The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 166: Unforgiving Words

After having dinner with Shangguan Yi, Yan Qinli left in a hurry. He walked alone in the streets of Chang'an City, thinking about this conversation.

After walking for a while, he looked up at the sky that was about to be covered by darkness and smiled with a sense of loss.

In fact, their words were irrelevant. After all, Yan Qinli felt that it was impossible for him to do things like Xu Jingzong and Shangguan Yi.

Yan Qinli prefers to do things in his own way.

After putting aside his worries, Yan Qinli walked back to Chongwenguan.

Wen Yanbo was still teaching Di Renjie how to read and write. He whispered, "Are you back?"

Yan Qinli nodded and said, "I have met the Crown Prince, and also went to meet Shangguan Yi."

The old man still had a smile on his face as he watched Di Renjie clumsily holding the brush and learning to write. Yan Qinli smiled and said nothing more.

He sat down and looked at the examination papers marked by the prince. People from this county could not serve as county officials in this county, and county officials in this county could not marry women from this county, even if they were from neighboring counties.

Yan Qinli felt that Jingzhao Prefecture needed new rules, as this was related to principles.

Soon, Dickson also came back. He had been busy all day and looked very tired.

Jingzhao Prefecture and Chongwenguan are united, or it should be said that the people under the prince are united. Yan Qinli doesn't understand where this unity comes from. Is it the prince's personal way of doing things?

This view seems to be difficult to explain.

"You have something on your mind?"

Hearing the old man's question, Yan Qinli smiled and said, "The Jingzhao Prefecture has always been so united."

"Yes." Wen Yanbo whispered, "Just like when Xu Jingzong was caned by His Majesty, the prefect of Jingzhao did not shirk his responsibility. They said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would attribute the outcome of the matter to every person in every link, and the Crown Prince would never allow Xu Jingzong and others to push the responsibility to their subordinates after they failed to do a good job."

The last bit of confusion in Yan Qinli's heart was finally resolved. He smiled and thought, how could such a group not be united?
The night enveloped the sky, and oil lamps were lit in the East Palace, and the candlesticks were also all lit.

Li Lizhi watched her younger brother and sister doing their homework, and her eyes noticed Dongyang who had already finished his homework.

She seemed to be reading another book. Li Lizhi walked up to take a closer look, but saw Dongyang quickly covering it with another book.

This younger sister is now fourteen years old, and she also has her own worries.

Li Lizhi smiled and didn't say anything.

Seeing Li Zhi looking distractedly outside the door again, she said sternly, "Chinu! If you are distracted and not focused all day, you will be confused in everything you do in the future."

Li Zhi quickly sat down and looked down at his book.

After the evening self-study was over, Li Lizhi put away her younger brothers and sisters' homework and went to find her brother.

In the bedroom of the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian was looking at the map in front of him.

She walked into the hall, came to her brother's side, put down a stack of books, and said, "Brother?"

Li Chengqian finally came to his senses and asked, "Is the evening study session over?"

"Well, it's over."

"Today, an urgent report came from the border that Ashina She'er has returned."

Li Lizhi asked curiously, "Is it the Turkic man who fought against the Mobei people?"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "He has been fighting the Mobei people for two years. Almost all his men are gone. The tribes under his command have defected one after another. Even the Turkic Khan does not support his war. In the eyes of the court, when Ashina She'er became an isolated army on the grassland, it was inevitable that he would lose. Last winter, the court and the people reached a consensus."

Li Lizhi asked in confusion: "Then why did he continue to fight?"

"Because he wants to be the Great Khan of the Turks."

"It turns out that the Turks also care so much about power."

This younger sister is also fifteen years old. She is taller than before, but her face is a little rounder. It should be because the diet in the Eastern Palace is too good.

The speaking voice also became thinner and the tone became finer.

It is the most critical stage of growth, just like her, there are also Dongyang and Runan.

Linchuan is a little younger and her voice change came earlier.

Ning'er stood quietly aside. In fact, when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Changle sat together, one could tell at a glance that they were siblings.

Because his facial features are very similar to his Majesty, but his face shape and eyes are more like the current Queen.

Li Chengqian poured her a cup of hot tea, handed it to her and asked, "Do you still feel uncomfortable in your throat?"

Li Lizhi held the teacup in both hands, sitting beside her brother, looking at the steam coming out of the cup, and said, "When I scold my brother, my voice becomes louder and hoarse, but I don't feel anything at other times."

Seeing the emperor stroking his chin, Li Lizhi asked curiously, "Did the emperor shave his beard?"

Li Chengqian whispered, "Yeah."

Ning'er stood aside and tried to hold back her laughter. His Highness had reached the age where he could grow a beard, and there was still some stubble on his chin.

Li Lizhi yawned sleepily, "Sister, I'm going to rest first."

Li Chengqian reminded: "Remember to let them run long distances early tomorrow morning."

"understood."

The younger sister replied lazily and left the hall.

Li Chengqian said: "Sister Ning'er should also go to bed early."

Ning Er bowed and said, "Yes."

After putting away the map in front of him and Li Lizhi marking their homework, Li Chengqian washed up and fell into a deep sleep.

This is already the third year that my younger brothers and sisters have been in the Eastern Palace, and now they seem to have a completely different look.

This is how children of this age are. They become a completely different person in three or two years and grow up very fast.

The next day, Li Chengqian woke up early. Today, except for General Li Ji, no one else came here to have breakfast.

I don’t know what my uncle and the emperor’s uncle are busy with recently.

After the morning exercise, Li Chengqian went to the Taiji Hall with Li Ji.

Inside the hall, all the ministers stood still. Everyone thought that today's morning court would be peaceful again, but suddenly an urgent report broke the tranquility.

Sun Fujia reported: "Your Majesty! At midnight last night, Ashina She'er was assassinated by the Wei River!"

Upon hearing this urgent news, the ministers in the hall began to discuss.

Li Chengqian stood there silently. He was supposed to go to Chang'an today. The reason he came to Chang'an this time was not only because he couldn't make it on the grassland anymore, but also because he wanted to ask the Tang Dynasty for help.

But before he arrived, he was assassinated.

"Who dares to assassinate in Guanzhong?"

"Your Majesty, last night the militia captured several people from Mobei. I investigated overnight and have confirmed that it was the Mobei people who did it."

As soon as the words came out, there was another round of discussion in the hall.

Sun Fujia continued, "After investigation, we learned that the people of Mobei were worried that Ashina She'er would ask Your Majesty for help. If Your Majesty offered a helping hand, there would definitely be generals going out to conquer Mobei, so they sent people to ambush and assassinate him."

Li Shimin sneered: "The people of Mobei are so brave."

Li Chengqian stood there in silence. The assassination seemed to be a decision made on a whim. This style of doing things on a whim was very much in line with the arrogant and conceited people of Mobei.

Sun Fujia continued, "Ashina She'er was seriously injured, but fortunately he is still alive. He is now lying in the Dali Temple."

Assassination was very costly in the Tang Dynasty. Li Chengqian recalled the garden party last autumn. After the imperial examination, someone came to assassinate Xu Yueshi, who had passed the imperial examination.

The assassination attempt failed and in less than an hour, the assassin was nearly captured alive and had no choice but to commit suicide.

The same is true for assassinations outside Chang'an City. First of all, don't doubt the execution ability of the local government, and don't think whether the government officials will catch you in the first place. The first thing to worry about is that the militiamen in all the villages and counties around Chang'an City will search for assassins.

Once these militiamen catch you, they will take you to the government to get the reward.

"Chengqian!"

Hearing his father calling him, Li Chengqian stood out from the court and said, "Your son is here."

"Go visit Ashina She'er on my behalf."

"Here."

Li Chengqian bowed, turned around and walked past the court officials in both the civil and military ranks, and quickly walked out of the Taiji Hall.

The rest of the people still had to attend the morning court session, and his father asked him to visit a Turkic man on his behalf. Ashina She'er was Jie Li's nephew.

This is related to how the Turks think of the Tang people.

Sun Fujia also hurriedly followed.

Li Chengqian walked towards the Suzaku Gate and asked, "Shaoqing Sun?"

"Your Highness, please speak."

"How's his injury?"

"Your Highness, Ashina She'er suffered six knife wounds, three of which were deep, but fortunately they were not vital."

"Has a doctor treated him?"

"No doctor dares to take over at the moment, so I have sent someone to ask for Dr. Sun."

As they walked, Sun Fujia described the knife wounds on Ashina She'er's body.

The people of Mobei were worried that he would get help from the Tang people, so they set an ambush.

This guy is lucky, he is still alive.

Li Chengqian did not rush to the Dali Temple, but came to the gate of the East Palace and ordered Ning'er: "Bring a pot of alcohol prepared by the East Palace, and bring the needles and thread I prepared to treat my wounds."

"Here."

Ning'er walked into the East Palace, and before she came out, she saw Dongyang walking quickly towards her with a clay pot in his arms. The label on the pot read "alcohol."

This alcohol was brewed by Du He during the grape making process. It cannot be said to be very pure, but at least it is the strongest alcohol.

There were only three pots stored in the East Palace.

Ning Er came hurriedly and saluted, saying, "Your Highness, Princess Dongyang also wants to go with you."

Looking at this younger sister, she lowered her head and held a pot of alcohol. At this time, even if her royal brother did not allow her to go, she would most likely agree.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Okay, I'll take you out to relax."

Dongyang smiled happily and said, "Thank you, my royal brother."

Dongyang has always been a quiet and sensible sister, and her learning ability is no less than that of Li Lizhi.

Dongyang said again: "My Royal Brother, please wait a moment."

After saying that, she hurried back to the East Palace, and when she came out again, she had changed into men's clothes.

Li Chengqian looked around and felt uncomfortable. He said, "How come the clothes I wore before are here with you?"

She said shyly, "My sister left it to me. She said my brother's clothes are very valuable."

Thinking of She'er still lying in the Dali Temple, bleeding, I don't know if he can survive.

Li Chengqian took his sister out of the palace first.

Xue Wanbei, who was gnawing on a leg of lamb at the Suzaku Gate, saw that it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who came out. He quickly put away the leg of lamb, put it in his arms, wiped his mouth, wiped his greasy hands on the hem of his clothes, and led a team of soldiers to escort him.

Walking on Zhuque Street, Li Chengqian explained: "I have been learning some fighting skills recently, so it is inevitable that I will get injured."

Sun Fujia led the way and walked in front, "I heard about this matter. Taoist Li is still unwilling to accept Your Highness as a disciple."

This guy is a killjoy...

Chatting with this kind of person, except for business matters, is probably a disappointment most of the time.

When I walked into the Dali Temple, I saw a man lying in the main hall. At first glance, I could see that Ashina She'er had lost a lot of weight in the past two years.

Soon Sun Simiao also came.

Dongyang stood quietly aside, still holding the ceramic pot filled with alcohol in his arms and a cloth bag in his hand.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince." Sun Simiao first saluted, and then went to check the pulse of She'er who was lying on the wooden board.

Li Chengqian observed his wounds. The man was unconscious. The wounds caused by the blade had been turned outward and the skin and flesh on the wounds were a little white due to blood loss.

If he was stabbed by the Wei River, he would definitely go into the water even with his injuries.

Sun Simiao checked his pulse for a moment, frowned and said, "He has lost too much blood. Whether he can wake up depends entirely on his own luck."

Li Chengqian said: "Dongyang, give me the alcohol."

"Ah."

He took a pot of alcohol and then took the needle and thread.

Sun Simiao stroked his beard and asked curiously, "What is your highness doing?"

"Sew up the wounds. Even if he dies and needs to be buried, at least he should be intact. Otherwise, when he is buried with his uncle Jie Li, his uncle will be disgusted by the many holes on his body."

Sun Simiao burst out laughing.

It seemed as if Ashina She'er was still somewhat conscious, as if he had heard these words. His dry and dehydrated mouth opened and closed slightly, and he was saying something.

Seeing this, Sun Simiao understood and smiled without saying anything.

Li Chengqian continued, "Tell me about you Turks. You just fight and kill all day long. You have to fight even if you can't win. My father has advised you again and again, but you won't listen. It's best if you die. It will give us one less thing to worry about. Die quickly."

Ashina She'er's fingers moved noticeably.

As he spoke, Li Chengqian pulled out the wooden stopper from the pot and poured alcohol on his wound.

The severe pain from the alcohol spilling onto the wound made She'er shiver again.

Then, Li Chengqian ordered: "Sun Shaoqing, bring some hot water."

"Here."

Seeing that the man lying on the board had calmed down again, Li Chengqian continued, "We should let the people of Mobei unify the Turks to save us the Tang Dynasty from trouble."

This time, Ashina She'er opened his mouth again and whispered two words in Turkic. No one knew what they meant, but they were probably not good.

"Still coming to Guanzhong for help? If you die in Guanzhong, your uncle won't want you, a stupid nephew, to be buried with him."

Still not letting on with his words, Li Chengqian took the basin of hot water brought by Sun Fujia, washed his hands and began to suture his wound.

Sun Simiao sat cross-legged on the side with a calm expression and even began to meditate.

Li Chengqian removed some of the bad flesh from his wound due to blood loss. After each insertion of the needle and thread, Ashina She'er would tremble in pain.

As long as the person is still conscious, it’s good. Curse him a few more times to make him wake up. If he faints completely at this time, it will be very dangerous.

The deepest wounds were in the abdomen, arms, legs and shoulders.

The festering wound had to be cleaned, and when the alcohol was poured on him again, he trembled with pain again.

(End of this chapter)