"Cuī Tián, daughter of Cuī Zhuó, pays respects to Your Majesty, Your Highness the Empress, and the two princes."
Next up was Cuī Tián. Every move of hers was graceful, exuding a pleasing aesthetic.
Cuī Tián looked up, but her eyes were not on Lǐ Chéngqián, but on Lǐ Jìngyún.
The bet they made in the morning was still fresh in her memory.
The little, chubby child seemed no different from her younger siblings, but Lǐ Jìngyún was incredibly bold.
She even dared to claim that she could build a library within half a year and make the royal family the one with the largest collection of books in the world.
Truly, a newborn calf isn't afraid of the tiger.
Maybe she had been scolded by His Majesty and Her Highness during lunch, and the royal family was now trying to find a way to smooth things over for Lǐ Jìngyún's words.
Lǐ Jìngyún felt uncomfortable under Cuī Tián's gaze. Was she angry because of the bet in the morning?
Humph! She dared to mock the Li family and said that Sister Míngdá was ignorant!
Did she think just because she was young she couldn't understand anything?
"The bet you made with Hóngxuán is now well - known throughout the city. A fine daughter raised by the Cuī family!" Lǐ Shìmín still smiled, and it was hard to tell if his mood had changed.
But Cuī Tián must have known that although her words in the morning were the truth, she had embarrassed the royal family in front of so many people. She was just curious if His Majesty would punish her for it.
"I've always been outspoken. If I said something wrong, please punish me, Your Majesty and Your Highness." Cuī Tián straightened her back. Although she was asking for punishment, her expression remained the same, showing no sign of admitting her mistake.
Lǐ Shìmín said, "It doesn't matter. It's normal for a young person to speak out of turn. I also want to see who will win this bet. Wáng Dé!"
"Bestow a palace flower upon the young lady of the Cuī family!"
"Thank Your Majesty for your grace." Cuī Tián didn't say much. She took the palace flower and stepped back.
As for failing to be selected, so what? After the bet in the morning, she knew she had absolutely no chance of being chosen this time.
Lǐ Jìngyún sipped the milk one mouthful after another. She looked at the cup. It was so hot, yet they were still drinking freshly boiled milk. If she wasn't afraid of being scolded by her father and mother, she would definitely put two ice cubes in it.
The system was attracted by the smell. This idea was quite close to the milk tea of later generations!
System: Add some tea leaves, boil it, then add ice. The combination of the sweetness of milk and the freshness of tea leaves would taste extraordinary!
Lǐ Jìngyún scratched her head. It was quite common to boil tea with scallions, ginger, red dates, and dried tangerine peel.
So, boiling it with milk might not be a bad idea either?
She must remember this well. After today's draft was over, she would go back and give it a try!
Should she make a schedule? Decide what to do first and what to do later, or she would surely forget. Last time when she went out, she even forgot to bring a sugar figurine for Brother Jiǔ.
The system heaved a sigh of relief. It was really not easy to guide a child. Fortunately, this child believed it and was willing to give it a try. Its original role as an infrastructure system had been forced into an all - round system.
Next up was Sū Ruì. She bowed and greeted properly, "Sū Ruì, daughter of Sū Dǎn, pays respects to Your Majesty, Your Highness the Empress, and the two princes."
"You're the daughter of Sū Dǎn? The Sū family is a noble and well - respected family of literati. The daughter they've raised is truly sensible and well - mannered." Empress Chángsūn clearly preferred Sū Ruì to be her daughter - in - law. She praised her as soon as she opened her mouth.
"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. I'm not worthy of it."
Sū Ruì felt embarrassed even as she said this. She was just a wealthy idle person and didn't think she had anything outstanding.
"What are your hobbies?" Empress Chángsūn asked.
"I like needlework and often study embroidery techniques." Sū Ruì felt embarrassed even as she said this.
Wasn't this just a casual excuse?
Who would really like to stay at home doing embroidery?
It would be better to go out and play!
"Very good, very good. You're a good girl." Lǐ Shìmín was also satisfied.
Seeing Lǐ Shìmín and Empress Chángsūn nodding at him, Lǐ Chéngqián understood that they had taken a fancy to Sū Ruì as the crown princess. He couldn't help but feel curious and took a closer look. What made her special?
She wasn't as valiant as Duàn Jiā, nor as well - known for her talent as Liú Rénqīng, but she was the most suitable candidate for the crown princess. She was gentle, polite, neither overbearing nor impatient, and kind - hearted. Compared with families like the Cuī family of Bólíng and the Lú family of Fànyáng, the Sū family's background wasn't extremely prominent. After such a comparison, she was indeed a good choice.
Lǐ Chéngqián also nodded in agreement.
Just before Wáng Dé was about to announce that Sū Ruì had been selected as the crown princess, Lǐ Jìngyún suddenly said, "I like this elder sister! Let her be my elder sister - in - law!"
"Bestow a white jade hairpin upon the young lady of the Sū family!" Wáng Dé said. "The remaining young ladies may leave. The palace flowers will be sent by the palace maids immediately."
"Yes, we'll take our leave."
After they said this, they all left.
They were a bit puzzled in their hearts. Only one crown princess was selected? No concubines?
The crown prince was already this old, and there was only one woman by his side? This didn't seem right.
Sū Ruì was left alone. "Thank you for your favor, Your Majesty and Your Highness."
"Rise. Don't bow at every turn. The imperial edict for the betrothal will be issued shortly. The wedding date will be set on the first day of the sixth lunar month. For the first time in our Great Tang to welcome a crown princess, there should be a grand wedding procession to welcome you into the mansion." Lǐ Shìmín was very satisfied.
This daughter - in - law's family background, appearance, and conduct all met his requirements.
"Why are you so close to Hóngxuán? Hóngxuán is very shy. It's hard for her to even say a word to someone she's not familiar with, let alone like you so much." Lǐ Chéngqián was very curious about this.
His crown princess seemed very amiable. She could serve his father and mother well, take good care of his younger siblings, and manage the Eastern Palace. So far, she had already achieved one of these.
"I accidentally met Her Royal Highness the princess outside the Zhāoqìng Palace today and had a few casual conversations." Sū Ruì replied with a smile.
After chatting for a few more words, they sent her away. She didn't live in Cháng'ān City. Now that she had been betrothed as the crown princess, she definitely had to go home and talk to her parents and discuss the wedding.
After Lǐ Míngdá woke up, she found that the afternoon draft was already over. She thought it was interesting. In the morning, it started at three quarters past the Chen hour and lasted until the noon hour. It took so long, but the afternoon ended very quickly. It was all over in less than half an hour.
She stood in the Zhāoqìng Palace for a while and was about to go back when Lǐ Jìngyún, who emerged from who - knows - where, grabbed her. "Sister, elder sister - in - law is going home. Come with me to see her off."
Lǐ Jìngyún had just made a list. She dictated while Lǐ Chéngqián helped her write it down. It included making ice with saltpeter and the upcoming ice house, cement, papermaking, movable - type printing, and her recent new attempt of boiling milk and tea together.
"Sure! I haven't seen her yet. Let's go, let's go together."
Lǐ Míngdá also got interested. She pulled her younger sister and excitedly walked towards the Ānfú Gate.
"Hóngxuán, tell me what kind of person our elder sister - in - law is. Is she easy to get along with?" Lǐ Míngdá asked.
"You've seen her. It was at the entrance of the Zhāoqìng Palace this morning. She's very easy to talk to." Lǐ Jìngyún said, shaking her head proudly. "I picked that white jade hairpin. It looks very beautiful on her."
Sū Ruì's beauty was definitely unique among these young ladies. She was gentle, soft, and had a virtuous temperament.
"Hahaha, the way you look, people who don't know might think it's a concubine for you!" Lǐ Míngdá was amused by her younger sister and couldn't help but tease her.