Chapter 378: Brother Chen, your brain is insane!

"Ah, it's finally over."

In the afternoon, Chen Yan, after leaving Ganlu Hall, rubbed his sore bottom and muttered softly.

Beside him, Du Ruhui was speechless, but he said nothing, only reminding him to be careful lately and to stay a few more days in the Imperial Palace before leaving.

Overall, today settled many matters.

The newspaper and the Imperial Examination both received everyone's approval, and it is expected that news will spread soon.

As for the plan to hold the Imperial Examination, at Chen Yan's suggestion, it should be published on the front page of the newspaper.

The rest were discussions on some details.

Chen Yan stretched his waist, just as he was about to return to the East Palace, he saw Li Chengqian strolling leisurely toward him; upon seeing him, his face brightened instantly, and he hurried over:

"Zi Anxiong, are you finished talking?"

"Looks like I arrived just in time."

Chen Yan said softly, "No, I don't think your arrival is very appropriate."

"You should have come during the next court session."

"…Haha, Zi Anxiong, I think coming now is fine," Li Chengqian said awkwardly.

Unlike before, Li Shimin now often hands him some memorials to review, making him even busier.

If he attends such private meetings, it wastes too much time; today he will probably have to stay up late again.

On the way back, Li Chengqian recalled something odd about his two sisters and said, "By the way, I haven't asked you yet—what exactly happened last night?"

"Why does it feel like more than a normal quarrel? Gao Yang is terrifying now, her gaze looks like she wants to devour people, and she's displeased with everyone."

"Then you should cut her down!" Chen Yan suddenly said, "You, as Crown Prince, are still afraid of a princess who isn't born of the main line?"

"Dare to grin at you—just cut her, won't that solve it?"

Li Chengqian: "......"

Cut Gao Yang?

Not to mention, he was actually a bit tempted.

But recalling that, due to some minor dispute, Li Tai had all his clothes shredded by Gao Yang, who roared angrily in the hall, leading to a lasting feud; Li Tai was often badly treated, and Li Chengqian felt a shiver run through his body.

"Let's drop it; even the Crown Prince wouldn't dare offend Gao Yang."

"Pathetic!" Chen Yan snorted, "Back when I first met Gao Yang, she grinned at me and I slapped her."

"She had no temper after I slapped her; she just ran away."

Li Chengqian deeply nodded, "Then you were imprisoned in Dali Temple Prison; Brother Chu Mo thought your life was at risk and, with a maid, went to leave something for you."

Chen Yan: "......"

"Don't worry about whether you left a record or not; just tell me whether I slapped or not?"

"After the slap, didn't you suffer yourself?"

"Suffering what? I dared to hit her!"

"Alright, alright, consider you impressive, okay?"

"That's about right!"

Chen Yan relaxed, smiling broadly as he chatted with Li Chengqian.

However, not long after, on the way to the East Palace, they suddenly encountered the Prince of Yue.

"Your Highness Prince of Yue, what is this…?"

To avoid awkwardness between the two, Chen Yan had to speak first.

"Are you heading back to the East Palace? Mind taking me along?" Li Tai said naturally.

The two looked at each other, puzzled about what Li Tai intended.

But they didn't refuse.

Thus, the return journey that was originally for two became three.

"Thanks for yesterday's Wei family matter."

What Chen Yan didn't expect was Li Chengqian suddenly blurted out this line.

Li Tai replied indifferently, "No problem, it was just taking advantage of the situation, a little help on the side, nothing to mind."

"This is not a small favor," Li Chengqian said solemnly. "If you hadn't immediately blocked the important figures of the Wei family in Wei Qu, Zi Anxiong might not have proceeded so smoothly."

Chen Yan exclaimed in surprise, "Did the Prince of Yue block the Wei family members yesterday?"

"You didn't know?" Li Chengqian was also surprised.

"Should I have known?"

Chen Yan was utterly bewildered.

He had acted himself yesterday and fled immediately, and after entering the palace had no time to follow up; if Li Chengqian hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have known such a thing existed.

Li Tai, hands behind his back, said, "Now you know."

Hearing that, Chen Yan was stunned for a moment, then broke into a genuine smile.

"Have you thought it through?"

"It's not so much that I've thought it through as that I'm tired," Li Tai whispered. "Fighting for power all day is exhausting; the battles are all among our own, it's meaningless."

"I'm actually interested in the assignment you gave Sizi; how did you come up with using those strange symbols as numbers?"

"What is physics again?"

Chen Yan: "Don't ask how I thought of it; do you think it's simple, intuitive, and extremely convenient to record?"

Li Tai recalled those symbolic numbers and agreed wholeheartedly, "Indeed, that's correct. But I'm more interested in the physics you mentioned: two iron balls, one large and one small, dropped from the same height land simultaneously. I even tested it myself after returning and found you were right."

"What is the principle behind this?"

Chen Yan, after hearing that, patiently explained to Li Tai, and Li Tai listened very attentively.

Li Chengqian suddenly found himself unable to interject, but from their brief remarks he guessed something, so he did not interrupt them.

If it is indeed as he thought, then Chen Yan has helped him a great deal.

"Prince of Yue, I didn't deceive you before; you truly are a genius."

Chen Yan put his arm around the Prince of Yue's shoulders, patted his chest and said, "You, you're just delayed by other matters; whenever you have time, come find me anytime."

"Sizi is too young and doesn't recognize all characters, so I only teach very simple things. Come find me, and I'll teach you real physics."

Li Tai exclaimed excitedly, "Then how about you assign me some homework first?"

"Just like the kind Sizi gets, I can study it myself first, and ask you if I don't understand."

"...... huh?" Chen Yan blinked, "Someone still begs for homework?"

The little fellow Sizi has rebelled several times over homework issues, even causing trouble for him because of it.

Nevertheless, Li Tai's interest is ultimately a good thing.

Chen Yan thought for a moment, "Do you know sky lanterns (Kongming lanterns)?"

"Of course I do!" Li Tai replied without hesitation; everyone basically knows that thing.

Don't everyone release them every Lantern Festival?

"Hmm, the assignment I give you is: why can a Kongming lantern fly?" Chen Yan mused, "Sure, I can give you a hint: it involves candle flame, air, and the buoyancy of wood floating on water."

"Study it yourself first; if you encounter anything you don't understand, come ask me anytime."

Li Tai muttered to himself, and Chen Yan and Li Chengqian didn't hear what he was saying.

Then Li Tai, his face excited, agreed, "No problem!"

"But may I ask, what's the use of studying this?"

"What's the use?" Chen Yan smiled, "Tell me, could we possibly build a gigantic Kongming lantern, and then......"

"... and lift people into the air!!!"

Li Tai instantly grasped Chen Yan's meaning, thumped his thigh hard, "Brother Chen, your brain is brilliant!!!"

Chen Yan: "......"

"......"