"Finally, having no other choice, I had to sneak out of the pass and go to the grassland tribes outside the pass to exchange some money..."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

"You actually went to the territory of the Hu people just to make pastries for me?"

"Uncle Li, our Tang army is now at its most powerful. The Turks are very respectful to us Tang people and dare not act recklessly at all!"

"Besides, I didn't go alone. I brought several strong men from Sanglin Village with me to give me courage!"

When Li Shimin heard Li Jue say this, he still felt a pang of resentment.

"That won't do either. You're not allowed to do anything so dangerous again!"

"I've accepted your gift. Grandpa is very pleased. You're truly a wonderful grandson of Grandpa's, hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jue immediately took out a few candles from the box, lit them on the cake, and looked at Old Li with anticipation.

"Old Li, you must close your eyes and make a wish before blowing out the candle, and your wish will come true!"

"oh?"

"This thing has such miraculous effects?"

"Then I'll have to give it a try. What wish should I make?"

Li Shimin looked at his eldest grandson and then said with a smile.

"I want to make a wish... for you to be healthy and live a long life!"

"Old Li, you can't speak your wishes out loud, or they won't come true!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately spat, fearing that his unintentional words might shorten his grandson's lifespan. He then closed his eyes again and made a wish that his grandson would grow up healthy and plump, marry and have children soon, and inherit his throne as soon as possible...

Li Shimin made several wishes in one breath before blowing out all the candles.

"Is that all?"

"Uh-huh!"

"The rest is just eating cake. If Mr. Li doesn't like sweet things, he can just have a small bite!"

"Who said I don't like sweets?"

Li Shimin immediately picked up a knife and fork, scooped out a large bite of cake, and put it in his mouth.

"Um?"

"This tastes so wonderful?"

"Covered in cream, the pastry inside is soft, delicious, sweet, and has a unique aroma!"

Li Jue was very happy to see that Old Li liked the cake so much.

"Uncle Li, I know you're busy, so I won't bother you any longer!"

After saying this, Li Jue was about to leave, but Old Li pulled him back.

"Grandson, you still haven't told me when your birthday is?"

"Uncle Li, what do you mean by asking that? Do you also want to give me a birthday present?"

Li Shimin gently pinched his grandson's nose and smiled indulgently.

"You guessed right!"

"Oh, you're really going to give me a gift?"

"Since that's the case, then today is my birthday. Mr. Li, hurry up and give me a present, hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin angrily pinched his grandson's cheek.

"You little rascal, you've come here specifically to trick me out of gifts, haven't you!"

I mean your actual birthday!

"Old Li, my birthday is still a long way off, it won't be until after the New Year..."

"oh?"

"Then I'll give it to you next year!"

As the two were talking, they suddenly heard a commotion outside the door.

Upon hearing the voice, Li Shimin knew that Yuchi Dashan had arrived. He quickly comforted Li Jue, telling him not to run around, and then went out to pull Yuchi Dashan aside.

"Why are you yelling? Just to show off your loud voice!"

"It's not Your Majesty, it's them who won't let me in!"

"Don't you dare call me Your Majesty! If you dare call me Your Majesty again, I'll lock you up in the Dali Temple!"

Why?

"From now on, you are not allowed to say a word. You just need to nod at whatever I say!"

"Oh, oh, oh, then how should this humble subject address Your Majesty?"

"Just call me Old Li!"

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Jingde immediately grinned mischievously.

"Your Majesty, you said it yourself, so I'll really call you Old Li, hehehe..."

"Alright, alright, I'll take you to meet a child in a bit. But you're not allowed to let anything slip in front of this child!"

"middle!"

Before long, Li Shimin led Yuchi Jingde back to the main hall and solemnly introduced him to Li Jue.

"This is your grandfather, Yu. You can just call him Grandpa Yu!"

"Uncle Yu?"

"Old Yu, the kids are calling you, why don't you answer them!"

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Jingde let out a blank "sigh".

In fact, Yuchi Jingde was stunned when he first saw Li Jue. This child looked too much like His Majesty's eldest grandson.

If it weren't for the fact that the child didn't look like he was eight or nine years old, he would have mistaken him for the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife!

"Your Majesty... Old Bi... no, no, Old Li, this child..."

"My newly adopted grandson!"

"Oh oh oh..."

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Jingde immediately understood that His Majesty had found a child who resembled his eldest grandson to soothe his longing for his grandson.

To be honest, this child does look blessed; he looks exactly like Li Chengqian when he was a child...

Just as Yuchi Jingde was lost in thought, Li Shimin suddenly took Li Jue's hand and led him towards him.

"Grandson, this man is a master of the horse lance. If you wish to learn the horse lance, you might as well become his apprentice!"

"ah?"