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

Chapter 50 Distinguished guests arrive
Li Yichen taught him strategy and how to deal with it, but it seems he didn't teach him how to resolve the fear that comes from the depths of history and is rooted in the deepest part of human nature.

He stood up abruptly, and because the movement was too sudden, a sharp pain shot through his right ankle, almost causing him to fall.

He steadied himself by holding onto the desk, panting heavily.

His gaze swept across the empty hall, over the eunuchs and palace maids standing solemnly to the side, their eyes darting about, and an unprecedented sense of isolation and helplessness overwhelmed him completely.

patience?

How much patience does he have left?
Just then, the eunuch who had been standing outside the hall strode in, his voice filled with tension and awe.

"Your Highness! Lord Wei, the Duke of Zheng... is requesting an audience outside the palace!"

"Who?" Li Chengqian suddenly raised his head, almost thinking he had misheard.

Wei Zheng?

Wei Zheng, who was so ill that he could hardly get out of bed, was exempted from court audiences by his father, the emperor.
He actually came to the East Palace?
An indescribable surge of emotion, a mixture of astonishment and immense joy, instantly dispelled the gloom on Li Chengqian's face.

Who is Wei Zheng?

He was a renowned and outspoken minister, a "mirror" of the emperor, and to some extent, a barometer of public opinion in the court.

At this critical moment, he actually dragged his ailing body to the East Palace Consultative Hall, which was at the center of the storm!

The political signals implied in this made Li Chengqian's heart pound wildly.

"Quickly! Quickly invite him! No! I will personally go to greet him!" Li Chengqian's voice trembled with excitement. He suddenly stood up, ignoring the sharp pain in his ankle, and almost limped as he rushed out of the hall.

At this moment, Liu Shi and the embezzlement case seem to have become unimportant.

Wei Zheng's arrival seemed to give him great hope of being recognized by the mainstream and supported by important officials!
"Your Highness, etiquette!" Li Baiyao hurriedly reminded him in a low voice.

Li Chengqian paused, suppressing his excitement, and straightened his clothes, but the flush on his face and the gleam in his eyes could not be concealed.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm his voice: "Open the central gate, I will greet the Duke of Zheng at the palace gate!"

Wei Zheng did not come alone, nor did he enter with the swagger of an ordinary official.

He was carefully supported by his eldest son, Wei Shuyu, the secretary, as he walked over step by step, extremely slowly.

At this moment, Wei Zheng was completely different from the image of the remonstrating minister in Li Chengqian's memory, who, even though he was thin, always stood tall.

He wore a faded purple old court robe, which hung loosely on his body, making him appear even more emaciated.

His complexion was an unhealthy sallow yellow, his eye sockets were sunken, and his lips were dry, cracked, and lacked color.

With each step, it seemed as if all his strength had been exhausted, accompanied by suppressed, low coughs, and his whole body was trembling slightly.

Only those eyes, though they had lost their former piercing sharpness, remained deep and profound.

"Your subject... Wei Zheng... pays respects to... Your Highness the Crown Prince..."

When Wei Zheng saw Li Chengqian personally come out to greet him, he seemed to struggle to bow, but his voice was weak and feeble. Before he could finish a sentence, he was hit with another violent cough, which made him bend over. He only managed to stay upright thanks to Wei Shuyu's full support.

"Duke Zheng, you mustn't! Your health is already so poor, why bother with these formalities!" Li Chengqian quickly stepped forward, offering a helping hand, his tone full of sincere concern.

"Quickly! Help Duke Zheng inside to take a seat! Bring him a cushion! And summon the imperial physician on duty at the Imperial Pharmacy to come and wait immediately!"

After a flurry of activity, Wei Zheng was properly seated in the hall, on a cushioned seat closest to the Crown Prince's seat, with a hidden pouch behind him.

Wei Shuyu knelt beside his father, ready to help him up at any moment.

A royal physician rushed over and waited behind the screen.

Li Chengqian returned to his seat and sat down, his gaze never leaving Wei Zheng, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement.

"Duke Zheng, you are seriously ill and should be resting. Why have you troubled yourself to come to my Eastern Palace? If you have any advice, you could send a letter or have your son deliver it. I would have listened to it in person. Why go to such lengths?"

His tone was filled with the glory of being valued.

After catching his breath, Wei Zheng slowly swept his cloudy gaze across the hastily arranged "Consultative Hall," glanced at Li Baiyao, Xu Jingzong, and others sitting to his left and right, and finally his gaze returned to Li Chengqian's excited face.

He slowly shook his head, his voice still weak.

"This old minister... is too frail and feeble to disturb Your Highness's ears. However, I have recently heard that Your Highness has opened this hall to widely solicit opinions, and the commotion is quite significant. This old minister, lying on his sickbed, is truly uneasy, and there are some words... that are like a bone stuck in his throat, which I have no choice but to... present to Your Highness in person."

Li Chengqian immediately straightened his posture and appeared to be humbly accepting instruction.

"Please speak, Your Excellency! I have recently come to deeply regret my past mistakes, which is why I have opened this hall. I wish to emulate my father, the Emperor, to listen to all sides and to accept good advice to make up for my shortcomings. Your Excellency is a model for all under heaven. What instructions do you have for me? I will remember them!"

Wei Zheng closed his eyes slightly, as if gathering his strength. After a moment, he opened them again and said slowly, "Your Highness has a heart of repentance and a desire to seek new knowledge. This is truly commendable. If Your Majesty knew, you would be pleased."

He first gave a statement of affirmation, but then immediately changed the subject.

"However, this old minister believes that Your Highness's actions... are questionable in terms of timing and manner, and may... not be the way of a respectful and humble crown prince, but instead bring... an unwarranted disaster."

Li Chengqian's smile froze slightly.

Wei Zheng seemed oblivious to, or rather, unconcerned about, the Crown Prince's changing expression; he was lost in his own worries and thoughts.

"As the Zuo Zhuan says, 'The most important affairs of the state are sacrifice and war.' The primary responsibility of the crown prince is to continue the ancestral temple and stabilize the foundation of the state, rather than... being eager to highlight himself and gain fame. Your Highness is the second-in-command of the state, and should remain in a position of inaction and follow the unchanging path."

He coughed a few times, and Wei Shuyu quickly and gently patted his back.

After catching his breath, Wei Zheng continued, "In the past... when Emperor Wu of Han was the crown prince, he lived a secluded life, studying the classics and not easily associating with outside officials or interfering in politics. This was a wise way to protect himself, and also the way of being a son and a minister. On the other hand... Fusu of Qin was upright and repeatedly remonstrated with the emperor, staying away from Xianyang, and was ultimately taken advantage of by treacherous officials. Although he was loyal, was it not a regrettable thing for the country and for himself?"

As Li Chengqian listened, his brows furrowed slightly involuntarily.

Emperor Wu of Han?
Qin Fusu?
This seems to suggest that one should hide away and study like the former, rather than stand out like the latter.
Wei Zheng observed the Crown Prince's reaction, his tone becoming increasingly earnest and direct.

"Your Highness's recent actions, such as opening the palace, setting up a hall to receive advice, and mentioning the migration of people from Xizhou... these are quite significant events, which are likely to attract attention and... draw attention to you."

He leaned forward slightly.

"This old minister does not mean that Your Highness should not seek knowledge or accept advice. However, at this delicate time, Your Highness should instead... delve into learning, cultivate your character, and uphold filial piety. The Consultation Hall... is merely an empty title; accepting advice... easily invites trouble. Why doesn't Your Highness... temporarily close this hall, restore the usual system of the Eastern Palace, and stay in seclusion to study?"

(End of this chapter)