Chapter 25: The Princess Enrolls—The Invincible Brick (Part Two)

A few scholars exchanged bewildered glances. The story Li Lingyue told to the children was of little consequence to them; their attention was instead fixed anxiously on Xu Yanbo and Helan Minzhi.

Xu Yanbo’s arrogance had offended all the esteemed teachers of the Imperial Academy, for scholars possess their own sense of pride. In the end, united in indignation and disregarding the overwhelming influence of Xu Jingzong, they delivered him a mediocre evaluation.

In truth, if Xu Jingzong intervened, and everyone sat down to discuss matters, the evaluation could be changed with just a little restraint shown by Xu Yanbo. Yet Xu Yanbo chose not to take that route, instead inviting Helan Minzhi. Who was Helan Minzhi? He was even more audacious than Xu Yanbo, and the only maternal relative of the Empress. The Empress—her power now rivaled that of the Emperor. Who could match her cunning? Who dared challenge her authority?

But Helan Minzhi had long since cast this matter from his mind. What a perfect opportunity—smiling with a charm as radiant as peach blossoms, he approached Li Wei and said, “Your Highness, your scholarship is truly astonishing. I have resided in the capital for years, yet never heard this anecdote about Master Kuiji. Tomorrow, I shall question the historians: how could such a legendary tale be omitted from the records?”

Li Wei considered for a moment, then replied calmly as he sat, “It is merely a story I heard among the common folk, and I know it is not true. But telling it to my younger siblings for their amusement—what harm is there in that?”

Whether the legend of the ‘monk of three carts’ was gaining traction among the people, none could say. Master Kuiji still lived, highly venerated, wielding great influence within Buddhism. Furthermore, he hailed from the household of the Duke of E, and so various rumors—most baseless—circulated among the masses.

“So it was a fabrication?” Helan Minzhi waved his ivory fan, feigning astonishment and declaring loudly, “The words of the common rabble, passed to princes and princesses, and now to the Imperial Academy. How lamentable!”

Xu Yanbo interjected, “Duke of Zhou, what is lamentable?”

Just the night before, he had asked his grandfather: since the old man did not favor the Crown Prince, why was he now presiding over the grand rites?

His grandfather, inscrutable as ever, replied, “Power is a double-edged sword. The more the Crown Prince receives, the more the Emperor will be wary. Think on this.”

If that was how his grandfather saw it, what future could the Crown Prince possibly have? Thus, he seized the chance to curry favor with Helan Minzhi, distancing himself from the Crown Prince.

“It is a lament for the future of our Great Tang.”

“I still do not understand. Could you explain?”

“The Duke of E served our Great Tang, risking life and limb. He has not been gone long, yet the Crown Prince now slanders his descendants. Master Kuiji is a leader of Buddhism, revered by countless people. If such tales spread, what would our meritorious officials think? What would the people think? Moreover, the words of commoners are hardly fit for noble halls, but the Crown Prince takes them to the palace, passing them to princes and princesses. Is the Crown Prince’s inspection of the people merely a pretense—a lie to deceive all under heaven—when he actually delights in such gossip?”

Having finished, he sat down, fanning himself anxiously.

Li Wei smiled throughout, waiting until Helan Minzhi’s performance ended before patting Biyer’s shoulder. “This is my personal maid,” he said. “My health has been poor these years. When it comes to care, first are my parents, second is this maid, who never complains about my illness and tends to me day and night. Not long ago, I was gravely ill, nearly at death’s door. Upon recovering, I realized the need to exercise, and it worked. My health improved, but some palace maids grew dissatisfied. While I was studying at the Academy, they lured Biyer into a trap and beat her viciously. Were it not for the conscience of another maid, Biyer would have died that day.”

He began by clearing Biyer’s name. Many rumors targeted her, and with Helan Minzhi’s arrival before so many witnesses—several descendants of meritorious officials among them—the news would spread swiftly.

Biyer’s lips quivered, unsure what to say.

“I exposed their plot on the spot. But I did not expect a few maids to be so brazen as to hinder me. I had the accounts examined and found these maids stained with corruption. The steward even secretly gifted several precious items bestowed by my father to you, Duke of Zhou.”

“You slander me!” Helan Minzhi sprang up.

“Is it slander? Would you like me to produce evidence, or bring the case to the Court of Judicial Review?” Li Wei’s voice grew louder as he stared him down. “Duke of Zhou, though you are a maternal relative, you are still a subject. Remember your place!”

Crushing you with righteousness, you scoundrel!

He continued, “But I am gentle by nature and did not report this to the Court. I simply reassigned the offending maids elsewhere.”

This caused many scholars of the Academy to gather, one sighing, “The Crown Prince is indeed compassionate.”

Helan Minzhi could not be offended, but surely a bit of flattery toward the Crown Prince was warranted.

Li Wei returned their gesture and went on, “Recently, I met Duke of Zhou at the Yang residence. Though his words were often disrespectful, we are cousins after all. Especially Lady Rong, who raised the Empress and Lady Han with great hardship. After Lady Rong passed, the Empress instructed the young princess to observe mourning with you, but I, in the Eastern Palace, still offer incense daily in her honor. Thus, I advised Duke of Zhou.”

His words, free from self-praise, overflowed with filial piety and benevolence.

The scholars sighed once again, deeply moved.

“Yet soon after, rumors spread among the people, saying I wield tyrannical power in the palace, my illness worsening, colluding with officials, and buying fame.”

“What has that to do with me?”

“I never said you were responsible—why so defensive?”

“You, you…” The guilty conscience trapped Helan Minzhi, unable to speak.

“As the saying goes, the innocent are innocent, the corrupt are corrupt. Let them be strong, the mountain breeze remains serene. Let them be fierce, the moon shines over the river. The pure remain pure, the corrupt remain corrupt. Such rumors cannot shake the imperial mind, nor frighten me.”

“Well said!” Unable to contain themselves, the scholars applauded.

Helan Minzhi’s face burned red, never expecting that his attempt at humiliation would instead set the stage for the sickly Crown Prince’s brilliant speech.

Li Wei continued unhurriedly, “The people are the masses. How can Duke of Zhou call them rabble? The people are the foundation; the ruler is the boat, the people are the water. Water can carry the boat, or overturn it. Mencius said, ‘The people are most important, the state second, the ruler least.’ My grandfather, Emperor Taizong, taught us to cherish frugality and love the people, making compassion the key criterion for officials. After my father ascended the throne, he decreed that all officials should embrace advice and care for the people, reporting any hardship without reserve. Even the Empress tilled the fields herself, nurturing and comforting the people. Duke of Zhou, you were chosen as a maternal relative by the Empress, inheriting your title. If you call the words of the people mere rabble, those who know might dismiss it, but those who don’t will think you as naive as me, and attribute it to the Empress. What consequences might arise?”

“You, you…” Helan Minzhi was so angry he nearly coughed blood, but he had indeed spoken such words—not only aloud, but also in his heart, disdainful of the commoners, considering them fools.

“Moreover, I admit my error. I spoke to my siblings to amuse them, fulfilling my role as an elder brother. I knew the story was false, but its spread had the intent to promote virtue and discourage evil. In ancient times, records were often imperfect, yet historians still preserved them. Why? To praise the good. As for wrongdoing, even if true, I would not mention it.”

Helan Minzhi had arrived in fury, but Li Wei responded neither hurriedly nor angrily, his words flowing with clarity and grace, illuminating his pale, sickly face.

His demeanor captivated every scholar in the hall.

“So will you also share the vulgar songs and street ballads with the princes and princesses?” Helan Minzhi pressed.

“I have already said: to praise the good and reject the bad. The bow-maker selects straight wood, discards the crooked. A wise ruler employs people’s strengths, overlooks their weaknesses. Should a few vulgar songs cause us to condemn all the people? Tell me, Duke, who supplies what we eat, wear, and use? The three imperial gardens in the capital are lush and beautiful, but inevitably a few trees grow twisted. Should we abandon the entire forest for those few?”

“His Highness speaks truly—there are people for the nation, people for the state,” a scholar cried, tears streaming down his face.

This sentiment echoed with most scholars present. From the start, Li Wei revealed his compassion for the people—benevolence. Toward his parents, he was reverent—filial piety. Toward his siblings, he was caring—kindness. He never pressed aggressively, yet his words were sharp—wisdom. He never relied on his princely status—courtesy and humility.

Within, Li Wei was laughing wildly. When it came to strategy, he was only half-versed, but when it came to rhetoric, was he not a master?

His words, reasoned and persuasive, left Helan Minzhi speechless.

Seeing Helan Minzhi’s defeat, Biyer, sitting beside Li Wei, could not help but giggle. Not only she, but several scholars who disliked Helan Minzhi felt thoroughly vindicated.

Smack!

Biyer was beneath Helan Minzhi’s notice, but cornered by Li Wei, Helan Minzhi could imagine the story spreading, painting him as a petty buffoon. Catching sight of Biyer’s laughter, he slapped her hard across the face.

Several scholars’ expressions changed, especially those who knew the truth.

Biyer was a palace maid, seemingly insignificant, but in fact, she had quickly been chosen by the Crown Prince to serve him because of her intelligence and wit. If not for his ill health, she might have even shared his bed. She would never be the formal Crown Princess, but once the Crown Prince married, among his wives and concubines, Biyer would surely have a place.

Moreover, the Crown Prince had just spoken extensively to clear her name, detailing everything. It was clear how much she meant to him.

Helan Minzhi had gone too far!

Yet none dared speak; Helan Minzhi himself was nothing, a mere wastrel, but behind him stood a noble figure. The Crown Prince might clash with him, but who else would dare intervene? Who would risk offending him?

The room fell silent, everyone staring at him and Biyer. Biyer, in pain and humiliation, let large tears roll down her cheeks.

Li Wei’s anger flared instantly.

He spoke well, but in his heart, Biyer was closer to him than even his parents. If he could have only one wife, he would rather forsake the stunning Yang Min than lose Biyer. Considering his health, in his previous life, three or four, even eight or ten Helan Minzhi would not have mattered to him.

But this body was still frail. Without a word of rebuke, he strode to the desk, picked up a paperweight. Used to press papers, later generations often confused it for a ruler; materials varied from jade, copper, porcelain, and in poor households, bricks or stones. This one was made of jade, carved with patterns and characters that Li Wei had no time to examine—he only saw it was square, like a brick.

He lifted it and smashed it down on Helan Minzhi’s head.

After a few blows, Helan Minzhi’s nose was bleeding, his forehead split, and his once handsome face was marred.

“You dare hit me?” Helan Minzhi was stunned.

“A ruler governs with both benevolence and law, maintaining order. The Buddha saves all beings, but does not forget to subdue demons. You are Duke only because of the Empress’s favor. Before the mourning period for Lady Rong is over, you indulge in pleasure. The Imperial Academy is within the Ministry of the Palace, inside the forbidden city; you come and go without an imperial decree. In the school, you roar and act without restraint. I am the Crown Prince, yet you mock and insult me; my personal maid, you beat at will. This is not merely a disgrace for yourself, but for all the subjects of Great Tang, and for the Empress’s family. If I do not punish you, who should I punish?”

Two more strikes.

PS: Was that satisfying? If so, votes please, haha. Tomorrow night’s chapter will be even more thrilling—a formidable figure will appear, and will want, very much, to offer our protagonist a branch of green olive.