The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 177 Great ideals

But when Alopen picked up the Tang people's book, the official next to him took away his own parchment book.

He reached out to take back his parchment scroll and subconsciously said a few words in Persian.

The Tang official holding the parchment book said to him, "We in the Great Tang have always been open and tolerant, especially to envoys like you who have come from afar. Learning the knowledge of the Great Tang is the best way we can treat you."

After that, the Tang official took the parchment book, held it high, and said, "Don't worry, we are the most trustworthy when dealing with envoys from other countries."

Aroben looked at his parchment book and whispered, "Can you give it back to me?"

The other party smiled and said, "Of course we will return it to you. When you leave, the Honglu Temple will return the book to you intact."

Coincidentally, Shangguan Yi brought Ashina She'er to Sifang Pavilion.

In Chang'an City, there was movement among the Sifangguan, Hongwenguan, and Wenxueguan. Exchanging classics and arranging personnel were also the daily official business of the three halls.

Shangguan Yi came to pick up the classics he had borrowed from Sifang Pavilion a few days ago and happened to see this scene.

Ashina She'er was guarding on the side. He was originally working for Jingzhao Prefecture.

But Xu Jingzong didn't want to have a Turk standing in front of the Jingzhao Prefecture, which was not very nice to the villagers from various counties and towns who came to ask questions.

Therefore, Ashina She'er was assigned to the Hongwenguan, where he usually served as a bodyguard for Shangguan Yi, the director of the Hongwenguan.

The two of them happened to be standing here, and were stunned for a moment when they saw this scene.

Aroben sat there in a daze, watching his parchment book being taken away by the Tang officials.

Shangguan Yi stopped the official from the Honglu Temple and asked, "What is this parchment book used for?"

The official replied, "The Ministry of Rites has arranged that there is a Persian envoy in the Institute of Literature. This scroll will be handed over to the Persian envoy in the Institute of Literature for translation."

After hearing the arrangement from the Ministry of Rites, Shangguan Yi understood that this matter was most likely ordered by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Look at the Persian monk who is mumbling and reciting words along with his teacher.

Shangguan Yi went to find the person in charge here, took a few volumes of classics and left quickly.

Usually, Ashina She'er lived in Sifang Pavilion. After the stitches on his wound were removed, he was left with several scary scars on his body.

She'er was happy to show these wounds, as they were proof that he had survived the ambush by the Mobei people.

It is also a proof of his bravery. Whenever someone curiously asks about the scar, he always talks about the night he was ambushed by the Mobei people, how he escaped from the ambush, and how he was treated by Doctor Sun and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and survived.

In his conversation, She'er always talked about how he expressed his loyalty and gratitude to the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.

Sooner or later, Ashina She'er would join forces with the Tang generals to annihilate the people of Mobei.

Although he said so, the court and His Majesty never said they would help him conquer Mobei.

Moreover, Your Majesty only sent a reprimanding edict to the Yinan Khan in Mobei.

Alopen lived in Sifang Pavilion, where there were Turks, people from the Western Regions, people from Gaochang, and Tibetans who stayed in Chang'an.

For several days, Alopen stayed in Sifang Pavilion and often told people about his experiences on his journey from Persia to Chang'an.

He said that the original Arabs developed from the population separated from the Persians, and that now the Arabs were at war with the Persians, which meant that the Arabs were fighting their ancestors. He even said that the Arabs were all lowly.

Originally, Alopen himself was a Arab, and now he became a Persian monk and even cursed the Arabs.

Putting aside the feud between the Arabs and Persians, this Alopen is somewhat narrow-minded.

In fact, Alopen was a very experienced man. He said that the original Arabs became powerful because of a man called the Prophet, and they regarded the sun as a god.

He loves to tell others about these things.

He came all the way from Persia, wandered everywhere, went to India, and then went to the Western Regions.

He drank with the old king of Khotan, climbed the Tianshan Mountains and almost froze to death, walked in the desert and almost starved to death. He searched for the Buddha along the way, but could not find him.

There are many delicious foods in Chang'an City. Now there are more and more kinds of cakes and pastries. Cold noodles are popular in Chang'an City this summer.

Inside the Sifang Restaurant, several servants were preparing food. They served the boiled cold noodles and said, "Add onions, vinegar, and millet as you see fit."

The cold noodles of the powerful and wealthy are more luxurious. They will mix some shredded cucumber with the noodles. Such a bowl of noodles in the summer is really satisfying.

And this kind of cold noodles is not expensive. How expensive it is depends on the condiments you add.

There are many ways to eat noodles in the Donggong, including oil-splashed noodles, fried soybean sauce noodles, noodles mixed with scallion oil, or mixed with some bean sprouts.

According to rumors, the emperor's food influenced the people in the streets, and the dishes on the tables of the people in Chang'an became more and more sumptuous.

The noodles at Sifangguan are much simpler.

Noodles were placed in wooden and pottery bowls for the envoys from various countries to take themselves. The envoys had different tastes.

Ashina She'er had a strong taste for cold noodles. He squeezed into the crowd with a bowl in hand, then picked up another bowl of noodles and poured all the cold noodles into his own bowl. While others ate one bowl, he needed to eat three bowls.

After pouring vinegar into his big bowl, he would also sprinkle some sesame seeds and chopped mutton.

Under the astonished gazes of envoys from various countries, She'er began to eat happily.

A servant who was serving noodles to the envoys said, "This man must have starved to death on the grassland. Look how thin he is."

Some people also said: "In Chang'an City, he will become fat sooner or later. Let's see how he can ride a horse in the future."

Seeing that A Luoben was about to eat noodles with his hands, the owner of Sifang Restaurant shouted, "If you dare to eat with your hands, get out now and never come to Sifang Restaurant again."

Aroben put down the noodles in his hand, muttered something about the Tang people's unfriendliness, and picked up a pair of chopsticks like everyone else.

This Persian monk didn't know how to use chopsticks, so it was difficult for him to eat.

Murong Shun, who was of equal status to Ashina She'er in Sifang Hall, handed him a wooden fork and said, "You can use this first."

Aroben took the wooden fork and ate the noodles in the bowl. The cold noodles mixed with scallion oil were so delicious that he closed his eyes. He said loudly, "This kind of food should also be available in Persia."

Murong Shun sneered and said, "Then we need to teach the Persians how to use chopsticks."

As autumn approaches, Taiye Lake becomes a little cooler in the early morning.

Xiao Sizi, wearing a Taoist robe, was practicing boxing with Li Chunfeng by the lake.

The boxing is very slow, it's not about how fast or how heavy the punches are.

From the beginning of this summer to now, Xiao Sizi has not spent a long time studying with Taoist Master Li.

Her movements were still a little clumsy, and her limbs were not very coordinated. She made a kicking motion in her Taoist robe...

"Ouch!" With a childish scream, he fell to the ground.

Then she quickly got up again, brushed off the dust on her body, and continued practicing her boxing and kicking.

Li Chengqian was eating a piece of cake and observing carefully. Taoist Li's boxing was quite simple and there didn't seem to be anything special about it.

Li Shimin came to his son with an imperial edict in his hand and handed it to him.

While eating the cake, Li Chengqian took the decree and asked, "What decree?"

Li Shimin whispered, "Wei Zheng is coming back, you and Fu Ji go to greet him."

Li Chengqian finished the cake in his hand and said, "Are you anxious?" Hearing his son's question, Li Shimin's face turned pale and he did not answer.

Li Chengqian took a look at the edict, which contained various words about Zheng Gong's pacification of the chaos in Longyou, as well as words of appreciation for his hard work and great contributions.

"I will go right away."

After Cheng Qian walked away, Li Shimin's expression became better. He looked at his little daughter who was practicing boxing with satisfaction. Without his son around, he even felt that the scenery by the Taiye Lake was more beautiful.

Before noon, Li Chengqian, his uncle Changsun Wuji, Yu Zhining, and General Li Ji and their troops came to greet them.

On the official road near Jingyang, not knowing when Duke Zheng would arrive, Li Chengqian took a fishing rod and fished in the Wei River downstream.

Zhangsun Wuji and Li Ji stood on both sides of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Li Chengqian sat by the river, waiting for the fish to bite the hook while looking at the files of Sifang Pavilion. Written on them were the words of the Persian monk in recent days. From these words, it can be seen that this Persian monk is an extremely prejudiced person.

His prejudice is not only due to his identity as a cannibal, but also because of his stereotypes about people.

And when he was in Sifang Pavilion, he still said things like the Tang people were unfriendly.

A scout came to report, saying, "Your Highness, we have spotted soldiers and horses three miles away, and we have seen Duke Zheng's carriage."

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhining straightened his clothes and official hat.

Li Ji, who was originally in low spirits, was now facing the west of the official road with a serious expression.

Li Chengqian put the file in his hand back into his carriage, walked to the front of the team with his hands in his pockets, looked at his uncle beside him, and asked, "What are the things outside the body that Buddhists talk about?"

Chang Sun Wuji stroked his beard and asked, "Why do you ask this question, Your Highness?"

"There was a Persian monk who kept saying that the Tang people were unfriendly."

"so what?"

Li Chengqian said distressedly: "I am a little angry and want to chop off his head to see if he will not be stingy about treating his own head as a possession."

Changsun Wuji frowned and said nothing.

The group of officers and soldiers in the distance were getting closer and closer, until they stopped quite close.

Wei Zheng stepped out of the carriage and bowed, saying, "This old minister greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Duke of Zhao."

Changsun Wuji bowed in return.

Li Chengqian also bowed and said, "Thank you, Lord Zheng, for taking such a long journey these days."

"This is what an old minister should do. I am here to share your majesty's worries. I am also here to calm people's hearts and serve the country."

Wei Zheng's temples are already grey, and his beard has mostly turned white. He is now fifty-six years old, almost sixty.

As he spoke, Wei Zheng took out a basket from his carriage and handed it over, saying, "This is some spinach that I picked on the road. I wanted to present this to Your Majesty in person."

Li Chengqian took the basket and said with a smile, "I will pass it to Father on your behalf."

Wei Zheng nodded slightly.

"Did Lord Zheng have a smooth trip to Longyou?"

Wei Zheng stroked his beard and looked at the Wei River, and said with emotion: "After all, only by killing some people can we calm people's hearts. They dare not care about Liu Rengui's matter anymore. Your Highness the Crown Prince can rest assured."

Li Chengqian stood aside, also looking at the Wei River and said: "Duke Zheng killed well. If possible, for the sake of justice and the peace of the country, Duke Zheng could have killed more people. Over the years, I have always felt that the Censorate is not strong enough. In the future, when you see something illegal, you should bite the bullet and not let it go."

"What do you mean, Your Highness?" Wei Zheng asked.

Changsun Wuji listened to the conversation between the prince and Duke Zheng in silence.

Li Chengqian put his hands behind his back, looking a little depressed, and said, "Since Liu Rengui took office in Xianyang County, I have actually read some of the reports from Longyou."

"It's right that Liu Rengui killed Yu Ning. He deserved it, but afterward, Lord Zheng needs to go there to intimidate the wealthy families in Longyou."

"So Xu Jingzong spread rumors in Guanzhong that he was a cruel official. When I heard this, I was even a little relieved."

, Wei Zheng said solemnly: "Your Highness the Crown Prince hopes to kill all the evil people in the world. I, an old minister, wish to bring peace to the world. It is hard to find a good friend in this world. Unfortunately, I am already old."

Li Chengqian said: "In fact, our ideals are the same."

The prince's conversation with Duke Zheng was very bold.

It was even so bold that Yu Zhining and Li Ji didn't dare to listen.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was talking about murder, and Duke Zheng was clapping and cheering.

Changsun Wuji thought to himself, what kind of people are these?

Can you really trust such an uncle of the Crown Prince?
They had lunch by the Wei River, and then Li Chengqian watched Duke Zheng get on the carriage and said, "Duke Zheng, now that Longyou has been pacified, what about the future?"

Wei Zheng sat in the carriage, stroking his beard, and said, "If you can't do something right once, then keep doing it."

Li Chengqian saluted the carriage and bid farewell to Duke Zheng.

Wei Zheng's carriage headed all the way towards Chang'an City.

The prince's words expressed what Wei Zheng was thinking. Changsun Wuji looked at the team returning to Chang'an City and remained silent for a long time.

The prince does not have many hobbies, and fishing is one of his obsessions.

If we really want to know why the prince said these words, it is probably because his ambitions are too ambitious.

Li Chengqian sat down by the Weishui River again and said, "Uncle, would you like to go fishing with me?"

Changsun Wuji thought that there was nothing happening in the court recently, so he might as well sit down.

"I'm sorry for what I said just now, uncle."

Zhang Sun Wuji said: "The prince is strict with himself, and Duke Zheng has long praised your highness."

"is it?"

"Your Highness may not know that when Lord Zheng discovered that many of Your Highness's ideas coincided with his own, he began to praise the Crown Prince of the East Palace."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "That's great."

Zhang Sun Wuji added: "Mr. Zheng also likes the Red Mansion very much."

As the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, he couldn't just go around making friends with a copy of Dream of the Red Chamber. Besides, Dream of the Red Chamber had long been nominally banned book among the common people and the officialdom.

They are unwilling to see the Dream of the Red Chamber, nor do they want more people to see it.

But this does not prevent "Dream of Red Mansions" from becoming a popular story.

It is still widely circulated among the people.

Li Chengqian caught a fish and threw it into the fish basket beside him. Then he took off his shoes and socks, rolled up his trouser legs, tied the hem of his shirt to his belt, walked into the water barefoot, and felt the coolness of his feet soaking in the river.

See the prince's actions and current appearance.

Yu Zhining took a deep breath and was about to speak, but he kept his mouth shut and swallowed his words back, turned his head to look elsewhere, and even walked away.

(End of this chapter)