Chapter 81: The Queen of Changle

Snow was swirling over Liaodong, while within the city of Chang’an, warmth and gentle sunshine still prevailed.

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Changle rested her chin in her hands, gazing anxiously at the sky outside. The sun’s golden rays poured over her, filling her with a languid drowsiness, but worry welled up in her heart, instantly dispelling any trace of sleepiness.

“Princess, I’ve asked and confirmed—there really is heavy snow in Liaodong, but it won’t last long. Please don’t worry. His Lordship is favored by Heaven; nothing will happen to him.”

Ever since Emperor Taizong had declared that upon Li Kong’s return from campaign, he would wed Changle, everyone in the palace had begun addressing Li Kong as the Princess’s Consort. At first, Changle had been bashful, but she’d since grown accustomed, and the thought filled her heart with sweetness.

The attendant’s words eased her worries somewhat, but the concern would not leave her. Though it had been less than ten days since she and Li Kong parted, it felt to her as if a year or more had passed. And this was no leisurely excursion—he had gone to war, to face the enemy, with snowstorms pressing down; the very thought was frightening.

Changle couldn’t help but feel resentment towards the great generals of Chang’an—why weren’t they sent to Liaodong instead? Why must Li Kong, only just eighteen, bear this burden?

More than once, she had wanted to petition the Emperor to have Li Kong recalled and replaced.

Suddenly, the clear, bell-like voice of a child rang out: “Sister, come play with me! Zhinu is no fun at all!”

As the words fell, a tiny figure in a diminutive princess gown burst into the room, her cherubic face so adorable one could scarcely resist pinching it.

Following close behind was a little boy, about the same height, his large, innocent eyes betraying a hint of fear as he glanced shyly at Changle—a sight that could melt anyone’s heart.

These were Princess Gaoyang, Li Ling, and Prince Jin, Li Zhi. They were only a few months apart—she was three, he a bit over two.

Nowadays, Li Chengqian was beginning to take on some state affairs, and with his studies growing more demanding, he had less time to spend with these two little troublemakers. Gentle-natured Lizhiz became their best refuge. Whenever they wished, they would run to her quarters and turn the Unresting Palace upside down before making their escape.

Thus, Lizhiz gradually revealed her ‘tomboy’ side, subduing the two naughty children with an ‘iron hand’. Now, except for the fearless Gaoyang, Li Zhi had been wholly brought to heel. Every time he saw Lizhiz, he was filled with trepidation—who could say if such memories would leave a shadow on his young heart?

Seeing her younger siblings, Lizhiz’s mood lightened. She rose, caught the running Gaoyang in her arms, pinched her cheeks, and scolded with a laugh, “Come now, have you been bullying Zhinu again?”

“Hmph! Does he even need me to bully him? He’s scared out of his wits even if I don’t!” Gaoyang shot Li Zhi a smug look, her expression just begging for a smack.

But in this life, because her mother was still with her, she was mischievous but good-natured, getting along well with everyone in the palace. Except for those with ulterior motives, most doted on her, especially Emperor Taizong—after marrying Changle to Li Kong, Gaoyang was gradually taking Changle’s place in his affections.

Whether such indulgence would turn her into the infamous figure of history, no one could tell. For now, at least, she was kind and innocent.

Li Zhi glared at Gaoyang, refusing to accept defeat, then sighed and said miserably, “Zhinu greets Eldest Sister…”

“Enough!” Changle rapped him lightly on the head, cutting him off. “There’s no need for all this ceremony from now on. I’ll have to ask Father to get you a new teacher soon.”

Li Zhi looked aggrieved, but at the prospect of a new teacher, he was secretly delighted. At just over two years old, he was at the age when playing was everything, yet Emperor Taizong had set a tutor over him, forbidding this and forbidding that—naturally, he was frustrated.

“Alright, enough about that. Sister, don’t quarrel with this little brat. Let’s go out and play, shall we? I want to leave the palace! I heard there’s so much fun and delicious food outside. I want to try everything…” Gaoyang wriggled in Changle’s arms, almost too much for the thirteen-year-old to handle—she nearly tossed the little girl aside.

“No, you’re too young. You can’t go out yet—maybe next year.” Changle steadied herself and spoke sternly.

Gaoyang paused, her lips quivering, watery eyes quickly filling with tears. She looked so pitiable it was impossible to doubt she would cry the next moment.

Changle gazed at the little girl, helpless. “If you really want to go out, you need Father’s spoken permission. Go ask him for an imperial edict. When you show it to me, I’ll take you all outside.”

“Ah?” Gaoyang was stunned.

Li Zhi, who seemed to love seeing her deflated, couldn’t suppress a snicker.

Instantly, Gaoyang’s temper flared. She wriggled free from Lizhiz’s embrace, stomped over to Li Zhi, grabbed his ear with her chubby fingers, and demanded fiercely, “Little Zhinu, what are you laughing at?”

“N-nothing… I wasn’t laughing at anything… I’m sorry, Seventeenth Sister, I’m really sorry, please forgive me!” Li Zhi pleaded, but Gaoyang’s expression suggested she’d like nothing more than to eat him alive.

Changle was at her wit’s end with these two. “Enough, no more mischief. I’m to see Father soon. If you two keep this up, I’ll ask him to lock you in your own palaces—and don’t come running here anymore!”

The threat was lethal. Both were at their most mischievous age; to confine them to their quarters was worse than death.

Gaoyang instantly let go, standing before Changle with all the demure grace she could muster, her pitiful gaze enough to soften the hardest heart. As for Li Zhi, he simply stood there, ready to accept any punishment, leaving Changle both amused and exasperated.

Having reasserted her authority as eldest sister, much of Changle’s frustration dissipated. She turned her gaze once more to the palace gates, as if waiting for something.

Meanwhile, in the Hall of Sweet Dew, Emperor Taizong had convened his ministers yet again to discuss the sudden snowfall in Liaodong.