“The Prince of Qin’s consort?” Under Li Jiancheng’s puzzled gaze, Jirong said meaningfully: “This servant has never forgotten the words Your Highness previously spoke to me.”

Li Jiancheng’s thoughts turned, and he immediately understood the implication in Jirong’s words. He pulled forcefully, making her sit on his lap, inhaled deeply at her neck, and said in a low voice: “That’s why I say you’re always the one who understands me best—no one can compare to you.”

“Is that so?” Jirong deliberately turned her head away: “This servant has heard that the Prince of Qi just sent two Huji who are younger and more beautiful than this servant to my lord.”

Li Jiancheng said dismissively: “Women with only beauty—not to mention two, even two hundred couldn’t compare to you.”

Jirong smiled charmingly, like a hundred flowers blooming in unison: “This servant hopes that in ten years, when my beauty has faded, I can still hear Your Highness say these words.”

Li Jiancheng kissed her fragrant cheek, laughing softly: “Rest assured, even after twenty or thirty years, it won’t change.”

For Li Jiancheng, Jirong was not only his wife and concubine, but also his strategist and assistant. Zheng Shi, Xu Shi, and others were far from comparable to her.

“By the way, how is Chengzong?” Hearing this, the smile on Jirong’s face immediately faded: “Still the same as before, no change. Apart from this servant and the wet nurse who cares for him, he’s not very willing to talk to people.” Then she continued: “Your Highness needn’t worry too much. This servant will take good care of him.”

Li Jiancheng sighed and grasped her hand: “It’s hard on you.”

Jirong smiled: “There’s nothing hard about it. Chengzong was born from this servant’s ten-month pregnancy; he’s my flesh and blood. Taking care of him is only right.”

On the fifth day of the sixth month, news finally arrived about Yuwen Huaji, whom Li Shimin had been having people investigate. After Yuwen Huaji’s defeat in battle against Li Mi, he retreated to Wei County with twenty thousand troops. Though he had only this many men, he still hadn’t given up his dream of becoming emperor. After killing the puppet Emperor Yang Hao, he usurped the imperial throne in Wei County, establishing the state of Xu with the era name Tianshou. However, after only a few months, he was defeated by Dou Jiande, and Empress Dowager Xiao was also captured by Dou Jiande. Not long after, Princess Yicheng in Turkic territory learned of this and sent envoys to respectfully escort Empress Dowager Xiao back. Dou Jiande dared not refuse and allowed the envoys to take her back to Turkic lands.

After Li Shimin carefully told Yunyi about the information he had gathered, seeing her remain silent, he said guiltily: “Although Empress Dowager Xiao has gone far to Turkic lands, with Princess Yicheng there, she should be fine. I promise you that after the Great Tang stabilizes, I’ll ask Father Emperor to send envoys to Turkic lands to bring back Empress Dowager Xiao so you and your mother can be reunited.”

Yunyi also knew that the Great Tang had just been established and everything was in ruins—it truly wasn’t the time to provoke the Turks. She nodded: “This servant understands. Thank you, Your Highness.”

“I’m sorry.” Yunyi’s understanding made Li Shimin feel even more guilty. He had promised Yunyi several times that he would bring back Empress Dowager Xiao, but due to various reasons, he had never been able to do so. This time, Empress Dowager Xiao had gone to Turkic lands again—who knew when she could be brought back.

Yunyi perceived his thoughts and grasped his hand: “Your Highness has already done your best, so there’s no need to say sorry. Besides, if not for Your Highness, this servant would already be displaced and living a life of uncertainty.”

Her words somewhat eased Li Shimin’s guilt. After a moment of tenderness, he suddenly said: “Have you seen Ruhui recently?”

Yunyi asked puzzledly: “No, why does Your Highness suddenly ask about this?”

Li Shimin frowned: “These past few days, Ruhui has always seemed absent-minded. Once during training, an arrow almost hit a soldier. Every time I ask him, he says nothing’s wrong. I thought since you have a good relationship with him, you might know something.”

Hearing him say this, Yunyi also felt something was amiss. She knew Du Ruhui’s archery skills all too well—if not for Du Ruhui successively shooting Duan Da and Duan Li that day, Chang’an City might have already fallen. She said: “Then this servant will invite him over to ask about it another day.”

Li Shimin nodded, then looked around the elegantly furnished room: “Are you comfortable living in this Qiluo Pavilion? Do you have enough staff? If not, I’ll have Chuyi arrange more.”

Yunyi smiled: “The Princess just arranged for four xiaosi and four maidservants to come here yesterday. This servant now feels there are too many people!”

Her words made Li Shimin laugh heartily, saying with relief: “Seeing you and Wugou get along so well makes me happy too.”

Yunyi picked up a grape that Ruyi had just washed and brought in, carefully peeled it, and fed it to Li Shimin: “The Princess has such a kind nature that few people wouldn’t get along with her.” After a pause, she continued: “In a few more months, the Princess’s child will be born. Has Your Highness thought of a name?”

After Li Shimin spat out the small grape seed, he said: “I did think of one name—Li Cheng’an. What do you think?”

“Li Cheng’an…” Yunyi repeated it carefully: “National prosperity and peace, harmony under heaven—this name is good. But what if it’s a girl?”

Li Shimin frowned slightly: “I forgot to think about that.”

Hearing this, Yunyi deliberately joked: “It seems Your Highness only likes boys. If this child turns out to be a girl, she’ll probably have trouble even seeing Your Highness, her father, in the future. Not to mention the Princess—even this servant feels sad thinking about it.”

Li Shimin was both amused and exasperated by her words: “Where are you going with this? To me, boys and girls are the same—there’s no difference.”

Yunyi suppressed her laughter and said seriously: “If that’s the case, why did Your Highness only think of a boy’s name?”

Li Shimin pinched her chin, laughing: “Because girls’ names are harder to think of than boys’ names. Are you satisfied with this answer?”

The laughter she had been holding back for so long finally couldn’t be contained and quietly escaped her lips: “Alright, I’m barely satisfied. Your Highness must remember to think of a good name—you can’t be casual and perfunctory like the Crown Prince.”

After Li Jiancheng was established as Crown Prince, his daughter, still in swaddling clothes, was also enfeoffed as Princess Changning, with a noble status. However, her given name had always been criticized, though no one dared say so in front of Li Jiancheng. Because of this matter, Zheng Shi had shed countless tears, but ultimately there was no solution.

“Elder brother’s name choice that time was indeed rather casual, but fortunately the child now has a title, so probably no one will call her by her given name directly.”

Yunyi nodded: “Yesterday when this servant visited the Princess, I saw that due to the hot weather, her appetite was poor—she often couldn’t eat anything all day, and her voice was somewhat hoarse. So I had Ruyi make lily and honeysuckle cakes. Why don’t Your Highness take them to the Princess later?”

Li Shimin was about to agree when Duan Zhihong hurried in, hastily performed a bow, then spoke words that made Li Shimin’s expression change dramatically: “Your Highness, Xue Ju has invaded! He’s already crossed Jing Prefecture. His Majesty requests that you immediately enter the palace for discussion!”