Chapter 48: Tang Science and Technology Youth Class

Life is often full of surprises; the next day Fang Chongyong still could not smoothly go register for the "Youth Class," because the Hongwen Academy had actually suspended classes!

A major event had occurred in the palace! Consort Wu Hui had suddenly passed away!

No news of her being critically ill had come out beforehand—it could be said she left just like that, without even time to leave a dying word!

This sudden turn of events terrified Fang Chongyong!

Just the day before, Gao Lishi had still been hinting to him, somewhat hesitantly suggesting whether the matter of Li Longji "marrying his daughter-in-law" Huanhuan should be carried out.

Yet today the news came from the palace that Consort Wu Hui had passed away.

Li Longji ordered the central government to halt business for one day, and subsidiary schools such as the National Academy, including the Hongwen Academy, all suspended classes for three days!

Could it be that Gao Lishi had talked Li Longji into it, and then Li Longji took the opportunity to poison and eliminate Consort Wu Hui?

How terrifying!

Fang Chongyong instantly felt a chill all over his body. By all reason, Li Longji should not have acted this quickly—could it really be a coincidence?

For an entire day, Fang Chongyong shut himself in his study, thinking hard, reflecting on where exactly he had gone wrong.

Fang Chongyong felt that he might have underestimated Li Longji's selfishness and ruthlessness.

……

That year, Li Longji had a tower built within Xingqing Palace, named the "Hua'e Xianghui Tower," symbolizing that he and his brothers were as close as hands and feet, their brilliance shining upon one another.

In their younger days, he and his brothers—Emperor-Renouncer Li Xian, Prince of Sui Li Longti, and others—spent their days drinking wine and composing poetry in the tower, enjoying themselves to the fullest, and even specially had long pillows and large quilts sewn, so that when they drank too much they would sleep together.

Their relationship was truly so close they might as well have shared a single pair of trousers.

But Li Longji absolutely forbade his brothers from involving themselves in politics; these men were all idle princes who participated in no government affairs whatsoever.

Now, Li Longji had come to the Hua'e Xianghui Tower, sitting on the bed-couch with arms folded in thought, his expression melancholy.

No one knew what had provoked Consort Wu Hui, but last night she had suddenly died violently, and the cause of death was unclear! This instantly put Li Longji in a very passive position!

If the rumors were left to ferment, sooner or later the talk of "the Sage poisoned Consort Wu Hui to death" would spread. This was something Li Longji did not want to see.

So shortly after Consort Wu Hui breathed her last, Li Longji had Gao Lishi put out word to the outer court: Consort Wu Hui had died of fright after seeing the ghosts of the former Crown Prince and the other two princes!

He had already put the word out; as for whether the courtiers believed it or not, that was up to them.

He believed that on such a matter, no one would dare step out of line.

"Lishi, We wish to posthumously confer the title of Empress upon Consort Wu Hui. What do you think?"

Li Longji asked with a long sigh.

Gao Lishi understood his intent and said, "That would be excellent. It might be even better to let out word that Your Majesty intends to establish the Prince of Shou as Crown Prince."

Both posthumously conferring the title of Empress upon Consort Wu Hui and spreading word of establishing the Prince of Shou as Crown Prince—one had to admit, Gao Lishi had thoroughly grasped the thoughts in Li Longji's heart.

"Mm, let it be done thus."

Li Longji nodded slightly. He noticed that Gao Lishi had not yet moved, so he added, "Go to the Jixian Academy and summon Scholar He here to see Us."

Scholar He was He Zhizhang, who not only wrote excellent calligraphy but also possessed first-rate skill in prose and poetry.

"Having Scholar He write the eulogy for Consort Wu Hui could not be more fitting."

Gao Lishi offered the compliment softly.

"Mm, indeed."

Li Longji nodded woodenly—it was unclear whether he was grieving Consort Wu Hui's passing or imagining something else, as though he had just been lost in a daze.

At this moment his mood was somewhat complicated, as if sighing over the passage of an era, yet also seemingly relieved, as though a burden on his shoulders had already been set down.

"By the way, Lishi, how are things with the Prince of Zhong?"

Li Longji asked as though it were nothing, not even glancing at Gao Lishi. The shift in topic seemed to have no warning whatsoever. He was often like this; sometimes even Li Linfu could not fully adapt.

Only Gao Lishi always knew what Li Longji was thinking.

"Replying to the Sage—does this concern the matter of squeezing out Li Chu's spot at the Hongwen Academy?"

Gao Lishi asked cautiously.

"Yes. Has any news come from the Ten Princes' Residence? What is the Prince of Zhong's reaction?"

Li Longji asked without batting an eye.

The "Ten Princes' Residence" was located in Yongxing Ward and Xingning Ward south of the Daming Palace in Tang-era Chang'an; it was still called the "Ten Princes' Residence" at this time, later renamed the "Sixteen Princes' Residence." It was newly built and completed in the thirteenth year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang, a place where the imperial princes lived together in a concentrated settlement.

On the surface, the "Ten Princes' Residence" appeared to be merely a residence built by the imperial family. Yet its actual significance and influence were extraordinary, leaving a bold and colorful mark in the history books.

These princes' power was greatly restricted because of this estate and the various rules Li Longji had established!

To summarize it as a "gilded cage" would not be an overstatement.

To prevent imperial descendants from participating in politics, Li Longji's methods were extremely severe—not only concentrated residence, but even strict prohibition of princes associating with courtiers.

Inside and outside the estate were eyes and ears dispatched by Li Longji; some the princes knew about, others were deeply hidden. Every movement within the Ten Princes' Residence was under Li Longji's constant surveillance.

Therefore, the days of these imperial princes were not easy—in fact, one could say they were quite oppressive.

"The Prince of Guangping (Li Chu) has no complaints, but… the Prince of Jianning Commandery (Li Tan) seems somewhat unconvinced, believing that Fang Chongyong has no qualification to enter the Hongwen Academy to study."

Gao Lishi chose his words cautiously, speaking very slowly.

Toward these imperial princes and grandsons, Gao Lishi had always kept his distance, not lightly passing judgment on them.

"Is that so."

Li Longji appeared thoughtful.

Whether Li Chu or Li Tan, even including Li Xi, they had all in fact previously studied at the Hongwen Academy. Seeing their eldest brother replaced by an outsider, Li Tan's displeasure was actually a perfectly normal thing.

In their eyes, Fang Youde was nothing more than Li Longji's loyal hound, and Fang Chongyong was merely a pup.

A pup studying alongside them, these imperial princes and grandsons, at the Hongwen Academy would have been one thing—they could have held their noses and pretended it never happened. But replacing Li Chu, an imperial grandson—that was intolerable!

"Let it be thus: the Prince of Nanyang Commandery (Li Xi) and the Prince of Jianning Commandery shall both withdraw from their studies together, and need not go to the Hongwen Academy anymore."

Li Longji waved his hand, and a single sentence decided the fate of two imperial grandsons.

"Three imperial grandsons withdrawing from school at once—will this not invite criticism from court and public? Your Majesty, this matter…"

Gao Lishi leaned close and asked in a low voice.

"Let them guess."

Li Longji waved his hand, seemingly unwilling to say more.

Gao Lishi bowed and withdrew, his heart unruffled.

Everyone else thought Li Longji was still immersed in the grief of losing his beloved consort, but Gao Lishi understood that his master, the Tang Emperor, the sage who reigned from Chang'an, was already laying a trap.

With the death of Consort Wu Hui, everything would become different.

Consort Wu Hui was a trump card for suppressing the Crown Prince. Now the Crown Prince was gone, Consort Wu Hui was gone too, and the Prince of Shou, who had been favored because of Consort Wu Hui, would gradually fade from people's sight.

The situation was about to enter chaos; the next round of positioning had to begin, or the court's balance could not be maintained.

More importantly, Li Longji had been pining for his daughter-in-law—that is, Yang Yuhuan, the Prince of Shou's principal wife—to the point where he could barely eat or sleep.

Not acting left him unwilling; acting felt like too big a step—after all, Li Longji had personally presided over the Prince of Shou's wedding back then!

On one hand concealing the true intent of his scheming, and on the other getting his daughter-in-law into his bed, Li Longji had worn himself to the bone.

Even Gao Lishi spent his days on edge.

If something happened to the Sage, what would become of the Great Tang?

Gao Lishi pondered with deep concern. As for whether Yang Yuhuan would want to die after being seduced by her father-in-law, or whether the Prince of Shou would suffer after having his wife taken away, he had not considered at all.

Perhaps this was simply life.

With complicated feelings, Gao Lishi summoned He Zhizhang, who had been waiting for some time, to the Hua E Xiang Hui Pavilion in Xingqing Palace.

He Zhizhang was already in his late seventies, nearing eighty this year. He was Vice Minister of Rites and also served as Scholar of the Jixian Academy. But truth be told, his symbolic significance in the court far exceeded his practical usefulness.

There was no real government business that required his handling now, so He Zhizhang's days passed quite leisurely and happily.

Every day he was either slacking off at work, or after slacking off, leaving work to go drink.

"Sire, please restrain your grief."

He Zhizhang, dressed in crimson court robes, had graying temples but still looked hale and vigorous. A bit thin, and even carrying a faint scent of wine about him.

A man of his age had already made peace with everything. He could not be happy without wine on any given day, and Li Longji was used to it, not minding in the least.

"Jizhen (He Zhizhang's courtesy name), write a eulogy for Us."

Li Longji said with a sigh.

For Consort Wu Hui?

He Zhizhang was taken aback, feeling a faint displeasure in his heart.

Everyone in the court knew what kind of character Consort Wu Hui was—simply a watered-down, cut-rate, dim-witted version of Wu Meiniang. Apart from a fine appearance, she had nothing, yet her ambitions were frighteningly large.

Hearing that she had finally died, the entire court breathed a sigh of relief. They no longer had to worry about a repeat of the Wu Zhou story from decades ago.

Yet now Li Longji wanted He Zhizhang to hold his nose and write Consort Wu Hui's eulogy—He Zhizhang felt nauseated to the extreme.

"Sire, what kind would you like?"

He Zhizhang asked with hands clasped in salute.

This question was very important!

The coffin sealed, the verdict set—when someone died, a judgment had to be given. For a consort specifically, this meant her so-called status!

What status Consort Wu Hui would be buried under was of utmost importance, even touching upon the succession of imperial power.

"We wish to bury Consort Wu Hui with the rites of an Empress."

Li Longji said in a low voice.

"Sire, you must not!"

He Zhizhang grew anxious the moment he heard this. If she were buried with the rites of an Empress, and then he, a Scholar of the Jixian Academy, was made to write the eulogy... would that not nail him to a pillar of shame for posterity, for all to "admire"?

He Zhizhang could be said to no longer care much about life and death, but this matter of his posthumous reputation was something he could not endure.

"Losing one's integrity in old age"—this was exactly what it meant.

"Why not? Do you all treat Our words as wind past your ears?"

Li Longji scolded in displeasure, his face dark with clouds.

"Your humble servant cannot comply with the edict."

He Zhizhang bowed deeply, bending at the waist in a long bow without rising.

Looking at the other man's slightly hunched figure and his already graying temples, Li Longji's heart softened too.

Since there were so many people, why make things difficult for an old man already half-buried in the earth?

"Enough, withdraw."

Li Longji sighed and said with a helpless shake of his head.

Writing a eulogy was not something others could not do, but none had He Zhizhang's prestige.

The ministers wanted to save face—did he, the Emperor, not want face too?

After He Zhizhang left, Gao Lishi could not help asking in a low voice: "The Hongwen Academy now has two extra openings. The Sage's arrangement is..."

"Let Ge Nu send two young men in to study. They're just killing time anyway."

Li Longji waved his hand impatiently.

……

The history of the Hongwen Academy was quite glorious!

Back when Li Er Feng ascended the throne, in his second month, he ordered the collection of two hundred thousand scrolls in the Hongwen Hall and established the "Hongwen Academy," serving both as the state's repository of books and as a place for the Emperor to recruit men of letters.

In no time it gathered talents such as Chu Liang, Yao Silian, Cai Yungong, and Xiao Deyan. Every military campaign, Er Feng would discuss major strategic matters with the strategists of the Hongwen Academy. This was the fast track to participating in governance—once one gained the Emperor's appreciation, one could immediately rise to power.

Yet those were already things of the past.

During the Kaiyuan era, the decline of the Hongwen Academy was very apparent. Its function of participating in governance had been taken away by the Jixian Academy, leaving only the two functions of book collection and teaching students.

The three-day deadline had passed. Fang Chongyong came alone to outside the palace walls of the Taiji Palace. After presenting his "enrollment certificate," he was led by the Golden Guard officer on duty to the grounds of the Menxia Province.

The Hall of Expanded Literature is inside the Imperial City, but the specifics are hard to put into words.

The Hall of Expanded Literature has two locations in Chang'an: the first is beside the Hall of Expanded Literature inside the Supreme Ultimate Palace, later fixed at the south part of the Chancellery; the second is east of the Chancellery outside the Sun Splendor Gate of the Palace of Great Brilliance.

There is also one in Luoyang.

All this is what Fang Chongyong learned by asking Li Kui; as for where the Luoyang Hall of Expanded Literature is and what it's used for, he doesn't know and doesn't care.

The Chancellery was the central deliberative and review agency of the Tang dynasty, sharing responsibility for key affairs with the Secretariat, participating in major state policies, and responsible for reviewing government orders and signing memorials.

Drafts of government orders from the Secretariat must be reviewed by the Chancellery; those that pass review are handed over to the Department of State Affairs for execution.

In theory, any that fail to meet laws, systems, rites, etc., the Chancellery has the power to veto and demand a redraft; likewise, memorials from officials must also be reviewed by the Chancellery before being submitted to the emperor via the Secretariat, and if anything is inappropriate, they are sent back for revision.

Just in theory.

In short, the Hall of Expanded Literature is within the Chancellery, showing that he has already gotten close to the very core of the Tang dynasty's decision-making center!

A cultured scholar who looked no older than thirty-odd received Fang Chongyong, then led him windingly to the front of the library located in the Supreme Ultimate Palace, handing him a paper scroll on the desk that wasn't particularly large.

"I am the Grand Scholar Wang Jin, this is your textbook for study."

Wang Jin smiled and said, very amiable and enthusiastic, with no pretension. Frankly, a student as young as Fang Chongyong entering the Hall of Expanded Literature would not have a simple background.

"The content doesn't seem to be much either."

Fang Chongyong picked up the so-called scroll textbook, measured it in his hand, and said dismissively.

"Just how much content could a 'roll‑roll' scroll have?"

He could memorize it in less than ten days! The teaching in the Hall of Expanded Literature is really lax to the point of insanity.

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but feel a bit contemptuous.

"Um, you don't seem to understand. This is merely the catalog of the textbook. The real textbook is the 'Records of Initial Learning'; over there on a series of bookshelves are all the volumes—you take whichever volume you need, read it, then put it back."

Wang Jin pointed to the bookshelves to the left of the library entrance and said, some books are placed high on the shelves, Fang Chongyong can't even reach them, and the scroll books are densely packed, endless to the eye.

Isn't it said that it's easy to just coast through seniority at the Hall of Expanded Literature?

Fang Chongyong looked at Wang Jin with a puzzled expression and asked, "Is that all there is to the textbook, right?"

"Um, that side too."

Wang Jin tried not to laugh, pointing to the bookshelves on the right and said.