The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 316 Human Loneliness
"General, this is Xuanzang."

Niu Jinda had no interest in this monk and turned his head away without even looking at him.

Li Zhen said: "The prince has ordered that you be escorted to Shazhou and await further arrangements."

"Shazhou?" Feng Dexia asked curiously, "Aren't they escorting him to Chang'an?"

"This is the prince's arrangement."

"Yes." Feng Dexia took Xuanzang away again.

Xuanzang was coming back, but he was coming back as a prisoner who had escaped secretly.

Just on this day, a conference was held in Kucha after the war, and many monks participated in this conference.

The white man was debating with the Persian monk Alopen, but the two were arguing fiercely.

In front of everyone, Bai Fang took out a dagger and stabbed it into Aroben's chest.

The blood stained his monk's robe red and splashed on his face.

Such extreme behavior of the Bai Fang caused the Western monks in the temple to shout and curse. These monks included old monks, fat monks, thin monks, and even young monks.

Aroben fell in a pool of blood and never got up again. Bai Fang dropped the dagger in his hand. Facing the shouts and scolds from the crowd, he slowly opened his blue eyes.

He took off his monk robe and said, "The world is ignorant and foolish. Buddha cannot save the world. From now on, I have nothing to do with you. I will no longer be a disciple of Buddha!"

After saying this, he left behind a monk's robe and quickly walked out of the temple.

The Book of Han says that the distance between Qiuci and Chang'an is 7,480 li, so it is a long way from Qiuci to Chang'an.

Nowadays, everyone in the Western Regions wants to go to Chang'an, and many people want to see the most beautiful city in the world.

Acharier Temple is a very ancient temple. It is rumored that this temple existed during the Han Dynasty.

The Persian monk Alopen was trained by the Tang people in the Sifang Pavilion, and he also helped the Tang people sell soap and tea.

Since the White side killed Aroben, the Tang army would naturally question it.

Afterwards, Bai Fang was also imprisoned in Shazhou together with Xuanzang.

Inside the dim cell, which is made of loess walls, sunlight shines into Xuanzang's cell every day, but it is different for Bai Fang, who lives in the cell opposite. His cell never gets any sunlight all day long.

Xuanzang sat in the sun and said, "You killed someone."

Bai Fang said: "Xuanzang, we haven't seen each other for a long time."

"Well, ten years ago, when you were a child."

Bai Fang is now a young man in his twenties. He whispered, "Before, I felt that nothing in the world was important except Buddha and me."

"Ah."

Xuanzang responded.

Bai Fang continued, "But now I am different. I feel that the people in the world are very important, and their suffering is also very important. I don't want to be a disciple of Buddha anymore. I want to be a complete person again."

"Ah."

Xuanzang responded again.

Bai Fang asked, "Xuanzang, am I doing the right thing?"

This time Xuanzang did not answer.

Bai Fang continued, "You gave me my Dharma name. I am afraid I am the most unsuccessful one among your disciples, but..."

He looked at Xuanzang who was sitting cross-legged in the sun, and said, "But people should be brave. I want to be a brave person, not one of those who hide in the temple and refuse to see the sun and the moon. Their appearance is not what I want to pursue. Chongwenguan said that people should first be like human beings."

"I really want to treat myself as a real person and treat people in the world as real people."

There were footsteps at the end of the corridor in the middle of the cell, and a Tang official said lazily: "Bai Fang, for murder, you will be sentenced to five years of hard labor and go to repair the city."

The cell door was opened and Bai Fang walked out of the cell. Facing Xuanzang who was still sitting in the sun, he just glanced at him again.

Before leaving, Bai Fang said to him, "For many years, I have never been so eager to become one of them. Xuanzang, have you ever wavered?"

Leaving these words behind, Bai Fang walked out of the cell with his head held high, ready to do five years of hard labor.

In the Anxi Protectorate, Pei Xingjian has been very distressed recently. He looked through the documents he had received. The Pamir Mountains are a very difficult place to pacify, and it is impossible to send anyone to Suiye City.

"It seems that in order to build Suiye City, we need to govern the Western Regions for decades."

Liang Jianfang asked: "If Aroben dies, the criminal will be sentenced to five years of hard labor?"

Murong Shun, who was sitting nearby, said, "A Luo Ben dared to embezzle the proceeds of the trade, so he deserves to die."

Liang Jianfang said: "I didn't expect him to become a thief."

Murong Shun added: "The King of Gaochang could rebel against the Khan of Heaven, and Yanqi, who had always been subservient to the Tang Dynasty, could turn against him overnight and serve Yu Gushe. There are too many people in this world who choose to betray, and many people do this repeatedly. If the Tang people want to rule the Western Regions, they must have harsh punishments."

"Besides, my loyalty to the Tang Dynasty is incomparable to those people. Protector Pei, General Liang can trust me."

Pei Xingjian, who was serving in the Anxi Protectorate in the Western Regions, was getting more and more irritable. He said impatiently, "If he's dead, then he's dead. What's there to say? There are so many people from the Western Regions who are working hard for the Tang Dynasty. They don't need someone like Aroben. I will write a memorial to inform the court."

Murong Shun smiled and nodded.

Pei Xingjian continued: "Brother Murong, you are a merchant of Jingzhao Prefecture. Bai Fang's matter..."

Murong Shun said: "Don't worry, Protector Pei, I only run trade."

"very good."

Liang Jianfang asked, "How should we deal with Xuanzang?"

Pei Xingjian put down the file in his hand and said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has ordered that I be detained in Shazhou, awaiting my fate, but he did not say how long I will be detained."

Liang Jianfang chewed some dried meat and said, "Pei Duhu will make the arrangements. I will go and see how the troops are doing."

Murong Shun said: "Let's go down and check the goods."

After both of them left, Pei Xingjian sat alone in the Protectorate General's Mansion, still having to deal with official business.

Rolls of documents were taken out from the Anxi Protectorate and sent all the way to Chang'an.

In Chang'an City, the cold wind from the northwest continued to blow into Chang'an City. This year's winter was long and cold.

In the Xingqing Hall of the Imperial Palace, little Yutu and little Lingque were playing together. The two children looked at their father who was sitting at the top, handling memorials.

He looked at some puzzle pieces on the bookshelf and wanted to pick them up, but he couldn't reach them.

But this was not a big problem for the resourceful Xiao Yutu.

He picked up a bamboo stick and poked the puzzle upwards, causing it to fall over and pieces of it to scatter all over the floor.

The little magpie grinned happily, shook off the puzzle pieces on its body, and happily stepped on them with its brother.

Since the birth of little Yu Tu, he has shown terrifying destructive power and resourcefulness, hmm.

If he stayed in a palace for an hour, the situation inside the palace would become very complicated.

The eunuchs looked at the two little ancestors and hoped in their hearts that His Majesty would not kill them when he returned, or that His Majesty could come back later. For eunuchs like them, the longer they could live, the better.

Li Chengqian finished dealing with today's government affairs, took a sip of tea, and looked at his son and daughter.

After asking the eunuch to take away the memorial on the table, Li Chengqian placed the two children in the stroller and ordered, "Put this place away."

Hearing this, the two eunuchs nodded sternly.

Li Chengqian pushed the baby carriage and returned to the East Palace. In fact, all other matters in the court had been arranged. The current government affairs were all prepared for the next year. When the court opened next year, the court would be able to arrange things and there would be no need to hold another court meeting.

Pushing the two children in the stroller back to the warm East Palace, Li Chengqian picked up the kettle, poured a bowl of tea, and took a sip.

Su Wan learned about the children and how they had broken their father's favorite puzzle. She held her forehead and said, "Why do these two children always use their father's things to cause trouble?"

Ning Er said, "It's because Your Highness spoils them too much."

Su Wan frowned as she watched the two children fall asleep in the crib. She sat beside them with a doting look in her eyes, but she still said, "You shouldn't spoil them."

"Your Highness is a very patient person. Just like he would not persist in governing Guanzhong for several years, the same goes for teaching children. He will teach them slowly in the future."

Hearing this, Su Wan chuckled and whispered, "I heard that my father sent a letter asking my mother to keep an eye on the grandson in the East Palace. He was afraid that the Crown Prince would teach a child with special skills."

Ning'er also smiled softly. There was a reason why her father said this in his letter. After all, the children who grew up in the East Palace had experienced such lessons.

Your Highness’s younger brothers and sisters are already such a headache. I’m afraid that the current headaches are not enough and I’m worried that Your Highness will teach them to be even more troublesome.

As the year drew to a close, the court finally had a day off and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

In the morning, Li Chengqian walked in the imperial city, looking at the closed official residences and the tightly closed Suzaku Gate, and then walked back to the palace alone.

During the Chinese New Year every year, the palace is actually very lively, with relatives from all over coming to visit.

This year, my father has not returned from his trip yet, so the palace has become much quieter.

Many important matters in the court are in his hands, and the Western Region is also undergoing earth-shaking changes. The efforts of one person may not be able to change the environment.

When a group of people work together long enough, the environment can be changed.

People in the future will form their thinking concepts based on the current environment. This is the key to the transformation of the Western Regions.

This has been discussed with the teacher. Governance after military conquest is a long-term project.

This governance strategy may take three to five years at the shortest, or more than ten years at the longest to see results.

Li Chengqian came to the Taiye Lake and said, "Grandpa, there is nothing to do in the court today."

Li Yuan closed his eyes and lay on his side and said, "Okay, nothing's wrong."

The fishing line was put into the lake. Li Chengqian sat on the chair and a deer came over.

"grandfather?"

"Ah."

"My grandson thinks that people are lonely after all, or that loneliness is the norm for people. Since it cannot be avoided, we can only enjoy the process of loneliness, which accompanies a person's childhood, youth and even old age."

There was a pause. Psychologically, Li Chengqian felt that he was already middle-aged, or perhaps mentally, he was an old man.

Li Yuan smacked his lips and said lazily, "Do you have to speak so charmingly?"

Li Chenggan cleared his throat and frowned as he looked at his fishing line.

When the prince looked unhappy while fishing, the eunuchs beside him would become very nervous, so nervous that they dared not breathe loudly.

Yes, the prince even felt that their breathing was noisy.

As there was no sign of fish taking the bait, Li Chengqian put down his fishing rod, grabbed two walnuts from the side, peeled them and put the walnut kernels into his mouth.

Xiao Sizi, Su Wan, Ning'er and two children came together.

"Brother, this is Xuanzang's letter."

Li Chengqian waved his hand, showing no interest in watching.

Little Sizi put the letter aside, pressed it with a tea bowl, and ran quickly to play with his sisters.

Li Yuan stretched out his hand and scratched his chin, and there was a friction sound between his fingers and his beard. He closed his eyes and asked, "Didn't you imprison Xuanzang in Shazhou? How could he still write to me?"

Li Chengqian chewed a walnut kernel and said, "Prisoners can write letters as long as the local government allows it."

"What? Xuanzang bribed Pei Duhu?"

"Hard to say."

Li Chengqian was still chewing walnuts.

"Hmm..." Li Yuan hesitated for a moment and said, "Protector Pei is not a member of your East Palace sect."

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and put his feet on the railing of the waterside pavilion, "Grandpa, why do you say that?"

"I feel that the people in your East Palace will never be easily bribed."

"Hehe... Why do you think so?"

"Your father tried."

Li Chengqian paused in chewing the walnut kernel, then continued to peel the walnut and put the kernel into his mouth.

There were hurried footsteps coming from behind. Li Yuan did not look behind him. He closed his eyes and said, "Zhi Nu and Qing Que are here."

Just by listening to the footsteps, grandpa can tell which child is passing by.

My grandfather’s eyesight isn’t very good now, but his hearing is still very good. He can clearly hear what the children’s footsteps sound like.

Li Tai and Li Zhi walked into the waterside pavilion and bowed, saying, "Grandfather, my brother."

"Ah."

Li Yuan responded weakly, "Sit down."

Li Zhi didn't sit down either. He saw Xiao Sizi riding a deer, so he ran over.

Li Tai took out a scroll and said, "Brother, this is the map for repairing the Luoyang River."

Li Chengqian took the map and opened it to look at it.

Li Yuan asked, "What's going on? Luoyang is flooded again."

Li Tai replied: "It is better to take precautions before it happens."

"How much money will this cost?"

"Grandpa, don't worry about the money. This time Luoyang paid for the repairs, and the money was raised by various merchants."

"Haha..." Li Yuan said with a smile: "You kids are even more cunning than the merchants."

Li Chengqian was looking at the blueprint. The Literature Museum had a good grasp of the drawing of topographic maps, and could continue to specialize in surveying and mapping in the future.

Li Lizhi shouted: "It's time for dinner!"

The whole family then gathered towards the gate of the villa.

There were more and more people in the house, and the big table was filled with dishes. Li Zhi turned the table with a sense of accomplishment and said, "It's time to turn it now!"

Li Shen said: "It would be better if my brother could use this knowledge in a more needed way."

Li Zhi was unconvinced and said, "Humph! I will make something better."

Li Lizhi said, "You two should stop fighting when you are out there. Fighting is fine, but you still need to ask Uncle Hejian for help. It's really shameful."

The elder sister's words easily dampened the enthusiasm of her two younger brothers.

The little Sizi on the side was grinning and making fun of his two brothers.

It’s fine to bully Zhang Jianzhi on weekdays, but now they are bullying Cheng Yaojin’s second son. Is the Cheng family easy to bully?
(End of this chapter)