Chapter 36: Chatterbox

Li Chengqian scanned the window and saw students starting to gather nearby, so he also began to exert force:

"Isn't that even better? The Hongwen Hall doesn't just recruit Confucian talents; it also has great talents from Buddhism, Daoism, and other schools.

With many great talents teaching, I believe the Guozijian students will soon be able to grow."

"How sad it is to pull up seedlings to help them grow! The affairs of the world must start from the easy. Your Highness should understand this principle."

Li Chengqian sneered: "Is Libationer Kong bullying me for being young and not having read books?

Is letting students ask great talents for advice 'pulling up seedlings'? It is not I who seek the ignorant youth, but the ignorant youth who seeks me. The first divination tells, the second and third are a nuisance, and a nuisance is not told.

Does Libationer Kong think great talents don't understand this principle, or does he think students don't know such simple rules?

One must have a purpose but not force it, do not forget it in your heart, and do not help it grow. If they don't cultivate through practice, when will the students ever grow?

Even if they read books until they know astronomy above and geography below, if they don't cultivate through practice, they are just useless scholars. What use does the imperial court have for such people?"

Kong Yingda spoke again with a blank expression:

"Reading books clarifies principles. If one cannot even read the books completely, how can one clarify principles? If principles are not clarified, how can one act?

Zengzi said: Cultivate the self, then regulate the family, then the family is regulated, and then the world is at peace.

Today, the students have not yet cultivated themselves and cannot enter officialdom to contribute to the imperial court.

No matter how the Crown Prince tries to persuade me today, I will not agree to let the students go to the Hongwen Hall to compile books, even if His Majesty comes, it will be the same."

"Good, good, good!"

Li Chengqian laughed out of anger: "I will send people to invite the Guozijian students one by one and see if you can stop everyone."

Kong Yingda's expression changed drastically, and he subconsciously raised his voice:

"Does the Crown Prince want to lure them with profit? If you act like this, what will the imperial court become in the future?

Does Your Highness want a group of sycophants to occupy the imperial court?"

"To me, righteousness is profit, and profit is righteousness. As long as it is beneficial to Great Tang, I can use everyone, even if they are petty thieves."

After speaking, Li Chengqian flicked his sleeves and left. After walking to the door, he said loudly in front of all the students:

"Libationer Kong, continuing the lost teachings for the sages of the past is the responsibility of all scholars in the world. The people of Zhuxia must not only be worthy of their ancestors but also worthy of their descendants.

Remember, you and I are people of Zhuxia, the Guozijian students are, and everyone within the borders of Great Tang is!"

Everyone stared blankly as Li Chengqian left; they were all shocked by the phrase 'continuing the lost teachings for the sages of the past'.

After a long while, someone slowly asked:

"What are the people of Zhuxia?"

"The Rong and Di are like wolves and jackals, they can never be satisfied; the Zhuxia are close, they cannot be abandoned;

Taken from the Spring and Autumn Zuo Zhuan, it now refers to everyone within the borders of Great Tang."

"How come I haven't seen that?"

"Shut up! Do you want the whole Guozijian to know you're slacking off?"

"..."

Yuwen Ding, who was on the side, saw that Li Chengqian had already left, so he also took Yang Xian away. As for Ding Quan, he would contact him next time.

Just after walking out of the Guozijian, Yang Xian asked in confusion:

"Brother Yuwen, you and I haven't finished visiting the Guozijian yet, why leave so quickly?"

"It's almost noon, let's go eat first. We'll have a chance to come to the Guozijian again.

By the way, did you hear clearly just now what that book compilation meant?"

Yang Xian spread his hands: "What else could it mean? Isn't it just the imperial prince compiling books that those marketplace people were talking about?"

"Hmm?"

Yuwen Ding's eyes lit up: "So you're saying the Crown Prince took on the book compilation? Not the Prince of Wei?"

"Right!"

Yang Xian only then reacted, and his face was filled with excitement:

"We're rich! Didn't we win that gambling game?

Hurry, hurry, let's go get the money. This is a pie falling from the sky!"

"Don't rush! Let's go call some more people. The Pingkang Fang casino is too chaotic. What if they find people to intercept us after paying the money?"

"Right! Let's act separately and meet at the entrance of Pingkang Fang in an hour!"

Yuwen Ding didn't go to gather people first but returned to the Eastern Palace immediately. He needed to ask Li Chengqian for instructions on the next steps.

And at this time, Li Chengqian was looking at the pedestrians on the road with contentment:

"Fifth Brother, look at how prosperous this Chang'an City is. The pedestrians at the gates of each ward are in an endless stream, let alone inside the wards."

"Big Brother, why did you have to argue with Libationer Kong? There are plenty of scholars in the world; do you really have to recruit Guozijian students?"

"Not really!"

Li Chengqian responded absent-mindedly: "Big Brother just wanted to have an argument. If I don't have an argument every day, I don't feel comfortable."

"..."

Li You had black lines all over his head: "Father even said I have the worst personality among all the imperial princes. Compared to Big Brother, I am ashamed of my inferiority."

"Thanks for the compliment!"

Li You didn't want to talk at all and learned from Li Chengqian to open the carriage curtain on the other side.

"Watch more, listen more, and speak less. This is the first principle Big Brother taught you."

Li Chengqian's indifferent tone sounded in Li You's ear:

"Next, you need to forget your identity, treat yourself as a commoner, and grow up as soon as possible."

"Why do I need to grow up? Isn't it good to learn from Zhuangzi and be carefree?"

"Zhuangzi said, comparing people to people will anger people to death. I'd rather continue being a piece of trash."

"Big Brother has no one to use!"

"How is that possible!"

Li You's face was full of disbelief: "There are so many officials in the Eastern Palace; isn't there a single one who can be used?"

"None!"

Li Chengqian put down the carriage curtain and looked at Li You with a solemn expression:

"They are not worth trusting. What Big Brother wants to do has a direct conflict of interest with them.

You are different. You have no conflict of interest with Big Brother, and no one will notice you."

"But, this is so tiring! Isn't it good to lie down? Why must I do things?"

Li You looked unhappy: "If everyone lies down, wouldn't the world be peaceful?"

"If you want to lie down, then why did you rebel?"

"Wasn't that out of desperation? I want to lie down, but I don't want to lie down forever and never wake up."

Facing such a salted-fish-like person, Li Chengqian was also helpless, but Li You was the most important link in the plan, and no one could replace him.

Now Li Chengqian could only try his best to persuade him: "As long as you help Big Brother finish this matter, after Big Brother ascends the throne, you can lie down however you want."

"But I want to lie down now!"

"Smack!"

Li Chengqian couldn't help but slap Li You on the head:

"Do you think being a piece of trash is that easy? You didn't learn your lesson from the rebellion, did you?"

"Aren't you afraid that one day someone will use you again? Qingque and Zhinu are both fighting for the Crown Prince position. Who knows if they will cook up another rebellion case and implicate you?"

"That shouldn't be possible, right!"

Li You's tone carried suspicion: "I'm a piece of trash! Why would they want to use a piece of trash?"

"Even dog shit can fertilize farmland, let alone you, who are still an Imperial Prince!"

"Big Brother, your comparison is a bit disgusting. Wouldn't it be better to compare me to soil?"

"If that doesn't work, you could also compare me to a weed!"

This time it was Li Chengqian's turn not to want to talk. He really wanted to slap Li You to death, but he couldn't.

"Big Brother, why aren't you talking?"

"Big Brother, what do you think about me going to learn fishing? I heard Big Brother is very good at fishing. Do you want to teach your younger brother?"

"How should the fishing line be tied? Where are there more fish? The Fourth Brother's Wei Wang Pond should be good. Shall we go there to fish?"

"No, Wei Wang Pond doesn't allow fishing. Let's go to Qu Pond; there should be fish there too."

"Oh! Fishing while roasting fish and drinking—this life is more comfortable than an immortal's."

"Big Brother, teach me how to fish when we get back. Yeah, it's decided!"

"..."

Listening to Li You talking to himself, Li Chengqian's fists in his sleeves were tightly clenched, and a little person in his brain was screaming crazily:

'Hit him! Why keep such a chatterbox? This guy is also the Prince of Qi; he must be the reincarnation of King Xuan of Qi. It doesn't matter if you hit him.'

'Hit him! Hit the hell out of him! Don't hold back!' ===== CHAPTER 37 =====