Chapter 6: So, Li Zhi and Si’er are gone?

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“Did Guanyin’s maid… pass away early?”
Li Shimin, after much hesitation, leaned on the desk and looked solemnly at Wen He.
The latter was a bit surprised—why suddenly bring up Empress Zhangsun?
“If Guanyin’s maid were still alive, how could she have stood by and watched Gaoming and Qingque fight? She would have surely warned me that I was wrong.” His expression darkened somewhat.
Since Wen He mentioned Li Chengqian’s rebellion, he had a premonition.
In the future, his wife would leave him many years earlier.
Just like the present situation—if not for his mother’s passing, how could he have witnessed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji act so against him?
Surely she would have advised the emperor to maintain harmony among brothers.
“Empress Wende Zhangsun passed away in the sixth month of the tenth year of Zhenguan at the Lizheng Palace.”
“Only ten years?”
He recalled Wen He saying that he would ascend the throne this August and change the era name to Zhenguan the following year.
So that accounted for about ten years.
“Do you know the cause?” Li Shimin asked unwillingly.
“Historical records say it was illness. The explanation is that she grieved excessively—over the death of the retired emperor and Lady Zhao, the empress’s mother—which triggered asthma, a recurrence of her respiratory disease.”
“Guanyin’s maid had asthma since childhood. Fu Ji sought many famous doctors for her, but none could cure her… Wait, since you come from the future, is there—”
“No.” Wen He interrupted directly, knowing what he was about to ask. “This disease can only be managed in later times. Although there are emergency medicines, I’m not a doctor—I don’t know how to prepare them.”
“Then what use are you to me!” Li Shimin slammed his hand on the table, glaring fiercely.
Wen He shuddered, a little embarrassed, thinking, “Damn, Li Er is about to blow up. What to do?”
He pondered briefly and hurriedly said,
“Well, actually there is a preventative method, but doing so might change history.”
“I don’t care if it changes history. I just want Guanyin’s maid to live well. Tell me what you want—I will send someone immediately, no, I will handle it myself!”
Li Shimin grabbed Wen He’s shoulders excitedly, as if afraid that letting go would make him run away.
Pressed like that, Wen He felt as if his scapula was about to shatter.
“Your Highness, please let go. This matter isn’t that urgent.”
“It is very urgent!”
“Then don’t be impatient.”
“Speak!”
Li Shimin finally released his grip but still stared at him with fierce tiger-like eyes.
“Ahem, well, this matter might affect the future of the Tang Dynasty.” Wen He hesitated—not intentionally teasing, but genuinely uncertain.
Li Shimin sneered, “Ever since you appeared before me, history has changed because of you.”
“Ah, damn, Prince Qin, that’s very true. I’m speechless.” Wen He’s eyes lit up instantly.

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Indeed, since he arrived, Li Shimin had already prepared to launch the Xuanwu Gate Incident ahead of schedule; history had long been altered by his presence.
“However, although that’s true, this matter involves three lives.”
“You don’t mean…” Li Shimin’s eyes darkened as he stared at Wen He, feeling uneasy.
“To make Guanyin’s maid drink human blood and eat human flesh?”
“No, no, no, nothing that perverse. I mean, you, Empress Zhangsun, and your son and two daughters haven’t been born yet. That son, cough, is the one following you.”
After saying this, Li Shimin stared at him seriously and replied faintly, “I still don’t understand.”
“Sigh, this is because people of your era know too little about physiology. Childbearing takes a huge toll on women—it’s like crossing the gates of death. Giving birth to three children consecutively would certainly exhaust her body.”
Li Zhi was born in the second year of Zhenguan; Li Mingda, also called Si’er, was born around the fifth or sixth year; and there was also a younger daughter, Princess Xincheng.
Even with modern medical conditions, such frequent childbirths are tough for most women. How much more so in the underdeveloped medical world of the Tang Dynasty.
“So if she stops having children, she might recover?” Li Shimin seemed to grasp at a lifeline.
Wen He hesitated, then nodded: “At least it won’t strain her body so much. With proper rest and recuperation afterward, she may not live a very long life, but at least she could grow old with you.”
“Good. I understand. I will remember this. If Guanyin’s maid can grow old with me, I will reward you richly.”
“Uh…”
So that means no Li Zhi, no Li Mingda, and no Princess Xincheng?
Damn, those future crossover Tang novels featuring marrying Si’er would surely curse me to death.
Seeing his stunned look, Li Shimin thought he didn’t trust him and snorted displeasedly: “Your advice is meritorious. I’m not stingy. But since you are a commoner suddenly promoted, it’s not good for you. I promise you a founding county lord.”
“From the fifth rank? With land?”
Most Tang noble titles were honorary, not much meaning.
What really mattered was how much land was granted.
Li Shimin was speechless; this was the first time he met such a cheeky youth. When granted a title, the youth not only didn’t express gratitude but even asked about the land!
Even Cheng Zhijie wouldn’t dare.
“In the future, I will arrange land for you in Chang’an County. Since you’re from Ge Family Village, I will grant you three hundred mu there. But you will still live inside the city and may not leave Chang’an without my permission.”
Li Shimin meant not to imprison Wen He but would restrict his freedom.
Wen He was unsurprised; what concerned him more was those three hundred mu of land.
“So I’ll be a small landowner in the Tang Dynasty—finally able to settle down stably.”
He let out a long breath, feeling much relieved.
“Is that all you want?” Li Shimin was surprised—he thought Wen He would ask for more.
“A little wealth brings peace. With you as the Heavenly Khan, the Tang Dynasty will be stable for at least twenty more years. I’ll be a small landowner in your Zhenguan prosperity, marry a few wives and concubines, have a football team’s worth of children, and find a good family to marry off my sister. Just thinking about it makes me happy.”
Being from the south, he had a Shaanxi friend who would suddenly burst out in local dialect when excited; Wen He had learned a few phrases.
“Hmph.” Li Shimin snorted lightly but smiled silently.
Wen He glanced at his expression and immediately understood his meaning.

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How could Li Shimin, faced with someone who knew the future, allow Wen He to idle about?
Wen He sighed, helplessly shrugging.
“I’m just fantasizing. I know I’ll have to help you avoid the mistakes the Tang Dynasty will make, but remember, I’m only an advisor. Don’t make me do your work—I’m lazy.”
“You need not worry. I have enough capable ministers; I don’t need you to share my burdens.”
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as if recalling something, then said,
“But if you want leisure, I do have a leisurely task for you.”
“Paid?”
“An annual salary of one hundred shi.”
“One hundred shi a year. Let me calculate—right now, one dou of rice sells for one hundred qian, and one shi equals ten dou, so one hundred shi is one thousand dou. Damn, that’s a hundred thousand qian. Prince Qin, just say the word and I’ll get it done for you.”
I’m getting rich!
Right, Li Er said he found me a leisurely job.
I like jobs with little work and lots of money.
In my past life, I worked like a beast and never earned this much in a year.
But after waiting a while, he noticed Li Shimin was silent, staring blankly at him.
“Your Highness, is there something on my face?” Wen He asked suspiciously.
Li Shimin snapped out of his surprise, looked at him, and hesitantly asked, “How did you calculate so quickly?”
“Is it difficult? Don’t you just need a brain?”
Wen He was puzzled.
Could ancient people’s arithmetic really be that poor?
Li Shimin, about to speak, was dumbfounded and didn’t know what to say.
He suddenly realized something and laughed self-mockingly.
“That’s right. I always thought of you as a ten-year-old child, but you look educated.”
“Of course. A proper university graduate.” Wen He snorted proudly.
In later times, university graduates were everywhere.
In the Tang Dynasty, that was as rare as scorpion droppings—a unique treasure.
Li Shimin didn’t know what “university” meant, but from Wen He’s demeanor, he guessed it was a title requiring much knowledge.
He smiled warmly and nodded.
“Very well. I can entrust Gaoming, Qingque, and the third prince to you with peace of mind.”
Upon hearing this, Wen He’s smile visibly stiffened.