Inside the Zhaoqing Hall at this moment, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun were discussing with their son about choosing a crown princess for the prince. Li Chengqian served a cup of tea to Empress Zhangsun. "Mother, are you feeling better?"
"I'm much better. Your choice of a princess consort is a major event. How could I not come?"
Empress Zhangsun held her eldest son's hand, smiling amiably.
Li Shimin said, "I specifically asked the imperial physician. Apart from a slight deficiency, your mother's body is no different from that of an ordinary person."
"That's right. I just sit in the Lizheng Hall all day, either reading books or looking at account books. It's better to come to the Zhaoqing Hall."
Just as the family was enjoying a harmonious moment, Wang De rushed over to report. "Your Majesty, Your Highness. Just now, Princess Chengyang made a bet with Cui Tian, a commoner daughter of the Cui family. She said that within half a year, the royal family would become the one with the largest collection of books, and a grand hall would be built in Chang'an, filled with books for people to read."
He was good at getting to the point. Besides the content of Li Jingyun's bet, he also mentioned Cui Tian's status as a commoner daughter.
The Cui family was really something. They even dared to send only a commoner daughter to participate in the selection of the crown princess.
Li Shimin was shocked by Li Jingyun's words. "Did Hongxuan really say that?" To make the Li family the one with the largest collection of books in just half a year?
"Indeed. Those were the little princess's exact words," Wang De replied.
When he first heard these words, he thought the little princess must have had a nightmare last night. Otherwise, how could she say such unrealistic things?
"Hongxuan is only five years old. What does she know? Could it be that someone tricked her into saying this? Has this word spread outside the palace? Just say it was a child talking nonsense out of ignorance. For the sake of the royal family, no one would dare to hold on to this matter," Li Chengqian reacted even more strongly than Li Shimin. He suddenly stood up and said.
"Chengqian, sit down. Your sister must have her own plans when she said this," Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian and chose to side with his little daughter.
Li Chengqian didn't understand. "She is indeed precocious, but collecting books is not something she can handle. It's easy to build a hall, but where can we get the paper? And how can we print enough books to fill the hall in just half a year? She wouldn't be thinking of directly taking them from the noble families, would she?"
He felt a bit心虚 when he said the last sentence.
Even if the emperor issued an order for the noble families to hand over all their collected books, stating that they were only for making rubbings and the original books would be returned intact, those noble families would probably only hand over a few copies of the commonly - seen Four Books and Five Classics. They might even submit a memorial to the emperor, saying that after years of war, there were not many books left in their families and hoped that the emperor could print an extra copy for them.
These were all things those noble families were capable of doing.
As for face? What was face? How could they care about such things?
"Your sister is young, not stupid," Empress Zhangsun also pulled her eldest son, signaling him to sit back down. This son was good in every aspect, but he was easily flustered when it came to things he cared about.
He didn't think that Hongxuan and her sister were raised in the Taihe Hall and would hear some government affairs in their daily lives.
These noble families, represented by the Boling Cui family, the Hongnong Yang family, and the Fanyang Lu family, had many people serving as officials in the court, and many government affairs were related to them.
Even a casual listen would make one aware of the huge influence of these noble families.
Li Chengqian still looked a bit unhappy, but he obediently sat back down and continued to persuade. "Father, Mother, it's true what you said, but what if she can't do it?"
"Have you forgotten the immortal your sister knows? Maybe it was the immortal who taught her. She will be here soon. You can go and ask her yourself," Li Shimin patted his son's shoulder, telling him to relax.
Empress Zhangsun also trusted her daughter. "First there was making ice with saltpeter, then there was cement, and now there is this bet. She wouldn't say such things without being confident. Even if she can't do it, your father and I will take care of it. Who would dare to make things difficult for a five - year - old child?"
"Yes, son understands."
Since his parents had said so, he didn't pursue the matter anymore.
Well, he could only pray that his sister would really succeed.
Wang De stood aside with his head down, sighing in his heart. The little princess was only five years old, but the things she came up with were things that others had never seen in their whole lives.
Who knew what kind of achievements she would make when she grew up.
At the entrance of the Zhaoqing Hall
"Your Highnesses, it's already a quarter past seven o'clock. I heard that the emperor has ordered the preparation of jade dew dumplings, white dragon soup, and wild boar pickle for you to go back and enjoy," the little eunuch reminded them hurriedly when he thought the time was about right.
Dear little ancestors, stop playing and go home soon.
"Cough, cough. There's white dragon soup! And wild boar pickle! Coming, coming. We're going back right away!"
Li Jingyun's eyes sparkled. In the past, she and her elder sister had poor health, and their father always restricted them from eating such greasy food.
Now that they were finally better, the delicious food that they could only look at before was finally going to be in her stomach!
She happily pulled Li Mingda and rushed into the hall.
Li Mingda whispered, "Hongxuan, can you complete the task of collecting books? Do you need my help?"
"Of course I need it. Although I'm not sure what we can do," Li Jingyun's little brain couldn't hold too many things for now.
At present, she had only briefly seen the processes of papermaking and movable - type printing from the system immortal. She could only wait until later to discuss with the masters and make a detailed plan.
"Just call me when the time comes," Li Mingda said. She was a very reliable elder sister.
When the two sisters entered the main hall, the rows of beautiful and well - dressed young ladies had already tidied themselves up. After passing the imperial physician's medical examination, they were ready to meet the emperor, the empress, and the prince.
When they saw Li Jingyun and Li Mingda, they immediately bowed and greeted, "Greetings to the two princesses."
"Rise," Li Mingda said.
Li Jingyun ran to the middle of the hall excitedly. Sure enough, there was a table full of dishes, all her favorite foods. She happily walked over, didn't even bother to bow, and just sat down. Li Chengqian served her a bowl of warm longevity porridge and called Li Mingda. "Mingda, come and eat!"
"Coming, elder brother!"
Li Mingda didn't have breakfast either. As soon as she woke up and found her sister was not by her side, she rushed out to look for her. How could she care about eating?
Li Jingyun was the same. Holding a bowl of steaming and fragrant longevity porridge, she drank half of it in one go.
The so - called longevity porridge was mainly made of black rice, with various auxiliary ingredients such as lotus seeds, red dates, and longans. It was simmered over a low fire. To avoid indigestion, it usually had to be simmered for a whole night until all the essences were concentrated in the porridge, making it sweet and delicious.
She woke up at exactly five o'clock in the morning. By now, more than an hour had passed. She had been wandering outside, looking for beautiful sisters to talk to, and even made a bet with Cui Tian. The pork knuckle she ate last night had already been digested.
Now she was not only hungry but also a bit sleepy.
So, when Empress Zhangsun looked over, Li Jingyun had already lowered her head, squinting her eyes and was about to fall asleep. She was holding a chicken leg in her hand, and grease was dripping from her mouth.
"The draft is about to start," Li Mingda waved her hand, signaling her mother to be quiet, and whispered in Li Jingyun's ear.
Li Jingyun suddenly opened her eyes wide and shouted, "It's starting?!"
"Be quiet!" Li Mingda said.
This made Li Shimin and his wife burst into laughter. These two daughters were so interesting.
Only Li Chengqian really wanted to inquire about the matter of building a library in Chang'an City. Looking at his sister's state, it was a miracle that she didn't fall asleep. He definitely couldn't get any answers from her.
A row of beautiful and carefully - dressed young ladies stood in the middle of the hall. They bowed respectfully one by one, reporting their names, ages, talents, family backgrounds, their fathers' official positions, whether there had been any princes or generals in their families... There was a whole bunch of information.
Li Jingyun watched them while eating, her eyes shining brightly.
Duan Jia, the youngest daughter of Duke Fan, Duan Zhixuan, was well - nourished. She was fair and chubby, with big and round eyes, just like the jade dew dumplings on the table.
Liu Renqing, the second daughter of Duke Kui, Liu Hongji, was wearing a cyan dress, like the fresh and tender green vegetables on the plate.
They all looked so delicious.
The girls didn't know why, but the little princess's look at them had changed. How could this look be described?
Salivating?
Looking again, the little princess was concentrating on gnawing on the chicken leg. The look in her eyes when she looked at the chicken leg was as eager as when she looked at them.