The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 268 The Crown Prince's Wedding (Thanks to Ji Xiachuyi for the reward)
When they heard that it was about choosing a princess, Li Tai and Li Ke looked a little nervous.

Li Chengqian said: "Don't worry, just accept it calmly."

Li Ke drank the tea in the tea bowl in one gulp and said, "We brothers and sisters all listen to our royal brother."

Li Tai remained silent. He picked up the tea bowl in his hand and put it down again with some hesitation.

"Let's not talk about this today. I don't want to go to the court these days. Once I leave the East Palace, I have to face the congratulations of the ministers. It's very annoying."

Li Ke smiled and said, "If it were Ke, I would also be annoyed."

Li Tai whispered, "But my brother's wife has been decided, and the royal family is relieved. They will have fewer speculations about the East Palace in the future."

Li Chengqian refilled tea for his two younger brothers.

Li Tai and Li Ke both picked up their bowls and continued to drink tea.

"How are you doing lately? Tell me. I haven't seen any reports from the court in these days."

Li Tai replied: "After the winter, the construction of the silt dams was stopped. After the flood season, three of the five silt dams were damaged. They will have to be reinforced next year and will resume in the spring. After the winter in Guanzhong, the rivers are full of ice debris, making it difficult for people to go into the water."

Although the construction of the silt dam was bumpy, it was also due to the lack of previous experience. Even with the help of the Ministry of Works, there were still many problems.

"The silt land beside the silt dam has produced some results. Can we plant some crops next year?"

Li Chengqian nodded.

Li Tai asked again: "When did Guo Luotuo come back?"

"I don't know. It may be next year, or it may be three to five years before it comes back."

Speaking of Guo Luotuo who is now staying in the Western Regions, Li Chengqian really doesn't know when he will come back. His purpose of going to the Western Regions is to plant cotton on a large scale in the Western Regions and to dig karez on a large scale and build more oases in the deserts of the Western Regions.

This was a huge undertaking. He wanted to use the karez to create more oases in the Western Regions, have many underground ditches in the Western Regions, and even plant trees in the Western Regions.

We can't call him back and let Guo Luotuo's career come to an abrupt end at its starting stage.

I looked at Li Ke again and listened to him talk about his travels to various counties these days.

The teachers who taught in remote counties did not have a good life. Some of them could only live in straw huts, which they built themselves.

These people are working very hard to carry out the teaching cause. Some of them have given up and are planning to take part in the imperial examination next year.

This can be seen from Chu Suiliang's accounts, where the monthly allowance paid out was much less.

After all, there are some people who persevered.

We can't expect everyone to endure injustice, there will always be some who are eliminated.

Li Chengqian said: "Next year, we will ask them to improve some rules and try our best to resolve the conflicts between the teachers and the counties."

Li Ke handed over a list and said, "Brother, this is the list of several counties and towns that are making things difficult for the teachers who are teaching in the villages and counties."

Li Chengqian opened the roster and looked at it with a frown.

"Ke followed the instructions of the Emperor and went around the counties. Ke, Liu Rengui, and Quan Wanji settled the conflicts that could be resolved. However, there were always some stubborn people who obstructed and even incited the villagers."

"Are Liu Rengui and Quan Wanji safe?"

"My brother, when we went to various counties, they mainly used persuasion. If they really didn't listen to our persuasion, we could only give up. Now Liu Rengui has returned to Xianyang County, and Quan Wanji is in Ke's house."

Li Chengqian put down the list, handed it back to Li Ke, and ordered: "Let Xu Jingzong do it."

"Here."

Seeing Li Ke's frustrated expression, Li Chengqian asked, "Do you think you didn't do well?"

Li Ke nodded slightly, "I underestimated these things. I thought it would be easy."

"Do your best."

"I understand my brother's intention. Some issues between counties and towns would be best resolved in a gentle manner. However, once this list is sent to Jingzhao Prefecture and falls into the hands of Emperor Xu Jingzong, I am afraid that many county officials will be replaced or punished."

"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, my brother." Li Ke lowered his head and said, "I still haven't done what my brother asked me to do."

"It's okay. If you want to continue to travel around the counties, you can still do so. This matter has nothing to do with the court's arrangements, nor is it the will of the emperor. It all depends on you."

Li Tai also remained silent, squinting his eyes at Li Ke, waiting for his reply.

As if he had made a very important decision, Li Ke thought for a long time and replied: "Brother, I am willing to continue doing this."

Li Chengqian looked at him and asked, "Why, don't you want to go and clear Tianshan?"

"Of course I want to go to war, but since I traveled to various counties, this is the year I have learned the most and understood the most. I have learned a lot and understood the lives and troubles of the people in the counties. I hope my royal brother will give me another chance and let me travel for a few more years."

Snowflakes fell in front of the three brothers. It was very quiet in front of the Chongwen Hall, and occasionally they could hear their grandfather's snoring in his sleep.

Li Chengqian let out a long breath in the cold air.

Li Ke said again: "If the border needs it, I will do my best to help. Even if I am alone, I am willing to put on my armor and kill the enemy."

Li Chengqian patted him on the shoulder and said, "There will be more wars in the Tang Dynasty, and there will be no shortage of opportunities for you to make military achievements. We are still young and there are many opportunities. Since you still want to continue to travel around the counties, next year, in addition to Guanzhong, you can also go to Luoyang."

"After the imperial examination next year, Chongwen Hall will still recruit teachers. This time the scale will be even larger. The court has prepared tens of thousands of strings of money, not only to the counties, but also to Tubo and Anxi Protectorate, to build Chongwen Hall."

It seems that my brother is determined to expand Chongwenguan to the end.

Thinking of his brother's ambitions and plots, Li Tai looked stern.

After sending his two younger brothers away, Li Chengqian covered his grandfather with bedding and tightened the edges and corners to prevent air from leaking.

Xiaofu quickly put away the tea bowls on the table, wiped the table clean, placed the teapot in the middle of the table, and stacked the tea bowls neatly.

Li Ke has indeed changed a lot this year, but he still doesn't think enough.

Li Tai's work was going smoothly.

What Li Chengqian didn't tell his two younger brothers was that his father had actually made arrangements for their princesses. He made the decision after looking at the portraits of many women in the Wude Hall.

Li Taihui married the daughter of Yan Lide, who was then the Minister of Works and concurrently the Supervisor of the Imperial Household.

Li Ke would marry a woman from the Hongnong Yang family.

But it’s too early to tell them all this now, and their wedding won’t take place right away. They’ll have to wait a few more years until they’re twenty years old.

As the winter solstice approaches, snow falls one after another in Guanzhong.

There are still many things to arrange before the wedding, and various ceremonies need to be held according to the regulations of the Ministry of Rites and the Zongzheng Temple.

Today, Li Chengqian will offer sacrifices to the Taoist ancestor in the Sanqing Temple and inform his ancestor that his grandson, who is many generations away, is about to get married.

There was a vast expanse of snow outside the Sanqing Palace. After Li Chengqian performed the formalities, he knelt aside and listened to the admonitions of his father and mother, which were mostly about how he should live with his wife in the future.

The prince's wedding is a grand event, and all matters must be arranged properly. When the ceremony in Sanqing Hall was over, his father and mother left, leaving Li Chengqian to continue kneeling and sitting, feeling hungry.

Li Lizhi and Dongyang walked in from outside the hall just in time with food boxes, and they hurried into the warm hall.

Dongyang brought out bowls of dishes and said, "My Royal Brother, please have your meal."

Seeing her brother eating again, Li Lizhi said, "My sister went to see Sister Ning'er again. She and Sister Su are going to perform various rituals. The etiquette is very good. Don't worry, brother."

Li Chengqian glanced at the old ancestor's portrait and said, "When the accounts from the court are delivered, you can put them in my bedroom."

"My sister has arranged everything."

It was not until nightfall that Li Chengqian walked out of the Sanqing Palace. He had been so busy preparing for the wedding these days that he had even missed his usual morning exercises. Not only had he been delayed in state affairs, but he had also put a lot of things on hold in the Secretariat.

Walking in the snowy night with his hands in his pockets, Li Chengqian lamented the tediousness of the etiquette.

The wind and snow continued for another day and night. On the day of the winter solstice, when the sun came out, the snow-covered Chang'an city was reflected in the sunlight by the snow on the roofs.

Today is the Crown Prince's wedding. In the morning, Chang'an City is already bustling with officials walking around in various streets, announcing the news of the Crown Prince's wedding today.

The city of Chang'an, which had been quiet for more than a month, suddenly became bustling.

People were running around the streets, spreading the news.

Jingzhao Prefecture started preparations early this morning.

Not only did the people of Chang'an come to congratulate in front of the Suzaku Gate, but even villagers from various counties came to Chang'an City to congratulate the Crown Prince.

This was a grand wedding, the scale of which mobilized the entire city of Chang'an.

Xu Jingzong and Shangguan Yi walked together and they arrived in front of the Suzaku Gate. His Majesty was holding a grand banquet for all the ministers today, and all officials of the fifth rank and above were invited.

When I walked to the Suzaku Gate, I saw red papers all over the ground. These red papers covered the road in front of the Suzaku Gate.

There were many people coming and going on Zhuque Street, holding red papers and going to congratulate the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.

Xu Jingzong smiled and said, "A month ago, your majesty's decree was issued, and Du He brought more than ten carts of paper to Jingzhao Prefecture, dyed it red, and anyone could come and get the red paper to give to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to congratulate him. In order to congratulate the Crown Prince, Du He didn't even make any money."

Shangguan Yi picked up a piece of red paper on the ground, looked at the unfamiliar handwriting on it and said, "The Crown Prince is in charge of the agricultural affairs in Guanzhong. Not only in Chang'an City, but also in all the counties in Guanzhong, they all spontaneously congratulated the Crown Prince of the East Palace, which shows how much the people care about him."

Not only the villagers, but also many old men in the army. The front of Suzaku Gate was full of people, and crowds were flocking to Suzaku Gate, because the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace would be here to welcome the newly married concubine into the imperial city.

Changsun Wuji and Li Weigong walked into Chengtian Gate together, and Fang Xuanling and a group of court officials followed in.

A luxuriously decorated golden carriage passed by Su Tan's residence. Surrounded by a group of palace maids and princes and princesses, the Crown Princess was invited into the golden carriage. Then the carriage went to Duke Xu's residence and sent Ning'er into the golden carriage as well.

Along with the wedding gifts, which were sent into the imperial city, were cartloads of them, the luxury of which was jaw-dropping.

The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace caused a sensation in Chang'an City and affected all the counties in Guanzhong.

In the crowd, Liu Rengui tiptoed in the crowd and looked up to see the golden carriage slowly driving from Zhuque Street to Zhuque Gate, as well as the gold and silver placed on the carriages behind it.

He whispered, "The prince's wedding is so extravagant. We must not encourage this trend."

Li Ke said: "My brother is right, you are indeed a very disappointing person."

Liu Rengui whispered, "We should be more frugal."

Behind the Suzaku Gate, a man in red was walking towards the door.

There was an innate majesty in the man's eyes.

This is a man with broad shoulders and a body as straight as a pine tree. From the seventh year of Zhenguan till now, this Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace has long lost his childishness, even though there is still a kind of temperament that says "keep away from strangers" in his eyes.

But in the eyes of everyone, the most honorable prince of the Tang Dynasty should be such a person, and no strangers should be allowed to enter.

When Li Chengqian stood completely in front of the crowd, cheers came from the crowd.

The eunuch shouted loudly, "Please welcome the Crown Princess!"

The golden carriage continued to move towards the Suzaku Gate. When it got closer, Li Chengqian took the reins of the carriage, led the golden carriage, and walked into the imperial city.

Li Zhi and Li Shen were standing on tiptoe, looking down at the city wall, but their height was not even as tall as the wall.

"Brother Royal has gone in!"

Li Shen carried a basket of copper coins with great effort and poured it towards the gate of Suzaku.

Li Zhi also picked up a basket of copper coins and scattered them at the Vermillion Bird Gate.

Inside the imperial city, Li Chengqian held the reins of the horse in one hand as three horses pulled the golden carriage past a group of civil and military officials as well as all the nobles.

Announce to the world that the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace has started a family.

After entering Chengtian Gate, Li Lizhi and Dongyang helped Sister Ning'er and Su get out of the car respectively and followed their brother.

The front of the Taiji Hall was filled with people, all of whom were officials of the fifth rank and above in the court.

Li Chengqian walked along the central axis of the square in front of the Taiji Hall all the way to the Taiji Hall, with officials from the Tang Dynasty on both sides.

Among them, even officials of the fifth rank were absent, of course, and some did not leave Chang'an but took up posts elsewhere.

Li Chengqian glanced at the unfamiliar faces and remembered the familiar people.

Some people may be in poor health, so there are many fewer people in the line of censors, most of whom were unable to come because they were beaten by Xu Jingzong due to their previous plan to teach in rural areas.

Also, Du Zhenglun, who was sitting next to Zhang Xingcheng and was in the position of Palace Censor, was not there either.

Today's Tai Chi Hall is exceptionally majestic and clean, as if it had been renovated.

The square in front of the Taiji Hall was very quiet. Looking from a high place, a man in a red robe was leading two women. They were also wearing red clothes and golden hair crowns on their heads.

Behind them, there were two women in ruqun, they were Princess Changle and Princess Dongyang, who walked among the civil and military officials in the court.

When the wind blew, the robe and long hair fluttered together.

Li Chengqian walked into the Taiji Hall. All present here were relatives of each family, important officials of the court, and his father's brothers and sisters.

"Grandpa, Father, and Mother." Li Chengqian bowed and saluted.

The two concubines also followed suit and were called out in turn.

Following a loud shout from the ceremonial officer, Li Chengqian led the concubines in kneeling and bowing.

Empress Changsun watched this scene with a smile, and after watching for a while longer, she felt that they and Cheng Qian were a natural couple.

After the kneeling ceremony, the ministers stood up and shouted, "Congratulations to your Majesty, congratulations to your Highness the Crown Prince!"

(End of this chapter)