Li Shimin rested at Concubine Yang's place last night. Today at noon, he came to the Lizheng Palace to accompany Empress Changsun for lunch. This was a necessary thing. If he didn't come, strange gossip would spread in the palace, such as the emperor and the empress being separated from each other.
, the emperor prefers Concubine Yang, etc. No matter what kind of social environment we are in, rumors will always become more and more mysterious as they spread, and there is almost no possibility of "stopping with the wise".
For Li Shimin, this was something that could be avoided. What's more, it was not the truth in the first place. Although he preferred Concubine Yang, in his heart, Empress Changsun still occupied the most important position.
Li Shimin was also happy to accompany her to dinner.
The imperial meal had already been served on the table, but the reason why he didn't use his chopsticks was because Li Shimin was waiting for Empress Changsun to feed the child. He and Empress Changsun's youngest child, King Li Zhi of Jin, is still in his infancy and is being raised in the Lizheng Hall. Maybe
Because Li Zhi was Li Shimin's first son after he ascended the throne and he was raised by his side, Li Shimin liked this little son very much, as if he had returned to the time when Li Chengqian was born and he felt like a father for the first time.
Of course, Li Shimin would not coax his children, and the children would only cry when they saw him.
After finally finishing feeding, Empress Changsun handed Li Zhi over to the serving female officer and came to the dining table to eat with Li Shimin.
"How is your health these days? Have you had a headache again? I have been busy with political affairs these past few days and have come to the Zhengdian less often. Don't blame me."
Empress Changsun served a bowl of soup for Li Shimin, put it in his hand, and said: "Your Majesty has many things to do every day, so it is a good thing to be busy. If your Majesty is busy, the people will suffer less. As your Majesty's wife, I am honored and happy to be your concubine.
It's too late, how can I blame His Majesty?"
"You said that, and I felt even more uncomfortable. I..." Before Li Shimin could finish his words, he saw Eunuch Gao walking over in a hurry. Li Shimin looked at him coming over, with a look of displeasure in his eyes, and stopped.
Got the words.
Eunuch Gao came forward and saw that Li Shimin was unhappy, but he had to tell him about this matter today, otherwise Li Shimin would definitely be even more angry when he found out about it later, and he would not be able to carry it around anymore.
"Your Majesty..." Eunuch Gao did not say that even before he saw Queen Changsun, Queen Changsun had been involved in many major events over the years. Li Shimin had long said that there was no need to avoid the Queen no matter what.
"Marquis Zhulu has just gone to Yiguo Duke's Mansion to propose marriage to his adopted brother Li Siwen."
Li Shimin frowned and said: "Is such a small thing worth talking about? Didn't I say that I don't want to know any news about this matter? Senior officials, I think you are really old and confused!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me." Eunuch Gao hurriedly said: "Of course I don't dare to disturb Your Majesty about the marriage proposal. It's just that Zhulu Hou did something else... I have to inform Your Majesty, Your Majesty, that Zhulu Hou prepared a betrothal gift at the British Duke's Mansion.
In addition, he added ten thousand taels of gold as a betrothal gift, saying that he wanted to congratulate his brother on his wedding."
"How much did you say?" Li Shimin thought there was something wrong with his ears: "Did you say ten thousand taels of gold?"
Eunuch Gao nodded quickly: "It is indeed ten thousand taels of gold. One gold bar weighs one pound, which is a thousand gold bars. This is what Zhulu Hou said: A daughter of a daughter can afford a daughter of a daughter. Miss Qin can afford it."
"Asshole!"
Li Shimin was instantly furious and slammed the table, causing the soup to spill all over the floor.
"I asked him to help me make money, but he didn't see the money and was causing trouble all day long! In front of me, every time he cried, he didn't get his money back, and he had to invest money in that one! I really thought that he was now
I was so strapped that I felt guilty and felt guilty for him! How could I know that this bastard dared to lie to me? Didn’t he have no money? Where did the ten thousand taels of gold come from? Could it be a conjuration? Go and find him for me.
, I want to ask him face to face!"
"No." Eunuch Gao had guessed this a long time ago and turned around to leave the palace to deliver the order. Suddenly, Queen Changsun spoke and said, "Eunuch Gao, please wait a moment."
Eunuch Gao stopped and Li Shimin frowned and said, "The queen wants to intercede for Li Mu? No, I will not let him off lightly this time!"
Empress Changsun smiled brightly and said: "Your Majesty guessed wrong. This concubine is not interceding for the purpose of competing for Luhou, but wants to remind Your Majesty not to fall into the trap."
"Fell into a trap?" Li Shimin was confused and said, "What trap did I fall into?"
"Your Majesty, do you think Li Mu's behavior is normal?"
"Ha!" Li Shimin snorted angrily: "Normal? How can it be normal? How can anyone propose marriage like this? Not even Shi Chong and Wang Kai of the Jin Dynasty were so generous? This boy is definitely doing it for me.
He was demonstrating to me! Didn't I remove his minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs? He squandered thousands of gold to show off his abilities to me. He wanted to tell me that without him, I would have nothing to do! I'm really angry
Damn me! Ten thousand taels of gold, this is one hundred thousand guan! If one hundred thousand guan is used to make weapons and armors, it can make thousands of sets. Now that the Dongcheng factory has not been found, he actually used it to propose marriage! "
The more Li Shimin talked, the angrier he became: "If he proposes the marriage himself, that's fine! He uses it to propose marriage to Li Siwen! Li Ji and Qin Qiong have the same family background. If Li Ji marries his son, the betrothal gift must have been prepared long ago and will be needed.
Is he coming forward? If this kid didn’t do it on purpose, I definitely don’t believe it!”
"Your Majesty, calm down." Li Shimin was already jumping up and down with anxiety, but Empress Changsun could still maintain her composure and said softly: "Your Majesty, you are right, Li Mu did it on purpose, but it was not for Your Majesty to see."
"If it wasn't for me, who else could he be showing it to?"
"I can't guess, but I can make some guesses." Empress Changsun's eyes were shining like a fox at this time, as if she had seen through the matter, and said: "Why did I say that Li Mu was not a man?
Your Majesty saw it, the reason is actually very simple, you can understand it with a little thought."
"First of all, both he and Your Majesty know that His Majesty has dismissed him from his post. This is only a temporary matter. After the New Year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will not be able to do without him. He will not do anything to irritate Your Majesty for this. No
It is necessary, but also very stupid. Moreover, the cost of this method is too high. Li Mu is not a fool, how can he do such a stupid thing."
"And having said that, Li Mu is a very lazy boy. If Your Majesty really removes him from his post, it will be too late for him to be happy. How could he do such a thing in reverse and cause trouble for himself?"
"Well..." Li Shimin frowned and nodded slowly. When he calmed down and thought about it, what Empress Changsun said was true. Li Mu's character was like this, and it was impossible for him to use ten thousand taels of gold to vent his anger.
"According to what the queen said, Li Mu is loyal? Oh, ten thousand taels of gold as a betrothal man, what a great momentum!"
Empress Changsun shook her head again and said: "But it's not the case."
"No? Why is that?"
"Your Majesty, you just said it. Even King Shi Chong of the Jin Dynasty did not betrothal like this. Moreover, the Ying Gong and Yi Guo Gong are from the same family, so the betrothal gift and dowry should also be equivalent. Li Mu
If we give out ten thousand taels of gold as a betrothal gift, what will the Qin family give in return? If we can't pay it, wouldn't it be a shame?"
Li Shimin frowned and said, "But I really can't think of anything Qin Shubao can come up with that is worth ten thousand taels of gold."
"This is the strange thing." Empress Changsun pointed out keenly, "This is the betrothal gift. If the Qin family does not accept it, the marriage will not be successful. If it is accepted, there will be no equivalent dowry. Li Mu is a very smart man.
My child, he knew that the Qin family couldn't get it, but he still did it, there must be something wrong with it."
"What kind of articles can he do? I only read him to make me angry!"
"I don't think so. If your Majesty doesn't believe it, you might as well wait. There will be news soon."
"Huh!" Li Shimin suppressed his anger, picked up the spoon and took a sip of the soup, but felt that it tasted nothing like it. At this moment, a young eunuch came in at the door. He did not dare to disturb Li Shimin, but secretly winked at Eunuch Gao.
Eunuch Gao walked over, and the young eunuch whispered a few words into his ear, and then went outside. Eunuch Gao returned to Li Shimin and said: "Your Majesty, the Queen is so good at things. As expected, there is new news. Yi
The Duke accepted the betrothal gift, but he refused to take anything from it. When the stalemate continued, Zhulu Hou came up with a way. He said that the ten thousand taels of gold had been prepared for his sworn brother Li Siwen a long time ago.
The betrothal gift cannot be taken back if a person has no faith and cannot take it back. Since the Qin government is not willing to take it, he donated it to the Salesian Bureau in the name of the young couple and established a "Salesian
"Fund" is specially used to take in homeless orphans. He also announced that the foundation will accept donations from all parties and supervise it, ensuring that every penny spent will be spent on children."
Li Shimin's expression froze. Is there such an operation? He glanced at Empress Changsun, shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly, saying: "Fortunately, the empress reminded me that I didn't go to him, otherwise I would really have fallen into the trap. He will definitely talk freely.
It seems that I am being stingy. Alas! This boy is really careless!"
"Your Majesty," Eunuch Gao also smiled bitterly and said, "I haven't finished speaking yet, and I don't know who made the news. There has been talk in the town that Zhuluhou has spent all his money to prepare this money. Someone early in the morning
I saw several cars going from Jingdong Market to the bank of Craftsman's Workshop to exchange for gold bars, including gold and silver utensils, copper coins, broken silver, etc., and exchanged a thousand gold bars. After the exchange, there was only less than a hundred gold bars left. Now everyone in Chang'an City
It has been said that Zhuluhou is unparalleled in his benevolence and righteousness, he must practice what he preaches, he regards money as dung, and he regards love and justice as life, and they are all praised."
"Ah?" Li Shimin was dumbfounded, and his wry smile became even wider, and he said, "What's going on? Could it be that this is his real purpose? Why is he doing this? He spent ten thousand taels of gold just for a good reputation.
?”
Empress Changsun frowned and thought for a moment, then said: "Perhaps this is also one of the purposes. Your Majesty, have you forgotten that he wants to open a gambling house?"
"Oh, yes!" Li Shimin remembered it and said, "When the queen said this, I understood that this is his usual method. What is it called? He said that I forgot... public opinion, public opinion?"
Eunuch Gao also remembered it, nodded sharply and said: "That's the word, that's the word."
"How smart is this kid? People say he can kill two birds with one stone. I think he can do more than just two things. I'm afraid he has other plans, but no one has guessed it yet." Li Shimin clicked his lips and looked at the table.
I really couldn't eat the food, so I stood up and said, "Queen, I'm very worried. You can eat it by yourself while I leave the palace."
Empress Changsun smiled and said, "Your Majesty, why are you so impatient? Ten thousand taels of gold were not wasted. It was used to take in orphans. I think it is just right."
"I'm so angry! Do you know what happened a few days ago?"
"Your Majesty, what you are talking about is Li Mu falsely delivering the imperial edict?"
"Exactly!" Li Shimin said angrily: "I am still angry when I think about it now. I have indulged this boy Li Mu too much, so that he is now more and more arrogant and lawless! Doesn't he know what a sin it is to falsely spread the imperial edict?
?He is so confident that I can’t bear to kill him! If I don’t stop him and this continues, where will my majesty be?”
"I dismissed him from his post because I wanted him to reflect on his mistakes. As you can see, instead of changing his ways, he worsened his mistakes. He didn't even discuss such a big matter with me, like ten thousand taels of gold.
He made the decision himself, how can I let him go so easily?"
Queen Changsun said solemnly: "Your Majesty, you are wrong."
"Wrong?" Li Shimin was stunned and said: "The Queen is saying that I am wrong?"
"Exactly!" Empress Changsun said sternly: "Your Majesty, if he is guilty of falsely transmitting imperial edicts, your Majesty's dismissal of his post has already been punished. In this case, your Majesty has no reason to punish him again. What is Li Mu's crime?
?Whether it is ten thousand taels of gold or a thousand taels, the money is earned by himself, not the money of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Since it is not the money of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there is no need to discuss it with His Majesty. Isn't it?"
Li Shimin was stunned. He suddenly realized a problem. It seemed that he had always subconsciously regarded Li Mu's money as internal funds. Because basically, all the money Li Mu earned was used to subsidize the expenses of internal funds. But
In fact, this is a wrong idea. Because in the civil and military circles of the entire dynasty, no matter whether they were poor or rich, no one used their private property to subsidize the court like Li Mu.
Although Datang is now in dire straits and waiting to be revitalized, does Datang really have no money?
No, Datang had money! But the money was not in the hands of the court.
Not to mention the powerful families, let’s take the nobles who rose from Longzhi Gong as an example, such as Li Ji, Cheng Yaojin and others. Which family does not have an annual income of tens of thousands of dollars? Li Shimin wants to create an "invincible master"
It only requires a budget of one million gu. If all the nobles, nobles, and aristocratic families in the Tang Dynasty spent 20,000 to 30,000 gu, the problem would be solved immediately. But the question is, who is willing?
There is no free lunch in the world. When Li Yuan founded the Tang Dynasty, countless civil servants and generals joined him and fought in all directions. What did they do for it? Isn't it just for wealth? Reward according to merit, this is what must be done.
.You want to come back after giving a reward? Emperors from ancient times to the present have not done this, and it will definitely cause turmoil.
But Li Mu never cared about it. The money he earned was used to build crafts workshops, and to build lanes. That’s why Li Shimin was left with this illusion: money from internal funds was internal funds.
Li Mu's money is also internal money. But this is wrong, and Li Shimin knows it in his heart.