A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 711 There is a majestic phoenix
"There is a majestic phoenix, resting its wings in the morning sun. It roams in the purple mist at dawn and drinks the black frost at dusk."

"Its wings are lifted by the long wind, soaring high above the heavens. Flying westward, it obscures the colors of mist and haze; flying eastward, it illuminates the sun and moon. It transforms into a roc in the northern borderlands, training flocks of birds in the southern wilderness..."

Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching.

In the Prince Dai's Mansion in Shengye Ward, Chang'an,

Li Yi recited a poem entitled "Majestic Phoenix".

This poem was written by Li Shimin himself and was given to Li Yi, a meritorious official who had been recuperating at home, as the Mid-Autumn Festival approached.

"Father, what does this all mean?"

The eldest daughter of the Prince's mansion, Little Chili, lay on her father's back, looking at the words on the table and asking a question.

"It is said that there is a majestic phoenix that rests on the east side of the mountain. In the morning, it roams in the purple mist and drinks the celestial nectar at night. It takes flight high on the long wind, soaring straight into the clouds and flying far away. When it flies west, the smoke and clouds dissipate; when it flies east, the sun and moon shine brightly."

In the North Sea, he transformed the giant Kun into the Peng; in the South, he taught ordinary birds to be ambitious. He came to earth to save the chaotic world, and his merits were renowned for serving the holy era. He spread his wings and soared on the cloud path, and returned to his original tree after achieving his goal.

Climbing high, one is met with suspicion; falling to a low branch, one suffers humiliation. Fellow forest dwellers are envious; those on the same tree are hostile. There is no camaraderie like the birds of Huan Mountain, only the fury of the raging winds and fires of Yan Province.

"..."

"Wow, this phoenix is ​​so majestic! It really is a majestic phoenix! Dad, Dad, where is this majestic phoenix?"

Princess Li Shu of Daning County grabbed her father's ear and pressed him for answers.

Princess Du Shiniang, seeing her adopted daughter acting so coquettishly, laughed and scolded, "Your father's foot is still injured, hurry up and get down."

The eldest son, Rongguo Gong, and the second son, Li Cong, were holding wooden swords and were gesturing with their younger brothers when they heard this and gathered around.

“Father, where is the majestic phoenix? Where is the majestic phoenix?”

Li Yi smiled and said, "That majestic phoenix is ​​in Chang'an City."

"In Chang'an City, over there, Father, take us to see the majestic phoenix."

"Wei Feng is in the Eastern Palace."

Li Shimin considered himself a majestic phoenix, boasting of his own prowess and flaunting his achievements in pacifying various regions. However, his great achievements later aroused suspicion, even from his own relatives. Fortunately, virtuous men supported and trusted him, and thus swiftly swiftly swept away the scoundrels.

This Ode to the Phoenix is ​​quite long.
The core idea is that Li Erfeng is a powerful and extraordinary woman, destined for greatness. Her achievements are so great that she is suspected of wrongdoing, and in a moment of crisis, she is fortunate to meet Li Yi. Finally, she says, "I will never forget your contributions. It is all because of you that I am where I am today. I will repay you properly, and our relationship as ruler and subject will be harmonious from beginning to end. Your virtue will be remembered for eternity."

This poem is truly excellent. If it hadn't been ghostwritten, it would be a masterpiece of literary talent. The calligraphy is also superb.
It possesses the style of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi, and also combines the elegance of the flying white calligraphy.

Of course, the most important thing is to convey the meaning of the poem: our relationship as ruler and subject is harmonious, I will not forget your contributions, and I will ensure a good beginning and a good end.

Li Erfeng
They completely understood Li Yi's current thoughts.

I advised him not to stay home and never go out just because he hurt a toe.
The prosperous Zhenguan era required the joint efforts of the emperor and his ministers to create.

This "Ode to the Majestic Phoenix" was written to appoint Li Yi as the Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat.

Du Shiniang told Jin Yushu to take Li Shu off Li Yi, saying, "She's such a big girl now, and she's still clinging to your father like a monkey."

Li Yi laughed and said, "This nickname is really fitting, Little Chili Pepper, quite fiery, but our Little Chili Pepper is a bit thin, she needs to eat well."

Every morning, I have to eat at least one boiled chicken.

Little Chili struggled in her adoptive mother Jin Yushu's arms, saying, "I don't want to eat boiled chicken, it doesn't taste good at all."

"Then you can eat it in different ways, like Zhuque soup, poached eggs, egg and vegetable pancakes, steamed eggs... you can have a different one every day."

“We also raise dairy goats, so they can drink some milk.”

Du Shiniang asked Yu Shu to take the children to play.
"My lord, His Majesty is urging you to return to the Council of State Affairs."

Li Yi looked at his still-bandaged foot.

His right foot was wrapped up like a rice dumpling. Anyone who didn't know better would think that Li Yi was going to lose his foot. Actually, the day he was riding a horse, the Qinghai horse was startled by a rat and threw Li Yi off.

The fall wasn't serious; it was just a minor fracture in one of his right toes. Li Yi simply used the excuse that he had injured his foot in the fall from his horse and was unable to perform his duties, so he requested to resign as Attendant-in-Ordinary.

He has been resting at home for almost half a month.

It seems the emperor was already fully aware of his injuries.

This person, who is also the Chancellor of the Secretariat and the Chancellery, is still a prime minister. He goes to the Hall of State Affairs every two or three days, so you have to go too.

"Hey, it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone. I've only rested for a few days. Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. Let's go back to Yushu Township to celebrate. I haven't been back to my hometown in a long time."

Staying in Chang'an is incredibly annoying; people bother me every day.

"You're pregnant too, going to the countryside where the mountains and rivers are beautiful will be good for your physical and mental health."

Du Shiniang stood there with her hands on her hips, as if she was about to give birth. In fact, she had just become pregnant and her lower abdomen was flat, but she always said that she felt her back was tired after becoming pregnant and that she had to hold on.

Li Yi didn't expose it.
They were happy to let the princess use this image to remind everyone at all times that she was finally pregnant.

The legitimate son of the Prince of Dai is about to be born.

The Emperor himself wrote the "Ode to the Majestic Phoenix" in his flying-white calligraphy style, so it naturally had to be properly enshrined. Du Shiniang said that she would have the older children in her family copy and memorize it later.

The eldest daughter, Li Shu, is over five years old and has already started reading and writing. The eldest son, Li Cong, has also started his formal education and is doing quite well with his calligraphy.

Their early education used the Three Character Classic, which Li Yi created at Wuji Elementary School, and the Thousand Character Classic, which had been passed down from the Southern Dynasties.

The Hundred Family Surnames, numbering in the hundreds, are not yet complete.
It's not suitable to take it out either.
After all, the current emperor's surname is Li, but your surname starts with Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li. What makes the Zhao family so special? If we're really talking about the ranking of surnames, according to folk tradition, the five surnames and seven families from Shandong would be at the top: Cui, Lu, Zheng, Wang, and Li.

"His Majesty personally wrote a poem urging you to come out of seclusion and even guaranteed you a good start and a good finish. What are you still worried about?" Since becoming pregnant, Du Shiniang's complexion has not only not worsened, but has actually improved.

With a rosy complexion and a radiant spirit,
She's gotten a bit plumper.

She felt her husband's talent and achievements were more than enough to make him prime minister; who could sway him? But her husband always seemed to back down. However, no matter what he chose, she was willing to support him. "Does Ah Lang miss the life he had at Shenhe Plain?"

"Yes, at the foot of Shenhe Plain, along the Haoshui River, ten miles of Hama Beach, the fragrance of rice blossoms heralds a bountiful harvest, and the chorus of frogs fills the air," Li Yi said with a smile.

Du Shiniang used to live in the old house in Duqu, Fanchuan, and she also loved the freedom of the countryside.

Luo Sanniang came over,
Hearing Li Yi say he missed the croaking of frogs by the Hao River, I couldn't help but laugh. "That year, the cliffs of Luojiabao collapsed after a rainstorm. Many cave dwellings in Luojiabao, as well as Wuji Temple, all collapsed."
We were forced to move to a makeshift hut by the irrigation canal on the north bank of the Hao River. I don't miss those days at all. It was summer; the days were unbearably hot, and at night the mosquitoes were so swarming you could carry someone away.

The croaking of frogs in the rice paddies became even louder, like thunder.

Moreover, every family was poor, often going hungry, and life was so miserable it could drive anyone crazy.

Du Shiniang was a daughter of a noble family, so of course she couldn't understand the hardships of ordinary people. "I'm afraid my husband wants to live a hard life for a few days."

Li Yi said, "Who would want to live a hard life again when they have a good life? But now the lives of the people in Yusu Township are much better, and the villagers in Luojiabao have become rich."

Every household has a large courtyard with a husky-like roof.

Luo San Niang smoothed her hair. "Isn't it all thanks to you? A golden phoenix flew out of Shenhe Plain, and the whole village benefited from it. Not only Luo Family Fort, but the entire Yusu Township, and even the surrounding villages and towns along the plain, all benefited."

Children can study for free for one or two years at Wuji Academy, learning to read and broadening their horizons. The smart ones can continue studying, and they even receive a stipend for their studies.

Men and women can both work and earn money in our estates, shops, and caravans…

Hearing this, Li Yi felt extremely proud.

His trip was worthwhile; at least Yushu Township has been completely transformed and improved because of him. The people are now well-fed and clothed, and children have the opportunity to receive an education.

These tangible things made him even happier.

Once material needs are met, people will seek higher spiritual pursuits.

···
East Palace,

The retired emperor once again instructed his old friend Pei Ji to convey to the emperor that he was willing to move to the former Qin Prince's residence, Hongyi Palace.

Let the emperor take over the Taiji Palace.

"The Emperor Emeritus said that His Majesty has been on the throne for more than a month now, and the political situation is stable and the country is at peace. His Majesty has also appointed the eldest grandson as empress and the Prince of Zhongshan as crown prince."

Since there is already a crown prince in the Eastern Palace, the emperor cannot always handle state affairs in the Eastern Palace.

The officials also face many inconveniences when attending court assemblies at the Eastern Palace, which is contrary to the established system.

Sikong Peiji reported to the emperor.

Li Shimin looked at the memorial in his hand.

"I said before I ascended the throne that Your Majesty should reside in Taiji Palace. How can I go back on my word now?"

"Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus said that Taiji Palace is too large and the terrain is too low, so he doesn't like living there. Hongyi Palace is located to the west of the palace gardens. When it was built, it had many gardens, rockeries, and ponds, which is suitable for enjoying his old age."

"Your Majesty still wishes to go to Hongyi Palace."

Li Yuan could no longer stay in Taiji Palace. It wasn't that Li Shimin wanted to expel him, but rather that after Empress Zhangsun was made empress, she first selected more than a dozen young and beautiful palace maids to send to the retired emperor.
Turning his head,

There are many palace maids in Taiji Palace who entered the palace during the previous dynasty. They are confined in the deep palace, and their situation is truly pitiful.

They requested the Emperor Emeritus's permission to release some of the older palace staff from the Taiji Palace.

The Empress said that there were more than three thousand people who met the criteria for being released from the palace.

Could Li Yuan refuse?
We can only let this daughter-in-law handle it.

Empress Zhangsun selected more than 3,000 palace women and arranged for them to marry soldiers of the Imperial Guards, and also provided them with dowries.

For a time,

These poor palace women gained their freedom and even had homes.

Many Imperial Guards soldiers who had been unable to marry due to war or other reasons, or who had lost their spouses, were now receiving a wife and a dowry for free, and were naturally very grateful to the Empress.

Only Li Yuan was very sullen.

The sudden loss of three thousand palace maids in the Taiji Palace naturally had a significant impact.

There are not enough people in many places to keep such a large palace running.

Li Yuan felt that his son and daughter-in-law were urging him to give up Taiji Palace, so he took the initiative to ask Pei Ji to convey his intention to move out.

It had only been two months since the palace coup.
Li Yuan's mindset has undergone a tremendous change.

Seeing the stability of the court, Li Yuan couldn't help but feel disappointed, and finally resigned himself to his fate.

This world,
Let's hand it over completely to Erlang, including the Taiji Palace.

The Emperor Emeritus also said,
This Mid-Autumn Festival, I hope Your Majesty can bring the Empress, the Crown Prince, and others to the Taiji Palace for a reunion dinner.
At that time, we should also invite all the princesses who are already married, along with their husbands and children.

in addition,"

Pei Ji hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The Emperor hopes that Your Majesty will allow Jiancheng, Yuanji, and their wives and children to also have a reunion dinner."

Li Shimin looked up, his gaze sharp as an arrow.

Pei Ji trembled slightly and quickly lowered his head to avoid it.

Li Shimin stared at Pei Ji for a long time.

"I know!"

(End of this chapter)