Zhu Yuanzhang was astonished by Li Qing's theory. He had been emperor for so many years and had never realized this.
At this moment, Li Qing's status in his heart was once again elevated!
Thinking back to Li Qing's previous strategy of replacing hard-to-save taxes with money, I feel more and more that this person can be of great use.
A hundred years from now, if Biao'er has someone like this who will help him wholeheartedly, then we can rest assured... Zhu Yuanzhang's expression became gentler, and he became more determined to train Li Qing.
Li Qing scratched his head and laughed dryly: "Actually, it's nothing, just... study!"
"Study?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked confused.
"It's just meticulous and painstaking research." Li Qing looked like he was digging his heart out, "The emperor is so fond of me, and I have nothing to do in return. I just think about how to get revenge all day long...Ahem, how can I repay the emperor and serve the country?
Be loyal, think and think, and you will come up with it.”
After a pause, he threw out another piece of pie: "I must not be arrogant or impetuous. Keep up the good work."
"Good!" Zhu Yuanzhang was greatly pleased, "Well done!"
The more he looks at Li Qing now, the more satisfied he becomes.
Such a minister who is loyal, brave enough to fight without fear of offending others, and has great talents, even Lao Zhu, who has always been harsh on his ministers, can't find anything wrong with him.
More importantly, Li Qing is still young, only in his early twenties, and he still has a lot of time in the future.
Zhu Yuanzhang secretly thought: Maybe he can be as good as our grandson.
"Li Qing, you are very good."
"The emperor has given you too much praise." Li Qing said reservedly, "I eat the emperor's salary to share the emperor's worries, for the emperor, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty..."
Barabara...
Unconsciously, Li Qing drew another big cake for Lao Zhu.
He suddenly liked the feeling of painting cakes for others. Looking at Lao Zhu who looked satisfied and nodded frequently, he felt very comfortable in his heart.
The cake painter is trapped by the cake after all!
————To Zhu Yuanzhang.
After a free conversation, Li Qing 'unintentionally' revealed some of the advanced theories of later generations. Zhu Yuanzhang didn't realize how serious he was, so he couldn't help but feel elated and became even more affectionate towards him.
"Don't work too hard. It's necessary to rest and relax properly. Pay attention to your body." Zhu Yuanzhang looked concerned and said in his heart: Our son and even our grandson still need it, we have to cherish it and use it.
In his mind, Li Qing has become a family heirloom.
Two-quarters of an hour later, both of them were fed by the other party's pie and walked out of the central hall satisfied.
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Celebrate the New Year well and work hard after the New Year."
"I am determined to live up to the emperor's trust."
…
Small courtyard.
As soon as Li Qing opened the door, he saw two familiar faces.
"Why are you here?"
Xiaopang smiled and said, "Brother Qing, you don't have to be afraid. Grandpa Huang allows us to play together."
"Sambo has met Marquis Yongqing."
"Uh-huh... Sanbao Shao Li." Li Qing smiled and said to Hong Xiu, who was embarrassed at the side, "Let's go cook. We have a guest today, so we should be rich."
"Yes, maid, go right away." Hongxiu breathed a sigh of relief, bowed Yingying and entered the house.
Li Qing invited the two of them to sit down, gave them a cup of tea, and said to Sanbao, "Is this really what the emperor promised?"
Sanbao nodded and said with a smile: "Without the consent of the prince and princess, how could Sanbao dare to bring the prince here?"
"That's right." Li Qing felt relieved and said to Xiaopang, "How long will you stay in the capital this time?"
"The mother-in-law said it's fifteen." Xiaopang said happily, "There's still half a month left, you have to fulfill your duty as a landlord."
"..." Li Qing said with a smile, "Sure, no problem, it seems the emperor likes you very much!"
"That's right." Xiaopang said proudly, "Now my father doesn't dare to hit me."
Li Qing said angrily, "Don't be too crazy. Let's try it when we return to Peking?"
Xiaopang's smile froze, but soon returned to normal, and said nonchalantly, "We'll talk about the future."
"You can see clearly." Li Qing was speechless, complaining in his heart: You have to be so generous to gain weight.
The family bought a lot of New Year's goods, and lunch was especially sumptuous. Looking at the table full of dishes, Little Fatty was so happy. Since meeting Grandpa Huang that day, he has been able to eat and drink freely, and no longer has to diet to lose weight.
"Brother Qing, your wife is not only good-looking, but also good at cooking." Xiao Pang praised.
Wan Ling, who was serving the dishes, blushed and explained in a low voice: "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood. I am just a maid."
"Girl?" Xiao Pang muttered, "Are all maids so beautiful?
That sister-in-law..."
Wan Ling felt unspeakably awkward when she was praised by a fat man of five or six years old, so she served the food and ran away quickly.
"Stop looking."
Li Qing knocked Xiaopang, "What are you thinking about?"
"Hehe..." Xiaopang smiled, "I know why Brother Qing doesn't want to come to the palace to play with me."
After a pause, he said again: "Brother Qing, where is my sister-in-law?"
"Not yet, why would you marry that thing?"
In front of Sanbao, Li Qing did not want to discuss this topic in depth. He raised his head and said with a smile, "The visitor is a guest. Sanbao, please stop standing."
"That's right, it's not my grandpa's house. Sanbao, please stop following those rules."
Xiaopang couldn't help but pull Sanbao to the table and sit down, "Let's eat together."
"Okay." Sanbao hesitated for a moment, then stopped evading and said to Li Qing, "Thank you, Marquis Yongqing, for your hospitality."
"You're welcome, he deserves it." Xiaopang didn't regard himself as an outsider at all. "When friends come, he has to entertain them with good food and wine."
Li Qing suppressed his laughter and said, "Little fat boy, do you still drink?"
"I drank it secretly once, but it didn't taste good. I didn't drink it again." Xiaopang picked up a piece of braised pork and chewed it. "How can meat be so delicious?"
Li Qingwaner said, "When you grow up, you might like it. Sanbao, let's have a drink?"
Sanbao politely declined, saying how dare he drink with the prince.
Li Qing was not in the habit of persuading people to drink, so he smiled and said, "Let's have some food then!"
After eating, drinking, and chatting for a long time, Xiaopang reluctantly got up and said, "Brother Qing, I have to go back. I'll play with you another day."
He glanced at the small courtyard and then said: "Your family is too small. Grandpa Huang and grandpa gave me a lot of lucky money, so I will give you a big house."
Xiaopang is still as generous as ever, much better than Lao Zhu who can only draw cakes.
"No, I have money." Li Qing said with a smile, "There are not many people in the family, so we can't use such a big house. A smaller one is better and a smaller one will be warm."
After sending Xiaopang and Sanbao away, Li Qing basked in the sun for a while in the courtyard. Just as he was about to go back to the house to catch up on his sleep, Xiao Guizi came.
"Yongqing Hou, the emperor ordered you to go to Cao Guogong's mansion."
Li Qing was a little confused. Why did he go to Cao Guogong's mansion during the Chinese New Year?
"May I ask my father-in-law, why did the emperor order me to go to Cao Guogong's mansion?"
"Mr. Cao Guo is ill." Xiao Guizi said, "I have been ill for several months. Today, my condition suddenly worsened, which alarmed the emperor. Please go with me quickly."
"Hey, good." Li Qing did not dare to neglect, "Please, father-in-law, lead the way."
…
Duke Cao's Mansion.
Li Wenzhong was lying on the bed with a sick look on his face. Zhu Yuanzhang sat beside the bed and held his hand, calling him by his nickname, with a face full of blame and distress.
"Bao'er, why didn't you tell us earlier when you were sick?"
"The emperor has many things to do, and I can't bear to make you worry." Li Wenzhong chuckled, "I didn't expect this illness... cough cough cough... I have never been seriously ill before, and it seems that this time..."
"Don't talk nonsense." Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted him, "We have sent people to find Li Qing. He will definitely cure you."
Li Wenzhong smiled bitterly. His family knew about his family affairs. He knew that he was not going to die soon. If Li Qing really had magical powers, he would not be able to cure Empress Ma's illness.
He is not that old, he is only forty-five years old this year, but years of war have severely taxed his body, and now that hidden diseases are breaking out, he cannot bear the burden.
"Your Majesty, I am afraid that I will not be able to withstand this obstacle, and I will no longer be able to help Ming Dynasty solve its problems..." After taking a breath, he said sadly, "Your Majesty, you must take care of your dragon body... cough cough cough..."
"Stop talking." Zhu Yuanzhang comforted softly, "Relax, you will be fine."
Lao Zhu is a person who attaches great importance to the concept of blood clan. Li Wenzhong is his sister's son, his nephew, and his adopted son, and he has made great military exploits.
Now seeing his nephew looking like his end was approaching, he felt really uncomfortable.
After patting the back of Li Wenzhong's hand, Zhu Yuanzhang turned around and asked, "Why hasn't Li Qing come yet?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Guizi's voice sounded outside the door: "Your Majesty, Li Qing is here."
"Stop dawdling, let him in quickly!" Zhu Yuanzhang shouted urgently.