“Boy, after going to the outer seas, you understand the value of land now, don’t you? Even on deserted islands you can discover vast forests of spice trees. Could the enormous Liaodong be inferior to those deserted islands you found?”

“I spare no effort wanting to expand our territory, yet some people say I’m vainglorious. There are always those who say Liaodong is barren land, too far from Chang’an, difficult to govern, and prone to breeding troubles. They say expending grain and provisions on distant military expeditions is unwise.”

“If this were truly so, why did I personally brave arrows and stones to conquer this picturesque realm back then? I should have just taken Chang’an and been done with it. Governing a single prosperous city would be easy and effortless—why not?”

“Everyone wants to live comfortably and happily, but they don’t realize that from the moment we participated in seizing the realm, we not only had the resolve to rule it, but also have the right to ensure this land remains intact. That’s why I venture deep into barren lands, exhausting my mind and heart to ensure our golden vessel remains without flaw.”

“The spirits of wise kings throughout history are not far—they watch from above our heads. If the realm and ancestral altars suffer not an inch of lost territory under my hand, and even expand, then when I meet them after a hundred years, I can stand alongside them calmly and share in the blood sacrifices of our civilization. Therefore, Liaodong, and even Goguryeo, are lands that must be taken!”

“Now, as long as we take Anshi City, we’ll return home in triumph. The purpose of this expedition has been achieved. The national border has been pushed to the Yalu River. The remnants of Goguryeo have been suppressed on the peninsula. Let them continue fighting with Silla and Baekje. When the time is ripe, dispatching one capable general for another expedition will suffice.”

“The soldiers have been campaigning for a year—they should rest. Boy, quickly think of a solution. One month from now, when the ground hardens, I will launch a full assault on Anshi City. To reduce soldier deaths, work hard.”

Li Er spoke in an extremely calm tone, more like chatting about household matters, but the meaning in his words was beyond doubt. This was what he thought, and he would certainly do it.

“Anshi City has now reached the point where its oil is exhausted and its lamp flickering. As long as the entire army launches a four-sided assault, it will definitely be breached. But Yang Wanchun is still there and will certainly fight like a cornered beast. Having soldiers fall on the eve of victory is not worthwhile. As long as Yang Wanchun is eliminated, Anshi City will collapse without attack.”

“You gave Xue Li a full meal to have him assassinate Yang Wanchun? Although Xue Li’s archery is formidable, Yang Wanchun is hiding in Anshi City. Trying to scheme against him probably won’t be easy.”

Li Er looked at Yun Ye suspiciously, then continued, “You’re not allowed to have designs on Xue Li. I have great use for this person. You can’t spirit him away to the academy. The academy is now bearing abundant fruit—it’s time for me to harvest. Xu Jingzong is excellent—quick-witted, able to write essays on horseback, and very insightful. If there are more people like this, as a meritorious noble, recommending worthy people to the state is also your responsibility. I know your habits—don’t collect good talents anymore, making it look like you’re preparing for rebellion.”

Yun Ye rolled his eyes back. Rebellion—who had pinned this new accusation on him? Generally, only mortal enemies would accuse someone of such a crime.

“What are you rolling your eyes at? You do things without considering consequences and let people catch your tail. Count it yourself—privately recruiting troops, manufacturing warships—which of these isn’t a beheading offense? Memorials impeaching you have never ceased. Apart from the Empress and me laughing these matters off, even Fang Xuanling has shown worried intentions. You even took your whole family away—this is obviously a prelude to rebellion. The more extreme ones have already memorialized requesting that I station heavy troops on the ancient Wuling roads.”

“Can you do things according to common sense from now on? Following some rules won’t harm you. The realm truly isn’t decided by me alone. Emperor Jing of Han trusted Chao Cuo so much—you know his fate. Throughout history, among those who died unjustly, there’s not just one Chao Cuo.”

“You could get away with it when you were young, but now you’ve even grown a beard—you can’t act like this anymore. When you return, teach Xiao Ya properly. After you return to Chang’an, have her marry Li You. This will shut everyone’s mouths.”

After saying a long string of threatening words, the last sentence was the key point. Yun Ye said helplessly, “Your Majesty, Xiao Ya has been spoiled by me. For the sake of the imperial family’s dignity, would you please reconsider?”

“Shishi is just fine. Li Hei has now gone to his fief. Although he has tutors managing him, news that comes back says Li Hei has become much more proper. He was decent when he was at the academy, but after leaving the academy his old habits resurfaced. Only after marrying Shishi did he become proper again. This is very good.”

“Li You is the same. When he was under supervision at the academy, I was very satisfied, but once he returned to the prince’s mansion, look at the kind of people he associates with. So his princess consort must be strong-willed. Marrying someone else’s daughter would probably harm that family, but marrying Xiao Ya, hehe, ever since I saw Xiao Ya riding on Li You and beating him in the palace last time, I’ve had this plan.”

“Li You can’t achieve in letters or martial arts, and Xiao Ya is the same, right? Aren’t you also worrying about how to marry off Xiao Ya? Now it’s perfect—rotten fish matching spoiled shrimp, how suitable. Moreover, although Xiao Ya is somewhat domineering, her heart is the kindest, and she’s very good at showing filial respect to elders. Consort Yin envies Consort Yang for having such a good daughter-in-law and has already petitioned me, wanting Li You to marry Xiao Ya.”

“As long as Your Majesty is prepared, that’s good. Xiao You isn’t as inadequate as you say. Of course, he can’t compare with Chengqian, Qing Que, and Xiao Ke, but compared with other students, he’s not bad. His old habits resurfacing is a problem from having too much leisure. If he had something to do, he certainly wouldn’t be like this. Three years of education at Yushan Academy wasn’t received in vain.”

Li Er smiled strangely and said, “I’ll give Xiao Ya a privilege—she can beat Li You. As long as she’s in the right, I will definitely turn a blind eye.”

Yun Ye nodded to show he understood. Xiao Ya hadn’t learned martial arts, but Wu She, who loved Xiao Ya most, had taught her how to use her own conditions to subdue enemies stronger than herself.

On Li Er’s birthday, Xinyue brought Xiao Ya, Shishi, and Xiao Wu—three people—to the palace to offer birthday congratulations. When they were guests at Consort Yin’s palace, Li You actually said Xiao Ya was the ugliest of the three. How could this be tolerated? Xiao Ya was well-behaved in front of Consort Yin, but only when Li You was seeing the guests off on Consort Yin’s behalf did Xiao Ya erupt.

Right at the exit from the inner palace, not far from Taiji Hall, Xiao Ya firmly seized the soft flesh under Li You’s ribs, tripped him to the ground, rode on Li You’s shoulders and beat him. Every punch was very particular. Wu She had long ago told Xiao Ya which parts of a person’s body hurt most when struck with fists, so she implemented the method accordingly. Li You was beaten until he cried bitterly—truly beaten to tears.

At that time, Li Er was leading his officials out from Taiji Palace after paying respects to Li Yuan, and just happened to see this scene of Xiao Ya wearing a bright red gold-sprinkled skirt riding on Li You’s body. He only said coolly that it was just children playing around, then left. Countless meritorious nobles looked at Yun Ye, causing him to cover his face, unable to show it.

Xue Wanche even joked that Xiao Ya’s boxing technique was formidable, all attacking the enemy’s vital points. With two more years of practice, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to become a master. After that, two other meritorious families who had originally planned to form marriage alliances with the Yun family never mentioned it again after discovering Xiao Ya’s skills.

Xinyue sighed whenever Xiao Ya’s marriage was mentioned. How could this continue? The Yun family’s legitimate young lady had actually become a shrew. How could any good family come seeking marriage? A legitimate young lady’s marriage couldn’t be done carelessly either. Daya marrying Dan Ying was because Dan Ying also came from a famous family. Although his father had been beheaded, he was still a hero of his generation, so it was clearly a suitable match.

If Xiao Ya casually married into some family, that would be the Yun family’s shame. Unlike Dongnan, Xibei, and the others who were merely cousins and had questionable backgrounds—as long as there was mutual affection, even marrying a farmer would be fine. Xiao Ya’s marriage couldn’t be handled carelessly.

Now it was settled—imperial decree marriage, becoming the Great Tang’s legitimate princess consort. But just thinking of Xiao Ya’s unruliness made Yun Ye’s back molars ache. Perhaps he really had spoiled this child?

Li You’s current greatest vice was his fondness for frequenting pleasure quarters. In the Great Tang, this vice hardly counted as one. Composing poetry, with beauties adding fragrance—this was originally an elegant affair. Even someone as henpecked as Fang Xuanling, his wife wouldn’t prohibit him from visiting places like Yanlai Tower to enjoy song and dance performances. As long as he didn’t bring anyone home, there were no taboos.

As for flying eagles, racing dogs, parading through the streets, hunting in Nanshan, trampling some rice seedlings, or having wicked servants bully commoners—though such incidents were numerous, none were excessive. Yun Ye believed that after Xiao Ya married over, Li You’s fair-weather friends would quickly disappear. The Heavenly Demoness had many vicious and sinister things—just medicines that caused male impotence numbered no less than three types.

Before coming to Liaodong, Li Anlan had mentioned household gossip—the Heavenly Demoness had discovered a type of lacquer tree. If one collected the white sap from the trunk, dried it, ground it into powder, and sprinkled it on someone, their whole body would itch unbearably and fester, oozing yellow fluid. Only after a month would it heal without medicine.

Xiao Ya possessed all the conditions to become a shrew, but she had also learned from the Heavenly Demoness how to enchant men. It was said she had already received the Heavenly Demoness’s true teachings. Under the pincer attack of civil and martial methods, Li You’s days would absolutely be one of ice and fire.

“What are you thinking? Are you unwilling?” Li Er was getting a bit angry, thinking Yun Ye didn’t appreciate the favor.

“That’s not it, Your Majesty. Aren’t we being too harsh on Xiao You by doing this?” Yun Ye asked worriedly.

“As long as Li You can be a peaceful prince for his entire lifetime until old age, that’s the greatest mercy toward him!” Li Er’s words were resolute and unalterable. It seemed he was already arranging his sons’ futures.

Previously, as long as princes reached fourteen years old, they would go to their fiefs. But Yushan Academy appeared, and most princes had to attend the academy. After completing preparatory studies and then reading the academy’s prescribed curriculum for three years, they would reach sixteen or seventeen years old. After that, they would remain in the capital until after marriage before going to their fiefs. This had now become the established practice.

Li Tai was a special case. Everyone said the Emperor bestowing Wude Hall on Li Tai was excessive favor, but only Li Chengqian and some important officials knew what kind of existence Wude Hall truly was.

So those who impeached about this matter were all low-ranking officials crazed with wanting fame. Li Er’s only response was to retain these impeachment memorials at court without issuing them.