The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 167 Summer Harvest
Dongyang patiently watched his brother sew each time. The thin needle and thread passed through the wound, forming scary black lines on the skin, like worms.

After suturing up all the visible wounds, Li Chengqian finished his work and said to the side, "Doctor Sun, apply medicine to him."

Sun Simiao took a wooden box nearby, found some medicine foam, and poured it on the sutured wound.

At this time, Ashina She'er was much calmer and his breathing became steadier.

"The way His Royal Highness treated the injury just now has greatly inspired me. It seems that I can add a few more chapters to my medical classics."

"I really don't deserve it."

After treating Ashina She'er's wounds and feeding him some warm water, all we could do was wait for him to wake up.

Sun Simiao whispered, "If he can wake up, it can be considered that he has experienced a great disaster. If he does not wake up, as Your Highness said, he will be buried together with Jie Li. It all depends on him."

Li Chengqian sat upright, took a meat bun handed to him by his sister, and ate it aside.

Dongyang whispered, "Brother, can my sister practice medicine?"

Hearing this, Li Chengqian asked back: "Why do you want to practice medicine?"

"My sister just wants Grandpa Huang, his brothers and sisters, my mother, and my father to live a better life."

She was wearing a conical hat with a thin gauze covering her face. She was holding the hem of her skirt with one hand, looking very nervous.

This was the first time she made a request to her brother, and also the first time she mustered up the courage to say it.

Li Chengqian whispered, "Dongyang, you have to understand that learning medicine is not like practicing archery, where you can see results in three to five years."

"Sister understands. I occasionally read medical books recently."

She glanced at Divine Doctor Sun again and said, "I often wonder what I can do in the future. My talent for numbers is not as good as yours, but I can help my brother review memorials, but..."

Li Chengqian took off her bamboo hat, revealing her blushing face. He whispered to her, "You just want to learn what you want to learn and do what you want to do."

Dongyang slowly lowered his head, turned around and dared not face his brother.

"You have great courage. Whether it's you, Li Zhi, Zhi Nu, or Li Shen, we brothers and sisters need courage to make a name for ourselves. Remember how you feel now. Courage is your greatest support in life. Whenever we face a decision, taking the first step requires great courage."

“And don’t regret the first step you took, even if it makes your future more difficult. Instead of standing still, it’s better to run forward and overcome all obstacles.”

Dongyang turned back and faced his brother squarely, "I understand, sister."

"Don't be afraid that I will refuse. In fact, I hope that you all have your own careers. You are great. You are the second sister who has the courage to ask for something and knows what she wants to do."

Dongyang stopped blushing and asked in confusion: "Who is the first one?"

"Beauty."

"What is the ideal of the emperor sister?"

"Her ideals are the same as mine."

Dongyang tightened her fists a little more, her nails digging into the flesh and turning white. After a while, she loosened her hands and whispered, "The same goes for my sister and my elder sister. Even if my sister studies medicine, it doesn't conflict with her."

The tone of voice of the children in the Eastern Palace is still different from that of their peers in the outside world.

What they learn and hear is different from other children.

Dongyang and Lizhi are the two older sisters of Donggong, so they have a very clear understanding of production relations and the system constituted by production relations.

Over the past three years, their ability to analyze the underlying logic of things has become increasingly stronger.

Li Chengqian asked loudly: "Doctor Sun needs disciples?"

Doctor Sun said with a smile: "No, there is no shortage. When it comes to studying medicine... there is no such thing as too few disciples."

"Can you teach my sister?"

Sun Simiao looked at the little girl standing next to the prince and said with a click of his tongue, "Princess, learning medicine is not something that can be done in a few words."

"The disciple has met the teacher."

Sun Simiao stroked his beard and smiled, "From now on, I will go to the Imperial Medical Bureau every three days. Your Highness, you can go with me to see patients."

"Thank you, teacher."

"Let's take a look at him first." Sun Simiao raised his hand and slapped Ashina She'er's face three times.

The sound of slaps echoed in the empty main hall of the Dali Temple.

After being slapped three times and seeing no movement, Sun Simiao was about to slap again when She'er finally opened his eyes.

"Pa!" Sun Simiao slapped him in the face again.

Dongyang opened his eyes wide in surprise.

It has to be said that the way Dr. Sun wakes up patients and revive them is simple and primitive, simple and effective.

As for Dr. Sun, he is quite authoritative in awakening patients through physical means.

Ashina She'er looked around in a daze, and his eyes fell on an old man in front of him who was about to wave his hand.

Another loud slap.

This completely woke him up.

Sun Simiao put his hands behind his back and asked, "Do you remember who you are?"

Dongyang stood behind the miracle doctor and saw that the old man had his hands behind his back. His hands were red from slapping and were trembling a little.

Seeing that the other party had something to say, Sun Simiao looked much more relieved, "I am trying to save you. It's too late to save you anyway."

"You have been stabbed so badly and have lost so much blood. If you continue to sleep like this, you will become a cripple sooner or later. Move your hands and feet now, or you will end up with both your hands and feet crippled."

Ashina She'er tried hard to raise his arm, but could only raise it two inches.

Sun Simiao nodded, "Fortunately, no bones were injured. Move your hands and feet more, clench your fists, and prepare some blood-replenishing soup. You will be able to recover in half a month."

After saying this, Doctor Sun asked someone to carry the medicine box and was about to leave.

Dongyang took two steps forward and said, "Disciple respectfully sends you off, Master."

Sun Simiao stroked his beard with a smile on his face, and reminded: "Princess, remember every three days, every morning, I will not wait for you if you are late."

"Disciple, please remember this."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Since there is nothing serious, let's go back to the palace."

"Prince!" She'er said in a hoarse voice, "Just now the prince said he wanted to bury me together with him."

Li Chengqian led his sister out of the Dali Temple, waved his sleeves, and said lightly: "That was also to save you."

After returning to the East Palace, Dongyang was in a good mood. Today was undoubtedly a very meaningful day for her.

She took the first step in her life decision.

I feel a little sad that a bottle of alcohol from the Eastern Palace was wasted in order to cure Ashina She'er.

Li Lizhi listened to Dongyang and Linchuan talking about what happened in Dali Temple today, and also knew that she had taken Dr. Sun as her master.

Walking up to her brother, Li Lizhi whispered, "No wonder Dongyang has been so secretive these days."

"Have you seen it a long time ago?"

"Ah."

Li Chengqian looked through the files sent to the Eastern Palace by various departments. Girls always have some little secrets, and even if they know each other, they will not tell each other.

"By the way, you took away all my old clothes?" "Yes."

She didn't deny it.

Li Chengqian sighed, "You should talk to me about this kind of thing in the future."

Li Lizhi said playfully, "Sister Ning allowed it."

Three days later, Dongyang's journey of studying medicine officially began. She followed Dr. Sun to see various patients in Chang'an City. Because she had formed a habit in the Eastern Palace, she would still take notes when Dr. Sun talked about the condition and medication.

It was August in Guanzhong. It was not until a month after the official start of summer that the emperor went to his villa in Taiye Lake to escape the heat.

Li Chengqian watched his brothers and sisters move into the villa one after another, and saw a little girl in Taoist robes running towards him.

"Royal brother!" Little Sizi called out in a baby voice, ran over quickly and hugged his brother's legs, raised his head and called out again: "Royal brother."

Li Chengqian reached out and picked up the little Sizi who was wearing a Taoist robe, and asked, "Why are you wearing a Taoist robe when you haven't even entered the Taoist sect yet?"

"My queen mother said that Mingda had paid a visit to the ancestor in the Sanqing Temple, and he must wear Taoist robes from now on." She spoke with her little mouth open, holding a small bagua in her hand.

"Is this a gift from Taoist Priest Li Chunfeng?"

Little Sizi nodded heavily, "Master Li said that Mingda should often look up at the starry sky and then read the Eight Diagrams."

"What? Master Li's teachings to his disciples all depend on self-realization?"

"Mingda also spoke to Taoist Yuan." Little Sizi whispered, "Taoist Yuan said that Mingda is the most talented person he has ever seen and can inherit his legacy."

Li Chengqian hugged her and said with a smile: "Our Mingda is the most talented one among the brothers and sisters."

"Li Mingda!" Li Lizhi called out from a distance.

After Li Chengqian put her down, the little sister in Taoist robe and shoes ran towards her elder sister.

The family gathered together again. Li Chengqian watched the scene with his hands in his pockets, thinking that it was the time of summer harvest in Guanzhong. He looked at his brothers and sisters, his father, his mother and his grandfather who were chatting and laughing by the Taiye Lake.

Then, he turned around, took a deep breath, put away his smile, and walked into the Xuanwu Gate and into the palace alone.

Hearing footsteps behind him again, Li Chengqian turned around and saw it was his father.

"Does your father have anything else to tell you?"

"Let the children go with father to escape the summer heat. I still have many things to do. The people from Mobei sent me another letter, asking why I should save Ashina She'er."

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and asked, "Did the emperor reply?"

Li Shimin said sternly, "I haven't replied yet. The people of Mobei are getting more and more arrogant. How can we just sit back and watch?"

The father and son walked one after the other, and Li Chengqian suddenly asked: "Father, the IOU written in the Wude Hall..."

"Didn't you tell me not to take it to heart?"

"It turns out that Father really didn't take it to heart."

The eunuch was accompanying the emperor and the prince, with an awkward smile on his face, unable to hide his nervousness at the moment.

Li Shimin ordered people to summon Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, and Yuchi Gong to the Xingqing Hall to discuss matters.

The father and son returned to their respective busy lives.

This year is the most crucial year for Guanzhong. At this moment, Jingzhao Prefecture is empty. No official stays here. All the officials who can be sent out have gone to various counties.

The officials from Jingzhao Prefecture who usually gave lectures in Chang'an City were no longer there.

Now all the counties in Guanzhong have officials from Jingzhao Prefecture, and those as far away as Chencang County, which is close to Longxi, are almost to Tongguan in the east.

More than one hundred officials from Jingzhao Prefecture were divided into small teams and sent to various counties to oversee the autumn harvest.

Li Chengqian sat in the Secretariat, which was originally the teacher's position.

Sitting in the upper seat of the Secretariat, with officials coming and going in front of him, Li Chengqian flipped through the files and asked, "Have the grapes in Jingyang been picked?"

Yu Zhining replied: "No news has been sent yet."

It is August now, and the summer harvest in Guanzhong is at its peak.

Eunuchs on the side brought buckets of sour plum soup with some ice cubes in it.

The city of Chang'an was now like a steamer, and everyone's clothes were soaked with sweat. Yu Zhining looked at the prince's back, which was soaked with sweat, covering a large area.

Li Chengqian ordered: "Bring some more mung bean soup."

"Your Highness, I am preparing now."

The initial idea was to create an economy of scale in Guanzhong first. However, it is undoubtedly difficult to build an economy of scale under the current system and structure.

The situation was so difficult that six county magistrates were dismissed and two retired.

The sunlight outside was so bright that it was hard to raise one's head. Yan Qinli came over quickly, "Your Highness the Crown Prince! Your Highness!"

The man ran into the Secretariat and handed over a roll of paper, saying, "Jingyang harvested 1,500 dan of grapes."

Hearing this, everyone looked excited.

As soon as he stood in the Secretariat, Yan Qinli picked up a ladle, scooped up some iced sour plum soup from the bucket, and was pouring it into his mouth.

Yu Zhining asked, "Hasn't there been any news yet about the 5,000 acres of grapes from Weibei?"

Yan Qinli shook his head and said, "We have to wait."

Everyone present knew that the 5,000 acres of grapes in Weibei were the top priority; they were the key to Guanzhong's tax revenue.

Relying on these 5,000 acres of grapes alone, the agricultural affairs in Guanzhong presided over by the prince can at least increase tax revenue by 80%. If it is a good harvest, it is possible to double the tax revenue.

It was almost dusk when most people in the Secretariat had left, leaving only Yan Qinli and Yu Zhining.

After a long while, seeing that it was getting dark, Li Chengqian lit the oil lamp beside him and said, "You two should go back first."

"Here."

In this way, the crown prince was the only one left in the Secretariat.

The imperial city was empty, with only the lights on in the Secretariat.

The sky was hazy, and the night had not yet completely enveloped the sky. A figure was walking towards here.

Li Chengqian was sitting by the oil lamp. He looked up and when he saw the person coming, he stood up and saluted, saying, "Father."

Li Shimin looked at the Secretariat, which had been tidied up. The chairs and stools were placed face down on the table. He looked around and whispered, "You're the only one left?"

Li Chengqian took another sip of sour plum soup and nodded.

Li Shimin sat down next to his son. Occasionally, wind blew in from the door, making the papers on the table rustle.

Ning'er came with a food box and Xiaofu came with a lantern. They bowed and said, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince may have his meal now."

Suddenly, there was a loud thunder in the night sky and heavy rain came pouring down.

Guanzhong, which had been sultry all day, suddenly cooled down, and heavy rain fell on the ground, forming a mist.

In the villa beside the Taiye Lake, Empress Changsun looked out the window at the heavy rain and said worriedly, "I wonder how they are doing, father and son?"

Li Lizhi led her sister and said, "My brother must be very concerned about the situation in the counties of Guanzhong at this moment. This year is the most important year."

(End of this chapter)