Chapter 11: A Collaborative Partnership [Please Support the New Book]

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The world’s bustle is all for profit.
The world’s clamor is all for gain.
No one helps you without reason—Li Chengqian understood this well.
For the 26-year-old deposed crown prince Li Chengqian, trying to reconnect with the estranged Changsun Wuji would not be easy.
But as the 8-year-old Li Chengqian, it was quite simple, for Changsun Wuji had yet to find a replacement—the future Emperor Li Zhi.
With this in mind, Li Chengqian was confident that he could enlist Changsun Wuji’s help to regain his position as crown prince.
Yet, Changsun Wuji was a man of great wisdom; he would not take a significant risk for Li Chengqian.
At this moment, the crown prince was merely an investment to him.
Unless there was something worth the gamble—like the coveted position of Chief Minister, the Left or Right Deputy of the Department of State Affairs.
It was well known that the head of the officials in the Tang dynasty was originally the Minister of State.
But since Emperor Taizong had once held that title, out of respect, only the Left and Right Deputies of the Department of State Affairs were recognized.
Although the retired Emperor Gaozu had abdicated to Emperor Taizong, his ministers were not completely replaced by Taizong’s men.
Many key positions remained in the hands of Gaozu’s old retainers.
For instance, the Right Deputy was held by Feng Deyi, one of Gaozu’s veteran ministers.
Thus, Li Chengqian, drawing from his knowledge of history, lent a hand to Changsun Wuji.
Even without Li Chengqian’s assistance, Changsun Wuji would eventually become the Right Deputy, but not yet.
Surely, with Changsun Wuji’s intelligence, he understood the meaning of “repaying a favor.”
Especially when Li Chengqian parting words were, “Don’t forget your nephew,” indicating their relationship was no longer just uncle and nephew but a mutually beneficial alliance.
Therefore, out of self-interest, Changsun Wuji maintained his interest in continuing to invest in Li Chengqian.
Otherwise, once Li Zhi was born, it would be too late.
“I hope you won’t disappoint me. I only have eight months left...”
Watching Changsun Wuji hurry away, Li Chengqian, hidden in a corner, silently prayed, then took out a piece of water chestnut cake from his lunchbox and took a bite.
One must admit, Empress Zhangsun’s culinary skills were truly excellent.
Though dishes were scarce in this era, there were many varieties of pastries.
This soft, glutinous cake, slightly sour and sweet, was quite flavorful.
“Mmm...”
After finishing one piece and seeing another in the box, Li Chengqian hesitated whether to bring it to his chubby little brother.

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Although the chubby one often tattled on him, it wasn’t worth falling out over breakfast.
“Hmm, a gentleman is cautious even when alone.”
Munching thoughtfully, Li Chengqian closed the lid of the lunchbox and called out in his mind: “System!”
[Congratulations, host, for overcoming countless hardships and obstacles to reestablish contact with Changsun Wuji, accelerating your return to the crown prince’s position. Would you like to claim your reward?]
Li Chengqian twitched at the phrase “countless hardships and obstacles,” wondering when exactly those had occurred.
But this unreliable system was as it was; he had no energy to complain and said, “Claim reward.”
“Bang!”
The lunchbox suddenly felt heavy and dropped to the ground, nearly straining Li Chengqian’s back.
“No way...”
He wore a surprised expression. “A hundred gold pieces weigh this much? I thought ancient gold wasn’t like modern gold? Is the system really this honest?”
Thinking this through, Li Chengqian decisively opened the lunchbox. Inside lay a large, gleaming gold ingot.
Indeed, not a gold bar, but a massive ingot.
By Li Chengqian’s estimate, it weighed about ten jin (roughly five kilograms).
According to the exchange rate in the ninth year of the Wude era, ten jin of gold was worth about one million wen.
Wow!
Li Chengqian gasped in astonishment and exclaimed, “I never expected completing a side quest to yield such a fortune—truly a reward for an underdog’s rise!”
“But...”
He suddenly noticed a problem and frowned. “The chubby one’s breakfast looks crushed under the gold ingot. What should I do?”
“Ah, forget it. He doesn’t even know what Empress Zhangsun made. It’s a blessing he gets to eat at all!”
After some thought, Li Chengqian decided not to dwell on it, hid the gold ingot in the bottom compartment, picked up the lunchbox, and headed to the academy.
The academy, called Juxian Hall, was located just west of the Eastern Palace and functioned like a private school. Apart from princes and royal scions, outsiders rarely attended.
The instructors changed periodically. Today, it was said to be a renowned scholar named Kong Yingda.
The original Li Chengqian disliked his lessons the most because they covered only the classics without anything new.
As for Tang poetry? Sorry, this was the early Tang dynasty, and to Old Master Kong, poetry was akin to modern games—merely entertainment, not a grand path to enlightenment.
Thus, every class was filled with nodding heads reading the classics aloud or reciting by heart.
Understanding? Sorry, you’re still young. First read, then memorize, then write; once mastered, you will naturally understand.
Well...
Ancient top scholars were truly impressive.
Sighing, Li Chengqian found himself unconsciously at Juxian Hall.
There, the chubby little brother sat upright in the front row, seemingly revising an essay written the previous night, preparing for Old Master Kong’s critique.
“Qingque, Mother sent me to bring you breakfast!”
Before class officially began, Li Chengqian swaggered into the hall, approached Qingque’s desk, and slammed the lunchbox down.
The loud thud immediately drew everyone’s attention.
He did not want to be so conspicuous, but the ten jin of gold was indeed heavy.
As for hiding it—what if someone found out? So, he had no choice but to carry it openly.
However, Li Tai’s train of thought was abruptly interrupted, and displeased, he said, “What are you doing, brother?”
“I said Mother sent me to bring you breakfast!”
“What breakfast? I’m not eating it. Don’t distract me from studying!”
“Hey, you—”
Li Chengqian raised his brows, about to lecture his younger brother.
At that moment, a fair-haired boy with features resembling Emperor Taizong happily ran over: “If Qingque doesn’t want it, can I have it? It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten something Mother made!”
Li Chengqian was briefly stunned, then instinctively turned toward the voice and instantly recognized him.
Li Ke, the third son of Emperor Taizong, grandson of the late Emperor Yang of Sui, Prince of Hanzhong.
“Oh, it’s Brother Ke!”
“Greetings, elder brother!”
“Hmm,” Li Chengqian nodded, then smiled: “This was made by Mother for Qingque. If you want to eat it, you need his permission.”
“Qingque...”
“Oh, don’t bother me. If you want it, just eat it!”
“Hehe, I’m just hungry...” Li Ke chuckled, rubbing his hands, then reached to open the lunchbox lid. Inside was a mess of soft, sticky white goo.
“This is...”
“My mother’s latest creation—a water chestnut glutinous cake. Want to try?”
“Uh...”
Li Ke’s mouth twitched, then quietly closed the lid. “Suddenly, I’m not hungry anymore.”