Chapter 82: Different Understandings
On the avenue outside the palace.

"Your Highness, please stay." Zhang Jiuling caught up with Li Ying and bowed.

Li Ying turned around and saw Zhang Jiuling, forced a smile, and asked politely, "What's the matter, Prime Minister Zhang?"

Zhang Jiuling stepped forward and saw that there was no one around, so he said, "Your Highness, the sage's instructions today must be kept in mind."

Zhang Jiuling was referring to Li Longji's suggestion that Li Ying only cared about gains and losses when speaking today and had no sense of benevolence and righteousness.

Li Ying heard the hidden meaning and thought that Zhang Jiuling was following suit to criticize him.

Li Ying was already feeling depressed after being mocked by Li Longji. After hearing what Zhang Jiuling said, he became even more annoyed. He looked a little unhappy and said, "I will naturally remember my father's teachings. But Prime Minister Zhang has always advocated peace and stability in dealing with foreign affairs. Why would he be so supportive of Prince Shou's expedition?"

Zhang Jiuling was startled, then explained: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, have you not heard that the lips and teeth are cold? This war was not instigated by Your Highness, Prince Shou. It is called an expedition, but in fact it is self-defense."

"Oh?" Li Ying knew it, but he was unhappy, so he pretended not to know. He smiled meaningfully and said, "So this is also self-defense. I'm glad to learn from you."

Zhang Jiuling didn't like what Li Ying said. He sighed and said nothing more.

Zhang Jiuling got angry, and Li Ying became even angrier.

Li Ying has lived in the dye vat of power since he was a child. In his opinion, from the founding of the Tang Dynasty to the present, Emperor Taizong killed his brothers, Empress Wu Zetian massacred the Li clan, and his father, Emperor Li Longji, not only staged several coups and had his hands stained with the blood of his relatives, but also imprisoned the princes and grandchildren. Don't all these prove that power relies on killing and fighting?
He is not convinced!

He was not convinced that he had already spoken for Li Longji, but Li Longji still demanded loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness from him. He was even more unconvinced that Zhang Jiuling also followed suit.

He even secretly mocked in his heart that Confucian disciples like Zhang Jiuling were only bookish and full of talk about benevolence, righteousness, and morality.

Thinking of this, Li Ying turned away.

Zhang Jiuling looked at Li Ying's receding back, shook his head, and sighed.

Through the message from Zhang Mujin, Zhang Jiuling already knew that Li Ying and his men had ambushed Li Heng. This matter had always been on his mind. He wanted to find Li Ying to persuade him several times, but in the end he couldn't open his mouth.

This time, Zhang Jiuling wanted to take advantage of Li Longji's hint to have a good talk with Li Ying, but before he could even open his mouth to mention the matter, Li Ying counterattacked him.

In comparison, Li Heng remained silent when he was persecuted, and only wanted to stay away from the court struggles and guard the border. This can truly be said to be a great benevolence and righteousness.

Thinking of this, Zhang Jiuling couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "If Prince Shou was the eldest prince, how great it would be. Now, I just hope that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can repent soon."

Zhang Jiuling sighed silently and returned home dejected.

……

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He Zhizhang Mansion.

Prince Zhong Li Heng personally visited He Zhizhang.

Today, Li Heng was implicitly criticized by Li Longji, but he did not feel angry or annoyed, but suddenly realized something.

He realized one thing: no matter how bloody the struggle for power in the royal family was, no matter whether the emperor himself was truly kind, the emperor's requirement for the next generation was that they would be loyal, filial, benevolent and righteous.

This is what is called demanding others as saints and indulging oneself with tolerance.

Now if he wants to climb up the ladder, he must pretend to be loyal, filial, benevolent and righteous.

So Li Heng came to find He Zhizhang. He believed that He Zhizhang, who told him "not to fight is to fight, and to fight is not to fight", would give him great help.

He Zhizhang was a little surprised when he saw Li Heng.

Li Heng first bowed to He Zhizhang and said respectfully: "Teacher, I have understood the truth you taught me that day, so I came to ask you for your advice." He Zhizhang hurriedly returned the bow and said happily: "I am honored that Your Highness Prince Zhong has come here in person."

After saying this, he immediately ordered the servants to serve tea and snacks, and took Li Heng into the house.

After entering the house, Li Heng said, "Emperor Zhaolie of the Han Dynasty started from scratch, from a shoe weaver and seller to a powerful ruler who divided the country into three parts. Benevolence and righteousness were important reasons for his success."

When He Zhizhang heard this, he immediately understood that Li Heng wanted to win people's hearts with benevolence and righteousness, which was different from his hope that Li Heng would be truly benevolent and righteous.

He Zhizhang felt a little disappointed.

But then he felt relieved.

Because in life, what counts is actions, not intentions, so as long as Li Heng truly behaves in a benevolent and righteous manner, that's fine too.

So He Zhizhang immediately smiled and started talking with Li Heng.

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Anxi, Qiuci.

Li Heng did not know that his expedition, in addition to the great impact on the surface, also secretly affected the choices of Li Ying and Li Heng. He also did not know that the butterfly effect he caused was spreading rapidly from large to small.

At this time, Li Ying was playing the piano and reciting poems with Yang Yuhuan in the yard, showing their affectionate relationship.

Zhang Mujin developed a new medicine for Li Ying. When she brought it over and was about to show it to Yang Yuhuan first, she witnessed the sweet scene between Yang Yuhuan and Li Ying.

Zhang Mujin quickly turned around, a longing look on her face.

Yang Yuhuan, who was playing the pipa over there, saw Zhang Mujin and winked at Li Heng who was listening.

Li Ying followed Yang Yuhuan's gaze and saw Zhang Mujin, so he called her over and listened to Yang Yuhuan finish playing a song together.

After Yang Yuhuan finished playing, Zhang Mujin sincerely praised: "The princess's piano skills are truly unparalleled in the world. Mujin doesn't understand music, but I can still be fascinated by it."

"My sister, you are too kind." Yang Yuhuan smiled slightly, put down the pipa, and said, "Everyone has their own specialties. My sister's medical skills are second to none. If my sister were not a woman, she would have the possibility of managing the Imperial Hospital."

"I dare not, how can Mu Jin ..." Zhang Mu Jin hesitated, presented the two boxes of pills in her hand, and said: "Princess, this is the medicine that Mu Jin made for Your Highness."

Since Zhang Mujin had told Yang Yuhuan about all the medicine-making matters before, he habitually gave it to Yang Yuhuan.

Yang Yuhuan took it and asked curiously, "Why two boxes?"

Zhang Mujin said, "These two boxes of pills look the same and smell the same, but one box is the real medicine for recuperating the meridians, and the other box is for His Highness. Mujin sent the real medicine for recuperating the meridians to Grandpa and the others."

Seeing Zhang Mujin's thoughtfulness, Li Ying said sincerely, "Thank you, Miss Mujin."

"Mu Jin dare not take credit for your hard work," Zhang Mu Jin quickly bowed to Li Ying and said respectfully, "This is what Mu Jin should do. Mu Jin did nothing with His Highness, but was still praised by the Saint and Consort Wu Huifei. Mu Jin feels guilty."

Concubine Wu Huifei and Li Longji did not know that Li Heng was faking illness, so Li Heng was credited with merit. Naturally, Zhang Mujin, who helped Li Heng recuperate, also deserved credit and should be rewarded.

Li Heng was about to say something to comfort her when he suddenly heard some noise outside the door. Then the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict led some people in.

Li Heng and his companions hurried over to receive the imperial edict, and the eunuch who delivered the order read out Li Longji's reward to Li Heng.

Li Heng finally got the title of Anxi Jiedushi!

(End of this chapter)