Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5241 Deep love between brother and sister
As I emerged from the Wude Hall, snowflakes were falling in abundance, covering the rooftops in the distance with white. The familiar female official was already waiting outside the door.

"Your Highness heard that the Grand Commandant has not yet left the palace, and perhaps has not eaten. Therefore, he ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare some simple food and wine, and instructed me to invite the Grand Commandant to Shujing Palace."

Fang Jun glanced at the heavy snowfall and nodded: "Lead the way."

"Here."

The female official turned around and led the way.

Fang Jun took an oil-paper umbrella from a eunuch and opened it. Fortunately, the snow was falling without wind, so he stepped on the layer of snow that had not yet been swept away and walked through the palace walls and gardens, all the way to Shujing Palace.

He handed the oil-paper umbrella to a palace maid outside the palace, let the maid brush the snow off his clothes and change his shoes, and then entered the palace and stepped onto the clean and bright floor.

Upon entering, one could see Empress Su, Princess Changle, and Princess Jinyang sitting together.

Fang Jun: "..."

Come again? !
Seeing Fang Jun's hesitant expression and unsteady steps, Princess Jinyang was immediately amused and laughed, "I heard that you were scolded by Sister Gaoyang after drinking in the palace last time. Is my brother-in-law afraid and wanting to run away?"

Fang Jun walked closer, bowed to the Empress and Chang Le, and then sat down behind another table. He said solemnly, "How can Your Highness tarnish someone's reputation? I, Fang Yi'ai, have always been upright and unyielding, never bending my back. How can I tolerate the temper of a woman?"

"Ok?"

"Ok?"

Empress Su and Princess Chang Le spoke up in unison to question them.

Fang Jun quickly changed his tune: "The Empress is a model of virtue for the nation, and the princesses are also dignified and virtuous. As long as their suggestions are reasonable, I will definitely listen to them."

"what!"

Princess Jinyang smiled, her eyes crinkling, and asked, "Will my brother-in-law drink today?"

Fang Jun resolutely said, "I won't drink!"

The answer was so quick and the tone so firm that even the Empress and Chang Le burst out laughing.

Princess Jinyang beckoned for the palace maids to bring up the prepared wine and dishes. She then rose and knelt beside Fang Jun, pouring wine and serving dishes, showing no regard for her status as a princess and displaying great intimacy.

The Empress and Chang Le exchanged a glance, both feeling helpless...

Several dishes, though small in portion, were delicious and visually appealing. A pot of warmed yellow wine was also served. Fang Jun enjoyed the meal, while Princess Jinyang poured more wine for him with her delicate hands. It was a very pleasant and comfortable meal.

The Empress was amazed to see that Fang Jun ate very quickly but with elegant manners, without wolfing down his food. She asked, "Did His Majesty summon you earlier to inquire about the matter of the Prince of Jin's enfeoffment?"

Fang Jun took a sip of wine, his face full of righteousness: "It is a precept throughout history that the empress must not interfere in politics. Those who break this precept will cause political turmoil and instability in the country. Your Majesty, I advise you to behave yourself!"

Empress Su: "..."

I couldn't help but recall the time I was scolded by this guy, and I was instantly filled with hatred.

Pretending!

Princess Chang Le hurriedly explained, "It's not about interfering in politics. It's just that Zhi Nu previously said he wanted to go to the island in the far south, which is tens of thousands of miles away. We women live deep in the palace and don't know the geography of the world, so we wanted to ask Erlang about the specifics."

Fang Jun took the wine cup that Princess Jinyang had filled, drank it in one gulp, and nodded, saying, "If Your Highness says so, then it is not interference in politics."

Empress Su: "..."

Is this such a blatant double standard?!
Princess Jinyang sat upright with her slender waist straight. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but chuckle. Seeing that Fang Jun had finished eating and rinsed his mouth, she handed him a handkerchief, waved for the maid to remove the food and serve him fragrant tea, and personally poured tea for Fang Jun, asking, "I am also very curious, where exactly is this so-called island in the south?"

Fang Jun took a sip of tea and, seeing that Empress Su and Princess Chang Le were also looking over curiously, said, "This place is still south of Java and Srivijaya. The Sundanese, Dani people, and Malays all call it 'Rosa,' meaning 'the last island.' In reality, there are still unfinished areas south of 'Rosa.' Large tracts of land are covered by ice and snow all year round. The climate is cold, the sun never shines, and there are no traces of people. It is the southernmost point of the earth. The men and women there are different in appearance. They do not weave or wear clothes, but cover themselves with bird feathers. They eat without fire, only eating raw meat and drinking blood, and living in nests and caves."

There was no prior contact between China and Australia, but the indigenous people living on the islands around Indonesia were already aware of Australia, and there had been trade between the two places for a long time. The islanders wore "short blouses of five-colored silk and tied with a single skirt of Bengal cloth." "Bengal" is "Bengal," and it has had continuous contact with China from ancient times to the present. The so-called "Bengal cloth" is a type of fabric that originated in China...

Artifacts unearthed in Australia in later generations prove that, at the latest by the Ming Dynasty, there had already been direct or indirect trade between China and Australia. The Western claim that China was the first to discover Australia is utterly absurd.

Barbarians, lacking substance, always try to please the public with claims of being "first" or "inventing," plagiarizing everywhere, seizing from all sides, and even fabricating falsehoods to embellish their civilization.

This robber is utterly shameless.

Princess Jinyang's pretty face was full of worry: "Just how far is 'Rosa' from the Tang Dynasty?"

Fang Jun thought for a moment and said, "The exact number is naturally impossible to measure, but according to my estimate, the straight-line distance between the northernmost point of the island and the Guangzhou Maritime Trade Office is more than 10,000 li. If we follow the sea route to bypass countless islands and avoid dangerous reefs and deep seas, the actual distance may be more than double."

"what?"

Princess Jinyang was shocked: "How can it be so far? If that's the case, wouldn't it be extremely difficult for Brother Zhinu to come back to Chang'an?"

Fang Jun nodded and said, "It's as difficult as climbing to heaven!"

Although navigation technology and shipbuilding standards are constantly improving, the risk of traversing the entire South Pacific and bypassing countless dangerous waters to reach Australia is extremely high, and the risk level naturally doubles for a round trip.

Various dangers lurk along the way, and the possibility of the ship capsizing and all lives lost is extremely high...

Seeing her filled with worry and on the verge of tears, Fang Jun gently comforted her, saying, "Although 'Rosa' is too far away, there are some indigenous tribes there that have not yet established a state. With the military strength of the Tang Dynasty, we can easily occupy the island. The coastal areas of the island have abundant rainfall and fertile land suitable for cultivation. Moreover, the produce is extremely rich, unlike the harsh and cold lands. As the saying goes, a good man's ambition lies in all directions. Prince Jin has always had great ambitions. Rather than being confined to Chang'an and feeling frustrated and unfulfilled, why not set sail, brave the wind and waves, and conquer a vast territory overseas?"

Princess Jinyang's tears finally fell, her expression melancholy, and she whispered, "But then I will never see Brother Zhinu again."

Although he knew that going overseas to establish a state was the best outcome for Li Zhi, the two siblings had grown up together under the Emperor Taizong's side since childhood, and their relationship was different from others. Now that they were separated, it was as if they were separated by death. How could they not be filled with sadness and sorrow?
Empress Su and Princess Chang Le also learned for the first time that "Rosas" was such a distant existence, and worried expressions appeared on their faces.

Princess Chang Le gritted her teeth and said, "How about I go and persuade His Majesty to rescind his decree and arrange a fiefdom for Zhi Nu nearby?"

Empress Su also said, "It is indeed too far. It would be much better if it were like the Prince of Wei."

Although Li Zhi's rebellion nearly led to his storming of the Wude Hall and almost cost her and her husband their lives, the resentment in her heart has eased somewhat over time. She can no longer bear to see Li Zhi go tens of thousands of miles away to live among the barbarians, eating raw meat and drinking blood, with his life hanging by a thread...

Fang Jun glanced at her, shook his head, and said, "When I met with His Majesty today, I firmly opposed the Prince of Jin's trip to Luosuo to establish a fiefdom, but it was to no avail. This time, the Prince of Jin is determined, and even if His Majesty disagrees, it will be difficult to persuade him to change his mind."

Silence fell over the hall for a moment.

After a long silence, Princess Jinyang asked, "When will Brother Zhinu leave Chang'an?"

"Generally after the Lunar New Year."

……

After Fang Jun left, Princess Jinyang sat for a while longer, listening to the Empress and Princess Changle sighing and talking about the Prince of Jin. She remained silent, and when it was getting dark, she got up to take her leave and returned to her own palace.

He sat by the window, drank some tea, and gazed at the falling snow outside. After a moment of blank staring, he suddenly summoned the female official.

"Tomorrow morning, pack all the money, silk, and other items that are not needed for the time being into boxes and send them to the Prince of Jin's residence."

"what?"

The female official was completely bewildered and baffled.

Your Highness, are you... not going to live your life anymore?

Princess Jinyang pursed her lips and said, "I live a life of luxury in the palace, so what difference does it make if I have a little more or a little less? My brother Zhinu traveled across the ocean to establish a kingdom in a remote and desolate land. The difficulties and dangers were as great as climbing to the sky, so naturally I should do my part."

The female official dared not disobey: "This servant will go and do it right away."

That night, all the eunuchs and maids in the palace received their tasks. Several female officials worked through the night to inventory the money, silk, and other items in the palace. The next morning, they took the inventory to Princess Jinyang to review, determining which items were essential for daily use and which could be packed away if not needed for the time being.

Then the entire palace came alive as items were gathered, organized, and packed.

Because she was sickly and weak from childhood, she was greatly favored by Emperor Taizong and Empress Wende. Her brothers and sisters also showed her much pity and doted on her. As a result, she received countless gifts and presents over the years, all of which were priceless and rare. When all of them were put together, they constituted a huge fortune.

Princess Jinyang, however, was quite generous, packing them all up and transporting them out of the palace, personally sending them all to Prince Jin's residence by carriage...

Such a grand display alarmed half of the Taiji Palace, and naturally, it could not escape Li Chengqian's notice.

He asked Wang De, "What is Sizi doing?"

Wang De said, "Yesterday, after His Majesty summoned the Grand Commandant, the Grand Commandant went to the Shujing Palace for a meal. During the meal, he was asked about the situation on the southern island. The Grand Commandant told him the truth. Prince Jinyang cried for a while. After returning to his palace, he ordered people to sort and organize the money, silk and other items in the storeroom. Most of them were loaded onto carts and transported out of the palace to be given to Prince Jin."

Li Chengqian: "..."

After a long silence, he sighed softly, "In the end, Si Zi is still closer to Zhi Nu."

Whether it was Li Ke's departure to Silla to become king, or Li Tai's recent departure to establish a kingdom in Japan, Princess Jinyang, though reluctant, did not show much sadness. Now, as Li Zhi is about to depart for an overseas fiefdom, he is bequeathing all his personal wealth to his descendants…

The siblings share a deep and tender bond.