A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

This answer greatly surprised Li Tai.

Shouldn't the response be to forgive him? And then, under his cunning scheme, be forced to take him as a disciple?

Given the character and moral cultivation of the Prince of Yan, even if he knew it was a calculated scheme, he would still treat him as a disciple afterward.

Once they become family, it won't be considered a scheme anymore; instead, people will admire their disciple's quick thinking.

But why aren't you playing by the rules?!

"Didn't you just forgive me, sir?"

Li Tai couldn't help but ask.

"Yes."

Wei Zu still had that smile on his lips, but to Li Tai, it was utterly detestable.

"It seems that you have not forgiven Qingque yet. It must be that Qingque's sincerity is not enough. Please punish me, sir."

After Li Tai finished speaking, he continued to stand there with his head bowed to show his sincerity.

"As I have said, it is the greatest virtue to admit one's mistakes and correct them. However, if His Highness the King of Yue wishes to use this to strengthen his body, I will not object."

After saying that, he left without paying any attention to the embarrassed Li Tai.

"stop!"

Li Tai is still young, lacks deep cunning, and is impatient.

He was Li Shimin's son from a young age, enjoying wealth and luxury, and everyone around him flattered him.

Even renowned statesmen like Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui would bow respectfully and address him as "Your Highness" upon meeting him.

This also fostered his lofty and ambitious personality.

If Li Shimin hadn't repeatedly emphasized the importance of the Wei family, how could Li Tai have suffered such injustice?

"You are merely a subject; how dare you treat me as if I were nothing?"

Li Tai roared, his face contorted in rage, making him look rather comical.

Wei Zu paused almost imperceptibly as he left, then continued on his way.

Who was the last person to say that to the direct descendants of the Wei family?

It seems to be Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang.

What happened to him after that?

It seems that the Sui Dynasty ended in his generation, lasting only two generations.

Who was that further ahead?

It seems to be Emperor Qianyang.

He also seems to have been the last emperor of the Qian Dynasty.

Going back further, there was Emperor Huang of Han, whose fate was better. The Han Dynasty produced Wang Mang and then Emperor Guangwu, who continued the Han Dynasty's reign.

In other words, the emperor simply moved from one branch of the family to another, and had no further connection with his descendants. At least the Han Dynasty still existed, which was far better than the other two.

Back then, the Wei family was still relatively small and did not yet hold the position they have today.

"Please wait, sir."

"Chengqian apologizes to the master on behalf of Qingque. It is Chengqian's fault for not disciplining his younger brother properly."

Li Chengqian, disregarding the need to reprimand Li Tai, hurriedly ran forward and apologized to Emperor Wei on Li Tai's behalf.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I would not stoop to the level of a child."

Wei Zu smiled faintly, his tone unchanged.

"Sir, you are a magnanimous man and naturally wouldn't hold a grudge against a child, but since there's a mistake, it must be punished; otherwise, the dignity of our nation and country cannot be upheld!"

A solemn expression appeared on young Li Chengqian's face. "Guards!"

At Li Chengqian's command, several guards immediately stepped forward.

"Take the King of Yue back, punish him with thirty strokes of the cane, confine him to his room to reflect on his mistakes, and make him copy the Tao Te Ching, the Book of Changes, the Yellow Court Classic, the Study of Things, and the Three Ages thirty times each. He shall not leave the palace for a year, nor shall he hold banquets or enjoy music."

"promise!"

Several guards immediately obeyed the order and pulled Li Tai away from the Imperial Academy.

Li Tai's face turned green when he heard about Li Chengqian's punishment: thirty strokes of the cane.

He's never been hit with a ruler! He's always been a model student in the eyes of his teachers. Besides, he's a prince; even if he makes a mistake, who would dare hit him?!

Li Shimin also indulged him because he was young and never hit him.

Not to mention that he also had to copy each of the Five Classics thirty times. Writing with a brush is very difficult. Just thinking about copying them thirty times made Li Tai turn pale.

The Five Classics together contain more than 70,000 characters, and if read 30 times, they would contain more than 2 million characters.

He can write more than 400 characters per hour. He is still young and his wrists have not yet developed, so he can only write for a maximum of four hours a day.

That is, 1600 words.

Based on 200 million words, it would take more than 1200 days.

It will take four years to copy!

"No! Why should I?!"

"What wrong have I done? Li Chengqian, what right do you have to punish me? What gives you the right to punish me?"

"Do you, a complete academic failure, even know how many characters are in the Five Classics if you copy them thirty times? Do you even know how long that would take?"

"You must be getting revenge on purpose!"

In his desperation, Li Tai even stopped talking about being alone. He was going through puberty and his voice was so hoarse that it sounded like a male duck's quacking. When he spoke in such a hurry, it really did sound like a male duck quacking.

"If he's not qualified, then what about me?"

Li Shimin walked over from behind with a dark face. Today was the day he had carefully arranged for Li Chengqian to become an apprentice. After finishing his official duties, he wanted to see if his son had successfully become an apprentice.

Upon arriving, he saw Li Tai pointing at the back of Wei Zu's head and cursing loudly. Li Tai was an avid reader of history books, but he knew the fate of the emperors who had said those words.

Even though Li Tai was not the emperor, but only a prince, he could not say such things carelessly, especially in front of so many students at the Imperial Academy.

If this gets out, won't people have some doubts?

Did the King of Yue acquire such thoughts through the emperor's teachings and example?

What will the Wei family think?

What will people think?

Fortunately, Li Chengqian handled the situation well, which saved some face for the royal family.

"Father!"

Li Chengqian and Li Tai were shocked, especially Li Tai, who knew how much his father, the Emperor, valued Emperor Wei.

Even if they didn't understand it at all, they knew they couldn't save their own lives.

Li Shimin will definitely punish him severely!

No, we must go find the Empress Dowager immediately; only she can save him.

Li Tai took off running, but the guards around Li Shimin and Li Chengqian were not to be trifled with!

He tried to run away, but was caught and brought back.

"You unfilial son, kneel down!"

Li Shimin, like an enraged tiger, glared with wide eyes and slapped Li Tai across the face.

Li Shimin was a renowned military general, and even with Li Tai's weight, this slap made him stagger.

"Please forgive my son, Your Excellency. He is unruly and has been pampered since childhood. He is ignorant of manners and cannot endure hardship. I hope Your Excellency will forgive him."

"Upon returning, I will certainly discipline them strictly and show no leniency!"

"I will personally send people to carry out the punishment for the Crown Prince, and I will show absolutely no favoritism!"

"After this matter, I will send him to live among the common people in anonymity, so that he can experience the hardships of ordinary people and reflect on his actions."

Li Tai was, after all, Li Shimin's son. Li Shimin wouldn't necessarily kill Li Tai, but this time he was determined to teach Li Tai what he could and couldn't say.

"His Highness the Prince of Yue is just a child who is not even 10 years old. Children speak without thinking. Your Majesty does not need to be so strict."

Wei Zu shook his head; he wouldn't stoop to the level of arguing with a child who was only a few years old.

"As members of the royal family, it is only right that they experience the hardships of ordinary people. The Grand Minister of Agriculture need not persuade them further."

Li Shimin said firmly.