Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 15 Someone Else's Son
Wang Xi had gone to great lengths to set up this academy because he didn't want to study at the Imperial Academy; he wanted to eat, drink, and have fun here. However, Wang Shuang and Li Jieman, those two playboys, became obsessed with painting, even though their initial intentions were far from pure.

This left Wang Xi both amused and exasperated.

However, Huangfu Sengnian made a very good point: whether it's painting or reading, it's all voluntary and based on their own interests. No one is interfering with them, and that's enough. They can be considered carefree and at ease.

However, there is no such thing as free and easy life in this world.

Since this academy is ultimately a lie, if we keep trying to cover it up with lies, it will eventually be exposed. We need to do something to make this lie a reality; that's the right way to fix it.

This included brewing wine. They had to brew wine to convince Wang Shouyi and his men that they came home every day reeking of alcohol not because they drank for pleasure, but because they brewed wine, and that brewing wine was for self-reliance.

Actually, the ingredients used in this brewing were all semi-finished products, which saved a lot of effort. The key difference was in the equipment; otherwise, the wine could have been distilled in three days.

Their job is to first select a raw material, then try repeatedly, and based on the available equipment, figure out the temperature control and when to add water, among other procedures.

Even so, it wouldn't actually take long. Wang Xi wasn't in a hurry and let them try at their own pace. He still diligently taught Li Jieman and the others how to paint. These two guys were really going all out to impress girls and studied very hard, even making some progress. After they finished school, the craftsmen went home. Anyway, everyone was lying down, except for Old Tao, who was still working hard.

After more than twenty days of hard work, the first barrel of distilled spirit, which can be considered a relatively successful product, was finally produced.

However, Wang Xi still made Li Jieman and the others wait a few more days and let the winemakers taste it first, which really infuriated Li Jieman and the others.

Little did he know that Wang Xi was only worried about whether the methanol content was too high, since he didn't have any measuring tools.

After the winemakers had their fill and showed no abnormalities the next day, including headaches and stomach aches, Wang Xi then brought it out for Li Jieman and the others to taste.

"Wow, this liquor is really strong, just as I imagined."

Wang Shuang smacked his fist a few times, excitedly pounding the table.

Wang Xi asked, "So what exactly happened?"

Wang Shuang chuckled and said, "I've never drunk such a strong liquor before, it's so refreshing!"

Huangfu Sengnian said, "The aroma and taste of this wine are indeed very mellow, but it would be better if the alcohol content were a little lower."

Li Jie licked his lips and smacked them a few times. "It would be better if I had a weaker alcohol content."

Wang Shuang waved his hand dismissively, "There are plenty of weak liquors out there. If it's not strong, I don't like drinking it."

Wang Xi smiled and nodded, saying, "Xiao Shuang is right. We sell strong and mild liquors, and there are many choices, but our liquor is the only one with a strong kick."

Actually, the alcohol content isn't high, only between 35 and 40 degrees. However, since alcohol content is generally too low nowadays, it's like strong liquor to them.

Surprisingly, Huangfu Sengnian didn't continue arguing with Wang Xi, but instead asked, "How do you plan to sell it?"

Wang Xi pondered for a moment and said, "This is an academy, not a tavern. We brew wine just so we can drink here, not to make a living. Our family isn't short of money, so I plan to find a big restaurant to cooperate with and let them brew the wine. We can just sit back and split the profits."

Wang Shuang asked, "Doesn't your family own a winery?"

Wang Xi said irritably, "Selling wine to our own winery, can that be called self-reliance? Besides, if we do that, our parents will know exactly how much money we have."

Li Jie said slyly, "That's right, we can't let our parents know about this money. Once we sell this wine and have the money, we can hire some courtesans to come and keep us company. Hehehe!"

The thought of drinking with courtesans in the academy was incredibly exciting for the fat man.

Wang Shuang's eyes lit up when she heard this.

Wang Xi said dejectedly, "I want to too, but the problem is, what reason can I give?"

Wang Shuang's eyes lit up. "Why don't we recruit them as female students?"

A pure and lovely female classmate? Wang Xi couldn't help but ponder it carefully.

Li Jieman said, "How about a female teacher?"

Wang Xi gasped. This was a possibility.

Wang Shuang clapped her hands excitedly and said, "Brilliant! Brilliant! Xiaoman's idea is really brilliant! Hello teacher, hello teacher, I want a female teacher."

You guys are always trying to seduce me, making me so itchy and irritated. Wang Xi couldn't help but indulge in this fantasy, licking his dry lips.

Huangfu Sengnian said, "What are you thinking? How is that possible? Once those courtesans arrive, they will definitely expose us, and we will probably die without a complete corpse."

This is the first time in their lives they've fooled their parents so badly. If they're exposed, they'll be utterly annihilated!
Wang Xi nodded and said, "Seng Nian is right. Let's get the money for the wine first. If all else fails, we can use the pretense of selling wine to visit brothels."

Li Jie said with regret, "It's not like we haven't been to brothels before, but none of them are as good as having someone here to keep us company. Tell me, who can go to school and still have courtesans to accompany them?"

Wang Xi, already annoyed by their manipulation, said, "Let's talk about it later. Let's talk about it later."

While they were daydreaming about their female teacher, their father was drinking at the Prince's mansion.

"Brother Xian, what have you been busy with lately? I can't seem to find you anywhere."

Li Qiao asked Wang Shouyi curiously.

Huangfu Shangde, who was standing nearby, joked, "Could it be that the princess is keeping an eye on you?"

Some of the princesses in the Tang Dynasty were so powerful that many noble families were unwilling to marry into the royal family.

Wang Shouyi said irritably, "Stop talking nonsense. I've been too busy with official duties in the province lately."

He has been working very hard for the past month, going to the Palace Secretariat early every morning and returning late every night, which makes Princess Xue very gratified.

"is it?"

Huangfu Shangde asked in confusion, "His Majesty just returned from Luoyang this year."

The busiest time for the Palace Secretariat was when the emperor went on his travels. At that time, the Palace Secretariat had to prepare a lot of things. That's why it's said that this job may seem unimportant, but it was actually held by the emperor's confidants.

Wang Shouyi gave a vague answer: "There are so many trivial matters in the Palace Secretariat every day."

He was embarrassed to say that he had been studying stockings with those weavers recently. Drawing them was one thing, but making them was another. Fortunately, he was in charge of the Imperial Clothing Bureau, which not only had all kinds of fabrics, but also had the most skillful weavers in the world gathered there.

Ok?
Huangfu Shangde and Li Qiao both looked at Wang Shouyi with curiosity.

Why haven't I seen you work this hard before?

Wang Shouyi sighed and said, "Times have changed. I have to pull myself together. I can't keep living like I did before."

Upon hearing this, Li and Huangfu immediately realized what was going on.

Huangfu Shangde, feeling indignant, said, "If it weren't for your voluntary withdrawal, Brother Wang, how dare that brat from the Wu family act so presumptuously today?"

Wang Shouyi waved his hand and said, "This is my own choice, so please don't say anything more."

Wang Shouyi was no fool who helped Li Longji win the two coups of Xiantian and Tanglong. He and his sister were truly loyal to Li Longji, contributing money and effort. After helping Li Longji seize the throne, one of them lived deep in the palace and did not concern himself with any political affairs, while Wang Shouyi immediately withdrew from the front line and sought wealth and honor.

With these two setting an example, Li Longji was able to make good arrangements for the other meritorious officials.

Since then, Wang Shouyi has been lying low, thinking that this is the best choice to learn from the lesson of Changsun Wuji and to be related to the empress. However, he did not expect that people can change and the empress's position began to be challenged.

He also realized that he needed to pull himself together immediately, but after wasting so many years and being far from the center of power, it was easier said than done to try again.

Li Qiao nodded and said, "Brother, you are right. Given the current situation, we can no longer act as we did before. We must take action."

Huangfu Shangde nodded.

Wang Shouyi glanced at the two of them, feeling deeply moved, and said with a smile, "Let's not talk about these things, let's talk about something happy." Huangfu Shangde immediately said, "If I had to say what's been the happiest thing lately, it would be my son's repentance. That nameless gentleman is truly a remarkable person."

Li Qiao immediately said, "That's absolutely right. I was just about to tell you about this. My son Xiaoman has been like a completely different person lately. Normally, getting him to pick up a pen is like taking his life, but now it's different. He gets up early to go to the academy to study, and when he comes back, he does his homework in his room. Not only that, he also knows how to be filial to his parents. It's really gratifying."

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Shangde couldn't help but laugh and said, "Could it be that Xiaoman also painted a portrait of the prince?"

Li Qiao's eyes lit up, and he said, "Could it be that Monk Nian...!"

"Yes! Yes!"

Huangfu Shangde was so happy he couldn't stop smiling.

Wang Shouyi asked in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

Li Qiao countered, "Didn't Que'er paint a portrait of you, my worthy brother?"

"portrait?"

Wang Shouyi was completely bewildered.

Li Qiao immediately instructed his servant, "Quickly bring me the wooden box from my study."

Huangfu Shangde suddenly took out a box from his side. "Coincidentally, I also brought the portrait that my son drew for me."

Li Qiao said, "That's great, let's see who learns better."

Soon, the wooden box arrived, and Li Qiao and Huangfu Shangde took out the paintings by Li Jieman and Huangfu Sengnian.

Upon opening the portrait, both parties immediately began praising each other's portraits, and then went on to extol the nameless gentleman.

The two men exchanged compliments for a while, when suddenly they noticed Wang Shouyi sitting there with a livid face, not uttering a word.

Li Qiao asked, "Brother, surely Que'er has also painted one for you?"

That brat's drawing skills are clearly better than Xiaoman's and the others', but his mind is full of women. How could he possibly remember me, his father, this unfilial son?

Wang Shouyi cursed inwardly, but replied aloud, "Of course I drew it, it's just at home and I didn't bring it with me."

After ten years of rule by the two wise ministers Yao and Song, the political chaos brought about by Wu Zetian came to an end, and the whole country was stabilized.

But this was not enough to make Li Longji start to give up, because the ultimate goal of a monarch is always to achieve both civil and military success.

Neither of these two methods are working well at the moment.

In the process of governing the country through culture, culture was also an important indicator. However, in the first ten years of the Kaiyuan era, almost no poems were produced that became popular and have been passed down through the ages.

In terms of martial arts, she not only did not achieve much, but also suffered humiliation on the border. After all, Wu Zetian was always focused on political struggles, and before and after her death, the Shenlong Coup, the Tanglong Coup, and the Xiantian Coup occurred one after another. Her foreign policy was almost entirely based on peace.

As the saying goes, to repel external threats, one must first secure internal stability.

However, for the Tang Dynasty emperors of this period, even the slightest humiliation was unacceptable.

After all, the benchmark set by the Heavenly Khan was still relatively close. Even emperors had to aim for that goal. You had to destroy countries. If a Tang Dynasty emperor didn't destroy several countries, he wouldn't even be considered a leader!
Li Longji personally inspected the warhorses today, for warhorses are indispensable for external expansion.

As soon as we arrived at the camp, we heard a commotion coming from inside the tents.

"What? This was drawn by Xiao Shuang?"

"Hahaha!"

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you laughing at? What are you laughing at?"

"General, don't boast. This painting is even more lifelike than those by the court painters. How could it possibly be painted by Xiao Shuang?"

"I sat right there, watching Xiao Shuang draw it stroke by stroke. How could it be fake? You guys are underestimating me."

We still don't believe it.

Hearing the argument inside, Li Longji became very curious. He stopped Gao Lishi, who was about to report, and went straight into the tent. "What are you arguing about?"

Everyone turned around and saw that it was the emperor, so they quickly stepped forward to pay their respects.

"No need to be polite."

Li Longji waved his hand, and those present were all his favorite ministers, especially Wang Maozhong. He then asked, "What were you arguing about just now?"

Everyone secretly glanced at Wang Maozhong.

Wang Maozhong disregarded everything else and jumped forward, saying, "It's like this. I brought my son's painting to show them, but they said I was bragging. I hope you, Sanlang, will uphold justice for me."

He was originally Li Longji's servant and was used to calling Li Longji Sanlang. In fact, at that time, there were not so many formalities. Many palace maids and eunuchs in the harem also called Li Longji Sanlang in private, unless it was on a formal occasion.

Gao Lishi frowned, feeling that Wang Maozhong was too casual and unruly in front of the emperor, which was quite unbecoming!

"Okay!"

Li Longji didn't mind at all. After all, Wang Maozhong had been his servant and had followed him all the way up the ranks. They were like family. If he didn't address him that way, he would feel awkward. He immediately nodded and agreed, "Where are Xiao Shuang's paintings? Bring them here for me to see."

Wang Maozhong immediately presented the painting in his hand.

Gao Lishi took it first and slowly unfolded it in front of Li Longji.

Li Longji glanced at it casually at first, then was startled and stared at it intently. After a while, he looked at Wang Maozhong and then at the painting.

Wang Maozhong said smugly, "Does Sanlang think the painting is lifelike?"

"So alike! So alike! Absolutely so!"

Li Longji nodded, then asked in surprise, "Did Xiao Shuang really draw this?"

Wang Maozhong nodded and said, "It was Xiao Shuang who drew it. I have never lied to Sanlang."

Li Longji exclaimed in disbelief, "That's impossible!"

"Why not?" Wang Maozhong exclaimed excitedly.

Li Longji said, "Little Shuang!"

Of course he knew what kind of person Wang Maozhong's son was; he couldn't even write a complete character, yet he dared to draw.

Wang Maozhong also saw what Li Longji was thinking. If it were anything else, he wouldn't argue with Li Longji, but since it concerned his son, a father couldn't tolerate it. He immediately said, "Sanlang, you don't know, but recently my son has found a famous teacher and is studying very hard. This painting skill was taught by that famous teacher."

"If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can ask the Duke of Qi and the others; their sons also studied under that renowned teacher."

"is it?"

Li Longji was somewhat convinced and asked curiously, "I wonder which famous scholar he is?"

Wang Maozhong said, "That famous teacher is very discreet and does not want to reveal his name. We all call him Mr. Nameless."

"nameless."

Li Longji read it once, then glanced at the painting again, thinking to himself, "This painting is indeed lifelike, just as they said, even better than the paintings by the palace painters."

(End of this chapter)