The temperature dropped again. In early October, it started to snow in Chang'an. The snowflakes were swirling down, looking extremely beautiful.
The spices in the purple - copper incense burner with exotic animal patterns were slowly burning. A faint, sweet scent filled the grand hall.
Li Jingyun leaned against the window, quietly watching the falling snow.
Li Lechen was munching on roasted sweet potatoes beside her. As the eldest granddaughter of the crown prince, her eating manner was rather bold and unrestrained.
Previously, Su Rui had said something about her, but she didn't care at all. She pointed at Li Jingyun brazenly and said, "Aunt does it like that too!"
This made Li Jingyun recall the time when her mother said she didn't act like a girl. She had cited Princess Pingyangzhao as an excuse and then continued to do what she liked comfortably.
"Sixth brother just got married. Why does Father already want to dispatch him out? It's really hard on Fifth Sister - in - law. She has to follow Sixth Brother to Shu just less than a month after their marriage."
Generally speaking, the children favored by Father would stay by his side. It would be the chief clerk of the prince's mansion who would manage everything in the fief on their behalf.
For example, in her case with Wu Meiniang, it was Wu Meiniang who handled things.
Who would have thought!
This time, it was actually Sixth Brother who would go there in person.
"Aunt, you've wronged Grandfather. Sixth Uncle asked for this himself. The two of them had decided long ago that they wanted to travel around. Coincidentally, Shu has beautiful scenery, so it's their top choice."
Li Lechen lifted her head from the delicious food with difficulty, stared at Li Jingyun and said with a smile.
Hearing this, Li Jingyun suddenly understood. "So that's how it is. They really know how to enjoy themselves."
"Aunt, when can we go out and play too? It's so boring to always stay at home." Li Lechen shook Li Jingyun's arm and coquettishly said.
She was exactly like Li Jingyun in the past.
Li Jingyun thought for a while. "I'm afraid not. You still have a lot to learn."
"What? Poetry and literature?"
"No, no, no. It's not just these things."
Li Jingyun shook her head mysteriously, hugged the confused little Lechen, and smiled all over her face.
"Hongxuan? Lechen is here too?"
Princess Gaoyang rushed in from outside, covered in snowflakes. The maids beside her quickly brushed off the snow on her and invited her into the grand hall.
Manjing brought up a cup of rose and red - date milk tea and said with a smile, "Princess, why did you come at this time? It's freezing and snowy outside."
"Something big has happened, a great happy event. Of course I have to come and tell my sister first." Princess Gaoyang picked up the milk tea and took a big sip, looking as bold as when drinking wine.
Li Jingyun somewhat realized that the girls in the Li family were all very generous and didn't act coy.
"What's going on, Sister Gaoyang?"
"What's going on, Aunt Gaoyang?"
Li Lechen imitated Li Jingyun's tone and expression and asked.
Princess Gaoyang was immediately amused by the child's words, and everyone burst into laughter.
"Father has agreed to my divorce from Fang Yiai! I'm finally free. From now on, I can go wherever I want to play and talk to whoever I want. I can talk as long as I like." Princess Gaoyang sat opposite Li Jingyun and said cheerfully.
She looked so happy, as if a pie had fallen from the sky and hit her right on the head.
"Then congratulations, Sister. You've finally escaped from the bitter sea."
"Aunt Princess!"
"You little echo - bug." Princess Gaoyang tapped Li Lechen's nose.
"I'm just Aunt Hongxuan's echo - bug!"
Li Lechen probably didn't know what an "echo - bug" meant at all. She just thought it was fun.
"Lechen, look at how beautiful the snowflakes are outside. How about asking your uncles to play snowball fights with you?"
"Okay!"
Sure enough, only Li Jingyun knew her niece well. She immediately attracted the little girl's attention.
Coincidentally, the students in Hongwen Academy had finished school. Li Fu and the others came over to play. Li Lechen happily ran out to join them.
Li Jingyun leaned on the soft pillow and lazily yawned. She was holding a warming stove in her hand, and a three - flowered cat was lying beside her, squinting its eyes and purring from time to time.
Is this what it means by "I stay at home with my cat"?
Is this how it feels, leisurely and carefree?
"Sister, even if you're divorced, you still can't be with Master Bianji." Li Jingyun said.
"I know. But at least I don't have to bear the bad reputation anymore. I don't want people to mention me as a promiscuous princess after I die and compare me with Princess Shanyin and Princess Guantao." Princess Gaoyang took a sip of the milk tea and said with a smile.
"I actually envy you. Your decision not to get married was really far - sighted."
Li Jingyun squinted her eyes happily. At first glance, she looked exactly like the three - flowered cat beside her.
Pets that have been raised for a long time are often a reflection of their owners.
"By the way, Sister. In a few days, Duan Jia and Meiniang will be back. You can also call Sister Xinxing. Let's have a meal together?"
Li Jingyun really liked to organize gatherings.
"I know that Meiniang will return to the capital to report on her duties. It's the same every year. But why is General Duan coming back?" Princess Gaoyang asked curiously.
"Father is preparing to send troops against Japan. He wants General Duan Jia to lead the army. This time, Hao Chujun should still go with the army."
Li Jingyun knew everything about the court affairs like the back of her hand. Her residence in the imperial city was still Taihe Hall.
She was much more favored than her elder sister Mingda and elder brother Li Zhi.
The two generals selected this time were both under her command, so she knew the inside story even better.
"Ah? Send troops against Japan? Why?"
There had been no signs before. Suddenly, they were going to start a conquest?
Then she thought, for such a small country as Japan, did they really need any signs? Wasn't it just a matter of going up and destroying it?
Li Jingyun smiled. "Someone has found out in Japan that there is a very large silver mine."
"I see. An innocent man gets into trouble because he possesses a jade." Princess Gaoyang quickly understood the key point. "After this great victory, General Duan Jia's official position will probably be promoted again. I wonder why it seems that there are no other young generals available in our Tang Dynasty except for Duan Jia recently?"
"Sister, your words will put Duan Jia in a difficult position."
"It doesn't matter. She is tough and can handle it. I heard that there are many men waiting beside Duan Jia, eager to offer themselves to her. It's really absurd."
When Princess Gaoyang mentioned this, she laughed so hard that she was shaking.
They all claimed to be from noble families with a long - standing reputation and that their ancestors had been high - ranking officials.
She was so tired of hearing those lines that her ears were getting calloused.
"They're all waiting to climb up the social ladder. Sister, if you go and take a look, there are also such a group of people at the gate of my mansion. I can't even avoid them." Li Jingyun waved her hand, indicating that she had also suffered a lot from them.
"I always wonder why girls like you would get married. Even if you do, you wouldn't marry someone like them." Princess Gaoyang said pointedly.
This made the eunuch Feng and Manjing who were standing behind them burst into laughter.
They had been serving Princess Chengyang closely, so they naturally knew what those people were like.
They all thought highly of themselves, but they actually did the most shameless things.