Datang: Empress mother-in-law sent Li Er to test me

"One hundred thousand guan is not a small amount of money for them. Donating it to the imperial court is tantamount to a pain in the flesh."

"How could they agree so readily? Even if they agreed, they shouldn't have given so much money!"

Li Er waved his hand, "Guanyin maidservant, you think too much, even if they fool anyone, they dare not fool me!"

"I am the Son of Heaven. They promised me that they would donate 70 guan. If I don't see the money after noon tomorrow, they will be guilty of deceiving the emperor! I expect them not to dare!"

Empress Changsun said worriedly: "I still feel that if things go wrong, there must be demons."

"Second brother, why don't we ask Zhang Dun? See what he thinks?"

"No need!" Li Er couldn't help but said with a smile: "I have already thought about it. After I get the money and solve the problem of the emptiness of the imperial treasury, I will go to Zhang Dun again!"

"Going to Zhang Dun now, wouldn't it make him feel like making a fuss out of a molehill?"

"Guanyin servant girl, don't worry, I can't see the big problem!"

After finishing speaking, Li Er patted her palm with a smile, stood up and said: "I still have a memorial to approve, so I will go back to Ganlu Hall first, and I will come to you when Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui bring the money back tomorrow! "

Empress Changsun looked at Li Er leisurely with his hands behind his back, humming back to the Ganlu Hall, and sighed.

She didn't know if it was intuition or what, but she always felt that this matter was far from being as simple as she thought.

"Come here, change clothes for Ben Gong!"

Empress Changsun took a deep breath, looked at the sky outside the palace, and said, "I'm going to visit Zuixian Tower!"

Chapter 43 Zhang Dun: In fact, I am a little better than ordinary people

Coming out of the palace, Empress Changsun went directly to Zuixian Tower in Pingkang Square.

When she reached the gate of Zuixianlou, Empress Changsun thought she had gone wrong, but when she saw the door plaque of the restaurant, she was sure that the hotel in front of her was indeed Zuixianlou.

When I came to Zuixianlou before, there wasn't a single guest inside, but now the Zuixianlou is indeed overcrowded.

There were even more than a dozen wooden stools outside the door, and the wooden stools were also full of people, all of whom were guests queuing up for dinner at Zuixianlou.

Empress Changsun clicked her tongue secretly, Zhang Dun was far more powerful than she thought.

"I've never had wine better than Erguotou! How is it made?"

"Hahaha, this is my brother Zhang's unique recipe, I like it, I will come here often in the future!"

"The food in Zuixianlou is also different from that in Dingshenglou opposite, I like it!"

"This is called stir-frying, and it was also made by my brother Zhang. If you want to eat it, you will come here often in the future!"

"Shop Hu, I'm not talking about you. Your Zuixianlou is different from other places, and you also sell groceries."

"This is a skill that does not overwhelm you, and you go out and see if you can buy my Zuixianlou's groceries in Dongshi and Xishi. Just talking about this soap, I have only one in Zuixianlou, and there are no other places. And ah, the groceries in our Zuixianlou, they are given away when you eat, not just for sale! If you want it in the future, just come to my Zuixianlou, have a meal, and give you whatever you want!"

"Is this what your brother did too?"

"Correct!"

"What's your brother Zhang's name?"

"Zhang Dun!"

Inside Zuixian Tower, Hu Guang was full of beauty, smiling from ear to ear and chatting with the diners.

Zhang Dun was carrying a wooden barrel full of rice, and just came out of the back kitchen, when he heard Hu Guang's conversation with the customer, he was speechless.

Did I come to Zuixianlou to ask you to help me become famous?

If I want to be famous, I will become an official, okay?

At that time, I thought about it, and I wanted to be an ordinary commoner in the Tang Dynasty for the rest of my life.

Fortunately, with Hu Guang's mouth, it may not be long before everyone in Chang'an City knows Zhang Dun's name.

No, I have to remind him!Zhang Dun thought about it, put the wooden barrel in his hand on the empty table, and walked towards Hu Guang.

"Zhang Dun!" At this moment, a familiar crisp voice sounded.

Zhang Dun looked at Empress Changsun who came in in astonishment, and said, "Second Aunt, why are you here?"

Seeing Empress Changsun's preoccupied appearance, Zhang Dun's expression became serious, and he pointed to the second floor of the restaurant with his palms open and said, "Second Aunt, let's talk in the private room."

Empress Changsun nodded, and followed Zhang Dun to the clean room on the second floor.

Zhang Dun brought two teacups, poured a cup of hot water for her, and asked, "Second Aunt, is there something wrong with my father-in-law?"

Empress Changsun sighed, and said half-truthfully, "After your second uncle went back, he told your old father-in-law the method of recording merit with stones."

"Excited your father-in-law to death."

"In front of your second uncle, your father-in-law praised you for a while, saying that if you enter the court and become an official, you must be a pillar of talent."

"Then he will be sad." Zhang Dun shook his head and said, "I don't want to be an official."

Empress Changsun said with a smile: "You don't want to be an official. My concubine and your second uncle have told your father-in-law. Although he regrets it, he also said that he doesn't want to force it."

"Your father-in-law took your method and ran to the palace to meet the emperor. The emperor issued an order at that time to let your father-in-law take full responsibility for this matter."

"Your father-in-law then sent someone to the mansion of Qiwang with five surnames in Chang'an City, and met the seven patriarchs."

"The seven patriarchs agreed to donate a total of 70 guan to the imperial court, so that someone will be sent to collect the money tomorrow."

Empress Changsun said solemnly: "Your father-in-law and your second uncle are happy to drink at home to celebrate this matter."

"But for some reason, it's obviously a good thing. I'm a little uneasy, and I want to ask you."

"Zhang Dun, you said that there is something wrong with the seven patriarchs with five surnames and seven visits?"

Zhang Dun put his arms around his shoulders, tilted his head and muttered, "Second Aunt is worried that there are indeed some problems."

"The Patriarchs of the Five Surnames and Seven Wangs agreed too quickly."

"The method I gave, to put it nicely, it's called a plan to record merit, but to put it in a bad way, it's a plan to gouge flesh from wealthy and famous families."

"Those rich and famous families, as long as they have a brain, they should know how painful it is to lose a piece of flesh. How could they agree so readily?"

"With your words, it means that the concubine is right." Empress Changsun breathed a sigh of relief, and then said worriedly: "But your father-in-law and your second uncle won't listen."

"Actually, Second Aunt, don't worry about it." Zhang Dun said patiently, "There won't be any trouble."

Empress Changsun smiled wryly, "You don't understand."

Zhang Dun didn't know Li Er's identity, so he didn't know the seriousness of it.

It was Li Er who personally supervised the use of the method of recording meritorious deeds to get rich and famous families to donate money to solve the problem of the emptiness of the imperial treasury.

Now that Li Er has started to make merit monuments, if Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui couldn't get the money back if they carried the merit monuments to the seven patriarchs tomorrow, what would they do then?

Li Er lost all face!

Ordinary people can get angry when they lose face in front of outsiders, let alone the face of the emperor.

"Second aunt, you don't understand."

At this moment, Zhang Dun's voice rang in the ears of Queen Changsun.

Meeting Empress Changsun's sad eyes, Zhang Dun said seriously: "You have to be clear, there is me behind this matter."

"What my father-in-law can't do, I can do, and what he can't do, I can come up with ideas."

"One sentence."

Zhang Dun raised a finger and said, "Whether it's a person with five surnames and seven Wangs, or someone else, I can get it done if I step forward."

Empress Changsun looked at him blankly, your surname is not Bai, you are indeed arrogant.

With such arrogance, you are the only one in the world.

Soon, Queen Changsun smiled, nodded and said, "Zhang Dun, Second Aunt believes in you."

Zhang Dun also smiled, "Second Aunt, don't worry, with me here, nothing will happen."

"The concubine will go back." Empress Changsun was completely relieved, stood up with a smile, and said, "Changzhi has been clamoring at home for the past few days to find you. Next time I come out, Second Aunt will bring her out."

Zhang Dun looked happy, "Okay!"

"Second Aunt, I'll see you off!"

Sending Empress Changsun to the door of the restaurant, watching her graceful figure gradually go away, Zhang Dun suddenly thought of something, frowned and muttered to himself:

"Second uncle and aunt, live with Chang Zhi? Is Chang Zhi living in their house, or are they living in Chang Zhi?"

After thinking about it for a long time, Zhang Dun didn't come up with a clue, so he was dragged by the excited Hu Guang to the diners, patted Zhang Dun on the shoulder and said loudly: "See, this is Zhang Dun, I won't follow You brag, my brother Zhang is just two words, evildoer!!"

Zhang Dun looked at him speechlessly, you are still excited, aren't you?I didn't care about you for a while, and you have already praised me to this extent?

"Don't listen to my brother Hu talking nonsense, I'm not a monster!"

Facing the diners whose faces were full of admiration, Zhang Dun was as big as a bucket for a while. How did Hu Guang brag with them? Why did they have such faces? He hurriedly argued: "I am only a little better than ordinary people. !"

As soon as the words fell, two burly men with sticks in their hands suddenly walked into the door.

"Which one is the shopkeeper?"

Two burly men waved the sticks in their hands at the same time, and the tall man looked hungry and shouted: "We are hungry today, how about a meal for us?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Dun walked over with a straight face. Before they could react, he raised his knees and pointed at the lower abdomen of the two of them, kicking each of them.

"boom!"

"what--"

Two screams came out suddenly.

Zhang Dun's feet went down, and two burly men were kicked from the restaurant to the outside of the restaurant nearly ten meters away, lying on the ground and howling.

"Noisy!" Zhang Dun said angrily, then looked at the diners, and said loudly: "I haven't finished talking just now, but in terms of ability, I am not as good as you!"

The diners glanced at the two burly men who were kicked out by Zhang Dun, and then looked at Zhang Dun again, the admiration on their faces became stronger.

Hu Guang stood aside, his chin raised even higher, and he kept pointing his thumbs at Zhang Dun, as if to say, see, my brother Hu Guang is awesome!

----

As dusk approaches, the sound of the evening drum follows.

Once the sound of evening drums stops, there will be a curfew in Chang'an City. During the curfew, no one is allowed on the streets of Chang'an City, otherwise they will be arrested as a crime of prohibition.

In the Tai Chi Palace and the Lizheng Hall, a soft sigh sounded.

"Aniang, why are you sighing?" That night, Li Lizhi chose to come to sleep with Empress Changsun. She was just lying on the couch when she heard Empress Changsun sighing, and she couldn't help asking curiously.

Empress Changsun said helplessly: "My mother told your father what Zhang Dun said, but your father didn't take it seriously."

"That's okay." Li Lizhi blinked her beautiful eyes and said, "Didn't Zhang Dun say that if things don't go well, he will come forward."

Empress Changsun gently stroked Li Changzhi's beautiful hair, she remained silent, secretly thinking in her heart, hoping that everything will go well tomorrow.

Chapter 44 The "Money" Donated to the Court by the Seven Patriarchs

The next morning.

As soon as it was daylight, in the Ganlu Hall of Taiji Palace, Li Er was already wearing an imperial robe and sitting behind the royal case.

Opposite him, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were wearing purple official robes, standing solemnly.

"The stele of merit has been engraved, and Li Junxian will go with you."

Li Er said with a smile on his face: "Today's matter, there are two lovers."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty." Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui clasped their hands together and said in unison: "I will definitely bring 70 guan to the palace."

"Go." Li Er waved his hand and watched them leave with a wide smile on his face.

I am the son of heaven, they have five surnames and seven kings, no matter how famous they are, they dare not deceive the emperor!

Li Er wanted to laugh when he thought that Empress Changsun ran out of the palace yesterday to ask Zhang Dun's opinion, and told himself that Zhang Dun also felt that there was a problem with this matter.

Both of them are overwhelmed!

When Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui brought back 70 guan from Wuxing Qiwang, they knew they were overthinking.

Coming out of the palace, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui walked in front, while Li Junxian followed behind with a hundred palace guards and two hundred ox carts.

Except for the first ox cart, the other 99 ox carts were empty and had nothing to load.

On the first bullock cart, there is a stone tablet, on which are written the three big characters "Monument of Merit and Virtue".