Chapter 483 On the Right to Education (Part 2)
Empress Zhangsun has three points to make regarding her husband's tendency to cry, which has even influenced her eldest son to become a crybaby as well.
...
Temporarily accepting her son's explanation that he had "strong empathy," Empress Zhangsun breathed a slight sigh of relief. However, thinking of the rewards sent from the palace today, she couldn't help but frown again.
Looking at her eldest son's bright and cheerful expression, she asked gently, "Did Chengqian ask for the Shu brocade that Grandpa gave him today?"
Li Chengqian took the pastry from his younger brother, took a bite, frowned slightly, and naturally put it back on the table, replying crisply, "Yes, I wanted a Shu brocade dress, so I went to ask Grandpa for one."
Empress Zhangsun ran her fingertips over the handkerchief on her knee and sighed softly, "But Shu brocade is a tribute item. As far as I know, there are only three bolts in total. Chengqian, you are all alone. If you take them all, your grandfather will have nothing to wear."
"It's precisely because it's a tribute item that we need it." Li Chengqian puffed out his chest confidently, the newly replaced red jade pendant at his waist gleaming with a cool light.
Empress Zhangsun was taken aback and asked incredulously, "You like Shu brocade because it was a tribute item?"
“Yes, I am the Crown Prince of Qin, the grandson of my grandfather, of course I should wear the best clothes.” Li Chengqian raised his chin, his tone matter-of-fact and full of self-satisfaction.
The four-year-old prince casually wore a moon-white fox fur cloak, with a white tiger pattern embroidered in gold thread peeking out from the collar. A small gilded crown inlaid with rubies tied up his black hair, with a few strands hanging down beside his ears, making his face look like white jade formed from the first snow.
His pupils were like obsidian soaked in morning dew, shimmering with light. The corners of his eyes were slightly upturned, and his eyes sparkled with a cleverness. His eyelashes were distinct, like small fans brushed with ink.
His nose was straight and elegant, his lips were naturally pink and red, his dimples were shallow when he smiled, and his demeanor was as cool as the moon when he didn't smile. Every move he made carried an innate nobility, which made Empress Zhangsun momentarily dazed, thinking that there was absolutely nothing wrong with what he said.
Li Tai squeezed into Li Chengqian's arms, his chubby little hands grabbing his brother's clothes, and loudly agreed: "That's right, brother should wear the best!"
Li Chengqian wrapped his long arm around his chubby younger brother and pulled him into his arms: "Qingque is right. Not only does your brother wear the best clothes, but his younger brother is also the best." He suddenly turned his head, his peach blossom eyes curving into crescent moons, "Of course, Mother and Father are also the best."
Coming to her senses, Empress Zhangsun ignored her son's sweet words and, alarm bells rang in her heart. She tentatively asked, "Chengqian, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
The moment Li Chengqian tilted his head in thought, Li Shimin under the corridor clenched the jade pendant at his waist, and Changsun Wuji held his breath.
This question seemed to trigger some kind of radar; two words he had never paid attention to before suddenly appeared in Li Chengqian's mind. Without hesitation, he blurted out: "纨绔 (wan ku)! I want to be the number one纨绔 (wan ku) of the Tang Dynasty!"
Li Tai clapped and cheered, "Then I want to be a playboy too!"
Li Chengqian shook his head seriously, pointing his finger at his younger brother's nose, and said emphatically, "You're no good. If your older brother is going to be a playboy, you have to become a talent and be the most outstanding younger brother. Only then can your older brother be the most outstanding playboy."
Li Tai's eyes lit up as he listened, and he nodded repeatedly: "Great! I'll be the best younger brother, and I'll let my older brother be the ultimate playboy." The two brothers chatted excitedly, one after the other.
Both Empress Zhangsun inside the house and Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wuji, who were eavesdropping outside, were stunned and panicked.
"This doesn't make sense... How could this be... It shouldn't be like this..."
Li Shimin paced anxiously in his study, almost crushing the bluestone floorboards under his feet. He still couldn't understand why Chengqian would want to be a playboy.
"Thinking about it carefully, Chengqian is still quite ambitious. He at least wants to be the number one playboy in the Tang Dynasty," Changsun Wuji said quietly, his tone carrying a hint of coldness.
Li Shimin glared at him, turned around and sat down. Looking at Changsun Wuji, who was staring at him intently, he instantly deflated and weakly explained, "It really wasn't me who taught him..."
“Chengqian was brought to the front courtyard and raised by you personally shortly after his birth! It certainly wasn’t my sister who raised him,” Changsun Wuji enunciated clearly, and seeing Li Shimin’s evasive look, he sneered, “Could it be that I raised him, Your Highness?”
"The White Tiger!" Li Shimin suddenly found his suspect. "It must be that white tiger!"
As Li Chengqian grew older, the white tiger was allowed to appear for longer periods of time, and it was clearly obeying Chengqian's commands. Because he was worried about being discovered by outsiders, Li Shimin always asked his son to minimize the appearance of the white tiger.
"Let me tell you, just a couple of days ago, Baihu broke Chengqian's favorite white porcelain vase and was put in solitary confinement by Chengqian. It must have been him; he's obviously no good tiger!"
Seeing Li Shimin almost convinced, Changsun Wuji rubbed his temples helplessly. "You mean, a white tiger is teaching Chengqian to be a playboy? Does it even know what a playboy means?"
"What if?" Li Shimin muttered under his breath, trying to sound tough.
Changsun Wuji sighed and looked at Li Shimin seriously: "Your Highness, everyone has their own expertise. Let's leave the task of teaching the Crown Prince to someone who is good at it."
Changsun Wuji emphasized the word "heir apparent" to make Li Shimin understand that Chengqian's education could not go wrong! He is currently the heir apparent of the Prince of Qin, so it's not a big problem if he wants to be a playboy, but what if... a crown prince who wants to be a playboy, is that acceptable?
Understanding Changsun Wuji's meaning, Li Shimin reluctantly nodded, "Alright, you can arrange it as you see fit."
Perhaps there are some minor issues with his upbringing. But Chengqian can't do without him; even if a teacher is hired, he needs to be present to supervise!
Li Shimin's idea was good, but wasn't it a bit too much of a fuss for Fuji to invite Xuanling and Keming over?
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, who had a long talk with the young prince and learned what had happened from Changsun Wuji, did not feel that it was a big fuss!
"Why are you all giving me insults with your eyes?" Li Shimin felt wronged and resentful. Didn't he, the Prince of Qin, have any dignity?
Fang Xuanling: "Everyone has their own area of expertise."
Du Ruhui: "Your Highness, focus on fighting the war."
Both men were of one mind and refused to allow the King of Qin to regain the right to educate the young prince!
Li Shimin tried to argue further: "But Chengqian can't live without me..."
Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "It's alright, I'll play the bad guy and keep you at bay."
"But I want to..."
“No, Your Highness, you don’t want to,” Du Ruhui gently but impolitely pushed Li Shimin toward Changsun Wuji, “The Crown Prince performed well at the front, Your Highness, you should get busy too. Xuanling and I will discuss the Crown Prince’s teaching plan.”
Li Shimin, who was pushed out, stared in disbelief at the closed door in front of him, pointed at himself and looked at Changsun Wuji: "I am the Prince of Qin, am I?"
"Who are you."
"Is this my study?"
"yes."
"Isn't Chengqian my son?"
"certainly."
"What about Chengqian's teaching plan..."
Changsun Wuji interrupted him directly: "This has nothing to do with you."
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