Chapter 24: The Young Master Loves Reading the Spring and Autumn Annals

"How could I not understand what you're saying for mother?"

Empress Changsun sighed softly, "It's just that Zi An is currently the only one capable of curing the little Sizi."

"The Grand Historian also said that any matter concerning the little Sizi must be obeyed by Zi An."

While the mother and daughter talked, the little Sizi obediently leaned in Empress Changsun's arms, and even when hearing its name, it made no sound to disturb.

It only blinked its big dark eyes, looking back and forth at older sister and then at mother.

Li Lizhi gazed at her obedient younger sister, her lips slightly parting as if a thousand words were ready, but in the end she only pressed her lips together and uttered not a single word.

Empress Changsun smiled reassuringly, "No need to worry; Zi An's residence is not far from the palace, and Gao Yang is about to be married off soon."

"If you truly miss them, just go see them more often in the future."

Li Lizhi's expression softened slightly, as if recalling something, and she asked curiously, "Mother, what kind of person is the Marquis of Weinan actually?"

"His age is clearly similar to that of the princes, yet his medical skill is so superb that it can make you and Ah Ye so confident to entrust the little Sizi…"

At the end of the sentence, Li Lizhi remembered the little Sizi was still nearby and stopped immediately.

Like Empress Changsun, Li Lizhi also did not want the little Sizi to know right now that it would be taken away from its parents.

She feared the little Sizi could not accept it.

Empress Changsun smiled, "Zi An… is a young man of great talent and great righteousness."

"Great talent and great righteousness?" Li Lizhi murmured to herself, then said, "But I heard that the Marquis of Weinan has a terrible temper and will hit people at the slightest disagreement."

"You heard it from Gao Yang, didn't you?" Empress Changsun laughed helplessly.

From today's interactions, it was clear that Chen Yan only harbored a poor attitude toward Gao Yang.

Towards others, even the maids, he wore a pleasant, smiling demeanor.

From earlier reports, aside from occasionally enjoying outings with Da Lang of the Cheng Family in Pingkang Lane, there had never been any word of Chen Yan striking anyone.

Gao Yang is probably the first.

Li Lizhi's complexion turned a bit uneasy; she had indeed inquired about Chen Yan from Gao Yang.

Moreover, she said she had already been very tactful.

If Gao Yang's description is taken, Chen Yan would be nothing less than a ten‑sins‑unforgiven bandit.

Empress Changsun offered no further explanation, taking from her arms the letter Chen Yan wrote while imprisoned, along with the poem he penned afterward, and handed them to Li Lizhi.

"Take a look; these were all written by the Marquis of Weinan."

Li Lizhi took them with a puzzled expression, and when she opened them, her gaze could not shift away.

After a long while, her eyes gradually grew complex.

"Prosperity, the common folk suffer; ruin, the common folk suffer!"

"Mother, do the common folk really suffer that much?"

Having lived in the palace since childhood, she found it hard to grasp the meaning.

She only felt the poem was so oppressive, oppressive enough to almost take one's breath away.

She seemed to see successive dynasties rise and fall, palaces erected and then collapsed.

And in the fields that the royal princes and nobles never deigned to tread, one after another, peasants in tattered clothes, wearing grass‑woven sandals, with numb expressions, toiled hard for the pitifully scarce grain.

Empress Changsun, her gaze also complex, said, "This poem can only be truly understood when you have actually seen the current state of the common folk."

Li Lizhi said nothing, silently staring at the poem in her hand.

She couldn't help but wonder, that Marquis of Weinan, whom she had never met, must have seen the true condition of the common folk, right?

Otherwise, how could he have written such a poem?

And, the Marquis of Weinan she heard about from Gao Yang—was he truly the Marquis of Weinan?

She had never investigated him herself; how could she judge a person's character based only on a few words from others?

Li Lizhi looked out the carriage window at the scenery and silently resolved in her heart.

She would personally go to learn about the Marquis of Weinan whom Gao Yang described as a ten‑sins‑unforgiven bandit, and whom her mother called a young man of great talent and great righteousness.

"How does it look, Young Master, is this outfit handsome?"

Inside the Bo Mansion, Chen Yan wore a white robe brighter than snow, his posture upright as a pine, his bearing elegant and handsome, like a celestial being descended to earth.

However, the folding fan in his hand bearing the characters "Spring and Autumn" was rather theatrical.

Qing'er said helplessly, "Young Master, why do you like this fan so much?"

"Originally, your looks alone could draw the attention of many young lady heirs; with this fan, you will make those young lady heirs laugh!"

Snap!

Chen Yan, irritated, tapped Qing'er on the head with the folding fan, "You little girl, what do you know?"

"Young Master, I love reading the Spring and Autumn Annals; that's what everyone says…"

"Could reading the Spring and Autumn Annals possibly be something that easily invites ridicule?"

"Reading the Spring and Autumn Annals won't invite ridicule, but when you carry this fan, I get a very strange feeling."

Chen Yan pursed his lips, "Fine, fine, I'm too lazy to argue with you. Have the arrangements been made?"

"Everything's arranged, Young Master. The Duke of Su's Mansion sent over those maids; they're clever, and I've reminded them repeatedly, so there will be no problem."

"Hmm, then just wait......"

"Lord Bo!" At this moment, Xiao Shunzi hurried over, panting, "Lord Bo, you should go take a look; a carriage convoy is heading toward the Bo Mansion, seems to be the distinguished guests you're waiting for."

"A convoy of carriages?" Chen Yan thought for a moment, then nodded, "That should be correct. You go quickly and have the maids serve the dishes; Qing'er, come with me to the gate to welcome the guests."

"Alright, Lord Bo, I'll go right away." Xiao Shunzi, not daring to delay, hurried toward the back kitchen.

Chen Yan then led Qing'er toward the main gate of the Bo Mansion.

Upon stepping out, he indeed saw a carriage convoy stopped before the Bo Mansion gate, and at the front, Li Shimin, in plain clothes, stepped down from the carriage accompanied by a handsome young man and a stout man.

Chen Yan hurried forward, just about to bow, but Li Shimin stopped him.

Li Shimin gave him a once-over, nodded satisfied: "He actually has three-tenths of my youthful bearing; he's worthy of my Gao Yang."

Chen Yan: "......"

"Your Majesty, if you don't mention Gao Yang, we could still have a pleasant chat."

Li Shimin ignored the remark, pointing at the fat man behind him and said, "This is my son, Prince of Yue Li Tai."

Although Li Tai is not yet the Prince of Wei, he is still greatly favored.

He was appointed Grand Commander of Yangzhou and Commander of Yuezhou, overseeing the military of sixteen prefectures including Chang, Hai, and Run while also serving as Governor of Yangzhou, and additionally overseeing Yue, Wu, and Quan prefectures, his fiefdom extending to as many as twenty-two prefectures.

Moreover, Li Shimin actually didn't first introduce him to the Crown Prince Li Chengqian, but instead introduced the Prince of Yue first.

One can imagine just how favored this fat guy is.

Chen Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile appeared on his face, and he immediately cupped his hands toward Li Tai, saying, "Your subject pays respects to Your Highness, the Prince of Yue."

Li Tai laughed heartily: "Marquis of Weinan, no need for excessive courtesy. Speaking of which, you will soon become Gao Yang's imperial son-in-law; we are all one family. Moreover, I should also thank you for healing Xiao Sizi."

"Indeed, that's correct; we'll all be one family soon."

Li Shimin was very pleased with Li Tai's words, then turned sideways to introduce to Chen Yan the handsome youth behind him: "This is the Crown Prince Li Chengqian; I recall you should have met him before."

Upon hearing that, Chen Yan turned his gaze over and saw Li Chengqian winking at him, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly: "Your subject... indeed I have seen him."

After saying that, he silently added in his mind: "Not only have I seen him, but we often drink flower wine together and look at the girls of Pingkang Ward."

"......"