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

Chapter 906 Five Tigers Make a Scene in Chang'an

Tuoba Shang, with his legs crossed, sprawled on a soft couch in a side hall of the East Palace, idly tossing the fruit in his hand. Li Zhi sat opposite him, several newly delivered military reports from Hedong spread out in front of him, his brows relaxed, and a rare hint of ease playing on his lips.

"How boring." Tuoba Shang tossed the fruit into his mouth and mumbled a complaint: "Those bastards now avoid me whenever they see me, they won't even leave the house."

Li Zhi didn't even look up, his pen tip making annotations on the military report: "It's all because of your ruthless methods, Second Brother. You've broken their bones."

"Bullshit." Tuoba Shang sat up with a jolt: "I was just loosening their muscles! Who knew they were all all show and no substance, all looks and no action."

“By the way, Second Brother, don’t get too close to Cui Yan, that man…” Li Zhi hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Anyway, Second Brother, just be careful.”

"What's there to be afraid of? Your second brother is bisexual, so it's not a bad idea to try his taste."

Just then, a soft laugh came from outside the palace gate. The two looked up and saw Li Chengqian dressed in a sky-blue robe after the rain. He was tall and handsome, and compared to the two people in the room, he was indeed much more mature and had a more gentle and refined air. At this moment, he was leaning against the door frame, having listened for an unknown amount of time.

"Brother!" Li Zhi put down his pen and revealed a genuine smile.

Tuoba Shang's eyes lit up, and he rushed over to hug Li Chengqian's neck: "Boss, let's have some fun! I'm so bored."

Li Chengqian let him hang there, slowly walked into the hall, his gaze sweeping over the military report on Li Zhi's desk, and then landing on Tuoba Shang's face, which was full of boredom.

"There's always a way," he said gently, like a spring breeze passing through a mountain stream. "Some methods are worth trying."

Tuoba Shang released his grip and looked at him suspiciously: "What mischief are you plotting now?"

Li Chengqian smiled slightly and poured himself a cup of cool tea: "I heard that Your Majesty intends to hold a literary gathering on the day the newly built royal library by Kunming Pool is completed, both to showcase your civil administration and to select several talented and learned attendants and companions for the Crown Prince."

Li Zhi's eyes flickered, and he immediately understood the meaning. The attendant was an official under the Crown Prince, but the companions were mostly sons of noble families. Nominally, they were there to accompany the Crown Prince in his studies, but in reality, they were there to enter the Eastern Palace as hostages and were also symbols of their family's future status. This was a tempting offer.

Tuoba Shang was still confused: "Choosing a tutor? What does that have to do with having fun?"

Li Chengqian took a sip of tea: "The literary gathering will naturally test our knowledge. As for the exam questions... besides the classics, history, philosophy, and literature, perhaps we can add some new ideas. For example, for the policy essay, the topic could be 'On the Impact of New Textile Machines and Improved Canal Transportation on the Livelihood of Guanzhong.' We can also add an arithmetic subject, with more complex questions, such as calculating the efficiency and construction cost of the waterwheels at Kunming Pool, with an error margin of no more than one percent. And regardless of the selection process, only 50% of the candidates will be chosen."

Tuoba Shang blinked twice, his eyes filled with confusion: "Isn't it supposed to be one or two people from each family? When I was choosing my study companions, every family in the room had one."

Li Zhi couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head and saying, "Two peaches kill three warriors, is that right?"

Li Chengqian put down his teacup, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "The number of places is naturally limited. In the past, there was no limit, but now there are only two tutors and four companions. Xiao Wu and Jianzhi are already the tutors. Tell me, what will those families who are usually so close and call each other brothers do for these four places?"

Tuoba Shang gasped, looking at Li Chengqian's gentle profile, and murmured, "What a clever trick of killing three warriors with two peaches... Li Dalang, you are much worse than those people!"

Just then, a clear, somewhat domineering female voice came from outside the hall: "Brother! What fun things are you two secretly discussing here without calling me!"

Before the words were finished, a fiery red-clad girl burst in like a whirlwind. She was about fourteen or fifteen years old, and her features bore a four or five-point resemblance to Li Zhi, but she was more sharp and bright, like a rose with thorns. She was none other than Dugu Jiaye, the daughter of Xia Lin and Dugu Dayun, and Li Zhi's half-sister.

Her arrival instantly changed the atmosphere of the entire side hall. Tuoba Shang subconsciously sat up straighter, Li Zhi's face showed a helpless yet indulgent smile, and even Li Chengqian nodded slightly and called out, "Sister Jiaye."

Dugu Jiaye put his hands on his hips, glanced at his three older brothers, and snorted: "I heard everything! A literary gathering? What's the point of messing with those pedantic scholars! You guys do your thing, those ladies and young ladies from powerful families are mine!"

Li Zhi frowned: "Kasyapa, don't be ridiculous, those women..."

"How have I been acting recklessly?" Dugu Jiaye raised her chin. Her memory was exceptional, almost photographic, and she recounted everything as if it were her own treasure: "Madam Lu is the most jealous woman. Her husband just took a beautiful concubine last month. That eldest daughter of the Wang family, though seemingly aloof, has been corresponding with her cousin for over half a year. And the Zheng family—I know far more about their private squabbles than you do! You embarrass their sons and brothers, so I'll make their mothers and sisters look foolish! That's what I call fair!"

She spoke rapidly and clearly, with an air of unquestionable authority. Tuoba Shang was speechless, and couldn't help but give her a thumbs up: "Girl, when it comes to causing trouble, you're the real deal!"

Li Chengqian's smile deepened, and he said gently, "It's wonderful that Sister Jiaye is in such a good mood. But please remember, don't burn yourself while playing with fire."

"Don't worry!" Dugu Jiaye raised an eyebrow smugly. "I'm not as reckless as my second brother, nor am I as cunning as you, Brother Chengqian. I have my own methods, and I guarantee they'll have no choice but to thank me with a smile!"

After she finished speaking, without waiting for her brothers' response, she turned around and ran away like a gust of wind, leaving the three people in the hall looking at each other in bewilderment.

Li Zhi rubbed his temples and said with a wry smile, "Chang'an is really going to be turned upside down now."

Tuoba Shang excitedly rubbed his hands together, saying, "That's great! That's great! Brother, tell me quickly, how exactly will the literary gathering be organized?"

Li Chengqian gazed at the deepening night outside the palace, his voice as soft as a feather, yet carrying a hint of coldness.

"No rush, let them panic first. The stage has only just been set up."

The number of positions for tutors and companions was limited, but their significance was paramount. It meant that a member of the family could reside permanently in the Eastern Palace, spending time with the future emperor day and night—a golden opportunity for the family to continue its glory and even advance further. For a time, all the eligible young men from various families were rigorously urged to cram for their studies at the last minute. Some even went so far as to hire renowned tutors at great expense to cram in the unheard-of "practical strategies" and "precise mathematics."

While the second round of selection for the Crown Princess was being planned, the selection of study companions was also underway, making Chang'an incredibly lively. However, compared to the young masters' last-minute cramming for their studies, the women of the inner quarters were facing a different kind of silent turmoil.

The incident began when Dugu Jiaye casually mentioned to several close members of the royal family that her elder brother, the Crown Prince, had recently developed a fondness for women who were straightforward and unpretentious, believing that such women were more vibrant than wooden beauties who only knew how to embroider flowers and chase butterflies.

These words did not initially cause much of a stir. However, within two days, Yun Jin Ge, the largest silk shop in Chang'an, and Yu Yan Zhai, the largest cosmetics shop, quietly launched several riding and archery outfits called "Swift Meteor" and bright red lipsticks called "Vermilion Dots." The styles were quite different from the gentle and elegant ones they had previously favored, and it was said that they were all custom-made according to Lady Dugu's preferences.

The wind direction immediately became subtle.

First, several princesses and county princesses donned new clothes, applied rouge to their lips, and rode horses ostentatiously along the banks of Kunming Lake, attracting countless gazes. Then, the powerful ladies who aspired to send their daughters to the Eastern Palace, or at least did not want to fall behind, could no longer remain idle.

Looking at her daughter's plain dress, Madam Lu felt it looked increasingly bland and couldn't help but mutter, "Look at Princess Yongjia, how spirited she looks! You wear this drab color every day, how can His Highness the Crown Prince possibly notice you?"

The daughter said, feeling wronged, "Mother, the color is too bright, daughter..."

"What do you know!" Madam Lu interrupted her, "The fashion has changed! Go quickly and have the tailors from Yun Jin Ge make you a few bright and beautiful clothes! And buy a few more boxes of that lip rouge!"

Similar scenes played out in various mansions. The young ladies, traditionally taught to be virtuous and demure, were forced to learn horseback riding and archery, and to don brightly colored clothing they were no longer accustomed to. Once the competitive spirit arose, it was difficult to suppress. If your daughter learned horseback riding and archery, my daughter would learn polo; if your family used Shu brocade for clothing, my family would use Suzhou satin; if your daughter wore "cinnabar embellishments," my daughter would want the newly released "coral intoxication"...

With the household expenses suddenly increasing, the ladies couldn't help but chatter with each other about calculations and inquiries when they visited one another.

Just then, Dugu Jiaye kindly organized a women's polo match by Kunming Pool. On the field, the young ladies from various families, eager to compete, inevitably clashed and bumped into each other. Miss Zheng, lacking horsemanship skills, knocked over Miss Wang's horse, embarrassing her in front of everyone. Madam Wang, distressed for her daughter but unable to retaliate due to the situation, later complained to her friend, a fellow lady, about the Zheng family's poor upbringing of their daughter.

The lady who had been on good terms with him then brought it up with others as gossip. Before long, the once solid alliance between the Wang and Zheng families was shattered by a polo match between the younger generation, creating an indelible rift.

And this is just the beginning.

That day, Cui Lin was invited to Pei Wan's home to admire paintings. The two had been at odds for a long time due to the matter of choosing a concubine. Seeing Pei Wan still dressed elegantly, Cui Lin couldn't help but say with a hint of superiority, "Sister Wan'er is still so simple. Don't you wear any of the fashionable colors in Chang'an these days?"

Although Pei Wan was gentle, she was also sensitive. She sensed the sarcasm in her words and lowered her eyes, saying calmly, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think this is fine, sister."

Feeling bored, Cui Lin noticed a book titled "Records of Customs and Scenery in the Western Regions" on Pei Wan's desk. It wasn't the kind of poetry and prose that women usually read, so she casually asked, "Sister, have you been reading these lately?"

Pei Wan looked up, a barely perceptible glint in her eyes: "I came across it by chance and found it interesting. The book mentions cotton spinning techniques from the Western Regions. If these techniques could be introduced to the Central Plains, they might benefit the people."

She meant what she said sincerely, but Cui Lin scoffed, "Sister, you truly care about the world. But what's the point of us women learning these strange skills and tricks? We should think more about how to dress ourselves up, so as not to waste our youth."

A single word is too much when things don't go your way, and the painting appreciation session ended in discord. After Cui Lin left, Pei Wan sat alone by the window, looking at the blooming crabapple trees in the courtyard. She recalled Xia Shuai's words of admonition that day, and Cui Lin's sarcastic remarks just now, and felt a pang of bitterness and annoyance in her heart.

Pei Wan's mother was furious at the situation, but due to the Cui family's power, she couldn't ask the men in her family to seek justice. However, she still spread rumors about Cui Lin's rudeness and arrogance among the women. The Cui family wasn't stupid; the two families, which had only had a slight rift before, suddenly became bitter enemies. The various factions around the two families began to automatically select and choose sides, and this infighting was quite intense. Ultimately, even the heads of the Cui and Pei families and their supporters were forced to confront each other.

The scandal involving the women naturally reached the ears of the young men.

The pressure of preparing for the literary gathering, coupled with the complaints and comparisons from their mothers and sisters, left many of these already uneducated playboys overwhelmed. Friends who used to drink and have fun together now spoke with more probing and reservation in their conversations.

"Brother Zhang, I heard that you've invited a former official from the Ministry of Revenue to give a lecture on canal transport? You've really gone all out!"

"Not at all, Brother Li, didn't you also spend a lot of money to purchase a rare copy of a famous mathematician from the previous dynasty? I suppose you're determined to win the mathematics exam this time."

They were polite on the surface, but undercurrents were swirling beneath. There were only six baits, two of which were already hooked, and everyone wanted to bite the remaining one, but they were afraid of being beaten to it by the person next to them.

Amidst this subtle restlessness, Li Chengqian leisurely visited several mansions that had trade ties with Sichuan. He only talked about romance and occasionally mentioned Sichuan specialties, without mentioning the literary gathering at all. However, after he left, the owners of those mansions unanimously instructed their children to stay home less and study more, especially to delve into practical matters and mathematics.

Tuoba Shang then pulled Li Zhi along, changed into civilian clothes, and mingled in the teahouses and taverns of the West Market, listening to the city's discussions about the literary gathering and the preparations made by various prefectures, and was overjoyed.

"Did you hear that? That kid surnamed Zheng has been locked in the study by his father for three days. He's saying he won't be allowed to eat until he can solve his math problems!"

"And the Lu family almost got into a fight with the Wang family over the last batch of Suzhou silk from Yunjin Pavilion!"

Listening to the common people's words and looking out the window at the still bustling and noisy streets of Chang'an, Li Zhi sighed softly. Chengqian's plan had already worked; a thorn called self-interest was precisely piercing the cracks in those seemingly solid alliances.

As for Kasyapa, she was well-versed in her mother's teachings, and with just a few moves, she ignited a competitive spirit among the women, causing the gap between them to widen further.

The entire city of Chang'an was thrown into turmoil by these fellow disciples from this sect. Even when Xia Lin himself stirred things up, it wasn't as chaotic as what these little brats did.

The arrival of Dugu Jiaye and Li Chengqian was like a powerful boost to Li Zhi's power. Only now did he understand what his second brother meant by "winner takes all." The slight advantage he had previously held was magnified infinitely, and everyone's attention was focused on the Crown Prince. Every individual and every family was strategizing around him, which was tantamount to handing the initiative over to the Crown Prince himself.

In this game of strategy, the Crown Prince has already won 60%. Next comes the duel of choosing a study companion and selecting a concubine around midsummer.

(End of this chapter)