Li Yuanying, after presenting his treasure, skipped off to play with his friends. Though many of his companions remained in Tengzhou working, his several nieces were enough to keep him entertained. He clearly felt no burden for having shirked his responsibilities for three months, contentedly soaking in baths and enjoying himself.
Changsun Wuji, however, was troubled and approached Emperor Li, expressing his concerns about Li Yuanying. In his opinion, since Li Yuanying’s fiefdom was Tengzhou, the seaport shouldn’t belong to him. Such a crucial location should be firmly in the hands of the court.
Emperor Li, who held Changsun Wuji in high regard, patiently explained, “Before Nascent Soul went to Tengzhou, it was a small, insignificant wharf. Now that the seaport is just getting started, and the bonds he issued haven’t been fully repaid yet, you want the court to take it back. If you were in his position, would you be happy?”
Changsun Wuji thought to himself, if the court wants it back, who cares if he’s happy or not? But he didn’t say this aloud, only vaguely reminding Emperor Li not to let Li Yuanying grow too powerful.
Emperor Li said, “I allowed Nascent Soul to take the reins, not just because he’s my younger brother, but because the Tang Dynasty needs someone with his vision and boldness. I hope that whether it’s a prince or a prefect, they will all be brave enough to put forth their ideas and implement their own decisions. If they succeed, we can expand upon their methods; if they fail, we can learn from their mistakes.” He expressed his heart’s desire to his brother-in-law, “The world is so vast, and I hope that wherever our carriages, horses, and ships can reach, people will know of the Tang Dynasty’s might and admire its prosperity. To achieve this, merely preserving what we have is not enough. We need more people who are willing to explore and push boundaries! I hope that all the talented individuals in the land will serve me, each in their own way, each displaying their abilities!”
Changsun Wuji was deeply moved.
He seemed to see the spirited young man from back then. That young Emperor Li was truly a dazzling, radiant youth. Many secretly envied his carefree spirit, even if they publicly criticized his indulgence in hunting and leisure.
All these years later, despite witnessing life and death, despite the growing suspicion, he still held within him the core of that unique soul.
He wasn’t entirely without suspicions about Li Yuanying, but his affection ultimately prevailed. If one day Li Yuanying truly harbored treachery, Emperor Li would surely punish him without hesitation. Because he was Emperor Li first, then a father and a brother.
This, Emperor Li understood better than anyone.
But for now, he wanted to be a brother.
Changsun Wuji bowed his head and said, “This subject understands.”
Emperor Li nodded slightly, not wishing to dwell on the topic any longer. Since he had granted the seaside area to Li Yuanying, he wouldn’t cave to Changsun Wuji’s proposal and reclaim it. He still had some pride!
As the birthday banquet day arrived, whether intentionally or not, Emperor Li invited significantly more guests than usual. When it came to the annual highlight of presenting birthday gifts, everyone perked up, eager to praise each item and offer auspicious words.
Li Yuanying’s gift was placed last among the imperial family, the reasoning being straightforward: he was the youngest.
His brothers had not arrived yet, but their gifts had already been delivered. None of them were particularly original. The attendees exhausted their praise before it was Li Yuanying’s turn.
Li Yuanying was dressed in full court attire, looking more like a birthday celebrant than the birthday honoree himself. Months earlier, when he had been punished with a caning, everyone had regretted that they might never again see the radiant young prince. Now, he was back, bouncing around, looking lively and spirited.
His gift was also eye-catching.
He had two large chests of gold and silver brought into the main hall!
Everyone was speechless upon seeing this. We know you make money and have money, but you can’t just give gold and silver as a gift! It’s gauche!
Li Yuanying remained unfazed by their scorn. He stepped forward and loudly wished Emperor Li a happy birthday, saying in essence that the entire Tang Dynasty belonged to his elder brother, so whatever he offered as a birthday gift would be taking from his brother’s wealth, which wasn’t appropriate. So he had specially dispatched people to travel across the ocean to foreign lands in search of a suitable birthday gift. Unexpectedly, they found a gold mine and a silver mine, and he had rushed back with a boatload of treasure.
These two chests of gold and silver were not the whole haul, just samples. There was much more waiting to be moved into your brother’s treasury!
Li Yuanying also said earnestly, “May your brother enjoy longevity and prosperity, may your life be as long as Heaven’s. When the ships of the Tang Dynasty sail across the entire world, you will be able to possess all the treasures of the earth!”
Even Changsun Wuji and the others, who already knew about Li Yuanying’s plan to present gold and silver and create a “gold and silver island abroad” spectacle, were still taken aback by his words. By Li Yuanying’s logic, the gifts they had prepared were all taking from Emperor Li’s wealth, lacking sincerity! To be sincere, you had to do what he did, go abroad, go to places that didn’t yet belong to the Tang Dynasty!
This kid has no shame!
He’s too shameless to promote seafaring!
Li Yuanying didn’t think he was shameless at all, nor did Emperor Li.
Emperor Li felt that his younger brother understood him best. He had just spoken to Changsun Wuji about wanting to explore and push boundaries, and Li Yuanying immediately said these words. It truly warmed his heart. Emperor Li clapped his hands and laughed, directly ordering Li Yuanying to sit to his right, clearly very pleased with his gift and his speech.
Li Yuanying skipped over to the seat closest to Emperor Li and cheerfully winked and greeted Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Imperial Grandson Li Xiang across the table.
Li Chengqian couldn’t handle this immature younger uncle and could only smile at him.
Li Xiang, still young, was influenced by Li Yuanying’s lively nature and also winked and made gestures with him. Li Yuanying’s words had ignited a spark in his heart. He wanted to go sailing with Li Yuanying, personally finding overseas treasures for his grandfather.
As he watched the court officials begin presenting their gifts, seeing them go on for ages, Li Xiang quietly slipped from Li Chengqian’s side to Li Yuanying’s, the two whispering together.
Emperor Li caught their little exchange, but he was in a good mood today and didn’t mind Li Xiang’s childish mischief. This grandson was clever and quick-witted, a favorite of his, and he could indulge this minor transgression.
The birthday banquet concluded smoothly. The attendees dispersed in groups of three or four, and those who knew each other chatted about Li Yuanying’s “gold and silver island.”
No one was a fool, so naturally, they wouldn’t immediately send people out to sea based on just Li Yuanying’s words. Some decided to first find out exactly how much gold and silver he had brought back, while others were directly skeptical. Of course, there was also a group of attendees who didn’t lack money, just opportunities. They observed the Emperor’s sentiments and realized that Emperor Li highly approved of Li Yuanying’s ideas. If they showed their support with actions, perhaps Emperor Li would give them a chance to advance!
Each individual harbored their own thoughts, but most were prepared to invest some money, the only difference being the amount. After all, if everyone brought gifts from foreign lands next year, and they were still “taking from the Emperor’s wealth,” that would be bad. As officials in the court, they were afraid of not standing out, but more afraid of lagging behind and being suspected by those above of not being dedicated!
Li Yuanying had drunk a bit of wine at the banquet, his face slightly flushed. But his alcohol tolerance was high, he didn’t get tipsy, and he remained clear-headed. He enthusiastically escorted the elderly Wei Zheng back to his residence, showering him with care and concern.
Even with his iron heart, Wei Zheng, who was always angered by Li Yuanying’s antics, was disarmed by his attentiveness. The old man and the young one sat down to chat, Wei Jiu, taking the opportunity to brew tea for them, discreetly eavesdropping on their conversation.
Wei Zheng was not entirely in favor of Li Yuanying’s use of Emperor Li’s birthday banquet to promote seafaring. The Tang Dynasty had a small population and couldn’t afford to suffer losses at sea. Instead of pursuing seafaring on a grand scale, they should focus on managing the current situation.
He furrowed his brows and analyzed the drawbacks to Li Yuanying.
Li Yuanying had a different perspective: “There’s only so much that can grow from the land. I’ve been having people collect rice seeds from all over and conduct crossbreeding experiments to increase the yield and quality of rice, as well as finding ways to fertilize and enrich the soil. If we can double or even triple the amount of grain produced from an acre in the future, wouldn’t that mean we only need a fraction of the population to farm and still be able to feed everyone?”
Wei Zheng said, “But you haven’t achieved that yet.”
Li Yuanying replied, “We can achieve it. If not in ten years, then in twenty.” He was young and didn’t think twenty years was a long time. Li Yuanying’s eyes shone with determination, “At the same time, we can fill our treasury with unclaimed treasures from overseas, and use unclaimed lands abroad to support the people of the Tang Dynasty. Once the court has the resources, we can promote education and strengthen our military. If overseas people are being oppressed and struggling to survive, we can bring them back, give them land to cultivate, provide them with food and clothing, and offer them a Tang education. If any of them wish to return to their homeland, we can send them back, allowing them to spread the tale of the Tang Dynasty’s benevolence. Then, when others encounter hardship, they will naturally come to the Tang Dynasty for help, and your brother will become the true Heaven-ordained Khan!”
Wei Zheng fell silent.
If someone else had said these things, Wei Zheng would have thought they were bragging, but Li Yuanying was different.
He was already doing these things. Whether dealing with Tubo or Silla and Goguryeo, Li Yuanying acted in this way.
From the beginning, his vision had not been confined to the Tang Dynasty alone.
He was born into the imperial family and was extremely close to two emperors, understanding both the allure and the terror of power. Therefore, he had limited contact with other officials, never interfering in court affairs. Even after becoming his future son-in-law, Li Yuanying rarely sought information from him about court matters, let alone asked him for favors.
As for his friendship with Li Jing, that was a bond based on shared interests, and it was evident that they wouldn’t discuss military matters. Even if they did, Li Jing was now retired and of little use.
He had no connections in the court, his audacity entirely due to Emperor Li’s indulgence.
If one day Emperor Li withdrew his tolerance, he would truly be isolated and alone in the court.
It was precisely because of this situation that Li Yuanying was able to avoid suspicion time and time again, allowing Emperor Li to feel confident letting him do what he wanted.
Was this situation a deliberate strategy on Li Yuanying’s part?
Wei Zheng didn’t ask, and Li Yuanying didn’t say. They sat together, drinking tea, sobering up.
It was late, and Li Yuanying should return to his residence.
Wei Jiu saw him out and personally fastened his cloak for him.
Taking advantage of the darkness, Li Yuanying grabbed her hand and gently kissed her forehead. Afraid that Wei Jiu would react and strike him, he quickly made contact and ran away, the attendant who had been pretending not to notice hurried after him.
Wei Jiu stood under the eaves, watching Li Yuanying run away, her ears slightly flushed, until he disappeared from view before turning away.
The person she loved was the best and most adorable person in the world. She wished that he would always be happy and carefree, without any worries.
**Author’s Note:**
Little Prince: I kissed my wife! On the forehead!
Update!
Yesterday, I went to see “Dream Back to the Tang Dynasty”! It wasn’t as good as “The Song of Everlasting Sorrow”! Maybe it was because of the random seat I got, I couldn’t see clearly! But the price tag was definitely different! So I just watched the part where Emperor Li leads the dance (not really)
Finally, I’d like to promote my friend’s new book! A friend I’ve known for ten years is back writing, using a new pen name. If you’re interested, please collect it and support it! New authors need love and care! Maybe we’ll have another amazing author who writes great content!
Title: “My Fiance is a National Idol [Entertainment Circle]”
Blurb:
At the age of eighteen, Xia Xi accidentally swapped bodies with the drowning Zhu Tang, was pulled from the river but lost her memory, and thought she was Zhu Tang.
Four years later, a car accident made her return to her own body, becoming Xia Xi again.
Now, the name Xia Xi represents a temperamental, poor actress with terrible acting skills. Every drama she stars in flops. She’s obsessed with bundling, publicity stunts, tearing down others, and practically antagonizes half the entertainment industry, a true porcelain doll.
While Gu Yanluo, a well-respected national idol, enjoys excellent reputation and popularity within the industry.
In the public eye, the two have no connection.
Until one day, rumors spread that Xia Xi will be the female lead of a certain drama, whose male lead has already been officially announced as Gu Yanluo –
a: What kind of 18th tier nobody is trying to leech off our brother?
b: We don’t want bundling! We’re taking our Lolo away, we’re not interested!
c: xx is back to suck blood again, our brother is so pitiful.
The internet was in an uproar when Gu Yanluo posted a Weibo: Happy to work with you Xia Xi
Everyone: ?????
Soon, the drama released some behind-the-scenes footage. In the video, Gu Yanluo shows great concern for Xia Xi, leading to speculation that he likes her –
a: Impossible.
b: Impossible.
c: Impossible.
Gu Yanluo then posted a photo of the two on Weibo: My fiancee Xia Xi
Everyone was in chaos again.
Xia Xi: We’re trending again.
Gu Yanluo: Yeah, I bought it.
Xia Xi: …
18th tier actress heroine x rich second generation actor hero.
Website:
Mobile:
Just search for “My Fiance is a National Idol” in the app!
Previous Chapter | TOC |