staff.

"Whoosh! Snap!"

A crystal-clear ice crystal shot out and landed precisely on an artificial hill. A burst of white, icy air instantly enveloped the hill in a beautiful layer of frost.

"Well done, your accuracy has improved!" Li Chen praised with a smile.

Beside it, in front of a large white jade round table.

Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun were leisurely drinking tea. Ever since the Qin Prince's Mansion was built, because of its abundant spiritual energy and nourishment for the body, these two most esteemed rulers of the Tang Dynasty had practically used it as a summer palace for escaping the cold and recuperating, and would often come in disguise to freeload a meal.

Sitting next to Empress Zhangsun was Princess Changle, Li Lizhi, who had come out of the palace specifically to play with her younger sister.

Today, Chang Le wore a light blue pleated auspicious skirt. Her eyebrows and eyes were gentle, and her temperament was like an orchid. However, a faint cloud of sorrow always seemed to shroud her beautiful face.

Empress Zhangsun put down her teacup, reached out and took Chang Le's slender and delicate hand, patted it gently, her eyes full of affection.

"Lizhi, in the blink of an eye, you've grown into a young woman."

Empress Zhangsun sighed, her tone tinged with guilt.

"A few days ago, your uncle Changsun Wuji came to the palace again to see your father. He asked about your marriage to Chong'er. Your mother thought that my health has now been cured by your sixteenth brother, and the Tang Dynasty is now relatively stable. Your marriage, which has been delayed for three years, should be put on the agenda."

Upon hearing this, Princess Chang Le stiffened slightly.

Her smile was somewhat forced. She lowered her head and replied softly, "It's entirely up to Father and Mother to decide."

Li Shimin sat opposite him, stroking his beard, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes.

"Yes. Three years ago, I originally planned to marry you off to Changsun Chong. The Changsun family is a family of great honor and favor, and I watched Chong grow up. He is refined and gentle, and is worthy of my Chang Le."

Li Shimin picked up his teacup, shook his head, and seemed to recall some unsettling past events.

"What a pity! The heavens did not cooperate. On the very day I was about to formally issue the imperial decree of marriage in court, dark clouds suddenly loomed over Chang'an, accompanied by lightning and thunder; it was as if the sky had burst open!"

"Those old fogies in the Imperial Observatory insisted that this was a warning from Heaven, and regarded it as a great omen of bad luck."

Li Shimin sighed, "In addition, Guanyinbi's illness worsened. These successive misfortunes delayed this wonderful marriage for a full three years."

"Fortunately, our hardships have finally come to an end, thanks to the blessing of Chen'er, this living saint, for my Great Tang. I intend to set the wedding date for the eighth day of next month, an auspicious day, to give you a grand and glorious ceremony!"

On the rocking chair.

Li Chen, who had been resting with his eyes closed, couldn't help but twitch his eyelids a few times upon hearing these words.

He almost dropped the piece of deep-sea ice he was holding.

"Three years ago? Dark clouds loomed? Lightning flashed and thunder roared?"

Li Chen mentally cursed incessantly, his lips twitching.

What the hell is this?! What kind of ominous warning from heaven?!

Three years ago, on that very day, it was right when I had just transmigrated into the body of this transparent prince!

The soul's possession and rebirth triggered a violent repulsion from heaven and earth, which led to the thunderstorm that swept through Chang'an.

It turns out that the commotion she caused when she traveled through time had inadvertently ruined Princess Chang Le's arranged marriage, forcing this young lady to remain a single noblewoman for three more years.

This is an extremely unjust accusation.

Li Chen couldn't help but turn his head and look at Princess Chang Le.

At this moment, although Chang Le said "I will leave it all to my father," there was not a trace of the joy that a young woman about to be married should have in her beautiful eyes.

She lowered her eyes, her hands unconsciously clenching together under her sleeves.

That deep-seated resistance and sorrow could not escape the keen perception of Li Chen, a Golden Core cultivator.

Also.

The marriages of these princesses in ancient times were all victims of political alliances.

Princess Chang Le was a well-read and thoughtful girl who had no romantic feelings for her cousin Changsun Chong, who only knew how to study.

Moreover, Li Chen also had a detailed history book of the Tang Dynasty in his mind.

In the actual course of history, this gentle and kind-hearted princess of the Tang Dynasty did not live a happy life after marrying Changsun Chong.

At the young age of twenty-three, he passed away prematurely due to a sudden onset of illness and emotional distress.

Looking at Chang Le's aggrieved and forced smile.

A rare moment of tenderness welled up in Li Chen's heart.

During the years the original owner endured in the cold palace, Princess Chang Le secretly instructed her servants to send her a lot of food and warm clothing.

Li Chen kept track of this small act of kindness between siblings.

Moreover, one of the main culprits behind Chang Le's early death was the risk of genetic diseases brought about by consanguineous marriage.

Now that he has come and become a cultivator in this Tang Dynasty, he has no reason to watch his elder sister jump into a fire pit.

"well--"

A particularly heavy and long sigh suddenly rang out in the quiet backyard.

The sigh seemed out of place in the harmonious atmosphere.

Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun's conversation was abruptly interrupted. They both turned their heads at the same time, looking at Li Chen lying on the rocking chair with puzzled expressions.

"Chen'er, what's wrong?"

Empress Zhangsun asked with concern, "Are you upset? Why are you suddenly sighing?"

Princess Chang Le also raised her head, a hint of worry in her beautiful eyes.

Li Chen slowly sat up from the rocking chair.

He didn't look at Li Shimin, but instead fixed his gaze on Princess Chang Le's face, his eyes revealing a profound and compassionate understanding of the world.

"I sigh because someone is facing imminent disaster, yet remains unaware of it."

Li Chen shook his head, his tone becoming unusually serious.

"Old Deng, you'd better cancel this marriage immediately. You absolutely cannot let Chang Le marry into the Changsun family."

These words were spoken.

The people around the white jade round table were all stunned.

"Canceling the wedding? Why?!"