The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 428: Zhang Sun Wuji's Half Life

"Only one?"

"Your Majesty, there is only one according to the rumors."

Su Tan wrote the story based on the facts he saw and heard. In fact, Xuanzang's story is passionate in itself.

A country with stories can always inspire many people. In fact, there are many stories in the Tang Dynasty. Whether it is Xuanzang, Princess Pingyang, or his father, Li Chengqian feels that these stories are worth writing down and spreading among the children of the Tang Dynasty in the form of stories.

The story of the Tang Dynasty must have a spirit of fearlessness and forging ahead, so that more people will dare to open up and explore.

Li Chengqian put down the story he had just finished writing and said, "It's pretty good."

Su Tan stroked his beard and said, "If Your Majesty feels that there is something wrong, I can correct it."

"No, just write it according to the facts. After the book is completed, it can be distributed to various volunteer teachers."

"Here."

Leaving space for Su Tan's family, the Queen's family probably has a lot to say.

Li Chengqian sat outside the Liangyi Hall, listening to their conversation.

In the story written by Su Tan, Xuanzang encountered many difficulties and obstacles on his journey to the west, but he never gave up his promise to Popo. He brought the scriptures back and debated with tens of thousands of monks in India.

The people of the Tang Dynasty in the future will also be able to step out and stick to the beliefs in their hearts. The beliefs can be of various kinds, for themselves, for their country, or for an agreement.

When Guanzhong was hit by snow again, Li Chengqian walked into the Lingyan Pavilion and looked at the portraits in the Pavilion.

Duke Zheng of that time is still vivid in the portrait. The usually serious old man appears so kind in the portrait, but one cannot feel at all the time that he pointed at the emperor's nose and scolded him.

Duke Zheng is the most precious spirit of the Tang people. The Tang Dynasty does not need the Three Questions of Heaven and Man, or that Gunarut's debate was intended to create weapons for the education of Chongwenguan.

Who says books can’t be weapons? The workshop in Jingyang County, which has been losing money, is still operating, and thousands of craftsmen are printing books every day.

"Why are you here?"

Hearing the voice behind him, Li Chengqian said, "I'm here to take a look."

Li Shimin stepped forward and said, "They are leaving this world one after another, and I can only watch from here."

The father and son sat down on the side, and Li Chengqian asked, "Did you enjoy the winter hunting in Mount Li?"

Li Shimin took the teacup, held it in his hand, and asked, "How is your state affairs?"

"is acceptable."

"You appointed Li Yibiao as the Minister of Rites?"

"There will be a decree next year."

"Do you want to govern a place as far away as Tianzhu?"

"I understand your concerns, Father. The journey is too long and difficult to control."

Li Shimin patted his son on the shoulder and said, "I know you are intent on seizing Tubo."

"I'm sorry to make you laugh, Father. Songtsen Gampo still refuses to hand over the people of Tibet to me."

"You could have killed him."

"The Tang Dynasty and Tubo will once again be caught in an endless feud. Now his life is useful."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "You want the people's hearts and the territory, but you can't have your cake and eat it too."

Li Chengqian asked, "What's wrong with that?"

The father and son simultaneously picked up the teacup and took a sip, staring at the portraits in the Lingyan Pavilion in a trance.

Outside the Lingyan Pavilion, three eunuchs stood at the door, listening to the words of the two emperors. Although the current emperor no longer lived in the palace, he said that he was tired of living in the palace, so he built a village outside.

In fact, after the new emperor ascended the throne, His Majesty has been paying attention to state affairs.

Voices were heard from Lingyan Pavilion again.

"How is your father's health lately?"

"You are the one in charge of state affairs now. Li Zhi and Dong Yang have sent me many state affairs. I want to recuperate, but..."

Li Chengqian asked: "How can I relieve my worries?"

"You are also very free. You were very busy when you were still the crown prince. Look at you now. You spend all day either fishing or reading, or practicing archery? Now I feel annoyed when I see those state affairs. I was annoyed before, but now it is even worse."

"I don't find it annoying."

Li Shimin snorted coldly.

Li Chengqian added: "My life is not as colorful as my father's because he was still in power at that time and there were too many people in the palace. Now it is much quieter and I can handle state affairs soberly."

The emperor left with a stern face and sat alone in the Lingyan Pavilion, enjoying the quiet moment and drinking a sip of tea.

After sitting for a while, a gust of wind blew into the Lingyan Pavilion. Li Chengqian then stood up and closed the window.

There were still eunuchs in the palace who were not careful enough, so Li Chengqian straightened the portrait of Duke Zheng and only left after making sure it was upright and satisfied.

The door of Lingyan Pavilion slowly closed, blocking out the cold wind outside.

In Chang'an City, Li Chongyi, the Minister of Zongzheng Temple, led a team of people, each of whom brought their own gifts.

This was sent by the emperor's many relatives as a gift to the old man.

Gao Shilian was in the yard looking at the newly compiled storybook of Chongwenguan.

"Old man, the Minister of Zongzheng Temple is here."

"Let him in."

"Here."

Li Chongyi led a team of officials from the Imperial Clan's Ministry of Religion into the courtyard and had them put down boxes of gifts. He then explained, "Old Master, these are gifts from many relatives of the Imperial Clan."

Gao Shilian said, "Even if I am old, I don't need them to congratulate me. It's annoying."

"That……"

"Why? Does the man in the palace also accept gifts from royal family members?"

Li Chongyi understood who the old man was talking about, and explained: "In recent years, fewer and fewer royal family members have come to Chang'an to pay tribute, but the gifts they send are more than in previous years, and there are also royal family members who visit the old man."

Gao Shilian was lying on a bamboo chair, with two eunuchs waiting beside him. He asked, "Did Cheng Qian receive it?"

Li Chongyi said: "Your Majesty never accepts gifts, so now the officials in the court rarely accept gifts. Firstly, Your Majesty sets an example, and secondly, it is easy to be targeted by the officials of the Censorate."

"My grandson has always been a role model." Gao Shilian smiled proudly and said, "Take all these gifts away. There's no need to send them over."

Li Chongyi looked troubled and said, "Old Master, there are gifts sent by His Majesty."

"Well..." Gao Shilian stroked his beard and said, "Then leave the gift to His Majesty."

Li Chongyi picked out one of the gift boxes and asked someone to take the rest away. He took out a wooden box with three brushes in it. Gao Shilian took the brush and looked at it carefully. He noticed some clues at the end of the brush and smiled knowingly. This was made from the first hair of a child.

Li Chongyi added: "Your Majesty also gave a lot of rice, soap, and some cakes. Your Majesty distributed them to every official in the court. According to the official's rank, there will be additional rewards. From the Minister of the Central Secretariat and the Duke of Zhao to the Chief Clerk of the township and county, everyone in the court received rewards."

Gao Shilian's eyes were still on the pen.

Seeing that the old man had no intention of listening to him, Li Chongyi left on his own accord.

In Chang'an City, Duke Zhao also received a gift, and the gift was once again presented by Li Chongyi.

After having the Minister of Zongzheng Temple sent away, he sat beside the desk and looked at the gifts sent by His Majesty. This year, the gifts His Majesty gave to officials of various departments in the court were different. For example, the gifts given to the Ministry of Civil Affairs were an abacus, the Ministry of Rites were a cloak, the Censorate were mirrors, and the people from the Secretariat were given paper.

Changsun Wuji opened the seal of the book and saw that it was a book given to him. He read the contents of the book and found that they were the words that His Majesty had said to him at the beginning.

All kinds of past events came to mind. That was the first time they had a conversation at Qujiang Lake. At that time, Your Majesty was still the Crown Prince and was only fifteen years old.

Fifteen years have passed in a flash, and Your Majesty is now thirty years old.

As Changsun Wuji looked at every recorded conversation, a smile rose on his face. He suddenly felt that the Majesty had grown up and no longer needed his support.

The Lantern Festival has not yet arrived, but ten days of the first lunar month have passed.

Changsun Wuji came to a village outside Beiyuan in a carriage. When he got out of the carriage, he saw villagers gathered in groups of three or four talking, and a group of children playing.

The village is very peaceful. There are a few ducks quacking and waddling in the fields, looking so contented even in winter.

The village seemed peaceful, but Changsun Wuji understood that the villagers here were actually the Hundred Cavalry Imperial Guards of that time.

When we reached the edge of a field, we saw His Majesty mending a pair of shoes. Judging from the size of the shoes, they were probably for children.

"Brother."

"I have come to see your majesty."

Today, Empress Dowager Changsun has a few strands of white hair, although they are very few.

Chang Sun Wuji's temples were now gray. He walked aside and said, "Your Majesty."

Li Shimin was still mending his cloth shoes, and said unhappily, "I've seen enough of you guys performing formalities in the palace. You don't need to perform formalities here."

"Here."

Li Shimin looked at both sides of the shoe, confirmed that it was repaired, and then put it down and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Chang Sun Wuji said: "I am here to retire from my post."

"You are now a subject of Cheng Qian, so you don't need to come to me to retire."

Changsun Wuji added: "This is what he meant."

Li Shimin stood up and said, "You are obviously his subject. He is the emperor who is in charge of the world now. Why does he ask you to resign from me?"

"This is exactly what Your Majesty has arranged, because I am Your Majesty's uncle."

Li Shimin sat on the chair, one foot on the edge of the chair, and drank hot water from the tea bowl in one hand. He looked at the other person for a long time and asked, "Are you willing to leave?"

Chang Sun Wuji said with a smile: "There are not many old people left in the government and the country now."

Li Shimin laughed and said, "Yes, now there are only old generals like Cheng Yaojin, Niu Jinda, and Xue Wanche left in the court. Humph! That kid never shows any mercy."

"Your Majesty is very clear. If I resign... out of filial piety, Your Majesty will definitely try to keep me. But if it is the will of the Supreme Emperor, Your Majesty will grant it."

"Auxiliary machine?"

"The minister is here."

"Can you let it go?"

Changsun Wuji was about to speak, but stopped himself. After keeping silent for three times, he said, "I am old."

Li Shimin said: "I think you can live another twenty years."

"I hope to live another twenty years."

"You and I have a wonderful story in this life, right?"

Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "If I can still ride horses in the mountains and forests and hunt with Your Majesty as we did in the past when I retire, that would be a good story."

"Hahaha!" Li Shimin pointed at him and laughed, "Uncle is still very far-sighted."

Chang Sun Wuji bowed and said, "So your majesty knows everything."

"I told you that you don't need to bow." Li Shimin poured another bowl of hot water and handed it to him, saying, "It's not me who knows everything, it's my uncle who told me. For many years, my uncle has been on Cheng Qian's side, but he tells me everything. He said that this country belongs to Li Tang, and he helps the prince, which means he helps me."

After that, Li Shimin continued, "My uncle never cared about my family affairs before. I don't know why my uncle saw Cheng Qian. After that, you and my uncle helped him secretly many times."

At this point, Li Shimin's tone became heavier and he said, "Don't think I can't see it."

Chang Sun Wuji smiled with shame and said, "I don't know how many times I have helped Your Majesty. Now I can't remember it. Only Your Majesty remembers it all the time."

"Later, whether it was the royal family or the government, some people felt that offending the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace would mean offending you, Changsun Wuji, and your uncle. That kid's power grew day by day."

Chang Sun Wuji did not dare to agree with these words, perhaps out of a father's concern. His Majesty felt that the prince was too powerful at that time, which was caused by himself and his uncle.

He has always had this temper. It was like this before, and it hasn't changed even now that he has become the emperor.

Li Shimin complained again: "Fuji, I am not in Chang'an anymore, and I don't want to live in the palace. I thought that since you are his uncle, you can control him more. Now even you are going to retire. Cheng Qian will become even more outrageous in the future. Who can control him?"

They were common people back then, but now Changsun Wuji is silent.

Li Shimin put down the tea bowl heavily and said, "I am happy no matter who retires, except you! I don't want you to retire."

Changsun Wuji put down the tea bowl in his hand, ignored the previous warning, and bowed, saying: "In this case, I can only sever my ties with you."

"How dare you!" Li Shimin slammed the table and stood up, pointing at him and said, "Neither I nor Cheng Qian have ever treated you badly. If you dare to break off ties with me, I will have Cheng Qian confiscate all your property and send you to the Western Regions to plant trees."

Seeing him laughing again, Li Shimin was furious and asked again: "Why, do you really want to go to the Western Regions to plant trees?"

Chang Sun Wuji said: "I hope you can help me."

Turning his head away from the other person's ugly face, Li Shimin waved his sleeves and said, "Quit it. You have worked hard for half your life, and it is time for you to take a break."

Zhang Sun Wuji bowed again and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your help!"

Li Shimin reached out his hand to help him up, patted his shoulder heavily, nodded and said: "Since the battle of Hulao Pass that year, it has not been easy for you and me, and it has not been easy for Jingde and others either. It has not been easy... The country is finally stable."

Changsun Wuji raised his head slightly, trying to hold back his red eyes.

Li Shimin put his hands behind his back. The fifty-three-year-old emperor actually showed a little stoop. He clicked his tongue and said, "A good end, a good end. What a pity, you all died a good end."

Changsun Wuji also looked into the distance, seeing some snow in the distance.

After a long silence, the king and his minister laughed again.

At night, Changsun Wuji did not return to Chang'an. He thought that the emperor in the palace also knew that he was coming to see the emperor.

(End of this chapter)