Datang: Empress mother-in-law sent Li Er to test me

Lu Min, head of Fan Yang's Lu family, snorted coldly, and said: "The imperial court has a good plan! I really want to know who came up with the trick of recording merit with stones, forcing us five surnames Qiwang to donate money!"

Zheng Da, head of the Xingyang Patriarch, gritted his teeth and said, "This plan is vicious. It's not like Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui could come up with it. Could it be Changsun Wuji?"

"It's possible." Taiyuan Wang Kuo said in a deep voice, "Looking at the entire imperial court, this is the only one who can come up with such a poisonous plan."

"Little Lizi!" Longxi Li Zun and Zhaojun Li Yu scolded angrily.

Cui Zhao's face was gloomy, and he also felt that their guess was reliable.

After all, Changsun Wuji's younger sister is Empress Changsun, and his brother-in-law is Li Er, the current emperor!

He is the only one who dares to provoke the five surnames and Qiwang.

The wives of Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui are both women with five surnames. Even if the two of them could come up with such a poisonous plan, they would definitely not dare to advise Li Er.

But Changsun Wuji is the only one who is different!

Li Er has always had a dislike for the five surnames and Qiwang, which has led to the fact that there are very few children of the five surnames and Qiwang who are officials in the court today.

As the most trusted person around Li Er, Changsun Wuji must carry out Li Er's will.

If Li Er doesn't like anyone, Changsun Wuji also doesn't like anyone. To put it bluntly, they wear a pair of pants!

Now Li Er suddenly resorted to a vicious and vicious trick of recording meritorious deeds. After much deliberation, only Changsun Wuji could support him!

Not for the Son of Man!

The seven old men scolded in their hearts.

Cui Zhao glanced at the crowd, holding the head of the cane with both hands, and said in an old voice: "The problem now is not to find out who gave Li Erlang the trick."

"The most important thing is how to reject Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui."

"I can't refuse!" Cui Gong said firmly: "If I could, brother, wouldn't you have returned sooner? Why call us all here?"

Cui Zhao frowned and said, "Could it be that this time we have five surnames and seven surnames, are we going to suffer this boring loss?"

"It's a loss, it's not that delicious."

"Le Shi's poisonous plan to remember meritorious deeds, the worst thing is to refuse to donate Shaojuan. If you donate too much, we will be in pain."

"The money in our hands is not blown by strong winds. It's fine if it's cheap for our family. If it's cheap for the court, it's Li Erlang. I really can't swallow this breath!"

When the other old men heard this, their expressions became a bit ugly.

Suddenly, Cui Gong said: "Brother, as I said just now, we cannot reject the imperial court, but it is not impossible."

Meeting the gazes of Cui Zhao and others, Cui Gong sneered and said, "He has Zhang Liang's plan, and we still have the wall ladder."

"Isn't it just donating money, let's donate! Not only donate, but also donate more!"

"One time, let's feed Li Er to him!"

"As for whether he can eat it, that's his business."

As he said that, Cui Gong whispered his method in the ears of the six old men.

"Good way!" After hearing his words, Lu Min, Zheng Da, Wang Kuo, Li Zun, and Li Yu's eyes lit up.

Cui Zhao loosened his frown a little bit, and with a smile on his old face, he pointed to Cui Gong and said, "Brother Cui is Brother Cui, he is worthy of being the think tank of our five surnames and seven favorites."

"In that case, do as you say!"

"Butler Cui, invite Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui in for this old man!"

While Cui Zhao yelled towards the outside of the hall, he turned around to discuss with Cui Gong and others how much to donate.

After finalizing the details, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui just came back.

"Mr. Fang, Mr. Du." Cui Zhao said with a smile on his face, "The seven of us have already negotiated."

"The imperial court's treasury is empty this time, and we have five surnames and seven hopefuls, so we should do our best to help."

"This time, the seven of us will each contribute one hundred thousand guan!"

Cui Zhao made a gesture and said forcefully, "70 guan, all donated to the imperial court!"

70 guan?Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were shocked, and looked at them with beaming brows.

70 yuan is by no means a small amount of money. If it is placed on ordinary people, they will not be able to spend it even in ten lifetimes.

There are many types of currency in Datang, but the currency is very orderly.

The usual money is one thousand Wen.

70 guan, that is, [-] million coins!

Even if it is placed in modern times, if a penny is regarded as one yuan, that is 7 million yuan, not to mention that the purchasing power of a penny in Datang is far more than the purchasing power of one yuan in modern times!

At the current housing prices in Chang'an City, a house can sell for 60 Wen.

[-] million Wen is enough to buy [-] houses in Chang'an City!

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were short of breath. When they came here, they thought about everything, but they never expected that there would be so much money!

Fang Xuanling looked solemn, bowed heavily to them, and said in a deep voice:

"Fang has thanked all the patriarchs on behalf of the imperial court. If all the patriarchs donate generously to help the imperial court overcome this difficulty, Fang and Duke Du will definitely report the matter truthfully."

"If His Majesty finds out, he will definitely order to reward the Patriarchs."

"Those are trivial matters." Cui Zhao said with a smile on his face: "Mr. Fang, Mr. Du, the money still needs to be prepared by the old man and others. At noon tomorrow, Mr. Fang and Mr. Du can come again. When the time comes, take the money away." yes."

"it is good!"

Fang Xuanling cupped his hands and said: "Then Fangmou and Du Gong will return to the palace first to return to their orders. At noon tomorrow, the two of us will definitely come in person! Farewell!"

After finishing speaking, Fang Xuanling took Du Ruhui and walked out of the hall with a happy expression.

The two of them didn't notice at all that the seven old men standing behind them were looking at their backs with a sneer.

----

Taiji Palace, Ganlu Palace.

When Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui returned to the palace, Li Er's exclamation resounded throughout the hall.

"One million pennies?"

"Five Surnames and Seven Wangs are so generous?"

Seeing Li Er's unbelievable expression, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui looked at each other and smiled.

Li Er suddenly stood up while stroking the imperial case, his eyes glowed brightly, and said, "It's Zhang Dun, Zhang Dun's plan to record merits with stones has worked!"

Chapter 42 Empress Changsun's worries, this matter is not that simple

"Your Majesty is wise." Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui cupped their hands at the same time.

Immediately, the two of them told Li Er exactly what happened in Cui's mansion in Boling.

Li Er smiled happily when he heard that, "Okay, okay, just because the five surnames and seven visited their seven families, they spent 70 guan, which is a good start!"

"The rest of the rich and famous families in Chang'an City donated money after seeing Qiwang, the five surnames, can they donate along with it?"

"The five surnames and Qiwang donated 70 guan. The sum of the money of those wealthy and famous families should not be less than 50 guan!"

"In this way, there will be 120 million crowns, and the problem of empty treasury will be solved!"

The more Li Er thought about it, the more excited he became, he clapped his hands and said: "My son-in-law is really a monster. With a trick of recording meritorious service, I got 120 million guan for the court. I want to reward him well!"

Zhang Dun is only a short distance away from becoming the emperor's son-in-law!Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui said silently in their hearts.

Seeing that Li Er was happy, Fang Xuanling reminded: "Your Majesty, if you give Zhang Dun a reward, wouldn't that expose the real identity of your second uncle to him?"

"That's true. I can't ask him to know my identity now." Li Er calmed down a lot, but felt a headache and said: "This kid refuses to be an official. If he knows my identity, he may never help me again. gone."

Fang Xuanling smiled, and continued: "Besides, now is not the time to reward Zhang Dun."

"The most urgent thing is to use Zhang Dun's plan to record merits, and first receive the money from Wuxing Qiwang, so that you can feel at ease."

"Xuanling, what you said is right." Li Er pointed at him and said, "Didn't they make an appointment with you to go to their house to collect money at noon tomorrow?"

"I will immediately ask someone to make a merit tablet, and engrave the names of the five surnames and Qiwang on the merit tablet. You take the merit tablet and go directly to their residence!"

"I just want to tell them that as long as they are willing to pay, I will give them more prestige!"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui said solemnly: "I obey the order!"

After sending Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui away, Li Er called Li Junxian and asked him to be in charge of the stele of meritorious deeds, and then walked towards the Lizheng Hall with a smile on his face.

On the way, Li Er saw a familiar figure in a purple robe and shouted, "Wuji!"

Changsun Wuji frowned, and walked in the palace absent-mindedly. He paused when he heard the voice, looked back at Li Er, and hurriedly bowed, "Your Majesty."

"Why did you enter the palace?" Li Er looked at him curiously, "I remember you should rest at home today."

It's okay not to mention it, but when the word Xiumu was mentioned, Changsun Wuji was not angry, and said in a calm tone: "I was scolded to come to the palace!"

Li Er was taken aback, "Who dares to scold you Duke Qi?"

"Five Surnames and Seven Hopes!" Changsun Wuji gritted his teeth.

"???"

Li Er looked at him in astonishment, "It's fine, why are they scolding you?"

"I just don't know, so I decided to come to the palace to find out."

Changsun Wuji said angrily: "Those seven old fellows were completely inexplicable. They suddenly ran to the minister's mansion, pointed at the minister's nose, and cursed at me. They said that they forced donations, they said they wanted to record meritorious deeds, and I listened to every word they said. don't know!"

Li Er raised his forehead, and immediately understood that Changsun Wuji was taking the blame for Zhang Dun!

Zhang Dun's idea of ​​Le Shi's meritorious service was thought up by Zhang Dun. Besides Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Empress Changsun, and Yuchi Jingde, only Fang Jun, Du He, and Yuchi Baoqi knew about it.

Fang Jun, Du He, and Yuchi Baoqi couldn't say it, and they didn't dare to spread the word.

Yuchi Jingde is even more impossible, his relationship with Changsun Wuji is not very good.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui have been helping him with things, even if they want to talk, they can't spare time.

Only the eldest grandson queen is left.

However, Empress Changsun couldn't even say that if Changsun Wuji knew, the person who took away Princess Changle who was supposed to be his daughter-in-law, and the person who let him take the blame, were Zhang Dun's words.

Can Changsun Wuji let him go?

For Li Lizhi's sake, and for her husband's sake, Empress Changsun would definitely keep her secret from Changsun Wuji.

Thinking of this, Li Er couldn't help crying and laughing. He patted Changsun Wuji's shoulder, and said softly, "Don't worry, I will investigate for you. Go back and rest first. If there is news, I will let Li Jun envy you." Tell you."

Changsun Wuji was touched and said: "The minister will go back first and wait for news from His Majesty at home."

"Go." Li Er smiled, watched him leave, and then continued towards the Lizheng Hall.

However, Li Er didn't see that Changsun Wuji stopped walking not long after he left, and stared straight at Li Er's back.

eccentric!

Your Majesty will never act so strangely!

There must be something wrong inside!

His majesty's face did not show the slightest anger just now!

This is so abnormal!

A dignified prince of the state, who was bullied by Wu Xing Qi Wang, Li Er, who has always had a dislike for Wu Xing Qi Wang, chose to just laugh it off?

Changsun Wuji squinted his eyes and thought for a while, but instead of following, he chose to go back home.

He believed that whoever made him blame him would soon be revealed!

With such a big matter, it is impossible to hide it!

----

"Second brother, do you mean that the seven patriarchs with five surnames Qiwang all agreed to donate money to the imperial court, and each family donated [-] guan?"

In the Lizheng Hall, when Li Er excitedly finished the story, Empress Changsun couldn't help repeating it again.

"Yes!" Li Er said with a smile, and suddenly saw that Empress Changsun was not only unhappy, but frowned, and asked, "Guanyin servant girl, why are you frowning?"

Empress Changsun worried: "Second brother, this concubine feels that this matter is a bit abnormal."

"The concubine feels that the seven patriarchs with five surnames and seven Wangs agreed too readily."