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

Li Shimin's heart tightened.

Sure enough, Crown Prince Li Chengqian slowly rose to his feet and suddenly raised his voice in full view of everyone.

"Of the water-balancing money outside Jianmen Pass, half went to the imperial palace and half went to Sichuan."

"The Jinma Pond was opened to sea vessels, and the Shixi Canal irrigated mulberry fields."

"Persian slaves carved out the Three-Knife Gorge, and Tibetan craftsmen divided the Nine-Long Spring."

"If the imperial edict were returned to the Imperial Treasury, the bells and drums of Weiyang Palace would have already shaken the heavens."

The officials: "...No, Your Highness, are you going to chase after him and kill him?"

Li Shimin was so angry he wanted to slap himself a few times on the spot. "Why are you looking at that rebellious son for no reason?!"

Why don't you just let him sit there quietly drinking and eating?!

what? !

Li Shimin inwardly screamed like a groundhog.

The officials below all turned their gazes to Changsun Wuji, who was sitting there. His face was flushed. He wanted to get up and express his gratitude, but he hesitated. Would it hurt the emperor's brother-in-law's feelings if he jumped out now?

But His Highness the Crown Prince's poem was clearly a gift to Changsun Wuji!

Unlike His Majesty's general remarks in the poem, which were just a pile of auspicious words that everyone would say, empty and boring.

In this poem, Crown Prince Li Chengqian used the names of several major water conservancy projects that are now part of the Tang Dynasty.

The "Jinma Pond" in Hebei Province, the "Shixi Canal" in Hedong Province, the "Sandao Gorge" in Longyou Province, and the "Jiulong Spring" in Zhenbei Province are all landmark achievements that Changsun Wuji successfully built during his years as the Yellow River Water Conservancy Commissioner.

Li Shimin felt his hands and feet go numb; he was angered by his rebellious son.

That's too ruthless! Starting with something about "water balance money," isn't that just a dig at me for taking eight million strings of cash from you?!

Is it really necessary to chase after them like this?

I am your father!

The last line, "If the imperial edict were returned to the Grand Treasury, the bells and drums of Weiyang Palace would have already shaken the heavens," is essentially saying that if the eight million strings of cash were given to Changsun Wuji, could the Yellow River water conservancy project have been completed even better?!

Li Shimin looked at his brother-in-law with a deep gaze.

However, the latter did not dare to look him in the eye, yet he showed no intention of being humble at all.

Clearly, the Crown Prince's poem truly touched the heart of his brother-in-law, which only made Li Shimin feel more and more suffocated.

What kind of welcoming banquet is this? I really want to just flip the table and leave...

Li Shimin gritted his teeth in hatred. He looked at the civil and military officials, but all he saw were pairs of evasive eyes. He then turned to look at his sons on either side of him.

King Li Tai of Wei kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart.

King Li Zhen of Yue scratched his head and rubbed his wine cup.

Prince Li Zhi of Jin... never mind.

Li Zhi: "???"

If it weren't for Father Emperor, I would never help you, but what's with that look in your eyes?

Are you looking down on your son?!

Li Shimin could no longer eat. Fortunately, he was not the only one suffering from this torment; the officials accompanying him were also sitting upright, already contemplating escaping.

As Li Shimin silently tilted his head, looking as if he had a sore back, the quick-witted Du Ruhui immediately understood.

"Your Majesty, are you tired? How about we stop here for today? Your Majesty has had a long journey; you should rest early today..."

Li Shimin quickly seized the opportunity to back down.

The officials breathed a sigh of relief as they watched His Majesty the Emperor flee with the Empress as if he were running away, and their straight postures finally relaxed.

Everyone left their seats and came to Li Chengqian's side to pay their respects and say goodbye.

“Crown Prince…” Changsun Wuji leaned closer, but looked awkward and couldn’t bring himself to speak. He could only look longingly at his nephew.

Li Chengqian smiled faintly: "After I finish writing it, I will have Wang De deliver it to my uncle's residence."

Immediately, Changsun Wuji beamed with joy, bowing and thanking him repeatedly, maintaining the proper etiquette between ruler and subject as he thanked him and took his leave, walking with an imposing and powerful air.

This prompted the officials along the way to purse their lips.

This old scoundrel also got lucky...

Emperor Zhenguan was in a very bad mood, and that night, Consort Yang, Consort Yin, and several other concubines all suffered.

bad news.

The emperor returned, and as usual, he started arguing with the crown prince.

Good news... a literary contest.

As the year drew to a close, a few days after His Majesty the Emperor returned to the capital, Prince Liang, Li Yin, Prince Yan, Li Yun, and Prince Chu, Li You, also returned to the capital from their respective regions.

However, at this moment, the literary contest between the Emperor of Chang'an and His Highness the Crown Prince was already in full swing.

"I refuse to believe it! I simply refuse to believe this evil... That rebellious son is my own flesh and blood, how could I, his father, be inferior to him?!"

"This time, that rebellious son has absolutely no chance of defeating me!"

Ganlu Temple.

When the emperor returned, Prince Li Zhi, who was in charge of the state affairs, also moved out of this place.

However, the study in Ganlu Hall was in a mess at this moment. Li Shimin's eunuch, He Ding, held a pen and ink in his hands with trepidation, always following the emperor.

In the study, besides the two people, there were more than a dozen others who were holding up sheets of written poems.

Li Shimin paced back and forth in front of these eunuchs.

He muttered curses under his breath, then murmured in thought...

It seemed like she was cheering herself on, or perhaps giving herself a subtle suggestion from the bottom of her heart.

Suddenly.

"Report! The Crown Prince has composed a poem!"

Li Shimin's tiger-like eyes narrowed instantly, giving him a sense of déjà vu when he was arranging his troops during the battles against Dou Jiande's army.

"Read it aloud!"

The Hundred Cavalryman who delivered the report quickly unfolded the note in his hand.

In the Lizheng Hall, Empress Zhangsun and a group of concubines were gathered together.

Empress Zhangsun personally picked up her brush, and her elegant yet dignified handwriting was used to sketch out a poem. Soon, the emperor's new work, "Partridge Sky: Edict to Encourage Agriculture," was copied out by her.

“Partridge Sky…I’ve never heard of this poetic form before,” Consort Yang murmured curiously.

Consort Yin, standing to the side, was much more direct. While supporting her slightly aching waist, she sneered, "She just can't surpass the Crown Prince in writing, so she has to resort to these tricks."

Consort Wei gazed at the poem written by His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, then looked at Empress Zhangsun, who was gracefully setting down her brush, and pondered for a moment: "Your Majesty's poetry and prose seem to have improved considerably..."

Empress Zhangsun smiled.

At almost the same time, in the homes of various noble families in Chang'an, as if delivering military news, a servant held up a masterpiece by His Majesty the Emperor and shouted.

"Master, His Majesty's new work! His Majesty's new work has been brought back!"

"Quickly, give it to me!" At Kong Yingda's residence, Kong Yingda snatched the item from his son's hands.

"Is it a poem? Partridge Sky... Your Majesty is up to something new again."

"The hoe's shadow sways as he returns home under the stars and moon; the plow must not stop until the granaries are full."

"Spring rains soak the golden ears of grain, and summer sweat melts the white jade steps."

"Cherish every grain of rice, mend your winter clothes, and do not let children play with millet and sorghum."

"If there were no idle land under heaven, it would be the time when Yao and Shun were reborn... His Majesty's ability to compose poetry and prose has indeed improved."

Kong Yingda murmured in disbelief, "This is a poem that encourages farming, in line with the traditional Chinese agricultural ideology."

Kong Yingda was still reading when suddenly, excited shouts from the direction of the mansion gate came again.

"Master, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness has composed a poem!"

Before Kong Zhiyue could react, he saw a dark shadow flash before his eyes. Then, his sixty-year-old father ran outside and snatched the scroll of paper from the servant's hand.

He stepped forward to take a look.

The question that came into view made his pupils shrink slightly.

His Highness the Crown Prince is... giving His Majesty the Emperor a good beating!

"Water Dragon Chant: Refutation of Agricultural Strategies" - by Li Chengqian...