A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

In the 29th year of the Kaiyuan era, Emperor Xuanzong's elder brother, Prince Ning, Li Xian, passed away. In that year, Li Xian followed Li Jiancheng's example and voluntarily relinquished the position of crown prince. He was the most trusted member of the imperial clan in Emperor Xuanzong's life.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang wept bitterly and posthumously conferred titles upon him, giving him a grand burial at Huiling Mausoleum.

The death of Prince Ning meant the demise of the neutral imperial clan pillar in the court. Li Linfu no longer had a strong imperial clan to check him, and his position as the sole prime minister was completely solidified. Through Li Linfu's efforts, he finally gained immense power, no less than those powerful prime ministers recorded in history books.

Although Li Linfu controlled the court, every year a few troublemakers would emerge to challenge his authority.

These troublemakers were the newly appointed scholars each year. Each of them had just transitioned from being a student to an official. Their integrity and uprightness remained, and their passion had not been extinguished by the court. Naturally, they could not stand Li Linfu's domineering attitude, and they fiercely criticized Li Linfu as soon as they entered the court.

This made Li Linfu extremely dissatisfied with them.

Seeing the newly appointed scholars submit another memorial criticizing him, and even requesting an audience with the emperor, a cold glint flashed in Li Linfu's eyes.

There are already enough officials in the court, so there is no need to select officials through the imperial examination.

It would also reduce the court's salary expenditure, allowing him to have more money for Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji to enjoy, and it would also allow him to see if there were any officials in the court who dared to oppose him. It was a win-win-win situation.

In the twenty-ninth year of the Kaiyuan era, Li Bai, having finished his mourning period, wrote a letter inviting Gao Shi to the capital to prepare for the imperial examinations together.

Gao Shiying was invited to the capital and stayed at Li Bai's residence. In Li Bai's study, there were many books that were rarely seen by outsiders, all of which were sent by Wei Wen.

Gao Shi was overjoyed to receive these books. With their help, he was confident that he would be able to pass the imperial examination with top honors this year.

In their leisure time, the two also traveled to Luoyang together, where they met poets such as Du Fu and Cen Shen who were also going to the capital to prepare for the imperial examinations. Gao Shi also met Wang Wei through Gao Shi. The group had a pleasant conversation and agreed to take the examinations together.

The group shared similar interests and were all skilled at poetry, so they quickly became very close. Li Bai's residence became a place where they often gathered to drink, compose poetry, and exchange ideas.

The books in Li Bai's residence also greatly benefited the group.

They knew that Li Bai was no ordinary person; otherwise, he wouldn't have such a large mansion in Luoyang, and his study would contain many books annotated by great Confucian scholars.

But they were all proud people with their own pride, and they never inquired about Li Bai's background.

He simply kept Li Bai's help in his heart, knowing that he would be rewarded in the future.

"Yu Huan, where are you going?"

Prince Li Mao saw Yang Yuhuan dressed in a Taoist robe on the streets of Luoyang.

He quickly stepped forward and grabbed Yang Yuhuan, his eyes filled with surprise and delight.

"Please call me Taizhen, Your Highness."

Yang Yuhuan broke free from Li Mao, feeling guilty, and said softly.

Prince Shou, Li Mao, had a ferocious expression. The affair between Yang Yuhuan and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, was no secret and was known to everyone in the court and among the people.

However, due to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's status, no one dared to speak out openly.

Prince Shou, Li Mao, was cuckolded by his own father!

"Yu Huan, I want to know, were you forced?"

Li Mao caught up with Yang Yuhuan, his face pleading, hoping for an answer that would make him feel better.

"What if it is? What if it isn't?"

Yang Yuhuan said coldly.

She did feel guilty, but Li Mao was just a powerless prince, while Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, was the emperor of this world.

She had no choice but to comply.

Li Mao was also one of them.

They had no choice. If it were revealed that they still had lingering feelings for each other, what awaited them was the wrath of the emperor, with millions of corpses lying in wait.

"I want to emphasize again, please call me Taizhen. Now that I have become a monk, I have no connection with the mortal world anymore."

"I urge Prince Shou to show some self-respect."

After saying that, Yang Yuhuan left without looking back.

"Where are you going?"

Li Mao asked, his eyes filled with a deep-seated, barely concealed rage.

Luoyang is not a large city, so how could he not see Yang Yuhuan's destination?

This direction naturally leads to the palace, and it can only be the palace.

"His Majesty has ordered me to enter the palace to pray for the Empress Dowager's well-being; Prince Shou need not see me off."

"Please do not disturb me in the future, Prince Shou. There is no longer any connection between us. Taizhen has already become a nun, so it is inconvenient for us to meet."

Yang Yuhuan said calmly, her steps unwavering. She couldn't waste any time. If Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, noticed that she was late and discovered that she had met Prince Shou, Li Mao, on the road, no one could guarantee the consequences.

At the same time, a faint anger rose in her heart towards Prince Shou, Li Mao. Couldn't he be a little calmer and smarter?!

At this time, they still dare to meet? Aren't they afraid of angering that suspicious emperor?!

If you want to die, don't drag her down with you!

Li Mao's eyes were full of gloom, and he clenched his hands tightly, his nails digging into his flesh.

"I see."

What could he do? He was just an unfavored prince. Even if he were favored, everything he had came from Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. How could he dare to oppose Li Longji?

Li Mao felt as if all the bones in his body had loosened. He slumped his hands, lowered his head, and dared not look at Yang Yuhuan, for fear that she would see his cowardice.

Yang Yuhuan could tell what Li Mao looked like without even turning around. He must be just like the day he received the imperial edict, trembling all over and only daring to accept it cowardly.

This person will always be the same; they never improve.

Yang Yuhuan's last shred of affection for Li Mao vanished. From now on, she would strive to live for herself, evade Emperor Xuanzong's suspicions, and win his favor.

She wanted to use Emperor Xuanzong's favor to seize power and control her own destiny.

She no longer wanted to be treated like a commodity, picked over and disposed of at will.

Yang Yuhuan was favored by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, and her surroundings were filled with his spies.

The news of Yang Yuhuan's encounter with Prince Shou, Li Mao, on the road reached Li Longji's ears at that time.

That afternoon, the imperial edict ordering Prince Shou, Li Mao, to return to his fiefdom arrived in Li Mao's hands.

Li Mao gritted his teeth and had no choice but to comply, packing his things and heading to his fiefdom thousands of kilometers away.

After meeting Yang Yuhuan, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang dreamed of Laozi, the ancestor of the Tang imperial family, Emperor Xuanyuan.

The next day, Tian Tongxiu, a military advisor, lied and claimed that he had personally witnessed the appearance of Emperor Xuanyuan and reported that Laozi's talisman was hidden in Hangu Pass.

This coincided perfectly with Emperor Xuanzong's dream, so Emperor Xuanzong believed it without a doubt. He sent envoys to search for the talisman and obtained it. He then promoted Tian Tongxiu to a higher official rank and title, and at the same time, he built the Xuanyuan Temple and held a grand sacrificial ceremony.

Taking advantage of the situation, Li Linfu created auspicious omens in various places and taught Emperor Xuanzong of Tang to become obsessed with cultivating immortality and health preservation.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang indeed succumbed to temptation, becoming obsessed with Taoist scriptures, health preservation, and alchemy.

He summoned famous Taoist priests from all over the country to the palace to preach and refine elixirs for him. He spent his days discussing metaphysics, refining elixirs, and having secret rendezvous with Yang Guifei, leaving him no time to manage state affairs.

This led to the further expansion of Li Linfu's power.

Countless people eager for promotions and titles bribed Li Linfu.

Li Linfu assigned different official positions to those who offered bribes based on their identity, status, and the amount of the bribes, clearly specifying the prices and ensuring fairness to all.

On this day, Li Linfu received a gift of immense value, which moved even someone as accustomed to gold, silver, and treasures from all over the world.

Upon opening the gift list, the name An Lushan was prominently displayed.