Chapter 134: A Night Conversation in the Eastern Palace

The members of the aristocratic families watched such a mud-legged upstart hog the limelight, their brows furrowing into tight knots. They could only sit in gloomy silence. Before Li Shimin gave them license to relax, the ceremonial officials did not permit them the slightest lapse in etiquette. Exactly when to eat, when to drink, and when to recite flattering congratulatory speeches were all strictly regulated.

Li Yuan had also come; neither father nor son would miss such an opportunity for political theater. When the old lord saw the Retired Emperor, he suddenly fell to his knees and burst into bitter tears.

Back in the day, when he and his brothers had enlisted, it was not out of admiration for Li Shimin, but rather drawn by the reputation of Li Yuan. Yet in the end, the outcome had been too tragic—all nine of them had perished, leaving no chance for glory. How could he not weep upon seeing Li Yuan?

Old Li Yuan’s eyes also welled with tears. He had already been cast aside by the times and was now merely a prop, trotted out by Li Shimin to stage a spectacle within the grand political arena. Who else would ever weep before him like this?

The old man was helped away. Such extremes of joy and sorrow were too taxing on the spirit, and combined with the alcohol he had consumed, palace attendants had to step in to look after him.

Cai Cong was surrounded by crowds of sycophants who flattered him to the heavens, completely overshadowing the Prince of Yue and Li Chengqian.

The assembled officials showered Cai Cong with praise for his immense merits, composing one grating panegyric after another, unhesitatingly placing Cai Cong at the absolute center of every verse.

At first, Li Chengqian and Li Tai had smiled warmly; after all, Cai Cong was the guest of honor today. But as the crowd around them dwindled to a mere handful while song and laughter filled the air around Cai Cong, their smiles faded into a sense of grievance, and they could only manage stiff, reluctant grins.

Madam Cai had entered the palace twice. The first time, she had been so humiliated she did not dare look toward Chang'an, but this time she had become a distinguished noble lady courted by all. Every aristocratic matron vied for her attention, showering her with endless pleasantries until she was so comfortable her eyes narrowed into slits.

As the grand imperial banquet drew to a close, Cai Cong spent the night in the Eastern Palace. Three young boys lay side by side on the bed, all remaining silent.

Cai Cong rolled over, nudged Li Chengqian with his elbow, and asked, "Aren't you usually quite a chatterbox? Why are you so quiet tonight?"

"It's nothing! I just don't feel like talking tonight," Li Chengqian said, shrinking under the covers, burying his head, and speaking in a dejected tone.

"Is it because those officials were all crowding around me tonight? Do you feel like you lost face?" Cai Cong propped himself up on his elbow and asked with a smile.

"I suppose I felt that way for a moment, but after Father told us this was an overt strategy meant to drive a wedge between us and make us fall out, we stopped feeling that way."

Li Chengqian poked his head out and replied. Li Tai nodded in agreement, fixing his gaze on Cai Cong.

"Then what is wrong with you two? You both look like you've been beaten."

"Ah, we just feel so useless. As the Crown Prince, I can't do anything special, and Li Tai is the same. Even though he won such great glory this time, it was only by following you to defeat the remnants of the tribes; he himself achieved nothing."

Li Chengqian said with a aggrieved tone. As the Crown Prince, he had never accomplished a single remarkable feat. Yet look at Cai Cong—every single thing he did was a major event that turned heads.

"Just because of this? Get up, get up." Cai Cong patted the two of them, urging them to sit up.

"You two were born rulers, destined to govern mountains and rivers, and manage the lives of millions. But that is for the future. What you need to do right now is grow into adulthood and eventually take this empire over from your fathers.

"I am different. My family was so poor we couldn't even afford chaff to eat. If I hadn't worked hard and accomplished those things, I wouldn't even have had the chance to be friends with you today. I was pushed to where I am entirely by fate."

Cai Cong sighed. To be a commoner in a feudal society meant having zero security in life. Natural disasters, man-made calamities, and class oppression could shatter a happy family at any moment, which was why he had to climb into the ruling class.

"We understand what you're saying, but we want to accomplish something of our own accord, rather than coasting along on the titles of Crown Prince Li Chengqian or Prince of Yue Li Tai."

Ah, he understood. This was the sensitive pride of youths acting up. They were both children of destiny; why should they be inferior to Cai Cong? If they were given a free hand, they could surely be just as magnificent as him.

"Then what do you want to do?"

"We don't know!" the two said simultaneously, their shoulders slumping in discouragement. They knew that if they just asked, Cai Cong would certainly help, but they didn't want his help—they wanted to achieve something through their own efforts.

"Then give it some more thought! In any case, as long as your ideas revolve around the common people, they're bound to be good ones. When I go back this time, I'm going to wash my hands of everything and give myself a breather. You have no idea—my mother really went wild this time. Hanging dozens of corpses at the village entrance was her order; she was truly terrified."

"Your mother is so brave. Since you're not managing things anymore, what will you do?" Li Tai asked admiringly. Madam Cai's actions reminded him of Empress Changsun. Back during the Xuanwu Gate Incident, when Li Jiancheng sent assassins to storm the Tiance Mansion, it was Empress Changsun who ordered the guards to take up arms and beat back the attackers, holding out until reinforcements arrived.

"I don't know. Probably take my mother traveling to enjoy the scenery. Life is worry-free now; it's time to let my mother enjoy life."

"That's true... I'd love to go with you, but we have to achieve some results..."

"Right, keep working hard..."

As the three talked on, their speech grew slurred, and they drifted off to sleep. Having been busy all day, they had long since grown weary, and their rambling conversation eventually dissolved into dreams, neither remembering who said what last.

Early the next morning, Cai Cong returned home, while Li Chengqian petitioned Li Shimin for permission to study in the Department of State Affairs. Overjoyed, Li Shimin issued an imperial decree allowing Li Chengqian to walk the halls of the Department of State Affairs, granting him the right to listen and ask questions, but strictly forbidding him from interfering in state administration.

Although Li Tai held the title of governor over numerous prefectures, he was only nine years old; Li Shimin would never let him handle actual governance. Thus, he too was limited to listening, observing, and asking questions, with all administrative matters handled by the officials of his own manor.

Before long, one earned a reputation for filial piety and benevolence, while the other acquired the moniker of being as resolute and capable as his father. For a time, their reputations soared, while Cai Cong faded into a low profile, almost as if he had been forgotten.

Servants in the Cai manor were packing and sorting luggage. Madam Cai had announced her intention to fulfill a vow at Duolin Temple. Heavens, that place was said to be far, far away, and the old lord had declared he would not go. But since the young master was accompanying her, an immense amount of supplies needed to be prepared.

"Although Duolin Temple is a small and dilapidated temple, when you get there, you must not show any disrespect to the masters. Back when your mother gave birth to you, our family didn't even have a morsel to eat. A hardship-tempered master from Duolin Temple passed by and gave all the food he had begged for to you and your mother, and after taking just two sips of our well water, he left."

Cai Cong was not fond of Buddhist monks or Daoist priests, a fact the old lord knew well. Praying to figures of wood and clay—had anyone ever seen that bring blessings or children? Therefore, when Cai Cong saw cart after cart of offerings, sesame oil, and bolts of silk, he was quite displeased. However, as long as Madam Cai was happy, he raised no objections.

The old lord spoke in a soft voice. Nowadays, he lacked for nothing, and whether gifts were given in abundance or scantily mattered little to him. Not only had his grandson become a marquis, but he had also managed to secure a marquis title for himself. Looking back through generations of ancestors, who had ever lived as grandly as him?

Hearing the old lord's words, Cai Cong's expression softened. A debt of survival could not go unrewarded. He guessed that Madam Cai had been thinking of this ever since their fortunes turned, and it was rare that he finally had the time to accompany her.

"Put five roots of the ginseng sent from Liaodong into the luggage," Cai Cong stood up and instructed Weiguo. Madam Cai stared at her son in a mixture of shock and delight. Aside from the portions sent to the palace, Cai Cong had only gifted a few roots of the Liaodong ginseng to the old scholars and Qin Shubao, calling them life-saving treasures meant to be kept for their own family and strictly forbidden to outsiders. Now, he was actually willing to give them to the great monks of Duolin Temple; this was completely unexpected.

"Son..."

"Don't call me son. You thought your son was the kind of person who forgets a kindness? I am someone who repays gratitude in full." Cai Cong pretended to be angry, but Madam Cai, long familiar with his antics, simply smiled cheerfully and went back to organizing her things.

"Old master, are you really not going? Life is worry-free now, and this is the best time to tour the mountains and rivers!" Cai Cong squatted beside the old lord, shaking his leg with zero dignity as a marquis.