The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 105 The Prince Under Surveillance
Li Chengqian smiled and said, "This was all arranged by the Emperor's uncle's Jingzhao Prefecture, and I had no involvement."

Li Daozong said with emotion: "If I hear the truth in the morning, I can die in the evening!"

Li Chengqian hesitated and asked, "Is this how it is used?"

Li Dao Zong raised his head and said, "I was inspired. Although I didn't hear the truth in the morning, I can die in the evening."

"Your Highness, Lord Ying is here. He said he came to visit the Emperor."

Hearing this, Li Yuan, who was dozing off, stood up quickly and said, "Please invite him in."

Li Dao Zong bowed again and said, "Your Highness, I will take my leave first."

Li Chengqian added: "Uncle, don't worry, he is one of us."

"Our own people?" Li Daozon raised his eyebrows and became alert.

Yingguogong Wu Shigui walked over quickly, came close and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, I, Wu Shigui, greet you, and Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

Li Yuan quickly helped the man up and said, "I'm glad you're here. I thought you had resigned and would not come to visit me."

Wu Shigui bowed his head and said, "How dare I forget."

"Good, good, good!" Li Yuan said hello three times, asked the person to sit down, and asked, "How is your health?"

Wu Shigui nodded and said, "I have been in Jingyang the whole time, following the instructions of Divine Doctor Sun."

Li Yuan said: "You have been busy for the court for most of your life, now you should rest well."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince has made very good arrangements, Your Majesty, rest assured."

Li Yuan glanced at his grandson and smiled.

Li Daozon stood beside the Chongwen Hall in silence.

Li Chengqian asked, "Mr. Ying, how is Jingyang doing recently?"

Wu Shigui bowed and said, "Everything is being run according to your Highness's arrangements."

"Yes." Li Chengqian put away the file in his hand and handed it back to the emperor's uncle beside him. He said, "Whether it's Du He or Xu Jingzong, they don't have as much experience as you in business. I'd like to ask you for your guidance."

"In fact, Xu Jingzong has quite a few words about some of your highness's decisions."

Li Chengqian drank tea and listened to Ying Gong telling the truth about the current situation in Jingyang.

Jingyang is not dominated by Xu Jingzong alone. No matter how powerful Xu Jingzong is, as long as Du He, Ying Gong and Shangguan Yi are there, he cannot close his eyes and ears.

To block the channels of speech and to limit one's sight and hearing is a very dangerous thing for a prince or an emperor.

Once a powerful official is able to do this, then whether you are the emperor or the prince, your situation will be very dangerous.

Therefore, it is important to follow the mass line and go to the grassroots level in person.

Even if I am building a villa for my father, I have to see it in person.

Li Chengqian asked: "What did he say?"

Wu Shigui replied: "We don't give soap to people from the Western Regions in the trade, so we won't make any money we can at the moment."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "It's okay, he's just complaining for a while. People who value their abilities will naturally not be content with the status quo. He complains because he wants more power."

Wu Shigui said: "Your Highness is lucky to be able to see through his mind."

"Leave him in Jingyang for now. Does he know you are in the East Palace?"

"I said I came to visit the Emperor today, and he probably knows."

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and said slowly, "It is inevitable that people's hearts will fluctuate. After all, he is a living person. I want to treat him as a person, not a pawn that listens to the manipulation of the East Palace."

Wu Shigui quickly saluted and said, "What do you want to do, Your Highness?"

"Tell him that I will promote him in the future. He was originally working in the Secretariat, and I will need a right-hand man to manage the expenses of the court in the future."

"I understand."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Thank you, Mr. Ying. Xu Jingzong and Shangguan Yi are still young. I hope you can give us more guidance."

Wu Shigui bowed and said, "I obey your command."

Let Ying Gong talk to Grandpa for a while, and Li Chengqian led the emperor's uncle out of Chongwen Hall, while saying: "Where is Li Yifu?"

Li Daozong came back to his senses and said, "He doesn't have many friends in Chang'an, but he is very efficient. It is said that General Li Daliang thinks highly of him."

"This man was recommended by Li Daliang to serve as an official in the court, but he gave up the recommendation opportunity and wanted to take the imperial examination. Now that he has passed the imperial examination and entered the court as an official, General Li Daliang values ​​him even more."

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and asked in a low voice: "Are there any movements from the noble families in Chang'an City?"

"Those who should go back have gone back."

"Thank you, uncle."

Li Dao Zong bowed again and said, "Your Highness, please do not quarrel with His Majesty in the future. When the Eastern Palace was lifted from confinement, many of my brothers and I could not sleep well, fearing that..."

Li Chengqian was surprised and laughed: "What are you afraid of?"

Li Dao Zong took a step back and said, "Your Highness, be a good heir to the Eastern Palace. This will be the greatest blessing for us."

"Can the emperor depose me as the crown prince?"

Hearing this, Li Dao Zong's scalp tightened, "Your Highness, you must not say that."

Li Chengqian asked again: "Or are you worried that I would usurp the throne and commit treason?"

Li Dao Zong bowed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is joking."

"Yeah, how could that be? Uncle, don't think too much about it, and don't let others think too much about it."

Li Daozon looked at the prince's kind smile, and there seemed to be light in the prince's eyes.

Such a kind and sensible prince, who can take care of the princes and princesses and help with the retirement of the emperor, does not look like someone who would rebel.

"I worry too much, Your Highness, please forgive me."

"It doesn't matter."

As he walked his uncle outside the East Palace, Li Chengqian said with his hands in his pockets, "Have a good time."

Li Dao Zong wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "No need to send me off."

After lunch, Li Chengqian wanted to go see the villa that was being renovated beside the Taiye Lake. He didn't need to go to the Secretariat for the time being because the court's expenses were in the off-season.

The rest of the matters can be left to Yu Zhining, and as the crown prince, he has to keep an eye on the only "official business" in the palace that costs money.

When the wind blew, ripples appeared on the surface of Taiye Lake.

There are stronger winds in Guanzhong in May, mostly due to the northerly airflow and the continued low temperatures that have not yet completely faded away.

The foundation of the villa has been compacted. Since this was originally the site of the Jianzhang Palace, the foundation is very solid.

There were several carpenters planing wood. Li Chengqian sat aside and asked, "How many years has this gentleman been a craftsman?"

Hearing this, the old man quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Not noticing the prince coming, the people around him stopped what they were doing and bowed.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "You don't need to be so polite. Just keep working. We need to finish the project before June. Don't delay."

"I will wait and will not delay."

After that, everyone continued to work on the things at hand.

They were all craftsmen recruited by the Ministry of Works, and they were also experienced craftsmen with sophisticated skills and rich experience.

"Old man, I have been a craftsman for several years."

Hearing the prince's words, the old craftsman was terrified, but he didn't stop working. He replied, "Half my life." Li Chengqian rolled up his sleeves and sat on the pile of stones where the craftsmen had sat before. "Did you also make the tables and chairs before?"

"Your Highness, yes." The old craftsman still did not dare to stop working.

"Do you think it will rain soon?"

"Today there is a lot of wind. If there are a lot of clouds, it will probably rain tonight."

Li Chengqian looked up at the sky and saw thick clouds with dark bottoms. They were floating very fast due to the wind.

Soon the sunlight was blocked in front of us, and when the clouds passed, the sunlight came out again.

"It's probably going to rain."

"Yes." The old craftsman was very frightened facing the prince beside him.

"Don't worry, it's okay even if it doesn't rain."

"Your Highness, rest assured that we will not delay the construction."

As the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, he couldn't get any useful information from talking to them.

Once they knew I was the prince, they would be beheaded for fear of a few words.

Still talking about rain? If it doesn't rain tonight, will I chop off their heads?
This kind of communication was very difficult, so Li Chengqian simply walked away so as not to disturb the craftsmen's work.

Sitting in the pavilion of Taiye Lake, Li Chengqian took out his fishing rod and went fishing alone.

About an hour later, a few drops of rain fell on the water surface, and then the wind grew stronger, making the wide sleeves rustle.

A heavy rain came suddenly.

Not far from the water pavilion, a eunuch was standing not far away. He saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince drop the fishing rod in his hand. A heavy rain ruined the Crown Prince's mood.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was pointing at the sky and cursing. If God was a person, the Crown Prince seemed to want to chop off God's head.

The eunuch remembered this scene in his mind and left in a hurry.

Some rain water drifted into the water pavilion, so Li Chengqian had to sit on the other side where the rain did not drift, with one foot on the stone steps and leaning against the railing.

The sight of the prince sitting alone in the rain seemed very lonely.

It seemed like he was so bored that he just stared at the rain.

On the wide surface of Taiye Lake, a few fish occasionally jumped up and then fell down.

There were a few muffled thunders in the sky, the rain was getting heavier, mist appeared on the water surface, and soon submerged the pavilion in the distance.

Standing on the shore of Taiye Lake, one can no longer find the water pavilion in the center of the lake or the figure of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Three or two eunuchs looked from afar, trying to find the prince's figure in the rain, but the rain was so heavy that they couldn't open their eyes because the rain was hitting their faces.

About half an hour later, the wind finally died down and the rain lessened.

At this moment, I finally saw the situation inside the water pavilion clearly. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was still sitting there. I don't know when he started a fire and was roasting fish.

Seeing the prince waving at them, the two eunuchs hurried from one end of the Taiye Lake to the other.

The water level of Taiye Lake has risen a lot, and the plank road on the water surface is wet, with the water surface and the plank road level.

The sound of footsteps on the wooden plank road was getting closer and closer. Li Chengqian smiled and said, "You have been watching me in the rain. Was it my father's order?"

"Your Highness, His Majesty has not given any instructions."

Seeing them shivering in the rain, Li Chengqian said, "Let's warm ourselves by the fire for a while."

The eunuch said again: "I dare not."

Li Chengqian whispered, "Then bring some dry firewood. The fire here is not big enough."

"Well, I will go right now."

Li Chengqian glanced at them again. These eunuchs had been watching from afar since they entered the Taiye Lake, and they kept saying that it was not arranged by their father.
Even if it was not arranged by father, everything the prince did here today would be reported to father.

When they came with dry firewood, Li Chengqian was eating grilled fish and ordered, "Put it on the fire."

"Here."

After the rain, the water in Taiye Lake was very turbid. Li Chengqian threw the leftover fish heads and bones into the water, took out two peaches from his sleeves, washed his hands, and sat in the water pavilion, eating the peaches leisurely.

The rain went from heavy rain to light rain.

"Dry your clothes and go back when it's warmer."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"I am not trying to embarrass you. From now on, when you see me coming to Taiye Lake, you don't have to watch from afar. Just follow me."

"I dare not disturb your highness's enjoyment." said an older eunuch.

"I can't say I'm in a good mood. I want to see my father's villa completed." Li Chengqian chewed a peach and said, "It's not easy for you. After you dry it, report back to my father about my actions here."

"I was not sent by Your Majesty to monitor His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." After saying this, the two eunuchs knelt down on the spot.

Li Chengqian didn't look at them, but continued while eating a peach: "I didn't say you were the eyes sent by the emperor, there's no need to be so nervous."

"Your Highness, I know I was wrong. I will never bother you again, and I will never even look at you."

Li Chengqian threw the peach pit in his hand into the water. The peach pit floated on the water surface, and three or two fat fish circled around the peach pit.

"Let's go. I'm tired of being alone."

"Here."

The two eunuchs supported each other and left the place trembling.

I don’t know if they really feel cold or if they are afraid of this prince who has such strong insight.

Naturally, someone will tell the Emperor everything about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's behavior.

After the two eunuchs left Taiye Lake, they immediately went to Ganlu Palace to report to His Majesty.

Li Shimin snorted coldly: "Cheng Qian, is that really what you said?"

"Your Majesty, I said nothing, nothing at all."

"Is this really all the prince asked?"

"Your Majesty, I really didn't say anything. I just looked at His Royal Highness the Crown Prince from afar. It was raining heavily at the time, so I walked closer and the rain suddenly subsided. Your Highness noticed me looking around..."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "My son is really alert."

"Your Highness is not only alert, but also able to observe people's hearts. Your Highness can tell what this old servant is thinking in just a few words."

Looking at the two eunuchs who were scared like this by their son.

"Okay, give me some ginger tea to dispel the cold." Li Shimin tried the bow in his hand, but was not satisfied with it no matter how he tried.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also said that His Royal Highness will personally oversee the completion of Your Majesty's villa."

It was still drizzling outside the hall, and occasionally there were a few rumbling sounds of thunder in the sky, but the sound was not loud.

When the wind entered the Ganlu Palace, it became even colder.

The eunuch outside the palace reported: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived."

Hearing this, the eunuch who had just spoken shuddered and knelt on the ground again, his face pressed to the ground and not daring to look up.

Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "Let him in."

Li Chengqian walked into the warm Ganlu Hall, turned around, put the bamboo umbrella in his hand outside the hall, lifted his clothes and faced the inside of the hall.

(End of this chapter)