RPAGF Chapter 43 Rural Prodigy
Chapter 43 Rural Prodigy
As she spoke, Sizi slid off Li Shimin's lap and began handing out small gifts to her older brothers and sisters one by one.
He stuffed a packet of candied fruit into Chengyang's hand and handed Li Tai a crumpled paper package. The maltose inside had melted a bit, and the hemp rope binding it was mostly loose.
"On the way... Sizi couldn't resist and licked it just once, really just once."
Sizi lowered her head, her fingertips clutching the hem of her clothes, her face full of embarrassment.
Li Tai held the paper packet with faint teeth marks, paused for a moment, then picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, chewing it with relish. He then jokingly said in a serious tone, "Hmm, maltose with Si Zi's heartfelt sentiments really does taste exceptionally different."
He broke off a piece and handed it to Li Chengqian, his eyes open and friendly: "Brother, have a taste, it's very sweet."
Li Chengqian opened his mouth to eat, smiled and ruffled the top of his head. The two brothers looked at each other, their eyes filled with an intimate and unreserved affection.
The entire hall chuckled softly, and Li Zhi's expression softened, a faint smile playing on his lips.
At this moment, brothers are friendly and affectionate, and no one thinks much about the uncertainties that may follow.
Sizi ran back to Li Shimin's side, took out a neatly wrapped paper package from her sleeve, tiptoed and gently placed it in front of Li Zhi's desk, her tone earnest and obedient: "Brother Zhinu, this is specially for you, Sizi hasn't licked it once."
Li Zhi reached out and took it, his voice gentle: "Thank you, Sizi."
He held the paper package, a warm feeling spreading in his eyes. His fingertips gently traced the texture of the paper as he sat quietly, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the outside of the palace, as if he were longing for the scenery outside.
Such small actions are simply seen as childish behavior by others, and no one investigates them further.
Only then did Chang Le slowly walk into the hall. She paused briefly at the door, looking at her close family members sitting around the table chatting and laughing, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
She then stepped forward with a smile and gently placed the two coarse linen medicine packets she was carrying on the table beside her.
Li Tai, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed the two inconspicuous cloth bundles and asked curiously, "What treasures is your sister carrying, wrapped up so tightly?"
The boy spoke lightly, full of pure curiosity, showing no trace of the cunning and scheming he would later possess.
"It's medicinal herbs." Chang Le sat down next to Cheng Yang, her tone calm. "Today we went to Wang Langjun's farm, and he gave Mother a new prescription to treat her qi ailment."
He personally picked these medicinal herbs in the early morning at Qingshiling, and processed them by hand in the afternoon. He carefully peeled the Ophiopogon japonicus, sliced the Adenophora stricta into even pieces, and laid them out on four bamboo trays to dry slowly. He really put a lot of effort into it.
Her words were concise and without excessive embellishment.
The Emperor and Empress Dowager already knew Wang Zhihuan's character; they only needed to let his younger siblings know the reason.
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall subtly changed.
An ordinary man from a farm outside the city is gradually coming into the royal family's sight in this gentle and unassuming way, quietly stirring up the undercurrents in the deep palace and the court.
Li Tai put down his chopsticks, staring at the two medicine packets with a look of astonishment: "The Imperial Medical Academy always has apprentices dispensing the medicine and professional pharmacists preparing it. How could a farm owner do everything himself, from gathering the herbs to processing them?"
Having grown up in the inner palace, where everyone had their own duties and the hierarchy was strict, he found these hands-on, down-to-earth country folk particularly novel.
He said that medicinal herbs are ingested to heal people, and he can only feel at ease if he handles each one himself.
Chang Le added softly, "She also said that peeling Ophiopogon japonicus should be done gently, and that the slices of Adenophora stricta should be of uniform thickness. When she talked about these things, her tone was as ordinary and natural as if she were tending to crops or feeding chickens and ducks."
"Gathering and preparing medicinal herbs is already hard work, and even ordinary doctors may not be willing to do everything themselves. His down-to-earth and dedicated approach is truly rare."
Li Chengqian nodded slightly, his expression becoming more solemn. As the crown prince, he had long since learned to understand the people's sentiments and identify talented individuals.
In his eyes, such a kind-hearted and reliable person, if employed by the court, would surely bring benefits to the people.
At that moment, all he could think about was the fate of the nation and its people; he didn't see a farm owner as a potential hindrance at all.
Chang Le casually opened the small package of medicine he carried with him and slowly said, "He also took my pulse and said that I have a weak spleen and stomach and insufficient qi and blood. I am prone to coughing and wheezing when the seasons change. He specially prescribed some sand ginseng and ophiopogon japonicus and told me to boil them with red dates and drink the water often. He said that I would get better with gradual conditioning."
Li Tai raised an eyebrow, even more surprised: "My eldest sister's chronic cough and asthma during seasonal changes has never been mentioned to him. How did he know the cause?"
"I didn't mention it at all." Chang Le shook her head slightly. "He only took my pulse for a short while, and he described the underlying symptoms perfectly."
Li Tai opened his mouth, then fell silent. He had been well-versed in classical texts since childhood and had always been proud of his talent and learning, but Chang Le's medical explanations were thorough and practical, hitting the nail on the head.
It is truly astonishing that a farmer from the countryside possesses such superb medical skills.
As he was pondering to himself, Li Shimin suddenly put down his wine cup with a soft sound, and the hall fell silent instantly.
Tonight, his children are gathered for a family dinner, and he originally intended to use this opportunity to let his sons see the hidden talents of the world.
He leaned back in his chair, the gentleness of his previous fatherly demeanor gone, his gaze slowly sweeping over Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Zhi, his eyes deep and discerning, carrying the unique scrutiny and consideration of an emperor:
"I have personally witnessed his agricultural skills. When he tried planting Champa rice, one mu of land could produce six to eight branches, and the yield was twice as high as that of the most fertile paddy fields in Guanzhong."
They even used rotten vegetable leaves and straw to feed earthworms and chickens, making use of waste without spending any money. Such ingenious innovation was something that many officials in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Agriculture might not have thought of.
This seemingly casual compliment actually contains a hidden test.
Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian frowned slightly, lowered his eyes, and pondered for a moment, secretly making plans in his heart.
There are millions of acres of paddy fields in Guanzhong. If the new rice varieties can be fully promoted, the annual grain production will increase, which will be enough to stabilize the people's hearts and consolidate the foundation of the country.
His thoughts and considerations always prioritized the well-being of the people and the stability of the Tang Dynasty. This magnanimity was exactly what Li Shimin hoped to see.
Li Tai, standing to the side, was also deep in thought, his mind filled with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge about Wang Zhihuan's talent. The young man's competitive spirit and desire for knowledge were written all over his face.
At this moment, the two brothers, one concerned with the country and the other obsessed with learning, have different thoughts, yet they remain harmonious and without any conflict of interest.
"Furthermore, his poetry, prose, and vision."
Li Shimin turned his gaze to Li Tai, his tone carrying a hint of approval, "Qingque has studied at the Hongwen Academy for many years. Have you ever heard the poem, 'If only I had ten thousand mansions, I could shelter all the poor scholars of the world and make them rejoice'?"
Li Tai pondered deeply, searching through the ancient texts in his mind, and finally slowly shook his head: "Your subject has never heard of it, nor is it recorded in ancient books."
I was deeply moved. Such verses, expressing such compassion for all living beings, could not possibly have been written by an ordinary country person.
"This phrase comes from Wang Zhihuan." Li Shimin took a sip of his cup and continued, "There's also the saying, 'How can the canal be so clear? Because there is a source of living water.' He used earthworm castings to fertilize the fields, saying that this was the source of living water for the fields."
There are also a few words on how to conduct oneself in the world and pursue scholarship, with lofty ideals and profound truths.
He deliberately concealed some of the best lines, leaving a sense of mystery to be slowly revealed later.