Chinese dining table

Chapter 1234 People who care about friendship have a hard time

"You mean Yun Chu can't even keep the business he started in Chang'an?"

Wu Mei was leaning on a soft pillow while Nanny Chun was massaging her legs vigorously. Wu Mei was tall and she usually engaged in activities such as fencing and horse riding, so it took a lot of strength to make the massage comfortable for her.

Only Nanny Chun could do this job. The other female officials and palace maids did not dare to do it, for fear of hurting the queen and losing her life.

Wu Chengsi was summoned to Luoyang by the Queen. Now he was talking about all the big and small things that happened in Chang'an City, so that Wu Mei could have a nearly real understanding of Chang'an.

Wu Chengsi was very happy when talking about the Yun family's recent misfortunes.

“What the Queen doesn’t know is that Yun Chu regarded the business of Yun’s Canteen and the anti-poison medicine business as eyeballs. As a result, after being kicked a few times in the street by Sun Simiao, the cooks in Yun’s Canteen and the craftsmen responsible for steaming the anti-poison medicine all wanted to start their own business.

Nowadays, the delicacies that can only be eaten in Yun’s canteen have spread all over Chang’an. No matter which restaurant you go to, there are menus from Yun’s canteen. As for the secret that the antivirus drug is steamed with strong liquor, it is no longer a secret. All qualified wineries are steaming it, and the antivirus drugs steamed by some wineries taste better than those produced by Yun’s.

Yun Chu fought in the southwest for two years and was delayed in Luoyang for another half a year. The Yun family's industrial income over the years not only did not get better, but became worse. Papermaking, book printing, iron stoves, and even the seed business in cooperation with the prince were basically taken over by people from Chang'an.

I thought Yun Chu would regroup and take back the Yun family's properties that were occupied by others after his return, but Sun Simiao made such a scene in public, and the Yun family's properties are about to fall into ruin."

Wu Mei pondered for a moment and said, "Isn't Yun Chu a person of great importance to all families in Chang'an? Why don't the people of Chang'an have the slightest gratitude towards the Yun family?"

Wu Chengsi laughed and said, "Yun Chu used tyrannical means to govern Chang'an. His methods of governance were extremely brutal, and he would often beat the people with sticks. The Wannian County Prison was called the Tiger's Cave by the people.

Even though the various policies promulgated by Yun Chu were beneficial to the people, before real money was put into the hands of the people, the people were only afraid and hated Yun Chu, and had no gratitude towards him.

However, Yun Chu's reputation as a man of his word still stands firm in Chang'an."

Wu Mei burst out laughing.

"The hearts of villains and the righteousness of great men are the two most unreliable things. So, since the Yun family has given up the caravan business in the east and south, what about their caravan business in the north and west?"

Wu Chengsi said: "The Yun family has a huge advantage in the business of the Western Regions. With the help of Queen Yunna, no one can shake it. The business in the northern Mobei is also stable because most of the caravan managers under the Yun family are former members of Yunchu's Western and Eastern Expeditions, and their combat power is amazing. Only the caravan business in the southwest has become dominated by the Wen and Di families because Wenrou and Di Renjie have come to Luoyang to serve as officials.

Overall, the overall strength of the Yun family has declined significantly."

Wu Mei smiled and said, "Your Majesty, a strong wind has blown up, and this strong wind has caused many tall trees in the Tang Dynasty to be broken or uprooted. It is reasonable for the Yun family to become weaker at this time.

Chengsi, you have indeed made a lot of progress now, and even made me look at you with new eyes. If you can expand your mind and look at the long-term in the future, you will have new discoveries. "

Wu Chengsi said: "Please teach me, Queen Mother."

Wu Mei sighed and said, "You are an official, so it is best to look at things from an official's perspective, rather than from a merchant's perspective.

From a businessman's perspective, you would think that the Yun family is now rapidly declining. However, if you look at it from an official's perspective, you would find that the Yun family has more room to maneuver politically because of its decline in business.

The strong Yun family is envied by others, but the weak Yun family will only be respected. After all, Yun Chu has made countless contributions to the Tang Dynasty over the years, and no one can forget this. Even His Majesty and I have to respect this person.

A strong Yun would make everyone think that Yun should not be given more honors and favors. However, when Yun becomes weak, his previous contributions to the Tang Dynasty will be exposed. If Yun is allowed to become weak, Your Majesty and I will be known for mistreating meritorious officials, which is very inappropriate for us. "

Wu Chengsi asked doubtfully, "Is the Queen Mother saying that the Yun family will get more benefits in the court in the future?"

Wu Mei shook her head and said, "Whether Yun Chu is a traitor or a loyal person, it will take time to test. This person is a person in the Tang Dynasty whose fate cannot be determined until his coffin is closed.

Go ahead and show more respect to Yun Chu."

Wu Chengsi bowed his head and agreed, then bowed and left. He had only taken a few steps when he heard Wu Mei ask again, "Why didn't you tell me about Yun Chu beating up your brothers this time?"

Wu Chengsi turned around and said with an incomprehensible expression: "I don't know where to start."

Wu Mei waved her hand and said, "After a few more beatings, maybe he will be able to explain it clearly."

Wu Chengsi left the Zhaoyang Palace where Wu Mei lived with his head down. In fact, after Yun Chu beat them this time, Wu Mei did not issue any order. He knew that Yun Chu would not bear any responsibility for beating them. He could beat them whenever he wanted...

After leaving Zhaoyang Palace, Wu Chengsi quickly put Yun Chu out of his mind. This was a person he had no way to deal with, and he was the only person in the entire Tang Dynasty court whom he did not want to deal with. Although being beaten was painful, when he thought of the bloody incident that happened in the Chang'an Imperial City, being beaten was not a big deal.

To the left of Zhaoyang Palace is Luoyang East Palace. Although it is not as magnificent as Zhaoyang Palace, it covers a large area. Moreover, East Palace is the only palace with a large number of trees and farmland.

Looking at the Zhaoyang Palace from the higher terrain, Wu Chengsi had a strange feeling. The pines and cypresses there were green and vivid, unlike the Zhaoyang Palace which had nothing but tall buildings. The intersection of the two palaces was like the boundary between life and death.

Wu Chengsi stood still and stared at the Eastern Palace for a long time, until a flock of birds flew up from the Eastern Palace. He was startled and woke up. He looked deeply at the Eastern Palace and left Zhaoyang Palace with his hands behind his back.

Naha gestured a huge peony above her head and put it back into the basket. This kind of early spring peony is a rare sight even in Luoyang where peonies are everywhere.

Seeing that Naha didn't like it, Li Hong asked in surprise, "You asked for it yesterday, and now you don't like it anymore?"

Naha turned around and said viciously: "Don't you know what I want?"

Li Hong spread his hands and said, "I have tried very hard. If the child doesn't come, what can I do?"

Naha said angrily: "It must be related to your excessive debauchery."

Li Hong jumped up and down, "You can't wrongly accuse me like this. I, Li Hong, the Crown Prince of Tang, currently only have you and Pei Wanying as my two women. I have become the most ridiculous joke in the Tang Dynasty. And you still slander me for being promiscuous. During your stay in Luoyang, I stayed at your place for eight out of ten days. If I am to be considered promiscuous, I am only being promiscuous with you."

Naha grabbed Li Hong's collar and said, "Even if you are right, why is Pei Wanying pregnant again, but I am pregnant with nothing? When I met the Queen two days ago, she warned me overtly and covertly that I should allow you to share the spoils equally and produce more heirs."

Li Hong continued to spread his hands and said: "We are still young and are not in a hurry to have children. Besides, I don't want so many children. Three or five are enough.

The reason you failed to conceive is probably because of your impatience. If you calm down, you will have children sooner or later."

Naha let go of Li Hong and sighed silently.

Seeing Naha's depressed look, Li Hong whispered, "When the weather gets warmer, we'll go to Longmen..."

Naha nodded meekly. Li Hong's love for her had never diminished in the slightest. Not having children was just bad luck, or it might be related to her worrying about the fate of her brother's family during this period.

If I could give birth to another child, I would leave this child in Chang'an...

After Li Hong comforted Naha, he hurried to the courtyard where Xu Jingzong lived. The old man was finally dying, and at the age of old age. This made Li Hong feel that God was somewhat unfair.

Not to mention anything else, just the bad ideas Xu Jingzong gave him over the years about giving birth to children without anus, such a person should be left exposed in the wilderness, but he just lived to be eighty-five years old, and only recently showed signs of running out of energy.

Li Hong had just walked to the gate of the courtyard when the cry of Xu clan members rang out in the courtyard. Li Hong stopped and a moment later, a eunuch ran out in a hurry. When he saw Li Hong, he fell to the ground and cried loudly, "Your Highness, the Grand Tutor has passed away."

Li Hong sighed and said, "A grand funeral!"

After saying that, he turned and left. The importance of Xu Jingzong lies in the fact that he is still alive. The living Xu Jingzong was very helpful to the prince's practice of respecting the wise and humble. Now that he is dead, his political resources have been taken away by Li Hong. All the arrangements for Xu Jingzong's family have been made, so it is no longer appropriate to invest too many resources in them.

Xu Jingzong died, and his student would be in pain for several days. Therefore, Li Hong prepared to take Naha to Longmen to chant sutras and pray for his teacher Xu Jingzong without waiting for the weather to warm up.

In this way, you can also gain a good reputation for having a deep relationship with your husband.

Everything seemed to be destined by heaven. Everything was arranged just right. If someone died, there would be life. The only thing Li Hong was worried about was what would happen if Naha gave birth to a child as insidious as Xu Jingzong during this period.

It was still snowing in Chang'an. It had been snowing for half a month, but the snow was not heavy and did not cause any disaster.

Yun Chu frowned as he read the document sent by Lu Xiu. After a long while, he tapped the table with his knuckles and said, "Is there anyone in Chang'an who can be frozen to death now? And sixty-seven people were frozen to death in one go?"

Lu Xiu had known Yun Chu for some time and knew that whenever the county magistrate knocked on the table, it meant that he was very angry.

Well, the main reason why people would freeze to death is hunger. In Chang'an, no one would give them money, but they could fill their stomachs with anything they wanted to eat. Even the swill in the restaurants was enough to fill their stomachs, and there was plenty of oil and water there.

Yun Chu had never heard of a normal person who had a full stomach being frozen to death. In Chang'an, even if there was no house to keep warm, one could stay overnight in the big house of the Chang'an Minguyuan. At worst, one could sleep in the bear's den with the bear and survive the severe cold.

So, sixty-seven people froze to death, so something must have gone wrong.

Lu Xiu also frowned and said, "I can't figure it out either. I have asked Zhang Jia to mobilize the bad guys to investigate the cause. With so many deaths, there must be some clues. We will have the answer by today at the latest."

Yun Chu said: "This is because the government orders are not being implemented. In the past, if someone was trapped in the snow, the bad guys on night patrol would have found something. How is it possible that they didn't find a single person frozen to death during the midnight shift change, but found 67 bodies in one go after daybreak?

Call the bad guys who were on duty last night to come see me."

As soon as Lu Xiu left, Zhang Jia walked into the official residence with a chill all over his body. Without even taking a breath, he hurriedly said to Yun Chu, "County Master, all the people who froze to death came from the Imperial City. When the bastards in the Imperial City saw people freezing to death, they opened the door connecting the Ye Ting Palace to Xiu De Fang in the middle of the night and dumped the bodies at the gates of several nearby markets. They are trying to trick us."

Yun Chu sneered and said, "The only person who can open the side gate of the imperial city in the middle of the night is the Yellow Gate Minister Chen Zheng. He is the only one who has this power. In order to cover up the fact that people froze to death in the imperial city, he actually dared to open the gate of the imperial city in the middle of the night. He is really courting death.

Zhang Jia, go now and take the sixty-seven people who have frozen to death to the imperial city for me."

Zhang Jia clasped his fists and agreed, and was about to leave, when he heard Yun Chu ask again: "Is the dead person from the Tang Dynasty or..."

Zhang Jia whispered, "Prisoners from the Ye Ting Palace."

Yun Chu was silent for a moment after hearing this and said, "What kind of grudge is there that you have to uproot someone?"

(End of this chapter)