In the early morning, just as dawn broke.
Chang'an City, Chunming Gate.
Li Chengyan, along with his two brothers, rode their newly matured ponies, accompanied by imperial guards, laughing and chatting as they exited the city gate, heading for Fang Family Village.
Unexpectedly, just after passing Chunming Gate, they encountered Kong Yingda, dripping wet, along with several other teachers.
These were the great scholars personally assigned by Li Shimin to tutor the princes.
For over a month, they hadn't seen any sign of Li Chengyan.
After extensive inquiries, they learned that the three princes had been secretly attending a small village school in Fang Family Village, leaving early and returning late.
This filled them with shame and indignation!
Kong Yingda stepped forward, standing before Li Chengyan's horse, and bowed slightly.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, your studies have been neglected for a long time. I request you return to the palace with me."
Li Chengyan dismounted and helped Kong Yingda up.
Mr. Fang had taught them to respect the old and love the young. Even though he disliked these old fuddy-duddies, he still paid them the customary respect.
"Master Kong, please dispense with the formalities. It's not that this prince is unwilling to return, but the school is conducting a lightning experiment today. I hope Master Kong will understand."
Kong Yingda's brows furrowed, and his tone carried a tone of questioning mockery.
"How can mere mortals like us touch heavenly lightning! I urge the Crown Prince not to err!"
"Quickly, return to the palace with us and resume your neglected studies."
Li Chengyan replied patiently.
"Master Kong, you are unaware, but Master Fang has already mastered the ability to control electricity, so that is not something untouchable."
Kong Yingda was very displeased.
That Fang Er, a mere small landlord by birth, dared to covet the title of Imperial Tutor, it was simply a provocation to his Kong Saintly family.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Setting aside whether what you said about Fang Anzhi being able to control electricity is true or not."
"Now, the Crown Prince is no longer young, and the most important thing is to learn how to govern the country, govern the people, and govern the world!"
"Therefore, I request the Crown Prince to return to the palace to study! Do not continue to indulge in these bizarre skills and superficial contrivances!"
He bowed again.
The few individuals he brought with him also spoke in unison.
"We request Your Highness the Crown Prince to return to the palace!"
"We request Your Highness the Crown Prince to return to the palace!"
"We request Your Highness the Crown Prince to return to the palace!"
These three consecutive shouts caused Li Chengyan's expression to darken.
He had intended to speak with them amicably, but he hadn't expected them to act this way.
He turned to Li Tai and Li Ke.
"Qingque, Ke-ge'er, let's ignore them and go!"
With that, he spurred his horse, bypassed Kong Yingda and the others, and rode towards Fang Family Village along the paved road.
Li Tai and Li Ke followed behind.
The imperial guards protected their flanks.
Listening to the receding hoofbeats, Kong Yingda's face turned red.
This was a public humiliation!
A humiliation to the face of a sage!
"Follow me! Today, I will demand an explanation from His Majesty!"
Inside the Liangji Hall, Li Shimin was reviewing memorial reports when he heard the footsteps of an approaching eunuch.
Without looking up, he asked, "What is it?"
The eunuch bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Scholar Kong and several other scholars are requesting an audience outside the hall."
Li Shimin set aside the memorial and replied indifferently, "Let them in."
He could already guess the purpose of their visit.
Last time, Kong Yingda had mentioned Li Chengyan's absence from the palace for his studies.
Today, he would see what grand pronouncements these men would use to persuade him.
Kong Yingda and the others straightened their robes outside the hall and strode over the two-foot-high threshold.
Upon entering the hall, they first paid their respects to Li Shimin.
"We greet Your Majesty!"
Li Shimin raised a hand, "You are dismissed. May I ask why Scholar Kong and the others have come together?"
Kong Yingda said with righteous indignation.
"Your Majesty, recently the Crown Prince has not been studying in the palace, but has been leaving early and returning late to the school in Fang Family Village, mingling with children from rural villages."
"Does Your Majesty know about this matter?"
Li Shimin rose from his dragon throne, walked down the imperial steps, and feigned ignorance, asking with surprise.
"Is there such a thing?"
"How have I never heard of it?"
Then, he shouted towards the outside of the hall.
"Someone! Summon the Crown Prince!"
Kong Yingda's mouth twitched.
"Who are you trying to fool? Your three sons are not home all day, how could you, their father, not know anything?"
"Your Majesty, there is no need to summon him!"
"Before coming here, I encountered the Crown Prince at Chunming Gate. I intended to have the Crown Prince return to the palace with me to impart knowledge."
"But to my surprise, the Crown Prince left me behind and took the Prince of Han and the Prince of Wei and sped away!"
"I implore Your Majesty to be my advocate! If the Crown Prince's studies prove fruitless in the future, please do not blame me!"
Li Shimin laughed heartily.
"The three of them are still young, and it is good for them to learn more. Master Kong need not be concerned."
"When they return, I will have a good talk with them."
Kong Yingda was somewhat dissatisfied with Li Shimin's statement.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is no longer young. In a few more years, he will be of an age to engage with court affairs. Therefore, it is essential to seize this time and study diligently."
"I have heard that the Fang Family Village school teaches only absurd and preposterous things. For the sake of His Highness the Crown Prince, I implore Your Majesty to issue a decree prohibiting the Crown Prince from going there!"
He bowed again after speaking.
One person stepped out from behind him.
"Your Majesty, I also have something to say."
"Ancient texts record that the sky is round and the earth is square; this is an undeniable fact! Yet that Marquis of Liaodong claims in the school that the ground beneath our feet is actually a sphere!"
"I implore Your Majesty to punish the Marquis of Liaodong for spreading heresy and misleading the nation!"
Li Shimin was startled.
These words, Li Tai had indeed mentioned to him upon his return from Fang Family Village, not only mentioned them but even persuaded him!
However, these men knowing the content taught at the school indicated they had come prepared.
But these were all old bones that only buried themselves in dusty tomes. How could he persuade them?
After some thought, he said to Kong Yingda.
"Master Kong, how about this? Since I have finished reviewing today's memorials, shall we go to that school together?"
Kong Yingda's intention was to have His Majesty directly dispatch imperial guards to bring back Li Chengyan.
But now that Li Shimin had said this, it was not good to refuse.
"If that is the case, I also wish to hear what is being taught at that school."
"If it is something that is of no benefit to governing the country, I implore Your Majesty to issue a decree ordering His Highness the Crown Prince not to go there again."
Li Shimin nodded.
"As Master Kong wishes."
"However, for this trip, it is better to keep it secret. Let us change into plain clothes and go."
Half an hour later.
Li Shimin also brought Empress Zhangsun along.
A contingent of imperial guards in plain clothes, along with Kong Yingda and others.
With a somewhat ironic air of "deaf person hearing the bell," a grand procession of several dozen people headed towards Fang Family Village.