Peaceful and quiet life
On a late spring afternoon, sunlight streamed through the windows of the Zichen Palace, casting dappled patterns on the floor.
Wu Meiniang leaned against the soft couch, her pregnant belly quite obvious. Li Zhi sat beside the couch, patiently teaching five-year-old Li Hong to identify the seals on the memorials.
“This is the ‘Seal of the Secretariat and the Chancellery’,” Li Zhi pointed to the vermilion seal. “Any matter bearing this seal is an important matter that has been discussed by the prime ministers.”
Li Hong opened his big eyes and gestured in the air with his little hand: "Does it look like the little flower mark that Mother stamped on my calligraphy practice?"
Wu Meiniang chuckled upon hearing this and reached out to ruffle her eldest son's hair: "Pretty much, but Mother's little flower seal can only govern Hong'er, while this seal can govern everyone in the world."
(Inner monologue: This analogy... doesn't seem so bad?)
Three-year-old Li Xian was playing with a specially made wooden carving on the carpet. It was a jigsaw puzzle of the administrative regions of the ten circuits of the Tang Dynasty, made by the Imperial Workshop based on a drawing by Wu Zetian.
He tried so hard to fit the piece from Hebei Province into the position of Hedong Province, his face turning red with anxiety.
"Xian'er," Wu Meiniang gently instructed, "look at that small gap on the side, you need to turn it in a different direction."
Li Xian tried it, and sure enough, it fit perfectly. He happily held up the puzzle piece and exclaimed, "Mother, look! Xian'er has finished it!"
Li Zhi smiled and lifted his second son onto his lap: "My son is so clever. He will surely be able to help his father govern this vast land in the future."
At this moment, the fetus in Wu Meiniang's womb suddenly moved, and she let out a soft "ah".
Li Zhi immediately looked over with concern, and Li Hong also dropped his memorial and ran over, carefully placing his hand on his mother's belly.
"My little brother is moving!" Li Hong exclaimed in surprise.
Li Xian slid down from his father's lap, imitating his older brother by placing his little hand on his father's lap, and said in a childish voice, "Xian'er, be good, I'm your second brother."
(Inner monologue: Is this the joy of family life? It's more reassuring than approving a hundred memorials.)
At dinner time, the table was filled with light dishes suitable for pregnant women.
Emperor Gaozong personally served Wu Zetian a bowl of chicken soup and also served his two sons steamed eggs with minced meat, which they both loved.
"Your Majesty, please have some more," Wu Meiniang pushed a dish of pickled celery in front of Li Zhi. "This dish is very refreshing today."
Li Hong reported like a little adult: "Today, I copied the 'Preface to the Orchid Pavilion,' and the Grand Tutor praised my progress."
Not to be outdone, Li Xian, still clutching his rice bowl, said, "Xian'er has memorized the first eight lines of the Thousand Character Classic!"
"Good, good, good, you're both good children." Wu Meiniang smiled and put a piece of their favorite pastry on each of her two sons' plates.
(Inner monologue: If only time could stand still at this moment.)
After the meal, the family went for a walk in the courtyard.
The evening breeze carries the fragrance of flowers, and fireflies twinkle and dance along the shore of Taiye Pond.
Li Zhi held Wu Meiniang's hand, while two children chased and played in front of them.
"Meiniang," Li Zhi said softly, "after Xian'er is born, I would like to take you to Jiucheng Palace for a while. It's cool there, perfect for escaping the summer heat."
Wu Meiniang gently rested her head on his shoulder: "I will listen to Your Majesty. As long as the family is together, anywhere is fine."
Li Hong ran back, holding a freshly picked peony in his hand, and stood on tiptoe to put it in his mother's hair.
Li Xian also staggered over and brought a large bunch of wildflowers, scattering them all over his parents.
(Inner monologue: Power and territory are important, but this moment of warmth is truly priceless.)
Under the moonlight, the emperor and empress smiled at each other, while two children played around them.
The lights in the Zichen Palace were warm and bright, casting the family's silhouettes onto the window paper, creating the happiest picture in the world.
——
[Mini-Theater: A Sweet Burden]
(Li Zhi's perspective)
When I returned from court today, I saw Meiniang teaching Hong'er to review memorials, while Xian'er was playing with a jigsaw puzzle at her feet.
At that moment, I suddenly understood the weight of the words "wife and children".
Even though she was pregnant, Empress Wu Zetian still had to worry about state affairs. I advised her to rest, but she said, "Watching the children grow up is more effective than any tonic."
(Indeed, seeing her with the children made even the worries in the memorials seem less important.)
Last night, after Meiniang fell asleep, I looked at her sleeping face and thought for a long time.
This vast land will ultimately be handed over to the children.
My greatest wish is simply for them, mother and child, to be safe and sound, and for the family to live together in harmony forever.
(Just like now, that's good.)
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