Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 305 There's nothing shameful about a man doing needlework.
Outside Gao Yangzi's study, A Dong jogged over, his forehead beaded with sweat, still breathless, and raised his hand to knock on the door.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed his wrist from behind.

Adong was startled and turned around to meet a pair of deep, sharp eyes.

It was His Majesty!

He was so frightened that he shuddered and instinctively looked towards Zhou Fu, who was not far away, for help.

Zhou Fu also looked helpless.

Just now, when he saw His Majesty and the Empress suddenly arrive, he quickly gave A-Dong a wink, telling him to go and inform the young master. Little did he know that His Majesty had seen this little action.

“You are indeed loyal.”

Li Shimin glanced at A Dong, then turned back to look at Zhou Fu, his tone carrying a hint of a half-smile.

As soon as he finished speaking, he walked straight towards the study.

A Dong opened his mouth to explain, but was glared at by Li Shimin and could only awkwardly retreat to the side.

Just then, Wen He's voice came from the study, tinged with impatience: "Take your time, don't rush. The more tangled the thread, the less you should be impatient. Once you find the end of the thread, it will naturally be solved... Li Tai, if you keep tangling the yarn, do you believe I'll use it to hang you from a tree outside the yard?"

"Sir, why do we have to do this knitting work ourselves, when the Weaver Girl can do it?"

It was Li Tai's voice, full of grievances and complaints.

Immediately afterwards, there was a crisp "smack" sound, clearly the sound of a hand hitting the head.

Li Shimin paused, raising an eyebrow slightly.

That brat, he hit my son again!

Before he could even open the door, Wen He's reprimand came from inside, though her tone was gentler than before: "Shouldn't you make the birthday gifts for His Majesty and the Empress yourself to show your filial piety?"

"If you have someone else do it for you, what's the difference between that and buying something ready-made? How can His Majesty and the Empress feel your sincerity?"

Li Shimin's hand, which was resting on the door frame, stopped.

He listened intently, and faintly heard the sound of a spool turning in the study, along with Wen He's soft, instructive voice: "Li Tai, your stitch is crooked... Li You, pull the thread tighter..."

Empress Zhangsun could see clearly that her second son's lips, which had just been tinged with anger, had quietly turned up, and the sharpness in his eyes had turned into a gentle warmth.

"So that's what they were doing."

Empress Zhangsun said softly

Li Shimin didn't speak, but simply raised his hand and gently pushed open a crack in the door.

Inside the study, Wen He was sitting on a low couch, holding two bamboo needles in her hand, with a ball of gray thread wrapped around her fingertips, clumsily weaving something.

The four little ones sat around him, each with their own ball of thread and bamboo needle in front of them.

Li Ke was frowning and struggling with the knotted thread, Li Tai was covering his head and pouting, but the yarn in his hands was tangled into a mess, while the youngest Li You was holding a bamboo needle and imitating him by poking at the ball of yarn.

Sunlight streamed through the window paper, illuminating the children's earnest faces, and even Wen He's slightly impatient profile appeared much softer.

"Sir, do you think my stitches are correct?" Li Ke held up the half-finished product in his hand, a piece of gray cloth that was woven fairly neatly.

Wen He glanced at it and nodded: "It's alright, much better than yesterday. Remember, make sure every stitch is pulled tight, otherwise it won't be warm enough."

"Then... will Father like it?" Li You asked softly, almost dropping the bamboo needle in his hand.

“It was made with care, so His Majesty will naturally like it.” Wen He’s voice softened unconsciously.

Watching this scene from outside the door, Li Shimin suddenly felt that the unpleasantness he felt earlier from his son being beaten had long since vanished.

He turned and glanced at Empress Zhangsun; both of them had smiles in their eyes.

"Let's go." Li Shimin gently closed the door and lowered his voice.

"Don't bother them."

Seeing this, Zhou Fu and A Dong breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed.

Walking into the courtyard, Empress Changsun couldn't help but laugh, "I never expected Jiaying would teach the children to do this. She knows how to teach them to be attentive, even better than us parents."

Li Shimin snorted, but his tone was full of satisfaction: "This brat has finally done something worthwhile."

He recalled the surprises he had received.

From the improved curved plow to the telescope that could see far, and now to this hand-knitted sweater...

This boy always manages to bring unexpected warmth in some strange and unusual ways.

Unfortunately, he ruined this surprise.

"Oh, right." Li Shimin suddenly stopped and looked at Zhou Fu.

"Have all the other wool been processed?"

Zhou Fu bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, everything has been taken care of. The young master said he would send the sweaters to the palace once the princes have finished knitting them."

"Hmm." Li Shimin nodded, a smile playing on his lips.

"It seems that I will soon be able to wear the sweater that Qingque and the others knitted by hand."

Empress Zhangsun shook her head with a chuckle.

Unfortunately, she suffers from a respiratory illness and can no longer wear the sweaters knitted by the children.

The two walked toward the main hall, chatting and laughing, bathed in warm sunlight.

Inside the study, Wen He was still struggling with a tangled mess of yarn, muttering, "Li Tai, how many times have I told you not to get the yarn around your neck? Are you trying to weave a noose for His Majesty to hang himself?"

"Oh, sir, I was wrong!"

Li Tai screamed a few times, but unfortunately, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun had already left by then.

Under the warm sun in the front yard.

Li Lizhi was circling around Wenrou, her fingers gently brushing against the gray wool sweater she was wearing. The sweater felt soft and fluffy, carrying a novel warmth.

"It feels comfortable to the touch, but the color is too plain."

She frowned slightly, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness.

"Aren't there any bright and pretty colors? I still prefer fur coats and brocade robes to this."

In her opinion, such drab clothes were far less luxurious than fox fur or brocade, and were simply unworthy of gentleness.

Wenrou shook her head gently, then looked down and touched the sweater she was wearing, her little face full of affection: "My brother said that this is to be worn underneath, and then we can wear some nice clothes on top."

Although the colors are simple, it was made for her by her brother himself.

Li Lizhi still wasn't quite satisfied. Her eyes darted around, and she patted her chest, saying, "I have a white fox fur coat here, its fur is so smooth and shiny, it's gorgeous! I'll bring it to you next time!"

She always felt that Wenrou should wear more expensive clothes, and that Wenhe was too "stingy" to let her sister wear such inconspicuous wool clothes, which must not be as comfortable as fur coats.

Wenrou blinked blankly, her little hands tightly clutching the hem of her sweater: "But... this was made for me by my brother himself, it's one of a kind in the world."

"Well."

Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi pouted slightly, and her fingertips touched the wool sweater again.

Sunlight falls on the fabric, giving it a soft, velvety sheen.

She suddenly felt a strange pang of jealousy.

In all her life, it seems like no one has ever made a dress specifically for her.

"That……"

She hesitated for a moment, then gently tugged at Wenrou's sleeve and shook it, her voice softening.

"Could you ask Wen He to make one for me too? Although this dress doesn't look that nice, I still want one that's uniquely mine." The palace maids not far away couldn't help but be secretly surprised when they heard this.

Who doesn't know that the Fifth Princess is the apple of His Majesty and the Empress's eye? Every piece of clothing in the palace is exquisitely crafted and unique in the world.

But the princess was now envious of a drab wool sweater and even hoped that the prince of Gaoyang County would make it for her by hand, which was really puzzling.

Wenrou nodded vigorously upon hearing this, her little face full of sincerity: "Okay, okay, my brother said that we are family from now on, he will definitely make it for you, I will go and tell him later!"

Li Lizhi didn't understand the deeper meaning behind "we'll be family from now on." She simply took it as a gentle agreement to help her get a sweater, and smiled with her eyes crinkling like a crescent moon hanging from the eaves, bright and charming.

The two little girls were huddled together, chattering away about the colors of the yarn, completely unaware that Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun were already quietly standing at the entrance to the front yard.

"What do you mean by 'we'll be family from now on'?!"

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow, snorted in dissatisfaction, and deliberately frowned.

Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but smile at his appearance.

Her second son was throwing a tantrum again. She teased him, "This marriage was arranged by you, second son. Are you going to go back on your word now?"

"How have I changed my mind!"

Li Shimin immediately retorted, stubbornly arguing, "But the imperial decree hasn't been issued to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs yet. If that brat starts spouting nonsense outside, wouldn't that ruin the imperial family's reputation?"

Empress Zhangsun smiled faintly. As her husband, she knew all too well.

His Majesty was eager for Wenhe and Lizhi to grow up quickly so that the marriage could be finalized and prevent any unforeseen complications.

Only by getting engaged can Wenhe be firmly kept in Chang'an.

But she wouldn't expose those words.

Before long, Wen He brought the three little ones out of the study for some fresh air.

Today's classes have finally come to an end, and now it's their free time to study.

At this time of day, Li Taizhun would usually sneak off to the pigpen in the backyard to check on his piglets, which were jokingly called "Little Jieli".

Li Youhui, clutching the introductory books on mechanics and chemistry given to him by Wen He, found a corner and began studying them by himself.

Wen He didn't expect him to understand; she just wanted to give the child an interest to pass the time.

Li Ke always liked to go up to the rough world map drawn by Wen He and stare blankly at the crooked outlines of the continents.

As for Wen He herself, she would mostly find a sunny spot, curl up, and catch up on sleep while waiting for dinner.

But today, as soon as he led the three little ones to the front yard, they bumped into those two familiar figures, and all four of them were stunned.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, and Your Majesty the Empress!" Wen He reacted the fastest, bowing respectfully.

"Your subject greets the Emperor and the Empress!" Li Tai and the other two hurriedly followed suit and bowed.

Seeing the four of them looking bewildered, as if their tails had been stepped on, a sly glint flashed in Li Shimin's eyes, and a childlike smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but chuckle at his appearance.

It's quite rare to see the mighty Emperor of the Tang Dynasty act like a mischievous child who has successfully pulled off a prank.

"Get up, all of you." Li Shimin cleared his throat, trying to put on a serious face, but the smile in his eyes was hard to hide.

"I've heard that you've been doing needlework lately. Did you know that this has almost become a topic of conversation among the scholars of Chang'an?"

Li Shimin deliberately put on a stern face and questioned in a somewhat mocking tone.

Wen He, however, didn't seem to care and raised an eyebrow, replying, "His Majesty previously said that he wanted me to teach the Empress how to knit wool sweaters."

“If I am laughed at by them, they will surely laugh at the Empress because of this. It doesn’t matter if they laugh at me, but the Empress is the mother of the nation, the mother of the country. If they laugh at her, wouldn’t that be deceiving the emperor?”

"In my opinion, these gossipy people should all be thrown into the Hundred Cavalry Camp for proper discipline."

Li Shimin had intended to tease him, but unexpectedly, he was outmaneuvered. After a moment of surprise, he realized that there was some truth to what he said, and he was speechless for a moment.

That brat is really good with words.

"Your Majesty means that men should focus on both literary and military pursuits and should not get involved in these women's tasks."

Seeing that Li Shimin was caught up in the situation, Empress Zhangsun smiled and smoothed things over, pointing out the key point.

"Your Majesty, there is no distinction between men and women in matters of the heart."

Wen He held her head high, her chest ramrod straight.

"The saying 'men plow and women weave' is simply due to different individual strengths and has nothing to do with gender."

"Your Majesty, I believe there is nothing shameful about men doing needlework. Moreover, this matter of wool can provide warm clothes for the people of the world in winter, which is a great act of kindness, far better than those pedantic scholars who talk about empty doctrines."

Empress Zhangsun was taken aback by her words, then couldn't help but laugh out loud: "You're quite the talker, child."

Li Shimin shook his head in annoyance: "You've always been spouting so many fallacies, but... fallacies are still logic."

He turned to Gao Yue, who was standing not far away, and gave her some instructions.

"Gao Yue, remember what Wenxianzi said."

Gao Yue was taken aback at first, but then understood and bowed in agreement.

His Majesty wants her to find an opportunity to spread the word, so that those who laugh at Wen He will know that this girl from Gaoyang County has a great cause that benefits all people.

It'll really embarrass those people.

To be frank, it's really meant for those ordinary people who don't understand.

"Okay, let's get down to business."

Li Shimin changed the subject, his expression becoming serious.

"Since we're talking about wool sweaters, the soldiers will be heading north after the New Year, which is less than ten days away. Can ten thousand sweaters be made in time?"

This is the real reason he came to Wenhe's residence today.

This is related to his reputation.

The wool is ready, and the sweater on Wenrou's body proves that the clothing is feasible. The most crucial thing now is time.

"There's enough time."

Wen He said firmly.

"His Majesty only needs to issue a decree to gather the families of the soldiers, and then..."

He paused halfway through his sentence.

According to Li Shimin's original plan, this matter was to be led and presided over by Empress Zhangsun.

However, the Empress suffers from a cold, and the wool shearings are bound to cause her discomfort, so she is really not suited to overwork.

So who should do this?
Li Lizhi is too young.

As the crown prince, it would be beneath Li Chengqian's dignity to preside over needlework matters.

Needless to say, the three little ones in the manor would never be involved in this matter.

As for the concubines in the harem, Li Shimin would never allow them to surpass the empress.

So Wen He was in a dilemma and looked at Li Shimin, waiting for him to make a decision.

Li Shimin had clearly considered this as well, and his brows furrowed slightly: "This matter indeed requires someone to take the lead. You are a man and it is not appropriate for you to mingle among women. Moreover, the Empress suffers from a qi deficiency, so..."

He pondered for a moment, then his gaze suddenly locked onto one person.

(End of this chapter)