Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 222 The Prince's Doubts

Taiji Palace, Daji Hall.

Since Li Zhi and Wu Meiniang left the palace, Li Yong and the other three little princes have let themselves go.

The three of them got up later and later, and were always late for Chongwenguan every day. Li Yong and Li Lian even stopped doing their homework and just played.

That morning, it was not until mid-morning that the sun climbed in through the window that Li Yong finally sat up from the bed and drowsily rinsed his mouth and washed his face.

When they arrived at the outer hall for dinner, they found that Li Lian and Li Xiao were eating at the table.

Li Yong was surprised and asked, "Second brother, why are you up so late today?"

Although Li Xiao was also late, he still had a certain sense of propriety and did not dare to be late for too long. Li Yong basically could not see him when he came to have breakfast every day.

Li Lian smiled and said, "Third brother, today is a holiday, have you forgotten?"

Li Yong was stunned for a moment, then his sleepy eyes suddenly opened wide. He laughed heartily and said, "I really forgot. Second brother, Silang, hurry up and eat. After that, let's go play Cuju!"

Li Lian suddenly said, "I have something to do today, so I can't accompany you."

Li Yong was stunned and asked, "What's the matter?"

Li Lian drank a mouthful of mutton porridge and said, "I want to go see my sisters. I haven't seen them for a long time."

When Princess Gao'an and Princess Yiyang were young, they always followed Li Lian and the other two like little followers. As they grew older, they rarely came to see them.

Li Yong muttered, "Why meet with them?"

Li Lian whispered, "No matter what, they are still my sisters."

Li Yong was stunned for a moment, not knowing what he was thinking about. He suddenly fell silent and ate his breakfast in silence.

Li Lian finished his meal quickly, said hello to the two of them, and left Daji Hall.

Li Yong stirred the mutton porridge with chopsticks and suddenly asked, "Second brother, how long has it been since you last saw your mother?"

Li Xiao was stunned for a moment and said, "I don't remember."

Li Yong muttered, "I haven't seen my mother in three years. I don't know if she's doing well."

Li Xiao lowered his head and said nothing.

Li Yong seemed to have made some kind of decision. He raised his head and said, "Second brother, while mother is away, let's go see A Niang, shall we?"

Li Yong's mother was Yang, and Li Xiao's mother was Zheng. Both women were originally maids of Queen Wang. After Queen Wang's downfall, they were demoted to imperial concubines, and were disliked by Empress Wu.

The eunuchs and palace maids in the palace were all opportunists. Seeing that Empress Wu disliked them, she placed them in the most remote courtyard.

Li Xiao said indifferently: "She is of low status, I don't want to see her."

Li Yong was surprised and said, "But she is your biological mother after all!"

Li Xiao stood up and said, "I have to go do my homework. Silang, I advise you not to go see your mother. It will not do you any good." After that, he walked away.

Li Yong pondered Li Xiao's words carefully and felt that he was not wrong. If the queen knew that he had met his biological mother, she would definitely be unhappy.

But I always feel that this way of thinking is wrong.

Although he did not study hard on weekdays, the teachers always liked to nag about "benevolence, filial piety, propriety and righteousness". After listening to it so many times, he started to remember it.

In this case, meeting my biological mother can be considered as fulfilling my filial duty. Even if my father knew, he probably wouldn't blame me.

Thinking of this, he finally plucked up the courage and headed towards the mountain pond courtyard where his biological mother lived.

On the other side, after leaving Daji Palace, Li Lian went straight to Penglai Palace and paid his respects to Xu Chongrong.

Xu Jin put down the book in his hand and said with a smile: "Are you here to see Yi Yang?"

Li Lian nodded and said, "Isn't my sister in the palace?"

Xu Jin said, "She and Gao An went to the Plum Garden."

Li Lian bowed and said, "Then I'll take my leave."

After leaving Penglai Palace, they headed towards the plum garden east of the palace. After walking along the path for a while, they finally found Princess Gao'an and Princess Yiyang at a pavilion.

The two men sat in front of a stone table, on which were placed many clay figures and clay dolls, as well as clay tables, chairs and benches. No one knew what game they were playing.

Li Lian walked over with a smile and said, "Hey, what are you two playing?"

When Princess Yi Yang saw her brother coming, she immediately performed a courtesy.

Princess Gao An snorted and said, "Brother, why do you have time to come to us today?"

Li Lian came to the table, picked up a clay figurine, and said, "I haven't seen you guys lately, so I came to take a look. Why haven't you come to see me lately?"

Seeing that he cared about her, Princess Gao An immediately calmed down, stuck out her tongue, and said, "It's you who didn't let us go, and it's boring to play Cuju all the time."

Princess Yiyang suddenly said, "Brother, we have met Mother."

Li Lian was surprised and asked, "How could that be? Wasn't my mother banished from the palace?"

Princess Yiyang said, "Gao An pleaded with father, and he allowed us to visit mother once a month."

Li Lian's eyes reddened as he asked, "Is my mother okay? Did she mention me?"

Princess Yiyang said softly, "Mother hasn't changed much from before. The one she talks about the most is you."

Li Lian's nose felt sore and he finally couldn't help choking up.

Princess Yiyang stared at him for a moment and said, "My mother also asked me to tell you something."

Li Lian wiped his tears and asked, "What?"

"Mother said that she has a cousin who works as a stable master in the Eastern Palace. You can go to the Eastern Palace and get closer to that man."

The Eastern Palace Stables was a huge courtyard, and like Li Zhi's Feilong Stables, it had official positions such as the Stable Master and the Stable Assistant.

Li Lian nodded and said, "I'll remember that."

He asked his two sisters some more questions about Concubine Xiao Shufei. It was almost noon when he separated from them and returned to Daji Hall.

Back in the palace, only Li Xiao was doing his homework; Li Yong was nowhere to be found. After lunch, Li Lian, for some reason, also finished his homework. The next day, Li Lian attended school for the day. Afterward, he declined Li Yong's offer to play Cuju and headed towards the East Palace.

……

East Palace, Lizheng Hall.

Two rows of officials sat on the left and right, behind more than a dozen desks, busy handling government affairs.

Li Hongze sat at the very top, flipping through the imperial edicts processed by his subordinates.

He now shoulders the important task of regulating the country, so he does not need to go to Chongwenguan to study for the time being. He sits in Lizheng Hall every day to familiarize himself with various government affairs.

Before Li Zhi left, he issued an edict to the two provinces, asking them to select one-tenth of the memorials that needed to be reviewed and send them to the Lizheng Hall, which would be under the responsibility of the Eastern Palace.

This was originally a process of transition of imperial power. As the crown prince grew older, the emperor would assign more government affairs to the crown prince.

Li Hong was too young to review the imperial edict himself, so officials from the Eastern Palace were responsible for reviewing it and finally gave it to him to read.

Li Hong was extremely intelligent and received the best education. At a young age, he was already quite knowledgeable.

When he first started reading these government affairs, he found it very difficult. It took him a long time to read a line of words, and he needed others to help him explain them.

As he read more and more about government affairs, he gradually became familiar with it, and soon he discovered a problem.

Recently, many of the government affairs in various states and counties are related to land affairs.

He was just confused at first, but then he became more and more curious.

It just so happened that today was the day when the Prince's Grand Tutor and the Prince's Grand Preceptor came to discuss government affairs. After noon, a eunuch came to report that Li Ji and Yu Zhining were already waiting for orders outside the palace.

Li Hong quickly stood up and said, "Please invite the two teachers in."

After a while, Yu Zhining and Li Ji walked in together and performed the etiquette between monarch and subject to Li Hong, who then returned the ceremony with the etiquette between teacher and student.

After the two sat down, they began to explain the scriptures to Li Hong.

Li Hong listened patiently, and when both of them had finished speaking, he asked, "Grand Tutor Li, Grand Tutor Yu, I have something I don't understand."

Yu Zhining smiled and said, "Prince, please speak."

Li Hong said, "I've recently been looking through government documents from various regions and have discovered that the national land system is being changed. Many officials have objections to this. Could you please tell me, teachers, why does my father want to change the land system?"

Yu Zhining was stunned for a moment, looked at Li Ji, and then remained silent.

Li Ji said slowly, "Prince, you only need to familiarize yourself with government affairs. If you encounter something you don't understand, you can keep the question in your heart and observe it slowly. Over time, you will naturally know the answer."

Li Hong was stunned: "Can't you just tell me directly?"

Li Ji smiled and said, "If I tell you now, you will forget it in a few days. If you get the answer in your heart, you will remember it deeply."

Li Hong nodded, not quite understanding.

Yu Zhining laughed and said, "Mr. Li, you can't say that. If the Crown Prince has to figure out everything, what use are we old guys to do?"

Li Ji glanced at him and said nothing.

Li Hong said happily: "Taifu, can you tell me?"

Yu Zhining said slowly, "Your Majesty changed the system because some time ago, the Xiao family annexed the land, causing a tragedy. Therefore, Your Majesty believes that the current land system has drawbacks and needs to be revised."

Li Hongdao: "What tragedy?"

Yu Zhining then told the story of Shijiazhuang.

Li Hong's face turned pale and he asked, "How could they do such a cruel thing?"

Yu Zhining sighed, "Prince, many tragic things in the world are caused by human greed. It's not just the Xiao family that has annexed land. Anyone with power will use it to satisfy their greed."

Li Hong was stunned and asked, "So, father changed the land system to prevent similar things from happening?"

Yu Zhining smiled and said, "That's exactly it."

Someone suddenly said, "It's a pity that some unlucky people have suffered misfortune because of the Xiao family's greed."

Li Hong looked at the man, and it turned out to be the prince's groom Su Liangsi.

"Su Xima, who is the unlucky person you are talking about?" Li Hongqi asked.

Su Liangsi said slowly, "I have heard that many people have been complaining recently because of the land system reform."

Li Hong was surprised and asked, "Why is this?"

Su Liangsi said, "Your Highness, think about it. Before the land system reform, the land belonged to the people. When some people encountered difficulties, they would sell their land to solve their problems, right?"

Li Hong nodded.

Su Liangsi said, "Although these things were illegal before, the court did not strictly enforce them. Many people bought and sold land, not annexed it. Now that the land system has been reformed and the land has been turned over to the public, they feel unfair and naturally resentful."

Li Hong was stunned and speechless.

Li Ji glanced at Su Liangsi and said calmly, "Su Xima, are you dissatisfied with the land system reform?"

Su Liangsi smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Li, you are too serious. I was just listening to you and the Crown Prince's discussion and suddenly remembered this matter, so I brought it up."

At this moment, a eunuch came to report, saying, "Your Highness, Prince Yong has arrived and wants to see you."

Li Hong quickly stood up and said, "It's my fourth brother who has arrived." He walked out of the hall quickly.

Li Lian was standing at the bottom of the stairs. When he saw him come out, he bowed and said, "Li Lian greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Hong said with a grin, "We are brothers, no need to be polite. Fourth brother, is there something you want to talk to me about?"

Li Lian said, "Your Highness, I heard that the Eastern Palace has many fine horses. Can I go to your stables and take a look?"

Li Hong said, "Of course you can. If you like any horse, just take it away."

Li Lian bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

(End of this chapter)