Chapter 54 Scatter, the wind is picking up!

Grand Tutor Qi and Li Chengqian carefully selected two sets of extremely inconspicuous casual clothes. The color and style of the garments were just like those of ordinary commoners on the street, devoid of any luxurious aura.

After changing into the outfits, the two of them slipped out directly from a secluded side door in the palace with practiced ease, feeling like a pair of birds breaking free from their restraints, flying eagerly toward the world outside the palace walls.

Zhang Xianhuai followed closely behind them in silence, his gaze vigilant yet tinged with a hint of excitement as he constantly kept watch on the surrounding movements.

Chang'an, this ancient yet vibrant city, was indeed undergoing rapid and profound changes quietly.

To say nothing else, just looking at the cement road beneath Li Chengqian's feet was enough to evoke wonder.

The cement road was as flat as a mirror, with every stone slab fitting seamlessly together without the slightest bump, yet retaining a neat and generous aesthetic.

The sides of the road were meticulously planted with two rows of landscaping flora, among which stood tall and straight ginkgo trees.

The ginkgo leaves fluttered gently in the breeze, resembling miniature folding fans and shimmering with a golden luster.

Beneath the ginkgo trees, some wildflowers of unknown species had been specially planted, interweaving into a colorful tapestry. The vibrant blossoms, set against the backdrop of green grass, looked exceptionally lovely, unfolding slowly by the roadside like a natural painting.

As Li Chengqian walked along, he fell into deep memories. He still remembered the scene when he first laid eyes on Chang'an, which had truly been a massive disappointment to him.

Back then, for someone full of yearning, Chang'an was practically a nightmare—just like the beautiful filter in the mind of a humanities student being ruthlessly shattered into absolute pieces.

Was this truly Chang'an, the legendary prosperous Tang Dynasty?

Admittedly, it was extremely bustling here, with a constant flow of people coming and going, accompanied by a cacophony of peddling and shouting that formed a lively market scene.

However, the ground was a bumpy dirt road, and whenever a carriage or pedestrian passed by, it would stir up clouds of dust.

Moreover, the road often emitted a faint, lingering stench—the mixed odor of livestock feces and sewage.

Donkeys and horses roamed everywhere on the road, walking without restraint and sometimes even relieving themselves right in the middle of the street.

The most absurd part was that quite a few commoners would seize the moment while the dung was still warm, eagerly picking it up from the ground and carrying it home like a precious treasure to fertilize their own crops.

Disgusting as it seemed, this stuff wasn't even easy to scavenge! One could frequently witness Chang'an commoners coming to blows just to snatch a bit of dung—a common sight whose brutality was truly dreadful to behold.

Compared to the present, it was a world of difference. Today's Chang'an finally possessed the charm and atmosphere that a prosperous Tang Dynasty ought to have.

Master Qi, acting like an experienced tour guide, enthusiastically detailed the various existing urban plans of the Tang Dynasty to Li Chengqian point by point.

A proud light flashed in his eyes as he walked and pointed at the surrounding scenery, saying, "Your Majesty, look, this cement road now extends all the way from the vicinity of the imperial palace to the Southern City. This has immensely facilitated the travel of the commoners."

"And look, we are preparing to build a school over in the Eastern City; that environment is tranquil and suitable for children to study and learn."

"Look at this street as well; we have already constructed several public restrooms. Hygiene issues must not be neglected."

"By the way, the houses in this neighborhood are too old. We plan to prepare for demolition and relocation, followed by a complete redevelopment to give this place a brand new look."

Li Chengqian listened with relish, nodding from time to time, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future of Chang'an.

The three of them walked and chatted thus. Seeing Chang'an growing better and better, the sorrow that had accumulated in Li Chengqian's heart due to the incident involving Lu Jingshuo dissipated like dark clouds chased away by the sun, diminishing significantly.

He swore inwardly that as long as he lived, he would change this Tang Dynasty step by step, making it flourish with vitality and hope everywhere just like Xianyang, and allowing all commoners to live and work in peace and contentment.

Chang'an would be the next Xianyang, and he would make this city a dazzling pearl of the prosperous Tang era.

As they walked, Li Chengqian saw the commoners along the way enthusiastically learning to read. That bustling scene made his words flow effortlessly.

Not far ahead, several commoners were having a contest by the roadside to see who recognized more characters. Their faces were flushed and they were arguing heatedly, their earnest expressions quite amusing.

The corners of Li Chengqian's lips curved upward into a mischievous smile, and then he sauntered over with a cheeky attitude.

First, he circled the group of commoners with a gaze full of disdain, and then he proclaimed loudly, "With a level like yours, you're having a competition? The few characters you know don't amount to anything!"

The commoners were stunned by this sudden mockery and turned to look at him one after another, their eyes filled with dissatisfaction and confusion.

Li Chengqian didn't mind in the least and continued, "Let me tell you, I know every single character. Stop making a fool of yourselves here."

Hearing this, the commoners stared at him with serious and utterly skeptical expressions, as if looking at a lunatic who talked big.

Seeing this, Li Chengqian didn't say another word. He snatched the newspaper right out of their hands and rattled off a large random passage at an exceptionally fluent speed, acting as if he were showing off a precious treasure.

The commoners widened their eyes in shock, staring at him as if they had just witnessed something incredible.

Watching their expressions, Li Chengqian felt immensely smug and satisfied. He handed the newspaper back to them, not forgetting to taunt, "You guys are too pathetic! Learn a few more characters when you have time. You dare to come out and compare yourselves knowing only this tiny handful of words? In my opinion, you lot are truly hopeless!"

With that, he bolted, his speed as fast as a gust of wind.

Master Qi, who had been talking to Li Chengqian just moments before, was somewhat caught off guard by this sudden development.

By the time he snapped back to reality, he was met with the furious, fire-breathing gazes of the older men. He offered an awkward smile—a smile as stiff as it could possibly be.

Then, abandoning all concern for his dignity, he immediately greased his palms and slipped away like a frightened rabbit. As he ran, he looked back and shouted, "The wind is fierce, time to bail! You guys really are trash! Go learn some more characters!"

His fragmented words drifted into the ears of the older men, making them stamp their feet in rage right where they stood.

In the distance, Zhang Xianhuai found the childish behavior of his two mentors both exasperating and amusing.

He shook his head helplessly, and then, pretending not to know them at all, followed closely behind them, a hint of an imperceptible smile playing in his eyes.

It was as if, at this very moment, they were no longer the lofty ruler and subjects, but a group of carefree youths.