Yang Fan walked behind the crowd. Seeing Li Longji riding his horse away as if he was venting, Yang Fan could not help but smile.
He had thought that this youth, who looked far more mature than his actual age, had a strong will that would not change even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him. Now it seemed that this was not the case.
In the end, he was still a youth. Even if his breadth of mind, knowledge, courage, and wisdom were all stronger than his peers, it was still a skill that required time to accumulate. It required experience to form. Perhaps if he was given another ten years, he could become very mature, but if a youth had that kind of deep shrewdness, then he could only be described as a monster.
A light carriage suddenly sped past Yang Fan from behind. The carriage was very gorgeous. Even the outer wall of the carriage was engraved with exquisite patterns. It was also painted with good varnish. Under the sunlight, it shone with a jade-like luster.
Yang Fan stared at the carriage seriously, as if he admired its workmanship and craftsmanship. But at the same time, he slightly tightened the reins in his hand, and the light horse slowed down.
The carriage in front was still speeding, and Yang Fan rode freely. By the time he reached the gate of Chang 'an, the carriage had already disappeared.
After returning to Long Qing Square, Yang Fan turned his horse away from the main road and turned into a small path in the forest beside the road. It had just rained the day before, so the path was a little muddy. The guards following behind Yang Fan did not show any strange behavior.
They knew that the path was not long, and that the back door of the Yuzhen Temple was at the end of the path. The Master often went there recently.
The story of Yang Fan and Princess Yuzhen had never been spread among the people, but the guards by Yang Fan's side had given them the clearest instructions. Every time the Sect Master went to Temple Master Yuzhen's place, he would linger for more than two hours.
There was no doubt that this young, beautiful, and noble princess was the Master's new favorite. Two hours was enough for them to do a lot of things.
When they reached the back door of the Jade Truth Temple, Ren Wei and the others dismounted without Yang Fan's orders. They tied their horses to a tree and scattered around to wait. Yang Fan walked forward and personally knocked on the door.
The door to the courtyard opened and a pretty face peeked out. It was like a peony peeking out from the wall. Ren Wei recognized that it was a Little Immortal Nun by Princess Yuzhen's side. He seemed to have heard the Sovereign call her Ning Xiang.
As soon as she saw Yang Fan, Ning Xiang's face revealed an elated smile. She happily welcomed Yang Fan in and closed the door.
Ren Wei looked up at the sky and lazily lay down on the soft grass. He had to wait for at least two hours …
Yang Fan sneakily entered Princess Yuzhen's courtyard. An affair was indeed the best excuse to cover up. No matter how strange Yang Fan's actions were, others would help him make a reasonable explanation.
"You're here!"
True Jade was wearing a white Daoist robe. Her silky hair draped over her shoulders. She was sitting cross-legged on a praying mat with a Daoist scripture in her hand. She was quietly reading it. She was as beautiful as a white lotus that had just taken a bath.
Hearing the sound of the barrier door, Li Chiying raised her head and saw Yang Fan come in. Her plain face and elegant manner immediately transformed into a joyful expression.
This kind of action and expression was definitely the expression a young girl in love would have when she saw her lover.
Ever since that day when Li San Lang was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, angrily grabbing Yang Fan's collar and roaring, Yang Fan already knew this girl's affection for him. Seeing her reveal her true feelings, the softness in the depths of Yang Fan's heart couldn't help but be touched.
"Alright, you can go out!"
Li Chiying was about to welcome him when she suddenly remembered that Ning Xiang was still at the door and hurriedly said. Due to Yang Fan's influence, Li Chiying now also loved to drink tea. The charcoal fire in the clay stove was burning brightly and the fragrance of tea permeated the air. Naturally, there was no need for Ning Xiang to come in and serve.
As soon as the door was closed, Yang Fan's smile turned solemn. "Is he here?"
Princess Yuzhen swallowed the words she was about to say. Her smile faded and she nodded lightly, gesturing to the back. Yang Fan smiled and said, "If it wasn't for something important, he wouldn't have come to find me. I'll go and see him first."
Princess Yuzhen was initially disappointed when Yang Fan asked about someone else. But when she heard his tone of explanation as if he was afraid that she would be unhappy, Li Chiying's heart suddenly became happy.
She nodded like a virtuous wife and gently watched as Yang Fan opened the door and walked to the back. Yang Fan passed through the corridor and walked into the meditation room. He saw Shen Mu sitting cross-legged and staring at the portrait of the Elder Supreme on the wall.
Hearing the footsteps, Shen Mu turned his head and smiled at Yang Fan.
Ever since they 'publicly broke off their relationship' at the Five Feet Plains, the two of them no longer met. When there was truly an important matter, they would communicate through Gu Er. However, which matter that required the two of them to discuss wasn't an important matter? It couldn't be explained in a few words.
Later on, when they discovered that the Jade Truth Monastery was an exceptional hiding place, this predicament was resolved. With the Hidden Sect's ability, it was a piece of cake for them to dig a secret passageway that led directly to the Jade Truth Monastery's rear residence, the princess' courtyard.
Yang Fan asked, "You suddenly invited me to meet you. Did something big happen?"
Shen Mu replied, "If that wasn't the case, why would I come to see you? You aren't a charming beauty." He might be smiling casually, but there was a trace of worry in between his brows. It was obvious that something big had happened.
Yang Fan could tell that he was worried. However, the current Yang Fan was getting more and more composed as he encountered something big. He wasn't in a hurry to probe further. Instead, he slowly sat down and teased, "I might not be a woman, but there is a delicate and noble beauty in this monastery."
Shen Mu casually replied, "I might be a playboy, but I would never have designs on my brothers' women."
Yang Fan's face instantly heated up. He let out a dry cough and asked, "What exactly is it?"
Shen Mu wasn't in a hurry to answer. He sized him up and asked, "Has Li Longji returned to Lu Province?"
Yang Fan nodded and replied, "He will leave tomorrow."
Shen Mu muttered, "The matter you are doing … you really don't need my help?"
Yang Fan shook his head. "There's no need. If there's a chance of success, my strength is more than enough. If it doesn't succeed, even with the combined strength of the Obvious and Hidden Sects, how can we contend against the army of the Imperial Court?
You only need to place a few chips on the Wei Clan's side. If this one fails and has no choice but to flee into the pugilistic world, you can come out and clean up the mess. Quickly tell me, why did you call me here today? "
Shen Mu sat up a little straighter, and after a few moments of deliberation, he slowly said, "Anxi Protector-General Guo Yuanzhen might not be one of us, but over the years, our two sides have established a very close relationship.
We have used our identities as powerhouses of the Western Regions to help him consolidate the Imperial Court's rule in the Western Regions, and in return, he has provided us with some conveniences. Our two sides have always cooperated happily, but now, he is in trouble, very big trouble. "
Yang Fan frowned. "Are you talking about the conflict between Tuqishi and Ashina?"
Shen Mu replied, "Yes!"
The Tuqishi had received the support of the Hidden Sect to become the number one tribe of the Ten Turkic Tribes, and Shen Mu had even succeeded in making the chief of the Tuqishi Tribe, Uzhile, into Tuqishi Khan. But at the end of last year, Uzhile had died of illness.
After Uzhile's death, his son Suoge succeeded him and became the chief of the Ten Turkic Tribes. Logically speaking, the Imperial Court should have issued an edict conferring upon him the title of Tuqishi Khan, but for some reason, the Imperial Court had not conferred this title.
Ashina Zhongjie, the chief of the Ashina Tribe, whose strength was second only to the Tuqishi Tribe, believed that Suoge had lost the support of the Tang dynasty and wanted to seize the throne of Khagan of the Ten Turkic Tribes.
The two tribes had fought several times, leaving Anxi in shambles, but Anxi Protector-General Guo Yuanzhen could only bide his time. This was an internal conflict among the Ten Turkic Tribes, and they were fighting over the leadership of the Ten Turkic Tribes, not the Tang dynasty.
Even though Guo Yuanzhen was Anxi Protector-General, he did not have the authority to use the army to interfere. He quickly submitted a memorial to the Imperial Court, suggesting that Ashina Tribe be moved to the Guasha Prefectures and cut off from the Suoge tribe.
Li Xian issued an edict in agreement, and Ashina Zhongjie, who was transferred to a more affluent area and would no longer be subject to Suoge's control, happily agreed. But while Ashina Tribe was moving, the Imperial Court suddenly changed its mind.
Li Xian suddenly sent an envoy to Ashina Zhongjie, and at the same time, he appointed Great General Niu Shichang as Anxi Vice Protector-General. Together with Ashina Zhongjie, he would send troops to suppress Suoge. The Imperial Court was openly siding with the offending Ashina Tribe.
Li Xian's appointment of Niu Shichang as Vice Protector-General was a sign that Guo Yuanzhen was going to be deposed. If everything went as expected, after Niu Shichang defeated Suoge, he would officially replace Guo Yuanzhen as Anxi Protector-General.
The chief of the Tuqishi Tribe, Uzhile, had been loyal to the Imperial Court his entire life. For his son, Suoge, to take over his father's position was a matter of the heavens and the earth. It was precisely because the Imperial Court had delayed the appointment that Ashina Tribe's ambitions had been aroused. Now, the Imperial Court was even helping Ashina Tribe!
If this could be tolerated, what could be tolerated?
Suoge was infuriated by the news and naturally declared himself independent, proclaiming himself Khagan of the Ten Families. He then dispatched five thousand cavalry from Anxi, five thousand from Yanqi, five thousand from Shule, and his elite cavalry to attack the garrisons of the Tang Dynasty.
While Ashina Zhongjie was welcoming the imperial envoy, Suoge had received the news and personally led a surprise attack. In a single battle, he captured Ashina Zhongjie, killed the imperial envoy, and executed Great General Lu Shousu.
The newly appointed Anxi Vice Protector-General, Niu Shichang, was infuriated by the news and personally led an army to suppress Suoge, but he was utterly defeated by Suoge. Even he, the commander-in-chief of the three armies, died on the battlefield, and the Four Garrisons of Anxi fell.
Li Xian was infuriated by the news. Believing that Prime Minister Zong Chuke had said that Guo Yuanzhen had been guarding the Western Regions for a long time and had befriended various foreigners, that he harbored ill intentions, and that the rebellion of the Turkic Ten Families was instigated by Guo Yuanzhen, he was relieved of his military post and ordered to return to the capital to be consulted.
Li Xian also followed Zong Chuke's advice and appointed General of the Right Guard Zhou Yiti as Anxi Protector-General and Ashina Zhongjie's younger brother, Ashina Xian, as Khagan of the Ten Families.
How could Shen Mu just sit back and watch Guo Yuanzhen suffer? He had been dealing with this matter for the past few days and Yang Fan knew the details.
Hearing Shen Mu's words, Yang Fan could not help but frown and said awkwardly: "Even if I still have military authority, I cannot interfere with the court's handling of a high-ranking military official. Moreover, I am currently a wild crane with nothing to do. What can I do to help?"
Shen Mu said: "You only need to help me bring a person to the imperial court during the Grand Court Conference."
"Who is it?" Yang Fan asked in surprise.
Clapping his hands three times, Shen Mu sternly ordered: "Bring him here!"
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