Duke of Zhenguan

Chapter 119 Wenzhongzi

Perhaps realizing his question was too absurd, Li Shimin somewhat awkwardly changed the subject: "The locust problem is your responsibility. I'll have the Hundred Cavalry assist you!"

"yes!"

Lin Chuan bowed in response, then cautiously asked, "What about the money and provisions?"

"Huangji Trading Company will take care of the finances and provisions!" Li Shimin said.

It was no secret that Huangji Trading Company was a royal trading company, and with the momentum of two great victories, it was now one of the largest trading companies in the Tang Dynasty.

Having Huangji Trading Company handle this task would be a piece of cake for them.

It was already noon when Lin Chuan left the palace. He didn't go to the Ministry of War, but went straight home.

Ever since hearing the rumors, Li's heart had been in her throat. She had been waiting in the front yard since noon, and only when she saw her son return home did she manage a weak smile, asking softly, "Why is Dalang back so early?"

"I'll be back once I've finished my business, Mother. Don't worry, the rumors have been resolved!" Lin Chuan comforted her with a smile.

"Is it really resolved?" Mrs. Li asked in surprise.

"It's really solved!" Lin Chuan nodded.

"That's good, that's good. Dalang, you rest first. I'll have someone prepare the meal right away!" Madam Li walked briskly to the courtyard.

Lin Chuan sighed inwardly. He had never expected that those people would make up a prophecy and that it would happen to come true by sheer coincidence!

Now that Li Shimin has doubts, it will be difficult to dispel them.

The method to deal with the locusts was a kind of pledge of loyalty. Li Shimin was a man of both literary and military talent, and he was tolerant enough to his own people, but deep down he was still suspicious and arrogant.

Even if he suspects Lin Chuan, he probably won't do anything to Lin Chuan for the time being.

Back in the east wing, Meixiang saw Lin Chuan frowning, but dared not ask any questions. After bringing him tea, she softly asked, "My lord, shall I play the zither to help you relax?"

"Oh, you can play the piano?" Lin Chuan asked in surprise.

"My lord, I grew up in the Pavilion of Beauties since I was a child, so of course I can play!" Mei Xiang gave Lin Chuan a reproachful look and said softly.

"I haven't heard of it before, so play a tune for me!" Lin Chuan said with a smile as he sat down on the soft couch.

Meixiang then went to her bedroom and brought out her zither.

It's called a zither, but it's actually a guzheng. When Meixiang came out of Qunfang Pavilion, she didn't bring anything with her except a contract of indenture. All these things were bought recently.

After marrying into the Cheng family, Li would occasionally visit them. Most of her experience in managing the household was taught to her by Cui, including the servants' monthly wages.

There were only two people in the east wing, Meixiang and Linchuan. The monthly allowance that Li Shi gave her was the same as that given to a concubine, which was ten strings of cash per month.

With the money, she asked Lin Jiu to buy her things like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She had been taught to use her beauty to please people since she was a child, and now she naturally wanted to use these things to please Lin Chuan.

Having spent too much time and energy in the palace during the day, leaning back on the soft couch and listening to the melodious music echoing in my ears, my mood gradually calmed down, and I drifted off to sleep.

Seeing that Lin Chuan had fallen asleep, Mei Xiang stopped what she was doing, gently moved to Lin Chuan's side, and stared blankly at the sleeping Lin Chuan.

She turned sixteen before she knew it. Having witnessed too many unpleasant things in the brothel, she gradually became numb.

I thought I would suddenly disappear or die of illness like the older sisters in the pavilion, but I never expected that I would be able to leave the Pavilion of Beauties in this lifetime.

After arriving at the Lin family, she went from being cautious at the beginning to now daring to take money to ask Lin Jiu or Lin Jiu's wife, Tian Shi, to help her buy things, all because of the young man in front of her who was about the same age as her.

Li had hinted at it to her many times in private, but every time she mustered up the courage to sneak into Lin Chuan's bed at night, she would back down when it came time to do it.

She was living a life she never dared to dream of before, and she was afraid Lin Chuan would not like it.

She was even more afraid of being kicked out by Lin Chuan or being given away.

Looking at Lin Chuan's fair face, Mei Xiang thought boldly, "If only I could have a child for my husband!"

As for her official title, she hadn't thought about it since Lin Chuan was made a count.

While lost in thought, Meixiang suddenly heard someone calling her. Startled awake, she instinctively turned to look at the gate and saw Li Shi stepping into the courtyard.

"Madam!" Meixiang quickly stood up and bowed.

Madam Li glanced at the sleeping Lin Chuan and asked softly, "How long has Da Lang been asleep?"

"It's been a while!" Meixiang said softly.

"Then let Dalang sleep a little longer!" Madam Li said softly. "When Dalang wakes up, Meixiang, tell him that we have guests and he should come and see them!"

"Yes, Madam!"

After Li left, about half an hour later, when the sun was setting, Meixiang went in to get a blanket and came out to cover Lin Chuan with it, and Lin Chuan was awakened.

"The sun has already set!" Lin Chuan exclaimed, yawning as he stood up.

"My lord, Madam says a guest has arrived and asks you to wake up and meet him!" Meixiang said softly.

"Guests?" Lin Chuan muttered, then said, "I'll go check!"

Upon arriving at the front yard, they saw Lin Jiu and Li Shi chatting with a thin, middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man was wearing a linen robe and his hair was tied up with linen, but judging from the way he chatted with Lin Jiu and Li Shi, they seemed to be familiar with each other.

Lin Jiu was taciturn and rarely spoke to even the guards at home. It was only in front of the neighbors in Tiechi Lane that Lin Chuan would see such a hearty smile on his face.

Seeing Lin Chuan enter, Madam Li stood up, pointed at the middle-aged man, and said to her son with a smile, "Eldest son, this is Mr. Wang, do you remember him?"

Lin Chuan had no relevant memories and could only shake his head awkwardly.

Seeing Lin Chuan shake his head, Wang Ji didn't show any displeasure. He stood up and cupped his hands in a rather nonchalant manner towards Lin Chuan: "I am Wang Ji, greetings to County Earl Lin!"

"Greetings, Mr. Wang!" Lin Chuan politely returned the greeting.

"Big Brother, you don't remember anything at all? When you were little, Mr. Wang said you were intelligent and taught you to read and write in his spare time! We originally agreed that you would become Mr. Wang's apprentice when you turned six, but then disaster struck and the matter was delayed!" Li explained to Lin Chuan with a wry smile.

Is that true?

Lin Chuan glanced at Wang Ji in surprise.

"Madam, the Earl of Lin County was still young at the time, how could he possibly remember these things? Today, I only came to see you because I heard from Yan Shigong of the Ministry of Personnel that you and the Earl of Lin County had fled from Longmen County. I never expected that you would actually be an old friend!" Wang Ji said with a smile.

"I told my son the other day that I wanted to go back to Longmen County. If I had known that Mr. Wang was also in Chang'an, I would have taken him to visit him long ago!" Madam Li sighed softly.

"Haha, who says otherwise? If I had known that Lord Lin was the same Lin Dalang from back then, I would have shamelessly come to your door long ago. I've been eyeing your family's fermented rice wine for many years!" Wang Ji laughed heartily.

"The gentleman still enjoys wine as much as he did back then—"

Li sighed, then smiled and said to Lin Chuan, "Eldest son, you stay and chat with the master for a while, I'll go and have someone prepare some food and wine!"

After Li left, Wang Ji asked with curiosity, "I heard that Lord Lin later met an old Taoist priest. I wonder if Lord Lin could tell me about it in detail?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuan subconsciously became more wary when looking at Wang Ji.

Seeing this, Wang Ji suddenly slapped his forehead and explained with a wry smile, "Lord Lin, please don't misunderstand. Back then, when I was traveling and studying, I was fortunate enough to follow a wandering Taoist priest and learn a lot from him. That Taoist priest was called Yunhe. He was not only proficient in the classics and mathematics, but also a master in miscellaneous studies!"

Although I have no formal master-disciple relationship with Daoist Yunhe, the two years I spent with him were the happiest two years of my travels. It's just that I never saw him again after that.

Today, I heard from Yan Shigong that Lord Lin was not only proficient in mathematics, but also quite accomplished in miscellaneous studies. I thought to myself, perhaps there really is such a coincidence. Maybe Lord Lin met Daoist Yunhe back then, which is why I asked this question!

Lin Chuan could only smile wryly upon hearing this. The old Taoist priest he mentioned was entirely fabricated; he had no memory of any Taoist priest at all.

But Wang Ji, who was standing in front of her, had a past relationship with her family. Judging from Li's happy appearance, Wang Ji might have actually taught her to read and could be considered her mentor.

Since you've already told one lie, you can only tell another to cover it up.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Chuan said, "I was young then, and so many years have passed, so I don't remember the Taoist priest's appearance very clearly. I only remember that he was tall and had a square face."

By then, the Taoist priest's beard and hair had turned completely white, and his face was lined with wrinkles.

Before Lin Chuan could finish speaking, Wang Ji clapped his hands and exclaimed with delight, "It matches up!"

Lin Chuan stared blankly at Wang Ji. How could this possibly match?

Wang Ji continued excitedly, "Lord Lin, aren't Daoist Yunhe's eyebrows still quite long? Haha, back when I was drunk, I said Daoist Yunhe's face was as square as a brick! I even got a lecture from Daoist Yunhe!"

Lin Chuan had no idea whether Daoist Yunhe's eyebrows were long or not, so he could only vaguely reply, "I can't remember—"

"You were too young back then, and you were the type to focus solely on your studies and ignore everything else, so you probably don't remember!" Wang Ji sighed, adding, "I wonder where Daoist Yunhe is now—"

Lin Chuan smiled but didn't reply.

After a while, Madam Li came in from outside and said to Wang Ji with a smile, "Sir, I've had some wine and dishes prepared. The wine is brewed using a recipe devised by my eldest son. Let's eat and chat!"

"Then I won't stand on ceremony. I've long heard that the Changsun family's fine wine is made using the recipe from the Lin County Earl, and I've been craving it for ages!" Wang Ji cupped his hands in greeting to Madam Li.

"What are you saying, sir? If you like them, I'll have my ninth uncle send some to you another day!" Madam Li said with a smile.

"I'm so sorry!"

"What's the big deal?!"

Looking at Wang Ji, who was being completely impolite, Lin Chuan was momentarily at a loss for words.

After the group arrived at the dining hall, Ah Shui and several maids began to bring in the food.

"My lord!"

Lin Chuan almost didn't recognize Ah Shui as she gracefully placed wine and dishes on the table.

It doesn't seem like it's been that long. When did that rough-looking wild girl turn into this beautiful foreign girl in front of me?

As soon as the food and wine were served, Wang Ji eagerly picked up the wine pot, poured himself a full cup, and said with a smile, "This old man is offering this toast to Madam, Lin Jiulang, and Lord Lin!"

After saying that, he picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Lin Chuan, who was about to say a few polite words, could only smile wryly and take two sips of his wine.

Lin Jiu was quite honest; after downing his wine in one gulp, he even refilled Wang Ji's glass with the wine pot.

The meal lasted for more than an hour. Watching Wang Ji drink one cup after another, he began to suspect that Wang Ji's cup contained rice wine instead of the nearly 30-proof liquor in his own cup.

After drinking about three pots, which weighed at least three jin, Wang Ji seemed perfectly fine except for a slightly flushed face.

After finishing his meal, he sat and chatted with Li and Lin Jiu for a while before saying goodbye and leaving.

The next morning, after the court assembly, Lin Chuan waited for Prime Minister Yan at the main gate.

Upon arriving at the capital, Lin Chuan asked softly, "Does Lord Yan know of Wang Ji?"

"Wang Ji?"

Yan Xiangshi paused for a moment, then nodded: "Of course I know!"

Then, surprised, she asked Lin Chuan, "Why are you suddenly asking about him?"

"Speaking of which, Wang Ji and my family are old acquaintances. I can't quite figure this man out, so I'm asking Master Yan!"

Yan Xiangshi suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking at Lin Chuan with disbelief: "You don't know Wang Ji or Wang Wugong?"

Lin Chuan shook his head awkwardly.

"You don't know Wang Ji or Wang Wugong, but you must know Wen Zhongzi, right? Wang Ji is Wen Zhongzi's own younger brother!" Yan Xiangshi asked irritably.

"Wenzhongzi?"

Lin Chuan still looked bewildered. Yan Xiangshi, seeing his expression, froze on the spot, and after a long while, sighed speechlessly, "He even knows about Wen Zhongzi—"

"I humbly request your guidance, Master Yan!"

"Wang Tong, courtesy name Zhongyan, is actually from the same hometown as you, both from Longmen County!"

This person was a prodigy, having mastered his studies by the age of fifteen and becoming qualified to be a teacher! He then traveled extensively to study, becoming well-versed in the Six Classics!

When he was twenty years old, he traveled to Chang'an in the west and presented the "Twelve Strategies for Peace"!

He was not given important positions by the court afterward, so he resigned and returned to his hometown. He opened a school in Bai Niu Xi in Beishan and taught hundreds of students. At that time, he was known as "the disciple of He Fen".

The Duke of Xing, the Duke of Cai, Minister Li, and Right Chancellor Wei all studied under him!

As for Wang Ji, whom you mentioned, although his talent is not as good as his elder brother's, in terms of poetry, among all the people I know, no one can match him!

Moreover, this person is fond of wine and music, but dislikes all worldly affairs! To this day, he only holds a sinecure in the provincial government!

"Yan Xiangshi said softly."

Lin Chuan was speechless. Just how amazing were these two brothers that Yan Xiangshi praised them so highly?

Moreover, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, and Li Jing were all Wang Tong's students, which means they were from the same school.

How come he's never heard anyone mention this before?

Looking at Lin Chuan's appearance, Yan Xiangshi smiled and said, "Weren't you always worried about the teachers at the academy?"

Wen Zhongzi has countless disciples. Since you have a past relationship with Wang Ji, why not ask him to help you find some teachers?

Lin Chuan suddenly understood. Wang Ji might really consider him a fellow disciple. If Wang Ji was willing to help, why would he have trouble finding a teacher?

After saying goodbye to Yan Xiangshi, Lin Chuan went to Shanglin Garden.

The Gewu Academy is nearing completion. Once the academy is finished, his long-planned enrollment program can begin.