Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 880 Yin and Yang in Balance

Xia Lin walked away. Although what he hummed was terrifying, his singing was indeed awful, which was a real headache.

Third Sister kicked the figure in mid-air and spat, "If you're so capable, don't come back!"

After scolding her, she turned and went back to the palace. Xia Lin's seemingly nonsensical antics actually woke up a bunch of turtles who were pretending to be asleep, forcing them to show their faces and lie low.

Third Sister sat down, rested her chin on her hand, and muttered to herself, "To be tactful with these old foxes, you have to use tunes they can understand."

She didn't rush to summon anyone, nor did she refute any memorials. Instead, after attending court the next day, she kept several important officials behind, saying that she had obtained new tea and wanted them to try it.

In the octagonal pavilion of the Imperial Garden, Third Lady held a teacup and said casually, "I've gotten used to milk tea in the Western Regions, and I find this plain tea too bland now that I'm back."

She glanced at Changsun Wuji: "These past few days, the Wei family girl has been organizing some kind of polo match at Qujiang Pool, saying it's a warm-up for the World Expo. Young people are so energetic."

Changsun Wuji paused, his hand holding the teacup still. Why was His Majesty not mentioning court affairs, but instead bringing up the polo match of the Wei family's daughter? The Wei family was a pillar of the army; mentioning them now carried a clear implication.

Third Sister then turned to the Minister of Revenue: "When the Imperial Treasury is taking stock of its treasury, the Suzhou embroidery from Jiangnan is just piling up anyway, so let's distribute it to the young ladies of each household to make spring dresses. Especially the second young lady of the Wu family in Bingzhou, I've heard that she's always been frugal, so I'll give her two extra bolts."

The second daughter of the Wu family in Bingzhou? Isn't that the young Wu who returned to the capital with the Crown Prince? Is His Majesty simply bestowing a reward, or making a statement?
A few words, spoken with a gentle, spring-like grace, sent a complex veil of thoughts through the minds of the seasoned veterans present. His Majesty was subtly implying: "I remember the military, and I'm keeping an eye on the people around the Crown Prince. You'd better think carefully before you act."

Meanwhile, anecdotes began to circulate in Chang'an. Merchants from the Western Market complained about the delayed arrival of the Wei's Jingzhou caravan, claiming the army had requisitioned all its packhorses. In taverns, scholars discussed how the Western Regions Construction Corps was conducting "extreme training," consuming tens of thousands of catties of cured meat alone.

The news, a mix of truth and falsehood, with its source unclear, seemed to have sprouted wings and flown into the gates of various mansions. There were no official documents, not a single word from Xia Lin, yet an invisible pressure weighed heavily upon them.

Xia Lin didn't even need to show his face; the normal drills of his troops became the most effective deterrent.

Springtime is in full bloom, the crabapple blossoms are vibrant, and the undercurrents of the past few days seem to have calmed down considerably on the surface.

That night, after finishing her work on the memorials, Third Sister turned around and saw Xia Lin lying next to her, snoring away. She angrily threw a pen at him to wake him up: "You're completely useless! Sleeping, sleeping, sleeping ever since you came in. You don't need to do anything, but I still have work to do!"

Xia Lin touched his face and said to the female official who was secretly laughing beside him, "Go and call my eldest son here."

Li Zhi arrived quickly, and his demeanor during the ceremony was dignified, with most of his youthful naiveté gone.

"Father, Mother." He glanced at the stack of documents on the desk concerning the selection of imperial concubines.

Third Sister pushed the note over: "What do you think?"

Li Zhi pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "We can't delay any longer, nor can we let the outer court discuss it all. Father's method of widely recruiting gentry was a bit hasty, but it opened up the situation. It's a good opportunity for me to step forward, reassure people, and let some people understand that the Crown Prince can make decisions on matters concerning him."

He didn't mention Xia Lin's intensity, only referring to it as a method. As he spoke, he glanced at his father, while Xia Lin laughed: "Your mother beat me last night, and she beat me really badly."

"What nonsense are you spouting in front of the children!" Third Sister snapped. "If you have nothing better to do, get out!"

Xia Lin chuckled and ran off, while Li Zhi glanced back at his unscrupulous father and could only stammer...

"It's good that you think that way." Third Aunt sighed and continued, "Your father has always been like this, never serious. You mustn't follow his example. How are things with the Wei family?"

“General Wei is a man of great integrity,” Li Zhi interjected. “I visited him the other day under the pretext of seeking advice on military affairs. General Wei stated that the military is loyal only to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince.”

The meaning is clear: the Wei family is at least neutral and leans towards his side.

“This is your advantage.” Third Sister walked to the window: “Using this advantage to establish your authority is the right way. The movements of Jingzhou and the Western Regions in the Great Wei are external forces, which can be borrowed but not relied upon. The foundation still lies within the Li Tang dynasty, depending on whether you can win over a force like the Wei family.”

"My son understands."

When Li Zhi went out, his father was leaning against the outside smoking. Li Zhi walked over and sat down next to him: "Father..."

"Hey!" Xia Lin yawned. "What's wrong? Why are you looking so gloomy?"

"Actually, I have an idea, but I don't dare to tell my mother."

"So it's about the Crown Princess of Xiaowudang, huh?" Xia Lin flicked some cigarette ash from his hand. "Don't worry, those girls in Chang'an, even if they were all together, wouldn't be a match for Xiaowudang. By the way, I've already written to Zhang Jianzhi and asked him to come over. He'll be coming directly to you as your tutor and intern official."

"Brother Cambodia!" Li Zhi straightened up excitedly: "He's really coming?"

"Yes, of course he should come. He's already sixteen, and he didn't plan to continue his studies after graduating from the academy. Let him come and do some internship."

But Li Zhi's eyes quickly lit up: "Father...you know that Brother Jianzhi and Sister Xiaowu have always been at odds."

"He's here to balance out your senior sister. She's resourceful, but she's too yin. That's not all good for you."

"Father... is this a balance or a check and balance?"

“Both,” Xia Lin sighed. “I know my own students best. Xiao Wu is very cunning, but too effeminate. Xiao Jianzhi is less cunning, but more agile and intelligent. The reason they don’t get along is mainly because their philosophies are completely opposite. For you, having one yin and one yang by your side is the only way to achieve harmony.”

"Then Dad, you'd better talk to Sister Xiaowu, otherwise she'll hold a grudge against me." "Look how effeminate you are now." Xia Lin patted his head: "Go back now."

"Where is Father? Has he gone to rest with his son?"

Xia Lin waved his hand and shook his head: "I'm waiting for your mother here. She doesn't allow me to smoke in the main hall. I have something to discuss with her tonight."

Li Zhi was no longer a child. He glanced at his father, then stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Father, please take good care of yourself."

"Stinky boy!"

Xia Lin lashed him across the butt with a whip kick, and Li Zhi laughed and ran away...

The following afternoon, news spread from the Eastern Palace: three days later, His Highness the Crown Prince would personally summon all the participating noble ladies and their family heads to the Linde Hall to inquire about their virtues.

The news caused an uproar in Chang'an once again. The fact that the Crown Prince had personally intervened meant that the Empress was relinquishing power, and the decision-making authority would now rest with the Eastern Palace.

The day before the summons, the Ministry of War's briefing mentioned that General Wei's troops needed to strengthen patrols around the capital. At the same time, the border rumors became more specific, describing in detail the scale of the military exercises in the two Wei regions. Although they still emphasized that no border crossings had occurred, the sense of tension was palpable.

With internal and external pressures intertwined, many families completely shut down. Those who put pressure on Xia Lin were thrown into a pressure cooker by him. As for the merchants killed by Xia Lin, they were all executed according to the law and the Tang Dynasty law. There was not a single case of wrongful conviction. In fact, Li Zhi came out and said that he had ordered the execution.

If the crown prince kills hoarders, who can find fault with that?

After a few days of peace, the Linde Hall was filled with the fragrance of incense. Li Zhi sat upright on the throne, his gaze steady, while below him, elegant ladies swayed in their fragrant robes, and the parents wore various expressions.

When the inquiry began, Li Zhi's questions were not limited to music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but also extended to county governance, the benefits and drawbacks of people's livelihood, and even trade routes in the Western Regions and new schools in workshops.

These issues have tarnished the image of many young ladies and silenced some parents who only know how to flaunt their family's status.

As a female official serving as a recorder, Xiao Wu would subtly offer tea or remind people of the procedures when they were at a loss for what to do. Her composure and competence became a unique sight in the palace.

Wei Tong was somewhat embarrassed by her inability to answer the refined questions, but when she talked about the frontier customs and interesting anecdotes in the army, her eyes immediately lit up, and she spoke vividly, which made Li Zhi nod in approval. Cui Lin tried her best to appear gentle and graceful, while Pei Wan tried to show her talent. Although she did not lose her composure, she always seemed a bit deliberate in the face of Li Zhi's increasingly sharp gaze and Xiao Wu's subtle contrast.

As for the other families, they were alright, but with dozens of young ladies in one hall, it was impossible to assess them all at once. So we had to pause for the time being and hold a banquet to entertain them.

After the questioning concluded, Li Zhi did not draw a conclusion on the spot, but offered gentle encouragement. After announcing the adjournment, he went to the banquet with the parents of each family.

As everyone withdrew with their own thoughts, Pei, Cui, and several other core members of the Guanzhong region were politely stopped by Xiao Wu.

"Gentlemen, please wait a moment." Xiao Wu said respectfully, "His Highness the Crown Prince asked me to ask a question: I recently heard that the military exercises on the border of the Great Wei have been quite impressive. His Highness has some concerns and would like to ask you all, if the internal affairs of our Li Tang Dynasty are unstable, is it possible to secure peace outside?"

One sentence, like a thunderclap.

The Crown Prince didn't mention choosing a concubine, nor did he hold anyone accountable; he only asked a question concerning the safety of the nation. But at that moment, that question was precisely the most severe warning.

Looking at Xiao Wu's calm face, the bigwigs recalled the attitude of the Wei family and the military, and the "drills" overseas, and cold sweat instantly broke out on their foreheads.

Sometimes, leveraging the momentum of the east wind doesn't require thunder; it only requires drawing the sword that's hanging in the air at the right moment. Li Zhi didn't lay a finger on Xia Lin's soldiers, yet he used their momentum to combine with the power of the internal military and cleverly establish his authority.

They either claimed it was within the Ministry of War's authority and they dared not overstep it, or they said the matter was still unresolved and should not speculate, before scattering like birds and beasts.

Xiao Wu covered his mouth and laughed as he watched them flee in panic. Just as he was about to go back, Wei Tong suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Then, to Xiao Wu's astonishment, this dark-skinned little girl, who was strange in both behavior and thought, pulled out two pancakes from the noodle box.

"Here you go." Wei Tong handed a note to Xiao Wu: "Sister Wu must be starving, here you go have some."

Xiao Wu, holding the pancake, said with a wry smile, "Why didn't you go to the banquet with General Wei?"

"I have something I'd like to ask Sister Wu for help with."

At this point, Xiao Wu still thought she wanted to ask him to inquire about Li Zhi's situation, since she was one of the popular candidates for the position of Crown Princess.

"go ahead."

"I heard that Sister Wu is Marshal Xia's disciple?"

This question left Xiao Wu completely bewildered. She nodded blankly, "Yes, what's wrong?"

"Could you introduce me to someone? I'd like to meet Marshal Xia..." Wei Tong took a deep breath and mustered her courage to say, "I want to... I want to serve in the Marshal's army."

"Huh???" Xiao Wu was stunned for a long time: "Go...go to Master's army to serve?"

"That's right!" Wei Tong's eyes gleamed, and her body trembled with excitement. "I want to witness the power of the world's number one army! Ideally, I'd like to fight a battle, against anyone! Muskets, cannons... Oh~~~~ That's amazing."

"Then... you can stay and have a meal with us. Master will be here soon."

(End of this chapter)