Yuanying returned to the palace and send Gao Yang and the notes compiled by Lu Zhaolin. Gao Yang had really changed lately. She sits quietly in her room practicing calligraphy and next to her is <<Er Ya>> which she has already read some.

Yuanying and Gao Yang hang out often so when the servants saw him, they just bowed and didn’t report it to the Princess.  Gao Yang had just stopped writing and was looking out the window with a faint smile on her lips.

Yuanying rolled up the stack of manuscripts and knocked on Gao Yang’s head: “What are you thinking about?”

Gao Yang was startled and covered her forehead.

“Nothing!”

She can’t let Li Yuanying know her thoughts, he would definitely laugh at her!

Yuanying saw her really practicing calligraphy, so he gave her the manuscript.

 “I asked Brother Lu for this. He studied with Master Cao for three years. The content in it should be much more detailed and easier to read than the book. If you don’t understand anything, please write it down. I will ask Brother Lu or his teacher for you later.”

Gao Yang was stunned. When she understood what Li Yuanying had said, her whole heart was instantly overwhelmed with joy. She took the manuscript with great care and scolded: “Why did you roll up the manuscript like this? It’s disrespectful.”

Yuanying saw her put the manuscript away with great care, and was a little surprised that she can actually sit still and study.  

 “As long as you are willing, I’ll get you any book.”

Gao Yang knew that Yuanying was sincere and she felt a little guilty. She immediately sat him down and personally made tea.

After drinking tea,  Yuanying left happily.

At home, he sigh to mother: “Gao Yang is now willing to study. I thought she would never read books in her life.”

Lady Liu knew about Li Yuanying’s mission is to be a good uncle, so she smiled.

“Who didn’t like causing trouble when they were younger? People grow up eventually. Didn’t you also not like to read before?”

That made sense. Yuanying stopped thinking about this and continued his studies with Di Renjie and others every day.

Late October came and the weather was getting colder.  The messenger sent to Fanyang returned. Because he had other tasks, the messenger stayed for a few days before rushing back. As soon as he arrived in Chang’an, he came update Prince Teng about the situation in Fanyang.

The Lu family received Lu Zhaolin’s letter and gifts, and allowed the messenger to stay overnight. The next day, they wanted to give the messenger a reward but he refuse. Lu Zhaolin’s parents looked happy but didn’t send a letter back. The family had made arrangements for servants to visit the Capital and they will send their reply letter later.

After that, the messenger left to complete the task assigned by Li Yuanying.

Compared to Lu Zhaolin’s letter, the news brought back was more important. Li Yuanying had no chance to attend the court, so he naturally couldn’t get first-hand information. The messenger went to the North and realized that something was wrong in the North. Goryeo and Baekje were working together to attack Silla. Silla was in trouble both internally and externally, and it seemed that they couldn’t hold on!

Although Yuanying had never been to Silla, his friend Jin Shengman was from Silla and was the cousin of the Queen. Rounding this up, he’s somehow related?! Yuanying sorted out the message he heard and deliver the news to Jin Shengman.

“Why don’t you stay here for a bit? The situation doesn’t sound good.”

Jin Shengman thanked Li Yuanying for his kindness but shook her head.

“I want to go back.”

She was a descendant of the Silla royal family. It would be better if she didn’t know but now that she is aware that that Silla was in trouble, she certainly couldn’t hide in Chang’an to seek stability. She smiled brightly: “Silla will be fine.”

Seeing Jin Shengman insistence, he did not persuade her anymore.

“I will ask Dai Ting to lead a group and escort you back. He will stay in the North for awhile. Look for him anytime for help.”

Jin Shengman gratefully agreed.

Since there was a war in the North, the original arrangement had to be adjusted. Li Yuanying asked Dai Ting to make preparations. Dai Ting had never been to Silla, so Yuanying was a little worried.

“Don’t take risks rashly. See the situation clearly before taking action. If you need anything, just do it at your convenience. Money and people are free to use.”

Dai Ting nodded in agreement.

Hearing that there was a war in Silla, he did not feel scared but was a little excited. With Li Yuanying’s words, he felt that he could lots of things!

Yuanying knew that Dai Ting was best at acting according to circumstances, he gave Dai Ting the free hand to make arrangements.

In order to let his men travel on a long journey, Li Yuanying had to inform the Emperor to get a pass and to avoid trouble.

The so-called pass is a token that certified permission to pass-by checkpoints. People without this document were not allowed to run around. After discussing with Dai Ting, Yuanying took a detour to stroll outside the meeting hall, hoping to find a good time to speak to Li Er.

His Majesty was not in a good mood today.

Zhang Xuansu and Yu Zhining took turns to tell him about the Crown Prince’s faults, saying that he was extravagant and that he went out to play again. In the eyes of His Majesty, the Crown prince was doing well. But the teachers have come to complain, so you, as a father, must express your concern?

Li Er could only summon his eldest son over to scold him. Then he looked at government affairs and felt that everything was not going well. The internal troubles were not resolved, Goryeo was making trouble again, and there was simply no peace.

His Majesty was sulking, but he heard from the servant brewing tea that Li Yuanying had been sneaking around outside for two rounds. Li Er immediately put down the tea and summon him in.

Yuanying walked in and saw Li Er looking unhappy and frowning, he had a troubled mind.

“Brother, what’s wrong with you? Did someone make you angry again? Alas, the person who made you angry must be an official appointed by the court. I can’t beat him up for you. So you have to think of a way yourself.”

Seeing him talking nonstop, the Emperor asked for a cup of tea.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I originally arranged for Dai Ting to send the Princess of Silla home. So happen, my new friend wanted to send a letter back to Fanyang, so I asked someone to rush there and we got to know some news from Silla. As a result, I found out that something happened in Silla!”

Li Er nodded, asking him to continue.

“I advised the Princess of Silla not to leave but she insisted on going back. I planned to let Dai Ting bring people and escort her home. We need to bring things too. After all, Silla is in chaos and we need to make proper preparations.”

Li Yuanying came to report  and then looked at Li Er eagerly, waiting for him to speak.

“I am going to send Xiangli Xuanjiang as an envoy to Goryeo. Since the Silla princess is going back to her country, the court will send an envoy to see her off. You don’t have to worry about it.”

When Li Yuanying mentioned that Dai Ting was going to a war zone, the Emperor immediately remembered him making lots of money when he followed the army to Gaochang. Many in court criticized him for a long time. Li Yuanying didn’t have to attend court sessions, so he knew nothing about it and was very happy counting his money. Pitiful him who had to face the criticism of the censors!

“Those sent by the court are sent by the court. The Silla princess and I are classmates. I would feel uneasy if I didn’t send someone to see her off.” He held Li Er’s hand tightly, “Brother, I promise that Dai Ting will not do anything wrong. Please let Dai Ting take a few people to escort her back to her country!”

Li Er has many sons, but none of them has the face of Li Yuanying. This time, they were just sending envoys. Bringing a few people would not accomplish anything big. Li Er was too lazy to argue so he waved his hand and said, “Okay, if you want to send someone, just send someone. If something goes wrong, you will bear the consequences yourself.”

Li Yuanying left happily and updated Dai Ting that he could leave with the envoys.

On the day that Jin Shengman left Chang’an, Yuanying went to see her off in person. She looked at the friends she had met and her eyes finally turned red. She said goodbye to everyone one by one.

Li Yuanying promised as always: “Don’t worry, we will come to visit you in the future!”

Jin Shengman smiled with tears in her eyes. These two years may be the happiest days of her life, and she will always remember them in her heart.

“Okay, I will definitely treat you well, and ask people to pick the best mountain ginseng, catch the best fish and crabs, and give you the best food.”

Yuanying was happy to hear this and told her to remember her promise.

It was not only them who were reluctant to say their goodbyes outside the city gate, many others were also traveling far away. Those who were sending off relatives and friends noticed Yuanying’s group; the men were handsome and the ladies beautiful, all with outstanding looks and extraordinary demeanor. If they weren’t still young, they’ll definitely attract countless attention.

Some with quick minds instantly recognize the Silla Princess and Prince Teng who were saying their goodbyes, and they secretly added a note to Prince Teng’s romantic affairs: the Silla princess must have occupied a place in Prince Teng’s list of beauties!

Yuanying was of course unaware of these exaggerated imagination of  gossipers. He had no idea that in the minds of many, he is known as the most outstanding and flirtatious among the Royalty. Many even secretly believed that “one should live like the young Prince Teng”!

After sending off the Princess, Yuanying found time to take notice about Lu Zhaolin’s situation. His family had sent an old servant to clean up the house next to Wang Yifang’s, so that Zhaolin could study nearby. He has now moved out of Fang Xuanling’s home.

 “You moved without telling us. We could have done a house warming party!”   

Lu Zhaolin said shyly, “It’s not really moving. Moreover, isn’t Your Highness busy?”

In fact, he had some unpleasantness when he left Fang Xuanling’s house. Fang Jun came over and mocked him. Since the Fang family had took care of him for some time, he didn’t want to pick a fight and could only listen to the criticism. After Fang Jun was done, Lu Zhaolin left with the old servant.

Lu’s father wrote a reply and shared that he had received two letters. Since they cannot reach a mutual understanding about his friendship with Li Yuanying, he simply should move out of Fang’s family home. It’s a convenient reason anyway, since he is here to study, he should live near his teacher.

His family was worried that the boy would be shy so they send a reliable old servant to help him.

Now, he can interact with Li Yuanying as much as he wants!

“I’m not busy anymore, let us visit your new house!”

Lu Zhaolin agreed and brought his friends to visit his humble home. The group wrote and chatted freely until evening before going home.

Gao Yang also came along She could hardly say a word the whole day.

Yuanying asked her: “You must feel bored, right?”

Gao Yang hummed: “No, it’s quite interesting.” Everyone was either discussing very hard or concentrating on writing. She sat in the middle and just people watch.

It was obviously looking at just one person.But every time she looked at him, the feeling was different. How could she be bored!

Yuanying  thought that Gao Yang was making progress and said happily: “If you’re not bored, you can come along  in the future if you want.”

Notes from the Author:

Little Prince: Good, Gao Yang is making progress!

Gao Yang: He’s really handsome.

Little Prince: ??????