Chapter 11: Impeached
Li Shen’s life had returned to tranquility. These past few days, his routine was simple—between the Imperial Academy and the Great Fortune Hall. A few consorts who were close to Consort Wei came to visit; seeing Li Shen’s chairs and belongings, they requested several sets for themselves.
Apart from that, Li Shen enjoyed lying down and napping in the pavilion. May was the season when spring flourished. In his previous life, he had been alone running a shop and hadn’t had time to travel for years. Now that he had transmigrated, he intended to relax and appreciate the beautiful scenery. It was a pity he was still young; otherwise, having a beauty by his side would truly be one of life’s greatest joys.
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Meanwhile, the morning court carried a different atmosphere. After discussing state affairs, Emperor Taizong was about to dismiss the court when he asked, “Ministers, is there any other matter to report?”
“I have something to report,” said a man standing up. He was an imperial censor surnamed Cui.
“Speak,” Emperor Taizong said.
“I impeach Prince Shen, Li Shen, for lack of ambition and indulging in frivolous and cunning arts, abandoning ancestral traditions,” the censor Cui reported.
“Who? Impeaching whom?” Emperor Taizong thought he must have heard wrong and asked again.
“Your Majesty, I impeach Prince Shen, Li Shen,” Cui said solemnly.
“Your Majesty, I also impeach Prince Shen, Li Shen, for forgetting his roots,” another censor stood and added.
This caused quite a stir in the court. No one knew what had happened.
“Prince Shen is only seven years old this year.”
“What did Prince Shen do?”
“No one seems to know.”
“One’s a Cui, one’s a Wang. What exactly did Prince Shen do?”
Emperor Taizong could hardly believe his ears. Li Shen was only seven years old—how could he be accused of lack of ambition, indulging in frivolous arts, abandoning ancestral traditions, and forgetting his roots? Forgetting one’s roots implied unfilial behavior, a grave matter in ancient times. Taizong felt this was an overreaction.
“Oh, Censor Cui, what exactly has Prince Shen done?” Emperor Taizong asked, curious.
“Your Majesty, I have heard that Prince Shen has been dabbling in miscellaneous studies within the palace. At the Great Fortune Hall, he removed the traditional kang platform and replaced it with tables and chairs. Isn’t this frivolous and cunning? Moreover, the kang platform is clearly stipulated in rites. By discarding it, Prince Shen has rejected the ritual system and replaced it with foreign customs. Since ancient times, we have knelt on kang platforms. Therefore, I say he forgets his roots. This isn’t only in the Great Fortune Hall; he even made several sets to give away. Your Majesty, you select officials to find talents for the realm; Confucian studies are the orthodox path. Prince Shen should focus on scholarship and assist Your Majesty, not engage in such frivolous pursuits. I urge Your Majesty to decree the abolition of such frivolous arts and have Prince Shen concentrate on his studies,” Censor Cui declared righteously.
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Emperor Taizong frowned upon hearing this. It wasn’t that the matter was serious; rather, it was trivial. As he pondered, he realized it was the aristocratic families warning Li Shen about seeking fame. The message was: focus on your studies, avoid trouble. Taizong was displeased, as the aristocracy was not only issuing warnings to Li Shen but doing so publicly.
“Censor Cui, isn’t this making a mountain out of a molehill? Li Shen is still a child, just a bit playful. Saying he forgets his roots is too harsh,” Emperor Taizong said expressionlessly.
“Your Majesty, I believe Censor Cui’s words are not exaggerated. Rituals must not be abandoned; forgetting ancestors contradicts the way of the sages,” another censor, Wang, responded.
“Your Majesty, perhaps summon Prince Shen to clarify matters. Words alone are insufficient proof,” Fang Xuanling interjected, noticing the emperor’s hesitation and seeking to ease the tension. Fang also thought this was a trivial matter, unworthy of court discussion, but since it involved the aristocracy and a prince, it couldn’t be ignored.
“Very well, Wang De, summon Prince Shen,” Emperor Taizong ordered.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Wang De replied and left to arrange it.
At this moment, Li Shen was sunbathing under the eaves of the Imperial Academy during a break. He liked to sunbathe, saying it helped him absorb calcium and grow tall. He wasn’t about to squander his good genes.
“Prince Shen, Your Highness, the emperor summons you to the Hall of Supreme Harmony,” a eunuch hurried over.
“What? The emperor wants me at the Hall of Supreme Harmony?” Li Shen was puzzled.
“Yes, hurry so the emperor isn’t kept waiting,” the eunuch urged.
“All right,” Li Shen stood up, told a classmate he was going to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and followed the eunuch.
Along the way, Li Shen asked the eunuch why the emperor wanted to see him. The eunuch didn’t know. Soon they arrived outside the Hall. Wang De, seeing Li Shen, quickly led him inside. Li Shen bowed promptly.
“Greetings, Your Majesty,” he said.
“Hm, no need for ceremony. Li Shen, I summoned you because Censors Cui and Wang impeached you for frivolous arts and forgetting your roots. Do you have anything to say?” Emperor Taizong said straightforwardly.
“What???” Li Shen was stunned, unable to react at once. He thought, I’m being impeached? Quickly he asked, “I don’t know what the two censors accuse me of.”
“Prince Shen, did you make the tables and chairs?” Censor Cui stepped forward and asked directly.
“Yes, I did. What’s wrong?” Li Shen answered honestly.
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“Your Highness, the ritual system requires the kang platform. By replacing it with tables and chairs, you are abandoning ancestral customs,” Censor Cui said.
Li Shen was dumbfounded. So it was all about this trivial matter—a few tables and chairs. Was it really necessary for the emperor to summon him to confirm this? Abandoning ancestral customs, indeed. Suddenly, Li Shen thought of something and asked, “May I ask your honorable surname?”
Everyone was taken aback. Some were surprised that Li Shen did not recognize Censor Cui; others found the question irrelevant; some, like Emperor Taizong, sensed something. When Li Shen asked for the censor’s surname, Taizong realized the boy was clever and must have guessed it was a matter involving the aristocracy.
“My name is Cui Renzhi,” the censor replied.
“Oh, Cui. I want to ask, Censor Cui, whose ancestors do you mean by ‘ancestral customs’? The founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty—my imperial ancestor—did not mandate the use of the kang platform. We simply continued the previous dynasty’s habits. However, we also discard unfavorable customs one by one. This is called removing the old and establishing the new. Our Tang culture has its own characteristics. Learning from history ensures the longevity of the Li family’s reign. Isn’t that right, Censor Cui?” Li Shen countered.
This question left Censor Cui speechless. This was not an illegal or improper matter. It was just a warning to Li Shen, making a small issue seem big. But Li Shen not only explained clearly but also challenged him with a question.
They had expected a seven-year-old child, no matter how clever, to be easily intimidated. This was for Emperor Taizong’s eyes.
Cui had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, “Since ancient times, this has always been the way. How can it be changed at will?”
“Censor Cui, what has been done since ancient times is not necessarily ancestral law. If it changes, it changes. Your stubbornness is shortsighted. With that energy, you might better offer good counsel to the emperor and cultivate more talents,” Li Shen said, unwilling to argue further.
“Prince Shen, as a censor, it is my duty to report and supervise officials’ words and deeds. Is this not to ease the emperor’s burden? But you, Prince Shen, neglect your studies and waste time on frivolous arts. This is inappropriate,” Cui Renzhi retorted.
“Oh, you’re right. In that case, I should also do something,” Li Shen said, somewhat angered and resolute. Since they wanted to fabricate this trivial matter to warn him, he would not be polite anymore. He turned and called outside the hall:
“Dongmei, get my keys and bring the top few sheets from the box.”
Li Shen took the keys from his waist and tossed them outside.
Emperor Taizong and the ministers were baffled, not knowing who he was speaking to. After throwing the keys, Li Shen fell silent. The hall grew unusually quiet. Taizong did not ask further; he wanted to see what Li Shen would do next.