Li Shimin gave an order, and all the flowers in the palace suffered.
Not only were all the precious flower species in the palace gardens uprooted, but even the trees that could bloom were cut down.
Most of the flowers, plants and trees planted throughout the palace did not survive the damage.
Even the courtyards where the concubines and princesses lived had been cut down and it was a mess.
Those concubines and princesses didn't even know the reason. Looking at their messy yard, they wanted to cry without tears.
The Lizheng Hall where Empress Changsun lived was even more intensively cared for.
When she learned the news, Empress Changsun asked the eunuchs who came: "Who asked you to come to my palace to pull flowers and cut trees?"
Those eunuchs just came under orders, and they didn't know the reason. When Queen Changsun asked, she said solemnly: "Queen, Your Majesty has ordered that all the flowers in the entire palace be cut off. I don't know the reason."
After hearing this, Empress Changsun did not embarrass the eunuchs and said, "You should do it according to the decree."
She could intervene forcibly, but it would go against Li Shimin's orders.
Although Li Shimin would not blame her, she would not do it.
After Queen Changsun finished speaking, she left the Li Zheng Palace directly and went to Li Shimin's study.
…
Li Shimin was thinking about what Lin Xuan said when Li Mu came over to report: "Your Majesty, the Queen is here."
"Let her in quickly." After Li Shimin finished speaking, he stood up quickly.
"Guanyin maid, why are you running around with such a big only son?" Li Shimin scolded Queen Changsun after helping her sit down.
Empress Changsun smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I have already given birth to five children for Your Majesty, and they are not that delicate."
Li Shimin glared at Empress Changsun and said, "What are you talking about? When you gave birth to Chengyang, the imperial doctor said that having a baby would be too much of a burden on you. I told you not to get pregnant this time, but you still insist on giving birth."
(Empress Changsun gave birth to three sons and four daughters in total. As everyone knows about the sons, the daughters are Changle, Chengyang, Jinyang, and Xincheng. Chengyang is the one who married Du He.)
Empress Changsun said gently: "Your Majesty, I know my body, and it doesn't matter."
She knew that her body was destined not to accompany Li Shimin all the time, so she thought about having more children to accompany Li Shimin on her behalf, but she would not tell Li Shimin what she said.
Li Shimin said angrily: "You know? What do you know? I tell you, this is the last time, and you are not allowed to do it again in the future."
Empress Changsun grabbed Li Shimin's hand and said with a smile: "Erlang, I understand."
At this moment, she did not call him His Majesty Li Shimin, nor did she call him his concubine.
Li Shimin shuddered when he heard this title. This was how Empress Changsun called him when she married him at the age of 13.
As his status became higher and higher, Empress Changsun had been silently supporting him from behind, but the title "Erlang" became less and less common.
Li Shimin held Empress Changsun's hand tightly and said, "Mr. Guanyin, I'm really afraid that you will leave before me. Please promise me that after this birth, you will never give birth again."
At this moment, Li Shimin was no longer the ambitious Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Tian Khan, but just a husband who was worried about his wife.
Empress Changsun stretched out her hand, gently touched Li Shimin's face, and said with a smile: "Erlang, I listen to you."
Li Shimin smiled and said, "Okay, just agree."
The two of them were affectionate for a long time before Li Shimin asked: "Mr. Guanyin, did you come to see me for something?"
Empress Changsun then remembered the purpose of her visit and said with a smile: "I almost forgot. I would like to ask Your Majesty why you ordered people to cut down everything in the palace that can grow flowers?"
Li Shimin said: "This is what Lin Xuan told me, saying that pollen has an impact on your Qi disease, so I ordered everyone to cut it off."
Empress Changsun sighed and said: "Your Majesty, let's not say whether this is true or not. Just for me, I cut down all the flowers, plants and trees in the yard of the concubines and princesses. What will they think of me?"
Li Shimin said nonchalantly: "I have carefully thought about it. Every year when the flowers bloom, you have more attacks than usual. Don't care about other people's opinions. All of them are useless together. You are important to me."
, whoever dares to gossip, I will drive them out of the palace directly."
Empress Changsun said helplessly: "Your Majesty, if you do this, where will you place your concubine? Shouldn't history books write down my concubine as a woman who brought disaster to the country and the people?"
Li Shimin smiled and said: "That's just right. Anyway, I will definitely have to bear a lifetime of infamy. The two of us are a perfect match."
Empress Changsun looked at Li Shimin helplessly. She knew that Li Shimin would not listen to her on this matter.
…
The next day, Lin Xuan was drawing blueprints in the study when Chunyue led the concierge Wu Ke in.
Lin Xuan frowned and asked, "What's the matter?"
Wu Keli said politely: "Master Qi, there is a man named Xu Guangfu outside who wants to see you."
Xu Guangfu?
Lin Xuan thought about it carefully and then remembered that it was the arrester of the Chang'an County government yesterday.
"Bring him here! Lin Xuan ordered."
"yes!"
Not long after, Wu Ke came over with Xu Guangfu.
"Young man, I've met your lordship!" Xu Guangfu saluted.
Lin Xuan signaled Wu Ke to go down, told Chun Yue to serve tea, and said with a smile: "Sit down and talk!"
After Xu Guangfu sat down, Lin Xuan said: "Since you are willing to come, are you willing to follow me?"
Xu Guangfu said seriously: "I am willing to follow Sir Alex and go through fire and water for Sir Alex, no matter what."
Lin Xuan waved his hand and said, "I don't need you to do this. What I like is your cleverness and I want you to help me handle some things."
"Yes, no matter what Sir Alex asks me to do, I will try my best to do it well for Sir Alex." Xu Guangfu said.
Lin Xuan was very satisfied with Xu Guangfu's attitude and asked: "How much is your salary in the county government?"
"The salary for a young man is not much, only 500 Wen." Xu Guangfu said.
His salary is not much, but with some other income, it is no problem to make a few bucks every month, but he cannot talk to Lin Xuan about this.
Lin Xuan also knew that he must have some gray income, but he didn't point it out and said with a smile: "I will give you five guans a month."
"Thank you, Sir!" Xu Guangfu was overjoyed.
"Don't be too quick to thank me. I've said something ugly before. You've done well and you'll be rewarded during festivals and festivals. But if you reach out randomly, don't blame me for being rude." Lin Xuan was about to give Xu Guangfu a beating.
This man is very clever, but I'm afraid he might use it in the wrong place.
Xu Guangfu said quickly: "Sir, don't worry, I will definitely be honest."
Yesterday, he saw that Lin Xuan and Cheng Chumo had a very good relationship. If he acted recklessly, there would be no place for him in the entire Tang Dynasty.
Lin Xuan nodded and asked, "Do you know anything about building a house?"
"I don't understand, but I once supervised others building houses," Xu Guangfu said.
"As long as you know how to supervise, I've drawn a blueprint and I'll explain it to you, and you can find someone to help me build it," Lin Xuan said.
Lin Xuan hadn't finished the drawing yet, but it was almost there. He carefully introduced some points that needed attention to Xu Guangfu.
"How is it? Can it be done well?" Lin Xuan asked.
Xu Guangfu frowned and said, "Sir, this is the first time I've seen someone build a house like this. I'm afraid ordinary people can't build your house well."