In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Li Shimin was unexpectedly absent. According to a young eunuch, he had gone to visit Empress Zhangsun, and it was Li Chengqian who was reviewing the memorials.
Elder brother was sitting upright in the first seat below. Dressed in the usual bright - yellow robe of a crown prince, he looked radiant and was muttering something.
Li Jingyun tiptoed over. The young eunuch, being very observant, served up another pig's trotter. A rich aroma of meat filled the great hall.
Li Jingyun was enjoying her meal, but at the same time, she had to be careful not to get oil on her clothes or face, so she was forced to act like a proper young lady.
When she looked up to catch her breath halfway through the meal, she saw her newly - married sister - in - law coming to deliver soup to elder brother. "Sister - in - law! Is there any for me?"
"Of course there is. How could there not be? Today it's duck and flower noodle soup. The duck meat is tender and delicious. Hurry up and have a taste." Su Rui brought a bowl to Li Jingyun as well, and then watched tenderly as Li Chengqian and his sister ate and drank.
"Your cooking skills are getting better and better. It's so late. You could have just sent a palace maid here instead of coming in person." Li Chengqian gulped down most of the bowl in one go. He felt a warm current spreading through his body, and all his tiredness vanished.
"It's better for me to come myself. I'll feel more at ease." Su Rui lowered her head and smiled.
This newly - married couple was really deeply in love.
Li Jingyun buried her head in the soup. These words went in one ear and out the other. At her age, she didn't understand the meaning behind them.
After finishing the meal, she let out a long breath, patted her round little belly, and gave a thumbs - up in praise. "Sister - in - law is so nice. This soup is so fragrant and thick."
"If you like it, come to the Eastern Palace whenever you want to eat it. I'll cook it for you. How about that?"
"Okay, okay, okay!" Li Jingyun nodded like a little chick pecking at rice, her eyes full of admiration for Su Rui.
At the same time, she was thinking, how could such a reliable sister - in - law have a younger brother like Su Gui? The last time she went to the villa, when passing by the Shuren Academy, Su Gui was sitting at the academy gate and then just followed her all the way to the villa.
Later, she found out that this guy had overslept and missed Mr. Wang Ji's class. He was locked out of the academy and simply decided to follow her to the villa.
He would rather take care of Damei and her babies than go to class.
However, this warm scene didn't last long. Li Chengqian rubbed his temples and impatiently pulled out a memorial and placed it on the table.
Yes, even though he was annoyed, his movements were still gentle so as not to scare his wife and sister.
"What's wrong?" Su Rui asked.
"Some matters in the court. Someone, summon Ren Cang, the left censor of the Palace Secretariat, into the palace. I'd like to see what he's up to!"
Li Chengqian was clearly angry. Several young eunuchs quickly went to deliver the message. It must be a big deal at this late hour, or else the Crown Prince wouldn't be so furious.
Su Rui comforted them a bit and then withdrew. She wasn't interested in political affairs and didn't want to get involved. Before leaving, she looked at Li Jingyun. "Hongxuan, it's already the second watch. How about I take you to bed?"
"Sister - in - law, I can't fall asleep right after a meal. Why don't you go back first?" Li Jingyun shook her head, propping her chin on one hand and looking at Li Chengqian.
"Okay, then you two remember to go to bed early." After saying that, Su Rui bid farewell and returned to the Eastern Palace.
After Su Rui left, Li Jingyun felt bored. She went to take a look at the memorial Li Chengqian had. She didn't know many characters yet and could only barely understand some of it.
Li Chengqian picked up his younger sister. "You should still remember Ren Cang, right? He also showed up when we were deciding the location for the library. At first, he said that the value of the books couldn't be judged solely by the quantity. Later, when his family's funds were insufficient, he didn't even submit a bid and left early."
"So it's him." With elder brother's reminder, Li Jingyun finally recalled.
No wonder she felt the name was familiar but just couldn't remember where she had heard it.
"What did he do wrong?" Li Jingyun tilted her head and asked curiously. "Why are you so angry, elder brother?"
"He is a left censor. His duty is to admonish the emperor and recommend talents. But who would have thought that he accepted thousands of taels of silver from a rich merchant and promised to introduce the merchant to Father. And when a poor peasant told him about the heavy corvée and that his family couldn't bear it and couldn't afford the three thousand coins he asked for, he even ordered his subordinates to beat up the poor peasant's family."
Li Chengqian told his younger sister the main content of the memorial, which was submitted by the surveillance censor and also accompanied by evidence.
"He's gone too far. How could he do this?!" Li Jingyun suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the hall several times.
She thought that since she had been in charge of the construction of the library, she had met a lot of people, but she never expected there to be such a person.
The Cui family wasn't a good one either, but at least they would try to cover up their misdeeds. He just blatantly did evil.
Did he really think no one could punish him?
"Fortunately, Father hasn't seen this. Otherwise, he would be angry again. What are you going to do, elder brother?" Li Jingyun's voice became much softer, and she seemed to calm down gradually.
"Punishing a left censor is nothing. But we need to think carefully about the issue of the heavy corvée. Now libraries are being built everywhere, and a lot of labor has been conscripted. I'm afraid those officials won't honestly pay the craftsmen their wages."
Li Chengqian thought about it and felt a headache. Looking at his younger sister's half - understanding yet pretending - to - understand expression, he couldn't help laughing. He ruffled his sister's short hair and said, "Don't worry about these things. Father and I will handle them."
Those people were all smart ones. For the library being built in Chang'an City, right under Father's nose, they would of course do their best and the money would reach the craftsmen's pockets. But in other places, they thought Father couldn't reach them and would play all kinds of tricks.
Li Jingyun didn't respond. She just yawned and continued to stroll in the hall.
The dim light flickered, and the cool wind blew gently. It was really time to go to bed.
Ren Cang rushed over in a hurry. When he knelt in the great hall, his body was trembling. He didn't dare to look up at Li Chengqian at all. "Your humble subject, Ren Cang, pays respects to the Crown Prince and the Princess."
"You've been a censor for some time. How much money have you accepted during this period? And how many people have you beaten up relying on your power?" Li Chengqian didn't even tell him to rise and just asked directly.
Ren Cang was so frightened that his back was instantly soaked with sweat. His trembling became more and more severe, and he pressed his head tightly against the ground. "Your humble subject knows his mistake. Please punish me, Crown Prince."
"You're still a bit learned. Be exiled three thousand li and go to the northern border of the Gobi Desert to educate the locals." Li Chengqian said.
He was handling political affairs under Li Shimin's order and could directly punish officials below the fifth rank.
"Your humble subject... accepts the order and thanks for the grace."
Ren Cang wiped the sweat from his forehead. His hanging heart finally sank. Being exiled to the northern border, so far away, in a place he was completely unfamiliar with, and with so many ethnic minorities there and the language barrier, life would be even more difficult.
What was this about educating the locals? He would be lucky if the locals didn't chop him down with a knife.
Li Jingyun was curious. Why did they want Ren Cang to educate the locals? Did he have such an ability? Would the locals listen to him?
Holding back all her doubts, she finally asked after Ren Cang left.
Li Chengqian laughed even more heartily after hearing this. "It's just an excuse. These Confucian scholars always talk about reducing soldiers and using the words of sages to educate the ethnic minorities. But as soon as they are asked to go to the border alone to educate them, they get so scared."