Chapter Twenty-Eight: Li Yi Returns Home, Changle Presents a Fan!

Leaving the Prince of Rencheng’s residence, Li Yi, dressed in white, mounted his steed Juechen and rode straight to the Li household. This time, afraid of losing his way, he made sure to ask for directions thoroughly before setting out.

Li Yi trotted on horseback all the way to the Li residence. As he turned the corner, he heard a servant ahead shouting loudly, “The young master has returned!”

Looking ahead, Li Yi saw Li Jing and Lady Hongfu, accompanied by Li Dejian’s family of four, coming out to welcome him. Li Yi quickly dismounted and hurried forward to greet Li Jing and Lady Hongfu.

“Grandson Li Yi pays respects to Grandfather and Grandmother!”

“Oh! Good, good child, get up, get up!” Lady Hongfu hurriedly stepped forward to help Li Yi up, examining him closely.

“He looks just like him! The resemblance is uncanny! He’s exactly like my dear child.” Gazing at the handsome and spirited Li Yi before her, Lady Hongfu grew increasingly satisfied the more she looked.

“Yi’er! Come, let me introduce you!” Li Jing pulled Li Yi over and brought him before Li Dejian’s family.

“This is your uncle Li Dejian and your aunt Cui Shui Rou!”

“Nephew greets Uncle and Aunt!” Li Yi said respectfully.

“Oh! Good child, get up!” Li Dejian and Cui Shui Rou had expected Li Yi to be somewhat proud—after all, he was young and accomplished, and his bold words yesterday had shown a spirited nature. They had already prepared a host of concessions for him. Unexpectedly, Li Yi surprised them; his humility and proper manners put them at ease.

Li Jing silently observed Li Yi’s behavior, and seeing this, nodded subtly with approval.

“Yi’er, come, these are your two younger brothers, Li Ye Si and Li Ye Xu!”

“Little brothers greet elder brother!” Li Ye Si and his sibling greeted first.

“Haha! Good, we’re all brothers—no need for such formality. As the saying goes, brothers are united in battle, fathers and sons fight side by side. If you ever need anything, just tell your big brother—no need to stand on ceremony!” Li Yi looked at his two robust, energetic brothers with delight. At last, Li Yi felt he truly had family.

After a brief chat among the three brothers, Li Jing called them over and led Li Yi into the ancestral hall to pay respects. Only then was Li Yi fully accepted into the Li family.

Meanwhile, as Li Yi performed the ancestral rites at home, Changle, under the protection of hidden guards, headed straight for Daxing Palace. Upon arrival, she went directly to Lizheng Hall, waiting outside for the guards to announce her presence before entering. Previously, she never needed an announcement, but now that she had caused trouble, she had to show an attitude of repentance.

Entering the hall, Changle found not only Empress Zhangsun, but also her beloved father—the Emperor of Tang, Li Er.

Seeing this, Changle could only brace herself and offer a formal greeting. Li Er snorted from his nose and said nothing.

Empress Zhangsun, however, stood up and helped Changle to her feet. “Zhi’er, you mustn’t behave like this again, do you understand? Do you know how worried your mother was about you yesterday? After all, you are a princess!”

Changle blushed, quickly bowing her head in apology. “Mother, rest assured, I dare not do it again!”

Empress Zhangsun nodded, then winked at Changle, whispering, “Aren’t you going to apologize to your father?”

Changle understood, nodded slightly, and walked lightly to Li Er’s side, massaging his shoulders. “Father, your daughter was wrong. Please forgive me and don’t hold it against me!”

Li Er hummed contentedly, initially intending to maintain a stern face, but couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. Helplessly, he said, “Zhi’er, your mother is right. You mustn’t behave like this again. Do you know, though you enjoyed yourself this time, your father suffered. If old Wei hears about this, who knows how much he’ll nag me?”

“Mm! Father, don’t worry, Zhi’er won’t do it again. Oh, and Father, I brought you a gift!”

Li Er’s mood brightened at once. “Oh! A gift? Haha, this is the first time I’ve received a present from you all outside of formal occasions! Hurry, show me!”

Changle smiled sweetly, took out a folding fan, and handed it to Li Er.

Li Er examined the fan, utterly confused. “What is this?”

“It’s a folding fan!”

“What? This is a fan? Zhi’er, have I offended you? Giving me a fan in the middle of winter?” Li Er’s brows furrowed as he puffed out his cheeks.

Even Empress Zhangsun was taken aback, clearly surprised by the situation.

“No, Father, this was invented by Li Yi. He said the fan isn’t for cooling, and if you open it, you’ll see how it’s meant to be used!” Changle stood up, anxious to explain.

Li Er grumbled and opened the fan. At first glance, his gaze was fixed and unmoving.

“This... What script is this? ‘Ruler of the world.’ What an imposing style! Such a bold, upright script exists in this world? Changle, who wrote this?” Li Er recognized the style immediately—it was exactly the script he had been longing for. The current popular ‘feibai’ style was elegant but ill-suited for a warrior emperor like himself. With peace in the realm and prosperity for the people, Li Er had been eager to reform calligraphy. The appearance of Li Yi’s regular script was timely.

“Father, it was written by Li Yi!” Changle noticed Li Er’s astonished expression and knew the fan had worked.

“Li Yi? Really him? Today I heard Li Yi attended a poetry gathering in Luoyang and composed verses worthy of eternity, but I heard he had someone ghostwrite them. Does he really possess such talent?”

“Father, if you look at the reverse side of the fan, you’ll know whether Li Yi has such ability!” Changle spoke with a trace of pride.

Li Er didn’t notice Changle’s change in demeanor; his attention was wholly fixed on the fan. Hearing there was more on the reverse, he turned it over.

“This... This is yet another script! Excellent, truly excellent—elegant and unrestrained, fluid and natural, pleasing to the eye. Still, I prefer the previous script. Damn, how does this kid Li Yi know everything? What is he made of? Has Daoist Wang’s teaching improved even more? Incredible!” Li Er marveled, then noticed the verse written on the fan. As he read, he couldn’t help but recite aloud:

“When autumn comes, the eighth of September, my flowers bloom and all others wither. The fragrance rises to the heavens, spreading through Chang’an, the city clad in golden armor!”

“The city clad in golden armor! Excellent, what a peerless, imposing poem—a poem brimming with murderous intent. Haha! Isn’t my Chang’an just like this, imperial might, killing aura, golden armor filling the city, awe-inspiring to the world! Haha! Wait, no, this is an imperial poem—how dare that brat write such a thing?” Li Er basked for a while, suddenly realizing the implication and muttered under his breath.

Hearing this, Changle’s heart skipped a beat. She had been too shocked before to notice, and now realized the trouble she had caused. Anxiety welled up within her.

Empress Zhangsun had not spoken all this time. Though her relationship with Li Shimin was close, she knew her boundaries and refrained from political discussion. Yesterday, she had spoken at length only out of concern for Changle. Now, she had been watching the fan since first seeing its script. Coming from a noble family, she knew how much effort it took to write such characters, and understood the significance of creating a new script. Her curiosity towards Li Yi only deepened.

Li Er frowned in thought, then suddenly laughed heartily. “Haha! Guanyin, yesterday you really hit the mark. This boy is testing me, probing my tolerance. Today’s imperial poem must be his final test. In the past, he was alone, but now he isn’t; any further probing could implicate the innocent. He’s truly cautious, step by step!”

Empress Zhangsun looked at the anxious Changle beside her and smiled helplessly. “So, Your Majesty, you won’t blame him?”

“Hmph! I’d love to, but can I? If I issue an edict to punish him, he’ll probably retire to the mountains tomorrow—there’s nothing he wouldn’t dare do! Hmph! Still, I can’t let him off so easily. I suppose things at the Li household are nearly settled by now?” Li Er gave a sinister smile, evidently scheming.

Empress Zhangsun watched as the thirty-something Li Er still competed with a child, shook her head slightly, and glanced at Changle, amused by her nervousness. She whispered, “Alright, your father doesn’t intend to punish him. Look at how tense you are. Did you only prepare a gift for your father? What about mine?”

Changle, relieved to know Li Yi was safe, blushed and shyly took out a bottle of perfume from her bosom, handing it to Empress Zhangsun.

Empress Zhangsun took the perfume and opened it.

“Hmm? What scent is this? How fragrant!” Li Er, still absorbed in the fan, was startled by the scent. He was a calligraphy enthusiast—rumor had it the original ‘Preface to the Orchid Pavilion’ was in his possession. He was engrossed in admiration when the pleasant aroma snapped him out of it.

“This is called perfume, also invented by Li Yi. It’s said to have invigorating effects!”

Empress Zhangsun happily sprayed some on herself, then treasured it away. “Cough, cough, Li Yi is thoughtful. Next time I see him, I’ll thank him for it!”

“By the way, how many fans did Li Yi make?” Li Er cared little for the perfume, only intrigued by the scent and a slight stir of hormones, so he glanced at it. His real interest was the fan.

“Father, he made seven fans last night.”

“Seven? Did he write a poem on each one?”

“Li Yi did say so.”

“With these seven fans, the capital is about to be stirred up again!” Li Er grinned mischievously. “Come, Changle, tell me what happened last night!”

Changle agreed and recounted the events to Li Er exactly as they had occurred.

Li Er found the story amusing, and even Empress Zhangsun couldn’t help but laugh.

“That rascal, always so unruly. How could a righteous man like the Imperial Physician have such an lively grandson? Yet at such a young age, he’s able to speak so many profound truths—he’s truly remarkable!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty, even I would like to meet him now!”

“By the way, Zhi’er, didn’t you say that brat told you stories and sang songs? Perform them for your father!”

Changle agreed, first telling them the story. Li Er and Empress Zhangsun listened, utterly captivated. In the entertainment-starved Tang dynasty, hearing such tales was rare.

After finishing the story, Changle sang “Fireworks Easily Fade.” Li Er and Empress Zhangsun were moved, their hearts aching with emotion.

“Alright! I admit, that rascal truly is talented!”

“Your Majesty, my heart aches!”

“Hmph! Why did that brat have to tell such a tragic story? Surely with ulterior motives. Next time, I’ll spank him! Yes, I’ll do it now!”

“.......”