My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

Su Wan said, "Your Majesty, there aren't many people like you who can take life and death so lightly."

In the past, Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han spent an untold amount of money in their pursuit of immortality.

"Now that our Great Tang Dynasty has only been established for a short time, the lives of the people have not yet reached the expected level. Instead of using that money to pursue immortality, it would be better to use it to care for the people," said Empress Zhangsun.

"Your Majesty, you truly have the well-being of the people at heart."

Empress Zhangsun sighed: "Since the end of the Sui Dynasty when the world was in chaos, the people have not had a single good day."

Back then, Emperor Yang of Sui built the Grand Canal and Luoyang, which resulted in countless deaths. The construction of Xianren Palace alone claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, not to mention the Jiangdu Palace.

Which palace wasn't built with corpses piled up by the common people?

Emperor Yang of Sui was extravagant and greedy, fond of grandiose projects, and disregarded human life, showing no concern for the lives of ordinary people. This led to the Wagang Rebellion, followed by uprisings by Wang Bo, Meng Rang, and others, and Dou Jiande's separatist rule.

Su Wan was deeply moved by Empress Zhangsun's words.

She lowered her head, lost in thought: "No wonder His Majesty said that the people are like water and the ruler is like a boat. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. It seems that this is indeed the truth."

His Majesty's ability to recognize this shows that he always keeps the people in his heart.

Empress Zhangsun said, "I often advise Your Majesty not to forget the people of the world. Without the people, there would be no Tang Dynasty today."

Your Majesty, within the limits of your power, has tried your best to reduce the burden on the people and alleviate corvée labor.

However, not everyone thinks this way, such as the bearded man from the Kingdom of Buyeo.

He believed that His Majesty had not provided relief to the people.

Su Wan said, "Your Majesty, you don't need to worry too much. The most important thing for you now is to take good care of your health and not think too much."

The words of the bearded stranger only represent his personal opinion, not the opinion of the people.

He wanted to rebel against the Tang Dynasty.

Of course he would speak ill of His Majesty; would he sing His Majesty's praises?

If that were the case, he wouldn't have led his troops to attack the Tang Dynasty.

Empress Zhangsun looked worried: "Although I am just a woman, I don't know much about national affairs and military matters."

However, Zhang Zhongjian, who led the entire nation's army, did not gain any advantage this time.

Although they were defeated, Zhang Zhongjian is probably not convinced and will make a comeback sooner or later.

The Buyeo Kingdom is also a hidden danger for our Great Tang Dynasty.

By this time, Lu Zhaolin had already retreated outside the door and left.

Su Wan placed her hands in front of her abdomen and paced back and forth in the room: "When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it."

Zhang Zhongjian was nothing special.

This time, we only have 10,000 troops in Chang'an.

Their combined army of nearly 200,000 didn't do anything to us, did it?

This shows that their combat capabilities are still limited.

Our Great Tang Dynasty is teeming with talent, boasting a wealth of strategists and generals. Any one of them—Li Jing, Li Ji, Hou Junji, Li Daliang, Guo Xiaoke, Cheng Yaojin, or Qin Qiong—would be enough to give him a run for his money.

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun's face broke into a long-lost smile: "Wan'er, you're getting better and better at talking."

Hearing you say that makes me feel much clearer!

At this moment, Su Wan took a bowl of bird's nest from the maid Cai Xiang and handed it to Empress Zhangsun: "Empress, eat this bowl of bird's nest first to nourish your body."

Empress Zhangsun nodded: "Good, you are truly a filial child."