Li Shimin's eyes narrowed. Scrutinizing Du Qi, he said, "You brat, you've always never come to the Three Treasures Palace without a reason. Say it, why did you come to see this king?"
Du Qi said, "I have two things to tell Your Highness."
Li Shiming said, "What is it?"
Du Qi took out a contract from his sleeve and handed it to Li Shiming. "Your Highness, this is 15% of the shares of the Best Tea Shop in the World. Because I want to use the tea inscribed by Your Highness, I'll give you 15% of the shares. Your Highness, don't underestimate this 15%. When the Best Tea Shop in the World opens, it will make a lot of money every day. "
Li Shiming's lips curled into a smile.
As the saying went, one who was unaccountably solicitous was hiding evil intentions. Du Qi was very cunning. Last time, in order to get the inscription of the Best Tea Shop in the World, he exchanged it with Sun Simiao's handwritten New Five Animal Frolics.
Now, he was willing to give up 15% of the shares. He must be up to something.
That was Li Shiming's judgment.
He was a little curious about what Du Qi was up to.
Li Shiming had seen Du Qi's ability, especially after watching Du Qi's Military Career, Epigraph of My Shack, and Theory of the Six Nations last night, he no longer regarded Du Qi as a child. This was not something a child could have.
He had already regarded Du Qi as an adult.
Li Shiming said, "The first thing is to give me 15% of the shares. What's the second thing?"
Du Qi looked simple and honest. "The second thing is to ask for forgiveness from the King of Qin. Last night, the top courtesan of the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion, Qianxue, was as beautiful as a flower, but also very talented. My shop happened to need her to run it, and there were corresponding management matters that needed her help. Early in the morning, I went to the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion to redeem her. "
"The procuress of the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion asked for 10,000 strings of cash."
"I was so poor that I couldn't even afford 10 strings of cash, let alone 10,000 strings of cash. So, I pretended that the King of Qin allowed me to redeem Qianxue. In the end, Qianxue was redeemed with 4,000 strings of coins. "
At this point, Du Qi fell to his knees with a thud. "This junior impersonated the Duke of Qin's orders, acting first and reporting later. I sincerely ask for Your Highness Duke of Qin's punishment."
After Li Shimin heard this, he said, "You said you are penniless, then, where did you get four thousand strings to redeem Qianxue?"
Du Qi said, "Reporting to the Duke of Qin, these four thousand strings of cash were actually taken out by Miss Qianxue. In reality, I didn't pay a single cent, and I don't have any money. "
Li Shimin said, "You are a good bargain, you did not pay a single wen, yet you redeem Qianxue's freedom. Moreover, after Qianxue left the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion, she became your woman. "
Du Qi said, "Your Highness, what are you saying? Qianxue's indenture contract was given to her. She was now a free person. If she wants to leave, I don't dare to stop her, nor will I stop her. "
Li Shimin narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Du Qi, thinking about this matter.
Du Qi, this brat, was truly bold.
He dared to fake his orders.
This was not something ordinary people dared to do. If it were other people, they would not do such a thing. After all, it involved faking orders, and it was easy to be punished.
Li Shimin pondered, and suddenly a plan came to his mind.
Immediately, Li Shimin said, "You came to ask for forgiveness because you were worried that the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion would send someone to inquire. So, you came to inform them in advance, so as not to be exposed, right? "
Du Qi said, "Your Highness is wise!"
"Reporting!"
At this moment, the steward of the Duke of Qin's residence spoke from outside the study.
Li Shimin said, "Come in!"
The door was pushed open, and the steward hurried in. He bowed to Li Shimin, but glanced at Du Qi.
Li Shimin asked, "Is it about the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion?"
"Yes!"
The steward replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion sent someone to inquire whether Your Highness gave Young Master Du the password. Because Young Master Du took Miss Qianxue away for four thousand strings of cash. "
"Yes!"
Li Shimin nodded.
The steward said, "I will reply immediately."
Finished speaking, the steward turned and left.
Li Shimin's gaze once again fell on Du Qi. He said, "Erlang Du, this time this Prince has done you a great favor. If your father knows about this, I'm afraid you, kid, will have to bear the consequences. Tell me, how do you plan to repay this Prince? "
Du Qi said seriously, "Reporting to Your Highness, this kid has nothing valuable. To repay Your Highness, I can only do my best. Speaking of which, this kid has something in my hand to repay Your Highness. "
Li Shimin said, "What is it?"
Du Qi immediately took out a blueprint from his sleeve and handed it to Li Shimin. He said, "Your Highness, this is to repay Your Highness. Please take a look."
Li Shimin opened it and carefully read it. He said doubtfully, "Looking at the picture on your blueprint, this should be a plow. Is this plow your way of thanking me? "
"Yes!"
Du Qi said solemnly, "Your Highness, this is called a curved plow. Although it is similar to the popular straight plow, there are many differences. Using this plow can greatly increase the speed of plowing. According to this kid's estimation, it can at least increase the speed by half. But the specific amount will only be known after testing. "
This was something Du Qi had prepared long ago.
He went to the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion, bluffed the procuress of the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion, and then came to settle things with Li Shimin. But to make Li Shimin not blame him, he had to take out something. So Du Qi was already prepared.
This curved plow was to repay Li Shimin.
The curved plow was originally invented during the Tang Dynasty. But now in the early Tang Dynasty, there was no curved plow for the time being. Du Qi taking out the curved plow was extremely attractive to a ruler like Li Shimin.
Since ancient times, the Emperors attached great importance to farming.
Even the Emperors themselves plowed the land to set an example. Because farming was extremely important, Du Qi taking out the curved plow was enough to repay Li Shimin, and could even be of great help to Li Shimin.
Li Shimin was surprised by Du Qi's words. He asked, "Can it really increase the speed by more than half?"
"Yes!"
Du Qi said with certainty, "At least half."
Li Shimin said, "Good, if that's the case, this Prince will accept your favor. As for the 15% shares of your tea shop, this Prince does not want it. If you want to earn money, earn it well. "
Du Qi said, "Since Your Highness said so, this kid will be disrespectful. Many thanks, Your Highness. The manufacturing of the curved plow is not complicated. With the craftsmen of the Qin Palace, they can make it very quickly and then test it. "
Li Shimin nodded and said, "You stay in the palace, this Prince will arrange the craftsmen to make it."
Du Qi said, "Your Highness, this kid still has things to deal with."
"Fine, you go."
Li Shimin saw that Du Qi did not want to stay, so he did not force him. His mind was now full of thoughts on the curved plow. If the same land was plowed, the curved plow would increase the speed by at least half. Then, this would be the blessing of the people of the Tang dynasty and the country of the Tang dynasty.
Du Qi turned and left.
Next, he still had to settle Qianxue's matter.
However, after Du Qi left, Li Shimin studied the blueprint of the curved plow for a while and ordered, "Men, invite Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui."
"Yes!"
The servant outside the door immediately went to pass the order.
Whether it was Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, or Du Ruhui, they were all people of the Qin Palace and worked in the Qin Palace. There was a special office not far from Li Shimin's study room.
The servant went to inform, and not long later, the three of them came together. After bowing to Li Shimin, they sat down.
Zhangsun Wuji said, "Your Highness, why did you summon us here?"
Li Shimin took out the blueprint and handed it to Zhangsun Wuji. He said in a deep voice, "This is the blueprint of a plow, take a look. It is said that this plow can increase the speed by more than half compared to the current straight plow. "
"Really?"
Zhangsun Wuji was shocked.
In fact, increasing the speed by more than half was already too much.
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui also looked carefully. After the two of them took a look, Fang Xuanling frowned and said, "I don't see anything special about this plow. Although it is different from the straight plow, it is not particularly rare. "
Du Ruhui said, "Xuanling's words are reasonable, I also can't see any clues."
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