On the way back in the carriage, Li Mingda asked curiously, "Mother, I have a question to ask."
"About the Yin family?"
Just thinking of Li You, the troublemaker born to Concubine Yin, Empress Zhangsun got a headache.
Li You's words just now had a great impact on her. It was obvious that Li You didn't regard himself as a member of the Li Tang royal family at all, nor did he regard Princess Gaoyang and Princess Xinxing as his own sisters.
"No, no. It's about the Wu family, the family of the Duke of Ying. Hong Xuan bought a shop from their second daughter yesterday," Li Mingda had been brooding over this matter.
Li Jingyun nodded. "Yes, Mother, you didn't see how badly Wu Meiniang's brothers scolded her."
"So you took pity on her and bought her shop? What was the price?" Empress Zhangsun also became curious.
She knew her daughters well. They couldn't bear to see the hardships of the people. Otherwise, they wouldn't have made cement or built a library at such a young age, nor would they have been so angry at Cui Xian for trampling on the farmland.
However, the Wu family. Wu Shiyue was the Duke of Ying anyway, and still held this title even after his death. The second daughter of the Wu family mentioned by Hong Xuan should be the daughter of Wu Shiyue's second wife, Yang from Hongnong. Her mother came from a prominent family, and her father was a duke. No matter how you looked at it, she had nothing to do with ordinary farmers.
"The price was a bit lower than other shops. Su Gui went to take a look and said that after some repairs and stocking some sweaters, it could open for business," Li Jingyun's eyes sparkled when she mentioned sweaters.
She changed the subject. "Wu Meiniang really lives up to her name. She's so beautiful! She doesn't look like her brothers at all. At first glance, they don't seem to be from the same family!"
"They are half - siblings, just like you, Princess Yin and Princess Gaoyang," Empress Zhangsun patiently explained in a gentle tone.
At this moment, Empress Zhangsun was surrounded by the radiance of motherhood, completely different from when she ordered the Li mother and daughter not to enter.
"So that's how it is."
When Li Jingyun was thinking, she unconsciously lengthened her voice, which made Empress Zhangsun and Li Mingda laugh.
It was the beginning of the Xu hour when they returned to the imperial city.
In the Taihe Hall, Li Shimin was looking at the memorials. In front of him sat Changsun Wuji, Tang Jian, Fang Xuanling, Wang Gui, Hou Junji, Chu Suiliang, and a general Li Jingyun didn't recognize.
When Empress Zhangsun led her two daughters over, Wang De tactfully moved over three crescent - shaped stools for them to sit on.
"We ministers pay our respects to Her Majesty the Empress and the two princesses," the prime ministers bowed.
"Rise," Empress Zhangsun said. "Your Majesty, what exactly happened at the border that makes you so worried?"
"Duan Jia, the daughter of Duke Fan, Duan Zhixuan, encountered a group of Tubo people provoking her on her way to Huanba City with dozens of guards. After capturing and interrogating them, she learned that Tubo had colluded with the Turks. If the peace - making marriage fails this time, they will join hands to attack the border of our Tang Dynasty. At this moment, Duan Jia is already on her way to Chang'an with the Tubo people and will arrive in ten days," Li Shimin said calmly. Just like his wife, he usually showed obvious mood swings and would cry from time to time, but when it came to major matters, he remained calm.
The Turks had Khan Tong Yegu, and Tubo had the newly - appointed Songtsen Gampo. Both were at their peak. If they joined hands, even if the Tang Dynasty could win the war, it would have to pay a price.
As soon as Li Jingyun heard the word "peace - making marriage", she immediately raised her head. Father had promised her a few days ago that he wouldn't let her sister go for a peace - making marriage!
Who cares who they are? Would the Tang Dynasty be afraid just because they joined hands?
Maybe, maybe there was another way to resolve this matter without bloodshed?
Duan Jia? This name sounded so familiar!
Wasn't she the candidate for the Crown Prince's consort who performed sword or spear dancing?
She could even capture Tubo people alive. She was really amazing! Even Hua Mulan was no better than her back then!
"The Turks and Tubo are as ambitious as wolves," Empress Zhangsun said in a deep voice. "Duan Jia is both brave and wise. She should be rewarded when she returns to Chang'an."
"Naturally," Li Shimin nodded.
Now, besides worrying about how to deal with the ambitious Turks and Tubo, he was also worrying about how to reward Duan Jia.
For an ordinary man who made such contributions at the border, it would be more than enough to be granted the title of Zhechong Duwei to lead troops. But she was a woman, and there had never been a female general in history.
Should he bestow some gold, silver, and jewels, and a few handsome men as servants to wait on her?
If word got out, it would make him, Li Shimin, seem stingy.
Duan Zhixuan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress, my little daughter, Duan Jia, just happened to expose this matter by chance. She doesn't dare to claim credit. But this matter is of great importance. I hope Your Majesty can make a decision soon."
He never expected that his daughter would encounter such a thing when she went to visit relatives at the border, nor did he expect that more than a hundred Tubo people would be beaten without the ability to fight back by the more than twenty people his daughter led.
A few days ago, he received a letter from Duan Jia. Not only did she explain the situation of the Tubo people, but she also said that she wanted to be a general and guard a region for the Tang Dynasty, which really shocked him.
Anyway, this matter had happened. Let's see how His Majesty would decide.
"Fuji, what do you think?" Li Shimin tossed the ball to Changsun Wuji.
Then he turned to look at Li Jingyun. The national strength of the Tang Dynasty was getting stronger day by day. Coupled with the excellent cement made by Hong Xuan, the Turks and Tubo were very afraid and didn't dare to act rashly.
There was still room for maneuver in this matter.
Changsun Wuji stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, although Tubo and the Turks have formed an alliance, they may not trust each other much. If we fight them, we may not be unable to win. The matter of the peace - making marriage is really not advisable."
The Turks had demanded to marry a princess of the royal family, and it had to be Li Shimin's own daughter. This matter had spread throughout the court.
If they agreed to let Princess Gaoyang or Princess Xinxing go for a peace - making marriage today, tomorrow the Turks and Tubo would be even more greedy. They might even set their sights on the daughters born to Empress Zhangsun.
They couldn't indulge them like this.
"What the Duke of Qi said is wrong. It's easy to fight a war, but where will the money come from? A war is all about money!" Wang Gui disagreed.
The Eastern Turks had only been destroyed a few years ago. The people of the Tang Dynasty had finally had a period of peaceful life. This time, the Western Turks had colluded with Tubo and made a comeback. Maybe the battle would be even bigger than before.
There were indeed many excellent soldiers and generals in the court. The Tang Dynasty implemented the Fubing System. Usually, they were farmers, and during the war, they were soldiers. They didn't need to pay taxes, and of course, they didn't have military pay. They even had to provide their own weapons and military uniforms.
But that was in an ideal state. How could it be possible to fight a war without spending a single cent?
"They are at their peak, but our Tang Dynasty is not bad either. If they really had no scruples, they would have already launched an attack. It seems that they are also afraid and dare not act rashly. In my humble opinion, it would be best to find a way to temporarily appease the two countries," Fang Xuanling came up with an idea.
Li Jingyun's eyes were rolling.
Wasn't this the same as her own idea? Maybe there really was a way?
At this moment, the system also became energetic: Hong Xuan, expand the scope of sweater production, teach more women how to make sweaters, and buy a large amount of wool from Tubo and the Turks. By then, the two countries will compete to raise sheep, the land will be damaged, and civil unrest will come.
The system rambled on a lot, but Li Jingyun didn't understand a word. However, she had a good memory, and she remembered all the key words just now.