Super System in the Early Tang Dynasty

( ) After all, Li Xueyan was not related to Li Xingzhi. On the surface, they had no connection. If he were to ruin the marriage alliance due to a moment of impulse, causing widespread suffering to the people around the Tang Dynasty, it would be a terrible thing. From any perspective, Li Xingzhi had no reason to kidnap the bride.

However, upon further reflection, he suddenly muttered to himself, "Although it's called a marriage alliance, it should be based on mutual consent. Li Xueyan herself may not be willing to go. What happiness could she possibly find in that desolate land? After all, we were friends, and since I have the ability, I absolutely cannot let her fall into such a predicament. Besides, if Xueyan had no feelings for me, why would she have been in contact with me for so many days? With those Tibetan barbarians and Li Shimin interfering like this, isn't it a case of them trying to steal my woman?"

Li Xingzhi's mind raced with conflicting thoughts, but the more he thought about it, the more convinced he became of it, even to the point of believing it himself. Yes, no matter what, for Xueyan's lifelong happiness, I still have to go and make the sacrifice!

Now things are really complicated. What started as his own selfish desires has been transformed into concern for his female friend's lifelong happiness. This gives him a convenient excuse...

Having found a reason, Li Xingzhi could no longer suppress his desires...

That afternoon, a young man, leading more than a hundred burly men, left Chang'an City.

In a small grove outside the city, several men were already tending to hundreds of tall, magnificent horses. These horses all possessed incredibly spirited eyes, heads held high and chests puffed out, their hooves as thick as small bowls. Some had whorls on their bellies, as if covered in scales; others had high-set ears, narrow heads, and red eyes, resembling a fiery rabbit; still others were entirely jet black, with long, flowing white hair beneath their bodies—the very legendary divine steed, "Black Cloud Covering Snow"! Each and every one of these was a peerless steed, one that ordinary people rarely saw in their entire lives, and that kings and generals treasured with utmost care!

The burly men were astonished to see such a magnificent steed, a sight rarely seen even in Chang'an, displayed here as if it were piled up like cabbages! Several horse connoisseurs, their eyes wide with amazement, rushed into the grove, clutching the prized horse and shouting in astonishment, wishing they could be horses themselves and keep it company!

The burly men watching the horses nearby had already anticipated this, and they were now pointing and whispering among themselves, hoping to have more ammunition to mock them later.

"Alright! Each of you go and choose two! After this matter is over, you can have these horses as gifts!" Li Xingzhi didn't have much affection for these horses. After all, no matter how good something is, if it's easily obtained, you won't cherish it! Any horse that grew in his space was no worse than these. There were also some extraordinary steeds that he dared not release.

Upon hearing this, the burly men could no longer contain themselves and all rushed off to select horses. Only two men, one muscular and the other lean, remained standing before Li Xingzhi.

Li Xingzhi looked at Xiong Da and his grandson and said, "The wedding procession should have already reached the border of the Tang Dynasty. You two need to hurry up. If you're too late, there'll be no chance for you!"

"With such a fine steed, we certainly won't delay Ah Lang's important matter!" For years, the two had only followed Li Xingzhi in minor skirmishes, at most keeping watch in inns and taverns, intimidating local bullies. Their bones were already weak with rage! Now, hearing that they were going to disrupt the marriage alliance between the Tang Dynasty and Tibet, and possibly face tens of thousands of Tibetan troops, a surge of adrenaline rushed to their heads! They no longer cared about the sheer audacity of this undertaking! If it failed, so be it; but if it succeeded, when the armies of both countries pressed in, even a celestial being descending to earth would be overwhelmed by the tide of war!

Li Xingzhi didn't think much of it. In his mind, at most he wouldn't want the family business. He could simply store the Li family members in his spatial storage and go to the mountains of the south or the high plains of Sichuan to establish himself as a king. Who could possibly do anything to him then?

Of course, the idea of ​​becoming a king or a hegemon is just a thought; he wouldn't stoop to such troublesome matters.

Li Xingzhi called out to the crowd, then suddenly let out a sharp cry! A moment later, a clear cry echoed from the depths of the high clouds. Soon, everyone saw a white dot appear in the sky, rapidly growing larger before transforming into a streak of white light and hurtling down! Upon closer inspection, everyone could see that it was a giant crane with a wingspan exceeding ten feet!

The giant crane descended from the sky, slowing its pace, and let out a heart-stirring cry. Its wings spread wide, it brushed past the heads of the crowd several feet above them. The crowd only felt a blur before their eyes, and when they could see clearly again, there was already a person lying high on the crane's back, in a very carefree posture.

Before anyone could get a good look at the face of the man on the crane's back, the giant crane let out another clear cry, flapped its wings, and shot into the sky like an arrow, disappearing from sight!

The people below stared blankly at the crane's disappearing figure for a moment, then each mounted a magnificent steed and headed straight west!

……

The Tang Dynasty's wedding procession had already arrived at Shanshan, a border city of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Daozong was ultimately reluctant to part with his daughter, so he ordered that they rest in Shanshan for half a month before continuing their journey to Tibet. Everyone agreed without objection. Although the Tibetan envoy longed to return soon, seeing Li Daozong's increasingly aged face, he refrained from saying anything further.

Half a month later, a train of horses and thousands of soldiers left Shanshan City together.

On a carriage, a young girl leaned out, her face expressionless, looking back at the high city walls of Shanshan, then through the city of Shanshan to the world of the Tang Dynasty, to Chang'an, and to the lazy, unrestrained youth in her mind and memory. Her lifeless eyes suddenly became deep and mysterious.

“Take a second look! In the future, I’m afraid…” A middle-aged man with a long beard and white face, who had been riding a horse and waiting by the carriage, sighed and said.

It was March in the human world, but unlike the misty rain of Jiangnan, the desert was dry and cold, with no clouds in the sky and constant sandstorms! When the wind came, it would often rush straight in, not satisfied until it had carved up this vast land!

As the sky gradually darkened, the group, who had been wearing thin shirts and sweating profusely, changed into fur robes and set up camp in this oasis.

The desert night is long and cold! Apart from the howling of the cold wind, there is no other sound! But just that howling sound alone makes it hard to sleep all night!

Li Xueyan hadn't had a good night's sleep in many days. She feared that one day she would wake up in a foreign land, never to return! Every night, she spent most of the night wandering in the cold wind, looking back. Fortunately, the silver moon generously shone its light, keeping her from feeling so lonely and desolate!

The middle-aged man who lifted the tent flap kept glancing this way, his expression revealing not only worry but also deep heartache. Even the armored soldiers around them, who hadn't uttered a word during the first month of the lunar year, couldn't help but glance at the woman's solitary figure, lost in thought.

At this time, no one advised the woman to stay inside the tent. The Tibetans, sensing the change in the atmosphere of the camp, rarely came out. Only on the second day would the middle-aged men often murmur words of concern, such as urging her to wear more clothes, keep warm, and not get sick.

The silver moon still hung high in the sky when suddenly a huge crane, its body shimmering with a white light, appeared, obscuring most of the moon's shadow. The crane let out a clear cry, its voice echoing throughout the entire desert!

Everyone heard the crane's cry. They all came out of their tents, looked up at the crane, and saw a human figure sitting on its back. They were all shocked! After a while, they wondered: Could it be that an immortal has descended to earth?

In the blink of an eye, the giant crane was still circling in the air, but the figure on its back had vanished. Everyone rubbed their eyes, feeling as if it had all been a dream!

Li Xueyan was different from others. Upon hearing the crane's cry, she trembled all over, and her heart was shaken!

"Is it him?" she wondered. She looked at the giant crane again, but the figure on its back was gone. She thought to herself that she had been consumed by longing, and shook her head, her eyes filled with bitterness and helplessness. She thought: Even if you really did come riding a crane, how could I possibly leave you?

Yes. Just as her father said, she had enjoyed a life of luxury since birth, supported by thousands; now it was time for her to pay the price. Under the watchful eyes of millions, under her father's watchful eye, how could she possibly run away alone? It wouldn't matter if she left, but if it led to war between the Tang Dynasty and Tibet, causing suffering to countless people, how could she live with herself? What about her parents and family?!

The burden she carried was far too heavy! So heavy that she could only proceed cautiously and step by step, with no way back.

Just as Li Xueyan was going through a myriad of thoughts, the giant crane had already circled down, its wings outstretched, its long legs extended, and it easily landed on the ground. It looked at Li Xueyan and let out a clear cry, as if it had seen an acquaintance and come to greet her.

Li Xueyan, having met an old friend in a foreign land, felt a bittersweet mix of emotions, a sense of helplessness mixed with joy. She stepped forward, gently stroking the giant crane's feathers, and whispered, "Crane, how did you find your way here? Did you come specifically to see me? Or..." Her voice trailed off, her thoughts fading as she wondered: Did you send him? Is he here to see me off?

Thinking this way, the bitterness in my heart was like a thick ink, impossible to dispel...

Looking at this world, and at the silver moon in the sky that had once seemed somewhat sympathetic, she suddenly felt a profound sense of desolation and emptiness. She no longer had the courage to look back.

Li Xueyan gently stroked the white crane, her eyes somewhat vacant, and said, "Crane, thank you for coming to see me. You should go back soon too. Chang'an is still far away."

The white crane glanced at her a few times, pecked at the tip of her hair, and a hint of doubt appeared in its clear eyes. After a long while, it finally flapped its wings and flew straight into the sky!

As they watched the departing white crane and then the lonely girl, they finally succumbed to sleep and returned to their tents, yawning.

Li Xueyan stayed outside for a while longer, but felt that it was a bit colder today, and the moonlight was still much dimmer. She could no longer bear the bitterness and coldness in her heart, so she went straight to the tent.

She lifted the leather curtain of the white tent, and as soon as she raised her head, she suddenly froze on the spot for some reason, and tears streamed down her face in that instant!

After a long while, the girl finally composed herself, exclaiming in surprise, "Why are you here?" Then, with a hint of panic, she said, "Let's hurry and leave! It'll be troublesome if someone finds out!"

"I'm just here to visit a friend, what trouble could there be?" Li Xingzhi said stubbornly.

The girl pursed her lips and remained silent, her eyes fixed on Li Xingzhi, her expression suppressed and devoid of any emotion.

Seeing that the girl didn't show the surprise or other joy he had expected, Li Xingzhi felt slightly embarrassed. Being stared at by her with blank eyes made him feel a little guilty. He suddenly smiled and teased, "We're practically friends, aren't we? A friend is getting married, can't I come and offer my congratulations?" He tried to ease the atmosphere. Unexpectedly, his words only made the atmosphere more tense.

In reality, Li Xingzhi is not good at understanding people's hearts or communicating with them. In his previous life, he was a homebody and naturally had little experience in interacting with others; in this life, however, because of his powerful abilities, he doesn't need to pay much attention to other people's feelings.

Li Xueyan glanced at Li Xingzhi. Her heart ached even more, yet she forced a smile. Suddenly, she said, "Oh? Then I'd like to see what kind of gift you brought me!"

Li Xingzhi paused, momentarily at a loss for words. He immediately wished he could slap his clumsy mouth to pieces! It wasn't that he couldn't offer a gift, but he had a feeling that if he actually presented one now, nothing good would come of it. Moreover, he secretly didn't want to give such a gift.

The atmosphere became heavy again. Li Xingzhi stopped beating around the bush. He felt he just wasn't cut out for it!

"Speaking of which, you probably don't like that Tibetan emperor, right? Feelings need to develop slowly; you can't force them. We've known each other for a while, and I don't want to see you fall into a fire pit..." Li Xingzhi was somewhat incoherent. After all, in this matter, he wasn't exactly in a position of complete confidence; his own desires were more prominent. But if he were to directly say he wanted to marry Princess Li Xueyan, thinking of his two family members, as a relatively pure-hearted and not overly arrogant modern person, he lacked even more confidence.

"Alright. Brother Li, I know what you mean. Xueyan used to like you too. However, Xueyan knows her mission better. I will never forget your kindness, Brother Li, but fate is beyond my control. I can only let you down... It's getting late, Brother Li, you should leave now."

Li Xingzhi only heard Li Xueyan's first sentence; he didn't hear the rest at all! As for the talk about fate being beyond one's control, to him, it was nothing if he had to pay a small price.

He said happily, "It's good that Xueyan has me in her heart! Don't worry about anything else, just wait for your brother Li's good news! Don't worry, now that I've taken action, I will naturally arrange everything properly for you!"

As Li Xingzhi spoke, the heavy curtains of the tent were lifted as if by a gust of wind. By the time Li Xueyan came to her senses, the tent was empty!

Li Xueyan stood alone inside the tent, her heart filled with mixed emotions of joy and worry, tinged with a hint of anticipation. However, these feelings were quickly overshadowed by bitterness and deep anxiety. Although she knew her elder brother Li was incredibly powerful, the marriage alliance between the Tang Dynasty and Tibet was already decided, and there was no turning back. No matter how capable Li Xingzhi was, it wouldn't make a difference. What worried her was that Li Xingzhi might do something foolish.

With these thoughts in mind, the sorrow on his face remained unresolved for days. Li Zongdao assumed it was because he was about to leave his homeland, the Tang Dynasty, and thus often sighed, only able to offer words of comfort.

The sun slowly moved forward amidst the rolling sound of its wheels.

The nine parts sorrow and half part expectation in Li Xueyan's heart gradually turned into a little bit of relief and a little bit of loss.

A few days later, a blue lake appeared before them. They had arrived at Bai Hai's destination. Beside the azure lake, herds of cattle and sheep grazed peacefully on tender grass. Nearby, rows of large white tents stood.

When the Tang Dynasty wedding procession arrived, tens of thousands of troops surged forth from the vast grasslands. At the head of the procession were hundreds of magnificent carriages painted in red. Ahead of the carriages were hundreds more people dressed in red and green. In the very center stood a man dressed in bright red, very festive attire, resembling the appearance of a Tang Dynasty groom.

The Tibetan groom was rather thin, with ruddy cheeks and a series of small braids tied with red ribbons in his hair, which was quite amusing. The large horse he rode was exceptionally magnificent, but in contrast, his thin master looked rather ridiculous.

Songtsen Gampo had been waiting for some time. Seeing the Tang Dynasty's convoy approaching from afar, he led his men to greet it. The presence of so many elite armored soldiers was undoubtedly a display of military might. Although he had led Tibet to submit to the Tang Dynasty, he couldn't allow the Tang to underestimate him! It was also a way of telling the Tang people: My marriage to your Tang princess, Songtsen Gampo, is not a mistreatment for her!

Upon seeing the overwhelming force of the Tibetans, the faces of the Tang soldiers changed drastically. Immediately, their armored warriors moved with even greater precision and uniformity. The rustling of their armor and hanging banners created a harmonious and orderly movement. While their numbers didn't match those of the tens of thousands of Tibetans, they were not overwhelmed, leaving the Tibetan leaders in awe! Those who had initially harbored some resentment towards Songtsen Gampo's submission to the Tang Dynasty now felt a sense of relief.

Upon seeing the Tang general leading the army, Songtsen Gampo, who had been told that this man was the father of his future wife, immediately dismounted and went to greet him. However, his dismounting only accentuated his thin, short stature, making him appear like a small old man with a red braid – a truly comical sight. Li Daozong frowned briefly, then his expression returned to solemnity as he dismounted and also went to meet him.

When Songtsen Gampo saw Li Daozong dismount, he quickened his pace and walked up to Li Daozong, where he respectfully performed the son-in-law's salute.

Seeing this, Li Daozong felt a little relieved, his expression softened, and he no longer neglected his manners.

After all the formalities were over, Li Daozong was about to bid farewell to his daughter and return to the Tang Dynasty to report back.

Just then, suddenly, a huge white crane in the sky let out a clear cry, and flew like an arrow, arriving in front of everyone in the blink of an eye...

At the same time, the sound of iron hooves pounding the ground echoed from the horizon...

Thank you "Hehe Xiaobai" for the donation! (To be continued.)

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