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

Chapter 168 This is my home, where else can I go if I don't come back?

Li Chengqian, who was eating Boto, looked up at him in confusion, and then glanced at Li Yifu.

"On the day His Majesty ascended the throne, I was with my father outside Chengtian Gate." Li Yifu knew he had been exposed, so he could only admit it with a forced smile.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, you've been waiting for quite some time."

"It's been almost half a month."

"They do have patience."

Wen He chuckled softly.

Although he dislikes petty people, such people are not unusable.

This was especially true for Li Chengqian.

Sometimes, a petty person can be more useful than a so-called loyal minister.

They at least know who they are loyal to and who they will work for.

However, such a person is a double-edged sword; if not used properly, they can hurt themselves.

So usually, he's broken before he hurts himself.

"I dare not. I merely wish to make the acquaintance of the magistrate of Wen County," Li Yifu said, bowing his head with exceptional humility.

He knew Wen He didn't want to reveal her identity here, so she deliberately kept her voice down.

"When we came in just now, were the things you said intentionally meant for the master to hear?" Li Chengqian suddenly asked.

Upon hearing this, Li Yifu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly and respectfully explained, "I only wish to recommend myself."

Knowing Wen He's identity, he naturally understood who was sitting in front of him.

The current Prince of Zhongshan of the Tang Dynasty, and the future Crown Prince.

But he dared not hope to be able to get to Li Chengqian's side. Without an introduction, let alone the Eastern Palace, he might not even be able to get into the Imperial Academy.

So ever since the phrase "Hu Wuren" began to circulate in the streets and alleys of Chang'an, he guessed that it must be His Majesty the Emperor's intention to promote Wen He.

That's why he persevered and waited here.

This is the only way to enter Chang'an from the west, and every time he comes here, he chooses to sit by the roadside.

He just didn't expect that Wen He and Li Chengqian would come to a place like this to eat.

"Are you as capable as Mao Sui?" Li Chengqian asked, looking him up and down with curiosity.

“I dare not compare myself to the sages of the past, but I am confident that I can do a good job.” Li Yifu sat up straight, thinking that Li Chengqian was testing him.

"Don't be so nervous, he was just asking casually. But you really have a lot of perseverance. This Boto is so bad, yet you've been eating here for half a month."

Wen He put down his spoon. After suffering so much in Huizhou for so long, he found the food unpalatable.

As you can imagine, it tastes terrible.

Li Yifu was embarrassed.

“Sir…” Li Chengqian smacked his lips a few times and cast a pleading look at Wen He.

"Finish your meal and don't waste food."

Wen He gently tapped the empty bowl, and Li Chengqian had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue.

This ordinary scene took Li Yifu by surprise.

This Wenxian lad actually dared to speak to the future crown prince like that.

Moreover, the King of Zhongshan dared not disobey him in the slightest.

Father was right after all. As long as we attach ourselves to this Wen County boy, even if we can't get into the Imperial Academy...

In the future, they will not need anyone's recommendation to enter the court and become officials.

"If I remember correctly, you're only twelve years old this year, right?"

Wen He remembered that Li Yifu was born in 614 AD.

“He’s already thirteen, past his birthday,” Li Yifu said with a smile.

Only thirteen.

Wen He chuckled to herself. Are all children this precocious at this age?

Most thirteen-year-olds in the future will be glued to their phones, battling it out in the Rift.

"Is it true that you need to be fourteen years old to enter the Imperial Academy?"

Li Chengqian offered a reminder.

Wen He nodded and turned her gaze to Li Yifu: "You heard it too, you need to be fourteen years old, and even with my abilities, I cannot recommend you for the Imperial Academy."

"You misunderstand, sir. I merely admire you."

He was truly sincere when he said that; he had indeed felt jealous when he saw Wen He outside Chengtian Gate.

He was only ten years old, yet he was already a county magistrate; he must have benefited from the blessings of his ancestors.

But he later learned that a few months earlier, Wen He was just a country boy from outside Chang'an County, with a lower social status than him.

It was only a few days before the Xuanwu Gate Incident that he suddenly gained the attention of the current emperor.

It is said that he has now become a guest of honor of the retired emperor.

There are also rumors circulating in the city that when His Majesty was still hesitant, it was this Wen County native who persuaded His Majesty to take the risk, which led to the heroic act of stopping the Crown Prince and Prince Qi from plotting a rebellion outside Xuanwu Gate.

Otherwise, why would the retired emperor have shown him such favor?

Of course, these are just topics of conversation for those people during their leisure time.

As for the truth, only the parties involved know.

Such rumors alone were enough to make Li Yifu take them seriously.

What Imperial Academy?
What good would it do to study there for three years?

If no one recommends you, you won't be able to get into an official career and will have to go home in disgrace.

Or find a place to work as a minor official.

"Do you really admire me?" Wen He asked with a smile.

"Of course," Li Yifu replied decisively.

"Very well, would you be willing to do some chores at my residence?" Wen He tapped her fingers lightly on the table, glancing at Li Yifu's expression out of the corner of her eye.

He is only thirteen years old now, not yet the treacherous and cunning Li Mao of later generations.

However, Wen He must be careful when using such a person. If he can change his temperament, perhaps he can go further in the future.

"I am willing," Li Yifu replied almost without hesitation.

I even felt a little happy.

This trip was worthwhile.

He didn't care what odd jobs he would do at Wenhe's residence.

Throughout history, many talented people have been tempered and honed through trials and tribulations.

Zhang Liang picked up his shoes three times before receiving the military strategy from Huang Shigong. Why couldn't Li Yifu do the same?

Isn't he just a handyman?

Even if you go and pick out night soil, what difference will it make?

"Okay, pay up, let's go home!"

Wen He got up and stretched.

Li Chengqian gently tugged at his sleeve: "Sir, aren't we supposed to go into the palace first?"

According to custom, generals who had been away on campaigns had to pay homage to the emperor upon their return.

"The chief steward hasn't returned yet. Let's meet them all when they come back."

Wen He disagreed.

He and Li Chengqian weren't high-ranking generals leading troops in the field, so they didn't need to go through this process.

On the way back, he worried that Wenrou would miss him too much, so he brought Li Chengqian and a dozen or so riders back first.

Wen He sent the hundred riders ahead to the palace to report.

All he wants to do right now is go home to see his sister, take a shower, and get a good night's sleep.

"Are you coming with me, or..."

Wen He glanced at Li Yifu.

The latter immediately bowed and said, "My father is still at the guesthouse. I would like to go and tell him the good news first."

"Alright, come to my house before 9 am tomorrow, and stay there for the time being."

Wen He decided to observe the situation first before deciding whether to accept Li Yifu.

"Yes."

He watched Wen He leave, and stood there until their carriage disappeared into the distance.

Listening to the people around him praising Wen He, he couldn't help but feel smug.

These ordinary people talked for so long, but they didn't know that the true god had been sitting right there beside them.

I, Li Yifu, have such far-sighted vision!

……

After arriving in Chang'an, Wen He quietly returned to Yonglefang.

When Wenzhong saw him return, his eyes widened in shock.

"Young master, why did you suddenly come back?"

"This is my home, where else can I go if I don't come back?"

Wen He knew what he meant, but she pretended to be confused and asked the question knowingly.

Wen Zhong was taken aback and immediately summoned someone to the palace.

Upon hearing the news, the little girl playing in the backyard immediately abandoned her two friends and ran quickly to the front yard, where she saw Wen He, who was tanned dark and had some peeling skin on her face.

She bit her lip, but ultimately couldn't help but cry.

"Wow, brother, you've gotten uglier!"

Wen He almost spat out the sip of honey water she had just taken.

Li Lizhi and Wu Erniang, who arrived later, also couldn't help but look at Wen He.

The two exchanged a glance, both thinking to themselves, "Yeah, he's gotten darker and uglier."

It's just that Wen He doesn't know what they're thinking, otherwise she would definitely have kicked them all out of the house.

"The princess has arrived, and so has Sister Wu."

Seeing Wu Erniang, Wen He still felt a little awkward.

It seems this strange feeling will take a few years to dissipate.

Wu Erniang gave him an awkward curtsy, then stood there with her hands at her sides. Her maturity and caution sometimes made Wen He feel that she wasn't a three-year-old.

Li Lizhi came over and asked frankly.

"Wenxianzi, is the west side fun?"

"It's not fun, it's all grass and dirt," Wen He replied casually. To prove his point, he shook his clothes a few times, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Upon seeing this, Li Lizhi immediately lost interest.

"Okay, I still want you to take me out to play in the future," she said dejectedly.

Wen He couldn't help but chuckle: "Want to go out and play?"

"Hmm, you and the palace are so boring, aren't you, Xiaorou?"

"Mmm, boring." Gentle nodded in agreement.

Wenrou has been staying at home lately and can't go out. The furthest she goes is to the palace to accompany Empress Zhangsun.

"Alright, let me rest for a few days, then I'll take you guys out for a walk." Wen He stretched and yawned, feeling a little sleepy.

Looking up, I saw Sister Wu standing there calmly, and a thought suddenly came to me.

"I'll take you there too."

Wu Erniang looked at him in surprise, pursed her lips and pondered for a moment, then gave him a sweet smile.

Shortly after, a series of footsteps could be heard outside.

Li Tai and Li Ke walked in together from outside. Both of them were wearing gray cloth clothes and their faces were covered in dust.

Seeing their expressions, Wen He couldn't help but laugh out loud.

It seems these two boys didn't forget to do chores while I was away.

"Not bad."

Wen He praised them a couple of times.

Li Ke maintained his usual calm and collected expression, and nodded indifferently.

He was a completely different person from Li Tai, who was talking non-stop about his experiences during this period.

However, Wen He simply didn't have the patience to listen to the latter's rambling.

He and Li Chengqian were so tired that they took a shower and went straight to bed.

However, as she was sleeping, Wen He suddenly had a nightmare.

He felt as if a large bird was eyeing him menacingly.

He suddenly woke up from his sleep.

Looking up, he saw a pair of sharp eyes staring at him in the dimly lit room.

(End of this chapter)