Chapter 52: Aunt and Niece Have a Heart-to-Heart Talk

  The third watch arrived, Da Bai stretched out his hand for votes, (*^__^*) hehe......

  Coaxing women, for Zhangsun Chong, there is no obstacle at all. For older female relatives, one should show respect and dependence, inducing their maternal care; as for young people of the opposite sex, it's even simpler, being nice to her for a while, then provoking her anger, dangling back and forth, after several times, you can capture her heart.

  On the second day, Zhangsun Chong dressed up in new clothes, carrying a beautifully decorated box, and brought with him the methods for making glass and mirrors, entering the imperial palace.

  Changsun Wu directly went to the Lizheng Hall where Empress Changsun lived. As he had often entered the palace to pay his respects to her, the palace ladies and eunuchs of the Lizheng Hall were very familiar with him, and they greeted him with smiles, extremely harmonious.

  The personal palace maid Ziqing beside Empress Changsun saw Changsun rushing over and quickly went inside to report, and Changsun rushed in smoothly.

  "Chong Er, you've finally arrived? Your aunt has been thinking of you all this time!" The Empress Changsun was wearing a lotus-shaped hairpiece on her head today, with a jade cloud and gold chain tassel phoenix tail pin, and a golden phoenix rising from the clouds, with a plum blossom makeup design; she wore a bright red peony large sleeve skirt, and on her feet were gold thread embroidered double-colored lotus flower brocade shoes, what a beautiful and elegant woman of the Tang Dynasty.

  Chang Sun rushed forward, paid respects to Empress Chang Sun, and said: "I also miss my aunt! In the past, when I was serving you, I didn't understand things. If it weren't for your pity and teachings, I would have been abandoned by others long ago. How could I have had the chance to turn over a new leaf today?"

  "You were young and didn't understand things before, so Auntie couldn't help but be strict with you. Now that you've grown up and understand things, in the future, it's up to you to carry on the face of the Longsun family with your younger brothers. Having great power and wealth isn't what's most important for a family; as long as there are people who are intelligent and progressive, not arrogant or impatient, they can ensure the prosperity of the family forever." The Empress Dowager Longsun thought back to her childhood, when she and her older brother had suffered hardships, but it was precisely those hardships that had tempered their willpower and intelligence, allowing them to gradually achieve their current status.

  Changsun Chong felt the gentle touch of Empress Changsun's hand on his head, thinking that as a queen, she had not had an easy life. Accompanying the emperor was like accompanying a tiger; in her early years, she followed Li Shi as he did Qin Wang, experiencing fear and trepidation. In her later years, she accompanied Li Shi, managing a group of people's daily lives, striving to be a virtuous helper.

  Li Er is a madman, but also a man of great passion. As long as the Longsun family does not rebel, and with Empress Longsun on the throne, they should be safe from Li Er's attacks.

  Thinking of this, Zhangsun Chong took out a small porcelain bottle and said softly: "Auntie, I know you've always had asthma, so Chong'er asked the old immortal for some medicine. When you have an attack, take one pill a day for three days, and only eat plain rice porridge, nothing else. See if it has any effect. If it does, Chong'er will buy more medicine to cure your illness."

  Empress Changsun heard this and felt that her love for Changsun had not been in vain. Knowing that she was unwell, she prepared medicine for her.

  "Thank you, Chong'er!" Empress Zhangsun said with relief.

  "Auntie, please don't be too hard on Chong'er. Chengqian, Qingque and Zhinu are still young and need your care to grow up together. With you around, they won't go astray." Changsun Chong tried to persuade her.

  Empress Longsun felt a wave of dizziness, thinking about the Xuanwu Gate Incident. If her mother-in-law, Empress Dou, were still alive, perhaps there wouldn't have been such fratricide among brothers, at least not to the point of losing their lives over power struggles. Now that her three sons are still young, they won't be vying for the throne just yet, but as they grow up, their thoughts will become more complicated. If she were still alive, she definitely wouldn't watch idly as they slaughtered each other!

  "Chong'er, it's still you who thinks more thoroughly. From now on, I'll leave Chengqian to you." Empress Changsun also knew that the only people she could truly trust were her natal family members. Although her brother was greedy for power, he treated her well and was loyal to her second brother. Now that her nephew could consider everything for her, she felt even more hopeful about the future.

  Just then, a large group of princes and princesses came in from outside, all preparing to pay their respects to Empress Changsun. Seeing that there was an extra big fat man inside, although this big fat man was darker than before, everyone could still recognize that he was indeed Changsun Chong.

  Xiangcheng Princess, being the eldest, used her elbow to nudge Longle Princess behind her and whispered: "Sister, your big cousin is here!"

  Although Princess Chang Le was cousins with Chang Sun Chong, they should have had a good relationship. However, Chang Sun Chong used to be a bad boy and often made Princess Chang Le cry. Moreover, he was not handsome and did not study well, so over time, Princess Chang Le grew more and more disgusted with him. Even when she went on a hunger strike to protest, her doting father and mother did not change their minds. It's unknown what kind of trickery Chang Sun Chong used on them, but they insisted on marrying her off to her older cousin.

  Princess Chang Le heard this and raised her head to take a look, let out a "humph" sound, then turned to the side.

  Chang Sun Chong inherited the memories of his predecessor, so he naturally knew which one was Princess Chang Le. Even if he didn't know, that cold hum would have given it away. What a sin! By modern standards, she hadn't even graduated from elementary school yet, and this little girl was already going to be his future wife.

  To say that Princess Chang Le was extremely beautiful, she inherited the tall stature from Li Er and the fair and delicate skin from Empress Zhangsun, making her one of the most outstanding-looking among the older princesses.

  Li Chengqian, Li Ke saw Changsun Chong, and hurriedly ran to the front of Changsun Chong, one on the left and one on the right holding Changsun Chong's hand, saying: "Big brother, when are you going to take us out to play?"

  "After Mother Empress, elder brothers just know how to have fun, aren't they afraid of Father Emperor and Mother Empress's punishment?" Princess Chang Le pouted her small red mouth, looking sideways at Crown Prince Chang Sun.

  Li Chengqian knew that his sister had never liked her eldest brother, so he hurriedly joked and said: "Sister, brothers will naturally think about going out to play after finishing their homework. Eldest brother said that one cannot just read books all the time. As the saying goes, reading ten thousand volumes of books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, coming into contact with various people or things, and only then can one understand worldly affairs, be well-versed in human emotions, and have a good command of writing."

  Princess Chang Le was usually clever and quick-witted, but after hearing Li Chengqian's words, she didn't know how to refute them.

  "Everything in the world is a matter of learning, and human emotions are the essence of literature." Where did you hear this sentence from?" The Empress Changsun thought these two sentences were excellent, simple and concise, with profound philosophical meaning.

  Li Chengqian shook his head and said: "After returning to his mother, this was what Big Brother Chong said. The son thought it made a lot of sense, so he remembered it."

  "Alright, well said. If you can pass the exams by me and your father the Emperor, as well as your teachers, every month, I'll take charge and let you go out to play for a day." Empress Changsun knew that once inside the palace gates, it was like being in an ocean, and going out even once was extremely difficult. These children had grown up under the high palace walls, with little experience of the world, easily becoming narrow-minded and arrogant.

  Li Chengqian and Li Ke lived outside for nearly three months, especially enjoying the freedom and happiness outside. They said: "Thank you, Mother Empress, I will definitely complete my homework every day and pass the assessment of Father Emperor, Mother Empress, and teachers."

  The princess of Xiangcheng and other older princesses had never left the palace, they were enviable, but as women, they could only watch with restraint, not daring to ask.

  Chang Le Gongzhu saw her sisters looking at her with great eagerness, hoping she would take the lead, but Empress Dowager was very strict and didn't dare to speak out, so she just pulled Li Chengqian's arm and said in a spoiled tone: "Big brother......" The soft and delicate voice, accompanied by a pleading expression, made it impossible for anyone to refuse.

  "Mother, I think my sisters have also been working hard studying every day. If they can pass the assessment, why not let them go out and play too? After all, they are growing up and cannot stay in the palace forever; on the other hand, as princesses of the Tang Dynasty, they should not just be birds in a gilded cage, but also understand the people's livelihood and know their hardships. In the future, when they leave the palace and establish their own households, they can also live a peaceful life and contribute to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty for generations to come!"

  Zhang Sun Chong couldn't help but admire Li Cheng Qian, who truly had the potential to be a great mediator, understanding the common people, caring about the country's governance and the people's livelihood, and adding his own insights, causing the princesses behind him to clench their fists, as if they had made a huge decision.