My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

Chapter 23 Ashina She'er and Princess Hengyang

night.

Zichen Palace.

Li Shimin was sitting at his desk reviewing memorials.

Chang He stood by.

Li Shimin looked at him: "General Chang, I heard that you recently met with the Crown Prince in private."

Upon hearing this, Chang He felt a chill run down his spine. He naturally understood the rule that the commander of the Imperial Guards was not allowed to have private contact with the Crown Prince or other princes.

He quickly knelt down: "Your Majesty, on one occasion, this humble general encountered the Crown Prince by chance at the military training ground; it was not a private encounter."

Then, he recounted the events of that day when Li Chengqian went to the military training ground to practice archery.

Li Shimin put down the memorial in his hand: "You don't need to be so nervous, stand up and speak."

Chang He stood up and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his robe sleeve.

"During the Xuanwu Gate Incident, you guarded the Xuanwu Gate and let the eight hundred warriors we led into it. Without your help, the consequences would have been unpredictable."

For this, I am very grateful to you, and I know that you are wholeheartedly loyal to the court.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"However, I must remind you that the Imperial Guards are responsible for the security of Chang'an and the palace. Every soldier recruited must be strictly vetted, including what his father and grandfather did."

"Understood, sir!"

"How did Su Gui perform?"

"So far, it's not bad."

"Yes. He is the son of Su Dan, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, so he has impeccable lineage." Li Shimin nodded slightly.

He stood up, turned away from the documents, and paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back: "Recently, I heard that some Turks have infiltrated Chang'an. Are you aware of this?"

"This humble general...this humble general does not know!" Chang He said nervously.

"Although I sent Li Jing to destroy the Eastern Turks and subdue the Khaganate of Jieli last year, the remnants of the Eastern Turks still exist, and they are attempting to make a comeback and rise again."

They infiltrated Chang'an, gathered information, disrupted social order, and cast a shadow over the city.

Furthermore, the Western Turks have always been eyeing us covetously.

You must search every house and expel all the Turks, leaving none alive.

"This humble general obeys the order."

the next morning.

Chang He led a small team of twenty people to search house to house along Zhuque Street.

They searched for a whole day, but didn't find a single Turk.

The soldiers under his command couldn't help but complain.

Su Gui said, "General, is there something wrong with the information?"

Chang'an is right under the emperor's nose, where would the Turks come from?

Even if the Turks were incredibly bold, would they dare to come here?

Wouldn't that be like walking into a trap?

Chang He was also puzzled, but he knew that since the emperor had said those words, there must have been some truth to it.

"Stop making noise and continue the search!"

"promise!"

Chang He stepped into a courtyard. The two thatched houses of this family were dilapidated and covered with cobwebs.

Chang He looked around but did not see a single person.

He pushed open the double wooden door and entered the house. Dust settled on the door frame, covering his head and face. The house was pitch black inside.

He reached out and brushed the dust off his clothes, his eyes fixed on the room, his vision gradually adjusting.

Suddenly, he noticed an old man lying on the chair, his hair and beard all white, as if he were asleep.

Chang He bowed and said, "Sorry to bother you, sir. We are just conducting a routine check."

At this moment, the old man opened his eyes and emitted two beams of cold light.

Chang He was also taken aback, thinking to himself, "Why are the old man's eyes so bright, like two lamps?"

"Ahem, ahem, since you're going to inspect, then please do as you please. However, I'd like to ask, what do you want to inspect?" The old man said, standing up from his chair. He was quite tall.

Do you have any Turks here?

The old man laughed: "Look at my place, just two dilapidated thatched huts, where would any Turks hide?"

Chang He looked at it and thought it made sense.

"Goodbye!"

Chang He turned to leave as he spoke.

Just then, the old man suddenly raised his right palm and struck Chang He on the back.

As a general, Chang He was sharp-eyed and perceptive. He sensed an ominous wind behind him and dared not turn around. He jumped out of the courtyard.

The old man then arrived in the courtyard.

"Who exactly are you?" Chang He was shocked. He drew his sword, pointed it at the old man, and asked sharply.

The old man didn't reply, but stepped forward to snatch the sword from Chang He's hand.

The two then started fighting in the courtyard.

Chang He's martial arts skills were second to none among the Imperial Guards, but when he fought this old man, he did not gain the upper hand.

The two fought for more than ten rounds without a clear winner.

Chang He felt a little embarrassed because he had a weapon while the other was unarmed.

Enraged, Chang He thrust his sword towards the old man's throat.

Unexpectedly, the old man was agile and kicked Chang He's wrist. The sword in Chang He's hand flew out with a "whoosh" and embedded itself in the wall of the thatched house.

The sword's tail continued to tremble due to the excessive force applied.

Chang He was taken aback.

In the brief moment he was distracted, the old man punched Chang He in the temple again.

If Chang He were to be hit by that punch, he would either die or be seriously injured.

Suddenly, Chang He felt someone push him.

The old man missed his target with his punch.

Chang He was still in shock when he saw that the person who pushed him was none other than Su Gui.

"Boss, hurry and get the sword!" Su Gui said, brandishing her pear blossom spear and engaging the old man in combat.

Su Gui noticed that although the old man in front of her looked old, he was strong, agile, and full of energy. He didn't look like an old man at all.

Su Gui examined the old man's face again; it was very stiff, but his teeth were white and his lips were red.

Su Gui found it strange.

As the two were fighting, Su Gui unintentionally reached out and grabbed the old man's beard.

He pulled downwards, but tore off a piece of skin.

It turned out that the old man was wearing a mask. When the mask was removed, it was discovered that he was not an old man at all, but a strong man in his twenties.

However, he looked different from the people of the Central Plains, with high cheekbones, a hooked nose, and sunken eyes, clearly a Turk.

"Boss, he's actually a Turk!"

"What?" Chang He looked over and saw it was true. "You're actually quite the actor! Surround him and grab him!"

At this moment, the twenty imperial guards rushed into the courtyard and trapped the Turk in the middle.

To everyone's surprise, the Turk laughed loudly, "Everyone says you Central Plains people are heroes? Turns out, all you know how to do is win with numbers!"

"Who exactly are you?" Chang He drew the sword back into his hand.

"I am Ashina She'er!"

Chang He was also shocked when he heard this. He thought to himself that he was the famous Ashina She'er, the second son of Chuluo Khan, who was brave enough to be the best in the army at the age of eleven and was elected as the Tuoshe.

Later, I heard that he led his army to conquer half of the territory of the Western Turks and declared himself Dubu Khan. How did he end up in Chang'an?

"What brings you to Chang'an?"

Ashina She'er sneered, "Everyone says that Li Shimin was a wise and benevolent ruler, but in my opinion, he is not as good as Qin Shi Huang."

"What makes you say that?"

"Back then, when Qin Shi Huang issued an order to expel foreign guests, he wanted to banish Li Si and others from the Qin Dynasty. Later, Li Si submitted a memorial entitled 'Memorial on Expelling Foreign Guests,' and Qin Shi Huang changed his mind and revoked the order."

"You allow your retainers and scholars to remain in Qin, yet your Great Tang wants to expel all the Turks from Chang'an. Isn't that laughable?"

Chang He angrily said, "Enough nonsense! You're lurking around here suspiciously; you can't be up to anything. We're just following orders. Take him down!"

At Chang He's command, everyone rushed forward.

Chang He seized the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, stabbing Ashina She'er's right arm with his sword, and blood immediately spurted out.

Seeing that the enemy outnumbered him, Ashina She'er rushed out the door.

Chang He led his men in pursuit, and after a while, they happened to run into Jing Yao, who arrived with more than a hundred imperial guards. The men chased after him relentlessly.

Night had already fallen.

Chang He, Su Gui, Jing Yao, and others chased after Ashina She'er and discovered that Ashina She'er had jumped into a large mansion.

Bloodstains were visible outside the courtyard wall.

Chang He looked up and saw that it was Princess Hengyang's residence.

Chang He was in a bit of a dilemma, because the last time he besieged the East Palace and searched for the wooden figure, he had already displeased the Crown Prince. It was hard to say whether the Crown Prince would make things difficult for him if he succeeded to the throne.

Princess Hengyang was Li Shimin's younger sister, and thus held a noble status.

If you offend all these imperial relatives, you'll probably suffer the consequences.

Therefore, he dared not act rashly.

Su Gui asked, "Should we force our way in?"

Chang He placed his hand on his sword: "Wait a little longer! Thank you for saving me just now!"

"You're welcome."

"From now on, you are the squad leader, and these twenty soldiers will be under your command."

Su Gui clasped her hands in a fist and palm salute: "Thank you for your promotion, General!"

Princess Hengyang was reading in her boudoir when suddenly a large man jumped in, which startled her greatly.

"Who...who are you? What do you want?" Princess Hengyang stood up, looking nervous.

Ashina She'er quickly bowed and said, "Excuse me, I apologize for the intrusion. May I ask who you are?"

"I am Princess Hengyang."

Princess Hengyang carefully examined the burly man before her and found that he was tall and imposing, with a face quite different from that of people from the Central Plains, and a touch of heroic spirit between his brows.

"I am a Turk, and my name is Ashina Sher."

"What? You are Ashina She'er?"

Princess Hengyang had long heard of a hero in the Turkic Khaganate named Ashina Sher. Although she had never met him, she had admired him from afar. She never expected to meet him here today.

Princess Hengyang couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart.

"How did you manage to barge into my room?" Princess Hengyang wondered.

"Princess, to tell you the truth, I became the Khan of Dubu, but the Xue Yantuo tribe rebelled. So, I led my troops to quell the rebellion. Just then, the Khan of the Western Turks, Dilishi, ascended the throne. My soldiers were tired of war, and many deserted, weakening our forces considerably. Later, we fell into the trap set by the Xue Yantuo tribe."

I suffered a defeat, so I thought of borrowing troops from the Tang Dynasty to take revenge.

However, I was unlucky. I had barely arrived in Chang'an when I heard that the Heavenly Khan had issued an edict to expel all Turks. Therefore, I disguised myself as an old man and hid in an abandoned house. Unexpectedly, I encountered the Imperial Guards searching for me. I couldn't explain myself to them, so I had to flee. In truth, I was not a spy.

"I see," Princess Hengyang finally understood. "You can hide in my room for now, I'll deal with them."

Upon hearing this, Ashina She'er was secretly overjoyed, never expecting to encounter such a kind person. He bowed again, saying, "Thank you, Princess!"

Princess Hengyang arrived at the gate with dozens of servants, her face ashen.

Chang He quickly came over, bowed, and said, "Princess, we have discovered a Turk jumping into your courtyard. To ensure your safety, please allow us to enter and search!"

"How dare you! Chang He, do you think that just because you're the commander of the Imperial Guards, you can look down on me, the princess?"

"Why wouldn't I dare!"

"Where did these Turks come from? I haven't seen them. Do you also suspect that there are people like Tongmu in my residence, and therefore want to surround and search my princess's residence like you did when you besieged the Crown Prince's palace?"

Upon hearing this, Chang He's head began to buzz. He realized that the matter of besieging the Eastern Palace had been leaked, and now even Princess Hengyang knew about it.

He had long heard that Princess Hengyang was not good-tempered, and seeing her today confirmed it.

"Princess, you misunderstand. We absolutely did not mean that. We did see a Turk named Ashina She'er jump into your residence. To ensure your safety, please cooperate with our work."

"Chang He! Stop nagging. Others may be afraid of you, but this princess is not. If I say no, then no."

If you insist on searching the princess's residence, please produce the imperial edict!

Apart from my imperial brother issuing an edict authorizing your search, I'd like to see who dares to enter the princess's residence without permission.

At this moment, dozens of servants from the princess's residence, armed with knives, spears, and clubs, stood with fierce expressions.

Chang He thought that Princess Hengyang had forbidden the search, and it would probably be inappropriate to force his way in.

However, if something were to happen to Princess Hengyang, and he, as the commander of the Imperial Guards, were to be blamed by the Emperor, he would be in deep trouble.

So he discussed with Jingyao and Sugui, telling them to continue surrounding the area while he rode a fast horse to fetch the imperial edict.

Princess Hengyang ordered the gate to be closed tightly, and then returned to her room.

However, when she entered the room, she found Ashina She'er lying unconscious on the ground with a pool of blood.

Princess Hengyang understood that he had fainted due to excessive blood loss.

Princess Hengyang then called over another maid, and the two of them finally managed to carry Ashina She'er to her bed.

Princess Hengyang personally removed Ashina She'er's upper garment, had a maid bring hot water, and then cleaned and bandaged Ashina She'er's wounds.

Princess Hengyang noticed that although Ashina She'er's appearance was different from that of people from the Central Plains and he was not handsome, his facial features were well-defined, and he could be considered to have a dignified appearance.

Princess Hengyang thought to herself that she was still single. As Li Shimin's sister, she naturally had no trouble getting married. However, she would either not marry at all, or she would marry a great and upright hero.

If I could marry someone like Ashina She'er, my life would not have been in vain.

Princess Hengyang blushed as she thought of this.