Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

The concubines in the Eastern Palace, to some extent, also cared about KPIs.

That was having sex with Li Chengqian, who was the crown prince.

This was something that Empress Zhangsun strongly supported. In addition, each of the concubines in the Eastern Palace was associated with the interests of the faction they belonged to. Even if they knew that their children, even if they were imperial heirs, would not be able to inherit the position in the future.

They continue to spare no effort.

The most important thing is...

"Ha, what's so great about composing poetry? Can it compare to the painting His Highness the Crown Prince made for me? Humph!"

"The Crown Prince's painting is indeed lifelike, but it's a pity... Sister Wang, your expression is a bit too exaggerated. It's fine for you to admire this painting in your own private quarters, but if others see it, they might say something about the Wang family's bad character..."

"Hmph! You shameless hussy, if we're talking about disgracing the family, if Sister Zheng says she's second, who dares to say they're first?"

"......"

Snowflakes are falling in Chang'an today, but Li Chengqian is sitting in a small boat on the lake, brewing tea while listening to the faint chattering sounds coming from the pavilion on the shore, which he finds only annoying.

Women are such a hassle...

He glanced at his eighth brother, Prince Yue, Li Zhen, whom he had used as a shield. Even in this new environment, the boy was still engrossed in reading several documents on this small boat.

A real man should focus on his career!

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction again.

Without disturbing the other person, they drank tea while watching the snow scene at Haichi. The aroma of tea mixed with the steam drifted and dispersed in the air, intermingling with the snowflakes fluttering around them.

"Time flies, another year is almost over..."

He felt a surge of emotion, but his face was full of smiles; the sixth year of the Zhenguan era was undeniably fulfilling.

Goguryeo was dismembered and captured.

Meanwhile, the Tang Dynasty had also planted spies and stationed troops in the Arab world.

They also determined the future issuance of Tang Dynasty paper money.

As the year draws to a close, news has emerged that the Zhenguan-class steam-powered ocean-going vessels have been completed.

Just as he was happily contemplating his plans for the coming year, two eunuchs rowed a small boat and led one person onto the small boat carrying Li Chengqian and the Prince of Yue.

"This humble monk, Xuanzang, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The visitor was none other than Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, pointed to an empty seat, and gestured for the other person to sit down.

"I've heard that you've been studying Indian Buddhism at the White Horse Temple recently. How is your understanding?"

He gave a half-smile and personally poured Xuanzang a cup of tea, handing it to him.

Xuanzang was flattered and overwhelmed.

Hearing the thick-skinned and ruthless Crown Prince ask this question, one would not believe that the other party really wanted to discuss Buddhism with him. The Crown Prince's dislike of Buddhism was almost an open secret throughout the Tang Dynasty.

He hesitated for a moment.

With hands clasped together, he loudly proclaimed the Buddha's name.

"Amitabha Buddha, India truly deserves its reputation as the birthplace of Buddhism. Its Buddhist scriptures are profound, and even this humble monk can only comprehend two of them. However..."

As if he had been prepared, he took out a scroll of scriptures from his sleeve and presented it to Li Chengqian with both hands.

"Please take a look, Your Highness. This is my translation of the *Yogacarabhumi-sastra*, which I revised based on the *Maitreya's Descent Sutra* from India. With this sutra, we can teach and spread it among those Harsha slaves, so that they may have a deeper faith in the teachings of the nine difficulties in attaining Buddhahood."

Li Chengqian gave the clever monk a deep look and reached out to take the Buddhist scriptures.

Then he started flipping through them.

While looking at it, he also glanced at Xuanzang, who was sitting quietly with a teacup in his hands.

He chuckled twice: "I am already aware of the matter in India, and I remember the master's merits. However, I am somewhat curious..."

He raised his eyes, looking at Xuanzang with a half-smile.

"Master, don't you have any compassion for those Harsha slaves? You should know that the saying 'Nine Difficulties to Become a Buddha' is nothing but a deception, tricking them into working for our Great Tang for generations. In the end, these people will only die."

Xuanzang remained calm and, upon hearing this, recited the Buddha's name again.

“Amitabha…Your Highness, the suffering in the land of Harsha is no less than that of hell. These Harsha slaves came to my Great Tang to suffer, and were buried on the soil of my Great Tang. Isn’t that considered entering paradise?”

Li Chengqian: "......"

He liked this shameless answer very much, but he never expected it to come from Xuanzang.

I can still vividly recall that this guy pointing his finger at Li Chengqian and accusing him of harming Buddhism and deserving to go to hell...

Haha, how long has it been?

His hand holding the Buddhist scriptures paused slightly, and he was stunned for a moment.

Then he let out a soft laugh.

"Hehe, as the ancients said, 'Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles,' and this is also true in understanding Buddhist scriptures... Master, you have truly comprehended the highest level of Buddhism during your trip to India."

Xuanzang respectfully said he dared not, explaining that Buddhist teachings were profound and required further understanding.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries about India, Li Chengqian finally revealed what he wanted Xuanzang to do next.

"The Buddhist sect is currently spreading its teachings in Tibet, with a large number of followers and remarkable results. As you, Master, are surely aware, my third brother led our Great Tang fleet to establish an overseas enclave there, where a religion called Islam..."

Li Chengqian slowly recounted some stories about Islam and Muhammad, and Xuanzang listened attentively.

After Li Chengqian finished speaking, he understood perfectly.

"Does Your Highness wish for Buddhism to spread its teachings in Arabia?"

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Is it not the Master's wish to spread teachings and blessings?"

Xuanzang dared not utter a word of refusal, but he still uttered the Buddhist chant with some difficulty: "Amitabha, Your Highness... Since it is Your Highness's order, and it is for the sake of our Great Tang, Buddhist monks, as so-called renunciants, will spare no effort, but..."

He sighed, "Your Highness, this matter is probably not so easy. That place is beyond the Western Regions, and the people, language, and customs are vastly different from those of our Great Tang. Furthermore, it involves sectarian conflicts..."

Li Chengqian naturally understood what he meant; he was simply seeking support.

He smiled faintly: "Since you are here to spread Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty will naturally protect the safety of our monks and nuns!"

Xuanzang immediately accepted the order respectfully.

As the small boat slowly approached the shore, Xuanzang rose to take his leave. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he hesitated for a moment. Seeing that Li Chengqian seemed to be in a good mood, he bowed again.

"Amitabha, Your Highness, this humble monk has something to report."

Li Chengqian looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"Your Highness, although the fate of Harsha is now precarious, since Your Highness intends to maintain the status quo of Tibet, Harsha, and the Cherukchi Kingdom on the peninsula, the Jinyiwei Tianzhu Zhenfu Division still needs a suitable person to lead it..."

Li Chengqian smiled enigmatically: "Is there someone in mind to choose a master?"

Xuanzang pondered for a moment, then clasped his hands together and said, "Your Highness, it is also a matter of personal consideration for this humble monk... Lu Wenhu, the former commander of the Imperial Guard in India, might be a good candidate."

really.......

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I heard that Lu Wenhu and the Master did not get along well when they worked together in India. Now it seems that others do not understand the relationship between the Master and him..."

He stood up and stepped off the boat. Behind him, the Eighth Prince, Prince Yue, Li Zhen, was still deep in thought about the contents of the dossier in his hand, completely unaware that the small boat had already reached the shore.

Li Chengqian looked at the nervous Xuanzang and sighed.

"I'm sure you understand, Master, that his obsession runs too deep. Even when he went to India as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, his ultimate goal was nothing more than to help his clansmen from Fanyang."

"I'm afraid that even if I gave him the chance, he would still choose to be Lu Wenhu... rather than Master Fuhu."