"I heard that you were ill a few days ago. Are you feeling better?" Li Chengzhen showed a concerned expression.
He knew the importance of Yang Xuanji.
Yang Xuanji is a man of great learning, erudition, stubborn character and hatred of evil. In the eyes of civil officials and ordinary people, he is a well-known figure and a great scholar who will definitely be recorded in history books.
Li Chengzhen wanted to be Yang Xuanji's student, and he could tolerate Yang Xuanji's arrogance and rudeness. Because his uncle and mother said that having Yang Xuanji teach would help shape Li Chengzhen's reputation.
Students taught by great Confucian scholars also have an extra layer of trust from civil and military officials and the common people.
Yang Xuanji bowed politely and greeted Li Chengzhen in a neither humble nor arrogant tone. Yang Xuanji replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I have recovered from my illness and am fine."
Li Chengzhen is already twelve years old. Having stayed in the palace for a long time, she is no longer the innocent child she used to be.
He said to Yang Xuanji with an apologetic look, "My eighth brother is young and ignorant. He has been raised outside the palace for three years since he was born. He doesn't know the palace rules, nor does he know how to respect teachers. He offended you a few days ago. I apologize to you on behalf of my eighth brother."
Li Chengzhen deliberately mentioned the bad deeds of his eighth brother Li Chengtai.
Yang Xuanji's old face was grim, he stroked his beard and said: "The Eighth Prince is young and extremely intelligent. I have long wanted to ask the Emperor for permission to be his teacher. However, I caught a cold a few days ago and missed the opportunity."
Li Chengzhen's mind went blank for a moment.
I didn't react for a moment.
Li Chengzhen asked: "Sir, why are you entering the palace today..."
Yang Xuanji stroked his beard and said angrily, "I have asked the emperor for permission to teach the Eighth Prince to read and understand reason! Zhang Fenghua is still a child and Zheng is a cripple. How can they compare to me?"
After saying that, Yang Xuanji said goodbye to Li Chengzhen, turned around and hurriedly walked towards the Chang'an Palace. In broad daylight, the seventy-year-old man walked briskly, which showed how impatient he was.
Li Chengzhen stood there in a daze, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him from head to toe.
Jealousy, resentment, bitterness, and grievance.
A thousand emotions exploded in his heart, making his head buzz. Li Chengzhen's uncle watched the whole situation from the sidelines, came over and patted his nephew on the shoulder: "Don't worry about it. The teachers who taught you are all very knowledgeable."
Li Chengzhen's uncle is the Queen's biological brother and the current head of the Tantai family. He entered the palace today, ostensibly to visit the "sick" queen, but in reality to urge Tan Tai Yin Xue to win favor as soon as possible.
Li Chengzhen clenched his fists: "Uncle, how am I inferior to Li Chengtai? He is only four years old. Yang Xuanji would rather teach a four-year-old than be my teacher!"
The head of the Tan Tai family frowned and found it unbelievable.
Could it be that the Eighth Prince is really a genius?
Patriarch Tantai shook his head and comforted Li Chengzhen: "Don't think too much. Chen Fei's brother Shen Xiuming is Yang Xuanji's student. Maybe Yang Xuanji is willing to teach the Eighth Prince for Shen Xiuming's sake."
Li Chengzhen thought carefully about the connection, and the jealousy in his heart dissipated a little.
He gritted his teeth and said unwillingly: "Yang Xuanji claims to be a clean official, but I think he is hypocritical and has already colluded with the Concubine Chen."
Patriarch Tantai pondered for a moment and said solemnly: "The rising power of Concubine Chen is indeed a hidden danger."
Behind Concubine Chen is General Shen, who has a daughter and two sons. He is a huge threat and must be eliminated.
The head of the Tan Tai family said, "My dear child, you must work hard and be the best among the princes. The Tan Tai family will do its best to assist you."
Li Chengzhen glanced at his uncle and nodded obediently: "I know, I won't let my uncle down."
The head of the Tan Tai family felt relieved and also thought that children were really easy to fool. The Tantai family currently values Li Chengzhen only because he is the only male in the family.
Two days ago, the emperor summoned Tan Tai Yin Xue to sleep with him and gave him many rewards afterwards. Once Tan Tai Yin Xue becomes pregnant and gives birth to a boy, there will be no more room for Li Cheng Zhen.
The head of the Tan Tai family and Li Chengzhen walked out of the palace gate together. Li Chengzhen looked obedient on the outside, but his heart was raging with anger.
Li Chengzhen thought, my uncle is so hypocritical.
He kept saying that his family would help him, but in reality, his mother was still trapped in Kunning Palace, and his family sent a beautiful new bride into the palace. It can be seen that the family has abandoned the queen and is even ready to abandon him...
Li Chengzhen clenched his sleeves, feeling as if there was a raging fire burning in his heart. He wanted to burn down his family, the palace, his father, his mother, and his younger brothers.
...
The news that Yang Xuanji went to the palace to see the emperor spread quickly.
It is said that he argued with reason in front of the emperor, citing scriptures and classics, with an attitude of never giving up, and was determined to become the eighth prince's teacher.
Yang Xuanji even dragged his old bones to Guangwenguan to find Tutor Zhang and Master Zheng to compete with them in knowledge.
In the end, Emperor Li Yuanjing issued an edict, ordering Yang Xuanji, Zhang Taifu and Zheng Xue Shi to be Li Chengtai's enlightenment teachers.
The rumor circulating in the harem that "the Eighth Prince is ill and has a mysterious problem" was proven false.
The Eighth Prince is extremely talented, and several scholars are vying to teach him, which is truly rare.
...
In Yongning Palace, Shen Wei leaned on a rattan chair in the waterside pavilion, with a special beauty mask on her face and the "Performance Appraisal Book" of the harem in her hand. There are many palace maids and eunuchs in the harem, and many of them just live a lazy life.
Shen Wei introduced modern "performance appraisal" into harem management. According to the palace servants' positions, they are assigned tasks to do every year, every month, and every day.
The palace servants recorded their completed work in an assessment booklet, which is similar to modern punch-in clocks. Three days before the monthly salary is distributed, the female officials who are good at counting will determine the amount of monthly salary to be distributed to the palace servants based on the assessment form.
If you do a good job, you will be paid; if you do a bad job, you will be deducted from your salary. In addition, there are generous bonuses given to the "sales champions" of each department to enhance the enthusiasm and competitiveness of the palace people in their work.
A simple management system can make the complicated and corrupt harem lively.
"Master." Cai Lian walked into the pavilion, "Yang Xuanji has already started teaching the Eighth Prince. He is teaching very seriously with a spirit of not admitting defeat."
Chen Wei put down the assessment form in her hand, and raised the corners of her lips: "Just teach them carefully. You can ask the palace servants who take care of Chengtai and Chengyou to be more careful. The two children are still young, so don't work too hard."
The child is still young, and he should not study too hard, as it will damage his physical foundation.
Combine work and rest, and while studying hard, children must also maintain their nature and play and run more.
Cai Lian nodded gently and continued, "The two young masters' food and clothing are all provided by our own people. During their daily playtime, there are guards watching over them."
Children are fragile and can be blown down by a gust of wind. They must be protected to prevent evil people from taking advantage of their weaknesses.
Chen Wei rubbed her temples, thought for a moment, and then instructed, "Send the princesses from Leyou to Guangwen Hall as auditors. The three teachers are all knowledgeable, and it would be beneficial for them to listen to something."
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