Living leisurely in Tang Dynasty

Li Yuanying’s guards rode a unique carriage back to Chang’an. There were no passengers on it, only melons.

When the boy mentioned that he wanted to groom melon experts, everyone thought he was just a liar who wanted to trick people into donating to his renovation project.

Now they are hearing that Prince Teng really did grow melons and are sending some back to the Emperor with much fiasco. Zhangsun and the rest of the ministers were all curious and randomly found reasons to meet up with the Emperor; all hoping to see this unique melon which the young prince daringly proclaim as the only one in Tang!

The men at Yuanying side were all trained by Dai Ting and they didn’t tremble in front of prominent nobles. One representative came forward and choose a melon and presented it to the Emperor: Actually now is not the best time to eat them. We should chill it in ice water for half a day. By then the melon will be ice cold and juicy. I guarantee that whoever eats it will have an amazing experience and all summer heat will be gone!”

The representative spoke for a long time and the ministers were all getting impatient. However the Emperor did not say anything, so they could only stand still and secretly mumble: Why is the people around Li Yuanying all the same? The didn’t look special in the past but now individually they are quite attention grabbing!

As the representative finish up his introduction, he quickly cut the watermelon into halves.  He then slice them further into thin pieces.

The moment it was cut open, everyone was attracted by its bright red flesh. The slices of watermelon were so red that their eyes lit up, and even the juice dripping down looked particularly cute!

Now thinking about how Li Yuanying had promised the people of Hu County that he will pass on the skills of growing this melon to them, the group felt a little annoyed: If they knew this was such a good melon, they should have donated too in  exchange for planting knowledge!

The guard then continued with his introduction. The black dots are seeds. It didn’t matter if you accidentally swallowed them but it would be best if you could spit them out for the seeds to be preserved.

Hearing this, everyone’s eyes lit up. Since the seeds are easy to come by there is nothing much to regret. Growers can’t just grow them but not sell, right?  And it’s not like they can dig out all the seeds before selling them? Obviously not possible! So this watermelon is just like the sunflowers that Li Yuanying originally sold. Rare in the first year, but open for everyone the following year!

As for how to plant them, just take your time and explore after you have seeds. There will always be a way. Let the people of Hu that donated money make money for the initial one year!

Li Er didn’t have as much thoughts as the others. He was satisfied with Li Yuanying’s good understanding of harvesting good things and sending him some. He generously awarded each person a piece of watermelon and kept the rest. Later he must try the ice watermelon.

So the two brothers shared a thin slice of watermelon with the people around them and generously allowed them to take the seeds home.

By evening, Sizi and the other young young children had all tasted it along with a  few concubines. The remaining watermelon all went into the Emperor’s stomach. Sweet and juicy, just right for his Majesty’s appetite!

The next day, Li Er wrote to his younger brother asking for more melons. Just that few is not enough for him!

Wei Zheng naturally also got his share of watermelon from the Emperor. He thought the melon was pretty good so he packed the seeds like the other ministers and planned to plant them.

When he returned home, he saw his wife Pei tending to her garden. Their yard is filled with fruits and vegetables and they can basically be self-sufficient all year round.

Pei turned around and smiled at him.  Yuanying and Wei Shu had someone to deliver watermelon during the day and even wrote a booklet to teach her how to take care of it. When the delivery arrived, the men quickly helped her transplant it into the nursery with its soil attached. She had nothing to do today so she came out to look at this big, round watermelon; afraid that it would be stolen!

Wei Zheng originally regretted not being able to bring it a piece for Pei to taste. When he saw that they had their own share, he felt happy and share to Pei all about his session sharing watermelon in the palace during the day. With such a watermelon backing him, Li Yuanying can finally justify asking people to pay for the construction of the Palace. No one will be able to find fault with him in the future!

Pei also heard about the renovation at Taihe Palace and that many fought to donate. “Didn’t those people all pay voluntarily? Why are people still scolding Yuanying? Did you help Yuanying to refute them?”

“How can I say anything?”

These two Royal brother are not able to get the Royal Treasury to fund their project and so turned their eyes towards the wealthy citizens. The most Wei Zheng can do is to keep one eye shut to this whole incident. If he were to defend them, he’s afraid that the second half of his life will be filled with angry criticism!

Pei casually brought this up so she did not elaborate further. They went into the house and she smilingly brought out watermelon from a water tank.

“I’ve soak this melon in water for half a day and it’s now icy cold. Since the young ones are not home, let’s share. Yuanying mentioned that eating the whole halve of the melon is the best.”

Wei Zheng thought about how stingy the Emperor was to give each person just a small piece and happily agreed: “Great. Let’s share the whole watermelon.”

The couple happily shared their halves and Wei Zheng even wrote a poem about watermelon. Finishing a whole watermelon was satisfying and filling so they walked around their yard to digest it. Finally he hypocritically reflected that everything should be done in moderation.

It’s a norm for scholars to write poem as a form for self-expression. Since it is an expression, you need an audience. Wei Zheng shared his new poem with his colleagues the next day, saying that it was his own insights gained from eating watermelons.

When Zhangsun Wuji and others heard it, their faces turned dark.

You have a great grandson-in-law who gave you a few watermelons. Do you need to show off like this? You old Wei have you gotten so sick that are you confuse? Do you still remember that you are a upright minister?

His Majesty’s expression didn’t look good either. This guy actually gave double gifts, one to the palace and one to Wei Zheng’s family! If you get older, will you side more towards your in-laws?!

Li Yuanying sneezed and looked at the sky. It was cloudy as if it’s going to start raining. He asked for his things to be brought back into the official residence by the lake.

Li Yuanying led Wei Shu home along the lake. Halfway, heavy rain started pouring and servants came forward with umbrellas. Yuanying felt that the rain was coming so freely and he didn’t want to be shield from it.

“This is good rain! Weren’t we worried about drought previously? Now there’s nothing to worry about!”

The boy had been restricted all his life and had never stood under the rain. Now that he is drenched, he happily exclaimed: “Why not let’s run home in the rain!”

Wei Shu will not deny him his fun and they happily run home hand in hand.

The two of them still had their childish sides and no one could stop them. Anyway they are already drenched by the rain so they they casually jump into puddles splashing both of them with water.

They ran back to the official residence satisfied. However, as soon as they return they were taken away by Di Renjie and Wu Mei separately. A hot bath and deep education to reflect on their behaviour.

Di Renjie thinks that Li Yuanying is reliable at work and is usually not so out of control. He wanted to work by the lake so everyone followed him. But today he is really messing around. I have seen people rushing to take shelter from the rain but I have never seen people rushing to get wet. What if you get a flu?

Di Renjie began to grumble at Li Yuanying earnestly.

Not only was Li Yuanying not afraid of Di Renjie’s nagging, he turned around and exposed his back. “Can you rub my back? I can’t reach the back!”

Di Renjie glared at him. In the end, he had no choice but to rub his back while continuing to say things like, “I feel sorry for you, I feel sorry for your mother, I feel sorry for your relatives and friends who care about you.”

On the other side, Wu Mei helped Wei Shu to dry her long hair while Chengyang nagged at her.

“Girls are born with cold bodies and shouldn’t get wet. How can you fool around with Uncle?”

Wei Shu obediently admitted to her mistake.

Chengyang was a little helpless. Wei Shu is being taught bad things by Li Yuanying. Young Uncle would always admit his mistakes humbly but would do whatever he wants later!

Jin Shengman asked: “How does it feel to get wet in the rain?”

Wei Shu thought for a while. “It’s very relaxing.” At that moment, she didn’t have any worries. She didn’t think about being unreasonable or getting sick from the cold. In fact, it has always been like this around Li Yuanying. She doesn’t have to think about anything and just have fun with Li Yuanying.

After  Chengyang’s nagging, Wei Shu felt that she was in the wrong but if Yuanying invites her again, she will still do the same.

Jin Shengman smiled, walked to the other side to help comb Wei Shu’s long hair. She in turn persuaded Chengyang: “Which children don’t do nonsense, Chengyang, don’t be too strict with them.”

She was about to return to Silla. Her cousin, the ruler was not in good health and had no heirs to take care of her. Her family kept telling her to go back quickly and vaguely mentioned in their letter that since her cousin had no heirs, she would most likely succeed the throne. In that position, one cannot have true friends, or a true husband, or even honest children, otherwise they will all be involve in the whirlpool of a power struggle.

After arriving at Tang, Jin Shengman often hears that the Emperor is addressed as a loner. Thinking about it carefully, it’s so true and this is why she likes to watching people like Li Yuanying and Wei Shu have fun every day. Such memories may be the most vivid and happiest days of her life.

Chengyang looked at Wei Shu who looked guilty and then at Wu Mei who didn’t say a word and then at  Jin Shengman who spoke up for Wei Shu. In the end, she could only sigh.

Even though these two are younger than her, they were her uncle and aunt in terms of seniority!

Fortunately, both were in great health. After taking a hot bath, drying their hair, and drinking some cold-repelling soup, they became lively and energetic again. Chengyang observed them for two days and found not even a sneeze. She was finally relieved but still instructed the servants to make sure not to let Li Yuanying cause trouble again.

Li Yuanying happened to notice Chengyang instructing his servants and so he pulled her aside and stared at her.  

Chengyang glared at him: “What’s wrong? I can’t give orders to the people around you?”

“Yes, of course you can! You just look a bit like the mistress of the house. Is the Emperor preparing for your marriage?” When it comes to Chengyang’s marriage, Yuanying remembered that he and Li Zhi tested Du He a few years ago and found him not very suitable. Last year he made Du He a part of the Royal group to a mission to the Tibetan Empire and he wonders if Du He has made any progress in maturing. Thinking of this, he held Chengyang’s hand: “You met Du He in the Imperial College. What do you think? Should we change the groom to someone else?”

“You know very well that Father is making preparations already, how can we just change the groom now?” Since it’s only the 2 of them, Chengyang wasn’t embarrass to share her thoughts that she has met  him a few times at the Academy and although he was a bit flamboyant, he wasn’t too bad. Duke Lai  passed away rather early and if she didn’t go ahead with this marriage she would feel guilty towards him. She didn’t want to be a bad person.

“Since you are okay to marry him, then I’ll prepare the dowry.” (Yuanying)

Chengyang replied a little embarrassed: “These will be taken care by the Court officials and the amount is fixed.” Even if His Majesty wanted to give her something more, Wei Zheng and the others would jump out and object about how it is going beyond the standard or what should you do when another princess marries? Don’t set bad precedence!

“Then I’ll wait until you are married before giving you more. Then these will be considered as private property!”

Whilst Li Yuanying was talking about this topic with Chengyang, Chang’an City was in huge trouble because of another marriage

——

On this day, Gao Yang blocked Fang Jun’s path in public and wave her whip.

“Even if all the men in the world dies, I will not marry you!”

Notes from the author:

Wei Zheng: My grandson-in-law gave me so many melons, let me write a poem to commemorate this.

Fang Xuanling: Shameless person!

Zhangsun Wuji: Shameless person!

His Majesty Li Er: Shameless person!