The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 294: Legend of the Tiger
If it were any other matter, Chu Suiliang would definitely not bother to get involved, but once it involved Xu Jingzong, he would intervene no matter what.

"I will think about it carefully."

After saying this, Li Chengqian sent Chu Suiliang away.

After everyone left, Li Chengqian looked at his father's recent calligraphy works. The eunuchs stood aside and dared not say a word, allowing the prince to flip through them.

There will always be conflicts in development and construction. Xu Jingzong is a smart man. He knows very well that if he doesn't speed up construction now, it will become more difficult in the future. So from now on... the Secretariat slowly begins to intervene.

Now that they have encountered resistance, the future can be imagined. Jingzhao Prefecture will no longer delay, and many projects will be launched immediately in the spring of next year. Xu Jingzong will not care what those people in the court think. As long as the result is good, the credit will also be his.

As everyone knows, Xu Jingzong was an official under the Eastern Palace and was one of the first people to follow the Eastern Palace.

But so what? Even so, Xu Jingzong would not dominate alone.

Now his opponents are led by his uncle, who also includes Chu Suiliang, Liu Li, Sun Fujia and others.

What is unexpected is that factional disputes have arisen in the court so quickly.

Like Xu Jingzong, there are also Shangguan Yi, Di Zhixun, and Yan Qinli, who can barely be considered as followers of the Eastern Palace.

Although my uncle has many students and old friends, there is still one person in the court who opposes my uncle, and that is Lord Zheng.

There will always be difficulties in production and construction.

Li Chengqian found a copy of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, which looked like an authentic work. He just looked at it for a moment and then put it back.

When the prince left Ganlu Palace, several eunuchs breathed a sigh of relief.

Half a month after the emperor went to Mount Li for winter hunting, long-distance running began in the counties of Guanzhong. Many villagers of appropriate age gathered behind a starting line, both men and women. It was a race for the whole nation.

Because this time the top ten people will be able to get one stone of grain, five pieces of cotton and linen cloth, and ten bars of soap.

In this cold winter, people gathered in Weinan County.

Xu Jingzong stood in front of the crowd with high spirits. No matter how much the court objected, he had to carry out the orders of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, even if he, Old Xu, would lose his head.

With the sound of a gong, the huge crowd began to jog. This was a long-distance race, running from Weinan through Weibei, around Jingyang and back to Weinan.

There were officials from Jingzhao Prefecture watching along the way.

Watching everyone start running, Xu Jingzong said to Shangguan Yi: "Look, this is the hope for Guanzhong."

Shangguan Yi said with emotion: "There was no response before. They will come out of their homes to race only after Jingzhao Prefecture agrees to give them more benefits."

Xu Jingzong smiled and said, "This is exactly the simplicity and honesty of the people in Guanzhong. Their folk customs are simple and honest."

After the race started, the distance between the teams at the front and back widened. There were fewer and fewer people running in the front, a large group in the middle, and a few scattered at the back.

A major running competition is being held outside Chang'an.

In the palace, the East Palace is at the most critical moment, and Dongyang is personally delivering Su Wan.

Li Chengqian held Ning'er's hand and said, "Don't be afraid."

Ning'er also looked down at her pregnant belly and nodded again, but held the prince's hand tightly.

The queen mother was also in the bedroom, taking care of Su Wan.

Several younger sisters were also waiting anxiously outside the East Palace gate.

Su Wan's scream was heard again in the hall, and everyone's nerves were tense.

In fact, Dongyang didn’t want someone to accompany the Crown Princess, but he was afraid of unnecessary interference during the delivery process.

Half an hour later, the sound of a baby crying was finally heard in the hall.

The palace maid hurried over to report, "Congratulations to the Queen on the birth of her grandson, and congratulations to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Dongyang walked out a little embarrassedly. She washed her hands and gave her brothers and sisters a reassuring look.

Qinghe and Runan looked at the Imperial Sister Dongyang with admiration.

After all these years, they had no idea that Princess Dongyang had become such a powerful person.

In fact, Dongyang had witnessed many deaths and lives, as well as even more shocking wounds. Since he had been taking care of the Crown Princess since the end of last year, this delivery went much more smoothly.

Li Chengqian walked into the bedroom and watched his mother pick up the child.

Looking at this still tiny son, he smiled and said, "I have a child now."

Su Wan was lying on the couch, her pale face full of smiles.

Holding the child in his arms, Li Chengqian came to the edge of the cave and said, "From now on, my husband and I will be the child's parents."

Su Wan responded, "Yeah."

Palace maids kept coming in and out of the bedroom, and they quickly cleaned the place up and opened the windows slightly for ventilation.

Empress Changsun walked to the front of Chongwen Hall.

In fact, Li Yuan had been looking outside the wall of the East Palace, towards the bedroom.

"Father, I have a great-grandson."

"Okay." Li Yuan stroked his beard and said, "Okay, okay..."

Empress Changsun helped Li Yuan sit down. When the child was about to be born, the old man was very worried, so he kept watching.

The first child of the Crown Prince was born, and Li Yuan said, "Am I getting older?"

Seeing that her father looked older than before, Empress Changsun smiled and said, "Father looks young, and he looks like this every year."

Li Yuan smiled and shook his head.

Empress Changsun ordered: "Take the time to inform His Majesty and my uncle."

"Here."

The palace maid left in a hurry.

Dongyang was still checking Su Wan's pulse. The Crown Princess had already fallen asleep. After a long while, he said, "Sister Su, you should take a rest. You need it the most right now. I'll go prepare some food to replenish your Qi and blood."

Li Lizhi held her newborn nephew and said, "This child is so cute."

Li Zhi said: "Sister, I want to hug him too."

As soon as he said this, he was glared at by his sister.

Li Zhi had no choice but to reach out and touch his nephew's face and little hands.

Ning Er held her waist, with a smile on her face, and whispered, "Your Highness, have you made up your mind?"

Li Chengqian looked at a blank piece of paper and wrote three words: Li Qingze.

Ning'er read: "Li Qingze? Qingze? Ze'er?"

"How about the companionship of the gentle breeze and bright moon, and the blessing of all living things?"

Li Chengqian added: "Isn't that too casual?"

"Your Highness is the father of the child, so any name is good."

The Eastern Palace was filled with joy. The Emperor Zhenguan had a grandson. The child opened his eyes on the second day, and on the third day, his eyes were even wider.

Dongyang shook the bell next to the child's ear, then stretched out his fingers and waved them in front of the child's eyes. When he saw his little hand reaching out to his fingers, he held them.

After confirming that the child's hearing and vision were fine, Dongyang smiled with relief and said, "Sister Su, don't rush to stay in bed these days, take your time."

Su Wan took the child and nodded with a smile, saying, "Fortunately, we have Dongyang." Dongyang said, "This child is still very strong and will definitely be a strong boy in the future."

Su Wan looked down at the baby in the cradle and said, "Ze'er?"

The child stretched out his hands in the cradle, but no one knew what he was trying to grab.

In the front hall of the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian poured tea for his uncle with sleepy eyes.

Gao Shilian said, "You seem to be in good spirits on weekdays. What's wrong? The Crown Prince of the East Palace also gets tired sometimes."

Hearing his uncle's joking tone, Li Chengqian took a sip of tea and said with all his strength, "My grandson held the child all night last night and slept with him in his arms."

Empress Changsun smiled and said, "Chengqian was delighted to see the child and took care of him personally all night."

Gao Shilian said: "Once you have a family, you are no longer just a floating duckweed."

"My grandson understands."

Hearing the hurried footsteps, Li Chengqian turned around and saw his father walking towards him quickly, taking off his cloak as he walked. His steps were so hurried that it seemed as if he had rushed here from Mount Li overnight.

Empress Changsun led His Majesty into the palace.

When he saw the child lying in the cradle, Li Shimin stroked his beard and smiled, "Good! I have a grandson."

Empress Changsun said, "Chengqian has already given the child a name."

Li Shimin held the child in his arms and said with a smile, "Pass on my decree. Officials of the fifth rank and above inside and outside the palace will be promoted to a higher rank. Chang'an will lift the curfew for five days to celebrate."

"Yes." Changsun Wuji, who was following behind, asked someone to convey the imperial decree.

Li Shimin looked at the child who was still struggling in his arms and said with a smile on his face: "This child is only a few days old, but he is already like this. He will definitely be a brave man in the future."

Ning'er and Lizhi supported Su Wan and came over, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Well, grant Wugong Su Tan, the title of Wugong County Zizhi, and then grant him the title of Governor of Qizhou."

Su Wan bowed and said, "Thank you, Father."

Empress Changsun hurried over to support her and said, "You just gave birth to a child, don't move around too much."

There were more and more relatives outside the Eastern Palace. As the emperor's father came to Chang'an, the news that the Eastern Palace had a grandson spread throughout the city of Chang'an.

Li Shimin looked at the child lying in the cradle and said, "I was hunting in Mount Li recently and saw a tiger walking in the forest. I ordered people to chase it but they couldn't find it. Duke Zheng said that this tiger was a mountain king. I hope I won't go hunting again to avoid killing it."

"But in the camp, I dreamed of the tiger again. When I woke up, I learned that my grandson was born. The tiger is the leader of mountain beasts, and the mountain king came to congratulate me."

Li Lizhi looked at the child with her hands behind her back and said, "When the child was born, a mountain king came to congratulate the emperor. Your daughter congratulates the emperor on the birth of his grandson."

A group of brothers and sisters congratulated him.

Li Shimin smiled again and said, "Great! Since the mountain king has congratulated me, I will grant you the name Xiao Yutu."

Yu Tu pointed at the tiger, and everyone just smiled as His Majesty was so frank about it.

Gao Shilian nodded and said, "Okay, okay."

The Eastern Palace is very busy these days, and my father and mother are almost living in the Eastern Palace.

The Eastern Palace hosted banquets for guests from all walks of life for several days in a row, and the emperor was generous enough to promote his ministers to higher positions.

There is a new legend in Chang'an. This legend is about the newly born grandson of the emperor. According to legend, when the grandson of the emperor was born, a tiger came to congratulate the current Khan.

When the emperor has a grandson, everyone in the court and the country will congratulate him.

This child is very special. He was born with legends and the power of a tiger.

The Tang Dynasty already has a Heavenly Khan, and the current crown prince is a wise and reputable heir apparent. The next generation of children in the Tang Dynasty will be born with such a legend.

The Tang Dynasty became increasingly stable.

The legend about the tiger was witnessed by Duke Zheng and others who accompanied His Majesty on hunting trips, and it is very credible among the people.

Look at the third generation of children in the Li family. There is the crown prince, Prince of Wei Li Tai, Prince of Wu Li Ke, the knowledgeable Princess Changle, and Princess Dongyang, who is an excellent doctor and is known as the direct disciple of the divine doctor Sun.

As soon as this grandson was born, people could foresee how prosperous the Tang Dynasty would be in the future.

These days Li Chengqian has been busy dealing with various guests and taking care of the children at night, so he has not had a good rest these days.

There were so many guests coming to congratulate them that the gate of the East Palace was filled with various gifts. The group of brothers and sisters were unable to clean them up completely.

At night, the East Palace finally quieted down.

Li Chengqian's face was almost frozen from smiling just from dealing with the guests.

Although his son's nickname, Yu Tu, was a bit offensive to his ancestors, no one would spoil his father's fun at this time. Besides, the Li family's ancestors would also be happy that the child encountered such a bizarre legend when he was born.

Li Chengqian returned to the quiet bedroom, planning to look after the child for a while before going to the front hall to rest.

Su Wan said: "Except for Sister Ning and the Queen Mother, no one is willing to hold this child."

He slept soundly in his mother's arms, watching her son breathe hard, his nostrils constricting with every breath.

The palace maids arranged by the Queen Mother were still standing on one side. They had to take care of Ning'er, who was pregnant, as well as the Crown Princess.

Li Chengqian said: "It doesn't matter whether Father expects him to be a great grandson or not, as long as he grows up safely."

Su Wan said: "Yes, it's good enough if he grows up safely."

When the child was one month old, Li Chengqian would go to the Sanqing Temple with his father to worship their ancestors.

Looking at the portrait of Daozu, Li Chengqian said, "Father, February is already halfway through, and the court is about to begin."

Li Shimin turned and looked outside the palace. The sun was shining brightly today. He added, "Although the people from the northern desert have retreated, they will most likely invade the southern desert again next year."

Li Chengqian said: "The battle in Tianshan has just ended. Please wait for another two years to send troops."

"Duke Zheng has told me about the Goguryeo issue again."

"What does Father think?"

The father and son sat in the Sanqing Hall, talking in low voices. The eunuchs and palace maids stood outside the hall. Princess Jinyang, wearing a Taoist robe, sat outside the door of the Sanqing Hall, piecing together a puzzle for His Majesty.

This time, His Majesty talked with the Prince for a long time, and when the father and son walked out of the hall, it was already noon.

The next day, the emperor issued an edict and opened the court three days later.

After the birth of the emperor's grandson in the Eastern Palace, the curfew in Chang'an was lifted, and there was no curfew for ten days to celebrate the Lantern Festival.

When the hustle and bustle ended, the years returned to peace.

Every morning, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace resumed his morning exercises. When the eastern sky just began to get a little bright, Li Ji, his uncle, Prime Minister Fang, and two imperial uncles all came to congratulate him.

Li Chengqian said: "There were many guests coming to the East Palace earlier, and I neglected the elders..."

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness. We are satisfied as long as we can drink a bowl of wine from the East Palace."

Li Chengqian bowed to the elders in front of him.

Several people planned to have breakfast and then go to Taiji Hall for the morning audience. Changsun Wuji said, "Many envoys have come this year. Envoys from Tubo, the Western Regions, Baekje, Silla, and Mengshezhao all want to study at Sifang Hall."

The King of Jiangxia took out a file and said, "This year, Emperor Xu Jingzong held a race, and 80% of the people finished the whole course. Each person who finished the whole course could get three dou of rice. The counties came to ask if they would hold a race again in the future."

After Li Zhi brought today's breakfast, Li Chengqian discussed state affairs with several elders.

(End of this chapter)