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

Chapter 8: In the past, I was indeed too naive.

Li Shimin sat behind his desk in the Liangyi Hall, which was brightly lit by candlelight.

His expression was calm, but his fingers tapped slowly and steadily on the imperial desk. His gaze was lowered, fixed on the empty space.

Wang De has already left to carry out his orders.

Li Shimin's mind was racing.

Li Chengqian's behavior today was unusual: his questions, his attitude, and his swift decision to seal off the Eastern Palace were all unlike the son he knew.

Who could have caused such a change in the Crown Prince in such a short time?
If they are not newcomers, could it be that there are treacherous individuals among the old guard of the Eastern Palace who have been lurking for a long time and are only now making their move?

Or... did the Crown Prince truly have an epiphany on his own?
This idea only flashed through his mind before Li Shimin rejected it.

He knows his son well; that's not true at all.

He must find out exactly what happened inside the Eastern Palace.

Li Shimin opened his eyes, his gaze icy.

He looked out of the palace, his gaze seemingly piercing through the palace walls and landing in the direction of the East Palace.

Regardless of who is behind it, whether Chengqian had an epiphany or was guided by someone, the nature of the matter has begun to change.

He could no longer simply view Li Chengqian as a good-for-nothing son.

He must reassess him as if he were a crown prince, or even a potential challenger.

Meanwhile, inside the East Palace Hall.

Li Chengqian sat behind his desk, and Li Yichen sat opposite him.

The candlelight flickered inside the hall, the light was dim, and the atmosphere was solemn.

The excitement and agitation on Li Chengqian's face had faded, replaced by a tense composure.

He looked at Li Yichen with a look of dependence and inquiry in his eyes.

"Yichen, what should we do next?" Li Chengqian's voice was low. "Father will definitely investigate, we..."

Li Yichen raised his hand, signaling him to be quiet.

His gaze swept around, and although it seemed that there were only the two of them in the hall, he remained vigilant.

“Your Highness,” Li Yichen’s voice was steady and clear, “His Majesty will naturally investigate, but investigation takes time and requires methods. The Eastern Palace is currently sealed off, making it difficult for His Majesty’s people to penetrate it in the short term. This is our time.”

Li Chengqian nodded and listened attentively.

“We need to use this time to do two things.” Li Yichen held up two fingers. “First, to solidify the impression Your Highness made today, so that His Majesty believes that Your Highness’s change stems from your own thinking, not from the instigation of outsiders. Second, to confuse the public, making even the slightest possible clues unclear.”

"How do you confuse the public?" Li Chengqian pressed.

Li Yichen leaned forward slightly.

"The Crown Prince's Palace currently has several dozen officials who can serve His Highness, as well as three tutors."

At present, the Crown Prince has three tutors in the Eastern Palace.

Li Shimin's investigation covered a very wide range of areas.

They are unlikely to expend much effort on tutoring.

Du He, son of Du Ruhui, was historically implicated in Li Chengqian's rebellion.

Li Anyan was originally a subordinate of Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, but later joined Li Shimin. However, he was eventually involved in Li Chengqian's rebellion.

"Starting tomorrow, Your Highness, please change your usual habits and set aside a fixed time each day to spend alone with each of your study companions: reading and discussing scholarship. Each hour should be with only one person, in a fixed order. For example, the first hour in the morning with Du He, the second with Li Anyan, and the afternoon with me."

"Furthermore, it is best to summon subordinates individually."

Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

"You mean... that way, even if someone spyes on me, or questions the palace servants later, it will be difficult to determine who I talked to the most and what the conversations were about?"

"Because everyone has a fixed amount of time to spend alone?"

“Exactly,” Li Yichen said.

"Even if His Majesty finds out, he will think that Your Highness is widely soliciting opinions and studying diligently, rather than conspiring alone with a specific person. This move can both cover up the truth and show Your Highness a diligent attitude towards learning, killing two birds with one stone."

Li Chengqian's eyes lit up. "This plan is brilliant!" But then he frowned.

"However... with Du He and Li Anyan, although I am their study companion, we never discuss the classics, histories, philosophical works, or literary collections..."

"Your Highness need not discuss any sensitive matters with them."

Li Yichen interrupted.

"When you are with them, only discuss serious academic matters. Read the classics and explore historical records. You can even ask them questions. Be sincere and make them feel His Highness's trust and attention. But you must strictly adhere to the boundaries and only talk about academic matters, not anything else."

Li Chengqian nodded thoughtfully.

"I understand. If you're going to put on a show, you have to go all the way and make it look real."

“It’s not an act,” Li Yichen corrected.

"Your Highness does indeed need to read, to think, and to truly understand the lessons and strategies in those historical records."

“Discussions with them will also benefit Your Highness. Only by becoming truly strong can one truly be invincible.”

Li Chengqian looked at Li Yichen with a complicated expression, and finally nodded emphatically.

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

"As for the time when it is time to spend with me,"

Li Yichen continued.

"Your Highness may speak freely, and we will discuss deeper matters."

"Alright." Li Chengqian took a deep breath. "Let's proceed with this plan."

The following day, at the Eastern Palace.

Li Chengqian indeed acted according to Li Yichen's advice.

During the first hour of the morning, he spent time with his study companion Du He in the side hall, dismissing everyone else.

Du He was somewhat surprised by the Crown Prince's sudden summons and the long private discussion, but seeing the Crown Prince's sincere attitude and earnest inquiry into the profound meaning of the Spring and Autumn Annals, he also composed himself and began to explain earnestly.

The atmosphere between the two was quite harmonious.

If there were spies outside the palace, they would only see the Crown Prince and Du He sitting opposite each other, holding books, sometimes talking, sometimes deep in thought.

In the second hour, Li Chengqian spent time with Li Anyan.

Li Anyan has a more composed personality, even somewhat melancholic.

He was more wary of the Crown Prince's changes, but the Crown Prince's questions were all about the chapters on governance in the Records of the Grand Historian, so he could only respond carefully and answer fluently.

Li Chengqian displayed unprecedented focus and eagerness to learn, which secretly surprised Li Anyan, but he dared not ask any further questions.

In the afternoon, it was Li Yichen's turn.

The two of them, as before, dismissed all their attendants in the main hall yesterday.

When only the two of them remained in the hall, Li Chengqian visibly breathed a sigh of relief. The composed and studious demeanor he had deliberately maintained on his face faded, revealing a hint of fatigue and urgency.

“Yichen,” he spoke almost immediately, “after much thought yesterday, I found that everything you said made perfect sense. There are no fathers and sons in the imperial family… I was indeed too naive in the past.”

Li Yichen looked at him quietly without saying a word.

Li Chengqian continued, his voice trembling with a mixture of lingering fear and excitement.

“But I still feel uneasy. My father... he will never let this matter go easily. Although I am now confined to the Eastern Palace, it is like being trapped in a cage, with eyes watching me from all sides.”

"How should I deal with this situation? What should I do next?"

This is a subtle change, showing that he is gradually taking on the role of the crown prince, and also showing that his trust in Li Yichen is increasing.

A rebellious person, once they develop trust in someone, is often more dependent and steadfast than the average person.

Li Yichen knew that his first step had been successful.

Now, the second and most crucial step is to reverse Li Chengqian's fatal rebellious intentions.

(End of this chapter)