Chapter 89: Siding with Outsiders

Seeing that Li Shimin had once again shifted his target, this time from Princess Gaoyang to Empress Zhangsun, and was now putting on a performance right in front of him, Li Yi could hardly stop himself from wanting to make a few wry remarks.

But then he thought of the saying: if you do not court death, you will not die. So Li Yi decided to bear it for now.

His life was what mattered most.

Thus, Li Yi cupped his hands and bowed slightly, forcing a smile as he said, “If Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress would kindly make the matter clear, this humble minister will listen with all respect.”

Only then did Empress Zhangsun withdraw her smiling gaze from Li Yi.

Turning to Li Shimin beside her with a faint smile, she pressed her lips together and said, “Your Majesty, since that is so, then I shall speak plainly.”

“Go ahead,” Li Shimin said with a smile.

Empress Zhangsun no longer beat about the bush and said directly, “I was wondering whether it might be best to have Lord Li copy the Tai Chi manual here in the Imperial Study.”

“That way, Lord Li would not need to make the trip back and forth, and we would not waste any more time.”

After making this suggestion, Empress Zhangsun smiled softly and looked from Li Shimin to Li Yi, finally letting her gaze rest on Li Yi.

“It is just that I do not know whether this selfish thought of mine would place Lord Li in an awkward position,” she said, her tone seemingly full of apology.

Li Shimin, however, remained silent in response. He did not hastily interject, but instead passed the matter to Li Yi and let him answer.

How could Li Yi not understand the meaning behind the couple’s words?

They were too embarrassed to ask openly, so they had deliberately taken this roundabout route to urge him to write out the Tai Chi manual as soon as possible, in hopes of curing Empress Zhangsun’s chronic ailment sooner.

Li Yi could understand their anxiety.

Only, in his view, it was merely a trivial matter, hardly worth such a circuitous approach.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress,” Li Yi said with a smile, cupping his hands, “this humble minister thinks Her Majesty’s idea is excellent. It would also allow me to take a little shortcut and make two fewer trips. If Your Majesty permits it, I shall draw out the manual at once.”

Keeping his head slightly lowered, Li Yi maintained a respectful bearing, his face showing not the slightest trace of displeasure.

Seeing this, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun were overjoyed, and could not help exchanging a smile and a nod. But at that very moment, Li Lizhi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

“Father Emperor, Mother Empress.”

With a light laugh, Li Lizhi stepped forward from the side and said softly, “I happen to have a Tai Chi manual here as well, also drawn by Li Boan. May I present it to Mother Empress?”

At once, Li Shimin was stunned.

Empress Zhangsun was stunned too.

Even Li Yi was left dumbfounded by Li Lizhi’s sudden words.

The air in the Imperial Study seemed to fall faintly still.

Li Shimin had never expected that just as Li Yi had agreed to transcribe it, his own youngest daughter would suddenly turn her elbow outward. He felt both exasperated and amused.

Empress Zhangsun was the same.

She studied Li Lizhi closely and saw that her daughter’s face had suddenly grown a little flushed. With her head slightly bowed, Li Lizhi appeared somewhat absent-minded, her large eyes shifting uncertainly as though she herself did not know what she was thinking.

Li Yi was equally taken aback.

He had never imagined that Li Lizhi would suddenly speak up for him at such a moment.

Though it was nothing serious, it still startled him greatly.

“This feels odd. Why is the princess helping me speak up all day today? And why has she turned red again?” Li Yi wondered in surprise.

No matter how he guessed, he still could not fathom Li Lizhi’s thoughts.

Seeing the atmosphere grow quiet and awkward, Li Yi quickly bowed to Li Lizhi and said, “This humble minister thanks the princess for her kind intention. It would not take me much time to copy it now.”

Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi immediately rolled her eyes in utter speechlessness.

“What an elm-headed fool,” she cursed inwardly at Li Yi, no longer bothering to pay him any mind as she simply turned her head away.

That sudden change in Li Lizhi’s expression left Li Yi staring in bewilderment, completely at a loss.

It was only because of Li Yi’s words that the silence was finally broken.

Yet at this moment, it was no longer proper for the imperial couple to have him copy it.

So Li Shimin suddenly slapped his thigh lightly and said in realization, “Since Little Five already has one, Lord Li, there is no need for you to write another. One copy is sufficient.”

Empress Zhangsun, now recovered, nodded repeatedly in agreement. “Your Majesty speaks truly. It was rather abrupt of me.”

Seeing this, Li Yi quickly cupped his hands and replied, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, those words are far too serious. Tomorrow, this humble minister will bring two copies of the manual and present them to Your Majesty and the princess.”

Li Shimin paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded. “Since you are so insistent, then I shall trouble you with it, my dear minister.”

After that, Li Shimin said no more about the matter, as though nothing at all had happened before, pretending complete ignorance.

Li Yi knew how to read the room as well, so he smiled and replied, “This is this humble minister’s duty,” and said no more.

He simply stood quietly to one side, keeping silent like a wooden post.

After that, the atmosphere in the Imperial Study became much more harmonious.

Now that this little episode had passed, there was naturally no need for Li Yi to continue teaching Empress Zhangsun the Tai Chi techniques.

Using the excuse that night had fallen and she felt somewhat unwell, Empress Zhangsun ordered Li Lizhi to support her as they left the Imperial Study together.

Only Li Shimin and Li Yi remained in the room.

Thinking of Li Lizhi’s earlier act of helping Li Yi, Li Shimin could not help finding it rather amusing, and inwardly chuckled, thinking, “Never would I have expected that Little Five, still so young and unmarried, would actually speak up for Li Yi!”

How could Li Shimin fail to see Li Lizhi’s feelings?

However, he did not bring it up rashly.

After a brief silence, Li Shimin suddenly remembered the matter of the Orleans platter and immediately felt a little hungry.

Thus, he began chatting idly with Li Yi.

“Lord Li, I have heard that the cuisine at Drunken Immortal Tower outside the palace is quite good. Have you ever tried it?”

Li Shimin said it as though he were merely speaking casually.

Li Yi smiled inwardly, instantly understanding what Li Shimin meant. He replied unhurriedly, “This humble minister has indeed had the good fortune to taste it. Your Majesty, the flavor is truly delicious.”

“...”

Hearing this, Li Shimin’s mouth twitched in irritation.

He could hardly wait to issue an order right then for the guards waiting outside to come in, bind Li Yi, and give him a thorough beating to vent his anger.

Had the good fortune to taste it?

The flavor truly delicious?

Li Shimin had tried to ask Li Yi so tactfully, yet Li Yi was actually pretending to be foolish and acting as if he did not know!

Did he really not understand that what he was trying to say was not that at all?

The End