Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Li Yuanying casually stated his playtime idea yet Li Zhi took it seriously and prepared well for it. The maps that he drew himself even listed places that they needed to check in at.

Given the short planning time, tools for clocking in was unavailable so Li Zhi simply searched for seals and asked servants to hold them at clock in points and to serve as witness.

Li Yuanying has a knack for reading map and directions. In a blink of an eye the team reached their first check point. There they met Li Zhi’s court lady with a round pleasing face. Sizi and Hengshan both wanted to stamp using the seal so Li Yuanying teaches them rock-paper-scissors and whoever wins get to do it!

Sizi and Hengshan quickly picked on and began to shout: “Scissors, rocks, paper–“

Sizi decided on scissors.

Hengshan made a small fist.

Hengshan blushed with joy: “Rock triumphs over scissors, I won!”

Sizi really wanted to stamp but accepted that she lost and obediently watched Hengshan approach the first check point and got their map stamp with the seal.

Taking advantage of the time when his teammates were busy, he figured out the route to the next check point.

Although he did not particularly want to win the race but if he could he would still want to emerge as the winner.

“RUN!”

At this same moment the Emperor was leading a group of officials and saw the children playing, so he watched for a while. Seeing Li Yuanying and Sizi making a fuss in the pavilion his Majesty couldn’t help but sigh reminiscently: “When I took Yuanying to Taiji Palace, he was only five and the Empress often tend to him personally. Growing up together with my children they often played together”.

At the mention of the Empress, Li Er’s expression inevitably became sad. Since her passing there have been troubles in the palace and discord between the sons. He often thinks that if the Empress was still alive the children will definitely not do anything to make her sad.

His Majesty obviously cherishes the memory of the late Empress and his ministers did not interrupt.

Besides when Li Yuanying was mentioned the ministers didn’t want to say anything. This kid is a bit clever but if you want him to do serious business, he will definitely come up with new tricks to sneak out and play! It’s fine if he’s the only mischievous one but he often involves and badly influences the other royal children. Everyone who had been requested by royal decree to teach the children would definitely have had an encounter with Yuanying’s mischievous antics.

Zhangsun Wuji who was Li Zhi’s uncle often heard about Yuanying from his nieces and nephew had not experience Li Yuanying’s antics first-hand hence still had a good impression of him.

“Speaking of which, it’s time to bestow him with a title.”

Li Yuanying was already nine and all his older brothers had been given a title since the fifth year of Zhengguan. Leaving only him who was born late with no title and it would not be good to delay any longer. His Majesty heard Zhangsun Wuji’s suggestion and nodded “I really have to pick a good place for him. He is still young so I will send someone ahead to help him build his palace. Once he’s old enough in a few years he can then go to his fief.”

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Li Yuanying who didn’t know that he was about to be promoted to the title of WangYe [1]WangYe- refers to the emperor’s brothers continue on with Sizi and Hengshan and was ahead of Li Zhi and Chengyang to the final destination.

Li Zhi glanced at Dai Ting’s back thoughtfully and said, “Young uncle, Dai Ting is really handsome.” Dai Ting has features that made him so beautiful that it was hard to distinguished whether he was male or female. His aura also doesn’t seem to be that of a mere servant. If it weren’t for the three fingers wide light red birthmark on his cheek, he might not be serving Li Yuanying.

“The appearance of a boy is not important.”

Li Zhi thought about it and agreed so he didn’t say more but waited for Dai Ting to come back and report on the situation outside.

Dai Ting was quick in his task and returned quickly to report to Li Yuanying: “Someone had attacked the palace at night, and his Majesty has ordered the guards to impose martial law in the whole palace.” So happen Prince Li Zhi was with Li Yuanying tonight so many guards were sent to protect them. Otherwise Li Yuanying would not have had such special treatment.

Li Yuanying said curiously: “Who would do such a thing and attacked Jiucheng Palace at night? Didn’t they know that the Emperor brought all the elite soldiers?”

“I heard it was Ashina’s association.”

Seeing that neither Li Yuanying nor Li Zhi had heard of this group, he continued to relay the news that he managed to acquire: Ashina association is a group made up of people from Turkic ethnicity and were middle-ranking generals after coming to Tang. But they have not been promoted and maybe wanted to “find another way out.”

These people are of great skills and bravery. They dare to attack the Jiucheng Palace at night with a group of less than a hundred people!

“Since we have so much of clarity on this incident. It should be all right?”

Dai Ting nodded and replied: “Yes, the guards are investigating whether there are any fish that have slipped through the net.”

“There is a mess outside, so let me just stay the night with young uncle.”

Li Yuanying had no objections, yawning he tucked himself into his thin quilt. He however made a condition clear to Li Zhi: “You can squeeze in with me but you are not allowed to kick me at night!”

Li Zhi retorted: “I never kick people when I sleep!”

The two children quickly fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Li Zhi in his sleep heard a thumping sound

That was the muffled sound of him being kicked out of bed by Li Yuanying and his head hitting the floor!

Li Zhi touched his head and sat up glaring at Li Yuanying who was sleeping soundly.

This uncle likes to kick people in his sleep but tells others not to kick him!!!

References

↑1WangYe- refers to the emperor’s brothers↑2Cai Ren refers to Lady of Talents which is the 6th rank of the imperial harem in Tang Dynasty↑3Bao Lin refers to Lady of Treasure which is the 7th rank of the imperial harem in Tang Dynasty