No wonder Father insisted that I come here in person. It turns out he wanted to assign a lieutenant for my princess mansion.
"You go out of the palace every day. Although there are guards by your side, it's still dangerous. After the third brother mentioned this to Father last time, he's been keeping it in mind," Li Chengqian whispered in Li Jingyun's ear.
Li Jingyun suddenly realized. So it was also related to the third brother!
On the other side, Duan Zhixuan was also persuading his daughter. "Don't you always like the little princess and want to get closer to her? Now the opportunity has come. Moreover, the lieutenant is a proper military position. In the future, you'll have a greater chance to lead troops into battles."
Li Jingyun and Duan Jia spoke at the same time. "Father!" "Your Majesty!"
"Your Highness the Princess, please go first. Duan Jia was being rash," Duan Jia said.
Li Jingyun smiled. "Father, it would be the best if Duan Jia could be the lieutenant of my princess mansion!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Duan Jia is willing," Duan Jia said right after.
Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction. This hot potato was finally resolved. Upon his order, Wang De immediately found someone to draw up the official document.
The Tubo people on the side watched helplessly as Li Shimin bestowed honors on the woman who had killed their comrade. They had no choice but to force smiles and listen to everyone in the main hall praising Duan Jia for her bravery and resourcefulness and her contribution to stabilizing the border. Every word was like a slap in their faces.
Lu Dongzan couldn't stand it anymore. "Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, with the Crown Prince here, why does a princess have a valiant female general like the young lady of the Duan family under her command? This humble official is dull and doesn't understand the purpose of Your Majesty's action."
He wasn't really dull. He clearly wanted to sow discord.
Didn't you praise Duan Jia to the skies? Then he would follow your words and see who would end up in an awkward situation!
But to Li Shimin and Li Chengqian, this remark was just ridiculous.
How old was Li Jingyun?
Was the huge label of seizing the throne going to be put on her head?
She probably didn't even know what seizing the throne meant.
Li Chengqian was the first son of Empress Zhangsun. Li Shimin had high hopes for him.
"You are indeed dull! I'm my elder brother's younger sister. Of course, my lieutenant is also my elder brother's subordinate," Li Jingyun couldn't help but retort. This was also her true thought.
Whether Father was on the throne or her elder brother ascended the throne in the future, if Duan Jia wanted to lead troops into battles and serve the country, she would still have to obey Father's and her elder brother's orders.
She didn't understand anything about seizing the throne or building her own clique. She simply thought from Duan Jia's and the Tang Dynasty's perspectives. Maybe the Tang Dynasty really needed such a female general.
"You!"
Lu Dongzan was scolded as dull by this little girl, Li Jingyun. He felt a bit embarrassed.
Why did he feel that the little princess didn't understand his hidden meaning at all and just wanted to scold him?
"My younger sister has been straightforward since she was a child. She says what she thinks. Your Excellency won't argue with a five - year - old child, will you?" Li Chengqian struck back skillfully.
"Yes, the little princess is only five years old. Even if she said something, it was unintentional," Duan Zhixuan said with a smile.
"Of course not," Lu Dongzan said through gritted teeth, looking at Li Jingyun, then at Li Chengqian and Duan Zhixuan.
At this time, Du Jingtong, the junior official of the Honglu Temple, rushed over. "This humble official is late. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
He was a handsome young man in his early twenties. It was obvious that he was raised in a noble family. He behaved appropriately, neither overbearing nor humble.
His father, Du Yan, and his cousin, Du Ruhui, were both prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty. He had already reached the position of junior official of the Honglu Temple at a young age. Since the position of the senior official of the Honglu Temple was temporarily vacant, he was in charge of the Honglu Temple.
"It's okay," Li Shimin waved his hand. After Du Jingtong got up, he smiled and said, "Your Excellency has traveled all the way from Songzhou to Chang'an. You must be tired. Would you like to rest in the Honglu Temple?"
"In that case, this humble official will take his leave," Lu Dongzan bowed in the same way as Du Jingtong did just now and then turned to leave.
The Tang Dynasty showed no sincerity at all. Even though they knew about their alliance with the Turks, there was no reaction. Well, they could just go to war.
No one knew what would happen until the very end.
The Tang Dynasty was powerful, but they were not weak either!
The Honglu Temple was specifically in charge of foreign guests and etiquette. Envoys from various countries who came to Chang'an all stayed in the Honglu Temple.
Watching them leave, Li Jingyun quietly asked Li Shimin, "Father, was it okay for me to say those things just now?"
"You did great. Lu Dongzan must be feeling quite uncomfortable now," Li Shimin smiled. "Why don't you take your newly - appointed lieutenant to your princess mansion? She'll move into the princess mansion and live with you from now on."
"Really? Great!"
Li Jingyun immediately got excited. "Duan Jia! No, Lieutenant Duan, come with me to the princess mansion!"
"Yes, Your Highness," Duan Jia saluted smartly. Li Jingyun happily left the imperial city with Duan Jia.
She didn't expect that they would leave on horseback.
She and Duan Jia were sitting on the same horse, and she could see a large part of the street view of Chang'an.
Li Jingyun excitedly introduced to Duan Jia, "My princess mansion is very big. You can choose any courtyard you like to live in. Otherwise, they'll just be empty."
"His Majesty appointed me as the lieutenant of the princess mansion to protect Your Highness. No matter how nice the courtyard is, I probably won't stay there for long," Duan Jia said clearly. She knew that she was now like Li Jingyun's personal bodyguard. Since His Majesty doted on this little daughter so much, he wouldn't let the five - year - old little girl live in the princess mansion for a long time. Of course, she had to stay by Li Jingyun's side.
"I see," Li Jingyun scratched her head. In the past, it was either Sister Mingda or the sixth brother who accompanied her. Now the sixth brother seemed to be busy with other things and couldn't take care of her, and Sister Mingda had to stay with Mother. So she was the only one running out of the palace every day.
She didn't stay serious for long when she saw the rose pastries on a stall. They were freshly baked and still steaming. The fragrance wafted straight into her nose.
"Boss! One pack of rose pastries!" Duan Jia saw the little princess staring straight at the stall and couldn't help but smile and shouted.
"Coming!"
The boss quickly packed a pack of rose pastries and handed them over.
Duan Jia was about to pay, but the boss quickly waved his hand and refused. "How can I take money for the rose pastries for Princess Chengyang? My little son will take the imperial examination next spring. He reads books in the library built by Princess Chengyang every day."
"Thank you!" Li Jingyun replied with a smile. She just held the pastries but didn't eat them.
Duan Jia couldn't help but be curious. "Your Highness, you seemed to really want to eat them just now. Why don't you eat them? Are you worried they're poisoned?"
"No, no. I'll drop crumbs when I eat. The freshly baked rose pastries are still hot. What if they fall on the horse and burn it? Father taught me to be kind - hearted," Li Jingyun said seriously while stroking the horse's head.
Duan Jia couldn't help but want to laugh. The little princess was so cute! It was super cute how she pretended to be an adult seriously.
No wonder the little princess could come up with the idea of building a library that would benefit scholars all over the world. It was inseparable from His Majesty's daily education.
She accompanied Li Jingyun to the princess mansion, chose a courtyard, and moved in her clothes and various supplies. His Majesty's edict also arrived, officially conferring on her the position of the lieutenant of Princess Chengyang's mansion.
She was quite happy to be able to accompany Li Jingyun, but at the same time, she was looking forward to the day when she could go to the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Li Shimin had already sent great generals like Hou Junji and Niu Jinda to Songzhou to prepare for the defense in case of war.
He really didn't want to start a war casually, but if it really came to that, he wouldn't show any mercy.