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墨書 Inktalez
Li Jian Cheng led his sisters back to the residence, instructing them to greet their mother first. After changing into a fresh set of clothes, he made his way over.
As he approached the courtyard gate, he could hear the sound of crying. Stepping inside, he saw his sisters gathered around the bed, trying to soothe the little baby. Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they urged him to call them "sister," but little Li Xiao Er was too young to speak.
Li Jian Cheng walked over and smiled, "I bought a parrot for Xiao Er that can talk. Why don't you teach it to say 'sister' first?"
The younger ones immediately scattered, chattering about what they would teach the parrot to say. Only the eldest and second sisters remained to look after their brother. Being a year younger than Li Jian Cheng and born as concubine daughters, they were naturally more sensible.
Seeing this, Dou Family said, "You two should go as well. The wet nurse is here to watch over him; you can keep an eye on your younger sisters."
"Yes, Mother, we will go now."
Li Jian Cheng picked up his brother and remarked, "He's gotten a bit chubby. Mother, has Father given him a name in his letter yet?"
Dou Family shook her head. "As per tradition, we should give him a nickname first; we can choose a proper name in a few years."
"Has a nickname been decided then?"
"He's called A'Zhu."
Li Jian Cheng looked at the little rascal in his arms and couldn't help but laugh, bending over with amusement. After a while, he managed to ask, "Why A'Zhu?"
"This year is the Year of Wu Wu."
"Oh~."
Thinking it over, it was indeed a pleasant name—not too shabby. However, Li Jian Cheng had initially expected something more like a Buddhist name for him. At least it was better than the future nickname of Li Yuanji being San Hu.
As the mother and son conversed, a maid came to report, "The Steward says that three carts of gold, silver, and silk have arrived from the Duke of Yue's Residence, along with ten fine horses. He asks if the lady would like to accept them."
Li Jian Cheng frowned slightly; he looked down on such gestures but did not want to offend the Yang Family at this moment. He nodded lightly.
Seeing this, the Dou Family instructed, "Accept it, and make sure to send me a detailed list of the gifts."
After handing A'Zhu over to the wet nurse for feeding, Li Jian Cheng said to his mother, "I met with Yang Yue privately; he seems to be moved."
The Dou Family nodded. "Yang Su's schemes rely solely on his brother. If he is moved, he can certainly persuade his elder brother."
"I just consulted with Uncle about this matter."
"The Dou Family is not in a good situation either; they will likely agree. However, they may not be able to exert much influence. Prince Jin may not take notice. Son, do not mention this to others; let us wait for Prince Jin's instructions."
"Yes, I think so too."
…………
The next morning, Li Jian Cheng wrote a letter and had a servant deliver it to Jin Wangfu while he hurried to the palace for the morning court session.
Upon entering the palace and changing into his embroidered robes, he followed the Emperor and Empress into the court. It was strange that they were entering and exiting together again after what had happened yesterday.
Li Jian Cheng fell behind and informed one of the female officials beside the Queen about Yang Yue's request for an audience with her, asking her to relay the message later.
Then he accompanied the Emperor into the court session. The main topics discussed were matters concerning the Turkic people and Changsun Sheng's return to the capital. He was appointed as the Left General of the Imperial Guard with a fief of five hundred households and granted grain, silk, servants, and livestock.
Changsun Sheng truly exuded charisma—not merely in appearance but in demeanor. He might not be an invincible commander or a statesman capable of governing and bringing peace, but he was undoubtedly a key figure in reuniting the realm.
Without his strategy of distant alliances and attacking the weak while avoiding the strong, the Turkic tribes would not have had the opportunity to march south and destroy Chen, unifying the realm.
The Turks are not fools; they understand well what a unified Central Plain would mean. If the Turkic tribes had not been divided and embroiled in civil war, they would never have stood by and watched Southern Chen be annihilated.
Even knowing what he had done, within the Turkic tribes, there was still great respect for Changsun Zongguan. The sound of his bow was likened to thunder, and his cavalry was compared to lightning.
Many Turkic nobles took pride in being acquainted with Changsun Sheng, something that Gao Shan and Yang Su had never achieved.
After the court session, Yang Jian led Changsun Sheng to meet Dugu Qialo. The three discussed matters for a long time, after which Changsun Sheng prepared to leave the capital to settle the Ten Thousand Turkic People who had submitted to Tuli Khan.
After escorting the empress back to the palace, they returned to the Guard Room for some casual conversation. Before long, Yang Yue arrived and was led into the palace by a lady-in-waiting after a brief inspection.
In Yong'an Palace, Yang Yue paid his respects. Dugu Qialo granted him a seat, and he began reporting on recent affairs of the Dali Temple to the Queen, receiving several comments from her that he accepted with pleasure.
Then, as if casually mentioning it, he spoke of Yang Guang: "Prince Jin is filial, respectful, and frugal; he resembles His Majesty."
No matter how one looked at it, saying that a son is like his father could hardly be wrong.
Dugu Qialo nodded with a smile: "You speak truly. My son is very filial; whenever he hears that His Majesty or I send palace maids on errands, he always waits early at our gate."
"At such an age, when it comes time for him to leave the capital, he will surely shed tears over parting from us. My daughter-in-law is equally devoted; I often send maids to accompany her for meals and rest."
Yang Yue quickly chimed in: "I have never heard such things; this is all thanks to Your Majesty and Her Highness's teachings by example."
The two talked for a full two cups of tea about how filial Prince Jin and Consort Jin were.
Satisfied with their conversation, Yang Yue took his leave. After he departed, Dugu Qialo gradually reined in her smile. A sense of loneliness spread from within her; although they resumed their usual comings and goings together, Narayana no longer wished to stay by her side to handle state affairs.
After the sun had set, Li Jian Cheng had just exited the palace gates when he saw a servant leading another person towards him. The man stepped forward and bowed, saying, "My Lord, Prince Jin has sent me to invite you to his residence."
A few others who had left their posts at the same time were somewhat surprised but said nothing, bidding farewell before departing in their own directions.
Li Jian Cheng was also taken aback. After all, he was a member of the Thousand Cattle Guard, and such interactions, while not entirely forbidden, could easily displease the Emperor.
This displeasure was certainly not directed at Li Jian Cheng himself; Yang Jian had never been fond of him. Rather, it was for the sake of Yang Guang, who sought to secure his position as heir. The Emperor's favor was crucial in that regard.
One would think that Yang Guang, being so intelligent, would not act so recklessly. However, since it was Yang Guang's command, there was no need for Li Jian Cheng to overthink it; there must be some consideration behind it.
After agreeing to the invitation, he mounted his horse and headed straight for Jin Wangfu. Upon arriving at the gates, he did not see Prince Jin and his wife, but the servants of Jin Wangfu treated him as if he were their own lord. They approached to take the reins and helped him down from his horse.
They even offered him a handkerchief to wipe his hands before allowing him to enter.
Once inside the Main Hall, he discovered that many people were already seated. Yang Guang smiled upon seeing Li Jian Cheng and gestured towards a chair on the side before continuing with his conversation.
This familiarity astonished those who were accustomed to Yang Guang's respectful demeanor towards talented individuals. Soon enough, envy followed; they too wished that Prince Jin would treat them in such a manner.
After taking his seat, Li Jian Cheng listened quietly for a while. They discussed court affairs, but more of their conversation revolved around political matters from Jiangdu. Judging by their accents, many of them were Southern People from Jiang Province, clearly part of the team Yang Guang had gathered during his tenure as Governor of Yangzhou.
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