The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 530: Kick the Door and Light the Stable
In the new palace, Su Tan lowered his head as if he was thinking about something, and there was an embarrassment on his face. In fact, he had gotten used to it over the years, especially between His Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus, it was always difficult to influence and persuade.

No matter how old they are, the emperor and his son have never changed. If there is any change, it is probably that His Majesty is more powerful and the emperor is a little older. It should be like this...

Seeing that the emperor did not put down the tea bowl for a long time, Su Tan sighed secretly and swallowed back what he was about to say.

Li Chengqian said: "I will arrange for the prince's teacher, so don't worry, father."

Li Shimin said: "In the past, when I arranged teachers for you, I chose famous people of the time."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "That's what father meant."

Upon learning when his grandson would return to Chang'an, Li Shimin took Su Tan to see the snow.

When the old father-in-law was taken away by the emperor, Li Chengqian saw the reluctance on his face, but his father did not give him a chance to speak.

In fact, what my father-in-law wanted to say was very simple. It was nothing more than the matter of Chongwenguan. Perhaps he would also let the prince go to Chongwenguan to study.

After reading the memorial in front of him, Li Chengqian asked, "Has Songtsen Gampo arrived?"

"Your Majesty, the people have arrived at Chengtian Gate, and the hot pot is ready."

Only then did Li Chengqian stand up and leave the new palace, heading towards Chengtian Gate.

The eunuch who followed him was busy carrying coats, a heater, and a cup filled with hot water hanging on a rope.

Li Chengqian walked with his hands in his pockets, and a group of eunuchs behind him were holding various things.

They formed a team of more than ten people, and each of them carried the items that His Majesty might need at any time.

For example, if Your Majesty is cold, you need to put on more clothes; if Your Majesty is thirsty, you need to drink water; if Your Majesty wants to eat some walnuts or needs to use pen and ink, everything must be prepared at all times.

It's not that His Majesty is so extravagant. In fact, His Majesty has been very simple for many years. But if His Majesty needs to write, or even just wants to drink water, but there is no tea or writing brush, these eunuchs should really kill themselves in front of His Majesty.

When passing by the Taiji Hall, he happened to see the retired emperor and Father-in-law Su playing chess. His Majesty stopped for a moment, looked at them a few more times, and then quickened his pace towards Chengtian Gate.

Life in the palace has always been peaceful, except for occasional festivals when it would become lively.

There was a table under Chengtian Gate. When Songtsen Gampo saw the Khan coming, he bowed and saluted.

Li Chengqian sat down at the table, and then the eunuch brought soup and poured it into the pot, and then put in some mutton.

The soup was mutton soup, and there was some spinach. Li Chengqian said, "In this late autumn, the frosted spinach tastes very good. Spinach in this season is the most delicious."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian poured him another bowl of soup and handed it to him, asking, "Isn't Lu Dongzan here?"

Songtsen Gampo said: "The news sent two days ago said that Qinling went on an expedition with the Tang army, Rulaijie also passed away, and Lu Dongzan was going to Tubo to pay homage to him."

Seeing that the other person's hair had turned mostly white, Li Chengqian said, "You are only two years older than me, but you already have a head full of white hair."

Songtsen Gampo did not look very old, he still had the face of a middle-aged man, but most of his hair and beard had turned white.

He picked up a spinach from the hot pot, ate it, and then replied: "I always feel that my life is borrowed from the Tang Dynasty. I am very grateful to live one more day. Thank you, Your Majesty."

Hearing Songtsen Gampo's words that sounded like a realization of life, Li Chengqian said, "Then let Lu Dongzan return to Tubo."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Songtsen Gampo knew that it was impossible to impress the emperor with his pity. The emperor never considered personal feelings when handling state affairs. The reason he allowed Lu Dongzan to go back was definitely not because of his pity for him, the Zamp, but at the cost of letting him, the Zamp, continue to stay in Chang'an.

Li Chengqian continued to listen to Songtsen Gampo's words. Lu Dongzan was nearly sixty years old. Songtsen Gampo said that Lu Dongzan had said that he hoped that the children of Tubo would be able to cry, laugh, and get angry freely in the future.

Although the two were of similar age, Li Chengqian always felt that Songtsen Gampo's life was over.

Songtsen Gampo said: "When I came here, I saw Xu Jingzong and Chu Suiliang fighting again."

"These two old guys always quarrel over trivial matters. I am also annoyed by them."

"Your Majesty's court always has old people leaving and new people entering. Your Majesty has added hundreds of officials in each county so that students can enter the government and get a job with a salary."

Li Chengqian served him another bowl of soup.

Songtsen Gampo took the bowl of soup and said, "The Tang Dynasty today still has the prefecture-county system that originated from the county system. The prefecture-county system of the Tang Dynasty still looks like a county system, but Your Majesty has consolidated the construction of each county. Power is from top to bottom, and it has never been built from the bottom up. Your Majesty did just that."

"That's great. I've read a lot of history books in the Central Plains. The old history books say that if there are too many local tyrants, the government will have trouble dealing with them..."

Songtsen Gampo had been learning the Tang Dynasty's system. What was rare was that he was also a witness to the Tang Dynasty's development.

"Sambuza said that Tubo cannot learn from the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty's governance methods may not be effective in Tubo. Sambuza also said that Tubo today cannot catch up with the Tang Dynasty."

After talking a lot, Li Chengqian asked someone to pour some wine for Songtsen Gampo, and he drank a lot.

In front of the Taiji Hall, Li Shimin saw Cheng Qian and Songtsen Gampo sitting opposite each other in front of Chengtian Gate.

Seeing that His Majesty was hesitant to make a move and looked away, Su Tan sat cross-legged, still thinking about his eldest grandson, and had no intention of continuing playing chess.

In fact, I wanted to say this when I was in the new palace. I wanted my eldest grandson to study in Chongwenguan, and Chongwenguan had the best teachers.

But the retired emperor seemed to want important officials in the court to teach the prince.

"Anything on your mind?"

Hearing this, Su Tan said, "Your Majesty, I think the Crown Prince should also learn some knowledge from the Chongwen Academy."

Li Shimin nodded and said, "He should indeed learn something."

Hearing the emperor's reply in a neither light nor serious tone, Su Tan felt that this matter might not be easy. Although Yu Tu was the emperor's grandson, he was also his eldest grandson. When Su Tan thought of this, he felt heavy in his heart.

Li Shimin was sitting cross-legged in a cloak. He saw Cheng Qian seeing Songtsen Gampo off, and then he was walking towards the Taiji Hall. He thought he would come closer to talk, but he just stood far away for a moment and then left.

Li Shimin said: "Continue playing chess with me."

Su Tan put aside his previous thoughts, put on a focused look and started to make his move.

The next day, when Lu Dongzan was about to leave, Li Chengqian summoned him. The two had met in front of the palace twenty years ago. At that time, Lu Dongzan gave him a pot of barley wine and Li Chengqian gave him a bar of soap.

The two people's positions determined how fragile their friendship was at that time.

Li Chengqian never drank a sip of the barley wine that Lu Dongzan sent him, and he never mentioned the soap that Lu Dongzan sent him.

Until this separation, the two of them never talked about what happened in the past.

Li Chengqian asked Xu Jingzong to send people from the Ministry of Rites to escort Lu Dongzan out of the border, as he would probably never see him again after this trip.

The Tang people joined the governance of Tubo and sent so many officials to Tubo that even if Lu Dongzan went to Tubo now, he would not be able to change anything.

Besides, Ru Laijie of Tubo has passed away, and Sambuza of Tubo has come to Chang'an City again. Now Tubo needs Lu Dongzan's support.

Moreover, it was the emperor who sent him to preside over Tibetan affairs. This decree was enough. Li Chengqian did not want to do anything more, as it would make the emperor seem deliberate. He also felt that it would be better to be more natural.

In the eleventh year of Qianqing's reign, after late autumn, Guanzhong welcomed a heavy snowfall as expected. The heavy snowfall in Guanzhong was only half a month later than that in Tubo. On the winter solstice, the snowflakes arrived in Chang'an as expected.

On the official road coming from Longxi, a troop of soldiers was advancing slowly. The number of soldiers was not too many, but not too few either.

The county magistrates went to inquire and found out that this army was escorting the current crown prince.

When the troops entered the territory of Jingyang, three civil servants blocked the road, led by Shangguan Yi.

Shangguan Yi, who was standing there, felt a little nervous. His Majesty had not appointed a prince's teacher for the prince, but had appointed a prince's attendant for himself, and he still served as the censor of the Censorate.

In the future, he will have to accompany the prince in studying politics and guide him, but becoming the prince's attendant is also a great honor for the Shangguan family.

Although the Prince's Sheren was not a specific official position, its significance was greater than that of a Censor.

Because of this, before coming to greet the prince, Shangguan Yi, in front of the city gate of Chang'an City, quickly caught a glimpse of Xu Jingzong's angry expression. That stinky face can still appear in his mind...when he closes his eyes.

Shangguan Yi lowered his attitude, and when he saw the team approaching, he said in a loud voice: "Your Highness Shangguan Yi, I am here to welcome the Crown Prince."

Li Jingheng dismounted, took the decree held in Shangguan Yi's hands, walked into the team and handed it to the prince.

Shangguan Yi was still standing in the snow waiting for a reply.

After a moment, Li Jingheng came quickly again and said, "The prince invites you to discuss matters in the carriage."

"Thank you."

Seeing the other party saluted again, Li Jingheng also saluted.

Shangguan Yi walked into the team, brushed off the snow on his clothes, adjusted his official hat, and then stepped into the prince's carriage.

Inside the carriage, Yu Tu held up a scroll and asked, "When is Grandpa's banquet?"

Shangguan Yi replied: "During the winter solstice."

Yu Tu asked again: "After I return, I will study politics?"

Shangguan Yi handed over another roll of paper and said, "This is your majesty's arrangement."

Yu Tu hesitated for a moment, took the paper, looked at it with frowned eyes, and was speechless for a long time.

When the paper was slowly put down, revealing the prince's eyes that wanted to cry but could not, Shangguan Yi smiled and said, "This is the decision of your majesty, the emperor, and even the people in the Secretariat."

Yu Tu said: "There are only twelve hours in a day."

Shangguan Yi smiled and nodded.

Yu Tu raised his voice a little, and said, "I have to study politics for eight hours a day. In the morning, I study geography and literature, in the afternoon, I study business and agriculture, and I have to read the files for an hour, review and write a summary. This is not to mention that I have to attend the morning court, and the next day I have to follow Ying Gong to learn the governance of the Weifu..."

"Exactly."

Even though the prince complained, Shangguan Yi still had a smile on his face. For the sake of the Tang Dynasty, it didn't matter if he had to suffer a little.

The army that went on the Western Expedition had not yet returned, but the troops escorting the prince had returned first. The prince walked into the palace with a depressed look on his face to meet his father, the emperor, the queen mother, and his grandparents.

Xiao Que'er came over quickly and said, "Royal brother."

The brother and sister haven't seen each other for two years, and Xiao Que'er has grown a lot taller.

Yu Tu said, "Even Que'er is taller than me."

She smiled and said, "Mother said that girls grow fast. My brother can grow taller than Que'er in two more years."

Seeing that his brother lowered his head, Que'er whispered, "Is there something on my mind, brother?"

"Study for eight hours every day..."

"My brother is the crown prince. I heard that my father used to sit in the Secretariat for a whole day. At that time, the court officials were busy, and my father studied on his own most of the time."

What greeted the prince was not a grand celebration, but a heavy workload that had been prepared. It was a very intensive study task that was full and covered all aspects.

Li Chengqian was sitting at the head of the table. When he saw his son approaching him, he was taller but also thinner. He instructed, "Tomorrow morning, go visit the elders in Chang'an City. Let Shangguan Yi accompany you."

"My son, take your orders."

"Go and keep your grandfather company."

"Ah."

When Li Shimin saw his grandson who had been away from home for two years come back, he couldn't stop smiling.

Li Chengqian noticed Wan'er quietly wiped away her tears, and said, "If you have anything to say, you can slowly tell him later."

"Ah."

In the eleventh year of Qianqing's reign, at the beginning of winter, two things were discussed at the morning court. The first was preparations for the retired emperor's sixtieth birthday, and the second was rewards for the army that went on the Western Expedition.

Now that the Western Expedition Army has not returned yet, the army closest to Chang'an, and the army that can get here the fastest, is the one led by Zhang Da'an.

This also involves the issue of the selection of the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture. Yan Qinli recommended Di Renjie, and Liu Rengui recommended Zhang Da'an.

Until the morning court was over, Xu Jingzong and Chu Suiliang had not heard His Majesty mention the matter of the Prince's tutor, and they could not help feeling a little disappointed.

Shangguan Yi was a very enthusiastic person. He was both a counselor and a prince's attendant. He had arranged the itinerary for the prince early on. The first thing he did today was to visit Lai Ji who had retired.

Xu Jingzong stopped in front of Chengtian Gate and watched Shangguan Yi see the prince off.

Chu Suiliang also stopped and asked, "Why did Your Majesty choose Shangguan Yi?"

Lu Zhaolin, the Minister of Rites who followed Xu Jingzong, replied: "It is probably because he has no faction in the court and has the fewest connections."

Chu Suiliang said: "What Minister Lu said makes sense. Shangguan Yi doesn't have many friends in the court. This man is in charge of the Censorate. Officials in the court are eager to avoid him for fear of being impeached. He is a loner and does not seek to gain support. He is indeed a good choice."

Xu Jingzong snorted coldly: "Old Chu, you are wrong. You think this matter is too complicated."

Lu Zhaolin lowered his head and closed his eyes, pretending not to hear.

Chu Suiliang took a deep breath, but did not get angry on the spot. Instead, he asked, "Old thief, what do you think?"

Xu Jingzong put his hands behind his back and said with a look of understanding: "Shangguan Yi is a man who is willing to work hard for the country."

After taking two steps forward, Xu Jingzong said again: "That's enough."

Chu Suiliang waved his sleeves and left, and Xu Jingzong was also satisfied. However, Lu Zhaolin kept his head down while walking, trying to minimize his presence.

Ever since he started working with Xu Jingzong, the thought of resigning had come to his mind countless times. Lu Zhaolin, who was born into a prominent family in Youzhou, had studied with great scholars and read history books with masters of classics and history. As a person, Lu Zhaolin wanted to maintain noble morals, but after following Xu Jingzong, his way of doing things repeatedly refreshed Lu Zhaolin's perception of the bottom line of a person.

Just a few days ago, Chu Suiliang kicked the door of Xu Jingzong's house and broke it. Xu Jingzong then set Chu Suiliang's stable on fire. How could such a person exist in the world? How could such a thing happen?
(End of this chapter)