Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5082 Audacious
The wind blew the leaves, the pond sparkled, and in the cool shade of the trees in the afternoon, Queen Su looked at Fang Jun's earnest teachings and the prince's humble willingness to learn with a smile. She felt very gratified in her heart, and her eyes looking at Fang Jun were soft, warm, and radiant for a moment.

It is no wonder that the prince admires Fang Jun so much. The guidance and enlightenment that should have come from his father are now all coming from Fang Jun...

The fatherly love that the child lacks the most is fulfilled and filled at this moment.

Crown Prince Li Xiang was confused at the moment. He looked up at the treetops, then looked down at the fallen leaves, cakes, and teacups on the ground, muttering to himself, "Why did it fall to the ground instead of falling into the sky? Why is that? There must be some reason I don't know, there must be, but what is it?"

Fang Jun patted the crown prince on the head to wake him up from his stupor. Seeing his innocent yet confused eyes looking at him, he smiled and said, "You should concentrate on everything, but you can't be obsessed with it. You should know how to measure the relationship between these two states. Especially in physics, the universe is so vast that even if you spend your entire life studying one subject, you can hardly get a glimpse of it. How can you devote your limited life to an infinite realm? Remember, even if you achieve a little bit, it is already amazing."

Li Xiang didn't quite understand what kind of field he had stepped into and how his life would change because of it. He asked ignorantly: "Then Master, please tell me why everything will eventually fall to the ground?"

"Because the earth has gravity!"

"gravitational?"

"Yes, for example, the reason why we can stand firmly on the ground instead of flying into the sky is because gravity is restraining our bodies."

"Then why can birds fly in the sky?"

“This is about the difference between humans and birds.”

"What's the difference? Is it because birds have wings? Then if I have a pair of wings, can I fly too?"

"Well, probably not, because apart from the wings, the body structures of humans and birds are also different."

"Why can the hot air balloon made by the master fly?"

"That involves another area, called thermal expansion and contraction."

"master……"

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Fang Jun was overwhelmed and quickly stopped him. The naughty kid had a hundred thousand questions in his mind. Who could stand it if he kept asking like this?

Seeing him so embarrassed, Queen Su covered her lips with the back of her hand, her bright eyes curved and she smiled secretly.

Fang Jun had no time to pay attention to the queen, and patiently said to Li Xiang: "The world is so big, the universe is so vast, far beyond our cognition. Everything contains different truths, which we need to discover and solve bit by bit. Don't be too ambitious. The way of physics can only be improved if we calm down, feel with our heart, and comprehend with wisdom."

"ok, I get it."

The queen said to the maids, "The prince is sweating a lot. Take him to bathe and change clothes to prevent him from catching a cold."

"Here."

Li Xiang followed the maid back to the palace to take a bath. As he walked, he asked, "Master, do you want to stay for dinner? Aunt Jinyang can't finish the seafood you sent her. Send me a lot!"

Fang Jun smiled and declined: "I have something else to do and will return home soon, so I won't stay. We can talk about it when I have free time."

"Oh."

Li Xiang walked away very disappointed.

Watching her son's back disappear around the corner of the palace wall, Queen Su looked at Fang Jun and asked, "How do you plan to deal with Jinyang?"

Fang Jun was helpless: "The Queen's words sound as if I had abandoned you after having an affair with you. You should ask His Highness Jinyang what he wants, not me."

The queen obviously didn't believe it: "Jinyang obeys you in everything, you really haven't done anything excessive?"

"The Queen is in charge of the six palaces, and she knows women very well. Can't you tell whether His Highness Jinyang is virgin? Even if I have the courage of heaven, I dare not do that!"

"Oh," the queen sneered, "You are quite courageous. Whether it's Changle or Baling, how many princesses have you bullied?"

Being wrongly accused like this, Fang Jun was a little annoyed: "If I was really bold, I should have responded after the Queen hinted at me that night in Wanchun Palace. Otherwise, I tried my best to anger Your Majesty, but in the end the Queen regretted it. Wouldn't I have suffered a great loss?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Her fair cheeks were flushed, and the queen was embarrassed: "I didn't hint at you anything!"

"Hey!"

Fang Jun had a look of deep regret: "You really want to kill me after I've done my job? I should have taken action at the right time that night! I really regret it. Why did I believe the queen's sweet words?"

Queen Su's heart trembled, and she said hurriedly: "What do you mean by killing the donkey after it has done its work? It's so harsh to say that? It's just that the time has not come yet..."

Although she was extremely embarrassed and it was inappropriate to talk about such topics with her subordinates and brother-in-law, she was really afraid that Fang Jun would really give up.

The forced appointment of Zhaoyi this time has shown His Majesty's dissatisfaction with the Eastern Palace. Even if it is put on hold temporarily, how can it completely dispel the intention of changing the crown prince?
It would be fine if Concubine Shen could not give birth to a prince, but if she did, the status of the Eastern Palace would immediately be in jeopardy.

I'm still counting on Fang Jun's unwavering support for the East Palace, so I can't offend him...

Fang Jun smiled brightly, his eyes teasing, "According to the Queen, when will it be the right time?"

The queen's cheeks were flushed, her eyes were twinkling, her white teeth biting her cherry lips, and she said in a trembling voice: "Anyway...anyway, it's not time yet!"

Fang Jun leaned forward, leaned over the stone table, got closer, admired the other party's shy expression, and said with a smile: "If the time comes, will the queen deny the debt?"

The queen was startled by his action and looked around in panic. When she found that there was no one around, she breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at Fang Jun angrily and snorted, "When the time really comes, I'll give it to you!"

After saying that, she quickly stood up and adjusted her palace skirt with her slender hands. Although her beautiful face was still stained red, she had returned to her usual dignified and virtuous appearance. She pursed her lips and said, "Alright, don't talk to me about these nonsense. Since the general has something to do, please do as you please. I am a little tired and want to go back and take a nap. Please leave the palace, general."

She turned and walked away, leaving Fang Jun with only a swaying figure.

As if sensing the burning gaze from behind, his pace gradually quickened...

*****
"You did a good job of retreating by advancing."

Fang Xuanling was sitting in front of the window in casual clothes and a fu hat on his head. He looked more like a wealthy old man. The sharp aura that once ruled the world had long disappeared. He was gentle, warm and generous, and approved of Fang Jun's approach.

Fang Jun smiled bitterly and said, "It's actually very dangerous. If Your Majesty really allows me to resign from all my official positions, the relationship between the monarch and his subjects will be completely severed, and there will be no room for maneuver."

If he had not been sure that Li Chengqian was weak and indecisive, he would never have dared to do so.

If I were Emperor Taizong, I would expel you from the court completely no matter what the consequences. How could I accept any coercion from you?
Fang Xuanling waved his fan and said disapprovingly: "When is there no danger in the officialdom? You can take this opportunity to retreat bravely, and the gains outweigh the losses. You are too young now, your achievements are too great, and your power is too great. You have already become the target of public criticism. Otherwise, with your achievements, why would His Majesty have such a dirty mind? Don't blame His Majesty. People who sit in that position naturally lack a sense of security. They want to harm anyone they see. It is rare that he can be so tolerant of you."

Fang Jun nodded.

Fang Xuanling said again: "Since you are resigning, why not just resign completely? Just keep the title of Grand Commandant, and the rest is unnecessary."

If I just resign from the post of Shangshu Pushe, it would inevitably give people a chance to criticize me.

Fang Jun shook his head, crushed the hazelnuts on the plate, and placed the kernels on another plate: "I still have to watch some of Liu Li in the government hall to prevent him from doing anything wrong. This person is flawless in personal morality, but he is too conceited and power-hungry. He may even oppose for the sake of opposing and undermine the long-term plan formulated by the court. I can only stay away from the center completely when Ma Zhou becomes the prime minister."

There is absolutely no problem with Liu Li's moral integrity, but his mind and vision are problematic. Such a person is actually more suitable for serving as an empty-headed position such as the Grand Censor or the Minister of Rites. Letting him serve as the prime minister and lead the country's development from a high-level perspective will only make a mess.

Fang Xuanling did not comment on this, but asked a question that he had pondered for a long time: "What exactly is your development strategy for the empire? To be honest, I don't quite understand your operations over the years."

"A country, no matter how big it is, will perish if it is warlike." This is a truth recognized by people throughout the ages. It is not that you cannot fight, but if you have to, you should try not to fight.

However, the Tang Dynasty has been conquering cities and expanding its territory over the years, and the war has never stopped. The war has been slightly restrained on land, but it has been raging on the sea, and the flames of war have ignited almost every inch of land along the sea routes.

Fang Jun gently pushed the plate of hazelnuts in front of his father and whispered, "Father, what do you think is the symbol of a strong country?"

Fang Xuanling looked at his son in surprise, picked up a nut and put it in his mouth to chew, "You little rascal, you come to test me just a few days after you got your tail up?"

"Naturally, it is an invincible army."

Even if we have vast mountains and rivers, and even if we have abundant resources and a prosperous people, how can we defend our country without a strong army?
"Every country dreams of having a strong army, but an army needs to be supported. How can a country with a weak economy afford such an army?"

Fang Xuanling frowned, realizing that this question didn't seem that simple. After thinking for a while, he said, "Do we need a sophisticated and clean fiscal and taxation system?"

"If the people have no output, how can there be taxes? Increasing taxes recklessly will only shake the foundation of the country and push the people into dire straits. A harsh government is more ferocious than a tiger!"

Fang Xuanling was unhappy, and glared at me, "Don't keep me in suspense in front of me!"

Fang Jun quickly said: "It's productivity!"