Chapter 406: Simplified Characters

"I know, I know!"

Sizi quickly raised his little hand, swaying his head as he recited, "Standards for Being a Good Student, Teachings of the Sage, First filial piety to elder brothers, then cautious trust."

"Love all people, be close to the benevolent; if you have spare strength, then study literature."

"When parents call, do not delay; when parents command, do not be lazy......"

Unlike last time, this time Li Shimin and Empress Changsun listened attentively from the start, yet as Sizi continued reciting word by word, they could not help but feel shocked.

Another great work not inferior to the Thousand Character Classic.

Cheng Yang, not to be outdone, then recited the Hundred Family Surnames, and Li Shimin and his wife nodded repeatedly.

This one is also good.

But despite being good, Li Shimin was somewhat dissatisfied: "Why isn't the Li surname listed first?"

Li Lizhi, fearing a misunderstanding, hurried to explain: "Your servant previously asked you the same question; you said it isn't based on actual ranking, just more rhymed so the child can remember easily."

Li Shimin was momentarily stunned, murmured a few words, then relaxed his brows: "Indeed, reversed it feels rather odd."

"Ah Ye, am I impressive?" Sizi asked with a look begging for praise.

Li Shimin laughed heartily: "Sizi is certainly impressive. Come quickly, let Ah Ye give a hug."

"Hehe~" The little fellow instantly beamed, flashing a proud glance at Cheng Yang.

The latter, too lazy to bother with his increasingly black‑hearted sister, turned to Empress Changsun and said, "Mother, my brother‑in‑law also taught me to write simplified characters; I think they're far better than ordinary characters—easy to write and easy to remember."

"Is that so?" Empress Changsun, unwilling to ignore, asked Shen Shurong to bring the brush and ink.

Cheng Yang wrote a line of simplified characters, then pointed to each, showing them what each character was.

"Sss!"

Li Shimin's expression grew increasingly solemn, his brows knit as he stared at the characters his daughter wrote.

At this moment, Empress Changsun could no longer find words.

She had imagined that Princess Chengyang's simplified characters would surprise them, but she hadn't expected such a surprise.

To create an even more concise, easier‑to‑learn, easier‑to‑recognize, easier‑to‑write script?!

That's terrifying.

"Er Lang… this…" Empress Changsun began, then stopped.

Li Shimin didn't address his wife immediately; instead, he gently asked his daughter, "Cheng Yang, did your brother‑in‑law only teach this simplified script to you?"

"No," Princess Chengyang replied, "there's also Xiao Xin, Fourth Imperial Brother's sister‑in‑law, the two elder sisters, Fourth Imperial Brother, and Qing Yue's younger sister."

When he heard that "No," Li Shimin almost couldn't stay seated; fortunately, Princess Chengyang explained quickly, and after she finished naming everyone, he finally relaxed.

"That's good, that's good!"

Li Shimin first sighed, then, for the first time, said earnestly, "Remember, these simplified characters must never be disclosed; they're not yet ready for the world."

He then told Li Lizhi, "When you return, be sure to instruct Zi An not to teach these simplified characters to anyone else, and certainly not let anyone besides us know they exist."

Li Lizhi, seeing Li Shimin's seriousness, hurriedly nodded in agreement, then hesitated briefly and tentatively asked, "Ah Ye, wouldn't simplified characters be better? Such an easy script, if spread widely, should be a tremendous boon for the Tang Dynasty."

"It truly would be a tremendous boon," Li Shimin murmured, "but blessings and calamities go hand in hand; especially in this sensitive period, it must not appear."

"I trust Zi An also understands this, which is why he only taught you; otherwise, when I propose to restart the Imperial Examination, he would hand this over to me."

Empress Changsun also reminded, "Lizhi, this matter is no trivial thing; you must not be careless. Don't ask for details; just do as we say."

"Your servant understands," Li Lizhi nodded heavily.

Afterward, Li Shimin and his wife repeatedly reminded the three children before they felt at ease.

Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, Empress Changsun tried to change the subject, and out of the corner of her eye spotted the absent‑minded Li Tai, curiously asking, "Tai'er, what are you thinking?"

However, Li Tai seemed still lost in his own world, not hearing her at all.

Empress Changsun called out again.

Princess of Yue, seeing Li Tai still spacing out, quickly poked his waist, which finally brought him back to his senses.

"Huh? What's up?"

Li Tai wore a bewildered expression.

Empress Changsun was speechless; Li Shimin, irritated, said, "Your mother just called you several times and you didn't respond. What are you thinking?"

Li Tai, flustered, stammered, "Sorry, Mother, I was just pondering something important and didn't notice. Please forgive me."

"It's fine," Empress Changsun said, "Are you still working on that hot‑air balloon?"

At the mention, Li Tai instantly became excited, but then cryptically said, "Can't say, can't say; just wait a while and you'll understand, Mother."

In the afternoon, after finishing the Xianlya affairs, Chen Yan hurried back home, anxious to see how Gao Yang was doing.

Upon entering, he found Gao Yang leaning on the bed, happily munching on a snack, while Xiang Lan attended nearby.

Chen Yan finally relaxed.

Gao Yang glanced at him, "I'm telling you, why are you in such a hurry every day? Are you so eager to see your son?"

Chen Yan: "......"

Am I not obvious about why I'm anxious?

Look at you, pretending you can't even notice.

Chen Yan sighed and waved Xiang Lan away.

During this period he didn't want to argue with Gao Yang; after all, at this stage any provocation could cause Gao Yang to go into labor.

Speaking of it, Li Lizhi's return to the palace wasn't bad; she could free up time to quickly settle the Xianlya matters and then return to accompany Gao Yang.

Both of them were experiencing it for the first time, and honestly, no one could stay calm.

He glanced at Gao Yang, "Show a little virtue in words; the child is about to be born. If you make me angry, I won't be polite with you."

"Hehe!" Gao Yang sneered, "I knew it, you shameless bastard. You won't be polite with me? As if you ever were polite before."

You want to hit me, huh? After the child is born, just come!

No hitting! Chen Yan shook his head: "That would only make you feel good!"

Gao Yang: ……

Calm down! Calm down! Chen Yan hurriedly soothed her, "Talk is talk, fuss is fuss; during this special period, stabilize your emotions."

You know it's a special period, yet you still anger me? Gao Yang still couldn't help it, gave him a little hit.

No way, I don't want to either, but you really are a bit ungrateful. Chen Yan spread his hands, "Obviously I rushed back anxiously to spend more time with you, but look at the nonsense you're saying."

Is that proper?

Gao Yang's vermilion lips twitched, but in the end she didn't continue to be stubborn, muttering, "Why do you care about me? There are so many people waiting in the mansion; just go about your business."

Huh?

Chen Yan blinked, the corner of his mouth slightly twitching: "Oh, so you're being tsundere again?"

……