Chapter 17: The New Year

During the Tang Dynasty, there was no concept of the Spring Festival as we know it today; it was called Yuanzheng. Every household hung lanterns and decorated their homes in festive colors, filling the air with joy. In the morning, the ministers would pay their New Year respects to the emperor and share a meal with him before returning home to reunite with their families.

Li Shen feigned illness and did not attend this meal, as today was the day to deliver the orders. The princes' requests had been completed, and Li Shen spent the entire morning inspecting each item meticulously, fearing any oversight. Once the inspections were finished, all goods were carefully wrapped in coarse cloth to prevent damage. After noon, Li Shen began the deliveries, starting with Prince Wei, Li Tai, which inevitably involved some subtle exchanges. After receiving payment, he moved on to Prince Shu and Prince Jiang, and finally arrived at Prince Yue’s palace, where Consort Yan De resided.

Li Zhen personally came out to greet him. “Tenth brother, why have you come to deliver these yourself?”

“I came because the others are clumsy and unreliable; I need to oversee it,” Li Shen thought, unwilling to admit he was afraid they might withhold payment.

“Oh, come in quickly,” Li Zhen said without suspicion and invited Li Shen inside.

“Bring everything in carefully, don’t bump or damage anything,” Li Shen instructed the eunuchs as they carried in tables and chairs.

“Brother, where should we put these?” Li Shen asked.

“Just leave them in the courtyard for now. I’ll have someone tidy up before moving them inside later. Come, let’s go to the front hall and have some water,” Li Zhen replied.

“All right. Zhang, you take them back first. I have some business here,” Li Shen ordered Zhang Wang.

“Understood, Your Highness,” Zhang Wang responded and left with the others.

Li Shen followed Li Zhen to the front hall and sat down. Li Zhen poured a cup of water for him and then asked, “Tenth brother, why didn’t you attend the banquet today? I heard you were ill, but you look perfectly healthy now. Surely you’re not pretending to avoid it?”

Li Shen raised the cup without batting an eye and softly said, “Eighth brother, if you see through it, don’t say it aloud.”

Li Zhen was momentarily stunned but then said, “You’re quite bold, to deceive Father just to skip the banquet.”

Li Shen glanced at him, took a sip of water, and said, “Who said that? I had a headache in the morning; it’s fine this afternoon.”

“You’re really something,” Li Zhen said helplessly, then lowered his voice, “Why didn’t you go? Father won’t be pleased. Have you heard? Prince Wei composed a poem today that Father praised greatly and rewarded handsomely.”

“Eighth brother, what does that have to do with us?” Li Shen replied.

“Don’t you realize? Fourth brother has feelings, and Father seems quite willing,” Li Zhen whispered.

“Eighth brother, Fourth brother’s feelings don’t concern us much, right? We’re destined to be sent away eventually,” Li Shen hinted subtly, advising not to get involved.

“I know, but even so, being sent away is not the same for everyone. If Father favors you, your fief will be prosperous and close to Chang’an. Otherwise, who wouldn’t want a good fief? Besides, we need allies at court to exchange information; otherwise, over time, news will be blocked, and when disaster strikes, we won’t even know it’s coming.”

“Has Fourth brother approached you?” Li Shen immediately guessed Li Tai had spoken to Li Zhen.

“We talked privately this morning, but he didn’t clearly express any ambitions. He just wanted to get closer to me,” Li Zhen replied honestly.

“Get closer? You trust him? I don’t. Eighth brother, we’re still young. We shouldn’t get involved. Father is in his prime now; who can predict what will happen decades later? Let’s wait a few years,” Li Shen advised.

“Hm, Tenth brother, you’re right. We’re young, and Father is strong. I was just anxious,” Li Zhen admitted.

“All right, Eighth brother, it’s getting late. I should go. Listen to me; don’t make any moves now. I definitely won’t get involved. I’m not interested in the struggle. I just want to be a second-generation prince and enjoy life,” Li Shen said, then turned and left.

Li Zhen quietly watched him go, murmuring, “Do you really not want that position?”

Li Shen went to the workshop and gave Zhang Wang two hundred and ten strings of cash. One hundred and fifty were the capital to be recorded in the workshop’s accounts, and sixty were this round’s profit share, rounded up by Li Shen. He instructed Zhang Wang to distribute the bonuses to the craftsmen and tell them that this was their first business venture, so they should enjoy the sweet taste. Future dividends would be paid monthly. Afterward, Li Shen left. Once Zhang Wang handed out the bonuses, the craftsmen were all delighted, receiving nearly a month’s wages in one go.

Li Shen returned to the Grand Auspicious Hall, secured the money, and waited for Consort Wei. Since it was the first day of the new year, Emperor Taizong was sure to hold a family banquet in the evening. Li Shen had to attend. Near dusk, a eunuch came to inform him that the banquet would be held in the Shenlong Hall and they could now proceed.

Following Consort Wei to Shenlong Hall, Li Shen found the hall vast, normally a place for Emperor Taizong’s rest. Upon entering, he was momentarily stunned. Dozens of tables filled the great hall, unlike before when each person had a single seat. He wondered when Li Taizong had Zhang Wang arrange this, thinking it was a waste not to capitalize on such a large business. Consort Wei naturally went to the concubines, while Li Shen spotted Li Mengjiang and approached her.

“Greetings, sister. How have you been lately?” Li Shen asked. Li Mengjiang now lived in the Princess Courtyard, where all princesses resided after the age of eight. This arrangement separated boys and girls and allowed the princesses to study needlework and female virtues.

“I’m well, brother. You’re thoughtful to ask. Have you been studying in the palace?” Li Mengjiang immediately inquired about Li Shen’s education.

“Yes, yes, studying,” Li Shen quickly nodded. From dramas he had seen, he knew they had little contact later on. After Li Shen was sent away, he never returned to Chang’an, and Li Mengjiang married and rarely left home. But Li Shen, coming from the modern era, was unwilling to let this sibling bond falter—they were, after all, blood.

Soon Emperor Taizong and Empress Zhangsun arrived. Li Shen had heard that after Li Yuan’s death, Empress Zhangsun had fallen gravely ill from grief and now appeared frail. Suddenly, Li Shen recalled that Empress Zhangsun died in the tenth year of Zhenguan, from an illness thought to be a respiratory disease, likely pneumonia. In this era, pneumonia was a fatal affliction. Li Shen had penicillin on hand, though it was uncertain if it would work, but if it did, could he save her? According to his knowledge, after Empress Zhangsun’s death, the old empress dowager took charge of affairs. If he tried harder, perhaps he could even be made empress.

“Let the banquet begin!” The announcement broke Li Shen’s thoughts. It was better not to ponder further—maybe it wasn’t pneumonia, and his medicine would be useless.

Emperor Taizong spoke briefly, and everyone took their seats. Li Shen, of course, sat at the princes’ table, while Consort Wei joined the other four consorts at the emperor’s table. The evening was filled with music and dance; the palace orchestra played lively tunes. After the meal, they stayed up to see the new year in. The concubines and princesses left, leaving only the crown prince and princes to keep Emperor Taizong company, while Li Shen found a corner to doze.

Prince Wei, Li Tai, was the liveliest, constantly seeking to impress Emperor Taizong, making the emperor laugh heartily. In contrast, the crown prince’s expression was gloomy.

Li Shen had long heard rumors that the crown prince had begun to indulge in vices this year and often spoke falsely. The capable officials of the Eastern Palace frequently admonished him. To Li Shen, this was merely teenage rebellion.

The more you forbid me, the more I’ll do it. Moreover, Emperor Taizong excessively favored Li Tai because he was overweight and could even be carried in a sedan chair to the palace.

This bred jealousy in the rebellious crown prince, leading to even greater self-destructive behavior. Li Shen believed the crown prince was stronger than his brothers and carefully nurtured by Emperor Taizong, but the emperor’s constant pressure ultimately led to the crown prince’s breakdown.