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

"Old lady, if it's as you say, the Tang army might suffer a defeat. If the Tang Dynasty no longer exists, what use is there for me to be the Empress?" Consort Yan retorted.

"I will not poison Li Shimin. I just want him to be a puppet emperor in the future." The Blue Rakshasa woman played with the rosary beads in her left hand.

"To make the emperor a puppet, that's probably too difficult, isn't it?"

He has a very strong personality.

He has always been the one who is obeyed; how could he possibly be controlled by others?

If that were the case, he would rather die than live on.

As I just said, if the Emperor were gone, wouldn't I be left to live the life of a widow? Consort Yan had a fairly good understanding of Li Shimin's character.

The Rakshasa woman shook her head and sighed, "You still say you don't love Li Shimin? You're probably just saying that to put it bluntly."

Consort Yan lowered her head.

"So, while you were in the palace, did you manage to gather any information?"

"Tomorrow night, His Majesty will hold a grand banquet in Jiucheng Palace to entertain the concubines, princes, princesses, civil and military officials, and the candidates who are participating in the competition."

"Ah! This is a wonderful opportunity, it's like heaven is helping me!"

The poison I use is colorless and odorless. If a person ingests it, symptoms will appear within three days, causing their entire body to rot and die.

Upon hearing this, Consort Yan felt a chill run down her spine.

"This medicine is not used lightly; it is only used in special circumstances." The Blue Rakshasa woman tapped the ground with her single-pronged pestle.

"Old lady, if I help you accomplish this, can you help me become empress?" Consort Yan looked at the Blue Rakshasa woman with longing eyes.

"Don't worry, leave this to me."

Before long, you will get what you want.

However, you can no longer resort to crying, making a scene, or threatening suicide. Doing so will only make Li Shimin more disgusted, so how could he possibly make you empress?

Women should know how to overcome strength with gentleness; gentleness is your strongest weapon.

Consort Yan felt that what the Blue Rakshasa woman said made some sense.

After all, as someone with experience, Lan Po Rakshasa had a more thorough understanding of men.

The Blue Rakshasa woman's eyes were filled with resentment: "This time, I will definitely make Li Chenggan pay the price, and that Xue Rengui, he actually tied me up, and even now, my whole body is still aching."

"And who is Xue Rengui?"

"He's just an unknown kid."

I heard that he tried to join the army twice, but was turned away by Zhang Shigui both times.

"Why bother with a commoner like him?" Consort Yan smiled contemptuously.

"No, no, no, Xue Rengui is different from others."

His ancestors were nobles, but the family has fallen on hard times. His martial arts skills are unfathomable, and no one can rival him with his halberd. Moreover, he is very low-key.

Looking across the entire Tang Dynasty, there are probably only a handful of people who can rival him.

He and Li Chenggan are now very close.

Li Chengan has many followers; if Xue Rengui joins him, there will likely be even more.

"Li Chenggan almost got arrested; he was lucky to survive."

"Yes, after the New Year, Li Chenggan grew another year older. He is no longer the naive young man he used to be."

Moreover, he's about to become a father.

Consort Yan was surprised to hear this: "Could it be that he and Su Wan already have a child?"

No, that's not it.

That time, I poisoned Li Chengqian in his room.

It's that smoke from the union of yin and yang.

After a man is poisoned by this substance, he must have sexual intercourse with a woman; otherwise, he will bleed from all seven orifices and die.

Unexpectedly, Qu Zhili arrived just in time, and the two of them accomplished a good deed, saving Li Chenggan's life.

In this way, I actually helped Qu Zhili achieve her wish.

Even more coincidentally, Qu Zhili is pregnant, and I heard it's a boy. "The Blue Rakshasa woman spoke eloquently.

Consort Yan was very angry. She sneered and said, "Li Chengqian is really a womanizer. He has Su Wan, but he is not satisfied. He has also gotten involved with Qu Zhili."

"If they have children, wouldn't Gaochang and the Tang Dynasty be united?"

"That's not necessarily true. Gaochang has already reached an agreement with Yanqi."

"How could that be?" Consort Yan expressed her doubt.

"Nothing in this world is impossible; there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests."

Prior to this, I had spoken with the King of Gaochang, and we have signed an agreement to form an alliance.

If either of our two countries is invaded by the Tang Dynasty,

The other country will certainly do its utmost to support us.

Therefore, recently, Gaochang has frequently harassed the borders of the Tang Dynasty in order to distract the Tang army.

We in Yanqi can then take this opportunity to recruit soldiers and expand our strength.

When the right opportunity arises, we will deliver a fatal blow to the Tang army.

If Goguryeo and Baekje unite to attack Silla

We, Yanqi and Gaochang, have joined forces to attack the western border of the Tang Dynasty.

"Li Shimin is overwhelmed. Even if he had three heads and six arms, he probably wouldn't be a match for so many countries." The Blue Rakshasa woman was confident.

Consort Yan's expression was complicated; at this moment, she couldn't tell whether she hoped the Tang Dynasty would win or lose.

The Blue Rakshasa woman straightened her already hunched back: "Of course, this is just our idea. It's hard to say how far things will develop."

"I don't care about anything else. Just kill Guanyinbi and Li Chenggan first. It would be best if you also killed Xu Hui. I know that my Xiao'er was killed by them. I cannot let this grudge go unavenged." Consort Yan said this with gritted teeth.

……

It was the fourth watch of the night.

Luoyang, Zhaoren Palace.

Li Chengan entrusted the affairs of Luoyang to Fang Yi'ai. After all, Fang was the military supervisor, and Li Chengan was instructed to guard Luoyang well. Fang Yi'ai nodded in agreement.

Then, Li Chenggan and his entourage prepared to return to Chang'an.

Just then, two people walked in from outside.

Li Chengan looked up and saw that it was none other than Li Chunfeng and Chengxin.

The two of them were travel-worn and covered in sweat.

As soon as Li Chunfeng entered, he said, "Your Highness, you cannot return to Chang'an."

Li Chengan stepped forward, took his hand, and asked him to sit down at the table.

Li Chengan then personally poured a bowl of green tea and handed it to Li Chunfeng.

Li Chunfeng picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

Li Chengan remained calm and smiled slightly, then asked, "Immortal Master, why can't I return to Chang'an?"

Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, and I should be able to reunite with my father and mother in celebration.

Tomorrow is the day of the martial arts examination again. It is a rare and grand event. How can I not go and see it?

Isn't that a pity?

"Oh dear, Your Highness, Chang'an is not as simple as you think. I'm not trying to be alarmist, but if you go there, you might not come back."

Li Chenggan's expression changed slightly: "Is it as serious as you make it out to be?"

"It's probably more serious than I'm making it out to be. Not only will you not be coming back, but all the people you took with you won't be coming back either."

"Oh, what exactly happened?"

"Let Chengxin tell you."

Chengxin swayed her hips, making some alluring gestures: "Greetings, Your Highness!"

Li Chenggan waved his hand: "Chengxin, no need for formalities. Tell me quickly what happened?"

Chengxin's expression also showed a hint of nervousness: "Your Highness, although our Lijing Sect has been broken up and scattered in various places,

However, we kept our mission in mind and sought information from all sides.

We have seen Li Tai and Fang Xuanling plotting together day and night; they seem intent on defeating all of His Highness's men.

We also discovered that they had hired a martial arts master.

"An expert? Where did this expert come from?" Li Chenggan asked, frowning.

"That man is Qibi Heli of the Tiele tribe, whose martial arts skills are extraordinary."

Do you still remember the cedar tree in Fang Xuanling's mansion?

"I remember, because that cedar tree was particularly thick and, according to legend, had a history of a thousand years."

"Yes, it was that cedar tree. Qibi Heli actually managed to punch it through with one punch."

"Huh?" Li Chengan was also surprised, because he found it hard to imagine how a person could break through that cedar tree with their strength.

That's simply impossible.

"You mean he punched through that cedar tree, instead of using a weapon?"

"Yes, they used their bare fists."

"Hmm, that's quite astonishing!"

"Also, do you know how Fuyu Fengzhang was poisoned? And what kind of poison was it?"

"Ah, what's wrong with him?" Li Chenggan couldn't help but ask.

"The poison he was poisoned with is the same as the poison you were poisoned with; it was also poisoned by the Blue Bharadvaja."

Li Chengan, referring to the boxing case, said: "That old hag is truly incorrigible. Last time she was captured by Xue Rengui, I should have killed her on the spot, or handed her over to the Dali Temple for interrogation and punishment according to the law."

Even if she went to the Dali Temple, the chances of her dying were slim.

I couldn't bear to do that to her, considering her advanced age.

Seeing her pleading so desperately, they released her.

At the time, she repeatedly promised that she would not cause any more trouble.

Unexpectedly, she committed another crime in Chang'an, nearly killing Fuyu Fengzhang.

"Yes, that's why Baekje and Goguryeo joined forces to attack Silla. Silla's situation is now extremely critical."

Li Chenggan had also heard about the alliance between Goguryeo and Baekje to attack Silla.

But with only 5000 men, what problem could they possibly solve?

Even if we brought them all over, it would only be a drop in the ocean.

Besides, things aren't very peaceful in Luoyang, so how can we transfer all the troops away?

Li Chengan planned to return to Chang'an, partly to participate in the martial arts examination, and partly to discuss countermeasures with his father, the emperor.

"Furthermore, the close relationship between the Blue Rakshasa woman and Consort Yan is a very troublesome matter."

It is said that the Emperor plans to hold a banquet at Jiucheng Palace to entertain civil and military officials as well as candidates for the military examination.

We must prevent the Blue Brahma from doing anything underhanded.

That old witch's poisoning techniques were extremely sophisticated; many people were poisoned by her without even realizing it.

If we fall for her tricks, that's no joke.

"In that case, she would wipe out all the elites of our Great Tang Dynasty."

Li Chengan nodded: "You're right."

Li Chunfeng shook his head and sighed repeatedly, "Your Highness, you are just too soft-hearted."

Although the Blue Bharadvaja was old,

However, she remains unrepentant and deliberately opposes our Great Tang Dynasty. Even if Buddha himself were to reincarnate, he probably couldn't save her.

Li Chengan waved his hand: "That matter is in the past, let's not talk about it anymore."

"Alright, but your father still holds a grudge against you for disobeying his imperial decree, and he'll hold you accountable for it."

Li Chengan put his hands in his sleeves and gave a wry smile: "I can run away, but I can't hide."

"If Father really wants to settle scores with me, what can I do?"

"Your Highness, back then, Liu Biao occupied Jingzhou..."

His two sons, Liu Qi and Liu Cong, fought each other for the position of heir apparent.

Liu Qi felt he was in a weak position because Lady Cai was on Liu Cong's side, not his.

Cai Mao also held military power.

Therefore, Liu Qi consulted Zhuge Liang on how to avoid this disaster.

Zhuge Liang gave him an idea: to lead his troops to Jiangxia to suppress the bandits.

That's why Liu Qi avoided that disaster.

And now, isn't your situation somewhat similar to Liu Qi's?

If you occupy Luoyang and secretly develop your strength, perhaps you still have a glimmer of hope.

If you return to Chang'an, you'll find traps everywhere.

Why must you go back?

There's a saying: "Knowing there are tigers in the mountains, yet still venturing into the tiger's den!"

I just want to go back and see what they can do to me. If we keep avoiding them, it will only make us look too cowardly.

If Father wants to punish me, then so be it.

"Even if your head falls off, leaving only a scar the size of a bowl, you'll be a hero again in 18 years."

Li Chunfeng knew Li Chengqian's temperament; he was incredibly stubborn.

Once Li Chenggan makes a decision, nothing can change his mind.

"What a wonderful example of knowingly venturing into dangerous territory!"

Just then, a man walked in through the door, his voice loud and clear.

Li Chengan glanced at him and saw that the man had a handsome face, fair skin, sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a straight nose, white teeth, and red lips.

Tall and slender, with broad shoulders, a slim waist, and a broad back, dressed in silk and satin, she possessed an elegant demeanor.

He looks very young.

Li Chengan felt that, in the entire Tang Dynasty, such a handsome man was a rare sight.

Li Chengan looked at him for a while, not recognizing him, then bowed and asked, "Sir, may I ask who you are?"

The man took two steps forward and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, Luo Cheng greets you."

"Who do you say you are?" Li Chenggan could hardly believe his ears, because he had heard too many stories about Luo Cheng.

"I am Luo Cheng."

Li Chengan grasped his hand tightly: "You are Luo Cheng, the Duke of Yue?"

Luo Cheng nodded: "Yes, but as for whether or not I was a duke, that's all in the past."

"I'm nothing more than a thief now."

Li Chengan looked Luo Cheng up and down again, thinking to himself, "No wonder people say that the cold-faced, cold-spear-wielding Luo Cheng is handsome; he really is very good-looking."

No wonder Emperor Wu of Han liked handsome men. Who wouldn't like a handsome man like Luo Cheng?

Luo Cheng, Li Chunfeng, and Chengxin exchanged greetings again.

Li Chengan turned to Xixin and said, "Go outside and lead your men to continue gathering intelligence. Report back to me immediately if you find anything!"

"promise!"

Chengxin agreed and turned to leave.

In fact, Li Chenggan and Chengxin had a very good relationship.

Li Chengan made this arrangement because, on the one hand, he did need to gather a lot of intelligence, and on the other hand, it was not appropriate for Chengxin, whose status was so low, to stay there.

Li Chengan, Luo Cheng, and Li Chunfeng sat down again.

Li Chengan then asked, "Duke of Yue, you just said you are now a thief, what's going on?"

And where are you from?

Luo Cheng sighed: "It's a long story for a child to grow up without a mother."

"I heard your father, Luo Yi, has passed away. What exactly happened?"