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

Under pressure from the Zhang family, Li Daozong was about to order the massacre of the 10,000 Baekje troops led by Buyeo Pungjang when Li Chenggan and Qin Ying arrived.

Qin Ying may look simple-minded, but he's actually quite clever and his kung fu skills are impressive.

Of course, Li Daozong had also heard that Li Chengqian's martial arts skills had improved rapidly.

Li Chenggan once fought unicorns and brown bears with his bare hands.

He defeated a giant squid monster in the Yarlung Tsangpo River, defeated a giant centipede in Yanqi, killed a giant crocodile in the East China Sea, and fought three assassins outside Xuanwu Gate.

These achievements, any one of them, are something most people wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Lee Do-jong pondered for a moment: "Since Your Highness has spoken, we will temporarily refrain from massacring the ten thousand Baekje soldiers. However, I cannot withdraw my troops for the time being."

"Because I haven't received His Majesty's decree, I can only withdraw when His Majesty commands it."

Upon hearing this, Li Chenggan thought to himself, "That's more than enough."

At least the 10,000 troops brought by Fuyu Fengzhang will not die for the time being.

Li Chenggan was still a bit unsure of the situation, so he said to Li Daozong, "Uncle, you cannot arbitrarily deal with the Baekje army before Father's decree arrives."

"That's natural."

"We must ensure the supply of food and provisions. After all, they helped us repel the Turkic attack, and we can't let them go hungry."

"That's true." Li Daozong nodded in agreement.

"How about this, I'll go to the Baekje army myself in a moment to appease them and prevent them from causing trouble," Li Chenggan suggested.

When Li Chenggan said this, he meant he wanted to visit the Baekje army.

In reality, Li Chenggan was worried that Li Daozong and Zhang Shigui would mistreat the 10,000 troops brought by Fuyu Fengzhang.

Li Daozong pondered for a moment and said, "That will work too."

Li Chenggan then asked He Zongxian and Zhang Zhilong, "How are your injuries? Do you need a physician to treat you?"

Those two boys were in excruciating pain.

However, with Zhang Shigui sitting right next to them, the two of them couldn't be too cowardly. They gritted their teeth and said, "These superficial injuries won't kill us, we're fine!"

Li Chengan smiled slightly: "It's good that you're alright. You two need to adjust your condition and continue practicing martial arts to prepare for the exam!"

I hope you will perform exceptionally well in the martial arts exam.

"..."

He Zongxian and Zhang Zhilong were unsure how to respond.

"I think I just heard that someone was planning to massacre 10,000 Baekje soldiers."

Did they really transport their weapons, armor, shields, and warhorses back to the east bank of the river to equip their own army?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shigui felt a chill run down his spine, because Li Chengan had overheard their discussion here last time about recruiting 30,000 strong men from Hedong.

Unexpectedly, Li Chengan overheard what he said this time.

Zhang Shigui was a cunning old fox, and he quickly denied it, saying, "Your Highness, you must have misheard. That's not true."

"Really not?"

"Yes, no!"

Li Chengqian looked intently at Zhang Shigui: "General Zhang, you can be called a founding general, and you have achieved great success. I hope you cherish everything you have now and don't do anything underhanded."

You must believe that the imperial court will never treat you unfairly.

However, on the other hand, if you secretly engage in conspiracies and schemes, even disregard the laws of the court, act arbitrarily, levy exorbitant taxes, plunder land, and secretly cultivate your own power, then even if I wanted to protect you, I might not be able to.

Zhang Shigui's face flushed red and then turned pale, looking very unnatural: "Your Highness, please don't believe those rumors."

I am utterly loyal to the imperial court and have no other intentions whatsoever.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have led my troops in such a desperate battle against the Turks, almost losing all four of my sons."

Li Chengan nodded slightly: "You deserve much credit for this battle."

Please have your uncle report this matter to the court so that Father Emperor can bestow upon you a great reward.

However, there is one question: Did your father send you to Luoyang this time?

"No, it's because He Zongxian and Zhang Zhilong wanted to participate in this martial arts examination, and since it's almost the New Year, Luoyang and Chang'an will be very prosperous and lively. There's nothing much going on in Hedong for the time being, so I brought them here," Zhang Shigui explained.

"They need to take a make-up exam, let them come on their own, why did you have to come personally?" Li Chenggan paused here.

"Your father has entrusted you with recruiting soldiers in Hedong. This is a great responsibility with profound significance. I hope you will take this as a warning."

Having served as an official for many years, you should know that local armies and generals are not allowed to enter the capital without an imperial decree.

As a general, Zhang Shigui was naturally aware of the court's regulations.

"The area east of the river is relatively peaceful, with nothing major happening. I'm just idling around there anyway, so I thought I'd come and witness this grand martial arts competition before heading back after it's over."

I will return to Hedong immediately. Of course, Zhang Shigui had other ulterior motives for coming to Beijing, but he couldn't say them in this situation, so he could only make up this excuse.

Li Chengan naturally understood his implied meaning, but there was no need to expose him directly.

Li Chengan turned to Li Daozong and said, "Today, the weather is freezing cold, and the soldiers are still suffering outside. In some places, the people don't even have enough to eat, while you are here drinking and making merry, singing and dancing."

"It wouldn't be appropriate if this got back to Father Emperor."

"Your Highness is absolutely right!" Li Daozong said with a look of shame.

After all, Li Daozong was Li Chengqian's uncle, so Li Chengqian couldn't go into details.

Li Chenggan stood up: "Imperial Uncle, General Zhang, everyone, I have eaten and drunk my fill. I will now go to the Baekje army to take a look. You may continue drinking here."

After Li Chengan finished speaking, he and Qin Ying rode their horses to the outer Tang army camp. The wind outside was biting cold.

When the prince arrived, all the soldiers knelt on the ground.

Of course, Li Daozong had given the order in advance.

Li Chengqian rewarded the Tang soldiers, who were filled with excitement.

All the Tang soldiers felt that Li Chengqian, as the crown prince, would inherit the throne in the future, and that the Tang Dynasty had hope; the future of the Tang Dynasty would surely be even more glorious.

Li Chenggan broke through the Tang army's layers of blockade and arrived at the Baekje military camp.

When Li Chenggan arrived there, he learned that the Baekje soldiers had not eaten for a day.

They were just thinking of fighting the Tang army to the death and breaking through the encirclement!

In addition, the weather was too cold, and the military camp lacked warm clothing, shoes, and blankets.

Li Chengan comforted them in every way, managed to raise funds to provide them with wine and meat, and also raised some items to keep them warm.

Li Chenggan assured them that Fuyu Feng was safe and sound and would be able to return to the military camp in a few days.

I'm trying to help them out of this predicament and asking them not to act rashly.

The Baekje army's morale gradually stabilized.

Before leaving, Li Chenggan left Qin Ying in the Baekje army camp to prevent any accidents.

……

It was the third watch of the night.

Yuelai Inn.

After returning to the inn, Li Chengan took a hot bath and then went to bed to rest.

So much has happened during this time; he is exhausted and worn out.

He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but Li Chengan vaguely sensed a wisp of smoke drifting in through the window.

The smoke emitted a faint fragrance that was refreshing and pleasant.

However, to his surprise, a moment later, Li Chenggan felt as if his internal organs were on fire.

He felt extremely hot and thirsty, and his vision became blurry.

Li Chenggan thought it was because he hadn't slept well.

He rubbed his eyes, but still couldn't see clearly.

He thought to himself, "Oh no, is there something wrong with my optic nerve?"

The most deadly thing was that he felt a burning desire deep within him, like a volcano about to erupt.

He felt like he was going to die if he couldn't get an outlet for his emotions in time.

Li Chengan struggled to get off the bed, feeling dizzy and unsteady on his feet.

"Qin Ying...!"

However, he called out several times, but Qin Ying was nowhere to be seen.

Li Chengqian's mind was somewhat confused, and he couldn't remember where Qin Ying had gone. Had she gone drinking again?

Li Chengan didn't know what was wrong with him; he just felt uncomfortable all over.

He took off his shirt, revealing his muscular physique, but he still felt very hot.

at this time,

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a beautiful figure darted in, softly asking, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

"Wan'er, is that you?" Li Chenggan only saw a blurry figure in front of him and could not tell who it was.

The beautiful woman who arrived was none other than Princess Qu Zhili of Gaochang.

That time, Qu Zhili and Li Chengan were searching for snow lingzhi on Liujia Mountain when they were poisoned by the Blue Rakshasa Giant Scorpion and almost died!

Fortunately, they found the Snow Lingzhi mushroom, which saved her life, but she was still very weak.

At that time, Qu Zhili and Su Wan returned to Chang'an together to recuperate.

After she recovered, she heard that Li Chengan had arrived in Luoyang.

She was worried about Li Chengan and couldn't rest easy, so she came to Luoyang to look for him.

Qu Zhili looked at Li Chenggan, who was acting strangely, and wondered if Li Chenggan was drunk and didn't recognize her.

Qu Zhili looked closely under the light and realized that Li Chengqian's eyes seemed a little strange.

She quickly put down her sword, helped Li Chenggan up, and asked with concern, "Your Highness, what happened to your eyes?"

"I don't know either, I just suddenly couldn't see things clearly." Li Chengan waved his hand, accidentally knocking the teapot off the table to the ground.

Qu Zhili then noticed that Li Chengqian's eyes were red, as if there was something wrong.

"Don't move around, let me help you to lie down on the couch." Qu Zhili said as she helped Li Chenggan to the couch and made him lie down.

Li Chengan lay on his back, his face burning red.

"Your Highness, I'll go and fetch a physician to treat you," Qu Zhili said softly.

"What? You're leaving so soon after you arrived? Wan'er, don't leave me."

Li Chengan suddenly embraced Qu Zhili.

Qu Zhili stumbled and fell face-first onto Li Chenggan's firm chest.

Her breasts were full and white, as if they were about to spill out.

She could feel Li Chengqian's body temperature and heartbeat.

Even more coincidentally, her two warm, moist lips landed right on Li Chengqian's lips.

"Your Highness, what are you doing?" Qu Zhili looked up, her heart pounding, her beautiful eyes meeting Li Chenggan's, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

To be honest, receiving a hug from Li Chengqian had always been Qu Zhili's dream.

However, Li Chengan now seemed drunk, actually mistaking himself for Su Wan.

She felt a little awkward.

She wanted to push Li Chenggan away, but she couldn't bear to.

Qu Zhili's two breasts pressed down on Li Chengqian's body.

Li Chengqian's right hand reached inside her underwear.

She felt completely limp.

Li Chengan felt his blood surging, experiencing an unprecedented surge of impulse.

In no time at all, he tore off Qu Zhili's clothes.

Qu Zhili's curvaceous S-shaped figure was exposed in front of Li Chengqian, her skin as smooth as satin.

Qu Zhili's heart pounded even harder, and she quickly covered her eyes with her hands.

Li Chengan held her in his arms, repeatedly calling out, "Wan'er, I know that the last time we were intimate here, Princess Wencheng happened to arrive."

Now that Princess Wencheng has returned to Chang'an, no one will bother us anymore.

Hearing this, Qu Zhili felt even more jealous. She thought to herself, "You, Li Chengan, so you and Su Wan have gotten to this point. You've progressed really fast. Did you get my permission?"

Thinking of this, Qu Zhili really wanted to slap Li Chenggan across the face.

However, she raised her right hand, paused in the air for a long time, and then couldn't bear to strike.

She noticed that Li Chengqian's face had a well-defined contour and a perfectly sculpted jawline. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, it would have been hard to imagine that such a handsome man existed in the world.

Qu Zhili also couldn't control her inner impulse.

Her jade-like legs straddled Li Chengqian's waist and abdomen.

Her buttocks were round and perky. She stroked Li Chengqian's firm muscles with one hand while reaching out to undo his belt.

"Wan'er, you are the love of my life!"

"you!"

Qu Zhili really wanted to shout, "I'm not Su Wan, I'm Qu Zhili! Don't you love me?"

Li Chengan suddenly turned over: "Wan'er, come on, let's go for it!"

Qu Zhili was completely limp and had no strength left to resist.

"Your Highness, please be gentle, I'm scared..."

When a woman is deeply in love with a man, she simply cannot refuse him in bed.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

A ray of sunlight shone in from the window and fell directly on Li Chengqian's face.

Li Chengan slightly opened his eyes and found that Qu Zhili was lying naked in his arms.

Li Chengan was startled: "Princess, wake up! How did you end up sleeping on my bed?"

Qu Zhili rubbed her eyes, her face filled with happiness.

She sat up and kissed Li Chengqian on the cheek again: "Your Highness, didn't you ask me to come to your bed? I saved you, and yet you criticize me!"

"Can you see now?"

Li Chengan jumped off the couch as if by reflex, and while dressing, he said, "Nonsense! What exactly happened? Explain yourself to me!"

Seeing Li Chengan's panicked state, Qu Zhili couldn't help but find it amusing.

She brushed her hair back with her hand: "Your Highness, I find you to be a very strange person."

Last night, you were the one who carried me to bed and said you loved me to death, begged me not to leave you, and wanted me to stay with you all night.

You said your desire was too strong and you couldn't control it. What, now that you feel comfortable, you want to deny it?

Let me tell you, I belong to the Li family in this life and in the next. I'm already yours, so don't try to renege on your word!

Li Chengan's heart pounded as he listened, because at that moment he couldn't tell whether what Qu Zhili said was true or false.

If what Qu Zhili said is true, then wouldn't I be letting Su Wan down?

"No, last night, I remember Su Wan was with me. How did it become you?"

"It's always been me. Maybe you've had too much to drink and are a bit confused?" Qu Zhili leaned against the headboard, unhurriedly starting to get dressed. "But, Your Highness, I didn't expect you to be so amazing, like a golden spear, it's unbearable, it's like being in heaven..."

Li Chengan felt as if his mind was about to split: "This is impossible. Last night, it seemed like a woman was making love with me."

But that woman is definitely not you, it's Su Wan!

Upon hearing this, Qu Zhili laughed and said, "No matter what, you are still the Crown Prince. Can't you take some responsibility?"

What, are all men like you?

"After you've had your fun, are you trying to deny everything?"

"But last night, I felt like I wasn't really conscious," Li Chengan said, unsure how to explain it to Qu Zhili. "It was like I was having a dream."

"Your Highness, this is something that actually happened. What dream could this be? Stop telling me all this useless stuff. Let's talk."

Although our Gaochang cannot compare to your Great Tang, it still holds a place in the Western Regions.

My parents once came to Chang'an to pay their respects to your father, the Emperor, and received honors from him.

As a princess, I'm a good match for you, wouldn't you say?

This princess won't hold it against you anymore.

Because you and Su Wan knew each other first, and Su Wan is your Crown Princess.

To be honest, Su Wan has been quite good to me, so I won't compete with her for the position of Crown Princess.

But at least you have to give me a proper status.

"Princess, I find everything too absurd. I can't even remember what happened, but I can only ever have Su Wan as my woman in this life. There can never be another woman."

Qu Zhili curled her lips: "Come on, you've done everything you were supposed to do, and you've taken all the benefits you were supposed to take. Now you're saying all that? Are you trying to shirk responsibility?"

I'm telling you, I'm pregnant with your child!

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan felt his head spin: "Nonsense! Even if we did that once, it wouldn't be such a coincidence that I got pregnant, would it?"

Qu Zhili tied the ribbon around her waist, got off the bed, walked up to Li Chengqian, and hooked her arms around his neck: "Your Highness, it's hard to say about such things."

It is said that many emperors in history conceived their sons after a passionate night. For example, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, and Consort Bo conceived Liu Heng after their one encounter.

Liu Shi and Wang Zhengjun only had sex once before Wang Zhengjun became pregnant with Prince Liu Ao.

As for me, I can tell you, I'm definitely pregnant. And it's a son.

"How is this possible?" Li Chenggan felt his head buzzing.