After the dispersion of the dynasty, Li Shimin had just returned to Ganlu Hall and was preparing to handle government affairs, when Queen Changsun arrived.
"I see you, Your Majesty."
Li Shimin smiled and said: "Guanyin maid, why are you here?"
"I have already prepared the dowry list for Changle and the others, and sent it to Your Majesty for your inspection," said Empress Changsun.
"Has it been drawn up? Show it to me." Li Shimin said.
Queen Changsun took the gift list from the palace maid and handed it to Li Shimin.
After reading it, Li Shimin frowned slightly and said, "Didn't I say that the beautiful dowry items should be prepared three times as usual? How come it is the same as Qinghe and the others?"
"Your Majesty, when a princess gets married, the dowry items are all custom-made. Qinghe and the others are sisters with Li Zhi, so there are some differences, so it's okay. But when the father's daughters get married, they are all custom-made. They are all
Elders, you should respect Changle. If you are more beautiful than them, you may be criticized." Empress Changsun said.
She naturally wanted to give her daughter more dowry, but as the master of the harem, the dowry items were all planned by her own hands.
Princess Gaoyang, Princess Qinghe, and Princess Yuzhang will all get married next year.
If she can't hold a bowl of water flat, what will others think of her?
Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "If you criticize me, criticize me. If the money comes from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, why does it care about other people's affairs?"
"Then I will draft it again and send it to Your Majesty for review." Empress Changsun said.
Li Shimin said: "The current gift list will be three times for Li Zhi, twice for Gao Yang, and the rest will remain the same. Once you have drawn up the gift list, you don't need to show it to me, just send it directly to the Ministry of Rites."
"Yes." Queen Changsun responded.
Empress Changsun went back to draft the gift list again and sent someone to the Ministry of Rites.
Although the people in the Ministry of Rites knew that Princess Changle and Princess Gaoyang had exceeded the etiquette rules, they did not dare to say anything.
But somehow this matter reached Wei Zheng's ears.
With Wei Zheng's temper, when he learned about this incident, he could not pretend that it had not happened and immediately went to the palace and asked to see Li Shimin.
"Your Majesty, sir." Wei Zheng bowed and saluted.
Li Shimin waved his hand and said with a smile: "Xuan Cheng came to see me for what purpose?"
"Your Majesty, Princess Changle and Princess Gaoyang's courtesy has exceeded that of their elders. I'm afraid it's unreasonable. I hope Your Majesty will think about it." Wei Zheng said.
The smile on Li Shimin's face disappeared, and he said calmly: "Princess Changle, born to the Queen, is loved by me and the Queen. Now that I am about to surrender, the etiquette should be increased, why not? Changsun Chong is the daughter of me and the Queen.
Nephew, Gao Yang married him and the dowry was richer, so why can’t he do it?”
"Your Majesty, when a princess gets married, she has her own etiquette. How can she overstep it just because your Majesty likes it?" Wei Zheng argued with reason.
Li Shimin's face was gloomy and he said: "Wei Zheng, you have to know that this is my family matter. The extra part will be paid by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. You just have to do your part."
Li Shimin called Wei Zheng by his first name, which shows how angry he was inside.
"Your Majesty, the royal family has no family affairs. As long as it is a royal matter, it is a state matter." Wei Zheng said.
Li Shimin stared at Wei Zheng angrily and said, "You are sincerely trying to cause trouble for me, right?"
"I don't dare. I just hope that your majesty will follow the etiquette." Wei Zheng said.
Li Shimin suddenly stood up and shouted: "I am the king of a country according to etiquette. I can't even add more dowry when my daughter gets married? Do you want me to do everything as you say?"
Wei Zheng trembled all over, bowed and said: "If your Majesty insists on having your own way, please allow me to retire and return to my hometown."
Li Shimin's face was gloomy and he said in a cold voice: "Are you trying to force me into the palace?"
"I don't dare. As a minister, I know that Your Majesty is at fault, but I can't dissuade him. I am ashamed of wearing official uniform." Wei Zheng said.
"You..." Li Shimin pointed at Wei Zheng, his face ashen.
He wished he could have someone drag Wei Zheng out and chop him down.
"Your Majesty, the Queen wishes to see you." Li Mu said.
Li Shimin sat down and said, "Let her come in."
Queen Changsun walked in, first saluted Li Shimin, and then asked with some surprise: "I just heard your majesty getting angry when I was outside. I wonder what happened to make your majesty so angry?"
She kept asking people to keep an eye on Ganlu Hall. When she found out that Wei Zheng was coming to see Li Shimin, she rushed over immediately.
She knew that with Wei Zheng's temperament, if he knew about this matter, he would definitely come to remonstrate with him.
Wei Zheng's temperament would rather break than bend, and something will definitely happen when the time comes.
Li Shimin said angrily: "He insists on saying that my dowry for Li Zhi and Gao Yang is beyond the limit. If I don't listen to him, I will resign. How can I not be angry?"
Empress Changsun winked at Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wei has made great contributions in admonishing and should be rewarded. Why is Your Majesty so angry?"
Li Shimin was stunned. He was almost mad at Wei Zheng. Why would he still give him a reward?
But seeing the look in Queen Changsun's eyes, Li Shimin came back to his senses and said: "Wei Qing's remonstrance has been meritorious, and he will be rewarded with 10,000 yuan and ten pieces of cloth."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. What did I say before?" Wei Zheng did not forget what happened before because of Li Shimin's reward.
Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "I still have things to do. I will talk about what Wei Qing said after I finish my work."
"His Majesty…"
Wei Zheng was about to say something, but Li Shimin interrupted directly: "Okay, I already said I understand, you can go down first."
Li Shimin made it clear, I know what you said, but I just don't do what you say.
"Yes, I will retire." Wei Zheng had no choice but to retreat.
"Wei Zheng, an old man, is becoming more and more impudent."
Li Shimin has never been a generous person.
Although history books speak highly of Li Shimin, saying that he treated his heroes well.
Indeed, during Li Shimin's reign, he did not kill any meritorious officials. Even when Hou Junji rebelled, Li Shimin only executed Hou Junji and only exiled his family members.
Compared with those emperors who frequently destroyed nine ethnic groups, Li Shimin was indeed very tolerant.
But is Li Shimin really that tolerant?
Not really.
There are records in history books that Wei Zheng made Li Shimin angry many times, but it was Empress Changsun's persuasion that made Li Shimin calm down.
Otherwise, the grass on Wei Zheng's grave would probably be several meters high.
Even so, after Wei Zheng's death, Li Shimin still pushed Wei Zheng's tombstone and even canceled the engagement between Princess Hengshan (later named Princess Xincheng) and Wei Zheng's eldest son Wei Shuyu.
Although there are some other reasons, there is no resentment as before.
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wei has this temper. It's not like you don't know why you always get angry with him." Empress Changsun said.
She was also a little helpless towards Wei Zheng.
Wei Zheng was not the only one who remonstrated. Fang Xuanling also often remonstrated with Li Shimin. Why could Li Shimin listen and never get angry?
In fact, Wei Zheng didn't know how to speak tactfully at all, and Li Shimin's character was the kind of person who would accept the soft but not the hard. How could the two of them be stable when they met together?
"That old man is really too irritating. I told him that the extra part will be paid by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but he insists on talking to me about etiquette." Li Shimin said angrily.
Queen Changsun said: "Your Majesty, you can just send him away. There is no need to be so angry."
In fact, Queen Changsun knew in her heart that Wei Zheng was right.
As a mother, she naturally supports Li Shimin in this matter.
But Wei Zheng was not only a capable minister, he was also the one who used to hide from the crown prince Li Jiancheng.
If Wei Zheng is moved, not only will he lose a wise minister, but it will also cause panic among other people who supported Li Jiancheng.