Living leisurely in Tang Dynasty

Prince Wei Mansion is still Prince Wei’s Mansion but Li Tai is no longer in Chang’an. The only one left is Princess Yan who is taking care of this place. Princess Yan is now heavily pregnant and not bothered to do much. With many servants following Prince Wei to his fiefdom, the mansion was left empty and quiet.

When Li Yuanying came rushing in, Little round ball was learning a poem with mother. The poem he was learning was <<Jiang Nan>>. Princess Yan’s voice was melodious and gentle and she made little round ball repeat the poem after her. “You can pick Lotus in Jiang Nan, Lotus leaves he tian tian”

Little round ball obedienlty followed after mother and then asked: “What is Tian Tian?”

“Tian Tian means to overlap layer after layer. Look at the Lotus leaves, some are tall and some are shorter and they overlap each other. Tian Tian means densely overlapping.

Little round ball nodded his head.

Li Yuanying ran in really fast and when he was at a distance he could hear mother and child chatting. The men following him were all left out of breath and rush to inform Princess Yan that Prince Teng is here.

Princess Yan turned and there stood Li Yuanying.

He didn’t know if the Princess would be hostile or is still okay with him. Anyway he still mentioned to her that His Majesty is waiting outside and would like to bring Little Round Ball to visit General Li Jing’s mansion together. Yuanying promised Princess Yan: “I promise to bring him back in one piece and not a hair will be lacking from his head!”

Princess Yan asked Little Round Ball if he would like to go. The toddler had not seen Yao Yao for a long time and if he weren’t being carried by mother he would have rushed over to Yao Yao’s side. Hearing mother asking for his opinion, he happily said yes.

Li Yuanying happily carried Little Round ball away.

Princess Yan ask her men who took care of her child to follow along. She then sat down and touch her belly. With Li Tai gone, Prince Wei Mansion is now really quiet. The wives who used to visit are all no longer bothered to. But there’s good in this place being quiet, she now hopes for nothing but that her 2 children to grow up healthy and peaceful.

Right outside, Li Yuanying carried Little Round Ball and got a scolding from his Majesty for carrying the toddler.

Li Yuanying quickly push little round ball into Li Er’s embrace to shut the Emperor up. Little Round Ball is now almost 3 and is chubby like a ball, he is really heavy to carry. Li Er is someone who is prideful and would  definitely carry the child steadily. He put the child into the carriage where Li Xiang is seated.

Li Jing having all kind of animals in his residence would mean that he lives further out from the main city. As officials came to inform him prior that the Emperor is paying a visit, he caged up all his animals properly and instructed his servants on the right etiquette to serve the Emperor.

Once at Li Jing’s gate, Li Yuanying went to escort each little radish head down from the carriage and led them ahead of the Emperor. Since they are out for a good time, the Emperor didn’t find fault with Li Yuanying’s behaviour. He turn his head and ask Chenqian “Have you seen a yak?”

Chenqian hardly had any chance to speak casually to the Emperor and didn’t know how to react. He soon regain his composure and shook his head. “Nope, never seen one before.”

Although he enjoy having fun. He had not seen this creature who live in the cold mountainous fields.

“I haven’t seen one too. But Prince Jiang Xia told me that when he send Wencheng to be married off he saw one which had a big head and was very fierce and the meat was delicious. As they arrived, Songtsen Gampo put together a group of yaks for a battle.”

While they were chatting, Li Jing and Hong Fu came out to welcome the group. Li Jing’s leg was not in good condition and he walked slowly. Seeing the Emperor he paid his respect.

Li Er told them to be at ease. It was they who decided to visit without much prior notice. As the adults entered slowly, Li Yuanying had already lead his group to see the yaks. There were only 2 and one had white fur and one with black fur. The fur grew thickly and the horns were majestic just like Dai Ting had described them.

The bunch of children were noisily chatting away saying that the guest from the mountains were really beautiful. Yuanying waited for Li Jing and the Emperor and asked: “Can we ride them? They have long fur, it’ll be super comfortable to sit on them!”

Li Jing had went to war with the Tibetan Empire in the past and had some knowledge about them. “Tubo and Tibetan people rear them and so naturally one can ride them. It’s just that these 2 are newly brought over and we are not familiar with their temperament yet. For the moment, no riding to prevent any injury.”

Li Yuanying was disappointed.

“So daring, you want to ride everything huh?” (Li Er)

“When horses are not tame they are fierce too. Once you tame them you can ride them!” Yuanying directed the conversation to Li Jing: “When can I ride them? When that time comes I’ll come over again!”

“They might not survive well here.”

Li Jing explain more that these animals when taken away from their homeland might not be able to adapt and will quickly become thin and some might even die. Look at these 2, it’s very obvious that they are now thinner and are not eating much.  

Otherwise, yaks have good endurance and have great strength once domesticated. Moreover, their fur is thick and can be used to make winter clothes. Even their dung is useful as fuel for burning and some even use it to build houses.

The children lay down next to the fence looking at the 2 yaks. Perhaps affected by Li Jing’s words they found them in weak spirit, as if they were missing their hometown on the plateau.

Vast grasslands, rolling snow-capped mountains, blue skies, the world seems particularly vast.

Yuanying was done seeing the animals and turned to His Majesty: “Even these yaks know that it is difficult to leave their homeland. Wencheng and the others will definitely be even more sad being so far away from Chang’an.”

Li Er was silent for a moment before asking his younger brother to share news about LouXie City.  

The group of little radish heads have never left Chang’an. When they heard that Li Yuanying was going to talk about Tibetan Empire, they all sat around and listened with interest.

Yuanying compiled the news he heard from Dai Ting, and told them about the customs of Tibetan Empire and the current situation of Wencheng. It was hard for a girl with language barrier to try and integrate into a foreign land. Wencheng also mention in her letter that although there were hard times, she felt encouraged when she sees the sunflowers blooming towards the sun. She will fulfill her responsibilities as a princess of Tang and told them not to worry about her.

When Li Yuanying read the poem written by Wencheng, both Sizi and Hengshan cried. They imagine themselves having to leave for a faraway land and would miss Chang’an so much! Sizi threw himself into Li Er’s arms choked with sobs: “Father, please send someone to bring Sister Wencheng back. It’s too far and there’s no one she knows. Sister Wencheng is so lonely!”

Li Er glared at Li Yuanying.

Sizi and the girls are around, why can’t you talk about happy things? Why are you reading poems!

Li Yuanying instantly kept his mouth shut.

Li Er had no choice but to console his crying daughters: “Songtsen Gampo is young and capable, he is a good son-in-law. Dearest Wencheng will not have a hard life moving there.”

Sizi and Hengshan both nodded in slight confusion.

Since father says so, they will believe so.

On their journey home, Li Yuanying thought of a new idea, he rode his horse next to the Emperor’s.

“Lord Brother, I have a new idea can you listen to it?!”