Tanabata Diva Concert: Happy Breakup

Fatty but not greasy braised pork,
Fragrant and spicy spicy chicken,

Zheng Zhengjin could not hear any talking in the restaurant at the moment. Most people were eating. The food tasted really good, especially Zheng Liwan. When had she ever tasted such delicious food?

Now she finally understood why His Majesty the Emperor, the Queen and the two little princesses came here.

It was a delicious lunch and everyone was well fed.

Although Li Leyan and Yu Youwei were at the same table as Zheng Zhengjin, they went to the Queen's after they finished eating. Then the Queen and everyone else left the restaurant first and headed for the pavilion. On the way, she said to Zheng Liwan, "Miss Zheng, I apologize to you on behalf of His Majesty."

"Your Highness, this is not allowed. Your Majesty has done nothing wrong. You are embarrassing me." Zheng Liwan's face was truly filled with horror. How could she dare to accept the Queen's apology?

"Alas, if it wasn't for His Majesty hearing what Cui Geng said and showing his interest in you in the court, your engagement wouldn't have been broken off." Empress Chang Sun said apologetically, but she thought this matter was quite interesting. It was obvious that Zheng Liwan was going to become Zheng Zhengjin's woman, so it was a good ending. Otherwise, as long as her Erlang was around, Zheng Liwan would never be able to find a good home in Chang'an City.

When Zheng Liwan heard what the queen said, she said nonchalantly, "Your Highness, I have already forgotten about this matter."

Empress Changsun smiled and said, "Do you have a man you like? I can arrange a marriage for you when the time comes."

After hearing this, Zheng Liwan turned her head and looked in the direction of the restaurant, because she felt that if she were to get married, she would definitely marry Zheng Zhengjin. After all, he was talented, handsome, and had so many delicious foods, which was simply a dazzling array.

"I dare not." Zheng Liwan said in a troubled tone. She knew that Li Leyan had been betrothed to Zheng Zhengjin. Openly competing with the princess for a man would be tantamount to seeking death.

Empress Changsun held Zheng Liwan's hand and smiled tenderly. Her smile was even more beautiful than the peonies in the imperial garden. She said, "If you like it, don't miss it."

In fact, Empress Changsun thought about it and decided that since she liked Zheng Zhengjin, she would give them all titles, and make them all princesses. In this way, they would all be her and Emperor Li Shimin, at least in name only. As for Zheng Liwan, Empress Changsun wanted to compensate her.

Zheng Liwan was completely numb.
Taro was also stunned. He just stood there like a wooden chicken.

Then Caidie nudged Yutou's arm, and the two maids went aside to talk in private.

In the restaurant, enjoy a drink.

Li Shimin asked, "Can you tell me how to solve the problem of merchants ruining the country?"

"Your Majesty, I think you are mistaken. Merchants are a disaster to the country, but if there is no one backing them up, how would merchants have the courage?" Zheng Zhengjin said casually.

"Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, the top level is actually the gentry, because these big families control the necessities of the entire Tang Dynasty. They can increase prices at will, which will cause public resentment. Am I right?" After listening to Zheng Zhengjin, Li Shimin nodded. He himself hoped to eliminate the gentry. But the current situation in the Tang Dynasty is obviously unrealistic.

"Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, in fact, are a system created by the big families to suppress other businessmen without background. Didn't the family of the Five Surnames and Seven Families accumulate wealth by doing business? They put the status of merchants in a lowly position, but their own merchants are protected by someone. The most disgusting thing is that these big families hoarded grain and sold it at high prices in the early years of Wude, making a fortune in the national crisis. Such people should be executed along with their entire clans. It is better to say that it is the scholars who have ruined the country rather than the merchants." Li Shimin naturally understood Zheng Zhengjin's words. After all, the scholars did give him a headache.

"Aristocratic families have existed since the Wei and Jin Dynasties until today. They are really a headache. I know that too." Li Shimin sighed. He has just sat on the throne, but it may take some time for him to deal with the aristocratic families.

Li Junxian was only focused on drinking the wine in his glass, not paying attention to what was happening outside the window.

Li Shimin then took another sip of wine and said to Zheng Zhengjin, "I know all these things, but it's difficult to deal with." "Yes, it's indeed difficult. We have to do it step by step. After all, if you become fat if you eat too much in one breath, you can easily choke." Zheng Zhengjin also sighed. This was why he could only help Li Er change the Tang Dynasty step by step. Because there was a snow disaster this year, he first provided a kang.

"So let's leave the business matters here for now. After all, the current national conditions are still like this," Zheng Zhengjin took a sip of wine helplessly.

"Oh, do you have any other suggestions?" Li Shimin asked curiously. He knew that Zheng Zhengjin would not speak without a purpose.

"Your Majesty, yes, it depends on whether you dare to do it!" Zheng Zhengjin knew how scary his suggestion sounded.

Li Shimin was an ambitious emperor. When he heard this, he became interested: "Just say it!"

"Since we want to let the people recuperate, then it is right to reduce or exempt taxes. But if the taxes of farmers have been reduced or exempted, then what can be used to enrich the national treasury? My suggestion is commercial tax. As for how to collect it, after you go back, consult with ministers such as Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and Zhangsun Wuji." Zheng Zhengjin said.

Li Shimin felt a headache: "If the people from the noble families knew about this, they would definitely oppose it."

"That's why I just said that it depends on whether you have the courage to do this. This will benefit the country and the people." Zheng Zhengjin put forward his own suggestions. Whether it is adopted or not is his own business. In fact, if Li Shimin collected commercial taxes, foreign businessmen should be eager to pay them.

Like the glass shop in Persia, it is truly a luxury product.

If taxes were collected, the Tang Dynasty would soon make a fortune.

Zheng Zhengjin was just making suggestions. Whether to adopt them or not, and how much tax to collect, was up to Li Shimin.

Zheng Zhengjin took a sip of wine, stretched lazily, and felt quite comfortable.

Li Shimin and Li Junxian were both quite restrained. After all, it was not good to get drunk. Li Shimin knew this because his old man got drunk here last time. He was carried back to Tai'an Palace by him. After Li Yuan woke up, he felt ashamed to see people. It was really embarrassing.

After Sanen had eaten and drunk his fill, he came out of the restaurant and walked towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

There is a relatively spacious courtyard between the pavilion in the center of the lake and the restaurant, like a square.

Zheng Zhengjin was thinking, if he gets married in the future, should he buy a villa here, after all, it can be used as a wedding house.

In the pavilion in the center of the lake,

Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang, two cute little girls with rosy cheeks, surrounded Yu Youwei and asked her to play music for them.

Yu Youwei was also unambiguous. She smiled, sat in front of the piano, and stroked the strings with her jade fingers. The moving notes came out.

The piece she played was "Guanghan Palace" composed by Zheng Zhengjin last night.
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(End of this chapter)