Inside the newly built flat-roofed house, Li Shimin, gazing at the map before him, listened to Fang Er recount tales of the Maya people.
Upon hearing the account, he expressed great curiosity, asking, "So, you're saying they are descended from the same lineage as us?"
Fang Er smiled. "Indeed! Apart from not passing down their smelting techniques, their ancient sorcery and divination, they're even more adept than Yuan Tiangang!"
Li Shimin pondered the map for a long while, then suddenly slammed his palm on the table.
"This! This is excellent, hahahaha!"
"With the Americas being so vast, it seems only South America remains for us."
"No, such a wonderful place cannot be left to others."
Cheng Yaojin nodded repeatedly from the side. "Precisely, Your Majesty. Anzhi has been gone for so long, he must be tired. Let him stay and rest properly."
"As for South America, perhaps I, old Cheng, could make a trip?"
"The people of our Great Tang are living better lives with each passing day."
"If there are also remnants of the Shang Dynasty there, they too should share in this good fortune, shouldn't they?"
Li Shimin smiled, a smile full of hidden meaning.
"This matter is settled!"
"Children away from home, wandering abroad, they have neither good days nor good tobacco!"
"You go, and let them return to their ancestral roots!"
Old Cheng departed, and Fang Er also expressed his desire to return to the imperial court. Li Shimin had no objections.
With Empress Changsun and Li Xiuning present, even if he were to attempt any mischief, he would have to consider the consequences of his trousers being torn to shreds.
Meanwhile, outside, Li Xiuning noticed something unusual about Dabao.
Since disembarking from the helicopter, the woman's gaze had not left her son-in-law.
However, she soon walked over with a smile, warmly took Dabao's hand, and led her towards her residence.
Communication was impossible due to the language barrier, and it was unclear how they managed to converse.
Regardless, the next day when Fang Er saw them again, the two were as close as mother and daughter!
Within a few days, everyone boarded the passenger liner "Zhonghua Fuxing Hao," heading west, retracing their steps.
In the top-floor suite, Old Li had abandoned his usual attire.
Wrapped in a pristine white bathrobe, he sat by the observation window, legs crossed, a cup of Jiannanchun from '82 in his left hand, and a Maya cigar he'd wheedled from Fang Er held in his right.
Empress Changsun, draped in a silk robe, slowly emerged from the bathroom and sat beside him.
"Erlang~"
Li Shimin did not turn around, merely extinguished his cigar and drew Empress Changsun into his embrace.
A moment later, he was heard to sigh suddenly.
"Alas~ you say, what is the origin of this fellow Anzhi?"
"This ship that carries ten thousand people, I've been coveting it for so long, and now to find myself sitting within it, it feels so surreal?"
Empress Changsun chuckled, tapping his forehead lightly with a jade finger.
"You! It's not that it feels surreal, but rather that you regret that the marriage contract only stipulated one condition back then?"
Li Shimin rolled his eyes. "Nonsense! I carry that thing with me!"
"I amended it just now, I added two more horizontal strokes to it!"
"How about that, didn't expect that, did you~"
Empress Changsun was not surprised at all, merely smiling as she watched him continue, "You should think about how your eldest sister will deal with you when she finds out!"
Li Shimin pointed to his backside triumphantly.
"I'm telling you, I've already thought about this."
"When that time comes, I'll first go out for a night of revelry, and my eldest sister will surely punish me with those iron underpants."
"Once I put those on, I'll show her the marriage contract."
"Hehehehehe, no matter how she hits me, it'll just be for show!"
Empress Changsun: ........
This Erlang has become naughty!
Li Shimin hooked Empress Changsun's chin with his finger, looking at her lewdly.
"So, little lady, isn't my idea superb?"
"Come on, give me a smile!"
Although they were an old couple, both came from esteemed families, and such frivolous words had never been spoken between them in the past.
Empress Changsun's cheeks immediately flushed upon hearing this, and she pulled Li Shimin towards the waterbed.
"Didn't Erlang say he would betroth Little Sizi to Fang Xin? I consulted that Qian Yi, and today she's sure to get pregnant."
"Hahahaha, no one understands me better than Guanyinbi!" Old Li let out a ferocious laugh.
..............
Half a month later.
Shenyang, the plaque at the entrance of the Duke's Mansion had been replaced with Kun Prince's Mansion.
Chai Yue, holding Fang Xin and Wu Mei, stood at the entrance, looking around. Xiao Qing, Xing'er, and the others followed closely.
"Brumm brumm~~"
A sound of propellers approached, and everyone subconsciously looked up at the sky.
"They're back! Father is back!"
Fang Xin jumped with joy, pointing at the sky and shouting.
However, soon, upon seeing the Tiger King, Deer King, Sheep King, Dabao, and the others behind Fang Er, the child's attention was quickly drawn away.
"Wow! Smurfs~"
Fang Xin ignored Fang Er's outstretched arms and instead hugged the Sheep King's leg.
"Smurfs, Smurfs, did Father bring you back from beyond the mountains?"
Fang Er: ...........
This little rascal!
"Hahahaha~~"
Li Shimin and the others burst into laughter upon seeing this.
Even Chai Yue beside them covered her mouth and smiled.
The Sheep King was utterly bewildered. He didn't understand a single word Fang Xin said. What was this about hugging someone's leg upon meeting?
"Sheep King, this is my son. He is welcoming you!"
Fang Er, speechless, had to explain for him.
Upon hearing this, the Sheep King's face lit up with joy. This was the son of the Great Prophet, his status must be incredibly noble.
He quickly took off a necklace strung with agate from his neck and, smiling, placed it on Fang Xin.
Afterward, he placed his right hand on Fang Xin's head and prayed in Mayan,
"May the sun god protect you, may you be free from illness and disaster, and live in peace and joy throughout your life."
"Yue greets Uncle, Aunt, and Mother!"
Chai Yue stepped forward and paid her respects to Li Shimin, Empress Changsun, and Li Xiuning.
Xing'er and Xiao Qing quickly followed suit.
"We greet His Majesty, the Empress, and welcome the Eldest Princess back to the mansion."
"Hahahaha, don't just stand there, let's go inside and talk!"
Li Shimin waved his hand and led the way into the mansion, appearing more at ease than if he were returning to the imperial palace.
In the backyard, Fang Er quietly pulled Chai Yue aside.
"Hey, let me tell you something?"
Chai Yue gave him a scolding look and said exasperatedly, "Is it about that woman who wants to join the household?"
Fang Er scratched his head awkwardly and explained, "It was unavoidable. Your husband needed the help of those natives, and they offered their daughter in return. If I refused, they wouldn't help."
"Do you think I'm angry about that?" Chai Yue rolled her eyes again.
"You are now a prince, and the Fang family needs to expand its lineage. If you bring someone back, I'll watch over her for you."
"What I'm angry about is that you think of me as so petty."
"Do you think I'm like that Fang Laokou's daughter-in-law?"
Fang Er was stunned. He had actually hoped Chai Yue would scold him, but this...
The script was not what he had imagined.
By the time he came to his senses, Chai Yue had already disappeared.