Chapter 6, The First Meeting with Comrade Old Li
Upon seeing Li Shimin laugh heartily, the others could no longer hold back and burst into laughter as well. Princess Qinghe, embarrassed by the laughter, began to playfully tussle with a few of her sisters who were laughing the hardest. However, Li Yin felt quite uncomfortable, thinking that the rules of the palace were truly unbearable; even between a father and son, one had to be mindful of others' expressions when it came to crying or laughing.
"Well, you did very well this time. Thanks to the Sun Simiao you recommended, your mother's condition has been brought under control." Li Shimin glanced at Li Yin, his approving gaze tinged with a hint of complexity. "I heard from Ke'er that your previous injury triggered amnesia, and now you remember nothing. Is that true?"
Father, this matter was initially caused by the sixth brother's mistake. Cheng Huai-liang was a bit too harsh, but he does have a point. Moreover, considering the Xiao family, it is truly inappropriate to impose a severe punishment!
At this moment, the siblings of Li Yin in the palace also paused to look at him. Among these gazes were concern, disdain, gratitude, and resentment, among others. From these looks alone, Li Yin could understand how he would interact with each person in the future
Although feeling discontented, one must still enter the palace. Gao Chong had already prepared the carriage, and Wen Er and Hua Er were waiting in the carriage. It must be said that his princely demeanor is quite extraordinary; even when going out in a carriage, he requires two attendants, and a row of bodyguards, or rather, protectors, stands by the side of the carriage.
As soon as the siblings around heard that Li Yin was going to study in elementary school, they burst into laughter. After all, Li Yin was already 14 years old, and the thought of mingling with a bunch of little kids every day for studies was amusing.
Li Shimin was also somewhat hesitant; after all, Li Yin was his son, and it would be disingenuous not to feel heartbroken seeing him in such a state. However, Li Yin was at fault from the beginning, and Cheng Yaojin was no ordinary military hero. Not only was he fiercely loyal, but he was also one of the key supporters who helped Li Shimin ascend to the throne, being one of his most trusted generals. Regardless of the circumstances, it was difficult for him to bring himself to impose harsh punishment.
At such a young age, showing such filial piety, it provoked Comrade Lao Li's paternal love to erupt. He held onto the little one tightly, disregarding his sons and daughters, and directly took the little one to meet Empress Changsun, likely wanting Empress Changsun to experience the filial piety of a biological daughter.
Receiving a reward means one must promptly enter the palace to express gratitude. Li Yin felt a deep resentment in his heart. It is only natural for a father to bestow gifts upon his son, yet as the son, he must hurriedly go to the palace to thank him. In his previous life, his father had given him countless gifts, and he had never uttered a word of thanks.
In fact, Li Yin has his own plans in saying these things. He is no longer the same Li Yin as before, and his approach to dealing with people has certainly changed significantly. Although he can use amnesia as a cover, such a drastic change is bound to raise suspicions among others. For instance, Li Yin is confident that his character is much better than that of the previous Li Yin, and he would never engage in bullying or domineering behavior. Therefore, let me make it clear today: I intend to sincerely reform and start anew. Do not be too surprised by the differences from before!
It is good to recognize one's mistakes and correct them, for there is no greater virtue than this. Forget the past if you must; it does not matter if you cannot write. You are still young. Starting tomorrow, you will go to elementary school with your younger siblings and begin anew in your studies. Li Shimin carefully observed Li Yin's expression and, after a long while, concluded that he did not seem to be lying. This brought him a measure of joy, and he offered some words of encouragement while also making arrangements for Li Yin's future. The so-called elementary school is quite similar to what is known in later generations. It was first established by Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan, and it primarily consisted of the children of royal family members and meritorious officials. Generally speaking, princes and princesses would begin their education at elementary school at the age of six, and upon reaching ten, they would graduate and proceed to intermediate and advanced education. Thus, the students in elementary school are typically children under the age of ten.
As one of the greatest emperors in history, the imperial aura surrounding Li Yun is undeniable. He no longer had the courage to say anything and could only obediently nod in agreement, provoking another round of suppressed laughter behind him
Li Shimin was taken aback after hearing this, and couldn't help but scrutinize his son from head to toe. Since earlier, he had felt that something was off about his son, and now he finally understood. Li Yin no longer exhibited the previous restlessness and impulsiveness; his words and actions had become refined and courteous, as if he had transformed into a different person. If the soul-loss syndrome could truly enable a person to undergo such a metamorphosis, he would rather his son's condition never be cured.
After receiving praise, the young child was very excited and presented her written characters to Li Yin as a token of gratitude. Thanks to Li Yin's recommendation, her mother's illness had begun to improve. At the same time, she naively hoped that this sixth brother would seek out a few more renowned doctors, so that her mother and the library would recover even faster
It is estimated that Comrade Lao Li, seeing his son help him with such a significant matter, feels that he may have been a bit excessive in his previous actions. After all, this is his own biological son. How can he expect him to conduct himself properly if he marries a daughter of a concubine? However, it is now too late to break off the engagement, as in this era, such actions are met with moral condemnation from public opinion. The royal family, as a model for the world, cannot take the lead in this regard. Yet, there is still a solution. Li Shimin issued an edict allowing Xiao Yu to adopt Xiao Wenxin as the legitimate daughter of his eldest son. In this way, Xiao Wenxin becomes the legitimate daughter of the main branch. Although everyone understands the reality of the situation, it is now too late to break off the engagement. Nevertheless, this arrangement sounds much better in name, and Li Yin marrying her would not be too embarrassing.
"Oh? He injured you, and you still want to thank him. Why is that?" Li Shimin, with a smile on his face, turned to Li Yin upon hearing his words, his sharp gaze fixed on Li Yin as if assessing whether his statement was sincere or feigned. The others also looked at Li Yin with curiosity, while Qinghe, the little girl, stared at her sixth brother with her bright, sparkling eyes, as if she were seeing him for the first time.
After Li Shimin's departure, the princes and princesses also dispersed. Li Ke and Li Yin accompanied each other to visit Consort Yang. Li Yin was very curious about this mother he had never met. Whether in official history or unofficial accounts, there are very few records about this former princess of the previous dynasty. During these days in the Tang Dynasty, Li Yin had continuously received care from this mother consort. Today, he would finally be able to meet the enigmatic Consort Yang from history.
"Third Brother is right; it is clearly Sixth Brother who is at fault first. How can one impose punishment without distinguishing right from wrong?" As soon as Li Ke finished speaking, a twelve or thirteen-year-old little princess immediately jumped out in agreement, her small face inexplicably flushed red, and her little mouth pouted high.
Li Yin has already attained the esteemed title of King of Liang, and no matter how much further he is rewarded in terms of nobility, it remains largely the same. The rewards are merely additional lands, money, and similar items, and the quantities are not substantial. What is particularly noteworthy is the reward granted to Li Yin's fiancée, Xiao Wenxin.
Father! I am already fourteen years old..." Li Yin wanted to argue a bit more, hoping to dispel this irresponsible thought of Old Li. However, Li Shimin interrupted Li Yin's words with a wave of his hand: "My decision is made; we will set off immediately tomorrow!"
Next, Li Yin accompanied Li Shimin as they watched the various brothers and sisters writing. Among those present, apart from the two one-year-old little princesses, Li Yin was the only illiterate. It is worth mentioning that these princes and princesses received a very strict education, and each of them wrote quite well. Not to mention the older ones, even the three-year-old Jinyang Princess could write, and her strokes were quite impressive, earning her a hearty praise from Old Li.
Li Chengqian's words immediately resonated with the other princes, as they were all standing on the same front; the dignity of the princes was not to be infringed upon. In particular, Prince Yan, Li You, was the most vocal, even shouting for the execution of Cheng Huailiang. This immediately raised Li Yin's vigilance. Just moments ago, Li You's gaze towards him was filled with hatred, and even upon hearing that he had lost his memory, there was not the slightest change in his demeanor. Logically speaking, even to uphold the royal dignity, there was no need to execute the other party; there must be some conspiracy at play!
Before his arrival, he specifically had Gao Chong conduct some etiquette training for him, and now he performs quite impressively. At the same time, he was also secretly observing the historically renowned Emperor Taizong, and indeed found that he resembled the descriptions recorded in historical texts, being a handsome and decisive figure with a commanding presence. The princes and princesses, sitting and writing, have such genetically blessed father, and each one of them is striking in appearance, whether handsome and valiant or beautiful and charming; in any case, there is not a single unattractive person among them.
Li Shimin, upon hearing this, looked at Li Yin with a face full of suspicion once again. It was not that he did not trust his son; rather, it was mainly because Li Yin had previously been too unruly, daring to do anything. Given his past temperament, it was quite possible that he was feigning illness, intending to take revenge on the Cheng family. After all, Li Yin was a prince, and inflicting minor injuries on the Cheng family, despite their merits, would not be a significant issue. However, if someone were to suffer a serious head injury, it would not be so easily resolved, and at the very least, there would need to be severe punishment, as this concerned the dignity of the royal family.
"Your Majesty, I must confess that I have indeed lost my memory, and even now I cannot recognize any characters," Li Yin said. As soon as he spoke these words, he immediately sensed a shift in the gazes around him; most regarded him with sympathy, even pity. It was already unfortunate enough to be forced by the Emperor to marry a concubine's daughter, and now he had lost his memory, unable to write even a single character. This fellow's future life would undoubtedly be a great tragedy.
In the Ganlu Hall of the Taiji Palace, when Li Yin entered, Comrade Old Li was evaluating the calligraphy of his children. The Ganlu Hall is the third main hall of the Taiji Palace, serving a function similar to that of a study. Generally, only Old Li's consorts and children are allowed to enter.
"Father, this time my sixth brother was injured, and as his elder brother, I also bear responsibility." At that moment, Crown Prince Li Chengqian jumped out, his face filled with anger, and said, "However, as a subject, Cheng Huailiang actually dared to assault a prince, which truly shows a lack of respect for our royal family. I suggest that Cheng Huailiang must be severely punished!"
Sipping tea with added salt while enjoying snacks, Li Yin was contemplating that this year's spring tea would soon arrive, and he must get some roasted tea to drink. The carriage exited Anxingfang, passed through Yongxingfang, and then entered the imperial city through the Yangxi Gate. The imperial city is divided into two parts: the front part includes government offices such as the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Works, demarcated by the Chengtian Gate. Upon entering the Chengtian Gate, one arrives at the Taiji Palace, which is the residence of Li Shimin and his consorts. To the east of the Taiji Palace is the Eastern Palace, which is the residence of the Crown Prince; the title of the Crown Prince originates from here. The imperial city is divided into two parts: the front part includes government offices such as the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Works, demarcated by the Chengtian Gate. Upon entering the Chengtian Gate, one arrives at the Taiji Palace, which is the residence of Li Shimin and his consorts. To the east of the Taiji Palace is the Eastern Palace, which is the residence of the Crown Prince; the title of the Crown Prince originates from here. To the west is the Yeting Palace, primarily a residence for palace maids and a place where the families of corrupt officials are assigned to labor.
As soon as this little princess, who is unknown to be one of Li Yin's sisters, spoke, all eyes in the hall immediately turned to her, and everyone looked at her with a playful smile. A few younger ones, who were less restrained, couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Li Yin hurriedly walked up to Li Shimin, deeply bowing and saying: "Your humble son pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
The carriage of the Liang Wangfu is luxurious to the point of extravagance, and three people can board without feeling cramped at all. The tea and snacks on the carriage are fully provided, far superior to the services of the so-called Ministry of Railways in later times
Emperor Taizong Li Shimin, upon hearing his daughter's words, laughed heartily and said: "No wonder people say that women are outwardly strong; she already knows how to care for her future husband even before she is married, hahaha..." With that, he burst into another fit of laughter
The surrounding princes and princesses looked at Li Yin with astonishment, and most of them shared the same thought: it seems that Li Yin's mind has truly been affected, otherwise how could he say such things? Even Li Ke had the same thought; although he had visited Li Yin last time, he had been preoccupied with Li Yin's situation in Yizhou, and thus had not paid much attention to Li Yin's personal changes.
This made Li Shimin overjoyed, as he conferred both an official title and a noble rank upon Sun Simiao. Although Sun Simiao earnestly declined, expressing his disinterest in holding an official position, he could not withstand the imperial authority of Li Shimin. In the end, he accepted the position of Chief Physician, overseeing the entire operations of the Imperial Medical Institute. As the primary recommender, Li Yin naturally received commendation from His Majesty Taizong, not only lifting his house arrest but also granting him rewards.
Li Yin immediately understood that this must be the Princess Qinghe who was engaged to Cheng Huailiang. Upon hearing that her future husband was to be punished, she couldn't help but jump out, showing no modesty typical of a young lady. Observing her bold and daring nature, it is certain that Cheng Huailiang's later life will be quite miserable.
Influenced by Li Yin, Sun Simiao was destined to gain fame in the Tang Dynasty during the tenth year of the Zhenguan era. On the day he entered the palace with Li Ke, he happened to encounter Empress Changsun fainting. The court physicians were busy for a long time but could not revive her. Li Shimin ran from the Taiji Hall to the Empress's chamber in one breath, angrily scolding the physicians for their incompetence. Sun Simiao, renowned as the King of Medicine, proved his reputation was well-deserved. With his extraordinary acupuncture skills, he revived Empress Changsun in an instant. After a detailed diagnosis of her condition, he assured Li Shimin that with a year of careful nurturing, the Empress's health would improve. Sun Simiao, renowned as the King of Medicine, proved his reputation was well-deserved. With his extraordinary acupuncture skills, he revived Empress Changsun in an instant. After a detailed diagnosis of her condition, he assured Li Shimin that with a year of careful nurturing, the Empress's health would improve
Princess Jinyang, whose courtesy name was Mingda and childhood name was Sizi, was the daughter of Empress Changsun. She was exceptionally clever and adorable, winning the deep affection of both Li Shimin and Empress Changsun. Due to her frail health from a young age, she was given the nickname Sizi, meaning "little female rhinoceros," with the hope that she would grow strong like a rhinoceros. Unfortunately, historical records indicate that Princess Jinyang passed away at the age of twelve. As a result, Li Shimin was unable to eat for an entire month, becoming extremely weak and nearly succumbing to illness, which illustrates the significant place this little princess held in Li Shimin's heart.
In the grand hall, Li Yin's siblings were arranged in two rows, consisting of nine princes and over a dozen princesses. Excluding those who had passed away or were married, nearly all were present, including the one-year-old Princess Changshan and Princess Xincheng, who were playing nearby under the care of their wet nurses. Li Shimin walked around, observing his children's calligraphy, occasionally offering comments, which made him appear very affectionate
After everyone had laughed for a while, Li Yin finally spoke, saying: "Father, in fact, I would like to thank Cheng Huailiang, my prospective brother-in-law, for this occasion." When he mentioned the term "prospective brother-in-law," Li Yin deliberately glanced at Qinghe, which resulted in the young girl rolling her eyes.
"Father, after waking up this time, although I cannot recall my past, I have learned some of my previous misdeeds from others. I feel deeply ashamed and have resolved to turn over a new leaf. I am determined to correct my former bad habits. Even if I cannot become a wise king, I must not bring shame to our royal family!" Li Yin spoke with righteous fervor, drawing upon the skills he had honed while writing self-reflections in elementary school, as saying a few good words would not cost him anything.