The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 296: Not Participating in the Dispute

In Ganlu Palace, the eunuch came hurriedly and reported: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Ji..."

Inside the hall, a eunuch came hurriedly, interrupting the conversation.

Li Shimin stroked his beard and asked, "How is Shen'er?"

The eunuch stammered, "His Royal Highness Prince Ji said he wanted to fill up the inkstone in the Xingqing Palace."

Li Lizhi said, "Just fill it out, it's okay."

"what……"

The eunuch hesitated, then lowered his head and faced His Majesty.

Li Shimin ordered: "Tell him to dig another one."

"Here."

The hall was quiet for a while, and Li Lizhi bowed and said, "My daughter will take her sister back first."

Li Shimin looked at the memorial in his hand and nodded.

The two princesses left Ganlu Palace, and Fang Xuanling whispered, "Even though Your Highness said so, Your Majesty must still be worried."

Li Shimin closed his eyes, rubbed his brows, and said in a tired tone: "The things I worried about before have finally happened. I don't know why, but I feel at ease."

Fang Xuanling smiled, stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has not openly opposed Duke Zhao recently."

"He is very patient. Isn't he afraid that Jingzhao Prefecture will really give up due to the opposition of the auxiliary machine?"

"Your Majesty, I think it is right for the Crown Prince not to get involved in the dispute. The Crown Prince is the heir to the throne. Even if Jingzhao Prefecture is under the Eastern Palace, if the Crown Prince gets involved in the court dispute and influences the court officials, it will not be a good thing for the heir to the throne. Fortunately, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince avoided it."

Li Shimin put down his hand that was rubbing his brow, closed his eyes and nodded, "I don't know what my uncle taught him back then, this child has become more thoughtful."

"Your Majesty, the crown prince needs loyal subjects. A crown prince like your Highness cannot favor Jingzhao Prefecture over these trivial matters. Your Highness knows the way of being a king. Protecting Jingzhao Prefecture is to protect one's shortcomings. You cannot protect the Duke of Zhao, because the Duke of Zhao is a relative by marriage. The crown prince knows the pros and cons of this."

Li Shimin snorted coldly: "This kid's methods are becoming more sophisticated."

Fang Xuanling smiled and nodded.

In the afternoon, the warm sunshine shines on the entire city of Chang'an.

After Li Chengqian came out of the Shaofu Supervisor, he held two pens in his hands. One of them was very special. The outer shell of the pen was made of a hollow wooden strip. As he held it in his hand and walked along, every time his fingers pressed the end of the pen, there would be a crisp sound.

With each press, the black core of the pen will come out.

This pen is the latest achievement of the current Shaofujian. The pen core is actually made of a kind of graphite, which is polished into a sharp shape and can be used for writing.

This pen is definitely expensive, and its construction and workmanship are both top-notch.

If it were just a pen, it might not be so valuable.

Li Chengqian was even more satisfied with the copper structure inside the pen, which was worth millions of dollars and was a major breakthrough in manufacturing technology.

The other one is a fountain pen with a very simple internal structure. To be precise, it is a copper fountain pen. The entire pen is cast in copper.

Both pens are as long as chopsticks. Although the workmanship is not as exquisite, it is still a major improvement.

Li Chengqian was in a good mood and walked straight out of Chengtian Gate from the palace.

Li Ji asked in confusion: "Your Highness, are you going out for fun today?"

"Let's go out for a walk."

Seeing that the general was still hesitant, Li Chengqian said, "There are so many accumulated problems in the court. Even if I go to the Secretariat now, I can only listen to them quarreling."

Li Ji was puzzled and asked, "Is the Secretariat quarreling again?"

"probably."

When they left the city gate, Li Ji said, "After the morning court session today, Duke Zhao said that the Crown Prince hadn't visited Duke Xu for a long time."

Li Chengqian sighed, "You can't go there too often. If you go too often, he'll get annoyed."

Li Ji laughed dryly and understood a little.

Soon after the carriage left Chang'an City, Yan Qinli and Xu Jingzong caught up.

"Your Highness, I heard about the debate in Taiji Hall today."

"What do you think?"

Xu Jingzong said: "Guo Siqing sent a letter, saying that he hopes Guanzhong will be prepared to receive cotton, and when the army returns, they will also bring cotton."

Yan Qinli worriedly asked, "But what if the Zhongshu Province comes to make things difficult again?"

"So what? If they dare to demolish it, I will just bring the militia to fight them. Anyone who dares to stop Guanzhong from getting rich will be my biggest enemy."

Li Chengqian said again: "Old Xu."

"The minister is here."

“Violence can solve most problems, but it cannot solve all problems.”

Xu Jingzong rode his horse aside and said, "I'm sorry to make you laugh, Your Highness. I'm not good at reasoning with others."

Li Chengqian said distressedly: "I have always thought that you are a very smart person."

"I will follow your orders and will not be negligent in the slightest."

"Think more before you do things, don't just do violence all day long."

Xu Jingzong's expression was stern and he said, "I understand. Your Highness, don't worry. Before the Grain Rain season, textile workshops in all counties and regions will be built."

Shangguan Yi stayed in Xianyang County for half a year and determined the feasibility of cotton and linen textile production.

This year, the roads in Guanzhong must be paved first so that production can begin as soon as the cotton arrives.

It's nothing, it's just that it has been proven time and time again over the years that the profits from production and manufacturing are several times that of farming and planting, and the land in Weibei is different from that in Weinan.

Weibei and Jingyang are very suitable for the construction of workshops.

Li Chengqian exhorted: "The Guanzhong industry needs someone to protect it, what do you think, Old Xu?"

"I accept your order."

After exhorting Xu Jingzong for a few words, Li Chengqian and General Li Ji went on a tour of the counties and returned to the palace at dusk.

These days, the first two days after the court opened, everyone in the court was very busy.

Seeing Su Wan holding a basin of milk and about to pour it out, Li Chengqian said, "What a waste!"

Hearing this, Su Wan blushed and felt a little embarrassed. Others might not understand, but didn’t her husband understand?
Li Chengqian took the basin and said, "I'll use it to soak my feet."

Su Wan and Ning'er's faces flushed at the same time, feeling ashamed. They quickly closed the doors and windows of the bedroom to prevent others from seeing the Crown Prince soaking his feet in breast milk.

The two-month-old son was at the age when he was most likely to cry. When Su Wan saw the child crying again, she hurried to comfort him.

These two days, Li Chengqian attended the morning court every day as usual and returned to the East Palace after the court.

Later, Li Chengqian learned from Li Zhi that Xu Jingzong did not find anyone to support the workshop in Guanzhong, nor did he try to curry favor with anyone, nor did he seek any shelter.

Xu Jingzong did something very shameless. He used the words that Duke Zheng had said in the court as slogans and wrote them on the walls of each workshop.

Order the villagers in all counties to watch and read it at all times and keep it in mind.

Seeing his brother standing up and walking out of the East Palace, Li Zhi followed behind and asked, "Is your brother going to the Secretariat?"

"Well, the three provinces and six ministries are about to be in chaos. How can I not go?"

"Child slaves help my brother."

Letting his brother follow him, Li Chengqian walked out of Chengtian Gate and came to the gate of Zhongshu Province, where he heard Chu Suiliang's angry curses.

"Xu Jingzong is such a shameless villain!" He said to several civil servants around him as he walked. Li Zhi stood behind his brother and looked at Chu Suiliang who was leaving in a hurry.

"It seems that Minister Chu is very dissatisfied with Xu Shaoyin's behavior."

Hearing this, Li Zhi looked back and saw a smiling middle-aged official wearing a blue official robe, who looked like he held a high position.

Li Chengqian glanced sideways and pulled Li Zhi aside, preventing his brother from getting close to this person.

Seeing this, Du Zhenglun said, "I have no ill will towards His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian pulled his brother behind him and said to Du Zhenglun, "Minister Du, next time you come to see me, can you come from the front?"

Du Zhenglun handed over a letter and said, "This is a letter from Bohai."

Li Chengqian took the letter and opened it immediately.

Du Zhenglun added: "Local nobles have mentioned the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace several times."

Li Chengqian finished reading the letter and handed it back to him, saying, "It's okay. Just leave this matter to your father. You don't need to tell me in the future."

Du Zhenglun nodded, took the letter and left.

Seeing that his brother was also wary of Minister Du, Li Zhi asked curiously, "Who is this person?"

Li Chengqian said, "I am gathering information for my father."

Li Zhi understood and nodded.

Arriving at the gate of the Secretariat, Li Chengqian first took his brother to sit on the steps in front of the gate and listen to the debate inside.

In the Secretariat, Cen Wenben asked, "The Ministry of War reported that the weapons for the army this year have not yet been completed?"

Everyone's eyes turned to the Minister of Works Yan Liben.

"It's because Minister Yu didn't give the Ministry of Works money. How can we build it without money?"

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice Di Zhixun asked, "Is there no money in the court this year?"

Shangguan Yi sat aside and listened. After serving as a censor in the Censorate, he could also come here to listen to court affairs and start by learning how to take notes.

At the beginning of this year, many important matters in the court were piled up, and the three provinces and six ministries all came to ask for money.

Yu Zhining was so busy that his head was overwhelmed. He said angrily: "The Ministry of War didn't give me the account book. How can I pay the money?"

Cen Wenben sat in the middle, looking as still as a mountain, and everyone's eyes turned to the Ministry of War.

Duan Zan, the Minister of War, said, "This matter has been handed over to the Secretary General, why hasn't it been delivered yet?"

The Secretary General Su Tan slammed the table and said, "What does it have to do with the Secretary General? The roster and account books of your Ministry of War are not the Secretary General's."

Li Baiyao, the Minister of Rites, slapped the table and said, "Stop arguing. When will our Ministry of Rites provide us with the manpower to entertain the envoys from various countries?"

Liu Li, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, said, "Why do you think I am doing this? When did the Ministry of Personnel intervene in the affairs of the Ministry of Rites?"

Li Baiyao slammed the table and stood up, saying, "It's not that your Ministry of Personnel is holding back on manpower, so how can we, the Ministry of Rites, supervise the envoys from various countries?"

Liu Li said: "If Yu Zhining doesn't pay, how can our Ministry of Personnel give you the person?"

Yu Zhining said: "How can I give you money without a budget or account books?"

The people in the Secretariat were arguing like this, and more and more people were talking. Zhang Xingcheng slammed the table and shouted, "Stop it! If you keep arguing like this, nothing will be done."

Duan Zan pointed at the man and said, "Yu Zhining, what on earth do you mean?"

Yan Liben from the Ministry of Industry stroked his beard with one hand and said, "Brother Duan, even if you ask like this, I'm not sure you'll give me the money."

Li Zhi looked inside the Secretariat and tugged at his brother's sleeve, "Brother?"

Li Chengqian said: "Don't worry, wait a little longer."

Not knowing what his brother was waiting for, Li Zhi had no choice but to sit quietly.

After another half a minute, Fang Xiang and his uncle arrived.

Li Chengqian stood up to greet him and said, "Teacher, uncle."

Fang Xuanling said: "Your Highness is finally here."

"I have been neglectful lately."

"It's good that Your Highness does not participate in the court disputes and can avoid them calmly." Fang Xuanling smiled with relief.

"Teacher, you are too kind." Li Chengqian said again: "Uncle."

Changsun Wuji nodded slightly, said nothing, and walked straight into the Secretariat.

At this moment, in the Secretariat, when Prime Minister Fang, Duke Zhao, and the Crown Prince arrived, they all stopped talking and bowed.

Li Chengqian came to his seat and said to Zhining, "Give me the files of each department."

"Here." Yu Zhining handed over the file.

The prince started his work for the day. The things that had been debated before were arranged in an orderly manner under Li Chengqian's instructions.

Li Zhi sat aside and helped his brother organize the papers.

The pen in Li Chengqian's hand was a new fountain pen made by the Shaofujian. He wrote very quickly. After writing the long and thin characters on the paper, he asked someone to send a copy down.

Chang Sun Wuji looked at it carefully and asked, "This?"

"I asked the Shaofu Supervisor to make it. It's tiring to use a brush normally. This kind of brush is more comfortable to use, but it doesn't have very good ink. I have to take it apart and clean it frequently, otherwise it will get clogged."

Chang Sun Wuji took another look and said, "After all, words written without a brush have more connotations."

"Uncle is right. It's just a temporary solution."

As night fell, a few people were left in the Secretariat to work the night shift, and Li Chengqian led Li Zhi away.

"Royal brother, Zhinu's palace is about to be built."

"Well, you can't play around too much when you live in the palace."

"The treatment will not interfere with your studies."

This kid speaks very frankly, and I don't know how much delay it will cause in the end if what he says is not delayed.

After spring came to Guanzhong, workshops sprang up one after another in various counties.

In May, Ning'er gave birth to a daughter. As soon as the daughter was born, Li Lizhi accepted her as a disciple and said that she would personally teach her niece in the future.

Because His Majesty saw a magpie on this day, he named the newborn granddaughter Lingque.

The Eastern Palace gave birth to grandson and granddaughter for the emperor, and Empress Changsun was taking care of them personally.

Outside the East Palace, Li Yuan, Li Shimin, and Li Chengqian, grandfather and grandson, were sitting at a table playing cards.

Li Yuan narrowed his eyes and looked at the cards in his hand. After confirming that he had lost, he said helplessly: "I haven't played this game for a long time. I am not good at it anymore."

Li Shimin also put down the cards in his hand, because the little money he had saved recently was won by his son, and he lost interest.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Just think of it as money given to the child by grandpa and father."

Li Shimin knew that once the money was in this kid's hands, it would be harder than climbing to the sky to get him to give it back, so he didn't say much.

Li Yuan said with emotion: "You and your son are very capable, much more capable than I am."

Li Shimin drank his tea and said, "There are some things that this kid didn't handle well enough."

"Father, do you think that I should reprimand Xu Jingzong and Chu Suiliang respectively, and then give them a sweet treat?"

Li Yuan smiled consolingly, showing a row of incomplete teeth and said: "What a sweet date."

(End of this chapter)