Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 145: Conferring the title of Duke of Pingyang
Li Hong got up at noon every morning, reviewed his lessons for a while, and then had breakfast with his mother Wu Meiniang and his younger brother Li Xian.

Li Xian is over one year and five months old. He can walk on his own and can say simple words such as "Aye", "Aniang", and "Brother".

Wu Meiniang had very strict upbringing and was not allowed to talk while eating. Only when Li Zhi came would the dining atmosphere become more relaxed.

It’s a pity that Li Zhi stayed in Xunfeng Palace last night, so only three of them had breakfast together today.

After finishing his breakfast, Li Hong bowed to his mother and said, "Mother, I am going to the academy."

Wu Meiniang said "hmm".

Li Xian opened his two little hands and shouted to Li Hong, "Brother, brother!" It sounded more like "Ayong".

Li Hong went over and squeezed his brother's hand before leaving Lizheng Hall and heading towards Chongwenguan accompanied by several tutors and eunuchs.

Lizheng Hall is very close to the East Palace and can be reached by passing through three palace gates.

As soon as Li Hong passed through the Daji Gate, he met Li Yong and two others who came out of the Daji Hall. He stepped forward and greeted them.

Li Yong and the other two knew that he was the future crown prince, so they were very polite to him, but there was also a hint of coldness in their politeness.

When walking together, I intentionally kept a certain distance from him.

The Chongwenguan was divided into the North Hall and the South Hall. The North Hall was a place for studying. In addition to the princes, there were also royal nobles and children of high-ranking Beijing officials.

The officials who taught the courses were all scholars of the Chongwenguan, also known as attendants, and the students respectfully called them teachers or masters.

Li Hong and others came to the Beiguan School. In addition to the four of them, there were more than a dozen students in the school, all of whom were children under the age of twelve.

These people were born into good families and were far ahead of others at the starting line of life. They were able to study with the future emperor.

When they grow up, no matter which prince from Chongwenguan ascends the throne, their qualifications as companions in study can become a stepping stone for future promotion.

As soon as Li Hong entered the school, several students surrounded him, greeted him respectfully, and supported him to sit in the hall. They laughed and told funny stories together.

Among these people were Li Zhen’s son Li Chong and Li Ji’s grandson Li Jingyou.

Not long after Li Hong sat down, he suddenly noticed a strange student coming into the hall. He was about seven or eight years old, looked timid, and sat alone in the corner.

Li Hongdao: "Cousin, who is that?"

Li Chong glanced sideways and said with a smile, "Ah, it seems he is General Xue Rengui's son. The sage issued a decree a few days ago, allowing him to come to Chongwenguan to study with him."

Li Hong waved towards Xue Na and said crisply, "Hey, come here and talk to us."

Xue Na was feeling a little nervous about the unfamiliar environment. When he heard Li Hong calling him, he walked over with his schoolbag in hand and asked naively, "What do you want to tell me?"

Li Chong said with a smile, "Young man, this is the Fifth Prince, you must not be impolite."

Xue Na was startled and quickly bent down with his hands folded, saying, "Greetings, greetings to the Fifth Prince."

Seeing that his movements were not standard and were quite funny, everyone burst out laughing.

Only Li Hong didn't laugh. He said seriously, "We are classmates now. There's no need to be so polite."

Xue Na nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes."

Li Hong smiled and said, "Your father has made great contributions this time. Father and mother were very happy when they mentioned him."

Xue Na touched the back of his head and smiled, "I don't understand either, but many guests who have come to my house recently have said that my Ye Ye is very good."

Li Chong said, "I heard that the frontline troops have escorted Helu back to Chang'an. Did you know?"

Xue Na nodded and said, "Mother said that the army will not be back for a few days."

At this time, a scholar from the Chongwenguan came in. The man was about sixty years old, with a gray beard and a very stern expression.

He just coughed and the hall became quiet.

Li Hong whispered to Xue Na, "That's Instructor Yan. He's the strictest. Don't fall asleep later, or he'll spank you."

Xue Na nodded vigorously, returned to his seat, straightened his waist, and sat upright.

Chongwenguan generally has three classes in the morning and two classes in the afternoon. Each class is taught by two bachelor's students and there are four assistant lecturers.

Students can have lunch in the library at noon, and go home after school in the early afternoon.

On the first day of class, Xue Na was very nervous and worried that he would not be able to keep up.

After listening for a while, I found that what the bachelor was talking about was not too difficult, so I felt relieved.

After school, Li Hong came over again and talked to Xue Na for a few words. He walked him to the outermost gate of the East Palace before waving goodbye to him.

Xue Na was very happy to see that the Fifth Prince was so friendly to him.

His original anxiety about going to school suddenly disappeared without a trace.

He skipped out of the imperial city and walked out of Anshang Gate.

His mother Liu's carriage had already been waiting outside the palace gate.

"Ner, today is your first day going to Chongwenguan. Are you used to it?" In the carriage, Liu touched her son's face and asked with concern.

Xue Na smiled and said, "What the teacher said wasn't that difficult. And the Fifth Prince took the initiative to talk to me."

Liu was surprised and asked, "What did His Royal Highness the Prince of Dai say to you?"

Xue Na said with pride, "He asked me about Ye Ye. Mother, Ye Ye is really amazing. Even the young Fifth Prince knows him."

Liu patted his head and sighed, "Of course. Your father's reputation was earned by risking his life on the battlefield."

At this moment, an anxious voice came from outside: "Madam, Xiaolang, Alang is back!"

Liu quickly lifted the curtain and looked out. It was Fang Ge from the house. She asked hurriedly, "Who did you say was back?" Fang Ge said happily, "Alang is back. He's already at the mansion. He sent me here to urge you to go back!"

Liu was both surprised and happy, and urged the coachman to speed up. A quarter of an hour later, the carriage returned to the outside of Xue's house.

The mother and son ran quickly into the house and came to the courtyard.

Looking up, he saw Xue Rengui standing by the well. He had taken off his shirt, revealing his muscular upper body. He had drawn a bucket of water with a wheel and was wiping his body with the water.

Xue Na ran over quickly and shouted loudly: "Yeah yeah!"

Xue Rengui hugged his son and looked at his wife. They stared at each other for a long time, and the feeling of parting was expressed in their eyes.

Liu's eyes were slightly red. She walked over, took the cloth, and silently wiped Xue Rengui's burly body. While wiping, she carefully checked to see if there were any wounds.

Xue Rengui smiled and said, "No need to check. These mere barbarians can't hurt me."

Liu looked up and rolled her eyes at him, then said with a mixture of anger and joy, "Who in Chang'an doesn't know how powerful General Xue is these days?"

Xue Rengui smiled and said, "Madam, would you like to fight your husband for three hundred rounds?"

Liu spat, her face flushed, and said, "The child is still here. It hasn't been long since he went to the military camp, and he's already learned these dirty words!"

Xue Na looked between the two of them and said, "Mother, why did Ye Ye want to fight with you?"

Liu said, "Don't ask any more questions. Go and do your homework."

Xue Na muttered, "No, I want to talk to Ye Ye!"

Xue Rengui smiled and said, "Madam, don't be impatient. Let's have a conversation first."

Liu was greatly embarrassed. She noticed that Xue Rengui had become a bit more frivolous after being away for a few months. She thought to herself, "No wonder they say the military camp is not a good place. It turns out to be true."

The family returned to the hall and talked for a while. Xue Rengui stood up and said, "Okay, let's talk after I get back. I need to go to the palace to see the emperor."

Liu said, "Why are you in such a hurry to go to the palace? You can go tomorrow."

Xue Rengui said sternly, "I have separated from the army and returned to Chang'an early because I have other official business to report to the Saint."

After hearing this, Liu Shi couldn't dissuade him anymore and said, "Then go quickly. I'll prepare dinner and wait for you at home."

Xue Rengui stood up to change his clothes. Just as he was about to leave, a servant came in and said, "Alang, Madam, County Master Xue wishes to see you."

Xue Rengui was slightly stunned.

The Earl of Xue County was the head of the Xue family in Hedong, Xue Daoshen.

On the first and fifteenth day of November last year, Xue Rengui was ordered to bring Lu Botao's family into the palace, but he was almost stopped by Xue Daoshen.

Since then, the Xue family of Hedong had no contact with him again. Unexpectedly, as soon as he returned to Beijing this time, the other party came to find him.

Liu said softly, "Husband, Uncle Xue has come to our house several times and helped us a lot."

Xue Rengui raised his thick eyebrows and said, "What did you call him?" Inadvertently, a hint of murderous intent was revealed.

Liu was so frightened by him that she froze and didn't say a word.

Xue Rengui then realized that he had lost his composure. His expression softened a little and he said, "I just came back from the battlefield and I'm not used to it yet. Please forgive me, madam."

Liu patted her chest, glared at him, and said, "You scared me to death."

Xue Rengui said in a deep voice: "Xue Daoshen is very close to Zhangsun Wuji, so it's better to ignore him from now on."

Liu smiled and said, "That's all old news. A month ago, Uncle Xue and the Zheng family arranged a marriage, and Uncle Xue's son married Concubine Zheng's concubine sister."

Xue Rengui frowned and said, "What does that have to do with us?"

Liu sighed, "Uncle Xue even moved my parents' graves to Hedong and buried them in Fenyin. Doesn't that matter?"

Xue Rengui was stunned.

Although he was born into a branch of the Xue family, if you trace back his ancestor, he would find that his great-great-grandfather was Xue Andu, the King of Hedong in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and his fifth-generation ancestor was Xue Huaiji, the governor of Fenzhou.

These ancestors are all buried in Fenyin area.

His father was a minor official in the Sui Dynasty. Before his death, his greatest wish was to be buried in Fenyin and return to his roots.

Now that Xue Daoshen has helped his father fulfill his wish, he has no choice but to accept this favor no matter what.

"Please come in, County Master Xue." Xue Rengui said in a deep voice.

Xue Daoshen quickly entered the house, his face beaming. As soon as he entered the hall, he smiled and bowed, saying, "I am Xue Daoshen, honored to meet Lord Xue."

Xue Rengui was now promoted by Li Zhi to the rank of General of the Right Guard and was granted the title of Duke of Pingyang County.

Among the Xue family members in Hedong today, his title is the highest.

Seeing that he was so old and humble, Xue Rengui didn't want to show any more displeasure and went over to help him up.

"Uncle Xue, there's no need to be so polite. I would also like to thank you for allowing my father's coffin to be returned to Fenyin."

Xue Daoshen took his hand and said with a smile, "We are all family, why should we talk behind each other's backs? The reputation of the Xue family in Hedong now depends entirely on you, Rengui."

Xue Rengui said, "Uncle, I still have to go to the palace to see the emperor, and I will visit you later."

Xue Daoshen said hurriedly, "No problem, go back to your business. I just happened to be passing by and came to take a look. I'll take my leave now."

Xue Rengui did not try to persuade him to stay. After seeing Xue Daoshen off, he headed towards the palace.

(End of this chapter)