Chapter 8, Empress Chang Le

Uh? Is it now very similar to the Spring and Autumn Period? Qin Sisi is somewhat speechless; it turns out that this crown prince's worth is not that impressive!

"Then do as you please; at worst, I will explain a bit more," Tan Cangyu said gloomily

Qin Sisi blinked in confusion, still not understanding

"Are you worried that I might be angry?" Tang Cangyu smiled nonchalantly, but he could easily see what was on her mind. "Don't worry, I won't take such trivial actions to heart; just make sure there won't be a next time."

Qin Sisi suddenly lost her appetite, sulking while gripping her chopsticks. "What I just made wasn't good, and it took several strikes of the flint to light the oil lamp. Will it raise suspicions? I’d rather not pretend to be a princess anymore"

As Tan Cangyu was eating, he noticed that the speed at which the chopsticks across from him were picking up food had slowed down, and eventually, there was no movement at all. He looked up and found her with a face that expressed a lack of appetite. He reached out and removed the scarf tied on her head, and said lightly, "Hurry up and eat, or the food will get cold. In the future... no, perhaps tomorrow, you won't have the chance to enjoy such good meals."

Tang Cangyu smiled and said, "It’s no problem; Princess Ya never does such things as starting a fire herself, so your behavior is quite normal." He assumed it was due to her nervousness and did not realize that Qin Sisi was also using a flint for the first time.

Qin Sisi was completely stunned; what era had she actually arrived in? She had heard the name Empress Changle several times, but who exactly was she? In her understanding of history, the only female emperor was Wu Zetian. "Um... could you please recount the history from beginning to end? Uh, just consider it a way to broaden my historical knowledge," she said. She was most afraid of learning new things, but in order to clarify whether she had crossed into another world, she endured it.

So she really has traveled through time! Does this mean she will no longer be able to see her family? ... Even her friends will be unreachable ...

Tang Cangyu lightly smiled and said: "The royal family has not yet fallen to the level of the Spring and Autumn period. However, the powerful families are deeply entrenched and are not solely concentrated in Chang'an. For instance, there are the Li family from Taiyuan, the Dugu family from Luoyang, the Song family from Shu, and also the Su family from the Jiangnan region. The Su family is the maternal family of Princess Ya and His Highness the Crown Prince, and the head of the Su family is indeed the younger brother of Empress Su, who is also your uncle"

Tang Cangyu nodded slightly, very pleased with her referring to herself as "we." "The Su family is a newly emerged prominent family that came into being after Empress Changle, and the same goes for the Li family of Tushuli. If we can successfully pass through the Hangu Pass, our first step will be to go to the Dugu family in Luoyang, and then proceed down the Grand Canal to the Su family."

Ayu ... ... Ayu?" Qin Sisi repeatedly murmured this name, becoming familiar with the nickname.

Qin Sisi raised her eyebrows in amusement, "A small family? How could someone so young be an imperial teacher? It can't possibly be just a minor family. However, she also knew that Tan Cangyu wouldn't elaborate much, so she shifted the topic, saying: 'So, our destination is the Su family, then?'

What? Qin Sisi's mind has always been able to hold only one thought at a time, so the rare feelings of sorrow that surged in her heart were instantly dispelled by Tan Cangyu's words.

Cut, but he is just a man of inconsistent words and actions. Qin Sisi thought disdainfully, yet she lacked the courage to voice it. She admitted to being a coward. However, when Qin Sisi stole a glance at his expression, it seemed he was not angry at all. Did he not care about her presumptuousness?

"No need, I'm not hungry," Tan Cangyu said as he sat down opposite her, raising his hand to pour a cup of warm tea for each of them. Ever since Xiao Ya passed away, he had lost his appetite for food. However, seeing Qin Sisi eat with great enjoyment, he unconsciously picked up his chopsticks and began to eat with her.

Qin Sisi stiffly turned her head away from the book, asking, "Whose uncle is it? Is the Tan family also one of the prominent families?" What is this! Does she not understand? Although he repeatedly mentioned the royal family, there was little respect in his tone. Instead, he seemed to hold those prominent families in high regard.

Tonight, we can finally sleep peacefully, as we are here as bait; I fear the night raiders will likely be dealt with by the honeysuckle. However, at dawn tomorrow, we must quickly head to Hangu Pass to leave the fortress, lest the Ghost Concubine devise another scheme if her first plan fails. Tan Cangyu set down his chopsticks and picked up his teacup, taking a delicate sip.

Furthermore, Princess Ya usually calls me 'Ayu'. From now on... just call me that. " Tan Cangyu hesitated for a moment, but still sighed and said this. Sometimes, it is often the details that reveal one's true self; he must strive for perfection.

Tan Cangyu gave a bitter smile and said lightly, "How can the Tan family be considered a prominent family? It is merely a small clan, and I am just a minor Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince."

Oh. Qin Sisi replied in a muffled voice, mimicking him as she silently ate her meal. For a moment, the two people in the room were at a loss for words, with only the sounds of swallowing and the occasional clinking of chopsticks against the porcelain bowl filling the silence

"Then escape? Where to escape? Why do you need me so desperately?" Qin Sisi asked anxiously. A fallen prince and a princess pretending to be a scholar, such a combination hardly guarantees success!

"Eat slowly and more gracefully. Where have you seen a princess eating like a starving ghost?" After sending Lu Guo away, Tan Cangyu entered the room and saw Qin Sisi's eating posture, letting out a helpless sigh.

Hmph! Fine, but if I make any mistakes in the future, don't blame me. Qin Sisi felt a surge of anger rising within her; she wanted to see just how long he could remain so arrogant

Qin Sisi was enjoying the delicious dishes while admiring the exquisite ancient furniture under the light, and slowly, a sense of reality surged within her.

Tang Cangyu rhythmically tapped his index finger on the table and smiled, saying: "What you may not know is that although the Xiao family is currently in power, outside of Guanzhong, almost every region is controlled by prominent families. Among the seven great families today, some even possess their own armies. If we can persuade one or two families to support His Highness the Crown Prince, there is a chance to reclaim power from the hands of Lady You."

Qin Sisi felt her stomach heavy and twisted in a knot, feeling so upset that she wanted to vomit

"It's still uncomfortable." Qin Sisi observed his reaction and uncomfortably pursed her lips. It was obvious that the person across from her was feeling sentimental due to the situation.

"So what? Hey, do you want some?" Qin Sisi said irritably, but still politely asked the *picture* book.

Tang Cangyu smiled faintly and decided to simply explain the situation to her. "You know why we are on the run, right? Youfei has been dominating the harem, effectively imprisoning the ailing Emperor. She originally planned to secretly eliminate the Crown Prince, and then announce to the world that the Crown Prince had forced his way into the palace and caused the Emperor's death, after which she would eliminate the Crown Prince to clear the way for her child, the Second Prince, to ascend the throne. However, her plan was uncovered by Princess Ya, who took the Crown Prince out of the palace in advance, allowing the Emperor to linger in his illness. She had intended to secretly eliminate the Crown Prince, and then announce to the world that the Crown Prince had forced his way into the palace and caused the Emperor's death, after which she would eliminate the Crown Prince to clear the way for her child, the Second Prince, to ascend the throne. But her plan was seen through by Princess Ya, who took the Crown Prince out of the palace in advance, allowing the Emperor to linger in his illness. From the situation with Lu Zhiyan today, it seems that Youfei has not yet spread the rumors about the Crown Prince forcing his way into the palace."

"Why not resist? Is Xiao Run not the crown prince? Why is he still unable to deal with a mere consort?" Qin Sisi fiddled with the food on her plate with her chopsticks, but she had no appetite to eat.

"Beautiful women bring disaster; throughout history, it is not uncommon for the imperial harem to wield power." Tan Cangyu shook his head and sighed, "As the saying goes, a mother is honored by her son, but in the harem, it is more accurate to say that a son is honored by his mother. With the empress's early demise, Princess Ya and His Highness the Crown Prince are, in fact, left alone and neglected."

Tan Cangyu heard the sound she emitted, as if someone had pressed a pressure point on him. After a long while, he finally exhaled deeply, yet he did not glance at her even once, instead burying his head and silently eating.