On the seventh day of the fifth lunar month, a quarter past the Chen hour.
After waking up, Li Jingyun rubbed her eyes and furtively peeked outside. Seeing Wang De passing by, she sent someone to call him in and asked, "Do you know why Wang Ji quit being an official?"
"Your Highness, Wang Ji voluntarily resigned. He said that official life was too restrictive and uncomfortable," Wang De replied with a smile. It seemed that everyone's guess was right. The first thing His Highness did after waking up was to ask him about this. No wonder she had asked him to wait outside.
"So not everyone wants to be an official?" Li Jingyun was a bit surprised. Wasn't serving in the imperial court something that everyone yearned for? How could there be someone who chose to resign and live in seclusion? Abandoning the prosperity of the imperial city to teach in a remote corner on the outskirts of Chang'an? Could the wine there be better than that in the imperial city?
Hearing this, Wang De laughed heartily. "Your Highness, everyone has their own aspirations. Wang Ji has always been like this. He also resigned and traveled during the last years of the previous dynasty. Perhaps in his view, being an official means being restricted by superior officials and having to engage in intrigues in the court. It's not as care - free as his current life."
This little princess really had different ideas. Everyone else thought it was a pity that Wang Ji had given up his official position, but unexpectedly, the little princess had a unique perspective and realized that an official position was not something that everyone desired.
Li Jingyun immediately thought of her father. "Father is also an official. Does he want to be one?"
"Your Highness, this is not something I can answer. You'll have to ask His Majesty yourself," Wang De replied. His bright smile froze instantly. This little princess really had a strong associative ability. How did she go from talking about Wang Ji to the Emperor? The leap was too big! Was this a question that could be asked? If he answered this question wrongly, his head would roll! How could His Majesty not want to be the Emperor? Had they forgotten how this throne was obtained? The Xuanwu Gate was just not far away, standing there!
"Alright," Li Jingyun nodded and let Wang De leave. She sat up straight and stared at the intricate and magnificent canopy above her head, deep in thought.
Even an official as insignificant as Wang Ji had to worry about so many things. Her father had to control all the civil and military officials in the court. Just like last night, when so many people had submitted memorials, hoping that the library would be built near their homes, did such things happen often? It must be a headache to deal with such matters!
At this time, Li Jingyun checked the time, woke up Li Mingda who was still sleeping, and told her everything she had just thought. Then she asked, "Sister, do you think being an Emperor is really a good thing?"
This question left Li Mingda, who had just woken up and was still groggy, even more confused.
"Let's get up and wash first. Aren't we going to the villa?" Li Mingda decided to change the subject.
Li Jingyun pouted and got out of bed to wash up.
Not long after, Wang De came again. "Your Highnesses, the carriage is waiting at the palace gate. Let's get on the carriage."
"Who is going today?" Li Mingda asked curiously. Her father had said last night that everyone would go to see. That cement was a truly rare thing. It was something that no one had ever heard of before.
"Those who were there last night, plus His Highness the Prince of Jin," Wang De replied.
Li Jingyun smiled. "I knew it. Brother Nine loves to join in the fun the most. How could he not come?"
Li Zhi not only loved to join in the fun but also liked to stay in bed. But today, in order to see that cement, he got up very early and begged Li Shimin to take him along.
In the early morning, the sky was clear and the gentle breeze was pleasant. Since Li Shimin and Li Chengqian were both going, there were even more guards following them, surrounding them in layers.
There were two carriages in total. Li Shimin took his two daughters in one carriage, and the other was for Li Chengqian and his two younger brothers.
After getting on the carriage, in the second carriage, Li Zhi started complaining as soon as he got in. "Why are Li Jingyun and her sister sitting with Father? Father dotes on his daughters so much. Isn't he afraid that they will have such bad tempers in the future that no one will marry them?"
Li Chengqian couldn't help but want to teach this younger brother a lesson. Li Yin held him back and coughed. Immediately, the little eunuch following the carriage shouted loudly, "Why are Li Jingyun and her sister..."
The deliberately elongated tone made Li Zhi's words seem very funny.
Li Zhi got angry. "Shut up!"
Li Yin nodded, and the little eunuch closed his mouth and stood quietly aside, as if nothing had happened.
Li Zhi craned his neck and looked forward. Only when he saw that there was no reaction from the carriage in front did he feel relieved. He sat inside the carriage with a pouty face, angry at his two extremely partial elder brothers.
Wasn't he just venting a bit of anger and saying a few idle words? Was it worth Li Yin doing this? Sixth brother, you'd better not let me catch you making a mistake! Otherwise, I'll make you be punished by Father and beaten ten times on the palm!
"Alright, Zhinu. They are the youngest and girls. It's normal for them to sit with Father. Moreover, Father said last night that he would test them. They may not be as care - free as we are in that carriage," Li Chengqian, as the eldest brother, tried to soothe both sides and keep a balance.
Hearing this, Li Zhi became curious. "Brother, what will he test them on? Haven't they started their studies yet?"
"Yes, brother. Last night, Father said he would test their knowledge?" Li Yin was also panicked. Nominally, he had been studying for more than two years, but the time he had actually spent in class was less than half a year. Recently, he hadn't read any books or reviewed any lessons. If Father really tested him, he would know nothing!
Li Chengqian replied, "The question is why Wang Ji, although knowledgeable, is not suitable to be an official."
He had left early, and he had heard these words from Wang De this morning.
After hearing this, the two younger brothers were completely confused.
What was all this about? How did it involve Wang Ji?
At this time, in the first carriage, the focus of the discussion was not Wang Ji at all. Instead, Li Jingyun shocked everyone by saying, "Wang Ji didn't want to be an official because of the trivial matters in the court. Father, as the Emperor of a country, shouldn't you be even busier and more tired? Do you want to be the Emperor?"
Li Mingda also stared at Li Shimin without blinking.
This sudden question from his little daughter left the Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, who was always proficient and at ease in handling any political affairs, at a loss.
Li Jingyun and Li Mingda might not really understand what the imperial throne represented and what price their father had paid to sit on this throne and rule the world. It was the deepest and most painful past that Li Shimin didn't want to recall.
"As the Emperor, I have to deal with far more matters than an insignificant official like Wang Ji. It's no exaggeration to say that I work from dawn to dusk. But for the well - being of the people of the Tang Dynasty, I have to exhaust my mind and make careful plans," Li Shimin pondered for a long time before answering.
The two sisters, Li Jingyun and Li Mingda, were a bit confused. But seeing Li Shimin's expression, as if he was recalling something, they didn't ask further.
In the carriage, Li Jingyun and Li Mingda were playing and whispering. Li Shimin looked into the distance, his gaze calm and profound.
I don't know how much time had passed. Suddenly, Li Shimin whispered, "If I could, I also don't want to be this Emperor. I just want to live a peaceful life with them."