Hao Chujun vividly recounted his experiences on the border. He talked about how the sky dawned early there, how it had already snowed and the temperature was extremely low.
Li Lechen, who was listening, felt drowsy. With Li Jingyun coaxing her, she soon fell asleep in Li Jingyun's arms.
Now it was time to get to the point.
"Princess, the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Princes are all vying to go out, and even some of the younger princes are the same," Su Gui said. "There have always been voices in the Political Affairs Hall saying that this is a calculated move on your part, Princess, to pave the way for the Crown Prince to succeed to the throne smoothly."
"Why not?"
Li Jingyun couldn't help laughing upon hearing this. "There's indeed such an intention."
"Then, Princess, have you decided to support this one to ascend the throne?"
Di Renjie looked at Li Lechen, who was sleeping soundly in Li Jingyun's arms. This young lady of the Li - Tang royal family was the darling of the new generation. From top to bottom, among hundreds or even thousands of people, there was no one who didn't like her. She was even more popular than Li Jingyun had been back then.
"I have this thought, but it also depends on whether this child has the ability to support the vast Tang Dynasty," Li Jingyun nodded, not hiding her thoughts from them at all.
"It'll be difficult for a female emperor to succeed," Su Gui, who had been silent all this time, sighed.
From ancient times to the present, even though many new things had emerged and the living standards of the common people had improved a lot, there had never been a female emperor.
"Aren't there already female officials? Man can conquer nature. It may not be impossible," Li Jingyun's gaze was calm and steady.
The several of them looked at each other and smiled. After all these years, they still couldn't figure out what the princess was thinking. A few years ago, before the world map appeared, they thought the princess wanted to compete for the throne. But unexpectedly, the princess showed no attachment to that position at all. Instead, she took out the world map, which instantly inspired the princes' ambition to expand the territory, and they all wanted to go out.
Before other continents were discovered, the princes who went out were considered exiled. It was a blatant scheme!
With just this one move, the situation in the court was changed effortlessly.
After that, they thought the princess would marry and have children like other princesses and gradually fade out of the court. But the princess got close to Lady Yan Yi and whole - heartedly doted on this young lady. She also told them that she wanted to support the young lady to ascend the throne after the Crown Prince passed away.
Every move she made was beyond their expectations.
"Then it's not a bad idea for us to take a chance for the princess and the young lady," Hao Chujun laughed.
The other two nodded in agreement.
Anyway, they were completely tied to Li Jingyun's chariot.
"Princess, why don't you want to get married? Among the young talents selected by His Majesty for you, I think there are some good ones," Su Gui asked curiously.
Just half a year ago, Li Shimin wanted to arrange a marriage for Li Jingyun. He found many people for her to choose from, but Li Jingyun didn't take a fancy to any of them.
In the end, this matter had to be dropped.
"Why should I get married? Is it a good thing for me to have a child?" Li Jingyun suddenly changed the topic.
The several of them looked at each other. As expected of Princess Chengyang, her thoughts were beyond their reach.
She had even thought about her future children?
It was no exaggeration to say that Princess Chengyang had great power. She secretly and openly controlled many forces and had a large fortune. She couldn't be underestimated.
Having a child would indeed make the ruler wary.
It was said that Princess Chengyang valued family affection the most, but unexpectedly, she was so clear - minded about these things.
"Princess, you're right. It's our lack of vision," Di Renjie said.
After a while, Li Jingyun whispered in Li Lechen's ear, "We're going to eat mutton hot pot, Lechen."
"Coming, coming. The mutton hot pot in Uncle Wu's restaurant in Pingkangfang is the most delicious," Li Lechen sat up straight upon smelling the mutton, stretched, and then leaned back into Li Jingyun's arms.
The group walked on the road. Thanks to the introduction of Champa rice, the rice yield had increased a lot. Coupled with the large - scale cultivation of cotton and the introduction of sweet potatoes, peppers, corn, etc., the Tang Dynasty had undergone a great change in recent years.
In Li You's mutton restaurant, besides Li You, there was also Li Yin. Neither of them had great ambitions. They didn't want to expand the territory but just wanted to be care - free princes, eating, drinking, and having fun in Chang'an every day.
So they often got together.
"Brother Five, Brother Six," Li Jingyun greeted them with a smile. "It's really a coincidence today. We're all here."
"Indeed a coincidence. Shian, go and announce that from now until the third watch, all customers will get a 50% discount," Li You was overjoyed and directly gave the order to offer a discount.
He liked to spend money and share the joy with the common people when he was happy.
"Yes."
Shian had been by Li You's side for many years and was his most trusted eunuch. Sometimes his words were even more important than those of Li Jingyun, his own younger sister.
His elder brothers were either discussing marriage, getting married, or having children, but he wasn't in a hurry at all. Li Shimin and his wife understood his feelings and didn't force him, allowing him to make his own decisions.
After so many years of raising children, they finally reached a consensus on some things.
"Greetings to the two highnesses," Su Gui and the others bowed.
Li Lechen, of course, didn't bow. When she walked over, the attendant moved a chair for her. She sat down directly, first picked up a chopstick of vegetables for Li You and Li Yin, and then began to feast.
"Why are you three so polite? Come and eat quickly," Li You greeted.
Li Yin didn't say a word, which was obviously strange.
Li Jingyun asked curiously, "Brother Six, do you have something on your mind? Is there some blind - eyed official who impeached you? The Cui family, the Wang family, or the Zheng family?"
"Don't make wild guesses and wrongly accuse people," Li Yin quickly stopped Li Jingyun. "It has nothing to do with them. It's my own life - long event."
"Did Concubine Yang betroth you someone you don't like?"
"No."
Li Yin's smile was a bit bitter. His gaze fell on Li Lechen, who was burying her head in eating. "Let's eat. Such delicious mutton. Can't it keep you quiet?"
"Okay, okay. I'll eat, I'll eat."
Li Jingyun instantly understood what he meant. With a child around, it wasn't easy to say this casually, right?
After the meal, Li Lechen was taken away by Su Gui. She was Su Gui's proper niece. Di Renjie and Hao Chujun also bid farewell and went home.
Li Jingyun held a cup of milk tea and looked at Li You and Li Yin with a smile. "Now it's okay, right, two elder brothers? What on earth is going on?"
"Your Exhibition of Novel Things should be held this month, right?" Li Yin asked.
Crops such as sweet potatoes, corn, and peppers had all appeared in the Exhibition of Novel Things and then in the fields. Various novel small animals, such as the koalas brought back from Oceania, had also appeared in the exhibition. Any new - type machines, well - written books, and poems would also be on display.
This exhibition was basically held once a month. It was proposed, planned, and organized by Li Jingyun and had been held for several years, becoming a regular event.
"Indeed. I've set it for the middle of this month. Do you have anything you want to put on display, elder brother?" Li Jingyun was a bit confused for a moment.
"Sixth Brother has taken a fancy to the granddaughter of Yu Shinan's family. He wants to take the opportunity of your Exhibition of Novel Things to meet her," Li You couldn't hold it in anymore. Seeing that Li Yin was still hesitating, he just said it out.