The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 182 Courage and Vigor

Li Chengqian looked at the teacher who was still sitting in the hall. The teacher was sitting upright, looking down at the tea bowl in his hand in silence, as if counting the amount of tea leaves in the bowl.

Seeing the Master's wife walking towards the backyard, Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the pressure around him was gone. He quickly stepped forward and said, "I have heard of the Master's wife's reputation."

Fang Xuanling sighed and looked depressed.

In fact, my father's original intention was good. We were close brothers who had come through the turbulent times. He was just saying that between brothers, he hoped that his friend would not be afraid of his wife, muster up the courage to go to Pingkangfang, and then say some words to shock his wife.

When subjective thoughts are too strong, we will forget the objective facts.

The idea is good, but it should be considered from the objective facts.

Li Chengqian cleared his throat and said, "Teacher, Jingzhao Prefecture has spent a lot of money recently. We will wait until winter comes and a few big deals are arranged before recording all the city taxes together."

Fang Xuanling whispered, "Your Highness, please make your own arrangements."

"Ow..."

Li Chengqian also felt that it was indeed inappropriate to say these words in the current atmosphere.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Mrs. Fang walked to the front yard again, and seemed ready to go to the banquet.

Then he said, "Teacher, let's go to the palace for the banquet first."

Fang Xuanling nodded slowly, took the coat handed to him by his wife and put it on.

During this time, the Master's wife always had a smile on her face.

The teacher lowered his head, looking somewhat depressed.

The Master's wife said very gently, "Don't be so depressed in front of the Crown Prince."

Fang Xuanling sighed, "I am worried... about state affairs."

Li Chengqian walked in front with Fang Yizhi, his hands in his pockets, and asked in a low voice as they walked, "Brother Fang, is the teacher okay?"

Fang Yizhi said: "It's okay."

Li Chengqian nodded secretly, led his teacher and his family through Suzaku Street, and entered Suzaku Gate.

At this moment, many lanterns were lit in the imperial city. Many noble dukes and officials of the current dynasty walked towards Chengtian Gate to enter the palace, and they also brought their families with them.

As the prince walked in the imperial city, he naturally attracted a lot of people's attention.

Many women in the family looked at the prince.

I only heard that the prince would often inspect the counties, but he seldom showed up in public, especially in front of other people's families.

This meant that for the women in many families, it was considered a great honor to be able to see the crown prince once a year.

His Royal Highness is tall, with broad shoulders, and walks with a straight posture. He is not thin, just like Your Majesty when he was young.

Compared to your majesty when he was young, the prince seems to be a little more gentle.

This is the eldest son of Empress Changsun. The prince’s bright eyes are exactly the same as those of the empress.

If there are women in the family who have unmarried girls, they will take a second look at them.

The customs of the Tang people at that time were open and tough. Even when the prince looked back, these women did not shy away and bowed to him.

The teacher and his wife walked in silence all the way and did not walk very fast.

They were almost at Chengtian Gate when Li Chengqian stopped and, when he saw his uncle, he let his teacher and his family enter the palace first.

Under Chengtian Gate, nobles from various families walked in one after another under the guidance of palace servants.

Zhang Sun Wuji came alone and asked first, "Have you met Madam Fang?"

Li Chengqian said with emotion: "I have seen it."

"Madam Fang is a heroine. Not to mention the generals in the court, even His Majesty would be afraid of her." Changsun Wuji recalled the past and laughed, "That's all in the past."

"Did the Emperor really ask the teacher to go to Pingkangfang?"

"Yes, it was indeed His Majesty's order. How could a good man be bullied by a woman? Just with these words, Prime Minister Fang was sent to Pingkangfang."

Zhang Sun Wuji continued, "But what is the truth? Just as I expected, Prime Minister Fang was taken home by Madam Fang and severely reprimanded. This matter has also reached the ears of Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian listened quietly and slowed down his pace.

"His Majesty was very angry when he heard the news. He probably has other plans for today's banquet."

It's not wrong to speak up for your brothers, but we still can't ignore the objective conditions.

There were a lot of lights outside the Xingqing Hall.

God was very kind and the rain stopped temporarily.

Li Chengqian walked with his uncle, smiling at the generals and nobles along the way, but the smiles of a few young men were very forced.

"Your Highness, do you know why His Majesty wants to hold a banquet?"

Li Chengqian asked: "Is it to celebrate the good harvest in Guanzhong?"

Zhang Sun Wuji shook his head and explained calmly, "First, it is indeed for the good harvest in Guanzhong. Second, Feng Ang has returned to Chang'an. Third, it is not just Feng Ang. There are also a group of generals who have returned to Chang'an. They are all from the Zhechongfu in various places. Among them are Qiu Xinggong, Chai Shao and his son, Guo Xiaoke and others."

Li Chengqian was thinking about the Zhechoufu set up in various places in the Central Plains, and most of the generals who returned this time were veterans.

These people may have held military power for many years, or they may be very old.

Tonight's banquet is like a handover of military power. They want to return the military power to the Zhechoufu in various places.

After thinking about it, he walked into the Xingqing Hall. There were many people sitting here, and there were even tables set up outside the hall.

Palace maids and eunuchs were walking around inside and outside the palace making arrangements.

Li Chengqian looked around and saw many unfamiliar faces.

Zhang Sun Wuji led the prince to a man and explained, "This is the general of the Zhenjun Army, General Chai, Duke of Qiao."

Realizing that the person his uncle introduced was Chai Shao, Li Chengqian bowed and said, "Meet uncle."

Chai Shao, who originally looked haggard, became excited when he heard this. He trembled as he saluted, and stroked the table with one hand weakly, saying, "I am not worthy of being called uncle by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Chai Shao, who was already seriously ill in his middle age, coughed twice again. With tears in his eyes, he said, "I am ashamed..."

"Okay." Li Chengqian supported him and said, "Uncle, please sit down."

Everyone around looked over, their eyes falling between Chai Shao and the prince.

The prince's aunt was Princess Pingyang Zhao. Princess Pingyang and Chai Shao were also young couples, but Princess Pingyang passed away early.

In the 13th year of Daye, Chai Shao and his wife followed Li Yuan in raising an army.

During the Wude period, he followed the King of Qin to pacify the battle of Qianshuiyuan, defeated Song Jingang, attacked Wang Shichong, and captured Dou Jiande alive together with the King of Qin.

In the sixth year of Wude, Hezhou was pacified and Tuyuhun was conquered. In the seventh year of Wude, Duyang Valley was attacked and the Guanzhong Pass was guarded.

In the third year of Zhenguan, Chai Shao followed Li Jing to attack the Turks, and together with Li Ji, Li Daozon, and Xue Wanche, they attacked Jie Li.

Chai Shao looked up at the young man in front of him. With a trembling and choked voice, he said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has grown so tall."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Yes, my nephew has grown up."

Chai Shao nodded and said, "Okay, you've grown up."

Changsun Wuji stood aside in silence.

Ever since Princess Pingyang passed away, this matter became a knot in Chai Shao's heart, and he never took a second wife.

He has been depressed all these years. After his wife passed away, he felt so guilty towards the Li family that he didn't know how to face His Majesty and the Emperor.

When the prince called him uncle again, he burst into tears.

The Li family still recognized him, still recognized him... Looking at the prince in front of him, Chai Shao held the prince's wrist with his hand, which was so thin that only skin and bones were left.

Li Chengqian could even feel the other person's hands shaking uncontrollably, "Uncle, please sit down for a moment."

Noticing his own gaffe, Chai Shao withdrew his hand and sat back down.

Li Chengqian met the legendary Feng Ang again, who looked even older than he had expected.

Feng Ang said with a smile: "I have heard of the prince's reputation on the way back to Guanzhong."

"Really? What kind of reputation did the general hear about?"

"This...hahaha!" Feng Ang laughed awkwardly but with dignity, and said loudly: "Those who dare to gossip about the prince should be slapped in the mouth. This is unreasonable."

Li Chengqian added: "Thank you, General, for coming all the way back to Chang'an."

Feng Ang laughed heartily and said, "Your Highness, please do not say that."

Seeing that most people in Xingqing Hall had taken their seats, Li Chengqian returned to his seat, while Li Tai and Li Ke sat beside him.

The three brothers looked at the fruit in front of them.

Li Ke picked up a peach and ate it, saying, "Isn't your brother going to eat it?"

Li Tai ate a pear and said, "The fruits in Lingnan are really good."

Li Chengqian sat with his hands in his pockets. There were many unfamiliar faces among the generals here. He noticed that there was a man sitting alone and no one was talking to him. He asked, "Who is that?"

Li Ke followed his brother's gaze and explained, "He is Qiu Xinggong. He has a bad reputation in the army and no one wants to associate with him."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

Soon, the Emperor and the Empress arrived, and all the civil and military officials stood up to pay their respects.

Li Shimin picked up the wine bottle and said, "I toast to you all."

The ministers shouted: "Great Tang will win!"

After drinking the wine, everyone settled down again. Then the generals from various guards came to Chang'an to report the military situation in various places.

When it was Chai Shao's turn, Li Shimin specifically asked him to sit down and report.

Chai Shao's health has been getting worse over the years, and all the generals have noticed it.

Li Chengqian sat quietly in his seat, listening to the discussions of people around him. This time, Chai Shao would most likely stay in Chang'an City to recuperate.

After the palace maids finished their dance in the hall, everyone talked about some interesting things that happened in the past.

Li Ke whispered, "Brother, why don't you hold a banquet on weekdays?"

Li Chengqian replied in a low voice: "I am not good at hosting banquets."

Just as he finished speaking, Li Tai, who was eating plums, suddenly coughed, as if he was choked by the plums.

At the banquet, Feng Ang talked about what happened in Pingkangfang this morning in a very short-sighted manner. Everyone laughed and looked at Mrs. Fang.

This morning, Mrs. Fang did not give her husband face in front of all the generals and arrested someone in Pingkangfang.

On the contrary, Mrs. Fang sat upright with her eyes closed, ignoring the gazes and discussions, looking calm.

Fang Xuanling raised his glass to everyone and expressed his apologies for spoiling their fun with what happened this morning.

Li Chengqian was thinking about his father who was not self-reflective in family affairs, and was often glared back by his mother, and then behaved himself.

Suddenly, a voice arose at the table.

Mrs. Fang said, "I heard that it was His Majesty's order that Xuanling go to Pingkangfang."

Hearing this, Li Chengqian glanced sideways at his mother who was present, and his mother's expression became a little colder.

Facing Mrs. Fang's questioning, Li Shimin asked, "Since you knew it was my intention, why did you obstruct it?"

Fang Xuanling quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "I have been to Pingkangfang, but I did not have time to return home. I did not disobey the order or obstruct it."

Hearing that Prime Minister Fang was still speaking for his wife, the generals in the hall laughed again.

Li Shimin added: "Xuanling and I have a close relationship as brothers, and I cannot bear to see him suffer any injustice."

Madam Fang said calmly, "Your Majesty is playing around a bit after all. Xuanling has always been a self-disciplined person. Is it your Majesty's way of being a king to let a self-disciplined and polite minister go to such a place?"

Hearing that Madam Fang dared to ask the emperor such a question, the generals looked stern and showed more respect for her.

In fact, everyone present could see that this had nothing to do with the relationship between the monarch and his subjects, but was only about friendship.

The king and his subjects lived in harmony, indulged and shielded each other, and got into trouble together. Isn't this a beautiful story about the harmony between a king and his subjects?
Fang Xuanling looked daunted and didn't know how to respond.

Empress Changsun also asked, "Your Majesty, why haven't I heard of this?"

Madam Fang added: "I also ask the Queen to do justice for Xuanling."

Li Shimin was a little embarrassed. He first glanced at the empress beside him, then looked at Madam Fang and said, "I have a glass of wine here! Madam Fang, may I ask if you dare to drink it?"

The hall was very quiet, not a sound could be heard. Was this wine or deadly poison?
A palace maid slowly came over carrying a wine jar.

Li Chengqian looked at his father with suspicion.

Unexpectedly, before anyone in the hall could say anything, Madam Fang stood up, walked quickly to the palace maid beside her, picked up the wine jug, and drank it all in front of everyone.

Everyone present gasped.

Madam Fang turned the wine bottle upside down and said loudly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the wine!"

Everyone looked at each other in silence.

Li Shimin said in a loud voice: "Good! Madam Fang is a heroine, with great spirit and courage. From now on, I will not say anything more about Xuanling's family affairs."

Then the emperor looked at everyone and said, "Please stop joking about Xuanling's family affairs, or I will never forgive you."

Everyone looked at each other and raised their glasses.

A good man admires a good man, a hero admires a hero, let alone a heroine.

The farce in the hall was settled again, and everyone was happy.

Fang Xuanling stroked his beard and said nothing.

The heroic Tang people, the heroic teacher's family, and Mrs. Fang are not only domineering at home.

Everyone just laughed it off, and while they admired him, they no longer discussed the matter.

"What the emperor gave to Madam Fang was actually a bowl of vinegar."

Hearing Li Tai's words.

Li Ke asked doubtfully, "Really?"

Li Tai raised his chin, pointed to the small pot beside his father and said, "The palace maid tasted it beforehand."

Li Ke realized it later and said, "It turns out that Father was testing Madam Fang's courage from the beginning to the end."

Li Chengqian was peeling an orange, thinking that only Li Ke realized it later.

As the night deepened, the nobles outside the palace left in twos and threes.

Li Tai went back first.

Li Chengqian patted Li Ke on the shoulder and said, "I will go back first. I have to attend court tomorrow morning."

Li Ke hurriedly took a few oranges and left, then left Xingqing Hall.

When he walked outside the palace, Li Chengqian saw Fang Yizhi again, "The banquet will probably take another half an hour to end."

(End of this chapter)