187 Chapter 187
◎Measure.◎
"Ha ha ha ha……"
Li Chengqian had just finished pressing the paperweight when he heard Tian Khan's hearty laughter from outside. He said with a smile, "Mother, do you know there's something that makes people laugh non-stop when they smell it?"
Changsun Shi just dipped her brush in the water. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but laugh. She tapped her eldest son's forehead and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Your father must be happy about something."
"Mother, ink is dripping." Li Chengqian pointed to his sleeve.
Changsun quickly moved her hand away. She looked at her eldest son's sleeve, which was stained with three or four spots of ink. He was wearing brightly colored clothes, so the ink was very obvious.
Chang Sun smiled and said, "Mother, you are careless. Go change your clothes."
"It's okay." Li Chengqian rolled up his sleeves. "I need to change clothes for martial arts class later. It would be a waste to change now."
Before Changsun could say anything, Li Shimin's praise came through the window: "Chengqian said it well!"
Li Chengqian: "..."
What did I say?
Soon, Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wuji entered the inner hall one after another. Li Chengqian hurriedly looked at his mother and saw that she frowned quickly.
His mother had always been worried that as a relative by marriage, Changsun would suffer misfortune. There were many precedents in history, and Changsun Wuji did not end up well.
Li Chengqian stepped forward and bowed: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Li Shimin took his hand and said with a smile, "Look at you, Fuji! How dare someone say bad things about your nephew? Even in private, he's a bit polite. What's wrong with my prince?"
Li Chengqian was filled with questions. What had he been doing recently? Who was dissatisfied with him? He knew that the Tang Dynasty's remonstrators were useless and only knew how to find fault!
Changsun Wuji smiled at the right moment and said, "The Crown Prince is considerate of his subjects and cares about the people. He is a model."
Li Chengqian was stunned. He pointed at himself and said, "It's just this one piece of clothing. Can't I just be too lazy to change?"
Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "Your Highness said that you don't want to waste it."
Even if Li Chengqian really had this intention, after hearing Zhangsun Wuji's exaggerated praise, he immediately wanted to waste it.
It is certainly annoying to be criticized by others, but it is equally annoying to be praised for nothing.
"Mom, do you know what a double act is?" Li Chengqian turned to ask his mother.
Zhang Sunshi asked in confusion, "What?"
Li Chengqian explained this and that, then said, "Mother, do you understand? Uncle just praised me, as if we were singing a duet together."
Too contrived!
Changsun Wuji coughed dryly, feeling a little embarrassed.
To avoid further embarrassment for her brother, Changsun turned her head to hide her smile, but Li Shimin laughed without restraint: "Your uncle said you are good, but he is not good."
"Uncle will be fine now." Li Chengqian smiled. "It's time, mother. I have to change my clothes for martial arts class." After saying that, he bowed and left.
"This kid..." Li Shimin shook his head. "Fuji, Cheng Qian is just joking with you. Don't bother with him."
Changsun Wuji hurriedly said, "I dare not."
Li Shimin smiled and said, "There are no outsiders here, so we are not kings or subjects."
Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "Children's words are innocent. How can an uncle care about what his nephew says?"
Only then did Li Shimin nod with satisfaction.
Zhangsun sent for tea and snacks, while Li Shimin said to his wife, "Guanyin, with the curved plow and waterwheel, next year's grain production will surely increase. Everyone praises our Chengqian. Yet, there are a few ignorant people who dare to secretly discuss this, saying it wasn't Chengqian's invention. How ridiculous!"
Zhang Sun Wuji said, "They are just a few insignificant officials, not worthy of the Saint's anger."
Chang Sunshi asked, "Since they are insignificant people, how did the sage know that they were discussing Cheng Qian?"
Li Shimin said: "Of course someone secretly reported it to me."
"Those who can hear this must be very close relatives." Changsun said.
Li Shimin put down his teacup and nodded, saying, "Those who gossip are not good people, and those who complain behind people's backs are not people you can use."
Chang Sun smiled and said, "A saint is confused by his own affairs, and is also confused by his concern."
"Alas." Li Shimin sighed, "Cheng Qian is weak and can't be overworked for the time being. If I can't increase the number of teachers, I can add some subordinates. I can't let people see that I don't value the crown prince."
Just as Changsun Wuji was about to speak, he received a look from the Queen's sister, and he could only shut his mouth.
Changsun started by saying some gossip, and soon she ordered someone to send Changsun Wuji out of the palace.
Li Shimin was unable to stop him and said regretfully, "I was hoping to have a good chat between you two siblings, but before I could get out of the way, you let Fu Ji go first."
Chang Sun said with a stern face, "My brother is a man from outside the family. Entering the Queen's bedroom is already an offense."
"Brother and sister, you're talking about this." Li Shimin stroked his wife's shoulder and said gently, "Fu Ji and I have known each other since we were young. I know what kind of person he is, and you are also aware of the friendship between us. Guanyin Bi, I know what you are worried about, and I promise that it is absolutely groundless."
Changsun's expression softened. "Erlang, I understand your feelings. I'm just taking precautions. But I'm not just doing this for my brother and the Changsun family..."
"I know you're planning something for me," Li Shimin said softly. "The history books are stained with blood. You're afraid we'll make the same mistake."
"Then Erlang, do you want to listen to what I say?" Changsun asked in a low voice.
Li Shimin shook his head and said, "Guanyin, I'm afraid I can't grant you your wish. As the saying goes, one should not avoid relatives when promoting others. Fuji is no mediocre person. He has great talent, and I should employ him. It's not out of selfish motives, but for the sake of the Tang Dynasty and its people."
Since he had already raised this banner, Changsun had no choice but to stop trying to persuade him, but she still had one chance on Changsun Wuji's side.
…
"Mr. Qin is not feeling well again, mother. I told him not to come over tomorrow and to rest at home for a few days." Li Chengqian came to talk to his mother after finishing his martial arts class.
"Is he sick again?" It was Li Shimin who answered, "Shubao has been sick more often recently. I've asked the imperial physician to take care of him, but he's not getting better."
"Your mother went out to play with Lizhi and Yuxiu." He finally explained.
Li Chengqian said, "Mr. Qin said these are old injuries from previous battles and they are difficult to heal."
Li Shimin said, "In that case, let him rest and recuperate. I will find you a new martial arts master."
Li Chengqian shook his head: "Mr. Qin is fine. When Divine Doctor Sun comes to Beijing to see him, he will naturally get better. I don't need to change teachers."
Although the crown prince must be both civil and military, Li Shimin attaches more importance to cultural subjects. Cheng Qian is weak, so in terms of martial arts, Li Shimin only requires him not to make a fool of himself in front of others.
Since the eldest son said he did not want to change, Li Shimin did not force him to do so. Instead, he talked about the officials under the crown prince. He handed the list he had compiled to the eldest son and said, "I will issue an edict tomorrow."
Li Chengqian looked down and saw that the first name was Yu Zhining. He immediately lost the desire to read any further and simply folded the paper in half and handed it back.
Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's your dissatisfaction?"
"A little bit." Li Chengqian spread his hands. "The Eastern Palace isn't even mine, so why should I be an official?"
The current master of the East Palace: "..."
"Is this my fault?" Li Shimin did not hide anything. After all, his son knew everything about his relationship with his father.
Li Chengqian thought for a moment and said, "How about this? I'll try to convince Grandpa to give you the Taiji Hall. In return, I can cross out a few names from your paper. How about that?"
Even if they didn't move to the Taiji Hall, Li Chengqian wanted to put his name on it, and Li Shimin didn't really want to refuse. But since he planned to piss off the retired emperor again, Li Shimin was still... waiting to see.
So Li Shimin nodded and said, "Okay, go ahead."
It doesn’t matter if there’s a mess, I’ll clean it up!
I don't know if Li Chengqian understood the hidden meaning, but he didn't say anything else. He just said, "It's late today. I'll go tomorrow afternoon."
Li Shimin felt a little regretful. His eldest son's attitude had improved since he fell ill once, but he still felt uncomfortable. It was really... They were clearly father and son, but they were not close at all. How could they be like father and son?
Is Qingque really cute and good at acting like a spoiled child? When will Chengqian be able to be like Qingque?
Li Shimin thought about it and said, "Cheng Qian, besides studying and practicing martial arts, you have some free time these days. Why don't you come to the front and accompany my father and talk to him?"
Li Chengqian counted them off. "I still have to review and prepare, and I have to exercise with my mother and help her with palace affairs. Besides, don't I talk to you every morning and evening? Can't we talk to each other if you have something to say?"
Li Shimin: “…”
If you accompany your mother to handle palace affairs, can't you also accompany your father to handle government affairs?
Li Chengqian saw this sentence from Tian Khan's eyes, but he didn't intend to say anything about it. Following him to handle government affairs meant that Li Chengqian officially stepped into the stage of the previous dynasty. The prince was so eager to participate in politics, this behavior could be simply summarized as seeking death.
For the emperor and the crown prince, distance creates beauty, and the crown prince should stay out of matters related to power so that he can live a few more years.
When Changsun came back with the children, she saw her husband who looked quite aggrieved and her eldest son who looked very innocent. She looked at the two of them and couldn't guess what was going on.
The children all ran over to pay their respects and snuggled up to their father and talked affectionately. Li Shimin was finally able to show his fatherly love, and he felt a lot more relieved.
Changsun sat down next to the eldest son and whispered, "Why are you arguing with your father again?"
Li Chengqian also whispered back, "Mother, we're not arguing. It's just that my father wanted me to go with him to handle government affairs. I refused, and he got unhappy."
Changsun shook her head and said, "Your father is a bit tactless in some things. Fortunately, Chengqian is a good boy and knows what not to do. Mother, you can be relieved of a lot of worry by watching him."
Li Chengqian smiled and said, "It's all thanks to my mother's good teaching."
Chang Sun also smiled and said, "Since you said that you taught me well, I will teach you another one."
Li Chengqian asked with a smile, "What else does mother want to teach me?"
Chang Sun nodded over there and said, "You go and act coquettishly with your father too."
Li Chengqian was struck by lightning.
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