Chapter 5 Li Shimin Returns

The sound of horse hooves approached, and the knights passed by Li Shimin and others, leaving a trail of dust. Li Shimin's eyes flashed with a hint of teasing, "Well, let's guess where this secret letter came from, how about that?"

Xu Luo was stunned for a moment, then laughed and pretended to pinch his fingers. "If I guess correctly, what's the reward? What if I guess wrong?"

Li Shimin smiled and waved his hand generously, "If you can hit the target again, I will reward you with ten strings of cash!"

"What if you don't guess right? Ha, according to the old rules, I'll turn your mess upside down!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Luo started laughing, and his laughter was full of teasing.

If it was three days ago, he definitely wouldn't have the guts to take this bet. But now, that's another story.

"Deal! Looks like this gentleman will have to spend ten hundred dollars today!" Xu Luo looked proud.

"You little brag, don't brag so much. Be careful not to get your tongue flung off by the wind, or you'll end up ruining your reputation!" others said.

"Then tell me first, where did that urgent messenger come from?" Changsun Wuji came from behind with a smile on his face and asked curiously.

Xu Luo nodded, and pretended to fiddle with his fingers for a while before he said confidently, "If I'm not mistaken, that person is from Mobei."

"Mobei? Could it be Youzhou?" Changsun Wuji was stunned and asked hurriedly. After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the Tang Dynasty had been vigilant against Jie Li in Mobei.

When he heard that the messenger came from Mobei, his heart tightened.

Youzhou is located in the northern border of Mobei. If a war breaks out, Youzhou will be the first to bear the brunt, Changsun Wuji thought nervously.

Seeing Changsun Wuji's nervous expression, Xu Luo explained calmly: "There are three cities on the Mobei border. Youzhou is the northernmost, and Cangzhou and Qingzhou are adjacent. If there is a war, it will not be decided in a short time."

"The winter in Mobei is so cold that it can freeze your ears into ice. It's completely different from the warmth in the Central Plains!"

Xu Luo said with a smile and gestured, "Look at the way the guy was dressed. His fur hat was thick enough to block arrows, his fur coat was warm, his animal skin boots made him walk with a breeze, and even his face was full of the wind and frost of the north."

"In my opinion, this person is most likely from the border town of Youzhou," he asserted.

When Li Shimin heard this, his brows twitched. He looked at Zhangsun Wuji and Li Junxian, and the expressions on the three of their faces became more serious.

I thought, if Xu Luo's inference is correct, and the urgent news from the border town of Youzhou happened to arrive at this time, could it be that the Turkic guy Jie Li is really going to attack my Tang Dynasty?

Although his heart was in turmoil, Li Shimin remained calm, smiled gently, and stood up: "Okay, I will ask someone to find out. If your guess is correct, I will come to you at noon tomorrow with a reward."

He paused, then asked, "But if you guess wrong, do you know what the consequences will be?"

Xu Luo, however, looked calm and confident: "Like I said, if I guess wrong, I will destroy my own reputation!"

"Okay, see you tomorrow at noon!" After saying this, Li Shimin turned around and left in big strides, followed closely by Changsun Wuji and Li Junxian.

Only the little girl of about ten years old was left. Her eyes were as bright as spring water and her lips were slightly raised, as if she was full of curiosity about all this.

She gently tugged at the corner of her clothes, and her snow-white hands looked particularly attractive in the cold wind, as if they could melt the severe coldness of the north.

Princess Changle followed her father, Emperor Li Shimin, and stepped out of the palace. Her bright eyes were like autumn water, taking in everything around her, including Xu Luo's confident words. Somehow, that confidence was like a magnet, making her unable to resist, and ripples appeared in her heart. Just as she turned around and returned to the palace with her father, her eyes seemed to be pulled by a thread, and she looked back frequently.

"Your Majesty!" Zhang Sun Wuji's voice broke through her thoughts, "Do you really believe what Xu Luo said, that the so-called Baili Express really came from Mobei?"

As they walked out of Suzaku Street and were about to step into Suzaku Gate, Changsun Wuji asked anxiously.

Li Shimin's face looked extremely solemn at this moment, and he walked hurriedly, as if he was eager to verify something. In fact, his heart was turbulent and difficult to calm down.

"How can I make such a statement so easily?" Li Shimin replied in a deep voice, his eyes far-reaching, "But after listening to his confident words, I am somewhat convinced."

He paused for a moment, a trace of worry between his brows, "If yesterday's bloody disaster was just an accident, then today..."

Before he finished speaking, Changsun Wuji already knew what was in his mind.

The Tang Dynasty was now in a state of disrepair and the shadow of Xuanwu Gate had not yet dissipated, and the government was as unstable as a candle in the wind. If Jie Li really sent troops to attack the Tang Dynasty at this moment, the situation would undoubtedly be extremely dangerous.

Princess Changle stood aside, quietly stroking her lips with her fingertips. Her trust in Xu Luo and her father's worry were intertwined in her heart. A complex light flashed in her eyes, which was curiosity and expectation for the unknown future.

Her waist twisted slightly, as if silently expressing her inner fluctuations, and all of this was cleverly concealed by her hair swaying gently in the wind.

Zhangsun Wuji and Li Junxian smiled at each other and hurried into the depths of the palace. When they arrived at the gate of Ganlu Palace, they happened to see a senior eunuch, who was running around like an ant on a hot pot.

When the eunuch saw Li Shimin, his eyes lit up and he hurried forward.

"Your Majesty, something bad has happened!" the chief eunuch shouted in a shrill voice, "There is urgent news from Youzhou, and it is being rushed from a hundred miles away, waiting for your review!"

"Youzhou?" When Li Shimin heard these two words, his face was not nervous at all, but his smile became even more intense. He turned around and looked at Zhangsun Wuji, and said jokingly:
"It seems that we will have to spend money again this time. Ten dollars have flown away again."

Changsun Wuji smiled helplessly and replied, "Your Majesty, maybe that guy got lucky again this time."

After hearing this, Li Shimin just smiled slightly, said nothing, and turned to walk into the hall.

Inside the imperial palace, in Ganlu Hall, as soon as Li Shimin sat down, he ordered the gathering of Li Jing, Cheng Yaojin and other important officials.

As expected, just as the outside world had said, this urgent information that was transmitted over a hundred miles came from Youzhou on the northern border of the desert.

The garrison commander of Youzhou had already sent the news to Chang'an at full speed more than ten days ago.

At this time, the lights in the hall were swaying, shining on Li Shimin's face, making him look even more heroic.

However, Changsun Wuji, who was standing aside, could not help but reveal a hint of admiration for the Youzhou defender in his eyes.

The eunuch stood quietly in the corner, his ears moving slightly, as if he was recalling the conversation between His Majesty and Changsun Wuji just now, with a sly gleam in his eyes.

Recently, Jie Li of the Eastern Turks has been making frequent unusual moves, and seems to want to start a war again.

(End of this chapter)