Living leisurely in Tang Dynasty

down calmly as agile as a monkey.

Kong Yingda was very angry and stared at Li Yuanying who handed the paper kite to Sizi.

The boy wasn’t afraid at all and even criticized Kong Yingda: “Chancellor Kong, this is not right!  How can you yell so loudly when someone is at a high place? If your child climbs onto a tree and falls to the ground because of your yelling who is going to take responsibility?”

Kong Yingda snorted coldly: “The children of the Kong family won’t climb up a tree!”

He sternly asked Sizi and the other children to play elsewhere else and ordered Yuanying to stand outside to reflect on his behavior.

I must be stupid to believe Wei Zheng’s words!

How would this brat have even an ounce of interest in learning?

After completing a passage of classics literature with the children in class, Kong Yingda remembers that Yuanying was just a young child and wanted to let this incident past.

“Come back in!”

No response from outside the class…

Kong Yingda’s expression turned for the worst.

A child who was by the window poked his head out and looked around: “Chancellor Kong, he’s no longer outside!”

“This child can’t be taught!” He didn’t ask anyone to look for Yuanying but instead continued with the lesson.  After all, even if that kid was in class he wouldn’t pay attention.  Just let him go!

Li Yuanying was certainly not someone who would stand around obediently.
He only stood at the door for a short while before seeing three small heads poking out from outside the courtyard with deep guilt on their faces.

I can’t let the three kids be sad! He slipped out immediately and happily accompanied them to play with their paper kite.

To the east of the lecture hall is a wide pasture full of grass, especially suitable for children to play.

The boy had lots of fun and even happily had snacks with the girls before telling them that he was going back to study!

It would be impossible to return to the lecture hall.
Li Yuanying thus slipped back into his residence, took the book of Rites that he has finished reading, and went straight to look for Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng and the Emperor have just finished their discussion and was arranging the manuscripts they have copied.

Seeing Li Yuanying outside, Wei Zheng frowned.

Shouldn’t this kid be in class listening to Kong Yingda’s lecture?

Wei Zheng has a thin face with droopy lips making him look fierce and serious.
He scowled and yelled, “What are you doing sneakily? Come in if you have something to say!”

Li Yuanying strolled in unafraid of Wei Zheng’s black face and even complained about Kong Yingda, saying that that he almost scared him off a tree and punished him to stand outside the lecture hall!

He didn’t care that Wei Zheng was quiet and proceeded with his plan: “I thought that I shouldn’t waste a day in vain, so I read the remaining of the <>.

When His Majesty Li Er punished Yuanying and Li Zhi, Wei Zheng was also there.
Naturally, he knew of their punishment.

“Have you finished reading?”

“After reading it, there are some things that I don’t understand.” Yuanying leaned close to Wei Zheng, spread out the book, and began consulting Wei Zheng on it.

Wei Zheng has been a part of the imperial court for many years.
He has met many people and experienced many things.
Naturally, he has good judgment and could tell if the boy was serious or pretending.

Since Li Yuanying wanted to learn, Wei Zheng pushed the manuscript aside and carefully answered his questions.

Somehow Yuanying found the right person to ask about this particular topic.
When it comes to an in-depth understanding of this book, no one in the imperial court has more knowledge than Wei Zheng.  When Wei Zheng wants to rebuke the Emperor for things he disagrees with he often uses the excuse that the Emperor’s doing is not aligned with cultural acceptance, thus using the <> to perfection!

Wei Zheng solved Li Yuanying’s questions articulately and the boy was enlightened.

Originally, he thought that he understood the content of the book but after hearing Wei Zheng’s in-depth explanation, he felt that he actually didn’t understand anything at the start.

More importantly, Wei Zheng was able to give him real examples using examples from the common people, matters in court, and records in historical books.
Wei Zheng was able to put things into context with ease and he explained them thoroughly!

If I am able to learn this trick, I’ll be able to debate and win all arguments in the future!

Li Yuanying immediately became energetic and listened seriously.

One teacher and one pupil; one teaching and one learning.
Soon it was time to eat!

Yuanying still had some ideas, so he put away the book and said that he wanted to go home with Wei Zheng.

Since the Emperor usually stays in the Jiucheng Palace for about half a year, the ministers were granted permission to bring their family along and living quarters were allocated according to rank.  Wei Zheng hence brought his wife and children.

Hearing that Yuanying was to follow him home Wei Zheng quickly said, “There is nothing good to eat in my house.”

“Then I will ask someone to send us some delicious food!” Before Wei Zheng could object, Yuanying has already ordered a servant to prepare delicious food and send it to Wei Zheng’s residence.

The boy wasn’t the only one with unfinished business, Wei Zheng has also become excited about teaching him.  Since he has already instructed servants to bring food over he could no longer refuse him.

This was during the time court was dismissed hence many officials were walking around.

Many noticed an old man and young boy were walking together and were secretly surprised: Why would that kid walk together with Wei Zheng?!

On any given day, wouldn’t this kid be hiding from Wei Zheng?!

Is the sun rising from the west now?