The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 38 The Father Who Wants to Centralize Power

Hearing this, Changsun Wuji hesitated to speak and could only drink a sip of tea.

Li Chengqian said: "Uncle, I hope you will take good care of me in the future."

"Yes." Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness."

Although the atmosphere here was weird, Li Chengqian still put on the smile that a junior should have. His uncle was a straightforward man, but Changsun Wuji was a very complicated person.

My uncle's expression now is like a melon being forced.

Gao Shilian once again became oblivious to the world around him. He looked at the Qujiang Pond in the distance and hummed an unknown tune.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "What has uncle been busy with lately?"

Chang Sun Wuji whispered, "Imperial Examination."

"Yeah……"

After replying, Changsun Wuji stopped talking again. This uncle really is very frugal with words.

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and looked towards Qujiang Pond. He could see Li Zhi trying to go down to Qujiang Pond to catch fish, but was being caught by Li Shenzheng. He said in a childish voice, "Brother! Calm down!"

Naughty kids are still naughty kids after all, and this has nothing to do with the discipline they received in the East Palace.

Even if you teach them knowledge that is many years ahead of this era, it will never change their character.

Li Chengqian whispered again: "Uncle?"

Zhang Sun Wuji still had a stern face and said, "Your Highness, please speak."

The conversation between the three men was like that of spies. The Duke of Zhao was still somewhat reluctant. He answered every question asked by the Crown Prince.

Li Chengqian stood up and sat next to his uncle. This way, his uncle, his uncle, and his eldest grandson were closer and it was easier for them to talk. He whispered, "When will the imperial examination be held?"

Changsun Wuji stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty has not yet made up his mind."

Li Chengqian clicked his tongue and said, "Is there an approximate date?"

Being at the core of the imperial court, Changsun Wuji knew things that the prince did not know. He even knew about the rewards given to the soldiers who went on the Western Expedition to Tuyuhun, but he never told anyone about these things.

Only a few important ministers in the court and His Majesty know about it.

Changsun Wuji was also one of the few most important ministers in the court.

He first glanced at his uncle Gao Shilian's expression and replied in a low voice, "Next spring."

"I hope my uncle will not misunderstand me. I just want to arrange more geography-related talents for Qingque's Geography. He is still young and needs more help."

Despite saying this, Changsun Wuji still did not give the exact date of the imperial examination.

Li Chengqian did not drink tea, but picked up the cake beside him and ate it while saying, "Even if uncle did not say it, I can understand it, because there are obstacles to the implementation of the imperial examination. After all, there are some people who do not like to see the center of a dynasty become too strong, not to mention that the emperor of this empire is at odds with most of the noble families."

Changsun Wuji remained silent, staring straight ahead without saying anything. Instead, he picked up the tea bowl in front of him, took a sip, and remained silent.

There was no one else around, only my uncle and my uncle, and my uncle's loyal old servant who were guarding outside.

The conversation here will not be heard by outsiders. As long as the uncles don’t tell each other, even the emperor won’t know.

Gao Shilian whispered, "Okay, it's time for the others to come."

Li Chengqian said, "Uncle, uncle, I will leave first."

Having said this, Changsun Wuji looked at the prince in confusion as he left.

On the balcony, the two were silent for a long time.

"Uncle, how do you want me to help him?"

Gao Shilian watched the crown prince walk down the stairs and was immediately surrounded by a group of princesses and princes. He saw his eldest grandson's hand hidden behind his back and took out a basin of grapes.

The children's laughter and chatter, as they scrambled for the grapes, blended together with Li Chengqian's scolding, was very pleasant to hear.

The white-haired Gao Shilian smiled with relief. He didn't know when his eldest grandson had taken away a basin of grapes while he was talking.

Gao Shilian said: "I am getting older and I like these children more and more."

Seeing that his uncle was talking about other things, Changsun Wuji was so worried that he didn't know where to start, and he just kept drinking tea.

"My uncle has helped Donggong time and time again."

Gao Shilian looked at his eldest grandson beside the Qujiang Pond and said with a kind smile: "He is a good boy. He wants to be the emperor."

As soon as he finished speaking, Changsun Wuji, who had just drunk the tea, coughed twice. The water choked on his throat, making his face look bitter.

Chang Sun Wuji put the bowl down and said with a painful look, "Can I help with something like this?"

Gao Shilian said: "You are helping my eldest grandson, which is the most legitimate reason. If you help others, you will be the target of public criticism no matter what the result is."

He stretched out his old hand, patted Changsun Wuji on the shoulder, and said, "You have been with me since you were a child. Whether it's Guanyin or you, you are all children raised by me, and all your skills are taught by me."

"I know your thoughts best, and I know what kind of person you are. You are good at strategy but not decisive, and you are not resolute enough. This is your weakness. I can see it clearly. In fact, Cheng Qian is more courageous than you. Just in this respect, you, the Duke of Zhao, are not as good as this child."

Changsun Wuji picked up the tea bowl and drank the tea in silence.

Seeing Li Chengqian scolding the children, Gao Shilian grinned again and said, "The emperor is now from the Li family, and you are from the Changsun family after all. That child is the future of both families. I can't be wrong in judging people. Chengqian will make your Changsun family have a good end."

As he spoke, Li Chengqian looked up and waved towards the building.

Gao Shilian also waved his hand and smiled like a naughty boy.

Li Chengqian scolded Gao Yang because she went to play in the water wearing her boots, and her dress and boots were all dirty.

There were already groups of people walking into Qujiang Lake, and it was almost time to tour the garden.

Li Chengqian met another acquaintance, who was the Indian monk Bopo who had chanted sutras and prayed for blessings in the East Palace.

The old monk was walking towards him. Li Chengqian said, "Lizhi, take your brothers and sisters to the carriage first. We are going back now."

Li Lizhi also glanced at the Indian monk who was approaching, nodded, and left with her brothers and sisters.

The monk looked older than last winter and walked slowly with a cane.

"Your Highness, long time no see."

Li Chengqian stood by the Qujiang Pond with his hands in his pockets, frowning and saying, "Today is the seventh day of the seventh month, and I am taking my brothers and sisters out for a walk."

Popo whispered, "Your Highness looks better now."

Li Chengqian said: "I am still in the growth stage, any disease will heal quickly at this age."

"Well, the time when you are young is always the best."

"Xuanzang should be almost at Kucha in the Western Regions now."

"The houses in the Western Regions are all made of loess, and they are short and dim, unlike the houses of the Tang people, which have many windows."

Li Chengqian laughed and said, "A house like that must be very dirty and smell bad." "Yes, I would rather stay in Chang'an."

"It is a great blessing for you to be able to stay in Chang'an." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Will Xuanzang send someone to send you a letter?"

Popo stood beside the crown prince and shook his head, saying, "No, he has never sent any letter back."

"I have heard that this monk Xuanzang always claimed that he came from the Tang Dynasty in the East. He was born in the Tang Dynasty, so he has always been a Tang citizen. I don't know how he walked so far alone, and whether he can come back alive after suffering from hunger and cold. After all, he is a Tang citizen, and I am sometimes worried about him."

Popo continued, "Xuanzang is a person with great Buddhist nature. He will be respected by others in the Western Regions and there will be people who will follow him."

"You are wrong. Xuanzang is respected when he travels abroad because he is a Tang Chinese. The power of the Tang Dynasty will protect him. No matter how devout he is to you or to the Buddha, this is an unchangeable fact."

Popo simply sat down and said, "Your Highness has really changed a lot."

Li Chengqian frowned and asked, "Wasn't I like this before?"

Bo Po said slowly: "At that time, His Majesty asked me to pray for Your Highness, hoping that Your Highness would recover soon. When I walked into the East Palace, I saw that Your Highness was a gentle and kind person."

"I am still a kind person."

Popo looked up and observed the young man, and then said: "If Your Highness allows Xuanzang to be just a monk, then Your Highness is a kind person."

Sometimes Li Chengqian felt that the old monk knew something, for example, the "raccoon cat" replaced the prince, and Li Chengqian was no longer the same Li Chengqian.

How much does this old monk know?

Or did he discover something when I came into this world?

However, Sister Ning'er had always been in the Eastern Palace and she had never felt anything unusual, so Li Chengqian dispelled this doubt.

Li Chengqian said: "I also hope that you will be in good health."

Bopo chanted a Buddhist name and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your blessing."

"I hope that when Xuanzang returns from India, you are still alive. The day when Xuanzang brings back the scriptures you left behind in your hometown will be the day when Xuanzang achieves success and fame. You must live to see it. I will have those scriptures preserved as treasures."

Bo Po was surprised and said, "I have never told Your Highness that Xuanzang would bring back scriptures from his journey to the West."

Li Chengqian laughed, "Haha, just my guess."

After saying this, Li Chengqian left the old monk sitting where he was and walked along the bank of Qujiang Lake, going away.

Popo looked very confused. The prince had changed, but he was still the prince, and it seemed as if nothing had changed.

When he returned to the carriage, his younger brother and sister were already sitting inside, but Li Ji was still standing guard beside the carriage.

Ning Er whispered, "Your Highness is here."

These kids are always noisy, and after coming to Qujiang Lake today, I’m afraid their enthusiasm won’t fade so quickly.

The Dream of the Red Chamber has no ending yet and has always been an important topic of discussion among scholars. Some people even say that the Dream of the Red Chamber has no ending at all.

When everyone is wondering whether the Rongguo Mansion will be inherited by the eldest son or the second son, what will be the fate of the Rongguo Mansion and the Ningguo Mansion.

The story of the Dream of the Red Chamber came to an abrupt end, and no subsequent chapters were ever published.

When more and more people came to Qujiang Lake and men and women from all families came out to play, Li Chengqian had already returned to the Eastern Palace with his younger brothers and sisters.

This trip was quite rewarding.

My uncle specially arranged for Zhang Sun Wuji. It would be best if the Eastern Palace had the support of Zhang Sun Wuji.

This uncle's attitude was ambiguous. It was his uncle who asked him to stand on the side of the Eastern Palace, and he was somewhat reluctant.

Ning Er came with a roll of cloth and said, "Your Highness, Lu Dongzan has sent a letter."

Li Chengqian reached out and took the roll of silk, untied the hemp rope tied to it, and then peeled off the wax seal on it.

What he saw was a row of neatly written Chinese characters from the Central Plains. He smiled and said, "I didn't expect that the Prime Minister of Tubo could write such good Chinese characters from the Central Plains."

Considering that Lu Dongzan could still speak Guanzhong dialect, it is clear that this Tubo prime minister was a person with strong learning ability.

He strengthened himself and Tubo by learning the knowledge and governance experience of the Central Plains.

This letter talks about the war between the Tang Dynasty and Tuyuhun. In this war, Tubo had been watching the Tang people's fighting methods.

Li Chengqian was still worried about having such an opponent with strong learning ability and strength.

Ever since he showed goodwill to Lu Dongzan that day, this person feels that I, the crown prince, am approachable?

In other words, Lu Dongzan felt that the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty was a friendly person, and he was also proud to think that he could have a good conversation with the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty.

This is the second letter from the Tubo Prime Minister to the Eastern Palace.

Maybe there will be more in the future.

I thought that since I didn't reply to his letter last time, he wouldn't write to me again.

In the letter, Lu Dongzan first congratulated the Tang Dynasty on its great victory over Tuyuhun, and praised the brave generals of the Tang Dynasty.

Heroes are all proud. Judging from the way Tubo conquered the Yangtong tribe, they even used the method of marriage. Was this also learned from the Central Plains?
Lu Dongzan thought that the Tuyuhun king was a foolish man and that he would surely lose all his treasures and cattle and sheep.

Li Chengqian lost interest in Lu Dongzan's letter and put it aside, planning to continue looking for Altair in the starry sky.

Because of the hindsight-like arguments in his letter, it is very boring.

The younger brother and sister made a fuss for half the night before they fell asleep. Ning'er saw that the prince was still awake, so she started to prepare a midnight snack. She and Xiaofu sat not far away and prepared some noodles.

Cook some more dishes. Only if Your Highness eats well can he be healthy and keep diseases away from Your Highness.

Ning'er's cooking skills are getting better and better. A figure walked out of the hall. She smelled the scent and walked faster.

This midnight snack also woke Princess Changle up.

Li Chengqian was still looking at the stars. These stars had remained unchanged for thousands of years.

Compared with later generations, the night sky in ancient times was more beautiful and the stars seemed brighter.

Li Lizhi was wearing a skirt. She came over and asked playfully, "What did my brother say when he saw my uncle today?"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "It is said that the imperial examination may be held in the early spring of next year."

Li Lizhi sat next to her brother, and following her brother's gaze, she saw a sky full of stars and a bright moon.

"I've heard my father talk about the imperial examination before. At that time, the ministers were still discussing it, and my sister was standing aside listening. It seemed that the imperial examination was a very dangerous thing." She held a bowl of hot water in her hand and looked up at the night sky.

"For Father, to make some decisions, he must face risks."

Li Lizhi wondered, "Since there are risks, why do we have to take the imperial examination?"

Li Chengqian sighed, "Our father wants to centralize power, oh... this is not a big deal."

(End of this chapter)