Chapter Nine: Fiercely Rebuking Kong Yingda

The rhythmic clatter of horse hooves echoed along the street, prompting pedestrians to hastily withdraw to either side of the avenue.

Seated upright within the carriage, Li Kong gazed straight ahead, his eyes unwavering as he observed the splendor of Chang’an. Truth be told, this was his first time truly taking in the grandeur of this ancient city, revered as the greatest of all time. Yet for all its prosperity, the ravages of war had left the city in a pitiable state. Within this vast metropolis, fewer than a million people remained; emptiness stretched everywhere, and the many shuttered homes evoked a pang of sorrow.

Suddenly, a white horse galloped toward them. A man clad in black, his armor gleaming, leapt down and called out, “Is this Li Kong, son of the Duke of England?”

Li Fu, driving the carriage, jerked the reins sharply. Li Kong lifted the curtain and replied, “I am Li Kong.”

“His Majesty commands: Li Kong is to proceed at once to the Hall of Sweet Dew to appear before the Emperor.” The man spoke, then vaulted back onto his horse and vanished in a cloud of dust.

Li Kong stared, dumbfounded, at the dust settling on the ground, frowning. “So brazen—are these still the soldiers of Great Tang? Outrageous!”

Startled by Li Kong’s words, Li Fu quickly turned and whispered, “Hush, young master, be careful what you say! That was a member of the Imperial Guard’s Black Armor, protectors of His Majesty—they have this privilege. If word of your comments reached the Emperor…”

“Enough, I understand. Uncle Fu, take me to the palace now, then return home. I’ll make my own way back later.” Li Kong’s heart was unsettled; the conduct of that Black Armor guard had, for the first time, put a crack in his reverence for the Tang Dynasty. Fortunately, it was not irreparable.

Still, before mending that crack, he was not above a bit of grumbling.

Having delivered Li Kong near the Taiji Palace, Li Fu turned back to the Duke’s mansion. Li Kong, meanwhile, was escorted directly to the Hall of Sweet Dew by the waiting palace attendant.

…

Within the Hall of Sweet Dew.

Li Shimin and Kong Yingda sat across from each other, locked in a silent standoff. On a low couch beside them, Li Lizhi rested her chin in her hands, glancing first at Li Shimin, then at Kong Yingda, growing increasingly bored.

Still, worried her father might be bullied by Kong Yingda, Li Lizhi, ever her father’s little confidante, was determined to see things through—no matter what, she would not let her father be at a disadvantage.

“Your Majesty, the meal is prepared. Shall we begin?” A palace attendant entered suddenly, breaking the tense silence.

“Keep it warm!” Li Shimin replied without turning, then fixed his gaze on Kong Yingda. “Lord Kong, you heard just now—believing everything in books is worse than having no books at all. According to your report, even the punctuation of the sages is not always correct. If that’s the case, why do you insist so stubbornly?”

“Principles of ethics and order must not be abandoned,” Kong Yingda retorted, unmoved. “Even if Li Kong is correct in part, when it comes to matters of ethics, there can be no alternative interpretation.”

“You… Do you think I dare not act against you?” Li Shimin’s anger flared.

“If Your Majesty cannot tolerate honest remonstrance, then this old subject has nothing more to say. I shall resign my post and retire to the countryside, never to set foot in court again!” Kong Yingda’s words were sharp and forceful.

His threat was not a minor one—it rendered Li Shimin momentarily speechless. To send Kong Yingda home? Unless Li Shimin wished to bring the court’s downfall upon himself, that was out of the question. Among the scholarly class, the Kong family held an almost sacred status. If Kong Yingda returned home and began spreading tales of Li Shimin’s faults, Li Shimin could forget about attracting new talent to court. The dream of the Tang Dynasty enduring for generations would be dashed; like the Sui before them, their line would end with the second emperor.

At that moment, a palace attendant announced, “Li Kong seeks audience!”

“Bring that boy in!” Li Shimin barked, standing abruptly and glaring at Kong Yingda.

Kong Yingda’s heart quailed. He genuinely feared that in a moment he would be unable to argue against Li Kong, bringing shame upon the Kong family for generations.

Li Lizhi’s eyes sparkled. She looked toward the door, her heart pounding with anticipation for reasons she could not name.

Li Kong entered with steady steps, immediately noticing the young girl seated on the low couch. He offered her a faint smile before turning to face Li Shimin, seated at the head, and the ill-tempered Kong Yingda.

“Your Majesty, Master Kong, what is the matter between you two?” Li Kong asked in some surprise.

Then, recalling himself, he quickly bowed deeply to Li Shimin. “Li Kong, a humble subject, greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy eternal peace.”

At moments like this, Li Kong was grateful he had crossed into the Tang Dynasty and not the later Ming or Qing, where Neo-Confucian orthodoxy reigned. In Tang times, even commoners did not need to kneel before the Emperor—a deep bow sufficed. Indeed, the bowing etiquette that persisted in the small island nation to the east was introduced by envoys to Tang, lasting over a thousand years, whereas in China proper, the etiquette was obliterated by the Qing, the practice of kneeling before the sovereign shattering half the backbone of Chinese civilization.

Kong Yingda, about to speak, saw Li Kong correct himself and let go of much of his anger, his face flushing with suppressed emotion.

Li Shimin grunted. “You rascal, let me ask you: If I ascend to this throne, must I abandon familial affection? Am I not allowed to enjoy the company of my children?”

“Which fool said that?” At Li Shimin’s words, Li Kong leapt to his feet.

Later generations said Li Shimin was a successful emperor but not a competent father. Li Kong had thought this an intrinsic flaw of emperors, but seeing Li Shimin’s expression now, it was clear this was not his true desire.

Consider his sons—banished or executed; even his daughters, those who survived, were wild and unrestrained. Aside from those who died young, this was a tragedy for both Li Shimin and the entire Tang dynasty.

If these imperfections were to be changed, Li Kong resolved, it must begin now. No matter what, Li Shimin’s yearning for familial warmth must endure. Thus, his fighting spirit soared.

“I said it!” Kong Yingda roared, scandalized by Li Kong’s lack of decorum in the Hall of Sweet Dew.

Li Kong turned to him. “So it was you, Master Kong. May I ask your reasoning?”

Kong Yingda stroked his beard. “There is nothing more: the moral principles of the sages!”

“Well, then I must challenge you on that!” Li Kong sneered. Any shred of goodwill he had for Kong Yingda evaporated; the man was a pedant, a stubborn reactionary.

“I am all ears.”

“Pray tell, Master Kong, what are these principles?”

“The ruler’s authority over subjects, the husband’s authority over wife, the father’s authority over son—these are the three bonds. Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith—these are the five constants.”

“Very well. Then, Master Kong, since you invoke the sages’ principles, I ask you: Where, within the three bonds and five constants, is it decreed that the emperor cannot be close to his family?”

“You…” Kong Yingda was stunned. He searched his memory, but even apart from Confucius, not even Mencius had laid down such a rule.

It was true that some later sages said, “In the imperial house, nothing is trivial; the imperial house has no private affairs,” but that was flattery for certain rulers, not true Confucian doctrine. The great clans had appropriated such sayings to justify inserting themselves into imperial matters, thereby securing the greatest benefit for themselves.

Seeing Kong Yingda rendered speechless, Li Shimin was delighted; his gaze toward Li Kong filled with admiration.

But just then, Li Kong interjected, “It seems Master Kong has nothing more to say. Or perhaps, Master Kong, are you preparing to trot out those arguments concocted by the aristocratic clans? Ah, I almost forgot—the Kong family is now the greatest aristocratic clan in the land…”

At these words, Kong Yingda was so frightened he shuddered all over and fell to his knees. “Your Majesty, Li Kong speaks recklessly! This old subject… this old subject harbors no selfish agenda. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth.”

Li Kong sneered. “So Master Kong admits error? Then what does Master Kong say of His Majesty enjoying the company of his children?”

“It is my fault… my fault—I am guilty!” Kong Yingda was on the verge of tears. Must he not be spared, even now?

Li Shimin, in truth, bore no real grudge. Kong Yingda was overly pedantic, but now that he had admitted fault, Li Shimin was not an unreasonable sovereign.

With a grand gesture, he declared, “It is nothing. Only those who dare speak forthrightly are true ministers. Lord Kong, do not be so troubled. The meal is ready—both of you, remain and dine with me.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace!” Kong Yingda wiped the sweat from his brow and rose from the floor.