The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 124

When the teacher saw him arrive, he hurriedly said, "Master Xu, something happened at my home today. I just sent someone to tell me to go back as soon as possible. I wonder if you have time to cover my class?"

Xu Tian nodded and said, "Okay."

The teacher thanked Xu Tian repeatedly, then left the palace and hurried home.

Xu Tian understood that everyone might have their own troubles. Occasionally, he would miss the teacher's class by the time he finished, so he would enter the classroom and say to the princes and princesses, "I'll be teaching Teacher Li's class today. Where are you all in your studies?"

Li Zhuozhi immediately gave a compliant reply.

Xu Tian nodded to indicate that he understood, and then began to explain agricultural knowledge to them.

He was speaking with great enthusiasm when suddenly a prince said, "Grand Tutor, I want to try farming myself!"

Xu Tian was stunned upon hearing the prince's words. Personally farming? Princes wouldn't normally do such a thing.

"Farming? Fifth Prince, are you kidding me?" Xu Tian asked.

The Fifth Prince shook his head. "Of course not."

Xu Tian smiled helplessly.

Upon hearing these words, the Grand Tutor, who had been watching Xu Tian intently, immediately stopped in his tracks.

To actually send the Fifth Prince to farm! Xu Tian is far too audacious!

Without changing his expression, he frowned and headed towards the main palace.

It wasn't the morning court session. Based on his understanding of Li Er, Li Er was either handling state affairs or in the main palace.

He soon arrived at the main palace and saw Li Er and Empress Zhangsun sitting side by side.

He immediately knelt down and bowed, saying, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"

"Rise," Li Er said.

Seeing the Grand Tutor rise, she asked, "My dear minister, what brings you here today?"

"Your Majesty, I have heard that Xu Tian intends to teach the princes and princesses to farm in the fields. Isn't this somewhat against propriety..."

"Farming?" Li Er asked.

"Yes." The Grand Tutor nodded.

Just then, another teacher also requested an audience.

Li Er then let the scholar enter the hall.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the teacher entered the hall, he said to Xu Tian and the Empress, "Your Majesty and Empress, I feel that this Teacher Xu may have ill intentions."

"Oh, so what are you trying to say now?"

The tutor replied, "Your Majesty, I heard that Grand Tutor Xu was actually teaching the princes and princesses how to farm! This is utterly absurd... How can a Grand Tutor teach such things to the princes and princesses?"

Li Er saw that both he and the teacher had come to tell him that Xu Tian's behavior was against etiquette, but he himself hadn't learned anything wrong. Food is the most important thing for the people, so it wasn't a big problem for princes and princesses to learn agriculture, let alone farm.

Besides, this can also train their ability to endure hardship, which Li Er thinks is quite good.

"I understand. You may all leave now," he said calmly.

Upon hearing this, the two left the hall.

As soon as they left, Empress Zhangsun said to Emperor Li Er, "Your Majesty, this is indeed somewhat unreasonable, but it can also make the princes and princesses suffer a bit. If you ignore this, they may not be convinced by the male tutor."