In the front yard of Li's house, a eunuch stood quietly.
Li Ji and his family straightened their clothes and hurried out. The eunuch unfolded the yellow silk in his hand and solemnly read out the imperial edict.
The content of the imperial edict is very simple. Cui Jie is granted the title of Lady of the Fifth Grade, and is given 100 acres of farmland in Ganjingzhuang.
Li Qinzai, the official of Tongyi in the Jin Dynasty, was given the title of captain of light chariots, the minister Youcheng, a goldfish bag, and a horse riding horse in the palace.
Li Qinzai couldn't help but be shocked by the series of official promotions.
There was no news at all beforehand, but in the end, he was appointed as an official, and he was promoted to Minister Youcheng, and he was also given a title. Isn't the reward excessive?
After suppressing the doubts in his heart, Li Qinzai sent the eunuch away with his usual expression, and then quickly glanced at Li Ji.
Li Ji stood in the yard, stroking his beard and thinking for a moment, then returned to the backyard study alone with an expressionless face.
Li Qinzai was anxious and quickly followed.
Cui Jie looked at Mrs. Li Cui at a loss. Mrs. Li Cui took her hand and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, we women don't have to get involved in the affairs of the man's family."
Cui Jie nodded obediently.
However, Li Siwen frowned and said in a deep voice: "The reward your Majesty gave Qin Zai is too heavy, it's unusual..."
Mrs. Li Cui rolled her eyes at him: "Qin Zai got married yesterday and has already started a family and established a business. Your Majesty thinks highly of him, so naturally he should be given more errands."
Li Siwen shook his head: "It's not that simple."
…………
In the backyard, in Li Ji's study, Li Qinzai knelt down in front of him and whispered: "Grandpa, is your majesty's reward too heavy? What does your majesty mean by this move?"
Li Ji closed his eyes and calmed down, and said calmly: "Isn't it good to be promoted and receive honors? I have to scold you to feel comfortable?"
Li Qinzai smiled bitterly and said: "My grandson doesn't mean that. He just thinks this matter is unusual and asks grandpa for advice."
Li Ji pondered for a long time and then said slowly: "The official positions your Majesty granted you today, Tongyi Dafu is a regular official of the fourth rank, Lieutenant of Qingche is a junior official of the fourth rank, and Minister Youcheng is also a fourth rank. Several awards seem grand. Hou, in fact, they have no real power, and 'Shang Shu Youcheng' is just a conferrer, with no official title..."
An idea flashed in Li Qinzai's mind: "Grandpa, why are all the titles awarded by His Majesty the fourth rank?"
Li Ji smiled: "Finally I'm not stupid, I've asked the key point."
"I estimate that today's reward is just a foreshadowing by His Majesty. The real consequences may not be revealed yet..."
Li Qinzai pondered for a moment and said, "Is it possible that Your Majesty is going to send an errand to your grandson?"
Li Ji smiled and smoothed his beard: "I guess that's the case, and this job may be a bit tricky, otherwise His Majesty's temperament will not make any advance preparations."
If Li Qinzai realized something, he murmured: "Fourth rank official title..."
Then Li Qinzai and Li Ji looked at each other, and there was a sense of understanding in each other's eyes.
Finally, Li Qinzai suddenly stood up and said with a smile: "Your Majesty rewards me generously, and my grandson plans to bring Jie'er to the palace to express his gratitude."
Li Ji smiled: "You are living a clear life, so go ahead."
When Li Qinzai returned to the front yard, he saw several palace officials coming to the palace. Cui Jiezheng took the official uniform of Madam Gaoming and the golden book of prosecution issued by the chamberlain with both hands.
Li Qinzai smiled at her and said, "Madam, please put on your official uniform and follow me into the palace to express my gratitude to you."
Cui Jie obediently returned to the backyard, and after a while, she came out wearing a brand new official uniform of Mrs. Gaoming.
The official uniform is dark blue, and when she wears it, she exudes a sense of heroism and a unique style.
The couple got on the carriage and went straight to Tai Chi Palace.
After waiting outside the palace gate for a long time, a eunuch finally led the two of them into the palace.
This was not the first time for Cui Jie to enter the palace. It is said that she had been here with her father when she was young. That year she was still young. It was the birthday banquet of Emperor Taizong for the ministers and heads of the family. Cui Jie was lucky enough to see Emperor Taizong from a distance. style.
She also performed court etiquette meticulously and showed no timidity at all. After entering the palace gate, Cui Jie walked slowly with her eyelids lowered and never looked around.
But Li Qinzai, who has been in the palace many times, seems to be far inferior to her in terms of etiquette.
Not only did he look around and admire the scenery in the palace, but he also kept chatting with the eunuchs.
Cui Jie couldn't help but glance at him, then lowered her head and pursed her lips, showing a smile.
She likes him just like this, unhurried, neither humble nor overbearing, calm yet a little restless. This kind of character can make a woman feel at ease and happy at the same time.
Li Zhi and Empress Wu were waiting for them at Anren Hall.
Walking into the hall, Li Qinzai couldn't help but be stunned.
A banquet had already been arranged in the palace, and a low-legged table was left alone for him and Cui Jie, as if he had already guessed that they would enter the palace.
When Yichen bowed to see Li Zhi and Empress Wu, Li Qinzai and Cui Jie sat down at the table on the side of the hall.
Li Zhi said with a smile: "The wine is still warm. You came just in time. Jingchu will have a drink with me first. From today on, Jingchu will be a married man. It's no secret."
Li Qinzai hurriedly took the cup and drank it in one gulp.
The groom's night of love, judging from the friendship between men, would more or less make fun of a few naughty words, but Li Zhi didn't say a word about it, and he never even glanced at Cui Jie who was next to Li Qinzai.
The king of kings and ministers is first a gentleman and then a king.
It would be frivolous to make fun of the private matters of his ministers, and it would also be disrespectful to his newly enthroned wife.
Empress Wu also raised her cup towards Cui Jie from a distance and said with a smile: "Men talk about men, Mrs. Li, let's drink together with me."
Cui Jie stood up and thanked her with family etiquette, then raised the cup to her forehead in a proper manner, said a few words of toast, and then calmly covered her face with her sleeves and took a sip.
Li Zhi smiled and said, "Jingchu is here to thank you?"
Li Qinzai said: "Yes, I and my wife would like to thank Your Majesty and the Queen for their kindness."
Li Zhi laughed and said: "It's just a few empty titles. There is no need to thank me. Jingchu's talents will be of great use to the country. I can't let you teach and educate people in the countryside all your life. That would be a waste of talent." Well, in the future when Jing Chu is old, if I express a few words of emotion about not being able to appreciate my talents, wouldn’t I feel ashamed and helpless?”
Li Qinzai hurriedly said: "I would never express such emotion. My lifelong ambition is to be a salty... Well, I live in the countryside and remain indifferent to the world. It would be a surprise if a few disciples can pass on my knowledge."
happiness."
Li Zhi sighed: "Others are all eager to get promoted, but Jingchu avoids it for fear of not being able to do so. It is true that he has a noble temperament and has been indifferent all his life, but doesn't Jingchu feel regretful? Such a life is boring, right?"
Li Qinzai added: "What I am indifferent to is the officialdom of the court. As for other matters, I still have some pursuits. I am an ordinary person who drinks and drinks and has wealth. I am not an eminent monk from the world, so naturally I cannot escape the vulgarity."
With a flash of eyes, Li Qinzai suddenly said: "Speaking of wine, sex and wealth, I remembered something. I wonder if your Majesty and the Queen are interested..."
Li Zhi raised his eyebrows: "Tell me."
Li Qinzai hesitated for a moment and said: "Your Majesty... must also be short of money, right? Is the palace's internal treasury quite poor? I heard that your Majesty wanted to slightly repair the Tai Chi Palace back then, but he was remonstrated by the court officials because he had no money.
If Your Majesty wants to build a palace, he still has to look at the faces of his courtiers..."
Men, even if they are emperors, always look sentimental when talking about money.
Li Zhi suddenly looked dejected and couldn't even drink anymore. He put down the wine cup and sighed quietly, saying: "Jing Chu understands me!"
Li Qinzai twitched the corner of his mouth, "I don't understand you, I understand men."
Looking around the world, which man is not short of money?
The greater the desire, the more money is felt to be insufficient. The same is true for billionaires. The emperor's family has a big business, and it is impossible not to be short of money.
Empress Wu also became unmotivated. Apparently, having been in charge of the inner treasury of the harem these years, Empress Wu was having a hard time making ends meet.
Li Qinzai took a sip of wine and said slowly: "I have a business deal that can earn you one hundred thousand dollars a year. I wonder if your Majesty and the Queen are interested in it?"
Li Zhi and Empress Wu's eyes lit up at the same time, and they sat up straight unconsciously.
"I would like to hear the details. Jing Chu will tell you in detail."
Li Qinzai said softly: "Your Majesty, do you remember the experiment that the Japanese minister did at Ganjingzhuang a few days ago, the one that turned water into ice?"
Li Zhi nodded: "Remember, I am still surprised. This move is simply a miracle."
"It's not a miracle, just a little bit of knowledge. But since I have figured it out, it can't really be just an experiment. Knowledge must be applied and used in the world. Only such knowledge is meaningful...
"
"So, I plan to sell ice cubes. In any season and in any place, as long as there are raw materials, ice can be produced. If it is sold to the arid and barren land outside the territory where water is short of water all year round, the profit will be huge."
Li Zhi and Empress Wu's breathing suddenly became rapid.