Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 63 Close kinship is a major taboo
Wen He left the palace.

He pondered it carefully in the carriage.

Although not being able to leave Chang'an is not a big deal.

But it seems we still ended up losing out.

Moreover, although he can be tolerated by Li Shimin now, what about in the future?
"How about I marry Li Er's daughter? Although the princesses of the Tang Dynasty are all unreliable, apart from Gao Yang, it seems that few of Li Er's daughters have a bad reputation."

Wen He pondered to herself.

"However, Li Shimin has several daughters now... Never mind, let's not consider the concubine's daughters, that leaves only Li Lizhi."

Wen He leaned against the carriage, gazing upwards.

Although Li Lizhi is only five years old now, he is only ten years old. In ten or twenty years, the two of them will be able to get married.

This could be considered childhood sweethearts.

If you never had a girlfriend in your past life until you graduated from university, then in this life you should raise one from a young age.

Besides, he saved Li Lizhi from dire straits.

If Li Lizhi's death was caused by hereditary asthma inherited from Empress Zhangsun, he also had ways to help prevent it.

It might even extend her lifespan.

At least he wouldn't use Li Lizhi and Li Shimin to benefit himself; he just wanted to live a more comfortable life in the Tang Dynasty.

Wen He didn't know how Changsun Chong treated Li Lizhi.

However, he knew that this princess was one of the most outstanding princesses in the Tang Dynasty.

At least that's how it's recorded, both in official history and in her epitaph.

Changsun Wuji even used her to advise Li Shimin, which is enough to show her character.

But this also shows that Li Lizhi did not have a good life in the Changsun family. Changsun Wuji was just taking advantage of Li Shimin's most beloved daughter.

He couldn't get straight to the point and tell Li Shimin that he opposed Li Lizhi marrying into the Changsun family, otherwise the latter would definitely think that he had ulterior motives.

We need to think of a roundabout way.

Upon returning to the Prince of Qin's residence, Wen He did not go back to her own courtyard, but instead sought out the steward to request an audience with Empress Changsun.

In the backyard, Empress Zhangsun was looking at the visiting cards with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Early this morning, visiting cards from the officials' wives were delivered, their words implying a desire to get closer to them.

Previously, when Chang'an was under martial law, they were not allowed to go out, but today they all came at once, including her sister-in-law.

"Send all these visiting cards to the palace. Your Highness is free to decide how to handle them."

She casually placed her sister-in-law's visiting card on top, and the waiting eunuch responded, carrying the visiting cards and bowing as he withdrew.

Not long after he left, Empress Changsun had just taken a sip of tea when the steward came to report that Wen He wanted to see him.

"Young Master Wen has returned from the palace?"

"It's already this late, but I didn't expect him to be in such a hurry to see me as soon as he returned to the manor?"

Empress Zhangsun smiled faintly, but she was very puzzled.

A few days ago, when she saw Wen He and Li Shimin together, there was almost no distinction between their social statuses.

Even when everyone else bowed, he stood ramrod straight.

She didn't think such a person would be a sycophant.

Moreover, Wen He already knew that His Highness Prince Qin would become the Crown Prince today.

He must have something else on his mind to ask me to see him.

Empress Zhangsun immediately ordered someone to prepare honey water.

Speaking of honey water, she couldn't help but chuckle; it was something His Highness had specifically instructed her to prepare.

Wen Xiaolang didn't like drinking tea, so from then on, he was given more honey water.

Aside from those meritorious veterans, this was the first time Empress Zhangsun had ever seen her prince so attentive to a child.

This is something even Gao Ming and Qing Que have never enjoyed.

Before long, Wen He arrived at the side room of Changsun Wugou's bedroom, guided by a maid.

A semi-transparent screen kept Wen He out, obscuring Changsun Wugou's expression.

"Your humble servant greets the Crown Princess." Wen He bowed respectfully.

After all, the person sitting behind that screen could very well be his future mother-in-law.

Empress Dowager Changsun also found it strange that Wen Xiaolang was so serious today.
"Although His Highness has been appointed Crown Prince, the imperial decree has not yet been issued. Young Master, please do not overstep your bounds in address."

This wasn't Empress Zhangsun being hypocritical; she simply had to say it.

Otherwise, if this matter gets out, it will not be good for Li Shimin's reputation.

"It was only a matter of time. The Crown Princess is moving into the Eastern Palace today, so this is my early congratulations."

Wen He chuckled twice.

Empress Zhangsun smiled helplessly, had someone bring him some heel pouches and honey water, and then went straight to the point and asked him a question.

"Young master, you've just left the palace and come here immediately. Did His Highness give you any instructions?"

Wen He shook her head, opened her mouth, and made a hesitant gesture as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Empress Zhangsun frowned when she saw him remain silent.

You, Wen Xiaolang, came to me with something, but why did you stop talking after you were about to open your mouth?

However, she had seen this kind of thing too many times when she was with Li Shimin.

Those officials wanted to say something presumptuous, but were afraid of being punished, so they deliberately acted this way, waiting for Li Shimin to ask them.

“Young master, you may speak freely. There are no outsiders here.” Empress Changsun smiled gently. As soon as she finished speaking, everyone except her personal maidservant consciously withdrew.

Upon seeing this, Wen He suddenly looked troubled.

"Actually, I should have told His Highness about this, but I was afraid of angering him. However, I felt guilty if I didn't tell him, after all, it was a human life."

Hearing him speak so heavily, Empress Zhangsun's heart couldn't help but tighten.

What she could possibly talk about must be related to her family.

Could something have happened?

Or is it that Your Highness intentionally does not appoint Gao Ming as the crown prince?

It is at times like these that she is more prone to overthinking.

In particular, Wen He was still making things mysterious.

Although there was a screen, Wen He couldn't see Empress Changsun's expression clearly, but she could still clearly sense that she was flustered.

He immediately realized the time was right and got straight to the point.

"Your Highness, does Your Highness intend to arrange a marriage between the Princess and the eldest son of the Changsun family?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Empress Zhangsun frowned deeply.

His Highness had indeed mentioned this matter to her not long ago, but she had not yet told her brother.

Why did Your Highness tell him this?
After a moment of contemplation, Empress Changsun nodded: "That is indeed the case. Your Highness intends to strengthen the bond between us."

"Absolutely not."

Wen He suddenly became extremely agitated, as if she had been frightened by something.

Even Empress Zhangsun was startled by his sudden action.

The maid behind her immediately gripped the dagger at her waist.

"Your Highness, marriage between close relatives is a grave taboo and absolutely unacceptable. At best, the child born will be a deformed monster; at worst, both mother and child will suffer a difficult childbirth, resulting in the death of both."

The following paragraph was made up by Wen He. He only remembered that intimate marriage could result in deformed children, but he didn't know whether it would cause difficult childbirth.

However, he was not worried that Li Shimin would investigate.

In this era, women typically married young, often as young as twelve or thirteen, and cases of both mother and child dying were not uncommon.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Empress Changsun's face turned deathly pale.

Special thanks to Xianyuyuyuyuyuyuyuyu for the 5,000 yuan donation.

Thank you to the following readers for their monthly votes:

Chengnan Xiaomo 183, Jiuge Gege Gege Gege I, Book Friend 20181207130805733, Dao Qiqi, Book Friend 20171227230536450, Drunk Listening to the Breeze, Don't Waste Time, Magic City Rain Palace Lotus.

Thank you to Stardusting for the ten monthly tickets.



(End of this chapter)