"How about it? Can we discuss it?" Zhao Chen asked Li Shimin after washing the pot, waiting for it to heat up and pouring in the oil.
Li Shimin hesitated.
In his heart, he did not want to wrong Hou Junji.
After all, Hou Junji indeed made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty.
Li Shimin attached great importance to meritorious officials.
He also cherishes his feathers very much.
"Boy Zhao, I can't promise you this." Li Shimin was silent for a moment, shook his head, and rejected Zhao Chen.
Wei Zheng sat aside and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He was really worried that the emperor would agree to Zhao Chen's conditions.
If the emperor really agrees to Zhao Chen, Hou Junji's name will be removed from the list of Lingyan Pavilion heroes.
Wei Zheng would be completely disappointed with the emperor.
The birds are gone, the good bow is hidden, the cunning rabbit is dead, and the lackeys are cooked.
This is what every hero is most worried about.
The emperor can abandon Hou Junji today for Zhao Chen's conditions.
You can abandon anyone for other things in the future.
Such an emperor is terrible.
Wei Zheng has already made up his mind. As long as the emperor nods his consent, he will submit a letter to resign and return home tomorrow.
Fortunately...
Zhao Chen didn't seem to hear the emperor's rejection, but continued: "The conditions I gave are very favorable."
"The colored glaze can be fired right away. I can hand over all the techniques for firing it."
"It is estimated that the annual output of colored glaze can earn millions of dollars, which is faster than collecting taxes."
"If you agree, I will hand over all the cement kilns."
"I don't have to take the salt bureau's share."
"Well, aren't you most in need of money? Now you can fill up your private treasury to the fullest."
"Zi——"
When the pork is put into the pot, a burst of white smoke rises, and the aroma of the meat wafts out within a moment.
If it were normal, Lao Li would definitely be drooling.
But now, he has no such thoughts at all.
Zhao Chen's conditions are really tempting.
Not to mention Liuli's income, this is still unclear.
From the Salt Bureau alone, Zhao Chen can get around 1.5 million yuan every year.
And the cement kiln.
Nowadays, all wealthy people have begun to pour cement roads for their homes.
The demand for cement is huge.
At least a few million dollars a year.
This much money is enough to fill his two private treasury.
It is absolutely impossible to say that you are not moved.
But this money came from an unfair source.
He, Li Shimin, was so short of money that he wished he could sleep with money in his arms every day.
But you can’t do things without conscience, right?
Wei Zheng looked at the emperor and then at Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen is a little strange today.
For a Hou Junji, such a huge sum of money is spent.
This is obviously not normal.
"No, do you still want to consider this?" Zhao Chen asked.
Throw green onions and chilies into the pot and make a sizzling sound.
The spicy taste accompanied by the aroma of meat makes people's mouth water.
"No, I won't consider it anymore. I won't treat my heroes of the Tang Dynasty badly for anything." Li Shimin stood up and said firmly to Zhao Chen.
After finishing speaking, he sat back down again.
Holding a fire stick in his hand, he opened the firewood on the stove.
"Your Majesty is wise!" Wei Zheng looked excited and bowed deeply to Li Shimin.
The emperor didn't respond.
He really couldn't bear to part with his annual income of several million dollars.
Thinking of his empty private treasury, where even rats didn't go, he felt aggrieved.
However, Hou Junji was a hero of the Tang Dynasty.
No matter how poor I am, I can't get on the pirate ship of a boy like Zhao Chen.
"I thought you would agree. It seems that you are still the old Li Tou I know." Zhao Chen took the spatula and stir-fried the fried pork with chili peppers in the pot.
"Huh?" Li Shimin was stunned for a moment.
"Are you testing me?" Li Shimin suddenly understood something.
Wei Zheng was stunned on the spot.
Zhao Chen was actually testing the emperor!
And from beginning to end, he never revealed it to himself!
"Just asking..."
"Ask your uncle!" Old Li Tou was completely furious at that time.
He stabbed the fire stick fiercely in his hand.
At that time, he poked the pot out from underneath.
All the cooked vegetables were left on the stove.
…
"What's wrong?"
"Your Majesty is angry?"
In the hall, Li Shimin's roar could be heard from far away.
Hongfu Nu looked at Queen Changsun in surprise.
They have not yet decided who will take care of Li Ruoshuang.
Just as he was saying this, he heard the emperor's roar in the distance.
But Hong Fu Nu was shocked.
She had never heard such an angry voice from the emperor.
I wondered if Zhao Chen had done something to make Emperor Long Yan furious.
How about you...
"My Majesty, this child Zhao Chen is still young and is easily impulsive about many things. If your Majesty blames you, please give me some comfort."
"Ruoshuang, just let her live in the palace. I'll feel more at ease." Hongfunu suddenly said to Queen Changsun.
Queen Changsun was a little confused.
I had been talking so much before, but I didn't even see Hongfu Nu nodding.
Why suddenly...
"Don't worry, sister, but she still doesn't do her best for her daughter-in-law!" Empress Changsun said with a pun.
"If sister wants to see Ruoshuang, or is willing, we can move in together."
"This is the token from the palace. I give it to my sister." Empress Changsun took out a waist token and handed it to Hongfu Nu.
Queen Changsun is so happy.
I was still thinking about what happened in the kitchen.
It actually helped him a lot.
…
"Compensate!" Zhao Chen said lightly, but he didn't make Old Li Tou angry to death.
Looking at the fried pork with chili peppers.
As well as the iron pot that had been stabbed backwards on the stove, Li Shimin looked slightly embarrassed.
He was so angry.
When he got excited, he overturned the pot in Zhao Chen's house!
Isn’t it just one pot?
Why did you let yourself pay for it!
Are you stingy and stingy like this?
"What should we do now?" Wei Zheng looked at the fried pork with chili peppers on the ground with regret.
He had been thinking about it for a long time.
It took a lot of effort to try Zhao Chen's craftsmanship, but why did the pot fall over?
"Do you still want to eat?" Seeing the two people staring at each other without saying anything, Wei Zheng asked again.
"Forget it." Zhao Chen glanced at Old Li Tou.
Taking the fire stick, he slowly inserted the iron pot back into place.
"The quality of your pot is very good, there is no leakage, haha!" Old Li Tou laughed twice to cover up his embarrassment.
Zhao Chen ignored him.
The atmosphere at the scene was even more embarrassing.
Old Li Tou sat silently at the stove, leaning his head to look at the bottom of the pot.
Zhao Chen brushed the pot without turning his eyes.
Wei Zheng folded his hands and huddled in the corner, not daring to say a word.
"Zi——"
The pork is cooked again.
The expressions of the three of them were somewhat relaxed.
"Boy Zhao, why are you testing me?"
"Is there something wrong with me that you feel is wrong?" There was another silence for a while, then Li Shimin raised his head and asked Zhao Chen.
Being tempted by others will never make you feel comfortable.
And he believed in Zhao Chen so much, but he didn't believe in himself.
This gave Li Shimin a huge blow.
Wei Zheng looked over, waiting for Zhao Chen's explanation.
What people fear most is temptation.
The human heart cannot withstand temptation.
Wei Zheng didn't understand how a smart person like Zhao Chen could do such an outrageous thing.
This is not asking for trouble for yourself, is it!?