The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 78 The Struggle

Back at Prince An’s Manor, Li Ye asked Song Jiao to take the little girl to have a bath and get changed into clean clothes.

Li Zhen had no objection. After all, a dirty little girl was impolite anywhere.

Although it was late, there was no shortage of cooks in Prince An’s Manor. So, soon a banquet had been arranged for Li Ye. When Li Ye pulled Li Zhen into his seat, Li Zhen was somewhat dismayed. The banquet was so grand that he felt flattered again.

However, Li Zhen did not strike a pose but calmly sat down, humbled and not arrogant. But, in fact, the gift blinds the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. Li Ye didn’t need to worry about the atmosphere between them. It became enthusiastic naturally and for Li Ye’s questions, Li Zhen also said all he knew.

They talked mostly about the classics of Confucianism and Taoism. They talked about the doctrine of self-cultivation and governing the country, instead of the classics of practice. Li Zhen was good at these, and Li Ye also intended to test Li Zhen’s ability. So, they talked a lot.

With the deepening of the conversation, Li Ye became more and more delighted because Li Zhen had true skill and genuine knowledge. Li Zhen was becoming more and more shocked by the young Prince An who talked so freely in front of him about these classics without too much hesitation. Li Ye really had a wealth of knowledge.

Since ancient times, scholars tended to scorn each other. Everyone felt that their literary knowledge was better than everyone else. But, Li Zhen soon found that even though he had studied hard for nearly 30 years, he was not as educated as Li Ye who was in his twenties and had profound insights and knowledge. Gradually, he admired Li Ye.

Before the transmigration, Li Ye had been a Great Cultivator. Of course, he knew a lot about Chinese culture. But, it might be difficult for him to run the country and make the world peaceful. However, as for conversation material at the banquet, his knowledge was enough to frighten Li Zhen.

Soon, under the leadership of Li Ye, the two men detested meeting each other so late.

“Your Highness, you have just passed the age of twenty, but you’re wealthy in knowledge. I really admire you.” Li Zhen raised his cup and said, “Listening to your words is better than reading books for ten years. I witnessed this today.”

Li Ye also raised his cup and said, “It’s really a great pleasure to sit down with Childe Li and talk about Tao. Cheer up.”

While they were drinking together, Song Jiao came in with Rui Mengmeng who had been dressed up. Seeing the little girl pulled by Song Jiao, both Li Ye and Li Zhen were shocked.

The little girl had changed into a green shirt and red skirt, and her hair had been tied up. Song Jiao also made up for her. So she looked more energetic. Her facial features were delicate. She looked like the most delicate doll in the world, lovely and noble.

However, the little girl was shocked by the luxurious decoration of the manor, so she seemed a little restrained. Now she was holding Song Jiao’s hand tightly and hiding half of her little body behind her. She looked like a squirrel afraid of seeing people. The only difference was her round moist eyes that shown as bright as stars.

Li Zhen’s shock was mostly due to the little girl’s unexpected appearance of a fairy child after dressing up. The reason why Li Ye was shocked was that he saw a transparent airflow floating above the little girl’s head.

People had their own destiny, and the color of their Luck was different. Li Ye had seen white, yellow, green and red Luck. But, this was Li Ye’s first time seeing transparent Luck. Instinctively, Li Ye thought the little girl was unusual.

“Your Highness.” Rui Mengmeng saluted in the hall, her voice full of childishness, mostly because she was afraid of Li Ye, the Grand Prince. She always lowered her head and dared not look directly at Li Ye.

After saluting, Song Jiao pulled up Rui Mengmeng and looked at her with fondness, as if looking at her daughter. She said to Li Ye, “She is afraid of you. I’ll take her to have dinner. You go on talking.”

After they left, Li Ye asked Li Zhen, “You... did you really pick up her on the street?”

Li Zhen was confused by Li Ye’s question. “Yeah, things like that happen...”

Li Ye smiled and his gaze became deep. He thought the little girl was interesting.

After the episode, the two continued. Li Ye intentionally wanted Li Zhen to work for him, so he asked, “In your opinion, what will happen in the future?”

Suddenly, when asked this question, Li Zhen had been quite surprised and retorted, “What do you think will happen?”

Li Ye kept silent for a while, then he said, “Many Immortal sects appeared in Jianghu and acted evilly in collusion with the governors of the vassal states. They together ignored the prohibition of the imperial court, recruited disciples without permission, passed immortal methods to ordinary people, expanded their cultivation team and increased their own strength. But, the Imperial Court can’t stop them. This is a sign that the world is going to turn chaotic and misfortune is going to come.”

Li Zhen was shocked.

As the youth of the Imperial Clan, Li Ye shouldn’t say that directly.

Li Ye continued. “In the Tang Empire today, we not only can’t suppress any foreign aggression but also can’t subdue the vassal state. The eunuchs take power in the Imperial Palace. The four nobles take control of the government. In the court, crafty sycophants are in high positions and run amuck. The youth of the Imperial Clan pay no attention to the community, but fight for power and profit, and seek their own interests... All of these are signs of the end of the days. As the youth of the Imperial Clan, I can’t ignore them.”

Li Ye’s words were correct.

But, it seemed a bit horrible coming from his mouth.

“Your Highness, your remarks are really deafening.” Li Zhen was shocked.

Li Ye smiled and asked, “What’s your opinion?”

Li Zhen remembered his experience today.

A middle-aged man beat six- or seven-year-old Rui Mengmeng on the street because she stole a steamed cake from him.

The shopkeeper of a dilapidated inn was so ugly and indifferent in order to get a thousand coins.

Human hearts were not what they were in the old days.

Li Zhen has seen and experienced too many such things in his daily life.

He failed to pass the civil examination three times, not due to his lack of talent and learning, but because he hadn’t bribed the examiners.

Some scholars who were far less talented than him had already become Imperial Scholars because they had given a gift to their examiners.

As a Confucian Scholar whose belief was running the country and stabilizing the world, Li Zhen had asked himself more than once what he should do in the face of this ruined world.

At this time, the maid served tea. Li Ye took one and pushed it to Li Zhen. Looking at Li Zhen, he seriously said, “The world will be chaotic, and great Kalpa will be born. As a youth of the Imperial Clan, I cannot keep out of the affair. I want to make meritorious contributions first, then take office in a vassal state, where I finally plan for my last big goal. Chile Li, you’re the pillar of the state, are you willing to help me?”

Li Zhen took the tea bowl from Li Ye and didn’t sip because he was shocked.

Li Zhen could understand Li Ye’s words.

There had been youths of the Imperial Clan who made great efforts to save society after the chaos of the world, even after the change of the dynasty. Emperor Liu Xiu was one of them.

Li Ye’s last big goal was to save the whole world.

Just now Li Ye asked Li Zhen if he would like to join him.

Li Zhen drank the tea.

Putting down the tea bowl, Li Zhen looked up at Li Ye and asked, “Is it not accidental that you appeared at Magpie Bridge tonight?”

Li Ye nodded and smiled. “Yes, it wasn’t accidental. I went there for you.”

Li Zhen was silent for a moment.

Then he got up suddenly and saluted Li Ye, saying, “I’m not talented, but I’d like to help you.”

Li Ye could see through the general situation of the world and had some plans. Such foresight and precaution were the foundation of being a lord.

Li Ye’s rich knowledge was the base for success.

Li Ye’s attitude towards people was warm and friendly, which made people feel like they were bathing in a spring breeze. This was the attitude to gather people.

Li Ye went to Magpie Bridge today just for Li Zhen. It showed that Li Ye had been paying attention to him for a long time. When Li Zhen suffered hardship and had nowhere to settle down, Li Ye invited him personally in time, regardless of the heavy rain at night. It was his respect for Li Zhen.

This Prince An was the descendant of Li Xian, who had once been world famous and had been praised as the hero of saving the world in the hard times.

And, he was a Four-class official of the Imperial Court in his twenties.

Was such a person worthy of loyalty?

Yes.

If Li Zhen didn’t want to be loyal to such a person, how many better choices were there in the world?

Did he really decide to find a job in a shop, never to take part in civil examinations from then on, and face account books all day?

To become an official, in addition to taking part in the civil examination, the Scholars of the present age also could work for the commissioner of the vassal state and become an officer of the commissioner’s council. The Imperial Court also acknowledged the officers of the vassal states and regularly selected talented people from them and entrusted them with important tasks. This was also a means for the Imperial Court to grasp the personal rights of the vassal states so as to control them.

Du Fu had worked in the council of Commissioner Yan Wu.

Li Ye was a Grand Prince, who inherited Li Xian’s business. Working for Li Ye was the same as working for a commissioner of a vassal state.

Li Ye got up quickly and lifted Li Zhen up. He was so relieved and directly appointed Li Zhen as an inspector. “It’s my fortune to get you! From today on, you’re a Seven-class Inspector of my manor!”

Li Ye had the right to appoint others as manor officials under Five-class. After that, he only had to tell the Appointment Department.

So, now Li Zhen was a Seven-class Inspector. He just needed a letter of appointment before taking office.

“Your Highness!” Li Zhen bowed down and worshiped again. This worship affirmed his subordinate status and after that he was Li Ye’s home official.

Li Ye once again helped Li Zhen up.

He fixed his eyes on Li Zhen’s head.

As the Dragon Qi in his body swam, a red air stream converged towards him.

...

The next day, at nine o’clock.

Li Ye stood in front of the attic window with his hands clasped behind his back, enjoying the view of the manor.

After the Dragon Qi absorbed Li Zhen’s Luck last night, Li Ye’s cultivation had reached the Great Completion of Level 4 Qi-refining. He could enter the realm of Level 5 Qi-refining with a little help.

“I still need a little ... It seems that the process of finding talent can’t stop.” Li Ye said to herself, “But, it’s difficult to find talent like Li Zhen who was the Minister of Ministry of Finance in my Last Life.”

After a while, Shangguan Qingcheng sent a message to him.

“Your Highness, Gao Pian has gone to Xi Chuan.”

Gao Pian was one of the generals who was called the Double Legends of the dynasty, together with Li Xian. Also, he was the second in command of Wang Duo’s party.

Li Ye nodded and did not comment.

Shangguan Qingcheng said, “Now is the critical time for you and Wang Duo to compete with Wei Baoheng. But, Gao Pian left Chang’an for Xi Chuan. He will be too far away to be able to help us. This is a weakening of our power. How can Gao Pian act like that?”

Li Ye chuckled lightly. “Over the years, Nanzhao has invaded Chuan areas several times. Gao Pian is a general. Staying in Chang’an City is useless to him. Attending the garrison duty in West Chuan and resisting the army of Nanzhao can help him get merits. Now there’s a chance to go to West Chuan, how could he not go?”

Shangguan Qingcheng frowned and said, “But, this time, he went to Xi Chuan alone, regardless of the plan that you and Wang Duo are competing with Wei Baoheng. Is he still our ally?”

Li Ye looked at Shangguan Qingcheng and said, “Allies? For the sake of allies, one can not seek their own power? In the face of power, an alliance is temporary and competition is eternal. Because everyone wants more power. Gao Pian allies with Wang Duo. What does he want? To rectify the country? The reason why he allies with Wang Duo is the same reason why Lu Yan allies with Wang Duo. They all want to strengthen themselves and seek more power.”

Shangguan Qingcheng opened her mouth, but couldn’t speak for a while.

Li Ye looked out at the distance. “In other words, Gao Pian’s military achievements are numerous. Doesn’t he want to be in a higher position? Doesn’t he want to have his own manor as my father? Gao Pian’s alliance with Wang Duo will collapse when Wei Baoheng and Lu Yan are pulled down. At that time, I’m afraid that Gao Pian will compete with Wang Duo in the court, just like Wang Duo competes with Wei Baoheng now.”

At this point, Li Ye stopped not saying more.

Shangguan Qingcheng was silent for a while, but could not help asking, “Will Gao Pian’s trip to Xi Chuan have an impact on our affairs?”

Li Ye said, “That Gao Pian is not in the court will influence us. But, he is going to attend garrison duty in Xi Chuan, out of the town of Xichuan, and not be demoted. He still can help Wang Duo. In addition, his party members in the court will continue to follow Wang Duo. So, it’s just a small impact.”

Speaking of this, he sighed softly. “Where there are people, there is Jianghu. People in Jianghu fight either for power or private resentment. There is a struggle everywhere.”

Li Ye waved his hands, dismissing Shangguan Qingcheng.

Shangguan Qingcheng took two steps and suddenly remembered something. She turned to Li Ye and asked him, “Your Highness, last night when you went to pick up Li Zhen, it was a time when he was in despair... Li Zhen had been driven out of the inn by the shopkeeper. Did you secretly instruct that?”