Ningxin Palace in the East Palace is where Li Chengqian usually study. The palace is not very large, but it is very elegant. Even if he doesn't study, Li Chengqian likes to sit here and drink a cup of tea, so that his irritable heart can get a moment of peace.

However, sometimes Li Chengqian would also entertain guests in Ningxin Palace. Of course, they are all very important guests, because it is quieter and convenient for discussing some things that others don’t want to know. For example, today, he met a guest here.

"Crown Prince, what are you thinking about what I told you last time?" An old man with white hair and beard sat opposite Li Chengqian, picked up the teacup with one hand and tasted it, then stared at Li Chengqian with bright eyes and asked.

"I haven't considered this matter clearly yet, let's talk about it later!" Li Chengqian frowned and said impatiently after hearing the other party's words, as if he didn't want to discuss the topic raised by the other party.

"Haha, this matter is indeed to be discussed later. After all, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Your Majesty to leave the capital before, but you gave up, which really makes me feel a pity!" The old man shook his head and said again, with endless regrets in his tone.

"Didn't I say that I will talk about it later? If Mr. Cui came to discuss this matter today, please come back!" Li Chengqian frowned again when he heard the other party's words, and the impatientness on his face became more obvious. It seemed that he would rush the other party to leave after a disagreement.

This old man with white hair and hair is nothing else. He was Cui Gan, who was born in the Cui family of Boling. He resigned and went to Nanshan to run the first private academy of the Tang Dynasty, namely Nanshan Academy. However, Li Shimin immediately set up a Zhongnan Academy next to Nanshan Academy, which led to the two academies competing with each other. From the source of students to the imperial examination, they were the focus of competition between the two sides. However, no one knew that he had already set up a line with Li Chengqian in secret.

Seeing the impatientness on Li Chengqian's face, Cui Gan chuckled and no longer used the topic just to stimulate Li Chengqian. Instead, he changed to another topic: "Since the prince doesn't want to listen, let's talk about another thing. This year, His Majesty went on an expedition to Goguryeo, and even Li Xiu went with him. As the governor, the prince, as long as we give us some convenience, we can surpass Zhongnan Academy in the imperial examination. However, the result was that Zhongnan Academy won a great victory. Most of the people who passed the Jinshi were students of Zhongnan Academy. Now the fame of our Nanshan Academy has been completely suppressed by Zhongnan Academy. This is much different from the promise that the prince gave me to me!"

When Cui Gan said the last, his eyes were also staring at Li Chengqian. Originally, Li Shimin and Li Xiu were not in Chang'an this time, so he reached a secret cooperation with Li Chengqian, thinking that he could take this opportunity to beat Zhongnan Academy in one fell swoop, but he did not expect that he would lose even worse in the end. Not only was the Jinshi class suppressed, but other subjects were also suppressed. Now among scholars, Zhongnan Academy has ranked above Nanshan Academy.

Hearing Cui Gan's words, Li Chengqian couldn't help but look embarrassed. After a moment, he explained: "I originally wanted to help you, but I didn't expect that Changsun Wuji would take over the power. He would not let me intervene in such an important matter as the imperial examination. Even the people who mark the papers were arranged by him, so I was really powerless in the end."

When talking about Changsun Wuji, Li Chengqian also showed a deep hatred on his face. He even stopped calling "uncle" but called Changsun Wuji by his name. From this we can see that he no longer had any respect for Changsun Wuji.

"The prince's words are wrong. No matter how powerful Changsun Wuji is, he is just a minister. You are the governor appointed by His Majesty. If the prince insisted on intervening at that time, I'm afraid no one would dare to stop you!" Cui Gan said unhappy again. No matter how Li Chengqian explained, he felt that the other party did not pay attention to his original promise.

"Mr. Cui said this a little too much. Changsun Wuji's reputation in the court was already high, and his father supported him behind him. Moreover, if I insist on interfering in the imperial examination, anyone will know that I am on your side in the future. If my father knows about my relationship with you, then do I still want the position of crown prince?" Li Chengqian was also a proud person. At this time, he snorted coldly and retorted. Although he secretly formed an alliance with Cui Gan, he would never harm his own interests for the other party.

Seeing Li Chengqian getting angry, Cui Gan knew that his words were a bit heavy, and their aristocratic family was now forced to a dead end by Li Shimin. Now the only hope lies with Li Chengqian, so he did not dare to offend the other party too much.

"Okay, I won't talk about this. I hope that the prince will remember his promise to us next time the imperial examination!" Cui Gan sighed and spoke again.

"Don't worry, as long as you have the chance, I will definitely not forget you!" Li Chengqian nodded at the moment, but his words were still a little vague. He only said that he would help Cui Gan if he had the "opportunity". He did not say that he had to help. Cui Gan was not too concerned about this, because he knew that with Li Shimin and Li Xiu back, Li Chengqian's chance of intervening in the imperial examination would be even smaller.

"By the way, I heard that some people in your aristocratic family are very close to my good fourth brother, and even went to his disciples to be guests. Could it be that your aristocratic family wants to bet on both sides?" At this time, Li Chengqian suddenly remembered something again and couldn't help but question.

Since Li Tai almost moved into Wude Hall last time, the relationship between Li Chengqian and Li Tai has completely broken down. In addition, Empress Changsun passed away, the two brothers have no chance of reconciliation. In particular, Li Tai also showed his ambitions and wanted to compete with Li Chengqian everywhere, which further led to the sudden deterioration of the relationship between the two brothers, and even Li Shimin was very troubled by this.

"The prince consort is a misunderstanding. Our aristocratic families are big and have a large population, especially some people born in the sidelines. They like to put gold on their faces under the banner of aristocratic families. Some people do not like to be bound by the family and act only with themselves. The King of Wei has been recruiting talents with a lot of money, so it is inevitable that some people from aristocratic families will be recruited." Cui Gan said with a wry smile at this time.

Although the reputation of aristocratic families is high, not all people from aristocratic families are willing to obey their orders, especially the more population the family has, the smaller the influence of the family on individuals. For example, taking the Wang family in Taiyuan as an example, the population of the Wang family is far greater than that of the other aristocratic families, but the Wang family is the loosest family. The entire aristocratic family has multiple factions, and they are fighting endlessly. Some of them simply break with the aristocratic families and completely surrender to the court. This is also one of the biggest problems facing their aristocratic families.

When Cui Gan said this, he found that Li Chengqian's face was still not good, and he hurriedly said again: "But Prince, you don't have to worry. It is also a good thing for the King of Wei to recruit talents. We have sent a few people to the King of Wei. At that time, his every move will be known to us. We can even influence the King of Wei's actions through these people and then set a trap for him. With the King of Wei's character, it is not difficult to get him to get him into a trap!"

Hearing Cui Gan say this, Li Chengqian's face finally looked a little better, but at this moment, suddenly there was a sound of footsteps coming from outside. Then an eunuch came in and was about to report, but was interrupted by Li Chengqian in anger and said, "Who told you to come in? Don't you know that this prince is meeting guests?"

When Li Chengqian got angry, the eunuch was so scared that he was trembling, but he finally said tremblingly: "Report...Report...Report...Report...Report to the prince, I...I didn't dare to come in, but I just sent a letter from Duke Yan's mansion, and it must be handed over to the prince. I didn't dare to delay it, so I came in with the courage to come in and ask the prince to forgive me!"

When Li Chengqian heard that it was a letter sent by someone from Li Xiu, he was stunned. The anger on his face disappeared suddenly, but he changed into a more complicated expression. He used to respect Li Xiu very much, but because of Qi Niang's affairs, he also felt a little hatred for Li Xiu. Although it has been reduced a little, his feelings for Li Xiu are still very complicated, and he can't even explain it clearly.

Cui Gan, who was sitting opposite Li Chengqian, heard that it turned out to be a letter given to Li Chengqian by Li Xiu, and couldn't help but show a curious look. He also knew the complex relationship between Li Xiu and Li Chengqian, so he looked at Li Chengqian at this time, then turned his head to look at the letter held in the eunuch's hand, and then waited to see how Li Chengqian made a decision?

After a while, Li Chengqian took a long breath and said, "Put down the letter!"

Hearing Li Chengqian's words, the eunuch was relieved and quickly came to Li Chengqian to put down the letter, and then quickly retreated. Li Chengqian looked at the letter in front of him, especially when he saw the four big words "Chengqian's Kid" written on the envelope, which made the expression on his face more complicated.

When Li Chengqian was studying at Li Xiu, Li Xiu never called him the prince. He usually called him by his name Chengqian. However, from when Li Xiu had called him the name "Crown Prince" like others. Later, the cracks between their teachers and students became bigger and bigger. Li Chengqian thought that he and Li Xiu would never return to the previous relationship, but he did not expect that the letters he wrote were still calling his name directly like before. This made him not only not feel offended, but also felt a little kind.
Chapter completed!