Chapter 152: The Vinegar Jar Has Spilled Over (Part 1)

Putting aside the fact that Empress Zhangsun is currently a patient suffering from asthma, even an ordinary person like Li Yi would not be able to endure being subjected to Tai Chi twenty or so times a day.

The art of Tai Chi was originally intended for health preservation and physical conditioning; practicing it three to five times a day is more than sufficient.

Yet Empress Zhangsun had actually practiced it some twenty times a day!

"Her Majesty the Empress is truly formidable!" Li Yi sighed inwardly with secret admiration.

However, uttering those words aloud was out of the question—unless Li Yi felt he had lived long enough.

"Your Majesty." Li Yi shook his head with a bitter smile, and then said with a solemn expression, "Your Majesty, there is no need to practice this Tai Chi so diligently every day. Doing it three to five times daily is quite enough."

"I presume Your Majesty has been feeling a stifling sensation in your chest precisely because you practiced Tai Chi for too long, which caused the qi and blood in your body to become obstructed."

After a brief pause, Li Yi continued, "Your Majesty only needs to instruct a female official to give you a massage shortly afterward, and the symptoms of chest congestion will be alleviated."

"Ah..." Hearing Li Yi's words, the expression on Empress Zhangsun's face suddenly turned somewhat unnatural.

She had not expected that her own cleverness would lead to her undoing.

Now that Li Yi had laid the truth bare with a single remark, a look of awkwardness crept over her face.

"Your Majesty need not worry." Seeing this, Li Yi offered a tactful smile and said, "Come to think of it, when your humble subject was first learning this art, I once foolishly desired to defeat my mother during a sparring match. Consequently, I practiced this Tai Chi more than thirty times a day."

"As a result, not only did I make no progress whatsoever, but I was subdued by my mother in a mere two moves. Yet later on, when I practiced it only three to five times each morning, I was actually able to fend off some twenty moves from my mother."

"Only then did your humble subject gradually understand that this Tai Chi must not be practiced too much each day, lest it produce the exact opposite of the desired effect."

Having spoken, Li Yi stood in place with a smiling countenance, his head slightly lowered.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Yi finished these words, the somewhat unnatural expression on Empress Zhangsun's face eased considerably.

How could Empress Zhangsun fail to understand that Li Yi was going out of his way to offer her a graceful way out?

"You child." Empress Zhangsun suddenly chuckled, shook her head, and said with a pursed-lip smile, "Could it be that after suffering a setback at your mother's hands, you grew mischievous and wanted to make sport of this Empress?"

"Your humble subject wouldn't dare," Li Yi replied with a smile.

"Heh..." Empress Zhangsun was amused by Li Yi. Glancing at the female official nearby, she casually instructed, "Someone, present Madam Li with a jade hairpin, and have her teach Li Bo'an a lesson on my behalf, lest this child remain so mischievous and unruly."

"Your humble subject expresses gratitude on behalf of my mother for Your Majesty's bestowal," Li Yi said, bowing with cupped hands.

"Haha!" Seeing this, Li Li Shi-min could not help but laugh as well. He took two steps forward, glanced at Empress Zhangsun, and teased, "My Empress, how can having Madam Li alone discipline him?"

"What Your Majesty says is entirely true." After musing for two breaths, Empress Zhangsun's eyes rolled slightly, and she asked with a smile as radiant as peach blossoms, lips pursed, "I wonder what idea Your Majesty has in mind?"

"Naturally, Yao Shi should also give him a thorough thrashing!" Li Shi-min feigned contemplation for two seconds, then looked toward Eunuch Gao and instructed solemnly, "Someone, send a golden staff to Yao Shi so he can properly discipline Li Bo'an!"

"..." Li Yi responded with a wry expression, "Your humble subject thanks Your Majesty for the punishment."

"Haha!" Li Shi-min burst into hearty laughter on the spot.

Empress Zhangsun also let out a light laugh.

Nearby, Princess Li Lizhi, witnessing the scene of Li Shi-min and his wife bestowing gifts upon Li Yi, knew that Li Yi was about to leave again, and a wave of displeasure welled up in her heart.

For these past few days, due to having to stay by Empress Zhangsun's side, she had been unable to leave the palace at all.

Now that she had finally managed to catch a glimpse of Li Lizhi in the imperial palace, her two pupils shifted slightly, and a brilliant idea suddenly struck her.

"Ouch~" Li Lizhi suddenly cried out, shattering the cheerful atmosphere among the group.

Everyone turned their heads simultaneously and looked in the direction of Li Lizhi.

They saw Li Lizhi wearing a "look of utter agony," her face twitching as if she were in unspeakable pain, blinking aggrievedly as she uttered, "Imperial Father, Imperial Mother, I've sprained my ankle."

As she spoke, a slight frown formed on her slightly perspiring face, making the "fact" of her "sprained ankle" appear all the more convincing.

Upon seeing this, Linlang, who was by Li Lizhi's side, rushed over immediately to help her sit down and asked with deep concern, "Your Highness, are you... alright?"

"Linlang, my foot hurts," Li Lizhi said with a "painful" expression.

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun and Li Shi-min also hurried over from the side, asking with anxious expressions, "Xiao Wu, what is the matter? Where did you sprain your ankle?"

"It hurts right here," Li Lizhi said, pouting aggrievedly with a blink, pointing her delicate finger at her ankle.

Seeing this, Li Shi-min turned his gaze to Li Yi and hastily ordered, "Official Li, hurry over and check Xiao Wu to see if she's injured anywhere!"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Although Li Yi harbored doubts in his heart, he hurried over promptly, squatted down at once, gently pinched Princess Li Lizhi's ankle, and asked, "Your Highness, does it hurt?"

"Ouch, it hurts... hurt, hurt, hurt... Li Bo'an, be a little more gentle..." Li Lizhi squinted, her mouth twitching slightly as she acted spoiled before the imperial couple, "Imperial Father, Imperial Mother, it hurts..."

That demeanor truly made it seem as though she was in agonizing pain.

Believing that Princess Li Lizhi had genuinely injured her ankle, Li Yi frowned slightly and, with a solemn expression, suggested, "Your Majesty, Your Ladyship, the wind outside is rather biting. Your humble subject suggests we first help the Princess back to her quarters."

"Mm, that is an excellent idea!" With a grave expression, Li Shi-min hastily instructed Linlang, "Linlang, quickly help the Princess back to her residence."

"Yes, Your Majesty, Your Ladyship." Linlang nodded in acknowledgment and immediately supported Princess Li Lizhi with both hands, heading toward the Fifth Princess's residence.

Li Shi-min hurried to follow as well, preparing to go along, but no sooner had he lifted his foot than he was grabbed by the arm by Empress Zhangsun.

Before Li Shi-min could even speak, Empress Zhangsun instructed Li Yi nearby, "Li Bo'an, quickly follow along and examine the Princess's condition."

"Yes, Your Ladyship." Li Yi was momentarily stunned, but he bowed to the imperial couple and hastened to catch up.

At this moment, seeing that Li Yi had quickly followed them and that there was no one else around, Li Shi-min paused his steps, looked toward Empress Zhangsun, and asked, "Guanyinbi, what is it? Why did you hold me back?"

Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but purse her lips in a smile and said, "Erlang, could it be that you... still don't understand?"

Li Shi-min was slightly stunned inwardly, then blinked his eyes, looked at Empress Zhangsun in utter confusion, and asked out of sheer curiosity, "Guanyinbi, what... what is this all about?"

"Erlang." Empress Zhangsun shook her head with a wry smile before saying, "Our little Xiao Wu has grown up, and she's actually resorting to trickery right in front of the two of us."

"Trickery?" Li Shi-min was startled on the spot; the more he listened to Empress Zhangsun's words, the more baffled he felt.

Yet, regardless, he was a man of meticulous mind.

After only a brief moment of contemplation, Li Shi-min suddenly understood, a look of sudden realization dawning upon him as he stared at Empress Zhangsun and asked, "Guanyinbi, are you saying... our Xiao Wu's foot isn't sprained at all? That she faked it?"

Empress Zhangsun smiled and nodded without speaking.

"Hmph... since when did this little Xiao Wu of ours become so mischievous?" Li Shi-min muttered softly, finding himself unable to read the situation.

Seeing this, Empress Zhangsun shook her head and smiled again before solemnly and directly reminding him, "Erlang, it seems it is time we found Xiao Wu a match for marriage."

"But Xiao Wu is currently in the very prime of her youth!" Li Shi-min said in astonishment.

Empress Zhangsun took a deep breath, glared at Li Shi-min with a look of exasperation, and said, "Erlang, could it be that you haven't noticed our Xiao Wu is utterly devoted to this Li Bo'an?"

"This..." The more Li Shi-min listened, the more alarmed he became. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Since when has our Xiao Wu been utterly devoted to that stinky brat Li Bo'an?"

Even the mere thought of it brought a sense of sour jealousy to Li Shi-min.

Xiao Wu was the apple of his eye, after all.

Li Shi-min already doted on Li Lizhi endlessly; never had he imagined that his own precious Xiao Wu would harbor such devotion toward Li Yi.

"This matter can be discussed later!" Li Shi-min flatly refused, refusing to dwell on it further.

Yet after only a moment, his brow twitched, and Li Shi-min continued, "Besides, Guanyinbi, you're well aware that Keming's younger sister is already betrothed to that stinky brat Li Bo'an."

"This concubine is naturally aware of that," Empress Zhangsun said with a smile.

"Then why bring this up with me?" Li Shi-min demanded, crossing his hands behind his back with some displeasure.

"Heh..." Empress Zhangsun was instantly amused. She pursed her lips and said solemnly, "Erlang, prior to this, this concubine had intended to betroth Xiao Wu to Zhangsun Chong."

Li Shi-min turned his gaze to Empress Zhangsun, maintaining a silent demeanor as he waited for her to continue.

Seeing this, Empress Zhangsun smiled and proceeded with a serious tone, "However, I heard that Zhangsun Chong has always been fond of frequenting the Pingkang quarters. Not long ago, because a courtesan praised Li Bo'an's poetry and prose to high heaven, he grew fiercely jealous."

"He secretly sent his household servants to beat Li Bo'an up to vent his anger, but to his surprise, he ended up getting beaten up by Li Yi's men instead."

"In the end, it was our Xiao Wu who stepped forward and helped Li Bo'an handle the matter!"

At this point, Empress Zhangsun shook her head with a sigh. Although the rest remained unsaid, her intent had been thoroughly conveyed.

Upon hearing this, Li Shi-min frowned slightly and muttered in secret annoyance, "Guanyinbi, this simply proves that this stinky brat Li Bo'an is no good man either!"

"..." Empress Zhangsun was struck dumb.

She had not expected that Li Shi-min today would act as though he had just emerged from a vat of vinegar, radiating a pungent aroma of jealousy from head to toe.

"Ahem..." Giving two awkward coughs, Empress Zhangsun asked with a wry smile, "Erlang, are you jealous? Are you reluctant to see our Xiao Wu marry?"

"Naturally I am reluctant!" Li Shi-min declared outright with an air of absolute righteousness.

Then, his expression suddenly darkened as he looked at Empress Zhangsun with utmost seriousness and asked, "Guanyinbi, could it be that you are willing to let our Xiao Wu marry away?"

"..."

Ahem, the New Year is approaching, and with family visiting, there is no time to write at night, so I can only manage during the daytime. The next chapter will be written tonight.

(End of this chapter)