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

The next day.

Taiji Hall.

The atmosphere at today's morning court session was even more delicate than yesterday's.

The reason is simple—Changsun Wuji stepped forward again.

"Your Majesty, regarding yesterday's matter, Your Majesty said you needed to consider it. I wonder how your consideration has been completed?"

His tone remained gentle and respectful.

But the implication behind the words was no longer a "request".

Instead, it's "urging".

This is the source of the confidence of the valve.

I helped you conquer the world; I deserve half the credit for your throne.

Your empress is my sister, and your kingdom is stained with my blood.

Therefore, your princess should also marry into my family.

This debt is perfectly justified.

Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, his face ashen.

He didn't sleep well last night because he was thinking about this.

Please agree. Chang Le's health is already poor, and she is clearly unwilling. Forcing her to marry will only worsen her condition.

Refusing would be too costly, as the Guanlong Group's power is too great, and their foundation is unstable in the early years of the Zhenguan era.

Dilemma.

Just as he was about to speak again, albeit vaguely—

"I hereby report to Father Emperor!"

A clear female voice came from the entrance of the main hall.

Everyone turned around at the same time.

Princess Chang Le, dressed in formal palace attire and adorned with a hair ornament, stood outside the threshold of the Taiji Hall.

She was holding something in her arms.

The object was completely covered by a piece of crimson brocade, making its shape impossible to discern.

Li Shimin frowned.

It is extremely rare for a princess to refuse to attend court.

Changsun Wuji also narrowed his eyes slightly.

But neither of them said anything to stop it.

Because Chang Le's expression was too calm.

That composure wasn't forced, but rather a calm and collected demeanor born of confidence.

She walked steadily into the main hall, stopped before the imperial steps, and curtsied.

"Your Majesty, I entered the palace without being summoned. Please forgive me."

Li Shimin looked at his daughter and said in a deep voice, "Chang Le, what brings you here?"

Chang Le straightened up.

"I have heard that the Emperor's brother-in-law has made a decision on my behalf in court, and that I will be betrothed to the eldest son of the Changsun family."

Her gaze passed over Li Shimin and landed on Changsun Wuji, who was standing in the ranks of civil officials.

Then he turned to Changsun Chong.

Changsun Chong stood behind his father, dressed in a black court robe, his hair neatly tied up, and his face handsome.

When Chang Le looked over, he smiled slightly and bowed.

That smile was absolutely perfect.

But what Chang Le saw in those smiling eyes was exactly the same as what she had told Lu Ming last night—

calculating.

She looked away.

"I have objections to this matter."

The Taiji Hall fell silent instantly.

Changsun Wuji's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

Li Shimin also subconsciously sat up straight.

The princess's failure to attend court by imperial decree was already unconventional enough, but now she's going to publicly refute the emperor's brother-in-law's proposal?

"Chang Le—" Li Shimin was about to speak.

Chang Le did not give him that chance.

"Father, I dreamt of that immortal again last night."

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire hall changed.

The word "immortal" carries special weight in the Taiji Hall.

Because Li Shimin had ordered the news of Chang Le's recovery from the immortal's medicine to be kept secret, the core officials in the court had heard some rumors.

The Imperial Physician Qin Huaidao's loose tongue had already revealed to several high-ranking officials, including ministers, that the princess's condition had miraculously improved.

Therefore, when Chang Le mentioned "immortals," the expressions of many court officials became subtle.

Changsun Wuji's gaze sharpened even further.

"The immortal bestowed upon me a treasure."

Chang Le held the mirror covered with red satin high in her arms.

"The immortal said—Changsun Chong is unworthy of the owner of this mirror."

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall.

Changsun Chong's perfect smile froze instantly.

His lips twitched slightly, but he quickly managed to maintain his composure.

But Changsun Wuji, who was standing next to him, had already changed his expression.

"What does Your Highness mean by this?"

Changsun Wuji's voice changed from gentle to icy.

"The talk of immortals is nothing but nonsense. It would be inappropriate for Your Highness to refuse the marriage on this basis."

He looked around and raised his voice.

"In the imperial court, decisions should be made according to propriety and law, not by relying on superstition and divine intervention."

Several court officials from the Changsun lineage immediately echoed this sentiment.

"The Emperor's brother-in-law is absolutely right!"

"The imperial court is not a place for discussing gods and strange phenomena!"

Many neutral courtiers also showed hesitation.

Changsun Chong stepped forward, bowing deeply, and said earnestly, "Your Highness, I have admired your talent since childhood and have never intended any disrespect. If Your Highness has any dissatisfaction with me, I am willing to correct it. However, to refuse marriage in the name of an immortal would probably make the whole world laugh at me."

That's well said.

They adopted an extremely humble posture.

But the meaning is very clear—you have no evidence, you're just making a fuss.

All eyes in the Taiji Hall were focused on Chang Le.

Li Shimin also kept a close eye on his daughter.

Just as he was struggling with this decision, Chang Le made a move.

She did not offer any explanation.

There was no argument.

He simply stretched out his right hand and grasped a corner of the crimson brocade.

Then--

He pulled suddenly.

The brocade flew up, drawing a red arc in the air.

The mirror was exposed to sunlight.

The morning sunlight streamed in through the high window on the east side of the Taiji Hall, and was perfectly caught by the octagonal glass mirror.

A pure, flawless reflection, like an invisible knife, swept across the entire hall.

The courtiers standing directly opposite were blinded by the reflected light and instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes.

Then they lowered their hands and saw the front of the mirror.

I was completely stunned.

That's not a bronze mirror.

Even the finest bronze mirrors of the Tang Dynasty, polished to their utmost perfection, could only reflect a rough outline. The image was blurry and indistinct, like a reflection in water.

But this mirror in front of me—

The image it projected was so clear it was chilling.

The courtiers who were closest to the mirror saw their own faces reflected in it.

It's not the outline, it's every single detail.

Wrinkles at the corners of the eyes, pores on the sides of the nose, newly sprouted stubble on the chin, and even a tiny blood vessel on the whites of the eyes.

Every detail is clearly visible.

A suppressed gasp erupted inside the Taiji Hall.

"What...what is this?!"

"Oh my god—my face…why is it so clear?!"

"This is impossible! How can there be such a clear mirror in the world!"

The courtiers gasped in astonishment.

Some people leaned forward, wanting a closer look. Others stepped back, startled by their overly realistic reflections in the mirror.

An elderly minister with white hair and beard saw his face full of age spots and deep wrinkles in the mirror, and his face turned pale on the spot, almost staggering to the ground.

Changsun Wuji also saw it.

When the mirror swept past his side, he involuntarily turned his head slightly.

It wasn't that I was scared.

In that instant, he gleaned a chilling message from the mirror's material and clarity—

This is something the Tang Dynasty couldn't produce.

Throughout the entire Tang Dynasty, no craftsman or technology could create such a pure and transparent mirror material.

Copper cannot achieve this effect.

Silver cannot be ground.

No metal can be ground down.

The material of this mirror was beyond his entire understanding.

And Changsun Chong—

He stood there, no more than three steps away from the mirror.

The mirror, like a cruel judge, magnified his face and presented it to everyone without reservation.

His handsome appearance, which he was so proud of, was stripped of all its filters at this level of clarity.

The skin on both sides of the nose was slightly red; the dark circles under the eyes were from staying up all night discussing strategies; and there was a small mole below the corner of the mouth that was usually not noticeable.

Everything was exposed to the sunlight of the Taiji Hall.

It's not ugly.

But the feeling of being completely "seen through" made Changsun Chong's expression change instantly.

He subconsciously reached out and touched his face, then abruptly pulled his hand back.

The Taiji Hall was deathly silent.

Everyone held their breath in their throats.

Chang Le stood still, her slender arms steadily supporting the mirror.

Her gaze passed over the mirror and landed on Changsun Chong.

Changsun Chong looked at her for less than half a second before looking away.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

Cold sweat trickled down his temples, dripping into the collar of his court robe.

Li Shimin slowly stood up from the dragon throne.

His gaze was fixed on the mirror, his pupils churning a storm of horror and greed.