The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 10? Oh? What kind of knowledge is it?

Li Chengqian remained silent.

He lowered his head in thought, digesting Li Yichen's words.

Only the faint crackling of the burning candlelight remained inside the hall.

After a long while, Li Chengqian slowly raised his head. The confusion and anxiety in his eyes had subsided considerably, replaced by a clear determination.

“I understand,” he said. “We must not take the initiative to attack, but plan carefully before acting. We must safeguard the Eastern Palace and not give others any leverage. We must rely on the laws and the power of the court officials to resist the possible deposition and enthronement.”

“Exactly.” Li Yichen nodded.

"Your Highness, your battlefield is not on the battlefield, nor at Xuanwu Gate, but in the imperial court, in the hearts of the people, and in the history books. What you need to win is not a mutiny, but a political game. This game requires patience, wisdom, and restraint."

Li Chengqian let out a heavy sigh, as if he had unloaded a thousand-pound burden, or as if he had made up his mind.

"Very well, I will do as you say, and remain steadfast and wait."

He looked at Li Yichen with a determined gaze.

"Yichen, you must help me."

"Your subject will do his utmost." Li Yichen bowed respectfully.

Li Yichen breathed a sigh of relief.

The tactic of going along with the rebellious Li Chengqian's madness was a success.

This earned Li Yichen a basic level of trust from Li Chengqian, at least ensuring that Li Chengqian would listen attentively to what he said!

Just then, a eunuch's cautious voice came from outside the hall.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has sent someone to deliver the rewards and a verbal order."

Li Chengqian and Li Yichen exchanged a glance, both seeing wariness in each other's eyes.

It came so quickly.

Li Chengqian quickly straightened his robes and gave Li Yichen a wink.

Li Yichen immediately stepped back, stood respectfully to the side with his hands at his sides, and resumed his posture of accompanying the reader.

"Come in," Li Chengqian said in a deep voice.

The palace doors opened, and a eunuch carrying a brocade box bowed as he entered, followed by two junior eunuchs.

"Your Highness," the eunuch bowed.

"His Majesty bestowed upon him ten newly presented Huzhou brushes, five ingots of Huizhou ink, and one hundred sheets of Xuan paper. He also issued an edict: 'I have heard that the Crown Prince has been diligently studying recently, which greatly pleases me. I hope he will persevere and live up to my expectations.'"

Li Chengqian looked at the reward and sneered inwardly.

The Emperor's methods were as follows: first, he was furious and confined the child to his quarters, then he sent stationery as a reward and encouragement.

A slap followed by a sweet treat is a test, a reassurance, and a warning all at once.

His face showed no emotion whatsoever, but instead revealed a perfectly measured blend of gratitude and apprehension. He rose and bowed towards the direction of the Liangyi Hall.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for the reward. Your subject will certainly follow Your Majesty's teachings, study diligently, reflect on yourself, and live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

He gestured to the attendant beside him to accept the reward, and then spoke gently to the eunuch.

"Thank you for your trouble, Your Excellency."

The eunuch repeatedly said he dared not, but secretly glanced at the Crown Prince and the situation in the hall. He saw that the Crown Prince was calm, even showing some scholar's weariness. The hall was filled with books, and there was nothing unusual.

Li Yichen, who was reading beside him, also bowed his head respectfully, showing no particular sign of anything unusual.

The eunuch bowed his head, paid his respects, and took his leave.

The palace doors closed again.

The gentle gratitude on Li Chengqian's face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold look in his eyes.

"It's starting," he whispered to Li Yichen.

Li Yichen nodded. "Your Highness handled it very well. From now on, there will only be more of these kinds of tests. Your Highness must always remember to remain vigilant, cautious, and eager to learn."

"I know."

Li Chengqian walked to the desk, picked up a brush bestowed upon him by the emperor, and applied slight pressure with his fingers.

"Then let them see how I 'dedicate myself to learning'."

In the days that followed, the Eastern Palace truly seemed to transform into an academy for dedicated study. Li Chengqian strictly adhered to the plan each day, taking turns to discuss scholarship with his three study companions, displaying a serious attitude and behaving in accordance with proper conduct.

When he was with Du He and Li Anyan, he discussed classics, history, philosophy, and literature, and humbly sought their advice.

When he was with Li Yichen, he would delve into discussions about the rise and fall of dynasties, the psychology of emperors, and the power struggles in the imperial court.

Li Yichen, on the other hand, constantly guided him to abandon any radical ideas and turn to a more profound and prudent approach to political struggle.

Outside the Eastern Palace, undercurrents were surging.

Wang De's spies monitored the Eastern Palace day and night, and news kept coming back to the Liangyi Hall.

"Your Highness spent two hours today reading and discussing the Zuo Zhuan with Du Ban."

"In the afternoon, the prince studied calligraphy with Li, copying the 'Preface to the Orchid Pavilion'."

"Before His Highness rested in the evening, he read the Book of Han alone until late at night."

"The Eastern Palace remains heavily guarded, with very few people entering or leaving. All purchases are recorded, and no unusual items have been brought in."

"The conversations with the officials of the Crown Prince's Palace were all routine matters."

Everything seemed to indicate that the Crown Prince had truly realized his mistake after offending His Majesty, and had begun to reflect on his actions and study diligently.

Li Shimin looked at these reports, tapping his fingers on the imperial desk, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

This is so normal, it's almost abnormal.

His son, as he knew, was not someone whose nature could be changed so easily.

Such a scathing critique, such a swift response to seal off the palace, is something a mere bookworm prince could never possess.

There must be someone behind this.

But this person is very good at hiding his true nature.

Li Shimin's gaze fell on the names of the three companions.

He then shook his head, realizing that the influence of a reading companion was too small; it couldn't be any of those individuals.

This person must be someone of a high rank among the officials in the Eastern Palace.

Otherwise, the crown prince wouldn't have listened to him so easily.

Li Shimin was unable to make a decision immediately.

He could only continue to wait, continue to observe, and continue to exert pressure.

He wanted to see how long this "devoted to learning" crown prince could keep up the act, and how long the person hiding behind the scenes could endure it.

Inside the Eastern Palace, as Li Chengqian "studied" and waited day after day, his mood gradually changed from initial panic and anxiety to a slightly more stable state, and he even began to genuinely become interested in those power struggles and strategies.

In particular, his conversations with Li Yichen always gave him a sense of sudden enlightenment.

He trusted Li Yichen more and more, and relied on his plans more and more.

That afternoon, it was Li Yichen's turn to be alone with the Crown Prince.

The palace doors were tightly shut, and the candlelight flickered.

Li Chengqian put down the Records of the Grand Historian, rubbed his temples, and looked at Li Yichen opposite him.

"Yichen, what you said a few days ago, to wait patiently and rely on etiquette and court officials, I have thought about it carefully, and it is indeed a wise way to govern the country. However, in the court, people's hearts are treacherous and interests are intertwined. How can I predict the actions of others? And how can I ensure that others will act according to my wishes? There always seems to be variables that are difficult to control."

Li Chengqian's brows furrowed slightly, revealing his inner confusion.

His quiet reading and reflection over the past few days have led him to delve into deeper issues.

Upon hearing this, Li Yichen straightened his posture.

He knew the time was right; it was time to introduce more core tools.

"Your Highness's concerns are precisely at the heart of the power struggle."

Li Yichen's voice was steady and clear.

"Predicting others' actions may seem complicated, but there are actually patterns to follow. Today, I will explain a subject to Your Highness that may help you understand this predicament."

"Oh? What kind of knowledge is it?" Li Chengqian became interested.

(End of this chapter)