The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 46 I will proceed according to your plan!
"Thirdly, it will not damage Your Highness's reputation, but will instead add to your mystery and generate buzz. Rumors such as roosters laying golden eggs and cats writing poetry will not harm Your Highness's reputation; on the contrary, they will make the people feel that the Eastern Palace is full of mystery, even auspicious. Your Highness's image among the people will change from a whimsical and tyrannical crown prince to a heir apparent full of strange tales. Your Highness will understand the difference if you think about it carefully."

Li Chengqian was stunned and couldn't process what was happening for a moment.

"Is...is this really feasible?" he murmured.

He never imagined that "self-defilement" could go to such an extent.

Instead of carefully concealing their shortcomings, they deliberately created an absurd media storm, thoroughly muddying the waters and making everyone forget the fatal attacks amidst laughter.

"But... how exactly do we do it?" Li Chengqian's voice was a little dry.

"We can't really ask me to spread the rumor that 'the rooster lays golden eggs,' can we?"

“Naturally, Your Highness does not need to take action personally.” Li Yichen said confidently.

"Simply arrange for reliable people to quietly spread these messages in taverns, teahouses, and places where foreign merchants gather, using hearsay and rumors. The content can be constantly updated. Today it's a rooster laying golden eggs, tomorrow it's His Highness's cat composing poems, the day after tomorrow it's the Crown Prince's dog being able to tell fortunes... The more bizarre, the better."

"When people like Liu Shi spread rumors about the Crown Prince forming a faction and secretly communicating with the Turks, we must let everyone in Chang'an know that strange things have been happening frequently in the Eastern Palace recently, but they are all harmless and even have a bit of an auspicious feel to them. At that time, the rumors that are detrimental to His Highness will naturally be debunked!"

Li Chengqian stood there, stunned, his mind replaying unbelievable statements such as "a rooster lays golden eggs" and "a cat can write poetry."

He looked at Li Yichen, trying to find a trace of mockery or madness in the other's calm and unwavering eyes, but only saw a deep pool of calm and certainty.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, trying to keep his thoughts in line with Li Yichen's train of thought.

However, he still had doubts, pointing to details at the operational level.

"Even if this plan is feasible, 'cats can write poetry,' does that mean we need to find a scholar to write it for us? If such a trick is discovered to be the work of the Crown Prince, wouldn't it backfire and solidify my reputation for being hypocritical and cunning?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yichen's lips curled into a very faint smile, a smile that carried a hint of composure.

"Why go through all that trouble? I have a poem right here."

He paused for a moment, then recited in a clear voice.

"Carved and hammered from the deep mountains, it emerges from the earth."

They treat the raging fire as nothing.

I fear not being shattered to pieces.
"One should leave behind a legacy of integrity."

The verses are powerful and resounding.

The last sentence, "to leave behind a pure reputation in the world," in particular, made Li Chengqian shudder, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

He received a royal education from a young age and his knowledge of classical Chinese literature was quite good. At this moment, he was carefully appreciating these four short lines of poetry.

Although Li Chengqian felt that the poem’s style and spirit were unprecedented, he was certain that it was not something an ordinary writer could have written!

He suddenly looked at Li Yichen, his gaze intense.

"'I fear not being shattered to pieces, but only wish to leave my integrity to the world'... What a poem! What spirit! What character! Yichen, this poem... is it yours?"

A storm raged in his heart. This Li Yichen was not only proficient in political intrigue, but also had such poetic talent.
Faced with the Crown Prince's probing gaze, Li Yichen neither admitted nor denied it.

Li Yichen remained noncommittal, only saying calmly, "It doesn't matter who wrote the poem. What matters is that once this poem is circulated, said to be a 'divine revelation' left behind by the Crown Prince's cat 'accidentally' scratching the paper, how do you think people will react?"

He didn't wait for Li Chengqian's reply and continued his analysis.

"At first, they would naturally laugh, how could a laughing cat compose poetry? But after laughing, they would be awestruck by the poem's grandeur and spirit. Would they wonder where such a poem came from? Would they suspect that the Crown Prince truly possessed 'divine inspiration'?" "Once they became curious, they would inquire. Once they inquired, they would discover that the Crown Prince had recently opened the Consultative Hall, where he diligently studied and accepted advice, discussing classics and history with his companions, debating border affairs with composure and measured words."

Li Yichen's gaze was sharp as he stared directly at Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, this is the effect we want—to use absurdity as a starting point, curiosity as a bridge, and let the truth silently enter people's hearts."

"When people try every means to find out the truth about 'the cat composing poetry' but can never find it, their attention will naturally turn to you—the Crown Prince who has recently appeared frequently in the public eye and whose behavior is very different from before."

"The more composed and diligent you are in governing and learning, the more powerless those rumors about your eccentricity, tyranny, and conspiracy to rebel appear. Because what people have seen and heard is a wise and virtuous crown prince."

Li Chengqian was deeply moved, as if a ray of light had pierced through the fog.

He never imagined that rumors could be used in this way!

The goal is not to defend, but to guide.

It's not about covering it up, it's about showcasing it!
"Then what about 'dogs can tell fortunes'?" he pressed, his tone shifting from doubt to urgency.

"As for that 'dog can tell fortunes'..." Li Yichen changed the subject, his eyes becoming deep and unfathomable.

"We don't need to fabricate divination. Just recently, the Crown Prince's dog divined that in April, a dragon will appear in Bingzhou, in the wilderness near Jinci, damaging crops but not people."

The time, place, and event are so clearly defined?
How can this be?

Celestial phenomena are the most unpredictable!
How could Li Yichen be so sure that this would happen in Bingzhou, hundreds of miles away, a month from now?
Li Chengqian opened his mouth, wanting to say "absurd" and "impossible," but looking into Li Yichen's eyes, he didn't utter the words of doubt.

He recalled all the extraordinary events that Li Yichen had accomplished since his appearance—those terrifyingly accurate judgments, his unheard-of knowledge, and that masterpiece he had just composed!
This person is a huge mystery in himself.

Li Chengqian's voice was hoarse, filled with disbelief and shock, "Could this... really be true?"

Li Yichen withdrew his gaze, his face remaining expressionless. He simply said, "I once received instruction from a strange man on the art of observing stars and the movement of earth's veins, and I have some knowledge of this art. Your Highness may or may not believe it, but please wait patiently for the right time."

Li Chengqian felt a chill rise from his spine and straight to the top of his head.

He stared intently at Li Yichen, trying to find even the slightest hint of bluff on his face, but all he saw was a deep calm.

This calmness is more convincing than any oath or vow.

He... is serious.

He truly foresaw an event that had not yet occurred and was beyond human control!

This was beyond Li Chengqian's comprehension.

Is it divination?
Is it an astrological phenomenon?
Or... does he really possess extraordinary abilities?

After the initial shock, a strange sense of trust took root in Li Chengqian's heart.

Perhaps it is precisely because this matter is so unbelievable that it seems all the more real?

If Li Yichen can even predict celestial phenomena, wouldn't the chances of his various strategies succeeding increase significantly?
"...I believe in you." Li Chengqian took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, his voice carrying a resolute determination.

"Then we will proceed according to your plan!"

(End of this chapter)