Chapter 149: The Second Year of Shangyuan

Thoughts are thoughts, but now is not yet the time for actual implementation.

In any case, Shangguan Wan'er possesses good ability and is still young. She can be further trained while striving to be cultivated as a trusted confidante.

Having finalized her future plan, Li Zhi nodded and decided to handle the matters at hand first.

On the other side, Shangguan Wan'er returned to Chengxiang Hall, came to Li Yuechen's side, knelt and sat down, and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, could Wan'er sleep with Your Highness and the other two Highnesses tonight?"

"Uhm..." Li Yuechen almost subconsciously intended to refuse.

However, before the words left her mouth, she saw Princess Yiyang sitting opposite her nodding slightly.

Seeing her slightly solemn expression, Li Yuechen knew that there must be something she wanted to say.

Most importantly, this matter must absolutely not let Mother know!

After thinking for a moment, Li Yuechen gave a soft chuckle, then nodded and said, "Alright!"

To be honest, she had truly never considered the idea of four people squeezing onto a large shared pallet. She always felt that sleeping alone was much more comfortable.

However, since it had been proposed, it didn't really matter. She merely disliked sleeping pressed against others, but it wasn't to the extent that she couldn't fall asleep because of it.

...

After nightfall, the four sisters lay side by side on Li Yuechen's large bed, smiles lingering on each other's faces.

A few candles covered by gauze tents emitted a dim glow, keeping the hall from being pitch black.

It felt a bit like a bedside lamp in a hotel—not bright, but full of atmosphere.

Li Yuechen wore a comical smile, wondering in her heart whether telling them a ghost story right now would trigger a round of screams.

Princess Yiyang was the first to softly call out, "Someone come." After confirming that the palace maids guarding outside would not hear, she maintained a low voice and said, "The newspaper office received a piece of news today..."

The matter was not troublesome and could be explained in just a few words.

Princess Yiyang's tone was very steady: "At the time, I felt this matter was of great importance, so I did not let Wan'er inform you first, but instead went to report to the Sage first..."

After listening to the entire process, Li Yuechen understood why they had proposed sleeping together.

Although she was a princess, for the time being, she was still a favored princess rather than one holding absolute power.

Therefore, the eunuchs and palace maids around her, including Fulai and Xiaohi, undoubtedly still regarded the commands of Father and Mother as paramount.

This matter truly should not have been discussed in front of these people, as it easily provoked misunderstandings.

Li Yuechen nodded: "This approach is correct! The ultimate goal of the newspaper office is still to serve the Great Tang and the Sage; we must never confuse this! Wan'er, if such a matter happens again in the future, continue to handle it just as you did today."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Shangguan Wan'er replied.

Princess Yiyang, lying at the very edge, turned her body sideways, propped her head with one hand, and smiled slightly: "Chen'er, you can always joke with Grandpa and Grandma without regard for ritual and law on ordinary days, but why do I feel that deep in your heart, you seem quite afraid of them?"

If you knew what Mother would do in the future, you would be afraid too! Li Yuechen muttered inwardly.

Although she had known very little about this history in the past, after arriving in this era for so many years, Li Yuechen was very clear on one thing!

That was, judging from the current situation, if Mother ascended to power in the future, the Li Tang imperial clan would inevitably suffer a large-scale massacre.

As for those in the collateral branches, Li Yuechen did not know them and could afford to ignore them.

Yet if possible, she hoped to protect the people around her! For instance, these two elder sisters, several elder brothers, and Wan'er.

"Afraid? Perhaps..." Li Yuechen smiled faintly, without explaining too much, and changed the subject instead, "Alright, it is getting late, let's rest."

Princess Xuancheng by her side suddenly spoke up: "We should still tell a story. Although the probability is low, just in case Mother asks, we will be able to match our stories."

"Ah, that makes sense!" Princess Yiyang smiled slightly, reaching out to pinch the cheek of her biological younger sister.

As a result, her hand was slapped away by Princess Xuancheng: "Elder Sister, how old are we now? There is no need to treat us like children anymore."

"No matter how old you are, you are still my younger sister!" Princess Yiyang laughed.

Li Yuechen nearby and Shangguan Wan'er at the very edge also could not help laughing.

To be honest, the two elder sisters were indeed not young anymore.

Eldest Sister Princess Yiyang was approaching thirty, and Princess Xuancheng was already twenty-five. In this era, they were already considered left-over women.

Yet Li Yuechen knew that women were always sensitive about age, so she immediately spoke up: "Very well, today I shall tell you a story of a Dragon... a son-in-law of Asura."

...

After "consulting" with the ministers, Li Zhi still rejected the request of the King of Persia to dispatch troops.

Once again, there was no way to fight. Firstly, the journey was distant; secondly, even if it were conquered, there wouldn't be enough people to guard it.

War must consider returns and objectives, and on this matter, regardless of returns or objectives, it was not worth doing.

Although he did not agree to Peroz's request to send troops, he was still a king after all, so Li Zhi gave him corresponding treatment, conferring upon him the title of General of the Right Martial Guards.

This outcome did not seem to come as a surprise to Peroz, who subsequently requested to build a temple in Chang'an as a gathering place for the Persians.

Li Zhi nodded in agreement, stating that arrangements would be made for him in due time.

Li Yuechen behind the screen could not help nodding, inwardly expressing agreement with this outcome.

Then she yawned, stretched, and thought about returning.

However, today's morning court session did not seem to be over yet, and Li Zhi brought up another matter.

Some time ago, Zhang Junche and other recording staff of Jizhou submitted a memorial accusing King Jiang, Li Yun, and his son, Prince of Runan Li Wei, of plotting rebellion.

Li Zhi sent people to investigate, but upon arrival, they discovered that both King Jiang and his son had hanged themselves and left suicide notes to prove their innocence.

Moreover, the people sent by Li Zhi found no substantial evidence regarding a rebellion.

Sitting on the dragon chair, Li Zhi wore a heartbroken expression: "Now I deeply know they were not guilty, but repentance comes too late..."

Li Yuechen did not know if there were other conspiracies behind this matter, nor did she want to inquire. In short, the final outcome of this matter was defined as false accusation.

The four individuals who submitted the false accusations, including Zhang Junche, were sentenced to be beheaded, and only then did the matter come to a complete end.

Although she decided not to meddle or inquire blindly, Li Yuechen still could not help casting a deep look at the expressionless Mother sitting behind the pearl curtain, wondering if this matter had anything to do with her.

...

The end of the first year of Shangyuan arrived very quickly, almost without anyone noticing.

On New Year's Eve, the emperor's family sat around a large round table in Yanying Hall to have a meal, filled with a harmonious atmosphere.

The difference from before was that this year, Crown Princess Pei Qingwan was added.

When they were bowing to each other and wishing each other a Happy New Year, Pei Qingwan suddenly stood in surprise before Li Yuechen and compared heights: "Your Highness seems to have grown quite a bit taller again?"

"Is that so?" Li Yuechen could not help lowering her head to look at her own body. If she really had to say... it seemed indeed to have grown a circle larger than last year.

"Mhm." Li Zhi walked over, raised his hand to rest it on his daughter's head, and looked: "She does seem a bit taller."

Tall? Oh, you guys aren't talking about that. Li Yuechen could not help wearing a slightly awkward expression.

Approaching ten years of age, Li Yuechen's height had already surpassed one hundred and fifty centimeters, faintly even exceeding Fourth Brother Li Lun.

Thinking about it, it was quite normal; neither Father nor Mother was short.

As an imperial princess, Li Yuechen had eaten meat and drunk yogurt almost every day since being weaned, so her nutrition kept up.

Coupled with sufficient exercise and physical fitness surpassing ordinary people, growing to this stage at ten years old was not incomprehensible.

Now, as her body and facial features gradually blossomed, her originally childish face also began to faintly carry a hint of allure.

It was just that because she usually wore men's clothing most of the time, it was not yet very noticeable.

After growing for a few more years, I'm afraid even wearing men's clothing would fail to conceal that crane-among-chickens beauty.

Second Brother Li Xian walked over, reached out to compare his height against her head, and then nodded: "Indeed taller. I'm afraid in the future she will be even taller than Third Son."

Among the four brothers, the tallest currently was Second Brother Li Xian, whose height had already broken one hundred and eighty centimeters, followed by Eldest Brother Li Hong and Third Brother Li Xian.

Li Yuechen feigned anger, puffed out her cheeks, and asked, "Why couldn't I be taller than Second Brother?"

"You are a woman. If you truly grew as tall as your brother, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to find a husband, hahaha..." Li Xian burst into laughter.

Seeing his arrogant appearance, Li Yuechen teased back: "It's fine. If I can't find a husband, I'll just marry Second Brother, making you look up at me all day long!"

Before Li Xian could speak, he was interrupted by Li Zhi: "Do not speak nonsense! Chen'er is still young, there is no need to consider such matters! My daughter is not someone just anyone can match!"

"That's right!" Li Yuechen nodded very seriously, "I am simply too outstanding! At present, there is not a single person who matches me!"

Wu Zetian walked over and gently patted her back: "This girl! Praise you a couple of times and you actually take it seriously!"

"Mother's words are wrong, the ruler makes no empty jokes! Father said no one matches me, so no one matches me!" Li Yuechen looked entirely earnest.

Li Xian by the side suddenly asked, "If no one matches you, how will you marry in the future?"

"Didn't I just say? I'll marry Second Brother." Li Yuechen smilingly raised her arm and patted her second brother's shoulder, "Or marrying Father would be fine too."

Li Zhi opened his eyes wide, making an exaggerated expression: "Eh? Why did I get ranked behind Second Son?"

"Well..." Li Yuechen put on an embarrassed look, raised her left hand, and the distance between her thumb and index finger spanned a whole centimeter: "To be honest, Second Brother is prettier than Father by just this tiny bit."

As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of chuckles erupted all around, and people directly failed to hold back their laughter.

Even Pei Qingwan, standing beside Li Hong, hurriedly raised her hand to cover her mouth, though her curved eyes had already betrayed her expression.

Li Zhi, wearing an exaggerated expression, let out a helpless sigh, looking utterly heartbroken.

Even the usually stern Mother could not help raising her hand to cover her mouth and giggled softly for a moment before waving a hand: "Stop talking nonsense! When the Emperor was young, he was far better-looking than Erlang!"

Li Yuechen grabbed her father's hand to comfort him: "Father, do not be sad. Actually, Father is still very good-looking today; it's just that there is too much facial hair, which affects the visual appeal!"

Hearing this, Li Zhi abruptly raised his head: "Mhm, it's fine. In any case, a few years from now Erlang will also grow facial hair, and by then he still won't look as good as me!"

Watching the family eat their New Year's Eve dinner in such a harmonious atmosphere, Pei Qingwan could not help glancing at Li Yuechen, who was surrounded in the center.

She suddenly understood what Li Hong had said that night: precisely because she was there, the imperial family could become like this today.

Thus, amidst the joyous and harmonious banquet, Pei Qingwan spent her first New Year after marrying into the imperial family.

...

When the sun of the second year of Shangyuan rose, Li Yuechen was already dressed in bright red court robes, standing at the very forefront to enter Hanyuan Hall, celebrating the New Year with the hundred officials and foreign envoys alongside the emperor.

Yet just as they stepped into the main hall, Li Yuechen and the ministers behind her all widened their eyes, expressions of astonishment unmistakably surfacing on their faces!

Li Zhi had actually shaved his beard!

Of course, he hadn't shaved it completely; rather, he had changed the shape of the beard.

The two wisps of beard like dragon whiskers that originally lingered on both sides of his temples had been thoroughly shaved off, and the small patch beneath his lips was gone too.

Only the beard directly beneath his chin and on his upper lip remained, yet remarkably, with this modification, he instantly looked several years younger.

Li Yuechen and the ministers stood stunned in place in astonishment until Zhang Chengxin shouted the word "Court is in session," prompting them to react, hurriedly kneeling and shouting wishes of longevity for the Emperor.

Kneeling down, Li Yuechen could not help smiling broadly. To think he was willing to shave off his beard just because of a single word of hers; it seemed her position in her father's heart remained exceedingly important.

The smile at the corner of the daughter's mouth did not escape Li Zhi's eyes; the eyes beneath the crown's hanging beads also carried a trace of a smile.

Following the grand prostrations and kowtows came the segment where envoys from various countries presented tributes, followed by the grand New Year banquet.

Halfway through the banquet, Li Yuechen went to change her clothes, put on her roller skates, and came into the main hall to dance gracefully.

Especially when she glided around the pillars of the main hall amidst the crowd, her every move attracted the attention of everyone present.

The foreign envoys, who had already witnessed this dance last year, were boasting to the newly arrived envoys this year about having seen this peculiar dance before.

Yet at the same time, they could not help marveling inwardly that this princess's dance posture was even lighter and more graceful this year.

As for those roller skates, both foreign envoys and other ministers had tried to find ways to copy them upon returning home, but undoubtedly all had failed.

It was thanks only to the fact that not many people had truly seen this contraption with their own eyes that it had not yet caused too great a stir.

However, Li Yuechen felt that since her family's roller skates were all sorted out, she should be able to try interacting with the good-for-nothing scions of noble families.

She should find an opportunity to let them take a good look, and for those interested, sell pairs and teach them how to play.

Scions spending money always bought face; regardless of whether she knew how or liked it, as long as others had it, she couldn't afford not to have it!

Especially since this contraption was something princes and princesses were playing with, and since it could be bought with money, buying it was a must!

While plotting her moneymaking scheme, Li Yuechen brought her dance to a close along with the music, executing a perfect curtain call!