Rule the Roost in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 955: The development of the times

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Concubine Xiao Shu was somewhat surprised by Wu Mei's sudden burst of murderous aura because of Bai Qi.

But thinking about it on the other hand, Bai Qi was brought back by Li Hong when he went on an expedition at the age of fourteen. Although Li Hong didn't pay much attention to Bai Qi after he was brought back to Chang'an, his relationship with Queen Pei Wanying was extremely It is better because he is old and has rarely been to the wild since he was in Chang'an. Therefore, when Bai Qi grew old, he was brought to Qianling to keep him company.

In short, Bai Qi is in the palace. In Wu Mei's eyes, he is more or less like Li Hong's replacement. Just like Wu Mei just compared Bai Qi and Huniu who is now in the palace to Li Hong in his youth. , the same as Li Hong in this period.

Therefore, Bai Qi's position in Wu Mei's heart is just like Li Hong's shadow, and he has special feelings for Wu Mei.

Bai Qi raised his head and rubbed Wu Mei's hand. Concubine Xiao Shu was half a step behind one person and one wolf. Then she said to Li Lingyue and others behind her: "It's been a day's journey. You all should go down and have a rest. The Queen Mother and I are here, so you don't have to." I will accompany you every step of the way.”

After Concubine Xiao Shu finished speaking, Wu Mei also smiled and said, "Let's all go down and leave some space for us two old ladies to reminisce about the past."

Li Lingyue saluted first, and then the grace and splendor that a royal family should have on her body disappeared in an instant. She breathed out loudly and held Yiyang's shoulders, but her feet hurt so much. The new high heels she wore were pinching her feet, and she hadn't left yet. It’s uncomfortable to take two steps.

Pei Wanying shook her head and was speechless. She had already told her not to wear such shoes when hiking, but for the sake of body shape and beauty, she would wear them no matter what. Now she must be suffering.

Li Hong, Li Sujie, and Li Shangjin followed a path that could only accommodate one person, went down the steps, passed through the bamboo forest, and sat down in a pavilion also made of bamboo.

Without Li Hong's instructions, Hua Meng and Mang Zhong, together with other palace maids and eunuchs, filled the table in the pavilion with tea and various snacks.

After Li Shangjin and Li Sujie sat down on the left and right sides of Li Hong, they began to look at Li Hong with questioning eyes. Finally, Li Shangjin asked: "What are the six, seven and eight doing? I just saw them with their mother." After seeing the ceremony, the concubine left in a hurry, is there something wrong? "

Li Hong's current tea art has been honed by the courtiers to become more and more exquisite, especially the art of Kung Fu tea. A pot of tea can lose its color and become like boiled water due to the tea he and his courtiers drank.

This is not because Li Hong was reluctant to exchange tea with his ministers, but because there were too many ministers who, after reporting the government affairs, would shamelessly stay and discuss other matters with him, as small as the people's food and drink. As far as the border affairs of the Tang Dynasty are concerned, in short, once they seize the opportunity, they will not let go of having a long talk with His Majesty.

Li Hong obviously did not have so much time to chat with them. Once a decision was made, it was handed over to the Shangshu Province for implementation, or the Zhongshu and Menxia Provinces drafted the decision. He rarely attended such court meetings. Therefore, it is difficult for ministers to seize the opportunity to have a long talk with him. Once caught, they will not let go.

So Li Hong started not to change the tea leaves, but only drank a pot of tea. If the tea taste no longer existed, he would see off the guests. It was okay at first. After some ministers could no longer taste the tea taste, they knew that this was His Majesty's order to expel guests. , so he said goodbye and left knowing the current affairs.

But as Li Hong became more familiar with this trick, the courtiers gradually realized from the faint smell of tea that this was intentional by His Majesty. It was an expulsion order thought up to drive them away!

As a result, some ministers began to drink another kind of Kung Fu tea with Li Hong, which was to see who had the patience and who could outlast the other. As a result, the tea art of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty skyrocketed. Even Chen Qinghan, who was the best at tea art, now I dare not say that he is much better than Li Hong in tea art.

What is even more despicable is that some courtiers who love tea, after knowing that His Majesty is so heartbroken, actually brought their own tea. After drinking the emperor's tea without taste, they actually laughed and took it out of their arms. The prepared tea was also named, and he asked Your Majesty to taste it with him. As a minister, he really did not dare to enjoy it all to himself.

Li Hong, who was so angry that he couldn't help but roll his eyes when facing the officials who were as thick-skinned as the city walls, waved his hands impatiently and started to greet the palace maids to change the tea and make it again. He was too lazy to serve him. .

Li Shangjin and Li Sujie were outside, and they could hear some interesting stories between the monarchs and ministers in the court. Moreover, "Fangjian Tianxia" would also break the news from time to time, and they naturally received it from the fief in every issue of "Fangjian Tianxia".

But only one issue was not received. It is said that that issue published some embarrassing things about His Majesty, but it was stopped immediately after it was published in Chang'an and other places.

I heard that the Princess of the Tang Dynasty lost a lot of money because of the suspension. That issue of "Fang Jian Tian Xia" was piled up like a mountain, wasted in vain, and never had the opportunity to meet the world again.

"Is this possible?" Li Sujie smiled and asked Li Hong, who was busy on the tea tray.

"Yes..." Li Hong drawled his voice, and then said with a sneer: "You are still angry with me now. It wasn't just me that day, there were also other ministers, six, seven, eight and others who were also there. The emperor took the The faces of the royal prince and the ministers all looked as if they had just been pulled out after being plunged into a pile of coal. They were pitch black, with only two eyeballs and a set of white teeth. But Li Lingyue actually revealed this matter. At night , the Yushitai and the Ministry of Rites, etc., started running towards my Zichen Palace, almost annoying me to death. "

"It's a pity." Li Shangjin shook his head, looking a little regretful. If he could have the copy of "Fang Jian Tian Xia" from that day, he would definitely frame it and hang it in the main hall.

"Lao Liu and the others are all busy now. There was no peace on the way here. There were many memorials flying to them along the way, about the big food, about the power plant and the railway tracks. In short, no one can worry. He's not here now, so he's probably busy dealing with the aftermath." Li Hong placed the fragrant tea cup in front of the two of them and poured the tea himself.

"It's getting more and more difficult. I heard that there are people blocking driving along the way?" Li Sujie became gossipy.

Li Hong rolled his eyes and glanced at him, and then said: "Normally, the situation in the Tang Dynasty is changing too fast. Before they can react, everything will be different from before. According to the original model of the wealthy families, It is no longer possible to gain a foothold in this era. The imperial court was supposed to be the slowest to respond to the world's situation, but now everything is promoted by the imperial court, and then the people follow the changes, leaving only those wealthy families who are immobile and intend to stop with silence. , unknowingly being abandoned by the wheel of rapid development in the tide of the times.”

Li Hong motioned for them to try the tea he had brought, and after sniffing it with enjoyment, he said: "I recently learned a saying, which is: the world is changing, and there is a reason why the talents of noble families are getting worse and worse. "

(End of chapter)