The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 10 The Prince's Physical and Mental Problems

Li Shimin classified this article as one that could do no harm in reading, but Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling were still very pleased that the prince had insightful views at such a young age.

Li Shimin then asked someone to give the article to Gao Shilian.

The emperor has not been in a very good mood recently. It cannot be entirely blamed on the article written by the Eastern Palace. Instead, he thought that His Highness was sensible and would return all the utensils taken from Lizheng Hall to the Eastern Palace.

At this point, not only have the things taken to the Eastern Palace not been returned, but a few more items are missing.

December passed and January came in Guanzhong, and freezing rain fell again at this time of year.

The heavy snow had just passed, and this time the freezing rain was bone-chillingly cold.

In the past two years, people in Guanzhong have been looking forward to years with abundant rainfall. Because the rainy season in Guanzhong only lasts for a few months, the remaining rainy days depend entirely on God's blessings, and the amount of rainfall is also limited.

For the Tang Dynasty, which had emerged from the drought of the third or fourth year of Zhenguan, every rain in Guanzhong was worth celebrating. Even if it was freezing rain, storing water was still a top priority.

In addition to teaching his younger brothers and sisters, Li Chengqian also had to write some articles from time to time to consolidate his ideological armament.

The ideological and moral education classes we are teaching them now are just the tip of the iceberg.

Ning'er knew that the articles written by His Highness were also called teaching materials, and were used to teach princes and princesses.

Li Chengqian wrote an article on production relations. Production relations are formed by four steps: production, exchange, distribution and consumption. Systematically analyzing the dialectics of all production relations is a process from simple to complex.

After Ning'er sent this article to the Hongwenguan, he waited for scholars to read it and appreciate it.

No one knew that the book was sent to the Hongwenguan by the Crown Prince. The Eastern Palace placed it in the Hongwenguan anonymously, and even the person in charge of the Hongwenguan did not know about it.

There was no response after throwing a stone to ask for directions for a long time.

No one looked at it, and no one discussed it.

If you think about it carefully, this is reasonable, otherwise someone in the Tang Dynasty would be shouting for a republic.

The Tang people now are restricted by salt and iron, etc., an economics that is more classical than the classical
Li Chengqian did not wait for any news from the Hongwenguan, nor did he wait for any news from the Prince of Hejian.

Ever since the last incident, there has been no news from the Prince of Hejian. It was as if he had hit a nail and he dared not have any contact with the Eastern Palace anymore.

But we can ask the Hejian County Prince’s Mansion for what we need for life. That’s what they promised, but promises are promises and cooperation is cooperation.

We haven't reached a cooperative relationship yet, so we can't keep asking them for food and drinks.

With such a large family of brothers and sisters to support, we still have to find a long-term solution.

Only then did Li Chengqian realize that it was very difficult to find business partners in the Tang Dynasty.

People are unwilling to be traveling merchants, and even if there is a business that is guaranteed to make a profit, they are even more unwilling to cooperate with the Eastern Palace.

Members of the royal family avoided the Eastern Palace as much as possible.

"There will always be setbacks." Li Chengqian said dejectedly, his hands in his pockets.

"Your Highness." Ning'er came hurriedly from outside the palace, "Duke Xu and Du He are here."

"I will meet them in Chongwen Hall."

It was a happy event that there were guests coming to the Eastern Palace. So far, Gao Shilian was the only guest who had taken the initiative to come to the Eastern Palace.

Li Chengqian met Gao Shilian in Chongwen Hall next to the Eastern Palace.

Every time this old man came, he brought a kind smile and brought Du He with him.

He sat down with a smile and took the bowl of boiled water brought by His Highness himself.

Li Chengqian said, "The East Palace is in financial difficulty and can only serve guests with boiled water. I hope you won't be so polite."

Gao Shilian said: "Drinking a sip of hot water can drive away the cold."

Li Chengqian bowed slightly to Du He again.

Gao Shilian looked around and asked, "Are Yu Zhining and Xu Xiaode not here?"

Li Chengqian smiled awkwardly, sat aside with his hands in his pockets and said, "It's the holiday season, it's normal for them not to come."

Gao Shilian whispered, "Even though you are on leave, at least come to the East Palace to express your condolences."

The old man looked at the bowl of boiled water and spoke in a low voice.

Li Chengqian explained: "Yu Zhining is not only the Chancellor of the Eastern Palace, but also the Minister of the Secretariat. As far as I know, the various departments in the court are on holiday, but the Secretariat is still busy. He is probably busy with something and cannot be away."

After thinking about it again, Li Chengqian said, "Or maybe it was Xu Xiaode. He is the chief historian of the Eastern Palace. I have thought about what I said to his daughter at the banquet in Taiji Hall. He is probably worried that I would take advantage of his daughter. Maybe..."

After a pause, Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I think this is a good idea."

Gao Shilian suddenly laughed.

Li Chengqian asked suspiciously, "What are you laughing at?"

Gao Shilian waved his hand and explained, "It's nothing. Your Highness is so young, but he speaks freely and unrestrainedly. I admire him."

Li Chengqian added: "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, uncle."

Gao Shilian took out a piece of paper, put it on the table, and whispered, "Is this article written by Your Highness?"

Li Chengqian frowned and looked at it for a long time. Written on the yellow-brown paper was indeed the article on the relationship between mass base and wealth that Donggong had taught his younger brothers and sisters.

"Well, I did say that."

Seeing that the prince did not deny it, Gao Shilian asked again: "Who told your Highness these words?"

The prince is still young, so it is impossible for him to analyze the relationship between public opinion and wealth so incisively.

Li Chengqian scratched his head and said, "It's a man named Marcos."

Gao Shilian frowned, nodded and thought for a moment before saying, "Is this person in the East Palace now?"

Li Chengqian suddenly came back to his senses and said, "He, like Mr. Cao, has left the Eastern Palace. As for where he went, I don't know. They claim to be masters and say that I am a good omen for the Tang Dynasty and are willing to teach me their knowledge."

It is not difficult to fool people. As long as you give a rationale and attribute this rationale to yourself, you can get recognition from others.

What a simple method.

As for whether being alone is a good omen, that is a matter of opinion. They can think whatever they want.

Gao Shilian asked again, "I have never heard of these two people."

Li Chengqian said calmly, "When I was seriously ill, I was in a state of confusion. These two kept telling me about these knowledge. I still don't remember what they looked like. But when I was almost well, they left. It's strange that I could see these two gentlemen at that time, but the others couldn't."

Hearing this, Gao Shilian looked at His Highness with a little more solemnity.

Li Chengqian stroked his forehead in distress and said, "It could be that my illness has not been cured at all, or that my illness has become more serious. If these are not true, perhaps the Eastern Palace is not clean. I am also confused."

At this point, Gao Shilian placed his hand on His Highness's shoulder and said slowly, "Your Highness will recover from your illness, so don't worry too much." Li Chengqian nodded with a confused look on his face, "I hope so."

"As for this article, don't show it to outsiders from now on. Your Highness must remember this."

"I will definitely keep my uncle and grandfather's teachings in mind."

In Gao Shilian's eyes, the prince is still a pitiful child. The prince has been weak and sickly since childhood, and I am the only uncle left on his maternal side. Who else can he consider if not the prince?
Gao Shilian stood up and said, "That's all I want to say to your Highness. I'll come visit you another day. Your Highness, you must take care of your health and don't let your imagination run wild. There is nothing unclean in this world."

"I will definitely keep this in mind."

When Gao Shilian left, he stood facing the wind, looking like an immortal.

After the old man left, Li Chengqian put away his well-behaved and pitiful expression, and replaced it with a stern face. He crossed his legs and put his hands in his pockets and asked, "Du He?"

Hearing this, Du He stepped forward, bowed and saluted, saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian frowned and said in a deep voice: "I used to be close to you and Zhao Jie. Do you know why I regretted my decision to be the Right Leader of the Eastern Palace?"

Du He lowered his head and replied, "Your Highness must have a reason for doing this. I dare not ask more."

Li Chengqian sighed and said, "I am actually doing this for his own good."

"Huh?" Du He was surprised.

"If he becomes the leader of the Right Leader of the Eastern Palace, more people will come to the Eastern Palace to ask me for advantage. Let's not talk about that. I treat him as a friend, so I refuse him because I know that the Eastern Palace is a cage that is carefully crafted. Being in the Right Leader of the Eastern Palace will only make him degenerate day by day, and he will never make any progress."

Li Chengqian stood up with his hands behind his back and continued, "Now he has been sent to Liangzhou to guard the border. This is exactly what I want. I hope he can experience real training."

Du He was already standing there in a daze, staring blankly at the prince's back. Then, with an expression of admiration on his face, he bowed and said, "So your Highness has thought so much about this. If Zhao Jie cannot understand your Highness's painstaking efforts and bears a grudge against you in the future, I will definitely sever my ties with Zhao Jie and spit on him."

Li Chengqian nodded in understanding. It was easy to use the identity of the crown prince to win people's hearts. He said slowly, "You are the descendant of Du Ruhui and also the descendant of a famous official. What are your plans for the future?"

Du He bowed and said, "I am willing to follow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian turned around, frowned at him, and asked, "What are you doing recently?"

Du He smiled with shame, "I usually read a lot of scriptures, but I can't grasp the key points in terms of knowledge, and I am often laughed at. Sometimes I think it would be better to use my current family background to get married and have a son, so that my descendants can fight for me, Jingzhao Duling, in the future."

A cold wind blew into the hall, and the freezing rain outside began to fall again.

This weather is so cold it's unbearable.

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets, feeling the chill of the wind, and whispered, "Have you ever thought about going on a business trip?"

Du He stood behind the prince and replied, "Your Highness, all merchants have no conscience."

Li Chengqian said slowly: "Yes, merchants pursue profits, and they will sell their remaining conscience for profits."

Du He smiled in shame again, "Your Highness, I will learn from what you said today. Just a few words can make people wake up."

"But material life cannot be separated from manufacturing. I hope to cooperate with you and do production together."

"Production?" Du He was still puzzled: "Production of what?"

Li Chengqian looked at the heavy rain outside the palace and whispered, "Paper, printing."

Du He suddenly became panicked again and asked, "Does your Majesty know about this?"

"Father doesn't know, and I don't plan to tell him." Li Chengqian stretched out his hand to catch some of the falling ice particles. "If father knew, all of this would be taken away by him mercilessly. It's not that I want to deceive the emperor, but because the emperor's demands are a bottomless pit that can never be filled. He will eat up everything of value, and then only the residue will be chewed out."

"At least in my impression, all previous emperors were like this."

Du He was still standing there blankly. He felt like he was going crazy, or maybe it was the Crown Prince who was crazy.

Fortunately, there were only himself and the prince in Chongwen Hall. If a third person heard these words... the consequences would be disastrous.

Du He felt a chill on his neck.

"Isn't what I said outrageous?"

"Your Highness, I want to live a few more years. I want to continue the family line."

Li Chengqian looked a little more unhappy and asked, "What are you worried about?"

"This……"

Li Chengqian patted his shoulder and said, "I regard Zhao Jie as my honest friend, and you are the same. Don't you understand my painstaking efforts?"

"I understand, but this..."

"Forget it, just pretend that I never said these words and forget them." Li Chengqian sighed in compromise, waved his sleeves heavily and was about to leave.

"Your Highness, wait a minute." Du He said quickly, "I am willing to help Your Highness."

Li Chengqian suddenly stopped.

Du He continued: "It's just that I don't know how to do it yet."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "You can go back now. I will let you know when I have considered it."

Du He bowed hurriedly and left quickly.

At this moment, Gao Shilian was sitting in the Lizheng Hall, talking to His Majesty about the conversation before and after his meeting with the Crown Prince.

Li Shimin frowned and said, "I have heard of this disease before. It is true that when someone gets a serious illness or suffers a major setback, they often imagine one or two non-existent friends, and this disease often occurs in young and lonely children."

Empress Changsun heard this and said nervously: "Chengqian has lived in the Eastern Palace for a long time. He has had few friends since he was a child. Could it be that..."

Gao Shilian replied: "This disease will slowly heal as the child grows older. Your Highness said that the two friends have left, which means that your illness is indeed healed."

Li Shimin was still suspicious. Could such an article be written just because of an illness? And there was a non-existent person named Mr. Cao?
It's unbelievable, is there really such a thing in this world?

Why does it sound like it's made up?

Empress Changsun turned her head and choked up as she said, "I neglected to take care of Cheng Qian in the past. I didn't expect that he would have such an experience. Why didn't he tell me about it?"

The palace maids in the hall stood quietly. What was said inside the hall could not be spread out. The maids who were able to stay beside the queen were all palace maids who were strict in speaking and capable in doing things.

Gao Shilian brought up another matter, which was about the matter between His Highness and Xu Xiaode.

Originally, His Majesty and the Queen were looking for a candidate for the Crown Princess.

After hearing what Gao Shilian said, Empress Changsun looked worried again and said, "Xu Xiaode's daughter is only eight years old."

Li Shimin whispered: "Ordinary men yearn for women with voluptuous figures, how could he..."

Empress Changsun asked again: "Erlang, what should we do?"

Li Shimin patted the back of the queen's hand and said patiently, "Cheng Qian is still an innocent child. Maybe he just thinks that girl looks kind."

(End of this chapter)