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墨書 Inktalez
Li Shimin sat alone in the deep palace, his posture no longer upright, his temples graying. Only his eyes remained sharp yet vacant, occasionally flashing with a fierce and authoritative gaze, like a lion at dusk, looking down upon the territory and kingdom he could not bear to leave.
On the table, a piece of Golden Inlaid Jade Bi lay solitary.
He regretted sending Xu Zhen this time. He had considered dispatching a more moderate official to conduct a casual investigation, gathering some inconsequential remarks to placate himself, convincing himself that the matter could be brushed aside.
However, Xu Zhen did not disappoint him, just as she had never done before.
The court officials believed that his reliance on Xu Zhen was a risky gamble, akin to his strategies in battle when he favored unconventional tactics. Yet for Li Shimin, his use of Xu Zhen stemmed entirely from trust.
From the moment Xu Zhen entered his sight, he felt an unusual sense of mystery surrounding this young man, as if within that still immature body resided a wise and powerful soul.
Moreover, Xu Zhen seemed to have never let anyone down; he had even saved Li Shimin twice during the campaign against Goguryeo and had saved Li Mingda's life. Li Shimin observed all of this closely.
Although Xu Zhen had risen to an unimaginable high position in a short time, it must be acknowledged that all of it was earned through his own merit.
This time, Xu Zhen did not let Li Shimin down; instead, Li Shimin felt disappointed in himself. He was afraid because he no longer possessed the decisiveness and ruthlessness of his earlier days. He began to miss familial bonds; he longed for Tubo, for Li Chengqian. He feared that if he fell asleep, he would dream of his elder brother Li Jiancheng and younger brother Li Yuanji, or of Han Wang Li Yuanchang who refused to kneel by Taiye Pool.
"Come! Quickly come!"
The sovereign's voice startled the entire forbidden palace awake. Lights flickered on like stars in the night sky, and court ladies moved like fish through water plants. This vast machine was always prepared to serve just one person.
In the hearts of many daughters from ordinary families, their fathers seemed forever heroic. However, in the heart of Li Mingda from the greatest family in Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin was merely an ordinary father. She did not wish for her father to be a hero; she only hoped to enjoy the love of a typical father.
In her memory, her father had never been so flustered; even when the heavens fell and the earth cracked, he could smooth everything over with ease. But now, deep into the night, she was summoned to her father's chamber.
The inner palace gate quietly opened, and the Xu Zhen, dressed in plain clothes, hurried in. Unbeknownst to her, this was one of the few instances in Tang history when the palace was opened at such a late hour.
Officials remaining in the palace quickly relayed this information through extremely secretive channels, causing many noble residences in Chang'an to light up.
The Eastern Palace also lit its lamps, marking a night destined to be sleepless.
When the Xu Zhen was led into Your Majesty's chamber by a worried eunuch, she discovered that Li Mingda was also present.
Li Shimin had regained his composure, as if the earlier chaos had merely been a nightmare.
" Mr. Xu, come sit."
Li Shimin smiled and gestured to the seat beside Li Mingda. The Xu Zhen dared not act recklessly; she flicked her sleeves to show that she carried no dangerous items and cautiously sat down next to Li Mingda.
"Sister Si, brew us some tea."
In Li Shimin's smile towards his daughter, there was always a gentle tenderness, like a quiet rain nourishing the earth, like a vast ocean embracing all rivers, like a clear night sky holding countless stars.
However, this smile filled Li Mingda with unease, as if after tonight, she would never see such a smile again.
She was already seventeen, having grown from a little girl into an enchanting beauty. Yet in Li Shimin's eyes, she remained that little girl.
He enjoyed watching her brew tea as if her movements could slow down time and allow him to live just a little longer.
The three of them fell into silence. Li Shimin did not speak, Xu Zhen dared not chatter, and Li Mingda remained quiet, seemingly enjoying the rare tranquility and peace.
" Mr. Xu, you like my Sister Si."
This was a statement rather than a question; it was both a question and an answer. Yet Xu Zhen was slightly taken aback, surprised by this sudden non-question.
"Yes."
"Very good."
Under the light, Li Mingda's beautiful cheeks were covered with a thin veil of glow, making her even more stunning. Her face flushed due to the brief yet intense conversation between Li Shimin and Xu Zhen.
"Although you address each other as siblings, we both know what the truth is."
"Yes."
"Very good."
This was likely the most heartfelt conversation Li Shimin had ever had with Xu Zhen —brief yet direct and powerful.
"If I am no longer here, you must bet everything to protect Sister Si. I believe you will."
"Yes."
"Very well."
With that, the communication came to an end. Princess Jinyang said three words, and Li Shimin responded with three "very goods," after which there was no further exchange, only the bubbling of the tea kettle.
The tea in the palace was different from the thick tea porridge outside; this was a new style of brewing brought over by the Court Lady according to the habits of the Sichuan people. The tea was clear and emerald green, fragrant and pleasant, leaving a lingering aroma between the lips and teeth, with a long-lasting aftertaste.
"Sister Si, you should go back and rest first. I need to have a private chat with Mr. Xu."
Li Mingda hesitated to leave upon hearing the Sovereign's words. She secretly glanced at Princess Jinyang and then at her Sage, feeling that this matter was too strange.
Li Shimin chuckled and teased, "What's this? Are you already starting to feel sorry for your Brother Xu?"
Li Mingda felt her face flush when she heard her usual nickname for Princess Jinyang come from the Sage's mouth. She stomped her foot and pouted as she returned to Shuyi Hall.
Li Shimin's gaze followed Li Mingda's figure as it extended far away, as if he could "see" his daughter's demeanor and expression even through heavy walls.
Once the Court Lady and eunuchs had exited, he and Princess Jinyang fell into silence once more.
After a long while, Li Shimin took out a Golden Inlaid Jade Bi from his bosom and gently placed it on the table before Princess Jinyang. He then looked directly into her eyes and spoke in a deep and resolute voice.
"Princess Jinyang, I want you to lead Five Hundred Riders to Junzhou Yinxiang..." Li Shimin paused for a moment. Xu Zhenxin tensed up, then heard the latter part of the sentence.
"...and bring back the Prince of Pu for me!"
The hand of Xu Zhen trembled lightly. Sovereign used the term "rush," indicating that he wanted to complete the task in the shortest time possible. He referred to Prince of Pu instead of Li Chengqian's nickname, Azure Sparrow, which signified that he intended to retrieve a prince, not a son. His formal self-reference as "I" indicated that this was not a personal matter but an official one.
In just a brief statement, Xu Zhen saw a massive whirlpool behind Li Shimin; if there were any mistakes, this whirlpool would inevitably pull most of the court officials into it.
Xu Zhen began to regret, just as Li Shimin did. He regretted investigating Fang Xuanling's death and regretted bringing back the Golden Inlaid Jade Bi.
However, he quickly realized that even if he hadn't brought back the evidence, perhaps the outcome would have been the same.
Li Zhi was following the old path of Tubo, which meant he was too anxious.
Li Shimin was indeed getting old, but he remained the ruler of the nation. Li Zhi had grown up and started handling state affairs, but he was still just the crown prince.
No matter how old the emperor became, he was still the emperor. What he gave you was yours; if he didn't give it to you, you couldn't take it.
Although Li Shimin knew his time was limited, he still declared his authority and status to the entire realm. This was his empire; as long as he was alive, there were those who wished for his death. This was something he could not tolerate.
Xu Zhen hesitated for a moment, and that brief hesitation caused Li Shimin to furrow his brow and lean slightly forward, as if his gaze could penetrate into Xu Zhen's soul.
" Mr. Xu, can I trust you?"
Xu Zhen suddenly looked up, gripping the Golden Inlaid Jade Bi tightly in her hand. She clasped her fists and bowed her head, responding solemnly, "I, Xu Zhen, dare not refuse to face death!"
After nurturing troops for a thousand days for a moment of use, the most favored group by Sovereign, Five Hundred Riders, was mobilized.
After traversing mountains and rivers, the Xu Zhen could not lead her Red Armored Fourteen Guards. Although the Five Hundred Riders obeyed her commands, Xu Zhenxin knew very well that this journey would be fraught with danger.
This danger was not only from their perilous journey but also from the threats within the court. Such dangers could even prevent Li Shimin from maintaining control over the situation.
The unexpected turn of events left even the Xu Zhen stunned. Logically, if she were to welcome Li Chengqian back to Chang'an, it would undoubtedly alter history, and she would have to oppose and secretly sabotage it.
However, she had come to understand that she was also a part of the Tang Dynasty, and there should be a place for her in history. As for how things would unfold in the future, if fate did not favor her, she could only resort to her ultimate plan.
She had been preparing for this plan since her time as Wuhou. After arriving in Liangzhou, she increasingly saw the feasibility of this plan. Meeting with Li Deqian, Yan Lide, Li Chunfeng, and Ginger Sage further confirmed her belief that this ultimate plan was indeed very viable.
Thus, she became more composed, fully immersing herself in this new role. She enjoyed being a Tang person, relishing the entanglements of love and hatred, the thrill of horseback combat, the warmth and coldness of human relationships, and the ever-changing tides of fortune.
As she donned all her gear and led the Five Hundred Riders out of Chang'an, the first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds. The golden light poured forth like countless threads, striving to capture all the winds and clouds passing by.
At the same time, an unspoken message spread through various channels to every dark corner of the Tang Dynasty. Those lurking in darkness—perhaps never to see sunlight in their lifetime—such as Death Warriors and hermits began to mobilize. Their target was the same as that of the Xu Zhen: Junzhou Yinxiang County!
As sunlight fell on her face, the Xu Zhen squinted slightly, inhaling the sweet breeze and air. There seemed to be a faint scent of blood growing stronger and closer.
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