Chapter 499 - 330 Catching the Culprit
"You mean..." Ran Yan’s eyes lit up, suggesting that Liu Pinrang "unintentionally" leak this matter to the Crown Prince would be much more credible than if it came from someone else.
Ran Yan did not continue, but instead asked, "How could the Emperor appoint a new palace maid to the Eastern Palace at this time?"
Was it a sign that he still had full confidence in the Crown Prince?
Xiao Song’s hand mischievously slid into Ran Yan’s clothes, caressing a soft piece of flesh, smoother than silk satin, warmer than mutton-fat jade. He sighed, a sound of both satisfaction and longing that turned hoarser and much gentler, "Since the previous Crown Prince’s teacher Li Wenji passed away, the Emperor has yet to find a more suitable candidate to assist the Crown Prince. In fact, if it were not for his death, the Crown Prince would not have indulged in such dissipation."
Li Gang, styled Wenji. Speaking of him, his career was nothing short of miraculous, the most notorious "Crown Prince bane" in history. It was purely a sarcastic title, not that he was exceptionally good at educating Crown Princes. A man of immense talent and impeccable character, he was highly valued during the Sui Dynasty, serving as the teacher to Crown Prince Yang Yong. After Yang Yong’s deposition and Yang Su’s rise to power, he chose to retire from court due to his unwillingness to flatter the new authority. In the twilight of the Sui Dynasty, he met Li Yuan and was appointed Minister of Rites during the early Tang Dynasty, also serving as the teacher to the Crown Prince. However, Li Jiancheng was defeated in the Xuanwu Gate Incident, and later he became the teacher to another Crown Prince, Li Chengqian...
Anyone with a slight knowledge of history would know that Li Chengqian faced a similar fate of deposition...
It wasn’t that Li Gang was incompetent in teaching or lacked talent, but rather a matter of timing and fortune, which he just happened to coincide with. It remains unclear whether the few incompetent Crown Princes tarnished his brilliance or if a misfortune star doomed the fate of three Crown Princes.
As Ran Yan was pondering, she felt her chest seized by someone, a warm hand gently caressing and teasing.
"Xiao Yuezhi, stop it," Ran Yan said, trying to pull his hand away, but he flipped her underneath him instead.
Their breathing quickened, and after exchanging helpless glances for a moment, Xiao Song let out a heavy breath and lay on top of Ran Yan unwilling to get up.