The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 140 A harmonious banquet

This huge misunderstanding is becoming increasingly difficult to explain. The Crown Prince and General Li Jing have been talking for such a long time that it is bound to attract criticism.

Apart from the fact that the Crown Prince and the Duke of Wei would not plot a rebellion together, they were most likely discussing the situation outside the Great Wall.

Or maybe ever since the Prince of Gaochang sold 10,000 bars of soap, there have been rumors in the army that this prince was going to sweep across the Western Regions.

I don’t know who started this rumor first.

Li Daoyan said this because he also wanted to become one of the generals who swept across the Western Regions.

When the royal family general Li Shentong passed away, he left behind nine sons and one daughter.

Li Daoyan is the eldest son of General Li Shentong. Not only does he serve in the army, but he is also the current head of the family.

People like him should stay at home and take care of the family.

Maybe my father thinks so too.

Seeing that her brother was coming back in distress, Li Li asked, "Are the counties making things difficult for her again today?"

Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "They don't dare."

"Is Father making things difficult for my brother? I'll go tell Mother right away."

"Father did not make things difficult for me."

"That's good." She smiled playfully again.

A general cleaning was carried out today and the East Palace was kept spotless, which fully demonstrated the sister's ability to manage and command her younger siblings.

There is not a single weed on the ground. The windows are still old, but after cleaning, they look like new.

For Donggong’s younger brothers and sisters, Donggong is also their home, and they need to keep it clean. This is another opportunity to train the brothers and sisters’ unity and ability to act.

Li Lizhi said, "Today, my father sent someone to send a message saying that he will host a banquet for all the generals in Xingqing Palace at noon tomorrow, and asked my brother to go with him."

Li Chengqian washed his hands and said, "It's okay, I'll go there."

The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace came back and Xiaofu had prepared dinner.

Xiaofu always does things slowly and steadily, never in a hurry. Even if she can't do two things at the same time, she always cleans up the East Palace in an orderly manner.

Li Zhi watched her numbly as she put the bowl away and then put the chopsticks away, even though she could have put the bowl and chopsticks away at the same time.

Then Xiaofu led several palace maids from the East Palace to Chongren Hall for dinner.

After finishing these things, Xiaofu's face was full of pride. After the kitchen of the East Palace was handed over to her, she often had a proud expression.

However, Xiaofu has an incredible skill. She can always prepare her meals before her brother is about to eat, that is, as soon as her brother returns to the East Palace.

Mostly it is the tacit understanding developed from Donggong's teachings over the past two years.

Xiaofu knew the appetites of everyone in the Eastern Palace very well. She knew exactly what each princess liked to eat and what she didn't like to eat.

It’s just that sometimes it’s hard to judge how much Your Highnesses want to eat, so we’ll bake some extra cakes.

Because as the princes grow taller, their appetite will change, and we are afraid that they will not have enough to eat.

But Li Zhi couldn’t understand why Xiaofu could easily grasp when his brother would be hungry and when he would need a midnight snack.

Li Chengqian said: "Let's eat."

My younger brother and sister picked up their bowls and chopsticks and started eating.

At night, Li Chengqian also took a look at the recent arrangements made by Jingzhao Prefecture, that is, Weibei and Gaoling were going to plant grapes.

Dates and persimmons from Lantian County.

Onions and crops in Weinan County.

Sanyuan County has carefully built up its textile industry.

Jingyang has started to switch to wheat planting.

……

As the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, I only had to do some minor operations on these arrangements. After my uncle and Prime Minister Fang eliminated all objections, the farming work in Guanzhong finally fell completely on the shoulders of me, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.

It was late at night, and Li Lizhi brought a bowl of wontons, "My mother told my brother to go to bed early at night."

Li Chengqian ate wontons and nodded without answering.

Li Lizhi was sitting on the side eating wontons, also looking at the contents of these documents, and curiously said: "It is said that a sixteen-year-old prince should not be in charge of such a great power."

"Who said this?"

"Some dignitaries in Chang'an."

"They are worried that their interests will be affected."

Seeing her brother's indifferent look, Li Lizhi no longer cared. The two years of studying with her brother had greatly improved her understanding of her own identity and the difference between a princess and a commoner.

What the emperor wants most, in addition to making Guanzhong prosperous, is to allow the villagers in Guanzhong to have sufficient income while farming, that is, to have employment.

As long as there is a job, even if the job is vacant, as long as people know that they can make money in Guanzhong.

Then under this demand, once a scale is formed, the population of Guanzhong will increase, thus creating more wealth and greater productivity.

In terms of production relations, for the powerful and wealthy people who have been separated from production to a certain extent, production relations no longer exist.

After Li Lizhi finished eating the wontons, she left with the empty bowl, and she was left alone in her brother's bedroom again.

Her younger brother and sister had just finished eating wontons. Dongyang was washing the dishes. She looked towards her brother's bedroom and asked, "Are you still asleep?"

Li Lizhi drew some well water, poured it into a wooden basin, put the dishes and chopsticks into the basin, and replied while washing them: "It may take another hour or two before I go to bed."

Dongyang added: "My royal brother has too many things to do."

Li Lizhi smiled and said, "Then help my brother more."

The two sisters sat together, and Dongyang whispered, "I am not as talented as my sister, and I don't know how to help my brother."

Li Lizhi whispered, "Tonight I will tell you about my brother's production relations."

"Production relations? I remember my brother talked about it, but he stopped talking about it later. I only talked about it with my sister."

"That's because my brother is afraid that you won't understand. When Zhinu and the others grow up a little, my brother will teach us everything."

Li Lizhi added: "In fact, after you understand the production relationship, you will find that the relationship between people in this world is very simple."

Dongyang nodded and said, "Thank you, sister."

The next day, at the morning court, the Minister of War Hou Junji read out an urgent report that Duolu Khan of the Ili River Valley had died, and his younger brother, Shabolashilishi Khan, had inherited the position of Khan.

At the same time, a tribal leader who was dissatisfied with the Duolu clan fled to the west of the Ili River. His name was Yugushe.

Yuguse was dissatisfied with the pro-Tang behavior of the Dulu clan, so he moved to the west with his people and planned to establish himself as Khan.

A series of changes in the Ili River Valley reached the court.

The Western Turkic Khanate was in turmoil. Almost three khans were replaced this year, and most of these khans were wavering between being close to the Tang Dynasty and being hostile to it.

Perhaps a few years later, the King of Gaochang, who is enjoying his wealth and prosperity, will find that Yuguse, who has fled to the west, will come back and become his nightmare. The survival of Gaochang is inextricably linked to the unrest of these Turkic parties.

The current war between Xueyantuo Khan and Ashina will involve greater grievances in the future, thus affecting the forces of all parties, and even Yugushe, which is thousands of miles away to the west of the Ili River.

Hou Junji said in a clear voice: "The King of Gaochang sent people to deliver gifts and also asked the Great Tang Khan to confer the title on them. They promised that they would conquer Yu Gushe after receiving the title."

Li Chengqian looked at his father who was sitting on the throne.

Li Shimin agreed to this and was willing to confer titles on them.

After the court session ended, it was already noon. I still had to attend my father's banquet today. As soon as I walked out of the Taiji Hall, I saw the old eunuch who usually followed my father standing here. He bowed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince..."

"I know." Li Chengqian interrupted him.

"His Majesty has instructed that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu must also go together."

Li Tai and Li Ke, who had just walked out of the Taiji Hall, also stopped.

Li Chengqian said: "You guys go with me."

The two younger brothers bowed and said, "Yes."

The three brothers followed the eunuch, and Li Ke stepped forward and asked, "Brother, with the commotion over the Ili River, there must be a lot of envoys coming to the court this year, right?"

It is already November now. The Tibetan delegation is still in Chang'an, and the Persian envoys are still there. Most of the envoys from various countries have also entered the pass this year.

Li Tai said: "In fact, the King of Gaochang is a double-faced person. He will give gold and silver to whoever becomes the Khan."

Li Ke nodded and said, "It's really annoying."

Li Chengqian walked with his hands in his pockets, remaining silent all the way.

Following the old eunuch, they entered a side hall next to the Xingqing Hall. In the main hall, most of the generals had also arrived.

Most of the people in the side hall are of similar age.

The change of the army into Zhechoufu went smoothly, and my father hosted a banquet for all the generals to celebrate this successful outcome.

The main hall is occupied by various generals, while the side halls are occupied by the children of many generals, most of whom are the eldest sons.

As soon as the three brothers walked into the side hall, the hall immediately became quiet.

Everyone bowed their heads and saluted the prince.

Li Chengqian walked to the seat of honor and sat down. Looking at the people who were still bowing, he said softly, "No need to be so polite. Please sit down."

"Here!"

Everyone sat down in response.

There were sounds of laughter and joy coming from the main hall next door. The general was drinking and chatting happily.

At this moment, the side hall was very quiet, so quiet that it was a little scary.

There was only the noise of the palace maids and eunuchs bringing in food, and the sound of the bowls and chopsticks falling.

Everyone was originally talking and laughing, but when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince arrived, no one dared to speak loudly, and some even breathed very carefully.

The pressure that this prince puts on everyone is enormous.

The current prince holds great power in Guanzhong. Of the three county magistrates who resigned, one was arrested, one fled Guanzhong with his family, and the other knelt outside the Ministry of Personnel and cried, begging for his official position back, most likely because he was afraid of death.

In the eyes of the second generation of powerful people in the dynasty, the prince seldom moved among them, and the only ones who were close to the prince were Du He and Cheng Chumo.

Not to mention the county magistrate, even the members of the royal family knew that the Crown Prince was a strict person. Li Yuanchang was beaten up by the Crown Prince just because he said a few words about him.

But what happened afterwards? The prince was only confined to his house and beat up his uncle, but he acted like nothing happened.

So what if he was confined? The prince even dared to contradict His Majesty.

In other words, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a solitary person, and anyone who offends him will have a bad ending.

There was laughter coming from the main hall next door again, and the laughter was very loud.

At this moment, in the side hall, the autumn wind blew outside the hall, and a group of young people sat separately in the side hall, most of them with their heads down, and no one spoke a word.

Some people even felt very uncomfortable. This kind of atmosphere made them dare not even breathe.

Li Chengqian sat at the top table, and could see the expressions on everyone's faces. He looked at the wine bottle in front of him, and the wine was a little turbid.

Seeing the prince put the wine jar aside, the maid knelt down and said, "I forgot that His Royal Highness never drinks alcohol."

"Change the tea."

"Here." The palace maid took the wine jar with trembling hands and replaced it with a bowl of tea.

Seeing this scene, everyone lowered their heads, and one could even hear the sound of someone swallowing saliva.

If the maids serving here are from the Eastern Palace, they would probably understand your Highness' habits. The maids in front of you were arranged by your father, and they are older.

At most, they just inquired about the habits of the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace. How much they could remember and how well they could arrange it all depended on their own abilities.

There was laughter coming from next door again.

Li Chengqian took a sip of tea and felt much better. He looked at the nearest person and saw an acquaintance. He asked, "Brother Chongyi?"

Li Chongyi quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Hearing that His Highness had finally spoken, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Li Chongyi out of the corner of their eyes.

"I haven't seen you lately, what have you been busy with?"

"It's almost winter, and the royal family is still waiting for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to send down this year's salary."

"I see. It will be soon. It will only take a few days."

Li Chongyi smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Li Chengqian sat sideways and said, "I have troubled Brother Chongyi to take charge of the affairs of the Zongzheng Temple."

Turning his gaze to another person, Li Chengqian asked, "Who is this?"

Li Chongyi introduced: "He is the eldest son of General Qin Qiong."

The other party stood up and saluted, saying, "Qin Huaidao greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I've already said that there's no need to be so polite."

Then, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince glanced at everyone and said loudly, "You all don't have to restrain yourself."

Having said that, the people present just smiled awkwardly and remained as restrained. Someone wanted to pick up a piece of mutton and put it into his mouth as if he was relaxed, but seeing that no one was eating it, he put it down.

Laughter was heard again from the main hall next door.

Soon another maid came, and the eunuch led her in, saying in a loud voice: "Your Majesty has ordered that we present a dance to you all."

As soon as the words fell, the palace maids began to dance in the hall.

But the atmosphere here was very strange and cold. Everyone sat stiffly, most of them with their heads down.

The palace maids' dancing also became much more stiff.

The eunuch walked aside and whispered, "Your Highness, His Majesty, please come over."

Li Chengqian stood up and followed the eunuch, walking from the aisle to the main hall next door. At this moment, Cheng Yaojin and Li Daliang were fighting fists and kicks in the center of the main hall.

Walking up to his smiling father, Li Chengqian asked, "Father, what do you want me to do?"

Li Shimin raised his wine bowl and said, "A toast to all the generals."

"Yes." Li Chengqian took the wine bowl and said loudly to the people present: "I toast to all the generals."

Everyone bowed, raised their wine bowls and drank them all.

Li Shimin asked: "You have children from the families of these great generals over there, how are they doing now?"

Li Chengqian put down his wine bowl and said with a smile: "It's good. We are having a good chat and getting along well."

(End of this chapter)