Chapter 60 Temporarily Returning to the Modern Era
As the time was ripe, good news came from the Eastern Palace—Consort Wu had given birth to a healthy son, and both mother and child were safe and sound.
This was Li Chengqian's first son and Li Shimin's first grandson, a momentous occasion. When the news spread, the court and the public celebrated, and Li Shimin was overjoyed, issuing an edict to richly reward everyone in the Eastern Palace and personally bestowing a name upon his eldest grandson.
"Li Xiang." When Li Shimin announced the name at the court assembly, his eyes were full of satisfaction. "Xiang means symbol and aura. I hope that this child can symbolize the future aura of our Great Tang Dynasty and become a pillar of the state after Chengqian."
Upon hearing the name, the court officials showered it with praise. Li Chengqian knelt to express his gratitude, his excitement evident. Although Wu Meiniang was weak after childbirth, she also felt deeply honored to learn that her son had been personally named by the emperor.
However, deep within the palace, the child's birth stirred up undercurrents. While Consorts Zheng, Lu, and Xiao outwardly offered their congratulations, they each harbored their own thoughts. Wu Zetian, already favored, now held an even more secure position in the Eastern Palace after giving birth to her eldest son. Meanwhile, the other consorts remained childless.
Li Shimin naturally understood these subtleties. One afternoon, he went to Qixia Garden and chatted with Wang Yi over tea.
"It is a good thing that Wu has given birth to Chengqian's eldest son." Li Shimin put down his teacup and sighed softly, "But I am worried that the other concubines in the Eastern Palace will feel resentful because of this."
Wang Yi refilled his tea: "Your Majesty's considerations are thorough. However, I believe that as long as His Highness the Crown Prince acts fairly and His Majesty the Empress provides proper guidance, the Eastern Palace should be safe."
"I hope so." Li Shimin nodded, then suddenly remembered something, "By the way, there is another matter I would like to discuss with you today."
"Your Majesty, please speak."
“Wu has rendered meritorious service in giving birth to a son, and I wish to promote her rank from Liangyuan to Liangdi,” Li Shimin said. “However, there are already three Liangdi in the Eastern Palace: Zheng, Lu, and Xiao. If Wu is promoted to Liangdi, there will be four Liangdi, which is a bit too many.”
Wang Yi understood his concerns. The rank of Liangdi was a high-ranking position among the concubines in the Eastern Palace, and there were usually only two or three of them. Setting up four would not only exceed the prescribed limit, but could also lead to internal strife.
“Your Majesty, I believe it would be better to establish a higher rank above Liangdi,” Wang Yi suggested. “For example, ‘Crown Prince’s Consort,’ which would be equivalent to a Prince’s Consort and higher than Liangdi. This would both highlight Wu’s contributions and not disrupt the existing structure of the Eastern Palace.”
Li Shimin's eyes lit up: "That's a good idea. The Crown Prince's concubine... well, let's make Wu a Crown Prince's concubine and grant her residence in Yichun Palace."
"Your Majesty is wise."
With the matter settled, Li Shimin was in a good mood. He looked at Wang Yi and suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, you've done so much for Chengqian and the Crown Prince, is there anything you want?"
Wang Yi's heart skipped a beat. An opportunity had arrived.
She put down her teacup and said softly, "Your Majesty, I do have a request, but... it's a little difficult to say."
"Speak freely," Li Shimin said gently. "As long as it is within my power, I will certainly grant your request."
Wang Yi rose, walked to the window, and gazed at the ginkgo leaves falling in the courtyard. She slowly spoke, "Does Your Majesty still remember that I once said that I had damaged my foundation by taking a secret medicine from my sect in my early years, and that I might have difficulty having children in this life?" (Wang Yi couldn't say that she got the medicine from Empress Zhangsun, otherwise she would be suspected of sowing discord between the emperor and empress. She said it was her sect's secret medicine. Li Shimin might know this, but he didn't want to clash with Empress Zhangsun, and besides, it was indeed Wang Yi who wanted it.)
Li Shimin's expression darkened: "I remember. It is I who have wronged you..."
“It’s not Your Majesty’s fault.” Wang Yi turned around, tears welling up in her eyes at the right moment. “This was my own choice. It’s just that… recently, while cultivating, I often felt restless. When I observed the stars at night, I saw a female star enter my arms, as if she were destined to be with me.”
She paused, her voice even softer: "My sect teaches that if we meet a destined person, we should bind our names together and form a bond. Therefore, I wish to ask Your Majesty to bestow a girl's name upon me, so that in the future, if we are destined to meet that child, I can give her this name, thus fulfilling this bond."
These words sound mysterious, but given Wang Yi's status as the "Guardian of the Nation," it is quite reasonable for him to discuss matters of astrology and destiny.
Li Shimin, as expected, had no doubts. He pondered for a moment and asked, "What kind of name do you want?"
"Fresh and elegant, with a beautiful meaning, is fine," Wang Yi said. "Just like the names His Majesty gave to the princesses—Lizhi, Chengyang, and Jinyang—they are all excellent."
When Li Shimin mentioned his daughters, his eyes filled with affection: "Lizhi is indeed as beautiful as her name suggests. Chengyang is gentle and graceful, while Jinyang is lively and vivacious. They each have their own merits."
He pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "If we're talking about something fresh and elegant... how about 'Qingyun'? It's elegant and graceful, like the tinkling of a spring, like the melodious sound of a zither."
Wang Yi's heart stirred. Qingyun, Li Qingyun. Indeed, a good name.
But she didn't agree immediately. Instead, she continued to guide the conversation: "The name Your Majesty has chosen is naturally excellent. However... I would like to prepare another one. After all, fate is unpredictable, and what if there is more than one?"
Li Shimin laughed: "You certainly think long-term. Very well, then I'll think of another one."
He pondered for a long time, then suddenly said, "How about 'Qingyi'? Rippling waves, tranquility leads to far-reaching vision."
Qingyun and Qingyi are both elegant and refined names that suit a girl's temperament.
Wang Yi was satisfied, but maintained a degree of composure on the surface: "Both names are excellent, but... if I may be so bold as to ask for another one?"
Li Shimin raised an eyebrow: "One more?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me." Wang Yi bowed. "Last night, during my meditation, I vaguely saw three stars align and fall into my arms. I fear there are three destined people among them, so I wish to prepare an extra name, just in case."
The reason was somewhat far-fetched, but Li Shimin was in a good mood today and felt sorry for Wang Yi's regret of "not being able to have children," so he did not investigate further.
“Three stars aligned…” he murmured. “Then this third name should match the first two. Qingyun, Qingyi… how about Qingzhi? Zhi means fragrant grass, so Qingzhi means elegant fragrant grass, implying noble character.”
Qingyun, Qingyi, Qingzhi.
Three names, a complete set.
Wang Yi was overjoyed and bowed solemnly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing these names upon me. I will cherish these three names."
Li Shimin helped her up and said gently, "It's just a few names, why be so serious? If it can really help you build good relationships, that would be a good thing."
Wang Yi nestled into his arms and whispered, "Your Majesty is always so good to me."
At this moment, she felt both the joy of her triumph and a faint sense of guilt. She had lied to obtain the names for her daughters, but ultimately, it was a deception of Li Shimin.
But she had no choice. She couldn't tell Li Shimin the truth, she couldn't let him know that they had three daughters outside the palace. That would have unpredictable consequences, possibly destroying everything she had now, or dragging her daughters into the palace intrigues.
"I'm sorry..." she murmured to herself, "but this is to protect them, and to protect you."
Li Shimin, unaware of her thoughts, simply held her gently, savoring the tranquility.
Outside the window, the autumn wind rustled the fallen leaves.
---
With a name in hand, Wang Yi began planning her return to the modern world. But she couldn't leave immediately; she had to wait until Wu Zetian recovered from childbirth and until the compilation of the "Kuodi Zhi" was on track.
During this time, she continued to keep a close eye on the movements of the Crown Prince's Palace and the Prince of Wei's residence.
After Wu Zetian was promoted to the rank of Crown Prince's concubine, her position in the Eastern Palace became even more secure. Although she needed to recuperate after childbirth, she still controlled the affairs of the Eastern Palace through her maids and confidantes. Although Consorts Zheng, Lu, and Xiao were resentful, they dared not openly oppose this concubine who had just given birth to her eldest son and received imperial honors.
Li Chengqian relied on Wu Meiniang even more. He not only frequently visited his wife and children at Yichun Palace, but also involved Wu Meiniang in handling more affairs of the Eastern Palace. Wu Meiniang lived up to his expectations, managing Yichun Palace in an orderly manner and providing Li Chengqian with advice and strategies.
On one occasion, Li Chengqian was troubled by how to balance the relationships among the concubines in the Eastern Palace. Wu Meiniang suggested: "Your Highness does not need to deliberately balance them. Just be fair in your dealings. For Consort Zheng, you can consult her more on internal affairs management; for Consort Lu, you can discuss accounting and calculation; for Consort Xiao, you can study the classics, history and laws more. Let them each use their strengths, and they will naturally have no time to fight."
After Li Chengqian adopted her advice, the results were indeed remarkable. Consort Zheng focused on domestic affairs, Consort Lu managed the businesses, and Consort Xiao taught the palace servants etiquette. With each person having their own tasks, conflicts actually decreased.
Upon learning this, Wang Yi admired Wu Meiniang even more. This woman was not only intelligent, but also knew how to manage people.
Meanwhile, the compilation of the "Kuodi Zhi" was also progressing steadily. The three-way discussions held three times a month became a subtle arena for power struggles between the brothers Li Chengqian and Li Tai.
Li Tai, with the help of the scholars in the Literature Institute, had an advantage in textual research and classical text citation; while Li Chengqian, relying on Wang Yi's guidance and the practical materials compiled by Wu Zetian, was superior in terms of practicality and operability.
Wang Yi played the role of mediator. She affirmed Li Tai's academic rigor while supporting Li Chengqian's pragmatic approach, guiding the two to focus their energy on the compilation itself rather than competing with each other.
Gradually, the framework of this gazetteer became clearer and its distinctive features became more and more apparent—it possessed both academic depth and practical value. After reviewing part of the initial draft, Li Shimin greatly praised it, believing it would be a "masterpiece for posterity."
Both Li Chengqian and Li Tai received praise from their father as a result, and their relationship became more harmonious on the surface, but the underlying tension remained.
Wang Yi knew that this balance was fragile. It could be broken once she left, or if external forces intervened.
Therefore, she had to make some arrangements before she left.
First, she strengthened her relationship with Empress Zhangsun. By regularly treating the Empress's health and discussing health preservation, she not only solidified the Empress's trust in her but also indirectly influenced the Empress's attitude towards her two sons.
Empress Zhangsun was a perceptive woman, and she naturally saw the subtle relationship between her two sons. On one occasion, she said to Wang Yi, "Chengqian and Qingque are both good children, but... their personalities are different. Chengqian is pragmatic, while Qingque values literature. This is complementary, but if not handled properly, it may also create rifts."
Wang Yi seized the opportunity to say, “Your Majesty is right. Therefore, I believe that the two princes should each give full play to their strengths. His Highness the Crown Prince should continue to handle practical affairs, while His Highness the Prince of Wei should focus on education. As long as His Majesty and Your Majesty guide them properly, the brothers will surely be able to work together.”
These words struck a chord with Empress Zhangsun. She truly hoped that her two sons would get along well and work together to assist their father.
Secondly, Wang Yi began cultivating reliable informants within the Eastern Palace and the Prince of Wei's residence. These weren't spies, but rather channels for timely information transmission. This way, even if she temporarily left, she could still keep track of general movements.
Finally, she devised a set of "guidelines" for Wu Zetian—not written documents, but rather a series of lessons learned in governing the country and how to maintain clarity and balance in complex environments, subtly imparted through daily conversations.
Wu Meiniang studied with great eagerness. She knew this was a rare opportunity, a sign of Wang Yi's trust and cultivation of her.
"Why is the Master so kind to me?" Wu Meiniang couldn't help but ask once.
Wang Yi looked at her and said calmly, "Because you have the ability and the heart. The future of the Tang Dynasty needs women like you."
These words stirred a surge of warmth in Wu Meiniang's heart. She solemnly replied, "I will certainly not fail to live up to your expectations, Master."
After everything was arranged, Wang Yi felt it was time to return to the modern world.
When she goes back this time, she will officially name her youngest daughter – Li Qingyun, Li Qingyi, or Li Qingzhi. Which of the three names will she choose?
Perhaps we could ask the children for their opinions.
Three daughters, three names, a connection that transcends time and space is about to be completed.
Wang Yi opened her eyes and saw her familiar modern bedroom. Outside the window, the city lights shone brightly.
She got up and went to the nursery. Chenchen was sleeping soundly in her crib, while Lizhi and Shuyao were also asleep in the next room.
Gently stroking her youngest daughter's cheek, Wang Yi whispered, "Chenchen, Mommy brought you back a name. Li Qingyun, Li Qingyi, Li Qingzhi... Which one do you like?"
The baby smacked its lips in its sleep, as if in response.
Wang Yi smiled. Whichever she chose, it was a blessing from her father.
That's enough.
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