Super System in the Early Tang Dynasty

In the Great Tang Dynasty, Chang'an, and the Imperial Palace, Emperor Taizong (Li Er) was in the highest position. At this moment, all the officials fell silent, and the hall was eerily quiet!

The occurrence of witchcraft in the Eastern Palace, though involving only two close attendants, is no small matter. Throughout history, the appearance of witchcraft has inevitably led to rivers of blood.

The thought of the two people poisoned by Gu and their eerie appearance sent chills down the spines of all the officials, and Li Shimin's face grew even colder.

Just then, a guard approached.

"Have you found it?"

"Your Majesty, I have sent men to investigate. Those two were originally male attendants of the Crown Prince. Relying on the Crown Prince's favor, they acted arrogantly and domineeringly in Chang'an. Just yesterday, the carriage they were riding in collided with a merchant's carriage. They even whipped the driver of the carriage they hit. But for some reason, in full view of everyone, the two suddenly showed a look of fear and terror on their faces and fled for their lives."

"Which house was hit?"

"I have heard that it is the Li family, a wealthy merchant family in the city."

"The Li family?" Li Shimin suddenly recalled the boy's trick of driving away the bees that day. The thought of that dense, overwhelming, buzzing swarm still sent chills down his spine. A glint flashed in Li Shimin's eyes; he had made his decision. "What a fine Li family!"

Just as Li Shimin made his decision, a guard suddenly rushed in, shouting, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

"What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket in the main hall?!" Li Shimin shouted angrily.

The guard knelt down, trembling, and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus... the Emperor Emeritus... he has passed away!"

"What did you say?" Li Shimin's hand trembled, and the inkstone fell to the ground with a loud bang, shaking the entire hall and leaving the officials speechless.

"What did you say? Say it again!"

The guard looked at Li Shimin, whose eyes were bloodshot and whose face was contorted with rage, like a ferocious beast about to devour someone. The murderous aura and killing intent that he had accumulated over many years of military service suddenly erupted, making the guard feel cold all over and sweat profusely.

"I...I'll tell you...the Emperor Emeritus has passed away!"

Li Shimin's face, which had been flushed, turned deathly pale. He collapsed to the ground, sobbing, "Father... Father is dead—"

Hearing Li Shimin's mournful sighs and seeing his sorrowful expression, the courtiers felt a deep sympathy for him.

In the ninth year of the Zhenguan era, Li Yuan passed away; he was posthumously honored as Emperor Taiwu, with the temple name Gaozu, and was buried in Xianling. At that time, the entire country was draped in mourning.

Li Xingzhi was unaware that his momentary carelessness had nearly destroyed the Li family's vast empire. At that point, no matter how capable he was, unless he assassinated the emperor to seize the throne or threatened with death, he would have had no chance of protecting the entire Li family. And none of this was what he desired.

Outside, the winds howled, and the Li family was filled with sorrow and longing.

Feeling restless and yearning for adventure, Li Xingzhi, who had originally intended to travel outside Chang'an, heard that his uncle Li Shun was going south to trade, and naturally wouldn't let this opportunity pass. Although Li Gaoqian was reluctant, he knew that "a man's ambition lies in all directions," and there was no reason to keep him confined to one place, so he simply let him go.

Li Xueyan heard from somewhere that Li Xingzhi was planning to go to the army to see Wang Erlang, who was there, so she arrived at Li's residence early in the morning.

Li Xingzhi looked at Li Xueyan approaching and assumed she had come specifically to see him off. But then he heard Li Xueyan ask, "Are you planning to go to the army?"

If someone else told Li Xueyan that she wanted to visit relatives in the army camp, she would absolutely not believe it. Not only was it against military regulations, but the chaos on the border was enough to make anyone's life extremely difficult. By then, the army might have already turned back, and she might not have even found her home, or she might have simply died on the way. However, having witnessed Li Xingzhi's abilities, she didn't think such behavior was wrong.

"I might not go. Did that little traitor Azhi tell you?" Yesterday, Li Linzhi pestered Li Xingzhi, demanding that he take her with him. In the end, Li Xingzhi could only say that he was going to the border region, and that taking someone with him would be extremely dangerous. Only then did Li Linzhi give up.

Li Xueyan blushed slightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, clearly feeling somewhat embarrassed by her impetuousness. Li Xingzhi, observing Li Xueyan's rosy complexion and delicate demeanor, felt a slight stirring in his heart.

Hearing Li Xingzhi's uncertain words, she looked disappointed. "If you go to the border town in the Western Regions and are able to see my father, please take this letter to him for me."

The war in the north is becoming increasingly urgent—Gaochang is acting arrogantly, Tuyuhun is raiding border cities, and the Dangxiang are rebelling; a major war is imminent. As early as last year, Li Shimin appointed Li Jing as commander-in-chief and Hou Junji and Li Zongdao as deputy generals to lead troops to kill the enemy and quell the rebellion.

Looking at the envelope Li Xueyan handed him, Li Xingzhi thought to himself: You think too highly of me! To send a nameless junior like him to deliver a letter to the number two figure in charge of the central army, only a girl like Li Xueyan who hasn't experienced much could come up with such a thing.

What he didn't know was that Li Xueyan was also desperately grasping at straws. Two years ago, she was summoned to Chang'an by an inexplicable imperial edict, and then nothing happened. Not long after, her father went out to lead troops into battle, leaving his young daughter alone in Chang'an, a place she knew no one. How could she possibly endure it!

Li Xingzhi followed his uncle Li Shun out of Chang'an. Before they even reached the place where their troops were stationed, two figures appeared before them, one in red and one in white. It was Li Linzhi, dressed in tight-fitting clothes, with a leather whip around her waist and a sharp blade at her side, and Zhou Rou'er, the young lady of the Zhou family, with a delicate and shy expression. The two sisters held hands affectionately, occasionally patting their legs, which were getting a little sore from standing, and eagerly awaited each other's arrival.

The two, one quiet and the other lively, one gentle and the other passionate, captivated countless young hearts. Of course, there were plenty of纨绔 (spoiled brats) and lecherous young men, but Li Linzhi lashed them all away with her whip. Upon seeing Li Xingzhi, the two greeted him with delight.

Li Xingzhi looked at the two women walking together, his eyes filled with amazement, and his face showed some surprise, "Why did you two follow us?"

Zhou Rou'er lowered her head and did not answer, but Li Linzhi said generously and matter-of-factly, "Isn't it said that 'a woman should follow her husband wherever he goes'? We are both your women, so of course we should follow you!" Unaware of what was happening, Zhou Rou'er's face turned crimson upon hearing this, and she lowered her head even further.

"Fine, I can't argue with you. If you want to come, then come along! If either of you can't endure the hardships on the road, you two can both go back."

"Hmph! I've been traveling around with my grandfather since I was a few years old, don't look down on me." Li Linzhi's face showed a hint of sadness when she mentioned the word 'grandfather'.

Upon arriving at the encampment, a dozen or so strong men formed a circle, with tents pitched around them. In the center stood nearly a hundred horses, each one spirited and vigorous, their hooves elegant and powerful. Their legs were long and well-proportioned, their hooves large, and their manes loose and clean, billowing in the wind. Even though Li Xingzhi knew nothing about judging horses, he knew that every single one of them was a top-quality steed!

"How about my horses? Wait a moment, I'll have someone take you to choose one!"

"Me too!" Li Linzhi jumped up immediately. Her eyes had been shining with desire at the sight of these fine horses. Even she herself, ever since leaving the Li residence, had been like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins.

Zhou Rou'er, standing beside her, watched Li Linzhi jumping around energetically, her eyes filled with envy.

"Good! One good horse for each person!" Li Shun looked at Li Linzhi with an overjoyed smile. Compared to a well-bred young lady like Zhou Rou'er, who was praised by the world, he, a chivalrous man of the martial world, preferred a young girl like Li Linzhi.

Although Li Xingzhi knew that such a fine horse was extremely rare, he also understood the care and importance his uncle placed on him, so he did not refuse and accepted the punishment without hesitation.

The next day, at the third watch of the night, before dawn, the morning star shone brightly, and the North Star shone in the due north, guiding travelers on their way. Li Xingzhi and the others had already gotten up, braving the cold, washed their faces, rinsed their mouths, and ate some dry rations. As soon as there was a glimmer of light, someone led Li Xingzhi and the others to choose horses.

The horses were handsome and spirited, their voices neighing and whistling, watching with a hint of wariness as they passed by the several upright creatures.

"They're all good horses, you can choose first!"

Li Linzhi's eyes lit up when she saw a black horse that towered half a head above the other horses. This horse was entirely black with white hooves, aloof and independent, surpassing the other horses in stature.

“Young lady, you have a truly discerning eye! However, this horse is a foal of the fine breed ‘Black Cloud Treading Snow,’ but unfortunately, the color of its hooves is not pure, making it a step below. Although this horse is not as fine as a true purebred, its spirit is in no way inferior. I'm afraid you might be—”

"Hmph! A mere little horse, I'll make him kneel!" Li Linzhi said indignantly when she saw that this person looked down on her. Immediately, she walked towards the black horse.

Just as the man was about to stop Li Linzhi, he heard Li Xingzhi say, "Let her try." Li Xingzhi wasn't worried about Li Linzhi's safety. Not to mention having him watching over her, even with Li Linzhi's solid skills, taming a horse shouldn't be too difficult for her.

The man glanced at Li Linzhi's outfit and, seeing Li Xingzhi's words, nodded in agreement.

The black horse, panting heavily, looked at Li Linzhi approaching, its large, bright black eyes revealing anxiety. Li Linzhi stroked the black horse's mane, and once it relaxed its guard slightly, she immediately leaped up and sat steadily on its back.

The black horse, startled by the person sitting on it, began to kick and thrash about. Li Linzhi, who had been sitting comfortably, was thrown into disarray by the black horse's sudden exertion, and her body lurched to the right—the person next to her cried out anxiously, and even Li Xingzhi felt a chill run down his spine for her sake.

Seeing the situation was unfavorable, Li Linzhi squeezed the horse's belly tightly, slapped its rump, and used the momentum to lunge forward, grabbing the horse's neck and mane. This acrobatic move left the person next to her speechless. Even Zhou Rou'er was stunned, never expecting her best friend, who had always been by her side, to be so capable.

Startled by Li Linzhi's flattery, the black horse galloped forward, darting left and right through the camp. The entire camp erupted in excitement, everyone staring in disbelief at the fiery red figure on a tall, leaping horse, emitting a series of silvery laughs. What seemed like an extremely dangerous act to everyone else was merely amusement for the girl.

After a long while, the black horse, panting heavily and drenched in sweat, stopped and calmly allowed the girl on its back to urge it on.

The young girl, full of vigor, leaped off her horse and said, "Hmph! A mere pony can't stump me!" Clearly, she was still holding a grudge against the man's words.

The black horse seemed to sense the girl's disparaging tone and let out a dissatisfied neigh.

"Young lady, your horsemanship is amazing. Forgive my poor eyesight." Hearing Li Linzhi's dissatisfied tone, the man next to her quickly flattered her.

"Hmph, you're smart." Li Linzhi smiled and comforted her beloved horse, which she had just tamed. She couldn't have been happier.

Standing to the side, Zhou Rou'er looked at the horses, feeling conflicted. Although she had practiced horsemanship, she only knew how to sit on a horse; she had absolutely no idea how to train one. Recalling Li Linzhi's experience training the horses earlier, she couldn't help but shudder.

Seeing Zhou Rou'er's predicament, Li Xingzhi said to the person next to him, "Are there any docile horses here?"

"Something more docile?" The man looked at the girl in white next to Li Xingzhi, then looked surprised. He then said with difficulty, "These fine horses are all wild and difficult to tame. I'm afraid it's hard to find one that suits this young lady's taste."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Rou'er's face showed disappointment. She had been quite envious of Li Linzhi's galloping horse earlier.

Seeing Zhou Rou'er's state, Li Xingzhi thought about how she had never asked for anything since coming to the Li family, and how he had wronged her. Feeling apologetic, he immediately said, "As long as there are some who are even slightly docile, I have a way to help them."

Actually, if he really wanted any kind of horse, what didn't the system have? The main problem was that he didn't want to rely on that thing too much. Besides, the pets that came out of the system always had a strange connection with him, which made him quite uncomfortable.

The man circled the herd of horses, finally selecting a snow-white horse that was slightly shorter than the others. Li Xingzhi looked at the white horse, nodded, and immediately stepped forward, his hands, imbued with the natural aura of green wood, gently stroking the horse's neck and head. The white horse's large eyes shifted from initial wariness and doubt to comfort, kindness, and docility, and it let out a comfortable, cheerful neigh.

The man leading the horse-judging group watched Li Xingzhi with growing gleam in his eyes. He had initially thought the young girl's skill was accidental, but seeing this nephew of the master's family, he realized that Li Xingzhi was indeed a hidden talent! He appeared so frail and unassuming, yet possessed such extraordinary abilities. If he were to enter the horse-buying business, he truly… truly…

Li Xingzhi had always used the Qi of Green Wood to communicate with various plants and flowers. He never expected that its first use in communicating with animals would have such a miraculous effect. It seems that there is still much to be explored about this Qi of the Five Elements of Longevity.

Li Xingzhi helped Zhou Rou'er, whose face was flushed with rosy cheeks, onto the horse. Guided by Zhou Rou'er, the white horse steadily and slowly circled around. The white horse and white clothes accentuated the beauty's charm, creating a picturesque scene.

"Young master, which horse do you intend to choose?" the man asked Li Xingzhi.

"Are all the horses here? Are there any others? Anything special?" Li Xingzhi looked at the horses in front of him. Apart from Li Linzhi's horse, which was slightly better than the others, the others were nothing special. He didn't want to always be following Li Linzhi around like a baby.

"All the good horses are here." The man seemed to understand that Li Xingzhi didn't think much of the horses in front of him, and his expression darkened slightly. After all, the person in charge had given instructions to take these men, especially this young man, to choose a good horse!

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Finally, I would like to thank "云随风影走" for the donation and "尛廆脸" for the donation and review vote.