Chapter Sixty-One: The Gathering of the Young Scions

“The clouds long for her dress, the flowers for her beauty; the spring breeze brushes the balustrade, deepening the dew’s luster. So beautiful, so beautiful! Yi… Young Master Yi, are you writing about me?” Changle’s eyes danced like flowing water, delicate and enchanting, brimming with joy and a hint of anticipation, hoping Li Yi would give her a definite answer.

Li Yi nodded gently but resolutely.

“Why?”

“Do you remember the poem I wrote that day? ‘If love can last for long, why must lovers always be together morning and night?’”

Hearing this, Changle was overjoyed, but she feigned annoyance. “Who’s in love with you? Hmph! I don’t care at all!”

“Really?”

“I’m ignoring you. I’m going to find Sister Xueyan!” With that, she tried to run, but Li Yi caught her by the hand.

“Don’t go!”

“You… do you have something else to say?” Changle glanced at their joined hands. Seeing he had no intention of letting go, she glared at him, but didn’t pull away.

“Well, I just wanted to ask… have your father or mother tried to introduce you… you know, to someone? Don’t get me wrong, I just want to know how many rivals I have, so I can be prepared!”

Changle shot him a look. “What rivals? How many? My father hasn’t mentioned anything, but my mother seems intent on marrying me to Young Master Zhangsun!”

“Who? Zhangsun Chong? That’s absurd! You two are close relatives!”

“So what if we are? Wouldn’t that just make us even more closely tied?”

“But close relations… never mind, let’s not get into that right now. Wait, I recall Zhangsun Chong likes Princess Yuzhang, doesn’t he?”

“How do you know? You’ve only met Young Master Zhangsun once, haven’t you?”

“Ahem! Just rumors, idle talk, nothing more!”

Changle eyed him suspiciously, then continued, “Yuzhang lost her mother young and was raised by mine. A few years ago, she snuck out alone to remember her late mother but got lost. Young Master Zhangsun, visiting my mother at the palace, found her and brought her back to the rear palace. I don’t know exactly what happened, but after that, there were feelings between them.”

“This is the classic hero saving the beauty, and the hero can’t resist the beauty’s charms, isn’t it? Well done! But then, why is your mother introducing Zhangsun Chong to you?”

Changle’s gaze dimmed. “Because he’s the eldest son of Uncle Zhangsun, and I am my mother’s favorite princess. Some things are simply not within our control.”

Li Yi grumbled inwardly. “Another arranged marriage! In the Tang court, alliances by marriage have become a custom. At the slightest disagreement, they marry off their daughters. What sort of people are these? Especially Old Li the Second, hailed as an emperor for all time, yet he disregards his own daughter’s happiness and now I’ll have to risk my life again!” He forced a wry smile but gave Changle a carefree grin. “Don’t worry! You have me. You just focus on being as beautiful as a flower and leave the business of supporting the family to me.”

Changle laughed, but then suddenly asked, “And what about Sister Xueyan?”

Li Yi was momentarily stunned. “Ah! Look how blue the sky is today! Goodness, the sun is dazzling. Why isn’t the grass growing yet? Look at those beautiful bricks…”

“Alright, I’m just teasing you! Come on, Sister Xueyan has been waiting!” With that, Changle turned and walked away.

Li Yi smiled wryly behind her. “Women—they always manage to tackle you just when you’re hoping for a warm embrace.”

Early February, spring returns to the earth, all things revive. After a winter’s slumber, Chang’an gradually began to stir, barren trees budding green, hints of spring everywhere. Perhaps even Heaven was giving Old Li face, for today the weather was clear and bright, the scenery delightful in every direction. The gentle sun rose slowly, bringing a touch of warmth to the late winter air.

Not far from Chang’an, on the banks of the Wei River, a group of uninvited guests disturbed the tranquil atmosphere. This gathering split into four groups: one, led by Li the Second, comprised high-ranking Tang officials; another, led by Empress Zhangsun, included the women and their families; a third, led by Li Chengqian, was the notorious group of young noble idlers; the last, the servants.

Within the idlers’ circle, Li Yi was holding a meeting with his companions.

“I say, Chengqian, isn’t this supposed to be a spring hunt? What’s this all about?” Li Yi glanced at the officials in the distance, drinking and chatting, showing no intention of hunting.

“Yi, you’re too naive. Hunting is just a pretense. If everyone went hunting, there wouldn’t be enough game, and with so many women present, what if someone got hurt? The actual hunt is just a game for the generals.”

“Damn, so why bother? Why not just host it in Chang’an? This is like… ahem!”

Li Ke rolled his eyes. “Don’t you know everything needs a reason? Otherwise, if we gather for no reason, tomorrow my father will face Uncle Wei’s memorials!”

He suddenly realized Wei Shuyu was present. “Er, Shuyu, no offense!”

Wei Shuyu smiled amiably. “None taken.”

Li Yi waved his hand. “Eh, let’s not discuss the elders. We each have our own circle. Whatever happens between the elders shouldn’t affect our friendship. Look at Uncle Cheng robbing me—I didn’t hold it against Chumo and the others.”

Cheng Chumo’s round face wrinkled. “Yi, you just kicked me earlier!”

“Ahem, let’s not talk about that now. We can’t just sit here. What did you all used to do?”

Li Zhen gestured. “We’d form small groups and play some boring games to pass the time.”

Cheng Chumo’s eyes sparkled. “Let’s play cards. I brought a deck!”

The Yuchi brothers agreed at once. “Great idea!”

“What cards?” Li Chengqian had spent most of his time in the Eastern Palace and was unfamiliar with many in the group, having only shared meals at Li Yi’s home. Still, as the Crown Prince, the atmosphere was a bit stiff. Li Yi suspected Li Chengqian’s future issues might be due to this—what child of his age has no playmates, always forced to study this and that? No wonder he’d be twisted.

“Heh, cards are a little game I invented. We can play later. For now, let’s take care of business. Do you remember I mentioned inviting your sisters to a gathering?”

Cheng Chumo’s eyes lit up. “Yi, you mean matchmaking?”

Li Yi’s mouth twitched. “How about marrying me yourself?”

Cheng Chumo made a face. “My dad said never to marry an ugly wife!”

Li Yi slapped Li Zhen on the thigh, resisting the urge to hit Cheng Chumo.

Li Zhen yelped, “Yi, why’d you hit me?”

Li Yi pointed at Cheng Chumo. “I couldn’t reach him!”

“You… damn…”

Seeing Li Zhen’s aggrieved look, everyone burst out laughing. Making this sly ‘gentleman’ look bad was no small feat.

“Alright, enough. Back to business. I gathered you because there’s something big—something really big. So help me think—are there any friends we’ve missed who should be included?” As he spoke, Li Yi nodded toward the other groups not far away.