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

Chapter 884 Zhang, the New Attendant Reader of the Eastern Palace
As dusk fell, Li Zhi personally led Zhang Jianzhi to a secluded courtyard next to his main hall, named "Chengxinzhai".

Although the place wasn't spacious, the furnishings were elegant, and several green bamboos were planted in the courtyard, rustling in the night breeze, which suited Zhang Jianzhi's temperament quite well. And most importantly, it was close by; it was separated from the Crown Prince's palace by only a wall, which was where Li Zhi had studied and researched. There was also a door between the two courtyards, and once opened, one could even hear the sounds of someone defecating or farting next door.

"Jianzhi, you will live here from now on. Everything is ready. If you need anything, just tell the eunuch."

Li Zhi pushed open the door, and the room was filled with the fragrance of books and ink. The desk, classics, and writing implements were all prepared, and a soft couch was placed in the corner.

"I'll go to the artisan workshop in Chang'an tomorrow to pick out a big bed for you."

Zhang Jianzhi cupped his hands and smiled, "There's no need for a large bed. Anyway, I don't have any sisters or cousins ​​around me, so it's enough for me to stay alone."

"Hey! You're quite the barbarian."

Li Zhi jokingly pulled him to sit by the window, and then a palace attendant quietly served him hot tea and several exquisite snacks.

"I also saw my senior brother in the West Market today. Cui Lin is usually quite reserved in front of me, but I didn't expect her to be like this in public."

Zhang Jianzhi picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, and his actions and demeanor were exactly the same as Xia Lin's: "Noble ladies from aristocratic families are often spoiled, and they have been doing this for over a thousand years. However, this is really unbecoming. Since Your Highness is the Crown Prince, we must always be vigilant against this kind of behavior."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi's smile faded slightly, and he sighed softly: "How could I not know? It's just that Chang'an... a single move can affect the whole situation. Sometimes, even if we know something is wrong, we can't act immediately. We have to wait for the right opportunity and find a proper solution."

Zhang Jianzhi looked at him, recalling that although his master Xia Lin seemed lazy, his actions were always bold and decisive, getting straight to the point, quite different from the intricacies of Chang'an. He felt a sense of unease, but said nothing more, only nodding: "Your Highness is thoughtful; it was Jianzhi who was rash."

“It’s not that I’m being reckless, it’s just that Brother Jian is sincere.” Li Zhi waved his hand and smiled again: “By the way, tomorrow I will take you to meet the officials of the Crown Prince’s Palace, and also Senior Sister Xiao Wu.”

Mentioning Xiao Wu, Zhang Jianzhi's expression turned strange. He put down his teacup and said, "There's no need to get to know Senior Sister Wu. She's been bullying me for years."

"My senior sister is very kind and has helped me a lot." Li Zhi's tone unconsciously carried a hint of dependence and gentleness: "It's just that she is aloof and doesn't like to talk much. I hope that Brother Jianzhi will be more tolerant of her when we work together in the Eastern Palace in the future."

Zhang Jianzhi smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying. When he and Xiao Wu were both students under Xia Lin, they often clashed due to their differing philosophies.

He advocated for overt and righteous strategies, believing that governing a country required a powerful army, clear systems, and strict laws. Xiao Wu, on the other hand, was more adept at assessing situations, possessed a meticulous mind, and had a natural talent for political maneuvering. The two had argued endlessly about this, neither able to convince the other. Now, to work together in the Eastern Palace, the word "responsibility" would likely be easier said than done.

Seeing his expression, Li Zhi knew that the old grudge between the two of them had not been resolved, so he did not say much. Instead, he talked enthusiastically about the arrangements for tomorrow, that he would take Zhang Jianzhi to see the books in the Hongwen Hall, then go to see his father, and finally go to the Northern Army to let Zhang Jianzhi get to know the generals of the various departments.

That night, Zhang Jianzhi lay on the unfamiliar bed, listening to the rustling of bamboo leaves outside the window, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

The nights in Chang'an seemed much heavier than those in Fuliang, with even the air thick with pressure. He recalled what he had seen and heard during the day: the arrogance of the Cui family, the Crown Prince's forbearance, and the little martial arts sister he was about to meet. He had a vague feeling that this trip to Chang'an would probably not be as simple and carefree as his time in Fuliang.

But there was nothing he could do. Now that he had accepted the order, his master could not let him be at ease. He understood what it meant to be an official under the Crown Prince. Given time, when Li Zhi ascended the throne, he would be at least a fifth-rank official in one of the Six Ministries, and his promotion speed would be astonishing.

The following morning, Li Zhi first led Zhang Jianzhi to familiarize himself with the layout of the Eastern Palace and introduced him to several other key officials. Seeing the Crown Prince's great affection for this young tutor, everyone dared not be negligent and spoke very politely.

Around noon, the two encountered Xiao Wu, who was carrying a stack of documents to the library, in the corridor outside the study.

She was still dressed in a simple dress, her hair neatly combed. When she saw Li Zhi and Zhang Jianzhi, she stopped and curtsied slightly: "Your Highness."

When her gaze turned to Zhang Jianzhi, her expression remained calm and composed: "Junior Brother Zhang, how have you been?"

Zhang Jianzhi returned the greeting with a cupped hand, his tone equally calm: "Senior Sister Wu, it's been a long time."

Li Zhi smiled and smoothed things over: "Senior Sister, are you going to organize documents? Perfect timing, I'm showing Brother Jianzhi around, would you mind taking a walk with me?"

Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "I will leave it to Your Highness."

The three of them then walked slowly along the corridor.

Li Zhi walked in the middle, occasionally pointing out and introducing the various palaces, trying to liven up the atmosphere. Zhang Jianzhi and Xiao Wu stood on either side, one walking with his hands behind his back, his eyes surveying the layout of the palace, the other listening quietly with his eyes down, occasionally responding with a word, the atmosphere was rather subtle.

Arriving at a waterside pavilion, they saw lotus leaves just beginning to emerge in the pond, and several koi swimming leisurely. Li Zhi ordered a palace attendant to bring fish food, leaned against the railing to feed them, and said with a smile to Zhang Jianzhi, "Brother Jianzhi, look, the fish in this pond seem free, but in reality they are also confined to this small world. Sometimes I feel that they are somewhat similar to the people inside these palace walls."

Zhang Jianzhi looked at the koi carp vying for food in the water and said calmly, "Your Highness is mistaken. Fish are unaware of their predicament, so they can enjoy themselves. If people knew their predicament, they should think of ways to break free from it, rather than sighing in vain."

Hearing this, Xiao Wu spoke softly: "To break free from a predicament, one must go with the flow. Going against the flow is like throwing an egg against a rock; it will not only be useless but will also cause harm. When Junior Brother Zhang was studying with Master in Fuliang, he should have known the principle that 'the highest good is like water, which benefits all things without striving.'"

Zhang Jianzhi frowned slightly and turned to Xiao Wu: "Going with the flow is important, but as the saying goes, 'Where the Way lies, I will go even if there are thousands of people against me.' If we become timid and hesitant just because the power is great, or even go along with the crowd, wouldn't that be losing our true nature? Senior Sister's words about not fighting are probably not the true meaning of Master's teachings."

Xiao Wu looked up at him, and when he heard him deny what he had learned from Xia Lin, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "Going with the flow is not about following the crowd, but about using someone else's strength against them, and using softness to overcome hardness. Only by protecting yourself can you plan for the long term. Blindly showing off your strength is nothing but the courage of a fool, and it will not help anything. Junior brother is young and impetuous, and he still needs more experience."

Seeing that the two had barely exchanged a few words before a subtle argument was brewing, Li Zhi quickly scattered all the fish food in his hand into the pond, causing the fish to surge and splash. He then interrupted, saying, "Alright, alright, why are you two arguing as soon as you meet... I think the pond water is still a bit cold. Why don't you go to the study for a cup of hot tea and try the chestnut cake that the Imperial Kitchen has just made?"

Zhang Jianzhi and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, both seeing the unwavering determination in each other's eyes. However, mindful of Li Zhi's presence, they remained silent and followed him to the study.

In the afternoon, Li Zhi needed to go to the Hall of State Affairs to observe and learn, so he let Zhang Jianzhi browse through the classics in the Eastern Palace on his own.

Zhang Jianzhi strolled into the East Palace Library and was delighted to see the numerous bookshelves and vast collection of books. He was about to pull out a copy of "Discourses on Salt and Iron" to read it carefully when he noticed several open volumes piled up on the table by the window, along with notes with still-wet ink, written in neat and elegant handwriting—it was Xiao Wu's handwriting.

He approached and examined the notebook closely. He saw that it was meticulously organized, recording local products, canal transport data, land taxes, and even summaries of trade routes and workshop operations in the Western Regions. The entries were clear, organized, and insightful. Zhang Jianzhi was deeply impressed; his senior sister's practical skills and dedication were truly exceptional. However, the occasional brief annotations in the margins, such as "Someone seems to be making unusual moves" or "This could be used as leverage," revealed her ever-present cunning and calculating nature. Zhang Jianzhi gently put down the book, *Discourses on Salt and Iron*, and sighed inwardly: "Her talent and shrewdness are both exceptional, but unfortunately, she's too calculating. I wonder if this is a blessing or a curse for my junior brother."

As dusk settles, Chang'an City ends its day's hustle and bustle, but it doesn't become much quieter.

The East and West markets were still bustling with people, the taverns and singing houses were brightly lit, and the sounds of string and wind instruments mingled with the shouts of vendors, creating a prosperous and bustling night.

Li Zhi changed into the brocade robe of an ordinary wealthy young man, and, pulling Zhang Jianzhi, who was also dressed in plain clothes, along with only two guards disguised as attendants, quietly slipped out through the side gate of the East Palace.

"Spending all day in the palace, facing those memorials and documents, my bones are about to stiffen." Li Zhi took a deep breath of the evening breeze, which carried the aroma of food and the scent of everyday life, and his face showed a rare relaxation and joy: "It's much more comfortable outside. Brother Jianzhi, since you've just arrived in Chang'an, you must take the time to appreciate the night view of this capital."

Although Zhang Jianzhi felt that it was somewhat inappropriate for the Crown Prince to leave the palace without permission, he couldn't bear to spoil the mood when he saw that Li Zhi was in high spirits. In addition, he himself was quite curious about the Chang'an night market, so he smiled and agreed: "It's up to Your Highness... um, your junior brother will arrange it."

The two mingled with the crowd and strolled around the West Market. The shops of the Hu merchants were adorned with dazzling, colorful glass lanterns, selling spices, gems, and carpets from the Western Regions. There were also acrobats who could swallow knives and breathe fire, drawing cheers from the onlookers. Although Zhang Jianzhi had seen much of the world in Fuliang, the international flair and immense scale of Chang'an's West Market still left him secretly amazed.

Li Zhi acted like a true young man, picking up a uniquely shaped Hu bottle from a vendor's stall and playing with it, then being attracted by the fragrant Hu cakes, buying two to share with Zhang Jianzhi.

"How is it? This flatbread tastes better than the pastries in the palace?" Li Zhi asked indistinctly as he chewed.

Zhang Jianzhi took a bite and found it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with rich and juicy mutton filling. It was indeed unique and he nodded in praise, saying, "Street food has a whole different world."

As night deepened, the two left the tavern and returned to the Eastern Palace. Their incognito travels had given Zhang Jianzhi a more authentic understanding of Chang'an's prosperity. Near the palace gates, Li Zhi suddenly stopped and said to Zhang Jianzhi, "Brother Jianzhi, now that we're out, why don't you come with me to see Father? He just sent someone to say that if you have time, you can visit him anytime."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jianzhi's expression turned solemn. Although he often acted disrespectfully towards Xia Lin in Fuliang, he always held a deep sense of awe for this mentor who was like a father to him.

"I knew you couldn't sit still," Li Zhi said with a smile. "Let's go, Father should be in his study right now."

The two passed through several palace courtyards and arrived at Xia Lin's temporary residence. Unlike the other solemn areas of the East Palace, this place was filled with several peculiar artifacts from the Western Regions, and even a string of dried chili peppers hung under the eaves. Before even entering, they could hear Xia Lin humming a slightly suggestive tune, along with the occasional rustling of papers turning.

After the eunuch announced his arrival, Li Zhi led Zhang Jianzhi into the study. There, he saw Xia Lin, dressed in loose clothes, slumped over, with design drafts of a vegetable greenhouse in front of him and some fruit pits and snacks scattered on a small table next to him.

“Master.” Zhang Jian stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Xia Lin raised her eyelids and lazily sat up: "You've arrived? Was the journey smooth?"

His gaze swept over Zhang Jianzhi, and he nodded. "That's right, you certainly won't treat yourself badly."

Upon seeing his master's familiar expression, Zhang Jianzhi's tension immediately dissipated, and he smiled, "Master is too kind. Everything is fine in Fuliang. Prime Minister Zhang asked me to give his regards."

"Him? What could he possibly ask? It's good enough that he didn't scold me." Xia Lin chuckled, grabbed a handful of dried fruit from the small table, and shoved it at Zhang Jianzhi: "Sit down and talk. Son, you sit down too."

Li Zhi sat down beside them as instructed and personally poured hot tea for his father and Zhang Jianzhi.

Xia Lin sized up Zhang Jianzhi and suddenly asked, "Have you met with your Senior Sister Wu?"

Zhang Jianzhi took the teacup and honestly replied, "Master, I just arrived today and met my senior sister in the corridor."

Li Zhi added from the side, "The two of them had a quarrel as soon as they met."

"I knew it." Xia Lin chuckled. "Did you and your senior sister have another disagreement?"

Zhang Jianzhi hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "It's just that... we have slightly different ideas."

"Do you know why I asked you to come?" Xia Lin picked up his teacup and blew on it. "You're a good student, and you're upright, but sometimes you're too straightforward and don't know how to be tactful. Your senior sister is meticulous and has a sharp eye, but sometimes she thinks too deeply and gets stuck on trivial matters. Zhi'er needs someone who can help him see the right direction, and someone who can pull him back from the wrong path. You two, one extremely yang and strong, the other extremely yin and gentle, are a perfect match."

Li Zhi hurriedly said from the side, "Father, Brother Jianzhi just arrived today, and you're already saying all this..."

"What are you afraid of?" Xia Lin glanced at her son. "We're all on the same side, let's speak frankly. Jianzhi, remember this: in Chang'an, it's easy to dodge open swords and spears, but hard to guard against hidden knives. You have your principles, which is good, but you also need to learn to read people and leverage their influence. Don't be like your senior sister; sometimes being too calculating can make you lose sight of your own principles. Of course, you don't need to learn this from her either; that girl won't listen to reason."

Zhang Jianzhi listened silently, pondering his master's words, which were both guidance and admonition.

Xia Lin then turned to Li Zhi: "I've brought the men to you, how you use them is up to you. But I must warn you, don't expect the two of them to get along, that's impossible. A little disagreement is fine, what's scary is when the subordinates are all in cahoots and keep you in the dark. Let them argue, let them debate, in the end you'll have to make the decision yourself."

Li Zhi said solemnly, "I understand. Brother Jianzhi and Senior Sister are both my helpers."

Xia Lin nodded in satisfaction, then said to Zhang Jianzhi, "Alright, stop being so tense. When you're with Zhi'er, just say what you need to say and take charge of what you need to take charge of. Show the same drive you had when you confronted the headmaster at Fuliang Academy."

After saying that, he waved his hand, picked up the roll of blueprints again, and resumed his lazy demeanor: "Go on, go on, I have a lot of things to do."

Li Zhi walked alongside him on the way back to the East Palace, and said softly, "Brother Jianzhi, you don't need to take Father's words to heart. He and Uncle always talk like that."

Zhang Jianzhi shook his head, his eyes clear: "What Master said makes sense. Your Highness, rest assured, Jianzhi knows his place and will do his best to assist Your Highness."

(End of this chapter)