In danger, he traveled through time to save her, and the black-bellied prince doted on her

Standing outside the house was Li Xu's confidant Zhao Ji, a man with a serious face, a loyal character, and great martial arts skills.

He came to Chang'an City from Luoyang when he was young and had followed Li Xu for fifteen years. Li Xu trusted him very much.

Ever since the incident with the deposed Crown Princess Jiang Wangshu, Li Xu always felt that there were still hidden traitors in the palace.

He often thought of the scene in which Emperor Ming killed three sons in one day, the image of blood-stained white clothes, and was terrified day and night. Even when he went to bed at night, he had to guard outside the door.

Li Xu, Meng Songqing and Pei Yun sat together.

The hot steam from the tea on the table, accompanied by the flickering candlelight in the middle, drifted to all parts of the room.

Meng Songqing frowned and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Princess has divorced and left home. Do you intend to choose another wife?"

Li Xu lowered his eyes, at a loss:

"Zhang Liangdi is virtuous and dignified. I would like her to be my principal wife."

Meng Songqing cautiously asked:

"Your Highness, Zhang Liangdi's grandmother is your Majesty's aunt. She was indeed rewarded by your Majesty in her early years, but your Majesty is nearly sixty years old, and none of Zhang Liangdi's relatives are important officials in the court. In my opinion, you need to cultivate your power as soon as possible."

At this moment, Pei Yun's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, and he said: "Your Highness, I think Princess Yuhe is a very good candidate."

Li Xu drank a sip of tea in silence and sighed, "But I have already promised Liang Di that I will make her the Crown Princess."

Meng Songqing glanced at Pei Yun. He had always looked down on this man. He thought he had no great strategy and acted like a mean person. Meng Songqing dissuaded him:

"Your Highness, this is absolutely impossible. How can a princess of a foreign race like Yuhe become the queen of Shengguo in the future? This will be detrimental to the country. Please think twice."

Pei Yun argued: "Among the tribes in the north, the Yuhe tribe has the most stable relationship with our dynasty, and there are many brave warriors and cavalrymen. If a war breaks out, they may help our dynasty."

Meng Songqing glared at Pei Yun, then looked at Crown Prince Li Xu and advised:

"Your Highness, Princess Xianli of Yuhe can only be a concubine. If she becomes the principal wife, His Majesty may suspect that Your Highness is colluding with foreigners. Minister Lin is always watching Your Highness. Your Highness must not make any mistakes."

When Crown Prince Li Xu heard this, his heart suddenly trembled, his fingers trembled a little, and the teacup in his hand fell. Pei Yun hurriedly said:

"Your Highness, be careful. Are you okay?"

Li Xu wiped the back of his hand, a hint of fear in his eyes:

"Empress Hui has been colluding with Minister Lin for many years. Minister Lin has always wanted Prince Qi Li Che to be the crown prince. It was the internal officials Gao who persuaded my father that the crown prince should be the eldest son. That's why I am in this position."

"I had no intention of becoming the crown prince before, but now I am worried every day. The emperor's mind is hard to predict, and I am in torment."

"The most difficult thing in the world is to be a crown prince. The emperor is suspicious above, the ministers are watching below, and the brothers are watching covetously. I really want to..."

Meng Songqing looked heavy-hearted and quickly dissuaded him:

"Your Highness, you were born into an imperial family and have no choice. You have been crouched beside dragons and tigers. You should cultivate your character in the depths, hide your power, and one day you will soar into the sky."

Li Xu closed his eyes and took a long breath:

"Taifu's words make sense, and I will follow your teachings."

Pei Yun saw that Li Xu looked unhappy and stopped talking about Yu He. He said:

"Your Highness, I heard that His Majesty favored Concubine Shen's sister recently, and Concubine Shen returned to her parents' home in anger. Now Shen Yuzhong is persuading Concubine Shen to return to the palace every day, and maybe he can take advantage of this to make the King of Qi lose his heart."

Li Xu paused, his pupils darkened: "What's the good plan?"

Pei Yun looked calculating: "The King of Qi and his own princess have rekindled their old love"

Meng Songqing had a hint of disdain in his eyes and whispered:

"Your Highness, Concubine Shen is deeply favored, and I'm afraid she is just being petty for a moment. If she finds out that someone is plotting against her, and she uses slanderous words to seduce Your Majesty, Your Majesty will become suspicious, and the loss will outweigh the gain."

Pei Yun sighed slowly, his anger already boiling inside:

"Master Meng, you can't do this or that. Your Highness, are you just waiting for Prime Minister Lin and the King of Qi to attack?"

"Besides, Concubine Shen is beautiful but only good at singing, dancing and music. She knows nothing about government affairs. There is no need to worry."

Li Xu was a little anxious: "Maybe we can give it a try"

Pei Yun said respectfully: "The secret meeting is their business, we are just adding fuel to the fire, I will definitely not implicate Your Highness"

Then he turned to look at Meng Songqing: "Please rest assured, Master Meng."

Meng Songqing was helpless and hesitant. Pei Yun lived in the East Palace every day, and the Crown Prince's words and deeds were easily influenced by him. If this continued, he was afraid that he would lead His Royal Highness the Crown Prince astray.

Pei Yun smiled when he saw Li Xu agreed. In his opinion, the prince was too calm and now he finally had the opportunity to do something to prove himself.

Inside the Youmeng Pavilion in the Eastern Palace, the room was luxurious and restrained, with a pleasant fragrance.

Zhang Liangdi Zhang Yanhe stood in front of the window, looking at the invisible Zisheng Palace. She was beautiful, wearing a wide-hemmed green skirt with a golden plum blossom pattern, which made her skin look even fairer and clearer.

She lowered her eyes, a little disappointed: "Your Highness is still busy with official business so late at night"

The maid Xue Niang advised: "Liang Di, why don't you rest early?"

Zhang Yanhe shook her head, a shrewd look appeared on her small and delicate face:

"The Jiang family is hopeless. His Highness loves me the most now. I hope I can have another child."

Xue Niang said: "His Highness favors you and has promised you the position of principal wife."

Zhang Yanhe's bright face showed a trace of sadness, as if she had seen through everything, and she smiled bitterly:

"Love is monogamy, not polygamy. It is just appearance, love fades with the fading of beauty, that is the true nature of men."

Xue Niang was puzzled, but did not speak. She only heard Zhang Yanhe continue:

"What is a promise? It is an excuse to avoid doing something that has not been done yet. As long as the order has not been issued, the promise is a blank piece of paper. When it cannot be done, the word "divorce" can be written on the blank paper. The Crown Princess Jiang is a lesson for us."

"In the past, the crown prince who was promised by the imperial decree could be deposed. What's the point of a mere concubine like me? People should always be prepared for danger in times of peace. The last thing you should trust is a promise."

Xue Niang said: "Madam has invited famous doctors for you, I believe you will be pregnant soon."

Zhang Yanhe nodded and looked down at her belly, pursing her lips slightly:

"Now is my best opportunity. Whether it is an heir or the position of the principal wife, I, Zhang Yanhe, will only fight for myself."

"Go and pour that pot of wine, and light up the Fu Yuxiang. If you can't get pregnant the first time, try again the second time."

"Send someone to wait near Zisheng Palace. Once His Highness leaves the house, invite him over."

Xue Niang said respectfully: "Yes, Liang Di"

It was late at night, and only one or two candles were left in Youmeng Pavilion. Li Xu was panting and wanted to rest. Zhang Yanhe touched him with her tender and charming fingertips:

"Your Highness, how about we..."

She came closer to Li Xu, her voice was very low, her cheeks flushed, and Li Xu laughed:

"Yan'er, I understand more and more...then..."

He kissed her red lips heavily, and said in a low voice:

"Little demon, wait and see how I punish you"

Li Yanhe said delicately: "..Your Highness..."

Xue Niang, who was waiting outside the house, blushed and hurriedly walked away to wait.