Chapter 119: Team Building or Matchmaking?

April had just begun when Li Zhi suddenly issued an order tasking Liu Rengui with revising the national history, citing the many inaccuracies in the records kept by Xu Jingzong.

This command made Li Yuechen break into a cold sweat for her mentor, as this was an exceptionally troublesome task. In the Tang Dynasty, the national history was not restricted from being read; if a volume had already been completed, editing it completely was nearly impossible. Fortunately, official history was generally compiled using the "Diaries of Activity and Repose" as primary source material, which were only submitted every three months. Factoring in the time required for compilation, there was still a significant time lag. However, for records already published, revisions would be incredibly difficult, as no one knew how many times they had been copied or read.

As for the reasons behind this revision, Li Yuechen had zero interest; the waters were simply too deep for her to navigate. Moreover, as an imperial princess, her highest priority was the interests of the imperial family, so she chose not to get involved.

After writing another letter to her eldest brother, Li Hong—maintaining her pace of two letters a month—the idle Li Yuechen went to play with her other brothers after the morning court session. Only Li Xian and Li Lun were available to play today. As for the second brother, Li Xian, he had been under the tightest surveillance since their eldest brother left and dared not step out of line. Consequently, he spent his days in the Yongwang Mansion studying and practicing calligraphy, only emerging for a brief respite when he felt he could no longer bear the confinement.

Although Li Yuechen no longer had to work every day, her own leisure time seemed to be shrinking. She had to teach the children at the imperial farm every few days and reconcile the accounts for the Ministry of Revenue every month. If the people sent by the Vice Minister of Agriculture had returned, she would have been facing a new round of grain experiments. By then, however, she would likely be able to delegate that responsibility to the staff at the Ministry of Revenue and the imperial farm.

She played with her brothers until dusk before returning to the palace, stopping by the Renshou Hall to greet her parents. Hearing that she had been playing with her brothers, Li Zhi waved for her to sit beside him. "Chen'er, tell me, are you familiar with the daughters of any official's family?"

Li Yuechen shook her head. "I am not familiar with the female relatives of the ministers. Why do you ask, Father?"

Empress Wu Zetian took over the conversation: "We have been thinking that your brothers are reaching an age where it is time to consider marriage."

Indeed, they were no longer young. The eldest, Li Hong, was twenty, and the youngest, Li Lun, was eleven; it was certainly time.

"Does Mother have some hidden concern?" Li Yuechen asked.

Wu Zetian sighed. "Originally, there were many candidates, but now that marriage within three degrees of kinship is prohibited, the list has suddenly shrunk."

Li Zhi nodded. "I didn't realize it until we investigated. From the founding of the Tang Dynasty to my generation, only three generations have passed. It seems we cannot consider anyone related to the imperial family."

"I originally thought the daughter of the Grand Princess Chang Le was beautiful and well-educated, suitable to be a consort for Xian’er. But now, we must look elsewhere," Wu Zetian added.

Li Yuechen grinned. "Actually, I think it is time for the eldest and second brothers to consider this, but for the third and fourth brothers, it seems... a bit too early?"

Wu Zetian patted her head. "As parents, how can we not worry about these things? And people, you know, they grow up so fast!"

Li Zhi agreed. "Indeed. In the blink of an eye, Chen'er has grown so much that I can no longer carry her!"

This was a genuine dilemma. As royals, and specifically the Emperor's legitimate sons, they could not possibly marry commoners. The concept of "matching status" was not written in law, but it was an unwritten rule recognized by everyone in the country since ancient times. While marriage between cousins had been standard, the new ban on three-degree kinship meant they had to look outside the family. Yet, it was difficult to find a family of sufficient rank—at least the fifth official grade or higher—that was also willing to marry into the imperial family, as many great noble houses disdained such unions. This created an awkward situation: the Emperor's sons might find themselves without wives!

Li Yuechen thought for a moment. "Why don't you lower the standards? Perhaps look at other officials in the capital, or those in remote prefectures..."

Wu Zetian shook her head. "I don't deny there may be good women in those families, but the probability is too low..."

"Then why not arrange for the brothers and the children of those families, both male and female, to go on a 'team-building' outing?" Li Yuechen suggested.

"What is this 'team-building'?"

Li Yuechen realized she had let a modern term slip, but dismissed it as unimportant. "It means having them go on an outing together to get to know each other. If they find someone they like, they can report back to their parents and proceed with marriage."

"Nonsense!" Li Zhi scolded with a laugh. "How can you let a group of young people mingle regardless of gender?"

But Wu Zetian turned her head. "It is not impossible! It is like the poetry gatherings in the common world. Gathering to talk, compare poetry, calligraphy, or equestrian skills—it would be a good way for them to get to know one another."

Li Yuechen mused to herself that her mother was surprisingly open-minded, though she suspected her mother was just eager to watch the drama unfold. Li Zhi did not mind much; Tang culture was inherently open and inclusive, and it was acceptable for unmarried men and women to socialize. The key, however, was whether the ministers would accept it. Even an Emperor could not force ministers to bring their unmarried daughters to a "team-building" event.

Seeing the hesitation on Li Zhi's face, Li Yuechen said, "Why not ask the ministers for their opinions at the next court session? Say it was my idea. Even if they don't like it, they won't say much. After all, children say what they will, don't they?"

Li Zhi paused, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha... 'Children say what they will'! A perfect excuse!"

Wu Zetian laughed as well. "Yes, children’s words need no restraint. The Emperor is simply indulging his daughter."

"Indeed!" Li Zhi nodded. "This plan is viable! Chen'er is so clever!"

Hearing her father's praise, Li Yuechen opened her arms. "Then give me a hug!"

"Come here!" Li Zhi opened his arms, pulling both his daughter and his wife into a warm embrace, laughing heartily.

...

Two days later, Fu Lai came to inform Li Yuechen that he had found a group of craftsmen and asked if she wanted to see them. Li Yuechen had not intended to go, but Fu Lai mentioned that one old man had been a paper-making worker who had returned home after his boss was implicated in a legal case.

"Was this case a major one?" Li Yuechen asked.

"According to my inquiries, it seems to have been a dispute between noble families," Fu Lai replied.

Li Yuechen nodded. "Then let us go see them tomorrow afternoon. The location will be Jixian Ward."

"Understood!"

The next afternoon, Li Yuechen arrived at Jixian Ward by carriage. The recruited workers looked nervously at her as she jumped down with ease. They had heard they were working for the Princess and some already regretted it. But seeing the heavily armed soldiers nearby, they kept their regrets to themselves. They stole glances at the little princess in her bright red round-collared robe. Though she looked as lovely as a porcelain doll, the air of imperial nobility about her was impossible to ignore.

Li Yuechen surveyed the twenty or so people, noting an elderly man with gray hair and a weathered face standing in front. Seeing them still bowing, she waved her hand. "No need for ceremony. Have you been a paper-making craftsman before?"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"What is your name?"

"This old one is surnamed Du, no given name, second in my family."

Li Yuechen nodded. "Then I shall call you Old Du the Second. I intend to make paper from bamboo. Do you think it is feasible?"

"I have not tried it, so I cannot guarantee," Old Du the Second replied respectfully.

"Then we shall try," Li Yuechen said. "Not just bamboo, but reeds and the like as well. If it fails, no matter. But if you produce new paper, I will reward you handsomely!"

Old Du the Second readily agreed. Li Yuechen was secretly hoping to make toilet paper. Even if the quality couldn't match the future, it would at least allow many people to stop using bamboo strips. As a royal, she didn't use bamboo strips—she used silk—but not everyone could afford such luxury. Even many wealthy families used bamboo strips. It was worth noting that the Tang Dynasty had laws forbidding the use of paper for toilet purposes to show respect for written words, but the very existence of the law proved that many people did it anyway. It was a human instinct. If she could produce toilet paper, even the rough grass paper used in the countryside, she would make a fortune.

...

A few days later, it was time for the morning court. Li Yuechen woke up early, finished her yoga, had a quick meal, and hurried to the passage leading to the court.

The session began as usual with reports from officials. Then, the faction supporting Empress Wu began to question Li Zhi, noting that the imperial examinations had accepted fewer than three people this year and asking whether women should be allowed to participate, given the future needs of talent selection. Although Princess Taiping was an example, a princess was a princess and not to be compared with common women. A heated argument erupted in the hall. Li Zhi sat on the throne, expressionless, watching them bicker. After ten minutes, the ministers stopped, having reached no conclusion.

Li Zhi nodded and spoke in a clear, resonant voice. "I have been considering that the Crown Prince, the Prince of Yong, and the Prince of Ying are no longer young, and it is time to consider their marriages."

The ministers nodded in agreement.

Li Zhi continued. "As we all know, marriage within three degrees of kinship is discouraged, so our options have dwindled. My daughter, Taiping, suggested that the young ones should go on group outings together..."

Li Zhi slowly and rhythmically recounted Li Yuechen's proposal. Then, he asked casually, "I feel that children think differently from us parents... What do you, my ministers, think of this method?"

Behind the screen, Li Yuechen wanted to give Li Zhi a thumbs-up. This was the art of governance! He made it clear that the idea wasn't his, but a child's, and he was merely discussing it with them. If it went well, the Emperor's daughter would gain a good reputation. If it went poorly, well, children say what they will, and no one would take it to heart.

The ministers, aside from a few censors who instinctively wanted to object, began to consider it seriously. While the "Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues" existed, the era was relatively open. With the Empress sitting behind the beaded curtain, letting the children go on an outing didn't seem so radical. During festivals like the Shangsi Festival, friends often went on outings, though usually in gender-segregated groups. The Emperor's proposal was similar, just mixed-gender, but in a large group. Safety in numbers meant no one's reputation would be ruined.

After half an hour of discussion, the ministers surprisingly agreed. Even the ministers from the great noble families did not object, likely seeing an opportunity to find suitable matches for their own children.

Li Zhi was satisfied. "Then let the Ministry of Rites choose an auspicious day to host this event. All unmarried, age-appropriate children of my ministers are welcome to participate!"