Chapter 126: Li Hong's Request

Li Yuechen walked toward the young woman standing quietly not far away as she spoke.

She had noticed her eldest brother watching the woman for some time. Looking closer, the lady appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old. She had a gentle face, and although she was watching the crowd racing back and forth during the polo match, there was no sign of fanaticism in her eyes. She wore a calm smile, much like a kind neighborly sister who made one feel as comfortable as a spring breeze.

Seeing Li Yuechen approach, the woman quickly curtsied: "Greetings, Your Highness."

"No need for formalities." Li Yuechen waved her hand and asked with an air of casual curiosity, "Which family does the young lady belong to?"

"I am Pei Qingwan, daughter of Pei Judao."

Li Yuechen thought for a moment. Pei Judao... sounded like some sort of general, right?

"Oh."

"Does Your Highness have any instructions?" Pei Qingwan asked, looking slightly puzzled.

"None at all." Li Yuechen grinned. "I just saw you standing here alone and seemed uninterested in the polo match, so I was curious and came over to ask."

Pei Qingwan nodded gently: "I do not know how to ride a horse, so..."

Li Yuechen nodded: "Speaking of which, the Emperor held this event for us to choose our future partners. Do you have anyone in mind?"

Caught off guard by such a direct question, Pei Qingwan froze, then instinctively glanced toward Li Hong. Girls are sensitive to the gaze of others; she had already noticed Li Hong watching her. Consequently, she had been stealing glances at him from time to time as well. Truth be told, while Li Hong’s looks might not match those of Li Xian or Li Lun, he was certainly not lacking. The men of the Li royal family were generally fair-skinned, and since he hadn't yet grown a full beard, he still possessed the charm of a refined, handsome youth. In this era, views on love were relatively simple, and under the pressure of arranged marriages, often a single meaningful look was enough to set a heart racing.

She seemed flustered, her eyes flickering as she took two small steps back, avoiding his gaze: "Your Highness, please do not tease me..."

"Tell me, what do you think of my eldest brother?" Li Yuechen interrupted her directly. She knew people in this era were thin-skinned, but since both parties seemed interested, it was better to give them a nudge.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is known throughout the world for his benevolence and filial piety, naturally..."

Li Yuechen waved her hand: "I'm not asking for pleasantries. Do you like him?"

"I..." Pei Qingwan was so overwhelmed by the bluntness of the question that she didn't know how to respond.

"Sigh..." Li Yuechen sighed dramatically, looking regretful. "To be honest, my brother is no longer young, and our parents are worried about his marriage, which is why today's event was organized. I asked my brother earlier, and he said he is very fond of you, but it is currently inconvenient for him to come and tell you himself. After all, the position of Crown Prince is sensitive..."

"His Highness... is fond of me?" Pei Qingwan couldn't help but look up.

Li Yuechen nodded: "Yes. I just don't know how you feel? Although as the Crown Prince, if he wanted to, he could simply ask our parents to issue a marriage decree. But my brother said that if you are unwilling, he would not wish to force you..."

At this point, Li Yuechen put on a helpless expression: "He entrusted me to ask you. Since you don't seem interested, then so be it. It’s just a pity that my brother, a dignified Crown Prince, might end up having to marry someone he doesn't truly care for..."

"No, I..." Pei Qingwan couldn't help but interject, "That is not..."

"Oh?" Li Yuechen turned her head, looking expectant. "Then may I take it that you are fond of my brother as well?"

Pei Qingwan blushed, lowered her head, and whispered: "I defer to Your Highness's arrangements..."

Li Yuechen grinned and snapped her fingers—done! Turning around, she saw Li Hong watching them. She gave him a thumbs-up. Li Hong immediately looked away, but the uncontrollable smile on his face betrayed his joy.

Since it had reached this point, there was nothing more to say. All that remained was to tell their parents, and the matter would essentially be settled. Li Yuechen only hoped to keep her eldest brother happy and in good spirits; perhaps that would help him live a longer life. If a miracle happened and he could recover on his own, she would certainly go to the Taoist temple and chant sutras many times over.

...

The event lasted until dusk. During the interval, Emperor Li Zhi rewarded everyone with *Sushan* (a chilled dairy dessert), leaving the officials and juniors guessing how much ice the palace had stored this year.

When the event concluded, the family returned to Renshou Hall for dinner. As soon as they sat down, their mother, Wu Zetian, impatiently asked: "Did any of you meet someone you liked today?" Although she asked everyone, her gaze was fixed on Li Hong. Li Xian and the others shook their heads, as did the two sisters.

Only Li Hong looked a bit embarrassed: "This... I do not know who she is, *ahem*..."

"I know, her name is Pei Qingwan, and she said her father is Pei Judao," Li Yuechen said with a smile. "I even asked, and she is quite fond of my eldest brother too!"

"Eldest brother is the Crown Prince; which lady wouldn't be fond of him?" Li Xian joked.

Li Yuechen shook her head: "You don't understand women, Second Brother. She truly likes him."

"Pei Judao?" Li Zhi turned the health balls in his hand and thought for a moment. "The General of the Left Jinwu Guard?"

"I wouldn't know, but if there's no one else with the same name, then that must be him," Li Yuechen replied.

Beside them, Wu Zetian nodded: "I know of this girl. She is pretty and has a quiet temperament. Moreover, she is well-versed in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She is qualified to be the Crown Princess."

Li Zhi nodded upon hearing this: "Hong'er, what is your wish?"

"I defer to the decision of my parents!" Li Hong replied respectfully, though his expression clearly showed his satisfaction.

Knowing her son well, Wu Zetian nodded: "In that case, Your Majesty, why not pick a time to talk to Pei Judao and grant the marriage?"

"Hmm." Li Zhi, clearly in a good mood, nodded with a smile and stroked his chin: "I shall speak with him tomorrow."

The others began to gossip: "No wonder I saw Yuechen talking to a woman outside the polo field today."

"I didn't pay much attention, Second Brother, what did she look like?" Li Xian asked.

"Quite lovely," Li Xian nodded. "Though not as beautiful as Mother, she can certainly be called a great beauty."

Wu Zetian smiled: "Second Son, your flattery skills have improved lately. Did you learn that from Chen'er?"

"Mother, there's no need to drag me into this, is there?" Li Yuechen said helplessly.

"Hahaha..." Li Zhi suddenly laughed. No one knew exactly what he was laughing at, but he seemed very happy. The others followed suit, soaking in the warm, harmonious family atmosphere.

...

In the following days, many officials began to move about frequently. In normal times, this would have alerted the Emperor, but in the days that followed, news of happy events came from many households. After all, while the matchmaking event was meant for the Crown Prince, it didn't forbid others from getting to know each other. Many had found their matches, and this era was relatively open-minded. Since the children had expressed their wishes, the parents were willing to consider their opinions. Thus, many officials became in-laws, and the marriages were preliminarily set.

After speaking with Pei Judao, Li Zhi decreed the marriage between Pei Qingwan and the Crown Prince, selecting an auspicious date for the wedding. Li Hong didn't say much on the surface, but he was all smiles for days, and even his coughing had lessened significantly. Everyone could see he was in a good mood. To ensure he wasn't under too much pressure, Li Zhi didn't assign him any work recently and encouraged Li Yuechen to visit him often.

Two days later, it was time for Li Yuechen's lessons. Thinking he was bored in the Eastern Palace, Li Hong asked to tag along. Li Yuechen had no objections, so she had Li Hong change into light, comfortable clothing and travel with her to the royal farm in a carriage. Traveling with the Crown Prince meant they were protected not by the gate guards, but by the Eastern Palace's Six Garrisons.

When the heavily armed soldiers arrived at the farm, the villagers were startled, not knowing what had happened. They only breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Li Yuechen acting as usual.

Li Yuechen smiled at the confused villagers: "Do not be nervous. My eldest brother is accompanying me today to look around. Just go about your own business."

Lu Zhaolin was the first to react. He looked at Li Hong behind her and asked: "The Prince's eldest brother... that would be?"

"Yes, the Crown Prince!" Li Yuechen nodded.

Everyone was shocked. Upon realizing it was the Crown Prince, they quickly bowed and shouted in unison: "Greetings, Your Highness!"

"No need for such formalities!" Li Hong raised his hand. "Ahem... I am just here to look around today. Do not worry; just go about your day as usual."

Although he said this, his status was clear, and the villagers looked at one another, unsure of what to do. Li Yuechen finally clapped her hands at the children: "Alright, don't just stand there! Go to class!" Only then did the villagers disperse to return to their chores.

Since Li Yuechen began teaching here, she had built a simple pavilion in the garden so that Fu Lai and the others could rest while she held lessons. Li Hong sat in the pavilion, watching Li Yuechen teach the children. He looked at the mud walls covered in dense writing and numbers and couldn't help but nod slightly. Although the children's handwriting was still poor and crooked, one could sense their sincerity in every stroke.

During his time as regent in Chang'an, he had frequently exchanged letters with Li Yuechen, so he was aware of what she was doing. He had thought that when she mentioned "cultivating the seeds of the Great Tang's future" in her letters, she was referring to agricultural experiments. Only now, seeing it in person, did he understand that the "seeds" were actually these children.

As he pondered, he couldn't help but reveal a smile of relief. Although Li Hong was sensible and obedient, and sometimes a bit rigid, he was not stupid and understood his parents well. That day, after they returned from speaking with Liu Shenwei, their expressions were clearly wrong. Li Hong had already guessed that his condition was likely very troublesome. That night, back at the Eastern Palace, he had thought that his illness might be incurable. He had been frightened while lying in bed, but more than that, he felt a deep reluctance to leave life behind. He wanted to live a few more years, to see his sisters married, his brothers wed, and to see his youngest sister find happiness. Especially this sister—she hadn't spoken for three years after birth, and even before growing up, she had created things beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. She was definitely not an ordinary person! Most importantly, she was kind-hearted and responsible. If not for her being a girl, she would have been a more suitable candidate for Crown Prince than he.

Watching his sister teaching the children, Li Hong whispered to himself: "Actually, I have no interest in being Emperor. I am only Crown Prince because it is the responsibility of the eldest son. I only hope that while my parents are happy, the Great Tang will have good weather and the people will be well-fed and clothed! Chen'er, now that I have you, I no longer worry about the future of the Great Tang."

...

After finishing the afternoon lessons, Li Yuechen and her eldest brother took the carriage back to the palace. There were only the two of them in the carriage; even his personal eunuch, Lu Sheng, had been sent away. Li Hong sat upright in the carriage and couldn't help but smile: "If you were a boy, Yuechen, I would truly submit a memorial to make you the Crown Prince!"

These words sent a jolt of shock through Li Yuechen! What did that mean? Did he feel threatened and was issuing a warning? But looking up, she saw no ulterior motive in his eyes. His face still held a doting smile, and there was no sense of tension. Seeing his expression, she chose to believe he was speaking from the heart as a brother.

She shook her head and smiled: "Eldest brother, don't say such things. If the ministers heard that, it would cause huge trouble!"

"True!" Li Hong nodded with a smile. "But it doesn't matter. You must help me in the future. I believe that with you here, the Great Tang will surely become better!"

"Eldest brother, don't overestimate me," Li Yuechen leaned against the carriage, smiling. "One must bear the responsibility for the position one holds. If I weren't afraid of making our parents unhappy, I wouldn't even want to be a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!"

The smile on Li Hong's face remained: "You, you are good at everything, except for this lazy streak of yours!"

Li Yuechen pursed her lips, not wishing to explain. Yet, this pout was undeniably cute. It even prompted Li Hong to reach out and pat her head: "The Great Tang seems stable, but in reality, there are still many problems. In the future, many things may well depend on you to solve."

"Spare me..." Li Yuechen turned her head away with a look of grievance. "Leave such troublesome matters to you, eldest brother!"

"Fine!" Li Hong laughed dotingly. "But I will still rely on your help."

Li Yuechen nodded helplessly: "If it's to help you, eldest brother, then of course I have no excuse to refuse."

Li Hong nodded, adding a silent thought in his heart: *If I am still here by then...*