Chapter 28: Proud and Content

In less than an hour, Yuwen Ding hurried over to see Li Chengqian:

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

"No need for formalities!"

Li Chengqian gestured casually toward a low stool to the side: "Sit and speak!

How is your understanding of Chang'an City these days?"

"I have a general understanding; I am already familiar with the roads in each ward and clear on the locations of the various noble clans."

"To understand it so well in just one short month, I imagine you often converse with the common folk."

"Yes! The elderly women in each ward like to gossip about household matters when they have free time; by asking a bit more, I can scout out the general situation.

Some of it is true and some is false; this subordinate still needs to investigate further."

"We shall discuss that matter later!"

Having said this, Li Chengqian stood up, took a scroll of books from behind a screen, and handed it over:

"Starting from today, you are to train and recruit personnel according to the regulations written here. I want you to hide in the darkness and handle matters for me."

Yuwen Ding took the books, opened them curiously to take a look, and his complexion changed drastically:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this... if the Emperor were to find out about this..."

Before he could finish, Li Chengqian raised a hand to interrupt:

"I am having you do this precisely because I do not want people to know. You must remain hidden in the shadows, so you must conduct extensive screening of the personnel you recruit.

Loyalty is the first priority, and ability comes second. If you do not wish to do this, leave Chang'an tomorrow; I will not stop you."

"I will do it! As long as it is the order of Your Highness the Crown Prince, I will not hesitate even to go through fire and water!"

Li Chengqian nodded with satisfaction: "Congratulations! You have saved your own life.

I have a task for you: spread the word that an Imperial Prince is going to compile books. I want all the scholars in Chang'an City to be discussing this matter."

"Compile books? Compile what kind of books?"

"All books of the classics, histories, masters, and collections since the invention of writing, as well as works on Astronomy, geography, yin-yang, medicine, divination, Buddhism, Daoism, and various arts—all to be compiled into one work!

Remember, just say it is an Imperial Prince; do not say which one. Let them guess!

Also, spread the news about the death of Yang Jing's wife, but do not be too deliberate about it!"

"Who is Yang Jing?"

Li Chengqian looked at Yuwen Ding with a smile that was not quite a smile: "Are you sure you want me to tell you?"

"No, no, no!"

Yuwen Ding hurriedly shook his head: "This subordinate will find out. If it can catch the eye of Your Highness the Crown Prince, this matter is certainly not trivial. This subordinate will be able to find out very soon."

"Go!"

After Yuwen Ding left, Li Chengqian tapped his right hand on the desk, making a *da-da-da* sound:

'Qingque will not let this opportunity pass. If I send it to him directly, it won't work; he will surely think I have some ulterior motive and will not put his heart into it.

I must find a way to make him think he snatched it for himself. For now, there is no one else; Li Chunfeng can fill in first. I hope those people in the Literature Pavilion truly have great talent.'

While Li Chengqian was digging a pit for Li Tai to jump into, Li Tai's pit had already been dug, just waiting for the right moment to arrive.

And a piece of unexpected news brought great joy to Li Tai, and also caused the talk of the Spirit Child to erupt throughout Chang'an City.

"What did you say?"

Fang Yi'ai, who was devoted to practicing Buddhism, exclaimed loudly: "Say it again, what happened to the Princess?"

"This one cannot be mistaken; the Princess has been pregnant for one month."

"One month! One month!"

Fang Yi'ai's eyes gradually brightened. Wasn't that the day of the offerings? Has the Spirit Child truly descended into the world?

"Good, good, good!"

The look of joy on Fang Yi'ai's face could not be concealed at all:

"Doctor Liu, you have worked hard. There will be a generous gift sent over later; please write down a prescription for fetal protection."

"Naturally! Please rest assured, Prince Consort Fang. The Princess is in good health; as long as she pays more attention to resting, there will be no issues."

The news of Gaoyang Princess's pregnancy reached the ears of the Lady of Liang State, Lu, at the first opportunity.

A sharp light shot from Lu's eyes: "Amitabha! Buddha bless us! Sincere devotion to Buddha will surely be rewarded.

Someone, pass on my order: starting tomorrow, the Liang Guogong Fu will provide alms at Qinglong Temple. All sick children in Chang'an City will be able to receive medicinal herbs and three days' worth of rations at Qinglong Temple.

Also, send a heavy gift to the Chu family, and say it is in gratitude for Chu Daifu writing the stele inscription."

"Yes!"

Following the series of actions by the Liang Guogong Fu, the entire Chang'an City knew that Gaoyang Princess was pregnant, and the common people discussed it endlessly.

"Is it true or false? Gaoyang Princess has been pregnant for a month?"

"How could that be false? People from the Liang Guogong Fu are providing alms at Qinglong Temple right now; if you don't believe it, go see for yourself."

"They hadn't been pregnant for two years of marriage, and now they're pregnant right after the sacrifice for children? Could it really be the blessing of the Buddha?"

"It must be! The one in Gaoyang Princess's belly must be a child from under the Buddha's seat; that is a true Spirit Child.

I heard that Fang Erlang has even stopped fighting lately and stays home every day to practice Buddhism; that is why the Spirit Child has descended."

"I practice Buddhism too, why isn't my wife pregnant?"

"They hired Chu Suiliang Daifu to write the stele inscription; did you? I told you long ago, many people in Yique became pregnant because of that Buddha stele."

"Then I'll go to Qinglong Temple to pay my respects too; maybe it will work!"

"Let's go, let's go, I'm going too! That brat of mine is already a lost cause; I'll have another one and raise him properly."

It was not just among the common people; the noble clans were the same.

Coupled with Li Tai's intentional spreading of Fang Yi'ai's changes among the noble clans, every noble clan had the same thought in mind.

If even a person like Fang Yi'ai has begun to cultivate his Nature, my son is not some great villain, so he can change just the same.

Chu Suiliang had been feeling quite smug these past two days; colleagues would occasionally compliment him, and even Fang Xuanling would offer him pointers from time to time.

At this moment, Chu Suiliang walked with a spring in his step, yet he had not been proud for even two days before a few words from Zhangsun Wuji sent his mood plummeting to the bottom.

"Doctor Chu has been in a good mood lately!"

The corners of Chu Suiliang's mouth lifted slightly, and the joy on his face could not be concealed:

"It is truly the protection of the Buddha; this humble official did not expect it either."

A look of mockery flashed in Zhangsun Wuji's eyes:

"Do you know how many people have come to inquire about you with me and the Liang State Duke recently?

These people all want to invite you to write stele inscriptions, and some even want to buy your calligraphy and paintings."

"I am honored by their kindness! This humble official is shallow in talent and meager in learning; I am truly unworthy of the reputation!"

Zhangsun Wuji was stunned; he had never imagined that even after he had given such a clear warning, Chu Suiliang still had not realized the situation.

Looking at Chu Suiliang's smug appearance, Zhangsun Wuji no longer had the patience:

"How do you intend to handle this? Will you write the stele inscriptions for those people, or will you refuse them all?

Among these people are not only various Dukes and Grand Governors from all over, but also the gentry, including the Five Surnames and Seven Clans."

A single sentence sent Chu Suiliang straight from heaven to hell, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead:

"How can this be? They are not foolish men or women, how could they believe in such things as immortals and Buddha?"

"Even if they don't believe, do their mothers and wives not believe either?

Who does not know the reputation of the Lady of Liang? Since she said it was your merit, then it is a settled matter.

Anyone else could be a liar, but the Lady of Liang would not be."

Chu Suiliang's face was full of nervousness: "Duke of Zhao, what should I do? To refuse is death, and not to refuse is also death!"

"What to do? Write another 'Ique Buddha Niche Stele', but this time, write more about the timing.

First, come with me into the palace to see the Prince of Jin; I will explain it to you later."

"Very well!"

After all, he was the representative of the emerging civil official group chosen by Li Shimin, so no matter how unwilling he was, Zhangsun Wuji had to protect him.

'The Emperor is truly muddled; is such a piece of trash worth trusting?'

What neither of them expected was that Li Shimin was also present at this moment, which left them stunned for quite a while.

"Wuji, what business do you have coming to find Zhinu?"

Before Zhangsun Wuji could speak, Li Zhi took over the conversation:

"Father, I have been somewhat confused by the book 'Zhuangzi' recently, so I invited my uncle and Doctor Chu to the palace to clear up my doubts."