Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

The two sat down at the table, and Empress Zhangsun had something brought over.

"What is this?" Li Shimin asked.

"What the young master brought should be medicine and such," Empress Zhangsun said, though she wasn't sure.

Upon opening it, I found it contained painkillers and medicines for treating qi ailments, which only Xiao Ran possessed.

Upon seeing the medicine, Li Shimin was pleased, saying, "This child is thoughtful!"

Li Shimin picked up the cough syrup. "With the old doctor's treatment and conditioning, and Xiao Ran's medicine, the Empress's condition has improved considerably."

"Yes! It's gotten much better in the last six months; I've been coughing less often!"

The palace has nothing to lack, and this medicine is all Xiao Ran can give to Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun.

These were priceless in the Tang Dynasty.

Princess Gaoyang was very excited, as it was the first time she had traveled so far from Chang'an.

Her big, watery eyes were full of curiosity.

The carriage stopped in front of the courtyard, and the people got off one after another.

"We're home!" the little princess exclaimed.

The quiet courtyard suddenly became lively.

Li Yuan, holding his teacup, said, "It's better to have a lively atmosphere!"

Li Yuan gazed at the little princesses hopping and skipping in the courtyard, his teacup trembling slightly. A long-lost warmth welled up in his eyes, and his mind was filled with thoughts of cherishing this lively scene.

Since his abdication, both the Da'an Palace and his residence in Kaolao Village have been shrouded in a somber stillness.

Although Empress Xiao and Sun Simiao are by his side now, he has lost the vibrancy of childhood. Every day is nothing more than drinking tea, looking at the sky, and reminiscing about the past. Even the sound of the wind passing through the courtyard seems empty.

As soon as the princesses returned, laughter and shouts filled every corner, breaking the long silence.

This liveliness was like a ray of warm sunshine, shining into his lonely old age, bringing life to the deserted courtyard, and making him feel that he was no longer a "forgotten former emperor," but just an old man enjoying family life.

The shadow of the Xuanwu Gate Incident created a further barrier between the royal family members.

Watching his sons turn against each other, the pain in his heart never subsided, and even when he met Li Shimin, he could only maintain a polite distance.

The princesses' arrival brought with them pure innocence and affection. They would call him "Grandpa" and chatter about their fun experiences in Chang'an. This unadulterated affection was like warm water soothing the wrinkles in his heart.

Watching them play and laugh, he seemed to be able to temporarily forget the bloodshed and turmoil of the past, and immerse himself in the warmth of being surrounded by his children and grandchildren, filling the long-standing void of family affection.

As an emperor, he was worried about the stability of the Tang Dynasty.

As a father, he was even more heartbroken by the fratricide.

Now the princesses are playing and laughing happily at home, and this harmonious scene makes him truly feel that "the royal family is not just about power struggles."

Behind this lively scene lies the safety of the children, the continuation of family bonds, and a microcosm of the stability of the Tang Dynasty's foundation.

For him, what he sought in his later years was no longer imperial power, but the well-being of his family and the harmony of his relatives. The liveliness brought by the princesses gave him this peace of mind, making him feel that the regrets of the past could perhaps be made up for by his grandchildren.

"Yes! It's lively! It's lively!" Empress Xiao looked at the group of children and thought of many things.

Princess Gaoyang, like a curious child, followed the two little princesses, Third Sister Yan Yao and Di Renjie, running up and down.

Xiao Ran smiled as he watched this scene, wondering if the little girl liked it here or found it novel.

One more person doesn't really make a difference; Xiao Ran's house is already quite lively.

Xiao Ran and Li Lizhi liked to sit down and chat, and Princess Yuzhang Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya were sensible enough not to disturb them.

Xiao Ran and Li Lizhi are currently engaged.

Zhang Jinhe looked at it, feeling envious. She could only be envious; Xiao Ran and Li Lizhi's marriage was already arranged.

The little princess ran up to Li Lizhi and Xiao Ran and squeezed between them.

Others followed.

He immediately moved closer to Xiao Ran and Li Lizhi.

"Seventeen, is it fun here?" Li Lizhi asked Princess Gaoyang.

"It looks so fun! Sizi said there's delicious food here, and lots and lots of fish." Princess Gaoyang looked on with anticipation.

"Yes, but tomorrow I have to go to school with my second sister, Sizi!" Li Lizhi rubbed Princess Gaoyang's face.

"it is good!"

“Go have fun!” Li Lizhi said.

The princesses and princes who can come here are all quite favored.

At first, Xiao Ran didn't realize who the seventeenth princess was, but he quickly came to his senses.

This is Princess Gaoyang, whose fame is no less than that of Princess Changle, Li Lizhi.

Seeing Xiao Ran lost in thought, Li Li asked, "Young master, young master, what are you thinking about?"

"No, no, it's just that I felt great when I was a child, but now I have too many worries."

Xiao Ran sighed with emotion.

Li Lizhi looked at the children and seemed to be thinking about what had happened before.

Watching the children running and playing in the yard, their foreheads covered in sweat, Li Lizhi gently traced the lotus pattern on her skirt with her fingertips. A gentle smile played on her lips, but a faint sense of melancholy filled her eyes.

Xiao Ran said, "There are many worries when you grow up," and she understood that perfectly well.

As the eldest princess of the Tang Dynasty, others only saw her nobility and glory, but they did not know that this status had already hidden "troubles" in the folds of rules and responsibilities.

She recalled her childhood, when she was also deeply loved by her parents, but she never dared to act spoiled like Sizi.

Her mother taught her to read and taught her all sorts of rules, saying that "the eldest princess should set an example," that she should walk steadily, speak softly, and even her laughter should be measured, for fear of losing the dignity of the royal family.

Back then, when she watched the palace maids chasing butterflies under the eaves, she couldn't help but stop quietly, harboring a sense of envy that she wished she could be as carefree as them.

Now, watching Princess Gaoyang cling to Sizi's arm and whine, saying she wants to go to the river to catch fish, she realizes that she never had such carefree joy in her childhood.

Her gaze fell on Xiao Ran, her cheeks flushed slightly, and a subtle sense of unease rose in her heart.

Her engagement to Xiao Ran was arranged by her parents, and she was overjoyed with it.

He was gentle and intelligent, and treated his younger siblings very well, unlike those sycophantic noble sons in the court.

But she was also afraid. She was afraid that her status as a "princess" would become a barrier between the two of them. She was afraid that after marriage she would have to navigate between the royal family and Xiao Ran's "special circle." She was afraid that she would not do well enough and would disappoint her parents' expectations and Xiao Ran's feelings.

Especially when she thought of her grandfather's favoritism towards Qingque, and Xiao Ran's words about the potential danger of "brothers turning against each other," she couldn't help but feel heartbroken.

She hoped that her eldest son could secure his position as heir apparent, and that Qingque would stay in her place. But this hope was beyond the control of a princess like her. She could only pray in secret that the tragedy of their fathers would not befall their brothers.

Xiao Ran said, "There are many worries when you grow up," and she wholeheartedly agreed.

Others thought she was the eldest princess, born with everything, but who knew that her "troubles" were hidden in the shackles of being a "role model," in the expectation of "harmony among brothers and sisters," and in the anxiety of "a smooth marriage."

Watching Zhang Jinhe standing under the eaves, smiling at her younger siblings, her carefree demeanor stirred a pang of envy in her heart.

Perhaps for daughters from ordinary families, they don't need to bear so much burden; simply staying with their families and living a peaceful life is enough.

After a long while, Li Lizhi finally said, "Yes!" (End of this chapter)