The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 89 Where does the weird temper come from?

"With Xu Jingzong helping the Eastern Palace, you don't have to worry too much."

"Yeah." Gao Shilian felt more comfortable and said, "It's like playing cards. Jingyang is Cheng Qian's most important card. He won't use Xu Jingzong easily."

Gao Lin smiled and said, "You have arranged it well."

Gao Shilian whispered, "It would be best if other children were surrounded by good people. Such children will have a more upright heart when they grow up. But Cheng Qian can't be like that. He can't be surrounded by only good people."

On the tower of Suzaku Gate, three people were walking here.

Li Chengqian held up the budget he had made earlier and said, "Yu Zhanshi, what do you think of Xu Changshi?"

Yu Zhining roughly understood the budget and replied, "Does this have to be done for all future reports to the court?"

Xu Xiaode said: "Isn't it too complicated?"

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and said, "I have always liked order. Without order, everything will be a mess, just like raising a child."

Xu Xiaode bowed and said, "I am the Chief Clerk of the Eastern Palace, and I am willing to share your worries."

Seeing that he agreed quickly, Yu Zhining said, "I will work in the Secretariat and make budgets for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

It would be good if the accounting transactions in the court were clear and organized from now on.

At least before the imperial examination in April, there is no need to worry about the court's expenses.

Li Chengqian stopped and saw a group of people holding up books and loudly protesting. He said, "How many people in this world come to Chang'an to take the imperial examination with a wealth of knowledge, ambition and lofty aspirations? Passing the imperial examination is their dream. There are too few people with dreams in this world."

Yu Zhining and Xu Xiaode stood behind the prince in silence.

Li Chengqian continued: "If the court still fails to live up to their expectations at this time, what is the point of the imperial examination."

Yu Zhining continued, "Is that why His Highness asked them to take the exam in Dongxi City first?"

Li Chengqian nodded.

Yu Zhining continued, "Your Highness has long felt that keeping anonymity is the right path, but has never expressed his opinion in the court?"

Xu Xiaode said: "Even if the prince thinks that keeping his name secret is the right way, it is for this reason that Your Highness should not express his opinion directly."

"The Secretariat should have a lot of files piled up, and the court is about to start, so you two should go and get busy first."

"Here."

Yu Zhining and Xu Xiaode bowed and left.

As the court session was about to begin, more officials began to gather in the imperial city, and each department slowly got into work mode.

That morning, examinations began in the East and West Markets. This time, the examinations were to select scholars for the Wenxue Academy, Hongwen Academy, and Sifang Academy. Those who took the examinations could also continue to take the imperial examinations. The examinations for Sifang Academy and Wenxue Academy were held in the East Market and were anonymous examinations.

However, the examinations at the Hongwenguan were held in the Xishi and the candidates’ names were not blurred.

Li Chengqian, his teacher and his uncle were waiting for the test results in the Secretariat.

The Secretariat was very quiet, except for the officials from various departments coming and going. The three of them were sitting in silence at the moment.

After noon, some of the people from the Secretariat left and the place became quiet.

The sun was very warm at noon. Li Chengqian sat in front of the gate of the Secretariat, basking in the sun. He leisurely took out a few dates from his sleeves and put them in his mouth to chew.

"Here they come!" The voice came from far away. It was Ma Zhou and Chu Suiliang, each holding a thick stack of paper.

When the others came closer, Li Chengqian stood up, put the chair against the wall, and walked into the Secretariat.

Chu Suiliang put down a stack of papers and placed them on the table. "This is the test paper selected by Hongwenguan."

Ma Zhou also put down a stack of papers and said, "These are from the Sifang Pavilion and the Literature Museum."

Fang Xuanling took the list and looked at it. "There are 67 candidates from the Hongwen Academy, 20 from aristocratic families and 13 from poor families."

Changsun Wuji took a stack of test papers with their names covered, carefully tore open the seal, and looked at the names one by one.

Several people looked at the test papers separately.

On the examination paper of Hongwenguan, Li Chengqian noticed a name, Pei Xingjian, also known by the courtesy name Shouyue, who was sixteen years old and from the Pei family of Hedong.

The article was not very well written and was barely selected by the Hongwenguan.

The examination questions in the Hongwenguan were to discuss the governance of the Hexi Corridor, and Pei Xingjian's answers were mostly about marching and fighting.

From the perspective of composition, it is obviously off-topic or digressive.

Historical books say that Pei Xingjian was a descendant of a general. How did he take part in the imperial examination?
Perhaps it is because this era is too inward-looking, and those who pass the imperial examination must be both civil and military?
Memorizing the name in his mind, Li Chengqian silently put down the roll of paper and picked up another one.

After Fang Xuanling checked the list, he said, "Forty-one people from the Sifang Academy and the Literature Academy took the exam, and twenty examination papers were selected. Only three children from aristocratic families were selected."

Li Chengqian continued to remain silent, with his hands in his pockets, watching the expressions of the few people.

Ma Zhou said: "It is obvious that the articles in Sifangguan are better than those in Hongwenguan."

What the censor said was quite right. Judging from the two test papers, the essays from the Sifang Pavilion were indeed better. For example, Pei Xingjian's off-topic essays were all selected.

Or maybe they chose him because they saw the Hedong Pei family's hometown.

As they were talking, a eunuch interrupted their conversation.

The visitor smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please ask the Crown Prince to go to Taiye Lake."

"Taiye Lake?" Li Chengqian asked in surprise, "Are you accompanying father to cruise the lake? I'm very busy, how about you ask father to wait and go over to accompany him later?"

The old eunuch forced himself to look very embarrassed.

Li Chengqian sighed: "Okay, let's go."

The old eunuch was relieved and said with tears of gratitude: "Thank you, Your Highness, for understanding me."

After coming out of the Secretariat, Li Chengqian took out a few dates from his sleeve, handed them to the old eunuch, and said, "Eat some dates."

"Thank you, Your Highness." The eunuch nodded and took the dates.

Seeing him eating the dates, the two of them walked into Chengtian Gate together. Li Chengqian asked, "What does your father want to see me about?"

"You will know when you go there, Your Highness."

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and said, "You said that I sold the wine made by the emperor's grapes last month. Will the emperor bear a grudge and prepare assassins in Taiye Lake?"

Hearing this, the eunuch wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Your Highness, please stop joking. You are scaring this old servant."

"Then what do you think is going on with Father looking for me?"

"Alas..." The old eunuch said with a bitter face, "You will know when you go there, Your Highness."

"Look." Li Chengqian said in distress, "You won't tell me when I ask you. Is there really an axeman ambushing?"

The old eunuch almost knelt down. He wiped his tears and said, "I will die in front of Your Highness."

"Hey!" Li Chengqian hurriedly called out to him, "Don't try to commit suicide at every turn."

The old eunuch wiped his tears and said, "In fact, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has turned sixteen. On February Yisi, His Majesty will hold a ceremony to crown His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"So that's what happened. When you report this to my father, just tell him that I know about it."

After saying this, the prince was ready to leave after achieving his goal.

The old eunuch cried, "Your Highness, I really am..."

"Alright, alright." Li Chengqian turned around and walked towards Taiye Lake, patting the old eunuch on the back, "Don't be afraid, I'm just curious for a moment." The old eunuch stroked his beating heart and felt like he almost died.

"I cannot disobey the Emperor's order. In the end, the Emperor still makes things difficult for you."

The old eunuch hesitated to speak, then nodded in acknowledgment.

By the Taiye Lake, the ice and snow had just melted, and occasionally fish would jump out of the lake and then jump into the water. The scenery was very pleasant.

This is indeed a good place to relax.

My father was standing on the shore not far away, talking to General Yuchi Gong.

Walking closer, Li Chengqian bowed and said, "Father, I am here."

Li Shimin did not look back but continued to look ahead and said, "That was the former site of the Jianzhang Palace, but it was destroyed."

Today, the site of the former Jianzhang Palace has become a field of weeds.

"What have you been busy with lately?"

"I have been studying government affairs with Prime Minister Fang."

Li Shimin stood with his hands behind his back, looking into the distance, and said, "I heard that you built a few more rooms for Li Zhi and the others in the East Palace?"

"That's right. My brother and sister are one year older now. They are old enough to have their own house."

Li Shimin walked around the Taiye Lake, stepping on the withered grass all the way, and whispered: "You are a prince, and even more so the crown prince. There are some things that you should not only advise me, but also set an example yourself."

"Father, I will certainly set an example myself. I did not use a single brick or tile from the Ministry of Works to build the house in the East Palace. I built it myself."

Li Shimin stopped and looked at his reflection in the water. His eyes fell on his son's reflection in the water, and he remained silent for a long time.

"You've grown taller."

"I have indeed grown a lot taller."

"I have discussed this with your mother, and will hold your coming-of-age ceremony next month. I will grant amnesty to the entire nation and hold a banquet in the Taiji Palace to entertain all the officials and bring celebrations to Chang'an."

Seeing that his son didn't speak for a while, Li Shimin asked, "Why? Are you very happy?"

Li Chengqian said: "Father, your son's coming-of-age ceremony does not need to be too grand."

Li Shimin said, "Why? I allow you to sell my grape wine to subsidize the court expenses, but I don't allow you to hold a proper coming-of-age ceremony for you."

Li Chengqian said: "Father, I think the ceremony of coming of age can be postponed."

"Postponed?"

Li Chengqian bowed and said, "No money."

Li Shimin clicked his tongue, hesitating to speak, "No money?"

Li Chengqian sighed, "Father, you don't know that the money for repairing the four counties in the Hexi Corridor has not yet been found. Once the money is found, it won't be too late for me to hold the ceremony of coming of age."

"You are grown up now and have your own ideas. I will not force you on this matter. The coming-of-age ceremony is your own business, so just postpone it."

"Father, I have something else to do in the court, so I will go back first."

"Ah."

This matter went unusually smoothly, and His Majesty did not say a word until His Royal Highness the Crown Prince walked away.

After a while, Li Shimin pointed at his son's back as he left and said, "Jingde, look at this kid. Who taught him to have this temper?"

Yuchi Gong said: "Your Majesty, the prince's teacher is Fang Xiang, or..."

Yuchi Gong kept his mouth shut and whispered, "He is the Prince's Junior Tutor selected by His Majesty himself."

Li Shimin breathed heavily and smiled bitterly, "Are you saying that the prince has this temper because I asked for it?"

Yuchi Gong quickly clasped his fists and said, "I dare not."

"This kid now dares to negotiate with me by relying on his reputation as a wise man in the court?" Li Shimin sneered and said, "Lead by example? Build the East Palace by myself? Is he saying that if I want to build a temporary palace, I have to do it myself too?"

This is the nth time that His Majesty has lost his temper when meeting His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Yuchi Gong thought for a moment and replied, "I have not heard His Royal Highness the Crown Prince say that."

"That's what he meant by the subtext!"

"The end will be dull."

"No money? He said no money again!" Li Shimin walked back and forth a few steps and said, "I want to see how he spends his money."

Yuchi Gong hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Your Highness the Crown Prince has always been filial and diligent, and he will definitely live up to your Majesty's painstaking teachings."

"you……"

Li Shimin was speechless for several times, but then he understood and nodded, saying, "I remember that it was this guy who approved the expenses for the weapons and armor of your Jinwu Guard."

Yuchi Gong bowed again and said, "Your Majesty, I have absolutely no intention of showing favoritism."

Li Shimin laughed instead and whispered, "I know that if I were to argue with him, I would be too narrow-minded."

"Your Majesty is wise."

Li Shimin smiled faintly and said, "This kid is still young. Now that he has finally gained some power, he is arrogant. Government affairs are not as easy as he thinks. When he encounters difficulties and makes mistakes, he still needs me, the emperor, to correct him and teach him."

Yuchi Gong nodded and said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right."

"I will give him a few days to see how he does things. When he knows how difficult it is to be a wise crown prince, he will still need me to give him justice."

Yuchi Gong quickly said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince was just acting on impulse at the time."

"Okay, Jingde, you don't need to persuade me, I understand."

Li Shimin laughed again and said, "The prince didn't learn this temper from Xuanling. I don't know where he got this strange temper from."

Yuchi Gong glanced at His Majesty quietly, then lowered his head and stepped aside.

The imperial examination was being arranged intensively, and Wei Zheng, Fang Xiang and Duke Zhao came up with a more compromising solution.

The test papers will not be anonymous and the examination process will also be anonymous.

Instead, he would wait until the imperial examination students had finished answering and handed in their papers before sealing them. He would then order someone to make uniform seals, cover all the names, and then begin marking the papers.

After the examination is finished, the seals will be opened and the names of the candidates who have been selected in the imperial examination will be copied down.

In the end, the names were still covered, but this time the steps were changed after the test papers were sent to the court.

This was the first official imperial examination during the Zhenguan period. Unlike previous times, this time the candidates were all students from various prefectures, counties and towns.

There are five subjects in total, starting from classics, mathematics, and law.

Nowadays, people in the literati generally believe that even those who serve as civil servants in the court are not necessarily highly learned. On the contrary, there are many elders with high reputation in the literati. They are more prestigious and their students are spread all over the Central Plains.

Therefore, since when, being an official is no longer a glorious thing for aristocratic families or prominent families.

Throughout the dynasties, there were many children from prominent families who gave up their jobs while in office.

After all, compared with character, profound knowledge and being an official or not are not the same thing.

(End of this chapter)