By this point, the matter was common knowledge.
When Yang Shidao rushed over from his own residence to clean up the mess, Li Jingyun noticed that he looked at least ten years older. He used to be a strong and vigorous middle - aged man, but now he had to lean on a walking stick and walked unsteadily.
After this incident, Princess Yongjia cried her heart out and divorced Dou Fengjie. As soon as Dou Fengjie got the divorce letter, he immediately left Princess Yongjia's mansion and never came back.
Caught in the middle, Dou Jin and his younger sister were a bit in a dilemma, but not overly so. They quickly made their choices. The elder brother left Princess Yongjia's mansion and followed Dou Fengjie. The younger sister stayed by Princess Yongjia's side and served her meticulously.
Although the social atmosphere in the Tang Dynasty was open, the scandal between Princess Yongjia and Yang Yuzhi was still something unseemly to talk about. For a while, people on the streets were all gossiping about it.
The Yang family had shut their doors to guests for a long time. Yang Shidao even requested to be demoted, but Li Shimin put his request on hold.
Yang Yuzhi's mother, Princess Guiyang, spurted out a mouthful of fresh blood upon hearing about her son. She was in extremely poor health. It was said that she was both physically and mentally devastated and could only live on with the help of various medicinal herbs.
It only took a month for the Yang family to go from being constantly bustling to being deserted.
Of course, Li Chengqian told them all these things. After she and Li Mingda saw Yang Yuzhi's corpse, they were immediately sent back to the imperial city. And Taoist priest Sun Simiao was invited to prescribe some medicine for them.
Li Jingyun was fine. She had seen a lot, had a general understanding of the whole thing, and was no stranger to death. After drinking the calming soup, she went to sleep and was okay.
Li Mingda was not so well. She was in a daze for a while before gradually recovering.
However, after Yang Yuzhi's death, only Yang Shuzhi was left in his charcoal shop. He was no match for the situation alone. Although he was better at managing relationships than his cousin and immediately lowered the price of charcoal to three wen per jin, but with the booming sales of stone coal at only one wen per jin, who would think of his charcoal?
As days passed by.
In the second half of the twelfth lunar month, Chang'an was filled with the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year. Children wearing thick sweaters gathered together, laughing and playing. There were many old men and women on the streets buying New - Year goods, each with a big smile on their face.
Li Jingyun was sitting in the warm building, holding a cup of milk tea, watching Sister Xinxing and Sister Gaoyang reconcile accounts with her.
At first, she didn't understand anything and just listened for fun. Later, she got the hang of it. With the income from the past half - year, her purse was suddenly bulging.
That was not all. Coupled with the profits from the stone - coal shop and the sweater shop, Li Jingyun made a fortune.
These days had been peaceful and steady. She either went to pester her elder brothers and sisters or went to check on the progress of the villa in the other courtyard and had a good chat with Su Gui.
On the twenty - ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Li Jingyun saw several memorials on Li Shimin's desk. Curiously, she asked, "Aye, whose memorials are these? Why haven't you approved them?"
"Take a look for yourself," Li Shimin said with a smile.
Li Jingyun took a look. Goodness! These were from several foreign tribes such as Khitan, Uyghur, Turkic, and Tubo. On the one hand, they sent their New - Year greetings to the Heavenly Khan of the Tang Dynasty and the people of the Tang Dynasty. On the other hand, they said they would drive the promised flocks over in the next few days for trade with the Tang Dynasty.
Li Jingyun understood that this was the wool trade she had initiated.
But it was almost Chinese New Year. Who would be happy to see them at this time? Sending memorials now was just asking for trouble.
"Aye, did you keep delaying because you didn't want to agree to their bringing the sheep over?" Li Jingyun asked curiously.
"Yes. This is not the right time. We have to wait until after the New Year. Hongxuan, your prediction was right. They have indeed started large - scale sheep - raising within their tribes. We'll see the results next spring," Li Shimin said.
"That's great, Aye. We just have to wait a bit longer."
"We've waited through a whole winter. A few more days won't matter."
Li Shimin ruffled his youngest daughter's soft fringe. He was filled with emotions. He had also heard that Li Jingyun had been learning horse - riding and archery recently, secretly learning with Yin'er on the outskirts of Chang'an.
She had even kept this from Empress Zhangsun. Otherwise, with her personality, she would definitely not be happy.
He knew that Hongxuan had truly taken his words to heart. He had hoped that she could become like Princess Pingyang, his third sister. And she was really going all out in that direction.
Among all his children, his youngest daughter was the one who most satisfied him. It was really unexpected.
He didn't count Li Chengqian in this list. Li Chengqian was going to inherit the throne, different from the other children.
The New - Year in the imperial city was extremely joyous.
On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, early in the morning, Li Jingyun could hear constant noises outside. There were younger brothers and sisters laughing and playing, concubines from various palaces coming to offer New - Year greetings, and noble ladies coming to present gifts. The gifts were almost piling up the warehouse.
In the evening, the palace banquet began. Li Jingyun sat obediently in her seat. Her uncles, aunts, elder brothers, and sisters whom she didn't usually see much were all there.
Some of the married - off aunts had also come back, but Princess Yongjia was absent. It was said that she was extremely heart - broken and had worn coarse linen clothes to mourn Yang Yuzhi for a while.
During the banquet, the singing, dancing, and music were all wonderful. Li Jingyun was completely entranced and enjoyed her meal. This banquet was organized by Empress Zhangsun, who had placed all Li Jingyun's favorite dishes in front of her.
Li Tai even took the opportunity to recite poems and won everyone's applause.
Li Jingyun didn't care about all this. She just lowered her head and ate.
Halfway through the meal, someone outside the window was setting off fireworks. Li Mingda pointed out of the window and whispered, "Hongxuan, we can't see clearly here. Let's go outside and have a look."
"Okay!"
Li Jingyun readily agreed with her elder sister. The two sisters linked arms and slipped out.
The colorful and gorgeous fireworks bloomed in the sky. For a moment, it seemed that nothing in the world was more beautiful than these fireworks.
A phoenix flew out of the fireworks. It shook its shining feathers, landed slowly, and with bright eyes, stared straight at Li Jingyun and walked towards her.
It proudly puffed out its chest in front of Li Jingyun. Li Jingyun smiled and tentatively touched its feathers. Her eyes immediately lit up.
The feathers were smooth, shiny, and ice - cold, with a really good feel.
She had seen this phoenix before. It must have been summoned by Taoist priest Gong Wenlin.
When she saw the phoenix leave, she turned around and, as expected, saw her father and mother standing beside them. Su Rui, with a big belly, came over with a cloak and put it on Li Jingyun. "It's so cold outside. Why are you dressed so thinly? Eunuch Feng, you're derelict in your duty."
"Your Highness, the Crown Princess, you're right," Eunuch Feng lowered his head and said.
"Eldest sister - in - law, I'm fine. Did you see the phoenix just now? It was so beautiful!"
But to her surprise, Su Rui shook her head, looking innocent. "What phoenix? I don't know."