The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 221: Welcome the Sacred Heart
"Yes, considering the time, a lot of things should have happened." Li Heng sighed, and after a moment of silence, he said, "This time I came to Chang'an, it coincides with the Qianqiu Festival, and I need to prepare a birthday gift for my father."

The fifth day of the eighth month is Li Longji’s birthday. In the seventeenth year of Kaiyuan, all officials submitted a petition requesting that the fifth day of the eighth month be designated as the Qianqiu Festival.

Yang Yuhuan said: "What I can do for you is to adapt the music and dance. I have trained a new group of music and dance troupes, you can take them with you."

Li Ying smiled knowingly and said, "So you've already made preparations."

Yang Yuhuan said, "After Sister Mu Jin learned how to make ice, she also led people to brew some special wine. When the time comes, you and I will present it to the Saint together."

Li Ying was a little surprised and asked Zhang Mujin in confusion, "Can you make wine?"

Zhang Mujin said, "Sometimes you need to use wine as a guide when taking medicine, so I learned a little bit. But it's not my credit, it was all led by my elder sister."

Upon hearing this, Li Heng looked at Yang Yuhuan.

"I only arranged the staff and materials, and didn't help much." Yang Yuhuan smiled, "Although these can please the saint for a while, they are not the best birthday gifts after all."

"So what do you think is the best birthday gift?" Li Ying asked.

Yang Yuhuan said: "After you take over Beiting, you will completely control the Yili region in the hands of the Tang Dynasty. The Western Regions will then send letters of congratulations and pay tribute to request the canonization. This will be the best birthday gift."

"You are really smart and good at speaking." Li Ying said with emotion.

Yang Yuhuan smiled and said, "I have ordered people to prepare the fine spices, jade, rare treasures and other things sent by the countries in the Western Regions. My husband can take them back to present to my mother."

"When I was away at the battlefield, you took care of all matters big and small at the rear, from the affairs of the palace to the weddings, funerals, illnesses and joys of my generals and officials. You did everything properly. Now that I am returning to Chang'an, you have prepared everything so carefully. I can't live without you anymore." Li Ying said, reaching out to stroke Yang Yuhuan's beautiful face.

Yang Yuhuan said: "It is my honor to be able to share your worries, my lord."

……

Two days later, Li Ying set out with a large group, accompanied by Zhang Guangsheng, Aqisi and He Jin.

The group arrived at the city of Chang'an in a mighty procession.

Coming from the Western Regions, there are two gates to enter Chang'an, one is Kaiyuan Gate and the other is Jinguang Gate.

Li Ying entered through the Jinguan Gate. As soon as he entered Chang'an City, passers-by on the road all looked at him.

Someone who knew Li Ying shouted, "It's His Royal Highness Prince Shou."

When someone mentioned Li Heng's name, passers-by gathered around and rushed to watch. Some brave ones even greeted Li Heng from a distance.

Seeing this situation, Li Heng couldn't help but feel a little confused.

When he returned to Chang'an before, the people were not enthusiastic about him.

However, although he was not clear about the reason at the moment, Li Heng still dismounted and told the guards not to stop the people, and greeted them cordially.

Seeing that Li Heng was so approachable, the people boldly started chatting with him.

Li Heng walked and chatted with the people until they came to Xishi Street, where he met Li Lin who had also just returned.

Compared with Li Heng, Li Lin's side was empty except for the people who accompanied him.

In comparison, Li Ying probably understood why he was so popular.

Although he had made great military achievements in the past, the Tang Dynasty was used to winning, and everyone thought that it was natural for the Tang Dynasty to win. Now with Li Lin as a contrast, people suddenly realized how important the commander-in-chief’s influence on the war was.

Then Li Heng's reputation as the "virtuous king" and the "invincible god of war" became more and more famous in Chang'an.

Moreover, he inherited the genes of Wu Huifei and was very handsome. His years of war experience had added some heroic spirit. In addition, he was approachable, so everyone liked him even more. Some girls were attracted to him. Li Lin felt disappointed and angry when he saw that Li Heng was surrounded by thousands of people, but even Li Heng did not come to greet him.

Li Heng came up to Li Lin and bowed, saying, "Greetings, brother."

Li Lin returned the greeting very reluctantly and said, "Eighteenth brother, you are so impressive!"

Li Ying was about to reply modestly when Gao Lishi came up to them and said, "The emperor has given orders that Prince Shou Li Ying, Princess Li Ling, and Aqisi of Bactria come to see the emperor."

Gao Lishi read the oral order and said to Li Heng with a smile, "Your Highness Prince Shou, please come into the palace quickly. The Saint knew you would arrive today and has been waiting for you since early morning."

Li Ying said, "Thank you, old man."

Gao Lishi is now also in a high position with great power. The Crown Prince, who is in the Spring Palace, calls him Second Brother, all the princes and princesses call him "Aweng", and the princes-in-law call him "Ye".

Gao Lishi was delighted when he heard Li Heng's address, but he still said, "The Saint is so kind to me, how dare I accept such an address."

Li Lin, who was standing by, saw that Gao Lishi and Li Heng had left him aside, so he interrupted and asked, "Didn't the emperor summon me?"

Gao Lishi said politely: "Your Highness Prince Yong, the Saint did not convey your oral instructions."

Li Longji did not follow the regulations and let Aqisi write a letter before summoning her, and he also did not say that he wanted to see Li Lin. This made Li Lin even more angry, and he could not help but turn away on his horse.

Li Heng watched Li Lin leave before telling the others to stay in his mansion temporarily. He then took Li Ling and Aqisi and followed Gao Lishi into the palace, all the way to Hua'e Tower.

In Hua'e Tower, Li Longji and Consort Wu Huifei sat at the head of the hall.

Li Ying greeted them head on, with tears in his eyes, and said, "I greet my father, the emperor, and my mother, the consort."

"It's been a long time since we last met. Shibalang looks much healthier." Li Longji personally helped Li Heng up, looking kind and gentle.

Li Ying said: "All thanks to the blessing of the Emperor."

Li Longji asked Li Heng to take a seat, then picked up Li Ling and asked Li Ling, "Do you recognize me?"

"I recognize you." Li Ling said in a childish voice, "You are Weng Weng. Grandpa said that Ling'er was named by Weng Weng."

"So good!" Li Longji carried Li Ling back to the throne and said to Li Ying, "Tell me about what happened in the past two years."

"Yes."

Li Heng followed his advice and gave Li Longji a brief summary of the affairs of Anxi, Beiting and the countries in the Western Regions in appropriate detail.

Li Longji nodded repeatedly after hearing this. After Li Heng finished speaking, he said, "The Qianqiu Festival will be here in a few days. You can celebrate the Qianqiu Festival in Chang'an before returning."

"Yes." Li Heng responded, presented a memorial, and said, "Father, I have something to report."

"Oh?" Li Longji was a little surprised that Li Heng submitted a memorial as soon as they met. He put Li Ling down and said to Li Ling, "Ling'er, go and get the memorial."

Li Ling obediently took the memorial from Li Heng and respectfully presented it to Li Longji with both hands.

Li Longji was quite satisfied with Li Ling's proper manners. He silently took the memorial, took a look at it, and then became even more satisfied.

Because what Li Heng wrote in his memorial was not about political affairs, but a request to Li Longji to change the Qianqiu Festival to the Tianchang Festival.

As for the reasons for the change, Li Ying discussed several reasons, including that Tianchang was taken from the "Tao Te Ching", it has a good meaning, and it is in line with the change of era name to Tianbao, etc.

Of course, the reason why Li Longji was satisfied was not only because of the sufficient reasons in the memorial, but more importantly, it showed that Li Heng had always been thinking about him.

(End of this chapter)