Tang Dynasty: Feeding Chang Le, Emperor Li Er exclaimed that she was a true immortal!

Taiji Hall.

At 3:45 AM, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Civil and military officials stood on both sides, holding their tablets.

Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne, with the memorials to be discussed that day piled on the imperial desk in front of him.

The morning assembly had just begun, and they were going through the motions.

The ministers of each department submitted their reports in turn, detailing the disaster situation, taxes, and military affairs in various regions.

Nothing special.

until--

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

A voice came from the civil servants' line on the right.

Unhurried and gentle, like jade.

But every courtier present subconsciously tensed up.

Because the person speaking was Changsun Wuji.

The emperor's brother-in-law.

The foremost meritorious official of Lingyan Pavilion.

He stepped out from the ranks of civil officials, held his tablet, and bowed in salute.

He was slender and had a refined appearance, looking like an ordinary scholar.

But no one present dared to treat him like an ordinary person.

The entire Guanlong Group and half of the imperial court's connections are in this person's hands.

"Please speak, Imperial Brother-in-law," Li Shimin said, leaning back in his chair with a calm tone.

Changsun Wuji raised his head, his gentle gaze sweeping across the main hall.

"Your Majesty, Princess Changle has come of age and, according to the rites, should choose a good match to settle down. My son, Changsun Chong, though not talented, has studied the classics and history since childhood and adhered to the rites. He and the princess have known each other since childhood and can be said to be childhood sweethearts."

He paused for a moment, as if considering his words.

"When the late Empress was alive, she mentioned this matter in casual conversation. I believe that a marriage between the two families would be a good thing for both the country and the family. I humbly request Your Majesty to set a wedding date as soon as possible."

That's all I have to say.

There was a two-second silence in the Taiji Hall.

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, several court officials stepped forward one after another to second the motion.

"I second that opinion! Young Master Changsun is both talented and handsome, a perfect match for the princess!"

"I believe the Emperor's brother-in-law is absolutely right! A marriage between the two families is a blessing for the nation!"

"Your Highness is getting older; it's no longer appropriate to postpone your marriage!"

One after another, in an orderly fashion.

It looked like it had been rehearsed.

Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, expressionless.

But a barely perceptible hint of irritation flashed across his eyes.

He knew, of course, that this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Changsun Wuji had been preparing this scheme for at least half a month.

First, he rallied the court officials, then he chose a suitable time to publicly exert pressure at the court meeting.

Once he formally spoke in the Taiji Hall, Li Shimin would find it difficult to delay, even if he wanted to.

Because this is not just about marriage.

This was a power struggle between powerful clans and imperial authority.

What Changsun Wuji wanted was not a daughter-in-law, but a stronger blood bond.

When Changsun Chong married Chang Le, the Changsun family was upgraded from "the emperor's brother-in-law" to "the imperial son-in-law's family," deepening their connection with the royal family.

Once this move is made, the Changsun family's position in the imperial court will be completely unshakeable.

Li Shimin understood everything.

But he couldn't refuse outright.

In the early years of the Zhenguan era, the country had just been stabilized, and everything needed to be rebuilt.

He rose to power through the Xuanwu Gate Incident, and legally speaking, there have always been people who disagree with him.

At times like these, the support of the Guanlong Valuation Group is his most important foundation.

Changsun Wuji was his most important ally.

You cannot offend your biggest ally when the world is still unstable.

Moreover, on the surface, there really is nothing wrong with Changsun Chong.

A young master from a prominent family, handsome and well-read, with impeccable manners.

At this moment, he stood behind Changsun Wuji, wearing a moon-white brocade robe, his hair tied up with a jade crown, his smile gentle and humble.

Unless you look closely, it's hard to notice the fleeting smugness in his eyes.

That wasn't love for Chang Le.

That's the satisfaction a hunter feels when he sees his prey about to fall into his net.

Li Shimin remained silent for a long time.

So long that the air in the main hall seemed to freeze.

Finally, he spoke.

"I will consider this matter."

I neither agreed nor refused.

But everyone could tell that the emphasis of that sentence wasn't on "considering".

And regarding "no refusal".

Changsun Wuji bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, I thank you."

He returned to the train, his face calm, but the curve of his lips hinted at a certainty.

He won the court assembly.

At least we won the first step.

The news reached Changle Palace in the afternoon.

The messenger was Cuiwei, Chang Le's personal maid who had served her for ten years.

"Your Highness, during the morning court session this day, the Imperial Uncle publicly brought up your marriage to the eldest son of the emperor. His Majesty... His Majesty said he would consider it."

When Cuiwei said this, she kept her head down and dared not look at Chang Le's expression.

Chang Le was sitting by the window, flipping through a book.

Upon hearing this, she stopped turning the pages of the book.

The page just stopped on a poem.

She couldn't concentrate on a single word.

"You may leave now," she said calmly.

Cuiwei responded softly and left.

The palace gates closed.

Chang Le put down her book and sat still.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea has passed.

She suddenly stood up and quickly walked to the front of the light screen.

Lu Ming was facing the computer screen, looking at something.

"Lu Ming".

Her voice was a little hoarse.

Lu Ming turned his head.

Then he saw Chang Le's eyes.

Red.

It's not the red of someone who's cried.

It was the kind of red that comes from desperately trying not to cry.

"What's wrong?"

Chang Le's lips moved, and it took her a long time to squeeze out a sentence.

"They brought up my marriage proposal in court. My father did not refuse."

She bit her lower lip hard.

"I don't want to marry. But I don't even have the right to refuse. In my father's eyes, I am a princess, a bridge between the Tang Dynasty and the powerful clans. In Changsun Chong's eyes, I am a pawn. In the eyes of all the officials, whether I marry or not is just a political transaction..."

As she spoke, tears finally welled up and fell onto the back of her hand with a soft thud.

"No one has ever asked me what I want."

On the other side of the screen, Lu Ming watched her shed tears, his expression unchanged.

But he pushed the keyboard aside, stood up, and walked in front of the light screen.

"Chang Le" (meaning "long happiness").

"Um?"

"You asked me last night what I could do to help you."

"……Um."

Lu Ming did not speak again.

He turned around and walked to the pile of unopened delivery boxes on the balcony, bent down and rummaged through them.

He pulled a mirror out of the bottom box.

It's not an ordinary mirror.

This octagonal high-definition glass vanity mirror is crafted using modern techniques. The mirror surface is as large as a small shield, and it is surrounded by an exquisite metal frame.

The clarity of the mirror is hundreds of times that of the bronze mirrors of the Tang Dynasty.

In front of this mirror, every pore and every hair on a person's face is clearly visible.

Lu Ming handed the mirror face down over the light screen.

"Take it."

When Chang Le took it, she found it to be light and strangely cool to the touch.

"What is this?"

"Mirror."

"A mirror?" Chang Le frowned. "I have a bronze mirror—"

"Turn it over and take a look."

Chang Le flipped the mirror over.

next second.

Her breathing stopped.

A face was reflected in the mirror.

A face that was incredibly clear.

The curve of every eyelash, the trajectory of every tear stain, the ceiling patterns reflected in the pupils—all are rendered with exquisite detail.

No matter how much polishing is done, the bronze mirrors of the Tang Dynasty will only reflect a blurry outline.

But this mirror—

For the first time, Chang Le saw her own face so clearly.

She froze.

"Bring this to court tomorrow," Lu Ming's voice came from the other side of the light screen.

"Tell your father that this was a gift from an immortal. Then, in front of the entire court, say—"

He paused for a moment.

"The immortal said that Changsun Chong has a rat-like face and is not worthy of the owner of this immortal mirror."

Chang Le held the mirror, her fingers trembling slightly.

She saw her own eyes in the mirror.

Her face was red and swollen, and she was filled with tears, but after hearing those words, her eyes suddenly lit up.