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Chapter 257
Chapter 257
Chapter 257
In the days following Li Er’s decision to grant the northwest region to Su Li, Li Er had not personally visited. Instead, Prime Minister Zhangsun Wuji frequently came to the princess’s residence. He brought presents, asked about his well-being, and conversed casually. Over time, he managed to inquire about Su Li’s plans for his departure to govern his newly assigned fief in the northwest. Su Li saw through his intentions and responded coolly, saying, “Inform His Majesty that I will leave Changan on my own within two months.”
Zhangsun Wuji’s gift-giving and small talk were merely a facade. His true purpose was to determine when Su Li intended to depart. When Su Li saw through his intentions and fixed him with a stern gaze, he blushed and refrained from explaining that His Majesty was not pressuring him.
Having accomplished his mission, Zhangsun Wuji did not dare to linger and voluntarily took his leave. Small beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he exited the princess’s residence. In the presence of Duke Yongle, Zhangsun Wuji always felt like a sword was hanging over his head. After leaving the princess’s residence, Zhangsun Wuji promptly informed Li Er about Su Li’s plan to depart from Changan in two months. Li Er knew that Su Li would be leaving, and his objectives had been met. There was no need to hurry at this moment. “We can wait for two months,” Li Er acknowledged. In reality, he had no other choice but to wait for these two months.
During these two months, news of Duke Yongle, Su Li, leaving the Central Plains and heading to his northwest fief spread throughout the entire Tang Dynasty. Almost every citizen of the Tang Dynasty knew that this prince, who had taken practical actions for the people, was departing from the Tang Dynasty.
Inside Li Daozong’s residence, the Princess of Jiangxia, Li Xueyan, sat by the window, gazing at the nearby sky. She appeared drained and worn out. There was an illness for which there was no cure—lovesickness. Li Xueyan still longed for Duke Yongle, Su Li. Despite her seemingly composed exterior, her heart was tumultuous like a raging flood.
At this moment, Li Daozong, the Prince of Jiangxia, entered the room. Sitting by the window, he looked at Li Xueyan, sighed softly, and then asked cautiously, “Xueyan, you are skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. How about Father finding you a talented suitor from Jiangxia?”
Li Daozong had relaxed the criteria for selecting a son-in-law from the initial requirement of being a suitable match in terms of social status to simply being a talented man. After all, from Li Daozong’s perspective, there was no future between Li Xueyan and Duke Yongle, Su Li.
“Instead of isolating yourself like this, perhaps finding a new love could help you forget about Duke Yongle,” Li Xueyan didn’t respond and continued to sit listlessly by the window.
“What if Father finds you a man who closely resembles Duke Yongle?” Li Daozong inquired.
Only when Duke Yongle was mentioned, some light return to Li Xueyan’s vacant eyes. She turned and said, “Duke Yongle is Duke Yongle. No one can replace him.”
Seeing Li Xueyan’s deep affection, Li Daozong couldn’t hold back and gently reproached her, “Xueyan, you should come to your senses! His Majesty has elevated Duke Yongle to the rank of a parallel character prince and granted him the northwest as his fief. In two months, Duke Yongle will leave the Central Plains to govern his fief in the northwest. Do you truly believe there’s still a possibility between you and Duke Yongle…”
Adding Duke Yongle’s departure from the Central Plains, two people who had no chance of being together in the first place. They would be even further apart.
Li Xueyan suddenly widened her eyes, looking at Li Daozong in disbelief, struggling to digest the information. She murmured, “Duke Yongle is going to the northwest?”
Li Xueyan had been trying hard to suppress her feelings for Duke Yongle, but now, upon hearing of his departure, she could no longer control herself. While she didn’t expect Duke Yongle to marry or even take her as a concubine, she simply wished to be closer to him. She yearned to observe and share the same land with him from a distance. That would have been enough for her.
But now, with Duke Yongle heading to the northwest, she wouldn’t even have the chance to watch him from afar. At this moment, a daring idea crossed Li Xueyan’s mind.
“Father!” Hearing a soft call, Li Daozong looked at Li Xueyan before expressing satisfaction, “I’m glad you’ve come to terms with it.”
Suddenly, Li Xueyan knelt in front of Li Daozong, taking him by surprise. “Xueyan, what are you doing?” Li Daozong asked.
“Father, forgive your ungrateful daughter! I… I want to go to the northwest!” Li Xueyan declared with unwavering determination.
Seeing the determination in his daughter’s eyes, Li Daozong was both surprised and stern. “You’re being foolish and senseless!” He knew there would be no fruitful outcome, yet she wanted to rush headlong to the northwest.
“Father, I know there’s no future for me and Duke Yongle. I just… I just want to be closer to him. I don’t dare to hope for more. Just a little bit closer is enough,” Li Xueyan pleaded.
Li Daozong usually accommodated Li Xueyan’s wishes, allowing her to follow her path. However, in this matter, he firmly disagreed with her going to the northwest. “This matter is non-negotiable. I won’t agree to it!” Li Daozong huffed in anger.
Apart from the hardships of the northwest, he was also concerned about whether Li Xueyan, who had been pampered since childhood, could endure such harsh conditions. He couldn’t bear to watch his daughter suffer in the impoverished northwest, nor could he stand by and watch her make one mistake after another.
Despite Li Daozong’s staunch opposition, Li Xueyan did not abandon her desire to go to the northwest. She argued firmly, “Father if it weren’t for Duke Yongle, I would still be in Tubo!” Her words shook Li Daozong.
In the past, when Li Xueyan was married off to Tubo in a political marriage, everyone, including Li Daozong himself, believed it was a done deal. It was Duke Yongle, Su Li, who had intervened, persuading Li Er and defeating the Tubo forces, which had become a thorn in the side of the Tang Dynasty.
At that time, Li Daozong couldn’t prevent Li Xueyan from being sent for a political marriage, which had been a source of guilt and regret for him ever since. If it weren’t for Duke Yongle’s intervention, Li Xueyan would have already been married into Tubo, enduring the foreign land’s hardships, with her dreams of poetry and beauty buried deep within her heart.
Li Daozong’s words seemed to age him ten years. “You’re still holding Father responsible…” Li Xueyan’s words had a profound impact on Li Daozong. He couldn’t have prevented her from marrying Tubo in the past, so why should he stop her from going to the northwest now?
Li Xueyan fell silent and refrained from directly responding. Blaming? In truth, she didn’t blame Li Daozong, but she couldn’t voice it, fearing that it might lead to further opposition to her journey to the northwest.
Li Daozong paced back and forth, then let out a long sigh. “Have you… made up your mind? If so, then go.” With these words, Li Daozong no longer opposed Li Xueyan’s decision to go to the northwest and left her chamber, leaving her to her own devices.