Lady Wan smiled coolly, “The Yan family has fallen into decline. If they want to return to their former comfortable days, what could be faster than having their daughter serve the imperial presence?”

Chuyun thought for a while, “Lady Yan has outstanding beauty and speaks in soft, gentle tones that are charming and pleasant to hear. There’s indeed a great possibility she’ll be chosen by His Majesty. However, her birth is still rather humble, so His Majesty probably won’t confer too high a rank.”

Lady Wan touched her cheek and suddenly said, “Summon this Lady Yan to Shangyang Palace.”

“Your Ladyship…” Chuyun didn’t understand why Lady Wan was so concerned about this Lady Yan, even specially summoning her for an audience. Before she could ask more, Lady Wan said, “Do as I say.”

While Chuyun went to the Lateral Courts to summon Lady Yan according to her words, Li Jiancheng also returned to the Eastern Palace. He went straight to Changchun Pavilion, and the first thing he asked Zhangsun Shi upon seeing her was whether she had offended Lady Wan recently.

Jirong was completely puzzled by his question. After coming to her senses, she shook her head, “This concubine has not offended Noble Consort Wan. When I entered the palace two days ago to deliver the Immortal Jade Maiden powder, she even held my hand and talked with me for quite a while, showing no displeasure. Why does Your Highness suddenly ask this?”

Li Jiancheng told her about what happened at the Imperial Study, finally frowning, “Since you haven’t offended her, why did she keep speaking up for Lady Zheng just now? Not only did she prevent me from deposing Lady Zheng, but she also hinted that Zheng An should take all the blame, thus letting that wretched Lady Zheng escape punishment. It’s truly incomprehensible.”

“Logically speaking, aside from the customary greetings, the Crown Princess has no extensive dealings with Noble Consort Wan. Speaking up for her like this is indeed strange.” Jirong spoke while pondering, but no matter how much she thought, she couldn’t figure out Lady Wan’s intentions. Just as she was about to speak, her eyelid suddenly twitched, and a terrifying thought surfaced in her mind. Could it be… that Lady Wan knew what she had done and thus turned against her?

Before this thought was fully formed, she had already denied it. If Lady Wan knew the truth, she would resent not just herself, but the entire Eastern Palace. Lady Zheng was the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace – Lady Wan would have no reason to help Lady Zheng either.

After suppressing this thought, she said, “Your Highness needn’t worry. Tomorrow this concubine will enter the palace to sound out Noble Consort Wan’s intentions. It should be nothing serious.”

“That’s all we can do.” Li Jiancheng sat down in his chair irritably, “Father Emperor sparing Lady Zheng is one thing, but indirectly punishing you to copy Buddhist scriptures is truly… I don’t know what to say.”

Jirong massaged his stiff shoulders, saying softly, “It’s merely copying Buddhist scriptures – hardly a punishment. As for the Crown Princess… since His Majesty personally chose her for Your Highness, it’s natural he wouldn’t want to depose her. I hope Lady Zheng will be grateful for His Majesty’s grace and conduct herself properly from now on.”

Li Jiancheng patted the delicate hand on his shoulder, sighing, “It’s rare that you’re so reasonable and understanding. If the situations were reversed and Lady Zheng were in your position, she would probably raise hell.” Speaking thus, he pulled Jirong in front of him, saying solemnly, “Rest assured, though we couldn’t deal with Lady Zheng this time, I will remember this matter. When the time is right, I will give you and Chengzong an explanation.”

Jirong said gently, “Right now, the most important thing is Your Highness’s grand ambitions. This small matter of mine can be forgotten without consequence.”

On the twenty-ninth day of the eighth month, Li Yuan issued an edict ordering Li Shimin to lead three hundred thousand troops to Gaocheng on the first day of the ninth month to pacify the Western Qin forces, with Crown Prince Li Jiancheng coordinating supplies in the rear.

On the night before the expedition, Li Shimin rested in Qiluo Pavilion. Waking up in the middle of the night, he found Yunyi absent from his pillow. Seeing a shadowy figure outside the bed curtains, he parted the silver gauze and saw Yunyi sitting at the table with a small lamp lit, sewing by the dim light, working on something unknown.

When Li Shimin put on his shoes and got up, Yunyi heard the movement and turned to look, hastily saying, “Why is Your Highness awake? Did this concubine’s lamp disturb Your Highness’s rest?”

“No.” Li Shimin walked to her side and took what she was holding. Upon seeing it clearly, he asked in surprise, “Why are you suddenly making boots?”

What Yunyi was sewing was not clothing or handkerchiefs, but a pair of lambskin boots. “This concubine has been making these boots for several days, originally planning to present them to Your Highness in a few days when they were finished. Who knew His Majesty would suddenly issue the edict, and Your Highness would lead troops out tomorrow morning? This concubine worked all day yesterday, and they’re still not quite finished, so I thought to complete them before dawn so Your Highness could wear them to battle.”

“I see.” Li Shimin took a garment and draped it over Yunyi’s shoulders, sitting down. “It would be the same to wear them after I return. It’s not as if I have no shoes – why rush for a moment?”

Yunyi glanced at the boots placed beside the bed and smiled lightly, “Your Highness does have shoes, but they’re quite worn. Battlefields are hardest on footwear – I fear by the time Your Highness returns, those boots will be torn beyond recognition. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing for people to see?”

“Even if they’re truly torn, I can buy a pair locally, or there are always a few camp followers with the army who could help make a pair.”

“This concubine was just afraid Your Highness wouldn’t be used to wearing them and would suffer discomfort.” Laughing thus, Yunyi said, “This concubine is merely a woman and cannot follow Your Highness to battle, much less fight alongside Your Highness. What I can do for Your Highness is just this. I hope Your Highness can pacify Western Qin in one stroke on this expedition and remove this threat from His Majesty’s heart.”

Li Shimin nodded, “Western Qin killed tens of thousands of our Great Tang soldiers. In this campaign, I will certainly sweep away Western Qin and avenge past humiliations.”

Yunyi glanced at the pitch-black sky outside the window, “It’s still early. Your Highness should rest a while longer, or you’ll lack energy for tomorrow’s march.”

“Missing just half a night’s sleep isn’t so serious.” Speaking thus, Li Shimin joked, “This trip will inevitably mean months without seeing you. Shouldn’t I take advantage of this time to look at you more as advance compensation?”

Yunyi smiled with pursed lips, tilting her head, “Is Your Highness teasing this concubine?”

Li Shimin held her hand, “Everything I say comes from the heart, without the slightest intent to tease.” After a pause, he sighed lightly, “Last time I left Chang’an for just those few days, such a major incident occurred in the residence. This time…”

Before he could finish, Yunyi said, “This time this concubine will certainly take good care of the Princess Consort and manage the household properly. I believe nothing will happen – Your Highness can rest assured.”

“That’s good.” Li Shimin nodded, “Though the child’s matter has passed, I see Wugou still has a knot in her heart. Help counsel her more.”

“This concubine will.” While speaking, Yunyi had finished the lambskin boots and had Li Shimin try them on. They fit perfectly, comfortable as well as well-fitted, making one reluctant to take them off.

Li Shimin smiled, “It seems you plan to spoil these feet so I can’t leave you.”