Don't be a prince

"That's right, Baiqisi sent me a letter, saying that he had to enter the Lingnan Fleet, and that he could draw a relatively accurate blueprint after accompanying the voyage. I sent them the reply letter. I ordered them not to hide their identities, and to reveal their identities directly. , and set off with the boat."

"This is the best choice. It's different from traveling along the coast. Everyone on a long-distance ship must be of one mind. Don't look at Erchen's two years in Lingnan. Lingnan has completed a round of cruising in the territorial waters, but the waterway It has never been one, but many, and it will take a long time to explore before we can guarantee our control of the territorial waters."

After finishing speaking, Li Chengqian stretched out the bamboo pole, clicked on the position of Xicuan and Dongcuan and said: "This place should not be independent from Tang Dynasty. In fact, Lingnan has already completed the control of Dongcuan and Xicuan. There are salt, The temptation of food, ironware and medicine is still there, those monkey-like mountain people are still willing to give their loyalty. When Erchen was in Lingnan, he asked the local officials to rule the wild people there by "deifying themselves". Now it seems that The effect is good. However, because there is no fortification like the Central Plains, and it is next to Tubo, one day Tubo will make a full-scale attack, and it may not be able to resist it. From this point of view, Baiqisi’s decision is correct. Did not grasp The land is still not suitable to be our own."

Seeing Li Chengqian's succinct speech, Li Shimin was full of relief on the side.It seems that the prince did not return to Chang'an during these three years, not out of pure anger, the more knowledge he has, the more open-minded he becomes.So much so that the way he points to the map now is very similar to him back then.

Perhaps, future emperors should not be locked within the palace walls, but should be released to be cultivated.

Together with such thoughts, Li Shimin took a pen and recorded them on a piece of paper.Inheriting the throne is not a trivial matter, and I'm afraid he will have to think about it for a long time.

Seeing that Li Chengqian was very wary of Tubo, Li Shimin couldn't help but said: "There is no need to be so afraid of Tubo. They are indeed powerful, but they are only limited to the plateau area. Although Tubo soldiers fought bravely, they fought against us Tang. There are only a few times that got cheap. What's more, since Tuyuhun was wiped out, everyone including the Turks and Tubo has been very respectful to our Tang Dynasty. The Tubo Prime Minister Lu Dongzan basically ignores the government now, and comes every year When the Tang Dynasty came to pay homage, what they asked for was to marry their king a princess. To be honest, I have been moved countless times. If I just find a clan girl to marry to Tubo, I will be able to form an alliance with a big country. Not just Turkic, Even the distant Tubo and other countries can play a containment effect, and it is a great thing to drop ten benefits."

Li Chengqian could tell that Li Shimin was serious, he really thought about marrying Tubo.

Arching his hands, Li Chengqian said: "Father, you don't know how fragile the marriage relationship is. The emperors of the Central Plains basically could not escape such a strange disease. One ally. As everyone knows, it is the most reasonable thing for a weak country to have no diplomacy. Just like now, why should countries such as Turks and Tubo pay homage to our Tang Dynasty? Isn’t it because of our unparalleled combat power! It’s not nice to say something If so, once the events at the end of the Sui Dynasty repeat themselves in the Tang Dynasty, do you think that your son-in-law on the plateau will be thrown into trouble?"

Taught by my son....

Not angry, but a little ashamed.Li Shimin himself knew that marriage was of no use, but he couldn't help being tempted when he encountered such an opportunity.After all, it is different from the previous marriages that seek peace, this time it is a rare and powerful enemy who puts down his body and prays for marriage to the Central Plains.With this marriage, he can leave a mark in the history books.

"Let's not talk about this, let's talk about things other than Lingnan. Wang Zhigao, the governor of Yuezhou, wrote a letter to me, asking for permission to build Yueyang, and only applied for [-] yuan from the Ministry of Household Affairs. To be honest, Wang Zhigao, More conservative than aggressive, I am planning to replace the governor of Yuezhou with a high-achieving student who graduated from your academy within a few years. He must have been instructed by you to write such a memorial!"

Li Chengqian nodded and did not hide anything: "The development of Yueyang, if there is not enough financial resources to inject it once and for all, then the early income will not be able to keep up with the construction demand. Although the temporary loss is for future profits, no one can bear it." Continuous losses. At that time, from Yuezhou to you, it will be a rare thing not to be pointed out by some short-sighted people as incompetent.

It is a good thing for the court to limit the ambition of cultivating businessmen.Just looking at Yueyang alone, I don't know how much initial investment can be saved.It is nothing if the one who bears the loss has changed from the court to many businessmen.Businessmen, on the contrary, are more able to accept losses than some incompetent officials.Because they know very well how much profit they can bring to themselves from the losses they pay.Of course, the balance in the middle is not something Wang Zhigao can handle.If one is not managed well, Yueyang will become a sharp weapon for Xungui to control the north-south traffic, and it will not be able to adjust the people's livelihood at all.

Therefore, I hope to recommend a talent to my father, and that is Li Yongshu, the son of Li Dahai, who is in charge of the external affairs of the East Palace.This guy has experienced many years in Lingnan, and he is able to build a harbor shipyard in such a complicated environment as Lingnan, which is a rare talent in itself.I would like to recommend him to be the Biejia of Yuezhou, and give him a little power. What do you think? "

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian with a very strange look. He knew that such a day would come, but when it really came, he couldn't tell whether he was relieved or dumbfounded.

After all, the prince knows how to deploy his own people everywhere in the Tang Dynasty. Although doing so is against the rules, he is still happy to see the results.Qing Que has vowed more than once that she has no interest in the throne, the pheasant slave is still young, and the other princes are too stupid, so it can be said that the throne can only belong to the prince.That being the case, it is better to let him do it.

Nodding his head, Li Shimin said with a smile: "Since you, the crown prince, are recommending talents for the first time, I naturally have to agree, and I will also give him the power needed by the other party, but it's not good to directly recommend him to be the governor of Yuezhou? Why do you want to start with don't drive?"

Li Chengqian shrugged, and said helplessly: "This guy is not used to the officialdom yet, he hastily assumed a big position, and it is easy to make mistakes. Let the old governor of Yuezhou protect him for a while, and then become the governor when the time comes."

Seeing Li Chengqian's look of wanting to be beaten, Li Shimin stretched out his finger and pointed at him, but couldn't say anything.

Taking advantage of this anger, Li Shimin asked: "Since we're talking about Yuezhou, let's talk about Jingzhou. Duke Ying's funeral just ended, why did you falsely accuse the brothers of the Wu family of treason? Although you It's the prince, Wu Yuanqing was rude to you first, but if you can't come up with a reason, I will still punish you!"

The news about the rebellion of the Wu family brothers has spread to the imperial court, and it has also spread in the honorable circle.The prince was angry at Wu Yuanqing's offending, and put the big hat of rebellion on the Wu family.This is the consensus of almost everyone.Only a few people such as Wei Zheng felt that there was another reason.However, including Wei Zheng, no one immediately asked the prince about this matter.

After getting along for so many years, they have a certain understanding of the prince. The prince is not that kind of dandy.So they are all waiting, waiting for the prince to explain the reason to them.Although the crown prince has already dealt with it, but to prove the crime of the Wu family brothers, they still need to nod.

Li Chengqian had known for a long time that the emperor's father would ask about this matter, so he stood up and cupped his hands and said: "Father, this matter is indeed my son's special skill, but if you know the reason, you will definitely make a follow-up Those who deal with it like a son-in-law will be even angrier."

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows: "Oh? What is it that makes me so angry that I label a hero as a rebel? I'm curious!"

Thinking of Wu Jue's time bomb, Li Chengqian felt that it was necessary to be on the safe side, so he thought for a while before saying: "How about this, Father, I will bring you three people. For the two daughters, it is better for you to ask them in person. Although the eldest brother is like a father, it is unfilial and unfamilial to sue an elder brother by a younger sister, but Su Shi likes Duke Ding's youngest daughter very much, and I hope that the emperor will not blame him too much."

"Huh? That's fine, just let them in!"

Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, walked out of the hall, and asked Zhang Yun to bring the three of them to the East Palace.

Although he is the prince, it is more credible to let the person involved talk about the affairs of the Wu family.

Zhang Yun's actions were quick, and it didn't take long for Wu's mother and daughter to be brought there.

They didn't expect to have the opportunity to meet the saint, so they were all extremely excited.

It wasn't just the three of them who were equally excited, the emperor was also excited.

The Yang family and Concubine Yang belong to the same clan, and the old Yang family's bloodline improvement has been quite successful over the years. Regardless of the males, most of the daughters are stunning.In particular, the faint sadness and resentment in Wen Jun's new widow's eyebrows hit the man's heart directly.And the stronger the man is, the more I feel pity for such a woman.

Li Shimin is the emperor, without a doubt the most powerful man in the world, now when he saw Mrs. Yang, he couldn't help but get "excited".

Seeing the emperor's father's reaction, Li Chengqian couldn't help but sighed, knowing that such a situation would happen!As early as the Three Kingdoms period, the wife Cao was famous for liking the wife. It can be seen that the ancients were not only lolicons, but there were still many sects.

Swallowing calmly, Li Shimin looked at the two daughters of the warrior Xun again.Although I like Yang's sublime temperament, but there are many stunning women in the harem. To be honest, Yang's can't even compare with Concubine Yang. Maybe it can surprise him, but it's impossible for her to be too beastly.

Chapter 411 The charges are fulfilled

However, even Concubine Yang can at best draw with Wu Jue.

After seeing Wu Jue, Li Shimin only felt that the passion he had lost for a long time reappeared.He has been the emperor for more than ten years, but there are really few people who can tempt him in terms of beauty.Especially Wu Jue's firm and stubborn eyes are not comparable to concubines in the harem.

Swallowing his saliva, Li Shimin was about to ask the name of the pretty little girl in front of him, when he suddenly found that the prince was looking at him with a very strange look.To be honest, no one has dared to look at him like this since he blocked the emperor, not even the empress.

The meaning contained in this look is conveyed, probably...an old cow eats tender grass.

Thinking of what the prince said before, Li Shimin already had some calculations in his mind.

The words on the lips immediately changed to: "Mr. Wu Yang, raise your head, tell me, why did the crown prince judge the brothers of the Wu family for rebellion? What exactly is he trying to cover up with rebellion? Don't worry, I owe your husband a lot, naturally. I will uphold justice for you."

Hearing what the emperor said, Yang cried out almost instantly, not only her, Wu Shun was also crumbling from crying, only Wu Sui looked a little dazed, not knowing what he was thinking.

After crying for a long while, Yang raised her head and said, "Your Majesty should know that the deceased husband's original spouse was Xiangli, who had four sons, two of whom died young, leaving behind Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang brothers. When Xiangli was seriously ill, the late husband did not go home to visit because he was serving as a guard in the palace. The Supreme Emperor was impressed by the loyalty of the late husband, so he ordered the late husband to marry the daughter of the Yang family, and ordered Princess Guiyang to be the marriage lord of the Yang family. , all the wedding expenses of the two families will be paid by the imperial court."

Li Shimin nodded: "I still know about this matter. At the beginning, the Supreme Emperor asked who could be a good match for the warrior Xun. A minister said that Suining Gong Yang Da was the most talented. There is a daughter who is wise and wise, and can become a good wife. Now it seems that the person who spoke at that time was you!"

Yang Shi nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty, although it was a marriage, the deceased husband was loyal and loyal, and the people loved him as an official. I was very happy to marry him. The concubine's stomach was not up to snuff, and after marriage, he only gave birth to three children. It’s just a daughter, and the youngest daughter is considered posthumous, so the concubine was afraid that she would be persecuted, so before weaning, I sent her to her natal family and handed her over to my brother to take care of.”

"Persecution?" Li Shimin frowned: "Even if she is a girl, then she is still an orthodox young lady of Duke Ying's mansion. Who else would dare to persecute her? Yang, don't deceive me!"

Speaking of this, Yang cried bitterly: "Who else can it be? Naturally, they are the two sons of the deceased husband, Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang. There are even Wu Weiliang and others from the uncle's family. Your Majesty does not know, since he married into the Yang family as a concubine, Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang looked down on the concubine, especially the concubine who failed to give birth to a son. They despised the concubine even more. It was only a month after the deceased husband passed away, so they hired servants to take the filial piety instead of the hut, and left the cemetery to spend time and drink.

The concubine was furious, and came to the door to question, who knew... who knew... who knew that they would actually do something indecent to the concubine.The concubine was ashamed to death, and they found out that she had married several times, and they locked her up.Wu Weiliang, a branch of the Wu family, and others have been friends with the two brothers for many years, and even forced them to become concubines together. "

Speaking of this, Yang could hardly breathe out of crying, and Wu Jue on the side finally cried out.

Hearing Yang's narration of his tragic experience with his own ears, Li Shimin frowned.If it wasn't for the crown prince, his own son, who exposed this matter, he would even suspect that someone was going to make fun of his black history again.

The Li family has Xianbei blood, and there is a custom in the family about sister-in-law and brother-in-law. Even when the father died, no one said anything. After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he brought his sister-in-law and sister-in-law into the harem. Because he was indeed a little older, and he didn't have any beautiful ones, so he simply didn't move.After all, Li Yuan is still alive.

This kind of thing, which seemed normal to him, was criticized by the world. If there were no bloody weapons, the court would probably be shaken by it.It was only after this time that he understood a truth - the world indeed belongs to the Li family, but the majority of the people in the world are still Han Chinese.There are no tribes that have invaded the Central Plains throughout the ages, where are they now?Isn't it just being assimilated?

Being an emperor is to meet the needs of the majority of people. When the majority of people are Han people, even emperors of other races must make compromises.

If it was in the past, with his personality, when he heard about what Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang did, he might not blame them, but would look at them privately.But it is no longer possible. As an emperor, he must support the concepts of "benevolence, wisdom, propriety, righteousness and trustworthiness" and "filial piety" created by the Han people.During the period of keeping filial piety, it is considered unfilial to drink and have fun, spend time and money, and it is considered unethical to covet one's mother's beauty and do indecent things.In today's Tang Dynasty, no matter which one of these two is occupied, it is very serious, let alone all of them.Even if this matter gets to the court, it is inevitable that the family will be ransacked and exterminated.

Everyone lacks sanity, such a scandal will only be punished severely.Although it is not a rebellion, it is better than a rebellion.

Sighing, Li Shimin said: "In this case, why didn't you seek help from your family and retainers? Where is the governor of Jingzhou? Why do you have to talk to the crown prince?"

Yang was crying out of breath, and Wu Shun was busy helping his mother, so Wu Jue, who had been weeping silently, said, "Because the servants and generals who dare to help our mother and daughter will either die or be injured. Wu Yuanqing succeeded Dad. Those who dared to oppose him were eliminated. As for the governor of Jingzhou and the governor of Jingzhou, haha, they saw that their mother had no sons, but only had three daughters, so they had no intention of speaking up for justice. He tried every means to help Wu Yuanqing cover up.

The daughter of the people dares to ask Your Majesty, when will favors be greater than the laws of the country?When did even a duke and wife like my mother have nowhere to ask for redress?Mother is still like this, it can be seen how miserable the people of the world are living! "

"presumptuous!"

Seeing that this little girl dared to straighten her back and look directly at the emperor, and to offend the emperor with loud words, Li Jian angrily reprimanded and wanted to do it.

Li Shimin raised his hand to signal Li Jian to be calm, and did not avoid Wu Jue's gaze at all: "You can blame me for all this? That's right, I am the master of the world. Although I hold the power of life and death, it seems beautiful, but at the same time The most likely to be resented. Officials are incompetent, the first to be scolded is the official, and the next is me. It seems that because of my stupidity, I sent the stupid official to the post.

But little girl, do you know how big the world is?The distance from Jingzhou to Chang'an is even less than one-third of the border between the north and south of the Tang Dynasty.What I want to take care of is the overall situation, not the details.Although I can start from a small place, but do you think I can take care of it in that case?I'm human too, so I don't have that much energy. "

Understanding what the emperor meant, Wu Jue bowed his head in embarrassment.

Li Chengqian, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help laughing when he saw Wu Jue's appearance.In fact, what Wu Jue said might make sense at the end of a dynasty, but it is absolutely inappropriate now.

Indeed, the world is so big that there will definitely be grievances, but at least in the current period, it must be unfounded to worry about.Not to mention that the emperor attached great importance to prisons, and often sent ministers to serve as observers and inspectors to inspect prisons in various places.Even under the deliberate inducement of the emperor, officials from all over the country knew that being a good official and making the people under him prosperous was the best way to get promoted.

Therefore, maybe the wealthy local tyrants will be wronged, but the common people will definitely not do it. As long as the observation envoy arrives and a commoner sits on the ground crying and expressing his grievances, at least one county magistrate will have his head dropped.

Therefore, the main reason for Yang's encounter was the face of the warrior Xun.Because of the samurai Xun's face, the officials in Jingzhou knew that they broke the law and tried every means to keep Wu Yuanqing brothers.

The emperor was naturally aware of this matter. In fact, not to mention the officials in Jingzhou, even he had the idea of ​​keeping Brother Wu Yuanqing.In the final analysis, the samurai Xun did not feel sorry for Datang, but as a prince, he traveled all over the country, allowing the people under his rule to live and work in peace and contentment wherever he went.He died of illness and took office, but the emperor missed the opportunity to reward him.

Thinking of this, almost subconsciously, Li Shimin is also ready to make this big event into a small one.

"Father, think twice!"

Sensing a trace of pain in the emperor's eyes, Li Chengqian issued a warning just right.

Li Shimin gave Li Chengqian a dissatisfied look, and then he was about to reprimand him, and suddenly remembered the prince's treatment of the Wu family.That's right, wasn't Wu Yuanqing's son sent to his hometown?The bloodline of the samurai Xun was not broken because of this, and even a portion of the family property was left for the child.In this way, to deal with Brother Wu Yuanqing is to deal with Brother Wu Yuanqing, and to give the samurai face is to give the samurai face, and the two are not in conflict.

Thinking about this, Li Shimin swallowed the words again.

Looking at Wu Jue who raised his head and looked at him again, who seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, Li Shimin suddenly felt that his thoughts had been seen through by this girl.

This little girl...

After pondering for a while, Li Shimin finally spoke: "Little girl, what's your name?"

Wu Jue replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the little girl Wu Jue is the one of Yu."

Li Shimin had a very weird feeling after searching his guts for a while before he remembered what the word "珝" was.

Looking at the stubborn Wu Jue, Li Shimin nodded and said, "Your name is not very good. Jue, Yuye, as the saying goes, a gentleman is like jade. It's quite appropriate for a man to use this name, but it's not good for you. I searched my stomach Then, I realized that only Xue Jue, the counselor of the Three Kingdoms, used this word. Anyway, as the king of heaven and earth, I am a master, and I am naturally above your father. I want to give you a new name, what do you think? "

Give a name?

If it was an ordinary person, I am afraid that I would pass out immediately due to excitement.The emperor personally gave the name, which can be used as a talking point no matter what the occasion, and it is half as honorable compared to rewarding the country's name.

However, the emperor's olive branch was thrown at an extremely stubborn girl.

Kowtowing respectfully, Wu Jue said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the little girl is unwilling. It was the Crown Prince who single-mindedly defended the little girl's grievances, and even saved the little girl's life. If the name is changed, the little girl hopes that the Crown Prince will give the name, thank you very much." Your Majesty's gift."

"You... are fine!"

Although he gritted his teeth, the emperor's comfortable smile did not seem to be fake.

It is really rare for an emperor to be slapped in the face by a little girl.

Li Chengqian is different, he knows how small the emperor is, and this loss may fall on him instead.

Glancing at Wu Jue who was looking at this side with firm eyes, Li Chengqian couldn't laugh or cry in his heart.It's impossible not to be moved by this girl, but the emperor must get a step up.

Arching his hands, Li Chengqian said: "Father, my son has little talent and learning. At the beginning, this girl wrote the character "珝", so I knew it. Why don't you let the father name it, and my son will bestow this name on Wu Jue. how?"

"Hmph, that's it! Remember to read more classics in the future, and don't forget Mr. Li Gang's teachings."

After snorting again arrogantly, Li Shimin looked at Wu Jue and said, "I see that you have a graceful figure and a delicate face. If you smile, you must be very charming. I will give you the name Mei, nicknamed Mei Niang, how about it?"

He didn't answer, because Wu Jue was looking at Li Chengqian at the moment.

Li Chengqian gave a bitter smile, and could only walk down the donkey and said: "Wu Mei, I will give you the name Mei for my father, why don't you thank my father?"

Wu Jue, no, Wu Mei nodded, bowed to the emperor and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for naming me."

He also paid homage to Li Chengqian, saying: "Wu Mei, thank you His Royal Highness for the name."

After finally finding the steps, Li Shimin's complexion improved a bit.

Then look at Yang Shi and Wu Shun, who are embracing and crying, but silently blessing Wu Mei.Li Shimin said: "I understand the meaning of the crown prince asking you to come to see me. It is to confirm the rebellion of Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang. Forget it, the majestic duke of Yingguo County who attacked the nobles first was unfilial, and after incest, spread it. Not only the samurai could not sleep under the spring, but the imperial court also lost face.

That being the case, then sentence them to rebellion.The fact that one of the bloodlines of the Wu family can be preserved can be regarded as worthy of the samurai Xun.Yang family, Wu Shun, Wu Mei, and the little girl who was fostered by the Yang family, I will make your names also appear on the list. From then on, there will be no four of you, mother and daughter, in the world.In this way, you can also live with peace of mind, how about it? "

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Seeing Mrs. Yang bowing down with her two daughters, Li Shimin's face softened a little.But when he looked at Li Chengqian, he was extremely fierce.

Li Chengqian's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't know where he had provoked this old bastard.

After the Yang mother and daughter were sent away, the emperor summoned Fang Xuanling and others.

It is not a child's play to set the charge of rebellion. In many cases, the consent of the big bosses in the DPRK and China is needed before the charge can be implemented.However, although the accusation of "rebellion" is based on nothing and does not conform to the rules, such a thing is covered by "rebellion", but it is the best choice.After all, the samurai Xun was dead, and the deceased always had to take care of Quan Xia's face.

With the announcement of the Menxia Province, the accusation of rebellion by the Wu family brothers spread throughout the world.The official statement was that the brothers of the Wu family were dissatisfied with the step-down title and resentful, so they shot at the passing prince.In this way, the implementation of the crime is far-fetched.

Chapter 412 The court can't be wrong

Because the emperor felt empathy for the governor of Jingzhou, so the punishment for him was not very severe, and he was only fined for three years.But Jingzhou Governor is different, because he was obviously suspected of covering up the Wu Yuanqing brothers, so he was demoted to become a county magistrate. It was only because there was no suitable candidate for the Jingzhou Governor, that the county magistrate temporarily took over the duties of the governor. .

There was a lot of thunder and little rain, but for officials at the level of governor, this kind of warning from the court was more effective than formal punishment.

As for Wu Yuanqing, Wu Yuanshuang, and Wu Weiliang and others, after implementing the "rebellion", there is only one result waiting for them——

In the Chang'an West City Execution Ground, as the executioner raised and lowered the knife, heads flew out one by one, causing the onlookers to applaud loudly.From the rolling heads all over the ground and the blood soaring into the sky, they gained a great sense of satisfaction.

Those who were used to seeing executions spat at the heads that stopped rolling on the ground while being excited, while those who were not used to it covered their mouths and looked around for a suitable place to vomit.

Wu Mei was naturally not used to it, but Li Chengqian stood aside, no matter how he looked at it, he didn't see any discomfort from Wu Mei's face. As for the tears she shed, it was probably not for her brothers.

"Enough is enough. As you wish, your brother beast has suffered the punishment he deserved. Although your mother and sister no longer have the status of the Duke's wife and the eldest daughter of the Duke's Mansion, since the past few days they Judging from their reactions, they also like life in the farm. Although they need to work, they will be able to spend the rest of their life happily. As for the things they have experienced before, they may still appear in nightmares during this period , but in the future, it will always be forgotten.”

At the window of the restaurant, Wu Mei wiped away the tears from her face, and bowed profusely: "Wu Mei is very grateful to His Royal Highness for your help, and I will keep my promise to repay His Highness' kindness."

Looking at the still stubborn Wu Mei, Li Chengqian sighed: "Why are you doing this? Living with your mother and sister... Well, do as you like!"