The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 132: Still a Hero
It was very quiet inside the Taiji Hall, and the sound of rain could be heard outside the hall.

Li Chengqian stood in front of everyone, looking at the autumn rain still falling outside the palace, and whispered: "I don't know when this rain will stop."

After His Royal Highness the Crown Prince finished speaking, the Taiji Hall was still very quiet.

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and said, "This year's autumn rain is more severe than in previous years. Is the Jingzhao prefect available?"

Li Dao Zong stood out from the court and said, "Your Highness, I am here."

"How is the flood situation in the upper reaches of the Yellow River?"

"Your Highness, these days Xu Jingzong and his men are building riverbanks and dredging the river near the Jing River. It seems that the water level of the Yellow River has risen a lot, but it has not yet flooded the fields and villages."

Li Chengqian nodded, as if thinking about it.

Li Dao Zong stood there with his head bowed, waiting for His Highness' next words.

In front of the ministers, Li Chengqian paced back and forth, and after a while he stopped and said loudly: "I have always felt that the counties in Guanzhong may have their own grievances or grudges, but in the face of major problems, the counties should work together, especially at this critical juncture of the flood situation."

Li Chengqian looked worried and continued, "Send my words to each county. The counties in Guanzhong are a big collective. Only by working together can we achieve common prosperity. No one will be left behind. Order each county to send out militiamen, at least three or five people, to go to Jinghe River to assist Xu Jingzong in repairing the river."

"Tell all the county magistrates on both sides of the river that if there is a problem with the Jing River, no one should take chances." Li Chengqian said with his hands in his pockets, "Time is running out, don't waste it, uncle, leave now."

"Yes." Li Daozon bowed solemnly, then looked at the expressions of the crown prince and the court officials around him, then quickly walked out of the Taiji Hall alone and ran away in the rain.

Looking at the people in front of him, Li Chengqian asked again: "Minister of War?"

Upon hearing this, Hou Junji stood out from the court and said, "I am here."

"How is the construction of the Hexi Corridor going?"

"Your Highness!" Hou Junji said in a loud voice, "Li Yifu is in charge of the construction of Dunhuang County and it will be completed before winter."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "We have only repaired one county."

Hou Junji was also in a dilemma. He said, "I am willing to go to the Hexi Corridor to supervise Li Yifu."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "No need."

"Here."

After saying this, Hou Junji walked back to the court.

Li Chengqian stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking melancholy, and said, "Teacher, please preside over the morning court."

Fang Xuanling walked out of the court and ordered each department to report recent events.

The atmosphere in the Taiji Hall also became relaxed, and the court officials all seemed very relaxed in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Officials from various departments could also discuss in low voices and report their respective matters.

The morning court lasted for half an hour, and another eunuch walked into the Taiji Hall. He held the imperial edict in his hand and said loudly: "Your Majesty has ordered that the Right Servant Li Jing abdicate due to illness, and he will be promoted from Duke of Dai to Duke of Wei. He will be given a thousand pieces of gifts and two horses, and can come to the hall at any time to discuss government affairs."

When the ministers heard the imperial edict, they all bowed and saluted.

Li Chengqian bowed and remained silent.

The eunuch came forward, handed over the decree, and said, "His Majesty has ordered His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to deliver the decree to the General."

Li Chengqian took the yellow silk with both hands and asked, "Do you have anything else to say?"

"No more, that's all. I'll take my leave now."

The morning court here was almost over. Fang Xuanling let out a long sigh and ordered everyone to return to their respective departments. Many people hurried out of the Taiji Hall and walked into the rain.

Li Chengqian held the imperial edict in his hand and frowned, thinking that although his father did not come to the morning court today, he did send two imperial edicts.

When most people here had left, Li Chengqian walked outside the Taiji Hall and saw his uncle standing at the door.

Seeing him looking down at the ground, Li Chengqian also looked down and asked, "Did you lose the money?"

Li Xiaogong retracted his gaze and said, "Your Majesty asked His Highness to deliver the decree to the pharmacist's residence?"

"Yes." Li Chengqian put the decree in his wide sleeves, looked at the rain with a worried look, and said, "Actually, I'm quite busy."

Li Xiaogong said slowly: "I haven't seen the pharmacist for a long time."

"That's perfect. I'm so busy, why don't you help me go and take the imperial edict to see the general?"

Li Xiaogong hesitated and finally scratched the back of his head in distress, "Your Highness, this is the order of His Majesty. I dare not take it casually."

Li Chengqian clicked his tongue in worry.

"But since Your Highness has invited me, I also want to visit the pharmacist. Why don't we go together?"

The guard at the side handed over a bamboo umbrella. Li Chengqian took the umbrella and walked in the rain with his uncle, listening to the sound of rain falling on the umbrella.

I first went to the East Palace to get the food box, which contained the lunch prepared for today, and took it to the General's Mansion to have lunch together.

I specially asked Xiaofu to get a pot of grape wine.

The emperor's uncle is usually a casual person, and his walking posture is very arrogant, almost with his nose facing the sky.

Li Chengqian continued walking and asked slowly, "How is your health lately, uncle?"

Li Xiaogong also put his hands in his pockets and said, "It's fine."

"It's been a long time since the uncle delivered the money for the Red Mansion?"

"I will send it to the Eastern Palace tomorrow." Li Xiaogong said impatiently, "My wife is watching closely, and I can't just say it's from the Eastern Palace, lest it ruin the reputation of the Eastern Palace. Your Highness, please forgive me for my wife's behavior."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I understand. I am embarrassing my uncle, but the Eastern Palace is not short of money. I am just asking casually. There is no need to worry."

Li Xiaogong also walked with the prince with his hands in his pockets.

In fact, the prince is of quite good height. Now he is only half a head shorter than the Prince of Hejian. In another one or two years, he will be as tall as the Prince of Hejian.

As he walked through the imperial city, officials hurriedly saluted him.

Now, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace has a high reputation among the various departments in the court, second only to Prime Minister Fang, Duke Zheng, and Duke Zhao.

Many times, people even got used to the prince presiding over the government.

The uncle and nephew walked out of the Suzaku Gate in silence all the way.

Raindrops kept falling from the umbrella, forming a curtain of water in front of his eyes. Li Chengqian held the food box in one hand and the imperial edict in the other.

Li Xiaogong held an umbrella and looked around from time to time with his big eyes like copper bells.

Slowing down his pace, Li Chengqian asked, "Uncle?"

"Ok?"

"You said that the first decree of the emperor was to reform the Wei Mansion, and the second decree was to use General Li Jing to appease the army?"

Li Xiaogong said in a deep voice: "No, your majesty has a deep friendship with the pharmacist, and it has nothing to do with the morale of the army."

The two men walked to the residence of General Li Jing, and Li Xiaogong knocked heavily on the door.

The heavy door opened slightly, and Li Dejian saw that it was the Crown Prince and the Prince of Hejian who came. He quickly opened the door and saluted, "Your Highness, Crown Prince, Prince of Hejian."

Li Chengqian explained: "I am here to see the general on the orders of my father, and I am having dinner here."

Li Dejian said quickly: "I will go and prepare it right away."

"No, I brought my own wine and food." "Yes." Li Dejian led the people into his yard, came to a house, and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the Prince of Hejian, please come this way."

The two walked into the dim hut, where an oil lamp was lit and many books were placed.

Li Jing saluted and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the Prince of Hejian."

Li Chengqian stepped forward and said, "General, there is no need to be polite. I am here to deliver your imperial decree."

As he spoke, Li Jing glanced at the Prince of Hejian standing beside him and respectfully took the imperial edict with both hands.

Li Xiaogong sat cross-legged beside him and said, "Your Majesty has decreed that the pharmacist can take charge of government affairs at any time in the future."

Li Jing held up the imperial edict with both hands and said loudly, "I obey your orders."

Li Chengqian brought out the food from the lunch box, a bowl of stewed meat with pickled mustard greens, a bowl of bean sprouts, a bowl of braised pork, a few cakes, and three bowls of millet rice.

When the food was served, Li Chengqian pulled out the cork from the wine jug and poured wine for the general and the emperor's uncle.

The uncle sat with the general without any restraint. He said with a smile, "Pharmacist, this is our own grape wine from Guanzhong."

Li Jing smelled the aroma of wine and nodded, "I heard that His Majesty rewarded Jingyang with grapes."

Li Xiaogong drank a mouthful of grape wine, took a bite of braised pork, and said with a smile: "This is the cooking skill of the East Palace. The pharmacist must have never tasted it."

Li Jing whispered, "Your Majesty has also rewarded the dishes of the East Palace."

"Really?" Li Xiaogong wanted to show off, but now he could only smile awkwardly and said, "I didn't expect that the pharmacist, who lives in seclusion, could still taste the dishes of the Eastern Palace."

Li Jing took a bite of the braised pork and explained, "Your Majesty, people often send it to you."

Li Chengqian sat quietly aside, listening to the emperor's uncle and the general talking about the time when they attacked Xiao Xin together.

The friendship from the past was still there, or maybe it was because my father ordered the restructuring of the Wei Mansion that put the general's concerns to rest.

The general, who was originally serious, actually smiled after drinking the grape wine from Guanzhong.

Li Chengqian ate the cake and walked out of the hut, leaving the space for the general and the emperor's uncle, both of whom were generals who had fought together in the past.

Now that we are finally able to sit together, we will surely have endless things to talk about, and we will probably not leave until we are drunk.

The rain was still falling. Li Chengqian was standing under the eaves of the hut eating a cake, looking at Li Dejian who was waiting on the side.

Li Chengqian handed him a cake and asked, "Have some?"

Li Dejian took the still warm cake with both hands and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

The filling in the pancake is celery and mutton. The diet of the Eastern Palace has always advocated the combination of meat and vegetables. While emphasizing the importance of eating meat, it also requires eating more vegetables.

Li Chengqian sat under the eaves, listening to the laughter and chatter inside the house. The heroic laughter reflected the heroic past, present and future.

In those days, when the world was full of conflicts, there were only a few heroes who were able to emerge from the chaos.

Both Li Jing and the emperor's uncle Li Xiaogong still retain the heroic spirit of the past, the kind of man who values ​​his word more than a thousand pieces of gold, the kind of loyalty that would make him willing to rush thousands of miles to help someone even if it means life or death.

It is said that troubled times are bad, but these heroes of the Sui and Tang dynasties lived out a sense of happiness in troubled times, standing tall and upright, keeping their promises, and dying without regrets.

A real man's life should be like a river, rushing forward courageously and unstoppably. The surging river is the scenery of these heroes' lives. In the end, the water surface becomes calm, the mud and sand settles, and they continue to live clearly and calmly.

Li Dejian ate the cake with a look of satisfaction on his face. He accidentally ate too fast and finished the cake in just three or two bites.

Seeing that he was wearing thin clothes and looked unsatisfied.

Li Chengqian said: "There are more in the house."

Li Dejian waved his hand and raised his head with a smile, and whispered: "My father hasn't been so happy for a long time. I dare not disturb him."

Li Chengqian sat outside the door with his hands in his pockets.

It was past noon when the laughter in the house gradually died down. Li Chengqian looked inside from the window and saw that his uncle had passed out drunk on the table.

General Li Jing also leaned against the bookshelf with his eyes closed.

Li Dejian hurried into the house and put coats on the general and the Prince of Hejian to prevent them from catching a cold.

Li Chengqian said sadly, "It is very likely that the emperor's uncle will not be able to leave."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will take good care of the Prince of Hejian."

"Good work."

"It doesn't matter."

Li Chengqian took another look at his uncle, then looked at the sky where the autumn rain was still falling.

The emperor's decree was delivered. Li Chengqian walked into the rain alone with an umbrella. Suddenly he turned back and asked, "I heard that Brother Dejian failed the imperial examination this year?"

Li Dejian smiled awkwardly, "I'm sorry to make you laugh, Your Highness."

Li Chengqian added: "The imperial examination will continue, don't worry, don't give up just because you missed an opportunity in life."

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."

Li Chengqian walked out of the General's Mansion. From now on, this place should be called the Duke of Weiguo Mansion, and Li Yaoshi became the Duke of Wei of the Tang Dynasty.

In fact, Li Dejian was in his thirties, but after talking with him, I found that he was a person with a very bright heart.

Although he is not able to command thousands of troops like the general, it is also possible that the general's family tradition is too strict.

Li Dejian was in his thirties, but his mind was as pure as that of a boy of seventeen or eighteen. The general's child was a kind-hearted person.

Such people will not have a bad life in their future life.

It’s a pity that time flies. If General Li Jing were ten years younger, he might be able to join forces with his father, and the two masters would be able to slay the dragon together.

Li Chengqian still hadn't received any news from Jingyang after returning to the Eastern Palace. Wei Chang had been investigating in Chang'an City for so many days, but no news had been sent about the assassination after the garden tour.

Even if this matter was related to some powerful family in Guanzhong, Wei Chang could even find out about other people's family affairs.

But now, the Dali Temple has been tracking Wei Chang all the way out of Guanzhong and Mount Xiao, and Wei Chang’s network of contacts has come to an end.

He was probably powerless to do anything about the news outside Guanzhong.

Li Chengqian looked at the documents placed in the East Palace with discouragement. He picked up one of the scrolls and saw a piece of news that an envoy from the Western Regions who participated in the trade had died.

The news sent by Gaochang said that the envoy was killed after being robbed by horse thieves from the Western Regions, and all the goods and gold and silver on his body were stolen.

But this matter is ultimately the Western Region’s own business.

When there is profit, some people will be tempted. This world is not as gentle as later generations, and human life is very fragile.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I really like this world more and more."

Ning'er quietly sorted out His Highness's clothes, putting all the summer clothes into a wooden box, and taking out the winter and autumn thick clothes.

The caravan from Jingyang went deep into the Western Regions. Fu Yun's son Murong Shun went further and further. He sent news and found out about the crop called cotton near the Tianshan Mountains.

Li Lizhi ran over and said, "Brother, is there any news about the assassination in the garden?"

Li Chengqian sighed, "There is no news. This case will probably remain unsolved."

"How could this be?"

(End of this chapter)