Martial Arts Crossover: Infiltrating a Girls' Chat Group at the Start

"Oh, right, let your sister-in-law come over too."

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

Seeing this, Lin Zhu asked, "You're hesitating? You're not going to take Zheng Guanyin in as well, are you?"

Li Xiuning was startled. Given Li Shimin's temperament, it wasn't impossible! She immediately became angry, "Li Shimin, that's my sister-in-law!"

Li Shimin became anxious, "I didn't, brother-in-law, don't talk nonsense."

"If you don't have it, you don't have it. Why are you in such a hurry?" Lin Zhu paused, then said, "You're not actually thinking that, are you?"

Li Xiuning looked at Li Shimin with three parts disdain and seven parts anger in her eyes.

Li Shimin became even more anxious, "I swear, I have never even entertained such a thought."

Lin Zhu made a hand seal in his sleeve with one hand.

First came a bright light, followed by a loud "boom".

It's snowing heavily, and yet there's thunder.

Li Xiuning was stunned for a moment. She sensed the fluctuation of magical power and turned to look at Lin Zhu.

Seeing that Lin Zhu's expression was somewhat unnatural, he knew that Lin Zhu was the one who was up to something.

But Li Shimin was unaware of this; upon seeing the thunder rumbling in the winter, he was immediately startled.

"Second sister, I didn't. I really didn't mean to offend my sister-in-law. You have to believe me."

Chapter 928 Li Shimin: Why do you all doubt me?

Seeing Li Shimin's somewhat broken state, Li Xiuning suddenly wanted to laugh, but she held it back and snorted, "Whether you want it or not, you know in your heart. Forget it, you can go now. Just bring Lizhi and your sister-in-law over later."

Li Shimin felt as if he had been granted a pardon, saying, "Thank you, Second Sister, thank you, Brother-in-law."

Then, he slipped away as fast as he could.

As he walked out of the manor, he looked up at the sky and muttered to himself, "Does becoming emperor mean I can't make oaths anymore?"

Li Junxian followed Li Shimin around, treating him as if he were deaf. He couldn't listen to these words, or he might get killed.

Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Li Shimin ordered Li Jing and Yuchi Gong to capture the more than four billion Turkic troops left in the Tang Dynasty.

Then she informed Empress Dowager Changsun that Li Xiuning was willing to take Li Lizhi as her disciple.

"Your Majesty, is this true?" She was somewhat surprised and delighted that her daughter could now pursue the path to immortality. "What about Qingque?"

Li Shimin shook his head, "The Tang Dynasty still needs Chengqian and Qingque to protect it."

Empress Dowager Changsun thought about it and agreed, and felt sorry for Li Tai.

"I will accompany Lizhi and my sister-in-law to the meeting."

Just as Li Shimin was about to agree, he suddenly thought of Lin Zhu and quickly shook his head, saying, "No, I will send Lizhi over myself."

"Why?" Empress Changsun asked, puzzled, then suddenly realized something. "Second Brother, could it be that you also have feelings for your sister-in-law..."

"Guanyinbi, stop talking nonsense." Li Shimin was somewhat annoyed.

When Empress Zhangsun saw that Li Shimin was anxious, she knew that he wanted to do it, but he couldn't because of certain rules.

After all, the eldest sister-in-law and the younger brother's wife are different.

"I understand," she said after a pause, "but I should go myself. It's not appropriate for you to go with my sister-in-law."

As for letting Zheng Guanyin take Li Lizhi there, she was also worried.

Li Shimin was still unwilling, saying, "It's not appropriate for you to go."

"Why is that?" Empress Zhangsun asked, puzzled.

Li Shimin said, "You have never met your second brother-in-law, so I cannot let you go."

Empress Zhangsun became curious, "Is there something wrong with my second brother-in-law?"

"Sigh!" Li Shimin sighed and confided to Empress Zhangsun, "Even I am somewhat tempted by my second brother-in-law's appearance, let alone you."

Empress Zhangsun was astonished, then looked at Li Shimin with tears in her eyes, her heart breaking. "Second Brother, is this how you see me? And I can tolerate your feelings for my sister-in-law. But my brother-in-law is a man, and you actually... you..."

She couldn't catch her breath; her chest heaved as her asthma flared up.

Seeing this, Li Shimin said anxiously, "Guanyinbi, don't panic! Someone, quickly summon the imperial physician."

The imperial physician arrived quickly, and after the female official performed emergency treatment, Empress Zhangsun finally recovered.

Li Shimin hurriedly asked, "Imperial Physician Wang, how is my Guanyinbi?"

"Your Majesty, the Empress is fine. It's just that her heart fire is affecting her lungs. She must not get too anxious or stressed from now on," the Imperial Physician Wang instructed, adding some further precautions.

Li Shimin was relieved and sat down by the bed, holding Empress Zhangsun's hand and saying, "Guanyinbi, you scared me to death."

Empress Zhangsun, her eyes brimming with tears, said, "Your Majesty, I don't mind if you take Gui Mei as a concubine. I even tolerate your feelings for my sister-in-law. But please, Your Majesty, promise me, you absolutely cannot... you absolutely cannot..."

Li Shimin knew what Empress Zhangsun was about to say, and explained, "Guanyinbi, I really didn't, you have to believe me. Come with me to see your second brother-in-law, and you'll know what's going on. What I can assure you now is that I like beautiful women. No, I mean, beautiful women."

Empress Zhangsun was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this, but she still breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I understand. I am tired. Your Majesty, please go to Sister Yang's place tonight."

Consort Yang, the mother of Li Ke, the third son of Li Shimin, was the daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui and a concubine. She was conferred the title of Consort Shu.

"Very well, then you should get some rest tonight." After seeing that Zhangsun was unharmed, Li Shimin instructed the palace maids to keep a close eye on her before turning to leave.

He was a very energetic man, and he needed someone to serve him every night; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to have so many children.

There were fourteen sons alone, and countless daughters.

Watching Li Shimin leave, Empress Zhangsun was still somewhat worried. How could her husband have ended up like this?

She can tolerate liking her sister-in-law, but she absolutely cannot tolerate liking men.

This is a matter of principle.

Li Chengqian: What's wrong with liking men? I really envy my third brother for being granted a fief in Shu.

Seven days later, after recovering her health, Changsun Wugou arrived at Zheng Guanyin's residence under the protection of a group of soldiers.

"Your Majesty, I have met you. I dare not accept the title of 'elder sister-in-law'." Zheng Guanyin was also a woman of principle, with a strong posture, but her words were barbed.

Empress Dowager Changsun was not angry. She stepped forward to help Zheng Guanyin up and said, "I have come to tell my sister-in-law some good news. My second sister plans to take Wanrou and the others as her disciples to walk the path of immortality. Lizhi will also go with them."

Fearing that Zheng Guanyin would use hurtful words against her again, she quickly told her what had happened.

Zheng Guanyin was taken aback. "Xiuning said that?"

"Yes." Empress Zhangsun nodded. "Sister-in-law will also go then."

"I can go there too?" Zheng Guanyin was very surprised.

“That’s right.” Empress Zhangsun grasped Zheng Guanyin’s hand. “It was my second sister who mentioned it to His Majesty.”

Zheng Guanyin was stunned for a moment, and then felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her heart. She felt as if she no longer had to live in fear.

Looking at Empress Zhangsun again, her feelings were very complicated.

"Alright, I understand. When shall we depart?"

Empress Zhangsun said, "Let's do it in three days."

Three days passed quickly.

Li Shimin, along with Empress Zhangsun and Li Lizhi, went to fetch Zheng Guanyin.

Two carriages headed towards the manor where Lin Zhu lived.

With the blessing of good fortune, the carriage moved quickly and steadily, arriving in no time.

Hearing that Li Xiuning was going to take on a disciple, Wang Yuyan and Jingwei were very interested, so they went to the front yard to join in the fun.

Yaoyue and Sanmeng were not very interested; in their spare time, they preferred to cultivate.

Lin Zhu was pulled by Wang Yuyan and Jingwei to be their witness.

The moment Empress Zhangsun saw Lin Zhu, she understood what Li Shimin meant.

Zheng Guanyin and she both thought to themselves: 'There really is a man in this world who looks like this!'

Immediately, they all turned their heads away, refusing to look at Lin Zhu, just like Lu Bu's wives back then.

Zheng Guanyin felt that she was keeping a widowhood for Li Jiancheng, so how could she look at Lin Zhu?

Empress Zhangsun relied on her strong willpower.

Li Shimin saw the two women's behavior and his love for Empress Zhangsun grew even stronger.

But what he didn't see was that his daughter, Li Lizhi, was completely stunned.

Of course, there are also the five sisters.

Children prefer people or things that are good-looking.

Li Xiuning coughed lightly, "Wanrou, Wanshun, Lizhi... From now on, I will be both your aunt and your master."

Empress Zhangsun and Zheng Guanyin had already given instructions to several people.

Li Wanrou and Li Lizhi knelt down together.

The apprenticeship ceremony was simple and ended quickly.

Li Xiuning looked at Li Shimin and said, "I will go to Taiji Palace to see my father tomorrow."

Li Shimin subconsciously replied, "Okay, I'll go with my second sister then."

Chapter 929 Li Shimin's Envy

Li Xiuning's gaze changed, and she said coldly, "Are you on guard against me?"

Li Shimin felt guilty and avoided Li Xiuning's gaze. "Second sister, I'm sorry, but I really can't let you see Father alone. At least I can only do so after I have completely stabilized the court."

As an emperor, paranoia is inevitable.

"Very good." Li Xiuning laughed in exasperation.

Lin Zhu nodded and said, "That's right, it's very good. Li Er is a qualified emperor."

Everyone looked at Lin Zhu. 'Are you sure you're not being sarcastic?'