Emperor Li, upon hearing about the disaster in the Jiangnan region, furrowed his brow every day. He worried about Li Yuanying, who was still bouncing around there, unsure if he was in any danger. He’d heard Li Yuanying boasting about Wei Jiu being pregnant with two boys, and with the birth nearing, it was a crucial time, one that couldn’t afford any mishaps.
Emperor Li sent two batches of people to Jiangnan to provide relief, but his heart still ached with worry, leaving him only able to await news from there. During this time, he carefully selected several names, asking Li Chengqian and the others for their opinions, finally settling on two names that he felt satisfied with. He planned to bestow them on Li Yuanying’s children once they were born.
Soon, an urgent report came from Jiangnan, saying that the situation in Huating had stabilized and the Princess of Teng had given birth to a pair of twins. Li Yuanying, never one to keep his mouth shut, had blabbed about the gender of the children the moment he found out, announcing it to the entire world. Emperor Li and the others, upon hearing the news, felt that Sun Simiao’s abilities were truly miraculous, as he had accurately predicted the twins’ gender.
After thoroughly reading the detailed report, Emperor Li’s expression darkened. Li Yuanying, incapable of lifting a finger himself, had actually dared to personally command the levee construction! He was simply asking for trouble! In other situations, Emperor Li might have issued an order to commend such an official, but knowing Li Yuanying was taking such a risk, his first reaction was to write a letter and give Li Yuanying a good scolding.
In fact, he did exactly that. While everyone praised Li Yuanying for his outstanding leadership, showering him with petitions for merit, Emperor Li had already penned a letter to reprimand him, discreetly slipping the two names he had carefully chosen into the letter as a gift.
Li Yuanying, having finished all the relief efforts, was immersed in playing with his sons at home, living a blissful life. As soon as Emperor Li’s letter arrived, Li Yuanying was so furious that he wanted to go back to Chang’an to argue. Even the names Emperor Li had chosen seemed awful to him, and he spent hours with Wei Jiu complaining about them, adamantly refusing to use them.
His sons, after all, were his! Why should Emperor Li have the right to name them?!
Wei Jiu was accustomed to Li Yuanying and Emperor Li’s way of using verbal duels to express their affection, so she didn’t stop Li Yuanying from rolling up his sleeves and writing a scathing reply. Instead, she patiently accompanied him as they picked names for their twins. They went back and forth, but even with Emperor Li’s second letter, which softened its tone and praised Li Yuanying, reminiscing about the time Li Yuanying had promised to send his sons to Emperor Li if they were boys, they still couldn’t decide on any good names.
Li Yuanying felt a pang of guilt after reading the letter. He didn’t dare let Wei Jiu know about his earlier boastful words, so he quickly hid the letter. In his reply, he agreed to use the names Emperor Li had bestowed, but he begged him not to mention those words in front of his wife. He promised that if the court was truly short-staffed, he would raise the children to serve the court when they grew up!
Li Yuanying secretly struck a deal with Emperor Li, then shamelessly told Wei Jiu that it was best to use Emperor Li’s chosen names, claiming that they couldn’t come up with any better ones themselves, and it would be good for the children to be blessed by Emperor Li’s dragon energy.
Wei Jiu suspected Li Yuanying was hiding something from her, but she genuinely liked the names Emperor Li had chosen. It was rare for Li Yuanying to be so compliant, so she didn’t object.
With his sons, Li Yuanying felt complete. After Emperor Li’s scolding, he became a slacker, happily cradling his children every day.
Even when Wei Jiu grew restless and longed to go out and do something, Li Yuanying wouldn’t budge. He’d hold both children and send Wei Jiu off, eagerly reminding her to come home early because three of them were waiting for her.
Every visitor to the Teng Wang Fu left with an expression of bewilderment.
Initially, everyone thought his newfound fatherly devotion was understandable, but after half a year of this lazy routine, where Li Yuanying cared only for when his sons would learn to sit up, people began to worry. They sent petitions to Emperor Li, concerned that this gifted prince was being wasted by his twin sons.
Li Yuanying had bragged so much, forcing everyone to run around like dogs, but he was simply playing with his children all day?
These accusations of Li Yuanying’s slothfulness gave Emperor Li a headache.
This guy was a pain in the neck when he was motivated, and equally frustrating when he was lazy. Emperor Li didn’t know what to do with him. Now that Wei Jiu was even going out to work, he decided it was time for Li Yuanying to return to Chang’an. He couldn’t let him continue to slack off there, and immediately dispatched someone with an imperial edict to bring him back.
Li Yuanying dragged his feet, delaying his return until his sons were almost a year old. Finally, he reluctantly brought them back to Chang’an.
Li Xiang and his gaggle of little ones eagerly awaited the arrival of the twins. They wanted to see if they looked alike. If they were identical, they’d have to figure out how to tell them apart!
Before Li Yuanying even had time to pay his respects to the Emperor, the twins were swarmed by the children, receiving a treatment similar to the shark pups brought to the capital for educational purposes.
The twins could now stand, and if they wanted to walk, they could take a few unsteady steps. They were beginning to look different, with the older brother resembling Wei Jiu and the younger brother taking after Li Yuanying. Li Yuanying explained that they were fraternal twins, meaning that even though they were born on the same day, they wouldn’t look too similar.
Their personalities were also distinct. The older brother woke and ate on a strict schedule, a model of good behavior. The younger brother was always languid, eating and sleeping at his own pace, even sleeping like a spoiled prince. He had a habit of kicking with his legs, almost knocking the older brother off the bed.
For example, even with so many cousins around, the younger brother slept soundly on his back, radiating an air of invincibility. The older brother, however, sat primly beside him, responding politely with “ooh” and “aah” whenever someone spoke to him, though no one understood what he was saying.
Li Yuanying observed them silently, wondering if they were exhibiting generational inheritance, looking like their great-grandfather. The thought of him and Wei Jiu having a mini-Wei Zheng terrified him. Imagine being constantly nagged by him in his old age!
Li Yuanying was worried. That night, he confided in Wei Jiu, saying that he had to educate their eldest son properly and ensure he didn’t go astray. Wei Jiu chuckled and pinched his cheek, saying, “How can you call Grandfather’s way going astray?”
Li Yuanying instantly shut his mouth.
The next day, he and Wei Jiu brought their children to pay their respects to the Emperor.
Emperor Li expressed his desire to hold his nephews. Li Yuanying nervously interjected, “Brother, you haven’t held a child in a while. You might not know how. Don’t drop my son, babies are fragile!”
Emperor Li gave him a withering look, finding his brother as infuriating as ever. He carefully took each twin in his arms, examining them before telling Li Yuanying, “You only have two sons. I have more grandsons than you.” If anyone didn’t know how to handle children, it was Li Yuanying!
Li Yuanying confidently retorted, “I may only have two sons, but I spend more time with them than you do with all your sons and grandsons combined!” He smugly finished his bragging, then pulled out an album he had drawn himself, documenting his sons’ growth. He boasted about how his children learned everything earlier than others, every sentence dripping with “My children are the best in the world!”
Emperor Li, unable to stomach his endless chatter, finally shooed him away. How could he even say such a thing? Didn’t he know how many petitions had been filed accusing him of shirking his duties and playing with his children all day?!
Li Yuanying, believing Emperor Li simply didn’t appreciate his sons, approached anyone he knew, incessantly praising his sons’ cuteness and intelligence.
Everyone could see they were cute, but as for intelligence, everyone thought Li Yuanying was boasting. Twins who couldn’t even talk yet, they would have to be a parent to see their extraordinary intelligence!
Li Yuanying, undeterred, continued his shameless self-promotion. He then began actively building kindergarten facilities in Chang’an. He expanded the existing museums, the oceanarium, the ecological park, the exotic exhibit halls, and other places built earlier, making sure they were well-maintained. These were the places his children would go to play when they grew up.
While he still seemed to be a slacker, he was at least working. The complaints about his laziness had dwindled.
In a blink of an eye, the twins turned one. Li Yuanying, following Southern customs, held a “grasping ceremony” for his sons. Emperor Li and Li Chengqian gave them some exquisite toys, and even Li Tai, with some awkwardness, presented them with two beautifully crafted jade books.
Nowadays, compiled books were considered convenient. Printed books were mostly done this way, and Li Tai, an avid reader, kept up with the trend by compiling several books that could be flipped through pages, which sold very well.
Recalling the time he’d brought his beloved book to Li Yuanying’s grasping ceremony only to have it snatched away, Li Tai decided to learn from his past mistake and bring two jade books this time, so he wouldn’t suffer the same fate!
Li Yuanying was delighted and placed his sons in the midst of a circle of neatly arranged treasures.
The older brother, a little nervous under the watchful eyes of so many, understood the instructions of the ritual officer and carefully selected a miniature gold ceremonial tablet, ignoring all the other items.
Li Yuanying sighed. This kid was going to become a government official and toil away for the court!
Compared to his older brother’s unwavering determination, the younger brother’s behavior was more chaotic. First, he hadn’t woken up yet, and while his brother had finished grasping, he was oblivious. Wei Jiu roused him, and he saw the pile of exquisite and precious treasures. He crawled over and looked at this one and that one, liking them all. He dragged them all towards him.
Noticing Li Yuanying’s approving gaze, the younger brother was ecstatic, completely forgetting his drowsiness. He diligently gathered every single treasure.
Li Yuanying was highly satisfied. This was what a son should do!
Pick and choose? Just take everything!
Li Yuanying happily kissed his younger son on the cheek, leaving Emperor Li and the others speechless.
The older brother pursed his lips, watching Li Yuanying from his seat, his face conveying a stubborn “I want a kiss, but I won’t ask for it” look.
Li Yuanying sighed inwardly. After all, they were his sons. Even if they turned out to be as annoying as old Wei when they grew up, they were still adorable little ones who needed love. He pulled the older brother towards him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, happily praising, “Both of you are amazing!”
Both boys dropped their treasures and clung to Li Yuanying, the three of them a joyous mess.
The others, though somewhat helpless, could only allow Li Yuanying to have his way.
They thought to themselves that Wei Jiu, the Princess of Teng, really had it tough, having to handle three children!
**Author’s Note:**
Little Prince: I will never spoil my children! I can’t possibly spoil my children!
Little Prince: Oh, never mind!
The twins’ names!
Emperor Li chose them!
Sweet Spring didn’t choose them!
Just call them the older brother and younger brother! (With righteous confidence)
**Note:**
– The “grasping ceremony” is a traditional Chinese custom for babies’ first birthday, where they are placed among a selection of objects and allowed to choose one, signifying their potential future career or path.
– The “gold ceremonial tablet” is an item used by officials in ancient China, symbolizing a career in government.
– “Wei Zheng” was a famous minister during the Tang Dynasty, known for his honesty and outspokenness, often reprimanding Emperor Taizong for his mistakes.
– “Dragon energy” refers to the auspicious power of the emperor, believed to bring good fortune and protection.
– “Chang’an” was the capital of the Tang Dynasty.
– “Jiangnan” refers to the region south of the Yangtze River, known for its fertile lands and beautiful scenery.
– “Emperor Li” refers to Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, known for his achievements in strengthening the empire and promoting culture.
– “Li Chengqian” was Emperor Taizong’s eldest son, and “Li Tai” was his third son.
– “Teng Wang Fu” is the residence of the Prince of Teng.
– “Wei Jiu” was the wife of Li Yuanying, the Prince of Teng.
– “Sun Simiao” was a renowned physician during the Tang Dynasty, known for his medical knowledge and skill.
– “Huating” is a county in modern-day Shanghai.
– The “shark pups” refer to a previous event where sharks were brought to Chang’an as a curiosity and educational display.
– The “jade books” were books with jade covers, a symbol of luxury and refinement in the Tang Dynasty.
– “Golden ceremonial tablet” is a ceremonial tablet used in ancient China by government officials, made of gold.
– “Southern customs” refers to traditions prevalent in the southern regions of China.
– The “ritual officer” is a person who conducts traditional ceremonies.
– The “ecological park” and the “exotic exhibit halls” are places that showcase natural environments and different cultures, suggesting a forward-thinking and cosmopolitan approach to governance.
– The “oceanarium” was a place where marine life was kept and displayed.
– The “museum” (文史館) in this context is a museum dedicated to history and culture, further emphasizing the value placed on learning and knowledge.
– “幼儿园” translates literally as “kindergarten.”
– “Book compiled into volumes” refers to books that are bound together into multiple sections or volumes, which was a common practice in the Tang Dynasty.
– The “book坊” is a place where books were printed and sold.
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