The seventh day of the first lunar month was Princess Changle's sixteenth birthday.
"Greetings, mother!"
In the Li Zheng Hall, Princess Changle, who was dressed splendidly, bowed to Empress Zhangsun.
"Changle, please get up. Today is your birthday!" Empress Zhangsun could not help but reveal a doting smile, raising her arm. Princess Changle was the first daughter of Empress Zhangsun and Li Shimin. Naturally, Empress Zhangsun doted on her, showering her with love.
"Today is my birthday, so I need to show more filial piety. If it weren't for mother's ten months of pregnancy, how could I be alive?" Princess Changle said.
Princess Changle and Empress Zhangsun had a deep relationship. Every year on her birthday, Princess Changle would come to the Li Zheng Hall to greet her. This habit had not changed for many years.
Empress Zhangsun couldn't help sighing, "When you were born, the world was not at peace. Your father was still the King of Qin. He was leading the army to fight against Wang Shichong. When your father came back, you were already one month old. Don't tell me how happy your father was when he saw you! … "
"Mother suffered a lot at that time!" Princess Changle leaned on Empress Zhangsun's legs and said.
Empress Zhangsun stroked Princess Changle's head and said sadly, "I didn't expect that Changle has grown up in the blink of an eye. You are going to get married so soon."
Empress Zhangsun had no doubt that Modun could prepare the betrothal gifts. Changle's marriage was a matter of time. She was only curious about how Modun would do it. She was just curious about the method Modun would use.
Princess Changle suddenly said shyly, "I won't get married. I will always stay with mother."
As her sixteenth birthday approached, she became more and more sensitive about her marriage. Especially when her elders talked about it, she felt extremely embarrassed.
Looking at Princess Changle's long ponytail, Empress Zhangsun couldn't help smiling. Perhaps Princess Changle didn't notice that she was becoming more and more like a girl from Village Mo.
Princess Changle and Empress Zhangsun had a private conversation for a while. Then they heard a palace maid say that the Crown Prince wanted to see her.
"Greetings, Mother!"
Not long after, Li Chengqian came in and bowed. When he raised his head and saw Princess Changle, he revealed a knowing expression and said, "So Changle is here!"
Empress Zhangsun smiled and said, "Could it be that Gao Ming didn't come to find Imperial Mother today?"
"Of course he came to see Imperial Mother. But today is Changle's birthday. I guess Changle will definitely come here today." Li Chengqian explained.
Not long after Li Chengqian came, Li Tai, Li Zhi, and Princess Jinyang all came over.
They were all blood-related siblings and had grown up together. The siblings were naturally happy and harmonious together, laughing and chatting. Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but reveal a trace of gratification when she saw this scene.
After everyone finished chatting for a while, Li Chengqian suddenly stood up and said, "Imperial Mother, today is Changle's birthday. Changle has been in the palace recently and hasn't gone out. She has always been very bored. Why don't you let me take Changle out of the palace?"
"Yes, last time when we went out of the palace, only Sister Changle didn't go. Naturally, we have to go out of the palace to play." Li Zhi waved the flag and shouted. He was young and had few opportunities to go out of the palace. The last time he went to the Mo Family Village, it was an eye-opener. Now that he heard that he had to go out of the palace, how could he sit still?
Li Tai and Princess Jinyang also echoed. After all, last time when they went out of the palace, only Changle didn't go. Today was Princess Changle's birthday. Going out of the palace was a legitimate reason.
Changle also couldn't help but feel moved. She had been in the palace for a long time and was naturally tired of it. It was naturally excellent to go out of the palace with her brothers.
"Well, go early and come back early!"
Empress Zhangsun naturally agreed. Wasn't it exactly what she expected that the siblings were so harmonious?
"Let's go out of the palace!"
Li Zhi jumped up excitedly. He was probably the most enthusiastic to go out of the palace.
"Thank you very much, Mother!" Li Chengqian bowed and said.
Princess Changle followed Li Chengqian and others out of the Legislative Hall, but found that Li Chengqian had arranged plainclothes guards. Although she was puzzled, she didn't suspect anything.
Only after the four-wheeled carriage left the palace and continued onward, arriving at the eastern market. Finally, the carriage stopped in front of the eastern market's ice cream shop did Princess Changle's suspicions rise. She looked at Li Chengqian in confusion.
"Brother Crown Prince, why are you here?" Princess Changle couldn't help but ask.
"Sister Changle, you will know when you see it." Li Chengqian pointed at the ice cream shop covered with red silk and smiled mysteriously.
Princess Changle was completely baffled. She could not help but look at the siblings by her side. However, she saw that Li Tai and the others were intentionally or unintentionally avoiding her gaze. Immediately, she understood that she was the only one who had been kept in the dark about today's matter.
"Slave Zhi, tell me what's going on, okay?" Princess Changle gently induced.
Li Zhi quickly shook his head and said, "I don't know. Sister, don't ask me."
After saying that, Li Zhi stepped back and couldn't help but look at Li Chengqian. He was simply trying to hide something.
Changle couldn't help but stare at Li Chengqian, and then look at the youngest Princess Jinyang.
Before Changle could say anything, Princess Jinyang immediately covered her mouth in horror and said in a muffled voice, "Princess Jinyang doesn't know either!"
"A group of traitors!" Changle said bitterly.
The siblings chuckled mischievously, looking immensely pleased with themselves.
At this moment, the red silk suddenly fell, and a newly decorated ice cream shop suddenly appeared in front of Princess Changle. Four prominent words came into view at the top.
"Happy birthday!"
"Ah!"
Princess Changle immediately covered her mouth in surprise and looked at the scene in front of her in disbelief. What moved her even more was a familiar figure standing in front of the ice cream shop.
"Changle, happy birthday!" Meton said softly.
"You …" Princess Changle couldn't help but turn to look at Li Chengqian and the others and Meton. She didn't expect that they had arranged this with Meton.
Li Chengqian said with a smile, "Meton knew that today is your birthday, so he deliberately asked us to arrange this birthday party without telling you."
"It's just a birthday. It's nothing. Changle has already paid her respects to Mother." Princess Changle was puzzled.
Meton explained, "Birthday is the day of the mother's suffering, and also the day of the birth of a life. It is also a very meaningful day for a person. Moreover, we can understand birthday as a holiday, and a holiday that is exclusive to one person."
"A holiday that is exclusive to one person!" Li Chengqian and the others' eyes suddenly lit up. This explanation was indeed very comforting, and it suddenly raised the significance of birthday by a lot.
Li Tai clapped his hands and praised, "Birthdays under the age of forty are called" Shengsheng ", and those that have passed this boundary are called" Shengsheng ". Since the elderly can celebrate their birthdays, young people can naturally celebrate their birthdays."
There were many children in the palace, and there weren't many opportunities to see Li Shimin and their parents. If they could use birthday as an excuse to reunite with their parents, wouldn't it be a great blessing?
Princess Changle was moved to the extreme. She had never celebrated her birthday before. Normally, she would go to Empress Zhangsun's place to pay her respects. Just like in the past, she had never imagined that her birthday would have such significance.
Meton nodded with a smile and invited Princess Changle in. He said softly, "Today is your birthday, and the first birthday in the world."
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