The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 169 Willing to be the Forward
Di Zhixun bowed quickly and said, "I dare not bother Mr. Guo Si. In fact, I have already made arrangements."

Guo Luotuo said, "It's okay, the door is open."

After saying that, he walked back to the small house nearby.

A month ago, Guo Luotuo built a small hut next to the grape field. He built the hut himself so that he could watch over the grape racks, observe them every day, and cut off some leaves and vines that were infested with insects and diseases.

Di Renjie followed his father through the countryside, asking every household, and found that no one had a vacant place to stay for them for one night.

In theory, he could sleep on the floor, but Renjie was still a child. It had just rained, and the ground was too wet. He would get sick if he slept on it.

Finally, the Di family father and son came to the hut built by Guo Siqing here in a depressed manner.

Guo Luotuo didn't say anything. The three of them squeezed on a bed made of wooden boards and fell asleep.

Di Renjie whispered, "Dad, didn't you say you were prepared?"

Dickson closed his eyes, breathing heavily, and seemed to be asleep.

Di Renjie moved his body again, trying not to squeeze together. He thought about what his grandfather had told him: your father is not awake, so Renjie must be more awake.

Sleepiness came over him and Di Renjie fell asleep too.

Villagers are walking back and forth between the villages in Weibei, with smiles on their faces. Expectation is a very precious thing.

For these farmers who have been making a living on farming in the past, they dare not have too many expectations for the future. A house to shelter from the wind and rain, children by their side, and enough food and clothing are the greatest satisfaction for them.

In the past, the almost impoverished villagers in Guanzhong were very cautious about the future and did not dare to place too much expectations on it.

A village woman smiled and said, "After we sell these grapes, we can save some money and find a good study for our children so that they can learn to read and write."

Another woman asked, "You have many children, are you sending all four?"

"The two older ones stayed to do farm work, and the two younger ones went to school."

"Sister-in-law is still the one who knows how to plan." The woman smiled, covering her mouth.

The village woman who had just said that her child would go to Chang'an City to study lowered her head in shame and busily arranged the grapes with her hands.

The woman said to the old man beside her: "It's time to find a wife for your eldest son."

The old man was wearing straw sandals and had messy hair. He scratched his head with his calloused fingers and said, "It's all up to the child's mother."

All the villages and counties are very busy these days, and it is rare for them to sit together and chat at night.

Sometimes the gossip includes some simple yet blushing jokes.

A group of children sneaked out and wanted to eat the grapes, but were taken back by the adults.

It was very late at night, and several village women were still sitting together picking grapes. They picked out the grapes that looked better and would go to Chang'an to sell them for a good price when daybreak.

Those that don’t look as good are kept for home consumption.

The villagers all live in groups, and the sound of men snoring can be heard from each house. The men have been busy in the fields all day long from day to night, and now they are exhausted.

Several women were still sitting at their doorsteps picking grapes. When it was almost dawn, they each held their waists and finished the work at hand.

"Mother of that kid, your waist is not in good condition, our men will help you pick it out."

"My man is strong," the woman refused.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Wei Chang was supposed to be in Jingyang County today, but he had to watch over the villagers picking the fruits and prevent any restless children of the rich and powerful from coming here, so he brought the militiamen to watch over them all night.

He squatted by the wall with a few militiamen, eating a piece of cake. He was now working for Master Du He, who asked him to work for the Jingzhao Prefecture. As a bad man, he could not be an official and he had no land on hand.

It is only because of his heroic spirit and sense of righteousness that he has managed to survive until now.

Listening to the conversation between the women just now, Wei Chang calculated that he was already thirty years old, and wondered when he could marry Xue Wuniang and whether he should set up a house in Chang'an.

It's been almost three years, and Xue Wuniang still hasn't given in.

Wei Chang was holding a small knife in his hand, shaving his chin, looking listless.

At dawn, a group of soldiers arrived here, and Di Renjie was awakened by the sound of horse hooves and the neighing of horses.

He climbed down from the couch and heard voices outside.

"Guo Luotuo, the Minister of Agriculture, has been conscientious in his duties as an official, and is a simple and diligent person. The grape harvest in Weibei has been good, so I specially grant Guo Luotuo the title of male of Fengle Township and a fief of 300 households!"

Guo Luotuo bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The officer continued to read: "Xu Jingzong, the Junior Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture, has always acted arrogantly in Chang'an. I consider that he was one of the Eighteen Scholars of the Qin Palace. I will exempt him from the fine for three years and allow him to continue to serve as the Junior Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture. I will also give him ten thousand coins to encourage him."

Xu Jingzong said in a clear voice: "I accept your order."

Although this matter had nothing to do with Daddy, in Di Renjie's eyes Daddy was smiling very happily.

The reward given to Xu Jingzong was not significant at all. The so-called reward of ten thousand coins from the emperor was just a symbolic gift of a few strings of coins.

But for Xu Jingzong, this is already a great honor.

As long as his name appeared in His Majesty's ears again and again, he felt that the day when he would walk into the Taiji Hall and be included in the court ranks was not far away. Xu Jingzong has always been very confident in his judgment.

Guo Luotuo took the seal and the decree with trembling hands.

This was the first person in the Tang Dynasty who rose from being a farmer to becoming a nobleman.

He was now a county man, a nobleman with a fief in Guanzhong, and his family was different from others.

After the soldiers left, Guo Luotuo hurried into the warehouse, carefully picked two baskets of grapes, and rode back to Chang'an City.

Di Renjie asked curiously, "Dad, what is Uncle Guo going to do?"

Dickson scratched his head and asked, "Did you go home to celebrate?"

Shangguan Yi said, "He probably didn't go home to celebrate. Guo Siqing has always been grateful to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for his kindness. He picked these two baskets of grapes by himself and is going to send them to the palace."

Dickson suddenly realized.

In Chang'an City, many residents walked out of the official road. They were going to Weibei County and Jingyang County to buy grapes. They took advantage of the still cool morning to buy some grapes and return to the city.

The news of the bumper grape harvest in Weibei had already spread throughout Chang'an City.

But these things have nothing to do with Guo Luotuo.

When they arrived at Chang'an City, Guo Luotuo dismounted, carrying two baskets of grapes, and hurried towards the Suzaku Gate. His previously hunched back was now slightly straightened.

Li Daoyan had been guarding the gate of Suzaku Gate for the past two days. When he saw someone trying to enter Suzaku Gate, he stopped him and asked, "Who is it?"

Guo Luotuo put down the basket in his hand without saying a word. Only then did he realize that he was not wearing an official uniform or hat, but only straw sandals.

He took out the county seal that had just been bestowed upon him from the bosom of his patched cloth clothes and smiled at the general in front of him.

Li Daoyan then realized that the man in front of him was the county man of Fengle Township who was just appointed by His Majesty. He made way and said, "Go in."

Guo Luotuo smiled, put away his seal, and explained, "I am not wearing my official uniform and boots. It is not easy to go in with this outfit."

Li Daoyan looked at him. This man was a disciple of the prince and a newly appointed county man. Even if he was dressed like this, he was willing to give him some convenience.

Guo Luotuo picked up two baskets of grapes and handed them over, saying, "I will not go in. I don't want to break the rules and embarrass His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty."

Li Daoyan said, "It's okay." "It still won't work." Guo Luotuo handed over the basket and said, "Please pass it to the prince and His Majesty."

Li Daoyan nodded, "Okay."

Thus, a smile appeared on Guo Luotuo's face again. He stood outside the Suzaku Gate and watched Li Daoyan walk into the imperial city with his own eyes.

Standing here, he couldn't see His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but he still stood there looking around, his face full of anticipation.

He continued to look around, and when he really could no longer see the two baskets of grapes, Guo Luotuo withdrew his gaze and left here contentedly.

By the Taiye Lake, after Li Chengqian finished his morning court session, he and his father ate grapes by the lake.

Li Shimin was looking at the Taiye Lake in front of him and eating grapes. Except for an annoying duck swimming in the lake which spoiled the view, everything was fine.

"The decree to confer the title of county baron on Guo Luotuo has been issued."

Li Chengqian said: "I have asked someone to read it out. Guo Luotuo should have received the decree by now."

Li Tai and Li Ke sat quietly aside, listening to the conversation between their father and brother.

As he was talking, Li Daoyan came over with two baskets of grapes, placed them beside His Majesty and the Crown Prince, and explained, "These were sent by Guo Luotuo."

There is no shortage of grapes in the palace. The grapes from Jingyang were delivered last night.

Li Shimin was still chewing grapes. He first glanced at his son who was sitting beside him and whispered, "I thought he would come to see the prince."

Li Daoyan explained, "Your Majesty, Guo Luotuo just came back from the fields. He said that he couldn't enter the Suzaku Gate wearing cloth clothes and straw sandals, and he didn't dare to worry Your Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian picked up a grape from a pile of ice cubes, put it in his mouth and ate it.

There is a lot of ice stored in the palace this year, so the family can be a little richer.

After Li Daoyan finished his report, he left quickly.

Li Chengqian looked at the duck far in the center of the lake and said to his brother who was not far away, "Zhi Nu, why hasn't this duck laid eggs yet?"

Li Zhi shouted back, "It will lay eggs!"

Li Chengqian said distressedly: "Father, this is all my fault."

Li Shimin chuckled and said, "What's wrong?"

Li Chengqian looked distressed and said, "I failed to discipline my brother. He actually became friends with a duck."

"Do you want me to stew this duck someday?"

Li Chengqian agreed: "I think the sooner the better."

Li Tai, who was standing by, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Li Ke scratched his head in distress, not knowing what Li Tai was laughing at.

Not far away, Empress Changsun was talking in a low voice to Concubine Yang.

Li Lizhi ran over, picked up her dress, sat down, and took two bunches of grapes from the basket. She looked up and said, "Royal brother, Concubine Yang is talking to mother about how to teach the child well."

The concubines in the palace were discussing the issue of educating children, and Li Chengqian suddenly felt that this family was still very harmonious.

She chuckled and said, "My mother said that the children are being raised by my brother."

Li Shimin asked again: "What did Concubine Yang say?"

Li Lizhi turned her head away from her father and said to her brother, "Concubine Yang is still asking how our mother raised such a great child, my brother. I'll go and listen again."

"The chilled grapes make them eat less, because if they eat too much, their stomachs will feel uncomfortable."

"My sister knows."

Li Shimin took a sip of wine, slowly put down the wine bowl in his hand, turned his head and looked to the other side, where his father was trying to hold back his smile.

Li Yuan noticed the gaze, turned his body to the side, lay on his side and ignored his son.

"Cheng Qian, what do you think happened to Li Zhi?"

"Why does Father ask this?"

Li Shimin whispered, "Because I did not agree to put your portrait in Lingyan Pavilion, Li Zhi has ignored me since last night. She also asked Xiao Sizi and Gao Yang to ignore me."

Upon hearing about the Lingyan Pavilion and the portrait of the emperor's brother, Li Ke and Li Tai, who were standing nearby, also brightened up, pricked up their ears and listened attentively.

After eating too many grapes, Li Chengqian felt uncomfortable in his mouth. He took a sip of tea to soothe the bitterness in his mouth and said, "Then please agree to her father's request."

Li Tai and Li Ke moved their chairs slightly, wanting to get closer to listen.

Li Shimin frowned for a long time without replying.

Li Chengqian drank three cups of tea. The emperor fell asleep and his snoring could be heard here.

"You are the crown prince, you are the heir to the throne, how can your portrait be easily hung in the Lingyan Pavilion?"

"I will leave this matter to my father." After thinking about it, Li Chengqian whispered, "How about my father hang his portrait in the Lingyan Pavilion as well?"

Li Shimin closed his eyes and pulled the handle on the side of the chair. The chair creaked and the backrest slowly lowered.

Li Shimin closed his eyes and rested until his whole body could lie down flat.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Ke standing aside and said, "Your mother is thinking about teaching Li Yin, so she said this to the Queen Mother."

Li Ke and Li Yin were both Concubine Yang's children, but Li Yin was still young.

"Yes." Li Ke continued, "Yin'er is getting more and more naughty. I want to arrange him to join the army to cure his naughtiness."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly. After all, he was Concubine Yang's child. Concubine Yang now had her own arrangements, and Li Ke was Concubine Yang's eldest son.

After all, it is their family affair. Even if I am the prince, it would not be good for me to interfere too much.

Since Concubine Yang and Li Ke have their own ideas, the Eastern Palace does not need to interfere.

"You were in the military recently..."

Li Ke had a serious expression and sat upright with his hands on his knees. He was not as relaxed as Li Tai who was lazily lying on his back.

When asked about military affairs, Li Ke perked up and asked, "I am training in the army. Is my brother going to sweep across the Western Regions? I am willing to be the vanguard."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Shimin beside him suddenly started coughing violently.

A eunuch immediately brought hot water to His Majesty, who drank it. After his coughing stopped, he stood quietly aside again.

Yang Fei, who was on the other side of the lake, looked over here.

Li Chengqian was shocked and deliberately lowered his voice, saying, "There are a lot of things going on in Guanzhong, and I haven't thought about the Western Expedition yet."

Li Ke said in a clear voice: "Don't worry, my brother. I am willing to wait until the day of the Western Expedition and serve as the vanguard."

Concubine Yang on the other side of the lake already had a frown on her face.

Li Chengqian also shook the handle on one side of the chair, and the backrest slowly lowered, and he lay down like his father.

There are only two updates for now. My health is recovering. I should be able to update more in two days.

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(End of this chapter)