Chapter 9

After playing football, Xue Shao bowed and stood in front of Princess Taiping.

"It doesn't count, let's do it again!" Princess Taiping was very不服气 (unwilling to admit defeat), "Let's play arrow throwing! Arrow throwing!"

Compared to wrestling and football, arrow throwing was much more refined. It involved placing a long-necked jar and throwing arrows into it from a distance. Whoever threw the most arrows in would win.

In this skill, Xue Shao was a top expert in both his past and present life. In his past life, he had practiced throwing knives and could hit a throat from ten meters away with ease. This simple arrow throwing was child's play for him.

"This time, I will compete with you personally! If you lose, I'll twist your neck!" Princess Taiping said angrily, feeling it wasn't enough, she added, "If you win, I will grant you an official position!"

Xue Shao smiled and thought, this time there's a stake. An official position? I like it! Whether you're just saying it or not, we'll see after I win.

The result of the competition was without any doubt, Xue Shao won.

"It doesn't count! I'm not feeling well today!" After the competition, Princess Taiping started to cheat, "I want to play chess with you!"

After three rounds, the princess luckily won one, but in fact, Xue Shao was intentionally letting her win to save her face.

"..." After the chess game, Princess Taiping was speechless, biting her lips, and said with determination, "Let's have a baby-making contest! This time, you will definitely lose!"

A baby-making contest?

The eunuchs and maids were trying hard not to laugh, and Xue Shao smiled without a word. Even if you are a woman, you can only have one baby a year at most, and if you're lucky, twins; I am a male breeding machine, give me a group of women, and I can create a nation!

"You are so annoying! — I won't play anymore, let's go back to the palace!!" Princess Taiping turned and walked away angrily, still looking back to glare at Xue Shao, "Wait, I will compete with you again tomorrow, and I will definitely win!"

"May I escort Princess back to the palace!" Xue Shao said from behind.

"I'm so angry!" Princess Taiping sat in the phoenix carriage and pointed at the eunuchs and maids, "It's all your fault, you are all useless!"

"Princess, please forgive us!" A group of people were frightened and knelt down.

"Alright, alright — let's go back to the palace!" Princess Taiping smoothed her sleeve, looking stern and very angry, but a cunning smile appeared on her face, and she whispered to herself, "It was actually quite fun!"

Xue Shao was still escorted back to Longshou Hall by several palace guards. After all this trouble, it was already dusk.

After eating, Xue Shao stood by the window, quietly looking at the magnificent palace.

Who could imagine that such a grand and magnificent dynasty, such a majestic and beautiful palace, would completely disappear from people's sight and be buried under cold yellow earth in a few years? Future generations could only rely on archaeological excavations and scattered historical records to verify this enchanting era.

Xue Shao carefully recalled his knowledge of this period of history. Without a doubt, the next few decades would belong to Wu Zetian. This only female emperor in history would overthrow the Li Tang dynasty and establish the Great Zhou dynasty, ascending to the throne and ruling the world.

A new emperor, new ministers. The Li royal family would be almost completely exterminated by Wu Zetian, and the old aristocratic families that had previously supported the Li royal family would also be purged.

The He Dong Xue family was one of these.

Historically, her daughter Princess Taiping's husband, Xue Shao, was also one of these!

Historical records about Xue Shao's death are inconsistent. Some say he was involved in a rebellion planned by his brother and was imprisoned and executed; others say he did not rebel but was unjustly killed in prison. In fact, whether Xue Shao was involved in the rebellion is not important; what is important is that he was the relative of the Li royal family and an important member of the Xue family. Wu Zetian would never allow her daughter to have a husband who belonged to the Li camp after she became emperor!

Therefore, even if Xue Shao was deeply loved by Wu Zetian's only daughter, even if he did not commit any crime, even if he was the most competent prince consort in history — he must die!

In the face of political interests, family ties are nothing; Wu Zetian could even take action against her own son; what is a son-in-law?

Thinking about this, Xue Shao's brows furrowed deeply. Since heaven has arranged for me to come to this era and become Xue Shao, there must be a reason, but it certainly won't let me wait to be killed by Wu Zetian!

Actually, even if I avoid marrying Princess Taiping, I can't guarantee that I will escape Wu Zetian's political purges in the future. Because I am a member of the Li royal family and a member of the He Dong Xue family, these are all obstacles on Wu Zetian's path to becoming empress.

When the nest is overturned, how can there be intact eggs?

Avoiding it is impossible. The only option is... to go against the current and seek a new path to change my fate!

Where will my path be, Xue Shao?

No matter what, it will not be in Princess Taiping's fragrant bedroom or on her bed. This has already been proven by the short-lived Xue Shao in history. No matter how much Princess Taiping loves him, no matter how much Wu Zetian values her only daughter, Xue Shao will still die!

Xue Shao narrowed his eyes.

Whenever he was seriously thinking or planning to take action, he would always narrow his eyes like a leopard about to pounce.

"From what I can see, my only path is — to join the military!" Xue Shao concluded.

Historical records state, "After Li Ji, there were no more good generals." In the next few decades, the world would be in dire need of generals, and the military would have a great power vacuum and room for action. I won't fill this gap, should I try to squeeze into the court and engage in political intrigue with those cunning and treacherous politicians? Whether I can win or not is one thing, but historical records show that during Wu Zetian's reign, nearly eighty prime ministers were replaced, the most in history!

"Accompanying the emperor is like accompanying a tiger," and the secret police politics were taken to the extreme by this woman. The court under Wu Zetian's rule was shrouded in white terror for many years, far more dangerous than the battlefield.

Therefore, even without considering interests and ideals, my only path, Xue Shao, is to join the military!

Power comes from the barrel of a gun, and protecting oneself is the only viable royal way!

Thinking to this point, Xue Shao's lips curled slightly upward, and a strange and cold smile appeared on his calm face... The reason Xue Shao in history was remembered was simply because he was Princess Taiping's prince consort. Now, all of this can be changed.

This is a new history, and the story of Xue Shao and Princess Taiping will not be the same as before!

Years of military and mercenary life, having experienced countless life and death, Xue Shao has long seen through life and glory. But now, facing this myth-like palace, immersed in this dream-like history, facing a new and dangerous future, his long-dormant male ambition seems to be gradually awakening.

The tides of history, the changing winds and clouds. History is always written by a few powerful figures.

"Why can't I?"

...

Back in Penglai Hall, Princess Taiping lay on the bed, not eating, kicking her feet, and frowning, her hands squeezing the pillow.

After handling the day's state affairs, Wu Zetian visited the ailing Emperor Li Zhi and then came to see her precious daughter. Seeing her in this state, Wu Zetian smiled knowingly.

Princess Taiping, seeing her savior, said, "Mother, you finally came! Help me think of a strategy, I must win him tomorrow!"

Wu Zetian "hehe" laughed a couple of times and stroked her shiny black hair, saying leisurely, "I have already pardoned him and let him out of the palace."

Obviously, she already knew everything that happened during the day.

"Ah? What should I do!" Princess Taiping was immediately anxious, "We haven't decided the winner yet!"

"If I don't release him, what reason can I give to continue detaining him?" Wu Zetian said, "It's enough."

Princess Taiping pouted, "I'm not convinced. He hit me for no reason, should I just let it go?"

"Then find a fault and demote him!" Wu Zetian said casually.

"But... if he is demoted, I won't have the chance to take revenge myself. That's not good either." Princess Taiping pouted, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

"What should I do then?" Wu Zetian asked with a smile, "Even if he is not demoted, he will return to Lantian County and won't come back to the palace."

"Then I won't see him anymore?" Princess Taiping subconsciously exclaimed, her big black eyes fluttering, and then said, "Mother, I remember something!"

"What is it?"

"Today, when I was competing with Xue Shao, I accidentally boasted that..." Princess Taiping stuck out her tongue and said cautiously, "If he wins, I will grant him an official position."

"You are so naughty!" Wu Zetian's tone became stern, "He has no achievements, how can you easily grant him an official position? If this spreads, how can you convince the people?!"

Princess Taiping shrank back, gently pulling Wu Zetian's sleeve, "Mother, I know I was wrong! But the princess's word is golden, if it is not fulfilled, won't it damage the royal credibility and dignity? Besides, besides... he saved me from drowning before, can that be considered an achievement?"

"Does that mean the matter of him hitting you is settled?" Wu Zetian smiled meaningfully.

Princess Taiping, seeing her mother's cunning smile, felt a bit like she was being tricked... Mother seems to be deliberately teasing me, making me let go of this grudge?

"What do you think?" Wu Zetian asked.

"Then... let it go! As a princess, I should be magnanimous, for now, just for now, I won't hold it against him!" Princess Taiping said deliberately, adding a "hmm" to emphasize her point.

"Only enemies meet so often!" Wu Zetian shook her head and smiled, patting her back affectionately, "You are just like me when I was young."

...

As night fell, Xue Shao walked out of the palace.

Looking back, the palace was lit up with lanterns. The deep palace, the high palace gates and walls, were like the boundary between two worlds.

"We will meet again." Xue Shao smiled faintly and turned to walk away.

.

[Thank you to Fu Qilin, He Qian99, Xiao Shuchi, Wu Ye Lin, and Yao Jie for your support. I want to say that Yao Jie's name in the group seems to be "Wei Mei"! I'll also announce a group number, 129399679, everyone is welcome to join ^_^!]

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