Chapter 105: Hiring Lu Zhaolin

Li Yuechen walked over to the nearby pavilion and sat down. “Tell me the details.”

Fulai replied respectfully, “Actually, early this morning, I left the palace to inquire about the papermaking matter. The issue regarding Lu Zhaolin was handed over to Lai Cao for investigation. He just told me that someone was arrested, so I personally made some inquiries and learned that this matter involves Your Highness’s cousin…”

As she spoke, she took out a piece of paper to show Li Yuechen. It seemed the arrest was because he had written a poem.

Curious, Li Yuechen opened it. Could it be a rebellious poem? She thought probably not—if it were, the one who arrested him wouldn’t be Wu Sansi.

She glanced through it. The poem was titled "Ancient Sentiments of Chang’an," quite lengthy.

After reading it back and forth several times, a slight smirk appeared on Li Yuechen’s lips; she roughly understood.

The poem expressed a longing for life in Chang’an, subtly satirizing the extravagance and decadence of the aristocracy.

The matter itself was not serious. Besides, the Tang Dynasty did not have literary inquisition, so people were not punished for their words.

However, some of the phrasing might have been quite offensive to the nobility, so their displeasure was understandable.

She said nothing more and stood to return to Anfu Palace.

Near mealtime, Li Yuechen took out the poem and showed it to Shangguan Wan’er and the others.

“How do you all find this poem?”

Princess Yiyang admired it, “Its literary brilliance is remarkable. The talent is truly great!”

Shangguan Wan’er nodded with the same expression, “At present, Wan’er cannot compare.”

Li Yuechen put down her cup and looked up, asking, “Do you think this person could be of use to me?”

“Your Highness is a princess of the Tang; naturally you can use him!” Shangguan Wan’er replied.

“That is true, but I want him to be genuinely dedicated to his tasks, though that shouldn’t be difficult,” Li Yuechen said.

In truth, she only wanted him to be a language teacher, but the key was whether he would wholeheartedly teach these children.

In this era, there were reasons for discrimination between classes. Although Lu Zhaolin indeed criticized the aristocracy’s decadence, Li Yuechen was uncertain if resentment motivated his words.

If he truly was such a person, he might also look down on the children, surely unwilling to teach them as she desired.

Li Yuechen never believed that simply being an author in the language textbook meant one was a good person, so she needed to test him.

The next morning, following her routine practice and breakfast, she took Fulai with her to the prison.

The prison was under the Ministry of Justice’s jurisdiction. Upon hearing the princess’s arrival, Zhang Wenguan immediately came out with attendants to pay respects.

Li Yuechen stepped down from the carriage and saw Zhang Wenguan approaching with his entourage. “I pay my respects to Her Highness the Princess.”

“Please, no need for formalities,” Li Yuechen raised her hand. “I am here not on official business, only to visit someone.”

Zhang Wenguan replied, “May I ask if Your Highness needs me to do anything?”

“No, just a visit,” Li Yuechen smiled and explained.

She had no intention of using any privileges yet; she wanted to see the person first.

Led by the prison warden, they entered the dim, damp-smelling dungeon.

Li Yuechen was unbothered, following the guards briskly.

The cells differed from her expectations: wooden bars, rough and unpolished, with only a hand’s width apart.

Cells were small, holding two to three inmates in some, up to seven or eight in others.

The prisoners, seeing a young girl ushered inside by guards, watched curiously but quickly lowered their heads when the guards scowled.

Deeper inside, the warden stopped at a cell. “Your Highness, this is the place.”

Li Yuechen nodded and stood before the cell.

Only one person was inside, and the sanitation was better—likely someone had bribed the guards.

A thick layer of dry straw covered the floor. A man lay there, eyes half-closed, occasionally coughing lightly.

Due to beards and poor nutrition, ancient people often looked older than their actual age.

Judging by the appearance, this man seemed just over thirty.

“Open the door,” Li Yuechen commanded with a nod.

“Yes!”

The guard promptly unlocked the cell.

The clash of chains and wood likely woke the man. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up on the straw.

He saw a man dressed as a eunuch entering, followed by a young boy in a bright red robe.

But… despite the boy’s male attire, it was clearly a young girl!

Her delicate face, with a high ponytail tied by a red ribbon, entered slowly.

Her large, shining black eyes conveyed a maturity incongruent with her child’s body.

Lu Zhaolin stood and bowed. “May I ask who the honored guest is?”

Fulai responded, “This is the Emperor’s legitimate daughter, Princess Taiping!”

“I, a commoner, pay respects to Your Highness!” Lu Zhaolin bowed firmly, but showed no excitement upon seeing the princess.

Li Yuechen looked around. Seeing no chair, she sat directly on the low desk. “No need for formalities. Do you know why you were arrested?”

Lu Zhaolin gave a bitter smile. “Simply because I offended some people… It’s a pity my family and friends not only failed to save me but also lost a lot of money…”

“This matter… partly your own fault, isn’t it?” Li Yuechen asked.

“Why blame me? The Tang never punishes for speech. May I ask, Your Highness, what crime have I committed?” Lu Zhaolin retorted.

“Bold!” Fulai stepped forward.

Li Yuechen waved her off indifferently with a slight smile. “I believe laws are merely the lowest standard for people. If someone prides themselves on obeying the law, they are likely a scoundrel. Do you agree?”

“I cannot agree,” Lu Zhaolin answered firmly.

“Then tell me, how do you explain the poem ‘Romantic Reply by Guo to Lu Zhaolin’?”

“That…” Lu Zhaolin blushed. “It’s merely a matter of flirtation…”

Li Yuechen nodded. “So, flirtation is not a fault. A woman lost her honor and bore your child, yet you abandoned her, dismissing it as mere flirtation, correct?”

In fact, in this era, honor was not yet codified in law.

Though people cared, premarital affairs were common and not considered severe.

But causing a pregnancy was serious, especially since reactions varied.

Some were indifferent, so others didn’t gossip; but if the matter was raised by those involved, it could become grave.

“…”

Being lectured by a seven- or eight-year-old girl, Lu Zhaolin blushed but couldn’t refute the well-reasoned words.

Li Yuechen crossed her left leg over her right and tilted her head. “Be honest—do you regret it?”

“I dare not hide from Your Highness. Now I suffer from venereal disease. If I marry her, I fear…” Lu Zhaolin’s eyes flickered uneasily.

Li Yuechen frowned—just like her father’s illness.

But her father was emperor, with access to many physicians; his case was different. This man, frankly, could only await death.

“If you could leave here, what would you do?” Li Yuechen asked.

Lu Zhaolin shook his head. “Just find a scenic place and wait for death…”

“I have students outside the city. Would you accept employment as their teacher?” Li Yuechen asked.

Since he regretted his behavior, he was at least not entirely bad.

If he didn’t look down on the children, rescuing him was no problem—it was just a matter of words.

Now it was his turn to be surprised. “Outside the city… in a village? Why does Your Highness teach them?”

“To give all the people of the realm a chance to become pillars of the Tang,” Li Yuechen answered.

Actually, her father, Li Zhi, had done the same.

A prime example was Li Ji, who rose solely by military merit from humble origins.

When Emperor Taizong was dying, he demoted Li Ji to the provinces, hoping he might serve the new emperor someday.

Li Ji understood this and joined her father’s faction during the succession struggle, rising to great power, posthumously honored as ‘Zhenwu,’ with her father tearfully seeing him off.

Putting aside the mix of genuine feeling and performance, this sent a clear message: anyone useful to the Tang could transcend class and bring honor to their family.

Lu Zhaolin had not expected to hear such words from the princess. He froze for a moment.

Though he had heard of her poem “Pitying the Farmer,” he had thought it merely an imperial court poem to please the emperor.

But now, seeing her sincere gaze, he realized that even among the powerful and royal, some cared for the realm.

He bowed deeply and respectfully. “I did not expect Your Highness to hold such noble aspirations. If you do not disdain me, I, Lu, am willing to assist Your Highness!”

Li Yuechen nodded slightly and raised her hand. “No need for formalities. Since you are willing, I will get you out of here.”

“Thank you, Your Highness, for your rescue!”

…

Leaving the cell, Li Yuechen genuinely thought Lu Zhaolin was not a bad man.

Though his past behavior was inexcusable, since he showed remorse, she didn’t mind giving him a chance.

She thought it best to inform Wu Sansi; otherwise, if he complained to her mother, further trouble might arise.

She had never met this cousin before.

She had met Wu Chengsi but only heard Wu Sansi’s name without meeting him.

She knew nothing about him, only from TV dramas, which hardly reflected reality.

After boarding the carriage, Li Yuechen asked, “What position does my cousin hold?”

“Your Highness, he currently serves as General of the Right Guard,” Fulai answered.

“Bring out a couple of canned foods; I want to meet him!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Back at the palace, Fulai immediately sent someone to Anfu Palace to fetch two cans, then followed Li Yuechen with gifts in porcelain bottles to the Ministry of War, sending a messenger ahead to notify Wu Sansi.

…

Wu Sansi was drinking tea and chatting with his cousin Wu Chengsi in their office when the news arrived.

Frankly, if not for Empress Wu Zetian’s decree, the two might not have returned.

Although the capital was more prosperous than the provinces, the family’s past troubles were no secret.

Their father had been eliminated, and now their aunt, the Empress of Tang, summoned them back, presumably trusting family more.

They were not foolish; if their aunt could remove her brothers, she would not hesitate over nephews.

Thus, they obeyed her every command to avoid displeasure.

Upon hearing Princess Taiping was coming, Wu Sansi immediately prepared to greet her.

Everyone knew she was the most favored princess of the Tang, even more than the crown prince. If not for ministers risking death to oppose it, she might have been heir by now.

Wu Sansi thought to himself that he must honor the princess and fulfill any requests to the utmost.

Especially as she now held the position of Minister of Revenue; even aside from her status, she had means to make life difficult.

When Li Yuechen and Fulai entered the Ministry of War gates, Wu Sansi was already waiting.

Though he had never met this cousin, the princess’s style was no secret, so he recognized her immediately.

Seeing her approach, he hurried forward and bowed respectfully. “I am Wu Sansi, your humble servant. I pay respects to Princess Highness!”

Li Yuechen turned her head and raised her hand. “Cousin, no need for formalities!”

On closer look, the cousin was just over twenty, with a sparse beard barely covering his face.

He was handsome enough, at least.

“This visit was sudden, and these humble gifts are meager. I hope cousin will not disdain them,” Li Yuechen said with a slight smile.

“Not at all, not at all…” Wu Sansi was flustered. “Your Highness’s gracious visit is my honor. How could I dare to find fault? Please, come in!”

Li Yuechen nodded and followed Wu Sansi into his office.

After courteously seating Li Yuechen in the main seat, Wu Sansi cautiously asked, “May I ask what brings Your Highness here today?”

Li Yuechen got straight to the point. “There is a man named Lu Zhaolin. I think he is quite useful. I heard cousin arrested him, so I came to inquire.”

“Pardon me, Your Highness!” Wu Sansi bowed. “I did not know he was your person…”

“Oh, that was not the case before,” Li Yuechen raised her hand. “I do not blame cousin. I just inquired, and it seems he committed no crime. Therefore, I ask cousin for a favor to release him, as a courtesy to me.”