The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

Li Shimin carefully flipped through the account book, and he looked at and pondered every expenditure seriously.

"This year's scale is much larger than last year, right? After all, there are more people to invite, and more preparations are needed from all parties." Li Shimin said: "For example, how many tables and tables should be added to the original banquet this year, how many ingredients should be prepared by the Shangshi Bureau, including the inner court, and how many lanterns, brocades and the like should be prepared by the treasury, oh, and rewards, which is also the key point."

Empress Changsun nodded slightly and sat on the other side.

"Erlang is right. Compared with previous years, the scale is indeed much larger. This year, not only the wives of the high-ranking officials in Chang'an City are invited, but also the unmarried ladies in their families." Empress Changsun said: "As for the reason, Erlang also knows."

Li Shimin nodded.

Yes, we have to show it to the Prince of Jingyang. The emperor has been paying attention to this matter for a long time, and it has been delayed for a year. Now that the Prince of Jingyang has been crowned, he has the right to open a mansion, so there should be a suitable hostess in the inner house of the Prince of Jingyang's mansion.

"How should the reward be determined?" Li Shimin asked.

"It's nothing more than some money and silk, and then some jewelry and ornaments. I think that the palace has never held such a large-scale Lantern Festival banquet in the past. It can't be too petty and lose the face of the palace. But how to reward in order to save the face of the palace without spending too much, this problem is really worrying."

Empress Changsun frowned slightly. This is the problem she has been thinking about the most in the past two days.

They are all young ladies from noble and high-ranking officials. When they enter the palace, they should not be treated favoritism. That would make the palace seem unfair. If rewards are to be given, they should be prepared in full. Then, at the banquet, they can be given at their discretion.

Li Shimin nodded while looking at the account book.

"You are right."

Li Shimin also agreed with Empress Changsun's statement: "It is indeed a mind-consuming matter. Thank you for your hard work."

Empress Changsun smiled.

"It is my duty to take care of the affairs of the palace. How can I say whether it is hard or not?"

"This account book..." Li Shimin said while looking at it: "It should not be written like this."

"Well? Is there a mistake in the record?" Empress Changsun asked.

Li Shimin shook his head.

"No, it is less."

"Less?" Empress Changsun was puzzled.

"How can this lantern cost three cents?" Li Shimin asked.

"These are all materials purchased by the Artisan Supervisor, and made by the palace servants in the Artisan Supervisor. The quantity is large and the materials are large, so it only costs three cents." Empress Changsun explained: "The inner court advocates frugality, so naturally they will not be too extravagant on this. After a Lantern Festival banquet, these things will be placed in the warehouse to collect dust. When they are needed next year, they may have to make new ones, so the cheaper the better."

"Keep this account book and make a new one." Li Shimin said: "One lantern should cost five cents."

"Five cents? This palace There are thousands of lanterns that need to be arranged in the house..."

"The account book has been changed, but it does not mean that the items have to be changed. The items are still the same, but the account book should be specially made." Li Shimin smiled and said, "Just change it to five coins each. Also, the ingredients for the banquet, this egg, is two hundred coins. I have inquired about the price. It is like this outside."

"But this egg was sent to the palace from Huairen Manor... It's nothing..."

Empress Changsun looked embarrassed. It was useless to rewrite the account book like this.

After thinking carefully, could it be that His Majesty wanted to show this account book to someone?

Who could he show it to?

It took only a few breaths for Empress Changsun to figure it out.

Who could he show it to? The inner court held a banquet, and the money and silk were all spent from the inner court treasury. It had nothing to do with the previous dynasty and could not touch the national treasury.

The most important reason for the expansion of the banquet this year is to find a suitable marriage partner for Huairen and to verify whether the person Huairen told her was the right one.

She understood that this account book was to be shown to King Jingyang.

"You want to show this account book to Huairen?" Empress Changsun was surprised for a moment.

"Yes, that's right." Li Shimin also admitted it frankly.

"Erlang, why are you doing this? You and Huairen are brothers. Why do you still care about these things?" Empress Changsun was puzzled.

"It's not about caring. That kid has money. Anyway, this thing is done for him. Can he be stingy?" Li Shimin smiled and said, "Today he came to the palace and sat in the Liangyi Hall for a while. He talked to me for a few words. He talked about money when he opened his mouth and closed his mouth. I told him that Wei Zheng andHe said that it was he who recommended Wei Zheng. Guess what that guy told me?

"What did he say? Did he make Erlang angry?" Empress Changsun was puzzled.

What could he say to make Erlang so angry? Erlang was obviously only in a bad mood when facing Wei Zheng's advice.

"He said that Wei Zheng was a good minister. Since he recommended such a good minister, shouldn't I reward him? No more, 1,800 strings of cash is not too little." Li Shimin said angrily: "Look, even this, he can be involved in those copper smelly things." Empress Changsun heard this and smiled lightly.

So that's what happened.

"Later, they talked about the inner court expenditures. This guy said that the inner court had money." Li Shimin said: "Guanyin, you know how the inner court is, and this account must not be hidden from you. "

"Whatever Erlang wants to use, I will prepare it. As for what Erlang wants to use it for, if you don't tell me, I won't ask. I believe Erlang." The tone of Empress Changsun was gentle and firm.

"In fact, it is also related to something Huairen presented to me." Li Shimin said, "Guess it."

Empress Changsun smiled gently: "Then I must have seen this thing, and it is still a very important thing."

Li Shimin nodded.

"When your majesty went to Xuanwu Gate, I was guarding the whole family in the Qin Palace, and Huairen came to the Qin Palace to help. I guess it was that thing that scared Xue Wanche so much that he didn't dare to attack the Qin Palace for a while, delaying time." Empress Changsun said.

Li Shimin smiled.

"I knew you were smart, and you guessed it right. "

Li Shimin's tone was a little proud.

Such a smart and considerate woman is his queen, his first wife.

"That is really a good thing for your majesty and the Tang Dynasty. Even if you invest more money, it is worth it." Empress Changsun said.