Tang Dynasty: To win Yang Guifei, they asked Emperor Xuanzong to die.

Seeing the disappointment in Guo Ziyi's eyes, Gao Lishi smiled and said, "This gyrfalcon laid a few eggs a few days ago. It can be taken to Lingzhou by the governor. After breeding and training, it will be just like the ones from the Tianji Pavilion."

When Gao Lishi told him that he could actually get some gyrfalcon eggs, Guo Ziyi was overjoyed. He almost forgot to thank Gao Lishi, and just stared at the gyrfalcon, unable to look away.

—If this thing is trained properly, it can send out a piece of intelligence every half hour when taken to the battlefield!

Seeing him like this, Li Mao couldn't help but say, "That's just how Ziyi is. He can't resist anything that's good for fighting. I'm sorry to make you laugh at him, Eunuch Gao."

Gao Lishi naturally said it was fine, and at the same time, his expression towards Li Mao was somewhat meaningful.

After leaving the Tianji Pavilion, Guo Ziyi was still basking in the excitement of receiving the treasure. Seeing the hesitant and confused look on Li Mao's face, he grinned foolishly and asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong? Is it because Eunuch Gao gave me a gyrfalcon egg but not Your Highness, and you're unhappy? It's alright, the gyrfalcon will lay more eggs, and I'll give them to you then."

Ugh! What does all this even mean?

Li Mao was exasperated by him and could only say, "I was wondering why Eunuch Gao seemed to trust us so much? He even gave you these things. He didn't have to give them to you. You begged him to give them to you, so weren't you doing him a favor?"

He always felt that Gao Lishi was, to some extent, trying to curry favor with him and Guo Ziyi.

However, Gao Lishi was both a favorite of Li Longji and the master of the Tianji Pavilion. He was practically fearless and had no other desires. Why then did he choose to curry favor with Li Mao, instead of trying to ingratiate himself with the Crown Prince and often showing disdain for Li Longji?

Guo Ziyi said without a care in the world, "We worked together in Xianyang for so long and solved the Yong Prince's rebellion case, so of course we have a friendship. It seems that Eunuch Gao is like me, treating anyone he has worked with as a brother!"

Alas, Guo Ziyi could not comprehend the subtleties involved.

However, this is also a good thing. Sometimes, if you think less, you won't hesitate when doing things, which is actually a good thing.

The two found a restaurant and had a meal before parting ways.

Upon returning to his residence, Li Mao paused in the courtyard.

These days he either goes to Madam Wei's room or Madam Wang's room.

The two women hadn't turned off their lights yet, probably hoping he would come to their rooms.

But he was preoccupied with Gao Lishi's affairs and had no mind to visit any of his concubines. So he summoned his attendants and ordered, "Go and tell the two concubines that I will be staying out tonight and they don't need to wait for me to retire."

After saying that, he really left the Prince Shou's residence without resting there.

Now that Guo Ziyi has left, the two beautiful concubines have also refused.

Li Mao walked alone on the streets of Chang'an, with curfew approaching, and had no idea where to go.

Suddenly, a familiar beautiful figure flashed through his mind.

That figure possessed a breathtaking beauty that could launch a thousand ships with a single glance, leaving all the beauties of the imperial harem pale in comparison.

Yu Huan!

Since returning to Chang'an, he had been too busy to visit Yu Huan. Yu Huan was a woman unlike Guo Ziyi, who was like a brother, or the two concubines who only knew how to serve men.

Meeting Yang Guifei might bring some peace to my heart.

Thinking it over, Li Mao dismissed his attendants and rode alone to the Taizhen Temple in the suburbs.

This time, Yang Yuhuan did not personally open the door for Li Mao.

Even the young Taoist boy who came to open the door didn't look too happy when he saw that it was Li Mao.

Li Mao asked, "How has Master Taizhen been lately? Has he been eating well?"

The young Taoist priest simply snorted through his nose and ignored him completely.

He pressed on relentlessly, asking, "Has Daoist Taizhen mentioned anything rare or unusual lately that she needs me to buy for her from outside?"

After asking a few questions, the young Taoist priest finally became dissatisfied and angrily said, "This pilgrim is being unreasonable. If you want to know some things, just ask Master Taizhen directly. Why ask me? Master Taizhen and I cultivate in the temple all day long, and no one pays us any attention. Why should you pretend to be so helpful and ask me all sorts of questions?"

Upon hearing this, Li Mao knew things were going badly.

He thought about what he had done these past few days.

He married a new concubine and also had affairs with Lady Wei and Lady Wang.

Although Yang Yuhuan was in a Taoist temple and did not know the details of the Prince's mansion, the fact that Prince Yong married the daughter of a military officer as a concubine was common knowledge throughout the city.

Yu Huan must have found out, and she must have been heartbroken.

The young Taoist priest noticed her distress and took her side, which led to his unfriendly attitude towards him, the Prince of Shou.

That must be the case!

Li Mao's heart pounded, and he longed to see Yang Yuhuan immediately so he could comfort her.

Thinking this, he quickened his pace and moved forward.

Unexpectedly, the young Taoist boy was displeased and said unhappily, "Hey, hey, what are you doing here, pilgrim? This is where Master Taizhen cultivates in seclusion. You just came in from outside, and you don't know what kind of lewd aura you're carrying. How can you come in and disturb the Master's cultivation? The Master wants you to go to the side room next door to bathe, burn incense, and change your clothes before you come back!"

The young Taoist led Li Mao into a side room, where steaming hot bathwater had already been prepared.

In the water, some flower petals were also placed according to Li Mao's interests.

The surrounding smoke curled and mingled with the steam rising from the bathtub...

Oh, Yu Huan, I absolutely love you!

Li Mao was overjoyed.

This jade ring was quite ingenious; she pretended to be angry and punished him by making him bathe and burn incense. In reality, she meant to invite him to stay the night.

Li Mao didn't stand on ceremony at all and jumped into the hot water tub to take a bath.

He would occasionally call the young Taoist boy to refill his water, and although the boy looked reluctant, he would still refill it several times with a dark expression. He almost always granted Li Mao's requests.

Li Mao finally finished bathing and changed into the Taoist robe brought to him by the young Taoist boy.

The young Taoist said, "It's late at night and the dew is heavy. Since you're here, why not stay the night? Master Taizhen is waiting for you inside. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

This little guy is quite sensible; he knows not to listen to or look at what is improper.

Li Mao casually tossed him the jade thumb ring from his thumb as a reward.

Then they arrived at the main house and slowly pushed the door open.

A fragrance completely different from the incense used in temple worship instantly enveloped him, vying to enter Li Mao's nostrils.

This sweet and fragrant taste is just as endearing as Yu Huan herself.