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

Chapter 54 Let it be.

For several days in a row, no officials from the Eastern Palace were seen formally entering the Consultative Hall.

The palace was spacious, with curtains hanging low, and the only sound was the occasional rustling of Li Chengqian turning the pages of his books.

Li Chengqian knelt on a brocade cushion, with the Book of Documents spread out in front of him, but his gaze did not fall on the words.

His fingers unconsciously twirled the edges of the pages, his eyes vacant, as if waiting for something.

The disappointment and irritation brought about by Wei Zheng's visit had long been replaced by tension, anticipation, and even a hint of excitement.

Li Yichen's words echoed repeatedly in his mind: "...If they want to wait and see, then let them wait and see. Your Highness only needs to remain calm, and the storm will rise on its own."

"Stay calm..." Li Chengqian murmured to himself, a smile playing on his lips.

He had never been so eagerly anticipating the coming storm.

A series of slightly hurried footsteps broke the tranquility of the hall.

An official from the Eastern Palace, dressed in a blue robe, strode in, his face showing undisguised worry.

He held a low-ranking official position, but he was a close confidant of the Crown Prince, responsible for internal and external communications.

He walked to the imperial desk, bowed deeply, and spoke in a very low voice.

“Your Highness,” he said gravely.

"Your Majesty, I have just received a message from outside the palace. Rumors are spreading throughout the streets of Chang'an, and they all... all point to Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian paused for a moment as he turned the pages of the book. He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze calmly falling on the other person's face, without any surprise.

"Oh?"

This reaction was unexpected by the officials.

The prince's expected rage or panic did not materialize; instead, he was unusually calm.

He took a deep breath and continued his report, his speech quickening slightly.

"The rumors are...unbearable to hear. Some say that His Highness harbors resentment due to his foot ailment and secretly curses His Majesty with witchcraft; others say that His Highness appears frugal on the surface, but in reality, he is extravagantly wasteful in the Eastern Palace, imitating the Turkic Khan by bathing in golden basins and using ivory chopsticks; still others have dug up the old story of 'Chengxin' to slander His Highness as morally corrupt, keeping a sycophant and engaging in... immoral acts! Now, the East and West Markets, teahouses and taverns are full of discussions, and those who hear it are in an uproar!"

After the official finished speaking, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He stared intently at the Crown Prince, awaiting his reaction.

These rumors are vicious and deadly, directly targeting the crown prince's virtue, loyalty, and human ethics. If they are proven true, the prince will face utter ruin.

However, Li Chengqian listened quietly, without even a ripple on his face.

After the subordinate finished speaking, he even chuckled softly, a chuckle so faint it carried an elusive quality.

"I thought it was some new and interesting explanation!"

Li Chengqian's voice was steady, even carrying a hint of languor.

"It's all the same old clichés over and over again. Cursing Father? I think they'd love for Father to depose me immediately so that certain people can get what they want. Extravagance? The expenses of the Crown Prince's Palace are all regulated; a simple investigation will reveal the truth. As for 'satisfaction'..." He paused, his tone turning cold, "Father has already dealt with it clearly in accordance with the law. Bringing up old matters again, are you trying to say that Father handled it improperly?"

The subordinate official was stunned.

The Crown Prince's response was completely unexpected.

There was no angry rebuttal, no fearful self-defense, but rather a... almost contemptuous calmness?

"Your Highness, rumors are more dangerous than tigers!" the official couldn't help but advise.

"Three men can make a tiger, and many mouths can melt metal! If we allow it to spread, it may damage Your Highness's reputation and shake the foundation of the nation! Should we immediately submit a memorial to His Majesty, requesting a thorough investigation into the source of the rumors to set the record straight?"

Li Chengqian waved his hand, his gaze returning to the Book of Documents before him, his tone remaining calm.

"You are overthinking it. The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty. If I were to panic and submit a memorial to defend myself when a few petty people spread rumors, it would only make me appear guilty. Father Emperor is busy with countless affairs of state; why bother His Majesty with such trivial matters?"

Let it be.

The official opened his mouth to speak, but seeing the Crown Prince's indifferent expression, he swallowed his words, letting out a helpless sigh before bowing and retreating. He was filled with confusion and unease. The Crown Prince's reaction...was he plotting something else?
Silence returned to the hall.

Li Chengqian put down the book in his hand, leaned back slightly, and closed his eyes.

Only his trembling fingers, tightly clenched in his sleeve, betrayed the fact that his inner peace was far from what appeared to be.

excited!

A surge of excitement coursed through his body!
coming!

finally come!

Just as Yichen predicted!
He was not afraid; on the contrary, he felt a sense of satisfaction at the fulfillment of a prophecy.

Yi Chen's plans were indeed flawless!

"Your Highness, please do not be angry, in fact... you should be happy."

Li Yichen's calm voice seemed to echo in my ears again.

"The fact that they resort to such methods proves that they have no real evidence and can only rely on slander to create momentum. Your Highness, our 'absurd self-defamation' can begin."

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, suppressing the surging excitement in his chest, and said in a deep voice to the empty hall, "Someone come here."

A trusted eunuch quietly entered in response.

"Go find a few clever and reliable people," Li Chengqian said in a low voice, but with an undeniable determination.

"Have them go to the East and West markets, and the places where foreign merchants gather, and spread the word." A strange smile appeared on his face. "Tell them... there's a rumor that a rooster kept by the Crown Prince laid a golden egg this morning."

The eunuch suddenly raised his head, his face filled with astonishment and disbelief.

He opened his mouth, wanting to confirm, but saw that His Highness the Crown Prince's gaze was calm and composed, clearly not joking.

"Do as I say." Li Chengqian's tone turned cold.

"Make it look natural, like you've overheard an interesting anecdote. Understand?"

Although the eunuch was full of doubts, he dared not ask any more questions and quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, this servant understands."

After saying that, he hurriedly left.

Inside the hall, Li Chengqian chuckled softly to himself. At first, it was a suppressed laugh, but then his shoulders shrugged slightly, carrying a sense of cathartic pleasure and a hint of madness.

"Golden egg... Hahaha... Golden egg!"

He muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Yichen, Yichen, can such an absurd plan really stir up trouble in Chang'an? I... will wait and see!"

Liangyi Palace.

Li Shimin put down the secret memorial in his hand, his brows furrowed.

The report detailed the various malicious rumors circulating in Chang'an City recently targeting the Crown Prince.

"Curse me?" Li Shimin snorted coldly, his face terribly gloomy, his eyes surging with anger.

"Investigate!" His voice wasn't loud, but it sent a chill down Wang De's spine as he stood to the side.

"Find out exactly where these vile words came from!"

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Wang De bowed and replied, then hesitated for a moment and added, “Your Majesty, there is another matter… There is another rumor circulating that… a rooster in the Eastern Palace laid a golden egg.”

"..." Li Shimin was stunned, and the anger on his face was instantly replaced by extreme astonishment.

He seemed not to have heard clearly, or perhaps he couldn't understand the meaning of the sentence, and repeated, "A rooster... lays golden eggs?"

(End of this chapter)