Li Zhiyun was away on an expedition and could not come back to celebrate the New Year. Princess Chu felt a little disappointed, but when she received Li Zhiyun's letter from home, she felt sweet in her heart. Because it is always a good thing that her husband is safe and sound away from home.
Concubine Wan Gui in the palace was also considerate of her daughter-in-law, and even went out of the palace to visit the Prince of Chu's Mansion on New Year's Eve to comfort her daughter-in-law.
Princess Chu was already pregnant and couldn't walk around anymore, so she summoned the Huaiyang and Yin families to watch the New Year together.
Li Chengjing wore thick clothes and rolled around on the blanket, giggling while holding the stuffed toy Li Zhiyun made for him from time to time.
Princess Chu and Huaiyang were playing backgammon and chatting about other things.
"I don't know when the king will come back." Huaiyang said.
"It's almost time. Once the rebels are driven away, the king will come back." Princess Chu touched her belly, looking forward to her husband's early return.
Mrs. Yin smiled and said: "The king will definitely come back before the princess gives birth to a child."
Princess Chu gently tapped her white jade chin and sighed, "I'm afraid she's just a little girl."
During these days of her pregnancy, she was not as troubled as when Yin was pregnant with Chengjing, and she doubted in her heart that she was pregnant with a girl this time.
Huaiyang said: "His Highness often says that he loves daughters. If the princess gives birth to a daughter, His Highness may not be happy."
Princess Chu smiled and said nothing. She naturally wanted to have a son.
"By the way, I haven't pressed Chengjing for money yet."
The lucky money is lucky money. In the Han Dynasty, it was also called the lucky money. It was given to children to carry with them and used to bribe ghosts and gods to avoid disasters.
Generally speaking, this kind of copper coins are specially made, not ordinary copper plates. In the Sui Dynasty, they were not so particular. They were used to bribe ghosts and gods anyway, so it would be better to just use real ones. Rich families used gold and silver to make copper plates.
Small families use ordinary copper plates. As long as the money is not used, the court will generally not pursue it.
With that said, she waved to little Chengjing, "Chengjing, come to mom."
Mrs. Yin hurriedly brought little Chengjing and gave it to Princess Chu.
Princess Chu had a big belly, so she couldn't hold little Chengjing in her arms. She could only touch his little face, then took out a hanging copper plate strung with a red rope and hung it around little Chengjing's waist.
"My son will grow up quickly and help you share your worries."
Yin Shi said with a smile: "Princess, Chengjing is very sensible. I taught him a few words a few days ago, and he remembered them. When he grows up, he will definitely be able to share his worries with the king."
Princess Chu chuckled and touched little Chengjing's round little head, "This is a good thing. Chengjing is the eldest son, so it should be like this."
Except for the Prince of Chu's Palace, Prince of Qin's Palace, and Prince of Qi's Palace, there are several princesses staying in their mansions tonight.
Li Yuan was worried about the war in Bingzhou, and this year was not a happy one. It was not until the third day of the first lunar month in the third year of Wude that Pei Ji returned to Chang'an with Ao Sheshe and brought news of the great victory in Hedong, which made Lao Li smile happily.
While he ordered a reward to the Prince of Chu, he also ordered people to spread the news of the victory throughout Chang'an.
Political Hall.
Li Yuan's face was rosy. After reading the news about Li Zhiyun's victory, he showed it to six prime ministers.
"Congratulations to my father, my fifth brother did not disappoint me." Li Jiancheng said with a smile.
Li Yuan said happily: "Zhiyun kid, I was right about him. Well, after defeating Song Jingang, Liu Wuzhou won't be around for long. When Zhiyun and Shimin join forces, Liu Wuzhou will die!"
Pei Ji did not hesitate to praise Li Zhiyun at this time, "His Royal Highness the King of Chu marched and used troops very steadily, which is really a blessing to His Majesty."
He was defeated in Hedong. If he had not followed Li Zhiyun to atone for his sins, Liu Wenjing would definitely give him eye drops when he came back this time.
Li Yuan accepted the compliments from his good friend with a smile.
Dou Kang cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I think that since the King of Chu has regained Hedong, he should go to Taiyuan as soon as possible to deal with Liu Wuzhou as soon as possible, so that he can return to the court earlier."
A few days ago, Dou Dan wrote back, saying that Li Yuanji's poor performance in defending the city and his ill intentions towards him. Dou Kang was worried about Dou Dan's safety, so he hoped to end the Taiyuan war as soon as possible.
"Well, I have already ordered someone to tell Zhiyun to go north to support Shimin as soon as possible."
Chen Shuda asked: "Your Majesty, how should we deal with Ao Sheshe?"
Li Yuan snorted coldly, "Chu Luo betrayed his trust and supported Liu Wuzhou to invade the Tang Dynasty. Now his son falls into my hands, and I want him to pay the price!"
Xiao Yu said: "Your Majesty, I think that Ao Sheshe cannot be killed for the time being, so it is better to use Ao Sheshe to persuade Chuluo to retreat. In the second year of Wude, our country continued to engage in foreign wars, and the people's burden was heavy, so we should temporarily slow down. If this time
If you can defeat Liu Wuzhou, it is better to temporarily reconcile with Chu Luo."
"I second the proposal." Liu Wenjing agreed and said: "Your Majesty, if Chu Luo had not supported Liu Wu and Zhou's march south, the King of Qin would have captured Dou Jiande and regained Hebei."
Li Yuan pondered for a moment, then looked at Li Jiancheng, "Prince, what do you think?"
"Father, I feel that what Prime Minister Xiao and Prime Minister Liu said is not unreasonable. Although our dynasty should expand to the outside world and unify the world at this time, if we continue to fight to the death with the Turks, we will only be able to take advantage of Wang Shichong and others. It is better to temporarily stop the army.
Unify the world wholeheartedly."
Li Yuan tapped his fingers lightly, and after a moment, he said: "Send someone to send an envoy to the Turks and ask Chuluo to retreat."
As Liu Wenjing said, if Liu Wuzhou hadn't attacked Taiyuan this time, Dou Jiande would have been wiped out by the King of Qin, and the Tang Dynasty would have taken advantage of the situation to take over Hebei.
The Turks indeed made him hate him to death, but it was not appropriate to fight them to the death now.
Dou Wei asked: "Who do you intend to send to the Turks?"
"Who do you think can go?"
Li Jiancheng immediately said: "Zheng Yuanxuan, the minister of Taichang Temple, once went on a mission to the Turks, and I thought he could be allowed to go."
"Inappropriate." Chen Shuda shook his head and objected, "For such a major matter, we should send people who are experienced in dealing with Turks."
Li Jiancheng glanced at Liu Wenjing, who understood and said: "What Prime Minister Chen said is reasonable. I think Pei Ju, the imperial censor in the palace, is the best candidate."
Hearing this, Chen Shuda's expression changed, as if he had fallen into a trap.
Dou Wei frowned, cupped his hands and said, "Pei Ju is indeed familiar with the Turks, but times have changed. It is inappropriate to send him as an envoy to the Turks at this time. Your Majesty, please think again."
Li Jiancheng laughed and asked: "Zheng Yuanzhan and Pei Ju, both of them have been sent to the Turks as envoys. They are not suitable. I wonder who Mr. Dou thinks is suitable?"
Dou Wei said: "I think it is most appropriate that Prime Minister Liu has ever sent an envoy to the Turks."
Liu Wenjing's expression suddenly changed. Now that the Tang Dynasty and the Turks were so deeply in conflict, asking him to go on a mission to the Turks was harming him!
What's more, he had deceived Shibi Khan before.
Dou Wei, you are so poisonous!
Li Jiancheng immediately said: "Father, when Jinyang raised troops, Prime Minister Liu sent an envoy to the Turks, which is logically the most appropriate. But now Shibi Khan is dead, and Chuluo Khan has ill intentions towards the Tang Dynasty. Liu Xiangruo goes, so it is only
Afraid of being threatened by Chu Luo, I thought it would be most appropriate for Pei Ju to go to the Turks. In the pre-Sui Dynasty, Pei Ju was able to handle Turkic affairs with ease, so there should be no constraints this time."
Pei Ji rarely added insult to injury at this time, because he felt that Pei Ju could really go to the Turks, and it would be best if Chu Luo killed Pei Ju.
What's more, he had just suffered a defeat in Hedong, so it was better not to dance too happily at this time.
Li Yuan looked at Dou Wei and then at the prince, with a faint smile on his lips.
Immediately, he asked Liu Wenjing, "Mr. Liu, what do you think?"
Liu Wenjing pursed her lips and said, "I would like to serve as an envoy to the Turks for the Tang Dynasty."
Although he was very reluctant in his heart, he could not retreat at this time and could only press forward.