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

Chapter 7 Until September 8th of next year

"What happened to the promised leisurely life? Being a teacher to naughty kids is anything but leisurely."

He had no objection to having Wen He as an advisor, but he would absolutely refuse to let him teach unruly children.

However, Li Shimin did not accept his objections.

After leaving the study, he took him directly to the backyard.

On the way, Li Shimin also explained the reasons for his actions.

"Since you come from the future, you must possess knowledge different from that of today. I don't need you to teach them too much; I just need to let them know about the future."

Wen He followed behind him and was immediately surprised when she heard what he said.

He admitted that he had underestimated the ancients.

Especially Li Shimin.

A person who can lead a dynasty from ruin to its peak must have a vision and breadth of mind that are unmatched by ordinary people.

Don't say that the Tang Dynasty inherited the legacy of the Sui Dynasty.

Yang Guang's three campaigns against Goguryeo had already bankrupted the Sui Dynasty.

At the end of the Sui Dynasty, a bushel of grain cost 10,000 coins. Even now, after several years of recuperation, the price of grain has only dropped to 100 coins.

However, by the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, the price of grain had dropped to only three or four coins, enough to buy a bushel.

Isn't such a gap enough to illustrate the problem?
Without a broad vision and ambition, how could he have fulfilled the alliance at the Wei River in just three short years?

They captured Jieli and danced to praise him.

But even though that's what she said, Wen He still hadn't figured out what to do.

Later time-travel novels all say that they teach emperors some kind of dragon-slaying technique, but he didn't even know what the dragon-slaying technique was.

We can't possibly instill the ideas of later generations into Li Chengqian and Li Tai.

If that were really done, Changsun Wuji could bury him alive without even needing Li Shimin.

"Then what should I do?" Wen He asked tentatively.

"Do what you think you can do," Li Shimin replied calmly.

What kind of answer is that?

But you said those words, so if you teach someone bad things, don't come looking for me later.

It's just taking care of children. I haven't taught them, but who wasn't a child once?

As a post-90s generation, he didn't have a mobile phone to play games like PUBG or Honor of Kings back then. After school, he would play with the neighbor's kids.

Li Shimin had previously sent someone to invite Empress Zhangsun to bring Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke.

They were in a side courtyard that connected the front and back yards.

"You shall stay here for the next few days and do not leave for the time being," Li Shimin said, pointing to the courtyard gate.

"What about my sister?"

It doesn't matter if he can't get out, but he has a younger sister at home.

With him not home, that manager under Li Yuanji might cause trouble at home again.

"I've already sent someone to pick them up."

After hearing about his sister's situation from Wen He, Li Shimin sent the steward of his household to investigate.

Upon hearing this, Wen He breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Li Shimin with a smile.

The latter shook his head dismissively, though he was somewhat curious.

"You say your soul comes from the future. If that's the case, then you should have no connection with that young woman. Why are you so attached to her?"

"Maybe I'm a good person," Wen He said, scratching his head.

Having taken over the original owner's body, he naturally had to shoulder the original owner's responsibilities.

Besides, that little girl is so delicate and frail. If he doesn't take care of her, wouldn't he be watching her suffer alone and be bullied?

Li Shimin did not expect Wen He to give him such an answer.

He couldn't help but chuckle softly, and without asking any further questions, he stepped forward and pushed open the door.

In the courtyard.

A beautiful woman dressed in a light blue palace gown was instructing her maid to tidy up the courtyard.

She was surrounded by three children.

There were two older ones, and a chubby little boy who was a head shorter than the first two.

Upon hearing the noise, they turned their heads almost simultaneously.

The beautiful woman turned around and smiled, her demeanor dignified and elegant.

"This humble servant greets Your Highness."

Empress Zhangsun stepped forward and offered a blessing.

The three children behind her stepped forward in unison, glanced timidly at Li Shimin, and bowed, saying, "Your children greet Father."

The two older ones must have learned a lot of etiquette, as their movements were very precise and serious.

The chubby boy was a bit clumsy, and his imitation of the two older brothers in front of him looked somewhat comical.

"Thank you for your trouble." Li Shimin stepped forward tenderly, his large, rough hand grasping Empress Zhangsun's fair wrist.

Empress Zhangsun smiled and said, "It was all the servants who did the work; I was just giving orders."

"There have been many things going on lately, and you've had to work hard in the household. By the way, let me introduce you to someone." Li Shimin naturally took Empress Zhangsun's hand, their intimate gesture making no attempt to hide their relationship in front of outsiders. What a beautiful scene of a loving couple.

Wen He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

"What a wonderful girl, it's a pity she died so young."

There is no doubt that Li Shimin had deep affection for Empress Zhangsun, but he also had quite a few concubines, which is understandable for a man.

Moreover, he is a man of unparalleled talent in this era.

There are at least three or four recorded in historical books alone, such as Consort Yang, Consort Wei, and Xu Hui.

"Hello, sister, my name is Wen He."

Before Li Shimin could introduce her, Wen He went up and introduced herself.

Looking at the smiling child in front of her, Empress Zhangsun was startled by his calling her "sister" and turned to Li Shimin beside her: "Your Highness, who is this child?"

She didn't misunderstand; if he were Li Shimin's illegitimate son, he wouldn't call her "sister" so affectionately when they met.

"Nonsense, what sister!" Li Shimin glared at her angrily, then turned to Empress Zhangsun and became gentle again: "This place was prepared for him and his sister to live in. You will take good care of them in the mansion from now on."

Empress Zhangsun turned around and looked at Wen He with suspicion.

When she saw her gaze fall upon her, Wen He revealed a childlike, innocent smile.

She suddenly remembered that the child was also present when her brother asked her to personally deliver tea to the study.

But why do His Highness and his brother value this child so much?

Suppressing her doubts, she smiled gently at Wen He and said, "Young master, if there is anything I can't take care of properly in the manor, you can send someone to find me."

"Thank you, sister." Wen He followed the example of Li Chengqian and the others and bowed.

When someone called her "sister" again, Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh a few times.

What woman doesn't like to be praised for being young and beautiful? Even the virtuous Empress Zhangsun Wugou couldn't avoid it.

“You little brat, my child is about your age, so why don’t you…” Her beautiful eyes flickered, and she glanced at Li Shimin out of the corner of her eye. Her mind started to wander, and she smiled and said, “Call me Aunt.”

“That won’t do. That would make you sound old. I am a close friend of the King of Qin, despite our age difference. We are of the same generation.”

Wen He noticed Changsun Wugou's hesitation earlier and knew that she must have misunderstood something.

"Why not call him Aunt? He just recognized Fu Ji as his father." Li Shimin couldn't help but chuckle as he recalled Wen He's slip of the tongue earlier.

He was happy, but he terrified Empress Zhangsun.

"He is the elder brother..."

"No!" Wen He quickly explained, "That was a slip of the tongue, sister. I am of the same generation as the King of Qin and Brother Changsun."

"Considering each other as equals?" Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Shimin suspiciously again.

"Ahem." Li Shimin knew that Empress Zhangsun was not a jealous person, but she had brought a child to the mansion for no reason and arranged for him to stay in the backyard. It was unclear and would inevitably arouse suspicion.

If this matter isn't clarified, he might insist on staying in the study tonight.

"This young man is precocious. He once studied under a famous teacher. Although he is young, he knows a lot. Therefore, I plan to have him teach Gaoming, Qingque and Sanlang their early education."

"what!"

Empress Zhangsun blinked, stared blankly for a moment, then looked down and carefully examined Wen He.

Although the boy was somewhat handsome and cute, he was just an ordinary person.

But since Your Highness has said so, this young man must have something unusual about him.

"Gaoming, Sanlang, Qingque, come and pay your respects to your teacher." Changsun Wugou called to the three children behind her.

Wen He had been thinking about which of the three children was who, and now she had figured it out.

Standing calmly two steps behind Empress Zhangsun, with his hands at his sides, is likely Li Chengqian, the eldest son of Emperor Taizong of Tang.

Because another person of similar height stood further away from him and wasn't very close to Empress Zhangsun, he must be the third son, Li Ke.

Hiding behind Empress Zhangsun, the youngest one must be Li Tai.

Just as Li Chengqian and Li Ke stepped forward to pay their respects, they suddenly heard a childish question.

"What skills do you have, and what makes you qualified to be our teacher?"

"Qingque, you mustn't be rude!" Empress Dowager Changsun immediately reprimanded her with a stern face, but was stopped by Li Shimin, who said, "This is a matter for neither of us to interfere in."

He raised an eyebrow at Wen He, wanting to see what this young man from the future was capable of.

If this young man can't even handle a mere bluebird, then he should stay in this backyard for the rest of his life.

Sensing Li Shimin's provocation, Wen He found it laughable. If she couldn't deal with you old foxes, she could certainly handle this little brat.

"what do you want to learn?"

"Can you write poetry?" Li Tai asked smugly, his hands clasped around his waist, which was as thick as a ball.

"You want to compete with me in poetry?" As if she had heard a huge joke, Wen He suddenly burst into laughter.

The Li family members in the courtyard all looked puzzled.

What's so funny about this?

This person is so strange.

"Then let's play a fitting song, as a tribute to His Highness Prince Qin." Under everyone's gaze, Wen He coughed awkwardly, took a few steps with feigned profundity, and slowly began to speak.

"When the ninth day of the ninth month arrives next year, my flowers will bloom and all others will wither. The fragrance will fill Chang'an, and the whole city will be adorned with golden armor."

(End of this chapter)