Lizheng Palace.

Li Shimin rested at Concubine Yang last night, and at noon today, he came to the Lizheng Palace to accompany Empress Sun to lunch. This is a necessary thing, if he does not come, there will be strange gossip in the palace, such as the emperor's centrifugation, the emperor's preference for Concubine Yang, and so on. No matter what kind of social environment it is, rumors will always be more and more mysterious, and there is almost no possibility of "stopping at the wise".

For Mr. Li, this is all avoidable. What's more, it wasn't true, although he preferred Concubine Yang, but in his heart, it was the eldest grandson queen who occupied the most important position.

Accompany her to dinner, Li Shimin is also willing.

The imperial meal had already been served on the table, and the reason why the chopsticks were not moved was that Li Shimin was waiting for the eldest grandson queen to feed the child. He and the youngest child of Empress Changsun, Li Zhi, the king of Jin, is still in infancy and is raised in the Lizheng Palace. Perhaps because Li Zhi was Li Shimin's first son after he ascended the throne and raised him by his side, Li Shimin liked this little son very much, as if he had returned to the feeling of being a father when Li Chengqian was just born.

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

Finally, after the feeding was finished, Empress Changsun handed over Li Zhi to the female official who was waiting, came to the dining table, and ate with Li Shimin.

"How's your health lately? Have you ever redone the headache? I have been busy with political affairs for days, and I have come to the government hall less often, so don't blame me. ”

Empress Eldest Sun filled a bowl of soup for Li Shimin, put it in his hand, and said, "Your Majesty has a lot of opportunities, and it's a good thing to be busy." Your Majesty is busy, and the people will suffer less. As His Majesty's wife, the concubine is honored, and it is too late to be happy, how can you blame Your Majesty. ”

"You say this, my heart is even more uncomfortable, I ......" Before Li Shimin's words were finished, he saw Gao Gonggong hurriedly coming over, Li Shimin looked at him coming, a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and stopped talking.

When Gao Gonggong came to him, he saw that Li Shimin was displeased, but he had to say about this today, otherwise Li Shimin would definitely be even more angry when he found out later, and he would not be able to eat and walk around at that time.

"Your Majesty......" Gonggong Gao didn't say anything about it without seeing Empress Changsun, over the years, how many major events have been participated in by Empress Changsun, Li Shimin has long said that no matter what, there is no need to avoid the queen.

"Zhuluhou just went to the Yiguo Mansion to propose his brother-in-law Li Siwen."

Li Shimin frowned and said, "Such a little thing, it's worth talking about?" Didn't I say that I don't want to know any news about this. Gao Gan, I see that you are really old and confused! ”

"Your Majesty." Gao Gonggong hurriedly said: "Naturally, I don't dare to disturb Your Majesty about the marriage proposal, but I just did another thing for the Marquis of Zhulu...... I had to inform Your Majesty that Your Majesty, in addition to the dowry prepared by the British Mansion, he added 10,000 taels of gold as a dowry, saying that he wanted to congratulate his brother on his wedding. ”

"How much do you say?" Li Shimin thought that something was wrong with his ears: "Do you mean 10,000 taels of gold?" ”

Gao Gonggong hurriedly nodded: "It is indeed 10,000 taels of gold, a gold bar weighing one catty, a whole thousand." Zhuluhou said this: A daughter hires a daughter, Miss Qin, she can afford it. ”

"Bastard!"

Li Shimin was instantly furious, slammed the table, and the soup was scattered all over the ground.

"I asked him to help me make money, but he was good, he didn't see the money, and he made trouble all day long! In front of me, every time I cry poor, this one doesn't return to the capital, and the one who has to invest money! I really thought that he was overstretched now, and I felt sorry for him! How do you know, this bastard dares to deceive me, isn't he without money? Where did the gold come from? Could it be conjured? Go and fetch him, and I'll ask him face to face!" ”

"No." Gonggong Gao had already guessed this, and turned around to leave the palace to deliver the decree. Suddenly, Empress Eldest Sun spoke up and said, "Father-in-law Gao, you have to wait. ”

Gonggong Gao stopped, Li Shimin frowned, and said, "The queen wants to intercede for Li Mu?" No, I will not spare him this time! ”

Empress Eldest Sun smiled and said, "Your Majesty guessed wrong, the concubine is not to intercede with the Marquis of Lu, but to remind Your Majesty that she has fallen for the trick." ”

"Medium?" Li Shimin was confused and said, "What is my plan?" ”

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

"Hah!" Li Shimin snorted angrily: "Normal? Where is normal, how can there be such a person who proposes marriage? Even Shi Chong Wang Kai of the Jin Dynasty did not have such a magnanimity? This kid is definitely here for me, he's demonstrating to me! Didn't I remove his Minister of Internal Affairs? He squandered ten thousand taels of gold to show off his skills to me. He's telling me that without him, I'm fine! I'm so angry! 10,000 taels of gold, that's 100,000 yuan! If 100,000 pieces are used to make blades and armor, it is enough to make thousands of sets. At present, the Dongcheng factory has not yet been settled, and he actually took it to propose! ”

The more Li Shimin spoke, the more angry he became: "If he proposes marriage by himself, it's fine!" He took it to Li Siwen to propose! Li Ji and Qin Qiong are equally ranked, Li Ji marries a wife for his son, the dowry must have been prepared a long time ago, and he needs to come out? If this kid didn't mean it, I don't believe it! ”

"Your Majesty is discouraged." Li Shimin was already jumping on his feet in a hurry, but Empress Eldest Sun could still stabilize the shelf, and said softly: "Your Majesty, you are right, Li Mu did it on purpose, but it was not for Your Majesty to see." ”

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

"The concubine can't guess it, but she can guess some." Empress Eldest Sun's eyes at this time shone like a fox, as if she had seen things through, and said: "Why did the concubine say that Li Mu didn't do it for His Majesty, in fact, the reason is very simple, you can understand it if you think about it a little. ”

"First of all, His Majesty's dismissal of him, he and His Majesty both know in their hearts that this is only a temporary matter, and after the New Year, he will be indispensable to the Internal Affairs Office. He wouldn't do anything to provoke His Majesty for this, it was unnecessary, and it was very stupid, besides, the cost of such a way was too great. Li Mu is not a stupid person, how can he do such a stupid thing. ”

"And then again, Li Mu is very lazy. If His Majesty really removed him, it would be too late for him to be happy, how could he do such a thing in turn and make trouble for himself? ”

"Hmm......" Li Shimin frowned and nodded slowly. Calm down and think about it, what Empress Eldest Sun said is not bad at all, Li Mu's character is like this, it is impossible for him to take ten thousand taels of gold to put his anger on it.

"According to what the queen said, Li Mu is righteous? Oh, the gold is ten thousand taels to be hired, what a big momentum! ”

Empress Eldest Sun shook her head again and said, "But it's not. ”

"Not? Why is that? ”

"Your Majesty, you just said that. Even Shi Chong Wang Kai of the Jin Dynasty was not so hired. Moreover, the British Duke and the Yiguo Duke are of the same ranks, and the dowry and dowry should also be comparable. Li Mu took out 10,000 taels of gold as a dowry here, what did the Qin family take? Wouldn't it be shameful if you couldn't get it? ”

Li Shimin wrinkled his brows and said, "But what can be equivalent to ten thousand taels of gold, I really can't think of what Qin Shubao can come up with." ”

"That's where the weirdness lies." Empress Changsun pointed out keenly and said: "This is a dowry, if the Qin family does not accept it, the marriage will not be successful." After receiving it, he couldn't get the equivalent dowry. Li Mu is an extremely smart child, he knows that the Qin family can't take it, but he still does it, and there must be an article in it. ”

"What article can he do, I look at him just to be angry!"

"The concubine thinks it's not, if Your Majesty doesn't believe it, you might as well wait, there will be news soon."

"Humph!" Li Shimin forcibly suppressed his anger, picked up the spoon and took a sip of the soup, but felt that it was not a taste at all. At this moment, a little eunuch came in at the door, he didn't dare to disturb Li Shimin, and secretly glanced at Minister Gao.

Father-in-law Gao walked over, and the little eunuch leaned into his ear and muttered a few words, and then went outside. Father-in-law Gao returned to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, the queen mother is like a god, and sure enough, there is new news." Yiguo Gong accepted the dowry, but he said that he would not ask for anything. At the time of the stalemate, Zhuluhou came up with a solution. He said that 10,000 taels of gold was a dowry that had been prepared for his brother-in-law Li Siwen a long time ago, and if a person did not stand without faith, he could not take it back. Since the Qin government refused to ask for it, it donated it to the Salesian Bureau in the name of the young couple, and set up a "Salesian Fund" to house homeless orphans. He also announced that the foundation is supervised by donations from all over the world, ensuring that every penny will be spent on children. ”

Li Shimin's expression froze, and there is this kind of operation? He glanced at Empress Changsun, shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly, and said, "Fortunately, the queen reminded me that I didn't look for him, otherwise I would have really been tricked." He will talk eloquently, but it seems that I am stingy, alas! This kid is really uneasy! ”

"Your Majesty," Gao Gonggong also smiled bitterly and said, "I haven't finished speaking, and I don't know who came out of it." There has been a discussion in the market, saying that Zhulu Hou has already given everything he has in order to prepare this money. Early in the morning, it was seen that several cars went from Jingdongji to the bank of the craftsman's workshop to exchange gold bars, including gold and silver utensils, copper coins and broken silver, etc., and exchanged for 1,000 gold bars. After the exchange, there are less than 100 pieces left. Now there are all discussions in Chang'an City, the Hou is incomparable in benevolence and righteousness, and his words must be practiced, and he regards money as dung and love and righteousness as life, all of which are preaching. ”

"Huh?" Li Shimin was dumbfounded, smiled even more bitterly, and said, "What's going on?" Could it be that this is his real purpose, why is he? Spent 10,000 taels of gold, just for a good name? ”

Empress Eldest Sun frowned and thought for a moment, and said, "Maybe it's also one of the purposes, Your Majesty, you forgot, isn't he going to open a gambling house?" ”

"Oh, yes!" Li Shimin remembered and said, "As soon as the queen said this, I understood, this is his usual method, what is it called?" He said, I forgot...... Public opinion, public opinion? ”

Gao Gonggong also remembered, nodded violently and said, "It's this word, it's this word." ”

"How does this kid's heart and eyes look like, people kill two birds with one stone, I see that he has more than two gains, I'm afraid he doesn't have other plans, but no one has guessed it yet." Li Shimin clicked his lips, looked at the table full of dishes, he really couldn't eat it, and got up and said; "Queen, I am so troubled. Eat it yourself, and I'll leave the palace. ”

Empress Eldest Sun smiled; "Why is Your Majesty so uncontrollable, ten thousand taels of gold, it is not wasted, it is used to shelter orphans, and the concubine thinks it is appropriate."

"I'm so angry! Do you know what happened the other day? ”

"Your Majesty can you talk about Li Mu's false transmission of the holy decree?"

"Exactly!" Li Shimin said angrily: "I am still angry when I think about it now, Li Mu, this kid is that I have indulged him too much, so that he is now more and more arrogant and lawless!" Didn't he know how great a sin it was to falsely proclaim a holy decree? He just has no fear, and I am reluctant to kill him! If we don't stop it, if we go on like this, where will I be majestic? ”

"I dismissed him because I wanted him to reflect on his mistakes. As a result, you can also see that not only did he not change his ways, but he became even more serious, ten thousand taels of gold, such a big matter, he didn't even discuss it with me, he made up his mind, how could I let him go easily? ”

Empress Eldest Sun was solemn and said, "Your Majesty, you are wrong. ”

"Wrong?" Li Shimin was stunned for a moment and said, "Is the queen saying that I am wrong?" ”

"Exactly!" Empress Changsun said: "Your Majesty, if you say that it is the sin of falsely transmitting the holy decree, Your Majesty has removed him from his post, which is already a punishment." Your Majesty has no reason to punish this time. What is Li Mu's crime? Whether it is 10,000 taels of gold or 1,000 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 consult with His Majesty. Isn't it? ”

Li Shimin was stunned, he suddenly realized a problem, as if he had always subconsciously regarded Li Mu's money as his internal money. Because basically the money Li Mu made was subsidized to the use of internal funds. But actually, this is a wrong idea. Because of the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, whether poor or rich, no one used private property to subsidize the court like Li Mu.

Although Datang is now in ruins, in the final analysis, does Datang really have no money?

No, Datang is rich! It's just that the money is not in the hands of the imperial court.

Needless to say, the family of gate valves, take the nobles who rose from the dragon's work, such as Li Ji, Cheng Yanjin and others, which family's industry income is not tens of thousands? The "invincible division" that Li Shimin wants to build only needs a budget of one million yuan, so many nobles in the Tang Dynasty, gate valves, and families, if they all come up with twenty or thirty thousand yuan, the problem can be solved immediately, but the question is, who is willing?

There is no free lunch in the world, when Li Yuan established the Tang Dynasty, countless civil ministers and military generals took refuge, and they fought in all directions, what did people do for? Isn't it for a rich business? In terms of rewarding meritorious deeds, this is something that must be done. Want to come back after you've enjoyed it? Emperors from ancient times to the present day, if they did not do this, it will inevitably cause turmoil.

But Li Mu never cared about it, the money he earned, said that if he built a craftsman workshop, he would build a craftsman workshop, and if he said that he would build a roadway, he would build a roadway. That's why Li Shimin was left with this illusion: the money of the internal fund is the money of the internal fund, and Li Mu's money is also the money of the internal fund. But this is not right, Li Shimin understands it in his heart.