Chapter 181: |
Time passed quickly, and before one knew it, it was already the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. Starting from this day, the imperial court would be on a holiday break, and official duties wouldn’t resume until the fifth day of the first lunar month. The Tang Dynasty’s holiday benefits were truly desirable compared to the demanding “996” work culture of modern times. (ED Note: The 996 working hour system (Chinese: 996工作制) is a work schedule practiced by some companies in China. It derives its name from its requirement that employees work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, six days per week; i.e., 72 hours per week, 12 hours per day.)
During the Tang Dynasty, there were three “Golden Weeks” in a year, each lasting seven days, the winter solstice holiday, the New Year holiday, and the Cold Food Festival holiday. Moreover, there were additional extended weekends for various occasions such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, Laba Festival, summer solstice, and even Emperor Li Er’s birthday. Any festivity with a reasonable cause for celebration warranted a three-day holiday.
Throughout the year, there were also twenty-one single-day holidays for traditional festivals. In the Tang Dynasty, they followed the practice of taking breaks every holiday.
In this era, officers were the most affluent consumer group. So, on the day when the holiday break began, the typically serene Changan City suddenly came to life. The streets were bustling with servants from wealthy households preparing for the New Year and carriages adorned with various symbols, all heading out of the city in grand processions to pay homage to their ancestors. Occasionally, mischievous children could be seen setting off firecrackers, creating the sound of crackling explosions.
In the princess’s residence, Su Li held Su Che in his arms and casually conversed with Changle. The bursts of firecrackers outside didn’t startle Su Che. Instead, he extended his little hand from his swaddling clothes and waved it continuously. Did a hint of a smile appear on his newly stretched face?
Su Li lowered his head to look at his son, feeling unparalleled calm. He had been concerned before Su Che’s birth, given that Changle had consumed Bodhi Fruits and Longevity Pills, which altered her constitution significantly. As for Su Li himself, his existence transcended ordinary humanity. With their union, Su Li had no idea what extraordinary qualities their child might possess. However, reality proved his concerns unfounded.
Little Su Che was like any other child, with no extraordinary signs like a three-year pregnancy, immediate walking, or instant speech. The only notable difference was that this child appeared slightly more intelligent, unafraid of strangers, curious about everything, and unusually brave. His back was already somewhat stiff despite being less than a month old. While normal children typically took three months to roll over and six months to sit upright, Su Che would likely achieve these milestones sooner. He was destined to grow up as a lively and curious child.
Changle gazed at her husband and child, her eyes filled with an overflowing tenderness. Despite possessing countless riches, in this small courtyard, these three individuals were her entire world.
Unintentionally, dusk descended upon them. A palace maid hastily entered the courtyard and whispered a few words to Changle. Upon hearing the news, Changle’s expression froze, her eyes reflecting disbelief.
At this moment, relief crossed Changle’s face, accompanied by sympathy for Gaoyang. The proposal for a marriage alliance with Silla wasn’t a secret. What intrigued everyone was who would be chosen for this alliance. In the past, most intermarriages with foreign tribes involved members of the royal family or even genuine princesses. However, these princesses married off were usually the sisters of Li Er. Li Er had always treated his daughters with great care, and their positions were significant.
In normal circumstances, Li Er’s daughters would undoubtedly be wed to individuals of great distinction. No one could have foreseen that this relatively unknown Silla Kingdom would achieve such fortune this time. Princess Gaoyang, after all, was Li Er’s own daughter. Though not favored, her status was apparent. According to customary protocol, Li Er’s daughter would have been married to a deserving suitor. However, who could have envisioned Li Er sending her to Silla?
Upon hearing this news, the entire court erupted in speculation, with many wondering if Gaoyang had committed some grave offense, leading to such a punishment from Li Er. Only the Silla envoy was ecstatic, expressing endless gratitude to Li Er.
In the weeks leading up to the New Year, discussions about Gaoyang’s situation filled the court. Most believed that, at the very least, Gaoyang’s departure would be postponed until after the Lantern Festival. However, no one had expected Li Er to be so committed, issuing a decree for Gaoyang to leave Changan before the New Year.
Hearing Changle’s words, Su Li was focused on changing his son’s diaper. The decision made by Li Er surprised even Su Li himself. It wasn’t because Su Li underestimated his own capabilities but rather because he knew Li Er well.
Li Er was a natural-born emperor destined for a life of challenges. Li Er’s personality somewhat resembled that of a naughty child. He understood that setting off firecrackers in a dung heap would lead to a mess, but he couldn’t resist his mischievous impulses. Indeed, Li Er harbored deep concerns about Su Li, but for him to not even investigate the situation and instead immediately concede was uncharacteristic.
This incident was handled by Li Er with unprecedented decisiveness, perhaps indicating that he genuinely viewed Su Li as a potential threat. As an emperor throughout the ages, every action was carefully planned. Li Er, a seasoned strategist, wouldn’t succumb to short-sightedness and immediate gains or losses.
Su Li had also heard that in recent days, Li Chengqian had visited the palace multiple times to plead on behalf of Gaoyang. However, Li Er remained obstinate, leading to a heated argument between father and son. Li Er went as far as placing Li Chengqian under house arrest to reflect on his actions. Was Li Chengqian justified in reacting so vehemently over his sister’s marriage, especially when they didn’t share a close bond?
Furthermore, Li Er and Zhangsun Wu Fei’s visits to the princess’s residence had become less frequent. The New Year’s rewards given to the princess’s residence were no different from those bestowed upon other princesses. These various signs led Su Li to sigh involuntarily, recognizing that he and Li Er had reached this point.
In truth, Su Li had long foreseen this outcome. The emperor proclaimed himself the true dragon emperor, and dragons were synonymous with dominance, selfishness, sensitivity, and greed. Only those of the same kind could coexist peacefully with dragons. Su Li’s arrival in the Tang Dynasty as a consort and his position as Li Er’s son-in-law were similar to a golden-winged roc, which could be considered a potential snack, infiltrating a group of dragons. Whether the dragons consumed the snack was the golden-winged roc’s prerogative. However, the side treated as a mere snack would undoubtedly feel deeply unhappy, filled with panic and unease.
Many conflicts in the world unfolded in this manner—driven not necessarily by enmity but by differing perspectives. As the emperor, Li Er would never tolerate any power he couldn’t control in the Tang Dynasty. With these thoughts in mind, Su Li looked at Changle with a pang of empathy, knowing that if things escalated, she would be the one to suffer most. Her husband was on one side, and her parents and siblings were on the other. Her ultimate choice would be a challenging one.