Chapter 7, Attending Primary School

Thinking about going to the palace tomorrow to study with a group of little kids, Li Yin felt a headache coming on. In his previous life, he had at least attended school for over ten years, so he could be considered a cultured person. However, he never expected that in the Tang Dynasty, he would shamefully have to start learning from scratch with a bunch of little kids. This was truly a disgrace to the educational authorities of the later Celestial Empire

"Liulang! Liulang!" As Li Yun dismounted from the carriage, he heard someone calling his name. Among the princes, he was the sixth, so some were accustomed to calling him Liulang. Turning towards the sound, Li Yun saw a person running from the entrance of the Chongwen Academy. This individual was of a similar age to him, dressed in a splendid brocade robe, and possessed handsome features. Unfortunately, he was somewhat short, standing about half a head shorter than Li Yun. However, they were both still young, leaving room for future growth.

"Yin'er, why have you only just arrived? I have been waiting for such a long time!" The arrival of Li Yin and Li Ke startled Yang Fei, who was engrossed in her reading. Upon seeing Li Yin, she immediately jumped down from the couch and affectionately embraced Li Yin, exclaiming with love. The previous air of calm and composure vanished without a trace, transforming her into a mother brimming with affection.

Both lunch and dinner were enjoyed in Wangyun Hall with Consort Yang. In a particularly good mood, Consort Yang personally prepared chicken soup, which Li Yin found to be exceptionally delicious. He drank it all in one go, while Consort Yang watched with delight. In contrast, Li Ke could only eat the tasteless leftover chicken, feeling quite dejected.

Li Yong said resentfully, "Liulang, rest assured, I know the gravity of the situation. However, this grudge has been established, and sooner or later, I will have to vent my anger." It is quite a coincidence that Li Yong and Li Yin were born on the same day, in the same month, and in the same year. They are of the same generation, so there is no distinction of seniority. However, Li Yin believes that since Li Yong is ranked ninth and he himself is ranked sixth, he is older than Li Yong, and thus he has always called him "Ninth Brother." But this strong-willed Li Yong refuses to acknowledge it and has never called Li Yin "Sixth Brother," instead referring to him simply as "Liulang." It is quite a coincidence that Li Yong and Li Yin were born on the same day, in the same month, and in the same year. They are of the same generation, so there is no distinction of seniority. However, Li Yin believes that since Li Yong is ranked ninth and he himself is ranked sixth, he is older than Li Yong, and thus he has always called him "Ninth Brother." But this strong-willed Li Yong refuses to acknowledge it and has never called Li Yin "Sixth Brother," instead referring to him simply as "Liulang."

Later, Yang Fei spoke of some past events regarding Li Yin, and Li Ke, who was nearby, also interjected a few comments. However, Li Yin quickly realized that Yang Fei's words were not credible, as in her narrative, Li Yin was portrayed as a little angel with wings, completely unrelated to the tyrannical and malevolent Liang Wang in the outside world. This is not surprising, as it is likely that in the eyes of all mothers who dote on their sons, their sons' images are that of pure and flawless angels.

Upon entering the main gate and turning past two screens, Li Yin saw a beautiful woman in palace attire reclining on a couch, reading a book. Beside her were several palace maids in attendance. The woman on the couch possessed an exquisite beauty, with a tall and slender figure. Her hair was adorned with a pendant shaped like a swallow's tail, and she wore a long, light green silk dress. An aura of tranquility and ethereal grace surrounded her, as if she were a celestial being descended from the heavens, untouched by the mundane world.

This enchanting beauty, resembling a fairy, must surely be his mother, Yang Fei. Li Yun thought to himself, no wonder his mother was so favored by Li Shimin; with such an unparalleled beauty combined with her noble lineage, Old Li truly has great fortune in love. At this thought, even Li Yun could not help but feel a twinge of jealousy towards his father. He wondered if his underage fiancée was as beautiful as his mother.

"I can't believe it! You really have lost your mind. I thought it was just rumors from outside," said the short and handsome guy as he looked Li Yun up and down, his face filled with disbelief. Then his expression darkened, and with a fierce look, he continued, "That bastard Cheng Huailiang was too ruthless. If we get the chance, we brothers will definitely help you get back at him!"

Li Yong is the youngest son of Li Xiaogong and the legitimate son born of his primary wife. Unfortunately, he has two elder brothers who are also legitimate heirs, so the title of prince will not fall to him. He spends his days leading a group of wicked servants, behaving tyrannically in the city of Chang'an, and is known as one of the debauched youths alongside Li Yin. Being the youngest, he is often spoiled by Li Xiaogong and his wife, so whenever there is an issue, his father and elder brothers help him resolve it, which has fostered Li Yong's unruly and reckless personality. Perhaps it is a case of like attracting like; Li Yong shares a very close relationship with Li Yin, characterized by a brotherhood where they fight together and face troubles together. Therefore, when Li Yong saw Li Yin truly beaten to the point of amnesia, he was filled with rage and resentment.

"Oh dear, I completely forgot that Yin'er has just recovered from her injury. Quickly tell the Empress Mother, how are you feeling now?" Upon hearing this, Consort Yang hurriedly released Li Yin, pulling her head closer while searching for the wound and asking.

In addition to the three main halls of the Taiji Palace located along the central axis—namely, the Taiji Hall, the Liangyi Hall, and the Ganlu Hall—there are numerous other halls on both sides. Among them, the most significant is the Lizheng Hall, where Empress Changsun resides, while the Wangyun Hall, where Li Yin's biological mother, Concubine Yang, lives, is situated right next to the Lizheng Hall. In private, Li Ke informed Li Yin that Empress Changsun and Concubine Yang have an excellent relationship. On ordinary days, Concubine Yang receives considerable care from Empress Changsun while in the palace, and coupled with their father's favoritism, Concubine Yang's status in the palace is second only to that of Empress Changsun.

The Yang Concubine scolded a few times but could not continue, as she had spent almost her entire life in the palace and was not accustomed to cursing; her words were limited and repetitive. Li Yin comforted the Yang Concubine a few more times and finally managed to stop her tears. Meanwhile, Li Ke watched from the side, feeling a surge of jealousy in his heart, thinking that his mother was truly biased, as she had not shown such concern when he was injured while riding last time.

The following scene depicts Concubine Yang engaging in conversation with Li Yin, with the discussion inevitably revolving around the health of Empress Changsun. To this end, Concubine Yang greatly praised Li Yin, stating that she had greatly benefited from the care of Empress Changsun in the palace, and that the two shared a sisterly bond. Observing her sister being tormented by illness to the point of unrecognizability, she had secretly wept countless times. Now, however, with the recommendation of Li Yin, the skilled physician Sun Simiao, there has been a slight improvement in Empress Changsun's condition, bringing peace to Concubine Yang's heart. At the same time, she felt immense satisfaction that her youngest son had finally grown up and become more sensible. Listening to this, Li Yin was drenched in sweat, wondering how Concubine Yang would react if she were to discover that the son before her was no longer her original child.

"It’s nothing, I am doing quite well now, I just can’t remember the things from before." Li Yin tried several times to break free from the Empress Yang's grasp, but he was unsuccessful each time, and could only allow this motherly figure to ruffle his hair.

Uh? I didn't expect this little guy to be so bold. Li Yin had inquired about him before, as he was somewhat curious about Cheng Huailiang, who had injured him. It is said that Cheng Huailiang bears a striking resemblance to his father, Cheng Yaojin, both being over 1.9 meters tall and robust, resembling a bear. Given the small stature of the person before him, it is estimated that even if Cheng Huailiang were to use only his weight, he could easily crush him. Moreover, the expression of gritting his teeth when he mentioned seeking revenge seemed to come from the heart, which makes one admire his courage.

Upon entering the Hall of Cloud Watching, Li Yin glanced around and discovered that the palace was arranged in a very simple and elegant manner. The decorations were quite ordinary and unadorned, yet their combination was remarkably clever, creating a particularly pleasing aesthetic. From the surrounding arrangements, it was evident that the owner of this palace possessed a high level of quality and refinement. The rear hall of the Hall of Cloud Watching served as Yang Fei's bedroom, and Li Ke and Li Yin, her two sons, entered without any formalities, not even requiring an announcement.

"Ninth Brother, I was at fault in this matter, and I have already been punished by Father Emperor. Please do not cause trouble for the Cheng family!" Li Yong is the ninth in his family, with two legitimate elder brothers and six half-brothers, collectively known as the Nine Tigers of Hejian. Cheng Huailiang has three brothers: the eldest, Cheng Huaimo, and the youngest, Cheng Huaibi, collectively referred to as the Three Bears of the Cheng family. The title 'Bears' is quite fitting, as the three brothers are almost identical, each standing over 1.9 meters tall, the kind of strong men who could easily be taken by a mother bear in the forest to serve as her consort. With their family's martial arts skills, taking on three opponents is absolutely no problem. If Li Yong, the foolish one, were to lead his brothers to attack the Cheng family, it would certainly be a case of seeking a beating.

Li Ke and Li Yin's royal residences are in the same direction, so the two parted ways only when they reached Li Ke's Shu royal residence. After returning to his own Liang royal residence, Li Yin整理了一下自己今天的所见所闻: he encountered the historical figure of Emperor Taizong of Tang, as well as the stunning beauty of Consort Yang. Although Li Shimin's attitude towards him was not particularly warm, overall it was still quite good; at least he knew to arrange for his son to return to school.

Li Xiaogong is indeed an extraordinary figure; he single-handedly pacified nearly all of the southern regions of the Tang Dynasty. If we say that Li Shimin helped his father, Li Yuan, to establish half of the Tang's territory, then most of the remaining half was conquered by Li Xiaogong, making him a celebrated military hero. However, since the world has been pacified, this Prince of Hejian has become quite low-key, spending his days at home enjoying music and admiring beautiful women for his own amusement, never expressing any opinions on matters of the court.

The elementary school is located within the East Palace, to the east of the Taiji Palace. The East Palace serves as the residence of Crown Prince Li Chengqian. However, there is another significant place within the East Palace, which is the Chongwen Academy. The Chongwen Academy was the aristocratic school of the Tang Dynasty, where many descendants of royalty, dukes, and ministers studied, and princes were no exception. The elementary school is situated right next to the Chongwen Academy, separated only by a courtyard wall.

Originally, Li Yong had intended to visit Li Yin, but unfortunately, Li Yin was under house arrest, and Emperor Taizong did not permit anyone to visit him, which is why the visit did not take place. The two conversed for a while and only parted ways just before class began. Regarding Li Yin's decision to return to elementary school to resume his studies, Li Yong, this carefree brother, laughed uncontrollably. Had it not been for the attendants supporting him, he would have likely fallen over from laughter. This infuriated Li Yin, who then kicked him a few times to vent his frustration. They conversed again and only parted ways just before class began. Regarding Li Yin's decision to return to elementary school to resume his studies, Li Yong, this carefree brother, laughed uncontrollably. Had it not been for the attendants supporting him, he would have likely fallen over from laughter. This infuriated Li Yin, who then kicked him a few times to vent his frustration.

Li Yin lost his memory, and this short and handsome man could only reintroduce himself. After a long explanation, Li Yin finally understood his identity. It turned out that this person was named Li Yong, the son of Li Xiaogong, the Prince of Hejian. Li Xiaogong was a cousin of Li Shimin, and their great-grandfathers were brothers, making them relatively close in blood relation. In the early years of the Zhenguan era, Li Shimin reduced the titles of the royal family princes to that of county dukes, with only a few royal family members retaining their princely titles due to their merits, and Li Xiaogong was one of them.

"Liulang, we have been waiting for you for quite a while, why did you take so long to arrive?" This short and handsome guy ran over and punched Li Yun in the chest, then immediately began to complain.

"My poor child, oh—it's all that scoundrel with the surname Cheng, the one who deserves a thousand cuts..." Although Consort Yang had long known about Li Yin's amnesia, hearing her son say it out loud made her heart ache, and she couldn't help but cry while cursing the entire Cheng family. At this moment, Consort Yang was far from her celestial demeanor; she seemed more akin to a street-shouting shrew. Yet, Li Yin was deeply moved; from this beautiful Consort Yang, he once again felt that long-lost maternal love. At this moment, Consort Yang was far from her celestial demeanor; she seemed more akin to a street-shouting shrew. Yet, Li Yin was deeply moved; from this beautiful Consort Yang, he once again felt that long-lost maternal love.

It was not until the palace gates were about to close that Consort Yang allowed the two brothers to leave the palace. Before they departed, she gifted them a considerable number of items, especially new clothes for both of them, all personally sewn by Consort Yang. The stitching was fine and the craftsmanship exquisite, making the garments particularly well-fitting. This made Li Yun once again marvel at the good fortune of Comrade Li, thinking that one should marry a wife like Consort Yang, who not only possesses beauty but is also skilled in both cooking and needlework, embodying the ideal of being able to manage both the hall and the kitchen.

When leaving, Li Yong said that there would be a banquet at the largest Junzi Tower in the city at noon to celebrate Li Yin's regained freedom. He would come to find Li Yin after school in the morning to go together, and he had also invited some old friends to reintroduce them to Li Yin. Li Yin had been cooped up in the residence for half a month and was feeling quite restless. Moreover, he was eager to experience the circle of the top young aristocrats, as he was inherently a part of that world. In the future, he would inevitably have dealings with these people, so it would be beneficial to familiarize himself with them sooner rather than later. Thus, he readily agreed.

"Uh, I overslept today." Li Yin took a step back after being hit and casually replied. This feeling was very familiar; in his past life, greetings among brothers were just like this. However, Li Yin scratched his head and awkwardly asked, "I don't know how to address you, little brother? You also know that I injured my head, and now no one recognizes me." As he spoke, Li Yin pointed to his head, looking quite helpless. This person should be an old acquaintance of Li Yin's; judging by his casual manner of speaking and behaving, he must still be a close friend of Li Yin.

"Cough, cough—Mother, please let go of me, I can hardly breathe!" I never expected that my pampered mother could possess such strength, holding me so tightly that I was struggling for breath. Moreover, Li Yin's psychological age is over twenty, and suddenly being embraced by a young woman I had just met made me blush furiously. I hurriedly sought an excuse to have Yang Fei release me.

Dazed and confused, he was attended to while getting dressed and washed up, had a breakfast of something unknown, and was then shoved into a carriage heading to the palace. Along the way, Li Yin almost always rested his head on Wen Er's lap to sleep. He was becoming increasingly accustomed to this decadent lifestyle, where someone was always at his service, and he could occasionally tease the two light beauties beside him. He would also occasionally offer suggestions to the kitchen for a few dishes, living a life filled with eating, drinking, playing, and enjoying himself. Li Yin never considered himself a person with any lofty ideals; indulging in food, drink, and entertainment was what he loved most. In his previous life, he was just a commoner with no means. Now, as a prince, he had no desire to vie for the exhausting throne, and the remaining time in his life was just right for doing the things he enjoyed.

Li Yin tossed and turned all night, finally dozing off in a daze. As dawn broke, Wen'er and Hua'er woke him up and assisted him in getting out of bed. Upon learning that their prince was going back to elementary school, both girls wore expressions that suggested they wanted to laugh but dared not do so, which left Li Yin feeling extremely frustrated. If even his maids had such expressions, one could only imagine how others viewed him. His already limited dignity as the Prince of Liang would likely be completely diminished after this incident.