Now I really have to marry the princess.

When Yang Zhengdao heard Xu Shiji's military order, he felt that this punishment was exactly what he wanted.

[Master of archery, advancement completion 1/10]

This is a good opportunity to focus on improving my basic archery skills.

Watching Xu Shiji lead the group away, Yang Zhengdao ignored Changsun Chong and picked up a hard bow with a weight of one stone and five dou (a unit of dry measure) to begin practicing.

Nocking the arrow and drawing the bow, all in one smooth motion, without even looking, the arrow hits the bullseye.

He stopped thinking and just kept shooting arrows, quickly getting into the mindset of watching people fix horseshoes.

Changsun Chong still used the same one-stone bow, while Jiang Cheng and another captain stayed behind.

When Yang Zhengdao finished shooting all the arrows in the quiver, Jiang Cheng smiled and reminded him, "Young Master Yang, you need to rest a bit, otherwise you might have to take another day off."

Yang Zhengdao then stopped, and then thought of the day before, when Jiang Cheng and another captain had not eaten in the corridor because he and Changsun Chong were practicing archery, and felt bad about it.

He cupped his hands in greeting: "Gentlemen, you no longer need to guard us at noon today. I believe Duke Cao will not stop us."

Jiang Cheng and the other captain exchanged a glance, then nodded in agreement.

After all, we're all just working people, so why not take advantage of the benefits Emperor Taizong (Li Er) is a waste?

Changsun Chong glanced at Yang Zhengdao, clearly dissatisfied that Yang Zhengdao had made the decision for him.

Yang Zhengdao ignored it, rested for a while, and continued practicing archery.

After all, the strongest form of contempt is to ignore it.

Seeing Yang Zhengdao's arrows hit the bullseye every time, Changsun Chong was both angry and annoyed.

His eyes narrowed, and he made up his mind: "Yang Zhengdao, don't even think about anyone bringing you lunch today."

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhengdao's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Azhi had been reprimanded by Li Er?

I think it's unlikely.

He subconsciously stopped shooting and looked at Changsun Chong.

When Changsun Chong saw Yang Zhengdao's expression change, he was inexplicably delighted, feeling that he had found Yang Zhengdao's weakness.

His smugness was evident as he raised his chin and said arrogantly, "Even if I skip lunch today, I won't let A-Zhi know that you've been punished by Duke Cao again!"

this!!

This is a Pyrrhic victory! (This is a strategy of killing a thousand enemies while losing a thousand of your own!)

If you don't go to the Lizheng Hall, how could Empress Zhangsun not know what happened in front of the Wude Hall?

Is this too stupid? Or too naive?

"Idiot!"

Two words that had not been used for a long time were uttered by Yang Zhengdao at this moment.

It was a completely subconscious mutter. Although Yang Zhengdao's voice was very soft, his disdainful and contemptuous look, his speechless expression, and his utterly disdainful tone were all very effective.

Changsun Chong was taken aback at first, then flew into a rage.

Despite being separated by a thousand years, Changsun Chong actually understood!

He might not understand the literal meaning of the two words at first, but the emotions they conveyed were precise, accurate, sincere, and intense.

His face immediately flushed red, and he pointed at Yang Zhengdao, demanding sharply, "You brat! How dare you insult me?"

Yang Zhengdao would never admit it.

If "idiot" were translated into a word that people in the Tang Dynasty could understand, it would be "foolish woman," which would be considered extremely vulgar by them.

His eyes narrowed, and he slapped away Changsun Chong's pointing finger, shouting just as sharply, "You brat! When have I ever insulted you?"

"What you just said..." Changsun Chong began, his confidence wavering, "What did you mean just now?"

Yang Zhengdao sneered: "Of course I'm praising your intelligence!"

"You!" Changsun Chong knew Yang Zhengdao was being sarcastic, but he couldn't be sure of the true meaning of those two words, so he couldn't even find a reason to refute them, and could only suppress his anger until his face turned ashen.

"My lords, why get so angry?" Jiang Cheng chuckled, trying to smooth things over. "If you start fighting again, you'll probably have to practice archery again tomorrow."

Yang Zhengdao glanced at Changsun Chong and picked up the hard bow again.

Changsun Chong stood there, his chest heaving violently, but in the end he did not argue with Yang Zhengdao again.

As the sun rose higher, Yang Zhengdao stopped to rest after shooting another quiver of arrows.

He glanced at the sun and cursed inwardly.

It seems that Ah Zhi won't be bringing him food today.

Changsun Chong glanced at the sky; his arms were already sore and numb, and his stomach was growling with hunger.

At this moment, he regretted arguing with Yang Zhengdao.

He would never be able to bring himself to go back on his word and dine at the Lizheng Hall.

As the sun reached its zenith, Jiang Cheng and another captain exchanged a glance, then bowed and took their leave to eat in the corridor.

Only Yang Zhengdao and Changsun Chong remained in front of the Wude Hall.

……

Taiji Palace, Lizheng Hall.

Empress Zhangsun sat upright on the couch, exchanging instructions with several palace maids.

Li Lizhi stood to the side, her little face full of anxiety.

She looked towards the palace gate and finally couldn't help but speak: "Mother, it's already noon."

Empress Zhangsun glanced at her eldest daughter and shook her head helplessly: "Once is fine, but if you go to deliver lunch every day, won't people gossip?"

Li Lizhi bit her lip, then shook Empress Zhangsun's arm, her voice soft and sweet: "Mother..."

Empress Zhangsun sighed. "A daughter is hard to keep once she grows up, and it's hard to hold onto her once she's given her heart."

She patted her eldest daughter's hand: "Azhi, you should go back to Chang Le Palace. I will have someone summon the two of them to Li Zheng Palace for lunch."

Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi's face lit up with joy, but she did not get up. Instead, she lowered her eyes and remained silent, her ear tips turning slightly red.

Empress Zhangsun felt both annoyed and amused as she looked at her daughter's appearance.

"If it works out, we'll see each other every day; if it doesn't, clinging to the past will only cause you suffering. Ah-Zhi, go back!"

When Li Lizhi realized that her thoughts had been exposed by her mother, she immediately blushed.

In the end, he could only reluctantly get up and take his leave.

After leaving the Lizheng Hall, Li Lizhi had only walked halfway when she suddenly stopped.

She blinked, coughed lightly, and said softly, "The spring scenery is lovely today. I'd like to wander around and enjoy the garden."

The female official was slightly taken aback, but then she guessed what Prince Chang Le meant.

With a forced smile, she tried to persuade him, "Your Highness, it's already noon. Why don't you go back to Chang Le Palace for lunch first, and then go to the garden?"

"That wouldn't be good! If we miss it..." Li Lizhi quickly stopped, then said seriously, "Spring comes only once in a lifetime; it would be terrible to miss it!"

Before she could finish speaking, Li Lizhi had already lifted her skirt and turned around.

She was anxious, and her steps quickened unconsciously.

The lady-in-waiting could only hurry along with her maids and eunuchs, panting as she reminded them from behind, "Your Highness, please slow down and don't be impolite."

Thus, Li Lizhi and her entourage deliberately bypassed the Lizheng Hall during their tour of the garden, eventually stopping at a pavilion beside the palace road.

This is the only way to get from Wude Hall to Liangyi Hall.

Li Lizhi stood quietly, gazing intently at the end of the palace path, her heart filled with both anticipation and trepidation.

This was probably the first time she had disobeyed her mother, but she had something to say to that shameless woman.

But where is that shameless guy?

Or had he already gone to the Lizheng Hall, and they had ultimately missed each other?