"Fish is what I desire. Bear's paw is also what I desire. Since I cannot have both, I am willing to give up the fish and take the bear's paw." On the way back to the carriage, Li Tai held the book "Mencius" in his hands. His eyes were glued to the chapter of "Mencius", but his heart was in turmoil.
"The position of the Philosophers and the imperial throne! Naturally, the position of the Philosophers is the fish, and the imperial throne is the bear's paw. As long as one is normal, they will naturally choose the bear's paw. "Li Tai's heart unconsciously leaned towards the imperial throne.
"Giving up the fish and taking the bear's paw. Giving up the fish and taking the bear's paw …" The balance in Li Tai's heart slowly tilted. However, his eyes suddenly flashed. He was suddenly attracted by the next sentence.
"Life is what I desire. Righteousness is also what I desire. Since I cannot have both, I am willing to give up the life for righteousness." Li Tai's mind suddenly became clear. The greed that had been aroused by the imperial throne was immediately swept away.
"If I fight for the imperial throne, then the brotherhood and the affection between father and son will no longer be fated with me, Li Tai." A trace of pain involuntarily appeared on Li Tai's face.
"The position of the Philosophers, the imperial throne, the brotherhood and the affection between father and son." These thoughts immediately filled Li Tai's chest, constantly entangling in his heart.
"Your Highness Emperor Wei! We have arrived at the imperial palace! "
The sudden reminder of the guard startled Li Tai from his nightmare. Li Tai couldn't help but tiredly rub his eyes. He walked down from the carriage and said, "Where is Imperial Father? I still need to report the situation of the Philosophers' Meeting to Imperial Father."
The guard replied, "Your Highness Emperor Wei, today the crown prince's foot injury has been completely healed. The School of Medicine has opened the cast today. His Majesty and the Empress have already rushed to the Eastern Palace."
Li Tai's eyes flashed. "Big brother's foot injury has been completely healed. How can I be absent from such a joyous occasion? Let's go! To the Eastern Palace. "
Li Tai waved his hand and the carriage continued towards the Eastern Palace. When he saw Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun already waiting outside, a group of people from the School of Medicine were busy in the main hall of the Eastern Palace.
"Imperial Father, Imperial Mother!" Li Tai greeted respectfully.
"So it's Qingque!" Empress Zhangsun's expression softened when she saw Li Tai. She beckoned Li Tai over.
Li Shimin also showed a trace of love when he saw his beloved son.
"How's Big Brother?" Li Tai couldn't help but ask.
"Rest assured, Your Highness Emperor Wei, the Crown Prince's leg bones have been completely reconnected. For the time being, he will not be able to exert any strength and will need to slowly recover and train. In a few months, he will be like a normal person." Elder Hua said in a clear voice. Behind him, Mo Wu pushed Li Chengqian out of the hall.
"That's great!" Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but rejoice. They originally wanted to thank the heavens, but when they saw the people from the School of Medicine in front of them, they forcefully swallowed the words back down.
"Thank you, Third Brother, for your concern. Do I feel good?" Li Chengqian's leg was completely healed and he was in a good mood. When he spoke to Li Tai, his expression also became gentler.
Li Tai was also touched. "It's all Little Brother's fault. If Little Brother didn't insist on riding a horse, Big Brother's leg wouldn't have been broken if he didn't save me."
Li Chengqian shook his head. "At that time, you were still young. Imperial Father and Imperial Mother entrusted you to my care. How could I bear to see you get injured? Furthermore, haven't my injuries already healed?"
Li Tai couldn't help but choke. He obviously knew that although Li Chengqian spoke casually, in reality, it was because of the pressure from his leg injury. In the past few years, his behavior had become somewhat eccentric. It was only when he met Meton and improved his shoes that he was able to walk freely that his condition slowly improved.
"Alright, today is a joyous day for your Big Brother's leg injury. Let's not talk about those sad things." Li Shimin waved his hand. Seeing Li Chengqian's leg injury completely healed, Li Shimin rejoiced. His decision to support the School of Medicine was the right one.
"Men, come and reward the members of the School of Medicine." Empress Zhangsun saw that her son had recovered and was immediately overjoyed. Following that, a group of eunuchs came over with the rewards. Looking at their weight, one could tell that they were worth a lot.
Elder Hua hurriedly refused. "Imperial Empress, please wait. The School of Medicine has never accepted red packets or rewards. They only need to pay the normal medical expenses. This is the School of Medicine's bottom line. I hope Your Majesty won't make things difficult for us!"
Accepting red packets was the strictest bottom line for the School of Medicine. Elder Hua was one of the leaders of the School of Medicine, so he naturally had to take the lead in upholding this bottom line. Furthermore, he unceremoniously handed Li Shimin a list of medical expenses.
"Thirty-six strings of cash!" Li Shimin looked at the list of medical expenses and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Which of the Empress' rewards was more valuable than these thirty-six strings of cash?
"The School of Medicine's noble character and unquestionable integrity is truly admirable. Since that's the case, then I will allocate a support fund to the School of Medicine to help the School of Medicine solve more difficult problems and bring benefits to the people of the world!" Li Shimin said loudly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! The School of Medicine is ashamed to accept this. " Only then did Elder Hua accept the good advice. He firmly refused to accept red packets for individuals, but for the development of the School of Medicine as a whole, he would fight for every cent.
Following the departure of the School of Medicine, the Eastern Palace was immediately filled with cheers and laughter. The recovery of the Crown Prince's foot was a major event in the entire palace. Very quickly, the people in the imperial harem came to congratulate him.
Amidst the cheers and laughter, Li Shimin and Li Tai were the first to leave. Li Chengqian naturally noticed this at the first moment. If it were any other time, he would naturally let his imagination run wild. However, now that his foot had recovered, those sensitive thoughts from before had long disappeared. As long as he became a normal and healthy Crown Prince, then his position would be as stable as Mount Tai.
"Imperial Father, in the Hundred School Conference, the Confucian school of literature will take sixty percent, while the other hundred schools will take forty percent." In Taiji Palace, Li Tai reported.
Li Shimin frowned and said in confusion, "In that case, the other hundred schools will take one book, while the school of mathematics will take one book."
Li Tai nodded and said, "That is indeed the case. However, the school of mathematics will be difficult to understand. Furthermore, it will be incompatible with the other hundred schools. I'm afraid it will be difficult to combine them."
Only Li Shimin had a strange expression. As the emperor, he was sensitive enough to feel that the school of mathematics that had an exclusive book was definitely not ordinary. However, the school of mathematics was indeed unique. Its teachings were absolutely rational. It was the opposite of the other hundred schools of thought that educating the people and promoting moral education. It was reasonable for them to have an exclusive book. Furthermore, mathematics was extremely useful in the daily lives of the people and was indispensable. This was also the foundation of the school of mathematics' prosperity.
"Apart from this, the School of Medicine is planning to establish a school for girls to train female medical apprentices. Meton proposed to build a kindergarten. The Confucian school removed the Three Character Classic from the school of mathematics, so it will take an even smaller share. …" Li Tai described the events of the Hundred School Conference in detail.
"Kindergarten?" Li Shimin did not care about the ratio of the Hundred School Conference. Instead, he was interested in the kindergarten built by Meton.
Li Tai nodded and said, "It is said that it is to prepare for the unborn child in Changle's womb. They want the child to enter school at the age of three so that he can enjoy a happy childhood."
"He is considerate!" Li Shimin snorted. Although he was dissatisfied with Meton, he had to admit that Meton treated Princess Changle well. Even he, as the father, could not find fault with him.
"Furthermore, this time, your child's' Encyclopedia of Lands' will also be included into the national language. It will definitely allow the students of the world to experience the vastness of the Tang Empire. …" Li Tai said with a hint of pride on his face.
"You did a good job this time. Do you want any reward?" Li Shimin looked at his favorite son and showed a knowing smile.
Li Tai pondered for a moment, then suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "I don't want any reward. I only want to ask father to let me leave the palace."
Li Shimin was surprised and asked, "Oh! Do you want to establish a mansion or a fief? "
Li Tai shook his head and said, "I don't want to establish a mansion or a fief."
"Then what do you want?" Li Shimin was puzzled.
"I want to study and perfect the geography. I want to personally measure the great rivers and mountains of the Tang dynasty and compile them into a book." Li Tai said with a hint of holiness on his face.
"You also want to unify the geography and become the Master of the Hundred Schools?" Li Shimin looked at Li Tai in disbelief, as if he couldn't understand this child of his. He just let him participate in the Hundred Schools Conference. Who would have thought that he would want to become the Master of the Hundred Schools after coming back?
After Li Tai said his ambition, he felt relieved and said loudly, "That's right. The geography is not well known. At the same time, there are countless unknown places in the world that have yet to be explored. This will definitely be a field of study with a bright future. My future achievements will be limitless."
"Studying is very difficult, and traveling to the north and south of the Great Tang and the perilous lands of the outer realms will definitely cause you to suffer. Are you mentally prepared?" Li Shimin barked.
"I have long been prepared. The heavens have given me a great responsibility. It will definitely make my mind suffer, my skin starve, and my muscles and bones tire. I am not afraid of hardships. I only want to be immersed in learning. "Li Tai said firmly.
When Li Shimin saw Li Tai's determination, he felt that the usually well-behaved child had suddenly broken out of his control. He couldn't help but become angry and said, "Do you know what you are doing?"
Li Tai raised his head and said stubbornly, "Of course I know. Once I revitalize the geography, I will definitely leave Chang 'an. The throne will never be mine."
Li Shimin's expression shook as he looked at Li Tai, who spoke bluntly.
Li Tai couldn't help but say with grief and indignation, "Although I am the legitimate son, my elder brother is above me as the crown prince. Before my elder brother's footprints were healed, my father regarded me as a candidate for the crown prince. For the sake of the Tang dynasty, I, Li Tai, am naturally willing. Now that my elder brother's foot has recovered, he is the only candidate for the crown prince. If I compete with him, it will be a repeat of the Xuanwu Gate incident. Instead of that, I would rather be immersed in learning. In this way, I can fulfill the brotherhood and not live a life of mediocrity."
"You …!" Li Shimin couldn't help but be angry, but he had no words to refute. After all, there was only one throne. He couldn't pass it to two people at the same time.
"If I succeed in the future and become one of the Scholars of the Hundred Schools, my elder brother will become a wise emperor. Wouldn't that be a good story?" Li Tai said with deep admiration.
Li Shimin couldn't help but be silent. He had to admit that Li Tai's words weren't without reason. If Li Tai became one of the Scholars of the Hundred Schools, his status wouldn't be any worse than ascending to the throne. No matter which parent, even the imperial family, would be happy to see it happen.
"I hope you won't regret your decision today!" Li Shimin said solemnly.
Li Tai was overjoyed and said again, "Thank you, father, for your help! I will travel the Tang dynasty in the future. If I can't fulfill my filial duties by your side, father, I hope you can understand. "
Li Shimin didn't say anything. He just waved his hand helplessly, indicating Li Tai to leave.
"I'll take my leave!" Li Tai bowed and left.
After Li Tai's figure disappeared, Li Shimin waved his hand and Pande's figure silently appeared behind Li Shimin.
"Go investigate Qingque's whereabouts today." Li Shimin said through gritted teeth. He didn't believe that his most outstanding son would suddenly undergo such a huge change. Something must have happened that he didn't know about.
Pande soon returned and said in a low voice, "After Emperor Wei finished the Hundred Schools Conference, he accompanied Merton to send off the Kong Family's descendant, Kong Huisuo, to Liangzhou. He also gave Kong Huisuo the Exotic Pinyin script. Afterwards, the two of them returned to the Mo Estate to visit the Eldest Princess. During this time, Merton gave Emperor Wei the method to draw maps. "
"The method to draw maps!" Li Shimin finally understood. No wonder Li Tai was so confident that he could revive the school of geography and become one of the Scholars of the Hundred Schools in the future.
However, when he thought about how his most beloved son was about to leave his side, Li Shimin couldn't help but feel hatred. He gnashed his teeth and said, "Mo Jiazi!"
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