Now I really have to marry the princess.

Chapter 107 Do all men like bigger ones?

Time flew by and it was already the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

During the Zhenguan era, there was no holiday for the Double Fifth Festival, but there was a palace banquet. Xu Shiji was going to attend the banquet, so he gave Yang Zhengdao and the others a rare day off.

In the morning, Yang Zhengdao brought festival gifts such as rice dumplings, sachets, fresh fruit, and snacks to Empress Xiao in Chongrenfang.

These gifts were all carefully selected by Tun Qiaoqiao, and naturally they are all top-notch.

I spent a long time chatting with the elderly while they basked in the sun.

Empress Xiao intentionally or unintentionally told Yang Zhengdao many stories from the previous dynasty.

If Yang Zhengdao was content with a simple life as he was in history, it would be better if he didn't know about these past events.

But now that the martial arts training at the Wude Hall is about to end and he is about to officially enter officialdom, it is necessary to understand these old stories.

For example, the various unsavory aspects of the original owner's father, King Yang Jian of Qi.

In this era where relatives and friends conceal each other's faults and avoid speaking ill of their loved ones, only Empress Xiao could speak of these things.

After the death of Crown Prince Yang Zhao, Yang Jian was greatly favored and was almost a certainty to become the heir apparent.

However, Yang Jian was unable to control his lustful desires, and gradually became disliked by Yang Guang.

Specifically, he pulled off two extremely bizarre and unconventional moves.

His first scandalous act was having an affair with his wife's elder sister, who was already married to a woman from the Yuan family, thereby thoroughly offending his wife's clan, the Wei family of Jingzhao.

The second blunder was that he took the beauty that Princess Leping was originally going to offer to Yang Guang, leading to a father-son struggle over the woman, which aroused Yang Guang's suspicion.

Although the second incident seems to suggest that Yang Jian was tricked by his aunt, Princess Leping, the root cause was Yang Jian's own lustful nature.

After learning all this, Yang Zhengdao suddenly understood why Empress Zhangsun cared so much about his private life.

It was because he was afraid that he would resemble his father.

From this perspective, many things make sense.

When he traveled to the surrounding counties of Chang'an, the eunuch Jian accompanied him, presumably to assess his character.

After the eunuch Jian examined him, Empress Zhangsun was quite satisfied with him, so she sent Su Hongyi to his side to keep an eye on him at all times.

Unfortunately, he managed to subdue Su Hongyi, the female investigator.

Empress Zhangsun went to great lengths to achieve this.

This shows how much favored A-Zhi was by Empress Zhangsun.

After leaving Chongrenfang, Yang Zhengdao immediately headed to Da'an Palace.

Upon learning that there would be a holiday on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Yang Zhengdao sent a memorial to the Da'an Palace to inquire after Yang's health and well-being.

Li Yuan also sent a eunuch to tell him to attend a banquet at Da'an Palace at noon today.

Moreover, the eunuch who delivered the message also carried a verbal order from Li Yuan, saying that attending the banquet today would allow him to see the person he wished to see.

Without a doubt, it must be A-Zhi.

He hasn't seen Azhi for twenty days since their meeting at Xuandu Temple on the fifteenth of last month.

It was probably because Empress Zhangsun found out about the last time he took Azhi to climb the roof, that she became more wary.

Upon entering Da'an Palace, Yang Zhengdao had just arrived at the main hall.

He then saw two people waiting for him under the corridor in the distance.

The graceful young woman standing there was none other than A-Zhi.

She wore a pomegranate-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a white gauze shawl over it. Her eyes, shimmering with light, held a smile, less of the shyness of March and more of the passion of May.

Unfortunately, she had a burden by her side, none other than Li Zhi, who wore his hair in a topknot.

Perhaps it's true that absence makes the heart grow fonder; Yang Zhengdao felt that Azhi seemed even more beautiful today.

His pace quickened involuntarily, and he completely disregarded etiquette, passing the young eunuch who was leading the way.

A voice called out, and it blurted out, "A-Zhi!"

"Cousin!" Li Lizhi involuntarily pulled Li Zhi forward a step to greet him.

Yang Zhengdao strode up the long flight of stairs in two quick steps and then grabbed Azhi's small hand.

Ah Zhi's face instantly flushed crimson.

"Sister, you've got a bad face!"

A childish, indistinct voice immediately shattered the ambiguous atmosphere.

Oh dear! How did this unlucky kid end up at Da'an Palace?!

Li Lizhi immediately pulled her small hand away.

Only then did Yang Zhengdao notice that Azhi was wearing a sachet that he had delivered to the Lizheng Hall a few days earlier.

The sachet was so ordinary, even crude, that it looked completely out of place on A-Zhi.

"Ah Zhi, I brought you a gold-inlaid silver incense ball as a gift for the festival."

Li Lizhi looked up with her face full of happiness: "I already have gold-plated silver incense balls and gold-embroidered sachets, but this is the first sachet you've ever given me."

Yang Zhengdao was just about to deliver a witty remark—a genuine expression of affection.

I didn't want to be interrupted again.

"Yang Zhengdao, I want a hug! I want a hug!" Li Zhi opened his arms to Yang Zhengdao.

What an impolite and unlucky kid!

Yang Zhengdao bent down, his face stern: "You can't address someone by their first name! How did you address me the last time we met?"

Li Zhi's eyes lit up: "Brother-in-law, I want a hug! I want a hug!"

Wow! This child is absolutely adorable!

Yang Zhengdao beamed with joy and scooped Li Zhi up in his arms: "My dear child, you're so good!"

"My little slave, you're the best!"

Li Lizhi, standing to the side, felt both embarrassed and angry, yet also secretly delighted, and the blush on her cheeks instantly spread to the tips of her ears.

The eunuch who came out to greet them saw Yang Zhengdao carrying the little prince into the palace.

His face first froze, then twitched.

This Young Master Yang really doesn't consider himself an outsider in Da'an Palace. Even if a prince is young, he's still a prince! How can a subject just hug him whenever he wants?

In fact, Yang Zhengdao did not realize how impolite it was for him to hug Li Zhi like that.

It was precisely because he dared to hug Li Zhi that Li Zhi became close to him.

After all, a three- or four-year-old child doesn't understand the concept of hierarchy. He only knows that the people in the palace who are willing to hold him are his family.

Upon entering the hall, Yang Zhengdao bowed and greeted the guests, then presented a list of gifts.

Li Yuan seems to be in a good mood lately, perhaps because the weather is getting warmer, and his complexion is also quite good.

After exchanging pleasantries, he led Yang Zhengdao to the inner room on the east side of the main hall.

Retired cadres really know how to enjoy life.

This place has been transformed into a restaurant specifically for hot pot.

Inside, there was a specially made round table with a ceramic stove in the center and a beautifully crafted copper hot pot on top.

This set of hot pot utensils was naturally custom-made by Yang Zhengdao.

Four sets were made in total, one set each for Emperor Li Er, Empress Zhangsun, the Da'an Palace, and Empress Xiao.

Judging from the look of it, this hot pot was clearly to Li Yuan's liking.

At this moment, the charcoal fire in the ceramic stove was burning brightly, and the bone broth in the copper pot was bubbling and steaming, the aroma of meat filling the entire hall.

Today's luncheon only included Li Yuan, Yang Zhengdao, Li Lizhi, and the young Li Zhi.

The round table looked somewhat empty.

Li Yuan's youngest sons should all have gone to attend the Double Fifth Palace Banquet.

However, it is likely that Li Yuan would not want his youngest sons to visit Da'an Palace frequently.

Instead of visiting this old man, it would be more worthwhile to spend more time at the Liangyi Hall.

Li Yuan took his seat on the soft couch in the main seat.

At that time, the Tang Dynasty obviously did not yet have etiquette regarding dining at round tables.

As a junior, Yang Zhengdao naturally sat opposite Li Yuan according to the etiquette of later generations.

Li Zhi, on the other hand, wanted to sit close to Yang Zhengdao.

Li Lizhi, however, was at a loss as to what to choose.

She was supposed to sit next to Ah Weng, serving the food and responding to his requests, but she couldn't help but secretly glance at the seat next to Yang Zhengdao.

Li Yuan naturally saw all of this.

He felt a surge of satisfaction; Changsun Wuji, that scoundrel, who had been so obsessed with his daughter-in-law, now had someone else on his mind and in his eyes.

Thinking of this, he waved his hand: "Zhi Nu, come and sit next to your grandfather. A Zhi, go and entertain your cousin."

The palace maids hurriedly stepped forward and took Li Zhi away.

Li Lizhi blushed and sat down next to Yang Zhengdao.

This was the first time they had ever shared a meal together.

The eunuchs began to file in, bringing out the ingredients.

The mutton, sliced ​​as thin as cicada wings, is arranged on a white porcelain plate.

There are also tender strips of venison, lamb offal, lamb blood, and side dishes such as mallow, cabbage, tofu, and wild mushrooms.

Yang Zhengdao even spotted sheep's eyes and duck's tongue.

All I can say is that retired senior officials know their food.

Li Lizhi cooked a piece of venison for Yang Zhengdao and placed it on his plate.

Yang Zhengdao felt a surge of joy and ate the piece of venison.

Then they cooked a piece of lamb heart for Li Lizhi.

"I want to give you my heart."

Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi blushed and lowered her head to eat.

At that moment, another piece of lamb liver was placed on her plate.

"I'll give you my liver too."

She secretly looked up and saw her cousin Zhengdao smiling at her.

Her face instantly flushed.

She felt both shy and sweet.

This shameless fellow, with his grandfather still sitting right across from him, isn't he afraid of being overheard by his suggestive remarks?

Yang Zhengdao chuckled softly, then said in a low voice as if nothing had happened, "Eating Azhi's flesh is worth it, even if it meant giving Azhi her heart and liver."

Li Lizhi was taken aback at first.

The burning sensation on her face then spread all the way to her neck, even tinging the exposed part of her collarbone with a faint pink hue.

That's so embarrassing!

She cursed inwardly.

This shameless scoundrel only uses sweet words.

But a hint of undisguised arrogance lingered at the corners of her mouth, making her head spin.

Through the rising steam from the copper pot, Li Yuan pretended not to see the two children's sweet talk.

But there are always those sharp-eyed people.

Li Zhi, chewing on the meat in his mouth, exclaimed in shock, "Sister, your face is so beautiful!"

Li Lizhi was exposed and immediately became furious.

Her eyes narrowed, and she glared at Li Zhi: "Zhi Nu, you mustn't talk while eating!"

"Oh!" Li Zhi immediately buried his head in his rice.

Yang Zhengdao felt a chill run down his spine. Was this his sister's bloodline suppression?

After lunch, Li Yuan prepared to take Li Zhi to see the parrots he kept.

Before leaving, he winked at Yang Zhengdao twice, as if to say, "Kid, I've created this opportunity for you. Make the most of it."

Yang Zhengdao quickly blinked, meaning that he would not fail in his mission.

After the grandmother and grandson left.

Yang Zhengdao and Li Lizhi's gazes involuntarily fell on each other.

"Ah Zhi————"

"Cousin—"

Their eyes met, and both were filled with joy.

Yang Zhengdao stepped forward and took Li Lizhi's small hand, and the two walked out of the main hall together.

The female official, accompanied by palace maids and eunuchs, was about to follow.

Li Lizhi paused, then slowly spoke: "Yu Siyan—"

"Yes, ma'am!" The lady-in-waiting immediately bowed with her hands clasped.

Yang Zhengdao led Li Lizhi forward.

After walking more than ten steps, he suddenly turned around and saw that the female official surnamed Yu had stopped in place and had not followed.

When did this female official become so obedient?

Ah Zhi didn't even say anything, she just called out, and the female official knew her intention and dared not disobey in the slightest.

"Ah-Zhi, how did you do that?!"

"She's not stupid; naturally, she hopes I'll marry you so you can take her out of the palace!"

As expected of Li Erfeng and Empress Zhangsun's eldest daughter, she is not to be underestimated!

Thinking of this, Yang Zhengdao's gaze unconsciously drifted to Li Lizhi's chest.

Unfortunately, Li Lizhi caught him red-handed with this little trick.

Li Lizhi pouted: "Cousin, do all men like big ones?"

This! This is outrageous!

Yang Zhengdao could only answer truthfully: "Perhaps each has their own preferences, or perhaps they like everything."

"Is the red dress big?"

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