Li Jingyun wracked her brains to find an excuse for herself. "Father, look. I can totally teach myself. Didn't I teach myself how to read and write? I can even engrave now. My craftsmanship is no worse than those of the artisans from the Ministry of Works."
She had learned this from the people under Minister Yan Lide of the Ministry of Works. It was normal to go and take a look from time to time in those two or three months and learn a craft, right?
"Look down there. Who do you see?" Li Shimin pointed at a person hurrying past outside the window.
Li Jingyun took a closer look. "Pei Mingli?"
"Yes. Now that you've learned to read and write, it's time to understand propriety and increase your knowledge." Li Shimin began to persuade her earnestly. "Even if you don't aim to be extremely learned and talented, you should at least be well - behaved and knowledgeable."
"Didn't Cui Tian once mock our Li family, saying that although we are rich beyond measure, we still don't understand etiquette?" Empress Zhangsun quietly gave support.
Li Jingyun found it boring. Father's theory of persuading her to study even had to use Pei Mingli as a foil. How dull.
Since she became conscious, none of her elder brothers or sisters had happily entered the Hongwen Academy. Her fourth brother didn't count because he didn't study there at all.
Her sixth brother, who was closest to her, had racked his brains to get Father's permission to stop studying. Su Gui also offered to help her because he didn't want to study.
If she could play outside, why should she sit willingly in that small room, shaking her head and reciting things she couldn't understand at all?
She had heard from her sixth brother that if the teacher checked the recitation and she couldn't recite, the eunuch would be beaten on the palm.
"Father, I understand." Li Jingyun was about to act coquettishly again. "I will definitely study in the future. Don't worry."
Hearing her little daughter's response, Empress Zhangsun sighed again in her heart. Every family had its hard - to - read scriptures, and theirs had countless ones.
This matter had to be considered in the long run.
There was the example of Li You in front. Wasn't this a good plan?
Empress Zhangsun smiled gently. "You'er, you did very well today. The pair of green jade pigeon carriages you took a fancy to is almost finished. It will be sent to you today."
This was a very delicate ornament. It could be understood as a toy car with a bird - shaped body and wheels, similar to today's little yellow duck, a toy for children.
"Thank you, Mother!" Li You was praised and happily thanked her.
Thank goodness, they finally left. Before leaving, Wang De secretly told Li Jingyun that Li Shimin had specifically given the officials an extra day off today to support his daughter's sweater shop opening.
Li Jingyun looked at the people coming and going outside. There were really a few familiar faces. Uncle Cheng Yaojin was chatting with his old friends, and his son Cheng Chuxia was beside him. Pei Mingli was chatting eloquently in the crowd. He had taken on the task of selling the sweaters to Hedong Circuit and Bashu in the future.
"Hongxuan, do you think His Majesty will tell Mother about me secretly drinking milk tea?"
Li You had been waiting to be scolded. Who knew that in the end, he wasn't scolded but was even praised. He escaped this disaster today!
"Father didn't notice just now. He probably won't."
Because Father had been staring at her just now! He had spent so much time persuading her to study well.
"Hongxuan, I have to go back first. You can get busy."
Li You thought it was unbelievable. He wasn't scolded today, and he even got the green jade pigeon carriage he had mentioned casually before!
Could it be that something had attached itself to him when he went out? He had to find a master to chant scriptures.
"Okay."
Li Jingyun watched her fifth brother leave. Before going out, Shi An gave Li Jingyun a proud look. See? It's all my credit that your relationship has recovered so quickly!
Li Jingyun didn't understand. She blinked and went back.
At noon, when it was time for a nap, the sweater shop was still bustling. A part of the sweaters piled up in the back warehouse was gone.
Why was the inventory of sweaters sufficient? Because she had recruited a new batch of people in her new villa. There were more than 500 people. After the dilapidated houses around were renovated, they were all filled.
After Father and Mother left, her elder brothers and sisters came one after another. The atmosphere was much more relaxed than before. Her sixth brother Li Yin, Sister Gaoyang, and Sister Xinxing left after lunch.
At this time, the Turks and the Tubo people were feasting in the West Building. There were also a few low - ranking officials of the eighth or ninth rank at the banquet. The table was filled with expensive good wine and delicious dishes.
"Zhenzhu Tong Sijin, why don't you drink? Why do you drink that osmanthus water instead?" Lu Dongzan was drunk. He looked at the yellowish drink in Zhenzhu Tong Sijin's hand and didn't like it no matter how he looked at it.
Why did they all drink, but Zhenzhu Tong Sijin didn't?
"Don't you know? This thing warms and nourishes yang energy, nourishes the lungs, and promotes health. When you're old, you should think about health preservation." Zhenzhu Tong Sijin laughed heartily and sneezed when the cold wind blowing in from outside hit him.
His subordinate quickly scolded the waiter. "How do you do things? Why don't you go and close the doors and windows quickly!"
"Yes, yes, yes. Gentlemen, don't be angry. I'll go right away."
The waiter who was delivering food to the next table was suddenly pushed. He didn't dare to speak loudly. He got up timidly from the ground and closed the window.
When would these people leave? Why did they act so arrogantly on the territory of the Tang Dynasty?
The waiter was full of bitterness and silently stepped back.
After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, they finally showed their true colors. They pulled an eighth - rank judge of the大理 Court who was staggering drunk and asked, "Judge Cui, did you manage to buy that sweater? How much did you pay for it?"
"No. I'm just a low - ranking official. How could the princess sell the sweater to me in advance? But I've already asked my steward to queue up. He should be behind all of you."
When it came to this, Judge Cui spread his hands carelessly and looked aggrieved.
"So, the big officials have bought all the sweaters in advance? Brother Cui, you're from the Qinghe Cui family and so young. You have a bright future. Even so, Princess Chengyang is still unwilling to give you one?"
Sangbuzha immediately asked.
Before his voice fell, someone slapped him hard on the back. He looked back unhappily and saw it was Wu Yuanqing. He was very displeased. "Does the eldest young master of the Wu family have any good ideas?"
"Although he's from the Qinghe Cui family, His Majesty and the princess don't care. The Boling Cui family is even more powerful than the Qinghe one. Weren't Cui Renshi and Cui Gan tortured until they had no temper? I remember that a junior from the Boling Cui family offended the princess and was sentenced to death. Even their family's daughter had a hard time getting married. Several families came to break off the engagement."
Wu Yuanqing's tongue was thick after drinking. He spoke vaguely.
Such good food and wine. He used to have to feel heart - ache for several days if he wanted to eat a meal like this. Now that someone finally invited him, he had to enjoy it to the fullest.
Wu Yuanshuang nodded repeatedly. "That's right. Don't look at Princess Chengyang being young, but she's a tough character! It's said that she's even valued by some immortal master!"
"You're really daring to say anything when you're drunk. You're talking nonsense all day long." Lu Dongzan was confused after hearing this. What was all this about?
They didn't care about the disputes between the Li Tang royal family and the aristocratic families, nor did they care whether Li Jingyun was valued by the immortal master. Anyway, it had nothing to do with them. They just wanted to buy sweaters!
The weather was getting colder and colder!