The Glory of Tang Dynasty resumo, enredo, sinopse

Sinopse de The Glory of Tang Dynasty

Shen Zhenzhu was born in a famous family and was chosen as the consort of Lord Guangping Li Chu. She gave birth to his eldest son, Li Shi, and was later posthumously named Empress Rui Zhen.

She was just a lady from the south of China, but she was kind-hearted, had the country in mind, and was friendly to people. When the An Shi Rebellion occurred, she stayed in Chang’an with the people and was respected by the people of Chang’an.

Although she was pursued by general Mo Yanchuo, she still kept her love for Li Chu.

After the Tang Dynasty recovered Chang’an, those who were dispersed were not allowed to enter the palace, but Li Chu was determined to bring Shen Zhenzhu back. Shen Zhenzhu took Li Chu’s future as a prince as her priority, refusing him.

She won Li Chu’s heart for the rest of his life with her talent and virtue, and she was not a luxurious person, managing the harem with the word “peace” and knowing the hardships of the people.

Shen Zhenzhu, a talented lady of the generation, made a certain historical contribution to the development of the middle of the Tang Dynasty.

Resumos de The Glory of Tang Dynasty

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In the twelfth year of Tianbao, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was old, and Yang Guifei was in high favor. Her brother Yang Guozhong held the position of prime minister, wielding immense power, second only to the emperor. He falsely accused the elder brother of Crown Prince's principal consort, Lady Wei, of intending to rebel, and had Lady Wei's brother's entire family executed. Inside the palace, singing and dancing flourished.

Yang Guifei was performing the 'Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Dress Dance', while Emperor Xuanzong of Tang played music. Crown Prince Li Heng knelt aside, anxiously trying to explain to his father that the matter had nothing to do with him. After all, Emperor Xuanzong had once executed three imperial princes in a single day due to suspicion of rebellion. But the emperor was engrossed in the singing and dancing and did not give him a chance to speak.

Yang Guozhong had the Wei family executed, then entered the palace to report back. The Crown Prince explained to the emperor that he was unaware of the matter and immediately proposed to divorce his principal consort, Lady Wei. At this time, the Emperor's eldest grandson, Li Chu, who was ordered to manage floods outside, heard about the major upheaval in the palace and rushed back to the palace on horseback.

Li Chu met Emperor Xuanzong and questioned Yang Guozhong's son, Yang Xuan, then Assistant Minister of the Board of Revenue, why relief grain had not been distributed in a timely manner. He explained that famine victims were everywhere, and people were starving to death on the roads, so he had no choice but to first use the grain designated for Jiannan. Li Chu returned under the guise of pleading guilty, but in reality, it was to plead for his mother.

Emperor Xuanzong ordered Yang Guozhong to immediately investigate the relief grain matter. After Yang Guozhong withdrew, Li Chu began to plead with Emperor Xuanzong, stating that there must be hidden circumstances. Emperor Xuanzong finally agreed to the divorce between the Crown Prince and his principal consort, Lady Wei. When Li Chu wanted to plead for his mother, the Crown Prince held him back. Li Chu's mother was punished and sent to practice Buddhism at the Shuilu Temple outside the city.

Li Chu saw her off. He promised his mother that he would find an opportunity to clear her name. His mother instructed him not to act rashly and also said that before his maternal uncle died, he warned him to be wary of Shen Yizhi, the Prefect of Wuxing, and Dong Zebu, a Tubo general. Li Chu ordered his subordinate, Feng Shengyi, to handle this matter.

Feng Shengyi found that Shen Yizhi was an upright official, but the treacherous prime minister Yang Guozhong had sought him out repeatedly. Li Chu guessed that Shen Yizhi might possess something Yang Guozhong was interested in, but what exactly it was, remained unknown. For this, he wanted to seek out the 'Omniscient Fixer' who was reputed to know everything in the jianghu.

In the household of Shen Yizhi of Wuxing, there was a daughter, Shen Zhenzhu, who had just grown up. Shen Zhenzhu was extraordinarily talented, with delicate and refined features and bright, captivating eyes, a rare beauty. Shen Zhenzhu, having turned eighteen, had reached the age for marriage. Given her family background, she could enter the palace for selection. However, Shen Zhenzhu's heart was already given to someone else. This story goes back ten years.

That year, an eight-year-old Shen Zhenzhu went to the capital to visit her father, who was then serving as the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat. She happened to catch the grand Shangsi Festival in the capital. On Shangsi Day, everyone, from the emperor to commoners, dressed in splendid clothes, drank and enjoyed themselves by the Qujiang Pond. In the evening, Shen Zhenzhu took her maidservant to the riverside to see the lantern show.

The crowd was bustling, shoulder to shoulder, extremely crowded. Zhenzhu was pushed into the river by accident. Zhenzhu, unable to swim, panicked. Coincidentally, Li Chu, the son of the current Crown Prince Li Heng and the eldest grandson of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, was also by the river. He saw someone accidentally fall into the river, bravely jumped in, and rescued Zhenzhu. Zhenzhu didn't know his name then, nor his true identity.

The only thing Li Chu left for Zhenzhu was a jade pendant he carried with him. Soon after, Zhenzhu also returned to Wuxing. She had always wanted to find her rescuer with this jade pendant. But more than ten years had passed, Zhenzhu had grown up, and this hope had not yet been realized, but Zhenzhu never gave up.

The Emperor issued a proclamation to the world, selecting virtuous maidens from noble families to fill the Eastern Palace and choose consorts for the imperial grandsons. Zhenzhu, being of age, was also listed in the register. Zhenzhu did not want to go. However, imperial decrees could not be defied. Zhenzhu could only bid farewell to her parents and her 'Second Brother An' — An Qingxu, An Lushan's son, who grew up with her since childhood — and left Wuxing. But Zhenzhu did not wish to live in the deep palace.

Accompanied by Butler De of the Shen family, Shen Zhenzhu, disguised as a man, took her personal maid Hong Rui and went to Xianyang. The famous Drunken Immortal Tower, renowned far and wide, produces only one jar of Drunken Immortal Elder wine a year. This wine is refreshing, sweet, and rarely seen in the world.

In the martial arts world, there is a "Know-it-all" who knows everything under heaven and can answer any question from people, but his whereabouts are uncertain. However, this Know-it-all has a special fondness for fine wine, especially the Drunken Immortal Elder wine. As long as someone obtains the Drunken Immortal Elder, the Know-it-all will seek out its scent, and the person holding the wine will get a chance to ask him a question.

Shen Zhenzhu, disguised as a man, arrived at the Drunken Immortal Tower. The rule of the Drunken Immortal Tower was that whoever could win first place in the poetry competition would get to take away the bottle of Drunken Immortal Elder. Shen Zhenzhu, full of talent, outshone everyone and won the competition. However, unexpectedly, Prince Guangping Li Chu suddenly appeared halfway through. He adapted Li Bai's poetry, won the competition, and took away the Drunken Immortal Elder wine.

Shen Zhenzhu refused to give up. She wanted to ask the Know-it-all about her savior, so she rode after Li Chu, hoping to get the wine back. However, she accidentally stumbled upon Li Chu being chased by assassins. Even though Li Chu was skilled, he was outnumbered. Fortunately, Shen Zhenzhu arrived in time. In the nick of time, she rode her horse to rescue Li Chu, galloping to a bathhouse.

The assassins were still in pursuit, so Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu swapped clothes and hid in the water. Seeing that Shen Zhenzhu could not hold her breath any longer and they were about to be exposed, Li Chu kissed Shen Zhenzhu. He only released her after the assassins had left. Shen Zhenzhu slapped Li Chu. Li Chu did not understand why this 'Brother Shen' in front of him was as shy as a girl.

However, Li Chu was grateful for Shen Zhenzhu's life-saving grace and knew that Shen Zhenzhu also wanted to find the Know-it-all, so he took her along. After their discussion, they decided that each of them would ask the Know-it-all half a question. Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu separately questioned the Know-it-all. Shen Zhenzhu learned that the jade pendant should be from the Huihe imperial court.

Li Chu, on the other hand, learned that the Shen family had intricate connections with the Dugu family, the King of Yunnan, who commanded an army of a million and wielded immense power. Therefore, he sent a message to his father, asking his father to help him bring the daughter of the Shen family into Prince Guangping's mansion.

Li Heng knew that Li Chu always acted prudently and understood that no matter what, he should strive to help his son. " "" Shen Zhenzhu returned to Chang'an and went to Jishe Tang to meet her good friend, who was like a sister to her—Murong Linzhi, the daughter of General Murong.

Murong Linzhi was also participating in this imperial selection, but unlike Shen Zhenzhu's firm attitude of not wanting to enter the palace, Murong Linzhi seemed to have no aversion to entering the palace. On the day of the selection, Cui Caiping, Imperial Consort Yang's niece, arrived late. As soon as she entered, she leveraged the identities of her aunt Yang Yuhuan and uncle Yang Guozhong, demanding to be ranked first.

The eunuch in charge knew he could not afford to offend her, so he had no choice but to agree. The selection required displaying skills in qin (zither), qi (Go), shu (calligraphy), and hua (painting). Murong Linzhi took it seriously, while Shen Zhenzhu, who had no desire to enter the palace, deliberately hid her abilities. Cui Caiping, who knew nothing, brought out her pre-prepared calligraphy and embroidery to make up the numbers.

Shen Zhenzhu deliberately hid her strength in the competitions of zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting. She scored the lowest in every subject, but with the Crown Prince's secret help, Shen Zhenzhu still advanced to the palace examination. The arrogant Cui Caiping slapped Murong Linzhi because Murong Linzhi accidentally dripped water onto Cui Caiping's skirt. Cui Caiping was also aggressive, so Shen Zhenzhu spoke up to help, leaving Cui Caiping speechless.

Cui Caiping was relentless and ordered the eunuch nearby to slap Murong Linzhi and Shen Zhenzhu. No sooner had Cui Caiping finished speaking than Emperor Xuanzong and Consort Yang walked over. Emperor Xuanzong saw Cui Caiping's arrogance and haughtiness, as well as Shen Zhenzhu's dignified and talented demeanor. The cynical Li Tan was loitering near the Hundred Flower Garden in the palace.

He wanted to see the women who came to the palace for the selection, as the Emperor was choosing concubines for him and his elder brother Li Chu. Li Tan ate a jujube as he climbed onto the palace wall. He accidentally slipped and fell flat on his back. Coincidentally, Murong Linzhi and Shen Zhenzhu passed by this spot.

The skilled physician Murong Linzhi examined the surroundings, saw the fallen jujube, and after taking Li Tan's pulse, knew that Li Tan had fainted because a jujube pit was stuck in his throat. She then asked Shen Zhenzhu to help her lift Li Tan, and she patted his back heavily several times. The jujube pit was spit out, and Li Tan woke up.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Murong Linzhi's concerned expression and fell in love with her at first sight, chasing after Murong Linzhi to ask her name. The palace examination was held as scheduled. Emperor Xuanzong, accompanied by Consort Yang, sat under a glazed-tile canopy, observing the virtuous young ladies. Cui Caiping was playing a musical instrument, and the other ladies sat around her. Suddenly, everyone saw the corner of Cui Caiping's clothes begin to catch fire.

Without hesitation, Shen Zhenzhu grabbed a bucket of water from nearby and poured it onto Cui Caiping's clothes. Cui Caiping was startled and shrieked, demanding the Emperor to seek justice for her and imprison Shen Zhenzhu and Murong Linzhi. Shen Zhenzhu observed the surroundings and stated that the real culprit of the fire should be the glazed tiles on the Emperor's canopy, as the glazed tiles had a magnifying effect, and the sun was directly overhead.

The crowd did not believe her, so Shen Zhenzhu took a piece of cloth and placed it where Cui Caiping had been sitting. After a while, the cloth caught fire, proving Shen Zhenzhu's words. She and Murong Linzhi were cleared of arson suspicion, and the Emperor and Crown Prince present also praised her for her intelligence and wisdom. The Crown Prince pleaded with the Emperor, asking him to betroth Shen Zhenzhu to his eldest son, Li Chu.

However, Yang Guozhong and Consort Yang were determined to interfere with the Eastern Palace, intending to marry Cui Caiping to Li Chu. The Crown Princess intervened, suggesting that Shen Zhenzhu and Cui Caiping could both be granted the status of 'Ruren' (a concubine rank) to first join the Eastern Palace, and as for who would be the main consort, it would depend on Li Chu's own wishes. The Emperor agreed.

Yang Guozhong repeatedly traveled to Wuxing to find Shen Yizhi, but Shen Yizhi consistently refused to meet him. Yang Guozhong's subordinate did not understand why the Chancellor insisted on being refused entry at the Shen family's residence. Yang Guozhong reprimanded his subordinate, stating that Shen Yizhi possessed a token that could command the King of Yunnan. This was overheard by Feng Shengyi, who was guarding the Shen residence. He returned to report to the Prince of Guangping.

Based on the rumors from the jianghu (martial arts world) mentioned by Feng Shengyi, Li Chu deduced that the Shen family might possess the Qilin Token, which could command the King of Yunnan. He secretly visited the Shen residence late at night, advising Shen Yizhi to hand over the Qilin Token to him to prevent it from falling into the hands of the treacherous Chancellor Yang Guozhong.

However, Shen Yizhi was upright and honorable; he believed in the law of the land and thought Yang Guozhong would not dare to act recklessly, so he rejected Li Chu's suggestion. Li Chu handed a jade whistle to Shen Yizhi, telling him to blow it in times of crisis, and his subordinates would rush to provide support.

Leaving the Shen Manor, Li Chu received news that Dong Zebu, who held evidence of Yang Guozhong's treason, had appeared in the Ganzhou area. He then ordered his subordinate He Lingyi to protect the Shen family, while he himself took Feng Shengyi and headed to Ganzhou. In the palace, Shen Zhenzhu learned that Prince Jianning Li Tan had pleaded with the Emperor to betroth Murong Linzhi to him, and she was genuinely happy for Murong Linzhi.

At the same time, Shen Zhenzhu also learned that she might be married into the Eastern Palace and decided to escape. With Murong Linzhi's cooperation, Shen Zhenzhu successfully swapped identities with her maid Hong Rui, disguised herself as a man, and fled. Shen Zhenzhu wanted to go to Huige to find the owner of the jade pendant. She rented a carriage, but the coachman drove at a furious speed. Shen Zhenzhu realized the coachman was heading in the wrong direction.

In fact, the coachman was sent by Lady Han, Cui Caiping's mother, to dispose of Shen Zhenzhu in the wilderness. When the coachman reached a desolate area, he asked Shen Zhenzhu to get off and rest under the pretense of taking a break. In reality, he had already pulled out a knife hidden in his sleeve. Shen Zhenzhu was alert and ran forward desperately. Just then, the carriage driven by Feng Shengyi passed by, saving Shen Zhenzhu.

Li Chu saw his old acquaintance, Brother Shen, and learning that she was heading to Huige, which was in the same direction as his, he invited Brother Shen to travel with them. Shen Zhenzhu accepted. Early the next morning, Li Chu did not see Brother Shen in the carriage. He waited for a while before Brother Shen returned. Shen Zhenzhu explained that she had gone to the bushes to change clothes. Li Chu was puzzled.

In her panic, Shen Zhenzhu dropped her bundle, and its contents scattered on the ground. Li Chu picked up a cosmetic box and realized that the so-called Brother Shen was actually a woman, but Li Chu did not expose her. Late at night, Yang Guozhong sent dozens of masked men in black to infiltrate the Shen Manor, coercing Shen Yizhi to hand over the Qilin Token. Shen Yizhi stated that the Qilin Token was no longer in his possession.

The cruel men in black then murdered Shen Yizhi's entire family. Only Shen An, who had been hidden in a secret chamber by Shen Yizhi, escaped. Shen An watched his father, mother, and other family members lying in pools of blood, overwhelmed with grief and trembling all over. Before another wave of men in black arrived, a man carried Shen An away. Arriving at Jincheng Commandery, Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu parted ways.

To pass through the border and reach Huige, Shen Zhenzhu joined a group of Huige refugees. The leader was named Badanmu. Under his guidance, Shen Zhenzhu and a group of Huige refugees successfully passed through the checkpoint. Badanmu used the pretext of waiting for the Khan, who was coming to pay homage to the Emperor of the Great Tang, to make these Huige refugees wait outside the city.

The exceptionally intelligent Shen Zhenzhu found Badanmu's behavior suspicious, so she inquired with Yehu, who was on good terms with her in the group. However, the simple and kind Yehu believed Badanmu was a good person. That night, Shen Zhenzhu dreamt of her entire family dying tragically. Startled awake by the nightmare, she got up and wandered around. She unintentionally overheard Badanmu and his companions discussing their plan.

It turned out they intended to use these Huige people to assassinate Mo Yanchuai, the Khan of the Huige people. Just as Shen Zhenzhu was feeling surprised, Yehu rushed out from behind Shen Zhenzhu, intending to kill Badanmu with a dagger. Fortunately, Shen Zhenzhu quickly pulled Yehu back, advising him not to act recklessly. Badanmu led the Huige refugees in respectfully awaiting the Khan. The Khan agreed to let his people follow behind the soldiers and return to Huige together.

Badanmu secretly poisoned the Khan's water and then offered it to the Khan. However, Shen Zhenzhu witnessed this scene. As the Khan was about to drink the water, Shen Zhenzhu shouted loudly, "The water is poisoned!"

After Shen Zhenzhu shouted that the water was poisoned, Badanmu and his accomplices took out their daggers, preparing to act. Mo Yanchuai, the Khan, and his guards reacted quickly, fighting fiercely with Badanmu and his group. Within two moves, Badanmu and his companions were subdued. In fact, Mo Yanchuai, the Khan, had long known that Badanmu and his group had ulterior motives because he could tell from Badanmu's words and deeds that Badanmu was not a genuine Huihe person.

He also knew that those Huihe people were used by Badanmu with ulterior motives, so he did not vent his anger on them. Seeing that their assassination attempt had failed, Badanmu and his accomplices bit their tongues and committed suicide. Then Yehui suddenly pointed at Shen Zhenzhu and shouted to the Khan, "She is not a Huihe person either." Everyone's gaze focused on Shen Zhenzhu.

Shen Zhenzhu truthfully confessed, stating that she only wanted to come to Huihe to find someone. Zhenzhu told the Khan that Badanmu and his group's blatant assassination attempt indicated that these people would not give up until they achieved their goal, so they must have a backup plan. Zhenzhu stated that those people were very likely to set an ambush on the only path, to attack the Khan. She suggested that the Khan pretend to be unaware and strike first.

The Khan, following Zhenzhu's suggestion, subdued the rebels who were ambushing on the only path, intending to launch a sneak attack. However, the opposing side had many people. At a critical moment, Li Chu, who came to Ganzhou to look for Dong Zebu, appeared and saved them. In fact, Li Chu and the Khan were sworn brothers. The Khan also accepted Li Chu's request to help him find Dong Zebu, a Tubo traitor general.

The Khan returned to Huihe with Zhenzhu, Li Chu, and the refugees. Zhenzhu inquired with the Khan about Yuhui's whereabouts, thus learning that Yuhui was a gift from Huihe to the Tang imperial family ten years ago. However, it was unknown who Yuhui ultimately ended up with. Upon hearing this, Zhenzhu couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

During Li Chu's martial arts competition with the Khan, Zhenzhu learned that the sword he used was of extraordinary origin, and consequently discovered Li Chu's true identity: he was Prince Guangping, the man she was destined to marry. Longing intensely, Li Tan disguised himself as an ordinary civilian and came to Murong Linzhi's Jishitang, pretending to be sick and needing Murong Linzhi to diagnose him. Murong Linzhi showed no outward expression, but she was very happy in her heart.

The Khan and his wife, Ke Mi'yi, hosted a banquet for Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu. When the wine flowed freely, the Khan brought up Li Chu's marriage. Li Chu expressed that he also wished to be with the person he loved, like Li Tan. However, as the Emperor's eldest grandson and the Crown Prince's eldest son, he was not free to make his own choices. As he spoke, he looked towards Shen Zhenzhu.

In fact, Li Chu's heart had long been moved by Shen Zhenzhu. During the banquet, the dancing women led Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu to their feet, asking them to dance together. Shen Zhenzhu accidentally tripped, and Li Chu quickly stepped forward, supporting her by the waist. Her hat fell to the ground, and Shen Zhenzhu's long hair cascaded down. Only then did the Khan realize that Zhenzhu was a woman.

Even though Li Chu had already known that his "Brother Shen" was a woman, he was still captivated by Zhenzhu before him. The Khan saw that Li Chu had feelings for Zhenzhu, but Li Chu stated that he did not want to drag her into his life, which was full of schemes and cautious steps.

Shen Zhenzhu's maids Hongrui and Suci returned to Wuxing Shen Mansion first, as per Shen Zhenzhu's instructions. The two had been worried about Shen Zhenzhu's safety. When they entered the Shen Mansion, they were stunned by the shocking scene before them; their familiar Uncle Chen and everyone else had fallen in a pool of blood. The two didn't know what had happened at the Shen Mansion.

Just as they were crying in sorrow, An Qingxu also arrived at the Shen Mansion. He was also shocked by the scene before him. He told Hongrui and Suci to report to the authorities first and then settle these people, while he rushed to find Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu bid farewell to the Khan and prepared to return to Chang'an. The two were eating in an inn.

Li Chu saw that Shen Zhenzhu was restless and asked her if she was thinking about the owner of the jade pendant. Shen Zhenzhu said that she hadn't found the owner of the jade pendant and was indeed a little disappointed. Shen Zhenzhu wanted to take the opportunity to confess to Li Chu that she was the Shen Zhenzhu who was ordered to marry him.

She wanted to tell Li Chu that she had always been concerned about the owner of the jade pendant and her heart already belonged to someone else, so she didn't want to marry him. But due to nervousness, before she could speak, Li Chu got up and left because he had something to attend to. An Qingxu found Shen Zhenzhu at the inn and took her away without much explanation.

At this moment, Li Chu also learned from Feng Shengyi the terrible news of the murder of Shen Yizhi's family. When Li Chu came downstairs with Feng Shengyi, Shen Zhenzhu was already gone. Li Chu thought that Shen Zhenzhu had met her beloved and left without saying goodbye. At the Shen Mansion, Shen Zhenzhu saw her breathless father, mother, and servants who were like family to her, and she was heartbroken.

The authorities explained that the people of the Shen Mansion were killed by bandits, but Shen Zhenzhu didn't believe it. She carefully examined her father's study and found many things scattered on the floor, in a mess. Shen Zhenzhu found a broken corner of a token and a jade whistle. She didn't know where they came from, but felt they should be related to the killer, so she put them away.

Moreover, Shen Zhenzhu accidentally touched a mechanism, and the secret chamber in the study was opened. Shen Zhenzhu speculated that her father might have hidden her younger brother, Shen An, in the secret chamber, allowing him to escape the catastrophe. This suggested that her father must have known about this impending disaster long ago. Furthermore, everyone had their throats slit with one sword, so Shen Zhenzhu believed the killer must be a martial arts master.

She secretly vowed to find the killer and bring justice to her father and mother. An Qingxu brought Shen Zhenzhu to Fanyang An Mansion. An Qingxu's father told Shen Zhenzhu to feel at ease living in their home. Shen Zhenzhu took the broken corner of the token and the jade whistle to ask An Lushan.

An Lushan said he didn't know the owner of the jade whistle, but from the broken corner of the token, it should be from the palace. Shen Zhenzhu could inquire at the Shanggong Bureau in the palace; whoever replaced their token after the incident could be a suspect. Shen Zhenzhu was puzzled, because the Shanggong Bureau was deep in the palace, not easily accessible to ordinary people.

An Lushan smiled and said that for Shen Zhenzhu, marrying the Prince of Guangping was the best solution. In fact, An Lushan had his own plans for Shen Zhenzhu to marry the Prince of Guangping. He and Yang Guozhong had always been at odds. Yang Guozhong married his niece Cui Caiping to the Prince of Guangping, and he also wanted Shen Zhenzhu to marry the Prince of Guangping to help him collect information about the Prince of Guangping.

An Qingxu saw through his father's intentions and went to confront his father, stating that he did not agree to let Shen Zhenzhu marry into the royal family, but An Lushan completely disregarded his son's feelings.

An Qingxu knew that he could not change his father's decision. He helplessly sat in the courtyard playing the flute. Shen Zhenzhu heard the sound and came over. She told An Qingxu that entering the palace was her own decision because only by entering the palace could she uncover the truth behind her parents' murder.

An Qingxu suspected that this was his father's instruction and wanted to pull Shen Zhenzhu away, but An Lushan appeared with guards, and An Qingxu had no choice but to give up. Shen Zhenzhu, who had decided to enter the palace, struck the drum of Jingzhao Mansion. She revealed her identity and had an audience with the Emperor. The Emperor instructed Shen Zhenzhu to first observe filial mourning for her parents at Daxingguo Temple for half a year.

Half a year later, she would marry into Guangping Prince's Mansion along with Cui Caiping. An Lushan locked his son An Qingxu in the family prison. He did not stop until An Qingxu was covered in injuries and agreed to compromise. An Lushan wanted his son to rush to the capital to meet with his informant there, obey the informant's orders, and help Shen Zhenzhu search for Shen An.

However, after finding Shen An, An Qingxu was not allowed to interfere with how Shen An would be settled. Half a year later, Shen Zhenzhu and Cui Caiping married into Guangping Prince's Mansion. Cui Caiping lived in Liuli Pavilion, and Shen Zhenzhu lived in Wenjin Pavilion. On their wedding night, a servant, while supporting the drunken Li Chu, suggested that he go to Liuli Pavilion.

Unexpectedly, these words infuriated Prince Guangping because it was obvious that this servant had been bribed by Cui Caiping. The servant repeatedly begged for mercy. He Lingyi walked over. Li Chu ordered men to drag the servant out, give him forty lashes, and expel him from the mansion. Afterwards, Li Chu entered Cui Caiping's room. Cui Caiping was overjoyed. Li Chu got straight to the point, asking her if she had sent someone to drug his wine.

He warned Cui Caiping not to do it again. Cui Caiping was intent on having Li Chu stay in her room that night. Li Chu sternly stated that he was not feeling well that night. He threw Cui Caiping's screen fan on the ground and left without looking back. Li Chu went to Shen Zhenzhu's room. The moment Shen Zhenzhu took off her screen fan, Li Chu was stunned.

He had not expected that Shen Zhenzhu, who had married into his mansion, was actually the "Brother Shen" he had always longed for. Li Chu was overjoyed and immediately expressed his feelings to Shen Zhenzhu. But when Li Chu intended to kiss Shen Zhenzhu, she turned her head away. Li Chu knew that Shen Zhenzhu was still thinking of her beloved.

He did not want to force her, but he wanted Shen Zhenzhu to understand that from the moment she married into Guangping Prince's Mansion, there could be no one else in her heart. After speaking, Li Chu turned and left. But before leaving, Li Chu still asked Shen Zhenzhu a question. He asked Shen Zhenzhu if she knew the Dugu family from Yunnan. Shen Zhenzhu looked bewildered. Li Chu understood that Shen Yizhi had not told Shen Zhenzhu about the Qilin Token.

On the second day of the wedding, as per custom, Li Chu brought Cui Caiping and Shen Zhenzhu to the palace to pay respects to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Zhang. Coincidentally, Li Tan also brought Murong Linzhi to greet the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. After some pleasantries, the Crown Prince called Li Chu to his study. The Crown Prince inquired about the whereabouts of the Qilin Token. Li Chu stated that Shen Zhenzhu knew nothing about it.

Given Shen Yizhi's integrity, he might have destroyed the Qilin Token before his death. The Crown Prince thought this was not impossible, and he asked Li Chu to start by investigating Shen Yizhi's missing child, as this might lead to the Qilin Token's whereabouts. The Crown Princess asked Murong Linzhi to stay and take her pulse. After all, Crown Princess Zhang had no children and still wanted to bear a child for the Crown Prince.

However, when Murong Linzhi took her pulse, she discovered that the Crown Prince was no longer fertile. But she did not expose it on the spot. Afterward, Murong Linzhi was troubled about how to handle this matter. She confided her worries to Shen Zhenzhu, who came to visit her.

Shen Zhenzhu also advised her not to reveal it, because exposing someone's weakness could easily invite disaster, and besides, there were so many skilled doctors in the Imperial Hospital, yet they all chose to keep silent. Linzhi followed Shen Zhenzhu's advice. While in the palace, Shen Zhenzhu had been observing the tokens worn by the palace staff. Upon returning, she drew several sketches based on a corner of the token, but couldn't determine the token's true appearance.

Suci, standing nearby, thought the token resembled a bird's feather. This insightful remark struck Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu felt Suci's words were very reasonable. She asked Suci to contact An Lushan's informant, as she wanted to tell him about her new discovery. Just as Shen Zhenzhu was about to turn and leave, Li Chu walked in. He placed the jade bracelet that his mother had given him onto Shen Zhenzhu's hand.

He told Shen Zhenzhu that there was a pair of these jade bracelets. His mother had given one to him and the other to Tan'er, for them to give to their respective wives. Now, he had already recognized Shen Zhenzhu as his princess, so the owner of this jade bracelet could only be Shen Zhenzhu. Subsequently, Shen Zhenzhu, accompanied by Suci, arrived at the teahouse. She met An Qingxu and the informant, who was disguised as a waiter.

The informant told Shen Zhenzhu that the whistle was made of blood jade. Blood jade was offered as tribute to the Great Tang by Tubo back then, a total of five pieces: one piece each for the Imperial Concubine, the Crown Prince, and a Princess. The symbols on them would take some more time to identify. After returning to the mansion, Shen Zhenzhu thought about her younger brother. It was getting cold, and she didn't know where her brother was.

Anxiously, she began to draw a portrait, intending for Suci and Hongrui to post a missing person notice. Li Chu excitedly walked in, holding candied haws. It turned out that Li Chu had specially bought them after Suci told him Shen Zhenzhu loved candied haws the most. Shen Zhenzhu was very touched and recounted interesting anecdotes about her brother to Li Chu. Li Chu noticed Shen Zhenzhu's hands and feet were cold, and immediately ordered someone to light a brazier.

But the charcoal wouldn't light at all. Li Chu called the steward for questioning. He then learned that the steward had bullied Shen Zhenzhu, who was without family or support, secretly selling off the good charcoal prepared for Shen Zhenzhu, and giving her damp charcoal instead. Li Chu was furious upon hearing this. The housekeeper, He Lingyi, pleaded guilty. Li Chu ordered He Lingyi to hand over the inner court affairs to Shen Zhenzhu to manage.

Cui Caiping was very displeased when she learned that Li Chu had entrusted Shen Zhenzhu with managing the inner court affairs. She deliberately went to Wenjin Pavilion to cause trouble. Shen Zhenzhu, neither servile nor overbearing, handled the situation with ease.

Cui Caiping picked a quarrel, Shen Zhenzhu responded calmly. Li Chu also arrived at Shen Zhenzhu's room at this time, so Cui Caiping had no choice but to give up. Shen Zhenzhu apologized to Cui Caiping, giving her a way out. In front of Li Chu, Cui Caiping accepted Shen Zhenzhu's apology but demanded the jade bracelet Shen Zhenzhu was wearing as a peace offering.

Shen Zhenzhu stated that she had been wearing the jade bracelet for some time, and it was inconvenient to take it off now. She would send someone to deliver it to her personally later. Cui Caiping was complacent upon hearing this. Li Chu was very unhappy to see the jade bracelet he had given to Shen Zhenzhu so easily given to someone else, so he said something in anger and turned to leave.

Yang Guozhong received news that An Lushan had repelled the Khitan army, so he went to consult the Crown Prince, wanting to persuade the Crown Prince to jointly memorialize the Emperor, stating that An Lushan had rebellious intentions. Li Chu came to pay his respects to his father and learned of Yang Guozhong's idea. Li Chu analyzed the current situation and suggested that his father might as well go with the flow and act according to Yang Guozhong's suggestion.

Shen Zhenzhu sent someone to deliver the jade bracelet to Cui Caiping. Cui Caiping became even more smug after wearing the jade bracelet. She also sent someone to invite He Lingyi to her room, wanting to win her over. However, He Lingyi disdained associating with her and deliberately revealed in her words that the jade bracelet Cui Caiping was wearing was fake. Cui Caiping was furious after learning this, and He Lingyi was secretly pleased.

In fact, as Li Chu's loyal guard, He Lingyi had been by Li Chu's side for so many years and had long developed a secret affection for him. Shen Zhenzhu knew Li Chu was angry, so she carried the medicinal stew she had personally prepared to Li Chu's study. Li Chu was still sulking, and was surprised to see the jade bracelet Shen Zhenzhu was wearing.

Shen Zhenzhu explained that she had indeed given a jade bracelet to Cui Caiping, but it was the one she used to wear, which was somewhat similar to the one he had given her. Li Chu burst into laughter upon hearing this. Li Chu took Shen Zhenzhu, disguised as a man, to stroll in the streets. They bought many things and returned to the manor late at night.

Li Chu asked Shen Zhenzhu if he could stay there tonight, but Shen Zhenzhu coughed incessantly. Li Chu nervously asked his servant Zhang Deyu to summon the imperial physician. The imperial physician stated that Shen Zhenzhu was already weak, and compounded by the shock, her body was even frailer. Li Chu understood the imperial physician's implied meaning, which also aligned with Shen Zhenzhu's original intention. Shen Zhenzhu's master Li Bai entered the capital.

Upon learning that Shen Zhenzhu had married into the Prince of Guangping's manor, he specifically sent a visiting card to see her. Li Bai stated that he had seen Shen An. On the second day after the entire Shen family was annihilated, he was traveling through Wuxing and saw Shen An, who was frightened and staring blankly in the courtyard. At that time, some masked men attacked again. Li Bai, in a panic, carried Shen An and fled, taking him to hide in the mountains for several days. However, later, Shen An accidentally got separated from him.

Shen Zhenzhu heard news about An'er from her master Li Bai, feeling both joy and sorrow. She was relieved that An'er was still alive, but worried because she didn't know his whereabouts. An Lushan entered the capital. The Emperor trusted An Lushan and specially prepared a celebratory banquet for him, attended by royal relatives. At the banquet, Yang Guozhong suggested that An Lushan's eldest son, An Qingzong, marry into the royal family.

He intended to use this to keep An Lushan in the capital and seize the opportunity to weaken his power. At the banquet, Shen Zhenzhu had been carefully observing the tokens worn on the waists of the palace staff, but found nothing. The anxious Shen Zhenzhu took the opportunity to leave the banquet, wanting to go to the Shanggong Bureau, but encountered An Lushan.

An Lushan said that he hadn't seen Shen Zhenzhu at the banquet, so he guessed she had come here. He reminded Shen Zhenzhu that rashly entering the Shanggong Bureau at this time would definitely not be a wise move. Shen Zhenzhu sought his advice, but An Lushan stated that he wouldn't help her for free. He would only negotiate with her when Shen Zhenzhu became the Princess of Guangping, as it would be beneficial to her and also to himself.

Shen Zhenzhu immediately understood that An Lushan never helped her for free, but rather wanted to gain benefits from her in exchange. At the celebratory banquet, An Lushan's advisor, Shi Siming, stared intently at the Crown Princess. An Lushan knew the reason behind this: the current Crown Princess was the woman Shi Siming had loved in his youth. An Qingxu ordered someone to secretly pass a note to Shen Zhenzhu, asking to meet her.

Hongrui quickly burned the note, but this action was seen by someone Cui Caiping had placed by Shen Zhenzhu's side. Cui Caiping deliberately took Li Chu to watch when An Qingxu and Shen Zhenzhu met. An Qingxu told Shen Zhenzhu that Shen An's whereabouts had not yet been found. Shen Zhenzhu shed tears of worry. An Qingxu comforted her, and this scene was coincidentally seen by Li Chu, who had just arrived.

Li Chu pulled Shen Zhenzhu's hand, wanting to leave. An Qingxu tried to stop them, intending to explain. Shen Zhenzhu knew Li Chu was already angry and stated that this was a matter between her and her husband, and she would explain it clearly to Li Chu. Back at the princely mansion, Shen Zhenzhu stated that she had known Second Brother An since childhood, and his mother and her own mother were friends.

Hearing Shen Zhenzhu repeatedly refer to him as "Second Brother An," Li Chu became even more angry. The Crown Prince's daughter, Li Chuo, was betrothed to Yang Guozhong's nephew, Zheng Xun, but Li Chuo was unwilling because Zheng Xun was a good-for-nothing, idle dandy. The Crown Prince was well aware of Zheng Xun's character but was powerless due to Yang Guozhong's influence. Li Chuo was already fiery and practiced martial arts all day. At the riding grounds, Li Chuo overheard Zheng Xun's frivolous remarks, so she planned to lure Zheng Xun into the woods and gave him a good beating.

An Lushan was furious when he learned that An Qingxu had argued with Li Chu over Shen Zhenzhu, and he severely scolded An Qingxu. After all, An Lushan was determined to get closer to Li Chu, and An Qingxu's quarrel with Li Chu would undoubtedly disrupt his plans. However, An Qingxu was also full of grievances; he deeply loved Shen Zhenzhu and feared that she would suffer injustice upon her return.

Zheng Xun, with a bruised face, went to complain to his maternal uncle, Yang Guozhong. Yang Guozhong thought Li Chuo had gone too far, asserting that one should consider the owner when beating a dog. He asked Zheng Xun if he still wished to marry Li Chuo. Zheng Xun nodded, indicating his willingness, as he wanted to wait until Li Chuo married him so he could bully her at will.

Hearing this, Yang Guozhong nodded in agreement, then he grandly went to Li Chu's residence to demand an explanation. To appease Yang Guozhong's anger, Li Chu decided to push forward with Li Chuo's marriage. Li Chuo was displeased and argued with her father. Li Chu rushed over and persuaded his father that Dong Zebu had been captured by the Uighur Khan Mo Yanchuai and would soon be escorted back to the capital. Dong Zebu held evidence of Yang Guozhong's treason.

However, his father stated that he was not doing this merely to calm Yang Guozhong's anger, but because Li Chu's actions had already aroused Yang Guozhong's suspicion. If Yang Guozhong's guard was not lowered and preparations made early, they would find themselves in a passive position. Li Chu felt helpless upon hearing this. At Li Chu's residence, Li Chu was still angry with Shen Zhenzhu.

Shen Zhenzhu explained to him that An Qingxu and she had known each other since childhood. That day, he had asked to meet her simply because he had found An'er's longevity lock and wanted to tell her news of An'er. Upon hearing this, Li Chu sighed that he had worried in vain, then he angrily went to the study.

In the study, Zhang Deyu told Li Chu that Consort Shen had just brought in the brewed medicinal tonic and left a note that read, "Those who abandon me, yesterday's days cannot be kept; those who trouble my heart, today's days are filled with sorrow." Li Chu outwardly reprimanded Zhang Deyu not to let others casually enter his study, but he secretly picked up the medicinal tonic and drank it, a smile appearing on his face.

Feng Shengyi arrived and told Li Chu that his investigation into Consort Shen's relationship with the An family was no different from what Shen Zhenzhu had said. Murong Linzhi knew Li Chu was angry with Shen Zhenzhu. She had always worried that Shen Zhenzhu was too focused on her family's vendetta and could not see Li Chu's true feelings, so she asked Li Tan to invite Li Chu to go boating and enjoy the scenery by the lake.

Li Chu agreed but brought Cui Caiping and Shen Zhenzhu along. Watching Cui Caiping flirt with Li Chu, Li Tan, Murong Linzhi, and Shen Zhenzhu on the side felt very awkward. Murong Linzhi suggested walking with Shen Zhenzhu. Afterward, Li Chu sent Cui Caiping away. Li Tan told his elder brother that Chuo'er intended to escape the marriage, and he wanted to help his sister. Li Chu agreed.

Cui Caiping found Murong Linzhi and Shen Zhenzhu, provoked them, and pushed Shen Zhenzhu into the water. Murong Linzhi called for help. Li Chu jumped into the water without hesitation and rescued Shen Zhenzhu. After coming ashore, however, he blamed Shen Zhenzhu for causing trouble and disrupting their mood. Shen Zhenzhu did not blame Li Chu, as she had married into the prince's residence to seek the truth, and she felt apologetic to Li Chu.

She diligently collected dew to make sleep-inducing incense for Li Chu. Zhang Deyu praised Consort Shen, which annoyed Li Chu. When Li Chu went for a walk in the courtyard, he saw Shen Zhenzhu climbing a ladder to collect dew for him, and he forgave her. The two reconciled, and he told Shen Zhenzhu not to deceive him again.

He Lingyi reminded Li Chu not to trust Shen Zhenzhu's one-sided story and to re-investigate Shen Zhenzhu's relationship with the An Manor. However, Li Chu refused, as at this moment, he completely trusts Shen Zhenzhu. A mole left by An Lushan in the capital's teahouse arranged to meet Shen Zhenzhu.

He stated that there was new progress in the case of the annihilation of the Shen family, but he wanted Shen Zhenzhu to exchange it for intelligence from the Prince of Guangping's manor. Shen Zhenzhu recalled the documents she saw in the Prince of Guangping's manor, knowing that An Lushan had malicious intentions, so she deliberately concealed crucial information, only telling the mole some minor details. She said that Li Chu was investigating Li Chao of Ruyi Casino.

The mole gave Shen Zhenzhu a drawing with shops all over the capital. These shops covered various industries, but they were all related to that mysterious secret symbol. After An Lushan received the news from Shen Zhenzhu, he immediately arranged for people to relocate Ruyi Casino. Yang Guozhong also found out that An Lushan was secretly operating Ruyi Casino, so he tortured the people from Ruyi Casino to extract a confession.

He learned about Ruyi Casino's secret defenses and eagerly took people to search Ruyi Casino. Li Chu rushed to dissuade him, but Yang Guozhong did not listen at all. In fact, Li Chu knew this would be the outcome; he was merely muddying the waters so that he could secretly deploy his people amidst the chaos.

Yang Guozhong made a big fuss, bringing people to search, and casually and triumphantly presented the account books found in the casino to the Emperor. However, An Lushan already had a countermeasure; he handled the situation freely in front of the Emperor, and his statement was impeccable. Shi Siming even recounted Shi Siming's military achievements over the years. The Emperor did not punish An Lushan but rewarded him instead. Yang Guozhong tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice.

An Lushan believed that the Emperor would sooner or later become suspicious of him. He asked An Qingxu to help him investigate the palace's military strength and at the same time consolidate his own military forces. Upon hearing this, An Qingxu knew the rumors were true: his father indeed intended to rebel.

Yang Guozhong received a secret report that Dong Zebu had been arrested, so he sent people to ambush the Uighur Khan on the road into the capital, preparing to launch a surprise attack. The people around the Khan were bribed, and they fell into the ambush. Fortunately, Li Chu, who had come to welcome him, arrived in time and took the Khan back to his own manor.

Shen Zhenzhu paid respects to the Khan, stating that she had previously concealed her identity out of necessity. In the future, if the Khan didn't mind, she would still refer to herself by the name Shen Zhenzhu. The Khan was stunned. He did not understand why Shen Zhenzhu would appear in the Prince of Guangping's manor. Li Chu stood up, walked to Shen Zhenzhu, and put his arm around her shoulders. The Khan understood; he congratulated the Prince on having his wish fulfilled.

Shen Zhenzhu had fallen for Prince Guangping unknowingly. Hongrui asked her if she wanted to stop taking the medicine that made her body weak. Shen Zhenzhu already had the intention to stop the medicine, but was afraid that suddenly stopping it would arouse suspicion from the imperial physicians. She wanted to wait until she had consulted Murong Linzhi, adjusted the prescription, and let this "illness" gradually improve.

Hongrui secretly came to the courtyard and buried the medicinal dregs under a tree. All these actions were seen by Yao'er, a maid placed by Cui Caiping next to Shen Zhenzhu. Yao'er secretly dug open the soil, took some medicinal dregs, and handed them to Cui Caiping. Li Chu took Shen Zhenzhu to the Shuian Nunnery in the north of the city to see his mother.

In fact, for Li Chu, he could be completely unguarded in front of Shen Zhenzhu, and thus was willing to tell her everything about himself. Shen Zhenzhu saw Consort Wei, accompanied by dim lamps and ancient Buddha statues, and was filled with emotion, thinking that this Crown Princess had once enjoyed all the riches and glory.

Consort Wei saw her son and Shen Zhenzhu by his side, and told the two of them a sentence: "One thought can lead to the abyss; cherish and be cautious." Cui Caiping took the medicinal dregs to Li Chu to lodge a complaint, claiming that Shen Zhenzhu wanted to harm him.

Li Chu didn't believe her at all, but he inadvertently overheard a conversation between Shen Zhenzhu and Hongrui, realizing that Shen Zhenzhu herself had taken those medicines, solely to avoid him. Li Chu was furious and immediately ordered Shen Zhenzhu to move into a separate courtyard, placing Shen Zhenzhu, Hongrui, and Sucǐ under house arrest. Cui Caiping, thinking she had defeated Shen Zhenzhu, was immensely pleased with herself. She seized this opportunity to torment Shen Zhenzhu.

She had Yao'er pretend to be kind and deliver chicken soup to Shen Zhenzhu, but in reality, a slow-acting poison had been added to the soup. Day by day, Shen Zhenzhu's body grew weaker and weaker, and she fainted in the middle of the night. Sucǐ and Hongrui were extremely panicked. Hongrui kept calling loudly for help, hoping that people outside would hear and save Shen Zhenzhu.

He Lingyi happened to pass by outside the courtyard, but she pretended not to hear, quietly walked past the door, with a hint of a triumphant smile on her lips. For He Lingyi, she loved Li Chu and was willing to be his devoted operative, risking her life for him, but she could not accept that Li Chu's heart was occupied by Shen Zhenzhu.

Hongrui and Sucǐ couldn't find anyone to save Shen Zhenzhu, so they could only stay up all night by Shen Zhenzhu's bedside until Shen Zhenzhu woke up the next day. Outside the courtyard, Cui Caiping had her servants fly kites, wanting Li Chu, who was by her side, to see and be happy.

Hongrui heard the sound of the servants flying kites, realizing there were people outside the door, and immediately called loudly for help, shouting that Lady Shen was gravely ill. Meanwhile, Shen Zhenzhu also began to play a musical piece. Li Chu heard it, and ultimately couldn't bear it, so he brought Cui Caiping to the separate courtyard. Shen Zhenzhu watched Li Chu arrive. She expressed that she had many things she wanted to say.

In fact, Shen Zhenzhu wanted to tell Li Chu that she had already decided to stop the medicine. Li Chu asked Shen Zhenzhu to finish playing the musical piece, saying that if it could move him, he would give her time to speak.

Before Shen Zhenzhu could finish playing her song, she fainted. Li Chu was very nervous and asked Murong Linzhi to come to the princely manor to diagnose Shen Zhenzhu. Murong Linzhi found that Shen Zhenzhu had been poisoned with a chronic toxin called evening primrose. Hongrui and Suci recalled everything that had happened recently and suspected that Yao'er (Dugu Jingyao) had poisoned the chicken soup Shen Zhenzhu drank daily. Li Chu ordered He Lingyi to arrest Yao'er (Dugu Jingyao).

Murong Linzhi performed acupuncture on Shen Zhenzhu to help disperse the toxins from her body. Murong Linzhi told Li Chu that Shen Zhenzhu had actually intended to stop taking the medicine, and given Shen Zhenzhu's current condition, soaking in hot springs would help expel the toxins from her body more quickly. Hongrui said that there was a hot spring near Li Bai's mountain residence, which was an excellent place for recuperation.

Li Chu immediately ordered a carriage to be prepared, planning to take Shen Zhenzhu and Murong Linzhi to Li Bai's mountain residence. Murong Linzhi had performed acupuncture on Shen Zhenzhu for several days. She instructed Hongrui to take good care of Shen Zhenzhu, then closed the door and left. Seeing Li Chu and Li Bai waiting outside the door, Murong Linzhi briefly explained Shen Zhenzhu's condition.

Li Bai then went in to visit Shen Zhenzhu, leaving Murong Linzhi and Li Chu looking at each other. Li Tan ran over, loudly calling for his wife. It turned out that Li Tan, longing for her, had come from the capital to these deep mountains. He Lingyi told Li Chu that Yao'er (Dugu Jingyao) had already escaped from the princely manor, and both Yao'er (Dugu Jingyao) and her parents had been murdered.

Li Chu knew that Cui Caiping and Yang Guozhong were responsible for all this. Li Chu held Shen Zhenzhu while she soaked in the hot spring. Shen Zhenzhu woke up and inadvertently saw the tooth mark on Li Chu's arm, so she asked about its origin. Li Chu explained that when he was young, he traveled in Jiangnan and passed by Taihu Lake, where he saved a little girl who had fallen into the water.

The little girl's foot was injured. After he rescued her ashore, he accompanied her to see a doctor. While the doctor was treating the little girl's injury, she, unable to bear the pain, bit his arm, leaving this mark. Shen Zhenzhu was shocked to hear this. Only then did she realize that the lifesaver she had been searching for, the beloved person she had always longed for, was right in front of her.

Moreover, she had coincidentally married him, and she repeatedly lamented how foolish she had been. Li Chuo was hiding in the streets of Chang'an when, by chance, she was spotted by Zheng Xun, who was amusing himself in the red-light district. Zheng Xun sought revenge for being severely beaten by Li Chuo that day, so he ordered his subordinates to seize Li Chuo, intending to humiliate her.

Just as Li Chuo was in despair, An Qingxu, with a sword on his back, passed by. An Qingxu was drowning his sorrows in alcohol and initially did not want to meddle in such trivial matters, but he could not ignore Li Chuo's desperate cries for help. He turned back, killed Zheng Xun with his sword, and was about to leave when Li Chuo grabbed him. Li Chuo wanted to thank him, but An Qingxu ignored her.

Li Chuo thought An Qingxu didn't believe her, so she eagerly revealed her identity, telling An Qingxu that her royal brother was still the Prince of Guangping (Li Chu). An Qingxu was stunned. Li Chuo brought An Qingxu to Li Bai's mountain residence to find her brother. Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu were standing by the river, composing poetry with Li Bai.

Seeing Li Chuo and An Qingxu arrive together, Li Chu pulled Li Chuo to the study, asking her to explain the truth of the matter to him and Li Tan. Meanwhile, Shen Zhenzhu and An Qingxu stood by the river. An Qingxu began playing a melody, and Shen Zhenzhu didn't know how to persuade him. At this moment, Li Chu, having finished his discussion with Li Tan, walked over.

Hearing the tune An Qingxu played, he became extremely jealous, as it was identical to the one Shen Zhenzhu had played for him back then. Li Chu returned to the capital, leaving Shen Zhenzhu alone in the deep mountains to recover from her injuries.

Feng Shengyi rushed to the alley where Zheng Xun's body was, and first dealt with Zheng Xun's corpse. Moreover, Feng Shengyi also found out that Zheng Xun had been drinking with Chen Renjie that day. Chen Renjie got drunk and amused himself with a songstress in the mountains, accidentally killing her. Li Chu stated that it wouldn't be unfair for Chen Renjie to take the blame.

Feng Shengyi understood and placed Zheng Xun's body in the cave where Chen Renjie, who was still not sober, was located. Guangping Prince's Residence was adorned with lanterns and streamers because the next day was Li Chu's birthday. To stabilize Prime Minister Yang, Li Chu decided to grant Cui Caiping the position of imperial consort. This way, Cui Caiping, Lady Han, and Yang Guozhong would not devise any more malicious schemes to frame Shen Zhenzhu and others.

Shen Zhenzhu also returned to Guangping Prince's Residence with Hongrui and Suci. Although Li Chu did not go to see Shen Zhenzhu, he instructed He Lingyi to take good care of Shen Zhenzhu, otherwise, she would be held accountable. Shen Zhenzhu made a pair of shoes for Li Chu overnight. In Wuxing local custom, if a woman deeply loves a man, she will make shoes for him, as shoes symbolize "growing old together."

Shen Zhenzhu joyfully handed these shoes to a servant and had them placed in Li Chu's study. In the study, Li Chu was looking at the birthday gifts everyone had sent. The shoes made by Shen Zhenzhu caught his eye. Cui Caiping arrived at Li Chu's study at this moment, saw the shoes Shen Zhenzhu had sent, and mocked Shen Zhenzhu, saying that gifts from people from such a small place were too shabby.

As she spoke, she picked up the shoes and was about to throw them out. Li Chu stopped her. Li Chu deliberately found an excuse for Cui Caiping to accompany the King Father and Queen Mother up the mountain, while he himself took Feng Shengyi to the outskirts to find the reclusive Lord Li Mi.

Lord Li Mi was very knowledgeable about court affairs but was merely disappointed with the current state of affairs, seeing corrupt officials in power and loyal subjects being persecuted. Li Chu arrived at Li Mi's residence but did not see anyone. However, he saw an album on the table, which recorded all the people in various court departments who were unwilling to collude with Yang Guozhong. Li Chu sighed that this trip had been very fruitful.

He told Feng Shengyi that he wanted to walk around by himself. Shen Zhenzhu came alone to a mountain temple to pray for blessings and met An Qingxu. An Qingxu once again expressed his feelings for Shen Zhenzhu, but Shen Zhenzhu told him that the savior she had been desperately searching for was Li Chu. She liked him, and her heart was completely filled with Li Chu.

It was like that before, it is now, and it will be in the future. She had always only regarded him as her elder brother. These words were overheard by Li Chu, who had been strolling around the temple. Li Chu understood Shen Zhenzhu's feelings, and his face and lips were full of smiles. After leaving the temple, Shen Zhenzhu was strolling through the mountain fair, with Li Chu following behind her.

Subsequently, Li Chu stood in front of Shen Zhenzhu with a sugar-coated hawthorn skewer. The two watched the temple fair together, observing a group of masked performers. However, these masked individuals were assassins sent to kill Li Chu. They chased Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu up the mountain. Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu stood at the edge of a cliff, and while dodging, accidentally fell to the bottom of the mountain.

Shen Zhenzhu awoke to find herself lying on Li Chu's body. Seeing that Li Chu was still unconscious, Shen Zhenzhu became very nervous, shouting loudly and pounding him, saying she still had many things to tell him. Li Chu woke up. The two heard the assassins' footsteps and quickly escaped to a small dilapidated house in the mountains. Seeing that dusk was falling, they decided to stay there. The Emperor learned that Li Chu was missing and was very anxious.

He immediately dispatched his personal Imperial Dragon Guards, ordering them to bring Li Chu back unharmed. Late at night, Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu sat on a pile of straw in the house. Shen Zhenzhu confessed her feelings to Li Chu. She told him that the little girl Li Chu saved in Taihu Lake back then was actually her. She had long secretly vowed that she would marry no one but him in this life.

Therefore, even though she had been touched by Li Chu before, she also hated herself for not being able to stay true to her original intention, which made her waver. After hearing what Shen Zhenzhu said, Li Chu sighed, realizing that their destiny had long been intertwined. Li Chu kissed Shen Zhenzhu. The next day, the two continued on their journey. Shen Zhenzhu told Li Chu her doubts.

She believed that the massacre of the entire Shen family could not have been the work of bandits because all the family's valuables were still there. Li Chu stated that he had not yet thoroughly investigated the matter. As they were talking, assassins sent by Yang Guozhong caught up again, and the Imperial Dragon Guards dispatched by the Emperor also arrived. One of the assassins, feeling that escape was hopeless, took Shen Zhenzhu hostage.

Li Chu's hidden bodyguards appeared and killed the assassin holding Shen Zhenzhu hostage. In this way, the Imperial Dragon Guards learned that Li Chu secretly kept bodyguards. He Lingyi immediately acted decisively, killing the Imperial Dragon Guards to eliminate future trouble. Li Chu returned to the palace to meet the Emperor. Before he could speak, Yang Guozhong stated, "Why were all the Imperial Dragon Guards killed, but Li Chu is still alive?

Could it be that Li Chu secretly keeps bodyguards?" Li Chu reacted swiftly, asking Yang Guozhong in return, "I haven't said a word since I entered. How do you know that all the Imperial Dragon Guards are dead?" This turned the tables on Yang Guozhong, who could not answer. Yang Guozhong knew that Li Chu had obtained the roster and guessed that Li Chu's next step would be to win over those who were hostile to him.

So, he preemptively accused these people in court of suspected treason and collusion with the enemy. Furthermore, the ruthless Yang Guozhong did not even spare the deceased Shen Yizhi. He falsely accused Shen Yizhi of also having repeatedly transmitted messages to Tubo, just like these people. The Emperor was already somewhat angered upon hearing this.

Li Chu stepped forward, stating that there was no conclusive evidence that Shen Yizhi had committed treason and implored the Emperor to verify the facts before making a decision. The Emperor agreed with Li Chu.

After court, Li Chu went to the Eastern Palace. He told his father that Yang Guozhong had started framing loyal officials before he did. The Crown Prince wanted Li Chu to make concessions at the appropriate time and make Cui Caiping the princess consort of his mansion. This would also be an indirect show of weakness to Yang Guozhong. Li Chu was unwilling.

He told his royal father that Shen Zhenzhu was the love of his life, and he did not want her to suffer any grievances. At the Prince of Guangping's mansion, Shen Zhenzhu was strolling in the courtyard when she ran into Cui Caiping. Cui Caiping, who was always arrogant and domineering, deliberately provoked Zhenzhu. Zhenzhu didn't want to stoop to her level. As Cui Caiping was leaving, she deliberately bumped into Zhenzhu.

The jade pendant Zhenzhu carried with her was knocked to the ground. When Zhenzhu picked it up, she accidentally discovered that her jade pendant, under the sunlight, revealed the characters "Dugu." Zhenzhu thought of the Dugu clan in Yunnan, and her father's words when she left home, and felt that there was a big story behind this jade pendant. Zhenzhu was completely puzzled.

So she went to Zuixian Tower to get a jar of Zuixian Niang and went up the mountain to find Wanshitong. She asked Wanshitong if he knew the reason why her entire family was annihilated. Wanshitong refused to answer, citing that he was unaware of recent events. Shen Zhenzhu took out the jade pendant and asked Wanshitong if the Shen family had any connection with the Dugu family in Yunnan.

Wanshitong said that this jade pendant was the Kylin Token, which could command the Dugu clan. Several generations ago, the Shen family had shown kindness to the Dugu family, and the Dugu family gave the Shen family a token of trust, which was this Kylin Token. The Dugu family would grant one request to the person holding this token.

Given the Dugu family's wealth rivaling that of a nation and their formidable military strength, the value of this Kylin Token was self-evident. Zhenzhu guessed that the calamity that befell the Shen family might be related to this Kylin Token. As for who the murderer was, Mr. Wanshitong told Zhenzhu to discover it herself. Feng Shengyi told Li Chu that Mo Yanchuai had sent news that Dong Zebu, whom he was looking for, was hiding in Jincheng Commandery.

Afterwards, Li Chu told Zhenzhu that Ku Jun, the prefect of Jincheng Commandery, had been murdered. He, being responsible for the Ministry of Justice, needed to go and investigate the truth. He asked Zhenzhu to accompany him. In reality, Li Chu was afraid that Zhenzhu would hear rumors about her father if she stayed in the capital, adding to her worries.

In Jincheng Commandery, Zhenzhu and Hongrui, while Li Chu and Feng Shengyi were discussing matters, got up and went to a nearby restaurant to buy wine. Zhenzhu was even mistaken for the proprietress by the waiter because of her striking resemblance. Li Chu took Zhenzhu to the crime scene. Zhenzhu picked up a woman's earring; the scent on it was very similar to what she had smelled in the restaurant.

So she took Li Chu and the others to the restaurant and found out that the scent came from an uncommon type of chrysanthemum. The waiter said that this chrysanthemum grew on the back mountain. Li Chu and his party followed the clues and arrived at the back mountain. Feng Shengyi told Li Chu that he noticed an ancient tomb nearby, which would be an excellent hiding place.

Indeed, near the ancient tomb, Li Chu and his group apprehended A Qina. A Qina admitted to killing Ku Jun but insisted it was her sole act, which clearly contradicted the situation at the crime scene. That night, Mo Yanchuai and Li Chu were discussing matters in the study. Zhenzhu passed by the study and overheard their conversation. It turned out that Li Chu had long known about the relationship between A Qina and Dong Zebu.

He had Ku Jun provoke A Qina, intending to lure out Dong Zebu, but he hadn't expected Dong Zebu to mistakenly kill Ku Jun out of jealousy. Li Chu earnestly requested his elder brother Mo Yanchuai to help him catch Dong Zebu as soon as possible, because he needed the evidence in Dong Zebu's possession to bring down Yang Guozhong.

He told Mo Yanchuai that Yang Guozhong was framing loyal officials in court and had also slandered Shen Yizhi for betraying the country to the enemy. Hearing this, Zhenzhu pushed open the study door and pleaded with Li Chu to clear her father's name. Li Chu promised he would do his best. Zhenzhu, Li Chu, and Mo Yanchuai discussed that she would disguise herself as A Qina, be imprisoned in a prisoner cart, and escorted to the capital.

This way, they could lure out Dong Zebu. Hongrui stated that it was too dangerous and volunteered, believing she could impersonate A Qina. Li Chu agreed, but the next day, a veiled Zhenzhu walked towards the prisoner cart. Halfway there, Li Chu realized it was Zhenzhu in the prisoner cart. Zhenzhu signaled Li Chu with her eyes not to stop the current action. As expected, when they reached the forest, Dong Zebu arrived and took Zhenzhu away.

He was initially angry upon realizing it wasn't A Qina, but under Zhenzhu's persuasion, Dong Zebu agreed to follow Li Chu to the capital, meet the Emperor, and expose Yang Guozhong.

Mo Yanchuai met with the Emperor and presented the secret letters intercepted from Dong Zebu. These secret letters contained confidential news from the court, and the Emperor finally understood the reason for the repeated defeats in battles with Tubo. After court officials identified the handwriting, it was determined that these secret letters came from the Jiannan Envoy, who was promoted by Yang Guozhong.

Court ministers submitted a memorial, stating that Yang Guozhong had harmed loyal officials, framed Wei Jian's family and executed them all, framed Chen Xilie, and slandered Shen Yizhi for defecting to the enemy and betraying the country. With these numerous grave crimes presented, and with Dong Zebu and Chen Xilie testifying, the Emperor was furious and ordered Yang Guozhong to be imprisoned. Dong Zebu was assassinated in prison. Consort Yang knelt before the Emperor to plead for her brother.

Furthermore, the Emperor originally intended to use Yang Guozhong to counterbalance the Crown Prince and An Lushan, so he did not excessively punish Yang Guozhong, instead confining him to his residence for one year but retaining his position as prime minister. The Emperor's decision perplexed Li Chu and Li Tan. Li Tan was even more indignant, lamenting how the Imperial Grandfather's action was no different from that of a muddle-headed ruler.

Li Chu reminded Li Tan to be cautious with his words outside. Subsequently, Li Chu asked Li Tan to go to Longyou to visit his old acquaintance An Sisun, because An Sisun, the Jiedushi of Longyou, was An Lushan's cousin, and he held a large amount of evidence of An Lushan's intent to rebel. Li Tan had an old acquaintance with him.

Li Chu asked Li Tan to go, hoping he would persuade An Sisun to report what he knew to the Emperor. The injustice suffered by Wei Jian's family had been cleared. Li Chu took Shen Zhenzhu to a water nunnery north of the city to see his mother, inviting his mother to return to the princely residence with him.

However, Consort Wei stated that for her, Chang'an only held bleak memories, and the imperial family was heartless, so she would not return to Chang'an. Li Chu was unwilling, but had to respect his mother's decision. Consort Wei told Li Chu that she was very worried about him. He had known since childhood how to bear the responsibility of the eldest son, taking care of Tan'er and Nuo'er, but she worried that no one would take care of him.

Upon hearing this, Zhenzhu promised Consort Wei that she would take good care of Li Chu. Consort Wei was very comforted by this and entrusted the two to support each other and walk through this life hand in hand. Cui Caiping hosted a banquet and invited Li Chu to attend with Zhenzhu. During the banquet, Cui Caiping kept vomiting. Li Chu summoned an imperial physician, who informed them that Cui Caiping was pregnant.

Li Chu was perplexed, as he had always had He Lingyi monitor Cui Caiping's menstrual cycle, fearing she would become pregnant. Li Chu feared Zhenzhu would be angry and quickly explained to her. Zhenzhu said she didn't mind, but she still looked sullen due to jealousy. Recently, Zhenzhu had been feeling chest tightness, shortness of breath, and had no appetite. She asked Hong Rui to go to the kitchen to prepare some Chaolu porridge for her.

Cui Caiping's maid, relying on her mistress's power, walked into the kitchen and tried to snatch Zhenzhu's Chaolu porridge. Hong Rui got into a dispute with her. Cui Caiping deliberately made things difficult for Hong Rui. Hearing this, Zhenzhu rushed to Liulige to take her people. Cui Caiping still appeared arrogant and overbearing. Lady Han arrived, politely asking Zhenzhu to take Hong Rui back to Wenjinge for discipline. After Zhenzhu left, Lady Han had doubts in her mind.

She felt Zhenzhu's tastes had changed and suspected that Zhenzhu was pregnant. Li Tan returned to the capital and sought out Li Chu and his Imperial Father for a discussion. He stated that he had personally witnessed An Sisun writing a memorial and submitting it to the capital. Li Chu said that the Imperial Grandfather had not reacted, and it was very likely that he had read the memorial but chose not to act on it for now.

Shen Zhenzhu had chest tightness and shortness of breath, so she asked Imperial Doctor Zhang to take her pulse. However, Lady Han, who held immense power, had already instructed Imperial Doctor Zhang that if he found Shen Zhenzhu was pregnant, he must not tell her, but report to her first. As expected, Imperial Doctor Zhang diagnosed Shen Zhenzhu with pregnancy, but he told Zhenzhu that she was merely weak and cold, and a few doses of medicine would cure her.

Afterwards, Imperial Doctor Zhang went to report to Lady Han, stating that Shen Rumao was already pregnant. Cui Caiping, upon hearing this, started yelling and making a scene. Lady Han gently comforted her, promising that she would not let Shen Zhenzhu give birth to this child. The next day, Lady Han and Cui Caiping were watching their servants fly kites in the courtyard. Zhenzhu passed by, and a servant deliberately tripped Zhenzhu.

Lady Han feigned kindness and sent for an imperial doctor for Zhenzhu. The imperial doctor said that Shen Zhenzhu had sprained her ankle and that he would prescribe some blood-activating and stasis-removing medicine, telling her to rest well. Shen Zhenzhu was bored lying in bed due to her foot injury, lamenting that she couldn't go to the chrysanthemum exhibition to see the chrysanthemums of Wuxing. Unexpectedly, Li Chu quietly walked into the room and applied medicine to Zhenzhu's foot.

Zhenzhu noticed the strength was off, turned around, and realized it was Li Chu. Li Chu had just heard what Zhenzhu said and carried her to see the chrysanthemums. Li Tan and Murong Linzhi, who were also enjoying the flowers at the chrysanthemum exhibition, saw Li Chu carrying Zhenzhu. Li Tan walked up to tease Li Chu. Afterwards, Murong Linzhi accompanied Zhenzhu alone. Zhenzhu mentioned her recent chest tightness and shortness of breath. Murong Linzhi habitually took Zhenzhu's pulse.

In a moment, Murong Linzhi's expression changed dramatically, and she hurriedly poured water onto a handkerchief to wipe the ointment off Zhenzhu's leg. Zhenzhu was puzzled. Murong Linzhi told her that she was already one month pregnant and this blood-activating and stasis-removing medicine absolutely could not be used, as it would cause her to miscarry. Only then did Zhenzhu realize the huge conspiracy hidden behind Lady Han's so-called concern.

Zhenzhu asked Murong Linzhi to keep her secret, not to tell anyone for the time being, including Li Chu, because she wanted to wait until the baby's condition was stable before telling Li Chu, not wanting him to be happy for nothing. Murong Linzhi understood Zhenzhu's thoughts and arranged for a Doctor Xue for her. Zhenzhu wanted to put on a show. She asked Hongrui to invite a doctor, deliberately making it known to everyone.

Lady Han was very nervous and sent Cui Caiping's maid. When the doctor entered the palace, the maid claimed Cui Caiping was unwell and forcibly snatched the doctor from Hongrui's hand. Lady Han instructed the doctor that if a pregnancy pulse was diagnosed, he should just say it was qi deficiency and cold in the body. Doctor Xue feigned cooperation. When he arrived at Zhenzhu's room, he told her the truth.

Zhenzhu now confirmed that Lady Han and Cui Caiping had malicious intentions. The Emperor also suspected An Lushan of having rebellious intentions, so he summoned An Lushan to the capital for an audience. An Lushan had already decided to raise an army to rebel. He falsely claimed to be unwell and asked Shi Siming to take An Qingxu to the capital. The Emperor learned that An Lushan was feigning illness and not coming to the capital.

He summoned the Crown Prince and Li Chu to discuss the matter. Li Chu said that he could take people to Fanyang, under the pretext of bringing back the fine horses An Lushan had selected for the Emperor, to investigate the situation. This statement greatly pleased the Emperor. The Emperor ordered Li Chu to set off immediately for Fanyang.

When Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu were reluctantly saying goodbye, Li Chuo rushed over, clamoring to go to Fanyang with her royal brother. She also told her royal brother that she liked An Qingxu. He Lingyi followed Li Chu's instructions and handed over all of Li Chu's properties, including secret ones, to Shen Zhenzhu for management. While reviewing the documents, Zhenzhu noticed that all the shops had a symbol.

That symbol was exactly the same as the one she found on the jade whistle at the scene after her Shen family was massacred. Moreover, An Lushan's informant had also told her that the symbol was related to many mysterious shops in the capital. Zhenzhu's face turned pale. She didn't want her conjecture to be proven true.

Li Chu led the imperial guards to Fanyang. When passing through Caizhou, An Qingxu and Shi Siming arrived with three thousand fine horses, leaving Li Chu with no reason to go to Fanyang, so he had to give up. Cui Caiping suspected that Shen Zhenzhu already knew about her pregnancy and pestered her mother to help her find a solution. Lady Han came up with another wicked plan. She sent Cui Caiping's two maids to the kitchen.

At this time, Su Ci was decocting medicine in the kitchen. One maid picked a quarrel with Su Ci, while the other maid seized the opportunity to put abortifacients into Zhenzhu's medicine pot. He Lingyi passed by outside the kitchen and witnessed the actions of the two maids. Not only did she not stop them, but a triumphant smile also appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Shen Zhenzhu went to Li Chu's study to check his information and learned that after Li Chu's birth mother, Consort Wei, was deposed, he began investigating her father, Shen Yizhi. Coupled with Zhenzhu's previous discovery that the secret symbol in Li Chu's shop was the same as the symbol on the jade whistle she found at home, she became increasingly suspicious that Li Chu might be the true murderer of her family. This speculation frightened Zhenzhu.

Zhenzhu returned to her room with a heavy heart. Before she could drink her medicine, Yao'er came with a message, telling her that Cui Caiping's unborn child might not be safe. Zhenzhu rushed over with Hong Rui and Su Ci. The imperial physician arrived and informed Lady Han that the fetus was no longer safe. He asked Lady Han if Cui Ruren had eaten anything before she experienced severe abdominal pain.

Lady Han thought of the miscarriage-preventing medicine on the table. After checking, the imperial physician stated that there was a large amount of pokeweed in the medicine. Lady Han immediately slapped Zhenzhu, accusing her of using abortifacients to frame Cui Caiping. Zhenzhu was stunned. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and said that if Lady Han hadn't enlightened her, she wouldn't have known that pokeweed could be used to induce abortion.

In fact, Lady Han knew very well that her attempt to harm Zhenzhu had backfired, but she insisted outwardly that Zhenzhu was responsible for Caiping's misfortune. He Lingyi, as the deputy steward of the residence, saw Lady Han's aggressive behavior and suggested inviting Crown Princess Zhang to the residence to preside over the case.

Crown Princess Zhang ordered Steward Zhang Deyu to go to the pharmacy and retrieve both Cui Ruren's and Shen Ruren's medicine pots for the imperial physician to examine. After careful identification, the imperial physician openly stated his surprise, saying that there was no pokeweed in Cui Ruren's miscarriage-preventing medicine, but it was found in Shen Ruren's blood-invigorating and stasis-removing medicine.

Lady Han's expression changed dramatically upon hearing this, but she still insisted that Shen Ruren had done it intentionally, merely to deceive others. Both the Crown Princess and Zhenzhu understood the truth of the matter, but Crown Princess Zhang found it inconvenient to explain, so she had no choice but to interrogate Su Ci. Zhang Deyu learned that Li Chu had returned to the capital and was currently reporting to the Emperor.

He then sent someone to wait outside the palace, and as soon as Li Chu exited the main hall, they immediately reported the situation at the residence to him. When Li Chu returned to the residence, Zhenzhu was kneeling on the ground. Li Chu, who already knew the full story, reprimanded Lady Han. Lady Han still insisted that Zhenzhu was jealous of Cui Caiping and had therefore poisoned her to frame her.

Su Ci couldn't bear it any longer and stated frankly that Zhenzhu had no need to be jealous, because she was also pregnant. She then revealed everything about Lady Han's plot against Zhenzhu. Li Chu reprimanded Lady Han, who brazenly declared that she was the noble consort's sister. Cui Caiping also ran over to plead for mercy. Zhenzhu, exhausted, fainted. Murong Linzhi came to the residence to take Zhenzhu's pulse. She told Prince Guangping that Zhenzhu had miscarried.

Murong Linzhi also found it strange, because Zhenzhu's condition had improved after taking the miscarriage-preventing medicine she had prescribed, but this sudden miscarriage was truly suspicious. Zhenzhu, lying in bed, heard Linzhi's words and lost control of her emotions. She then remembered that the Xuan paper He Lingyi had delivered was soaked in ox-knee herb. Suspecting that the Xuan paper was problematic, she immediately accused He Lingyi.

However, the imperial physician examined the Xuan paper and declared there was no problem. Zhenzhu realized that He Lingyi must have replaced the paper beforehand. Before leaving, He Lingyi quietly whispered in Zhenzhu's ear, telling her that she was Li Chu's closest person.

Li Chu called He Lingyi to the study to ask about the Xuan paper. He Lingyi insisted that the Xuan paper incident had nothing to do with her and even threatened to die to prove her innocence. Li Chu spared her, partly because he had no conclusive evidence, and partly because He Lingyi had followed him for many years; if he punished her without solid proof, he worried that his other loyal followers would be disheartened.

However, Li Chu inferred from He Lingyi's reaction that she was suspicious, so Li Chu instructed Feng Shengyi to be extra careful with future matters and not to let He Lingyi know about important decisions. At Wenjin Pavilion, Shen Zhenzhu told Murong Linzhi her deductions. In fact, both her miscarriage and Cui Caiping's miscarriage were He Lingyi's doing. He Lingyi secretly switched Shen Zhenzhu's and Cui Caiping's medicine, causing Cui Caiping to mistakenly drink the abortion medicine containing pokeweed.

Similarly, He Lingyi did not spare Shen Zhenzhu; after Li Chu left the capital, Shen Zhenzhu began handling ledgers, and all the Xuan paper she used was soaked in ox-knee herb. Murong Linzhi stated that given the length of time Shen Zhenzhu was exposed to the Xuan paper, the amount of ox-knee herb was sufficient to cause her miscarriage.

After hearing Shen Zhenzhu's speculation, Murong Linzhi repeatedly lamented He Lingyi's strange motives but didn't understand why He Lingyi would do such a thing. Shen Zhenzhu said that He Lingyi did this for only one reason: she loved Li Chu, and thus could not tolerate any other woman by his side. Shen Zhenzhu lay in bed, her heart filled with sorrow, for her child and for the massacre of the Shen family.

Li Chu walked in, wanting to feed Shen Zhenzhu medicine, but Shen Zhenzhu turned her head away as soon as she saw him enter, and the two parted unhappily. Cui Caiping had lost her child, and Li Chu had not come to visit her, making her depressed and distraught. Cui Caiping's mental state was already somewhat abnormal; she even thought of threatening suicide to make Li Chu visit her.

At this time, Lady Han was still performing a "bitter stratagem" before the Emperor. With Yang Guifei also persuading, the Emperor punished Lady Han and, at Yang Guifei's request, agreed to grant Cui Caiping the position of imperial consort. However, the Emperor also admired the intelligent and brave Shen Zhenzhu, issuing an edict that Shen Zhenzhu should also enjoy the treatment of a principal consort. The eunuch arrived at the Guangping Prince's residence to read out the Emperor's imperial decree.

Cui Caiping was displeased that Shen Zhenzhu also enjoyed the treatment of an imperial consort. After the eunuch left, Cui Caiping arrogantly demanded that Shen Zhenzhu pay her respects. Just as Shen Zhenzhu was about to bow, Li Chu returned to the residence. He stated that Shen Zhenzhu did not need to bow to Cui Caiping and immediately instructed that the affairs of the residence would still be managed by Shen Zhenzhu from then on.

Li Chu opposed appointing Cui Caiping as the principal consort, but the Emperor brushed him off. In the residence, a eunuch from the imperial palace personally read out the Emperor's imperial decree: Cui Caiping was appointed as the principal consort, and Shen Zhenzhu would enjoy the courtesy of a principal consort. Cui Caiping, having become the consort, gloated at Shen Zhenzhu. As Shen Zhenzhu, distracted, was about to pay her respects to Cui Caiping, Li Chu returned to the residence.

He forbade Shen Zhenzhu from bowing to Cui Caiping and instructed the servants that the residence's affairs would still be handled by Shen Zhenzhu. Actually, Li Chu wanted to explain the consort matter to Shen Zhenzhu, but Shen Zhenzhu coolly bowed in gratitude for the imperial favor and turned to return to her room, the rift between them growing wider. Cui Caiping was throwing a tantrum in Liuli Pavilion.

Li Chu walked in and admonished Cui Caiping, telling her that she had already gotten what she wanted and should be more docile from now on. Cui Caiping tearfully complained to Li Chu about her pitiful situation, but Li Chu was completely unmoved, finding her to be pretentious. He told Cui Caiping that she would never gain his true affection in this lifetime.

Afterwards, Li Chu went to Wenjin Pavilion, wanting to ask Shen Zhenzhu to go to the palace with him to visit his father, the king. Shen Zhenzhu, wanting to enter the palace to seek the truth, agreed to Li Chu's request.

Li Chu took Shen Zhenzhu to the East Palace to pay respects to his father, the Crown Prince, and Crown Princess Zhang. After a few pleasantries, the Crown Prince and Li Chu went to the study to discuss matters. The Crown Prince analyzed the current situation in court, lamenting that although Yang Guozhong had been confined for a year, his influence in court remained, and his comeback was only a matter of time.

He asked Li Chu to grant Cui Caiping the title of principal consort, thereby winning over Yang Guozhong. Li Chu flatly refused. He told his father that he would not associate with treacherous people like Yang Guozhong. Moreover, Shen Zhenzhu was his beloved, and he would eventually grant her the title of consort. Seeing Li Chu's resolute stance, the Crown Prince could only give up helplessly. Crown Princess Zhang took Shen Zhenzhu for a stroll in the palace.

Shen Zhenzhu suggested visiting the Shanggong Bureau to admire handicrafts. Crown Princess Zhang readily agreed and ordered someone to inform the Shanggong Bureau. Upon arriving at the Shanggong Bureau, Shen Zhenzhu browsed through the catalogs and learned that only people from the Crown Prince's Mansion had come to the Shanggong Bureau to replace tokens after the Shen family incident.

Recalling that during the selection, the Crown Prince strongly protected her and kept her in the Prince of Guangping's mansion, she became even more certain that Li Chu was the culprit who framed the Shen family. Believing she had discovered the truth, Shen Zhenzhu was overcome with grief. She felt she had misplaced her affections, falling in love with her enemy, and walked out dejectedly.

Unconsciously, she walked to the thatched hut where they had stayed after falling off the cliff, and it was there that Shen Zhenzhu had expressed her feelings to Li Chu. Shen Zhenzhu looked around the thatched hut, her mind filled with the beautiful memories of their night spent there. Suddenly, in the thatch, Shen Zhenzhu found a jade whistle, identical to the one she had found in her father's study after the Shen family incident.

Shen Zhenzhu was stunned; this jade whistle provided new evidence for her suspicion. Li Chu didn't see Shen Zhenzhu return to the mansion and spent a day searching before finding her in the thatched hut. Shen Zhenzhu took out the jade whistle and questioned Li Chu what it was. Li Chu honestly admitted that he used it to summon his deathsworn guards.

At this moment, upon hearing Li Chu's answer, Shen Zhenzhu was convinced that Li Chu was indeed the murderer. Shen Zhenzhu could not face this truth and could not forgive herself. She pushed away Li Chu's hand and left alone. On the way, Shen Zhenzhu secretly swore that she would make Li Chu pay for the blood debt. The kind-hearted Murong Linzhi went to a temple to pray for Shen Zhenzhu.

Afterwards, she went to the back mountain to gather precious medicinal herbs. Accidentally, Murong Linzhi fell from the mountain, but fortunately, she was unharmed. Murong Linzhi wanted to leave the forest and inadvertently came across a courtyard. Upon entering, she was astonished to see Crown Princess Zhang and Shi Siming in an intimate embrace in a room. Murong Linzhi could not hide her surprise and involuntarily let out a gasp.

Shi Siming in the room heard the sound and immediately roared. Murong Linzhi quickly fled, and in her panic, accidentally dropped her handkerchief. Crown Princess Zhang examined the handkerchief and knew it must belong to a member of the royal family. Murong Linzhi knew that knowing someone's secret could lead to trouble. She worried that Crown Princess Zhang would eventually come looking for her, and was even awakened by nightmares when she slept.

Murong Linzhi asked Li Tan, who was beside her, that since he was unwilling to deal with court affairs, why not resign from his post and travel the world together? Li Tan told Murong Linzhi that the East Palace was currently besieged, and as a son and a brother, he should stay in the capital to help his father and elder brother. He promised Murong Linzhi that once these matters were resolved, he would take her to travel the world.

Murong Linzhi mumbled, "As long as they don't find out it was me," then hugged Li Tan tightly. The next day, Murong Linzhi went to the Prince of Guangping's mansion to visit Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu told Murong Linzhi that Li Chu was the murderer of the Shen family, listing the evidence she had found. She asked Murong Linzhi for poison, wanting to avenge her tragically deceased family.

She also stated that if Murong Linzhi didn't give it to her, she could get it from somewhere else. Murong Linzhi couldn't resist Shen Zhenzhu, so she handed her a bottle of medicine, urging her to think carefully before acting. Shen Zhenzhu put the poison Murong Linzhi gave her into the soup and offered it to Li Chu. But when Li Chu was about to drink, Shen Zhenzhu began to regret and tried to dissuade him from drinking it.

Yet, Li Chu drank it without hesitation, simply because Shen Zhenzhu wanted him to. But after Li Chu finished drinking, nothing happened. Only then did Shen Zhenzhu realize that what Murong Linzhi had given her was not poison at all. The next day, Murong Linzhi came to visit Shen Zhenzhu. She told Shen Zhenzhu that she had given her fake medicine because she feared Shen Zhenzhu, driven by revenge, would lose her mind and do something she would regret.

Murong Linzhi persuaded Shen Zhenzhu again. Shen Zhenzhu understood that the most pressing task was to find An'er. To achieve this goal, she could only seek help from Brother An. With Murong Linzhi's help, An Qingxu entered the Prince of Guangping's mansion. He promised to help Shen Zhenzhu find Shen An.

After comforting Shen Zhenzhu, Shen Zhenzhu and An Qingxu left together. Murong Linzhi returned to the Jianning Prince's residence, only to see Li Tan moaning in bed without any illness. Murong Linzhi knew Li Tan was faking it. Looking at the childlike Li Tan, Murong Linzhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Li Tan took out the pre-prepared concentric knot and put it on Murong Linzhi.

The two were talking and laughing when Li Tan suddenly remembered that Crown Princess Zhang had sent a message today, asking him to take Murong Linzhi into the palace tomorrow. Murong Linzhi was startled when she heard this, but knowing she couldn't avoid it, she had no choice but to agree. The next day, Li Tan took Murong Linzhi to the Eastern Palace to meet Crown Princess Zhang.

Crown Princess Zhang held Murong Linzhi's hand, pretending to chat casually, but was actually trying to trick information out of Murong Linzhi. On the other side, Crown Princess Zhang's maid took Murong Linzhi's handkerchief. After comparing the embroidery patterns, she confirmed that the handkerchief left in the mountain villa belonged to Murong Linzhi. Crown Princess Zhang told her maid to put the handkerchief away, but secretly, she was plotting a malicious scheme.

Shen Zhenzhu believed that, given the current situation, Li Chu was most likely the one who captured Shen An. So she secretly snuck into Li Chu's study, hoping to find clues. Accidentally, she triggered a secret chamber mechanism and walked in to investigate. However, shortly after she entered, Li Chu arrived at the study with Feng Shengyi to discuss matters. The vigilant Feng Shengyi discovered Shen Zhenzhu in the secret chamber.

Shen Zhenzhu explained that she had come to the study to look for a book and accidentally triggered the mechanism. Li Chu had no doubts about Shen Zhenzhu's explanation and even stated that he had originally intended to tell her about the secret passage in the study. In the Imperial Palace, outside the main hall, Guo Ziyi was waiting to meet the Emperor. Li Chu knew he intended to resign, so he had a brief chat with General Guo.

He appealed to his emotions and reasoned with him, persuading Guo Ziyi. After all, Guo Ziyi was a loyal general who loved his people. He promised Li Chu he would stay in the capital and, together with Li Chu, deal with treacherous officials like Yang Guozhong and protect the empire. To facilitate the search for Shen An's whereabouts, Shen Zhenzhu wanted to move to a separate villa in the Prince of Guangping's residence.

Li Chu agreed to Shen Zhenzhu's request and then wanted to stay in Wenjin Pavilion to accompany her, but Shen Zhenzhu pushed Li Chu away, citing discomfort. Li Chu thought Shen Zhenzhu hadn't yet recovered from the pain of losing her child, so he tried his best to accommodate her wishes. Hearing her words, he left. Shen Zhenzhu moved to the villa and contacted An Lushan's informant.

The informant stated that the Shen family's misfortune was indeed a conspiracy by the Eastern Palace. They could help Shen Zhenzhu, but on the condition that Shen Zhenzhu exchanged it for the account books of the Prince of Guangping's residence. Shen Zhenzhu recalled what Li Chu had told her, knowing that An Lushan very likely harbored rebellious intentions.

Shen Zhenzhu felt she couldn't jeopardize the Tang Empire and its people due to a momentary mistake, so she found an excuse to gloss over it. Late at night, Cui Caiping came to the study to find Li Chu. Citing her status as a consort and royal rules, she demanded Li Chu allow her to serve him that night. At this moment, Li Chu felt only disgust upon seeing Cui Caiping. He harshly warned Cui Caiping.

In front of Cui Caiping, he ordered a servant to prepare the carriage, stating he was going to the villa to visit Shen Zhenzhu. Cui Caiping watched Li Chu's departing figure, forlornly sitting on the ground. Meanwhile, He Lingyi, seeing Li Chu heading to the villa from a tall building, sadly played her flute. An Qingxu met Shen Zhenzhu.

He told her that the last news of Shen An was in Fanyang, and also informed her that Li Chu's people were also looking for Shen An. Shen Zhenzhu was very agitated upon hearing this, stating that Shen An absolutely could not fall into Li Chu's hands. An Qingxu promised he would find Shen An as soon as possible.

He also asked Shen Zhenzhu if, once Shen An was found and Li Chu was killed, avenging her family's destruction, she would be willing to be with him. Shen Zhenzhu once again rejected An Qingxu, but An Qingxu remained devoted. He told Shen Zhenzhu that he would wait. Murong Linzhi entered the palace as per custom to pay respects to Crown Princess Zhang. By a twist of fate, she learned that Crown Princess Zhang was pregnant.

Murong Linzhi was shocked because she had known, ever since taking the Crown Prince's pulse, that he was infertile. The current situation panicked Murong Linzhi. Crown Princess Zhang, seeing Murong Linzhi's reaction, realized Murong Linzhi had learned something she shouldn't have.

The Crown Princess suspected Murong Linzhi knew her secret, so she had evil intentions and decided to get rid of Murong Linzhi. Meanwhile, Murong Linzhi, unaware of anything, was brewing medicine. She repeatedly pondered what had happened recently and speculated that the Crown Princess was pregnant with Shi Siming's child. Murong Linzhi was lost in thought, completely oblivious that someone had quietly opened the door behind her, knocked Murong Linzhi unconscious, and dragged her out.

When Murong Linzhi woke up, she found herself in a carriage, her hands tied with ropes. Despite her fear, Murong Linzhi tried her best to calm down. She managed to untie the ropes. The carriage then drove to a desolate wilderness and stopped. Two assassins waiting there lifted the carriage's curtain, intending to kill Murong Linzhi. Murong Linzhi sprinkled the medicinal powder she carried on one assassin's face and jumped out of the carriage to escape.

The other assassin pursued her relentlessly, cutting Murong Linzhi's arm. Murong Linzhi grabbed more powder and threw it at the assassin, then fled while the assassin covered his face and wailed. Murong Linzhi's arm was in unbearable pain. She ran to a farmhouse in the woods, saw two farmers, took out her jade pendant, and asked them to take it to the Residence of the Prince of Jianning for help. After saying this, she fell into a coma.

Li Tan was extremely worried because of Murong Linzhi's disappearance and ordered everyone in the princely residence to go out and search for Murong Linzhi. The Crown Princess Zhang, upon learning that Murong Linzhi had escaped, was furious and ordered her subordinates to deal with Shen Zhenzhu without mercy, because she knew Shen Zhenzhu and Murong Linzhi were like sisters, and she feared Shen Zhenzhu would discover her secret. Shen Zhenzhu was also worried about Murong Linzhi's whereabouts.

Murong Linzhi's maid, Xuancao, came to the Residence of the Prince of Guangping and told Shen Zhenzhu that Murong Linzhi had received news about Shen An's whereabouts before her disappearance and had rushed to a teahouse called Xiangmingju. Shen Zhenzhu felt that Murong Linzhi's disappearance was related to An'er's whereabouts, so she immediately went to Xiangmingju with Hongrui and Xuancao.

In a private room upstairs at Xiangmingju, Shen Zhenzhu unexpectedly saw a missing person's notice with Shen An's portrait on it. Shen Zhenzhu was stunned, preoccupied with why An'er's missing person notice would appear here. It was at this moment that someone secretly blew an incapacitating incense into the room, and Shen Zhenzhu fainted. Aqina and He Lingyi appeared in the room.

It turned out that Aqina believed Shen Zhenzhu had killed Dong Zebu and was determined to seek revenge on Shen Zhenzhu. She found He Lingyi, and the two, each with their own motives, reached an agreement to cooperate. Aqina fed medicine to the unconscious Shen Zhenzhu, intending to take Shen Zhenzhu to Dong Zebu's grave and slowly torment her. While the two were talking, Hongrui, who had just stepped out, walked in.

She saw Shen Zhenzhu unconscious on the ground and was eager to save Shen Zhenzhu, but her skills were no match for He Lingyi, who slit her throat with a sword, splattering blood all over Shen Zhenzhu's face. Aqina called her hired men, who placed Shen Zhenzhu in a pre-prepared box and carried her out. In the main hall, Li Chuo and An Qingxu were drinking tea.

Li Chuo saw a group of people carrying a box out and found it strange, but she didn't think much of it. Xuancao was instructed by He Lingyi to deliver false news to Shen Zhenzhu. After accomplishing her task, Xuancao was joyfully walking in the alley with the silver given to her by He Lingyi, only to be murdered by He Lingyi when she was completely defenseless.

At the Residence of the Prince of Jianning, Li Tan, unable to find Murong Linzhi, was anxious and worried, wanting to use the Jingzhao Yin's office to post a public notice. However, Li Chu, who was beside him, advised him not to act rashly, as a notice, once issued, would significantly affect Murong Linzhi's reputation. At this moment, Suci walked in. She was looking for Shen Zhenzhu, and only then did Li Chu realize that Shen Zhenzhu was also missing.

Suci recounted the entire story of Shen Zhenzhu's visit to the teahouse. Li Tan and Li Chu found Xuancao highly suspicious and ordered men to search for Xuancao, but they were informed that Xuancao had already been murdered. Li Chu led men to the teahouse and found Hongrui's body there. Li Chu speculated that Shen Zhenzhu might have been abducted and immediately ordered the sealing of all main exits from the city.

At this time, Shen Zhenzhu had been changed into Uyghur clothes and was tied inside a box. When she woke up, she found that she couldn't see, and she couldn't speak, only hearing a woman's voice outside saying that they needed to bypass Jincheng Commandery to exit the pass. At the pass, Shen Zhenzhu desperately knocked on the box, arousing the suspicion of the guards. However, Aqina bribed the general guarding the pass, successfully leaving the city.

Li Chu led his soldiers to the city gate. After inquiring, he learned that some Kyrgyz people had just bribed the general to leave the city. Li Chu was furious and ordered the general to be executed on the spot. Then he hurriedly led his soldiers out of the city to search for Shen Zhenzhu. Akina and her group were halfway there when they encountered Mo Yanchuai, the Khan of the Uyghurs.

Those hired by Akina were wary of Mo Yanchuai's group and abandoned Akina, leaving her behind. Akina couldn't pull the carriage by herself and decided to kill Shen Zhenzhu right then. As she was about to act, she heard the voices of Mo Yanchuai and his men. Akina quickly hid in the nearby bushes. Mo Yanchuai sent Yehui to check the situation.

Yehui rescued Shen Zhenzhu, but Shen Zhenzhu, dressed in Uyghur clothes, was covered in blood, disheveled, and unable to speak. Neither Yehui nor Mo Yanchuai recognized Shen Zhenzhu, but Mo Yanchuai, being kind-hearted, felt pity for the woman in front of him, so he ordered his soldiers to take Shen Zhenzhu with them back to Uyghur. Mo Yanchuai's group reached the snow mountains.

It was getting late, and Mo Yanchuai ordered his men to set up camp and rest there for the night. Shen Zhenzhu walked out of her tent. She wanted to find Mo Yanchuai, hoping he would recognize her. But as soon as she exited the tent, she encountered two lecherous soldiers. The soldiers dragged Shen Zhenzhu back into the tent, intending to commit an impropriety. Shen Zhenzhu struggled in panic, inadvertently drawing a saber from one of the soldiers.

Yehui, who happened to be passing by, heard the commotion and loudly questioned what was happening. The two soldiers twisted the facts, claiming they found Shen Zhenzhu to be a Kyrgyz spy, following them with the intention of assassinating Mo Yanchuai. Yehui, who didn't understand the situation, reported it to Mo Yanchuai, but Mo Yanchuai, considering her just a woman, didn't want to put her to death and ordered her to be expelled from the camp.

The next day, Mo Yanchuai's group continued their journey. After Shen Zhenzhu woke up and realized Mo Yanchuai's group was leaving, she stumbled and chased after them. Yehui saw Shen Zhenzhu constantly trailing behind the group. Mo Yanchuai said that leaving her in the snow would be no different from letting her die, so he told Yehui to take her out of the snow mountains.

Yehui tied Shen Zhenzhu's hand with a rope, then held the other end of the rope and got on his horse. Shen Zhenzhu, whose eyes were temporarily sightless, began to have sharpened hearing. She heard unusual movements in the snow mountains, so she deliberately pulled on the rope, refusing to move forward. Yehui, not understanding why, began to scold Shen Zhenzhu. Mo Yanchuai, seeing this, also dismounted and walked over. Shen Zhenzhu struggled desperately, trying to warn them.

While everyone was confused as to why, Mo Yanchuai saw an avalanche ahead, shouted for everyone to leave, and, with Yehui, frantically ran forward with Shen Zhenzhu. After the avalanche, Shen Zhenzhu woke up. Perhaps due to the extreme environment and urgent emotions, Shen Zhenzhu could speak again. She loudly called out for Mo Yanchuai, while groping in the snow. Mo Yanchuai woke up, heard Shen Zhenzhu's call, walked over, and took her hand.

Shen Zhenzhu finally had the chance to tell Mo Yanchuai that she was Shen Zhenzhu. Mo Yanchuai was surprised, and only after hearing Shen Zhenzhu's account did he realize that Akina had framed her. The two below the mountain heard Yehui's shouts. Mo Yanchuai told Yehui to return to Uyghur first and bring reinforcements to this place.

Yehui returned to the imperial court and asked for help from Kehedun Hasili, but he was astonished to discover that Hasili wanted to kill the Khan. Soldiers surrounded Yehui, and overwhelmed by numbers, Yehui was thrown into prison. Mo Yanchuai waited and waited but Yehui didn't arrive. He had no choice but to make a simple stretcher by himself and bring Shen Zhenzhu back to Uyghur.

But outside the city, Mo Yanchuai discovered that the generals guarding the city had all been replaced. Suspecting trouble in the imperial court, he took Shen Zhenzhu back to the imperial court through a secret passage. Mo Yanchuai settled Shen Zhenzhu and returned to the imperial court alone. As soon as he entered the court, he was surrounded by soldiers. His own brother and Hasili were standing on his throne. Mo Yanchuai knew that these two had betrayed him.

Hasili ordered their child to be brought forward, and, holding a knife to Mo Yanchuai's neck, demanded his surrender. At this critical moment, Yehui, who had escaped from prison, used his agile skills to rescue Mo Yanchuai's son. Zhan Keming also appeared in the imperial court with soldiers, aiming their arrows at the rebels downstairs. Nibi Fei, to escape, held a knife to Hasili's neck, demanding that Mo Yanchuai let him go.

Mo Yanchuai told him to put down the knife, stating that he was his own brother. He said he knew Nibi Fei wanted to rule Uyghur and that he could agree to it. As he spoke, he walked towards Nibi Fei and hugged him, trying to persuade him to drop the knife. Li Chu saw a carriage on the road. He found Shen Zhenzhu's hairpin in a box and noticed the black words Shen Zhenzhu had written in the box. He mistakenly thought Shen Zhenzhu had been captured by Khertamu of Kyrgyz, and then he hurriedly led his men westward.

Mo Yanchuai persuaded Nibifei to give him the knife. Nibifei was also moved by his brother's words, lowered his guard, and handed the knife to Mo Yanchuai. Mo Yanchuai took the knife and stabbed Nibifei. Haris, seeing this, knew she had no way out. She accused Mo Yanchuai of destroying the Turks, killing her entire family, and then drew her knife and committed suicide. Mo Yanchuai was stunned.

Only at this moment did he realize that in Haris's heart, he was her enemy. Mo Yanchuai sent Zhemiyi to take care of Shen Zhenzhu. While dressing her hair, Zhemiyi told Shen Zhenzhu the story behind the destruction of Haris's tribe. Shen Zhenzhu sighed that fate plays tricks on people; Mo Yanchuai had been completely sincere towards Haris, completely unaware that Haris regarded him as the enemy who destroyed her family.

The kind and considerate Shen Zhenzhu knew that Mo Yanchuai must be very sad at this moment, so she asked Zhemiyi to take her to Mo Yanchuai. Under the bright moon, a heavy-hearted Mo Yanchuai was drinking alone in the courtyard. Shen Zhenzhu sat beside him, trying to comfort him. Mo Yanchuai confided in Shen Zhenzhu, saying that he was a rough man and thus unable to understand a woman's mind, his tone filled with bitterness and helplessness.

Shen Zhenzhu comforted him. Mo Yanchuai said that once the roads were clear, he would send someone to deliver a letter to Li Chu. But Shen Zhenzhu unintentionally spoke her true thoughts, stating frankly that Li Chu might not be worried about her as a person, but about something else. This puzzled Mo Yanchuai; he felt there was a misunderstanding between them, so he advised Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu to speak frankly to each other and resolve the misunderstanding.

Yehu apologized to Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu didn't mind, after all, she had been harmed so badly by Aqina during her journey that it was reasonable for Yehu not to recognize her. Yehu wanted to recognize Shen Zhenzhu as his godmother, because she had once saved his life and introduced him to the Khan, a kindness as profound as a second birth.

Mo Yanchuai thought their ages were not far apart, so Yehu could recognize Shen Zhenzhu as his elder sister. Both Yehu and Shen Zhenzhu thought this was excellent. At the same time, remembering that Yehu had shown courage and resourcefulness and swiftly rescued his son this time, Mo Yanchuai recognized Yehu as his adopted son. Li Chu analyzed the current situation and believed that Shen Zhenzhu had probably been taken by Mo Yanchuai.

He immediately ordered his retinue to turn back and head towards Huige. On their way through the snowy mountains, Li Chu and his group encountered an avalanche and were all buried under the heavy snow. After waking up, Li Chu insisted on continuing their journey, and Feng Shengyi could only obey. The avalanche had created numerous pits, and Li Chu, Feng Shengyi, and others accidentally fell into one of them, losing consciousness. An eagle carried away Li Chu's sachet.

The sachet was originally handmade by Shen Zhenzhu for Li Chu, and he had always carried it with him, but it had fallen into the snow during the avalanche. After An Qingxu learned that Shen Zhenzhu was missing, he frantically searched for her. Li Chuo had been following behind him. As they traveled through the snowy mountains, they also encountered an avalanche. When An Qingxu woke up, he saw Li Chuo making porridge nearby, but he was unmoved.

The first thing he did upon waking was to continue on his journey, wanting to find Shen Zhenzhu as quickly as possible. Li Chuo wanted to stop him but was powerless, so she could only shout An Qingxu's name loudly from behind. After Li Chu woke up, he woke Feng Shengyi next to him. They discovered that, apart from themselves, all their accompanying men had perished. The two could only support each other and continue forward.

Li Chu and Feng Shengyi helped each other out of the snowy mountain. Mo Yanchuai's golden eagle also flew over, bringing them a letter from Shen Zhenzhu. After reading it, Li Chu learned that Shen Zhenzhu was currently in the Uyghur imperial court. Subsequently, Li Chu also conveyed his situation back to the Uyghur imperial court via the golden eagle, and Mo Yanchuai sent people to provide support.

Murong Linzhi had been missing for ten days, but Li Tan still couldn't find her whereabouts, anxious like an ant on a hot pan. A servant reported that they had caught a person in the pawnshop, who was pawning a jade pendant from Jianning Prince's Mansion. Li Tan snatched the jade pendant, saw that it was something Murong Linzhi always carried, and immediately grabbed the arrested person's neck, demanding him to reveal Murong Linzhi's whereabouts.

That person was exactly the gambler who sold Murong Linzhi to the brothel. Fearing that the truth would be exposed if Li Tan found Murong Linzhi, and he would get into trouble, he lied, claiming he had only picked it up on the road. Li Tan ordered his men to search for Murong Linzhi at the location the arrested person mentioned and imprisoned the arrested person. The maid next to the Crown Princess was skilled in martial arts.

She entered the Jianning Prince's Mansion, found the imprisoned person, and forced him to reveal Murong Linzhi's true hiding place. After learning the location, she killed him. Subsequently, the maid rushed to the brothel, asked the madam, and learned that Murong Linzhi had been killed, only then did she return to the Eastern Palace to report.

In fact, Murong Linzhi was still in the brothel, enduring torture and abuse for refusing to submit to her fate, and those people even branded the character "娼" (prostitute) onto Murong Linzhi's shoulder with an iron in a brutal manner. A Qina, who was determined to kill Shen Zhenzhu, learned that Shen Zhenzhu was now in the Uyghur imperial court. She sneaked into the Uyghur imperial court, entered Shen Zhenzhu's room, and drew a knife to assassinate Shen Zhenzhu.

At the critical moment, Li Chu, who had just arrived at the Uyghur imperial court, entered the room and blocked the knife for Shen Zhenzhu. Feng Shengyi and the imperial court soldiers followed closely, entering the room and subduing A Qina. Li Chu lay in Shen Zhenzhu's arms, only then realizing that Shen Zhenzhu's eyes were already blind. A moment later, Li Chu fainted.

It turned out that A Qina's knife was coated with four kinds of poison, extremely dangerous and deadly. Mo Yanchuai quickly summoned a doctor. After diagnosis, the doctor stated that he was willing but unable to help, and that only the divine physician Changsun E of the Great Tang could cure him. Mo Yanchuai ordered someone to send a fast message to the Great Tang, inviting Gongsun E to come.

An Qingxu and Li Chuo also arrived at the Uyghur imperial court. Li Chuo saw her royal brother unconscious and cried anxiously. The Uyghur divine physician knew that Gongsun E had two disciples: one was Jianning Princess Consort Murong Linzhi, and the other was An Qingxu, who was right in front of him. He asked An Qingxu to treat Li Chu, but An Qingxu refused, claiming his medical skills were limited. In fact, he just didn't want to save him.

With his extraordinary medical skills, he performed acupuncture to heal Shen Zhenzhu, allowing her to regain her sight. At the critical juncture, Gongsun E arrived and performed acupuncture to detoxify Li Chu, leaving behind pills and instructing Li Chu to take them on time; otherwise, even if Hua Tuo were alive, he would be powerless to save him. An Qingxu saw his master off.

His master severely reprimanded him for being a physician who refused to save a life, disgracing his years of teaching, and declared that their master-disciple relationship ended today. After speaking, Gongsun E strode away. Shen Zhenzhu held the pills left by Gongsun E, sitting by Li Chu's bedside, her heart filled with conflict.

She knew that Li Chu had risked his life to block the knife for her, and also that Li Chu cared about her, but she tried hard to convince herself that the revenge for her massacred family must be exacted. So, she held back her tears, intending to throw the pills into the brazier. At this moment, Mo Yanchuai, who entered the room, snatched the pills from Shen Zhenzhu's hand and fed them to Li Chu.

Subsequently, Mo Yanchuai asked Shen Zhenzhu why she wanted to do this. Shen Zhenzhu stated that Li Chu had killed more than twenty lives of the Shen family. Mo Yanchuai, not knowing the truth of the matter, did not comment rashly, but advised Shen Zhenzhu not to do something that she would regret for the rest of her life due to a misunderstanding.

Li Chu woke up and saw Zhenzhu guarding his bed. Seeing that Zhenzhu could now see, his joy was beyond words. In the capital, Li Tan, unable to find Murong Linzhi, drowns his sorrows in a tavern. He overhears the dandies next to him talking about the improper behavior of the Princess of Jianning. In fact, these words were deliberately spread by Crown Princess Zhang.

Through the "three men make a tiger" tactic, the Crown Princess wants Li Tan to bear a grudge against Linzhi after hearing these rumors and divorce her, so that Linzhi would no longer be a threat to her. Li Tan listened as the people nearby discussed more and more excessively, clenched his fists, and furiously rushed forward to beat the two men.

The two accompanying young masters offered to take Li Tan to relax, bringing him to the Drunken Red Mansion. Despite Li Tan's dashing and romantic appearance, he disdained flirting in places like brothels. He sat by himself, drinking in silence. Drunken Li Tan stumbled out, calling for the waiter. At this moment, Linzhi was being carried, bound with a towel gagging her mouth, towards another direction. A gust of wind blew, taking off the veil covering Linzhi's head.

Drowsily, Linzhi woke up and struggled to break free from the ropes. The bells on the lovers' knot that Li Tan gave her kept ringing. Li Tan noticed the sound, turned back to look, but Linzhi was no longer there; only the lovers' knot had fallen to the ground during Linzhi's struggle. Li Tan saw the lovers' knot and frantically rushed inside to search for her. At this moment, in Linzhi's room, the lecherous Master Ge intended to molest Linzhi.

Linzhi held a piece of a wine bottle to her neck, threatening Master Ge. Master Ge pressed closer, step by step, attempting to approach Linzhi. Linzhi loudly cried out, "Don't come over!" Li Tan heard Linzhi's voice, followed the sound, and opened the door. Seeing Linzhi suffering such humiliation, he was furious, unleashing his anger on Master Ge and the madam, throwing the madam onto a table. Afterwards, Li Tan put the lovers' knot on Linzhi's hand.

Linzhi, who had suffered great grievances and torment, embraced Li Tan and sobbed uncontrollably. Li Tan felt immense heartache and whispered in Linzhi's ear, "I'll take you home." At the Prince of Jianning's mansion, Li Tan gazed at Linzhi in her sleep, looking at her scarred hands, aching to touch them. But Linzhi suddenly woke up, shouting loudly, "Don't touch me!" Li Tan looked at Linzhi's current state and pressed her about what had happened.

Linzhi dared not reveal the Crown Princess's persecution of her and could only say she didn't know. Li Tan declared that he would make those who framed Linzhi pay the price. Subsequently, he took his guards to the Drunken Red Mansion, ordering them to bring out everyone inside, and then set the Drunken Immortal Tower ablaze. Linzhi was still bathing incessantly at home, simply because Li Tan had told her to wash herself clean before he left.

In reality, Li Tan was not without reservations in his heart. In Huige, Mo Yanchuai took Li Chu and Zhenzhu to the dungeon to interrogate Aqina. Aqina refused to name her accomplice, but her words in a panic made Li Chu realize that someone close to him had betrayed him. An Qingxu constantly incited Zhenzhu to kill Li Chu, but Zhenzhu still couldn't bring herself to do it. An Qingxu left Zhenzhu's room and encountered Li Chu in the corridor.

Their words clashed, and they drew their swords against each other. Mo Yanchuai appeared and stopped the two of them. Subsequently, Mo Yanchuai questioned Li Chu about the annihilation of the Shen family. Li Chu recalled that he had sent death warriors to protect the Shen family members, but in the end, all the death warriors perished in the Shen manor, and only He Lingyi returned. Coupled with Mo Yanchuai's reminder, this made Li Chu find He Lingyi highly suspicious.

Li Chu decided to rush back to Chang'an to investigate the matter. An Qingxu learned that Zhenzhu was about to leave and gave her a dagger coated with potent poison, instructing her to assassinate Li Chu on the way.

When Crown Princess Zhang learned that Murong Linzhi had been found, she was so anxious that her face turned pale. She decided to go to Prince Jianning's Residence to confirm whether Murong Linzhi still posed a threat to her. At Prince Jianning's Residence, Murong Linzhi prepared a table full of dishes, anxiously waiting for Li Tan to return. Li Tan stepped into the room, then wanted to turn around and leave.

In truth, Li Tan was still somewhat bothered by Murong Linzhi being framed and ending up in a brothel, though he didn't realize it himself. Murong Linzhi noticed Li Tan's return, walked up to him, and pulled him to the table to eat. Li Tan pressed Murong Linzhi, asking if she remembered who framed her. Murong Linzhi asked Li Tan if he couldn't forgive those who framed her, or if he couldn't forgive her.

Li Tan unhesitatingly replied that it was those who framed her, and he wanted to tear them into a thousand pieces to avenge Murong Linzhi. Murong Linzhi knew that Crown Princess Zhang was the real mastermind, but fearing that Li Tan would act impulsively and cause trouble, she didn't want to bring it up again. She wanted Li Tan to let go of the past and start anew with her, but Li Tan remained silent and hesitated.

Murong Linzhi knew the answer and tried to get up and leave. Li Tan grabbed Murong Linzhi's hand, but Murong Linzhi, like a frightened bird, covered her neck and screamed. Li Tan stepped forward and saw the word 'prostitute' on Murong Linzhi's neck. He broke down emotionally, shouting loudly and asking Murong Linzhi why she didn't remove the word. Afterwards, he overturned the table and rushed out, ignoring Murong Linzhi's pleas.

Murong Linzhi had been using fire to sterilize a knife, wanting to cut off the flesh from her neck. Crown Princess Zhang entered Murong Linzhi's room under the pretense of visiting her, asking Murong Linzhi if she still remembered who had framed her. The somewhat deranged Murong Linzhi merely mumbled to herself. The Crown Princess repeatedly pressed her, and during their dispute, Murong Linzhi stabbed herself in the neck with the knife.

The Crown Princess was startled but also felt relieved. She returned to the Eastern Palace, exaggerated the situation to the Crown Prince, stating that people in the market were all discussing Prince Jianning's wife's loss of integrity. Li Chu, Shen Zhenzhu, Li Chuo, and An Qingxu left Huihe with their people. On the way, An Qingxu suddenly asked Shen Zhenzhu why the jade bracelet her mother left her, which she wore, was gone.

Shen Zhenzhu said it might have been left at the Huihe imperial court. Upon hearing this, Li Chu immediately sent Feng Shengyi back to Huihe to retrieve it. Before they had traveled a few meters, they heard Mo Yanchuai's voice. Mo Yanchuai stated that he was there to return the bracelet to Shen Zhenzhu and, under the pretense of visiting friends, wanted to return to Chang'an with them.

An Qingxu's expression changed dramatically upon hearing this; he had already set up an ambush by the roadside to kill Li Chu. Mo Yanchuai had also sensed the ambush around them and wanted to go to Chang'an with Li Chu out of concern for his safety. Li Chu and his party arrived at Jincheng Commandery and stopped there to rest.

An Qingxu was still discussing assassinating Li Chu with Shen Zhenzhu, which Li Chu, who was about to go to Shen Zhenzhu's room, happened to overhear. Li Chu was greatly alarmed but first calmly observed Shen Zhenzhu's reaction. Back in the capital city, Su Ci was tearfully overjoyed to see Shen Zhenzhu return. Cui Caiping feigned a visit and deliberately mentioned that Murong Linzhi had been found in a brothel.

Shen Zhenzhu was worried about Murong Linzhi and rushed to Prince Jianning's Residence to visit her, only to find Murong Linzhi already disoriented, which deeply pained her. Li Chu found Li Tan drowning his sorrows in a tavern and reprimanded him for making such a big fuss about the matter. He told Li Tan to go back and properly accompany Murong Linzhi.

Li Tan hated himself for not protecting Murong Linzhi and asked Li Chu if he minded what had happened on the way when Shen Zhenzhu was also abducted. Li Chu stated that he would not allow anyone, including himself, to harm Shen Zhenzhu. Feng Shengyi followed Su Ci, noticed her strange behavior, and reported it to Li Chu.

The next day, Li Chu followed Shen Zhenzhu, who was secretly going to a teahouse, and overheard Shen Zhenzhu arguing with An Lushan's informant. An Lushan demanded the deployment map of the frontier garrisons from Li Chu, but Shen Zhenzhu did not agree. Li Chu burst through the door, and Shen Zhenzhu was stunned.

Li Chu brought Shen Zhenzhu back to Prince Guangping's mansion. Seeing that things had come to this, Shen Zhenzhu decided to speak her mind. She accused Li Chu of wiping out the entire Shen family for the Qilin Token and marrying her into Prince Guangping's mansion. Li Chu told Shen Zhenzhu the truth. He explained that he investigated the Shen family because Yang Guozhong repeatedly visited the Shen mansion.

So he went to an informant to ask for the reason behind it and only then learned it was because of the Qilin Token. The jade whistle was left by him for Shen Yizhi, so that he could summon his personal guards in times of crisis. Marrying her into Prince Guangping's mansion was part of his plan, but he also intended to protect the Shen family.

Shen Zhenzhu, who had misunderstood Li Chu for a long time, did not believe Li Chu's explanation. Li Chu stated that he had already found Shen An's whereabouts and that the truth would be revealed once Shen An returned. The Crown Prince sent someone to bring Li Tan to the Eastern Palace, ordering him to divorce Murong Linzhi, because the incessant rumors about Murong Linzhi had already affected the royal family's reputation.

Li Tan was unwilling to do so and argued forcefully. The Crown Prince stated that divorcing Murong Linzhi now could still save her life; further delay would only lead to a secret imperial edict from the Emperor, ordering Murong Linzhi to hang herself. Late at night, Li Tan came to Murong Linzhi's room and left, thinking she was asleep.

In fact, Murong Linzhi was not asleep; she heard the sound of the door curtain and, thinking Li Tan had arrived, hurriedly followed him out, arriving at Li Tan's study. At this moment, a courtesan was in Li Tan's room because Li Tan had paid to reserve the entire brothel when he was drunk. Since Li Tan had paid a large sum, the woman wanted to pledge herself to him.

Li Tan pushed the woman away in disgust, calling her a prostitute ridden by a thousand men. Murong Linzhi, who had just arrived, heard these words. Murong Linzhi recalled the scene of Li Tan finding her in the brothel and collapsed to the ground. Li Tan walked out of the room and was startled to see Murong Linzhi, but remembering what the Crown Prince had said, Li Tan cruelly pushed Murong Linzhi away, preparing to leave.

He then ran into Shen Zhenzhu, who slapped Li Tan, accusing him of being unworthy of a man for his actions. Shen Zhenzhu embraced the sobbing Murong Linzhi, brought her back to Prince Guangping's mansion, and stayed with her day and night. The next day, Li Tan came to Prince Guangping's mansion to find Murong Linzhi. Shen Zhenzhu left the room for the two of them, unaware that Li Tan had come this time to deliver a letter of divorce.

When Shen Zhenzhu returned to the room, she found Murong Linzhi hanging from a white silk sash and quickly took her down. Murong Linzhi cried heartbrokenly in Shen Zhenzhu's arms; she had originally thought Li Tan came to take her home and had endured all this for Li Tan. Shen Zhenzhu pleaded with Murong Linzhi to hold on for her sake. Li Tan also left Prince Guangping's mansion with a sense of helplessness.

Late at night, he chopped down trees in the forest to vent his frustration, letting the pouring rain drench him. The next day, Li Tan fell seriously ill and was bedridden; even the imperial physicians were at a loss. Li Chu thought of Murong Linzhi and went to beg her for help. Murong Linzhi told Shen Zhenzhu that she loved Li Tan and also hated him, but no matter what, she could not bear to see him die.

Murong Linzhi skillfully used a clever method, saving Li Tan's life, and stayed by his bedside until he woke up. Murong Linzhi handed the signed letter of divorce to Li Tan. Li Tan did not even glance at it; he told Murong Linzhi that he had thought things through and that no matter what happened, he wanted to face it with her. However, Murong Linzhi was already utterly disappointed; she pointed out that Li Tan could not forget the past.

Faced with Murong Linzhi's emotional words, Li Tan was speechless. Murong Linzhi untied the concentric knot from her hand and, along with the divorce papers she had already signed, placed them by Li Tan's bed, then turned and left. Li Tan, just recovered from a serious illness, watched Murong Linzhi's receding figure and hysterically called her name, but Murong Linzhi never looked back.

The heartbroken Li Tan lay on the bed, weeping bitterly, knowing he had lost the love of his life. Murong Linzhi returned to the Prince of Guangping's mansion. Seeing Shen Zhenzhu, she was like a child who had struggled to hold on, finally able to let down her guard. She told Shen Zhenzhu she was so tired, and as soon as she finished speaking, she fainted to the ground.

Mo Yanchuai stayed in Chang'an for several days, preparing to return to Huihe. He was still worried about Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu. Before leaving, he separately persuaded Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu to resolve their misunderstandings. He also assured Shen Zhenzhu that, from his understanding, Li Chu could not have mercilessly killed the Shen family just for a mere Qilin Token. The awakened Murong Linzhi felt unfamiliar with her surroundings.

Shen Zhenzhu realized she seemed to have lost her memory and hastily called for the imperial physician. Imperial Physician Li stated that Murong Linzhi had "loss of spirit syndrome," an illness mostly caused by a massive shock. He could currently only use medicine to help Murong Linzhi regulate her body, as a heart ailment can only be cured by a heart remedy.

Li Chu wanted to find Li Tan to help Murong Linzhi resolve her emotional knot, but Shen Zhenzhu stopped him. Shen Zhenzhu felt sorry for Murong Linzhi, believing that Murong Linzhi's condition was entirely caused by Li Tan's heartlessness. Shen Zhenzhu meticulously cared for Murong Linzhi. Worried about Murong Linzhi's condition, she wrote a letter to Murong Linzhi's teacher—the renowned physician Gongsun E—inviting him to the capital to treat Murong Linzhi. Li Chu's subordinates found Shen An.

After hearing the news, Li Chu ordered Feng Shengyi to personally pick up Shen An. On the other side, An Qingxu knew that Li Chu's men had taken Shen An, and he sent someone to tell Shen Zhenzhu this news. Li Chu had long been suspicious of He Lingyi. So, after Feng Shengyi brought Shen An to the Prince of Guangping's mansion, Li Chu had Feng Shengyi bring He Lingyi, so Shen An could identify her on the spot.

When He Lingyi arrived, Shen An was eating. Seeing He Lingyi, Shen An was so frightened he hid trembling under the table. Shen Zhenzhu, who learned that Shen An had been brought back, also rushed over. She hugged Shen An, comforting him softly, telling him not to be afraid. With his most trusted sister by his side, Shen An finally mustered his courage, pointed at He Lingyi, and said she was a murderer.

Shen Zhenzhu only knew that He Lingyi was an assassin under Li Chu's command, so she immediately accused Li Chu of being the murderer of the Shen family. Li Chu was also very angry. He had his subordinates bring up the person An Qingxu sent to contact Shen Zhenzhu. On the grounds that Shen Zhenzhu had connections with An Lushan's people, he placed Shen Zhenzhu under house arrest and ordered someone to specially look after Shen An.

In fact, placing Shen Zhenzhu under house arrest was not Li Chu's real intention, nor was he genuinely furious because Shen Zhenzhu had contacted An Qingxu's people. He did this to put on a show for He Lingyi, to make her reveal her true colors. Sure enough, in the middle of the night, He Lingyi, disguised, secretly snuck into Shen An's room. Feng Shengyi, who had been waiting there, caught He Lingyi, but after a struggle, He Lingyi escaped.

The cautious Li Chu had Feng Shengyi send Shen An to the Murong mansion. Firstly, it would allow the exceptionally skilled physician Murong Linzhi to treat Shen An; secondly, it would ensure Shen An's safety. Cui Caiping thought Li Chu was genuinely angry with Shen Zhenzhu, so she deliberately came to where Shen Zhenzhu was confined and spoke sarcastically. Shen Zhenzhu, abandoning her usual unassuming demeanor, infuriated Cui Caiping with her sharp-tongued rebuttal.

The enraged Cui Caiping opened the door, intending to settle scores with Shen Zhenzhu, and Shen Zhenzhu seized the opportunity and ran out. Shen Zhenzhu went to find Li Chu. She knelt and told Li Chu that if he would spare Shen An, she would willingly hand over the Qilin Token to him. Li Chu looked at Shen Zhenzhu's sorrowful expression, his heart aching. He pulled Shen Zhenzhu up and asked her if she couldn't see his sincere devotion. To reassure Shen Zhenzhu, Li Chu brought her to the Murong mansion.

At Murong Manor, Shen An, who had been healed by Murong Linzhi, recalled the scene of the Shen family's massacre. It was then that Shen Zhenzhu realized it was indeed He Lingyi who had murdered more than twenty members of the Shen family. Moreover, Shen An's description made both Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu realize that He Lingyi had another master.

Afterwards, Li Chu took out the jade whistle he had given Shen An that day and asked if he still remembered it. Shen An recounted everything about Li Chu giving him the jade whistle that day to his sister. Only then did Shen Zhenzhu realize she had wronged Li Chu, and she felt deeply remorseful.

Having cleared the misunderstanding, Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu decided to turn the tables, putting on a show for He Lingyi to lure her out and find the person behind her. At Prince Guangping's Manor, Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu deliberately argued in front of He Lingyi, with Li Chu demanding Shen Zhenzhu to produce the Kylin Token.

He Lingyi overheard this and, thinking the Kylin Token was in Shen Zhenzhu's hands, snuck into Shen Zhenzhu's room that night to steal it. In reality, the Kylin Token He Lingyi took was fake. He Lingyi, believing she had succeeded, secretly left Prince Guangping's Manor. Feng Shengyi followed He Lingyi and saw her enter the Prime Minister's Residence. It was then that Li Chu understood that He Lingyi was actually Yang Guozhong's subordinate.

Thus, Li Chu ordered Feng Shengyi to apprehend He Lingyi, but He Lingyi's room mysteriously caught fire at that moment. After extinguishing the fire, there were only three charred, unrecognizable bodies in the room, making it impossible to identify which one was He Lingyi. The next day, Shen Zhenzhu went to Murong Manor to see Shen An. An Qingxu arrived upon hearing the news, wanting to meet Shen Zhenzhu.

An Qingxu learned that Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu had reconciled, and he became disheartened. He questioned Shen Zhenzhu why she couldn't see his true feelings. An agitated An Qingxu pulled Shen Zhenzhu, wanting to take her away. Murong Linzhi stepped forward to stop An Qingxu, stating that Shen Zhenzhu had the right to choose her own happiness. An Qingxu reluctantly let go.

Wuxing sent a letter to Shen Zhenzhu, asking her to return and oversee the relocation of the Shen family's ancestral graves. Shen Zhenzhu wrote a letter and asked Zhang Deyu to deliver it to Li Chu. Unexpectedly, Cui Caiping snatched the letter from Zhang Deyu and tore it into pieces. After finishing his political affairs, Li Chu rushed to West Street to buy Shen Zhenzhu her favorite sugar-coated hawthorn.

Upon returning to the manor, he saw the torn letter on the ground. He then went to Shen Zhenzhu's residence and saw her packing. He feigned anger, smashing the sugar-coated hawthorn to the ground, and declared that since Shen Zhenzhu was leaving without a word, she might as well sign the divorce paper before she left. Seeing Li Chu's anger, Shen Zhenzhu was terrified. She rushed forward and hugged Li Chu, telling him that she loved him very much.

Li Chu smiled upon hearing this. He explained that he was worried Shen Zhenzhu had been suppressed for too long and wanted to use this opportunity for her to vent her emotions, also clarifying that he had seen the letter Shen Zhenzhu left for him. Only then did Shen Zhenzhu relax, and the two reconciled, promising to be honest with each other from then on. Yang Guozhong impatiently sent his subordinates to the Dugu family with the fake Kylin Token.

Dugu Jingyao, the young lady of the Dugu family, had accompanied her father to battlefields and was an extraordinary and powerful woman. In front of Yang Guozhong's subordinates, Dugu Jingyao furiously denounced Yang Guozhong for slandering and framing the Dugu family before the Emperor. She told Yang Guozhong's subordinates that not only was the Kylin Token fake, but the Dugu family's Kylin Token only honored its promise to the Shen family.

After speaking, she ordered her subordinates to drag Yang Guozhong's men away and execute them. Crown Princess Zhang gave birth to an imperial prince. Concerned that Li Tan would eventually find out about her affairs, she persuaded the Crown Prince to arrange another primary consort for Li Tan. The woman she recommended was her own niece, Dou Lian. Li Tan was completely unaware of Crown Princess Zhang's scheme. Having lost Murong Linzhi, he was heartbroken and spent his days drinking himself into a stupor.

Drunken Li Tan unknowingly walked to the mountain stream. Murong Linzhi, who had returned from gathering herbs, came to the stream to wash her hands. Li Tan looked at the familiar figure and blurted out, calling Murong Linzhi's name. Murong Linzhi looked up, staring at Li Tan with a blank expression, addressing him as "young master". Li Tan didn't understand why Murong Linzhi would act this way.

In a panic, he took Murong Linzhi's hand and told her he was wrong before. But Murong Linzhi was very flustered and frankly stated that it was their first meeting and asked him to respect himself. Gongsun E, who had come out with Murong Linzhi, walked over and asked Murong Linzhi to wait for him in the carriage. Li Tan pressed Gongsun E about what was wrong with Murong Linzhi.

Gongsun E told him the truth, lamenting that life is fleeting like a reflection in a mirror or a cloud passing by, and advised Li Tan to forget Murong Linzhi and part ways in the future. At the East Palace, everyone rushed to congratulate the Crown Prince. Li Chu saw how adorable the little prince was and, fearing that Shen Zhenzhu would feel emotional, comforted her, saying they would have their own children in the future.

Cui Caiping overheard these words. She stormed off to the side in a fit of rage. As the Crown Prince asked everyone to sit, Li Tan, dishevelled and reeking of alcohol, walked in. The Crown Prince was furious at the sight. Princess Zhang asked a servant to take Li Tan to the side chamber to change clothes. In fact, Princess Zhang had already made plans. She intended to marry her cousin Dou Ruzhi's daughter, Dou Lian'er, to Li Tan.

On the day of the wedding, Princess Zhang knew everyone would come to offer congratulations, so she deliberately had Dou Lian'er wait early in the side chamber. When Dou Lian'er saw Li Tan walk in, she hastily introduced herself and stated that she would soon be Li Tan's princess. Only then did Li Tan learn of his father's plan.

The already unruly Li Tan came to the main hall, publicly humiliated Dou Lian'er, and emphatically declared that he would never agree to this marriage. Yang Guozhong learned of this matter and decided to start with Li Tan, using him to bring down Li Tan and the East Palace. Li Tan, wishing to escape worldly affairs through drink, walked through the city carrying a wine bottle and a sword. He happened to encounter Minister Feng at his door welcoming guests.

Minister Feng called out to Li Tan and pulled him into the residence. The arrogant and insolent Dou Ruzhi also followed closely behind, arriving at Minister Feng's residence. Dou Ruzhi and Li Tan's disagreement escalated into an argument. Dou Ruzhi spoke disrespectfully and insulted Murong Linzhi. Li Tan was furious, pointed his sword at Dou Ruzhi, and demanded that he kneel and apologize. The presumptuous Dou Ruzhi also drew his sword and fought fiercely with Li Tan.

Li Tan disdained fighting with someone like Dou Ruzhi; he only wanted him to apologize and had no intention of harming him. But in the chaos, someone pushed Li Tan from behind, and Li Tan's sword directly pierced Dou Ruzhi's chest. In the grand hall, Chancellor Wei, who had intricate connections with Yang Guozhong, exaggerated the situation and demanded that the Emperor handle Li Tan's case impartially to stabilize the court and calm the people.

The Crown Prince pleaded on the side, but Li Tan was unwilling to defend himself even a word. Li Chu received the news and rushed into the palace, only to learn that Li Tan had already been imprisoned by the Emperor in Dali Temple. Li Chu went to Dali Temple to visit Li Tan. He firmly believed that his brother was not a murderer and disdained killing a contemptible person like Dou Ruzhi.

However, Li Tan was disheartened; he insisted that he deserved this fate now, as it was his just punishment for abandoning Murong Linzhi that day. Seeing that Li Tan was unwilling to explain further, Li Chu comforted him and, after leaving, continuously worked tirelessly for Li Tan's case. Li Chu knew that the Dou family was constantly pressuring the court and maliciously slandering Li Tan. He decided to fight fire with fire. He ordered an investigation into Dou Ruzhi.

Subsequently, he brought evidence of Dou Ruzhi conspiring to acquire wealth and take lives to the Dou family. Lady Dou was greatly alarmed upon seeing the evidence. Li Chu warned Lady Dou not to play any more tricks in court. At Dali Temple, Shen Zhenzhu met Li Tan. She persuaded Li Tan to pull himself together for Murong Linzhi and Li Chu. A single word woke him from his stupor. Li Tan had an epiphany. He decided to keep his life and live well for those he loved.

Li Tan, who had figured things out, told Shen Zhenzhu everything that happened that day in detail. He said someone pushed him during the chaos, which is why the sword pierced Dou Ruzhi, and he was certain that the sword did not pierce Dou Ruzhi's heart, so it was not fatal at all. Shen Zhenzhu asked Li Tan if he had seen clearly the person behind the mischief.

Li Tan said he saw that person wearing servant's clothes, and their left leg seemed to have an old injury. After Shen Zhenzhu returned to the mansion, she told Li Chu everything. Li Chu found another coroner to secretly perform an autopsy on Dou Ruzhi. Afterward, Li Chu also went to Minister Feng's mansion to ask if any servants had recently gone missing from the residence.

Minister Feng confirmed that there was one person, a gardener whom Yang Guozhong had recommended to him, and he had an old injury on his left leg. Li Chu immediately understood that this matter was inseparable from Yang Guozhong. The Crown Princess came to the Dou family under the guise of persuading Lady Dou, but in reality, she was instigating Lady Dou to continuously pressure the imperial court. Lady Dou confided her unspoken difficulties.

After hearing this, the Crown Princess urged Lady Dou to cremate Dou Ruzhi's body as soon as possible, so that Li Chu and others would not be able to find Dou Ruzhi's true cause of death. Mrs. Zhang, who was determined to frame Li Tan so that her child could inherit the royal title, went to Concubine Yang again, asking Concubine Yang to defame Li Tan in front of the Emperor.

After the coroner performed the autopsy, he stated that Dou Ruzhi died from taking an elixir. Li Chu thought of Jingzhao Yin's testimony, combined with the situation Feng Shengyi had investigated, he suspected that someone had replaced the previous coroner's testimony. Li Chu became suspicious of the mastermind's identity, because Jingzhao Yin had a personal vendetta against Yang Guozhong, and would not agree to help him swap the testimony. Therefore, there must be someone else behind the scenes.

Li Chu entered the palace to meet the Emperor, wanting to tell him about the strange circumstances of the Dou Ruzhi case. But a eunuch reported that the imperial concubine was feeling unwell, and the Emperor left in a hurry without listening to Li Chu.

Concubine Yang tearfully stated that her wet nurse, who had cared for her since childhood, was trampled to death by a rider on the mountain, and that person was arrogant in speech and left behind their riding whip. Then, she ordered someone to take the riding whip to the Emperor. In reality, the riding whip was sent by the Crown Princess, and it was a gift bestowed by the Emperor when Jianning Wang came of age.

Upon seeing the riding whip, the Emperor became furious and immediately decreed that Li Tan be demoted to a commoner and exiled to Jiannan. Upon hearing this, Li Chu exclaimed that it was bad news, believing Jiannan to be Yang Guozhong's territory, and that Li Tan's journey there would be fraught with danger. Li Chu ordered Feng Shengyi to lead men to guard the path to Jiannan, and if anything happened, they must rescue Li Tan at all costs.

After giving his instructions, Li Chu rushed into the palace, knelt before the Emperor's grand hall, and requested an audience. The eunuch attending the Emperor had previously received favors from Li Chu, and told Li Chu about the Crown Princess meeting the imperial concubine. Li Chu then understood the identity of the true mastermind.

Shen Zhenzhu learned that the Dou family was going to cremate Dou Ruzhi, and instructed Yan Ming to try every means to stop the Dou family, preventing them from destroying the evidence. Shen Zhenzhu also entered the palace, kneeling with Li Chu at the entrance of the grand hall. She told Li Chu that no matter what happened, she wanted to face it with him. Li Chu was moved and clasped Shen Zhenzhu's hand tightly.

Shen Zhenzhu, who had been waiting anxiously outside the hall, fainted. After examination by the imperial physician, it was announced that Shen Zhenzhu was pregnant. Li Chu was overjoyed. The Emperor also came to visit Shen Zhenzhu after hearing the news. Shen Zhenzhu took the opportunity to kneel before the Emperor and plead for Li Tan, and Li Chu also presented evidence.

The Emperor remembered Li Tan's childhood, and felt that the simple and kind Li Tan would not act recklessly. He sent people to bring Li Tan back. Feng Shengyi had led his men to ambush by the roadside. Just as they were about to act, the Emperor's people arrived with an imperial decree, summoning Li Tan back to the capital.

Li Tan was summoned back to the capital and flogged forty times. The Crown Princess felt that Li Chu and Li Tan currently did not know the true identity of her child, and she did not intend to act rashly again. Li Chu relayed what the eunuch told him to Shen Zhenzhu. He stated that he had not yet figured out the reason for Crown Princess Zhang's actions, but he urged Shen Zhenzhu to be on guard against Zhang shi.

With Yang Guifei whispering in Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's ear, Yang Guozhong was reinstated to his original post after only a few months of confinement. Yang Guozhong entered the palace to express his gratitude for the imperial favor. Outside the hall, he met Li Chu, who was also going to have an audience with the Emperor. Yang Guozhong deliberately flaunted the Emperor's favor towards the Yang family and his trust in him before Li Chu.

Li Chu responded to Yang Guozhong neither servilely nor overbearingly, leaving Yang Guozhong speechless. Inside the main hall, Li Chu suggested to the Emperor that An Lushan be summoned to the capital under the guise of appointing him prime minister, and then placed under house arrest, because recent information he had received from various sources indicated An Lushan intended to rebel. Yang Guozhong, out of his own selfish interests, firmly opposed Li Chu's proposal, and the two began to argue.

The Emperor stopped them, stating that he needed to consider it further. Afterwards, Li Chu went to Prince Jianning's Residence to visit Li Tan. Li Tan was still lying in bed recovering from his injuries, but at this point, he no longer had the dejection of earlier days. He told his older brother that he would remember his sister-in-law's words and keep his life to protect those who cherished him. Li Chu was very gratified to hear this.

He told Li Tan that he wanted him to join the army after recovering, to learn the skills of leading troops and fighting battles from General Guo. Li Tan had also heard about some matters in court and agreed to his older brother's proposal. Li Chuo wanted to go to Fanyang to find An Qingxu, but because she didn't have a travel permit, the carriage owner was unwilling to take her.

Li Chuo argued with the carriage owner on the street and even got into a fight. Su Ci, who was shopping on the street, witnessed this scene and pulled Li Chuo back to the Prince of Guangping's Residence. Li Chuo wanted to steal Li Chu's seal to obtain a travel permit to Fanyang, but she was discovered by Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu tried to persuade her, but Li Chuo wouldn't listen and even pushed Shen Zhenzhu.

When Li Chu returned and learned that Li Chuo was causing a ruckus at home to go to Fanyang, he immediately scolded her, explaining the implications. Seeing Li Chuo's stubbornness, he ordered Feng Shengyi to send Ruo'er back to the Eastern Palace and instructed her to be strictly guarded. Cui Caiping, who was passing by, overheard Li Chu and Li Chuo's conversation from outside the door, and a plan came to her mind.

She went to Yang Guozhong's residence and conspired with him to promote the marriage between Li Chuo and An Qingxu, planning to spread rumors about Shen Zhenzhu and An Qingxu when An Qingxu entered the capital, in order to sow discord among Li Chuo, Li Chu, and Shen Zhenzhu. Li Chuo, who was under house arrest in the Eastern Palace, neither ate nor drank.

Cui Caiping went to see her and told her about her plan, which made Li Chuo very happy, believing that Cui Caiping sincerely wanted to help her. In the palace, Yang Guifei nonchalantly mentioned Li Chuo's illness to the Emperor. The Emperor, who always doted on his granddaughter, took Yang Guifei to the Eastern Palace to visit Li Chuo.

Li Chuo tearfully told her Imperial Grandfather that she would marry no one but An Qingxu in this life, and if her long-cherished wish could not be fulfilled, she would rather die. The Emperor's heart softened and he wanted to issue an imperial decree to arrange a marriage for Li Chuo. Yang Guozhong fanned the flames, solidifying the Emperor's decision. Li Chu entered the palace, intending to stop it, but it was already too late.

An Lushan received the imperial decree, ordering An Qingxu to enter the capital within a few days to marry Li Chuo. An Qingxu was unwilling, but forced by his father's tyranny, he could only reluctantly enter the capital.

After An Qingxu entered the capital, he went to the palace to meet the Emperor. He met Li Chuo who had been waiting early outside the hall. Seeing An Qingxu, whom she thought of day and night, Li Chuo chattered on and on, but what she got in return was An Qingxu's cold shoulder.

Shen Zhenzhu was determined to ensure the safe birth of her child, so she came to Murong Linzhi's Jishitang clinic to have Murong Linzhi take her pulse. An Qingxu received a so-called letter from Shen Zhenzhu and excitedly came to the Jishitang clinic. Seeing An Qingxu arrive, Shen Zhenzhu hastily tried to make an excuse to leave.

Before she could leave, Li Chuo, who had followed An Qingxu, rushed in, pointed a sword at Shen Zhenzhu, and accused her of betraying her royal brother. An Qingxu, quick-witted, snatched the sword from Li Chuo. Li Chuo began to shout and yell, scolding Shen Zhenzhu and An Qingxu for their shameless secret meeting. At this moment, the scheming Lady Han and Cui Caiping arrived at the Jishitang clinic with a group of wives of high-ranking officials and nobles.

They all heard Li Chuo's shouting. After Shen Zhenzhu returned to Prince Guangping's mansion, she recounted everything that happened at the Jishitang clinic to Li Chu in detail. Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu speculated that someone had deliberately planned this incident, as everyone's appearance was too coincidental. Li Chu advised Shen Zhenzhu not to mind the rumors, but Shen Zhenzhu said that as long as Li Chu believed in her, it would be fine.

That evening, Cui Caiping joyfully dressed up, waiting for Li Chu to come over, but she learned that Li Chu had already gone to bed in Wenjin Pavilion. Cui Caiping was disheartened and sad. She did not understand why Li Chu was still willing to believe Shen Zhenzhu under such circumstances. Li Chuo went to the Emperor and pleaded coquettishly, asking the Emperor to issue an imperial decree ordering An Qingxu to marry her as soon as possible.

The Emperor, having no choice, agreed and sent Gao Lishi with the imperial decree and Li Chuo to the An family's residence in the capital. Shen Zhenzhu persuaded Li Chu to go with her to talk to An Qingxu. Li Chu readily agreed. The next day, Li Chuo, full of pride, arrived at the An Mansion with Gao Lishi, accompanied by the commander of the Imperial Guards.

Gao Lishi read the imperial decree, ennobling An Qingxu as Grand General and ordering him to marry Li Chuo three days later. An Qingxu refused to accept the decree. Gao Lishi ordered the Imperial Guards to take everyone from the An Mansion to Dali Temple. Upon hearing this, An Qingxu feigned acceptance of the decree, then seized the opportunity to draw a guard's sword and held Li Chuo hostage.

An Qingxu demanded that the Imperial Guards release the An family members. As it concerned the Princess's safety, Gao Lishi had no choice but to agree. Subsequently, An Qingxu rode a fast horse, taking Li Chuo hostage and leaving the city. Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu, who had come to the An Mansion to persuade An Qingxu, were both on the street and saw the Imperial Guards riding away in a cloud of dust.

Li Chu realized something terrible had happened, entrusted a servant to take care of Shen Zhenzhu, and quickly rode off in pursuit. An Qingxu took Li Chuo to a cottage in the suburbs, tied Li Chuo to a table, smashed the wine bottles in the room, and, holding a torch, threatened Li Chu and the Feathered Forest Guards who had come in pursuit. Commander He of the Feathered Forest Guards ignored Li Chu's commands and insisted on apprehending An Qingxu.

Li Chu suspected that Commander He was likely one of Yang Guozhong's men. At this critical moment, fortunately, Shen Zhenzhu arrived in time with the Emperor's handwritten decree, ordering Commander He to obey Li Chu. Under Shen Zhenzhu's persuasion, An Qingxu rode a fast horse and left the capital, and Li Chuo was also rescued. After An Lushan learned of his son An Qingxu's actions, he sent a letter of apology to Chang'an.

Yang Guozhong suggested that the Emperor reduce An Lushan's military power. Li Chu, considering the broader situation, believed that reducing An Lushan's military power at this time would easily escalate conflicts. The two held their own opinions, and the Emperor was also indecisive, stating that the matter should be discussed in the long run.

An Qingxu disobeyed the imperial edict and returned to Fanyang. The Emperor was furious and issued an edict to dismiss An Lushan from his position as Hedong Jiedushi. At this time, An Lushan had sufficient troops, horses, and provisions, so for him to raise an army and rebel, everything was ready except for the last crucial element. Therefore, An Lushan ordered An Qingxu to execute the eunuch who came to deliver the edict.

Afterwards, An Lushan, holding a forged imperial edict, declared in front of all the generals and soldiers that the Emperor had issued a secret edict to him, ordering him to lead his men to attack and punish Yang Guozhong, to purge the corrupt officials from around the emperor. He also killed on the spot the spy sent by Yang Guozhong to Fanyang. The generals and soldiers were all in a fervor and swore to follow him to their deaths.

The valiant Dugu Jingyao also arrived in Fanyang with her soldiers to assist An Lushan. The prosperous Great Tang began to experience the An-Shi Rebellion. " "" In the Prince of Guangping's mansion, Li Chu joyfully discussed the name of their unborn child with Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu wanted to name the child Shi'er, hoping, like all parents in the world, that the child could grow up healthy. Li Chu agreed.

A servant reported to Li Chu that An Lushan had already raised an army to rebel. Li Chu immediately rushed to the palace to discuss countermeasures with the Emperor. The Emperor was somewhat worried about the unstable situation in Hebei, but Yang Guozhong stated that An Lushan was merely a jiedushi without assistance, so there was no need to worry. Li Chu frankly said that An Lushan had many generals under him and should not be underestimated.

Li Tan, who had been training in the army for some time, volunteered and requested the Emperor's permission to lead troops to Hebei with General Guo. After much consideration, the Emperor believed Li Chu's words were reasonable and ordered Li Tan to go to Hebei with Guo Ziyi to quell An Lushan's rebellion. He also granted Li Chu's suggestion to send troops to guard Tongguan.

Yang Guozhong, with his wicked intentions, took the opportunity to recommend his own man, Feng Changqing, and placed him in the army. Shen Zhenzhu sat heavily in her room. She told Suciz that she knew Li Chu cared deeply about the Great Tang's empire and its people. From her understanding of him, in this situation, Li Chu would volunteer himself. She supported his decision but also worried about his safety.

Before her words finished, Li Chu, who had rushed back from the palace, walked in. Li Chu heard Shen Zhenzhu's words. He told Shen Zhenzhu that he felt very guilty for not being able to stay with her until the child was born. But as the Emperor's eldest grandson, he also had an inescapable mission and responsibility, so he could only ask Shen Zhenzhu for her forgiveness.

The sensible and understanding Shen Zhenzhu understood Li Chu's difficulties and supported his decision. Li Tan was about to head to the battlefield. He was worried about Murong Linzhi and secretly placed precious medicinal herbs at the entrance of Jishi Hall. Murong Linzhi saw the herbs, thinking someone had dropped them, and refused to accept them rashly. Li Tan sent a servant to handle the matter, instructing the servant to take good care of Murong Linzhi.

The Emperor received a battle report from the army, learning that An Lushan had led his troops across the Yellow River and attacked Luoyang. He was furious and sternly questioned Yang Guozhong, because the general responsible for the fall of Luoyang was Feng Changqing, whom Yang Guozhong had strongly recommended earlier. The eloquent and sophistical Yang Guozhong came up with many excuses and even brought up An Lushan's eldest son, An Qingzong, trying to divert the Emperor's attention.

Earlier, to appease An Lushan, the Emperor had bestowed a marriage, giving Princess Rongning to An Qingzong. Now, in his great fury, the Emperor issued an edict to behead An Qingzong to deter the rebels. Princess Rongning also could not escape this calamity. In the Prince of Guangping's mansion, Shen Zhenzhu, walking in the courtyard, learned about Princess Rongning's fate and sighed endlessly. Cui Caiping encountered Shen Zhenzhu, again spoke provocatively, and even attempted to lay hands on her.

Li Chuo, who had arrived at the mansion, stopped Cui Caiping, accusing her of pretending to care for her last time and setting a trap for her, warning her to be careful in the future. Li Chuo and Shen Zhenzhu had a heart-to-heart talk. She expressed that she now understood her brother's and Shen Zhenzhu's good intentions back then, and apologized to Shen Zhenzhu for her past willfulness. Shen Zhenzhu, letting bygones be bygones, forgave Chuo'er.

Afterwards, Murong Linzhi arrived at the Prince of Guangping's mansion to bid farewell to Shen Zhenzhu. It turned out that General Guo had sent good news from Hebei, having recovered many lost territories. The Emperor dispatched Murong Linzhi's father, General Murong, to lead troops to guard the recovered territories. Gongsun E also volunteered to lead a group of physicians to accompany the army to Hebei. Murong Linzhi wanted to go along with her father and master.

Although Shen Zhenzhu was extremely reluctant, she could only see Murong Linzhi off. Worried about the war, she asked Murong Linzhi to take Shen An back to Murong Mansion, so that Shen An could return to her hometown with Lady Murong. An Lushan learned that his eldest son had been beheaded in the capital.

In a fit of rage, he ordered An Qingxu to kill all surrendered Tang soldiers and even threatened to use the blood of the imperial family to sacrifice for his son. The New Year festival had arrived, but due to the war, no one in the palace dared to celebrate openly. The Crown Prince held a banquet in the Eastern Palace.

Chuo'er unhappily expressed that with the tense situation at the front, it was very inappropriate for them to hold a banquet here. The Crown Prince was somewhat displeased with the reckless Chuo'er, but Shen Zhenzhu promptly spoke up to explain for Chuo'er, stating that Chuo'er had a kind heart, but simply couldn't express herself well. Chuo'er also expressed her willingness to take out her private funds to support the front line. The Crown Prince believed they could start from the Eastern Palace and gather the dignitaries in the capital to respond.

Tongguan, where Li Chu was stationed, became the most intense battleground. An Lushan proclaimed himself emperor in Luoyang and ordered his generals and soldiers to attack Tongguan. Li Chu personally took to the field to command, leading all the generals and soldiers to defend Tongguan to the death. The Crown Prince, who was hosting a banquet at the Eastern Palace, learned that the battle at Tongguan was critical and hurried to have an audience with the Emperor.

Crown Princess Zhang, on the other hand, brought Shen Zhenzhu to Daxingguo Temple, ostensibly to pray for the people of the Great Tang, but in reality, she harbored other malicious schemes. When it was time to leave, the Crown Princess made an excuse to stay at the temple. Shen Zhenzhu, being pregnant, left first to return to her residence. Unexpectedly, on the way, Shen Zhenzhu was attacked by assassins.

Feng Shengyi appeared in time, allowing Shen Zhenzhu to safely survive the ordeal. However, Feng Shengyi felt a sense of unease in his heart because he felt that the leader of the assassins gave him a feeling of déjà vu. Meanwhile, the leader of the assassins went to Daxingguo Temple to report back to the Crown Princess, stating that he had accidentally failed. The Crown Princess was displeased upon hearing this.

At the Prince of Guangping's Mansion, as Shen Zhenzhu entered, she heard Li Chuo scolding Cui Caiping. Shen Zhenzhu pulled Li Chuo away, wishing to smooth things over. Cui Caiping, who had been spoiled since childhood, could not swallow her anger and, on her own initiative, moved to her aunt's residence in the palace. Li Chu and General Guo worked together, and Tongguan was temporarily safe. Li Chu wandered around Tongguan city, saw a rattle-drum, and couldn't put it down.

He bought it, intending to give it to Shi'er after returning to the capital. Li Chu was overjoyed to learn that Li Tan and General Guo Ziyi had greatly defeated Shi Siming in Hebei. He believed that the current strategy was for General Guo and Li Tan to pursue the victory and continue leading troops north. General Guo and General Yang also believed Li Chu's idea was the best strategy.

Murong Linzhi arrived at the Hebei army camp with her father and master. Li Tan, learning of Murong Linzhi's arrival, was very worried and sent someone to inquire about her. Li Tan was injured, and his subordinates asked Murong Linzhi to treat him. Seeing Murong Linzhi, Li Tan couldn't help but ask her why she ventured into danger alone. Murong Linzhi looked at Li Tan's worried face, and some past memories suddenly surfaced in her mind.

These memories made Murong Linzhi feel scared, and she subconsciously pushed Li Tan away, running out of the tent. The next day, Li Tan had a fever due to wound infection. Murong Linzhi came to Li Tan's tent again and involuntarily thought of some past events. Murong Linzhi, as a physician, connected these recent occurrences to herself and suspected she had "soul-loss syndrome" (amnesia).

She told her master that she wanted to go to her father's side, because whenever she saw that person, she would recall past memories, so she could only avoid it. In the palace, Yang Guozhong, who only considered his own self-interest, persuaded the Emperor to order Li Chu to go outside Tongguan to resist the enemy. The Emperor once again believed Yang Guozhong's slanderous words and ordered Yang Guozhong to take his imperial decree to Tongguan.

After hearing the imperial decree, anger burned in Li Chu's chest, and he refused to accept it. He analyzed the current situation for Yang Guozhong, stating that he believed defending Tongguan to the death was the only advantageous course. However, after Yang Guozhong returned to Chang'an, he did not relay Li Chu's meaning to the Emperor and even distorted it. The Emperor issued thirteen imperial decrees in succession, ordering Li Chu to leave the pass and actively engage the enemy.

Left with no choice, Li Chu could only lead his soldiers out of the pass. Before setting off, he instructed his trusted subordinate to take his personal letter and the rattle-drum and give them to Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu in Chang'an worried about Li Chu on the front lines, thinking of him day and night. She even dreamed that Li Chu was covered in blood. Shen Zhenzhu was startled awake and was extremely worried.

Shen Zhenzhu was worried about Li Chu, so she asked Li Chuo about the war. Learning that the battle at Tongguan was fierce and Li Chu was going out of the pass to meet the enemy, Shen Zhenzhu was extremely worried and immediately summoned Feng Shengyi. Under Shen Zhenzhu's coercion, Feng Shengyi had to truthfully report the situation at Tongguan. After hearing it, Shen Zhenzhu was filled with great anxiety. Imperial Palace, the battle report from Tongguan came back.

An Lushan's rebel army set up heavy ambushes outside Tongguan. The Tang army suffered heavy losses. General Geshu Han led the remaining troops to retreat and defend Tongguan to preserve their strength. Li Chu and his party, who led elite soldiers and fought valiantly, were trapped in Shanya Commandery, with no one surviving. The Emperor found it hard to believe and questioned the whereabouts of the Prince of Guangping.

After learning that the Prince of Guangping had not been spared either, he was overcome with immense grief. Li Chu's confidant sent to Chang'an knew that Lady Shen was about to give birth and could not be stimulated, so he handed a rattle drum to the Crown Princess, hoping she could keep it for Li Chu. But upon hearing this, the Crown Princess had a scheme in mind.

She deliberately brought the rattle drum to the Prince of Guangping's Mansion and, pretending nothing was amiss, told Shen Zhenzhu that Li Chu's fate was still unknown. Shen Zhenzhu felt as if struck by a bolt from the blue; her extreme sorrow agitated the fetus, causing unbearable abdominal pain. Zhang Deyu rushed out to find an imperial physician and encountered Cui Caiping. Learning that Li Chu's whereabouts were unknown, Cui Caiping stormed into Wenjin Pavilion to confront Shen Zhenzhu.

She was jealous that Li Chu had left Shen Zhenzhu a child, while she had nothing. Unable to accept Li Chu's death, Cui Caiping tried to drag Shen Zhenzhu to die with her. Su Ci desperately tried to stop Cui Caiping. At the critical moment, Feng Shengyi arrived in time and knocked Cui Caiping unconscious. Tears streamed down Shen Zhenzhu's face.

She refused to believe that Li Chu had truly passed away and insisted that Feng Shengyi take loyal guards to find Li Chu. Feng Shengyi immediately set off for outside Tongguan. After this ordeal, Shen Zhenzhu was about to give birth.

The Crown Princess wanted to secretly tamper with things and quietly harm Shen Zhenzhu's child, but when she reached the door of Shen Zhenzhu's room, she found Li Chuo and Gao Lishi both at the entrance, so she had no choice but to give up. The midwife stated that Shen Zhenzhu was having a difficult labor and was in great danger.

In her haste, Li Chuo rushed into Shen Zhenzhu's room, regardless of the consequences, and told her that Li Chu had been found by the dispatched people and was now on his way back to Chang'an. To convince Shen Zhenzhu, Li Chuo swore a solemn oath. Shen Zhenzhu believed Li Chuo, calmed down, cooperated with the midwife, and gave birth to the little prince. However, afterwards, Shen Zhenzhu suffered severe bleeding, but fortunately, she was saved without further danger.

The Crown Princess learned that Shen Zhenzhu had successfully given birth to the little prince and worried that this newborn child would affect the future of her own children. So, she sent her personal maid to Shanya Commandery to ascertain if Li Chu was still alive. If he was, she was to eliminate him. In Shanya Commandery, Li Chu woke up covered in blood, finding all the people around him dead.

Grief overwhelmed him; he had led these soldiers into battle but could not bring them back to reunite with their families. At this moment, the assassin sent by the Crown Princess was hiding in the bushes not far from Li Chu, looking for an opportunity to strike. Feng Shengyi also arrived at this moment, taking Li Chu back to Chang'an. The frail Shen Zhenzhu slept for three days and finally woke up.

Su Ci told her that Feng Shengyi had found Li Chu, and the two were passing through Hebei. Li Tan was worried about Li Chu's injuries and told him to recover fully before continuing their journey. After speaking, Su Ci handed Li Chu's personal letter to Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu read the letter, learned that Li Chu was now safe and sound, and finally felt relieved. The governors of the four commanderies surrounding Chang'an all abandoned their cities and fled.

Chang'an was in peril. The Emperor was furious. Yang Guozhong and others suggested that the Emperor temporarily move his residence to Shu Commandery. The Emperor agreed to a secret relocation, and everyone in the Imperial Palace was quietly preparing. Yang Guozhong deliberately did not inform the people of the Prince of Guangping's Mansion about preparing to leave Chang'an. The Crown Princess was only preoccupied with schadenfreude and had no intention of telling Shen Zhenzhu this news. Lady Han quietly took Cui Caiping away, leaving only the people of Wenjin Pavilion to guard Chang'an as the war was about to spread there.

The Emperor led his imperial concubines, royal relatives, and nobles to Jiannan. Zhang Deyu discovered the entire palace was empty, but it was too late. Shen Zhenzhu learned of the situation in the palace from Zhang Deyu. She knew someone must have deliberately not informed the Prince of Guangping's manor, so she immediately ordered Su Ci to buy a horse and quickly send the little heir to the Emperor's side to ensure his safety.

Li Chu and his party led the army and arrived in Jiannan early, stationing their troops there to respectfully welcome the imperial procession. The impetuous Li Chuo rode ahead and reached Jiannan, telling her elder brother that their sister-in-law had given birth to the little heir, and both mother and son were safe. Li Chu was worried about Shen Zhenzhu and the child, and immediately wanted to rush to Chang'an, but Li Tan stopped him.

Li Tan stated that Shen Zhenzhu must be with the Emperor and would arrive in Jiannan in a few days. Li Chu had no choice but to give up, waiting anxiously. The Emperor and his party arrived in Shujun. Along the way, he saw scenes of widespread desolation and displaced people, finding it hard to believe. He could not accept that the prosperous Great Tang Era, which he had personally built, was now so desolate.

Additionally, everything in the Shujun temporary palace was inferior to that in the imperial palace, filling the Emperor with suppressed anger. As soon as the capital's carriages stopped at the temporary palace's entrance, Li Chu eagerly searched for Shen Zhenzhu. Failing to find her, Li Chu became uncontrollably furious, but the Crown Prince asked him to hurry and apologize to the Emperor, so Li Chu could only go to have an audience with the Emperor first.

The Emperor was furious in his room. Seeing Li Chu come to pay his respects, he vented his anger on Li Chu, accusing him of improper command that led to the fall of Tongguan, and punished Li Chu by making him kneel outside the temporary palace. Li Chu had been kneeling for almost a day.

Li Tan and Li Chuo were both very worried, but Yang Guozhong brazenly walked up to Li Chu, mocking him with words, his smug look disgusting to all. Commander Chen had reorganized the army and believed that given the current situation, they should get up as soon as possible.

He also advised the Emperor that the Prince of Guangping had repeatedly repelled the rebel army while guarding Tongguan, proactively going out of the pass to meet the enemy, and barely escaped death numerous times, yet he was now kneeling outside the temporary palace for a whole day. The Emperor softened upon hearing this and ordered Li Chu to get up and accompany the army to protect the Emperor. Li Chu got up.

Only then did he learn from Li Chuo that Shen Zhenzhu and the child had been left in Chang'an. He wanted to rush back to Chang'an to bring the mother and son. However, the Crown Prince came to stop him, telling Li Chu that if he went to Chang'an at this time, he would certainly infuriate the Emperor. Li Tan stated that he had already sent his generals to Chang'an, and they should have arrived by now.

Only then did Li Chu feel relieved, but what he didn't know was that the Crown Princess had also sent her personal maid to Chang'an, ordering her to eliminate Shen Zhenzhu and her child. At the Prince of Guangping's manor, Li Tan's men had already arrived at the manor, presenting their token and Li Tan's letter, explaining their identity and purpose to Shen Zhenzhu.

Shen Zhenzhu knew she was physically weak and could not endure the hardships of travel, not wanting to become a burden to these people. She entrusted the little heir to the general who came to escort them, asking him to tell Li Chu that she was well and he needn't worry. Su Ci was uneasy and tearfully pleaded with Shen Zhenzhu to allow her to stay, which Shen Zhenzhu agreed to.

Just like that, the escorting general left the capital with the little heir and Zhang Deyu. By this time, the capital had been occupied by An Lushan's rebel army. The bloodthirsty An Lushan, wearing a dragon robe, wanted to kill the royal family and nobles of the former dynasty and use their blood to sacrifice to his son.

As soon as An Qingxu arrived in Chang'an, he rushed to Prince Guangping's manor to look for Shen Zhenzhu. However, Shen Zhenzhu had hidden in a secret room with Su Ci, and An Qingxu found nothing. Feng Shengyi, under Li Chu's orders, hurried back to the manor and found Shen Zhenzhu and Su Ci in the secret room.

Shen Zhenzhu mentioned that there was another secret passage in the manor, and discussed with Feng Shengyi about leaving through this passage tomorrow. These words were overheard by an assassin sent by the Crown Princess, who secretly relayed the news she heard to An Qingxu. The next day, Feng Shengyi took the disguised Shen Zhenzhu and Su Ci out, intending to escort the two out of the city.

However, they were stunned as soon as they stepped out; An Qingxu, with his soldiers, surrounded the three of them. Shen Zhenzhu knew that she could not escape this calamity. She took out the luminous pearl that An Qingxu had once given her, stating that when An Qingxu gave her this item back then, he promised to grant her any request. Now was the time for An Qingxu to fulfill his promise.

Shen Zhenzhu asked An Qingxu to let Feng Shengyi and Su Ci go, and An Qingxu agreed. Shen Zhenzhu was brought to the imperial palace by An Lushan's men. Subsequently, An Lushan sat on the imperial throne and ordered his subordinates to bring in groups of former dynasty nobles, who were then executed on the spot. An Qingxu arrived and told his father that he wanted to personally kill Shen Zhenzhu. An Lushan agreed.

An Qingxu dared not look Shen Zhenzhu in the eye; he turned his back to her and thrust his sword towards Shen Zhenzhu. Two streams of hot tears flowed down An Qingxu's cheeks. An Lushan, thinking his son was finally no longer bound by a woman, stood up contentedly and left. As Feng Shengyi and Su Ci were preparing to leave the city, they saw a female corpse hanging on the city wall.

Su Ci thought it was Shen Zhenzhu and immediately burst into tears. Feng Shengyi stopped her, telling her to first find Li Chu and deliver the news to him, while he would find a way to retrieve Shen Zhenzhu's corpse, which would also be an explanation to Li Chu. Su Ci told Li Chu the news that Shen Zhenzhu had passed away. Li Chu was heartbroken and vomited a mouthful of blood.

Cui Caiping, worried about Li Chu, stepped forward and tried to persuade him, but Li Chu was annoyed by her presence and pushed her to the ground. Cui Caiping tearfully spoke of her helplessness, but Li Chu ignored her. Commander Chen had the garrison train on the spot. Li Chu came to inspect the situation and was ridiculed by Yang Guozhong. Yang Guozhong spoke coldly and sarcastically about Shen Zhenzhu's death.

Li Chu retorted, asking him if he wanted to explain to the Emperor about the treasury silver found under the Yang manor's carriage. Yang Guozhong, finding himself rebuffed, left. Commander Chen quietly spoke with Li Chu, believing that a treacherous villain like Yang Guozhong should not be tolerated. He discussed with Li Chu getting rid of the Yang clan, including Yang Guifei, to stabilize the morale in the army and among the people.

Li Chu thought Commander Chen's words were reasonable and took Li Tan to discuss the matter with the Crown Prince. Li Chu and Li Tan promised their royal father that they would accomplish this matter without implicating him. The indecisive Crown Prince, upon learning that seventy percent of the army supported the idea, believed it was worth a try. Feng Shengyi sneaked into the city tower under the cover of night and took away "Shen Zhenzhu"'s corpse. Li Chu saw "Shen Zhenzhu"'s corpse, choked with sobs, and his hands trembled as he lifted the cloth covering the body.

Li Chu lifted the cloth from the body, relieved, and burst into laughter, looking up at the sky. Li Tan and Li Chuo thought their brother was grief-stricken and mentally unstable. They rushed forward and then understood why their royal brother was laughing: the body on the ground was not their sister-in-law's. Li Chu then suddenly realized that An Qingxu loved Shen Zhenzhu so deeply that he would surely protect her.

In Chang'an City, Shen Zhenzhu opened her eyes, looking confusedly at everything around her. Dugu Jingyao, who was sitting alone drinking, saw Shen Zhenzhu wake up and slowly explained why she was there. It turned out that An Qingxu's sword had not pierced Shen Zhenzhu's vital heart point. He had gone to great lengths to find a corpse similar to Shen Zhenzhu's and hung it on the city wall, deceiving An Lushan.

Afterward, he secretly sent the seriously injured Shen Zhenzhu to Dugu Jingyao's manor, pleading with Dugu Jingyao to take good care of her. Dugu Jingyao agreed, but on the condition that he find a way to cancel her engagement with him. An Qingxu, who was only devoted to Shen Zhenzhu in this life, readily agreed. Dugu Jingyao knew that the Shen family possessed the Qilin Token, so she directly discussed the matter with Shen Zhenzhu.

Shen Zhenzhu asked Dugu Jingyao if the Dugu family would agree if she used the Qilin Token in exchange for the Dugu family withdrawing their troops and no longer assisting the rebel army. Dugu Jingyao looked at Shen Zhenzhu and solemnly told her that once she produced the Qilin Token, the Dugu family would fulfill their promise, even if it meant losing soldiers and generals or exhausting their family fortune.

In Jiannan Shu Commandery, Li Chu, Commander Chen, and the generals were planning to eliminate the Yang clan. Li Chu promised the generals that he would advance and retreat with them, and if the Emperor became enraged, he would certainly not cling to life. Shen Zhenzhu stayed in the room alone, her mind filled with beautiful memories of Li Chu. An Qingxu walked in. Shen Zhenzhu asked him how long he intended to keep her under house arrest.

An Qingxu declared that Li Chu was now like a stray dog, but he himself would soon be the ruler of the world. Shen Zhenzhu told him that whether it was Li Chu, the Imperial Grandson, or Li Chu, who would never have a chance to rise again, she would only entrust her heart to him for this one life. Upon hearing this, An Qingxu declared that he had all the time in the world and angrily left.

Yang Guozhong heard that the Emperor had sent people to search his warehouse, and rushed to stop them. Unexpectedly, as he reached the room, a group of people dressed as foreigners rushed out. Li Chu led his army to surround Yang Guozhong, scolding him for colluding with foreigners and attempting rebellion.

Afterward, Li Chu, Li Tan, and Chen Xuanli led their mighty army to the Emperor's residence, listing Yang Guozhong's crimes one by one, and requesting the Emperor to severely punish Yang Guozhong. Imperial Consort Yang accused the generals of rebellion and wanted to personally see her brother, but the generals guarded the entrance, with no one making way for the Imperial Consort.

The Emperor understood that not killing Yang Guozhong at this moment would not appease the army's morale, so he had no choice but to order the execution of the treacherous minister Yang Guozhong. Li Chu went to confront Yang Guozhong. Yang Guozhong stated that he was merely trying to protect himself and his family, and could not be considered guilty. Furthermore, He Lingyi had only sought him out for protection a few months before her death.

Yang Guozhong claimed that He Lingyi must have sensed the Prince of Guangping's manor's suspicion towards her, which allowed her to divert the Prince of Guangping's attention to the Prime Minister's manor. Therefore, the real mastermind must be someone else. However, at this moment, Li Chu believed these were just Yang Guozhong's excuses, refused to listen further, and threw a rope to Yang Guozhong, telling him to end his own life.

After Yang Guozhong was executed, the generals still refused to depart. They stated that the Imperial Consort was Yang Guozhong's sister and must be executed on the spot. The Emperor, left with no choice, granted Imperial Consort Yang three feet of white silk, ordering her to hang herself.

The Yang clan was executed. All the soldiers shouted that the emperor was wise, but how desolate was the emperor's heart? The laughter from Changsheng Hall in the past seemed to still echo in his ears, but now, his beloved concubine perished because of his own decree. The Crown Prince confided his worries to Crown Princess Zhang, saying that he didn't want to go south with his imperial father to Shu.

If he accompanied him, he would forever be a useless heir apparent, but if he didn't go, he would be branded with the crime of unfilial impiety. Li Chu stood alone in the wilderness, looking troubled, completely unaware that Li Mi, the minister who had previously retired to the mountains, had walked up behind him. Li Mi asked Li Chu what he was worried about.

Li Chu stated frankly that given the current situation, it would be best for the imperial father to remain in the north, but he knew what the imperial father was thinking and currently had no good solution. Hearing this, Li Mi sighed, saying that only the will of the people could change the emperor's decision. Li Chu and Li Tan were discussing matters in the room when Cui Caiping, startled and frantic, ran in.

She knelt by Li Chu's leg and revealed everything she knew about the Crown Princess's plot. She stated that the Crown Princess had deliberately told Zhenzhu about Li Chu's death, wanting to cause Zhenzhu to have a difficult labor, resulting in two deaths. After that plan failed, she deliberately did not inform Zhenzhu about leaving Chang'an. Hearing this, Li Chu was furious and demanded if what Cui Caiping said was true. Cui Caiping, terrified, hid.

The free-spirited and kind Li Tan thought Cui Caiping was delirious and her words might not be true, but the cautious Li Chu, recalling the Crown Princess's previous behaviors, had already become suspicious of her. Li Longji was preparing to lead his army south. As soon as he opened the gate of the temporary palace, he saw a group of common people kneeling at the entrance, begging the emperor not to abandon the north.

In addition, Li Chu and Li Tan voluntarily requested to stay in the north to fight against the rebels. The emperor had no choice but to agree, allowing the Crown Prince, Li Chu, and Li Tan to lead the army and remain in the north. In Chang'an, Dugu Jingyao handed over the parrot from An Qingxu to Zhenzhu.

She told Zhenzhu her feelings as an observer: An Qingxu was devoted to Zhenzhu, and if Zhenzhu could accept him, they might not be unable to grow old together. Zhenzhu replied that her heart already belonged to someone and could not accommodate a second. Dugu Jingyao came out of Zhenzhu's room and saw An Qingxu standing outside the door, looking dejected. She knew that An Qingxu had heard her conversation with Zhenzhu.

Dugu Jingyao couldn't bear to watch any longer, so she kindly reminded An Qingxu that one should put thought into gifts for a beloved person. Late at night, Zhenzhu remembered what Li Chu had told her before, feeling that this villa must also have secret passages. Zhenzhu, wanting to leave through a secret passage, began searching, and sure enough, she found the switch for the secret passage.

What Zhenzhu didn't expect was that a masked assassin was in the secret passage, intending to eliminate her. At the critical moment, An Qingxu arrived and saved Zhenzhu. The injured assassin escaped, and Dugu Jingyao also appeared in the secret passage with her subordinates. An Qingxu asked Dugu Jingyao to send people to seal off all the secret passages. After settling Zhenzhu, An Qingxu stood on the veranda and talked with Dugu Jingyao.

An Qingxu stated that the reason he was able to find Zhenzhu that day was because someone had given him a diagram of the secret passages in Prince Guangping's mansion. Dugu Jingyao believed that the person who delivered the message must be very familiar with the secret passages of Prince Guangping's mansion and the Crown Prince's villa, and this person was no ordinary individual.

Zhenzhu quietly hid behind the door, listening to their conversation, and wondered to herself who this person who repeatedly tried to harm her could be. In fact, that person was He Lingyi, and her true master was Crown Princess Zhang. The Crown Princess wanted He Lingyi to eliminate Li Chu and Zhenzhu, clearing obstacles for her son.

In a villa in Chang'an City, Shen Zhenzhu stayed alone in her room. Yan Ming, disguised, came to Shen Zhenzhu's room. He told Shen Zhenzhu that Li Chu had executed Yang Guozhong, and he came this time at Li Chu's behest to pick her up. The rescue operation for Shen Zhenzhu was set for five days later, during An Qingxu and Dugu Jingyao's wedding, when the scene would be chaotic, and he would come to rescue Shen Zhenzhu.

Shen Zhenzhu instructed Yan Ming to search for the jade pendant she had dropped in the secret passage of Prince Guangping's mansion, as it was a priceless treasure—the Qilin Order. After Yan Ming left, Shen Zhenzhu paid respects in the courtyard to her deceased parents and the innocent departed souls of the Shen family. She told her parents that she had finally avenged the Shen family, and they could rest in peace.

Outside Chang'an City, the Crown Prince's party was stationed there. Li Chuo, a woman no less brave than a man, also selected some strong maidservants and formed a female soldier camp, training them properly. Su Ci was also among them. With no prior training, Su Ci was determined to master a skill to protect Shen Zhenzhu in the future, so she begged Li Chuo to also place her in the female soldier camp for training.

In Crown Princess Zhang's tent, the Crown Prince was playing with young prince Shao'er. Consort Pei came carrying medicinal cuisine. When she was about to leave, she feigned feeling unwell. The Crown Prince rushed over. Crown Princess Zhang, not to be outdone, secretly pinched her son's arm to make the Crown Prince stay. Shao'er burst into tears, and the Crown Prince had no choice but to hold and comfort him.

In the evening, Crown Princess Zhang gave the Crown Prince a bowl of medicinal soup. After drinking it, the Crown Prince became drowsy. After the Crown Prince fell asleep, Crown Princess Zhang instructed He Lingyi to begin their operation. Crown Princess Zhang wanted He Lingyi to first inform Li Fuguo that the Crown Prince was resting and that discussions would resume tomorrow.

Li Chu, unaware that his royal father was resting, arrived at the Crown Prince's tent according to the original arrangement. At the entrance of the tent, He Lingyi, hiding in the shadows, shot a worm raised with Xiaohun San into Li Chu's neck. Afterward, she had Eunuch Li arrange to bring Consort Pei to Li Chu's tent.

Crown Princess Zhang planned to have the maidservant she had placed by Consort Pei scream loudly when Li Chu's drug took effect and he and Consort Pei were intimately involved, making it known to everyone. This way, she could bring down Li Chu and Consort Pei, killing two birds with one stone.

When Consort Pei entered the tent, the Xiaohun San in Li Chu's body began to take effect, but he restrained himself, covering Consort Pei's hand and shaking his head at her. Seeing this, Consort Pei knew something was wrong and quickly told the maidservant waiting outside that there was no one inside, then hurried away. Li Chu staggered to the riverside, plunged into the water, and finally calmed down. Feng Shengyi also arrived by Li Chu's side at this time.

Li Chu recalled the strange sensation on his neck before entering the tent and Cui Caiping's previous words, realizing he had fallen victim to Crown Princess Zhang and Li Fuguo's scheme. The next day, Li Chu was supervising soldier training. Seeing the Crown Princess emerge from her tent, he called out to her, warning her not to use those despicable palace schemes on him.

Subsequently, Li Chu received a letter from Yan Ming and dispatched Feng Shengyi to lead people to assist Yan Ming. On the wedding day of An Qingxu and Dugu Jingyao, Shen Zhenzhu deliberately sent away the maidservant guarding her, waiting for Yan Ming and others to arrive. The door opened, but the person who came in was Dugu Jingyao. Dugu Jingyao feigned having something on her mind and wanted to chat with Shen Zhenzhu.

She even specifically poured Shen Zhenzhu a cup of tea. Shen Zhenzhu, completely unsuspecting, drank it, not realizing the tea had been drugged by Dugu Jingyao. After Shen Zhenzhu finished drinking, she was unable to speak. Dugu Jingyao explained that this was a last resort for her, and the drug's effects would naturally subside after half an hour. Just like that, Shen Zhenzhu was changed into a wedding dress, had a wedding veil placed over her head, and waited for An Qingxu to arrive.

An Qingxu, riding a tall horse, led a group of people to the Dugu Residence. Outsiders thought he was there to marry Dugu Jingyao, but in fact, he wanted to use the wedding as an opportunity to eliminate the entire Dugu family when they relaxed their guard. At the Dugu Residence, Dugu Jingyao's father and cousin, among others, waited outside.

Shen Zhenzhu, who had changed into a bridal gown and could not speak, was also helped to the entrance by a maid. After An Qingxu arrived, he immediately led his subordinates to fight with the Dugu family. Dugu Jingyao's father, the once renowned King of Yunnan, was also killed by An Qingxu completely unprepared. An Qingxu thought the person under the veil was Dugu Jingyao, so he proposed to fight her fairly to decide a winner.

But when he lifted the veil and found that the person in the phoenix coronet and bridal gown was Shen Zhenzhu, he was overjoyed. He decided that today, he would marry Shen Zhenzhu to fulfill his long-cherished wish. Shen Zhenzhu was unwilling. An Qingxu stated that at this moment, Li Chu and Li Tan were leading an army to attack the city, but he had already deployed 100,000 soldiers outside the city, vowing to take Li Chu's head.

Shen Zhenzhu, concerned about Li Chu's safety, had no choice but to agree and got into the carriage. Feng Shengyi and Yan Ming, who were lurking in the dark, decided to follow first and act as opportunity arose. At this moment, Dugu Jingyao, who was outside the city, learned from Uncle Lin about the Dugu family's perilous situation and immediately rushed back to Chang'an with her people.

At the entrance of the Dugu Residence, Dugu Jingyao saw the bodies of her father and cousin, and tears streamed down her face. Dugu Jingyao, who had fought numerous bloody battles on the battlefield, kowtowed several times before her father's body. Suppressing her grief, she led her brothers to confront An Lushan. She knew that from now on, she would have to support the future of the Dugu family. Dugu Jingyao led her people to intercept An Qingxu's wedding procession.

She told Shen Zhenzhu that she had previously wronged her, and now she had come to rescue her. Both sides engaged in a fierce fight. Feng Shengyi and Yan Ming also seized the opportunity to join in, and the three factions fell into a chaotic battle. Shen Zhenzhu got out of the carriage. Dugu Jingyao pulled her onto a horse and took her away.

An Qingxu originally wanted to pursue them, but An Lushan's orders came down, instructing him to take his troops to fight the Tang army. It turned out that the Tang soldiers led by Li Chu and Li Tan had already broken through the pass. The Crown Prince woke up in the middle of the night and was deeply moved to see the Crown Princess holding a sword, keeping watch for him.

In fact, this was just an act deliberately performed by the Crown Princess, whose ultimate goal was to persuade the Crown Prince not to wait any longer and to seize this opportunity to ascend to the throne. What the Crown Princess said was exactly what the Crown Prince was thinking, but he did not want to risk universal condemnation.

The next day, the ministers submitted a memorial, earnestly requesting the Crown Prince to prioritize the overall situation and ascend to the throne to ensure the stability of the Great Tang's empire. The Crown Prince agreed. In the fifteenth year of Tianbao of the Tang Dynasty, Li Heng held his enthronement ceremony in Lingwu City. Under the homage of all his ministers, Li Heng ascended the throne as emperor, historically known as Emperor Suzong of Tang.

Li Chu and Li Tan reported to the Crown Prince that Prince Yong refused to comply with the imperial decree, citing that it lacked the national seal. Li Heng, feeling uneasy about his irregularly obtained throne, blamed Li Tan and Li Chu, claiming that they had persuaded him to ascend.

Li Chu was worried that the matter of Yong Wang would eventually become a hidden danger, so he requested permission from Suzong to travel to Shu and ask Xuanzong to bestow the national seal and the imperial edict of abdication. After much deliberation, the Emperor agreed. Before his departure, Li Chu and Li Tan bid farewell. Li Chu was deeply concerned about Shen Zhenzhu's safety.

Li Tan comforted him, telling him not to worry too much, as Feng Shengyi had already gone to rescue Shen Zhenzhu, and he believed she would return soon. In Chang'an City, Dugu Jingyao took Shen Zhenzhu and left quickly. When they reached the border between Yan and Tang, Dugu Jingyao sent her subordinates to escort Shen Zhenzhu away, while she herself turned back to Chang'an.

After all, Dugu Jingyao still had a family vendetta to avenge, and the matters of the Dugu family were waiting for her to handle. Shen Zhenzhu and her group had not traveled far before they encountered An Lushan's rebel army. The people escorting Shen Zhenzhu fought with the rebels, and all were killed. Shen Zhenzhu fled in a panic, walking alone in this chaotic world engulfed by war.

At night, Li Tan was alone in his tent, staring blankly at the concentric knot bracelet in his hand, his mind filled with memories of Murong Linzhi and himself together. Suddenly, a soldier reported that Li Chuo had led her trained female soldiers to pursue the rebels who had raided their grain supplies, but had not returned. It was highly probable that they had fallen into a rebel ambush.

Li Tan immediately led his soldiers to rescue them, but by the time they arrived, Li Chuo had already been captured by the rebels. Li Tan still wanted to lead his troops in pursuit, but the generals advised him to be cautious. After all, the enemy had already taken the princess, and ahead was the enemy's camp, so rash action was absolutely not advisable. Li Tan had no choice but to temporarily give up.

Shen Zhenzhu walked alone and helpless in the wilderness and met Mo Yanchuai and Zhe Miyi. Mo Yanchuai asked Shen Zhenzhu to travel with them, as they were also coming to assist the Tang army. In the evening, while stopping to rest, Mo Yanchuai told Shen Zhenzhu about Zhe Miyi. It turned out that Zhe Miyi had fallen in love with Li Chengcai.

Li Chengcai was a member of the Tang imperial clan, and this journey to Huige was on behalf of the imperial court to borrow troops. Zhe Miyi and he developed feelings for each other over time, so Mo Yanchuai decided to facilitate their union. To prevent Zhe Miyi from being criticized by the Tang imperial family for her humble status, he acknowledged Zhe Miyi as his sworn sister.

Shen Zhenzhu was very pleased to learn that Yehu had already led the Huige army to help the Great Tang, as this meant Li Chu's chances of victory had increased. The next morning, Mo Yanchuai quietly went to inquire about news near Chang'an and unexpectedly captured the Great General of Jingguo, a subordinate of An Lushan. Mo Yanchuai ordered him to draw out An Lushan's troop deployments and defense maps in Chang'an and Luoyang.

The Great General of Jingguo drew the maps and also truthfully recounted that Li Chuo had been taken away by An Lushan's subordinates. Shen Zhenzhu was burning with anxiety upon learning that Li Chuo was currently with the enemy. " "" In Shu, Li Chu arrived at the temporary palace where Xuanzong was residing. From Chen Xuanli, who was accompanying him, he learned about Yong Wang's rebellion and his intention to seize the national seal by force.

As the Grand Marshal of all forces, Li Chu deployed several thousand elite soldiers and repelled Yong Wang's men. Afterwards, Li Chu met Emperor Xuanzong, who had aged considerably. He asked Li Chu if he had truly made mistakes. Li Chu replied that as a grandson, he wanted to speak his mind to his grandfather. He stated that over the years, his imperial grandfather had listened to slander and favored corrupt officials, causing the court to lose its integrity.

Subsequently, Li Chu analyzed the current situation before Xuanzong, directly stating that only by handing over the national seal to his father (the current Emperor, Suzong) would it be beneficial to maintain the unity of the realm and restore the prosperity of the Great Tang.

Xuanzong instructed Gao Lishi to hand over the imperial edict of abdication and the national seal, which he had long prepared, to Li Chu, entrusting Li Chu to assist his father well and guard the glory of the Great Tang.

Li Chu received the enthronement document and national seal from Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Li Heng held the enthronement ceremony in the grand hall, received the Imperial Seal, and officially declared to the world that he had legitimately ascended the throne. After the grand ceremony, Yan Ming reported the results of the operation to Li Chu. Li Chu learned that Shen Zhenzhu's whereabouts were unknown and that Li Chuo was currently in the enemy camp, making him extremely anxious.

Li Chu went to the Emperor, pleading for permission to go to Chang'an to gather information. The Emperor stated that he clearly knew Li Chu was risking his life for Shen Zhenzhu. He reminded Li Chu that in these troubled times, Shen Zhenzhu, being merely a woman, would surely not be able to retreat unharmed, and Shen Zhenzhu was highly likely to bring shame upon the royal family.

As the two were arguing, a eunuch came to report that Li Chuo had been captured and taken to Chang'an. Li Chu was worried, as Chuo'er was the sister he and Li Tan had doted on since childhood. However, the Emperor cruelly stated that rescuing Chuo'er would require a great cost, and she could only be left to her fate. Li Chu disagreed with the Emperor's words and insisted on rescuing her. The Emperor then imprisoned Li Chu.

Mo Yanchuai knew that Shen Zhenzhu was concerned about Li Chuo, and coupled with his brotherhood with Li Chu, he decided that he would do everything possible to rescue Li Chuo. Shen Zhenzhu learned that An Lushan would hold a living sacrifice ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, so she threatened the Grand General of Jingguo, asking him to find a way to get Mo Yanchuai into the ceremony and then figure out how to rescue Chuo'er.

At the Imperial Ancestral Temple, a sacrificial ceremony was being held. Li Chuo was tied to a pillar, surrounded by a group of shamans. Chuo'er was very scared. An Qingxu watched the panicked Li Chuo, showing no reaction, and even prepared to personally carry out the act. Suddenly, the Grand General of Jingguo sent a message, claiming an urgent military situation. An Qingxu hastily left. Mo Yanchuai took advantage of the chaos to rescue Li Chuo and brought her back.

Li Chuo saw her sister-in-law and finally felt relieved. Mo Yanchuai and his group continued on their journey, but they were stopped by An Qingxu, who realized he had been tricked. Shen Zhenzhu took An Qingxu hostage and told Mo Yanchuai to immediately take Li Chuo home. Afterward, she returned to Fanyang with An Qingxu. Li Chuo and Li Tan came to the prison and told Li Chu the news that Shen Zhenzhu had been taken away by An Qingxu.

Li Chu decided that he must rescue Shen Zhenzhu. He exchanged clothes with Li Tan, escaped from prison, and rushed to Fanyang with Mo Yanchuai to rescue Shen Zhenzhu. An Qingxu once again put Shen Zhenzhu under house arrest. Shen Zhenzhu held a broken piece of porcelain to her neck, wanting to show An Qingxu the strength of her resolve. However, An Qingxu was not threatened at all. He stated that at worst, they would die together.

Li Chu learned that An Lushan had asked the Pear Garden troupe to perform for him, but one musician was loyal to the Great Tang and swore not to comply. Li Chu eventually found him and explained his intention. The musician agreed to help Li Chu, disguised Li Chu and Mo Yanchuai as members of the troupe, and took them into An Lushan's palace.

An Lushan's palace, musicians played accompaniment, and An Lushan drank freely, with beauties by his side. Shi Siming toasted An Lushan, but An Lushan mocked him about his relationship with Crown Princess Zhang. Li Chu, disguised as a musician, heard this. While An Lushan was implicitly warning Shi Siming, a eunuch accidentally spilled food on the Empress while serving dishes. An Lushan, who regarded human life as worthless, immediately ordered severe punishment for the eunuch.

An Qingxu arrived at the banquet. He explained to his father that he was preoccupied with military affairs. But no one knows a son better than his father. An Lushan unreservedly pointed out that An Qingxu must have been accompanying Shen Zhenzhu in the Ye Ting Palace. Li Chu was shocked to hear this and accidentally played a wrong note. Amidst the harmonious music, this wrong note was particularly jarring.

An Lushan heard it and deemed it a great disrespect from the musician, demanding that person be found. At this critical moment, the musician, loyal to the Great Tang, stepped forward to protect Li Chu, pointing at An Lushan and cursing him. He was then dragged away by An Lushan's subordinates to be executed. Li Chu, learning that Zhenzhu was in Ye Ting, found Mo Yanchuai and told him about the secret palace tunnel entrance.

In fact, the secret passage was inside An Lushan's bedchamber. Li Chu and Mo Yanchuai discussed that after rescuing Zhenzhu, they would also kill An Lushan to eliminate future troubles. Afterwards, Mo Yanchuai wanted to scout An Lushan's bedchamber. At the entrance, he heard An Lushan whipping a eunuch.

From An Lushan's scolding, Mo Yanchuai learned the whole story: the eunuch, tortured to the point of wishing for death by An Lushan's cruel punishments, was secretly sharpening a knife in the bedchamber, wanting to kill An Lushan. Mo Yanchuai felt he could use this eunuch to help him and Li Chu achieve their goal.

He quietly pulled the eunuch into the shadows and told him that he could help him get rid of An Lushan, but he would need his secret cooperation and assistance. After some thought, the eunuch agreed to Mo Yanchuai. The next day, Li Chu managed to pass a note to Zhenzhu. Being of one mind with him, Zhenzhu understood what to do after reading it. Zhenzhu asked her maid to find a guqin for her.

An Qingxu painstakingly selected a fine guqin and presented it to Zhenzhu as if offering a treasure. Zhenzhu sighed to An Qingxu that the melodies played by the musicians during the Crown Prince's selection were still in her ears, but youth had passed, and the past was no more. An Qingxu thought Zhenzhu was sad, so he ordered the musicians to rehearse the tunes from the Crown Prince's selection to celebrate Zhenzhu's birthday.

An Qingxu bought Zhenzhu the Momordica grosvenorii (luohan guo) she loved as a child. Zhenzhu ate it in silence. Music played by musicians drifted in from outside. An Qingxu walked up and embraced Zhenzhu, but Zhenzhu pushed him away. An Qingxu was enraged and pushed Zhenzhu onto the bed. Zhenzhu resisted desperately. Fortunately, a eunuch arrived and told An Qingxu that An Lushan wanted to see him at that moment. An Qingxu left displeased, and Zhenzhu escaped danger.

Zhenzhu, having suffered much grievance, lay on the bed weeping bitterly. She then heard a familiar voice. She got up and saw Li Chu, whom she had longed for day and night. Zhenzhu embraced Li Chu, finally finding comfort, and she burst into tears.

In An Lushan's study, An Qingxu saw An Lushan's memorial and learned that An Lushan intended to name the son born to his favorite concubine as the crown prince. An Qingxu was unwilling to accept this, and after confirming it was true, he became even more furious. Even after killing the ritual official, his hatred remained, so he decided to act against his father five days later.

Li Chu and his group sneaked into a secret passage in An Lushan's sleeping quarters during the day. In the evening, the eunuch who had agreed to cooperate with Li Chu served An Lushan a medicinal soup, and An Lushan fell asleep. Shen Zhenzhu, according to the plan discussed with Li Chu, intended to enter An Lushan's sleeping quarters. Unexpectedly, she encountered An Qingxu, who was also planning an action, outside the sleeping quarters.

An Qingxu pulled Shen Zhenzhu into the sleeping quarters. An Qingxu told Shen Zhenzhu to hide behind the curtains. He went forward alone, woke An Lushan, and questioned him about whether he intended to name An Qing'en as the crown prince. The hot-tempered An Lushan cursed at his son. An Qingxu, who was already prepared, drew his sword and stabbed his father. An Lushan died instantly. Shen Zhenzhu was stunned.

An Qingxu told Shen Zhenzhu that he was willing to commit the heinous crime of patricide for her, and therefore, from now on, there was nothing he wouldn't do for her. Just as An Qingxu was getting agitated, Mo Yanchuai and Feng Shengyi, who were ambushed in An Lushan's sleeping quarters, rushed forward and fought fiercely with An Qingxu. Li Chu took Shen Zhenzhu and left through the secret passage.

An Qingxu had already gone mad and killed his own father. Now, becoming the ruler of the world was his only goal. He tricked the young prince and the empress into a secret dungeon and killed both of them. On the carriage, Li Chu took Shen Zhenzhu and hurried to Shuofang. Seeing the haggard Shen Zhenzhu, Li Chu was filled with self-reproach. The news of An Qingxu's patricide and ascension to the throne was known to everyone.

Li Mi suggested to the Emperor that they should advance to Fanyang at this time, because the enemy army was in internal chaos, and Fanyang was a place where provisions were stockpiled. However, the Emperor was stubborn and believed that the current plan was to first retake Chang'an. As they each held their own opinions, the Emperor decided to summon Li Chu. At this moment, Li Chu, Shen Zhenzhu, and Mo Yanchuai were still on their way back.

The Crown Prince was furious upon learning that Li Chu had left the military camp without permission. Li Tan pleaded for his royal brother. With the military situation being urgent, and Li Mi persuading the Emperor, the Emperor decided to send Li Tan to Taiyuan to engage the enemy army.

Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu were halfway there when they met Yan Ming and others who came to meet them. The group rested in an inn. While Li Chu chatted with the innkeeper, he learned that An Lushan's rebel army was stationed nearby. These rebels plundered, killed, and burned indiscriminately, causing immense suffering among the common people. Fortunately, there was a female general who often rescued the people from their misery.

After Shen Zhenzhu learned about the people's difficult lives, she suggested distributing their remaining grain to the villagers. So, Shen Zhenzhu began distributing porridge outside the inn. At this moment, the legendary female General Tu'an, who saved people from suffering, also arrived with grain. The villagers were happy to receive the life-saving grain, but then news suddenly came that the rebels were coming to the village to seize food.

General Tu'an immediately led her subordinates outside the village to confront the rebels. Li Chu and Feng Shengyi also led their men to fight the enemy. During the confrontation, when General Tu'an was in a difficult situation, Li Chu saved her. Her mask fell to the ground, revealing that this renowned female General Tu'an was Dugu Jingyao. Dugu Jingyao saw Li Chu and was moved by his handsome appearance and courageous spirit.

She fell in love with him at first sight and tried to inquire about his identity. However, she learned from the innkeeper that Li Chu was staying there with his wife, which left her feeling regretful. Empress Zhang did not want Shen Zhenzhu to return safely, so she deliberately exaggerated to the Emperor about Shen Zhenzhu and An Qingxu's wedding ceremony in Chang'an. The Emperor was furious, believing that Shen Zhenzhu had disgraced the royal family.

After Shen Zhenzhu returned, he questioned her about the matter. Shen Zhenzhu openly admitted it, which enraged the Emperor even more, despite Li Chu's repeated attempts to explain the circumstances. Under Empress Zhang's deliberate instigation, the Emperor decided to send Shen Zhenzhu to Jinghui Temple for spiritual cultivation. Li Chu naturally refused, but the Emperor threatened to remove him from his position as Grand Marshal if he remained stubborn.

For the sake of the common people and the Tang Dynasty, Shen Zhenzhu chose to compromise. Thus, Shen Zhenzhu was sent to Jinghui Temple. Li Chu, along with Su Ci, took Shi'er to visit her. Afterwards, Li Chu personally called upon Li Bi, hoping he could persuade the Emperor to release Shen Zhenzhu soon.

However, to his surprise, Li Bi refused, believing that Li Chu was destined to bear the responsibility of the Tang Dynasty and should not be constrained by personal affections. Moreover, Li Bi also thought that Shen Zhenzhu's matter was unacceptable to the imperial family. Li Chu disagreed with Li Bi's words and solemnly told Li Bi that he would never be a man who abandoned his wife. Late at night at Jinghui Temple, Shen Zhenzhu felt chest pain while reading.

She wanted to take medicine but found the bottle empty. A knock came from outside the window. She opened the door to find Mo Yanchuai. It turned out that Mo Yanchuai had come to bring medicine to Shen Zhenzhu, offering help in her time of need. He told Shen Zhenzhu that he would definitely find a way to rescue her. As Mo Yanchuai left, he met Li Chu, who was waiting outside the temple.

In fact, Li Chu was also deeply concerned about Shen Zhenzhu. Li Chu and Mo Yanchuai discussed having Ye Hu step forward in the name of the Huihe Grand General to put pressure on the Emperor. Shen Zhenzhu looked up and saw countless Kongming lanterns in the sky, knowing it was Li Chu's doing. Shen Zhenzhu understood Li Chu's feelings, so she would persevere and wait.

Shi Siming also learned the news of An Qingxu's parricide and succession to the throne. He believed that An Qingxu had disregarded human morality and was unwilling to submit to him.

Li Tan, under the Emperor's command, led three thousand troops to Taiyuan and, together with General Li who was stationed there, launched an attack on Shi Siming. Shi Siming also led his troops to meet the battle. Li Tan and General Guo repelled Shi Siming's soldiers, achieving a great victory, but Li Tan was severely wounded, leaving a scar on his face. On the way back to the camp, Li Tan saw Murong Linzhi patiently treating wounded soldiers.

He originally wanted to take a detour, not wanting to trigger Murong Linzhi's bad memories and cause her more pain. However, to his surprise, Murong Linzhi saw his injury and called out to him. Because of the scar on Li Tan's face, Murong Linzhi didn't recognize him. Murong Linzhi asked Li Tan to sit at the table and went to fetch medicine to help clean Li Tan's wound, but when she turned around, she found that the person was gone.

In Li Tan's tent, the military doctor earnestly tried to persuade Li Tan to stitch up the wound on his face, but Li Tan stubbornly refused. He believed that this way, he could stay by Murong Linzhi's side and protect her without worrying about triggering her memories. Thus, a scar remained on Li Tan's face.

The next day, Li Tan enthusiastically brought a large bowl of dumplings to Murong Linzhi, wanting her to eat something good to recuperate, but Murong Linzhi refused and distributed the dumplings to the wounded soldiers around her. In Fengxiang, news of Li Tan and General Li's great victory against the enemy spread back. The Emperor was greatly pleased. Empress Zhang and Eunuch Li, who were by his side, persuaded the Emperor to let Li Xi lead troops to attack Chang'an.

Li Bi spoke out righteously, stating that Li Xi was not a military genius and that no one but Li Chu could be competent for this battle. The Emperor was displeased to hear this, worrying that Li Chu's merits would overshadow his own. Empress Zhang also fanned the flames, stating that Li Bi's words were too biased towards Li Chu.

Li Bi, who already disliked the corrupt practices in the court, openly denounced the Empress for overstepping her bounds and interfering in state affairs. The Empress was enraged, but she knew that Li Bi possessed great talent and strategy, and that Chang'an could not be recovered without him, so she decided to act against him only after Chang'an was recaptured. Li Tan had his subordinates bring Murong Linzhi to his tent.

He had prepared Murong Linzhi's favorite dishes for her, but Murong Linzhi stated that with the soldiers currently starving, she had no heart to enjoy such food. Li Tan pressed Murong Linzhi, asking if there was a remedy if someone detested himself because of past actions. Murong Linzhi advised him not to cling to the past but to live in the present. Li Bi told Li Chu about the court dispute and warned him to be wary of Empress Zhang.

He Lingyi, disguised at the Empress's behest, infiltrated Jinghui Temple and poisoned Shen Zhenzhu's meal. A County Princess next to Shen Zhenzhu coveted Shen Zhenzhu's food, and Shen Zhenzhu gave it to her. However, after eating, the County Princess suffered unbearable abdominal pain and died from poisoning. Shen Zhenzhu realized that even though she was in Jinghui Temple, there were still people who wanted to kill her. Uyghur Prince Yehu paid his respects to the Emperor.

In this battle, the Uyghurs had rendered meritorious service to the Great Tang. Yehu deliberately mentioned his sister in front of the Emperor and Empress, stating that his purpose in coming was to see his sister, but she was imprisoned in Jinghui Temple. The Emperor, left with no choice, sent people to bring Shen Zhenzhu back from Jinghui Temple and also bestowed upon her the title of First-Rank Lady of the State.

After many twists and turns, Shen Zhenzhu finally returned to Prince Guangping's Mansion with Li Chu as she wished, seeing her son whom she had longed for day and night. Holding her son, Shen Zhenzhu looked around the room and, not seeing Su Ci, asked Li Chu where Su Ci was now.

Li Chu dared not hide anything from Shen Zhenzhu and had to tell her the truth, informing her that Su Ci was attacked and fell off a cliff while accompanying Li Chuo in an assault on the enemy camp. Shen Zhenzhu was very sad; Hong Rui, who had accompanied her since childhood, had passed away to protect her, and now Su Ci was missing.

Seeing the deeply grieved Shen Zhenzhu, Li Chu consoled her kindly, telling her that from now on, their family of three would always be together. Shen Zhenzhu told Li Chu her suspicions. She explained to Li Chu that when she was at Jinghui Temple, someone poisoned her food, attempting to kill her. Combined with the assassination attempt on her in the secret passage, she suspected that the true culprit behind the murders of the Shen family might be someone else.

Li Chu decided to investigate further. Cui Caiping, having lost her mother and concubine as her support, rambled to herself crazily all day in the mansion. Shen Zhenzhu took pity on her and, letting go of past grievances, instructed the people in the mansion to take good care of her.

Li Chuo was moved by Shen Zhenzhu's generosity and kindness, praising her sister-in-law highly and also feeling envious, hoping she could be like her sister-in-law and live in harmony with the man she loved. Murong Linzhi was going back to Taiyuan with the military doctors. Li Tan did not try to stop her, staring blankly at her receding figure. Li Tan's attendant and guard knew his feelings and asked him why he didn't stop Murong Linzhi.

Li Tan helplessly stated that he no longer had the right to interfere in Murong Linzhi's life, his tone filled with bitterness. The political situation in the court changed; Empress Zhang's ambition became obvious. Li Chu realized that he could not remain aloof and that only by seizing the position of Crown Prince could he protect his wife and children. The Emperor was temporarily unable to decide which prince should lead troops to attack Chang'an.

Previously, Li Mi claimed that no one but Li Chu could undertake this important task, while Empress Zhang strenuously recommended Li Xi. After much deliberation, the Emperor decided that whoever first captured Dasanguan near Chang'an would be able to lead the troops to attack Chang'an. At this time, Dasanguan was defended by General Tu'an himself, leading 30,000 elite soldiers. The arrogant Li Xi, like a frog in a well, boasted that he could take Dasanguan with only 5,000 troops.

Li Chu believed Li Xi's method was unfeasible and decided to meet with General Tu'an first. To infiltrate General Tu'an's stronghold, Li Chu and Feng Shengyi disguised themselves as women. Li Chu felt very uncomfortable and warned Feng Shengyi not to reveal that he was dressed as a maid. After infiltrating the stronghold, the two acted separately. Li Chu sneaked into Dugu Jingyao's room. Dugu Jingyao soon walked in.

Li Chu became very nervous when he learned that Dugu Jingyao was about to bathe and change. He tried to slip away but was noticed by Dugu Jingyao. Helpless, Li Chu had no choice but to explain his intentions thoroughly. Dugu Jingyao had been smitten with Li Chu at first sight, and now seeing him dressed as a maid, she couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The next day, Dugu Jingyao invited Li Chu to an archery contest with her, stating that if Li Chu won, she would choose to cooperate with him. Li Chu and Dugu Jingyao both shot the same bird simultaneously, and the contest ended in a draw. Dugu Jingyao was unwilling to send troops, but she wrote a letter by hand, asking Li Chu to give it to Shen Zhenzhu. Li Chu then left.

Li Chu told Shen Zhenzhu about his visit to ask Dugu Jingyao to send troops and handed Dugu Jingyao's letter to Shen Zhenzhu. After reading it, Shen Zhenzhu knew that the so-called General Tu'an was Dugu Jingyao and decided to take out the Shen family's Qilin Token to ask Dugu Jingyao to help Li Chu.

After Li Chu left Dasanguan, Dugu Jingyao stood alone in the courtyard, lost in thought, her mind filled with Li Chu's image. Dugu Jingyao knew very well that she had been attracted to Li Chu from the first time she saw him, but Li Chu already had Zhenzhu by his side. Dugu Jingyao drank alone, heavy-hearted. A subordinate came and told her that Li Chu had arrived with his princess consort.

Knowing she couldn't avoid it, Dugu Jingyao reluctantly went to meet them. Zhenzhu took out the Qilin Token and asked Dugu Jingyao to agree to help Li Chu recapture Chang'an. Dugu Jingyao knew the Dugu family's ancestral teaching: once a member of the Shen family presented the Qilin Token with a request, they must agree, even if it meant going through fire and water. So, Dugu Jingyao agreed to Zhenzhu's request.

Watching Li Chu and Zhenzhu walk away hand-in-hand, Jingyao felt a bitter taste in her heart. Leaving Dasanguan, Li Chu and Zhenzhu hurried back to Shuofang. On the way, they encountered Su Ci, who was being pursued. What Zhenzhu had not expected was that Su Ci was already six months pregnant. Zhenzhu took Su Ci back to her residence and took good care of her.

After waking up, Su Ci told Zhenzhu about her ordeal: she had fallen off a cliff and been rescued by a hunter. Su Ci married the hunter, but fate was unpredictable, and two months later, the hunter unfortunately passed away. Su Ci was left with only her unborn child to accompany her. Zhenzhu felt great pity after hearing this and repeatedly comforted Su Ci, telling her not to be afraid.

Because Li Chu had persuaded Dugu Jingyao to send troops to assist, the Emperor, according to his previous promise, reinstated Li Chu as Grand Marshal of the Army and ordered him to lead troops to attack Chang'an. Li Chu discussed strategies with Dugu Jingyao, General Guo Ziyi, Yabgu, and others. Jingyao proposed a plan, but someone insulted her with their words. Li Chu was furious and sternly reprimanded those people, helping Jingyao establish her authority.

When Jingyao left the camp, she gave Li Chu the Dugu family's precious protective mirror for him to use for self-defense on the battlefield. Li Chu, following the original plan, led his troops to attack Chang'an. An Qingxu's forces were repeatedly defeated. When they could no longer hold on, they still did not receive reinforcements from Shi Siming. An Qingxu knew that Shi Siming, who was firmly entrenched in Fanyang, had no intention of helping him.

The Tang army attacked and entered Chang'an. The Emperor was greatly pleased upon hearing this and declared that Li Chu's contribution in taking Chang'an was indispensable. Dugu Jingyao found Li Chu and expressed her willingness to lead the Dugu family to submit to the Tang Dynasty. Li Chu was naturally very happy. Subsequently, Li Chu and Dugu Jingyao rode horses together into Chang'an city. The people of Chang'an lined both sides of the road, welcoming Prince Guangping back.

Li Chu was accidentally ambushed, and Dugu Jingyao, in a critical moment, disregarded her own safety to block an arrow for Li Chu. At Prince Guangping's mansion, Zhenzhu patiently took care of Jingyao. The imperial physician stated that the arrow Dugu Jingyao was hit by had wounded her abdomen, and it might be difficult for her to conceive in the future.

Li Chu decided to press on with the victory and attack Fanyang. Before his departure, Dugu Jingyao handed over the intelligence she had gathered about Luoyang to Li Chu. An Qingxu led his soldiers to defend Luoyang to the death, and also sent men to block the roads for transporting grain to the Tang army. When Li Chu was at his wits' end, Dugu Jingyao, despite her injuries, rushed to the battlefield and offered strategies to Li Chu.

Li Chu acted according to her plan, instructing Feng Shengyi and Yan Ming to escort grain and fodder, pretending to be defeated by An Qingxu's troops. An Qingxu's subordinates, not understanding the deception, brought the grain and fodder back to Luoyang, never expecting that Tang army soldiers were hidden inside the supply carts. In this way, the soldiers outside and inside the city coordinated to open Luoyang's city gates. The Tang army and An Qingxu's forces began a fierce battle.

Dugu Jingyao intended to personally kill An Qingxu to avenge her father. With Li Chu's cooperation, Dugu Jingyao struck An Qingxu down from his horse. Jingyao also accidentally fell from her horse after being hit by one of An Qingxu's subordinates. Li Chu rushed to save Jingyao. An Qingxu's subordinates seized the opportunity to take him and flee. Dugu Jingyao, disregarding her injuries, wanted to chase after him, but Li Chu stopped her, advising her not to act recklessly.

An Qingxu abandoned the city and fled. Li Chu led the Tang army to capture Luoyang. In the second year of Zhide of Tang, Emperor Suzong of Tang returned to Chang'an with the imperial family and nobility. With the overall situation under heaven stabilized, Empress Zhang's ambition began to stir. She wanted her son to become the emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty.

Li Chu saw his younger brother Li Tan, who was wearing a mask to cover his scars, and felt immense heartache. He reprimanded him for acting willfully that day and not following medical advice, which resulted in the scars. However, Li Tan said that he was fine with how he was now. In fact, Li Chu did not know that Li Tan did all this for Murong Linzhi.

That night, at the Prince of Guangping's mansion, Li Chu hosted a banquet for Dugu Jingyao. The frank and unrestrained Dugu Jingyao no longer wanted to conceal her feelings and openly confessed her love to Li Chu, confidently stating that in time, he would surely fall in love with her. Shen Zhenzhu overheard these words, but she trusted Li Chu. So, after Li Chu returned to their room, she even joked with him about it.

Li Chu kissed Shen Zhenzhu and told her that she was the only one in his heart, with no room for anyone else. Emperor Suzong, considering Li Chu's immense contributions in recovering Chang'an and Luoyang, decided to bestow upon him the title of Prince.

Empress Zhang worried that Li Chu would threaten her son's position, so she colluded with Eunuch Li to stir up trouble before the Emperor, claiming that when Li Chu entered Chang'an, the common people praised him as the true master of China and the barbarians. These circulating rumors made the Emperor wary, and he decided to postpone the enfeoffment of the prince. The Emperor fainted.

After diagnosis, the imperial physician stated that the Emperor was exhausted from hardship and had worried himself sick over state affairs, and likely only had a few years left. Empress Zhang ordered the imperial physician to keep the secret strictly. Meanwhile, she planned to win over Shi Siming to help her son ascend the throne.

Emperor Suzong's health was deteriorating, and Empress Zhang grew increasingly anxious. She had to act quickly to secure the throne for her son, Li Shao. Empress Zhang asked He Lingyi to take her personal letter to see Shi Siming. She wanted Shi Siming to understand that Li Shao was his biological son, so he would willingly help her. He Lingyi worried that if they proceeded this way, Shi Siming's power would become too great in the future.

The malicious Empress Zhang declared that once Shao'er became emperor, she could easily eliminate Shi Siming. Shi Siming read Empress Zhang's letter, but he harbored doubts about what was mentioned in the letter. So he told He Lingyi that he would secretly infiltrate Chang'an in a few days to meet Empress Zhang. At that time, he would use his own methods to verify Li Shao's identity.

Shen An, who possessed an exceptional memory, read extensively medical books at Murong Linzhi's Jishitang. He could remember everything at a glance and integrate the knowledge. Mr. Changsun E believed Shen An was a promising talent and decided to take him as his disciple. One day, Murong Linzhi brought Shen An to Prince Guangping's mansion to visit Shen Zhenzhu.

While the two sisters were talking, Shen Zhenzhu, being careless for a moment, spoke of how she was poisoned and recuperated at her master Li Bai's residence. Upon hearing this, Murong Linzhi suddenly recalled the scene of Li Tan going to Li Bai's residence to look for her. Li Tan, wearing a mask and coarse cloth clothes, arrived at Murong Linzhi's Jishitang. He stealthily stood by the door, observing.

Shen An saw him and, thinking he was a poor commoner who couldn't afford a doctor, coming for medical advice, rushed forward, wanting to pull him in. Li Tan, fearing Murong Linzhi would see him, turned to leave. He accidentally fell down the steps, and his mask came off. Murong Linzhi hurried over, asking Li Tan if he was hurt anywhere.

Li Tan saw from Murong Linzhi's expression and reaction that she still didn't recognize him, so he conceived the idea of staying at the medical hall to take care of Murong Linzhi. Mr. Changsun E heard the commotion outside and came out. Knowing Li Tan's intentions, he immediately ordered him to leave. Li Tan, determined to stay at the medical hall, first began to persuade Shen An.

He told Shen An that he had many medicinal herbs that Murong Linzhi needed. Shen An was moved and persuaded Mr. Changsun E, hoping he would agree to let Li Tan stay. Li Tan also repeatedly made assurances. Mr. Changsun E, seeing Li Tan's sincere attitude, relented and allowed Li Tan to stay at the medical hall to do odd jobs.

After receiving Mr. Changsun E's approval, His Royal Highness Prince Jianning, who usually lived a life of luxury and never had to lift a finger, chopped firewood, brewed medicine, and fetched spring water from the mountain at the medical hall. Mr. Changsun E was still worried that Li Tan's presence at the medical hall might agitate Murong Linzhi, so he deliberately made things difficult for Li Tan, hoping he would give up.

He asked Li Tan to help him taste four bowls of medicine. Li Tan, without hesitation, drank one bowl after another. His whole body was unbearably itchy, and his stomach ached greatly. All of this was witnessed by Murong Linzhi. Emperor Suzong, not yet fully recovered, lay in bed, handling the mountainous pile of memorials. Empress Zhang feigned concern and came to visit. After the emperor fell asleep, she secretly read the memorials submitted by his officials.

Seeing several memorials requesting the emperor to establish Li Chu as the Crown Prince, she flew into a rage. She ordered Li Fuguo to take all these memorials and burn them. Su Ci gave birth to a baby boy; both mother and child were safe. Shen Zhenzhu was very happy and instructed Zhang Deyu to send someone to look after Su Ci.

Unexpectedly, Su Ci, who had just given birth, came to Shen Zhenzhu's room at that moment and knelt before her. Shen Zhenzhu quickly helped Su Ci up. Su Ci began to explain the reason for her kneeling. It turned out that the hunter Su Ci married was previously an assassin. He had heard Su Ci talk about the Shen family, so before he died, he wrote a letter to Su Ci, telling her to open it after she gave birth.

Su Ci was stunned after reading it, because this assassin had once been assigned by Yang Guozhong to kill the Shen family, but before they could act, the entire Shen family was murdered. Upon hearing this, Shen Zhenzhu also suspected that the true killer of the Shen family was someone else. Shen Zhenzhu handed the hunter's letter to Li Chu. Li Chu, recalling Yang Guozhong's words before he was killed, decided to start the investigation with He Lingyi to uncover the mastermind.

Li Chu also suspected Empress Zhang; he knew Empress Zhang's ambition was stirring. Empress Zhang's desire for power shocked Shen Zhenzhu, and she urged Li Chu to be more careful. At Jishetang, Changsun E and Murong Linzhi sat eating together, while Li Tan was still working nearby. While Changsun E was away, Murong Linzhi hastily brought food for Li Tan to eat. But Li Tan excitedly announced that he would perform a magic trick for Murong Linzhi.

He used the formula Murong Linzhi had given him to make bubble solution and blew many bubbles. Murong Linzhi felt as if she was in a dream, and asked Li Tan in surprise how he could blow bubbles, because she had made the secret formula for the bubble solution herself. Li Tan told Murong Linzhi that someone had taught him before, and his words were full of loneliness.

Murong Linzhi noticed the injury on Li Tan's hand and quickly took him to get it bandaged. Suddenly, several soldiers broke into the medical clinic, demanding protection money. Li Tan didn't want any more trouble, so he took out an ingot of silver and handed it to the leading soldier. However, to his surprise, the soldiers became more aggressive and developed ill intentions towards Murong Linzhi. Li Tan fought with the soldiers, throwing one onto a table.

This scene was exactly the same as when Li Tan had fought someone in a brothel previously. Seeing this, Murong Linzhi's head involuntarily began to ache, and she even slapped Li Tan. Li Tan was startled, thinking Murong Linzhi had been triggered and remembered. But when Murong Linzhi called him Ah Chou and apologized to him, Li Tan breathed a sigh of relief, because he could still stay by Murong Linzhi's side.

Li Chu arrived at Jishetang and unexpectedly saw Li Tan. But Li Tan told his royal brother not to say anything. Li Chu had come this time to ask Murong Linzhi to examine Dugu Jingyao, because the imperial physicians said Dugu Jingyao could no longer conceive. Li Chu always felt guilty towards Dugu Jingyao in his heart. At Dugu Manor, Li Xi chased after Dugu Jingyao to escort her back to the residence.

Dugu Jingyao was annoyed beyond measure, and Li Xi reluctantly took his leave. Upon entering the manor, Dugu Jingyao was overjoyed to see Li Chu waiting for her. After taking Dugu Jingyao's pulse, Murong Linzhi stated that she needed careful recuperation. No sooner had she finished speaking than the steward came to tell Dugu Jingyao that General Lin was waiting for her in the council hall.

Dugu Jingyao asked Li Chu and Murong Linzhi to wait for her, saying she would be right back. Just as she went out, Dugu Jingyao remembered something and turned back, overhearing Li Chu and Murong Linzhi's conversation at the door. Murong Linzhi stated that the imperial physicians' diagnosis was correct, and Dugu Jingyao's hope of pregnancy was only one or two tenths. Li Chu told Murong Linzhi that he admired Dugu Jingyao and regarded her as his sibling.

Empress Zhang and Shi Siming secretly met. Feng Shengyi reported this development to Li Chu, who then led his men in pursuit. Shi Siming saw the fish scale patterns on Li Shao's arm and knew that Empress Zhang's words were true; Li Shao was his son. Empress Zhang wanted Shi Siming to pledge allegiance to the Great Tang.

As the two were discussing, Li Chu arrived with his men and ordered his subordinates to escort Shi Siming to see the Emperor. As they left, Li Chu and Feng Shengyi saw someone lying on the ground. Feng Shengyi sent this severely wounded person to Jishetang, hoping Murong Linzhi could work her miraculous healing.

Before Emperor Suzong, the eloquent Shi Siming expressed his sincere desire to surrender to the Great Tang, stating that meeting the Empress was merely to ask her to help him find a way to pledge allegiance. The Emperor believed him, and to keep Shi Siming, he even ennobled him as a prince.

Li Chu believed that Empress Zhang and Shi Siming meeting outside the palace must hide some unspeakable secret. Recalling An Lushan's teasing remarks about Shi Siming and Empress Zhang, Li Chu increasingly felt that their relationship was abnormal. At Prince Guangping's Mansion, Shen Zhenzhu was making shoes for Li Shao. Murong Linzhi sat beside her, burdened with worries.

As she helped Shen Zhenzhu with the needlework, she recalled Li Tan's words when he gave her a true-lover's knot, and the scene where she witnessed the Crown Princess having a secret rendezvous with another man. She couldn't help but cover her head and scream. Shen Zhenzhu hurriedly asked Murong Linzhi if she remembered something.

Murong Linzhi recounted everything, telling Shen Zhenzhu that because she knew the Crown Prince was infertile and also knew Li Shao's true parentage, the Crown Princess wanted to kill her to silence her. Shen Zhenzhu was greatly shocked. She recalled how, after Murong Linzhi's disappearance, her maid servant had tricked her into going to a teahouse, causing her to lose her eyesight and become displaced. She believed this was also orchestrated by Empress Zhang in secret.

Shen Zhenzhu comforted Murong Linzhi, telling her not to be afraid, and that she would surely find a way to get justice for her. The mentally unstable Cui Caiping wandered in the courtyard and unknowingly came outside Shen Zhenzhu's room. She overheard the conversation between Shen Zhenzhu and Murong Linzhi. At this moment, He Lingyi, disguised as Ling'er, arrived at Prince Guangping's Mansion and encountered the delirious Cui Caiping.

Cui Caiping, not knowing who the newcomer was, told He Lingyi what she had just heard. Hearing Cui Caiping say that Li Shao was not the imperial son, He Lingyi knew that the Empress's secret was compromised, and she rushed back to the palace to inform Empress Zhang. The ruthless Empress Zhang judged others by her own standards, thinking this was Shen Zhenzhu's intentional act.

After learning of Li Shao's true parentage, she told Cui Caiping, instructing Cui Caiping to spread rumors, thereby causing the Emperor to doubt Li Shao's identity. Empress Zhang once again decided to silence witnesses, ordering He Lingyi to eliminate Shen Zhenzhu. He Lingyi secretly practiced the Eastern Illusionary Hypnosis Technique. On a dark and windy night, she infiltrated Prince Guangping's Mansion and hypnotized Cui Caiping and Li Shi's wet nurse separately.

He Lingyi lit an intoxicating incense by Cui Caiping's bedside and continuously shook a soul-capturing bell, muttering incantations and chanting about killing Shen Zhenzhu. The controlled Cui Caiping was filled with thoughts of killing Shen Zhenzhu. Li Chu came to Dugu Jingyao's military camp and sparred with her. Afterwards, he handed Jingyao the new tonic prescribed by Murong Linzhi for conditioning the body, and also expressed his intention to introduce a young, promising, brave, and resourceful general to Jingyao.

Jingyao knew that Li Chu was trying to avoid her, which was why he wanted to introduce a suitable husband to her. The straightforward Jingyao had always acted openly and honestly. She told Li Chu that she liked him not because of his handsome appearance, nor because of his commanding presence strategizing on the battlefield, but because from the first time she saw him, she fell uncontrollably in love with him.

Jingyao also declared that if she could never gain Li Chu's true affection in her lifetime, she would rather remain single in her chamber and never marry. After speaking, she turned and left. Li Chu could not respond to Jingyao, so he could only stand there sadly. Feng Shengyi came to report that Shen Zhenzhu had an urgent matter to discuss, and Li Chu hurriedly rushed back to the mansion.

The heartbroken Jingyao, unable to bear the unrequited love, walked alone to the riverside and threw the medicine prescribed by Murong Linzhi into the water. At Prince Guangping's Mansion at this moment, Cui Caiping blocked everyone outside the door and was crying and laughing alone in her room. Shen Zhenzhu rushed over after hearing about it. Cui Caiping opened the door, allowing only Shen Zhenzhu to enter.

The bewildered Shen Zhenzhu walked in, coaxing Cui Caiping and offering to comb her hair, completely unaware that Cui Caiping's only thought at this moment was to kill her. Suddenly, Cui Caiping drew a dagger from her hand and aimed it at Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu repeatedly retreated, trying to dodge. Li Chu, who had returned to the mansion, pushed open the door, shoved Cui Caiping away with a palm strike, and pulled Shen Zhenzhu behind him.

Unexpectedly, Cui Caiping died. Li Chu was utterly baffled, because he clearly knew that his palm strike just now had not used much force at all. At this moment, the hypnotized Madam Yan, holding Su Ci's child, muttered to herself as she walked out of the mansion, rushing out with the child, and ultimately fell into the lake in the courtyard. Feng Shengyi found intoxicating incense in the room.

Among the people he knew, only He Lingyi had practiced this technique. Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu both suspected that He Lingyi might not have died at all. No sooner had they spoken than Su Ci rushed in, looking distraught, and told Shen Zhenzhu that her son Yi'er was missing. The servants found Madam Yan and Yi'er, both lifeless, in the lake. Su Ci, unable to bear the immense shock, fainted.

Shen Zhenzhu calmed down and believed that the mastermind wanted to eliminate Shi'er, because Madam Yan had always been responsible for taking care of Shi'er. However, Shi'er was unwell today and stayed in his own room. The most suspicious person was Empress Zhang. This discovery horrified Shen Zhenzhu.

Shen Zhenzhu stated that Empress Zhang must have decided to brutally kill her after learning that Shen Zhenzhu knew the secret of Li Shao's identity. Empress Zhang's vicious methods enraged Shen Zhenzhu. She wanted to go to the Emperor and tell His Majesty about all of Empress Zhang's deeds. Li Chu held Shen Zhenzhu back, advising her not to act rashly, as this matter required careful deliberation.

Feng Shengyi came to report that the person sent to Murong Linzhi's place had woken up. That person was crucial for identifying the relationship between Empress Zhang and Shi Siming, so Li Chu rushed to Jishitang, but the person clenched their teeth and refused to say anything. Murong Linzhi believed that the person's identity should be a doctor. Li Chu asked Feng Shengyi to send someone to guard this person, then took Murong Linzhi out.

Li Chu asked Murong Linzhi if she remembered the appearance of the man who had a secret rendezvous with Empress Zhang, but at that time, Shi Siming had his back to the door, so Murong Linzhi did not see clearly. She told Li Chu that she only saw that the man had broad shoulders. Li Chu wanted to press further, but Murong Linzhi recalled the inhumane treatment she suffered in the brothel and ran out into the courtyard in fear.

Li Tan heard Murong Linzhi's screams, rushed out, hugged Murong Linzhi, and tried to comfort her. The next day, Shen Zhenzhu asked Murong Linzhi if there was any medicine that could cause one to fall into a deep sleep without causing any serious harm to the body. She wanted to design a way to verify that Li Shao was not the Emperor's son.

Subsequently, Shen Zhenzhu entered the palace under the pretext of paying her respects and secretly sprinkled the medicine on Li Shao's toy. The guilty Empress Zhang implicitly warned Shen Zhenzhu, but Shen Zhenzhu responded to her with dignity. Li Shao remained in a deep sleep, and Empress Zhang was extremely anxious. At this moment, Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu entered the palace, stating that Shi'er had also suffered from this illness and was treated by Master Changsun E.

The medicinal formula for treating the disease was still available, so they suggested giving it a try. Li Chu told the Emperor that treating this illness required the blood of the child's biological father. If it was the biological father, the child would recover, but if not, the patient would vomit incessantly. The Emperor agreed. However, He Lingyi threatened Sucui with Shi'er's life, forcing Sucui to reveal Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu's plan.

Fearing exposure, Empress Zhang cruelly used a strong medicine to wake Li Shao. Perhaps due to an excessive dosage, the awakened Li Shao became dull, slow, and taciturn. Upon learning that Li Shao had woken up, Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu suspected who had leaked their plan. To protect the key witness, Murong Linzhi temporarily closed Jishitang. Li Tan was worried and sent his subordinates to check if anyone was trying to harm Murong Linzhi.

Murong Linzhi saw the concentric knot on Li Tan's hand and remembered that she once had one herself. This, coupled with Li Chu referring to Li Tan as Tan'er when he previously visited Jishitang, Murong Linzhi remembered everything. She told Li Tan why Empress Zhang tried to harm her. With profound sadness in her heart after recognizing Li Tan, she asked Li Tan why he was still approaching her now, after having cruelly abandoned her that day.

Empress Zhang cried bitterly in her bedchamber, holding Li Shao, because Li Shao had become dull and foolish after waking up. No matter how Empress Zhang called him, he just stared blankly, unresponsive. Empress Zhang was extremely grieved, but instead of reflecting on her own evil deeds, she blamed everything on Shen Zhenzhu. She believed that it was Shen Zhenzhu and Li Chu who wanted to investigate Li Shao's identity, which forced her to resort to such a desperate measure.

He Lingyi then stepped forward to remind the Empress to make a decision as soon as possible, otherwise Li Shao's true identity would be exposed. Empress Zhang, in a fit of rage, slapped He Lingyi and ordered her to handle the matter, otherwise He Lingyi would be held accountable.

He Lingyi knew that the Shi family's doctor had been rescued by Murong Linzhi and was now in the Prince of Guangping's mansion's dungeon, so she decided to go and eliminate him. At the Prince of Guangping's mansion, Feng Shengyi was interrogating the Shi family's doctor. The Shi family's doctor told Feng Shengyi about Li Shao's identity, admitting that Li Shao was indeed Shi Siming's son.

Li Chu brought Shen Zhenzhu into the palace, wanting to tell the Emperor the truth, as having the Shi family's doctor as a witness would significantly increase credibility. He Lingyi learned of Li Chu's plan. In order to save her son, she told He Lingyi about Li Chu's actions. He Lingyi then relayed these words to Empress Zhang, and Empress Zhang began her planning again. Murong Linzhi's words made Li Tan angry and guilty.

He was enraged by the harm the Empress had caused Murong Linzhi, and he also hated himself for failing to protect Murong Linzhi. Li Tan stumbled along the road, drowning his sorrows in wine, with Murong Linzhi's recent words filling his mind. In a fit of impulse, Li Tan rushed into the palace with his sword. Inside the palace, Li Tan and Shen Zhenzhu were waiting for the Emperor in the main hall with the Shi family's doctor.

Before they could explain their purpose, Li Fuguo arrived in the hall to report to the Emperor, adding fuel to the fire as he exaggeratedly recounted how Li Tan had rushed into the Empress's bedchamber with a sword. The Emperor, along with Li Chu and others, hurried towards the Empress's bedchamber. In fact, as soon as Li Tan rushed into the bedchamber, Empress Zhang covered Li Shao with her hand, intending to smother the child.

Li Tan, unaware that Empress Zhang was so cruel, tried to stop her, but it was too late; Li Shao was already on his last breath. The Emperor and his entourage also entered the bedchamber at this moment. Empress Zhang, the culprit, was the first to accuse. She threw herself onto Li Shao, weeping bitterly and screaming that Li Tan had killed Shao'er.

The Emperor, ignorant of the real cause, was furious after hearing only Empress Zhang's side of the story. He grabbed a sword, ready to kill Li Tan, and demanded to know why he had murdered his own brother. Li Tan pointed at the Empress, stating that Li Shao was her child born from another man. Empress Zhang feigned innocence, theatrically holding a sword and pretending she would commit suicide to prove her purity.

The Emperor believed the Empress and ordered the guards to arrest Li Tan. While everyone was in the Empress's bedchamber, He Lingyi secretly sneaked into the main hall and killed the Shi family's doctor. The Emperor already misunderstood Li Tan as mercilessly killing his brother, and Empress Zhang deliberately collected a heap of evidence accusing Li Tan of forming factions and engaging in illicit activities, determined to have Li Tan put to death.

The Emperor believed that Li Tan's outrageous behavior today indicated he would certainly rebel in the future, so he issued an edict to bestow a cup of poisoned wine upon the Prince of Jianning, ordering him to depart at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM). Upon learning this, Li Chu rushed into the palace without hesitation. Li Fuguo went to the Prince of Jianning's mansion to announce the Emperor's decree.

Li Tan was deeply disappointed in his Imperial Father, who only believed the Empress's one-sided story, and he no longer wished to cling to life. Gongsun E left the capital city with Murong Linzhi, who had regained her memory. Shen Zhenzhu caught up with Murong Linzhi and told her about Li Tan's current predicament, hoping she would stay. Murong Linzhi retorted, asking if she should save Li Tan without regard for their past merely because he was once her husband.

With that remark, Shen Zhenzhu knew Murong Linzhi had recovered her memory. She advised Murong Linzhi not to do something she would regret for the rest of her life out of momentary pique. Murong Linzhi ultimately could not bear to watch Li Tan leave this world, so she decided to return to Chang'an with Shen Zhenzhu.

Eunuch Li led his men to surround the Prince of Jianning's mansion, waiting only for the appointed hour to send Li Tan on his way. Shen Zhenzhu escorted Murong Linzhi to the mansion, but Eunuch Li only permitted Murong Linzhi to enter alone, so Shen Zhenzhu had to send Yan Ming to guard outside the mansion.

Murong Linzhi entered the room and told herself that she would not forgive him, but she wanted him to live well, because only then could she hate him. At this moment, Li Chu defied the Emperor's will and rushed into the Imperial Palace, pleading with his Imperial Father with reason and emotion to spare Tan'er's life. But the Emperor remained unmoved.

Li Chu accused his Imperial Father of being no different from the Retired Emperor who killed three sons in a single day, asserting that granting a son a death sentence without investigating the truth was no different from being a muddle-headed ruler. The Emperor was enraged by these words and whipped Li Chu. Even though Li Chu was covered in blood, he did not beg for mercy.

In Changsheng Hall, the Emperor whipped Li Chu again and again until he was drenched in sweat and could no longer move his arm. He then asked Li Chu if he knew his mistake. Li Chu still insisted on pleading for his younger brother. The Emperor ordered his eunuchs to press Li Chu to the ground for a caning.

With each stroke of the cane, Li Chu's back was already a bloody mess, but he still cried out "Imperial Father," begging him to spare Tan'er a life out of familial love. His breath was hanging by a thread, and he laboriously crawled to his father's feet, telling his Imperial Father that since childhood, his mother had entrusted him to hold his younger brother's hand and protect him well.

The Emperor was somewhat moved after hearing this, but at this moment, the Empress's voice performing a soul-summoning ritual for Li Shao came over, one by one accusing Li Shao of being wronged. The Emperor believed that if Li Tan could murder his younger brother today, he could kill his older brother and his father tomorrow.

The Emperor pointed at Li Chu, who was at his feet, and told him that if he dared to defy him and rebel, his own head would not be safe either. " "" Outside the hall, heavy rain poured down and thunder roared. Two guards supported Li Chu as they walked out of the palace. Li Chu, full of rage, pushed the guards away and walked alone, limping with difficulty.

He encountered Empress Zhang, who, with a triumphant demeanor, told Li Chu that she would take Li Tan's life to repay her son's life. Eunuch Li and the masked He Lingyi abducted Murong Linzhi. He Lingyi held a knife to Linzhi's neck, forcing Li Tan to write a confession, admitting to his treasonous act of killing his younger brother. To protect Linzhi, Li Tan wrote the confession and drank the poisoned wine.

However, He Lingyi did not keep her promise; the knife remained at Linzhi's neck. Li Tan, taking advantage of He Lingyi's inattention, kicked her away, pulled Linzhi, and rushed out the door, fighting with all his might against the Imperial Guards waiting outside. Due to overexertion, the poisoned wine took effect in his body, and Li Tan began spitting blood, mouthful after mouthful. Zhenzhu and Feng Shengyi, waiting outside Changsheng Hall, saw Li Chu walk out, covered in wounds.

They immediately rushed forward to support him. Li Chu ordered Feng Shengyi to immediately go to Jianning Prince's Mansion. At Hai Shi (9-11 PM), he was to take Li Tan away at all costs, and then burn down the Jianning Prince's Mansion as they left. Afterward, Li Chu and Zhenzhu also took a carriage and rushed to Jianning Prince's Mansion, Li Chu, anxious, urged the coachman repeatedly.

At Jianning Prince's Mansion, the Imperial Guards stationed there had already fallen under Li Tan's sword. He Lingyi, unwilling to let them go, approached step by step. She took advantage of Linzhi's inattention and once again held the knife to Linzhi's neck, demanding Li Tan hand over the antidote. Li Tan, unwilling to burden Linzhi, took out the antidote, crushed it, and sprinkled it on the ground. The powder was quickly washed away by the rain.

Seeing this, Linzhi broke free from He Lingyi's control, rushed to Li Tan's side, and tried to pick up the powder, but quickly realized it was futile. Linzhi cried out to the heavens, desperately asking Li Tan how she could save him. He Lingyi took out a dagger, intending to stab Linzhi. Li Tan, with all his might, blocked Linzhi with his back. He Lingyi's knife plunged into Li Tan's body, and Li Tan collapsed.

At this moment, Feng Shengyi arrived and fought fiercely with He Lingyi. During their struggle, he knocked out the needle from the back of He Lingyi's head. He Lingyi's true face was revealed, and Feng Shengyi confirmed that the so-called Ling'er was He Lingyi. Linzhi held Li Tan, screaming heartbreakingly for him not to die. Li Tan smiled, because Linzhi finally called his name. He asked Linzhi if he could still call her his wife.

He told Linzhi that he owed her, and he would repay it in the next life. After speaking, he collapsed into Linzhi's arms, and Linzhi was grief-stricken. Li Chu and Zhenzhu also arrived at the mansion. Li Chu saw that his beloved younger brother had passed away, and he spit blood and fainted to the ground. Feng Shengyi told Zhenzhu about his discovery. Zhenzhu confirmed that the tragic massacre of the Shen family was orchestrated by Empress Zhang.

Li Chu remained unconscious for three days before waking up. However, his heart was filled with immense grief. He hated the heartlessness of the imperial family, hated Empress Zhang's cruelty, and also hated himself for not protecting his younger brother. In the suburbs, in front of Li Tan's tomb, Linzhi knelt on the ground, burning paper offerings for him.

She told Gongsun E, who was beside her, that she had never hated Li Tan, but only blamed him for being heartless at the time. Gongsun E explained that Li Tan was actually forced into it; if he hadn't divorced Linzhi, Linzhi would have been assassinated by the imperial family. Linzhi sighed that the imperial family was the most heartless, and the palace was not suitable for sensitive people like herself and Li Tan to live.

Gongsun E knew the pain in Linzhi's heart might take a lifetime to heal. He took Linzhi and Shen An, traveling the world, treating illnesses and saving people. However, in Chang'an City, within the Imperial City, endless schemes and betrayals continued to unfold. But, Zhenzhu would be by Li Chu's side, advancing and retreating with him.