Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 113 My Chang'an is in complete chaos.

Wen He was eating hot pot when Gao Yue appeared in front of her.

He glanced at Wenzhong but didn't say anything.

This steward is truly dedicated; whenever Li Er's men come, he brings them in without even announcing it.

"It is an honor to receive a high-ranking official like yourself."

Wen He put down her chopsticks and stood up with a smile.

The three little ones sitting with him only glanced at him once.

After exchanging greetings, Gao Yue and Wen He quickly bowed to the three little ones.

"This old servant greets the three princes."

"No need," Li Tai mumbled in response, then swiftly snatched a piece of cooked beef from in front of Li Ke.

"This is mine!" Li Ke tried to snatch it, but Li Tai quickly stuffed it into his mouth, so hot that his tongue swirled around in it.

A cow that fell to its death a few days ago in the neighborhood, Wen He had someone buy more than ten kilograms of beef.

Perfect for satisfying my craving.

Before they could even take a few bites, Gao Yue showed up at their door.

Li Chengqian and Li Tai nodded to him as a greeting, then turned around and hurriedly grabbed the beef.

These three are: a grandson of the emperor, a prince, and a duke.

They looked like three starving ghosts.

Gao Yue had no idea that Wen He was poor.

Everyone's money went into making soap and glass.

We haven't had any meat at home for several days.

These three little ones are at the age where they are growing, and as the saying goes, half-grown boys can eat their fathers out of house and home.

Wen Hehua spent more on the three little ones than he did on his own.

Fortunately, Li Er would still send some money every now and then.

Otherwise, he was planning to secretly sell the glass from the mansion.

Gao Yue felt a little reluctant and thought she should talk to His Highness the Crown Prince after returning to the palace.

The three young princes are out here to hone their skills; they shouldn't be subjected to any unfair treatment.

He pondered silently to himself, but spoke to Wen He without showing any emotion.

"His Highness urgently summoned the young master to the palace."

"You've summoned me to the palace again?"

Wen He was taken aback, wondering to herself, "Could it be that my slacking off has been discovered?"

That doesn't make sense. He's been back for several days now, and he even saw Li Lizhi at the mansion before.

Logically speaking, Li Er should have known he was going home long ago.

The fact that he didn't come to arrest me and take me back to the Hundred Cavalry Division means he tacitly agreed to it, right?
Seeing that he was still thinking, Gao Yue said anxiously, "Young master, you should stop thinking about it and come to the palace with this old servant first, so as not to delay His Highness's important business."

"Ok."

Wen He nodded and followed Gao Yue.

But as soon as he stepped out the door, he felt something was wrong.

"What's going on? Where did all these beggars come from?"

Yonglefang was close to the imperial city and was inhabited by the powerful and wealthy; ordinary beggars would never dare to come here.

"I don't know what happened. I came three days ago. After the young lady found out, she has already given me alms several times, but she didn't let me tell you."

Wenzhong, who had prepared the carriage, came over to explain.

"They must have fled from there," Wenzhong added.

Wen He squinted and scanned the beggars.

He felt something was wrong.

These beggars don't look like refugees; no beggar is this burly.

Apart from their tattered clothes and dusty appearance, they didn't look like refugees at all.

He immediately understood.

"Well, the beggars have come to my doorstep."

He glanced around and saw several familiar faces. These people assumed Wen He had only met them a few times and therefore wouldn't remember them.

What they didn't know was that Wen He had no other skills, but his memory was much better than that of ordinary people.

Otherwise, how could he have so readily recited Changsun Wuji's resume?

"Be careful, everyone. This is Yonglefang. If someone reports us to the authorities before curfew, none of you will escape."

When Wen He left the mansion, she deliberately raised her voice and called out.

Upon hearing this, the "beggars" hurriedly lowered their heads.

Although they couldn't believe it, they knew Wen He must have recognized them.

Wen He didn't look at them, but instead called Wen Zhong over and whispered something in his ear.

"Prepare several pots of flatbread in a while, and have Wenrou come out and give each of them a bowl. Before curfew, have the neighborhood head report to the authorities."

"Also, write down the names of all the people who ate the batu."

Wenzhong was puzzled as to why he had to write down the names of the people who had eaten the food.

But Wen He had already boarded the carriage, so he didn't ask any further questions and did as he was told after returning home.

When the pots of basil were served, quite a few beggars did indeed gather around.

"That little devil was actually quite nice; after he learned who we were, he even gave us food," someone said quietly, holding a plate of flatbread.

The person next to him nodded, but asked with a puzzled look, "I just don't know why you need to sign your name."

"You signed your real name?" another person, dressed in tattered clothes and with his face covered by messy hair, sneered.

The two people in front of him nodded blankly, not understanding the meaning behind his smile.

Without explanation, the latter picked up the steamed bun and walked out of Yonglefang.

He needed to leave Chang'an before curfew.

After him, several others followed suit, signing fake names and quickly leaving with their food.

At this moment, Wen He, who was on her way to the East Palace, naturally had no idea what had happened.

What he was thinking about now was why Emperor Taizong had suddenly summoned him to the palace.

Along the way, he tried to get some information out of the latter, but the old man refused to say a word.

No matter what you ask, he just smiles and remains silent.

This made Wen He nostalgic for the days when Huang Chun was there.

Upon arriving at Lizheng Hall, Gao Yue had just gone inside to report when Wen He clearly heard a roar coming from inside.

"Let that brat get in here!"

So before Gao Yue came out, Wen He picked up her robes and went inside.

From afar, Li Shimin saw his smiling face, immediately snorted, picked up the brush washer on the table, and threw it at him.

But he clearly didn't want to hit Wen He. The jade brush washer swept past Wen He's left side and fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

Wen He felt a pang of heartache upon seeing this.

Even if this thing isn't passed down to future generations, it's priceless in this era.

He actually fell like that.

You, Li Ertai, are such a spendthrift.

"This pen wash will be deducted from your monthly allowance!"

Before Wen He could react, he heard Li Shimin point at him and shout.

It was like a bolt from the blue.

"Your Highness, I am very poor. This is exploitation! You..."

He was shouting that he wanted to resist, but when he met Li Shimin's gaze, he immediately fell silent.

People have to bow their heads under the eaves.

"Hmph, you're still poor? I've seen the quotes you gave to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. You made at least a thousand strings of cash on those soaps and glass, enough to buy a hundred acres of fertile land outside Chang'an."

Li Shimin snorted.

Wen He smiled awkwardly: "It's nothing to mention. It's just a drop in the ocean for Your Highness. By the way, may I ask why Your Highness summoned me here today?"

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything; after he did, Li Er's anger, which he had just suppressed, immediately reignited.

He slammed a letter on the table to the ground and roared, "Look what you've done! My Chang'an is in complete chaos!"

(End of this chapter)