Chapter 37: Li Chengqian Asks Li Shimin for Answers

Time drifts slowly; in the blink of an eye, two days have already passed.

Inside the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian sits at a desk, staring blankly at the books before him.

At this moment, Crown Princess Su, carrying a bowl of lotus‑seed porridge, walks in and, seeing Li Chengqian still like this, lets out a silent sigh.

Since that day he left the Marquis of Weinan's mansion, Li Chengqian often sits for half a day, saying nothing and eating nothing.

Compared with before, his complexion has grown considerably gaunter.

Su understands that Li Chengqian's state is because he hasn't yet figured out the pig‑raising and that so‑called "Risk Resistance Ability."

Regarding this, Su has no remedy; she is merely a woman of the inner palace and cannot help Li Chengqian.

"Husband, you haven't taken a drop of water today; if you continue like this, your body may be ruined. I have prepared lotus‑seed porridge for you—please have some first."

She walks over and gently places the porridge aside.

Li Chengqian comes to his senses, sees the Crown Princess approaching, puts down his book, and sighs: "Tell me, why is pig‑raising clearly a good thing, yet Brother Zi An says it cannot be announced for now?"

For two days he has been pondering this question, yet never reaches a conclusion.

Su's mouth carries a gentle smile as she slowly feeds Li Chengqian a mouthful of porridge.

Then she softly says, "Husband, why are you digging into a dead end?"

"The Marquis of Weinan did not first answer your question; the deeper meaning and his painstaking intention, I trust you can understand."

"But… husband, could you have forgotten that there is another lord above you?"

"Rather than asking me, a woman of the inner palace, why don't you ask Father Emperor?"

A single sentence awakens a dreamer; Li Chengqian's eyes flash as he hears it, "Indeed, why didn't I think of it? Father Emperor, wise and mighty, surely knows the answer."

"Why don't I consult him?"

Without hesitation, Li Chengqian immediately stands, just as he is about to go find Li Shimin, his body suddenly freezes, recalling something.

He gives Su a grateful look, "Crown Princess, thank you; you have enlightened me."

Having said that, Li Chengqian drinks the lotus‑seed porridge Su brought in a few mouthfuls, then strides out of the hall.

Watching his departing back, Su freezes on the spot, looking somewhat at a loss.

She feels an inexplicable mix of grievance and being moved.

They have been married for almost a year; outwardly she is the Crown Princess, basking in endless glory.

But only she knows that the Crown Prince does not like her much; often they sleep in separate rooms, and the number of nights they share can be counted on one hand.

Except when in front of outsiders, where Li Chengqian shows some affection, within the Eastern Palace they often exchange only a few words a day.

This is still the first time Li Chengqian has thanked her, the first time he finishes the porridge she personally brewed.

Outside Lizheng Hall, Li Shimin and his wife, along with Li Lizhi, Princess Gao Yang, and Princess Chengyang have just finished lunch.

At this moment, Empress Changsun is instructing Princess Gao Yang, while Li Lizhi listens nearby.

Li Shimin is cradling Princess Chengyang, playing with her.

"Your Majesty!"

A eunuch jogs over, bows and says, "The Crown Prince is outside requesting an audience."

"The Crown Prince?"

Li Shimin raises an eyebrow; hadn't he just granted the Crown Prince three days off?

Why is he coming to request an audience today?

"Let the Crown Prince in."

Though puzzled, since the Crown Prince has arrived, there is surely no reason to refuse.

In no time, Li Chengqian's figure appears before the family.

"Your servant bows to Father Emperor, Mother Empress!"

Li Shimin, maintaining his composure, says evenly, "Did I not grant you three days of rest, allowing you to go out with the Crown Princess?"

"Why did you return today?"

Empress Changsun pauses her instruction of Princess Gao Yang, also looking at her son with some confusion.

Li Chengqian respectfully says, "Your servant encountered a problem; after two days of contemplation I could not solve it, so I have come to seek Father Emperor's counsel."

Li Shimin shows a hint of interest, curious what problem could trouble Li Chengqian for two days.

"What problem? Speak it so I may hear."

"It is like this…"

Li Chengqian slowly recounts how, two days earlier, he visited Chen Yan's home as a guest, where Chen Yan offered him dumplings and explained the method of pig‑raising.

He then says, "What puzzles me is that the Marquis of Weinan's method of pig‑raising is plainly simple."

"If the method were announced to the world, letting the common folk raise pigs, then even if not everyone could eat meat, wouldn't it greatly improve the people's livelihood?"

"Why does the Marquis of Weinan say it cannot be announced for now, and why is this matter linked to the people's Risk Resistance Ability?"

However, after hearing him, Li Shimin's focus is clearly not on the announcement itself.

It is on the pig‑raising method itself.

He exclaims excitedly, "Have you verified whether Zi An's pig‑raising method is genuine?"

"That pig, does it truly need only castration to become plump and robust, without any odor?"

Li Chengqian pauses slightly, honestly saying, "When I later left the Bo mansion with the Crown Princess, the Marquis of Weinan mentioned he had pigs at home and asked if I wanted to see."

"Curious, I followed the Marquis of Weinan to take a look."

"That pig indeed was white and chubby, eating all the time and sleeping; by my estimate it weighed about three hundred jin."

"Excellent!" Li Shimin releases Princess Chengyang, pacing back and forth excitedly.

First he presents the method of salt production, then he rescues Xiao Sizi and the Empress, and subsequently he nearly takes away sixty percent of the tavern's profits.

Now, there's even a method for raising pigs.

"Zi An, Zi An, how many abilities are you still hiding!"

Li Shimin exclaimed.

Chen Yan's surprises for him were truly countless.

Li Chengqian could see the answer clearly; how could he not understand?

If the method of raising pigs were truly that simple, it would undoubtedly be a great boon to the nation and its people!

At that moment, Empress Changsun reminded, "Er Lang, Zi An holds a great righteousness in his heart; since he hasn't disclosed the pig‑raising method to the people, this matter is probably not that simple."

In other words, "don't get too happy yet"; solving Cheng Qian's, or rather Zi An's, raised issue is the immediate priority.

"Right, right, right, Guanyin Maid is correct."

Li Shimin breathed out, calming himself.

He didn't first contemplate the answer; instead, he turned to Li Chengqian and asked, "At that time, Zi An was right before you—why didn't you ask him first?"

Li Chengqian gave a wry smile, "I had already asked then, but the Marquis of Weinan said, he is always a minister, and I am the ruler."

"When the ruler faces a problem, he should not first seek answers from his ministers, but should first think for himself......"

Li Chengqian reproduced Chen Yan's words verbatim.

Empress Changsun gave a faint smile after hearing that, becoming increasingly pleased with Chen Yan in her heart.

Li Shimin paused for two seconds, then walked up to Li Chengqian, gave his shoulder a firm pat, and said, "When Zi An and Gao Yang are married, I will summon him to the court as an official."

"Then you can grow closer to him; when any problem arises, you may discuss it together first."

"Understood?"

Li Chengqian understood the Father Emperor's meaning, clasped his hands and said, "I understand."

"But... I haven't slept well for two days because of this issue, so could I ask the Father Emperor to help me resolve it first?"

Li Shimin: "......"

"......"