Chapter Seventy-Two: A Monkey in a Crown, The Wisdom of Feigned Ignorance

Li Wei slapped the table and sighed heavily. “What an extraordinary Di Renjie!”

“Indeed,” both Yao Yuanchong and Ximen Chong wore expressions of deep respect.

Ximen Chong’s humble origins needed no mention, but even Yao Yuanchong, who had dabbled in heroic chivalry in his youth, admitted that he could never have done what Di Renjie had. Yet after his sigh, Li Wei did not feel satisfied; with Di Renjie’s departure, it was as if he had lost his right-hand man.

But such thoughts were somewhat unfair.

In solving cases, Di Renjie was unrivaled. Though later tales exaggerated his deeds, even in truth, not even Bao Zheng could match his prowess. Empress Wu Zetian’s political acumen was formidable, but in this one aspect, she too was outdone. Take, for example, the assassination attempt on Mount Zhongnan—so many eyes scrutinized the case, but who else could have discerned the flaw?

Yet when it came to intellect and strategy, Wei Yuanzhong was no slouch, and if Yao Yuanchong reached his potential, he would be Di Renjie’s equal.

So, what could be done? Li Wei remembered Di Renjie too vividly from his previous life. Take the likes of Pei Xingjian and Liu Rengui—if given the choice, he would have picked Liu Rengui without hesitation. But in reality, if these two great scholars ever crossed swords, Liu Rengui would probably lose more often than not. That Pei Xingjian was a veritable monster, almost as if he were a transmigrator.

Fortunately, none of these men were aware of their own potential. Yes, I am talented, very talented, and worthy of trust—yet even Old Di dared not say it outright.

All in all, these men were quite interesting to observe.

Yao Yuanchong spoke up again, “But I have looked into certain matters concerning the Grand Master.”

“Oh? Tell me about it.” In truth, it would be easier for Li Wei to investigate personally. But he dared not make a move, wary of this old man—if he acted, it might alert him.

“I’d like to recite two poems for Your Highness. The first: ‘Following the wild geese on their journey, I return with the falling leaves. The chrysanthemums have yet to bloom; let the poets wait for their opening.’ The second: ‘The traveler, weary, spins like a tumbleweed, thoughts of home riding with the wild geese. How I long to see the poolside chrysanthemums—yet to whom will these fragrant petals bloom?’ What does Your Highness think?”

“They are gentle and elegant.”

“Your Highness is discerning. Upon hearing these verses, I was reminded of your own poem: ‘Spring slumber knows not dawn, everywhere I hear birds call. Night’s wind and rain have come—how many blossoms have fallen?’ Though not quite the divine melody of your work, they are certainly refined and graceful.”

Li Wei felt a pang of shame. Stripped of the poems from his memory, he doubted he could compose such ancient verses on his own.

“But these two poems seem to have been penned by this man.”

In ages past, people believed writing revealed the man, but Li Wei found that not always so—take Song Zhiwen or Qin Hui, both literary giants. He had spoken of this with Yang Min recently: perhaps Zhang Jiuling could write “The moon rises over the sea,” but that did not guarantee true love for the woman in his heart.

Indeed, the Crown Prince’s insight was correct, so Yao Yuanchong continued, “In fact, Grand Master Xu was not always like this. As one of the Eighteen Scholars of Prince Qin’s mansion, he was proud and aloof, caring little for relationships, not even bothering to remember people’s names. When asked, he would reply, ‘You are not worth remembering. But if I met He Yan, Liu Zhen, Shen Yue, Xie Tiao, I could recognize them in the darkest night.’”

At this, Ximen Chong chuckled, “True, Scholar Wei is also proud, but not to the same degree.”

Back then, among Li Shimin’s Eighteen Scholars—Chu Suiliang, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Yu Zhining, Su Shichang, Xue Shou, Yao Silian, Lu Deming, Kong Yingda, Li Xuandao, Li Shousu, Yu Shinan, Cai Yungong, Yan Xiangshi, and others—not one was not renowned throughout the land. To be counted among them was no small feat.

Yao Yuanchong continued, “It was this arrogance that led him to many foolish errors. During Emperor Taizong’s campaign against Goguryeo, when arrows and stones rained down in the city, a brave warrior led the charge. The Grand Tutor pointed and said, ‘That man is courageous.’ But Grand Master Xu remarked, ‘It’s the simple-minded who die easily.’ Taizong was displeased. Later, at Empress Zhangsun’s funeral, as all mourned in silence, Xu Jingzong saw Ouyang Shuaigeng. Because Ouyang was thin, Zhangsun Wuji once mocked him, ‘Hunched shoulders like a mountain, head shrunk into his body—who would paint such a macaque in the Gallery of Meritorious Officials?’ Ouyang retorted, mocking Zhangsun’s size and foreign dress, ‘A sash as wide as a quilt, warmth for the belly, fearing the cold. A muddled heart, so the face is round.’ At that moment, Xu Jingzong saw Ouyang, looking every bit the crowned monkey, standing solemnly in mourning, and burst into laughter. This enraged Taizong, who exiled him to Hongzhou. Thus, only with age did Xu Jingzong acquire the serenity to compose such poetry.”

Yao Yuanchong did not speak of how to handle the “Three Kingdoms,” but spent much effort describing Xu Jingzong—a necessity.

He was a troublesome man. Yet both the Emperor and Empress held him in high esteem.

He added, “After many trials, the Grand Master eventually reflected on his actions and changed. But his arrogance remained, and after his son had an affair with his concubine, exiling the son to Lingnan, he placed all his hopes on his grandson, Xu Yanbo. For his grandson’s sake, he might indeed do things harmful to Your Highness.”

At their level of intellect, they did not necessarily consider Xu Jingzong a villain.

Court intrigue was ever thus—Li Ke’s death was a tragedy, yet was not Zhangsun Wuji the one who pushed for it? Had Shangguan Yi succeeded in removing Empress Wu, Li Zhong might have been restored as Crown Prince.

But now, having chosen to support the Crown Prince, Xu Jingzong must be viewed as an adversary.

Yao Yuanchong went on, “We have not yet thought of a solution. But one thing is certain: the Grand Master’s grandson—Scholar Wei has made many inquiries about him lately. He is talented, not only in learning but also in pride, much like his grandfather in youth. Yet he lacks his grandfather’s experience. The Grand Master is old and ill, stuck in Jingzhao, while Xu Yanbo is in the Eastern Capital. Your Highness remains by Their Majesties’ side. No matter how swiftly the Grand Master reacts, it takes three days on fast horses between the two cities—eight hundred li, as far as the Milky Way.”

Xu Jingzong truly left them speechless—not just Li Wei, but Yao Yuanchong and Wei Yuanzhong as well.

But what followed caught Li Wei’s attention.

Indeed, if he could not handle Old Xu, if points were given, his mother’s political acumen would score a perfect one hundred, at least ninety-nine; Xu Jingzong would get eighty or ninety; the current Di Renjie, seventy or eighty; his own father could manage sixty or seventy, limited by health and other factors. As for himself, twenty points at best.

But this Xu Yanbo, judging by the incident at the Institute of Letters, might surpass him in talent, but in cunning, if he was worth twenty, Xu Yanbo could muster only ten—just like Helan Minzhi, a man courting death!

If not for Xu Jingzong, Li Wei could crush Xu Yanbo at any time.

Of course, Old Xu was no fool.

So Yao Yuanchong suggested, “Your Highness, you should go to the Eastern Capital first. We will see if there is an opportunity to visit as well.”

The Crown Prince’s visit to the Eastern Capital would require bringing along Bie’er and many associated members, but no matter how many accompanied him, it would not be a fully official mission. Wei Yuanzhong, tied to the State Academy in the Western Capital, could not leave Chang’an.

Wisdom comes with age. The reason they came up with so many ideas, even without Di Renjie, owed mostly to Wei Yuanzhong. Without him, Yao Yuanchong and Ximen Chong would lack confidence.

Only now did Yao Yuanchong turn to the topic of the “Three Kingdoms.” “Your Highness, we have all fallen into a trap of thinking.”

“What trap?”

“Were it not for the hint from that palace attendant, would you ever have considered the balance of power at play here?”

“No,” Li Wei shook his head. He wouldn’t have thought of it, not in this baffling ‘Three Kingdoms’ situation, nor even in the Helan affair—his own father favored Helan, his mother wanted him dead; who could have predicted it?

“Exactly. I do not know if others have realized this. But look at Scholar Wei or Judge Di—heroes of their time—have they considered it?”

“They have not.”

“Then let me ask Your Highness again—without Wang, the eunuch’s reminder, would you have understood these relationships?”

“Certainly not.” Yet Li Wei’s eyes were growing brighter.

Yao Yuanchong was well pleased. Had the Crown Prince been a dullard, no matter how benevolent, nothing would ever be accomplished.

“That is the point. Why must Your Highness trouble yourself over matters beyond your knowledge?”

Li Wei was suddenly enlightened. Wang Caiyan had meant well, but he had been caught in a mental snare.

Perhaps his mother knew the inside story, but it was natural that he did not. Once in Luoyang, he could play all sides, please everyone. What could his father do—accuse him of siding with his mother? Could he say, ‘I told you to oppose your mother, so why are you allied with her now?’

Fine, then. Take back the power you gave her and grant it to your son instead.

Surely his mother understood these stakes; if he did not oppose her, she would be delighted. With her skills, she could always check his father. Then, having suffered some injustice, he could refuse the regency, even relinquish the title of Crown Prince, and indulge in a bit of youthful folly—his father would be driven mad.

His father still held true power, but could never escape his mother’s gentle but unyielding grasp. Even if he had the authority of the Jade Emperor, what difference would it make?

Of course, this challenge would come sooner or later, but it was not yet time. Besides, as time passed, anything could happen. But by acting thus, he risked leaving his father displeased, giving opportunists their chance.

But since the former Crown Prince was silent and unambitious, there were no real enemies. Only Xu Jingzong!

Thus, Yao Yuanchong had begun with Xu Jingzong, not the Three Kingdoms.

Thinking of all this, Li Wei said, “It is better to feign ignorance.”

Yao Yuanchong and Ximen Chong were startled, then laughed. “Indeed, it is hard to play the wise man, but easy to play the fool.”

Then Ximen Chong spoke in earnest, “In that case, Your Highness is well on the way to recovery.”