However, understanding is understanding. Whether it can be done is another matter. was used to using Li Mu's money, and suddenly he didn't use it, Li Shimin always felt that his money was lost.

Li Shimin pondered for a while, and couldn't help but say: "Empress, what you said is right, but he can earn so much money, and I can't do anything at all?" If it weren't for me to support him, if it wasn't for me to support him"

"Your Majesty!" Empress Changsun interrupted Li Shimin's words and said, "If it is according to Your Majesty's thoughts, the Manchu Dynasty is civil and military, who has not received Your Majesty's grace?" Could it be that Your Majesty used this as a basis to rob their family property? Li Mu makes money, which is his ability. His Majesty has given him a favor, and he has reciprocated it. Not to mention anything else, this year's use in the palace is far better than last year, isn't it Li Mu's credit? Your Majesty will remember that at this time last year, in order to save money, Your Majesty even waived the banquet. ”

Li Shimin was silent, and the words of Empress Eldest Sun spoke to his heart.

During the Chinese New Year, it is a routine thing for the royal family to hold a banquet. Last year, in order to prepare for the Turkic war, it was possible to save the province. Li Shimin hesitated again and again and stopped all the banquets.

Some people may think that how much money can be saved after stopping a few banquets? The reality is that it's a lot of money. But the joint did not appear on Li Shimin's body, but on his father Li Yuan.

In that year, Li Yuan led the army to attack Chang'an and establish the Tang Dynasty. At the beginning of the founding of the country, the Quartet had not yet been pacified. Li Yuan began to indulge in pleasure and handed over national affairs to his two sons, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, which also laid a hidden danger for the future brothers. So when Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin ran for the anti-king in order to pacify the Quartet, what did Li Yuan do in Chang'an City?

The answer is simple, make man.

After Li Yuan established the country, he married countless concubines and gave Li Shimin more than a dozen younger brothers and more than a dozen younger sisters. Although Li Shimin killed two of them during the Xuanwumen Change, there were still twenty or thirty of them left.

Li Yuan doesn't care about these things, in his heart, there are only a few children who really value him. For the rest, he couldn't even remember the names. The heirs of some unfavored concubines, even whose names were not given by him, were handed over to the people of Zongzheng Temple for disposal.

He's a dad and can do that. But Li Shimin can't do this, he became the emperor, he came from the wrong way, and if he criticized his brothers and sisters again, he would be criticized even more. Therefore, every New Year's Day, Li Shimin has to give a banquet, gather his brothers and sisters, and everyone eats together. After eating, I will reward twenty or thirty brothers and sisters, all of whom will be "given" once, and at least tens of thousands of dollars will be paid.

Last year, in order to make up the money for the war, not to mention tens of thousands, it was several thousand, which was a lot of money in Li Shimin's eyes. In desperation, he could only give up the feast. But he didn't save this money, at that time, Li Yuan was still in a state of singing every night, and when he heard that he had saved the money for the banquet, he asked people to come and ask for it. The money saved by Li Shimin was basically ruined by Li Yuan.

Li Shimin still remembers that he really cried at that time. If it weren't for the fact that as an emperor and being burdened by his identity, he would really have to cry a lot to get rid of the grievances in his heart. As the saying goes, a penny is hard to beat a hero. Li Shimin, who came from an outstanding background, has never felt this way, but in the first month of last year, he really experienced it.

Subsequently, in order to make up for this shortfall, Empress Changsun took the lead and took out all her gold and silver jewelry, melted it down, and put it into the military salary.

I think of the hardships I suffered last year, and then look at the table full of wine and meat now. Li Shimin suddenly discovered that Li Mu was so important. It can be said that the arrival of Li Mu has greatly improved the quality of life in the palace.

Now everyone in the palace can pay the moon on time, the concubines all use silver mirrors and perfume, the palace maids can't afford to use perfume, and they all use soap. The food is also better than a day, even if he is the emperor in the past, he can only eat meat once every three or five days, but now, not to mention the meat, the queen here, the main concubines, can also eat meat, and the standard of living is a higher level.

Where does all this money come from?

Li Shimin didn't know, but what he knew was that if he changed to another person, he would definitely not be able to do it to this extent. And the most rare thing is that Li Mu has never used this to ask for credit. As if he should have done this, even when he was attacked and harshly criticized, he never said anything about it.

Thinking about it, Li Shimin actually felt a little more guilty in his heart. With a wry smile, he said, "What the queen said is that I was wrong. I actually coveted Li Mu's money, it's really shameful. ”

Empress Changsun smiled: "Your Majesty doesn't have to take it too seriously, judging by the concubines. Li Mu, this child, although he is a little ridiculous from time to time, is by no means confused in major matters. He did not pretend to pass on the holy decree for his own selfishness, but only that he had a disagreement with His Majesty on judgment, and he wanted to do what he wanted. The concubine thought that if there was no principle, it should be more convenient to treat a talent like Li Mu. Even if it's wrong, don't be too harsh. Your Majesty needs talents, what is talent? A person who must be able to do what His Majesty can't do, such a person can be called a talent. ”

"If what Li Mu thinks and thinks is expected by His Majesty, then Does Your Majesty still look up to him? And if what he thinks and thinks, His Majesty cannot predict it, and he cannot judge right or wrong. Then you might as well trust him and don't take it too seriously. ”

Li Shimin smiled dumbly and said, "My queen, have you been bribed by that kid, how can you speak for him everywhere?" I was angry and wanted to clean him up, but when you said that, it was like I was going to apologize to him. ”

Empress Eldest Sun smiled and said, "The concubine is just talking about things. The concubines did not persuade His Majesty to give Li Mu some preferential treatment. I only hope that when Your Majesty is harshly criticizing Li Mu, you can think about it, if this matter is left on someone else's body, will Your Majesty still make such a decision? For example, the elder brother of the concubine, Wang Shizhong, Wei Gong and others, the same thing happened to them, will Your Majesty still be harsh? ”

Li Shimin frowned and said, "You actually compare Li Mu with my Zaifu? ”

"Your Majesty, don't you regard Li Mu as the choice of Zaifu?" Empress Changsun said: "Your Majesty, don't forget, Li Mu is now a marquis, from the third grade, and the six books, there is only one line left!" In the spring of the coming year, if he is really a high school champion, His Majesty will promote him to a higher rank, but he will be a real minister of the third grade. ”

Li Shimin was stunned.

It's not that he can't think of it, it's that he has been ignoring it. In his heart, Li Mu's official rank, whether it is the fourth grade or the third grade, is somewhat playful. The reason why he gave Li Mu this position from the third rank was to a large extent to facilitate the use of Li Mu as a chess piece to compete with the scholar clan represented by Wei Zheng, and to balance the gate valve represented by Wang Qi and the noble represented by the eldest grandson Wuji.

It wasn't until Empress Changsun talked about it just now that Li Shimin realized that he had put Li Mu in such a high position. Counting the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty, there were about 100 people. And from the third grade or above, less than thirty people. Half of them are idle positions in name, in other words, Li Mu's current status has quietly entered the top twenty in the court.

He was only seventeen years old!

Li Shimin's face changed slightly, and he said, "Empress, did I promote Li Mu too high?" Mu Xiu will be destroyed by the forest wind, will I hurt him! ”

"If it were anyone else, the concubine would have reminded Your Majesty a long time ago. But Li Mu is different, Your Majesty, Li Mu has been the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for so long, but there is one thing that does not make Your Majesty worry? ”

Li Shimin suddenly became angry and said: "You should say that there is one thing that makes me worry, it's okay on the third day, and it's early on the fifth day, when did I worry about him!" ”

"No, Your Majesty is wrong again." Empress Eldest Sun corrected: "It is because Your Majesty pays attention to Li Mu that you will know what is going on, and you will be stumped by your thoughts." But if His Majesty doesn't pay attention to Li Mu, His Majesty won't know anything. ”

"Haven't I become blind? Deaf? ”

"If something really happened, how could Your Majesty not know about it? It's only because the matter hasn't reached the point where someone is complaining to His Majesty, so His Majesty doesn't know. Didn't Your Majesty find out that although Li Mu is impulsive and arrogant, he also knows how to advance and retreat, and he will not offend people who cannot afford to offend. Just like the incident with the king of Hejian a few days ago, didn't he bend down? ”

"That's right." Thinking of the various things between Li Mu and Li Xiaogong, Li Shimin laughed. Li Xiaogong is currently the only one who makes Li Mu deflated, even the eldest grandson Wuji, who is your uncle, after the eldest grandson worships Li Mu as his teacher, he doesn't take it very seriously.

"Okay, just assume that I don't know about it, and leave it alone." Li Shimin waved his hand and motioned for Gonggong Gao to step down. A palace maid came over to wipe the soup on the table, changed the soup bowl for Li Shimin, and the husband and wife continued to eat.

JD set.

As soon as the team set off, the cook hired by Bai Haoer began to catch fire, and when the team came back, the flowing water mat had been set up, winding for dozens of meters, and the whole market was full.

Not only can the people in the proposition team eat, but also the lively passers-by, after the proposing team has sat down, looking for a vacant seat, you can also eat, just say an auspicious word. Li Mu had already spoken, it was a great joy for his brother to get married, he was open to food, and he covered all the consumption.

Li Muzheng was drinking red with a red face, and suddenly a little eunuch came. Li Mu asked the others to wait for a while, and went to a secluded place with the little eunuch.

"Master Hou, my father-in-law has explained this, and there is nothing to do." The little eunuch said the words of Gao Gong's bus agent, did not move, and looked at Li Mu expectantly. He is also one of the godsons of Gao Gonggong, but because he has been serving in the Lizheng Palace, he has much less oil and water than those godsons who serve in the Taiji Palace. However, he heard the brothers of the Taiji Hall say that all the things with oil and water are nothing bigger than running errands for Zhuluhou, and today it was finally his turn, and he was so excited that his heart was about to jump out.

Li Mu didn't let him down, retracted his hand into his sleeve, exchanged a silver ingot from the system, threw it to the little eunuch, and said: "Go back and tell Gonggong Gao, I have already written down the favor, I have prepared a gift for him, and when he is free to leave the palace, come to me, and I will give it to him." ”

"The little one is written down." The little eunuch took the silver ingot, didn't look at it, and the heavy feeling already knew how much it was, and his heart suddenly bloomed. Don't say a word, even if he calls him grandpa, he can call him out immediately.

The little eunuch returned to the palace, but Li Mu was a little worried.

When he had just exchanged the silver ingots, he glanced at the balance, and there were only more than fifty taels in the system. Except for the time in Ma Yi and Dingxiang, now is the time when he has the least money in his hand.

The rumors in the market were spread by him, but they were not false, on the contrary, they were true. In order to make up this golden tael, Li Mu basically turned his family money upside down.

Now the whole family lives on the little money that Feng Qiuhuang has.

When he discussed this matter with his wife and concubine last night, Li Zhien was resolutely opposed. Even if Li Siwen helped him promote good things, Li Zien was still not so generous when he "went bankrupt" to propose marriage to Li Siwen. But Bai Qiaoqiao, as Li Mu's wife, didn't say a word of opposition. It's just that Li Mu has decided, and she doesn't have any opinions.

This made Li Mu confused, and he didn't have any opinions, was he against it, or did he agree? Is it really no opinion, or is it angry and contrary?

"Big brother!!"

"It's coming!"

Li Siwen's voice came, Li Mu didn't have time to think about it, roared, and returned to the table.

Li Siwen's face was as red as a monkey's buttocks, and it was obvious that he had drunk too much. Seeing Li Mu coming, he threw a wine glass on Li Mu, tears and snot fell together, and he cried: "Big brother, big brother, why are you so good to me!" Little brother He De how can he be, worthy of the affectionate eldest brother, I just heard someone say, in order to make up this gold tael for me, the family doesn't even have the money to buy rice, woo my eldest brother, the little brother must not let the eldest brother have no food! ”

Li Siwen said, put his hand into his arms and took out a purse, took out a purse, stuffed it into Li Mu's hand, and said, "Big brother, you take it all!" ”

After speaking, he was stunned for a moment, and gave himself a slap in the face: "Look at my fool, how can this be?" The eldest brother can't repay his kindness, and the younger brother can only look like him."

"Stop!" Li Mu supported Li Siwen's chin with his hand, preventing him from approaching, and said, "Don't be sentimental!" I'm giving you this dowry just because you're my brother. It's not just you, Xiao Jiu, the big one, when they got married, the eldest brother and I were the same. ”

When Dugu Jiu heard this, he couldn't help but glance over. He originally thought that Li Mu was just doing this to Li Siwen, but when he heard this, he was relieved. As the only heir of Dugu Valve, Dugu Jiu is actually not short of this golden tael, but if Li Mu only gives Li Siwen and does not give him, he will still feel uncomfortable in his heart.

"I told you a long time ago that my eldest brother treats money like dung, and now I believe it, right? Come on, come on, drink! ”