Chapter 14

The valiant man was extremely handsome, with features as if carved by a knife, his eyes long and narrow, exuding boundless dignity. Standing tall on his horse, he towered half a head above the others. His eyebrows slanted into his temples, his nose was straight and sharp, and his lips were somewhat thick. He exuded a sense of determination and even a hint of ruthlessness. Clad in the standard Tang army armor, he rode a black horse with white hooves, a spear hanging from the saddle, and a flail attached to it. At first glance, he was a young general who had been on the battlefield for a long time.

As for the refined man standing beside him, he was also an exceptional figure. His eyes sparkled with wisdom, as if everything was under his control. Though he did not wear a feather fan and silk cap like Zhuge Liang or Zhou Yu of the Three Kingdoms period, he had a unique charm of his own.

Hearing the question, the refined man turned his head to look at the soldiers who had shown signs of fatigue during their journey. He then glanced at the valiant man beside him and couldn't help but shake his head. His brother-in-law was truly full of energy. After all, the soldiers behind them were the elite chosen from the army they had led for years. However, after the continuous forced march for over half a month, even these battle-hardened warriors were exhausted. Yet, the highest commander of the Tian Ce Fu, Prince Qin, who always led from the front, remained spirited.

"The army is already fatigued. If we continue at this pace, they will not be able to endure it. Remember, the Crown Prince is already in Chang'an, well-rested and ready for us. This is very disadvantageous for us. I believe we should stop and rest, which would be the best strategy," the refined man replied after some thought.

"I disagree with what you're saying, Wuji. The longer we delay, the more difficult the situation becomes for Guanyinbi. We must advance with all our might to relieve her pressure! Moreover, the Qin soldiers have always been known for their endurance. The three thousand Black Armored soldiers under my command are the most elite of our Guanzhong sons. A mere forced march will not defeat them," the valiant man shook his head and denied.

"Prince Qin, you must understand that this return to Chang'an is fraught with danger. One wrong step could lead to total defeat. At that time, the brothers who follow you will be in grave danger. Even if you don't consider this, what about Princess Pingyang? She has been holding on by sheer willpower. I just checked on her, and the situation is very dire. Remember, Prince Chai Shao is still stationed in Tuyuhun, clearing out the rebel kings. If something happens to Princess Pingyang's injuries, it will directly push this force to the Crown Prince's side," the refined man, Changsun Wuji, earnestly advised. After all, this Prince Qin of the Tian Ce Fu was not yet the humble and wise emperor of later years. At this moment, he was in the prime of his life, and his decisions were never easily reversed.

"Pingyang! Sigh!" Li Er sighed, looking at the green-curtained carriage in the convoy.

This time, Li Er had led a campaign to the frontier to subdue the barbarians. Everything had been going smoothly until a spy planted by Li Jiancheng in the army betrayed them, nearly causing their efforts to fail. Fortunately, Princess Pingyang's women's army came to their aid, defeating the ten thousand archers led by Tuli. However, Princess Pingyang, Li Xiuning, was hit by an arrow while saving Li Er. Although she received emergency treatment in the army, her life was only temporarily saved. One of the reasons Li Er was returning to the capital was to have the imperial physicians treat his third sister.

Meanwhile, as Li Er was worried about his third sister, Little Li Er, Li Kuan, was also worried about his little sister. After covering herself with a quilt and being diagnosed by the imperial physicians, the little girl had taken a bitter herbal medicine and then clung to her second brother, demanding that he fulfill his promise to tell her many stories.

"The fisherman was fishing by the sea, casting his net, and unexpectedly caught a strange bottle..." Li Kuan, with a pained expression, racked his brain to remember the fairy tales his mother used to tell him to help him fall asleep.

"The genie said, 'In the first thousand years I was imprisoned, I vowed that whoever freed me would have three wishes granted, but I was disappointed. In the second thousand years, I vowed that whoever freed me would be my master, but I was still disappointed. In the third thousand years, I vowed that whoever freed me would be eaten! Fisherman, should I eat you?' " Li Kuan put on a fierce face, baring his teeth and waving his hands at Li Lizhi.

"Genie, don't eat me! Why don't you eat my second brother? He's so fragrant!" Li Lizhi's words completely destroyed the atmosphere Li Kuan had created. Li Kuan's face fell: Didn't we agree not to talk about this?

"Little girl, you're not keeping your word, you're a little puppy!" Li Kuan always became very childish when facing the little girl, possibly influenced by his predecessor. He was used to acting like a child with her.

"Second brother is the puppy! Hmph!" The little girl turned her head, giving Li Kuan a beautiful back view of her long hair, which fell like a beautiful shawl over her shoulders.

"Second brother is not! Lizhi, you're not keeping your word, a man of honor keeps his word!" Although Li Kuan was influenced, he could still control himself. However, he didn't want to control himself because only with this little girl could he truly relax and enjoy a carefree and honest moment.

"But... but... Lizhi is not a man!" The little girl tilted her head, her big eyes rolling, and after a long thought, she poked her cheek with her small finger and replied.

"But..." This time, Li Kuan was speechless. He hadn't expected a loophole in his words to be pointed out by a five-year-old girl, which made him feel a bit embarrassed. If he gave in now, the little girl would surely tell everyone that her second brother was fragrant, that he wasn't a smelly man, and that he cried like a puppy.

Li Kuan didn't dare to think further because it would be a hellish scene: "Children must also keep their word. Second brother promised to tell Lizhi stories, and he kept his promise. Lizhi must also keep her promise to second brother!"

"Really? But second brother promised to take Lizhi out to play, and it's been a month, and you still haven't fulfilled it!" The little girl pouted, her face puffed up like a little bun.

"Lizhi is not well, and the weather is too cold now. Going out would make you freeze!" Li Kuan explained to the little girl.

"But when second brother promised, the weather was still warm!" The little girl wouldn't let go of this point, and Li Kuan was speechless, finally understanding what it meant to have one trick that worked everywhere.

"Alright then! That was second brother's mistake, but it was because second brother had to help Mother整理王府的账簿啊！" Li Kuan was really wronged. The day he had promised the little girl to take her out to play, he had just agreed. But when he went to hand over the account book, he was discovered by Changsun for the Arabic numerals he had inadvertently written in the account book. Tragically, he became a teacher, giving a lesson to all the accountants in the mansion, even reorganizing the old accounts. As for the little girl who had been waiting for her second brother to take her out to play, she was really forgotten.

"Second brother doesn't keep his word, second brother is a puppy!" The little girl was delighted, clapping her hands and smiling.

"Yes, second brother is a big puppy, Lizhi is a little puppy!" Li Kuan answered helplessly.

"Lizhi is not! If second brother promises to take Lizhi out to play when the weather warms up, and to fly kites, have a picnic, and see the beautiful flowers on the mountain, Lizhi will promise not to say that second brother is fragrant." The little girl took the opportunity to propose an unequal treaty, a skill she had honed over the past two months with Li Kuan.

"Alright, alright..." Li Kuan shuddered at the word "fragrant" and hurriedly agreed.

"Cross your fingers!" The little girl extended her hand.

"Cross your fingers, hang by the neck, a hundred years without changing, whoever changes is a puppy!" Li Kuan extended his hand and made a pinky promise with the little girl.

"Stamp it!" The little girl looked expectantly, this was her favorite game, because when stamping, she had to say: "Mmm!" She loved watching her second brother purse his lips and say "Mmm!"

"Alright..." Li Kuan had to comply with this little ancestor, knowing that his face and reputation were at stake with her pouting lips.

"Mmm..." The little girl imitated Li Kuan: "Second brother, come here, Lizhi has something to tell you!" The little girl looked mysterious, her big eyes scanning the surroundings.

"What is it?" Li Kuan, intrigued by her demeanor, leaned in close to the little girl.

"Second brother, thank you!" The little girl whispered in Li Kuan's ear, then, before he could react, kissed his cheek and quickly buried her head in the quilt, refusing to come out no matter how much Li Kuan called her.

Li Kuan smiled and shook his head as he walked down the small building. In the quilt, Li Lizhi's face was flushed with embarrassment: Mother said that a girl's kiss can only be given to the person she likes the most. Lizhi likes her second brother the most, so Lizhi will kiss her second brother. Lizhi is a good and obedient baby!

As for what happened here, Changsun didn't know, as she had already canceled the investigation of Li Kuan. If she had known about this, it's hard to say how she would have reacted. This incident also planted a seed of unknown joy or sorrow for future events!

PS: Speaking of this legendary Princess Pingyang, the author has a few words to say. Her name is difficult to verify, but the widely accepted name given by Huang Yi is Li Xiuning. In my research, I even found that this legendary princess had allegedly been involved in a brothel, but I find this hard to believe. As a heroine, I find it difficult to accept such a blemish on her character. Moreover, since she later established a powerful army and fought in battles, it suggests that she was skilled in martial arts (which can be inferred from her background as a member of the Guanzhong aristocracy, known for their martial traditions). How could she not escape from a brothel, or even have to disguise herself as a performer to escape? When I read this so-called information, I almost spat out a mouthful of blood, but I swallowed it back down when I remembered I was writing in my notebook.

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