Volume 1 Princess Taiping Grows Up Chapter 12 Family Games
Li Yuechen was not sure whether Li Zhi and Wu Zetian would like to play with this health ball.
But considering that there are fewer entertainment options in this era, most people would not refuse something if they could hold it in their hands.
What's more, Li Zhi, who hardly even reads memorials every day in order to rest, is bored every day, and he should not refuse a toy in his hand.
The next day, Li Yuechen went to Liu Rengui's home in the morning and asked him to check whether his routine movements were standard. At the same time, he gave him the last pair of health balls as a token of his appreciation as an apprentice.
Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye it was already the end of December, and the Chinese New Year was about ten days away.
But now Li Yuechen no longer has much concept of time. After all, the New Year celebrations in this era are completely different from those in later generations, and she has no interest in them.
In addition to practicing martial arts every day, I read books and practiced calligraphy, copied "Thousand Character Classic" or "Jijiupian", and recalled the few Tang and Song poems that I could still remember from my previous life. In the afternoon, when the sun began to set, I would play and have fun with my two sisters for a while... My life was quite fulfilling.
As for the two health balls, as expected, every time I went to pay my respects to Li Zhi and his wife, I could always see them playing with them.
It seems that this gift is quite popular.
It was time for Liu Shenwei to come and do his routine checkup on Li Zhi. After pricking him a few needles on his head in the Yanying Hall , he said that everything was normal recently and prepared to leave.
"Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave first..."
"Wait a minute, Mr. Liu!" Li Zhi stopped him, raised his left hand and asked, "Are you familiar with this thing?"
Liu Shenwei was a little confused. When he came in today, he saw that the couple each held a pair of shiny iron balls in their hands and were gently spinning them.
At first he thought it was some new trend among the royal family, so why was he being asked if he was familiar with it?
While feeling puzzled, he shook his head slightly: "Not familiar."
Li Zhi waved his hand to signal him to sit down, then explained: "This thing was made by Chen'er. She said she had asked you for advice. Massaging your hands can relieve fatigue..."
Listening to Li Zhi's explanation, Liu Shenwei stroked his beard and said, "Indeed, your Highness came to the Imperial Medical Bureau a few days ago..."
As he spoke, he roughly explained to Li Zhi what had happened that day.
Li Zhi nodded: "Chen'er's idea is that you can't always be by my side, so you use this thing to replace the massage of your palms. I thought it was a joke, but in recent days, I often play with it and feel good both physically and mentally. Why don't you go back and make a pair and try it yourself. If it really works, Chen'er will also have done a great job!"
“Yes!”
Liu Shenwei agreed and turned to leave.
After leaving the Yanying Palace, I felt that this was quite interesting. How old was the princess? How could such a random little gadget have the effect of massage?
At present, it is difficult for him to believe it, but since the emperor has given the order, let's give it a try.
The Craftsmen's Bureau was not far from the Taichang Temple. After returning, he immediately ran to the Craftsmen's Bureau and found an acquaintance and said he wanted to play with a pair of iron balls.
When the other party heard it, he said it was simple. Her Royal Highness the Princess came over and played three pairs just two days ago, so it didn’t matter if there was one more pair.
That night, Li Zhi couldn't help but call Li Yuechen over.
After an unceremonious greeting, Li Yuechen climbed onto Wu Zetian's lap and started playing with her.
After meeting many ministers during the day and reviewing memorials for several hours at night, Wu Zetian was a little tired, so she hugged her and started playing with her.
Li Zhi, who was standing by, looked at the mother and daughter playing together and stroked his beard, "Chen'er, this thing is really good. Your mother and I have been playing with it every day recently. I think you have done a good deed. What reward do you want?"
"Your Majesty..." Wu Zetian was about to refuse subconsciously. She always felt that it was not a big deal to be pampered like this.
Li Zhi waved his hand nonchalantly: "No problem! Chen'er, what do you want? Just tell me!"
I didn't expect Li Zhi to be in such a good mood all of a sudden and give me a reward, but now, Li Yuechen really doesn't want anything.
Li Yuechen, who was lying on Wu Zetian's lap, blinked her big eyes: "Any reward?"
Li Zhi made a dignified expression: "Any reward!"
Li Yuechen propped her chin up with both hands and grinned like a flower: "The kid wants to put on bearskin coats and play snowballs with the two adults."
"..."Li Zhi and Wu Zetian looked at each other.
"I know the bear cub's clothes, but what is this snowball fight?" Li Zhi asked.
Li Yuechen looked helpless. He didn't even know how to play a snowball fight. How miserable was your childhood ?
But then I gave a brief explanation.
After understanding, Li Zhi kept his word and waved his hand: "Zhang Chengxin! Order the clothing department to sew two more bear cub clothes according to the body shapes of me and the queen. It must be completed before noon tomorrow!"
“Yes!”
Li Yuechen on the side couldn't help but nod secretly after hearing this. The emperor is the emperor. With just one word, the people below have to work all night long. It's really not easy.
But no matter what, as long as there is a chance to get close to each other and show their presence, Li Yuechen will never let it go.
At least before my mother Wu Zetian came to power, no one doubted that a woman could become emperor, so even if she was favored, she didn't have to worry about becoming a tool in the struggle between ministers and the emperor.
For now, all you have to do is stay hidden so that no one will notice you.
As for what will happen after I take the throne... I'll decide based on the circumstances when the time comes.
The next morning, Li Yuechen got up as usual to practice yoga, warm up, and then practice martial arts routines.
At noon, Li Zhi asked them to go to Yanying Hall to eat.
What makes Li Yuechen a little uncomfortable is that in this era, it seems that not only large banquets but even homes have separate dining systems, with everyone sitting in front of a low coffee table and eating their own food.
That is to say, because she was still young, she could sit next to Wu Zetian and eat with her.
Although this method is indeed very hygienic, it always feels like it lacks the family atmosphere.
But it doesn’t matter. I can find a chance to mention it to Li Zhi later, so that I can make my presence felt.
After dinner, they rested for a while. Li Zhi kept his word and took two large-sized bear onesies and put them on with Wu Zetian.
The key is the material...it looks like it's made of real bear skin!
It's true, Li Zhi is about 1.8 meters tall, and he looks tall and mighty when wearing this jacket.
I, Wu Zetian, am about 167 cm tall, and I am quite compatible with Li Zhi in all aspects.
After changing their clothes, the three bears, two big and one small, came to the open space behind the Linde Hall and prepared to have a snowball fight.
To be honest, this kind of clothing might be considered a social hazard in later generations, but if the emperor and empress did this personally, it would be another matter.
At least whether it was Zhang Chengxin beside him or the eunuchs and palace maids around him, they all looked like they wanted to laugh but didn't dare to, and their faces were flushed.
Li Yuechen was a child, so it didn't matter how crazy she was. But the emperor and empress went crazy with her, which was a unique event since the founding of the Tang Dynasty.
"I will be in a group with my mother, and my grandfather will play against us alone." Li Yuechen announced.
"Oh? Why is that?" Li Zhi asked with a smile.
Li Yuechen smiled cutely and said, "I once heard from my mother that my grandfather was also proficient in riding and shooting when he was young, so this distribution is fair."
Li Yuechen only found out about this after he came to this world. The people of the Tang Dynasty valued martial arts, so no matter if they were princes, nobles, or scholars, they could not be proficient in horse riding and archery, but at least they had to know how to do it.
Comrade Taizong Li Er had led troops in battles for many years. Under his influence, Li Zhi's group of princes and princesses were basically proficient in riding and shooting.
Even Li Yuechen's brothers, although not experts, have received corresponding training in horse riding and archery.
Li Zhi had no objection to this distribution. He waved his hand and asked the eunuchs and palace maids nearby to come over and make snowballs.
These two pieces of clothing have captured the essence of Li Yuechen, with cartoon eyes also painted on oval pieces of wood.
There is also a short tail like a fur ball behind the butt, which makes it look even cuter.
A group of eunuchs and palace maids worked together and soon made a large number of snowballs.
Then Li Zhi gave an order and both sides stood on both sides and started throwing snowballs.
Li Yuechen and Wu Zetian cooperated with each other, throwing snowballs at Li Zhi from both sides.
Although Li Zhi on the opposite side had a decline in overall physical fitness due to his age, he was still a tall and strong man after all, and was much stronger than a child and a middle-aged woman.
Soon, Li Yuechen and Wu Zetian were covered with snowflakes and were hit many times. Fortunately, the snowballs were made loosely, so it didn't hurt when they hit their bodies, and they didn't get injured.
Li Zhi was not hit many times, as he dodged most of them with his flexible movements.
Li Yuechen saw that this was not going to work. Now the two sides were on opposite sides of the position and she was a little unsure of her aim.
So he picked up a few snowballs and rushed over from the side to surround Li Zhi in a very unsportsmanlike manner.
A few snowballs were thrown down, and Li Zhi ran over with a big laugh: "Great, there is actually such a tactic!"
Then he shouted "Wow!" and threw a snowball over .
Li Yuechen turned and ran, smiling and turning back from time to time to throw a snowball at him.
Li Zhi deliberately ran very slowly, as if he could not catch up with her, and kept throwing snowballs at her from behind.
In order not to hurt the daughter, most of the bullets were deliberately thrown to the sides and did not hit her.
"Haha, mother, come and save me!" Li Yuechen ran while calling for his mother for help.
Wu Zetian, who was in a playful mood, kept throwing snowballs from the side, and Li Zhi was covered with white snow fragments.
The three of them were having a lot of fun playing around in the palace, and the palace maids and eunuchs next to them were looking at the scene in surprise.
Even if it was a couple and their daughter, they dared to throw snowballs at the emperor. This was truly an unprecedented and incredible event.
Zhang Chengxin and Eunuch Fu, who were acting as referees and watching the game, smiled as they watched the three black shadows running around on the battlefield in the middle, cheering them on from time to time.
"Grandpa, this is such a rare thing, I have never heard of it!" Eunuch Fu said in a low voice.
Zhang Chengxin had an unfathomable look on his face: "Humph, this shows that the princess has great favor with the emperor. When the princess grows up, your good days will begin!"
"I also want to thank grandpa for the promotion!" Eunuch Fu said with a flattering smile.
"It's just a pity, if he were a man..." Having said this, Zhang Chengxin subconsciously looked around and did not continue.
However, Eunuch Fu beside him nodded in agreement, thinking to himself that if it were a man, the position of crown prince might still be changed in the future.
…
After nearly an hour of snowball fight, Li Zhi was finally a little tired. He sat on the ground gasping for breath without any image. He raised his right hand that was wrapped like a bear paw and waved it: "Forget it... I won't fight anymore..."
Li Yuechen, who was standing next to him, ran over with a big snowball in his arms, threw it directly into his arms, and then threw himself on his back: "Hahaha, Grandpa lost!"
Li Zhi raised his hands and held her in his arms: "Lose, lose, Chen Er won!"
Wu Zetian came running over: "Your Majesty, please get up quickly and sit on the snow to be careful not to catch a cold..."
“No problem, no problem…”
Having said that, Li Zhi still put Li Yuechen down and stood up holding his wife's hand.
Because of the long-term exercise, the blood rushed up and his face was red. After taking off the hat, you can see visible mist coming out of his body: "It's been a long time since I relaxed so well... Chen'er, are you happy?"
"Happy!" Li Yuechen nodded, "Grandpa must be tired, go back and drink some hot tea and rest."
"Okay! Listen to Chen'er!"
Li Zhi seemed a little tired, so he held her little hand and walked back.
Wu Zetian stopped Zhang Chengxin from behind and ordered in a low voice: "Order that today's events must not be spread outside! If the Censorate knows about it, it will inevitably ruin His Majesty's mood!"
“Yes!”
Zhang Chengxin agreed, and then immediately asked Eunuch Fu to call all the eunuchs and palace maids present.
"Listen carefully, everyone. We should keep today's events to ourselves. If we find out who is gossiping behind your back, don't blame us for being ruthless!"
He also knew that the old guys in the Censorate had started to get active again since Changsun Wuji's death.
To our own people, today's incident was nothing more than a joke with their children.
But in the eyes of the old guys in the Censorate, the emperor was not handling government affairs properly, but was playing snowballs instead. This was a waste of time! They were sure to criticize the emperor.
In order to prevent Li Zhi from getting sick from anger, this confidentiality work must be done well.
…
Li Yuechen was really happy today. It could be seen that Li Zhi had not been so relaxed for a long time. Even his mother Wu Zetian felt much better after coming back, and she reviewed memorials much faster than usual.
Li Yuechen thought that it would be fine in the future, so she asked the couple to play together, which would strengthen their relationship and allow them to exercise their bodies.
If I could live a few more years because of this, it might be considered a good deed.
I don't know if it was because Li Zhi was in a better mood, but when he went to court the next day, he approved the policy of exempting escaped soldiers from punishment that Crown Prince Li Hong had requested some time ago.
Tang Dynasty law stipulated that if a soldier deserted or failed to arrive on time, he would be beheaded, and his wife would be confiscated and become an official. Some time ago, the crown prince reported to the emperor that there were many reasons why soldiers failed to arrive, such as illness, injury, being robbed, etc. His comrades and their families were implicated, which was really pitiful.
So he submitted a memorial requesting that the wives of the deserting soldiers be exempted from punishment.
In the last few days of the first year of the Zongzhang period, Li Zhi agreed to the prince's request!
