“No! No!” Yunyi shook her head desperately, tears falling like broken pearls in an endless stream. Ever since the news came that Xiao Shi had been taken to the Turks, although Li Shimin had said he would do his best to arrange for Xiao Shi to be brought back from the Turks, she understood in her heart that the Turks were not benevolent people to deal with. Although there was no warfare at the moment, they had always been eyeing the Great Tang covetously. Given Li Shimin’s status and position at that time, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to obtain Xiao Shi from the Turks, so at that time, she had already given up hope of reuniting with Xiao Shi.

Later, when Li Shimin was forced by Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng to launch the Xuanwu Gate incident, captured the Li Jiancheng brothers, and forced Li Yuan to establish him as Crown Prince, a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart again. The weight of the words of the Great Tang’s Crown Prince, and even future Emperor, was far beyond what a Prince of Qin could compare to. So she had thought that after Li Shimin completely controlled the court situation, she would mention this matter to him and see if it would be possible to send someone to the Turks.

She had never imagined that Li Shimin would quietly send Zhao Jin as an envoy to the Turks without saying a word. He had never… never forgotten his promise to her!

Yunyi choked back sobs as she bowed, “Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!”

Li Shimin helped her up, saying gently, “This was something I promised you to begin with. What is there to thank me for? Don’t cry anymore.” After a pause, he continued, “Zhao Jin has followed me for many years and carries my personal letter. There shouldn’t be any problems. Moreover… bringing back Empress Xiao, for me, is not only fulfilling the promise I made to you, but also removing one layer of concern for future actions.”

“Concern?” Yunyi wiped her tears and repeated these two words, then tentatively asked, “Does Your Highness intend to use military force against the Turks?”

“Correct.” Li Shimin said in a deep voice, “The Turks have always been a threat to the heart of our Great Tang. Without settling the Turks, the Great Tang’s borders cannot be secure. Moreover, even if I don’t use military force, the Turks will sooner or later invade our Great Tang.”

Yunyi nodded and said again, “Thank you, Your Highness, for everything you have done for this concubine.”

Li Shimin joked, “From just now until now, you’ve already said thank you several times. How many more times do you plan to say it? Why don’t you say them all at once and save me from feeling awkward later?”

Yunyi was made to laugh through her tears by his words, “This concubine sincerely thanks you, but in Your Highness’s mouth, it becomes awkwardness. How heartbreaking!”

Li Shimin said warmly, “When others thank me, I accept it calmly, but you are different. Between you and me, there’s no need for such polite formality.” After a brief pause, he continued, “After Empress Xiao returns, I will arrange for her to live in the inner palace so that you mother and daughter can see each other often. She will surely be extremely delighted to see Kuan’er.”

While speaking, a eunuch came in carrying another large bundle of memorials. Yunyi laughed softly, “Your Highness should look at the memorials first, otherwise this concubine worries that by nightfall, you still won’t be able to go see Kuan’er.”

“Good!” Saying this, Li Shimin focused his attention on the memorials one by one, while Yunyi quietly accompanied him at his side, either grinding ink for him or preparing tea. This… should be what peaceful, quiet years meant.

By the time Li Shimin finished reading the last memorial, it was already evening. As they prepared to leave, Yunyi said to Ruyi, “Go to Yiqiu Palace and invite the Crown Princess and the heir to come to Changchun Pavilion to dine together.”

Not long ago, the masters of Yiqiu Palace and Changchun Pavilion had been Zheng Shi and Jirong respectively. Now one was mad and the other dead – truly, the saying “worldly affairs are unpredictable” was absolutely correct.

After Ruyi left, Yunyi smiled and said, “Since Your Highness has time, the family should gather together for a meal. Don’t you think so, Your Highness?”

Li Shimin gently scraped her straight nose and laughed, “Right, everything you say is right.”

Amid such laughter, the two walked side by side toward Changchun Pavilion. The meal was set in the flower hall as usual. Li Kuan was already there, and seeing them enter, he immediately jumped down from his chair, ran to Li Shimin’s side, and clung to him happily calling, “Father!”

Li Shimin bent down to pick him up and laughed, “Your mother told me you can recite the Three Character Classic now, is that right?”

Li Kuan nodded vigorously, “Mm, I recite faster than big brother. Big brother still doesn’t know the last part very well.”

“Who says so!” A childish voice rang out behind them. Li Chengqian, holding Zhangsun Shi’s hand, said seriously, “I learned to recite it long ago. You’re the one who can’t recite it well. You always recite it all mixed up, and you always say I can’t recite it well. You’re lying.”

Hearing this, Li Kuan quickly slid down from Li Shimin’s embrace, put on a serious expression on his adorable little face and said, “I’m not lying! You just can’t recite it!”

“I can recite it, you’re the one who can’t!” For a moment, the two children argued with red faces, even starting to push and shove each other.

Seeing them like this, Zhangsun Shi shook her head with amusement, crouched down and said, “Chengqian, I’ve told you not to be like this.”

Li Chengqian said with a grieved face, “It’s not your son’s fault. Second brother wronged me first. He’s wrong!”

“I didn’t!” Li Kuan also became stubborn and absolutely refused to back down.

Yunyi laughed and said, “Since you both say you’re not wrong, why don’t you recite it now for us to hear and see who can’t continue first!”

Upon hearing this, Li Kuan immediately raised his hand, “I’ll go first! I’ll go first!”

Yunyi didn’t agree immediately, but asked Li Chengqian, “Chengqian, do you have any objections?”

Li Chengqian lifted his little chin, “If he likes to go first, let him go first. I’ll definitely beat him anyway!”

Li Kuan made a face at him and began reciting eagerly. He started very smoothly and quickly, but gradually slowed down toward the end, obviously becoming less familiar with the later content. By the final few lines, just as when he had recited it before Yunyi, he began to make errors and omissions.

Having finished with great difficulty, Li Kuan’s little face was already completely red, clearly knowing he had made some mistakes. As soon as he finished, Li Chengqian began to recite. Unlike Li Kuan, he maintained a steady pace throughout his recitation.

Yunyi walked to Zhangsun Shi’s side and said softly, “It looks like Kuan’er is going to lose this time.”

Zhangsun Shi smiled slightly, “Chengqian and Kuan’er have always been evenly matched, about the same. To win this time won’t be easy.” Before she finished speaking, Li Chengqian, who had reached the last section, began to slow down and make errors. Although he made fewer mistakes than Li Kuan, he still made some in the end.

After he finished reciting the last line, Li Shimin nodded, “You both made mistakes in some places. It seems neither of you won!”

The two little ones humphed and turned their backs to each other, neither paying attention to the other. During the meal, they deliberately sat far apart, looking as if they would never have anything to do with each other again. However, before the evening meal was finished, the two had gotten together again, talking and laughing as if they had never quarreled.

Li Shimin said with amusement, “These two children change faces faster than flipping through a book – fighting one moment, making up the next. It’s really quite interesting to watch.”