The crown prince is the prince of the empire and the heir to the future throne, and the stability of the prince's position and life safety are important guarantees for the empire to consolidate the imperial power and stabilize the ruling order. Therefore, in order to educate, counsel and protect the prince in all dynasties, so as to ensure that the imperial power can be inherited for a long time, a series of officials and systems will be set up in the East Palace, so that the prince can understand the court etiquette and the way of being a king as soon as possible.

The East Palace of the Tang Dynasty is no exception.

In addition to following the Sui system, there are three temples such as the prince's guest, the Zhan Shifu Tongjia Order, the left and right rates and other ten mansions, and the Chongwen Museum, which collects books in the East Palace.

Not long after Li Hong returned to the East Palace, Yan Zhuang hurriedly went to the study to look for him, "Your Highness, all the officials of the East Palace have gathered in the Chongjiao Palace, and please ask Your Highness to move." ”

Li Hong nodded slightly, then got up and walked towards the Chongjiao Hall with Yan Zhuang.

The reason why he wants to gather the subordinate officials of the East Palace to the Chongjiao Hall today is that in addition to wanting to get to know his subordinates, the more important point is to see if there are any capable people who hide the dragon and crouching tiger in the East Palace, and whether he can find one or two talents who can be used by him.

Because of Dai Zhide's incident and Empress Wu's vague warning in the Zichen Palace, Li Hong knew that in addition to some of the cronies arranged for him by Gaozong, there were many eyeliners placed by Empress Wu, and if he wanted to keep his position as prince in the future, he must be independent of Gaozong and Empress Wu, and in addition to the dispute between the "emperor and queen", he could not help but establish his own team and lineage.

Moreover, the important thing he had to do today was that this time he had to find a way to keep Gaozong and his cronies and Empress Wu out of the power hierarchy of the East Palace. Otherwise, no matter what he does in the future, he will not be able to hide from Gaozong and Empress Wu, and he will always be at the mercy of Gaozong and Empress Wu in the East Palace, and it is impossible to have absolute freedom.

When Li Hong and Yan Zhuang arrived outside the Chongjiao Palace, they found that a white-haired old man was leading a group of officials of the East Palace to wait for him outside the hall.

This old man Li Hong is no stranger, it is Xu Jingzong, the Chinese book commander and the prince's guest.

Li Hong was shocked when he saw Xu Jingzong, and he wondered how Xu Jingzong, the dignified prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, would come to the Chongjiao Palace? Because Li Ji and Dai Zhide, who are also subordinate officials of the East Palace, did not appear today. Just when Li Hong was thinking about it like this, the subordinate officials of the East Palace headed by Xu Jingzong had already stepped forward to salute him and said, "See His Royal Highness the Prince!" ”

"You don't have to be polite!" Li Hong hurriedly retracted his thoughts and said humbly, stepped forward again, supported Xu Jingzong with both hands, and said warmly, "Xu Xiang, you are a Zhongshu Ling, and you are busy with government affairs, how can you come to Chongjiao Palace?" ”

Xu Jingzong was very satisfied with Li Hong's humble attitude towards him, and said with a smile, "Your Highness, although the old minister is the Zhongshu Order and holds the position of prime minister, he is also the crown prince and young master appointed by His Majesty, and he is a subordinate official of His Royal Highness's East Palace. ”

Li Hong has no ill feelings towards Xu Jingzong.

No matter how Xu Jingzong is described in history, saying that he is lustful and greedy for money, and that he has an improper character, but for Li Hong, it was Xu Jingzong who suggested that Gaozong make himself the crown prince, and after he was made the prince, Xu Jingzong has been serving as a subordinate official of the East Palace, and he is conscientious to himself. There are many factors in this that he is a confidant of Empress Wu, but Li Hong can see from Xu Jingzong's words and deeds to himself that he really regards himself as the prince of the Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, Li Hong has great respect for Xu Jingzong

He helped Xu Jingzong into the Chongjiao Hall, "Thank you Xu Xiang." Lone knows that without your teachings, there would be no Lone today. Now that you are old, you are running to the East Palace in person, which makes you feel guilty! ”

"Your Highness is polite, Your Highness is talented and intelligent, and you have the teachings of Your Majesty and Niangniang, how dare the old minister take credit, how dare you take credit!" Xu Jingzong said proudly, "Besides, isn't it the duty of the old minister to run for His Royal Highness in the East Palace?" ”

Xu Jingzong said this, and Li Hong could only smile and nod.

He helped Xu Jingzong to a chair and sat down, then walked to the main seat of the Chongjiao Hall and sat down, and the officials of the East Palace sat down once.

Then Xu Jingzong glanced at the officials before he opened his mouth and asked Li Hong, "Your Highness summoned the subordinate officials of the East Palace today, I don't know what you have to order?" ”

"Ladies and gentlemen, my father has been suffering from wind disease for several years, and he has been diagnosed and treated by many doctors, but there is still no improvement, which makes Gu very sad!" Li Hong said bitterly, "And Lone's body is weak and often needs to be recuperated, which you all know well, therefore, Lone wants to concentrate the manpower and financial resources of the East Palace to systematically revise, supplement and standardize the previous medical works, in addition to using this to tap a group of outstanding medical talents in the city, I also hope to find out the treatment of my father's wind disease and the stubborn disease of Lone from the ancient pharmacopoeia." I don't know if you have any comments and suggestions? ”

If you want to go on a big spurt, you have to have an excuse. Li Hong had already compiled "Yaoshan Yucai" before, and now it seems a bit inappropriate to use the book as an excuse. Besides, he just told Gaozong and Empress Wu that he wanted to compile a book again, and it is estimated that in addition to Xu Jingzong and Yang Sijian, who are subordinate officials of the East Palace, and others can participate, Gaozong and Empress Wu will only send people to assist him, and will not let him recruit talents on his own.

Therefore, Li Hong could only use the pretext of revising, supplementing, and standardizing medical works to carry out his plan to recruit talents.

And on the grounds of Gaozong's wind disease and his own stubborn illness, this excuse is very high-sounding, he believes that no matter what he does at that time, no one will oppose what he does, and no one dares to oppose it.

At the same time, he was also thinking about how to keep Sun Simiao.

Because an immortal figure like Sun Simiao can come to Chang'an City to treat him once, he is already very glad for him, if Sun Simiao stays by his side again, it seems impossible to diagnose and treat him and Gaozong at any time.

And the only thing that can keep Sun Simiao is to make him the chief compiler of the revision, supplement, and standardization of medical works. Li Hong believes that Sun Simiao will not shirk such a great task that can benefit his children and grandchildren and benefit the people of the world.

As soon as Li Hong said this, in addition to Yan Zhuang, the prince's family order, the prince and the prince Xu Jingzong, the prince Guo Yu, the middle scholar and the prince's left concubine Zhang Wenjun, the prince's right concubine Xiao Dezhao, the Zhongshu houser, the bachelor of the Hongwen Pavilion, the right protector of the prince Li Jingxuan, the prince's middle housekeeper Yang Hongwu, the prince Dianshan Cheng Wang Xian and Yang Sijian and others didn't know how to answer at once.

If the prince wants to compile historical books, they will naturally not have any opinions, but will only do their best to help. But now the prince seems to be a little out of business, and wants to revise, supplement and standardize medical works, which makes it difficult for them.

First, they wanted to oppose it, but they didn't dare. Because the prince's reasons are too high-sounding, if anyone opposes this matter, it is equivalent to not wanting the Son of Heaven to cure the wind disease, and not wanting the prince to cure the stubborn disease, which is a big rebellious statement.

Second, they did not know medical skills, could not assist the prince, and could not give any suggestions and opinions.

There was a sudden silence in the worship hall.

After a long time, Xu Jingzong spoke, "His Royal Highness's heart of benevolence and filial piety can be understood by the old minister, and His Royal Highness wants to organize human and financial resources to revise, supplement and standardize medical works, so that he can find out the prescription for the treatment of His Majesty's wind disease and His Royal Highness's stubborn illness from ancient medical techniques, and the old minister does not object." However, revising, supplementing, and standardizing medical works is a cumbersome and vast project, which cannot be completed overnight, and in this process, it is necessary to have a person with excellent medical skills to be responsible for compiling them. The old minister doesn't know medical skills, I'm afraid he is powerless, and he can't share his worries for His Highness! ”

Li Hong was very satisfied with Xu Jingzong's performance, this is the political wisdom of the old oilman of officialdom, so he said with a smile, "Xu Xiang can often go to the East Palace and talk to Gu, Gu is already very happy, how can he let you work hard again?" However, please rest assured, this chief codifier has already been selected in his heart. And after this matter matures, Lone will also ask his father and Empress Wu to play. ”

"Well, Your Highness has thought it so thoroughly, the old minister is relieved!" Xu Jingzong said, a faint intriguing smile appeared on the old man's face, "Then the old minister will have to nag with His Highness more in the future!" ”

Li Hong said heartily, "Naturally, I can't ask for it!" ”

As soon as Xu Jingzong's words came out, Taifu Guo Yu also said, "His Royal Highness's benevolence and filial piety moved the old minister very much, and the old minister agreed with His Royal Highness's decision. ”

Immediately, the left concubine Zhang Wenjun, the right concubine Xiao Dezhao, the right prince of the school, Li Jingxuan, the right middle protector of the prince, Yang Hongwu, Yang Sijian and others all opened their mouths to say that they did not understand medical skills and were powerless.

Isn't it nonsense that he is a dignified member of the imperial court who revises, supplements, and standardizes medical works with the crown prince? Besides, if this matter is done well, it is all the credit of the prince, if it is not done well, it can only be blamed by yourself, and everyone is not happy to shed this troubled water!

Li Hong sat quietly in the main hall and watched the performance of the people in front of him, the expression on his face did not change, but his heart was already happy. Because in the group of people in front of him, except for Wang Xian, who has not yet spoken, the rest of the people are not his cronies who can be relied on, and everyone wants to stay out of the matter now, this is the result of Li Hong's unbelieving!

However, Li Hong still had to do enough work on the surface, so he said with a disappointed face, "Isn't there any one of you who is willing to help Lone?" ”

"If Your Highness needs talents in this area, Weichen can recommend it for Your Highness." Zhang Wenjun, the middle scholar and the prince's left concubine, said quite embarrassedly.

It's not that he doesn't want to assist Li Hong, but because Xu Jingzong Zhuyu is in front of him, and he doesn't know medical skills, he feels that he can't help much, so he can only try his best to recommend a few talented people for Li Hong.

Li Jingxuan, the bachelor of Hongwen Pavilion and the right central protector of the prince of the school, was soft-spoken in the East Palace, and with Xu Jingzong, Zhang Wenqian and Xiao Dezhao before him, he could only say in a sincere tone when he saw Li Hong's face full of disappointment, "There are several virtuous people around Weichen who can assist His Highness, and Weichen is willing to recommend them to His Highness!" ”

And the rest of the people also attached to the words of Zhang Wenqian and Li Jingxuan, saying that they were willing to recommend talents for Li Hong.

Zhang Wenjun was born in the Qinghe Zhang family, which has been an official for generations, is the son of a famous family, he has read the scriptures since he was a child, understands etiquette and righteousness, respects his mother, respects his brother, and is famous for his filial piety in the township. In the early years of Zhenguan, he passed the Ming Jingke examination, and because of his remarkable political achievements, he was repeatedly promoted, and now he is an official in the middle school.

Therefore, Zhang Wenjun can recommend talents for himself, and Li Hong is very happy.

And Li Jingxuan is also a well-educated person with a high style, diligent in making invitations, and does not avoid the heat, plus he is a bachelor of Chongxian Pavilion, the person recommended will definitely not be a mediocre talent, and Li Hong is also looking forward to it.

At this point, today in the Chongjiao Hall of the East Palace, Li Hong finally took the first step in his life.

When everyone left one after another, when Li Hong helped Xu Jingzong out of the Chongjiao Hall, Xu Jingzong suddenly said, "What Your Highness did today, the old minister is very happy for His Highness!" It's just that you can't rush everything, you still need to accumulate step by step. I hope that Your Highness will not be in a hurry, and if you want to hurry, you will not be able to reach it! ”

Li Hong's body was shocked, and he was shocked by Xu Jingzong's words. Could it be that Xu Jingzong has already sensed his motives for being in the Chongjiao Hall today? Xu Jingzong is a hardcore confidant of the Empress Wu, if he really senses his motive for being in the Chongjiao Hall today, doesn't this mean that it won't be long before the Empress Wu will know?

Li Hong didn't dare to think about it anymore, but tried his best to suppress the uneasiness in his heart, calmed down his mood, and said puzzledly, "Xu Xiang's meaning, I don't understand." ”

Zi said: If you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools. Today, His Highness has indeed made a good move! Xu Jingzong ignored Li Hong pretending to be stupid, but said to himself, "But the old minister is deaf and dazzled, and his memory is not good, so he doesn't remember anything!" ”

After speaking, he no longer let Li Hong support him, but disappeared and left the Chongjiao Palace.

Li Hong looked at Xu Jingzong's blurred back, and after a long time, a faint smile appeared on his face, because he understood the meaning of Xu Jingzong's words.