Li Zheng Hall.

Last night, Li Shimin stopped at Yang Fei's place. At noon today, he came to Lizheng Hall to have lunch with Empress Changsun. This is a must. If he doesn't come, strange gossip will spread in the palace, such as the emperor's and empress's reluctance, the emperor's preference for Yang Fei, etc. No matter what kind of social environment, rumors will always say that the more he spreads, there is almost no possibility of "stop the wise man".

For Li Shimin, this is an avoidable thing. Moreover, it was not the truth. Although he preferred Concubine Yang, in his heart, Empress Changsun occupied the most important position.

Li Shimin was also happy to have dinner with her.

The imperial meal had been served on the table long ago, and the reason why he didn't move his chopsticks was that Li Shimin was waiting for Empress Changsun to feed the children. He and Empress Changsun's youngest child, Li Zhi, the King of Jin, are still in his infancy, and are raised in the Lizheng Hall. Perhaps because Li Zhi was the first son after Li Shimin ascended the throne and was raised by his side, Li Shimin liked this young son very much, as if he had returned to the feeling of being a father when Li Chengqian was first born.

Of course, Li Shimin would not coax the child, and the child would only cry when he saw him.

After finally finishing feeding, Empress Changsun handed over Li Zhi to the female official who served him and came to the dining table to have dinner with Li Shimin.

"How are you doing recently? Have you ever had any headaches again? I have been busy with political affairs for several days and have come to the Zheng Hall less often. Don't blame me."

Empress Changsun put a bowl of soup for Li Shimin and put it to him, saying, "Your Majesty is busy every day, and 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 I am not happy yet, so how can I blame Your Majesty for being happy?"

"If you say this, I feel even more uncomfortable, I..." Before Li Shimin finished speaking, Eunuch Gao hurried over. Li Shimin saw him coming, and a look of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and stopped talking.

When Eunuch Gao came to see that Li Shimin was unhappy, he had to say about this today, otherwise Li Shimin would definitely be even more angry when he knew about it, and he would not be able to take advantage of it.

"Your Majesty..." Eunuch Gao didn't say that Empress Changsun had not seen Empress Changsun. Over the years, Empress Changsun has participated in many major events. Li Shimin had long said that no matter what, there is no need to avoid the Empress.

"Marquis Zhulu has just gone to Duke Yiguo's mansion to propose marriage for his brother Li Siwen."

Li Shimin frowned and said, "That's worth mentioning. I haven't said that I don't want to know any news about this. High-ranking officials, I think you are really confused!"

"Your Majesty," said Gao quickly: "Of course I dare not disturb Your Majesty about the proposal of marriage. But Zhulu Marquis did another thing... I have to tell Your Majesty that Zhulu Marquis added 10,000 taels of gold as a betrothal gift in addition to the betrothal gift prepared by the Duke of England's mansion, saying that he wanted to congratulate his brothers on their wedding."

"How much did you say?" Li Shimin thought there was something wrong with his ear: "Did you say 10,000 taels of gold?"

Eunuch Gao nodded quickly: "It is indeed ten thousand taels of gold, a pound of gold bars weighing one pound, a total of one thousand. Zhulu Hou said this: I can afford to be a daughter of a thousand gold, Miss Qin's family."

"Damn it!"

Li Shimin was furious in an instant, and slapped the table suddenly, and the soup spread all over the floor.

"I asked him to help me make money, but he didn't see the money and caused trouble all day long! In front of me, I always cried poorly, this one didn't pay back the money, and that one had to invest money! I really thought that he was stretched now, and he felt guilty and felt guilty about him! How could this bastard dare to cheat me? Isn't he not rich? Where did ten thousand taels of gold come from? Could it be that it was transformed? Go and find him for me, and I have to ask him in person!"

"No." Eunuch Gao had guessed this for a long time, and turned around and was about to leave the palace to pass the imperial edict. Suddenly, Empress Changsun spoke and said, "Eunuch Gao, wait a moment."

Eunuch Gao stopped, Li Shimin frowned and said, "Does the queen want to plead for Li Mu? No, I will never forgive him this time!"

Empress Changsun smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wrong. I am not asking for help from Zhulu Hou, but want to remind Your Majesty not to fall into the trap."

"Stealed in a trap?" Li Shimin became confused and said, "What's the trap I'm in?"

"Your Majesty, do you think Li Mu's move is normal?"

"Ha!" Li Shimin snorted angrily: "Normal? Where is normal? How can there be someone who proposes marriage like this? Even Shi Chong and Wang Kai of the Jin Dynasty are not so generous? This kid is definitely for me to show him. He is demonstrating to me! Didn't I withdraw his minister in charge of the Interior Office? He squandered ten thousand taels of gold and showed off his skills to me. He wanted to tell me that without him, I would have no choice! I would really anger me! Ten thousand taels of gold, this is 100,000 taels of gold! If a hundred thousand taels of weaponry and armor were used to make thousands of sets. Now that the Dongcheng factory is not yet settled, he actually took it to propose marriage!"

The more Li Shimin said, the more angry he became: "If he had proposed a marriage by himself, it would have been fine! He would have taken it to Li Siwen to propose marriage! Li Ji was the same as Qin Qiong's family. Li Ji married his son, and the betrothal gift must have been prepared long ago, so he could have made it possible? If this kid was not intentional, I would definitely not believe it!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down." Li Shimin was so anxious that he jumped his feet, but Empress Changsun could still hold her airs down and said softly: "Your Majesty, you are right. Li Mu did it on purpose, but it was not for His Majesty to show it."

"If it's not for me, who else can he show it?"

"I can't guess thoroughly, but I can guess some." Empress Changsun's eyes shone with a fox-like light, as if she had seen through things, and said, "Why did I say that Li Mu was not for His Majesty to see? In fact, the reason is very simple. You can understand it by thinking about it a little."

"First of all, the matter of His Majesty's removal from his post, he and His Majesty knew in his heart that this was only a temporary matter. After the Chinese New Year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will inevitably be free. He would not do anything to stimulate His Majesty. There is no need and it is very stupid. Besides, this method is too expensive. Li Mu is not a fool, how can he do this stupid thing?"

"And then again, Li Mu is very lazy. If His Majesty really removes his post, he will not be happy yet. How could he do such a thing in turn and cause trouble for himself?"

"Um..." Li Shimin frowned and nodded slowly. He calmed down and thought, Empress Changsun said nothing, Li Mu's personality is like this, and he could not be angry with ten thousand taels of gold.

"According to the Queen, Li Mu is loyal? Haha, it's so great to hire a hiring of ten thousand taels of gold!"

Empress Changsun shook her head again and said, "But it's not."

"No? Why is that?"

"Your Majesty, you said just now. Even Shi Chong and Wang Kai from the Jin Dynasty were not so employed. Moreover, the Duke of England and Duke of Yi were of equal status, and the betrothal gifts and dowry should be equal. Li Mu took out ten thousand taels of gold as a betrothal gift, so what would the Qin family get? If they couldn't take it out, wouldn't it be ridiculous?"

Li Shimin frowned and said, "But I really can't think of what Qin Shubao can do if it is equivalent to ten thousand taels of gold."

"This is something strange." Empress Changsun pointed out keenly, saying: "This is a betrothal gift. If the Qin family does not accept it, the marriage will not be completed. If it is accepted, it will not be able to provide the equivalent dowry. Li Mu is a very smart child. He knew that the Qin family could not provide it, but he still did this, and there must be articles in it."

"What kind of article can he do? I see that he is just to anger me!"

"I think it's not. If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, you might as well wait, and there will be news soon."

"Hmph!" Li Shimin suppressed his anger, picked up the spoon and drank the soup, but felt that it was not tasted. At this moment, a little eunuch came in at the door. He did not dare to disturb Li Shimin and secretly winked at Eunuch Gao.

Eunuch Gao walked over, and the little eunuch leaned over to his ear and muttered a few words, then went out. Eunuch Gao returned to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress is as expected. There is indeed new news. Duke Yi accepted the betrothal gift, but ten thousand taels of gold said he would not ask for anything. At the time of stalemate, the Marquis Zhulu came up with a solution. He said that ten thousand taels of gold had been prepared for his brother Li Siwen long ago. People did not stand up without trust and could not be taken back. Since the Qin Mansion refused to ask, it would be donated and donated it to the Sales Bureau in the name of the young couple, and established a "Stock Young Fund" to accommodate wandering orphans. He also announced that the foundation would accept donations from all directions and ensure that every penny would be spent on the children."

Li Shimin's expression froze. Is there such an operation? He glanced at Empress Changsun, shook his head and smiled bitterly, and said, "Fortunately, the queen reminded me that I didn't look for him, otherwise I would have been trapped. He would have talked freely, which made me look stingy. Alas! This kid is really uneasy!"

"Your Majesty," said Gao, "I don't know who has spread it before I finished speaking. The public has already started talking about it, saying that Zhulu Hou had already spent all of it in order to prepare the money. Early in the morning, several cars went from Jingdong Ji to the bank of the Craftsman's workshop to exchange gold bars, including gold and silver vessels, copper coins and silver, etc., and exchanged for a thousand gold bars. After the exchange, there were only a hundred stakes left. Now everyone in Chang'an City is talking about it. Zhulu Hou is unparalleled and righteous. He will always be honest with his words. He regards money as dirt, and regards love as life. They are all circulating."

"Ah?" Li Shimin was stunned and smiled even more bitterly, saying, "What's going on? Could it be that this is his real purpose? Why is he? He spent 10,000 taels of gold just for a good reputation?"

Queen Changsun frowned and thought for a moment, and said, "Maybe it is also one of the purposes. Your Majesty, you forgot, didn't he want to open a gambling house?"

"Oh, yes!" Li Shimin remembered and said, "When the queen said this, I understood that this is his usual method. What is it called? He said, I forgot... 日本, public opinion?"

Eunuch Gao also remembered it and nodded suddenly, "It's this word, it's this word."

"How is this kid's sensuality? He can kill two birds with one stone. I see that he is more than two. I'm afraid he has other plans, but no one can guess it." Li Shimin stuttered, looking at the table full of dishes, he couldn't eat it, so he stood up and said, "Empress, I'm so upset. You eat it yourself, I'll go out of the palace."

Empress Changsun smiled and said, "Why is Your Majesty so uneasy? There is no waste of ten thousand taels of gold. It is used to shelter orphans. I think it is suitable for use."

"I'm so angry! Do you know what happened a few days ago?"

"What can Your Majesty say about Li Mu's false edict?"

"That's right!" Li Shimin said angrily: "I am still angry when I think about it. Li Mu is so arrogant that he is so arrogant that he is lawless now! How much sin is it to falsely pass the imperial edict? He is just fearless and is sure that I am reluctant to kill him! If I don't stop it, what is my majesty if I continue?"

"I removed him from his post, just to make him reflect on his own mistakes. As a result, you also saw that not only did he not change his mistakes, but he became even more serious. Ten thousand taels of gold. For such a big thing, he didn't even discuss with me, so he made a decision. How could I let him go easily?"

Empress Changsun was solemnly and said, "Your Majesty, you are wrong."

"Wrong?" Li Shimin was stunned and said, "Is the Queen saying I was wrong?"

"That's right!" Empress Changsun said seriously: "Your Majesty, if you say the crime of falsely circulating the imperial edict, your Majesty will be considered a punishment. Your Majesty has no reason to punish him again for this matter. What is Li Mu's crime? Whether it is ten thousand taels of gold or a thousand taels of liang, 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 Your Majesty. Isn't it?"

Li Shimin was stunned. He suddenly realized a problem. It seemed that he had always regarded Li Mu's money as money from the treasury. Because basically the money earned by Li Mu was subsidized for the expenses of the treasury. But in fact, this was a wrong idea. Because all the civil and military officials in the court, whether poor or rich, no one like Li Mu used private property to subsidize the court.

Although the Tang Dynasty is now in ruins, at the root of the matter, is the Tang Dynasty really not rich?

No, the Tang Dynasty had money! It’s just that the money was not in the hands of the court.

Needless to say, the aristocratic families have taken the nobles who have risen from the Dragon Merit as an example. For example, Li Ji, Cheng Yaojin and others, which family has less than tens of thousands of yuan in their industry per year? The "Invincible Army" that Li Shimin wanted to build only requires a budget of one million yuan. If so many nobles, aristocratic families in the Tang Dynasty were all given 20,000 to 30,000 yuan, the problem could be solved immediately, but the problem is, who is willing to do so?

There is no free lunch in the world. When Li Yuan established the Tang Dynasty, countless civil and military officials surrendered, wearing strong and fierce battles in all directions. What are they doing? Isn’t it for a wealth? Rewarding merits and doing things is a must-do. After rewarding, you have to come back? From ancient times to the present, emperors have not done this, and they will inevitably cause turmoil.

But Li Mu never cared about the money he earned, so he built a craftsman's workshop and said he built a craftsman's workshop. That was why he left Li Shimin with this illusion: the money from the treasury is the money from the treasury, and Li Mu's money is also the money from the treasury. But this is wrong, Li Shimin understands it in his heart.
Chapter completed!