The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 5: The former East Palace lover is still alive
Another person who was also concerned about the story of the Dream of the Red Chamber was Xu Guogong Gao Shilian. The old man was nearly sixty years old now, with gray hair on his temples. He served as the Minister of Personnel at the age of fifty-five, and now at the age of fifty-seven, he was still in charge of the promotion of officials.

In the words of the current emperor, Duke Xu Gao Shilian is good at identifying people, and is familiar with the affairs of aristocratic families, and knows how to use people.

At this moment, Gao Shilian was listening to people around him reciting the story of the Dream of the Red Chamber, and he looked very enjoyable.

Suddenly, another eunuch came hurriedly, "Duke Xu, His Majesty summons you."

Upon hearing this, Gao Shilian straightened his sleeves, walked out of the Ministry of Personnel, and followed the eunuch towards the Ganlu Palace.

In Ganlu Hall, there was a pot of bean sprouts in front of Li Shimin. These were bean sprouts grown in the palace according to the method described by Shengguang Temple.

The emperor smiled in surprise, "I didn't expect that bean sprouts can be grown without soil?"

There was also an old man in Ganlu Palace. He was dressed in cloth and his name was Zhen Quan. He was a doctor appointed by His Majesty himself and was proficient in pharmacology and medicine.

Zhen Quan tasted a mouthful of bean sprouts and said, "Your Majesty, bean sprouts are not poisonous. As Shengguang Temple has taught, people with weak spleen and stomach should eat less. I think it is fine to use them as a dish, and Your Majesty can eat more."

Li Shimin nodded and said, "So, my prince really discovered a new dish?"

Zhen Quan bowed and said, "Congratulations to your majesty, and congratulations to the Tang Dynasty for obtaining these bean sprouts."

There was a cough outside the hall. Li Shimin looked up and saw that it was Gao Shilian who came. He quickly stood up to greet him.

Gao Shilian was supported and walked into the hall. He coughed twice and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that it was the monks of Shengguang Temple who made the bean sprouts public on their own initiative, and then the Crown Prince showed us how to eat bean sprouts. This convinced us that the bean sprouts came from the East Palace."

Li Shimin sighed, "Yes."

Gao Shilian said solemnly: "It is also thanks to the Crown Prince's careful actions that he later came up with the method of eating bean sprouts, which now puts the monks of Shengguang Temple in a dilemma. Your Highness is smart, and I congratulate Your Majesty."

Li Shimin smiled awkwardly and said, "It's just a little cleverness, nothing to mention."

Otherwise, how could it be said that the prince had kept a trick up his sleeve? Those self-righteous monks in Shengguang Temple thought they really understood bean sprouts. It was the prince's article on eating them that revealed the secret of bean sprouts.

Let’s make it public. We must not let those monks influence the reputation of the Eastern Palace.

And it was the monks from Shengguang Temple who acted on their own initiative.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian's actions made Gao Shilian feel comfortable.

Gao Shilian was the empress's uncle, so he should be called uncle. Li Shimin also lowered his attitude and said, "Uncle, what else do you think I need to do about this?"

Gao Shilian waved his hand and said, "Your Majesty, you don't have to do anything. Just pretend you don't know about this matter. Your Highness the Crown Prince has done well enough."

"But Your Highness is already fourteen, and will be fifteen next year. He will soon be coming of age, and he should have someone to guide him."

"Who do you think should guide the prince, uncle?"

Gao Shilian replied, "Yu Zhining is right. Recently, a man named Xu Xiaode came to Chang'an to report on his work. He served as the lieutenant of Baxi County in Mianzhou and the magistrate of Yique County in Luoyang Prefecture. Although he was only the magistrate and lieutenant, he was excellent in governance and was well aware of the people's situation and their hardships. It would be best if such a person could help the crown prince."

Seeing his uncle's satisfied expression towards the prince, Li Shimin sighed: "I have neglected the East Palace in recent times."

Gao Shilian replied: "Your Majesty, as a father, you must be strict with your children. I understand your Majesty's painstaking efforts. If the prince can also understand this, it will be a blessing for the Tang Dynasty."

Noting the conversation between His Majesty and Gao Shilian, Zhen Quan bowed and took his leave.

There were still three or two eunuchs guarding outside the hall, and only Gao Shilian and Li Shimin were left inside.

"Your Majesty, is it true that the book Red Mansion was not written by the Crown Prince?"

Li Shimin drank his wine and replied nonchalantly: "He said it was from a Mr. Cao, but whether it is the current East Palace or the former Qin Palace, I have never heard of the name of Mr. Cao."

Gao Shilian frowned and said, "Your Highness, at your current age and with your experience, cannot write such a story."

"Alas..." Li Shimin sighed and said, "A man should not be so concerned about love affairs, and should not write about the Dream of the Red Chamber. He should write more stories about serving the country and the people, galloping on the battlefield, and returning home wrapped in a horse's hide."

Gao Shilian smiled and said nothing.

Of course, for the emperor, it would be better if the prince wrote a story about a man fighting for his country instead of the story of the Dream of the Red Chamber.

From a selfish point of view, this kind of story might become about my father as I write it.

Who made the current emperor Li Shimin, in the eyes of the world, have the feat of deciding the outcome of the battle at Hulao Pass and having a first half of his life like Long Aotian?

Of course, these are not things that Li Chengqian needs to consider.

I don't know what Gao Shilian and the emperor are planning now. The East Palace, which had just built a heated kang stove, was much warmer. The few carts of wood sent by Li Tai were enough for the East Palace to survive the winter.

Li Chengqian calculated all the assets of the Eastern Palace, which were just three palm-sized silver cakes and a string of copper coins in front of him.

This is the only one in the East Palace now.

Ning Er said, "Your Highness shouldn't worry about money."

Li Chengqian said helplessly, "Just like what Sister Ning'er said, as long as I cough and give a hint, people will rush to give me money?"

Ning Er shook her head and said, "Your Highness should cultivate yourself."

Li Chengqian asked back, "Yes, I shouldn't worry about money."

Ning'er nodded heavily.

Li Chengqian looked at the clear sky outside the palace and sighed, "If I try to win over those who shouldn't be won over for money, I'm afraid I'll win over those who shouldn't be approached."

Ning'er nodded again, looking satisfied.

Li Chengqian put his hands into his sleeves again and said slowly, "Sister Ning'er, you want to tell me that Li Jiancheng's body is still warm, and I can't follow his old path."

Hearing this, Ning'er's pretty eyes were filled with annoyance. Although the prince's words were correct, she felt a little uncomfortable hearing him calling her "sister" all the time. She said, "I am not worthy of being called sister by Your Highness."

Li Chengqian continued, "Sister Ning'er, you said that our father retained so many of the old officials of the Eastern Palace. If I want to recruit some people, it will definitely arouse the old officials of Li Jiancheng."

Still calling her sister, Ning'er pursed her lips, becoming more and more anxious. The prince spoke more and more fluently. If this were to reach the ears of the Queen, how would she face the Queen then?

Suddenly, I thought again, as long as His Highness is sensible, I, as a servant, will endure a little injustice, and if there is a chance, I will apologize to the Queen.

Ning'er kept this thought deep in her heart and remained silent.

Li Chengqian added: "So the fewer friends the East Palace has, the better."

Seeing that Ning'er was still silent, she looked at her nose with her eyes and her heart with her nose.

Xiaofu came over and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, the King of Yue has been wandering around the East Palace recently, and his behavior is suspicious."

Ning Er reminded him, "Your Highness, if you don't spread the story of the Red Mansion, I'm afraid not only the King of Yue, but also the scholars in the Imperial College and the Hongwen Academy will go crazy, and it will be difficult to deal with it then."

"I understand. Please give the fourth and fifth volumes of the Red Mansion to my mother as well."

"Here."

The story of Dream of Red Mansions is very charming.

Li Tai finally saw the subsequent chapters, and he held the bamboo slips in his hand tremblingly.

The tragedy that occurred in the story of Red Mansions gave Li Tai a very real feeling, as if it would happen to him.

Of course, Li Tai knew very well that it was impossible to have such a luxurious Rongguo Mansion in the Tang Dynasty.

Stories are just stories and should not be taken seriously.

Zhao Jie never went to the Eastern Palace these days, and Li Chengqian didn't care about it.

Ning Er said, "Yesterday, Princess Changguang cried in the Wude Hall, talking about Zhao Jie's affairs, and said that the Crown Prince suddenly changed his mind and almost made her aunt lose face."

Li Chengqian said: "My aunt is really difficult to deal with."

Ning Er asked again: "Does Your Highness need to go to the Wude Hall to explain?"

"No need." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I don't care if I offend my aunt. I am the crown prince, the heir to the throne. How can I be swayed by these things? She should look at my face, not me listening to her orders. I don't care if I offend her. She is not a threat to me."

Ning Er smiled and nodded, saying, "That's how it should be."

"If there really is a threat." Li Chengqian paused and continued, "Then the only threat to me is my father. To be frank, the only one who can depose me as the crown prince is my father."

Ning Er whispered, "Your Highness, what you said is quite disrespectful. Don't say it again in the future."

(End of this chapter)