Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Li Yuanying’s bold act of gathering the study group made the Emperor notice him. Li Er approached the boy and asked what he was up to.

Hearing brother’s questioning tone, Yuanying felt wronged: “Am I not allowed to study with my friends?”

His Majesty looked at him suspiciously, not convinced that he was just studying.

Yuanying then told his brother about his scheme planned for College admission day. He firmly claim that sister Shu’s brother is a promising talent, so he has decided to help him by making him a target. How can we get better if we do not face setbacks? He wants to bring all his friends along for the exam. Whoever that does poorly will be embarrassed. He will definitely be motivated to work hard!

Li Er replied casually: “More like you taking revenge on him for wanting to take away his sister and not allowing you to play with her.”

“Am I such a stingy person?”

Li Er squinted his eye at him. It meant “you are indeed a stingy person”.

“Lord Brother, do you think my strategy is not good?”

“It’s a good idea.”

Thinking back to two years ago where this younger brother of his was scolded by everyone for being unlearned and incompetent. Now he has the confidence and foundation to compete with Wei Ying who is two years older.

Li Er nodded : “Okay, go back to studying. Don’t end up last in the exam.”

Seems like he got the Emperor’s permission on this matter.

What Li Yuanying does best is holding chicken feathers as arrows. Once he has gotten the Emperor’s approval, he went straight to Kong Yingda to share that he will be bringing along some friend for the admission test.

Kong Yingda was annoyed with this nonsense. The Imperial Academy is the most prestigious school in all of Tang Empire. How can he allow this kid to make a fool out of it.

He frowned. “What nonsense?!”

“Lord Brother agreed to it. What’s wrong? You just need to prepare a few more sets of exam paper. Yuanying hummed unhappily. “I’m not planning to study at your college; not even if I were invited. I will open my own large academy in the future!”

Kong Yingda was angered by the statement. “You keep clamoring about opening an academy at such a young age. Don’t mislead the others.”

Li Yuanying was not a coward and retorted immediately. “The academy I run will not be like yours. Won’t even allow others to take an exam.”

“Okay! If you want to take the exam, come and take the exam. Don’t end up failing to answer even the title question when the time comes.”

Yuanying took this opportunity and passed him the list of children planning to take the exam.

Kong Yingda took the list and told the boy to scoot. In case he really gets beaten up.

Li Yuanying achieved his goal and ran away happy.

Kong Yingda was provoked and immediately asked that the book list be sent to his disciples so that that they could identify difficult topics from it. The more difficult the better. Let’s show these kids who don’t know the heights of heaven and earth. Let’s see if they can still be so proud when they see the questions!

After giving orders, he was still a little unhappy. He went looking for the Emperor hoping that he would discipline his children. Don’t treat all places under the sun as a place to fool around.

“Since the Academy has its own rules, we follow those strictly.” (Li Er)

Kong Yingda was startled and hesitantly asked: “Your Majesty means that if they pass the exam, we invite them to study in the Imperial Academy?”

The boy was disappointed: “Then it’s true that we won’t be able to visit Mount Tai next year?”

“The Imperial Astronomer’s order has been put in writings and then all the other courtiers will dissuade his Majesty too.” (Li Chunfeng)

Li Chunfeng explained the reasons. For more than 20 years since the founding of Tang, the citizens have been lightly taxed for them to recuperate. With that, the treasury has not been filled and is far lacking from the richness of the previous Sui Dynasty. Now most wealth is at the hands of the aristocratic families and the imperial court struggles to implement much. Under such circumstances, Wei Zheng and the other ministers will not be willing to work hard to engage in rituals like Feng and Shan.

In short, no money so no one support the Emperor in his plan to visit Mount Tai.

Li Yuanying was stunned. “Seems like Lord brother is really poor.”

“It’s not that father is poor. It is about the Court having to do too many things.” (Li Zhi)

Li Yuanying doesn’t care about the court’s workload, Li Yuanying only cares about whether he can visit Mount Tai.

“Wait till my tea start selling, I will then lend money to brother. Then brother can bring me to Mount Tai to play!”

Li Zhi reminded him: “Your fief is actually not far from Mount Tai, you can play there as many times as you like.”

Yuanying recalled that Mount Tai was to the East, and his fief Tengzhou was also in the East. They are indeed not far away for each other!

Li Yuanying said without psychological pressure: “Then I won’t lend him money.” Brother is so sly and cunning, what happens if he refuses to return my money?

Li Zhi was speechless.

That evening, Sizi sold Li Yuanying and Li Zhi without them knowing. She told her father the Emperor all about the astronomical knowledge she had learned from Li Chunfeng and then about the conversation between Li Yuanying and Li Zhi.

“Young Uncle originally said that he would lend you money for a trip to Mount Tai. But then brother reminded uncle that Tengzhou is very close to Mount Tai. Then uncle said no to borrowing money!”

Ever since he learned about the broom star, Li Er has been in a bad mood. Anyone who brings up this matter is met with his stinky attitude. But it is different for Sizi as she is his favorite daughter. He wasn’t angry but just snuck a look at Li Yuanying who was feasting on the side.

He then raised his eyebrows and said: “It’s not not a gentleman thing for one to go back on his words.”

Li Yuanying put down his chopsticks and retorted: “I only have little money now, it is like a drop in the ocean for you. So no point lending you money for now!”

He assured Li Er very responsibly. “Brother, don’t worry, when I go to my fief, I will build you a road from Chang’an to Mount Tai and give you a comfortable residence along the way. I’ll make sure you visit Mount Tai without spending a single penny from the treasury. Don’t talk about going just once, you can go every year if that’s what you want!”

“Okay, I will remember this. If you fail to do it then I will punish you for deceiving the Emperor and throw you to Yazhou.”

Yuanying turned around to asked Li Zhi, “Where is Yazhou?”

Li Zhi thought for a while and replied: “On the southernmost island, facing Lingnan Road to the North across the sea and Jiaozhou to the west across the sea. Sea everywhere, far away from Chang’an.”

Yuanying nodded and said enthusiastically: “Sounds fun. Just throw me away! Don’t worry, I’ll build boats and follow the coast to travel back here. I’ll come back to see you every 8 or 10 years.”

Li Er scolded: “Didn’t you plan to accompany someone to take the Imperial Academy exam? Go home and study after eating.”

Li Yuanying took the children and murmured to Li Zhi when they left: “It’s not like I initiated it. He himself wanted to throw me there and then he got angry. He really is moody. No wonder people says that to accompany the King is like accompanying a tiger’!”

Li Zhi: “...”

References

↑1an official rite offered by the Son of Heaven to pay homage to heaven and earth.Fôllôw new stories at novelhall.com