Li Yuanying was naturally delighted to hear that the envoy had returned safely. His joy only intensified upon reviewing the report compiled by Di Renjie on the trial cultivation yield of the Cham rice. However, his mood turned sour when Chengyang informed him of her pregnancy. That evening, he couldn’t help but keep his eyes fixed on Wei Jiu’s belly.
Wei Jiu, aware of Chengyang’s pregnancy and sensing Li Yuanying’s thoughts, anticipated some sort of action from him that night. But Li Yuanying merely sighed, stroking her belly, “I can’t bear it, I can’t bear it.”
Li Yuanying, having studied medicine with Sun Simiao, understood the hardships of childbirth. His younger sister was not even eighteen, and he couldn’t fathom making her endure such pain. He whispered to Wei Jiu, “Let’s play with other people’s children for now. We’ll have our own later.”
Despite being a child at heart, Li Yuanying was not yet prepared for fatherhood. Wei Jiu, with the patience of a mother soothing a child, turned to him, kissed him, and they drifted off to sleep together.
Li Yuanying promptly submitted the yield data of the Cham rice to Emperor Li, alongside Chengyang, suggesting trial cultivation in various regions. He proposed widespread adoption if the results proved successful. With a potential yield of two mu per mu, a household could easily become two households within a short period!
Food is a matter of life and death. Upon examining the data presented by Li Yuanying, Fang Xuanling was overwhelmed with excitement, collapsing right there in the court. Li Yuanying, having heard of people weeping with joy, had never witnessed anyone fainting from happiness. He quickly rushed to administer first aid, awaiting the imperial physician to give him a few acupuncture needles.
The chaotic situation forced the grand court session to transition into a smaller gathering. After regaining consciousness, Fang Xuanling appeared revitalized, displaying no trace of his previous weakness. Despite others urging him to rest, he refused, sprinting towards the smaller meeting of ministers summoned by Emperor Li.
Fang Xuanling’s gaze upon Li Yuanying was now filled with paternal affection, believing Li Yuanying to be exceptional in every way. Although Li Yuanying had presented the rice seeds last year, it was merely a promise, not as impactful as this year’s data-driven presentation.
Throughout the year, the Tang Dynasty experienced abundant harvests and peace in all regions. By year’s end, envoys from various countries began arriving in succession, increasing the workload of the Honglu Temple.
With a shameless grin, Li Yuanying requested ten thousand troops from Emperor Li, placing them under the training of Xue Rengui and his team. He personally selected groups of soldiers to accompany him in receiving foreign envoys, keeping himself perpetually busy.
Wei Jiu wasn’t idle either. She organized an art and calligraphy society in Chang’an, regularly inviting prominent ladies from prominent families to appreciate paintings and calligraphy, subtly influencing the thinking of Chang’an’s womenfolk.
The Yan family, known for their close relationship with Wei Jiu, often co-hosted gatherings with her, solidifying their bond. Only when Li Tai realized the situation did he discover that Li Yuanying was stealing others’ children while Wei Jiu was stealing others’ wives. They worked together, both shamelessly.
What could Li Tai do but immerse himself in his work, lest he be the only idle person in the household.
Similar transformations were happening in many other government offices.
Li Zhi spent the entire night in discussion with Wang Shi, sharing his decision. He had no intention of competing with his siblings for the throne. The Crown Prince had always been kind to them, and he did not want to engage in a life-or-death struggle for the sake of the throne. If things were to escalate to such a point, even if Li Yuanying didn’t scold him, he would be too ashamed to continue interacting with him.
Since Li Yuanying’s return to Chang’an, the Crown Prince’s position had become visibly stronger, with numerous officials showering him with increasing praise. Regarding Hou Junji’s control over the Eastern Palace, it was evident that the blame did not solely lie with the Crown Prince. He was simply too benevolent and trusting, putting his faith in the loyal officials who had followed Emperor Li in the past.
After Emperor Li’s birthday celebrations, whispers emerged about finding an opportunity to return the princes to their respective fiefdoms.
Emperor Li remained silent, simply stating that the princes were busy preparing for the International Expo and that the matter would be addressed after its conclusion.
A new year dawned, marking the twenty-third year of the Zhenguan era. The Zhenguan reign, lasting for twenty-three years, had weathered many storms, shaping a unique Tang Dynasty distinct from the Sui Dynasty and from any previous dynasty.
As spring arrived that year, envoys from various countries, invited to participate, set up camp along their journey to Chang’an and Luoyang, collaborating with local wealthy families or dignitaries to build exhibition halls reflecting their own national styles.
Unique structures, each embodying different architectural styles, rose within the Expo grounds, blending harmoniously despite their distinct origins. As Li Yuanying and Li Chengqian rode on horseback to inspect the site, a vast and beautiful world unfolded before their eyes.
After a thorough inspection, Li Yuanying found himself restless that night. He consulted with the system, sketching a map of all known countries. He instructed Dai Ting to find materials and transform the sketch into a magnetic puzzle to share with Emperor Li.
In those days, it was forbidden to create maps too detailed, as it could be interpreted as a sign of sedition. Therefore, Li Yuanying only outlined the basic contours.
Li Yuanying presented this treasure to Emperor Li with great enthusiasm, fitting the pieces of each known country together.
Beyond the vast oceans and expansive landmasses, countless unknown territories and countries likely existed, awaiting exploration once they built better ships and trained superior naval forces.
However, they were still young, and the Tang Dynasty was young too. As long as the Tang Dynasty remained strong, the entire world would embrace it.
Emperor Li, observing Li Yuanying’s creation and listening to his grand pronouncements, thought there was no one better at boasting than him. Yet, Li Yuanying’s boasts possessed a certain captivating power, swaying even Emperor Li’s own heart. Indeed, the Tang Dynasty was young, its future brimming with limitless possibilities. Their current task was to strengthen the Tang Dynasty and maintain its strength forever.
Emperor Li invited Li Yuanying to share a couple of drinks. It was already May, with the weather becoming warm, but Emperor Li didn’t feel the heat, possibly due to the wine. He retired early that night.
After reaching the age of fifty, Emperor Li often slept lightly at night, but this night he slumbered deeply. As the night deepened and silence enveloped the surroundings, Emperor Li fell into a dream.
The dream, too, was shrouded in dim light. Emperor Li walked forward for a while, suddenly seeing someone seated, playing the pipa. The tune wasn’t any ordinary one, but rather “Pozhen Le,” a piece he dearly loved. He disliked the frivolous music of the Sui Dynasty, favoring the military music imbued with the spirit of swords and spears. However, the pipa lacked the necessary vigor, conveying more softness than force.
Emperor Li wanted to speak but found himself unable to utter a sound. He could only sit and listen to the entire piece. As the “Pozhen Le” ended, the musician turned towards him. It was none other than Taishang Huang, Li Yuan.
Taishang Huang fixed his gaze on Emperor Li for a while before speaking, “Your white hair seems more numerous than mine.”
Upon death, all matters vanish, and any past conflicts are resolved. Emperor Li replied, “People inevitably grow old.”
Taishang Huang paused for a moment, then placed down the pipa, offering a compliment, “You are a capable Emperor.” Looking at Emperor Li, his gentle gaze no longer held the distance between an emperor and another emperor but rather the affection of a father towards his son, “You are also a good older brother.”
Upon finishing these words, Taishang Huang vanished, along with the pipa, leaving behind an eerie silence in the dream.
Emperor Li opened his eyes. It was still dark outside, but he needed to prepare for the grand court session.
Another day dawned, the day Li Yuanying loathed the most, the day he had to wake up.
While he often arrived late at the Honglu Temple, or even skipped work altogether, claiming to be visiting the Ci’en Temple to check on the progress of Buddhist scripture translations, no one would dare snitch. But the grand court session was different. If he didn’t arrive on time, the censors would verbally flay him alive!
Li Yuanying had a restless night, and when he woke up in the morning, he told Wei Jiu about his dream. He dreamt that Taishang Huang complained about the pipa he had sent, claiming it smelled of perfume, and asked if he had taken it from a woman.
Upon learning that Li Yuanying was already married, Taishang Huang inquired about his children, a topic that struck a chord with Li Yuanying. He launched into an extended explanation to Taishang Huang, emphasizing his desire for children but his reluctance to see Wei Jiu suffer through childbirth.
Taishang Huang, with a penchant for the unconventional, advised, “Since you’re reluctant to have your wife give birth, why not take several other women to have children for you?”
Li Yuanying engaged in a lengthy debate with Taishang Huang, stating that such actions were wrong, as he was content with his wife.
Taishang Huang, with an air of disappointment, said, “How can you have eighteen sons like that?”
Li Yuanying jolted awake. He shared his concerns with Wei Jiu, “What should I do? Father had a dream about me saying we’ll have eighteen sons! I’m terrified! He didn’t mention daughters. What if we have to have eighteen sons before getting a daughter? I can’t bear to see you give birth so many times, but I want a daughter!”
Wei Jiu replied, “…It’s just a dream. You must have been thinking about Chengyang’s pregnancy, and it manifested in your dreams.” Eighteen was simply too many. It would take at least thirty years to have them all, meaning she would spend her entire life giving birth. If that happened, she would rather Li Yuanying take several other women to have children for him!
Li Yuanying conceded the point and set off for the court after getting dressed. The grand court session was essentially a sleep-in session for him. Li Yuanying yawned while dozing off. Upon waking up, he was pulled aside by Emperor Li for a discussion.
Observing Emperor Li’s somber expression, Li Yuanying approached him with concern, “Brother, didn’t you sleep well last night? I told you not to worry so much during the day, because excessive worry makes it difficult to sleep at night!”
Emperor Li replied, “I dreamt of Father last night.”
Li Yuanying startled, his face turning pale.
Noticing Li Yuanying’s stricken expression, Emperor Li inquired, “What’s wrong?”
Li Yuanying responded, “It’s over. I dreamt of him too!” He recounted his dream to Emperor Li, feeling an unnerving sense of reality about it. “Do you remember, when Gao Yang and I went to Pingkangfang, we saw a pipa that we liked. I had it sent to Father for his enjoyment. Could this be the pipa he was talking about? It’s over. Do Wei Jiu and I really have to have eighteen sons? Father is truly something else, he mentioned the number of sons, but why didn’t he mention daughters? What if we have to have eighteen sons before getting a daughter?”
Emperor Li chuckled and offered Li Yuanying advice, “You’re always trying to steal Qingque’s daughter. I think you don’t need to have your own children. Why don’t you just bring Youyu back to your household?”
Li Yuanying firmly disagreed. His niece was his niece, and his daughter was his daughter, they weren’t interchangeable. As he drifted off to sleep that night, he murmured, hoping that Taishang Huang would return to his dreams and reveal the secret to having a daughter with Wei Jiu.
However, until the day the International Expo began, Li Yuanying failed to summon Taishang Huang back to his dreams.
Fortunately, Li Yuanying possessed the ability to forget everything when things got exciting. Even the scorching summer heat couldn’t dampen his enthusiasm. He dragged Wei Jiu along, visiting every exhibition hall, marveling at the unique goods brought by envoys and merchants from different countries.
Throughout the Expo, individuals with diverse skin tones, eye colors, and even hair colors could be seen.
Li Yuanying cheerfully strolled among them, frequently striking up conversations with people who piqued his interest and purchasing unusual trinkets.
If even Li Yuanying was enjoying himself so much, the citizens of both the Tang Dynasty and other nations were truly overwhelmed. Some places they might never visit in their lifetime, but now they could step into exhibition halls, learn about those countries’ unique houses, customs, and even purchase a few souvenirs to tell their children about these faraway lands.
They would need several months to fully explore this Expo!
Indeed, in response to overwhelming public demand, the Expo was repeatedly extended, spanning from summer to autumn. Visitors flocked from every corner of the empire, creating an endless stream of people.
Li Yuanying, using the excuse of inspecting the exhibition halls, wandered about endlessly, sampling delicacies from all participating countries. He ate until his stomach was full every day.
Li Yuanying took advantage of the opportunity to bring Liu Baolin back to Chang’an. He had the head chefs from Fengtai Restaurant accompany Liu Baolin to the Expo to experience foreign cuisines and explore potential new dishes. To stay ahead of the curve, one must continuously absorb new things!
On the day of the International Expo’s grand finale, Emperor Li lifted the curfew and hosted a lavish feast for the officials and envoys from various countries. Among the many large and small nations participating in the Expo, the majority were already aligned with the Tang Dynasty. Many first-time attendees were present as well. Envoys from various countries presented gifts to Emperor Li, with numerous delegations requesting permission to send representatives to Chang’an for extended stays to learn about Tang culture.
Emperor Li, overjoyed, chuckled and granted all their requests.
After the palace banquet, Emperor Li took Li Yuanying and Li Chengqian to the Zhuque Gate to gaze at the night view of Chang’an.
That night, the city of Chang’an was aglow with lights, extending from the city to the many exhibition halls of the International Expo. The streets were bustling with people, a lively scene. Many, filled with excitement, couldn’t sleep and took their friends and family out to enjoy the beautiful Chang’an night.
Li Yuanying, at some point, had snuck in Li Tai’s daughter, carrying her as he gazed upon the scenery from the heights, pointing out different locations to his nephews and nieces. Finally, he led the little ones to persuade the accompanying Yan Liben, “Paint it, Little Yan! You must paint this lively night scene!” The children chimed in, “Paint it, paint it!”
Witnessing Yan Liben being surrounded by a group of youngsters, Emperor Li chuckled and ordered him to fulfill Li Yuanying’s wish.
With Emperor Li’s permission, Li Yuanying began to give instructions to Yan Liben, specifying the size of the painting, the angle, and even the specific details of how it should be done. He had everything planned out but simply felt it would be too tiring to paint such a large canvas, so he decided to leave the work to someone else!
Yan Liben, overwhelmed by Li Yuanying’s incessant nagging, could only dutifully record every one of Li Yuanying’s demands.
Thus, the painting “Night Tour of Chang’an,” which later gained immense popularity, was born. This masterpiece took half a year to complete, capturing every intricate detail of Chang’an, showcasing the city’s vibrant life, architectural features, and clothing styles in full glory. Even after thousands of years, later generations could use this painting to reconstruct the prosperous and beautiful city of Chang’an.
In later times, this painting became a key element in various academic subjects. For instance, literature students would be asked to memorize the numerous ancient poems and songs inspired by the painting, politics students would be tasked with analyzing the impact of Chang’an on global development during that era, and history students would be expected to enumerate the participating countries at the International Expo…
Of course, these events were far removed from the twenty-third year of the Zhenguan era.
People living in that year could only feel that this year was more lively than any other, that the world beyond the Tang Dynasty was presented to them in a real and clear manner for the first time. They took pride in being citizens of a prosperous and powerful Tang Dynasty while also being filled with curiosity about the vast world beyond their borders.
This seed was planted in the hearts of all Tang citizens, sprouting and growing strong over the next few centuries.
The Great Tang Dynasty, where all nations came to pay tribute.
**Author’s Note:**
[The main story is finished.]
It might feel a bit sudden, but I felt this was a good point to conclude the story.
In May of the twenty-third year of the Zhenguan era, Emperor Li passed away in real history.
In this world, Emperor Li will live on, and their story will continue. While I was organizing the remaining content, I actually wrote about Jiangnan, Lingnan, and Shu, but if I continued the story in this manner, you wouldn’t find it interesting, and I wouldn’t find it enjoyable to write either. The story feels complete now, and although Li Yuanying and Emperor Li, as brothers, are constantly testing and mistrusting each other, they have already gradually overcome their suspicions and opened their hearts to each other. It’s said that literature should not be too peaceful, like looking at a mountain. Even if the entire story is filled with daily life, it can become tiring to write if it continues forever. Therefore, I decided to end the main story here.
There will be side stories. You are welcome to suggest topics you’d like to see.
Thank you for accompanying me for five months. If you have extra nutrition liquid, feel free to nourish the little prince with it. (づ￣ 3￣)づ
My next story will be “Frolicking in the Three Kingdoms,” and “盤秦” is scheduled for the first half of next year. If you are interested, please collect it.
Ah, it seems the little prince has indeed remained a virgin until the end. =。=
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