The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 100: Finally Became Father's Achievement

Li Yuan was eating tea eggs and said unhappily, "Why don't you use this year's new tea to cook tea eggs?"

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "You don't know, the tea eggs cooked with new tea are not good, the old tea is more flavorful."

"I see you just can't bear to leave."

Li Chengqian sighed and continued roasting the duck.

Li Yuan picked up another egg and peeled it while whispering, "Do you know what the royal family is saying about you now?"

Li Chengqian said in distress, "Are they talking about my grandson again?"

“Hehehe…” The old man pointed in the direction of Zongzheng Temple with his lips and whispered, “You even want to do this to your own uncle.”

"My grandson cherishes his reputation."

"Now the royal family..." Li Yuan pointed his finger and whispered, "They all want to leave Chang'an as soon as possible and stay away from you, the crown prince. If you become the emperor in the future, they will probably become even more violent and he won't even be able to save his life."

Hearing this, Li Daoyan paused slightly in turning the duck.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Brother Daoyan, you don't have to be nervous."

Li Daoyan slowly lowered his head.

Li Chengqian reminded again: "The fire is too high, turn it more often, don't let it burn."

"Yes." Li Daoyan nodded and turned the duck hard.

"Grandpa, this is fine too." Li Chengqian straightened his sleeves and took off his apron.

"You two father and son are really..." Li Yuan wanted to scold them but didn't know where to start, so he waved his hands and sighed, then sat at a table with a group of children.

By the time Li Chengqian sprinkled the last bit of seasoning on the duck, the Eastern Palace lunch was ready.

"Brother Daoyan, let's eat together."

"I am on duty now, I dare not."

Li Chengqian added: "They are all my people, and this is right in front of my house, so I won't tell anyone."

Li Daoyan stood with his head bowed, and said, "I dare not break the rules of the army."

Every general in the army takes military law more seriously than anyone else.

Li Chengqian said, "Wait for someone else to take over and bring back a roast duck. That should be fine, right?"

Li Daoyan bowed again and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for the reward."

Li Chengqian took the roast ducks off the iron rack, placed them one by one on a plate, and placed them on the table.

Li Zhi held the chopsticks in his hand and whispered, "Brother, why don't we have one for each person?"

Hearing this, Li Shen at the side asked, "Can one person finish one?"

This sudden remark made Li Zhi unhappy, and he said, "I want to eat one by myself today!"

Li Shen said calmly, "Okay, if you can really finish one by yourself, I will do it when my brother is on duty."

Li Zhi said: "But this is what you said."

"Once a word is spoken, it is hard to follow."

Two younger brothers started arguing over whether they could finish a whole duck by themselves.

After Li Chengqian confirmed that everyone had washed their hands, he sat down next to his grandfather and said, "Eat."

The children then started to eat. Li Yuan smiled. In the past, the emperor could not live without wine, but now with these grandchildren around him, it was a substitute for wine.

Li Chengqian said while eating celery: "Grandpa, eat more vegetarian food."

Li Yuan nodded and said, "If you admit your mistake to your father, you can lift the house arrest."

Li Chengqian watched his brothers and sisters share the roast duck and whispered, "This is good. I have been busy with various court affairs this year and have neglected to teach my brothers and sisters."

Li Zhi couldn't finish a whole roast duck. He only ate two legs and couldn't eat any more.

Knowing that his grandson was somewhat angry, Li Yuan said no more.

In fact, Cheng Qian has shown great abilities in the past two years, but his methods are still a little unfamiliar. If he is allowed to manage the court for another three or two years, more and more people will support the Eastern Palace in the future.

There is a rule for eating in the East Palace. No matter how much food is left, the staple food must be finished and wait until the younger brothers and sisters finish eating and leave the table.

Xiaofu held the pot with a bitter face and said, "Your Highness, this is the first time I have used rice to cook, so there is too much."

Seeing that there was still half a full pot, Li Chengqian sighed and said, "It's okay, I'll eat it."

Xiaofu whispered, "How about letting it cool down and making rice crust?"

"It's so hot today, I'm afraid it will go bad." Li Chengqian brought the whole pot over, used it as a bowl and said, "I will finish it."

Xiaofu then nodded and sat aside to watch His Royal Highness the Crown Prince eat.

This girl was not smart. She knew that the rice in the pot was not finished and would be very upset, but she didn't know what to do with it. The rules of the Eastern Palace told her that food must never be wasted because food is for people to eat.

Xiaofu was very satisfied to see the Crown Prince eating with big mouthfuls.

The leftovers on the table were quickly cleared away.

In Ganlu Palace, Li Shimin looked at the dishes in front of him and whispered, "What is the East Palace eating today?"

The eunuch replied, "Your Majesty, the food in the East Palace is duck."

Li Shimin looked at the braised pork in front of him and whispered, "Duck? Why don't I have duck to eat?"

Your Majesty, the food here is sent by the Queen, and the food for the Queen comes from the Eastern Palace.

Since last year, there has been such a tacit understanding in the palace, so much so that the Queen asked many palace servants who cooked to leave.

The eunuch replied, "Because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince told Xiao Sizi not to eat food with too much oil and salt when eating because he is young, he did not send the duck. He also said that if Your Majesty wants to eat roast duck, you can go to the East Palace."

"Go to the East Palace?"

Li Shimin snorted coldly: "I want to eat roast duck, do I need his permission?"

The eunuch smiled and said, "Your Majesty wants to eat. I will go and arrange it right away."

It was still quite hot in Guanzhong at noon recently. Li Shimin took a peach beside him and took a bite, saying, "I have no appetite. I'll just eat some peaches."

The old eunuch nodded and said, "Yes."

During the lunch break after dinner, when his younger brothers and sisters had all gone to bed, Li Chengqian was still busy in the back hall, sharpening charcoal with a small knife and writing on paper.

The sharp charcoal slid across the paper and it shattered.

Li Chengqian threw away the charcoal in his hand and washed his hands in frustration.

Ning Er frowned and said, "Your Highness, I know a kind of coal stone. In the past, children in the countryside used to use the stone to write on wood chips."

"No need, I give up."

"Ow..."

Ning'er was a little surprised. This time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince gave up so quickly.

Li Chengqian snorted coldly, "It's just a pen. This kind of thing won't bother me. I'm going to make a fountain pen."

"pen?"

"It should be said that it is a kind of stationery similar to a fountain pen."

There were very few stationery in the Tang Dynasty, because apart from the four treasures of the study, rulers and other items could not be considered stationery.

Li Chengqian was lying on a recliner eating a peach, thinking about making a low-end fountain pen. The manufacturing precision might not be so good, but it would be good as long as it can be used. It is very important to have a pen that can be used at any time.

After taking office in the court, many things require preparation of writing materials in advance, so it is very important to carry a set of stationery that can be used at any time.

I was still thinking about how to make such a pen.

Because of the tiredness in the afternoon, which was the time when the body was growing, I fell asleep unknowingly.

Suddenly waking up again, Li Chengqian was breathing heavily.

Ning Er, who was still washing clothes nearby, asked, "Your Highness is having a nightmare."

Li Chengqian picked up the cold tea and said, "I had another dream. Someone was shouting for a republic in front of Chengtian Gate, and someone was hanged in front of Chengtian Gate."

Ning'er sighed and put two pieces of ice into the cold tea. "The Queen has sent ice to the East Palace. Now the cucumbers and peaches are covered with ice. Your Highness, drink some ice water to calm your nerves."

Li Chengqian drank iced green tea and said, "I have too many worries, so I have nightmares."

Ning Er said, "Then Your Highness, why not put your worries aside and take a good rest for a few days."

Li Chengqian nodded, "Most of my troubles are related to my father."

Ning Er frowned and said, "Your Highness has acne."

Li Chengqian scratched his face and found two pimples on it. He smiled and said, "I am at the most critical age for growth, so it is normal for me to have pimples. I will be fine after I get through this age."

"That's because Your Highness is too worried and angry, so he has acne."

"What can I do? I can't give up such a big family. Hundreds of millions of people are under the rule of Li Tang. I am the third generation of the Li family. In addition to hoping that my father will be more successful, I can only work harder myself."

Ning'er looked around and made sure that no one else heard what she said before she felt relieved.

Li Chengqian asked again: "How are the grapes in Jingyang?"

Ning Er quickly took out a roll of paper and handed it over, saying, "Jingyang sent a letter today."

Li Chengqian sat up, took the wax seal that tore off the paper, opened the roll of paper, and looked at it with a frown.

The grapes in Jingyang were prepared as early as February this year. Now the vines have grown and the leaves are very lush.

According to the understanding of future generations, the grapes from Jingyang will be a shining pearl in the Central Plains in the future.

Therefore, Jingyang's climate, water and soil are capable of growing fruits of very high quality.

Based on this understanding, Li Chengqian felt that future generations would be able to grow such good grapes in Jingyang, so it was normal for Jingyang to be able to grow grapes. He had seen and tasted the "Xianyang Sapphire" with his own eyes in future generations, and it had benefited all the villagers.

Since the land is still the same land, and even more fertile than in later generations, this is a very simple application of thinking.

Scientifically speaking, this application is not good.

I also know that it takes time to grow grapes.

Xu Jingzong used 60 acres of land in Jingyang to try growing grapes, and reclaimed 60 acres of land without occupying the original arable land.

From a climate perspective, the temperature is related not only to sunlight but also to the movement of the earth.

Assuming that the earth's rotation angle has shifted slightly at this time, making Guanzhong warmer, it should be more suitable for growing grapes.

Ning Er said, "Your Highness, even if you want to eat grapes, it will take at least until May for them to bear fruit."

Li Chengqian put down the letter and whispered, "How is the imperial examination going?"

Ning Er replied, "I heard there is only one day left. It will end tomorrow, and we still have to review the papers and announce the results in the remaining days."

Li Chengqian stood up, ate the juicy peach, and said, "So the imperial examination and the announcement of the results will be completed during my confinement, and I will not be able to influence anything during this period?"

Ning Er bowed and said, "Your Highness, please stay at home and rest assured."

"Yeah." Li Chengqian finished eating the peach, washed his hands, stopped with his hands in his pockets, and said, "Sister Ning'er, are you worried that I complain too much?"

"I dare not think so."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Whether it is the trade or the imperial examination, these powers ultimately belong to my father. As a son, I can assist him, but I cannot control it. My father is wise. He took away all the achievements of my son and legitimately became my father's achievements."

Ning'er wanted to say something but stopped herself and could only nod her head without saying anything.

"You never argue with me."

Noticing His Highness's gaze, Ning'er lowered her head and said, "How dare I?"

Li Chengqian took off his shoes and walked into his own bedroom, saying, "Sister Ning'er used to warn me, but now she does it less and less."

Ning Er also took off her shoes and followed His Highness into the palace, whispering, "As long as His Highness is well, it will be a blessing for me."

Looking at the back of His Royal Highness, she quickly added, "It is because Your Royal Highness has become more sensible, not because I no longer warn you."

Li Chengqian put his hands behind his back and looked at the scenery outside the window. The hall was silent for a long time.

Ning Er was wearing a light blue dress, with her hands on her stomach, and she continued, "Your Highness's achievements are naturally yours, and the whole court is aware of this, but in name it is His Majesty's, and Your Highness the Crown Prince cannot compete with him. Rather than saying that His Highness is being confined to his house to be punished, it is better to say that His Majesty and the Queen are protecting His Highness."

Protection? Imperial examinations, trade, the emperor's power is growing, and his enemies are also increasing.

The signs of this began with the court's opposition to the practice of anonymous examinations in the imperial examinations.

Naturally, the one who will face these storms in the future will be my father.

Li Chengqian placed his hands on the windowsill and nodded, "Thank you, Sister Ning'er, for your guidance."

"It is my duty." Ning Er bowed again and said, "Your Highnesses, it is time to wake up. I will go and prepare the fruit for the afternoon."

"Ah."

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince simply responded, his eyes still looking out the window.

Ning'er walked out of the hall, put on her shoes again, went to the front hall, cut the cucumbers and peaches, and then refrozen them.

After the princes wake up, it is a very pleasant thing to eat a bite of iced fruit.

Xiaofu skillfully cut the cucumber with a knife and whispered, "Sister Ning, is there something on your mind?"

Ning Er suddenly smiled and said, "Your Highness has grown up and has more and more things to think about."

"Xiaofu doesn't understand so much, he just knows that eating well and sleeping well is the best."

Looking at this silly girl, she had no idea what kind of situation the Crown Prince was facing now.

The vast majority of people in the Eastern Palace don’t know about this.

April of the eighth year of Zhenguan passed, and the last exam of the imperial examination ended just before a rain was about to come.

As the sky was gloomy and about to rain, the teachers in charge of the examinations collected all the test papers.

When Pei Xingjian walked out of the Suzaku Gate, he met a group of students who were laughing and chatting.

Following everyone's gaze, I saw two students who had just finished their exams fighting outside the Suzaku Gate.

"Have you heard? This Li Yifu's father was a county magistrate."

"He is just a county magistrate in a remote place."

"He insists on comparing himself to us. He really doesn't know his place."

Pei Xingjian listened to them discussing a person's family background and prepared to leave quickly. These children from aristocratic families liked to use their family background to comment on a person.

By the time his branch of the Hedong Pei family came to him, it had already fallen into decline. He did not want to get involved in any trouble at the moment and wanted to leave here quickly and wait for the results of the imperial examination.

He glanced at Li Yifu who was fighting not far away. Although this man was bleeding from the mouth and nose, he still did not stop fighting back.

(End of this chapter)