Chapter 45: The Upright Family and Changsun Wugou

"Young Master..." Meng Baolai approached. Cai Cong had not brought anyone into the academy, so the others had no idea what had transpired, only that Cai Cong seemed displeased.

"Master Wei has suffered a blow to his spirit today. Please see to him with extra care. I must take my leave now," Cai Cong said to those who had come out to see him off, then climbed into his carriage. He was in no better mood himself—he should have been happy, for the matter was settled, yet his heart felt heavy.

Seeing this, the others dared not question him further and quietly escorted Cai Cong home.

As dusk fell, in the private academy, Master Wei appeared wild and disheveled, frightening the disciples he had summoned.

"These letters must be handed directly to your uncles and elders—no one else must deliver them, do you understand?" He handed out more than a dozen letters to his disciples with great solemnity.

"Also, wherever you go, spread the word in the most frequented gatherings of scholars—Doctor Cai of Chang'an is joining hands with many of the era’s great scholars to compile an all-encompassing history, recording the affairs of every dynasty. Do you understand?"

"We understand, sir. Please take care. We will depart at once."

After the disciples had left, Master Wei murmured to himself, "Innate wisdom... Just who are you? This time, it is Emperor Li who will have a headache."

News of Cai Cong’s plan to establish an academy spread like wildfire. Every day, villagers brought their children to enroll. Yet the great families of Chang'an scoffed at him, mocking his ambition, thinking him unworthy of such a feat, convinced he'd bring disgrace upon himself should anyone challenge him.

Cai Cong cared little for their opinions. He went directly to see the couple Li Er and his wife, full of enthusiasm and grand designs. But the response was lukewarm; Lady Zhangsun merely offered a faint "Oh," and sent him home.

Li Shimin listened to his proposal and dismissed it as sheer fantasy. He advised Cai Cong not to abandon his proper work at home, warning that once the soldiers for his experiment were selected, there would be no more time for such ventures. With that, he sent Cai Cong away.

Lady Zhangsun shook her head, thinking Cai Cong had misstepped—his ambition had outpaced his reputation. If only he’d spent another decade building his name, the establishment of an academy would then come naturally.

"Don’t trouble yourself, Wuhou. It is I who should be worried," Li Shimin sighed as he returned to the inner palace, seeing Lady Zhangsun deep in thought.

"Does Your Majesty know what I’m thinking?" she asked, pouring him a cup of water with a gentle smile.

"You’re thinking Cai Cong asked you to have the craftsmen build the academy while they're at it. Let him have it. The boy's road has been too smooth; if he stumbles this time, it may do him good. Let him learn that cleverness is not enough to disregard the talents of the world."

Li Shimin spoke with a cheerful air, yet his laughter faded quickly—if anyone should be conflicted, it was the emperor, not the empress.

"Why the sudden gloom, Your Majesty?"

"It's Cai Cong again—always presenting me with difficult problems. He wants me to reward outstanding academy students at every annual examination, and even suggested I become the head of the academy myself!"

"Utter nonsense. Rewarding scholars is well and good—they are, after all, your subjects, and encouragement is never misplaced. But to ask the emperor to debase himself as the head of an academy? That’s too much," Lady Zhangsun’s beautiful eyes grew sharp. No one believed in the academy’s success; Cai Cong was pushing the emperor into a pit.

"I know what you’re saying, but he has a way with words—he paints such grand prospects that I find myself tempted. That’s why I hesitate!"

"Your Majesty must not decide hastily. Promise him rewards for now, but as for the headship, stall him. If he is shamed by the great scholars within a year, he’ll have no face left to ask for anything. But if it succeeds and becomes profitable, then you can accept the position—no harm done."

Lady Zhangsun spoke gently. Concerns about shamelessly reaping the fruits of others’ labor did not exist between them—for all under heaven belonged to them. Why shouldn’t her husband be the head? And without that title, why should they grant rewards?

"My empress, you are truly wise. I am impressed!" Li Shimin said in mock seriousness, earning an eye roll from Lady Zhangsun. They were perfectly in tune—when Li Shimin was unwilling to decide, it was she, Lady Zhangsun, who would propose the solution.

Cai Cong, too, was annoyed. Was it so wrong to cultivate talents? Yet he’d been thrown out without even a clear answer!

"Young master, you got rebuffed, didn’t you?" Meng Baolai covered his mouth and chuckled as Cai Cong walked out of the palace in a foul mood. He’d warned Cai Cong: do too much at once, and it all seems a mess; no matter how urgent you feel, you must proceed one step at a time. If you act rashly, the emperor will surely refuse.

"Enough with your chatter. Let’s go to the inn. In another half month, everyone should be familiar with their duties. Go and arrange the opening—His Majesty hasn’t given me much time."

Meng Baolai replied, "They’ve been waiting for you! You haven’t seen it—the third floor’s decor is just perfect. The only flaw is the two bare white walls, nothing on them—such a pity."

"If you don’t understand, don’t pretend. Those two walls are reserved for the truly talented to leave their mark. You should read more. If you can’t be refined, at least you can imitate refinement!" Cai Cong laughed.

"Oh, spare me! Being able to read a letter is good enough. As for refinement, that’s for scholars and beauties, not rough fellows like me!"

"Not relevant, is it? Are you sure?"

The two bantered back and forth through the carriage’s curtain. The name of the restaurant had already been changed—Cai Cong himself had inscribed the signboard, "Tower of the Great White," now displayed on the third floor, its bold characters visible from afar.

As soon as the carriage stopped, everyone in the restaurant—about fifty people—was waiting. The rest had gone to the other three establishments. Don’t think Cai Cong’s wealth allowed him to open three more restaurants—this was all Lady Zhangsun’s doing.

After tasting the food prepared by Cai Cong’s people, Lady Zhangsun believed the restaurant could expand to every corner of the Tang Empire. The night twenty chefs were taken, she sent three land deeds—all prime locations in Chang’an.

At that moment, Cai Cong thought her image had collapsed. Where was the promised grace and virtue? Wasn’t she supposed to eschew profit? What were these three land deeds for?

And why did the contracts say the Huang family took sixty percent and the Cai family only forty? Was there any shame? Cai Cong proposed a fifty-fifty split, but the agent merely sneered coldly.

When Cai Cong himself suggested that forty-sixty was reasonable, and thirty-seventy would do in a pinch, the agent finally beamed, revised the contract to thirty-seventy, and thrust it into Cai Cong’s arms, leaving thoroughly satisfied.

But to return to the matter at hand, Cai Cong inspected the restaurant from top to bottom. Satisfied, he asked, "Is everything ready? When can we open?"

"Everything is arranged, sir. We can open at any time. The Huang family has assigned two accountants to each location, while we have only one—won’t we be at a disadvantage?" Zhang Wen, seated in his wooden wheelchair, voiced his concern. In his view, the business should have been theirs alone—why share the profits?

"We won’t lose out. If they dare cook the books, their own master will deal with them before I do. We’ll open in three days. Use the city’s underworld to spread the word—I want all of Chang’an to know that the finest restaurant in the world is about to open. Can you manage that?"

"That’s beyond us—we don’t have those connections," Zhang Wen said candidly.

"Such things can’t be left to them, young master. Leave it to us—between the Right Martial Guard and the patrol captains, manipulating street gossip is child’s play," Meng Baolai said with a smile. This was their territory, after all.

"Good. Go to the accounts office and collect five hundred taels of silver. I don’t care how you do it, but by sundown tomorrow, I want all of Chang’an to know the Tower of the Great White is opening. Zhang Wen, don’t be idle. Post a notice—though we won’t be open for three days, each day we’ll prepare three tables of dishes. The first day, invite renowned scholars, famous civil and military officials to sample the food. The next two days will be by special notice—thirty guests per day, no more, possibly less. Invitations will be sent, but we recognize the person, not the card; the invitation cannot be transferred. Understood?"