Chapter 95: Li Lizhi Invites Li Yuan Over

After Gao Yang's affair stirred a small ripple, it quickly subsided, and the banquet continued.

As time passed, Li Lizhi suddenly grew anxious, occasionally glancing up at the banquet entrance ahead.

But the person she was waiting for never arrived.

As the banquet neared its end, Li Lizhi assumed her guest would not come.

Yet from the corner of her eye she caught a dignified splash of purple walking this way.

Many guests, along with Li Shimin and his wife, also noticed the sudden intruder.

Only, unlike the delighted Li Lizhi, they were mostly surprised, or uneasy.

Because the newcomer was none other than the Retired Emperor—Li Yuan—who had been forced off the throne by Li Shimin.

Li Yuan wore a purple brocaded robe with dark patterns, appeared about sixty‑something, and was accompanied by a fairly aged eunuch.

Li Shimin and his wife set aside their doubts, rose at once, hurried forward, and bowed deeply: "Your son humbly welcomes Father Emperor's holy peace!"

"Empress Changsun humbly welcomes Father Emperor's holy peace."

The many guests, as well as princes and princesses, also rose to pay their respects.

Including Li Shimin and his wife, everyone was actually puzzled by Li Yuan's sudden arrival.

As everyone knows, after abdicating, Li Yuan lived in the Tai Ji Palace for several years.

After Li Shimin gradually took control of the court, Li Yuan was forced to move from Tai Ji Palace to Da An Palace.

Each day he either found various tasks to pass the time or attended to Li Shimin's younger siblings, and almost never appeared in formal occasions.

Every year at the Millennial Festival, Li Shimin and his wife would invite Li Yuan, but Li Yuan never attended.

They had assumed Li Yuan would not come; unexpectedly, Li Yuan arrived halfway through the banquet.

In a corner, Li Chunfeng whispered, "Young master, look, it seems we have a truly good show to watch."

Chen Yan heard that and barely kept his composure, "Grand Historian, I always thought you were a serious person; I didn't expect you also love a lively spectacle like me."

"Which sect or school of Taoist are you, exactly?"

Li Chunfeng lowered his voice, "It's a long story; I vaguely recall a mountain long ago, within which..."

"Alright, alright, stop; I get it." Chen Yan, too lazy to engage the unserious old Taoist, watched Li Yuan in the distance with interest.

Although he didn't know why Li Yuan came, as Li Chunfeng said, there must indeed be a good show to watch.

Beside them, Princess Gao Yang silently listened to their conversation, without interjecting.

For some reason, she instinctively glanced at Li Lizhi, saw her excited expression, and a bad premonition repeatedly surfaced in her mind.

"......"

Li Yuan glanced at Li Shimin, sighed softly, then said to Empress Changsun, "Empress Changsun, no need for excessive courtesy; everyone, please stand."

"I have come this time because Li Lizhi earnestly begged, and perhaps I am at fault for not informing you beforehand, not delaying your birthday banquet, right?"

Empress Changsun was momentarily stunned, then smiled, "How could that be?"

"Father Emperor's presence today shines like the sun and moon. I was just speaking with His Majesty about the newly brewed peppercypress wine from last winter solstice; it still lacks Father Emperor's tasting to be complete."

"You do not blame me and His Majesty for not greeting you from afar; that is already a favor, so how could it have delayed the family banquet?"

Chen Yan, hearing this, couldn't help admiring Empress Changsun's skill.

In just a few short sentences, she likened Li Yuan to the sun, hinted at his authority, emphasized Li Shimin's lingering concern for his father, and used the family banquet to ease the tension, making Li Yuan's arrival seem reasonable.

Compared with Empress Changsun, Gao Yang and Li Lizhi are far more inexperienced.

Li Shimin interjected, "Indeed, Guanyin Maid is right; today's family banquet, with Father Emperor's arrival, makes me so happy it's still not enough."

"Come, Father Emperor, please take the seat of honor!"

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun reached out to support Li Yuan toward the main seat; although Li Yuan did not particularly favor Li Shimin, he did not give him face.

The couple helped Li Yuan sit at the main seat, while Li Shimin sat beside him; Empress Changsun moved to the east side, and on the west side sat Crown Prince Li Chengqian.

To avoid awkwardness, Empress Changsun proactively started a conversation, smiling, "Li Lizhi, that child, really—inviting Father Emperor over without informing me in advance, making me and Er Lang appear rude."

Though she said that, inside she was already overjoyed.

Since the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Shimin has been trying to ease his relationship with Li Yuan.

Unfortunately, Li Yuan never regarded Li Shimin well, and over the years the father‑son relationship remained poor.

Li Lizhi inviting Li Yuan to today's birthday banquet is precisely a great chance to smooth the father‑son ties, isn't it?

How could she blame Li Lizhi?

Li Yuan raised his hand and said, "Alright, let's not bring this up again. At first I didn't agree for Li Lizhi to come; it's normal she didn't tell you."

"Is that so?" Empress Changsun feigned sudden understanding, "So I misunderstood Li Lizhi?"

Li Shimin said contentedly, "Li Lizhi has been clever and quick‑witted since childhood; now she's grown into an adult, well‑read and sensible. In my view, Father Emperor's words are correct; Li Lizhi probably wasn't sure whether Father Emperor would come, so she didn't inform him in advance."

"Guanyin Maid, you truly seem to have misunderstood Li Lizhi this time."

The few chatted a while longer, and the atmosphere turned rather harmonious.

After the guests jointly offered a toast to Li Yuan, Li Lizhi cautiously gave Li Yuan a signal.

He chuckled silently, steadied his mind, and seemed to sigh, "Unknowingly, so many years have already passed."

"I still recall, when Li Lizhi was little she loved clinging to me; whenever I had a moment free, little Li Lizhi would hug my thigh and crawl onto me."

"If I don't hold her, she cries."

"And now, Li Lizhi has grown into a young lady."

Empress Changsun replied, "Who says?"

"Father Emperor may not know, but I recently heard His Majesty say that time passes very slowly; a whole day, tangled in countless matters, nothing gets finished."

"Yet time also seems to fly; in the blink of an eye, the children have grown up, those who should marry are marrying, those who should wed are about to."

Mentioning this, Li Yuan seemed interested, "Indeed, that's how it is, ha."

"Li Lizhi's age is no longer small; she's reached marriageable age."

A few days ago I heard Li Zhi say that you and Er Lang intend to betroth Li Zhi to Changsun Chong.

At this point he paused briefly, "I heard… this Changsun Chong is actually your nephew, and the chief instructor of the Imperial Academy constantly praises him."

Moreover, Changsun Chong and Li Zhi are maternal cousins, having known each other since childhood; if the two were to become husband and wife, it would indeed be a beautiful tale.

If you two are truly inclined, why not let me, today, decide on Li Zhi's behalf—how does that sound?