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After more than a year, everyone was eager to return home. The journey went smoothly, and they quickly entered the territory of Tuguhun, where Zanpu Qizonglongzan personally welcomed the Tang Envoy group returning from India.
Wang Xuance felt uneasy because he had lost the letter meant for Wencheng Princess while being captured in India. However, Wencheng Princess did not care about the letter at all, as she had met Xu Zhen!
After more than three years, she finally saw Xu Zhen again. She was the daughter of Li Daozong, and the Sovereign's letter was merely words of encouragement. Meeting Xu Zhen truly eased her homesickness.
The once headstrong and willful princess had transformed into a dignified and graceful queen. Her every gesture exuded maturity and composure. After three years in Tuguhun, she had gained the recognition of the Tubo people, transitioning from initial curiosity to widespread admiration, which even she found hard to believe.
The only regret was that after three whole years, she still had no children of her own, perhaps the only thing she felt was lacking.
She often thought of the Tang Dynasty, her parents, and Xu Zhen …
However, after Xu Zhen arrived in Tuguhun, she could only maintain a proper distance, accompanying Qizong Nongsan as they received the Tang Delegation.
When Qizong Nongsan learned from the Tibetan General about Xu Zhen's astonishing military achievements, disbelief filled his eyes. He couldn't help but feel a sense of dread for not having heeded Murong Hanzhu's treacherous slander back then and withdrawing early from the Battle of Songzhou; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
He recalled that at the end of the Battle of Tuguhun, he personally led troops to assist Murong Hanzhu and Former Sui's Princess Guanghua. It was during that time he first encountered Xu Zhen when she was still a young officer.
Now, Xu Zhen had become a State Minister of the Tang Dynasty, an unparalleled general who fought for her nation. With her long beard, she had completely shed her youthful recklessness in favor of profound wisdom and depth.
Wencheng inquired about the situation in Tang and asked about the Sovereign's health. Her demeanor was elegant and measured; most of her time was spent conversing with Wang Xuance while trying to keep her discussions with Xu Zhen natural and appropriate.
Wang Xuance felt he was given due importance and spoke confidently, displaying the demeanor expected of a great nation's envoy. The banquet concluded in an extremely friendly and harmonious atmosphere.
Afterward, Xu Zhen and others checked into the State Guesthouse for a brief rest before continuing their journey back to Tang.
Upon returning to her palace, Wencheng dismissed her maidservants and sat alone in the depths of the palace, feeling torn inside.
Although Qizong Nongsan treated her with respect, his growing indifference towards Wencheng due to her lack of offspring became evident. While they appeared affectionate in public, he rarely visited Wencheng's chambers at night.
Before marrying Wencheng, he already had four wives, with Princess Chizun of Nibola being the most favored. Wencheng oversaw the construction of Xiao Zhao Temple while Princess Chizun built Dazhao Temple; the implications were not for outsiders to know.
Aside from Princess Chizun, Qizong Nongsan either visits Consort Xiangxiong's chambers or spends the night with Mu Yaru Yangfei. Recently, he has frequently been seen at Mangsachizeng Consort's quarters, and it is rumored that Mangsachizeng Consort is already pregnant. This is the only fruit of Qizong Nongsan's diligent efforts over many nights.
As a result, Wencheng has become increasingly neglected. If not for her status as Tang Princess and the advanced skills she brought to Tuguhun, the hardships of this political marriage would be all too clear.
From the moment she first laid eyes on Xu Zhen, she longed to rush into her embrace and share the sorrows she had endured over the years. However, due to her status, she could not do so.
As night deepened, Wencheng's lights were extinguished. Alone in the darkness, she finally wiped away her tears, changed into a black night outfit, and stealthily left her chambers.
Since arriving at Tuguhun, her skills had gone unused. Ironically, her first use of them in Tuguhun was to secretly meet a man with whom she shared a past.
This made her feel both embarrassed and excited as she navigated through the numerous palaces. The night breeze brushed against her face, making her feel as if she had returned three years ago when she was still unmarried and the bold and reckless Li Wushuang.
She was so familiar with this palace that she easily evaded the palace guards and slipped into the State Guesthouse. Searching through the guest rooms, she finally spotted Xu Zhen's silhouette reading by the window in a small courtyard.
Upon reaching this point, she hesitated. Several times she considered turning back, like a thief caught in the act, filled with struggle and excitement—a temptation that was hard to resist.
She wanted to leave but also wished to see Xu Zhen, even if just for a moment.
Just as she gathered her courage to enter and meet Xu Zhenzhi, Xu Zhen stood up and blew out the candle!
When Xu Zhen's silhouette disappeared from the window, panic surged within her. If she entered now, what might happen? She dared not imagine it but was unwilling to leave without seeing Xu Zhen even once.
In her hesitation, the door opened silently. Xu Zhen, dressed in black, looked around like a vigilant night owl. After determining her direction, Xu Zhen began to stealthily move west toward the South Side—where the harem lay!
Li Wushuang's tears suddenly flowed. She had thought Xu Zhen would no longer think of her, yet now Xu Zhen wore night clothes just like her.
She wanted to call out to Xu Zhen but feared being overheard. In a moment of desperation, she lunged toward Xu Zhen. Xu Zhen turned around alertly; they exchanged blows. Although it was dark, they recognized each other through their movements!
They did not stop; it seemed they were lost in this physical contact. This struggle appeared to pull them back to that moment three years ago.
As they were deeply engrossed, lights suddenly flickered on in the room at the other end of the courtyard. Xu Zhen and Li Wushuang almost simultaneously withdrew their fists and silently slipped into Xu Zhen's room.
Caesar gently pushed open the door and glanced at Xu Zhen's room from across the courtyard. A faint, inscrutable smile appeared at the corner of her mouth before she turned around and closed the door.
Zhang Suling, somewhat puzzled, asked, "Sister Caesar, why can't I serve our lord tonight?"
Caesar playfully scratched Zhang Suling's upturned nose but did not answer her. Instead, she reached out to tickle Zhang Suling's waist, jokingly pushing her onto the bed and teasing, "Little vixen, can't you bear to be apart from our lord for just one night? Let me keep you company while you sleep."
Zhang Suling felt embarrassed, and after a bit of playful banter, they finally embraced and fell asleep.
For the next three nights, Caesar and Zhang Suling did not disturb Xu Zhen until the fourth day when they finally set off to leave Tuguhun.
Li Wushuang remained composed and serene by Qizong Nongsan's side, watching as Xu Zhen's entourage slowly moved away. When Xu Zhen's figure disappeared at the end of the road, she instinctively touched her lower abdomen. The winter morning sun warmed her as it shone down, and the grass seeds in the soil by the roadside seemed to silently nurture themselves, waiting for spring to sprout.
In May of the twenty-second year of Zhenguan, the weather in the Tang Dynasty was as hot yet somewhat oppressive as it had been during that time. During Xu Zhen's absence, the Tang Dynasty continued its legendary tales.
As early as the twenty-first year, the Sovereign had ordered Governor of Songzhou Wang Boli and others to summon craftsmen from twelve states in Jiangnan to build hundreds of large ships for a third campaign against Goryeo. However, by the end of that year, Goguryeo's treasure king sent his son Moli Zhigao Renwu to Tang to apologize. The Sovereign assessed the national situation and ultimately accepted this apology, postponing discussions on attacking Goguryeo.
After the new year, however, the Sovereign's health began to decline. In January, he personally composed twelve chapters of "Imperial Guidelines" to bestow upon the Crown Prince.
This "Imperial Guidelines" encompassed chapters on "Ruler's Conduct," "Establishing Kinship," "Seeking Talents," "Examining Officials," "Accepting Advice," "Eliminating Slander," "Warning Against Excess," "Promoting Frugality," "Rewards and Punishments," "Farming," "Military Review," and "Promoting Culture," advising the Crown Prince to seek ancient wise kings as mentors and to avoid extravagance and arrogance.
Though reluctant to admit it, Li Mingda was well aware that her father had begun paving the way for Li Zhi. This troubled her greatly; thus, apart from daily morning and evening greetings, she accompanied Li Shimin whenever possible.
By February, the Sovereign decreed Right Guardian General Xue Wanche as Grand Commander of the Qingqiu Military and Right Guard General Pei Xingfang as Deputy Chief Steward. They led over thirty thousand men along with hundreds of warships from Laizhou to launch a third campaign against Goguryeo!
Xue Wanche captured Daxing City with a surprise attack. After a fierce battle where he defeated enemy general Su Fusun, he pressed on to besiege Bokui City. Goguryeo dispatched over thirty thousand troops for support but was repelled by Xue Wanche again and ultimately captured Bokui City.
Unfortunately, Xue Wanche was arrogant and ill-tempered; he could not tolerate others. After some officers wrote to Heaven about his discord with them, upon returning to court, the Sovereign said to him: "Those who wrote claim that you do not cooperate with your fellow generals. I will record your merits while overlooking your faults; thus I shall not punish you."
Sovereign generously burned the lawsuit letter in front of Xue Wanche.
Compared to Xue Wanche, Sovereign relied more on Xue Wanjun, but unfortunately, Xue Wanjun had already passed away. Sovereign could only try to comfort Xue Wanche, bestowing favors upon him in hopes that he could stabilize the military forces for Li Zhi.
However, seeing that Sovereign did not punish him, Xue Wanche became increasingly arrogant and overbearing. The Deputy Chief Steward and Right Guard General Pei Xingfang secretly reported to Sovereign that during the battles against Goguryeo, Xue Wanche often expressed grievances towards the court. Duke of England Li Ji felt that Xue Wanche was unworthy of great responsibility and thus advised Sovereign. Finally, Sovereign made a firm decision to dismiss Xue Wanche and exiled him to Xiangzhou.
At the end of February, the Chief of the Bone Clan came to Tang Dynasty to pay respects. The people of Skeleton Nation were tall, with red hair and blue eyes. There had been no prior diplomatic relations, so the court designated the land of bones as Jiankun Governor's Office, under the Yanran Protectorate. Surrounding tribes of Foreigners sent envoys to pay tribute to Tang, often numbering in the hundreds or thousands.
By April, Sovereign dispatched Liang Jianfang to lead the cavalry from Bashu Thirteen Provinces, defeating many Foreigners tribes from Songwai, capturing and killing over a thousand people. More than seventy tribes with nearly two hundred thousand people submitted to the Tang Dynasty, and they also won over Yang Sheng, the leader of Western Er River.
In the same month, Quju, a leader from a Khitan tribe, led his people to submit to Tang Dynasty. The court established Xuan Prefecture in his territory, which was under the Yingzhou Governor's Office.
By the end of the month, even Ashina Helu from the remnants of Western Turkic led thousands of tents and people to submit to Tang. Sovereign settled these individuals in Tingzhou Mohe City and appointed Ashina Helu as Left Vanguard General.
Everything seemed to be on track; Tang Dynasty remained an immensely powerful nation that expanded its territory through conquests. The presence of someone like Xu Zhen did not make much difference—whether there was one more or one less.
However, for Li Shimin, there was no joy at all because he was well aware of his physical condition. Therefore, he would inquire daily about any news regarding Xu Zhen.
In May, Xu Zhen finally returned! Moreover, she brought an extremely unexpected surprise for Li Shimin and for the entire Tang Dynasty!
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