Zhang Xin'an was sitting on the train, with Uncle Wei Wang and Uncle Chu Mo sitting next to her.
The train carriage is just a thin iron box. You can feel the iron under your feet shaking when you sit in it. If you sit for a long time, your feet will become numb.
Sitting next to Uncle Chu Mo, Zhang Xin'an crossed his arms and was still worried about the prime minister's repeated refusal to accept disciples.
Cheng Chumo suddenly asked: "Is there any result for this year's Lishan Model Worker County selection?"
Li Tai shook his head and said, "Not yet?"
Cheng Chumo frowned and said, "Do the two counties of our old Cheng family have a chance?"
Li Tai looked dull and said: "No chance."
The train stopped slowly, and Zhang Xin'an and her two uncles got off the train. This was Zhenguan Courtyard, and there were many pedestrians coming and going.
It only takes half an hour to walk from here to Chang'an City.
Zhang Xin'an didn't want to sit in the carriage. He liked to sit on the shaft so that he could get some wind.
"Uncle King Wei, what is Chang'an City like now?"
"I haven't been there for a long time." Li Tai frowned.
"I haven't been to a certain family for many years." Cheng Chumo continued.
Zhang Xin'an leaned on the carriage and sat on the shaft. The horse was not going fast, and there were many pedestrians coming and going on the official road.
Li Tai whispered: "In the past, more people went to Chang'an City and fewer people came out. Now look at Chang'an today. There are as many people leaving Chang'an as entering Chang'an City."
Cheng Chumo scratched his head and said, "I don't think so."
Chu Mo is a rough man, so naturally he won't pay attention to these details.
Zhang Xin'an looked up at the tall city wall, "This is Chang'an City."
Li Tai led people into Chang'an City and entered from Zhuque Street. He looked at both sides of the street and said, "There is no change at all here."
Zhang Xin'an looked at the people coming and going and asked, "Where is the prime minister?"
Chu Mo planned to go home for a visit, so Li Tai took him and said, "At this time, the Prime Minister should be handling political affairs in Zhongshu Province, so come with me."
When the uncle and nephew walked to the gate of Zhongshu Province, they saw many officials coming and going.
The officials here were also very curious, and they almost didn't recognize His Royal Highness the King of Wei since he hadn't been to the court for many years.
Xu Jingzong smiled and stepped forward, "Why do you have time to come to court today?"
Li Tai glanced at the child beside him and said, "This is my brother-in-law's child."
Seeing this, Xu Jingzong stroked his beard and said with a smile: "It turns out to be the young Marquis."
Zhang Xin'an said: "Who is the prime minister?"
Li Tai said: "I'm going to see my father and mother. You take good care of him."
Xu Jingzong bowed and saluted.
After Li Tai walked away, Zhang Xin'an frowned and said, "Can I go see the prime minister now?"
Xu Jingzong shook his head and said: "The Prime Minister is very busy now. I can talk to you when he is done."
Zhang Xin'an simply sat down in front of Zhongshu Province and looked around. People here were very busy.
Liu Dewei, the Minister of Punishment, walked into Zhongshu Province and asked, "What does Lishan mean?"
Hearing someone talking about Lishan, Zhang Xin'an looked into the house with an unhappy expression.
Yang Shidao, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, smiled bitterly, "We, the Ministry of Personnel, have not been rejected."
Liu Dewei stroked his beard and said: "So, the strategies of us all have been rejected by Lishan? How high-minded is Lishan? If so many people in the court have written strategies, don't they fall into his eyes?"
There was another discussion in Zhongshu Province.
Not long after, Cen Wenwen came over and said, "Shilang Xu, let me take care of this child."
Xu Jingzong nodded and said, "I happen to have something to arrange."
Zhang Xin'an said: "Uncle Wenwen."
Cen Wenwen nodded and said, "Yes."
"Why do they all say Lishan's is wrong?"
"Alas." Cen Wenwen sighed, "Your father has always been very considerate when doing things. People in the court can't keep up with Lishan's way of doing things. Naturally, they are unhappy when your father disapproves of them."
Unknowingly, it was noon.
Zhang Xin'an took out two buns from her arms, handed one to Cen Wenwen, and ate it himself. He whispered: "I came in a hurry, and I didn't eat in the morning."
Cen Wenwen listened to his childish words, and he was still a little annoyed, but the child's voice was always relaxing.
Not long after, the prime minister came out.
Cen Wenwen stepped forward and said, "Prime Minister, this is Zhang Yang's child."
Fang Xuanling stopped and looked at the child.
Zhang Xin'an also looked at the prime minister who had half-white beard and hair. This rumored prime minister was a little thin, with more white hair than black hair. His complexion had an unhealthy yellowish look. Take another look. , saluted and said: "Young man Zhang Xin'an, I have met the prime minister."
Fang Xuanling nodded and said, "Your parents want me to be your teacher?"
"The boy came here to ask why the prime minister kept refusing?"
"There are still many important things in the court that I need to arrange. I don't have the energy to give you advice."
After that, seeing him about to leave, Zhang Xin'an followed, "The Prime Minister has never met the boy, so why did he refuse at that time? It's because the Prime Minister, like those in the court, has a prejudice against Lishan."
Hearing this, Fang Xuanling looked a little more serious and said: "I have never been prejudiced against Lishan. You can go back."
Zhang Xin'an stood there, with dissatisfaction in his eyes.
Cen Wenwen advised: "The Prime Minister does not have any prejudice against Lishan. It's because you are angry in your heart and the words coming out of your mouth are also the source of trouble. Now the Prime Minister is even less willing to accept you as a disciple."
Zhang Xin'an froze on the spot, watching the old man leave, and then lowered his head.
Thinking about where he had suffered such grievances in Lishan, Cen Wenwen shook his head and said: "This is your first lesson, think twice before you act, think twice before speaking, and remember this lesson."
"You are a proud child. Your father is the Marquis of Lishan County. Even though he is just a Marquis of the county, everyone in the court knows that your father's achievements are so great that even His Majesty has to give Lishan some credit. Your family He is also the richest man in Guanzhong, so it is normal for you to be proud."
Zhang Xin'an said quickly: "Then what should I do next, please ask Uncle Wenwen for advice."
Cen Wenwen smiled and said: "Remember the lesson from this time first. The second lesson I will give you is to ask the Prime Minister to forgive you for your gaffe."
"How to forgive the boy?"
"Are you afraid that the prime minister won't forgive you?"
Seeing his twitchy expression, Cen Wenwen said again: "If you back down now, the fate between you and Fang Xiang will end here, and Lishan's high hopes for you will become a disappointment, since it was caused by you." Yes, you have to save it yourself."
"Thank you for Uncle Wen's advice."
Cen Wenwen said: "I remember when you first came to Chang'an City, you were still very young, and I took you around."
"Uncle Xie."
"Um."
In the palace, Li Tai stood in front of his father and mother.
"It's rare that you still have the heart to come to the palace to visit me and your mother."
Li Tai saluted and said: "My son, I have been thinking about my father and mother in Lishan Mountain."
Empress Changsun whispered: "Come, let your mother take a look."
Li Tai walked up to his mother.
"Well, the beard is thicker and not thinner at all."
Looking at his mother's smile, Li Tai added: "My son has been trying not to get fatter."
Queen Changsun nodded with satisfaction, "Okay, as long as you don't get fat."
Li Shimin drank tea and said, "What about the child?"
Li Tai replied: "I will leave my son to Minister Xu to take care of me."
"I don't know what Zhang Yang was thinking about asking Xuan Ling to accept him as his disciple." Li Shimin blew tea leaves on the water, "I'm asking you, how did Zhang Yang know about the relationship between Li Yuanchang and Wei Ting?"
Li Tai frowned and said: "My son didn't know either. He only followed his brother-in-law's instructions. At first, he was still suspicious, but looking at Li Yuanchang's guilty expression, he could guess one or two of them. Furthermore, after the court inquired and found out, the son and I came back. In hindsight, I realized it was true.”
Li Shimin nodded and said, "I understand. Let's stay and eat."
Li Tai saluted and said, "My son still has a lot of things to arrange in Lishan, so I may not be able to stay long."
Queen Changsun warned: "Well, you go back early."
"My son, please retire."
Li Shimin nodded slightly.
When walking out of Ganlu Hall, Li Tai bumped into Li Chengqian.
"Come to visit your father and mother?"
"Brother Emperor." Li Tai saluted with both hands, "I haven't seen you for many years."
Li Chengqian smiled silently, "I haven't seen you for many years, but you really haven't changed at all."
Li Tai whispered: "Brother Huang has not changed either."
"Um."
Li Chengqian hummed and walked quickly into the Manna Hall.
When he arrived at the gate of Zhongshu Province, he didn't see Zhang Xin'an or the prime minister. Li Tai walked straight to Xu Jingzong and asked, "Where are the others?"
Only then did Xu Jingzong react, "I left with Cen Wenwen."
Li Tai left in a hurry and walked outside the Suzaku Gate before seeing Cen Wenwen who was leading Zhang Xin'an back.
"Uncle Xie Wen, my nephew is back."
Cen Wenwen saluted Li Tai before saying goodbye.
Looking at the child's retreating back, Cen Wenwen had a smile on his face.
Changsun Wuji walked out of the imperial city, "He is not even your disciple, but you are so interested in him."
Cen Wenwen whispered: "It's enough for this kid to call me uncle."
Changsun Wuji sighed helplessly.
On this day, something else happened in the court. Yu Chigong, who was sixty years old, returned home after serving as an official.
His Majesty granted him the honorary title of Kaifu Yitong, the Third Division, and entered the Lingyan Pavilion. At the same time, there were more than ten people whose portraits were entered in the Lingyan Pavilion. So far, there are a total of twenty-four meritorious officials in the Lingyan Pavilion.
Li Shimin's career as emperor entered the later stage, and he also passed the most important stage of the Zhenguan Dynasty of the Tang Dynasty.
In the past, the emperor was not willing to allow these veteran generals to take up official positions, but now he has begun to let go, and then all the old ministers from the Daye period to the present have also taken up their posts.
Also retiring at the same time was veteran general Li Daliang.
The emperor left these veterans to live in Chang'an City. In the future, they would still have someone to take care of them whether they were living or moving around in daily life.
People have a feeling that when these people retire, the troubled times are over. It is like the end of an era. There will always be new people coming up in the Tang Dynasty.
Pei Xingjian and Xue Rengui achieved great successes in the northern campaign against Xue Yantuo, and now they have captured a large area of land in Mobei.
Wang Xuance was ordered by the Khan of Heaven to once again put on armor and rush to Tubo with three thousand soldiers and horses to pacify the lands of Tianzhu.
The old generals are retreating one by one, and the new generals of Datang are rising.
Military reports were also sent, and the negotiations between Zhang Shigui and the Gauls around the Western Holy City broke down again.
Xi Junmai had reorganized the Persian troops and horses, collected the grain and grass in Tianzhu, and prepared to go north to attack the Gauls.
Lishan at this moment.
Zhang Yang was sitting by the Huaqing Pool, looking at the memorials from the court. Seeing that his son was back, he asked, "How did you gain from this trip?"
Zhang Xin'an said: "The harvest is not good."
"The housing minister refused again?"
"The child will take care of it himself."
Zhang Qingqing glanced at his younger brother and whispered: "This stupid brother must have made rude remarks."
Zhang Xin'an walked into his room dejectedly.
Looking away, Zhang Yang continued to look at the memorandum in his hand, "Children always need to be sharpened. He can clean it up by himself and let him learn a lesson."
Zhang Qingqing agreed with his father's words and helped organize the books.
The next day, Zhang Xin'an came to Chang'an City again, accompanied by Aunt Yang. This time he did not go directly to the imperial city to search.
Instead, he was waiting at the door of the Prime Minister's mansion with a basket of pumpkin cakes.
Fang Xuanling's son, Fang Yizhi, had just returned from Chongdefang. When he saw the child at the door of his house, he asked curiously: "Who are you?"
"My dear Zhang Xin'an, come to see the Prime Minister."
Fang Yi glanced at the sky, calculated the time and said with a smile: "My father has a lot of things to do today. I don't know when he will be able to return home. Come in and wait."
Stepping into the door, Fang Yi saw that he was still standing there and said with a smile, "Why don't you come in?"
Zhang Xin'an replied: "I came here to apologize for my rude remarks yesterday. It is not good to enter the Prime Minister's mansion like this."
"You don't have to worry about it, my father won't care."
After he finished speaking, seeing that the child was speechless, he had no choice but to stop persuading him.
Not long after, a woman walked quickly.
Zhang Xin'an raised her eyes and said happily: "Auntie."
Aunt Yang saluted and said, "I have met Her Highness the Princess."
Li Lizhi frowned and looked at him, "Brother-in-law's child is really persistent."
Zhang Xin'an replied: "My nephew can't give up just because of anger. My sister will make fun of me."
"You two siblings are very stubborn."
Li Lizhi took the basket in his hand and said, "Father wants to see you."
"But my nephew has to wait here for the prime minister."
Li Lizhi held his hand and said, "The prime minister is with my father, just go."
Zhang Xin'an kept up and asked, "When will Uncle Jin Wang come back?"
"It will take another two years. He is traveling."
…
Chang'an City has been cloudy these two days, and it's very cold when the wind blows.
Li Lizhi led Zhang Xinan into the palace.
This is also the first time this child has come here, and he is full of curiosity when looking at the houses here.
After walking into the Hall of Wude, Li Lizhi saluted and said, "Father."
Zhang Xin'an looked at the emperor, bowed slightly, and then bowed to the prime minister.
Li Shimin looked at this boy and smiled: "Xuanling, look at him, he looks exactly like Zhang Yang."
Fang Xuanling stroked his beard and nodded, "He will also be a troublesome boy from now on."
Li Shimin said: "When he grows up, it will be the business of future generations. I can't control him."
"Your Majesty is right."
Zhang Xin'an whispered: "I have met your Majesty."
Li Shimin said seriously: "How old are you?"
Zhang Xin'an said: "He is six years old now, and he will be seven years old this year."
"Seven years old? You grow up so fast."
Li Shimin asked: "It's really time for a seven-year-old child to start school. Are you literate?"
"The boy knows how to read."
"It is said that Lishan is knowledgeable about the world and mysterious, so the prime minister wants to test you."
