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

Chapter 320 That Gaoyang County boy is nothing to fear.

"Your humble servant pays respects to the Emperor Emeritus."

Wen He was led by a palace attendant up the imperial steps and went straight to Li Yuan.

The old emperor frowned, gave him a disgruntled snort, and said with a hint of deliberate grievance in his voice, "You brat, how many days has it been since you last came to Da'an Palace? Do you think that I, the retired emperor, am too old and useless, so you've become too lazy to come?"

Wen He's eyelids twitched upon hearing this.

Her tone was like that of a neglected woman in her boudoir, or a washed-up courtesan in a brothel, complaining that her patrons hadn't come to visit in a long time.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he couldn't help but shudder. He quickly put on a smile and explained, "Your Majesty has misunderstood! Your Majesty has recently assigned me many tasks, and I am simply too busy to pay my respects at Da'an Palace. It was not my intention to neglect you."

Don't overthink it. I haven't forgotten you; I've just been too busy.

Standard "scumbag quotes".

"is it?"

Li Yuan gave a light snort, but his gaze passed over Wen He and went straight to Li Shimin, the "you decide what to do" message practically written on his face.

"Um...yes, the Hundred Riders have been very busy lately, and I'm really sorry to have troubled Jia Ying with all this."

Li Shimin chuckled twice, but his eyes glared fiercely at Wen He out of the corner of his eye.

This brat is actually trying to shift the blame onto me!

Li Yuan didn't respond, but slowly said, "How old is he? Why arrange so many things? Aren't all the civil and military officials enough for you? Aren't there already so many people that even Pei Xuanzhen and the others can't be accommodated?"

Wen He's heart skipped a beat.

coming.

Old Deng wasn't really complaining about not paying his respects; he was clearly using this as an excuse to dredge up old grievances!

It seems that ever since Pei Ji was dismissed, this old man has been waiting for this opportunity.

Li Shimin's smile faded slightly, but his tone remained respectful: "Pei Xuanzhen has violated the law and should be severely punished according to the law. I have already shown leniency out of consideration for Father, only dismissing him from his post and allowing him to return to his hometown to retire. This is already an act of mercy beyond the law."

The implication was that if it weren't for the Emperor Emeritus's favor, Pei Ji wouldn't even be able to leave Chang'an.

"So, I should thank you for showing mercy?"

Li Yuan was so angry he laughed, the corners of his mouth curving into a mocking smile.

Li Shimin also refused to yield an inch, lowering his eyes slightly and saying, "Your son dares not, he is only acting in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Tang Dynasty."

The father and son's tone suddenly tightened, as if invisible arrows were clashing in the air.

Seeing that things were not going well, Changsun Wugou was about to speak up to smooth things over when Wen He suddenly blurted out something.

"Um... Your Majesty the Emperor Emeritus..." Wen He scratched his head, looking innocently at the three people on the imperial steps.

"I didn't eat much food just now, and I'm a little hungry now. Could I leave now?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Yuan, Li Shimin, and Empress Zhangsun, who were on the imperial steps, all looked at him at the same time, each with a different expression.

Li Yuan was stunned, probably not expecting this kid to dare to interrupt during the confrontation between father and son;
A hint of amusement flashed in Li Shimin's eyes.

That brat certainly knows how to pick his time, managing to turn a tense atmosphere into a casual chat.

"Jiaying is still growing, so she can't eat too little."

Empress Zhangsun smoothed things over, her tone gentle yet subtly reminding Wen He of the situation.

"But don't rush, the main course will be served when the auspicious time arrives and Gao Ming and the others come."

Her specific mention of "brilliant" was a veiled reference to Li Shimin.

It is crucial not to offend the Emperor Emeritus. The Crown Prince and the other princes have not yet arrived. If the Emperor Emeritus were to leave in anger at this moment, the New Year's Eve banquet would become a laughing stock in the court and among the people.

Li Shimin naturally understood the deeper meaning in the Empress's words. He smiled and nodded, picked up his wine cup and took a sip, the sharpness in his eyes already gone.

Seeing this, Wen He quickly took the opportunity to bow and said, "Then this humble subject will take his leave first."

Unexpectedly, Li Yuan suddenly snorted and glanced over: "Tomorrow is a day of rest for the court. Come to Da'an Palace and play chess with me."

“Uh…” Wen He blinked.

"Can I not go?"

Li Yuan, who was stroking his beard, suddenly paused, then slowly turned to Li Shimin, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority: "My palace is currently lacking a young eunuch, Second Prince..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wen He immediately changed his tune, a smile spreading across his face: "I'll go! Of course I'll go! How could I not go? I may not have many other virtues, but my greatest virtue is respecting the elderly and caring for the young!"

"Ah."

Li Yuan nodded in satisfaction and laughed heartily.

"In that case, there's no need to transfer people from the Inner Palace Secretariat."

Wen He secretly pursed her lips, cursing the old man a thousand times in her heart, but on the surface she respectfully bowed and withdrew.

He had barely returned to his seat when the sound of ceremonial music suddenly rang out again outside the hall, this time even more solemn than before.

Li Chengqian, dressed in the crown prince's robes, walked at the front. His black court robes were embroidered with the twelve symbols of imperial authority. Although he was still young, his steps were steady.

Behind him followed several princes, including Li Tai, Li Ke, and Li You, as well as a few princes aged six or seven, all dressed in brocade robes and following respectfully as they were led in from outside the palace by eunuchs.

Wen He had been wondering why Li Chengqian and the others weren't there.

Now it seems that it must have been arranged by Li Shimin on purpose.

This was to demonstrate his high regard for Li Chengqian and to deter those with ulterior motives in the court.

"Your subject pays respects to the Emperor Emeritus, Your Majesty, and the Empress, and inquires about your well-being."

In such formal occasions, even the crown prince and princes must use the most formal titles, rather than "Father Emperor" or "Mother Empress."

The latter's affectionate nickname only gradually became a standard practice during the Ming Dynasty.

May Your Majesty be well.

Li Yuan spoke before Li Shimin could, his voice carrying a deliberate air of authority.

The officials subconsciously looked at Li Shimin and saw that he was still smiling calmly and even waved to the crown prince. They secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that the disagreement between father and son was indeed just a common quarrel.

"Your Highness is late," Li Shimin said to Li Chengqian with a smile.

"I must offer you all a few cups of wine later."

"Yes."

Li Chengqian bowed in response, his youthful face displaying a composure beyond his years, and every move he made exuded the demeanor of a crown prince, making him appear somewhat like a little adult.

Soon after, the Crown Prince and the princes took their seats in order, and the officials stepped forward to pay their respects according to their rank. Then, the foreign envoys followed custom and paid their respects to the Crown Prince.

This elaborate set of etiquette took up most of the hour.

Wen He looked at Li Chengqian from afar and saw that his small body was sitting upright, but his posture was already a little uncomfortable, and his shoulders were obviously much stiffer.

But in this situation, no one can help him.

As the crown prince, he will face countless court assemblies and banquets that will be even longer than this in the future, and he must learn to bear them alone.

Half an hour later, Li Yuan finally left the banquet, citing "not being able to hold his liquor," with the help of a palace attendant.

Before leaving, he specifically asked the old eunuch beside him to come over and solemnly instruct Wen He: "Tomorrow at dawn, the Emperor Emeritus will be waiting for Wen He to play chess at the Da'an Palace. Don't forget."

Wen He reluctantly agreed, inwardly cursing the old man who was "conscripting" him once again.

After Li Yuan had been gone for a long time, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun also got up and returned to the palace. The New Year's Day banquet, which lasted for nearly three hours, finally came to a close.

"Little one, wanna come along?" Li Daozong strode over, the copper buckles on his armor clanging crisply.

Wen He nodded in agreement, and the two walked side by side toward the gate. Just as they reached the entrance, a voice suddenly called out from behind, "Wen County Magistrate, please wait."

Wen He stopped and turned around, only to see Cui Dunli, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat, helping an elderly man with white hair and beard walk towards them.

The old man was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe. Despite his advanced age, he stood upright, and his eyes revealed the scrutinizing gaze characteristic of a prominent family.

"The new manager that the Cui family of Boling has arranged in Chang'an is named Cui Yuanhan. He was also a county duke during the Sui Dynasty. He can be considered the Cui family's 'old brand' in the capital." Li Daozong whispered quickly in Wen He's ear.

Wen He raised an eyebrow slightly, but her expression remained unchanged. She smiled and cupped her hands in greeting, saying, "So it's Minister Cui. May I ask who this old man is?"

When Cui Dunli saw Li Daozong, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

He hadn't recognized Li Daozong from a distance.

If he had known this scoundrel was here, he wouldn't have come.

Now that we've met, we still need to observe the proper etiquette.

“This is my uncle.” Cui Dunli returned the greeting, his tone neither warm nor cold. “My uncle has long admired your reputation, and has specially wished to make your acquaintance.”

The old man stepped forward, a kind smile spreading across his face, looking just like a friendly old neighbor: "I am Cui Yuanhan. I have long heard of the young talents of Gaoyang County. Today I have finally met you, and I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."

However, the smile didn't reach her eyes, and Wen He felt that there was a hint of deliberate hypocrisy mixed in with this kindness.

"Greetings, Lord Cui."

Wen He bowed respectfully, his tone neither humble nor arrogant, "Master Cui is a senior, and I am unworthy of such praise."

Cui Yuanhan stroked his beard, his gaze sweeping over him, and suddenly laughed, "You're too modest, sir. In the battle of Huizhou, you made powerful crossbows and researched gunpowder, helping the Duke of Dai to defeat the Turks. Such achievements are beyond my reach even when I was your age."

"It was merely a coincidence, a stroke of luck," Wen He replied calmly, turning her gaze to Cui Dunli, her tone serene. "May I ask what business the Imperial Secretary and Lord Cui have with me?"

Cui Dunli chuckled twice, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

However, he already knew that Wen He had always kept his distance from aristocratic families, so this cold attitude was not surprising.

"My uncle would like to invite the county magistrate to visit the Cui family in Boling when he has some free time these days, as there are some things he would like to ask the county magistrate for advice."

"Oh?" Li Daozong chuckled, his tone full of sarcasm.

"You two had a falling out with Wen He a while ago, and now you're suddenly thinking of inviting him over?"

The Cui family of Boling was also involved in Zheng Yuanzhu's affair.

They were unharmed because they quickly cut off their tails to save their lives.

Now they're actually pretending to be friendly?
Li Daozong was quite disdainful.

Cui Dunli looked even more embarrassed upon hearing this.

Cui Yuanhan, standing beside him, remained calm. Hearing Li Daozong's words, he still wore a gentle smile on his face: "It was just a misunderstanding before. Some people in the clan are used to their high positions and have lost their manners. I hope that the Prince of Gaoyang and the Prince of Rencheng will forgive them."

Wen He didn't reply, but a faint smile played on her lips.

This Master Cui is much more insightful than those arrogant scions of noble families.

"You're a sensible person."

Li Daozong stroked his short beard, then changed the subject, his tone suddenly carrying a hint of authority.

"But with me here, there really isn't anyone in Chang'an who can bully a little child."

"It's natural."

Cui Yuanhan responded neither humbly nor arrogantly, but his gaze turned to Wen He, his tone gentle yet earnest.

"But Gao Yangxianzi is still young, and he has decades to go. The road of life is difficult, so it's always good to have more friends."

Wen He narrowed her eyes slightly, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the corner of her sleeve: "I wonder what Master Cui means?"

He secretly became wary.

Could it be that the Cui family of Boling has changed its leader and is going to resort to this trick of using both soft and hard tactics?
Cui Yuanhan seemed to sense his wariness, and gently shook his head, his tone surprisingly frank: "I know that it is impolite to invite the county magistrate to be a guest in such an abrupt manner. If the county magistrate is unwilling, then so be it."

He paused, then suddenly changed the subject, lowering his voice even further: "Recently, some people have asked me to 'remind' the magistrate a few things. To be honest, I don't want to be the bad guy. My Cui family of Boling still wants to be friends with the magistrate."

These words were so blunt and almost naked that they stunned Wen He. Was he deliberately revealing his secrets to her?
Looking into Cui Yuanhan's seemingly cloudy yet shrewd eyes, he couldn't for a moment guess what the Cui family of Boling meant.

Is it a test?
Is this a gesture of goodwill?
Or is there another picture?
Li Daozong frowned, clearly not expecting the old fox to be so explicit.

“What you say, Master Cui, has confused me.”

Wen He said calmly.

"Who wants to remind the younger generation? And what is the reminder about?"

Cui Yuanhan smiled and said slowly, "Although you are young, you are different from the naivety of your peers. The 'Sanwei Bookstore' you opened last time sold books at very low prices, including some classics hidden by aristocratic families."

"But now these precious pieces of knowledge are being sold at such low prices in the market, which is causing great concern among many gentry."

"If it weren't for the Zheng family incident, I'm afraid they would have already launched an attack on the magistrate of Gaoyang County?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wen He immediately understood.

It turned out to be this.

In fact, he opened the Sanwei Study in the first place precisely to gradually boil the frog in the water.

If Zheng Yuanzhu and his son hadn't pushed him to the brink, he wouldn't have ordered his Hundred Cavalry to attack.

Looking back now, the reason why those aristocratic families didn't make things difficult for the three scholars for so long must have been because they were wary of me.

"Then who is it that wants to make trouble for me?" Wen He asked.

Cui Yuanhan smiled but remained silent.

Seeing this, Cui Dunli smiled and apologized, "Uncle is getting old, and it's getting late. Why don't we talk about it another day?"

This is deliberately designed to keep you in suspense.

Wen He smiled and nodded, then calmly bid farewell to the two of them.

After the two of them left, Li Daozong snorted disdainfully.

"They're just making a fuss; they're probably hoping you'll come knocking on their door. Don't fall for it, little one."

"Even you can tell that I definitely won't go."

Even Cui Yuanhan and Cui Dunli, who appeared to be willing to befriend each other.

But their condescending attitude remained unchanged.

The aristocratic class was inherently arrogant.

Li Daozong rolled his eyes at Wen He. Does this little brat even know how to talk?

However, he was also worried.

"That's true, but those people aren't exactly innocent either. Aren't you afraid they'll resort to some underhanded tactics?"

"What's there to be afraid of? I have both printing and papermaking technology. If they're so capable, let them wage a price war against me."

Three coins a book.

Unless the aristocratic class has gone mad!

"You guys are crazy!"

Two hours later.

Inside the Cui family mansion in Qinghe, Chang'an.

Lu Ziye, the person in charge of the Lu family in Chang'an, stood up from his seat in shock.

His eyes trembled slightly as he looked at the elderly man from the Cui family of Qinghe at the head of the table.

“Cui Yushu, a book costs two coins. Your Cui family of Qinghe is wealthy and powerful, but my Lu family doesn’t have that kind of capital!”

"Father."

Lu Chengqing, who was behind him, quickly stepped forward to support him.

The old man from the Cui family, Cui Yushu, paused for a moment while holding his teacup, and looked up at Lu Ziye.

"Do you know how many poor families who originally wanted to rely on us have suddenly left in these short ten days?"

"Wen Jiaying's three-cent book is what truly cuts off our path!"

After saying that, he slammed the teacup heavily onto the table.

"At the Yuan Assembly just now, did you think His Majesty toasted the third cup of wine to the reign title of tomorrow? He was clearly toasting Wen Jiaying. That boy is too sharp and outspoken."

A hint of coldness flashed in Cui Yushu's eyes.

The elderly man surnamed Wang, sitting on the right, pondered for a moment and said calmly, "Papermaking and printing are both in Wen Jiaying's hands. Brother Cui, what do you think we should do to resist him?"

"If you are only one coin lower than him, I'm afraid that won't be enough. You should know that he not only has those classics, but also the enlightenment book 'Three Character Classic', as well as his own 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'."

"The fate of the Zheng family is still fresh in our minds. Brother Cui, you can't expect us to follow in Zheng Yuanzhu's footsteps, can you?"

It was this person's idea to have Zheng Yuanzhu burn sheep wool before.

They hadn't objected before, because they hadn't expected Wen He to be so ruthless.

They showed no regard for the dignity of the aristocratic class.

Moreover, the Cui family of Boling quickly turned against them, which caused their previous plan to fail.

Upon hearing this, Cui Yushu calmed down a bit and shook his head, saying, "Don't worry, I won't be so reckless this time. Speaking of which, let me introduce someone to you two. Please come in."

He trailed off.

A young man suddenly walked in from outside the door.

The young man, who looked to be in his mid-twenties, was dressed in a blue robe. He had delicate features and a handsome appearance, and seemed quite like a promising young talent.

"This is Xun Zizhang, a talented man from Yingchuan. His ancestor was Xun Lingjun during the Cao Wei period. Xun Ji of the Northern Wei period was his kinsman."

As Cui Yushu introduced them, Xun Jue was bowing to Lu Ziye and the old man surnamed Wang.

"This junior greets Lord Wang and Lord Lu."

The Xun family was renowned during the Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms periods, but unfortunately declined after the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

The once elite aristocratic families are now almost inferior to those from humble backgrounds.

The Xun Ji mentioned by Cui Yushu was the one who was thrown into a pot and boiled by Gao Cheng in an attempt to stop him from rebelling.

At that time, Cui of Qinghe preserved a portion of the Xun family, and this person came from that family.

"To deal with a young man, one should naturally use a young man."

Cui Yushu stroked his beard and smiled.

The old man, surnamed Wang, raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Xun Jue.

"Since that's the case, then tell me how you plan to deal with Wen He?"

“Your Highness, I am new to Chang’an and know little about this magistrate of Gaoyang County. I have only heard about him from others. I will decide on the specifics after I have learned more about him.”

Xun Jue answered calmly.

However, the old man Wang and Lu Ziye were not satisfied.

"Is this just a perfunctory response to me?" the old man Wang said with dissatisfaction.

"Zizhang, don't keep us in suspense. Yuanchen has a short temper," Cui Yushu said with a smile.

The old man surnamed Wang snorted in dissatisfaction, but did not say anything.

Xun Jue bowed and said, "If it's just about dealing with the Sanwei Study, it's not difficult. I've heard that Kong Chongyuan, a Doctor of the Imperial Academy, was rejected when he tried to enter the Eastern Palace, so the Kong family is looking for a way out."

The Kong Chongyuan he mentioned was Kong Yingda, one of the eighteen scholars of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

"What do you mean?" Lu Ziye asked, puzzled.

"The Kong family probably thinks that Wen He is blocking Kong Chongyuan's path," Cui Yushu said.

"I see. You mean you want to join forces with the Kong family?" The old man from the Wang family frowned.

"If the Confucian classics could be printed and sold, it would naturally attract scholars to flock to them. As for the printing techniques and paper, they are not difficult to obtain. The paper can be purchased from Wen Jiaying, and as for the printing techniques..."

As he said this, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"To be honest with you, Lord Wang and Lord Lu, Lord Cui previously spent a lot of money to have craftsmen develop it, and now it has begun to show results. Although the price will be a bit higher, at least we will no longer be limited by Gaoyang County."

The money spent was just a drop in the ocean for the Cui family of Qinghe.

With the addition of the Wang and Lu families, that wealth was simply insignificant.

The old man, surnamed Wang, and Lu Ziye exchanged a glance, clearly showing some interest.

"In that case, it would be a contest of attrition with that scion of Gaoyang County. How can he, all alone, compare to the three families?"

Xun Jue smiled.

Let alone three companies.

In a price war, the Cui family of Qinghe alone could crush Wenhe.

"If this can benefit scholars all over the world, then the Cui family of Qinghe, the Wang family of Taiyuan, and the Lu family of Fanyang will surely have students all over the world."

Xun Jue did not say what followed.

But all three present understood this in their hearts.

If that time really comes, the one in charge of the court will probably not be the emperor anymore.

Even Lu Ziye, who had previously said that his family's fortune was inferior to that of the Cui family of Qinghe, couldn't help but be tempted at this moment.

Before he could speak, Lu Chengqing, who was standing next to him, quietly placed his hand on his shoulder.

Lu Ziye swallowed the words he was about to say and hesitated.

"Let me think about this matter some more. It's getting late, so I'll be taking my leave now."

"Alright."

Cui Yushu nodded with a smile, but his smile vanished as soon as Lu Ziye and his grandson Lu Chengqing left, and he coldly shouted, "Cowardly rat!"

What do you mean by "think it over"? I'm afraid that once he leaves, he won't come back.

"Don't be angry, Master Cui. Even if it's just the Cui family, I don't think that the scion of Gaoyang County is anything to be afraid of."

Xun Jue said confidently.

"I love the vigor and vitality of young people. What do you think, Yuan Chen?" He turned to look at the old man surnamed Wang.

"This matter..."

The old man from the Wang family remained silent for a moment, then looked at the young man named Xun Jue and said, "The Wang family will not intervene, but you can borrow as many classics as you need from the Wang family."

What he meant was that the Wang family wouldn't get involved openly, but would only exert their influence in secret.

Upon hearing this, Xun Jue bowed respectfully to him.

it is more than words.

The next day.

Wen He ate breakfast reluctantly and listlessly.

He really didn't want to go to Da'an Palace and play chess with that old man.

Just then, Li Yifu rushed in, his forehead covered in sweat despite the cold weather.

(End of this chapter)