Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight

Chapter 11 - Two Brothers

　　Yaoying could not go out, so he taught her to read and write, so that she could idle away her time at home.

　　She could not get out of bed, so he ordered the servants to spread felt mats in the corridors and in the courtyard. He would carry her outside to bathe in the sun, accompany her to roll around on the mats, from one end of the corridor to the other, getting covered from head to toe with apricot flower petals.

　　The small smile on Yaoying's face was getting bigger and bigger, her eyes getting brighter and brighter.

　　Slowly daring to act coquettishly around him, she deliberately stretched her voice call him: "Elder~ brother~".

　　What he ordered her to do, she would do.

　　When she wanted to go out, she would stare at him with round eyes and stretch out her arms: "Brother, hold me."

　　When she was able to walk on her own without help, her temper got even bigger. He would sit cross-legged in front of his writing desk, reading, and she would directly throw herself at and shake him: "Elder brother, I want to ride a horse! I want a beautiful and obedient Wusun horse!"

　　He did not pay attention to her words, so she kept shaking his arm.

　　When she got tired of shaking, she laid down on his lap, using his thigh as a pillow, crossed her legs then boldly and confidently negotiated with him, "A pony is fine, I'll just ride around the courtyard for one lap."

　　"Half a lap?"

　　"Okay, I won't ride. I'll raise a nice horse first.... when I grow up then I'll ride...."

　　Not long after, she fell asleep lying in his lap. Turning over, her saliva rubbed all over his sleeve.

　　Li Zhongqian finished reading the scroll, bowed his head to see Yaoying clutching his sleeve tightly, sleeping in a daze.

　　He laughed lightly.

　　The next day, he took her to the stables to pick a horse. She was very conscious of herself and really picked a pony.

　　A couple of years ago, when Li Zhongqian attacked Jincheng, he captured a number of good horses from the West.

　　He picked the most beautiful Wusun horse for Yaoying to be her steed.

　　What she wanted, he remembered.

Yaoying pulled Li Zhongqian and wouldn't let go.

　　"It just so happened that I had left the palace today. When I heard the drums, I came over."

　　Li Zhongqian held the reins for her and said gently, "Little seventh has lost weight."

　　There was a warm smile in his voice.

　　He was not a patient man, but he was always patient with her.

　　Yaoying put away her melancholic look, let go of his hand, and puffed up her chest, "And grew taller!"

　　The children of the Li family were born tall and upright, but she had been taking medicine since birth and started walking late, and only started to grow taller at the end of the previous year.

　　Li Zhongqian laughed lightly: "Elder brother can't tell. Let's go home and measure to see."

　　Yaoying smiled and gave him a white2 look.

　　After entering the imperial city, they separated from the flying cavalry led by Li Xuanzhen and went straight back to the wangfu.

　　Yaoying asked, "Brother, you don't need to go to the Ministry of War first?"

　　According to etiquette, he should have gone to the Ministry of War with Li Xuanzhen first.

　　Li Zhongqian was unconcerned, "Don't mind them, let's go back first to show you some good treasures."

　　Yaoying understood, extending her head to look into the sheepskin sack hanging by his saddle, lowering her voice: "Elder brother, what good things did you rob again?"

　　Li Zhongqian fought in the war, not caring about his military achievements, only seeking benefits: gold, silver, treasures, rare pearls and jade, famous paintings and calligraphy.... In short, all valuable and convenient treasures.

　　The two siblings knew that they were living in danger and must prepare early. They started saving gold, silver, and valuable for their future escape from very early on.

　　From the south to the north, they have hidden a lot of valuable things.

　　Li Zhongqian smiled and rubbed Yaoying's hair: "Let's go back then talk."

　　Yaoying raised her eyebrows.

　　It just so happened that she wanted to ask him about Li De marrying Noble Consort Xie. He was raised by uncle Xie Wuliang's side when he was a child, and should have heard Xie Wuliang talk about that year.

It was gradually sinking to twilight.

　　When Li Xuanzhen came out from the Ministry of War, it was already dark.

　　An attendant stood by with a lantern to illuminate the road. He took a few steps up the stone steps, received the paper documents sent by Wei Ming, the chief historian of the Eastern Palace, and hurriedly turned it over under the faint light.

　　The palace eunuch who stayed in Chang'an also followed behind him, reporting one by one the recent big and small events in the imperial city.

　　Finally, after a pause, said: "Your Highness.... Recently, Princess Fukang's residence has some strange movements."

　　Up and down the Eastern Palace, from Crown Princess Zheng shi to the errand-running servants, no one wanted to mention Princess Fukang.

　　But there was nothing to be done. The crown prince had tender, protective feelings for the fairer sex. What he loved most in life was rescuing noble ladies from prominent families that had met with misfortune. If they concealed it now and didn't tell the crown prince, when Princess Fukang made it a major event, it was also for the crown prince to sort out!

　　Li Xuanzhen frowned lightly.