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

Chapter 170 But this silence itself is a signal.

The atmosphere inside Xiande Hall was solemn.

Li Chengqian tightly gripped a resignation letter with the ink still wet in his right hand.

His eyes were cold.

"Well done, well done, Cui Shi!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth.

"I just promoted Zhao Tiezhu the other day, and today he submitted a memorial requesting to resign from his position as the Crown Prince's Chamberlain, saying that he is not talented enough and unfit to be in charge, and that he might be jeopardizing the succession? Ha!"

He slammed the document to the ground.

"And there's Li Zhi from the Li family of Longxi, Wang Hong from the Wang family of Taiyuan... In just three days, five people! Five people resigned!"

Li Chengqian's voice was chilling.

"What are they trying to do? Are they trying to intimidate me? Do they think that without these aristocratic scions, my position as the Crown Prince is incapable of functioning?"

He looked around the hall and saw that several of his trusted subordinates, such as Dou Jing and Du Zhenglun, were standing with their heads bowed and their faces were not good.

The air seemed to freeze, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

This was not a simple resignation; it was a resounding slap in the face, a blatant provocation and severing of ties between the powerful clans and the Crown Prince, and with Li Chengqian's authority.

They used this method to tell him that he had crossed a line he shouldn't have, and that they were willing to sacrifice their operations in the Eastern Palace just to make their stance clear.

These people who resigned were not insignificant members of the collateral branches of the family, but rather members who held a certain degree of influence within the clan and whom he had high hopes for and was trying to win over.

Their departure not only weakened the power of the Eastern Palace, but also sent an extremely dangerous signal to the court and the public—the Crown Prince had gradually lost the support of the powerful families.

"Your Highness, please calm down."

Dou Jing stepped forward, her voice deep and resonant.

"The fact that these people resigned clearly reveals the intentions of their families. They are afraid. Although this move is infuriating, it also confirms that Your Highness's actions have indeed touched their vital points."

"Hit its vitals?"

Li Chengqian sneered and limped to sit down behind the imperial desk.

"I merely promoted a meritorious craftsman, and my rewards and punishments were fair and just. What wrong have I done? Yet they are so eager to jump out and threaten to resign! Do they really think I can be deceived?"

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, and the image of Li Yichen calmly analyzing situations flashed through his mind.

He quickly calmed down and reviewed the situation.

The aristocratic families' counterattack was within his expectations, but he hadn't anticipated it would come so swiftly and decisively.

This is no longer an undercurrent of tension, but an open confrontation.

He was going to retaliate immediately.

Inside the Liangyi Hall, on the imperial desk in front of Li Shimin, memorials were piled up like a mountain.

He picked up a few books at random, quickly browsed through them, and his brows furrowed more and more.

"I have heard that the way of the crown prince lies in cultivating virtue, in befriending virtuous ministers, and in keeping away from petty men. Now, His Highness the Crown Prince is obsessed with craftsmanship and has arbitrarily promoted artisans to official positions. This is not what the sages taught, and I fear it will open the door to advancement through luck and chill the hearts of scholars throughout the land..."

"The affairs of Xizhou are numerous and complex, concerning the stability of the border. His Highness the Crown Prince is young and may lack experience. I earnestly request Your Majesty to appoint another senior official to oversee the matter, or to have the three ministries discuss it together, so as not to overburden His Highness or cause any oversights..."

"Zhang Tao, an official under the Crown Prince, acts eccentrically and associates with the wrong people. I have heard that he harbors many grievances in private, and I fear he is not a loyal subject..."

Book after book, volume after volume, some directly criticized the Crown Prince's policies, some indirectly attacked the officials under the Crown Prince, and some seemed to show concern but actually harbored malicious intentions.

Behind the memorial, the shadows of prominent families such as Cui, Lu, Zheng, and Wang could be faintly seen flickering.

Li Shimin slammed the memorial shut with a sharp "snap," which was particularly jarring in the silent hall.

Wang De, who was standing to the side, lowered his head even further and dared not utter a sound.

"Anxious."

Li Shimin's voice was calm and even, but his eyes were sharp as he swept over the mountain of memorials.

"They're in a hurry."

He slowly stood up and walked to the palace window.

As the emperor, he was even more aware of how terrifying the combined power of these powerful clans could be.

They have been deeply entrenched for centuries, controlling local areas, influencing the imperial court, and even, to some extent, swaying public opinion.

Now, they clearly believe that the crown prince has touched their core interests, and they have begun to retaliate at any cost.

These memorials were their weapons.

"Even if my son is not good, it is not your place to attack him like this!"

A surge of anger welled up in Li Shimin's heart—an anger stemming from a challenge to his imperial authority and the entanglement of his familial bond with his son.

Li Shimin was able to secure his throne not by being subservient to powerful families!

The crown prince was the heir apparent he appointed, representing the continuation of imperial power. How could he allow these powerful clans to attack him so wantonly?

He pondered for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes.

Since you've turned your attention to the Crown Prince, let him deal with it himself!

At this moment, he believed that Li Chengqian was capable of dealing with them.

"Wang De."

“These,” Li Shimin turned around and pointed to the pile of memorials impeaching the crown prince.

"In addition, all future memorials concerning the affairs of the Crown Prince's Palace and impeaching officials under the Crown Prince's Palace shall be copied and sent to the Xiande Hall of the Crown Prince's Palace."

"Tell the Crown Prince that since I have granted him permission to participate in government affairs, he may decide and handle these matters as he sees fit."

Wang De felt a chill run down his spine. His Majesty was about to push the Crown Prince directly to the forefront and confront the powerful families head-on!
He dared not say more and quickly bowed, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty."

East Palace.

When the first batch of copies of memorials, which were transferred from the Liangyi Hall and filled several large boxes, arrived at the Xiande Hall, Li Chengqian was stunned.

He casually flipped through a few books, and those familiar, accusatory sentences came into view.

"Father... what does this mean?"

He muttered to himself, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Is it a test? Or is it letting go?

Or... a tacit form of support?

Dou Jing and Du Zhenglun exchanged glances, their expressions grave.

“Your Highness,” Du Zhenglun said thoughtfully.

"His Majesty's forwarding of these memorials is a deliberate act. It is both to entrust the power of handling the matter to Your Highness and to allow Your Highness to personally experience the severity of this turmoil. We... must respond with caution."

Li Chengqian stood in front of those boxes, silent for a long time.

Sending these things by his father was tantamount to presenting him with the open and covert attacks that the aristocratic families had thrown at him, untouched.

If he backs down or mishandles the situation, wouldn't that be exactly what those people want?

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes no longer filled with confusion, but with only a cold fighting spirit.

"Caution?" Li Chengqian's lips curled into an almost sharp smile.

"They've already put a knife to my throat, how can I be cautious?"

He walked into the hall and glanced at Dou Jing and Du Zhenglun.

"Aren't they impeaching me? Aren't they attacking the officials of the Crown Prince's palace? Aren't they trying to make it impossible for me to move an inch?"

Li Chengqian's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable power.

“Then let them taste what it’s like to be impeached and attacked!” He looked at Dou Jing.

"Minister Dou, immediately contact all the censors, officials, and even the secretaries and assistant secretaries of various departments who are close to the Crown Prince or have long been dissatisfied with the aristocratic families!"

"Compile a list of all the illegal activities committed by officials from the Cui, Lu, Zheng, and Wang families, such as corruption, favoritism, allowing slaves to commit violence, and encroaching on farmland. The evidence must be irrefutable!"

He then looked at Du Zhenglun.

"Minister Du, you are in charge of overall coordination. Who should be impeached, what should be done, when should it be launched, and how should momentum be built? There needs to be a plan to ensure a decisive blow that will hurt them!"

Almost simultaneously, in several grand mansions in Chang'an, discussions concerning the fate of the Crown Prince were taking place.

Inside the flower hall of the Cui family's villa in Chang'an.

Cui Renshi, a member of the Cui clan, sat in the main seat, with several of his clan members who held official positions in the court seated below him, as well as two representatives from the Cui clan of Qinghe and the Zheng clan of Xingyang.

"Gentlemen, the situation is now clear."

Cui Renshi spoke slowly, his expression calm.

"The Crown Prince insists on promoting artisans and confuses the gentry with the common people. This trend must not be allowed to continue. My Cui family members have already taken the lead in resigning from their positions as stewards of the Eastern Palace, thus making our stance clear."

An official surnamed Cui chimed in, “Uncle is absolutely right. In the past six months, the Crown Prince has become increasingly eccentric. First, the Ministry of Works stirred up trouble among the artisans, and then there was the so-called ‘going deep into the grassroots,’ which has caused those restless collateral sons in our family to gradually develop disloyal thoughts.”

"Now they are even openly granting official positions to craftsmen. If this is not stopped, I fear that the social order will collapse and the country will cease to exist!"

Zheng Yuanshou, the representative of the Zheng family, stroked his beard and nodded, his voice carrying its usual calm and steady tone.

“Lord Cui is righteous and has taken the lead in speaking out. My Zheng family has also ordered our nephews and sons who serve in the Eastern Palace to feign illness and temporarily avoid the limelight.”

"Your Highness's actions have indeed gone too far. Even scholars from humble backgrounds need ten years of arduous study to have a slim chance of succeeding. What merit or ability does a mere craftsman possess to rise to such heights in one step?"

“If this continues, how can we, families that have passed down the tradition of poetry and scholarship, be ranked alongside those who engage in lowly professions? How can we save face?”

“It’s not just about saving face!” another member of the Cui family said angrily.

"This is an attempt to undermine our very foundation! If craftsmen can easily become officials, who will be willing to endure years of hard study? Who will still respect the noble lineage of our aristocratic families? The Crown Prince is shaking the very foundation of the empire!"

The people in the hall echoed their sentiments, their words becoming increasingly heated.

They were not unaware of the Crown Prince's recent rise in prestige, nor were they completely ignoring the Eastern Palace's practical achievements.

However, the idea of ​​"craftsmen becoming officials" touched upon their most sensitive and inviolable bottom line—the social hierarchy and official selection system that had been maintained for hundreds of years.

Cui Renshi raised his hand, silencing the discussion.

"The statements from just a few of us are not enough to cause concern. After all, the Crown Prince is the heir apparent and holds the power to govern. We need to make more of our colleagues in the court, especially those in high positions of power, understand the implications of this matter."

He glanced at the crowd and said, “Someone needs to go to the Duke of Zhao and the Duke of Liang to explain the advantages and disadvantages.”

Zheng Yuanshou understood: "Don't worry, Lord Cui. This matter concerns our shared destiny, so we should work together. I will personally visit the Duke of Zhao's residence tomorrow."

"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Zheng." Cui Renshi nodded. "I will personally go to the Duke of Liang's residence."

The following day, at the residence of Duke Changsun Wuji of Zhao.

In the study room.

Changsun Wuji sat on a folding chair, holding a cup of hot tea, listening to Zheng Yuanshou, who sat below him, earnestly analyze the advantages and disadvantages.

"...Duke Zhao, it is not that we want to make things difficult for His Highness the Crown Prince. It is just that His Highness's recent actions are very worrying."

Zheng Yuanshou sighed.

“Encouraging artisans is already beyond the teachings of sages. Now, to promote artisans to official positions is a precedent that will likely cause an uproar and alienate scholars. The crown prince is the foundation of the nation. If we lose the support of scholars because of a temporary policy, it will be a bad thing for both the country and the family.”

Changsun Wuji sipped his tea slowly, his face expressionless, only occasionally humming in agreement to show he was listening.

Zheng Yuanshou observed his expression and continued, "The Crown Prince is young, or perhaps he has been misled by the villains around him."

"As the emperor's brother-in-law and a high-ranking official, Duke Zhao should, both publicly and privately, advise His Highness to repent and return to the right path. If His Highness retracts his decree and strictly adheres to the distinction between the gentry and commoners, we will certainly..."

“Lord Zheng,” Changsun Wuji interrupted him, putting down his teacup in a calm voice.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is His Majesty's chosen heir, and his actions are governed by established rules. I am already aware of the matter of promoting artisans. The rights and wrongs of this matter are determined solely by His Majesty's divine will, and it is not for us, his subjects, to presume to speculate."

He neither agreed with Zheng Yuanshou's views, nor defended the Crown Prince, nor commented on the so-called "petty villains."

Zheng Yuanshou's heart sank, knowing that Changsun Wuji was unwilling to express his opinion.

He tried to persuade him again: "Duke of Zhao..."

"Alright," Changsun Wuji waved his hand, a hint of fatigue on his face.

“I understand what you mean, Lord Zheng. His Majesty has his own plans regarding the Crown Prince. As his subjects, we should simply do our duty. If there is nothing else, I will go to the palace to pay my respects.”

Having said all that, Zheng Yuanshou knew there was no point in saying more, so he had no choice but to get up and take his leave.

After seeing Zheng Yuanshou off, Changsun Wuji sat alone in his study for a long time.

He was well aware of the concerns of the powerful families.
He also harbored doubts about some of the Crown Prince's recent unconventional practices.

The promotion of artisans to official positions, in particular, was indeed extremely shocking.

But he was the emperor's brother-in-law, the crown prince's maternal uncle, and one of Li Shimin's most trusted ministers.

His stance should not be simply tied to aristocratic families and powerful clans.

The Crown Prince is no longer the impulsive, easily angered, lame boy he once was.

With the guidance of a master behind him, he has come a long way, though his journey has been fraught with danger, he has always managed to turn adversity into safety, and his reputation has even grown day by day.

His Majesty forwarded all the impeachment memorials to the Crown Prince today. His intention... Changsun Wuji's gaze was profound.

His Majesty is both testing the Crown Prince and observing the situation.

At this critical juncture, Changsun Wuji absolutely cannot easily step down.

On the same day, at the residence of Liang Guogong Fang Xuanling.

Cui Dunli's experience was similar to that of Zheng Yuanshou.

Fang Xuanling listened patiently to Cui Dunli's concerns about the Crown Prince policy and the future of the aristocratic families, maintaining a gentle yet distant attitude throughout.

“Xuanling deeply felt Cui Gong’s concern for the country and its people.”

Fang Xuanling's tone remained as composed as ever.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is ambitious and enterprising, but there may be oversights. However, the reforms of the Ministry of Works have indeed begun to show results. As for promoting artisans... this matter concerns the system of the court, and I believe that His Majesty and the Crown Prince will weigh the pros and cons."

He skillfully avoided directly judging the Crown Prince's behavior as right or wrong, and instead steered the conversation toward "court regulations" and "His Majesty's weighing of options."

Cui Dunli cursed the old fox in his heart, but had to maintain a respectful demeanor on the surface.

"Duke Liang, it is not that we are being harsh on His Highness. It is simply that this matter is of paramount importance; improper handling could jeopardize the foundation of the state. Duke Liang is a model for all officials, and his word is law. We hope you will..."

"Mr. Cui, you flatter me."

Fang Xuanling shook his head slightly.

"Xuanling is but a scholar, yet His Majesty has entrusted him with such an important task. I can only repay His Majesty's kindness by working diligently and conscientiously. As for the Crown Prince's actions, it is not for a subject to presume to comment. Since His Majesty has already ordered the Crown Prince to govern, we should be even more careful to uphold our duties as subjects and do our best to assist him."

He once again passed the buck to the emperor and the crown prince, emphasizing his duty as a "subject".

Cui Dunli knew that it was impossible to obtain explicit support from Fang Xuanling.

This prime minister, known for his caution and balance, would never easily take sides when the situation is unclear.

Upon leaving the Fang residence, Cui Dunli's face was gloomy.

Although Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling did not support the crown prince, their silence itself was a signal.

They are at least observing, and have not chosen to immediately stand with the aristocratic families against the Crown Prince.

This made him feel a little uneasy.

(End of this chapter)