The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 136 Brothers and sisters with their own troubles

Li Lizhi straightened her sleeves and tied her long hair up at the back of her head. She walked over and whispered, "Royal brother?"

Li Chengqian, who was looking at his homework, nodded slightly.

"I want to take my brothers and sisters to see the Queen Mother today."

"The East Palace and Lizheng Palace are only a few steps away. Don't they usually walk around?"

"I go sometimes, but if I go too often, my mother and father get annoyed. We haven't had a meal together as a family for a long time."

Li Chengqian put down the homework in his hand and thought with his hands in his pockets.

Li Lizhi asked, "Is my brother going with us?"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "After the morning court session, I will go with you."

Li Lizhi smiled with joy and happily went to tell her younger brothers and sisters the news.

The sky was just getting bright, and officials from various departments in the court were waiting for the Chengtian Gate to open. Chu Suiliang had just walked to the gate when the Chengtian Gate opened wide.

All the civil and military officials in the court walked towards the Taiji Hall in silence.

Chu Suiliang saw Cen Wenben standing beside him and whispered, "Have you heard?"

Cen Wenben frowned and asked, "What did you hear?"

"Since this summer, Xu Jingzong has been serving as the Shao Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture. He has been very strict with the county magistrates, and the counties are extremely busy."

Cen Wenben looked back at the Censorate's team and asked, "Does the Censorate know about this?"

Chu Suiliang said: "The Censorate knows, but the Supervisory Censor Ma Zhou said that Jingzhao Prefecture did not forcibly conscript civilians, and the county magistrates of each county should also obey the arrangements of Jingzhao Prefecture."

Cen Wenben held the tablet in one hand and lifted his sleeve with the other. "If that's the case, what can we discuss?"

"But Xu Jingzong is a disciple of the Crown Prince. Now the Crown Prince is so harsh on the counties. Some people say that in the future, His Royal Highness will also treat the various departments in the court."

Li Ke and Li Tai were also walking in the morning court procession, listening to two people in front of them talking in low voices. The voices were not loud and could just be heard.

Cen Wenben said: "Minister Chu is too worried. As long as you do your job well, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has never made things difficult for you."

Chu Suiliang sighed, "But it's inevitable that some people in the court will talk about the prince."

"If the prince cared about these discussions, he would have changed his style long ago."

Everyone walked into the hall. Li Ke and Li Tai walked slowly until they reached their seats, still silent.

In the eyes of a few ministers, the usually cheerful Prince Wei also became taciturn.

About half an hour later, almost all the ministers arrived.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then walked over at a leisurely pace and stood at the front of the court.

Then, the eunuch shouted loudly, and His Majesty arrived.

The content of today's morning court was very simple. The Secretariat reported the tax situation in various places. The court was still very troubled by the incomplete collection of taxes from various places.

After the morning court session ended, Li Chengqian saw his sister Li Lizhi and Dongyang already waiting outside the palace.

"Royal brother." She and Dongyang bowed.

Li Chengqian asked, "Have all the brothers and sisters passed by?"

Li Lizhi replied: "They have all been sent to Lizheng Palace, waiting for my brother and father."

In fact, the Mid-Autumn Festival has long passed, and now the Tang people pay more attention to festivals such as the Lantern Festival, the Winter Solstice or New Year's Eve.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Tai and Li Ke who were a little reserved and said, "Let's go together."

"Yes." The two younger brothers nodded in unison and followed their elder brother.

Li Tai's steps were not fast. He kept his head down and remained silent the whole way, as if he was very worried.

Li Chengqian suddenly stopped and whispered, "You've been feeling uneasy lately."

Li Tai replied: "I have been compiling the Comprehensive Geography recently and I am confused."

"It's good to go out for a walk and relax when you have time."

Looking at his brother's kind smile, Li Tai said, "I'll arrange it."

Li Lizhi and Dongyang were walking in the front, closer to the Lizheng Hall, and their pace was much faster.

Just as I was about to reach the Lizheng Hall, I ran into my father, the emperor, who was walking here after just leaving court.

"Father!"

The brothers and sisters all bowed.

The father and son looked at each other, as if everything was explained without words.

Li Chengqian lifted his collar and gestured, "You guys go to the Queen Mother first."

Li Lizhi led her sister to respond and walked into the Lizheng Hall first.

Li Shimin looked at Li Tai and Li Ke who were still standing aside, and his gaze finally fell on his son standing in the front.

Li Tai and Li Ke lowered their heads, feeling so awkward that they didn't know where to put their hands.

Normally, I didn't feel so awkward when facing my father, but when my royal brother stood with my father, I didn't know why, but I just felt uneasy.

Li Shimin said: "I heard that recently the counties in Guanzhong have been saying a lot about Jingzhao Prefecture."

"Well, the work of Jingzhao Prefecture is quite heavy. The counties need to develop, which requires more talents." Li Chengqian added: "To be honest, I am not very satisfied with the county magistrates arranged by my father and even my grandfather."

Li Shimin asked, "Who are you dissatisfied with?"

Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and said, "The vast majority are dissatisfied."

Li Tai looked lost. He didn't know why, but his elder brother had gone further and further away in the past two years, and he, as a younger brother, could only look up to him.

Li Shimin continued walking towards the Lizheng Hall and asked, "Are you going to replace them all?"

Li Chengqian followed and said, "If possible."

Li Shimin stopped in astonishment and looked back at his son. He didn't expect that he really wanted to change. He continued walking and said, "It's not easy for these county magistrates."

"Father, it's not easy for anyone. There is no such thing as easy governance for the people."

After being scolded by his son again, he had no choice but to ask again: "Qingque, Ke'er, do you think so too?"

Li Ke bowed first, "Father, I think what you said is right."

Li Tai bowed and said, "I also think this kind of thing cannot be compromised."

Thinking that his children would come to Lizheng Hall for dinner today, Li Shimin continued walking towards Lizheng Hall with the intention of not arguing with him.

When you walk into the Lizheng Hall, you'll see laughter and joy everywhere.

Li Lizhi came over holding Xiao Sizi's hand.

Seeing the little sister running to her, she looked at her father, then at her brother, and hesitated for a long time.

Li Shimin looked at his daughter with a smile on his face.

Little Sizi reached out to his royal brother again.

Li Chengqian picked up his sister with a smile and asked her, "Sizi, you have gained a lot of weight."

Little Sizi grabbed his brother's collar with his fat hands, without saying a word, but grinning foolishly.

Li Shimin sat down aside, feeling somewhat lost, and looked around the hall, whether it was Li Zhi, Dongyang, or Xiao Sizi.

These children all surrounded Cheng Qian.

Empress Chang Sun said: "In fact, little Sizi is still very smart. She knows that those delicious meals are sent by the Eastern Palace, and she also brings some toys, so she is very close to her brothers and sisters."

As he spoke, Little Sizi took the rattle and shook it continuously.

Li Shimin drank tea and asked, "How have you been interacting with the ladies recently?" "No one is suitable."

"Then wait a little longer. He is only sixteen years old. There is no need to rush his affairs."

Empress Changsun looked at the group of children with a smile and said calmly, "Your Majesty, Cheng Qian has so many brothers and sisters around him, so his wife must have had a hard time."

Li Shimin nodded, picked up the pastry beside him and ate it bite by bite.

While talking to her husband, the queen came back to her senses and looked back, not knowing whether he had heard what was said.

Li Zhi asked, "Is my brother Guo Luotuo very powerful?"

Li Chengqian said: "Of course he is a very powerful person."

"But I heard he's not good-looking."

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Lizhi picked up a small hammer beside her and hit him on the back of the head.

Li Zhi shrank his neck in pain and said, "Imperial sister!"

"Do you remember the story my brother told us? Don't judge others like that."

"Yeah." Li Zhi nodded aggrievedly.

In fact, this is a very interesting story. A long time ago, there was a group of traveling merchants who came from the distant Lingnan to the north to do business. After the business was successful, they went to a tavern.

Among them was a man who was ugly and not good at speaking, and was often laughed at by his peers.

The leader asked him to perform a song and dance. The man who was not good at speaking could not sing or dance, but he said he could tell the name of every place he visited along the way.

Everyone started laughing at him again.

So he started by walking out of the house, talking about every place he passed along the way.

Everyone was still laughing at him while drinking, but after half an hour, he was still talking about place names. Someone took out a map and found that every place name he had memorized was correct.

After that, no one laughed at him anymore, and even those who laughed at him felt ashamed of their frivolity.

This is a very simple story, and also a modified story.

He often told stories to his younger brothers and sisters. If he had time, Donggong would bind these stories into books and sell them to various places in Guanzhong.

As a result, the Tang Dynasty had many profound little stories.

On the table, there was braised pork, braised beef in soy sauce, asparagus and salted duck eggs, and a steamed fish...

Li Chengqian asked again: "Grandpa didn't come?"

Li Lizhi replied, "Grandpa said that I can't drink grape wine when I come to Lizheng Hall, and Ying Gong and his men will go to visit Grandpa today, so they won't come."

Li Shen stretched out his hand, pointed at a bowl of roast duck, and said, "Brother, I want to eat this."

Li Chengqian stood up again, picked up a duck leg and put it into his bowl.

"Brother, I want to eat Zenggao." Gao Yang said aggrievedly.

"Just eat. You are not allowed to eat Zenggao now." Li Lizhi warned.

Gao Yang had no choice but to eat the buns with grievance.

Knowing that Dongyang and Runan couldn't eat raw or cold food recently, Li Lizhi scooped hot soup for them.

Empress Changsun looked at her son and daughters with a smile. It would be a good thing if this meal could keep the children eating a little longer.

Li Shimin sat in the seat of honor, drinking wine and watching Cheng Qian serve food to a group of children. This whole family revolved around him.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Changle know the living habits of these younger brothers and sisters best, so it is very easy for them to take care of them. They are very familiar with the little habits and malfunctions of the younger brothers and sisters, and have already developed habits with them.

Li Lizhi even knew the physical condition very clearly. Recently, Zhinu finally stopped grinding her teeth when sleeping, and Li Shen's sleeping posture also improved a lot.

This is the result of long-term care.

The meal was busy and warm, and after the meal the children played the game of passing the flower.

Empress Changsun and several palace maids were cleaning up the dishes.

Li Chengqian, Li Ke and Li Tai stood together. The three brothers were talking in low voices, and no one knew what they were talking about.

Recently the emperor has become obsessed with a puzzle. The emperor's puzzles are huge and high-end.

This huge puzzle depicts the entire city of Chang'an, with ten streets from north to south, eleven streets from east to west, and a total of ninety-nine blocks, all of which are on the map.

There are still many unrepaired markets in Chang'an City, so some streets have not yet appeared on the map.

Even the puzzle pieces are made of jade pieces.

Princess Changle was the first to start playing jigsaw puzzles.

Now His Majesty also likes to play, so he asked the craftsmen to make such a huge puzzle, and His Majesty would sit like this and sometimes stay quiet for the whole day.

Li Zhi and Li Shen each held a persimmon in their hands, and sat aside, watching curiously as their father placed the tiny puzzle pieces on a wooden board.

Seeing that his father was about to put it in the wrong place, Li Shen said, "Father should put it here."

Looking at the place on the board pointed by his son, Li Shimin was surprised for a moment, then put the fragment aside, looked at it carefully and thought to himself that it was true.

Li Shen spoke softly, chewing a persimmon, and said, "Father is wrong too. This piece should be placed on the top."

Hearing this, Li Shimin made some changes and found that he had put it in the wrong place.

This giant puzzle is mostly lines and no colors, so it's easy to make mistakes.

Your Majesty likes the feeling of accomplishment after completing this huge puzzle after a few days, and has now ordered people to make a map puzzle of the 800-li Qinchuan and the entire Guanzhong.

That would be a much bigger puzzle piece.

Li Shimin was surprised by his son's advice and asked in a deep voice, "How did you figure that out?"

Li Shen replied, "The Eastern Palace also has my father's puzzle. When my father asked the Ministry of Works to make it, my brother ordered one to be made for the Eastern Palace as well."

Considering that the current Vice Minister of Works is Xu Xiaode, who is also the Chief Clerk of the Eastern Palace and an official under Li Chengqian, it is a piece of cake for him to give orders for these matters.

Li Zhi said: "Father, you don't know, my brother said that Shendi has a very good memory, especially for graphics and pictures. He has always won first place in the puzzle competition of the East Palace."

Hearing this, Li Shen smiled proudly and bumped his arm towards his brother, who was beside him, in a very righteous manner.

Li Zhi understood and nodded secretly.

"Child slave?"

Hearing his father calling him, Li Zhi came back to his senses from his laughter and said, "Your son is here."

"Shen'er has his own strengths, do you have them?"

"Your son..." Li Zhi scratched his head in distress.

"My royal brother is a good eater." Li Shen said this in an unrighteous way, and then ran away.

Li Zhi was so angry that he suddenly stood up and shouted angrily: "Don't leave!"

Because the two children started running, Xiao Sizi also followed them, and for a while the Lizheng Hall was in chaos.

Outside the hall, Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke were talking.

"Brother, do you think that the Comprehensive Geography should also include the soil and climate of each place?"

Li Chengqian reminded again: "Qingque..."

Li Tai said respectfully, "My Royal Highness, please speak."

"I recently discovered that Taoist Priest Li Chunfeng designed a theory called Jingwei (longitude and latitude) on the Huangdao armillary sphere."

"Longitude and latitude?"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I recently read Taoist Li's book on longitude and latitude. In his opinion, longitude and latitude are around the earth. The distance from the horizon to the stars is measured to determine longitude and latitude. It can determine north and south, and can also measure the location."

(End of this chapter)