Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 176 I've been waiting for troublemakers like you

He left the Ministry of Works.

Wen He and Li Chengqian's carriage headed towards the nearby West Market.

Although the West Market was also within Chang'an City, it was under the jurisdiction of Wannian County.

Unlike the East Market, the West Market was mostly frequented by merchants from foreign lands, with many coming from the Western Regions, as well as Tuyuhun and Turkic peoples.

Wen He came here to find something.

When he told Xu Jingzong that they could buy wool from the Turks, he thought of cotton.

He remembered that during the Qin and Han dynasties, the Western Regions seemed to have sent tribute, and the tribute was called Bai Die.

However, until the Northern Song Dynasty, it was regarded as an ornamental flower and no one knew that it could be used for warmth.

Later archaeological findings suggest that cotton cloth existed in the south and southwest during the Western Zhou Dynasty.

But even after being in the Tang Dynasty for so long, he had never seen anyone wearing cotton clothes.

Perhaps there was a gap in the timeline.

In any case, the sooner cotton comes out, the better.

So I thought I'd try my luck in the West Market and see if anyone was selling cotton seeds.

Unfortunately, after looking around, I couldn't find anything, not even cotton, let alone seeds.

Almost all of them are specialties from the Western Regions, or spices and the like.

"Looks like we still need to get the wool first."

Wen He felt a little regretful.

What are you looking for, sir?

Seeing his bewildered expression and disappointed look, Li Chengqian couldn't help but ask curiously.

"There is something that can benefit the world, but unfortunately it is not here. However, if there is an opportunity in the future, we can go to the Western Regions to take a look."

If you come all the way to the Tang Dynasty, wouldn't it be a pity not to visit the Jade Gate Pass?

"I will go with you in the future."

After his trip to Huizhou, Li Chengqian seemed to dislike living in Chang'an any longer.

On the way back, he complained that Chang'an was too boring and far less exciting than the outside world.

However, Wen He felt that this idea was very dangerous.

"From now on, you should stay in Chang'an and not wander around."

Li Chengqian smirked dismissively, but did not refute.

He felt confident that he would be able to leave again in the future.

"Let's go, it's getting late. I'll take you back to the palace and get a free meal while I'm at it."

After saying this, Wen He instructed Wen Zhong to turn around and return to the East Palace.

Little did he know, someone was already waiting for him there.

"The Empress invites the Prince of Zhongshan and the Prince of Gaoyang to dine at Wanchun Palace."

"what?"

Wen He was extremely surprised.

This is the Daxing Palace, not the former Qin Prince's Mansion or the Eastern Palace. It wouldn't be appropriate for a man from outside the palace to enter the inner palace.

The eunuch who delivered the message chuckled to himself and explained, "The Empress instructed that the county magistrate will be family from now on, so there's no need to be shy about it."

"Uh, okay."

That makes sense. Once Li Shimin issues the decree, he, as a son-in-law of the emperor, will not be able to escape.

Fortunately, the sons-in-law of the Tang Dynasty did not have the same oppressive status as those in the Song and Ming Dynasties; the sons-in-law of the Tang Dynasty also held real power.

"A family?" Li Chengqian felt a little strange.

Wen He glanced at him and also felt something was off.

Damn, does this mean I'll have to call the three little ones "brothers" from now on?

"What are you looking at? Go eat."

Wen He shouted.

Li Chengqian was completely baffled, wondering why Wen He was being so mean to him for no reason.

Upon arriving at Wanchun Palace, Wen He, as expected, encountered Li Lizhi.

The little girl seemed quite surprised that he had come here.

"How did you get to my house? Is Xiaorou here?"

She looked excitedly behind Wen He, only to see Li Chengqian, and was immediately disappointed.

"If you miss her, you can come to my place. She's been home lately." Seeing her disappointed, Wen He couldn't help but chuckle. Was his charm really inferior to that girl, Xiao Rou?

"Is it okay?" Li Lizhi's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "You promised to take me out to play, you can't go back on your word, or I'll go and tell my mother."

She deliberately grinned, trying to scare Wen He.

The latter chuckled and nodded at her: "Okay, I'll take you out when I'm done with my work."

Upon seeing her, Wen He couldn't help but think of Wu Erniang.

One is five years old, and the other is three years old, but the former seems like the little child.

When summoned by the people inside Wanchun Palace, Wen He, Li Lizhi, and Li Chengqian went inside.

After paying their respects to Empress Zhangsun, they sat down to eat.

Wen He thought Li Shimin would come, but unfortunately, he didn't see him after the meal.

During the meal, Empress Zhangsun did not mention the arranged marriage, but Wen He felt that she must have known about it.

Wen He could sense that Changsun Wugou's gaze towards him had changed slightly.

It's like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law.

But as a son-in-law, he shouldn't have done anything to displease his mother-in-law.

After the meal, Empress Zhangsun did not try to keep him.

After all, he is an outsider, and even if he is young, it is not advisable for him to stay in the harem for long.

Seeing that he was about to leave, Li Lizhi was a little reluctant to part with him and repeatedly reminded him not to forget to take her out to play.

Wen He readily agreed and made a promise to the little girl.

As Wen He left Wanchun Palace, she was stopped by a palace eunuch.

"Wenxianzi, His Majesty has summoned you with a hundred cavalrymen, saying there is something important to discuss."

"it is good."

Wen He nodded in agreement, but remained puzzled. What could possibly be the business of a hundred riders?

There's no rush with the smuggling; we'll start once he's finished preparing the tea.

Apart from that, all the other training for the Hundred Riders can be done step by step. What else could happen?

He wanted to go home and sleep early.

But when he arrived at the Hundred Riders, he was surprised to see three familiar figures.

"Young master, these three young masters were personally entrusted to you by His Majesty. You must treat them with care."

Huang Chun smiled as brightly as a blooming chrysanthemum.

The news of Wen He's conflict with someone in Chang'an yesterday had already spread among the Hundred Cavalry.

Nowadays, there are spies from the Hundred Riders in every market town, so it's not difficult for them to find out about this matter.

Indeed, standing before Wen He at this moment were three people with bruised and swollen faces, looking gloomy.

It was none other than Dugu Chen, Wu Yuanqing, and Wu Yuanshuang, who had been swaggering in front of Wen He's carriage yesterday.

“Huang Zhongguan, why don’t you just leave this to Zhang Wenxiao and the others? I have a lot of things to do.”

Wen He felt that Li Shimin underestimated him.

Is he the kind of person who holds grudges?
Is it necessary to send the three of them to the Hundred Riders?

If we run into them in Chang'an again, we can just beat them up.

When Wen He told Huang Chun that he still had a lot to do, Huang Chun almost choked.

Everyone knows that Wen He needs to sleep for at least five or six hours every day.

Now that he's home, he'll definitely be dreaming again.

"This is what His Majesty instructed."

Huang Chun knew that saying anything else would be useless; he could only use His Majesty the Emperor to suppress him.

"Okay." Wen He picked at her ear impatiently.

What's the difference between Li Er and those heartless bosses who exploit their employees?

"You three."

Wen He pointed at Dugu Chen and the other two, and said righteously, "Listen up, this is His Majesty's order for me to train the three of you. It's not my way of taking revenge. If you die from exhaustion later, don't come looking for me."

"you!"

Dugu Chen was already unwilling, and upon hearing this, he became even more furious: "Who do you think you are? If it weren't for His Majesty's decree, I wouldn't have come here."

"good very good."

Wen He didn't get angry; instead, she laughed.

Upon seeing this, the surrounding riders felt a chill run down their spines and instinctively took a step back.

His kind smile had become a signal among the Hundred Riders.

Wen He looked at Dugu Chen and smiled slyly: "You don't know, these guys have all been trained to be exceptionally obedient. There's not a single troublemaker among them. It's no fun training them at all."

"I'm just waiting for troublemakers like you; it's more fun when we're having fun."

As soon as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly darkened.

"Zhang Wenxiao".

"The humble position is here!"

Zhang Wenxiao, who was standing not far away, walked over.

"Give them a beating first, until they obey."

Wen He waved his hand casually.

Zhang Wenxiao turned around and looked sharply at Dugu Chen and the others.

"wait wait wait!"

Seeing this, Wu Yuanqing cried out in fear, "He was the one who provoked us, it has nothing to do with us, and you didn't tell us what to do, so why should we obey?"

Wu Yuanshuang, who was standing to the side, nodded in agreement.

Seeing the two of them back down so easily, Dugu Chen was so angry he almost ground his back teeth to powder.

But when he saw Zhang Wenxiao walking towards him with a fierce look on his face, his legs trembled involuntarily.

"Yes, you're right."

Wen He touched her chin, as if she was just realizing what was happening.

"Alright, see the training ground ahead? You have half an hour to run ten laps. If you don't finish, then I'm sorry, you'll be going hungry today."

Wen Hewan'er.

His smile was innocent, but in the eyes of Dugu Chen and the other two, it appeared as a monstrous demon.

Dugu Chen wanted to slap himself. Why did he provoke Wen He over a single sentence?

"What are you all standing there for? Waiting for the whip?"

"Oh, alright, take the whip and lash them. Whoever stops, keep whipping them until they run away."

At Wen He's command, several riders came out with rattan whips.

Seeing this, Dugu Chen and his two unlucky buddies widened their eyes immediately, and without further hesitation, turned and ran.

"Young master, isn't that a bit too harsh?"

After those three unlucky guys had run far away, Zhang Wenxiao came over and asked with some concern.

He naturally knew the identities of those three people, which is why he was worried that Wen He's actions would offend their families.

"Do you really think His Majesty sent those three cavalrymen to let me vent my anger?"

Wen He chuckled softly and had someone bring him a cup of hot water.

Zhang Wenxiao shook his head in confusion: "Isn't that right?"

"Ask Huang Chun if he believes it or not." Wen He pointed at Huang Chun, who was watching the show from the side, and the former immediately looked over.

Huang Chun, who was about to stay out of it, was taken aback and glared at Wen He with annoyance.

He knew some things, but he didn't have the courage to say them.

To say it would be to spy on your heart.

Wen He, however, had no scruples.

"Sigh, what's there to be afraid of?" Wen He chuckled dismissively.

It's easy to understand why Li Shimin would send three hundred riders over such a trivial matter.

He must have had other purposes for doing this.

(End of this chapter)