Chapter 36: So You Were Here All Along

Just a few days before Li Longji's killing of three sons in one day shocked all strata of Chang'an, a denunciation letter from Youzhou was delivered to Li Longji's desk by a swift courier horse through the post station.

But the Tang Emperor had no time to deal with such petty matters, nor did he wish the outer court to interfere with the secret letters sent individually by regional prefects and frontier officials.

He would rather spend more time in the opera gardens listening to scores than be troubled all day by boring state affairs, so he handed the letter to Gao Shang to deal with.

The letter was written by Fang Youde, the Youzhou Provincial Observation and Disposition Officer; in it, Fang Youde reported Linghu Chao, the newly appointed magistrate of Yongqiu County this year, requesting the court to dismiss him.

Fang Youde wrote in the letter: although Linghu Chao entered officialdom through patronage, he is ungrateful for the court's kindness, and his private conduct is indecent and contemptible.

This is not baseless rumor; there is detailed evidence.

Fang Youde detailed Linghu Chao's "romantic affairs" in the letter.

Linghu Chao had a subordinate named Gao Shang; the two were as close as brothers, with a deep private friendship. Linghu Chao's household also had a beautiful concubine, and he and Gao Shang often cavorted with her together; the three's debauched cohabitation was notorious far and near.

Later that concubine gave birth to a daughter, who did not know who her father was, so she was claimed as Gao Shang's daughter, with Linghu Chao acting as her "adoptive father"—utterly absurd.

A man of such immoral conduct should not be a local official; please have the court dismiss him.

That was the entire content of the letter; it only addressed this matter.

Originally Gao Shang had almost forgotten this petty matter, but today, upon seeing Fang Chongyong, Gao Shang recalled his father Fang Youde's ridiculous informant letter.

The letter had long been "kept in the archives and not sent," locked away by Gao Shang, who was too lazy to even glance at it again.

You say, as a Youzhou Observation and Disposition Officer, you are to observe Youzhou officials; even if you claim the court should remove the Youzhou Military Governor Zhang Shougui, that is still a proper duty!

But writing a complaint to have the court dismiss a county magistrate of the Henan Circuit—what does that mean? Is it because you, Fang Youde, are idle in Youzhou?

Gao Shang could not fathom it; as the court's chief overseer stationed in Youzhou, why would Fang Youde involve himself in the Henan Circuit's petty affairs, and what is his motive?

It's not even a matter of cross‑regional jurisdiction; even if Fang Youde were the Henan Circuit Observation and Disposition Officer, Li Longji would still be too lazy to deal with such matters, and Gao Shang outright refuses to bother.

What does a silver banquet have to do with anything; is it really worth mentioning?

Gao Shang thought Fang Youde utterly clueless, naively laughable.

When Fang Youde returns to report his duties, Gao Shang intends to recommend him, so that the Sage can open his eyes.

With some absurd, laughable thoughts in his mind, Gao Shang arrived at Daming Palace. Before entering, a palace attendant hurriedly informed him to return at once to Xingqing Palace, where the Sage was waiting for his report in the Qinzhengwubenlou.

Sweating profusely, Gao Shang had to hasten back to Xingqing Palace; when he saw Li Longji, the Tang Emperor was reviewing memorials, his expression slightly grim.

"Has the matter been clarified?"

Li Longji set the memorial aside and asked calmly.

"Yes, Sage, it has been clarified."

Gao Shang began recounting from the moment he first saw Fang Chongyong and the others at the post station, up to the recent hasty burial of the Three Kings with a commoner's rite.

Having heard the entire burial process, Li Longji was slightly stunned.

He truly wanted to, with rightful authority, punish Fang Chongyong and his group, but after careful consideration, he found he could not pinpoint any fault!

The Three Kings' burial was conducted according to "commoner standards." Since Li Ying and others were stripped of rank, aren't they now commoners?

"Who plotted this?"

Li Longji asked with an unfriendly expression.

"Yes, Sage, it is a child, the son of a former courtier of the hidden residence."

Gao Shang smiled.

"Former courtier of the hidden residence?"

Li Longji was taken aback; the only remaining former courtiers of the hidden residence now are Chen Xuanli, Gao Shang, and Fang Youde.

A few years ago there was also Wang Maozhong, who held command over the imperial guards.

But because he was arrogant and offended Li Longji, he was demoted and then ordered to die.

Wang Maozhong was not like Fang Youde in being indifferent to fame and profit, nor as low‑key and unambitious, nor as adept at conduct as Gao Shang, and

not like Chen Xuanli, who paid no attention at all to Li Longji's affairs.

"Fang Youde's son, Fang Chongyong."

Gao Shang whispered.

"That fool?"

Li Longji almost laughed at Gao Shang's remark.

"Gao Shang, you must not deceive me; Fang Youde's only son is that… we have both seen him before. If he were capable, he would have already entered the Imperial Academy to study."

Li Longji waved his hand and said.

The Imperial Academy has existed since the Han dynasty, though its name has varied across dynasties.

In the first year of Zhenguan, the Tang Empire renamed the Guozixue as the Imperial Academy and established it as an independent educational administrative institution.

Within the Academy there is one chief instructor as the highest educational administrator, one deputy, and one registrar, responsible for students' grades and records. The Imperial Academy oversees six schools: the Imperial Academy School, the Taixue, the Four Gates School, the Law School, the Literature School, and the Mathematics School, with a teacher‑to‑student ratio of about 1 to 20.

During the Kaiyuan era, more than two thousand students were enrolled, including many foreigners studying in the Tang Empire.

The admission threshold for the Imperial Academy is high; only those of normal intellect whose fathers hold official positions of a certain rank can, after an interview, present a recommendation letter written by a relative who holds a comparable office to gain entry.

Fang Chongyong's father Fang Youde certainly had the proper rank, but at that time Fang Chongyong's intellect could not pass the Academy's interview.

Hence Li Longji made that remark.

If Fang Chongyong's intellect had been adequate back then, he would have, like ordinary aristocratic youths, first entered the Imperial Academy to bide his time, then see whether he could pursue the imperial examinations.

Of course, given Fang Youde's status, Fang Chongyong would have no difficulty obtaining an official post later.

There may be people unfamiliar with the "market" who think the Imperial Academy's entry threshold is low. In reality, besides being a backstage venue for status, the Academy also retains a path for some commoner youths to be admitted by "supplementary" enrollment.

Beyond being a status‑based backroom, it also offers a route for certain commoner youths to be admitted by "supplementary" enrollment.

These commoner youths must undergo a maddening entrance exam to join the Imperial Academy; its difficulty is far from ordinary.

Moreover, once admitted, they must study diligently and cope with various examinations!

Indeed, examinations within the Imperial Academy are extremely frequent; besides entrance exams, there are promotion tests, academy exams, as well as ten‑day and annual exams, each serving different purposes, with content and methods varying by discipline.

Of course, aristocratic youths may disregard the exams, but commoner youths cannot, as these serve as a stepping stone to the imperial examinations.

【61】 Although the Imperial Academy's practical results are modest, it nonetheless supplies some talent for the imperial examinations and objectively raises the overall educational level of the bureaucratic class.

The exam's format and content are closely tied to the imperial examinations, and can be seen as a pre‑emptive mock‑exam training class.

After all students finish their studies, they must sit the imperial examination, just like the provincial tribute jinshi; after attaining their degree they then pass the Ministry of Personnel exam to receive office.

Li Longji actually wanted to send Fang Chongyong to study at the Imperial Academy; now that Gao Shang brings up this matter, he recalls that the child must be a fool.

At least he was.

"From my view, this person is not only not foolish but exceedingly wise, a bright youth."

Gao Shang said softly.

"That is indeed strange."

Li Longji murmured to himself.

"Being dull in youth and becoming talented later is not unusual. How does the Sage intend to handle this?"

Gao Shang asked very deferentially.

"What do you think?"

Li Longji nodded slightly, asking without indicating approval or disapproval.

"Your Majesty, let this matter rest here and not be raised again. If any courtier submits a memorial, simply suppress the document without replying. After some time, the issue will fade."

Gao Shang bowed and said.

"Proceed accordingly."

Li Longji sighed; he vaguely felt this time was a bit over‑done, yet he could not lose face to make amends.

Seeing Li Longji's expression, Gao Shang continued: "You may adopt the offspring of Li Ying, Li Yao, and Li Ju into other princes' lines; the rest need not be mentioned, nor restore the titles of Prince of Ying (Li Ying before becoming Crown Prince), Prince of E, or Prince of Guang."

"However, adoption must be accompanied by confinement."

Gao Shang's suggestion was very appropriate: there is no need to act against the three princes' descendants; instead, adopt them under other princes and confine them.

If they are not confined, how can we deal with them lying in wait, plotting revenge all day?

It must be said, such political maneuvering is truly sophisticated, able to eliminate hidden risks to the greatest extent and mitigate the adverse political fallout after the 'three princes killed in one day.'

"If we proceed thus, how shall Fang Chongyong be dealt with?"

Li Longji nodded and asked further; he no longer wanted to ponder the proper course. The 'three princes killed in one day' affair was handled messily, leaving him bewildered. He did not wish to face multiple‑choice questions, let alone essay ones.

Only true/false questions are his kind; Li Longji now just wants others to give suggestions, and he will answer simply "yes" or "no."

"I have heard three scholars this year who entered the imperial exams and caused trouble with Fang Chongyong; perhaps we should pre‑emptively inform the Minister of Rites to reject those three, as a punishment."

Gao Shang suggested quietly.

"Very well. As for the others, besides Fang Chongyong, they are likely household slaves, so no need to punish them."

Li Longji waved his hand and laughed heartily.

The dust of the era finally passed perilously close to Fang Dafu and Fang Laique, father and son, without crushing them into a pulp beneath a mountain.

A commoner's joke is often just a laugh; a noble's joke is often a dead man's capsizing. The same words spoken by different people have completely different effects.

"As for the child Fang Chongyong, I will bring him to Xingqing Palace; the Sage need only see him once. How to handle him is at the Sage's discretion."

If there is nothing, his home is just behind Xingqing Palace; exiting the gate lets him return home. If there is an issue, detain him in the palace for instruction; the Sage may consider it as Fang Youde disciplining a disobedient offspring, which is fine.

Gao Shang saw Li Longji's mouth corner lift slightly and knew his mood had improved.

"No rush; first let him squat in Dali Temple's prison for three days. After three days, bring this disobedient child to Xingqing Palace; I also want to see how this little brat transformed from unt teachable stupidity to his current brilliance."

Li Longji, now in a better mood, said to Gao Shang, "I will go to Liyuan to see how Gongsun Daniu teaches her few incompetent disciples. As for Fang Chongyong's matter, you handle it. Have the people at Dali Temple look after him a bit, so he does not starve."

Li Longji waved his hand and walked toward Qinzhengwubenlou. Gao Shang felt that in recent years Li Longji spent far more time at Liyuan than at Daming Palace Zichen Hall.

Indeed, with the realm now in harmonious song and dance, Li Longji also wishes to enjoy himself.

Gao Shang walked out of Xingqing Palace, saw the sunset about to set, and heard the curfew drums already beating. He exhaled a cloud of foul breath, thinking to himself: this time I saved Fang Chongyong's life; the next time Fang Youde returns to Chang'an to report, I can extort a hefty sum from him.

……

In a small cell of Dali Temple Prison, Fang Chongyong looked at the disheveled, filthy‑looking Yan Zhuang, who seemed almost unrecognizable, and sighed, "So you are also here!"

"Look at the young master's words; I have been hoping you and Governor Zheng would pull me out. It's one thing that Governor Zheng didn't come, but you came in as well—what shall we do now?"

Yan Zhuang sighed; Fang Chongyong's imprisonment extinguished his sole hope. In his eyes, the bombastic old bureaucrat Zheng Shuqing's ways were utterly unreliable. Still, this young master could hold out some expectation.

Of course, that was his thought yesterday; now he no longer thinks so.

"You are in prison merely as a prisoner. But I am in prison experiencing life."

Fang Chongyong did not mind Yan Zhuang's foul odor, sat beside him, and said confidently, "If I am not mistaken, tonight, or at the latest tomorrow morning, I will leave this place."

"That… seems unlikely."

Yan Zhuang asked doubtfully. He had read many books; how could he not know that Dali Temple is easy to get into but difficult to get out of?

"Then let's wait and see."

Fang Chongyong snorted twice, ignored Yan Zhuang, and began to close his eyes to cultivate.

After a while, Yan Zhuang could no longer hold back; uncertain, he whispered, "Young master, why did you come to Dali Temple? You are still a child!"

"It's nothing; the Sage killed three princes in one day, and I buried the three princes, one of whom was the former Crown Prince."

Fang Chongyong wore an indifferent expression, speaking calmly.

"Oh, so you just buried the princes…"

Yan Zhuang suddenly sensed something amiss, stared at Fang Chongyong and asked, "What did you say, the Sage killed three princes in one day, and then you…"

"Yes, at the time the bodies were hung on the main hall beams of the Eastern City Post, tongues protruding, looking grotesquely terrifying."

Fang Chongyong continued indifferently.

"And then you were taken in?"

Yan Zhuang, on the verge of tears with none left, looked mournfully at Fang Chongyong and asked.

"More or less, I should stay one night and then leave; it's nothing serious."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly.

"It's over, completely over. You might even die before me. Why are you so calm right now!"

Yan Zhuang kept pounding the ground in the cell, wailing nonstop. The hope in his heart was completely shattered.