The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 108 may seem similar, but they are fundamentally different.

After Changsun Wuji finished reciting the three taboos, his gaze was fixed on Li Chengqian.

Fang Xuanling stood with his hands at his sides, his eyes seemingly focused on his nose and his mind, yet he took in every subtle expression of the Crown Prince out of the corner of his eye.

Gao Shilian stroked his beard, his brows slightly furrowed.

Cui Dunli held his breath, waiting for the Crown Prince's response.

Li Chengqian remained silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. There was no trace of reluctance in that smile; instead, it revealed a puzzling composure.

He nodded slightly to Changsun Wuji, his tone cheerful.

“My uncle’s considerations are very thorough. These three points are indeed golden words of wisdom, and they are also the fundamental principles that a ruler should adhere to.”

His gaze swept over the crowd, his voice clear and steady.

"Your Majesty and all the important ministers hereby declare that when it comes to raising funds and provisions, we will never resort to increasing taxes, borrowing money, or engaging in commerce."

"Your Majesty and the other officials can rest assured that I would never compromise the dignity of the royal family or shake the foundation of the nation in order to solve a temporary predicament."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was slightly taken aback.

His agreement was too quick and too decisive, which made him even more enigmatic.

If no taxes are levied, no loans are provided, and no business is conducted, then how can these 150,000 strings of cash and 200,000 shi of grain really fall from the sky?

Li Shimin frowned even more deeply, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently.

"Since you haven't violated these three prohibitions, Your Highness, what exactly is your 'own opinion'? Are you going to play guessing games with me and all of you, my trusted ministers, here today?"

His tone carried an undeniable pressure, as well as a hint of aroused but unsatisfied curiosity and a subtle impatience.

Li Chengqian met Li Shimin's gaze without flinching, but he also did not speak directly. He simply cupped his hands again, his tone remaining calm.

"Your Majesty, it is not that I am deliberately being mysterious. It is just that this matter... I need some time to carefully consider it and refine the details. Moreover,"

He changed the subject, his gaze sweeping casually over Cui Dunli, who stood below with his head bowed, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

“Envoy Cui Chuzhi did not communicate with the Crown Prince beforehand. I need time to clarify things in order to ensure that nothing goes wrong. If I were to speak hastily now, there might be oversights, which would be undesirable.”

He gently kicked the ball back to Cui Dunli, giving a plausible and irrefutable reason.

Don't you not communicate in advance?

I need time to think about it now.

Reasonable.

Cui Dunli felt a chill run down his spine, lowered his head even further, and dared not utter a word.

Li Shimin stared at his son, his nameless anger mixed with an increasingly intense curiosity.

He could tell that Gao Ming was not making empty excuses; the calmness and certainty in his eyes were genuine.

But what is the source of this certainty?
He was puzzled.

"Very well, well said, 'it requires time to consider.'" Li Shimin's voice was devoid of emotion.

"I don't ask about your origins. I only ask you, what does the court need to do for you?"

He wanted to see what was going on.

If the crown prince takes the opportunity to request certain permissions or access certain resources, perhaps a clue can be gleaned.

However, Li Chengqian's answer once again surprised him.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your understanding." Li Chengqian bowed.

"The court need not make an exception for me. Everything should be handled according to the usual procedures and regulations. The development of Xizhou should proceed according to the established procedures and the matters that need to be discussed should be discussed as usual."

Everything as usual?
Li Shimin was completely stunned.

Not only him, but also Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and others exchanged incredulous glances.

Without needing additional support from the imperial court, without demanding any special privileges, and even explicitly excluding all conventional and unconventional means of raising money, how could they claim to be able to solve this huge sum of money?

This is as absurd as claiming that one can cross a great river without the aid of a boat!
A longer silence fell over the hall. Li Shimin's gaze swept across Li Chengqian's face, trying to find even the slightest hint of guilt or wavering, but he failed.

On that young, slightly pale face, there was only an almost stubborn calm.

This calmness is more powerful than any grand speech.

After a long while, Li Shimin slowly leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the imperial desk a few times, producing a dull sound, as if he were weighing some extremely important decision.

He finally spoke, his voice not loud, but with an undeniable determination. His gaze first fell on Cui Dunli, then swept over several important officials, and finally settled on Li Chengqian's face.

“In that case, Cui Dunli.”

"Your subject is here," Cui Dunli replied hastily.

"You will continue to serve as the Commissioner of the Western Prefecture. However, from today onwards, all matters concerning the development of the Western Prefecture must be reported to the Crown Prince first, so that the Crown Prince can oversee the overall situation and make the final decisions."

"If anything you do contradicts the Crown Prince's strategy, you must follow the Crown Prince's wishes. Do you understand?"

This decree effectively transferred actual control of Xizhou affairs from Cui Dunli to the Eastern Palace.

Although Cui Dunli still held the title of "Envoy of Promotion and Demotion," he had transformed from a local official into the Crown Prince's executor.

Cui Dunli's face turned pale. His lips moved, but he dared not utter a word of objection and bowed his head deeply.

"Your subject... obeys the decree. Your subject will certainly follow Your Highness's orders and do your utmost in fulfilling your duties."

Li Shimin then looked at Li Chengqian, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"Your Highness, I entrust the affairs of Xizhou to you. I hope you will... take good care of yourself and not disappoint my expectations."

This is a matter of trust, pressure, and a huge gamble.

If the crown prince succeeds, everyone will be happy.

If they fail, the Crown Prince's reputation will suffer a devastating blow.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your trust! I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations!"

His voice trembled slightly, not from fear, but from barely suppressed excitement and determination.

……

East Palace.

It was time for Li Yichen to accompany Li Yichen in his studies.

He then recounted everything that had happened in the Liangyi Hall in a quick and low voice, exactly as it was.

When he spoke of how he dealt with Changsun Wuji's questioning, how he responded to his father's doubts, and his father's unexpected decision, his tone still carried a lingering excitement.

"...Yichen, that's how it is."

"Father has entrusted me with the overall management of the Western Regions!"

Li Yichen listened quietly, his face showing little surprise.

"Your Highness handled the situation well. You proceeded step by step, both upholding the bottom line and gaining real power."

Li Chengqian put down his teacup, leaned forward, lowered his voice, but a lingering worry was visible between his brows:

"But... Yichen, what Uncle said about the second and third points, especially the prohibition against lending and engaging in business... We issued those 'bonds' to encourage people to contribute, and used Snowflake Salt as collateral. Doesn't that... doesn't that violate some taboo? If someone with ulterior motives accuses me of 'disguised lending' and 'competing with the people for profit,' how should I deal with it?"

This made him a little worried.

Changsun Wuji's words almost blocked all the open paths, and what he and Li Yichen were plotting was walking on the edge of the rules. If they were not careful, they would be doomed.

Li Yichen raised his eyes, his gaze calm as still water, looked at Li Chengqian, and slowly shook his head.

"Your Highness is overthinking it. These two things may seem similar, but they are actually quite different in nature."

(End of this chapter)