Da Tang Si Zi: My Six Super Rich Little Nuggets!

Chapter 17 I hereby bestow upon you the title of "Greatly Intelligent Rhinoceros" (a title

Xiao Si: Daddy, I heard my mother is really amazing. Did she have a lot of children? Including Li Chengqian, Li Tai, Li Zhi, and a bunch of princesses?

Emperor Taizong: Haha, Little Si, you're really well-informed! That's right, your mother, Empress Zhangsun, gave birth to three sons and four daughters. Besides your second brother, Li Zhi, there were Princess Changle, Princess Chengyang, Princess Xincheng, and you, Princess Jinyang, my most beloved youngest daughter.

Xiao Si: My mom is such a super mom! Was she always this amazing since she was little?

Emperor Taizong: Of course. Your mother was a literature and history enthusiast since she was a child. She started reading at a very young age, and the two of us always studied together how to be a good emperor.

Xiao Si (admiringly): Wow, so Mommy is a top student too! I heard she even helped Daddy win the Xuanwu Gate Incident, is that true?

Emperor Taizong: That's right! Your mother was not only intelligent, but also exceptionally brave. Back then, when I was fighting fiercely against my own family, your mother fully supported me and even had a special charm that encouraged the soldiers to fight to the death.

Xiao Si: Wow, Mom is amazing! Is she strict with you? Like when Mom scolds you, she hits Dad on the head with a book, and always tells you to read more books?

Emperor Taizong (with a wry smile): Haha, she wasn't that fierce! But she did use the ancient story of "the shrew from Hedong" to remind me not to make a mistake.

Little Si: Hahaha, Father is much more obedient than Mother.

Li Shimin kissed her: No one is as obedient as our Sizi.

Little Si: Daddy, let's talk about Brother Zhinu. I heard he was made a king when he was only three years old? He seemed really amazing when he was little.

Emperor Taizong (nodding): Yes, your third brother Li Zhi was very smart from a young age. He was made a prince at the age of three, and by the age of seven, he was already remotely controlling the affairs of Bingzhou.

Xiao Si (shocked): Wow, did he hold up a toy remote control and say, "Quick, send troops to Bingzhou"?

I want to do that too!

Emperor Taizong (laughs heartily): That's about the gist of it! But he's not as mischievous as you; he's very serious.

Xiao Si (pouting): Hmph, I can be serious too! Then why wasn't the throne given to Li Chengqian and Li Tai, but instead to Li Zhi and Guo Guo? Shouldn't it have been out of his reach according to the rules?

Emperor Taizong (thinking to himself): This matter... hehe, fate is unpredictable! Besides, the Ninth Prince also has his ability to appear foolish but actually possess great wisdom.

Little Si's bedtime stories are all heavyweights: Daddy, what new ideas does Uncle Ma Zhou have today?

Emperor Taizong: Oh dear, Xiao Si, how did you know so quickly! Ma Zhou submitted a memorial today saying that the selection of prefectural and county officials should be more rigorous and not just left to subordinates to choose. I thought it made sense and decided to personally select the prefects. What do you think?

Xiao Si: Father is personally choosing the governor? Wow, that must be exhausting! Do you want me to give you some advice?

Emperor Taizong: Haha, good. When Father chooses, he should bring along Xiao Sizi, who has the best eye for talent. We need to choose in person to feel at ease!

Xiao Si: Okay, Father, that's a good idea. But the magistrate should still have the ministers recommend someone for Father, so we can save ourselves some trouble.

Emperor Taizong laughed heartily: Good!

Xiao Si: Father, why didn't Uncle Yao, who wrote the Book of Liang, come to court?

Emperor Taizong (sighs): Alas, Uncle Yao Silian passed away a few days ago. He was a great historian of our Tang Dynasty. He painstakingly organized the editorial committees and meticulously completed the "Book of Liang" and the "Book of Chen".

Little Si: Sigh, I'm so sad. Uncle Yao Silian's book is so thick! He can write so much with such concise language, he's really amazing! If I were to write that much, I'd probably be exhausted and panting!

Emperor Taizong: Yes, Xiao Si, it's not easy being a scholar. Uncle Yao Silian took over his father's work and spent several years writing it before he finished. We should learn from his spirit.

Little Si: Hmm! I want to be "angry" too!!! But writing books is too "dreary," I'll just draw instead!

Emperor Taizong: Haha, just don't draw maps on the princess's bed tonight!!

Xiao Si: Father, I heard that Uncle Fang Xuanling and Grandpa Wei Zheng are working on some new laws. Are there really so many articles?

Emperor Taizong: Oh my, Sizi is really well-informed, even more so than your mother! Yes, they have formulated more than 500 new laws, reduced many death penalty provisions, and also reduced the number of those to be exiled.

Xiao Si: Sounds pretty manly!! So, have they all become the kings of legal "manly bellies"?

Emperor Taizong (laughs heartily): You certainly know how to talk! But these laws do indeed provide greater protection for the common people. If you don't understand any of the articles, you can ask Uncle Fang Xuanling and Master Wei Zheng!

Little Si: Hehe, I'll let them cut my little buddies' hair. I heard they cut hair really fast.

Hahahahaha!

Xiao Si: I heard that Uncle Fang Xuanling and Master Wei Zheng have started setting new gifts again. Aren't the gifts already enough?

Emperor Taizong: Yes, they have drafted over a hundred chapters of the "New Rites," which contain quite a lot of information. Your Highness, etiquette is essential; a country needs rules and regulations.

Xiao Si: More than a hundred articles? Just hearing about them makes my head spin.

Emperor Taizong: Haha, learning etiquette is a good thing. Otherwise, your father will give you a few tests.

Little Si: Daddy, I suddenly remembered that it's time to sleep. Baby needs to go to sleep first, so you can go out now!

Emperor Taizong: Hahahaha! Alright, Father is going to sleep now.

Xiao Si: Wait a minute, Father, I heard you summoned that warrior's daughter to the palace, is that true?

Emperor Taizong: Yes, that's right. She is exceptionally beautiful, so I bestowed upon her the title of Cairen (a low-ranking concubine).

Xiao Si (pouting): Hmph, a talented person? She's only fourteen years old, just a child!

Emperor Taizong: Oh dear, Xiao Si, you're so talented at such a young age. Besides, she's not as clever and mischievous as you.

Little Si: Hmph, then I want to be a great talent too!

Emperor Taizong (smiling as he strolls out of the princess's bedroom): Good, good, good. When you're a little older, I'll bestow upon you the title of "Greatly Intelligent Rhinoceros" (兕大聪明) Consort, is that alright?

Little Si (happily tucking herself in): Hehehe! That's more like it! Goodnight, Daddy.