Henan Road has a large area bordering the sea. If you want to talk about “neighbors,” you have to mention Silla, Baekje, Goguryeo across the sea, and Japan which occupies a whole island.
Li Yuanying finally turned his attention to Japan. He told Emperor Li about the general situation in Japan and briefly mentioned what he saw along the way: The Soga clan was undertaking massive construction projects, conscripting countless laborers. He saw Japanese people with sad faces and haggard appearances all along the way.
Li Yuanying said, “Dai Ting and the others believe there will be unrest in Japan soon, so I left Dai Ting there.” He described the scene where he entrusted Dai Ting to Prince Katsuragi.
Emperor Li thought the scene was vividly described. Prince Katsuragi was literally inviting a wolf into his den without realizing it. Dai Ting always went to wherever there was chaos. He was not one for seeking glory or credit. After finishing his work, he would leave without a trace.
In comparison, they were restricted by their status. Seeing Li Yuanying getting excited at the mere mention of running away, Emperor Li reminded him again, “Since you have enjoyed the wealth and honor of the imperial family, you must shoulder your responsibilities. Tengzhou is not a large place, but it is not easy to ensure that everyone lives a good life. You were a county magistrate for a few months, even with such a small county, did you achieve a situation where everyone was free from hunger and could read?”
Li Yuanying fell silent. Even in the counties of the capital, not everyone was willing to cooperate. Some people could learn but didn’t want to, while others wanted to learn but didn’t have the time. Everywhere had both rich and poor. Even the best policies eventually became outdated and no longer applicable. Therefore, developing a whole state was not something that could be achieved with just slogans.
Li Yuanying said dejectedly, “I haven’t done it.” He was only interested in making a plan; the actual implementation was left to Wu Mei and the others. If he had to do things in a steady and practical way, it would be a real challenge for him. After all, he was full of ideas for fun.
Emperor Li sighed inwardly at his dejected look and rubbed his dark hair, “When will you truly grow up?”
Li Yuanying mumbled, “With my elder brother around, no one dares to bully me! I won’t grow up!” He became smug again, excitedly describing his vision to Emperor Li, “Let’s raise all our nephews and nieces, including the children of court officials and talented people from humble backgrounds. We will give them all the opportunities to rise. Once they can handle things, my elder brother can take me around to play, wouldn’t that be wonderful?” He got too excited and accidentally pulled at his wound, wincing in pain. He was smiling just a moment ago, but now tears streamed down his face.
Emperor Li felt both heartbroken and amused. He called for someone to change Li Yuanying’s medicine and told him to be quiet and not move.
Li Yuanying was afraid of the pain and obediently lay down without making a sound.
Emperor Li promised, “If I can still walk then, I will take you to explore the beautiful landscapes of the Tang Dynasty.”
Li Yuanying thought of his poor nephew and refined his travel plan, “Chengqian is so pitiful, he can’t go anywhere! How about this, let’s first take Xiang’er and the others, and when they’re done playing, we’ll let Chengqian cultivate them properly. Once Xiang’er can stand on his own two feet, it will be Chengqian’s turn to play!”
Emperor Li looked at him sideways, “You’ll go with Chengqian when he plays?”
Li Yuanying looked completely matter-of-fact, “Of course, I’ve been there once and know where the fun places are, so I can be Chengqian’s guide.”
Emperor Li was too lazy to argue with him. He instructed people to take good care of him and report to him immediately if anything happened before leaving with his documents.
Li Yuanying lay there humming and having his medicine changed. Once done, he played with the patterns on the headboard, using the smooth and beautiful lines as his travel route. Lao Wei and the others were getting old and probably couldn’t walk anymore, which was a pity. It seemed he would have to ask Luo Binwang to write more travelogues and add more paintings of his own, so they could experience it vicariously.
The next day, Changsun Wuji and others could clearly sense that Emperor Li had slept well and was in a good mood.
Changsun Wuji exchanged glances with Fang Xuanling. Both of them understood what the other was thinking: Alright, the two brothers are back to their old selves. The caning was just for show; they’re back to being like before as soon as they start talking.
Emperor Li didn’t think his change was that obvious. He told the officials that he had already punished the three offenders. The others were initially unaware and reported it promptly, so he would not punish them for now. He would observe their future performance. Li Yuanying had gone to sea without permission, so he would be caned thirty times and confined (to recover) for three months. By then, it would be New Year’s Eve, so he would return to his fiefdom after the new year.
Everyone was speechless after hearing Emperor Li’s punishment. What kind of punishment was that? Only the thirty lashes seemed somewhat appropriate. Was the three-month confinement not just Emperor Li missing his brother and keeping him in Chang’an to spend the new year with him?
However, Li Yuanying fainted for a whole day after being beaten, causing Emperor Li to even skip the court session. In the afternoon, he finally showed up but was like a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. Anyone who dared to raise an objection was scolded by him. Emperor Li had made his attitude clear, so naturally, no one dared to suggest that the punishment was insufficient or should continue.
They were not fools. If anything happened to Li Yuanying, Emperor Li might very well make them accompany him in death. After all, although Emperor Li had many brothers, he only raised one personally, and the only one who made him furious all the time.
Everyone who had raised children knew that quiet and well-behaved children were easier to raise, but the ones they cared about the most were the ones they invested the most in and who were the most rambunctious.
If this child could also make waves, it would be even more remarkable. Not only would he be worried, but he would also talk about him all the time.
Li Yuanying’s trip to sea was considered over.
Visitors began to come to Li Yuanying’s residence to offer their condolences. The first to arrive were Li Chengqian and Li Xiang. They were the most well-informed, and they had already visited once when Li Yuanying was unconscious. Now that he was awake, they naturally came to see him early.
Li Chengqian was not one for being sentimental. Seeing that Li Yuanying, although lying down to recover, looked uncomfortable but in good spirits, he sat down and chatted with him, “Uncle, you are really brave.” He had been worried about Li Yuanying when he heard he had gone to sea. Fortunately, he returned safely.
Li Xiang also looked at Li Yuanying with concern, but he couldn’t interrupt while his elders were talking.
Li Yuanying said, “Didn’t I return safely?” He adjusted his position, lying on the bed, so that Li Chengqian and his son could sit facing him. Seeing Li Xiang, Li Yuanying moved his head to scan him from head to toe, nodding in satisfaction and saying, “Good, you’ve grown taller. You have the potential to be as tall as me.”
Li Chengqian thought this kid was hopeless. He praised Li Xiang for growing taller, but he had to include himself in the compliment.
Li Xiang glanced at Li Chengqian, seeing that he didn’t say anything, he seized the opportunity to ask Li Yuanying if he was in pain and if he needed anything.
Li Yuanying was very satisfied with his great-nephew’s inquiries and, taking advantage of his injury, began to give orders to his juniors, demanding stories and asking for water.
Seeing Li Yuanying ordering his son around, Li Chengqian couldn’t take it anymore. He said he wanted to go to Emperor Li’s side to help with the affairs of state.
Li Yuanying, thinking of his travel plan with Emperor Li, immediately urged Li Chengqian to go quickly. After Li Chengqian left, Li Yuanying whispered to Li Xiang, telling him about his plan to persuade Emperor Li to take them on a trip.
Li Xiang was very happy, “That’s great!” He immediately promised to keep it a secret and not tell Li Chengqian, so he wouldn’t be heartbroken for not being able to go.
The two conspired for a while, and then Li Xiang picked up a newly published storybook and read it to Li Yuanying until Wei Jiu entered the palace. He then politely gave way and went back to read with his tutor.
Then, Sizhi and Hengshan came to visit. They wanted to come earlier but were forbidden by Emperor Li.
As soon as they saw Li Yuanying, Sizhi and Hengshan, like Li Xiang, asked him about his well-being.
The two princesses were around the same age as Wei Jiu and were beginning to look like young women. Li Yuanying comforted them in turn, thinking sourly about who would take them away from him. When he thought about Wei Ying secretly telling him that Emperor Li had even considered marrying Hengshan to Wei Ying’s father’s generation, he felt that Emperor Li was unreliable. They weren’t old enough to be fathers, they could be grandfathers!
Li Yuanying chatted with Sizhi and the others for a while, promising to take them to play with Gaoyang once he had settled Tengzhou. He might not be able to influence their marriages, but before that, he could fight for their freedom within the limits allowed by Emperor Li.
Sizhi said worriedly, “Uncle, you should recover first.”
Li Yuanying believed he was in excellent health and would recover soon. After Li Chengqian was busy and came back to visit, Li Yuanying learned that Emperor Li wanted to keep him until after the new year.
Although Li Yuanying was reluctant, he had no choice. The confinement was punishment for going to sea without permission.
Since he was injured and couldn’t go out, Li Yuanying could only lie low and recover. He would spend his days showering his wife with affection and listening to people tell him all sorts of new stories and old legends. After half a month, he was able to walk around. In a while, he would be bouncing around again, as if he hadn’t been beaten at all.
If he wasn’t confined to the palace, anyone could see how much water those thirty lashes had.
Li Yuanying had no self-awareness and was still thinking about ways to get his confinement lifted early so he could go out and wander. Being stuck in the palace all day was driving him crazy.
This request was ruthlessly rejected by Emperor Li.
Li Yuanying wasn’t disappointed. While dining with Emperor Li, he sighed, “Brother, being emperor is really hard work. You have to stay locked up in the palace all day and deal with all those documents. It’s so miserable. I’ve been confined for less than a month, and I can’t take it anymore!”
Emperor Li said, “You grew up in the palace. I haven’t seen you unable to bear it before.”
Li Yuanying said, “That’s different. I was young then. There was enough to keep me entertained just in the palace.” He was jumping around all day, too busy to feel bored. “Now I’m older, and I feel like the outside world is better.”
Emperor Li simply ignored him.
The person who said he didn’t want to grow up was him. The one who said he grew up was also him. With a person like him, how dare he comment on whether being emperor was hard or not?
Emperor Li scolded, “If you had been born into an ordinary family, you would find it difficult to fulfill your ambitions. You wouldn’t be able to run wild like you are now.”
Li Yuanying thought that made sense. He moved closer to Emperor Li and eagerly offered his flattery, shamelessly admitting that he was just taking advantage of his position, “I can only run wild because my brother is here! Every time I come across a temple or a Taoist monastery, I go inside and pray to all the gods to bless my brother with a long life!”
Emperor Li: “…”
He probably didn’t even know which gods he was praying to, right?
**Author’s Note:**
Little Prince: As long as I open my mouth, I can win people over!
Officials: These two brothers are both shameless (pointing fingers)!
Update!
Today!
I don’t know what to say!
Just ask for some nutrient solution! I’m planning to go back home at the end of the month! Celebrate May Day! While I’m at it, I’ll catch up on the daily updates and watch others squeeze into crowded places! Happy! I should be behind by about ten or eight chapters, right? I’m bad at math! Never mind! I’ll write as much as I can! (‘?’ )
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