Before the opening, she checked the time and took another stroll around the sweater shop. Then she returned to the first floor. The apprentices on both sides pulled open the big doors, and she shouted, "The sweater shop is officially open!"
There was a neatly lined-up long queue outside the shop. At least people weren't crowding together.
As soon as Li Jingyun finished shouting, the people outside rushed in like crazy, and the shop was immediately filled to capacity.
Unlike the situation when other shops opened, where people just came for the fun, every person who came this time bought sweaters. Many even took three or four pieces home, presumably buying one for each family member.
Li Jingyun seemed to have a protective barrier around her. People who came near were extremely careful not to bump into her. Duan Jia, the marshal, did an excellent job. With a serious face and her glorious deeds, no one dared to get too close.
She walked up to Li You, grabbed his hand, and looked up at him, asking, "Brother, did you come here specifically to celebrate the opening of my sweater shop?"
Actually, Li Jingyun felt a bit guilty because she had sent invitations to many people but had accidentally left Li You out.
"Yeah, of course," Li You replied stiffly.
He wasn't. He was actually tricked here by Shi An's sweet talk.
Could it be that the charming and talented young lady only existed in Shi An's words? It was a sad story.
Li Jingyun didn't know the twists and turns in her fifth brother's mind. She was overjoyed.
"Great!" Li Jingyun exclaimed and pulled Li You into the shop. If her fifth brother was willing to come, he must have forgiven her.
In the private room on the third floor, Li Jingyun waved her hand, and a bunch of sweet pastries and two cups of freshly brewed milk tea were brought up. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Li You. "Fifth brother, haven't you had breakfast yet? Have something to fill your stomach first."
Li You swallowed hard looking at the fragrant and thick milk tea. After a mental struggle, he decided to take a sip. Soon, he was conquered by the sweet and smooth taste of the milk tea.
"This milk tea is really good. You mustn't tell my mother that I drank milk tea here," Li You quickly added.
Li Jingyun was completely confused. "Mother? Mother has never said that we can't drink milk tea."
"Not your mother, my mother. Just remember not to tell anyone," Li You drank the milk tea and reminded her again.
It was Concubine Yin's idea. The reason was simple. The ancestral tomb of the Yin family had been flattened, and the Chinese wolfberries planted there were the ones now boiled in the milk tea.
But Concubine Yin didn't tell her son about this, probably because she thought her son wasn't interested.
Li Jingyun watched her brother sipping the milk tea mouthful by mouthful. For some reason, he looked like a little squirrel with his cheeks puffed out.
She just let his words go in one ear and out the other, not taking them seriously.
Thanks to the efforts of County Magistrate Xie and others, the traffic pressure was greatly relieved. The messenger who had gone to report to Li Shimin finally came back. "Cheng Chuxia pays respects to Your Majesty and Your Highness."
"Get up. How was it? Is Hongxuan angry?"
The Emperor and Empress of the Tang Dynasty were both extremely worried about their youngest daughter's mood.
It was such a big event, and Li Shimin had told Li Jingyun several days in advance that he would go there to support her. But who would have thought that he left at dawn and was still stuck on Guangji Street.
"The effect was excellent. The common people were extremely excited and cheered loudly," Cheng Chuxia replied.
"I'm asking about the princess!" Li Shimin was anxious.
Cheng Chuxia quickly continued, "The princess is a person of true feelings. She was so touched that she shed tears on the spot."
After hearing this, all Li Shimin could think about was, "My daughter cried?"
This wouldn't do! He had to go there quickly to check!
After Cheng Chuxia withdrew, the carriage couldn't move for a while. Empress Zhangsun was still complaining to Li Shimin. "Look at what you've taught Hongxuan. She's only five years old, and you've already let her do such things. Putting aside the ice house and the warm house, the sweater shop is a high - profile business that countless people are watching. How can you let her do this? Isn't this forcing her growth?"
In Empress Zhangsun's mind, even Li Chengqian, who had always been raised as the successor, had to be extremely careful when doing such unprecedented things, let alone Li Jingyun.
"How is it forcing her growth? Hongxuan is doing a great job," Li Shimin said. "She is favored by the immortal, so I have to cultivate her well."
"She now takes Princess Pingyang as her role model and is determined to make contributions to the Tang Dynasty just like her third aunt." Empress Zhangsun didn't know what to say for a moment. Although the things she did were all good, the fact that the person doing them was her five - year - old daughter made it seem extremely strange.
Compared with Mingda, the difference was too obvious. While Mingda was quietly reciting poems and books beside her, Jingyun was bustling around outside. She was either inspecting her industries in the villas, the new villa, or the sweater shop, the warm house, and the ice house.
"It's a good thing. Whether it's the library or the sweaters, they've all been successfully established. Cement is also very useful," Li Shimin knew what Empress Zhangsun was thinking, but this was the best result.
She felt sorry for their daughter's hard work, and so did he.
Li Shimin's carriage rushed as fast as it could and finally arrived at the back door of the sweater shop. Yes, there were too many people at the front door, and the back door was quieter.
When he reached the private room on the third floor and pushed the door open, he saw his daughter chatting happily with Li You while drinking milk tea and eating pastries.
Something was wrong!
They had all been stuck outside. How did Li You manage to get in?
Wasn't he always cold - shouldering the Li family? Why was he suddenly getting along so well with Hongxuan?
Empress Zhangsun understood. It must have been Shi An's doing. That guy had a lot of tricks and had Li You under his thumb.
At first glance, Li Shimin even suspected that this scene was fake. After listening carefully to what they were talking about, he heard, "Brother, I don't want to go to school either! Do you have any experience to share?"
"Of course I do. Just listen to me and you'll be fine!"
So that's what they were talking about. No wonder they could get along so well. Li Shimin couldn't figure out who had given Hongxuan the impression that going to school was very hard and tiring.
"Ah! Father! Mother!"
Li You looked up and was so startled that he dropped his milk - tea cup. Fortunately, he had drunk it all up, not even leaving a drop.
Li Jingyun was startled by Li You's shout. She turned around and saw her parents standing at the door. She quickly stood up.
"Father, Mother," Li Jingyun quickly greeted them. She winked at Li You and then started talking nonsense. "Just now, Su Gui told me that both the Turks and the Tubo people wanted to come, but they had to queue for a long time. They won't be able to come until the day after tomorrow or the day after that."
How could her mother have heard those words just now? Father was okay, but Mother least liked it when her children didn't study.
What should she do? Father! Please save your daughter quickly!
Fifth brother! Please save your sister!
Li You was also helpless. Hongxuan, I can barely save myself. You're on your own.
When Wang De closed the door and the attendants all withdrew, Li Jingyun and Li You felt their hearts sink.
"Today is a great day for the opening of the sweater shop," Li Shimin said. "I won't punish you. Don't be nervous. Tell me, why don't you want to go to school?"