Wang Zi'an counted his fingers while calculating the economic accounts for several people.
"Look, this garden doesn't cost anything. It's a gift from His Majesty. These flowers and plants don't cost anything. They were eliminated from Xiaosizi's yard. I am a frugal person by nature, and I don't want others to waste things..."
Hearing this, Li Shimin suddenly felt depressed.
Don't mention that shit!
Because of this, my imperial garden has become a vegetable garden!
Changsun Wuji couldn't help but feel twitching in his heart.
Dog thief, you are the instigator, my back garden——
Others also rolled their eyes wildly, you are so frugal!
Here, Wang Zi'an is still talking to them about the calculations.
"Look at this decoration team. It was also sent by your shopkeeper. There is no charge. I just take care of some food. The charcoal used for heating the floor is produced by my company and it doesn't cost any money. So, I also
When laying the floor heating, I spent some money on buying bricks and stones. Speaking of which, it may not even be a hundred dollars..."
Having said this, Wang Zi'an showed a simple and honest smile on his face.
"Look, it really didn't cost much, it was all friends who helped..."
Li Shimin:......
Suddenly I felt angina!
Fang Xuanling also didn't expect that this would be the case.
He arched his hands in a dignified manner.
"The Marquis of Chang'an is indeed a frugal person, and he really knows how to live well -"
Wang Zi'an was delighted to hear this.
"Diligence and frugality are the traditional virtues of our nation..."
Everyone suddenly didn't want to talk.
If you are thrifty, what do we call it?
Blue rays on the road?
Hard work?
…
As soon as he came out of Wang Zi'an's mansion, there was a secret guard coming up to report in a hurry.
"Your Majesty, Taifu Qing Yao Ruyi and Taifu Temple Shaoqing Cui Xiangyuan urgently request an audience. They have been waiting outside the imperial study for a long time——"
When Li Shimin heard this, he frowned and his face instantly darkened.
Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji, who were following him, couldn't help but glance at each other, with an imperceptible haze flashing in their eyes. They knew that what they were worried about was coming.
Yao Ruyi, the minister of Taifu Temple, was the son-in-law of the second wife of the Cui family in Qinghe. He was also the in-law of Wang Yan, the head of the Wang family in Taiyuan, and the father-in-law of Wang Yan's eldest son, Wang Shouyuan.
Cui Xiangyuan, the young minister of Taifu Temple, was the eldest son of the third wife of the Cui family in Qinghe, the son-in-law of the Zheng family in Yingyang, and the nephew of the Wang family in Taiyuan.
Of course, if he hadn't had these backgrounds, he wouldn't have been able to sneak into the position of Shaoqing of Taifu Temple in his early thirties.
This time, the two men didn't even take cover. They bypassed the Kyoto City Magistrate and Kyoto City Prime Minister under their command and found His Majesty. Their intention was self-evident.
Because of this, Li Shimin became even more angry.
Obviously, he wants to recruit people from under him.
"What does Your Majesty plan to do..."
Fang Xuanling couldn't help but have a headache.
He knew the cause and effect of the matter. He also knew why His Majesty took action. But the question was how to deal with it?
"You two, come back with me. I want to see what they want..."
Although Li Shimin's tone was calm, Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji, who were familiar with Li Shimin's character, could not help but be secretly frightened, and had already begun to secretly figure out how to deal with the aftermath.
"Your Majesty, these two humble ministers are here to apologize to Your Majesty——"
As soon as they met, Yao Ruyi and Cui Xiangyuan bowed to Li Shimin and saluted.
Li Shimin raised his eyebrows, with a gentle smile on his face.
"What are your two dear friends guilty of?"
Although Yao Ruyi is over fifty years old, she is well-maintained, has a handsome appearance, and has a very upright and elegant temperament.
"Wei Chen heard that this morning someone used his bodyguard to forcibly interfere with the normal trading in the East Market, seriously disrupting the normal operation of Chang'an Market. This is Wei Chen's crime of poor governance. Please punish him——"
"Your Majesty, please punish—"
Cui Xiangyuan also bowed to apologize.
Li Shimin smiled and stretched out his hand to help.
"My dear friends, please call me. There are many people in the east and west cities of Chang'an, and the affairs are complicated. Occasionally, some lawless people are unavoidable. My dear friends, please don't blame yourself too much. As long as you fulfill your duties faithfully and abide by your duties, I
Of course you can see it..."
Having said this, Li Shimin looked directly at the two of them calmly.
"Taifu Temple has great responsibilities and is busy with affairs. If there is nothing else, the two beloved ministers can go back for the time being——"
Regarding the hints in Li Shimin's words, this time, the two of them seemed not to understand.
"Your Majesty, I have heard that if you make a chicken watch the night and a raccoon watch a rat, you can use your abilities and nothing will happen to you. Only when all officials in the world perform their duties and are in their respective positions can the long-term peace and order of the world be maintained. Your Majesty is wise.
Shenwu should bear the sacred mission given by God, and the humble minister, thanks to His Majesty’s persistence and entrusted with the important task of Taifu Temple Minister, should fulfill his duties loyally and die——"
Having said this, Yao Ruyi bowed and said in a deep voice.
"Maintaining the stability of the Chang'an market is an unavoidable responsibility for me. But today Wu Houwei of Nanya sent troops without authorization and forcibly intervened in the market management of the east and west cities. Not only did he seize the goods, he also directly crossed Taifu Temple and arrested the relevant people directly.
It was handed over to Wannian County, suspected of wantonly undermining the authority of Taifu Temple. Gao Ting, the magistrate of Wannian County, also refused to hand over the property and personnel they illegally seized to Taifu Temple..."
Having said this, Yao Ruyi turned a blind eye to Li Shimin's face that had gradually darkened. He straightened his back and looked uncompromisingly.
"Therefore, I want to sue Nanya Wu Houwei and Wannian County Magistrate Gao Ting for their wanton behavior, disregard of laws and regulations, and interference with the market. At the same time, I request your Majesty to order them to immediately hand over the seized personnel and goods-"
"Wei Chen seconded the proposal——"
Cui Xiangyuan also took a step forward and bowed deeply.
Li Shimin's face was as dark as water.
He looked at Li Shimin's face, and then at Yao Ruyi and Cui Xiangyuan, who were standing in front of Li Shimin and refused to give in.
Changsun Wuji couldn't help but cough slightly and stood up.
"You say this case is disturbing the market, but is it not disturbing the public order? Nanya Wu Houwei has the responsibility of patrolling and maintaining public security, and Wannian County has the right to govern the local area. The Wang family guards, in addition to causing trouble, wantonly rob merchants
To steal property and beat people is a serious violation of court laws? How can a small disruption to the market be enough to confuse the public?"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! At this point, Changsun Wuji glanced at them calmly.
"What's more, since this matter has been transferred to Wannian County, why do you two have to intervene forcefully?"
Although the words were spoken tactfully, they already contained a hint of warning.
But these two seemed to be bastards who were so determined that they acted as if they didn't understand.
"Changsun Shangshu, it's not that we want to intervene forcefully, but that we should not slack off in our duty to eat the emperor's salary, to be loyal to the emperor - the guards of the Wang family forcefully disrupt the market, and are of a bad nature. Those glass merchants who suddenly appeared,
He also has unknown origins and bad intentions. He is the minister of Taifu Temple, so he dare not not investigate thoroughly..."
Yao Ruyi and Cui Xiangyuan stood there with firm attitudes.
Seeing this scene, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but glance at them lightly and said calmly.
"The guards of the Wang family are following the imperial city and are using weapons without permission. Moreover, according to Baiqisi, they are suspected of colluding with the officers and soldiers of Nanya and plotting evil intentions. This matter is far beyond the control of your Taifu Temple - you
Are you sure you want to intervene?"
Yao Ruyi and Cui Xiangyuan couldn't help but change their expressions when they heard this, and looked at Changsun Wuji who was standing aside.
"Changsun Shangshu, this matter is not trivial. Do you have any evidence?"
"Evidence? What should I do? I have to say hello to you in advance and provide some evidence."
Before Changsun Wuji could speak, Li Shimin had already answered in a cold voice.
When Yao Ruyi and Cui Xiangyuan heard this, they couldn't help but feel awe-inspiring.
They naturally knew that their behavior just now had completely angered His Majesty, and if they did not know how to advance or retreat, there would be an unexpected disaster soon!
The two hesitated for a moment, and then lowered their heads in tacit agreement.
"Wei Chen didn't dare. We didn't know there were these joints in the middle. It was Wei Chen who was reckless -"
After saying that, he bowed deeply again and bowed his head to apologize.
Li Shimin glanced at the two of them lightly, and there was no emotion or anger in his voice.
"It is not a crime to be ignorant. You two should go back first. You can put other things aside for the time being. However, you must think carefully about the salt and iron tax and come up with practical measures. If it is before the end of the year, it will still be
If there is no progress, you should abdicate and make way for others——"
The two people's hearts trembled when they heard it, and they quickly nodded in agreement and retreated.
After walking all the way back to Taifu Temple and sitting in their own classrooms, the two of them couldn't help but look at each other with a bitter smile.
"I knew that this time, I might get burned..."
Yao Ruyi sighed.
"It doesn't matter, I'm getting old anyway. If something happens here, I'll take the initiative to resign and go home to enjoy a few days of peace and quiet..." Cui Xiangyuan comforted him.
"You're worrying too much, just be at ease, things won't get to that point..."
He didn't just comfort him, he really felt it.
As long as you don't make any big mistakes, what big problems can happen based on your background?
As soon as Yao Ruyi and Cui Xiangyuan left, Li Shimin couldn't help but throw the cup in anger.
"Shu Zi, isn't it bad to bully me with a steel knife——"
When Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji heard this, they couldn't help looking at each other and smiling bitterly.
Although Yao Ruyi and Cui Xiangyuan were temporarily blocked today, it may not be easy after that. It is conceivable that this incident is just the beginning. Tomorrow, there will be another fight between dragons and tigers in the court, and there will be an uproar.
Unless, His Majesty can really produce conclusive evidence on the spot.
But, is there?
Both of them knew it in their hearts.
No!
Just relying on the Wang family's bodyguards to cause trouble in the East Market can't explain much of the problem. In fact, as long as the Wang family insists on insisting that those glazed merchants are criminal thieves and have robbed their glazed warehouse, things will become very difficult.
Unless your Majesty can explain clearly the source of these colored glazes.
Is it possible to explain it clearly?
impossible!
Because there are some things that simply cannot be put on the table.
"Your Majesty, what will happen tomorrow?"
Li Shimin couldn't help but feel upset.
Is it possible that we really have to bow to those dogs again and let them go?
"It's a pity that Keming is not here, otherwise we wouldn't be so passive - I haven't had time to visit him in the past few days, and I don't know how his body is recovering now..."
The three monarchs and ministers were frowning and worrying about how to deal with the court tomorrow morning, when they suddenly heard the announcement from the guards outside.
"Your Majesty, Duke Wu Chi Jingde and his son Wei Chi Baolin are asking for an audience..."
After hearing this, Li Shimin had no choice but to put aside tomorrow's morning meeting for the time being and said in a deep voice.
"Ask him to come in——"
After a while, the sound of footsteps was heard outside the door. Soon, the tall figure of Yuchi Jingde appeared in the imperial study.
"The humble minister Yuchi Jingde (Yuchi Baolin) attended His Majesty——"
After saying that, without squinting his eyes, he bowed deeply to Li Shimin.
"Respect virtue, no need to be too polite——"
Li Shimin said, stepped forward in person, helped Yuchi Jingde up, and asked kindly.
"Didn't Jingde say that there was something urgent at home that needed to be dealt with? Why did you come to me in your spare time? Could it be that you encountered some kind of hardship?"
Yuchi Jingde couldn't help but smile when he heard this.
It was hard to say that he was just making a random excuse, so he had to laugh dryly and forcefully divert Li Shimin's target.
"I am here today to offer a treasure to Your Majesty——"
With that said, he said to Yuchi Baolin who was standing behind him.
"Why don't you quickly present the sword to Your Majesty——"
In fact, the three people in the imperial study had long seen what Yuchi Baolin was holding. Although it was wrapped with cloth, its shape was long and narrow, like a long sword.
Yuchi Baolin quickly opened the outer package, held it with both hands, and presented it.
"Is this a precious sword?"
Li Shimin took it with some confusion. This so-called treasured sword had a rather long handle. It looked like a two-handed sword, somewhat similar to a ring-shou sword. He weighed it in his hand and said casually.
"I thought this was a long sword. Where did you get this treasure..."
"This is the sword that Wei Chen and Quan Zi worked together to build today——"
When he mentioned this, Yuchi Jingde couldn't help but get excited.
Li Shimin:......
Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling could not help but be speechless for a while.
I thought you really got some magic weapon, you just made it today?
But looking at this man's attitude as if he had really offered some extraordinary treasure, Li Shimin couldn't help but refute the honor of his favorite general. After all, this was a weapon made by his own hands, so he nodded with a smile.
"Jing De is thoughtful——"
As he said this, he wanted to hand over the weapon in his hand, which was said to be a treasured sword but actually felt a bit like a sword, to the chamberlain who was waiting beside him.
Looking at Li Shimin's posture, Yuchi Jingde knew that Li Shimin did not take the sword seriously.
"Although this sword is made of ordinary material, it is really a rare sword. Why don't you draw it and give it a try?"
Seeing what Yuchi Jingde said, Li Shimin became interested, and immediately pressed the spring and pulled out the blade.
The blade is long and narrow, the cold light shines, and the craftsmanship is first-rate.
Li Shimin couldn't help but praise it.
"A good knife, Jingde's craftsmanship is still as good as before——"
When Yuchi Jingde heard this, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, showing a hint of amusement.
He usually didn't allow others to mention his blacksmith, but it was different today, not only because it was His Majesty who said this, but also because of the knife in His Majesty's hand.