Chapter 320 There is no loss next
After lying in bed for more than half a month, Li Shimin finally recovered.

Li Xiang estimated that it was probably some genetic disease or a chronic illness.

Actually, to be honest, the Li family doesn't have any short-life genes. After all, old man Li Yuan lived to be nearly seventy, and Li Xiang himself lived to be seventy-two. It would be inappropriate to say that there are any short-life genes.

In history, Li Chengqian died early in the 17th year of Zhenguan because he had lost the ambition to be deposed as the crown prince. However, it was not surprising that Li Tai died early because he was as fat as a ball and it was a surprise that he lived so long.

As for Lao Li, it is not surprising that he has lived to his early fifties. After all, he was a man who dared to charge into the battle line with just a big knife.

Think about the recorded Six Horses of Zhaoling Mausoleum. Saluzi was hit by an arrow in the chest while charging into the battle, but he still stood firm and eventually died of excessive bleeding. Shifachi was hit by five arrows and died while charging into the battle of Wulao Pass. Qingzhui was also hit by five arrows when he captured Dou Jiande alive. Quanmaoqi was hit by nine arrows when he pacified Liu Heita and died in battle between two armies.

The life of a horse is so difficult, what about the person on the horse?

Sometimes I think it is a medical miracle that Lao Li's child can chase rabbits in the forbidden garden when he gets angry.

However, even after he calmed down, Li Shimin did not rush back to Chang'an. Instead, he settled down in Cuiwei Palace, held Li Wushuang in his arms and played with the child when he had nothing to do, and began to enjoy family happiness.

Li Wushuang is also very close to Lao Li. After all, Lao Li is the only family member who supports her.

Sometimes when Li Xiang was too strict in disciplining her, Li Wushuang would go to Old Li crying, and in return she would receive love from her great-grandfather, and at the same time she could also teach her father a lesson, which was the best of both worlds.

Li Xiang was helpless about this, but it didn't matter. After all, Li Wushuang was not the one who would inherit the throne in the future, so it was no big deal if he was spoiled.

Without Wu Zetian's pearls and jades in front and Empress Wei's beauty in the back, they couldn't raise a heaven-defying thing like Princess Anle...

As the saying goes, the power of example is infinite. Li Wushuang also has something to say. Who is my role model? It is Princess Changle and Princess Jinyang, the virtuous princesses that everyone gives a thumbs up to. Who is my role model? It is Empress Wu and Empress Wei, two famous evil queens...

So there is a reason why the saying "you reap what you sow" applies to you.

Nothing major happened this year, so it can be said that it was a smooth year.

After all, the countries around that were slightly more capable of fighting had been completely wiped out in the past few years.

The Western Turks, Xueyantuo, Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla, and Japan were all swept into the dustbin of history.

At present, the only one who can compete with the Tang Dynasty is the Tubo on the snowy plateau.

However, Tubo had already been frightened by the Tang Dynasty, and with Tuyuhun also there to hold them back, they did not dare to act rashly.

Following Li Xiang's suggestion, Li Shimin asked the former Anxi Protector General Guo Xiaoke to lead the army to conduct training in Tuyuhun in turn in order to prepare them for plateau warfare.

If Li Xiang remembered correctly, Songtsen Gampo would die next year, and his grandson Mangsong Mangtsen would ascend the throne.

Since Mangsong Mangtsen was young, the Tibetan minister Lu Dongtsen was in charge of government affairs. During the reigns of Lu Dongtsen and Mangsong Mangtsen, Tibet gradually changed its strategy towards the Tang Dynasty.

Not only did he annex Tuyuhun ten years later, he even coveted the four towns of Anxi, causing serious troubles to the Tang Dynasty.

So Li Xiang’s next target was Tubo on the snowy plateau.

Of course, you still have to find a reason, but you can't be too hasty. You have to wait for the right opportunity.

Having said that, according to the current situation, Tubo would not dare to make any moves within ten years. After all, the threats around the Tang Dynasty have been cleared. If Tubo dares to make any unusual moves, the Tang Dynasty might bring dozens of its younger brothers to force Tubo to choose between a one-on-one fight or a group fight.

Historically, Tubo annexed Tuyuhun at that critical juncture because it was sure that the Tang Dynasty was busy with Goguryeo at the time and had no time to pay attention to it.

Therefore, in order to guard against Tubo, Li Xiang made sufficient preparations.

As the saying goes, I will not allow others to snore beside my bed. Everyone will understand this truth.

Of course, Li Shimin would not oppose Li Xiang's proposal, and even supported it.

As the greatest military strategist and politician of this era, he knew too well what the Tubo meant to the Tang Dynasty.

It is not easy to hit someone higher up, but from ancient times to the present, it is easier to be a thief than to guard against thieves...

As September approached and the weather became cooler, Cuiwei Palace was no longer suitable for summer escape, so Li Shimin decided to take his men back to Chang'an.

It will be the same as when you left Chang'an City.

Since Pei Xingjian's fleet set out to explore the south, the food shortage problem in Chang'an City was easily solved.

Li Xiang also introduced a series of policies to restrict the influx of population into Chang'an.

Otherwise, given today’s productivity, it is only a matter of time before Chang’an City runs out of food again.

Fortunately, Li Xiang was also a relatively far-sighted leader. It could also be said that he stood on the shoulders of a giant called history, and he could see farther than others.

Li Chengqian was overjoyed to see Li Shimin coming back.

On the one hand, Old Li was in good spirits and could even walk from Chengtian Gate to Liangyi Hall.

On the other hand, after Li Shimin came back, he no longer had to supervise the country.

It's not that Li Chengqian has no interest in this aspect, but because the regent is, after all, a temporary governor, not the true ruler of a country, he always feels like something is missing, so he has no motivation.

So as soon as Li Shimin came back, Li Chengqian happily resigned and returned to the East Palace, where he happily invited Li Tai and Li Zhi to play Chang'an Poker together.

Yes, Li Xiang changed the name of that poker game to "Chang'an Poker".

It was not until this time that the ministers who stayed in Chang'an learned that Li Shimin had been ill in Mount Zhongnan.

It’s no wonder that they are not well-informed. Both Changsun Wuji and Yuchi Gong are people who keep their mouths shut.

Come to think of it, if you don’t keep your mouth shut you can’t climb to such a high position, right?

The reason why Lao Li didn't let Chang'an know the news was also to stabilize the situation.

Since Old Li has been busy dealing with state affairs recently, he naturally has no time to take Li Wushuang with him.

Li Chengqian, who had not seen Li Wushuang for several months, missed his little granddaughter very much, so he brought her to the East Palace to cherish her.

Li Xiang certainly couldn't object. What's wrong with you if the grandfather wanted to enjoy family happiness with his granddaughter?

"Xiang'er, are you really confident in letting big brother take care of the child?" Li Mingda's voice was not without worry: "You know big brother's temper. In my opinion, you should bring Doudou back as soon as possible."

"Aunt, you miss Doudou, right?" Li Xiang said with a smile, "After all, my grandfather is also a grandfather. If a grandfather wants to be close to his granddaughter, I can't stop him, right?"

"That's true, but I'm always afraid that my elder brother will lead the child astray." Li Mingda's expression was still full of worry.

"Don't worry, auntie. Aye knows his limits and will definitely not lead the child astray." Li Xiang lacked confidence when he spoke.

He thought of his childhood.

Hmm...what did Li Chengqian do when he was a child?
Playing the role of a Turk and giving yourself a funeral?
Or is he communicating with the little boy in Lizheng Hall?

Thinking of this, Li Xiang couldn't help but shudder.

"You also think that elder brother is unreliable, right?" Li Mingda narrowed his eyes.

"I think we should go and get the child back." Li Xiang immediately stood up and hurriedly prepared to go to the East Palace.

At the same time, in Mingde Hall, "It's the last card, let's see who has it." Li Shu, who was temporarily acting as the dealer, rolled up his sleeves and dealt the cards to the four brothers Li Chengqian in turn. He took out a bunch of chips and threw them in the middle of the table: "Place your bets."

"One string of money." Li Zhi threw a chip representing one string of money into the center of the field.

"I'll follow." Li Ke looked at his cards and threw the chips into them.

"I'll follow suit." Li Tai also threw in a chip.

Li Chengqian glanced at his cards, took a deep breath, and threw in a one-dollar chip: "One-dollar, I'll bet another five."

This abnormal behavior made everyone present raise their heads.

Could it be that...brother has been dealt a good hand?
"Aunt, you dare to add five strings of cash with such cards?!" Li Wushuang looked up in disbelief and asked in his arms. Her little face was even twitching, as if she had seen something that she could not accept.

After hearing Li Wushuang's words, everyone no longer hesitated.

"I'll follow!" "I'll follow!" "I followed!"

After all the chips were placed, Li Chengqian gave an apologetic smile and reached out to turn over the cards in his hand.

"Three aces, two kings, full house."

Li Tai took a deep breath and felt unwell.

It wasn't that he felt sorry for the five strings of cash, but it was a bit uncomfortable for him to let his elder brother win.

"Dou Dou, do you know what a full house means?!" Li Tai asked angrily.

Li Wushuang chuckled, crossed his arms and said, "Of course I know. I also know what psychological tactics are."

"You are really my good granddaughter!" Li Chengqian lowered his head and gave Li Wushuang a big kiss on the cheek.

Li Shu chuckled. She never thought that a group of adults like them would be fooled by a child.

This child... has a future!

He is really Li Xiaoxiang's child, he has been smart since he was young.

"How about, Doudou, would you like to play a game?" Li Chengqian asked with his head down.

Li Wushuang was obviously tempted, but just when she was about to agree, Li Zhi raised objections.

"Brother, Doudou is just a child after all..."

"What's wrong with the child?" Li Tai slammed the table in an instant: "She is still a child, don't let her go! I want to fight her to the death!"

This weird desire to win...

This is understandable. After all, Li Tai first lost to Li Chengqian and then to Li Xiang. If he were to fail again at the hands of Li Wushuang, he would have nothing to lose!

Three generations of his family have been rubbing him, which is a bit embarrassing to say out loud.

Li Shu was still the one dealing the cards, but everyone's cards didn't seem to be very good. Li Ke, Li Zhi and Li Shu gave up their cards one after another. Now only Li Tai and Li Wushuang were left on the field.

Li Tai glanced at the cards in his hand, stared at Li Wushuang, then took out twenty strings of chips and slapped them on the field.

"Increase it to twenty strings of cash!"

After arranging twenty chips, Li Tai rubbed his fat chin with his hand and looked at Li Wushuang with a smug look.

"What do you think, Doudou? Do you want to follow or not?"

Li Chengqian frowned and whispered to Li Wushuang, "Seeing how complacent he is, I suggest you be careful."

Li Wushuang held the cards in front of his mouth and said to Li Chengqian in a voice that only two people could hear: "Second Uncle Weng is bluffing. When he bluffs, he always touches his chin."

Hearing this, Li Chengqian looked at Li Wushuang with amazement.

This granddaughter... is such a smart person!

Seeing that Li Wushuang did not move, Li Tai continued to touch his chin and asked: "Doudou, do you want to follow or not?"

Li Wushuang looked back at Li Chengqian again, and Li Chengqian whispered, "Get him!"

Hearing Li Chengqian's words, Li Wushuang smiled implicitly, took out twenty strings of chips from the side and slapped them on the table.

"With you!"

Li Tai was stunned. He didn't expect that Li Wushuang would dare to follow such a big increase.

He took a deep breath, rubbed his cards together, slapped them on the table, turned around and said to the three people standing behind him: "I hate this kid!"

Seeing Li Tai like this, everyone burst into laughter.

After laughing for a long time, Li Tai started laughing too.

Just as everyone was laughing, Li Mingda's incredulous voice rang out.

"You...what are you doing?"

"Hey, Sizi." Li Chengqian didn't even turn his head and said with a smile: "As you can see, I'm playing cards. It's been several months since I came back from the mountains and I haven't had the chance to play a few rounds. I really miss it."

"Doudou is only three years old! How dare you..." Li Mingda pointed at the card table tremblingly.

Li Xiang also squeezed in from outside at this time. Seeing the chips placed in front of Li Wushuang, the father and daughter looked at each other and smiled knowingly.

"How about it, Doudou, how much did you win?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Mingda glared at him.

Li Xiang immediately changed his words and said, "Oh no, Doudou, I mean it's wrong for you to play cards at such a young age, go back with your aunt and learn--"

"Got it." Li Wushuang put down the cards in his hand dejectedly and walked to Li Mingda with his head down.

"Just wait and see how I'll deal with you when I get back!" Li Mingda snorted, pinched Li Wushuang's little face, and carried her out of Mingde Hall.

Seeing Li Mingda leave, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Xiang raised his head and glanced at the elders: "If everything is ok, I will leave first——"

"Why are you leaving?" Li Chengqian said with a smile, "You have nothing to do these days anyway, why don't you stay and play with us, and then go back in the evening."

Li Xiang was obviously a little tempted. To be honest, there were too few entertainment activities in the Tang Dynasty. He couldn't just, um...

After thinking it over, Li Xiang realized that there was nothing important, so he walked forward and pulled over a chair.

"Come on, come on, let's play a few rounds together before we go back."

(End of this chapter)