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

Chapter 194 For the Crown Prince, for His Majesty, I am willing to take on this responsibility.

There's no question of guidance or restraint.

Sending him there would likely result in the Crown Prince being outwardly respectful but inwardly dismissing his remarks as commonplace and ignoring them.

A tutor who cannot be respected and feared by the crown prince from the bottom of his heart will have his effectiveness greatly diminished.

"It's so difficult...it's really difficult!"

Li Shimin sighed inwardly.

These three candidates each have their own strengths, but they also each have their own obvious weaknesses.

More importantly, as he examined them and compared them to his son in the Eastern Palace, who was now lame but had a straight back and increasingly calm and sharp eyes, a sense of powerlessness quietly spread through him.

"Chengqian now... is no longer someone that an ordinary Grand Tutor can control."

He was clearly aware of this.

Through this series of upheavals, Li Chengqian not only established his reputation in the court but also demonstrated his extraordinary practical abilities.

More importantly, he seems to have developed his own almost independent cognitive system and logic for dealing with things.

This system was so unfamiliar and frustrating that even the emperor and his high-ranking officials felt alienated and passive.

The forced appointment of a tutor at this moment is less about instructing the crown prince and more about the emperor's need to maintain balance and demonstrate control.

How will the Crown Prince treat this tutor?
Is it just feigned compliance?
Is it using someone else's strength against them?

Or... should we just sideline it?
"However, we have no choice but to make arrangements."

Li Shimin's gaze hardened once more.

Even knowing that the effect may be limited, or even that it may trigger new subtle games, this step must be taken.

The fact that the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince is vacant is itself a form of disorder.

Appointing a Grand Tutor at least demonstrates to the court and the public that the emperor is still concerned about the growth of the Crown Prince and still holds the ultimate control over the education of the heir apparent.

This in itself is an invisible check on the Crown Prince's increasingly powerful momentum.

He turned his gaze back to the deep night outside the palace, weighing the pros and cons behind the three names in his mind.

The following day, during the morning court session, the atmosphere inside the hall was solemn.

Li Shimin sat upright on the imperial couch, his gaze calmly sweeping over the officials below the steps, finally lingering on Li Chengqian for a moment.

Li Chengqian maintained a respectful posture with his back straight.

After several routine government affairs were discussed and answered, the hall became somewhat quiet.

Li Shimin knew that the time had come.

He cleared his throat, his voice not loud.

“My lords,” he began, his tone steady.

"The crown prince is the foundation of the nation, and his education must not be neglected for a single day. In the past, there was Wei Zheng, whom I often consulted on matters concerning the crown prince, but alas, he did not live long enough."

When Wei Zheng was mentioned, his tone became slightly somber, carrying just the right amount of sentimentality, before turning solemn.

"Although the Crown Prince is now diligently studying, he still needs guidance from learned scholars and senior officials. The position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince has been vacant for a long time, which makes me uneasy."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over the locations of Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Wang Gui, and others. He did not name them directly, but instead posed the question to the entire court.

"Today, I wish to discuss with you all who would be most suitable to assume the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince."

After he finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the hall.

The officials had different expressions; some lowered their eyes in thought, while others secretly raised their eyes to observe the reactions of the senior officials in the front row.

Li Shimin waited patiently.

He envisioned that at this moment, people from different factions and with different considerations would step forward, propose their preferred candidates, and debate with each other, while he would sit high on his throne, weighing and deciding.

He needs to see the attitude of his ministers.

However, what happened next was slightly different from what he had expected.

There was no heated debate as expected.

Several key ministers in the front row, such as Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and even the newly appointed Grand Secretary Cen Wenben, remained silent and did not step forward immediately.

Changsun Wuji's eyes swept quickly over Fang Xuanling and Cen Wenben out of the corner of his eye, with a hint of inquiry and an imperceptible sense of dominance.

Fang Xuanling lowered his eyelids slightly, and unconsciously rubbed the bottom of the tablet with his fingers, as if he was pondering.

Cen Wenben remained calm, his gaze fixed on the imperial steps ahead, seemingly detached from the situation, but the slightly tense jawline betrayed his inner turmoil.

This brief silence lasted only a few breaths.

Immediately, as if by prior agreement, several high-ranking officials stepped forward almost simultaneously.

The first to speak was the Vice Minister of Rites, who, holding a tablet, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince cannot be held by anyone but a person of high moral character and prestige who shares the fate of the nation."

"The Duke of Zhao, Changsun Sikong, is a trusted advisor to His Majesty, the Empress's elder brother, and the Crown Prince's maternal uncle. He is the best choice both in public and private matters."

"If the Minister of Works were to instruct the Crown Prince, he would surely understand the importance of kinship and respect for superiors, thus ensuring the stability of the state. I believe this is a good idea."

No sooner had he finished speaking than another official from the Secretariat chimed in, "Your Majesty, what the Vice Minister said is indeed reasonable."

"However, I believe that the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince should place greater emphasis on the transmission of fundamental knowledge and strategies for governing the country."

"The Duke of Liang, Fang, is in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, manages all important matters, is well-versed in the laws and regulations of the court, understands the merits and demerits of government affairs, and is of noble character, making him a suitable tutor to the Crown Prince."

"His Highness the Crown Prince is making great progress every day. He needs the guidance of a wise and experienced statesman like the Duke of Liang to make him understand the difficulty of being a ruler and the challenges of governing a country."

Immediately afterwards, another Imperial Censor stepped forward, his voice clear and resonant.

"Your Majesty, I have a suggestion: the Crown Prince's tutor should also be a learned scholar with outstanding literary talent and a thorough understanding of the classics and history."

“Cen Wenben, the Grand Secretary, was in charge of drafting imperial edicts. His literary talent was admired throughout the land, and he was fair in his dealings and upright in his conduct.”

"With his refined character and literary reputation, he is the only suitable candidate to teach the Crown Prince poetry, literature, etiquette, and cultivate his noble spirit."

The three people's recommendations perfectly covered the candidates Li Shimin was considering.

Moreover, the reasons for each recommendation have their own emphasis.

One emphasized blood ties and political stability, another emphasized practical experience and maturity, and the third emphasized scholarship, literary talent, and the reputation of a scholar-official.

However, the three recommended individuals—Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Cen Wenben—remained standing in the same spot.

Contrary to his expectations, the official did not immediately step forward to humbly decline the offer or say something like, "I am not qualified for this position."

They listened quietly, their faces expressionless, as if they weren't the ones being recommended.

Not right.

This thought flashed through Li Shimin's mind in an instant.

Logically, faced with such an important appointment, especially one involving the crown prince, these seasoned officials would naturally be cautious, or even refuse.

To avoid getting too involved and arousing suspicion.

Just like Fang Xuanling declined the position of Grand Tutor a few years ago.

But today, they were too quiet.

His gaze sharpened as he carefully examined the expressions of the three men.

Changsun Wuji tilted his head slightly, seemingly listening to his colleague's recommendation, or perhaps weighing something.

The crown prince was his nephew, they were blood relatives.

In the past, the crown prince was unruly, and he was unwilling to restrain him too much.

But things are different now.

The Crown Prince's recent performance can be described as a complete transformation.

Whether it was the introduction of the bonds and the jade salt policy, or even the remarks made in court a few days ago regarding "the occupations of all crafts" and "the foundation of credit," all of these shocked him, the uncle.

If the position of Grand Tutor were to fall into the hands of Fang Xuanling or Cen Wenben, the connection between Changsun Wuji and the Crown Prince would be weakened.

This is something he absolutely does not want to see.

We must seize this position!
In this way, they can not only legitimately strengthen their influence over their nephew, but also ensure the Guanlong Group's position in the future power structure.

More importantly, he could use this opportunity to observe the Eastern Palace up close and find out the hidden master!

If we can find it, we can take it for ourselves; at the very least, we should find out its background.

This is what truly matters in the long run and for the greatest benefit.

Moreover, he was confident that with his methods and kinship with the crown prince, he was able to control the situation.

Fang Xuanling, on the other hand, appeared deep in thought, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he were seriously considering the feasibility of the proposal.

He would occasionally glance at the emperor on the throne, his gaze calm yet carrying an indescribable depth.

Fang Xuanling's state of mind was even more complex.

He resigned from his position as Grand Tutor a few years ago because the Crown Prince at the time was unpredictable and there was a lot of trouble in the Eastern Palace. He did not want to get involved too early and cause unnecessary trouble.

He also felt uneasy because of the overly grand welcome the Crown Prince had given him.

But today, the Crown Prince has indeed changed.

They became calm, methodical, and even... somewhat unfathomable.

That "credit", "all trades"...

Where do these unheard-of yet core disciplines come from?

Fang Xuanling was well-read and considered himself to be very knowledgeable, yet he was also perplexed.

He also tended to believe that there were talented and extraordinary people in the Eastern Palace.

Just because His Majesty cannot be found does not mean that His Majesty does not exist.

If he were to serve as Grand Tutor, he would be able to gain a deeper understanding of the Crown Prince's changing thoughts and come into contact with his inner circle.

This is crucial for him to grasp the future direction of the court.

As prime minister, he needed to consider the balance of the entire court and the stability of the empire.

An overly powerful or unpredictable crown prince is not entirely a good thing.

If he could exert influence as the Crown Prince's tutor and guide him in a more stable direction that aligns with traditional governance, it would be his responsibility as a subject.

Moreover, his previous resignation had, to some extent, created a distance between him and the Crown Prince.

Now that the Crown Prince has gained momentum, continuing to distance ourselves from him would likely not be a wise strategy.

This position of Grand Tutor presents an opportunity to rebuild close ties.

Cen Wenben, the newly appointed Grand Secretary, showed little emotion on his face, only a slight pursing of his lips, revealing his inner turmoil.

He stood ramrod straight, his gaze calm, as if waiting for something.

Cen Wenben's qualifications were not as good as those of Changsun and Fang, but he was able to become the Grand Secretary because of his talent, diligence and the Emperor's appreciation.

He belonged to a relatively isolated "literati" group and had a distant relationship with the Guanzhong and Shandong aristocratic groups.

The position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince was extremely tempting to him.

This is not only an unparalleled honor, but also an excellent way to consolidate one's position and expand political influence.

He had also noticed the Crown Prince's recent changes.

He admired the cat poem that said "to leave behind a pure reputation in the world," which was beautifully written and full of noble character.

He knew that his strengths lay in his scholarship and integrity, while his weakness lay in his shallow foundation.

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling are undoubtedly eyeing this position covetously.

However, Cen Wenben was not without a fighting chance.

If Your Majesty seeks to maintain balance, this relatively neutral Grand Secretary, renowned for his literary talent, might not be a bad move.

What he needs to do is demonstrate sufficient willingness and ability to convince His Majesty that he is the right person to be chosen.

Remaining silent at this moment is both a sign of restraint and a strategy of using stillness to control movement.

He was waiting, waiting for His Majesty to inquire, or waiting for a suitable opportunity to express his opinion.

Li Shimin, seated high on his throne, took in the silence of these people.

He was so astute that he immediately discerned something different from the unusual silence.

These people, far from refusing, actually seemed somewhat tempted.

What are they planning?
Li Shimin's mind raced.

Did they see the crown prince's potential and want to invest in him in advance to secure their future power?
Or... just like me, did he develop a strong interest in that mysterious "master" in the Eastern Palace and want to take advantage of the Grand Tutor's position to investigate him up close?
It's probably a combination of both.

These old foxes have a very keen sense of smell.

Very well, since you all have this intention, then I will go with the flow and see who among you can truly play a role, or rather, see who among you can find a capable person for me first.

He broke the silence, his gaze first falling on Changsun Wuji, his tone calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Fuji, everyone recommends you to be the Crown Prince's tutor. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji immediately stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and acted with utmost deference.

"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation. As the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, I bear a heavy responsibility."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming earnest.

“Your Majesty has inquired, and I dare not remain silent. I am truly comforted whenever I see His Highness the Crown Prince making progress.”

"If Your Majesty does not disdain me and entrusts me with this important task, I will do my utmost, with the affection of an uncle and the loyalty of a subject, to guide the Crown Prince, to teach him filial piety and brotherly love, to know when to advance and when to retreat, and to uphold the duties of the heir apparent, so as to repay Your Majesty's grace."

He didn't say "Your subject is willing to go" directly, but his words implied his attitude.

For the sake of the Crown Prince and for His Majesty, I am willing to take on this responsibility.

He also specifically emphasized the "closeness of the maternal uncle" and "adherence to the duties of the crown prince," which was both to build closer ties and to show loyalty to the emperor, implying that he would keep a close eye on the crown prince and prevent him from going astray.

Li Shimin remained expressionless, nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and turned his gaze to Fang Xuanling.

"Xuanling, what about you?"

Fang Xuanling stepped out of the ranks slowly, his movements always carrying a calm and unhurried demeanor.

He bowed deeply, his voice calm and clear.

"Your Majesty, I was of meager virtue in the past and dared not accept such high praise. Even now, thinking about it, I still feel ashamed."

"However, Your Majesty has brought this matter up again today. After careful consideration, I have realized that His Highness the Crown Prince is growing older and his knowledge is expanding. He certainly needs a more systematic education."

"Your Majesty has placed great trust in me, and I have been given the honor of serving as Chancellor. I have some knowledge of the laws and regulations of the court and the important matters of government affairs."

"If Your Majesty believes that my humble opinion may be of some benefit to His Highness the Crown Prince, I... dare not refuse again."

"I must, in my old age, wholeheartedly assist the Crown Prince, study the classics and history, analyze political affairs, and make him understand the hardships of our ancestors in establishing the dynasty and the difficulty of maintaining it."

His words were even more ingenious.

He first brought up the past, admitting that he declined the offer last time because he felt he was "lacking in virtue," and adopted a very humble attitude.

He then emphasized that the Crown Prince now needs "systematic instruction," and then implied that if the Emperor finds him useful, he would not dare to resign.

Finally, he pointed out that his advantage lay in "the laws and regulations of the imperial court and confidential government affairs".

His instruction to the crown prince on "the difficulty of starting a business and the challenge of maintaining it" perfectly aligns with the role of a prime minister and imperial tutor.

(End of this chapter)