Changsun Wuji and the others dared to sympathize with Wei Zheng, but none dared to ridicule Emperor Li. Changsun Wuji even smiled and urged Emperor Li to let Li Yuanying enter: “What kind of appearance is this? It’s as if someone is clamoring outside, who knows, they might even report you to the court for having a scandalous affair.”
Emperor Li, his face dark, ordered for Li Yuanying to be brought in.
As Li Yuanying entered, he saw Wei Zheng and the others present. He scurried over to Wei Zheng and sat beside him, questioning Emperor Li why he wasn’t taken to Taihe Palace, wondering if he was trying to cheat him out of his Teng Wang Pavilion!
Emperor Li cursed, “Did I ever permit you to build it?”
Li Yuanying felt that Emperor Li was even more shameless than he was. Initially, Emperor Li had readily agreed to whatever he proposed, but now that it was completed, he said he didn’t permit it. Not only did he not praise him, he even wanted to hold him accountable!
Li Yuanying said angrily, “You did promise. You said the treasury wouldn’t contribute, but I said I had a way to build it myself! Didn’t I find a way?” He continued to question Emperor Li why he wasn’t taken along.
Emperor Li kept a stony face, ignoring him.
Changsun Wuji explained for Emperor Li: “Your Highness’s name was on the list of those accompanying him. How could he not take you? These past few days, you were either taking exams or going out with others for amusement. How could we tell you about something decided so quickly?”
Li Yuanying, realizing he had been wrong, quickly changed his seat and went to sit beside Emperor Li, showering him with flattery. He also said to Changsun Wuji and the others, “You guys can continue talking about important matters. I’ll pour water and massage my brother’s legs here. Don’t mind me, I don’t understand anyway.”
Changsun Wuji and the others felt that Li Yuanying was truly shameless.
They had read through Li Yuanying’s memo, something others didn’t know. While no one would agree to establishing a ruthless oversight organization like that, this was an opportunity to slightly reform the current system of remonstration and censure. The main focus was to adjust the direction of criticism. Private matters shouldn’t be scrutinized too closely. They should focus more on important affairs of the court, especially avoiding this fellow Li Yuanying.
After all, even if you criticized him, Emperor Li wouldn’t listen. Criticizing him in this direction was a complete waste of time. At least they had to wait until Emperor Li wasn’t so fond of his brother before picking on him.
It would be much easier to criticize other aspects. They could follow procedures and have the Dali Temple, Ministry of Justice, and other departments work together on investigations to determine the truth. The remonstrators and censors only had the right to accuse, not the power to judge. With multi-party cooperation and execution, it would be considered fair and impartial, giving everyone a sense of stability.
Li Yuanying could come up with such detailed regulations, and yet he dared to claim he didn’t understand?
But Emperor Li didn’t chase him away, and the shrewd people present didn’t say anything either. Li Yuanying could listen, and they weren’t afraid that he would spread the information.
After discussing affairs of state, Changsun Wuji asked Li Yuanying how his exam went and if he was confident of getting the top spot.
Li Yuanying said, “Getting the top spot is so easy, then the Imperial Academy is too weak. As long as I pass, that’s fine.”
Li Yuanying felt very relaxed. After all, if he really wanted to get the top spot, he could easily use the system’s help to access all kinds of materials, and could even search for all the classics during the exam. But what was the point? He wasn’t determined to get first place!
Changsun Wuji was taken aback by Li Yuanying’s words and stopped asking.
Before the imperial convoy departed for Taihe Palace, the Imperial Academy posted the results. Unlike the autumn examinations outside, the exams at the Imperial Academy were much more relaxed. As long as you passed, you could participate in the spring examinations next year. Therefore, people didn’t care so much about rankings. Only those who had the ability to compete for the top few spots would be eager to check. For others, as long as they knew they were on the list, that was all that mattered!
Li Yuanying was very excited, and he dragged Wei Jiu and the others to see the list. However, when they got there, they found that the area in front of the list was packed, making it impossible for them to get in.
Li Yuanying didn’t try to squeeze in, but called out to those in front, “Is my name on the list?”
Someone inside searched for a while and replied, “Yes!”
“Is my sister Jiu on the list?”
“Yes!”
Li Yuanying asked about each of his companions, and all of them were on the list. When he asked who got first place, someone inside replied that it was Tang Xuan. Li Yuanying was overjoyed and turned to Tang Xuan, saying, “You’re the top student, you should treat us to dinner today!”
Tang Xuan was a good student, often receiving rewards and money. He was not demanding in his life, and his family frequently sent him money, so he had a rather substantial private purse. He readily agreed to the proposal and took his companions to eat out.
Li Yuanying, as the silent investor behind it all, didn’t even think about patronizing his own business, instead he said, “We eat at Fengtai Tower all the time, let’s try a different place.”
Naturally, the others had no objections.
The girls still sat together, not joining the boys for their drinks. Wei Jiu quietly asked Wu Mei, “Mei’er, are you going to hold back in the exam again this time?” She felt that it was difficult to control your scores in such an important exam. What if you held back too much and got stuck in this stage?
Wu Mei smiled but didn’t answer.
Her ranking was slightly higher than usual, simply a result of her holding back a little when writing. It was difficult to excel, but wasn’t it easy to be mediocre?
With that smile, Wei Jiu understood. She knew she wasn’t stupid, but she still admired Wu Mei’s extraordinary talent. Wu Mei laid the groundwork step by step, it seemed she had planned to make a grand impact during the civil service exams from the beginning!
Just imagine, if Wu Mei far surpassed those scholars who had spent countless years studying, everyone’s expressions would be priceless!
Li Yuanying had passed the exam, although his ranking wasn’t very high, he still happily reported the good news to everyone.
Two days later, the group led by the Yan family was about to depart for Xiangzhou. Emperor Li was truly ruthless when he wanted to be. After Li Tai was granted a fiefdom, he hadn’t allowed him to return, even his wife and children were sent to him by others. Li Tai wasn’t allowed to come back and pick them up.
Li Yuanying knew that Emperor Li had hurt his sons’ hearts by not allowing them to be truly close and brotherly. It was unavoidable. As he and Li Zhi had said earlier, ordinary people’s brothers could quarrel over two or three acres of land, let alone those born into royalty?
Li Yuanying was quite thankful he was born later. He was born in the Grand Peace Palace, at a time when the Taishang Huang (retired Emperor) had already abdicated. Everyone could easily tell that he had no chance of ever being close to that position. Therefore, he had a happy and carefree childhood, not getting caught up in any messy affairs.
Li Yuanying was both regretful and emotional, and he personally went to see Li Xiaoyuanqiu off. Afraid that Li Yuanying would forget their agreement, Li Xiaoyuanqiu hooked fingers with Li Yuanying again, asking him to remember to visit him.
Li Yuanying saw them onto the carriage and watched them drive away. Then he rode back to the palace. He was busy again, arranging for people in Hu County to arrive at Taihe Palace on time. The ceremony for hanging the plaques was about to begin, and they couldn’t miss the deadline, or they would cry!
This was a chance to meet the emperor!
They had originally thought that Li Yuanying was just painting a big picture, and it was unclear when it would be realized. Unexpectedly, he quickly came to inform them that Emperor Li was about to arrive at Taihe Palace, and their plaques were also ready, all with unified specifications and styles, to be hung at the same time!
All the investors were overjoyed and exclaimed: “Prince Teng, you’re a man of your word! You say what you mean and do what you say!”
The two groups set off one after the other. The people from Hu County arrived first, waiting outside Taihe Palace, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Emperor Li.
Did Emperor Li come? Of course he did, not only did Emperor Li come, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng and others all came too, a luxurious lineup, almost like a “buy one get one free” deal.
The crowd was ecstatic, rushing forward to pay their respects, welcoming the arrival of Emperor Li and his entourage.
Emperor Li saw some of the people dressed in merchant attire, and he felt a headache coming on. Li Yuanying only cared about money and didn’t discriminate against people. Naturally, many merchants were among the investors. At the sight of these people, Emperor Li immediately recalled what Li Yuanying had done. He turned his head and glared at Li Yuanying, but finally, with a smile, he excused those people from Hu County from bowing.
Since they had come to build a palace for his practice, he couldn’t be cold and aloof to them.
After meeting the people from Hu County, Emperor Li led his ministers towards Taihe Palace. The entire front facade of the palace had been completely renovated. The outer walls had been rebuilt and painted in a bright new coat, no longer recognizable in their former state.
It was unknown where Li Yuanying had transplanted those plum, apricot, peach, and pear trees, but they were just the right height to reach over the palace wall, discreetly extending their green or yellow branches outward, peeking out, and it was certain that in the spring, one would see a garden full of spring colors.
Emperor Li had been to Taihe Palace before, but just by looking at it from the outside, he felt that it was completely different from before! Li Yuanying had never seen the renovated version of Taihe Palace, but he had simulated the design in the system, and it was almost identical to the present one, making him very satisfied.
Li Yuanying excitedly pulled Emperor Li to go inside.
Inside Taihe Palace, the buildings inside and outside were all brand new, each one exquisite and elegant. Among the numerous pavilions and terraces, the most striking was the Teng Wang Pavilion, built on high ground. Emperor Li also liked this place. He led his people to the Teng Wang Pavilion, looking out over the distance. Chang’an was faintly visible in the distance, surrounded by mountains and encircled by green waters, like a fairyland.
Looking down, the entire Taihe Palace was within sight.
The scenery they had already seen on the way was needless to say. The wide hunting grounds and the neatly organized stables were particularly appealing to Emperor Li. If it weren’t for the fact that he had to preside over the “hanging plaque ceremony” that Li Yuanying had mentioned, he would have gone to pick a horse and go hunting!
Emperor Li was very satisfied with this palace. Since it had been renovated into a new palace so spectacular that even the Taishang Huang couldn’t recognize it, it deserved a new name. He announced on the spot that it would be renamed Cuiwei Palace.
Next, the investors from Hu County were fortunate enough to have a second audience with Emperor Li. After being commended by Emperor Li, they were filled with excitement as they followed their own plaques to hang them, feeling as if they were walking on air!
This was the first time Li Yuanying had accomplished something major, and he was even more excited than the investors from Hu County. As he looked at the vast Cuiwei Palace, his heart was filled with excitement. He recalled his trip to the Yique hunting grounds, when Emperor Li had ordered Cen Wenben to help write an inscription and Chu Sui-liang to inscribe it. Although he had previously found this task boring, now that it was on his own shoulders, he felt that it couldn’t be omitted!
Li Yuanying shamelessly went to Emperor Li, saying, “Brother, on such a good day, shouldn’t you have someone write a poem to commemorate it and erect a monument in front?”
Emperor Li saw Li Yuanying shamelessly coming over to ask for this, and he wanted to retract his intention. Fortunately, he was in a good mood today, and he didn’t really argue with Li Yuanying. He simply ordered Cen Wenben, his professional writer who had been by his side for the past two years, to compose a poem to commemorate the occasion.
Cen Wenben had already received instructions and quickly finished the poem.
Li Yuanying also got the original manuscript written by Chu Sui-liang, as he wished!
He was satisfied and happy, and happily invited everyone to take their seats. He acted like a grown-up and toasted everyone. Then, while everyone was in high spirits, he encouraged Emperor Li to have everyone write a poem. Emperor Li went first, followed by Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and so on.
Li Yuanying decided to name Cen Wenben’s article just now “The Preface to the Teng Wang Pavilion” and have it printed together with these poems praising Cuiwei Palace! This was praise for the Teng Wang Pavilion that he had built and for the martial arts practice that he had organized. Everyone must have a copy to keep for years to come!
With shameless confidence, Li Yuanying made the decision and diligently recorded everyone’s poems, preparing to have them typeset and printed later.
After the feast, Emperor Li wanted to go hunting. Li Yuanying took the opportunity to go over to Wei Jiu and the others, telling them about his grand plans. Do good deeds, leave your name! Do great things, make sure others know!
Li Yuanying talked about his plans in detail, and then changed his mind, excitedly saying, “It can’t just be called “The Preface to the Teng Wang Pavilion.” It must be called “The Preface to the Teng Wang Pavilion of Cuiwei Palace.” I’m going back to my fiefdom, and I’ll build another Teng Wang Pavilion. It’s important to differentiate them!”
**Author’s Note:**
The little prince: I am a man of vision!
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