After Marrying a Vegetative Princess, I went crazy with joy! - Chapter 237

Chapter 237

If Su Li were easily swayed, he wouldn’t be worth Li Tai’s attention. Faced with Su Li’s indifference, Li Tai maintained his pleasant demeanor and engaged in small talk to fill the silence. After a conversation that seemed to drag on without much substance and seeing Su Li growing impatient, Li Tai promptly excused himself without unnecessary delays. When prolonged, some matters might not be productive, and a higher interaction frequency better conveys one’s sincerity.

Li Tai visited the Princess’s Residence daily for the next few weeks. Initially, Su Li tolerated a few exchanges, but as time passed, Li Tai’s visits were met by Changle instead. Eventually, even Changle grew reluctant to see him. Several consecutive days saw Li Tai turned away at the entrance with the explanation that the Prince and the Princess were occupied teaching the young prince.

Although the door remained technically open, Li Tai would spend much of the day at the Princess’s Residence, sipping tea and not catching a glimpse of Su Li. Even with a thick-skinned demeanor, Li Tai couldn’t help but feel somewhat embarrassed after a while. Over time, he naturally grasped Su Li’s message.

Nonetheless, he wasn’t disheartened. Unable to find an opening through Su Li and Changle, he shifted his focus elsewhere.

When Li Tai first visited the Princess’s Residence, young Su Che received stern scolding from Su Li for playing with gunpowder. Although Su Che had been embarrassed and avoided people for a few days, being just a toddler, his moods shifted rapidly. Before long, he was once again running around the courtyard with boundless energy. Consequently, the opportunities for the uncle and nephew to meet increased. Li Tai tried to get close to Su Che, often playing with him and occasionally bringing small gifts. Before long, Su Che had grown fond of his uncle, and they became close.

However, he increased Su Che’s studies once Su Li noticed this situation, assuming Li Tai would understand the hint. Yet, he hadn’t anticipated that Li Tai would remain unfazed. Li Tai’s daily visits to the Princess’s Residence were as regular as clockwork, even more consistent than his official duties. This unwavering persistence left Su Li somewhat helpless. Li Tai’s behavior didn’t sway Su Li, but it caught Li Er’s attention.

On this particular day, Li Er summoned Li Chengqian before him. “I’ve heard you’ve been growing close to prominent families recently?” Li Er felt somewhat displeased by his son appearing so pleased with himself. Honestly, Li Er hadn’t truly considered changing the crown prince. He was generally content with Li Chengqian’s performance. Over the years, the primary conflict between father and son had been Li Chengqian’s resentment towards Su Li. While it might seem minor from Li Chengqian’s perspective, for Li Er, it was a significant issue.

As time passed, Li Er became increasingly aware of the accuracy of Yuan Tianshi’s divination. Su Li appeared to be a promising figure for the Tang Dynasty. Before Su Li’s emergence, the Tang Dynasty faced numerous internal problems and external threats, leaving Li Er vexed as the emperor. However, Su Li managed to resolve the empire’s issues related to people’s livelihood and finances while also dealing with the western frontier tribes. Li Er had never imagined that such achievements could be made, even while “lying flat.” Yet, he couldn’t deny the exhilaration he felt.

In the eyes of someone as astute as Li Er, directing all his wisdom towards understanding a person led to many previously perplexing matters becoming clear. Li Er was convinced that Su Li was truly a person who sought no conflict with the world. Moreover, Su Li’s actions were straightforward, and his intentions typically aligned with the country’s and its people’s greater good. Li Er had mentioned to Li Chengqian before that having Su Li was indeed a stroke of luck for the Tang Dynasty. Li Er’s only concern was the possibility of Su Li’s intentions changing.

However, if Su Li genuinely aspires to become a king or conqueror, could the Li imperial family truly resist him? Therefore, Li Er’s current mindset was similar to someone who recognized the futility of resistance and chose to close their eyes and enjoy the benefits.

With this underlying mindset, Li Er was determined to do everything he could to establish a closer relationship with Su Li. Given their close age, he hoped that Li Chengqian shared a similar perspective. If Li Chengqian could build a strong connection with Su Li, the future of the Tang Dynasty could be promising. However, Li Er was troubled by the fact that despite his clear statements and hints, he had tried every possible method, yet Li Chengqian, who used to be so clever, seemed to struggle to understand.

On the contrary, Li Er felt that Li Chengqian’s bias against Su Li deepened. Despite the slightly questioning tone in Li Er’s words, Li Chengqian remained composed. Lately, he had felt quite satisfied and confident, which naturally bolstered his courage.

“Father, Master Su once told me that the key to ruling lies in balance and complementarity. When dealing with those above, one must balance favor and authority. When dealing with those below, one should display kindness and discipline,” Li Chengqian calmly began to speak. “Regarding the noble clans, it’s indeed necessary for you to show your power to remind them of the emperor’s authority. However, the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families also have their uses for the Tang Dynasty. As the Crown Prince, I believe showing some benevolence could also help them understand the leniency of our royal family.”

Li Chengqian’s words were well-argued and grounded, and even Li Er struggled to develop a counterargument. However, when a father decided to discipline his son, there was no need for extensive reasoning. Sometimes, strong disciplinary actions could be more effective than a thousand words.

Li Er believed he didn’t need a reason to discipline Li Chengqian if necessary. “Even so, you should understand that the noble clans are displeased with Su Li. How do you think they will react if you become too close to him once he’s gone?” Li Er’s voice was filled with anger.

Li Chengqian’s expression instantly turned sour. “Why should I care about Su Li’s feelings when I make decisions?” Seeing his son’s reaction, Li Er couldn’t help but furrow his brow. “Chengqian has always had a bit of a rebellious streak. Is it because I’ve given too much attention to Su Li, and that’s causing his discontent?” Li Er couldn’t help but think along those lines.

After all, both father and son were extraordinary individuals. Who would want to hear their parents constantly talking about other people’s children? Li Er believed that if he were twenty years younger, he might not fare better in similar circumstances than Li Chengqian. Sometimes it was wiser to be lenient than to confront head-on.

With this in mind, Li Er quickly formulated a second approach. “Chengqian, Su Li is an extraordinary individual. I must treat him with respect. Although I’ve granted him power, he shows no attachment to it. This demonstrates that Su Li has no ambitions, and we can interact with him without worry. In this matter, Li Tai understands more than you… I’ve heard he’s visited the princess’s residence frequently lately…” Before he could finish his sentence, Li Chengqian’s face had already turned ashen.