Eternal Saber-Chapter 232 - 17: Age of Prosperity

Although Chen Tang and Yuan Qingshan were nominally fellow apprentices, their relationship was not as close as with others.

How to address each other still follows the customary titles.

He had heard a lot about the Emperor's Heart Skill in his previous life.

If he really relied on the identity of being fellow apprentices, or became arrogant due to his achievements, he might die more miserably than anyone.

Yuan Qingshan looked up and saw Chen Tang, stood up, and smiled as he came forward, "Junior brother, there are no outsiders here. We can address each other as fellow apprentices and need not abide by court etiquette."

The young man looked up, somewhat surprised at Chen Tang.

Everyone present belonged to the Royal Family.

Father unexpectedly said that even this person wasn't an outsider.

Who was this person?

Where did Father get a junior brother?

Chen Tang said, "Your Holiness, I dare not presume..."

Yuan Qingshan advanced, grabbed his wrist, and led him to the study desk, laughing, "Don't think I'm just being polite. You and Qing Mo are comrades in arms, and your relationship with Qingmu needs no further mention. As we are fellow apprentices, there are no outsiders here."

Pausing momentarily, Yuan Qingshan looked at Qingmu, jokingly said, "I once thought of introducing you to Qingmu, but she wasn't willing."

Yuan Qingmu lightly spat, teasingly, "Brother, you just know how to tease people. Who knew your junior brother was actually him!"

"Haha!"

Yuan Qingshan laughed heartily.

Chen Tang?

The Lion-Tiger Arhat?

Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince?

The young man rolled his eyes, recalling the news he heard yesterday.

"He's Taiping, the Ping'er I mentioned to you back at Xiping Temple."

Yuan Qingshan squeezed Chen Tang's wrist forcefully and said, "Junior brother, you, being the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, will have to take good care of Ping'er from now on."

Chen Tang sensed there was another motive behind Yuan Qingshan's words, but he suppressed his doubts and didn't inquire immediately.

"Ping'er."

Yuan Qingshan looked at the young man, called out, "Hurry over, greet the Grand Protector!"

"Grand Protector."

Yuan Taiping reluctantly approached and performed a perfunctory bow.

Yuan Qingshan said sternly, "Remember, from now on he is not only the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince but also your martial uncle!"

After speaking, Yuan Qingshan dragged Chen Tang to the desk and pointed at a scroll, "Today, at the Imperial Court, there was much debate about revising Daqian's laws. Why don't you take a look and give some advice?"

Chen Tang hesitated and said, "Senior brother, you know..."

Yuan Qingshan knew that Chen Tang's ambitions lay elsewhere. They had discussed it when they were at Xiping Temple.

But he still hoped Chen Tang would stay and help him.

"Won't you reconsider staying in the court?"

Yuan Qingshan looked at Chen Tang, half-jokingly said, "After all, Qingmu would certainly hope for you to stay."

Yuan Qingmu said nothing, just looked at Chen Tang with some expectation.

Chen Tang contemplated silently.

Finally, Yuan Qingmo spoke up, "Brother Chen is carefree and uninhibited. Staying in the court would be tying him down. He would find it uncomfortable even if he were there."

"Very well."

Yuan Qingshan did not press further, saying, "If there's nothing else, stay a few more days in the Capital City."

Chen Tang nodded, feeling a sense of relief.

Yuan Qingshan picked up the book on the table, had a thought, and looked at the side at Yuan Taiping, asking, "Ping'er, tell me, should 'unknowing for crime' be abolished?"

"What is 'unknowing for crime'?"

Yuan Taiping did not quite understand.

Yuan Qingshan explained, "It's about acts not expressly forbidden by Daqian's laws, which can be considered crimes if they are deemed unreasonable by principles."

Chen Tang raised an eyebrow slightly.

This notion of being unreasonable by principles was highly manipulable.

Many decisions of what's right or wrong only depended on a word from those in power.

Yuan Taiping seemed to have thought of something and immediately said, "It certainly shouldn't be abolished!"

"Oh, why?"

Yuan Qingshan asked. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Yuan Taiping said, "If the law is unknown, then the power is unexplored, so it should intimidate the people. To better control them, they should always be in fear."

"This law should not only be retained but more ambiguous laws like it should be enacted to deter Qian Country's people!"

Yuan Qingmo frowned slightly.

Chen Tang felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, a kind of absurdity.

In ancient times of his past life, those emperors tirelessly studied these tactics, just like in this world.

Yuan Qingshan with an expressionless face asked again, "What do Qian Country's people seem to you?"

Seeing his father's expression was off, Yuan Taiping hesitated, not daring to speak.

"It's okay, just speak your mind."

Yuan Qingshan smiled slightly.

Yuan Taiping swallowed and said, "The Ruler and the People, in times of difficulty utilize their lives, at peace maximize their strength. Qian Country's people are like cattle and sheep we raise. Isn't that what Qian Country's governors are supposed to mean..."

"Pa!"

Yuan Qingshan suddenly struck, slapping Yuan Taiping forcefully across the face!

In a flash, Yuan Taiping fell to the ground.

His face quickly swelled and reddened.

This sudden action startled everyone present.

Even Chen Tang didn't expect it.

Yuan Qingshan squinted at Yuan Taiping and said coldly, "Who taught you to say such words, speak!"

"I, I, I heard... read it in a book."

Yuan Taiping was dumbfounded by the slap.

He had never seen his father this furious and was terrified, stammering out his response.

Yuan Qingshan took a step forward, sternly pursued, "Who gave you such books to read?"

With his eyes darting around, Yuan Taiping didn't dare look directly into Yuan Qingshan's eyes and said tremblingly, "I found them myself to read aimlessly."

Based on Chen Tang's observation, this Crown Prince probably wasn't telling the truth.

"Nonsense!"

Yuan Qingshan reprimanded with a shout and was about to move forward.

Yuan Qingmo quickly stopped him, whispering, "Brother, calm down, Ping'er is still young, and can be taught later."

Yuan Qingshan glared at Yuan Taiping and said sternly, "The people of Daqian are not cattle or sheep, but real, living, breathing people with emotions like you and me!"

Chen Tang was somewhat moved.

This senior brother indeed had a different understanding of an emperor.

After all, in ancient times of his previous life, even lower-ranking officials did not consider civilians as people.

To them, civilians were pigs, dogs, and tools.

During peaceful times, they were commanded like livestock to labor diligently.

In times of crisis, they were driven to fight and die to defend their reign.

Yuan Qingshan clenched the book in his hand, slowly saying, "The laws of Daqian aren't to intimidate its people, but with it, establish a world where the strong are disciplined, the weak have support, and virtue is rewarded!"

Chen Tang observed Yuan Qingshan, who nearly lost composure due to anger, yet he felt a surge of respect.

In the current era, Yuan Qingshan's ideas seemed somewhat unrealistic.

Or rather, difficult to achieve.

But he was indeed striving for it.

That's why he was so angry at Yuan Taiping's words.

Chen Tang often heard about 'times of prosperity' in ancient texts.

He had never witnessed one.

And didn't know how people lived during those times.

But here, perhaps he had the hope of witnessing a prosperous era firsthand.