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

Chapter 56 Is he crying out for injustice, or declaring his innocence?

"Is this another rumor? Yesterday they were saying the rooster laid golden eggs!"

"The poems he wrote have all been circulated! Those scholars say that the poems written by this cat will be passed down through the ages!"

“Listen to this poem— ‘I fear not being crushed to pieces, but only wish to leave behind a pure reputation among men’! Such spirit! Could this be made up?”

"If this poem really is about a cat... uh, if it really came from the Eastern Palace, then what does the Crown Prince mean..."

"Isn't it obvious? Someone is trying to smear the Crown Prince, but he's just showing his true colors! He's not afraid of your slander; he'll fight to the death to clear his name!"

"Hiss... Now that you mention it, and looking at those rumors from the past few days, things like curses and extravagance... it really does seem like a frame-up..."

Public opinion has begun to subtly shift.

The absurdity of the "golden egg" attracted the world's attention, diluting the intensity of the malicious rumors.

While some people still thought it was an absurd and bizarre thing, the amazing legacy of the "cat poem" and its strong symbolic meaning have forcibly embedded a tragic image of "the innocent are innocent" and "not afraid of slander" into people's understanding.

The two absurd rumors overlapped, but instead of making people laugh at the prince, they created a strange chemical reaction.

People began to focus more on the Crown Prince himself, on the heir apparent who had recently opened the Eastern Palace and accepted advice but refused criticism.

Compared to those curses and accusations of extravagance that sounded malicious, this prince who could compose such fierce verses seemed... not as bad as the rumors suggested.
Liangyi Palace.

When Li Shimin looked at the note presented by Wang De, which contained a copy of the "Cat Poem," his anger had vanished, replaced by extreme shock and deep confusion.

He recited those four lines of poetry over and over again.

"I fear not being shattered to pieces... I only wish to leave behind a pure reputation in the world..."

He muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming.

"This poem...this poem..."

He wasn't shocked by the absurdity of "cats being able to write poetry," which was simply impossible.

He was stunned by the poem itself!
Its magnificent spirit and unwavering will are by no means ordinary!
What alarmed him even more was the message this poem conveyed at this moment!

This is clearly using an object to express one's aspirations!
It is a declaration of one's true intentions to the world!

"Is he telling me, and everyone else, that he is not afraid of those rumors, that he has a clear conscience, and that all he wants is to clear his name?"

Li Shimin frowned, his mind in turmoil.

At this moment, his previous judgment that the Crown Prince was foolish and self-destructive began to waver.

If these "golden eggs" and "cat poems" are both the prince's strategies... then these strategies are not only not foolish, but... extremely brilliant!
Use absurdity to counter viciousness, and use high-quality cultural output to improve image and reverse public opinion!
This completely breaks away from the conventional approach of self-defense, forbearance, or fierce confrontation, taking a different path that yields amazing results!
This is absolutely not something Li Chengqian could have come up with on his own! Absolutely impossible!
Who exactly is the person behind all this?!

For the first time, genuine seriousness and apprehension appeared in Li Shimin's eyes.

He had initially thought this person was just a quick-witted advisor, but now it seemed that this person's manipulation of people's hearts and public opinion was unparalleled!

"Investigate!" Li Shimin's voice was colder than ever before.

"Dig three feet into the ground, and find out who's hiding in the shadows in the Eastern Palace!"

Duke Zhao's Mansion.

When Changsun Wuji heard his staff report again, especially the "cat poem," his hand stroking his beard suddenly stopped, and his usual composure and sarcasm froze instantly.

He remained silent for a long time, then slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the scene in the courtyard.

"I fear not being shattered to pieces, but only that my integrity remain in the world..."

He murmured softly, a complex and enigmatic light flashing in his eyes.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice slightly hoarse: "It seems... I misjudged you."

He turned to look at his advisors, his face now calm, but a turbulent undercurrent swirled in his eyes. "This poem… could only be written by a great talent. Even more remarkable is the way it was released, at this time… a masterful stroke of genius!"

He paced back to his desk, tapping his fingers on the surface.

"The rooster lays golden eggs, attracting attention and confusing the public; the cat composes a masterpiece, revealing its integrity and changing the public's perception. One is vulgar, the other refined; one is humorous, the other solemn, complementing each other... This is no mere cleverness; this is... a grand scheme!"

Changsun Wuji's gaze deepened.

"There's a master strategist by the Crown Prince's side. And one who understands people's hearts and knows how to create momentum. Perhaps all that happened before... wasn't reckless, but rather intentional?"

For the first time, he began to seriously examine all the recent actions of the Crown Prince. The image of the Crown Prince, whom he had previously considered "foolish," and the "unrefined" master suddenly became blurred and mysterious.

Liang Guogong Mansion.

Fang Xuanling held the note with the words "Cat Poem" written on it, his hand trembling slightly.

He looked at it repeatedly, his face a mixture of shock, confusion, and a hint of... indescribable tremor.

“This…this poem…” He looked up at the old servant, his eyes filled with disbelief, “Could it really have come from the Eastern Palace?”

“It’s absolutely true. The news has spread throughout Chang’an, and it all points to the Eastern Palace,” the old servant replied respectfully.

Fang Xuanling slumped in his chair, muttering, "'To leave behind a pure reputation'... Was he crying out for justice, or declaring his integrity? Or... perhaps both?"

He realized he was completely wrong.

The crown prince was not giving up on himself; he was waging the most intense resistance in a way that was completely incomprehensible to others!

Moreover, this method, though seemingly absurd, has actually begun to turn the tide!
"Who exactly is the person behind this?"

Fang Xuanling felt a chill.

"To be able to combine political maneuvering with literary talent so skillfully... If this person were to be employed by the Crown Prince, the political landscape... would likely truly change!"

Duke Zheng's Mansion.

After his son finished reciting the poem, Wei Zheng remained silent for a long time, staring blankly at the roof. In his cloudy old eyes, a few tears glistened.

"I'm not afraid of being crushed to pieces... I just want to preserve my innocence..." He chewed on these words repeatedly, his chapped lips moving slightly.

Suddenly, he grabbed Wei Shuyu's hand with astonishing strength, his voice hoarse yet filled with an unusual excitement.

"You...you read it again! Read it again!"

Wei Shuyu read it aloud clearly again as instructed.

After hearing this, Wei Zheng let out a long sigh, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He collapsed onto the bed, but a look of near-satisfaction appeared on his face.

“Okay…okay…” he murmured.

"With such integrity... with such poetic talent... the Crown Prince's entourage is not entirely composed of sycophants! Not all of them are those who encourage him to take risks! This poem is enough to show his resolve! It is enough to show his character! I... I may... perhaps I have misunderstood him..."

Although he still found the method difficult to fully agree with, the core spirit of the poem deeply moved him, a loyal minister who had weathered many storms but always upheld the integrity of a scholar-official.

The Eastern Palace, the Consultative Hall.

The door, which had been silent for several days, was knocked on once again.

The officials who came were no longer censors from the Censorate, but rather some officials of low rank who mostly held sinecure positions in the Six Ministries, or who came from humble backgrounds and were frustrated with their careers.

They might have been attracted by the spirit and talent displayed in the "cat poem," or perhaps they were moved by the "extraordinary" way the prince dealt with the situation, which was quite different from the norm. Or perhaps they simply felt that this prince, who seemed to have a unique approach to adversity, was worth "taking a look" at.

Li Chengqian sat in the main seat, looking at the officials below him whose expressions ranged from reserved to curious to scrutinizing, and his heart was filled with indescribable excitement and exhilaration.

(End of this chapter)