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

Chapter 745 Ignorant of one's own limitations

The whole family went on a trip.

He had over thirty wives, concubines, and children, surrounded by servants and guards, and even more imperial guards.

Even if Li Yi wanted to keep a low profile,

However, the Imperial Guards General appointed by the Emperor to Li Yi did not dare to slack off, and only reluctantly agreed to reduce the number of Imperial Guards accompanying him from three hundred to one hundred.

After leaving Shengyefang, head southeast.

As a result, we got stuck in traffic not far from where we left the house.

Even such a wide street was congested today.

"All six streets of Chang'an are congested. Today is the Double Ninth Festival, and the weather is nice, so everyone is going out for autumn outings. Some are going to Leyouyuan to climb the hills, while others are going on excursions to the suburbs."

Almost the entire city turned out; it was quite a spectacle.

The emperor took the empress and the crown prince to Leyouyuan.

When the emperor's carriage passed by, the streets had to be closed and the people had to make way.

Even princes and prime ministers are traveling today. These noble people of high status also need to be escorted and have their way cleared.

The already crowded Chang'an Sixth Street was severely congested today.

Li Yi left home relatively early.

But it was blocked.
The Imperial Guard captain led the way on horseback, and officials and civilians alike retreated, but progress was still slow.

"It's so congested that you can't move an inch."

This was the first time Li Yi had ever seen Chang'an so congested.

The closer they got to the Leyouyuan area in the southeast, the worse the traffic jam became. Fortunately, Li Yi had the Imperial Guards clearing the way, and the journey of less than ten miles was completed.

It took a full hour to arrive.

Finally, we entered Xinchangfang.
A long queue had also formed at the gate, where soldiers from the Wuhou Guard were conducting inspections.

Because there are many aristocratic villas in Xinchangfang today, the inspection was particularly thorough.

Outside the south gate of Xinchangfang, almost all the carriages belonged to nobles.

When Li Yi arrived...
The noble carriages in line gave way to the others.

Entering the neighborhood, to the east of the south gate, lies the cherry blossom garden in the southeast of Leyouyuan, which is Huo Yu's villa.

Li Yi often came here and knew the way well.

As he went up the mountain, he discovered that more and more villas and residences of nobles and officials were being built in the lower part of the village, and they were all very luxurious.

Li Yi was quite familiar with many of the villa owners.

There were newly emerging military generals like Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, and Hou Junji, as well as veterans of the retired emperor's dynasty such as Changsun Shunde, Liu Hongji, Yang Mao, and Qian Jiulong.
Of course, villas belonging to princes and nobles such as Li Xiaogong, Li Shentong, and Li Youliang were also included.

He also saw villas under construction by Prince Yan, Li Yi, and Duke Peng, Wang Junkuo.

The further up the plateau one goes, the higher the status of the villa owner.

Huo Yu, the mother of the Duke of Wen, did not have a very high status. However, the Cherry Blossom Garden was originally the abandoned Linggan Temple. Li Yi took over this abandoned temple and transformed it. This required not only foresight and timely information, but also his power and status as a high-ranking official.

On Leyouyuan, the abandoned Linggan Temple, covering an area of ​​120 acres, is now a rare find.

Looking at this once-ghost town where even temples couldn't stay afloat,

Now it has become a villa area for the nobles of Chang'an.

One by one, imperial relatives and newly appointed officials competed to outdo each other in wealth, leaving Li Yi only able to shake his head.

The world is not yet fully unified.

The Tang Dynasty had only been established for six years.
However, the entire court seemed to be enjoying a peaceful and prosperous era, with weapons stored away and horses grazing freely.

Buy land and build villas and gardens.
Buy Kunlun slaves, Silla maids, Western Region Persian women, Turkic horses, Xi carriages, and Khitan silver saddles.

Hunting, polo, banquets.

A time of revelry and decadence.

It seems that suddenly there is nothing to do, especially for those military generals and meritorious officials. Those who stayed in the capital to serve seemed to be bored out of their minds. Apart from spending money like water and competing with each other for wealth, there was nothing else to do.

They're enjoying it way too soon.

The national treasury is empty, there is a fiscal deficit, and most people are still unable to make ends meet, while the nobles have lost their way in their extravagant lifestyles.

In autumn, the Loess Plateau stretches like a golden dragon across the south of the city in Leyouyuan.
Although the plateau is not very high, it is the highest point in Chang'an City, offering a panoramic view of the city's splendor.

Heading up the plains,
Carriages and horses filled the area, and curtains hung like clouds.
Ladies wear dogwood hairpins, scholars hold chrysanthemum wine.

This was a rare, lively atmosphere in Chang'an City.

"Let's rest at the cherry blossom garden for a while. We've been stuck in traffic for over an hour on this short journey."

The group of children didn't seem tired at all; even though there was traffic all the way, they played the whole way.

The cherry blossom garden was already prepared to receive guests.

Huo Yu immediately sent people to wait at several gates of the neighborhood. As soon as they saw Li Yi's convoy, they rushed back to report. When Li Yi's convoy arrived at the villa, Huo Yu, dressed in her finest attire, came to greet them with her entourage.

"Aye!"

When Xiaoyu saw Li Yi, she quickly ran to him from behind her mother.

Li Yi picked her up and lifted her high in the air.

Toss it up, catch it, toss it up again.

Little Yu'er giggled happily.

The eldest sister, Li Shu, also ran over, saying, "I want one too! I want to be lifted up high too!"

A group of children followed suit, and everyone wanted to be lifted high in the air.
Li Yi had no choice but to toss them one by one. Fortunately, he was still young and had experience on the battlefield. He also paid attention to physical training, practicing with bows, broadswords, and spears.

He has considerable strength and stamina.

Fourteen babies, tossed one by one.
They all had a great time.

This made Du Shiniang and Huo Yu very distressed.

"Ah Lang, please don't let the children fall." Li Rulian came out with a smile. Her belly was still flat, but her gait already carried the air of a pregnant woman. It was hard to tell whether she was deliberately imitating or not.
In this respect, she is comparable to Du Shiniang. Although Shiniang was pregnant early, she walked with her belly sticking out and her hands on her hips, walking sideways like a crab.

She was constantly announcing that she was pregnant.

Ji Lingyi has already given birth to three children, and she hasn't had this problem with her current pregnancy.

Huo Yu smiled and invited everyone inside to rest.

Du Shiniang stepped forward and took her arm, saying, "Thank you for your hard work, Sister Huo."

Li Rulian smiled and followed, taking the initiative to walk to the other side and linking arms with Du Shiniang. The three of them walked and talked, laughing and joking, just like sisters.

Ji Lingyi then took Li Yi's arm and said, "Aren't you a little incredulous, sir? You have two mistresses outside the home, yet your wife at home is quiet and gets along so well with them."

"That's because I'm so great, and I love you all very much."

"Ah Lang is so shameless, but he is indeed outstanding and treats us very well." Ji Lingyi hugged his arm tighter.

He was once convicted and sent to the inner palace.
He served in the palace for five years.

Who could have imagined that meeting Li Yi would bring such a turn of events?

The cherry blossom garden is in a great location.

From the winding covered walkways, one can overlook Chang'an from a high vantage point.

Looking into the distance, the Zhongnan Mountains stretch like a dark screen, while the Qujiang Pool meanders like a silver ribbon.

The fields were painted with vibrant colors by the autumn wind.
"Look how pretty those wild chrysanthemums are over there!"

Zheng Rou Niang, who has always loved chrysanthemums, looked at the clusters of wild chrysanthemums on the east side, which resembled sparks of starlight, and couldn't help but admire them.

"Hmm, it reminds me of a line from Tao Yuanming's poem: 'Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I leisurely gaze at the Southern Mountains.'"

“The maple leaves over there have turned red, they’re so beautiful.” Dugu Shi pointed to the red maple leaves on the other side.

"Maple leaves are redder than February flowers."

Many maple trees have also been planted along the sightseeing corridor in the cherry blossom garden.
Fiery red maple leaves peek into the corridor.
On Leyouyuan, one can enjoy 120 acres of scenery all to oneself.
It was truly enjoyable.

The reeds on the hilltop rippled like golden waves in the setting sun.
Indeed, nothing is more beautiful than the glow of the setting sun.

As the sun set, the entire city of Chang'an was bathed in an amber glow, a breathtaking sight.

The thousands of houses resemble a game of Go, and the twelve streets are like vegetable plots.

In the distance, the Wei River resembles a ribbon studded with shimmering silver.

The rooftop was covered with tents and curtains, clusters of scholars and literati, and young girls picking flowers and chasing butterflies.

This city of Chang'an is already showing signs of a prosperous era.

It has only been six years since the founding of the nation.

Li Rulian chatted with Du Shiniang and the others for a while before coming to find Li Yi.

"There's something I want to tell you."

She talked about Liu Qingqing from the West Lake in Hangzhou, Jiangnan, and Zhangtai Courtyard in Pingkangfang, and then about the conversation between Li Yili, Yuan Hongshan, and Chang'an Ya after drinking that day.

"Because Li Yili is your uncle's son, Liu Qingqing specifically informed me of this."

"The education of the Prince of Yi'an is really bad. Of his seven sons, only the sixth son, Yiyu, is somewhat better. The rest are all spoiled brats, ignorant and incompetent, and like to cause trouble sooner or later."

Li Yi frowned.

"Such a beautiful day and scenery, it's really a downer to say such things."

“I was worried that you would be implicated by him, after all, he is your cousin. I heard that when Li Yizong got into trouble, many people in the court took the opportunity to impeach you. If it weren’t for His Majesty’s trust, you probably wouldn’t be able to stay as prime minister.” Li Rulian hugged his waist and rested her head on him.

A gentle autumn breeze was blowing.

The golden afterglow fell on people, making them feel warm.

"What an arrogant fool, sigh."

"I never expected that Zhang Tai Liu, who has recently become famous in Chang'an, is actually one of your people."

Li Rulian chuckled, "I met her when I was selling grain in Jiangnan. I saw that she was in trouble, but she was beautiful and talented, so I helped her out of her predicament."

Later, I thought of bringing her back to Chang'an. If you like her, you can keep her by my side so she can serve you when I'm not available.

I mentioned this to you once, and since you didn't seem to care, I later arranged for her to live in Pingkang Ward.

Liu Qingqing had already fallen into prostitution in Hangzhou and had gained some fame. A local powerful man took a liking to her and wanted to force her to become his concubine. Liu Qingqing refused, which caused her a lot of trouble. Li Rulian stepped in to help her.

The reputations and connections of Li of Zhao County and Lu of Fanyang were still very useful to a local tycoon in Hangzhou, Jiangnan.

Li Rulian originally intended to bring her back as her concubine to serve Li Yi, but after mentioning it once, Li Yi refused. Instead, she arranged for her to open the Zhangtai Courtyard in Pingkang Ward.

Zhangtai Courtyard served as a place to entertain princes and nobles, allowing them to cultivate personal connections and gather important information.

"Have that Miss Liu continue to keep an eye on them."

"I understand," Ru Lianhua nodded.

Liu Qingqing wanted to stop receiving the three people, fearing it would bring trouble upon herself, but Li Yi had made arrangements, and Ru Lianhua would definitely follow them.

"My lord, Liu Qingqing is exceptional in both beauty and talent. She has already captivated countless people in the short time she has been in the capital. Why don't you send someone to summon her now so that my lord can meet her?"

(End of this chapter)