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

Chapter 14 Are you trying to create a hole in the sky?
“Your Highness needs to establish your own information channels,” Li Yichen said. “They don’t need to be conspiracies, just timely information about the movements and statements of Prince Wei and his cronies. If Prince Wei is merely currying favor with His Majesty, Your Highness need not heed his words; that is his strategy. But if he spreads rumors detrimental to Your Highness, or attempts to frame you on specific matters…”

Li Yichen's gaze turned slightly cold.

"This is not the most urgent matter. Establishing an intelligence network takes time. I will consider this for a few days and then report back to Your Highness!"

A glint flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes; he now had complete trust in Li Yichen.

"Your Highness must act immediately. You may clarify the matter to His Majesty through reliable channels, or defend yourself with reason and evidence in an appropriate setting, or even point out that the Prince of Wei has acted improperly and damaged the harmony between the brothers. The counterattack must be swift, accurate, and forceful."

"But remember to focus on the issue, not the person, and always stand on the moral high ground of upholding etiquette and maintaining harmony in the court. If you do this once or twice, His Majesty and his court officials will understand."

Li Chengqian was deeply moved, as if he could already see himself using strategies to defuse Li Tai's offensives time and time again.

He was no longer the useless crown prince who could only passively endure anger and pressure.

"Yichen, if it weren't for you, I would still be struggling in the fog, and I might have already gone astray!"

Li Chengqian remarked with deep emotion, his tone filled with sincere gratitude.

Li Yichen bowed slightly.

"This is my duty."

If I hadn't come, you would have indeed embarked on the worst possible path.

Hopefully it's not too late.

Just then, some commotion could be faintly heard outside the hall, as if something had happened.

Li Chengqian and Li Yichen immediately stopped talking and looked warily toward the palace gate.

"What's all this commotion?" Li Chengqian asked, raising his voice and regaining the dignity of a crown prince.

A eunuch hurriedly replied from outside the palace gate.

"Your Highness, it was...it was someone from the Prince of Wei's residence who delivered some books, saying that the Prince of Wei's newly completed 'Kuodi Zhi' was specially sent for His Highness the Crown Prince to read and comment on. The guards were ordered to stop and inspect it, hence the slight commotion."

Li Tai sent over the "Kuodi Zhi" (Records of the Land).

Li Chengqian's face instantly darkened.

This is clearly showing off and provocation!

The "Kuodi Zhi" is a large-scale geographical work that was strongly supported by the Emperor and edited by Li Tai. The Emperor praised it many times.

Now, instead of sending the completed book to the palace first, it is sent to the Crown Prince's Palace for him to "appraise".
Li Yichen immediately looked at Li Chengqian, shook his head slightly, and gestured for him to calm down.

Seeing Li Yichen's gaze, Li Chengqian took a deep breath and suppressed the anger and jealousy in his heart.

He understood; the test had arrived.

This is where the game begins.

He pondered for a moment, then said loudly, "Since it is the King of Wei's good intention, I will accept it. I thank the King of Wei on my behalf. Tell him that I am currently in seclusion reflecting on my mistakes and immersing myself in studying the classics and geography. I do not have time to study them carefully for the time being, but I will read them slowly when I have time in the future. Please convey my words exactly as they are said, without any errors."

The eunuch outside the door responded with a "Yes," and his footsteps faded into the distance.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Yichen, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

"Yichen, is my response considered a form of 'defense' within the framework of 'cooperation'?"

Li Yichen nodded.

"Your Highness handled the situation appropriately. He accepted the gift with courtesy. He emphasized reading the classics and reflecting on one's mistakes in seclusion, echoing His Majesty's request. He said he was too busy to comment immediately, thus politely declining without completely rejecting the offer, leaving room for maneuver. This was a prudent move."

Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, while also feeling a strange sense of accomplishment.

This was the first time he had consciously used strategy to deal with Li Tai's provocation, and it seemed to be working well.

"It seems that game theory really is useful," Li Chengqian said in a low voice, a new light gleaming in his eyes.

"But remember, strategies are static, but people's hearts are dynamic," Li Yichen reminded him.

"It requires flexibility and adjustment based on the opponent's movements. Ultimately, one's own strength is the foundation. Your Highness still needs to study diligently to truly broaden your knowledge and abilities. Otherwise, having strategies without practical knowledge will only lead to empty dreams."

"I know," Li Chengqian replied solemnly.

“Starting tomorrow, I will study even more diligently. Not just the classics, but also history, law, and political treatises! I want to show them that I am not a hopeless case!”

Seeing the renewed fighting spirit in Li Chengqian's eyes, Li Yichen felt a little more at ease, even though he knew the road ahead was still fraught with danger. At least, the Crown Prince had begun to think about how to play this game correctly, instead of just thinking about overturning the chessboard.

The scholarly atmosphere of the Eastern Palace seems even stronger than before.

For several days in a row, Li Chengqian not only maintained his schedule of taking turns discussing academic matters with his three study companions, but even intensified it.

The books piled up higher and higher on the desk, and the candlelight in the side hall went out later and later into the night.

He read the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Records of the Grand Historian, the Book of Han, and even began to peruse the Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era and summaries of recent years' political affairs meetings.

This almost manic diligence, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, created ripples that silently spread beyond the high walls of the Eastern Palace and into the deep mansions and residences of Chang'an.

Duke Zhao's Mansion, study.

The candlelight crackled softly.

Changsun Wuji dismissed all the servants and sat alone facing an unfinished game of chess, his fingers unconsciously twirling a warm black piece.

"Reading behind closed doors?" he muttered to himself, his brow furrowed.

"The Crown Prince? The one who smashed a cup and cursed because of Zhang Xuansu's few words of advice, who gave up on himself because of a limp, and who wished he could tear down the Eastern Palace?"

He chuckled and shook his head, as if trying to dispel the absurd idea.

A secret report is unlikely to be wrong.

His Majesty was furious. During the interrogation at the Liangyi Hall, the Crown Prince actually used the words of a sage to knock directly on the Xuanwu Gate!

“This isn’t him…it’s definitely not something he could have come up with on his own.” Changsun Wuji’s eyes sharpened.

"Who is it? Who has such audacity to commit such a heinous act?"

He closed his eyes and muttered to himself.

“A good question… Every word is reasonable, every word hits His Majesty’s sore spot. Use His Majesty’s sword to cut His Majesty’s shield.”

He murmured, his tone unreadable, neither praising nor fearing.

"But this is a path to death! What kind of person is His Majesty? How could he be coerced like this?"

The image of his younger sister, Empress Zhangsun, flashed through his mind, followed by Li Chengqian's face, which was sometimes stubborn and sometimes gloomy.

"Fool! Even if someone taught you, is this blatant display of power just a way to hasten your demise?"

He cursed inwardly, a surge of frustration and disappointment rising within him.

He was the emperor's brother-in-law, and the eldest son's most natural protector.

But he was protecting the crown prince who could secure the throne and allow him and the entire Guanlong Group to continue to enjoy wealth and prosperity, not a madman who was self-righteous and recklessly challenged the bottom line!

"Studying... Hmph," he sneered, "are you studying the classics or the art of slaying dragons?"

He had to find out what kind of venomous snake was lurking in the Eastern Palace.

He must not make any statement before this.

Silence is the best shield.

Liang Guogong Mansion, night.

Fang Xuanling, wearing an outer robe, listened to the old steward's low report.

The content was nothing more than that the Eastern Palace remained quiet recently, and the Crown Prince continued his studies.

After the old steward left, Fang Xuanling did not get up, but stared blankly at the leaping flames in the dim light.

"...Emperor Shun...avoided harm and fulfilled his filial duty..."

His aged lips moved slightly, repeating those few scattered, chilling words.

"Your Highness," he sighed inwardly.

Are you trying to tear a hole in the sky?

(End of this chapter)