Chapter 327: The Three Character Classic

Transfer those eight hundred people away?

Empress Changsun was startled and instinctively wanted to refuse.

Because Li Shimin cares a lot about these eight hundred people and plans to follow Chen Yan's arrangement, using them later for Chen Yan's deployment, where else should they be placed if not in Weinan County?

But when she saw Gao Yang looking slightly innocent, with a hint of nervousness, Empress Changsun's refusal got stuck in her throat, sensing something was off.

No kidding, although Gao Yang is not her biological daughter, she, like Li Lizhi and the others, was raised single‑handedly by her.

Empress Changsun knows Gao Yang all too well.

It's obvious there's something going on.

Various thoughts surfaced in her mind, and Empress Changsun suddenly thought of something, her heart giving a thump.

She said calmly, "Why transfer them away?"

"Your Father Emperor has already sent people to cover it up, and with Niu Jinda and Zi An over there, your Father Emperor is quite at ease."

"More importantly, the Weinan County Mediation Office is not far from Chang'an, making it the most suitable place."

"Why transfer them away?"

Gao Yang pressed her lips together and offered an excuse, "Mother Empress, my husband is currently in the spotlight, doing work that offends people, and he is also mass‑producing silk, so many are eyeing him like tigers."

"Wasn't there an official who visited my husband earlier, causing quite a stir?"

"If this matter is exposed, it would bring countless harms and no benefit to my husband; at that point, Father Emperor would find it troublesome. It would be better to transfer them first, especially since there are many counties around Chang'an City anyway."

"As long as it's not in Weinan County, even if exposed, it won't immediately implicate my husband, leaving room to maneuver, right?"

Empress Changsun felt a weight in her heart.

Essentially, this matter isn't important at all; as Gao Yang said, there are many counties around Chang'an, so there are certainly places to settle those eight hundred people.

But that's not the main issue; the question is why Gao Yang insists on transferring those eight hundred people away.

Is it Gao Yang's private worry about Chen Yan, or does Chen Yan have such intentions?

If it's the former, then it doesn't matter much—a minor issue.

But if it's the latter......

Empress Changsun fell silent.

Those eight hundred people were voluntarily requested by Chen Yan; their purpose was explained clearly, and even how to train them was visible to Li Shimin.

Both Li Shimin and she herself have expressed support.

Everything had been fine, waiting for next spring; once the weather warmed, they would dispatch the unflagged cavalry to some minor states to test the results.

At this critical moment, why does Chen Yan want to move the unflagged cavalry out of Weinan County?

The only possibility Empress Changsun could think of is that Chen Yan developed a sense of crisis, fearing Li Shimin would read too much into it, so he is eager to make his stance clear.

But why is that?

Why does Chen Yan suddenly feel the urge to declare his stance?

Empress Changsun is certain that Li Shimin has never harbored any ill thoughts toward Chen Yan; the trust is almost at full capacity.

Chen Yan shouldn't be that timid; otherwise he wouldn't have asked Li Shimin for those eight hundred people......

"Mother Empress?"

Gao Yang, seeing her silent, called softly.

Empress Changsun thought for a moment, took Gao Yang's hand, and said with a hint of solemnity, "Tang'er, tell Mother Empress the truth: is this your idea or Zi An's?"

Gao Yang hesitated for a moment, "It is the son‑servant's own idea."

Lying!

A thought flashed through Empress Changsun's mind.

No, it should be a half‑lie!

Gao Yang didn't tell the whole truth; her own idea is fine, but it definitely contains Chen Yan's influence.

In other words, Chen Yan already harbors reservations.

Empress Changsun subtly furrowed her brow.

Recalling all messages about Chen Yan over the past two months, she meticulously eliminated anything that wouldn't affect his thinking, finally pinpointing the period when Chen Yan returned to Chang'an.

Previously, Chen Yan often corresponded with Li Shimin by letters; when Li Shimin was idle, he would say such things to himself.

She is certain that the earlier Chen Yan was normal.

So, it was only after Chen Yan returned to Chang'an that his thoughts suddenly changed.

Then, what caused Chen Yan's change of mind? Or who gave him that sense of crisis?

Because Chen Yan's return involved hardly any contact with people, Empress Changsun quickly identified the key.

Li Tai!

"Alas!"

Empress Changsun let out a slight sigh, forced a smile, "Tang'er, you will soon become a mother; our chances of meeting may decrease. I'm glad you returned today, Mother Empress is happy. Let's not talk about these matters, okay?"

A strange glint flashed in Gao Yang's eyes as she nodded with a smile.

"As Mother Empress commands, the son‑servant doesn't wish to worry about these matters; let Chen Yan discuss them with Father Emperor and the others."

"I'm pleased you think that way, Mother Empress," Empress Changsun patted Gao Yang's hand and smoothly changed the subject.

"By the way, Tang'er, besides teaching Sizi those numbers, what other knowledge did Zi An teach Sizi?"

She picked up a handwritten test paper Chen Yan prepared for Sizi, essentially a homework assignment, and asked curiously.

Before Gao Yang could answer, Sizi, eager to show off in front of his mother and sister, burst in with energy.

"Got a duck, got a quack!"

"Brother taught me the Three Character Classic!"

Sizi swayed his head and recited on his own, "At the beginning of man, nature is originally good. Natures are similar, habits differ. If not taught, nature will change. The way of teaching values specialization......."

The immature child's voice kept echoing inside Lizheng Hall, and Empress Changsun went from initially being slightly interested, to her smile tightening, and finally her expression becoming solemn.

The more one listened, the more shocked one felt.

It's catchy and extremely easy to remember, and it highly condenses the Dao of Confucianism; right from the start it points out that humans are originally good, establishing the Confucian doctrine of innate goodness.

At the same time, it also stresses the importance and methods of postnatal education, encompassing ethical and moral norms, the Three Bonds and Five Constants, outlining a complete knowledge map for students—from literacy, to arithmetic, to Confucian classics, and then to history.

Empress Changsun no longer knows how to describe her own feelings.

This year, Li Shimin was honored as the Heavenly Khagan, his gaze having shifted from the outside to the inside, continuing to build a new cultural and political order to consolidate his rule. Isn't this Three Character Classic the perfect cornerstone?

"Mother Empress, this is something the husband compiled for Sizi's literacy initiation; you need not worry too much."

Gao Yang didn't think much about it; she wasn't interested in the Three Character Classic, and, full of enthusiasm, pulled Empress Changsun to talk about the numbers Chen Yan taught, as well as some rudimentary physics.

Empress Changsun's corner of the eye kept twitching.

Is it because I haven't left the palace for so long that the outside world has already changed?

Why does everyone act as if they don't keep the Three Character Classic in mind?

Can't you see the profound depth of this Three Character Classic?

"......."