Chapter 16: Princess Jinyang

Page 1/3
Chapter 16: Princess Jinyang

The hot pot, infused with the essence of modern culinary craftsmanship, emitted an aroma that no child from ancient times could resist.

In the past, extracting such umami flavor required a complicated process, but nowadays, just a spoonful of MSG would suffice.

If that wasn’t enough, add a spoonful of chicken essence or some oyster sauce.

Since chili peppers didn’t exist in the Tang Dynasty, Sizhi had no idea what this taste was—only that it smelled delightful.

After Empress Zhangsun passed away, Emperor Taizong took Crown Prince Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang, Li Mingda, under his wing and raised them himself. This was why they were not in Chang’an but in Luoyang, accompanying the court on the move.

Sizhi was, in fact, the childhood nickname of Princess Jinyang, Li Mingda.

“Sizhi must be smelling something delicious,” Emperor Taizong teased affectionately, pinching Li Mingda’s nose.

Li Mingda gave a soft chuckle, neither admitting nor denying it.

“Brother Li, the child is still young and shouldn’t eat spicy food,” Li Qing quickly interrupted. The elder Li had just been doting on the child like a parent utterly spoiling her. It seemed he was about to let Li Mingda taste the spicy hot pot, so naturally, Li Qing couldn’t allow him to be an irresponsible guardian. “Sizhi’s health is fragile; spicy food will only burden her body further.”

Hearing this, Emperor Taizong immediately said, “In that case, Sizhi, you shouldn’t eat it.”

Li Mingda did not throw a tantrum like a spoiled child, nor did she obediently leave like a well-behaved one. Instead, she gazed up at Emperor Taizong with large, watery eyes, then turned to look at Li Qing, her eyes sparkling as if on the verge of tears.

Old Li was the first to give in. He was already a doting father, and seeing Li Mingda’s pitiful expression, he said to Li Qing, “Virtuous brother, look at this…”

“Forget it, you eat this then…” Li Qing was somewhat overwhelmed by the child’s adorable onslaught. He pulled out a box of tomato-flavored hot pot and handed it to the elder Li. “You know how to prepare it anyway, do it yourself.”

No wonder Li Qing and Emperor Taizong hit it off immediately; in truth, Li Qing was someone who indulged children—but not those unruly ones.

“Thank you, Uncle,” Li Mingda said in a sweet, childish voice, having achieved her goal.

Being clever, she knew that the man her father called “virtuous brother” was no ordinary person. Following that relationship, she addressed Li Qing as “Uncle” without hesitation.

Li Qing’s heart nearly melted. For a moment, he even felt a twinge of jealousy toward Old Li, who had such an adorable daughter.

Page 2/3

It was a pity this was ancient times; otherwise, Li Qing would have surely cursed Emperor Taizong to have a mischievous ghostly son-in-law sooner or later.

—Old Deng, is it safe to leave the ghostly fire downstairs?

Raising his eyes, he sensed a hint of jealousy. Indeed, Emperor Taizong’s green-eyed monster was unleashed, his gaze clearly saying, “You’re busy thanking your uncle, but what about your father?”

Li Mingda ate quietly; the tomato-flavored hot pot suited a child’s palate perfectly. Emperor Taizong clearly had ample experience caring for children and attended to Li Mingda with practiced ease.

She paused halfway through her meal, then smiled sweetly at Emperor Taizong. “I’m full, Father. Can I take the rest back? Ninth Brother hasn’t eaten yet.”

After all, as full siblings, no matter what good things there were, a little sister who was his precious companion never forgot her brother.

“Just finish it here. You don’t look full yet,” Li Qing added, bringing out another box of tomato-flavored self-heating hot pot and placing it on the table. “Don’t worry, Uncle has plenty.”

“Thank you, Uncle,” Li Mingda smiled coyly in gratitude.

“This child…” Li Qing reached out to stroke Li Mingda’s head. Who didn’t like a well-behaved child?

After some affection from Li Qing, Li Mingda snuggled into Emperor Taizong’s arms, rubbing against his chin like a little kitten, plaintively begging, “Father, please don’t be angry with Ninth Brother anymore, okay?”

“How do you know Father is angry?” Emperor Taizong asked, not offended, letting his little daughter get close.

“Ninth Brother is so pitiful; he doesn’t even dare to lie down to sleep. Sizhi thinks he must have done something wrong to upset Father, so he’s being punished.” Li Mingda sniffled. Seeing Emperor Taizong was not angry, she quietly encouraged herself and continued, “If Father is still mad, then wait until Ninth Brother recovers before punishing him. But don’t hurt him badly—if that happens, Father will be the one who’s sad…”

“Father understands,” Emperor Taizong said, pinching Li Mingda’s cheek and smiling. “You’re so clever. For your sake, Father will let Ninth Brother off this time.”

“Long live Father!” Li Mingda cheered, planting a kiss on Emperor Taizong’s face.

Her cheer was not empty words; after all, in the Tang Dynasty, her father truly was “long live.”

So shouting it out was only natural—it was not a mere exclamation.

“Go on, go back to see your Ninth Brother,” Emperor Taizong said indulgently, patting his daughter’s hair.

“All right, Sizhi will go back now,” Li Mingda said sweetly, picking up the hot pot from the table. She didn’t neglect Li Qing either: “Uncle, Mingda is leaving.”

Page 3/3

“Goodbye, little miss,” Li Qing said, then called out, “Wang De.”

Wang De came over.

“Go accompany Princess Jinyang back. She’ll tell you how to prepare this hot pot. Do not let her handle it alone—if she gets burned, that would be bad,” Li Qing instructed. He was becoming increasingly adept at directing Wang De.

“As ordered by Prince Qin,” Wang De replied, glancing at Emperor Taizong. Seeing the emperor nod, he assuredly accepted Li Qing’s command.

After Wang De and Li Mingda left the carriage, Li Qing belatedly realized he had been a bit too familiar. He apologized to Emperor Taizong, “Sorry, Brother Li, I…”

“No matter. You’re not a man of the mundane world, why bother with such trivialities?” Emperor Taizong waved his hand graciously. He was broad-minded and, given Li Qing’s status, had no reason to suspect anything.

“Exactly. Sizhi’s health…” Li Qing hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the true situation.

After speaking, he felt perhaps he was overthinking it. Li Mingda was not beyond saving, and with two boxes of self-heating hot pot, he could at least restore some of her vitality.

Getting Emperor Taizong’s blood pressure up a bit wouldn’t hurt either.

Hearing this, Emperor Taizong’s mood darkened. “Sizhi was born with deficiencies. Master Sun once predicted she would not live long.”

“Master Sun was somewhat conservative,” Li Qing sighed. “Sizhi’s not only born weak; your family’s hereditary illnesses have all afflicted her. According to the original historical path, she would only live to twelve.”

Twelve years old… twelve years old…

Emperor Taizong’s mind went blank with a ringing in his head. He could no longer hear what Li Qing said afterward. All he could think of was that Li Mingda might only live to twelve years old.

For a moment, Li Qing felt almost inhuman.

Just one sentence, and now he was asking Brother Li to give him thousands of emotional points…

“Virtuous brother!” Emperor Taizong grasped Li Qing’s arm. At this moment, he was no longer the exalted emperor of the Tang but a father aching for his daughter. He pleaded, “Please, you must save Sizhi!”

(End of Chapter)