"Imperial Mother, Changle." When Li Chengqian saw his two closest relatives, he couldn't help but reveal a knowing smile. Compared to the Empress Zhangsun's early death in his previous life, when Li Chengqian had become unreasonable, the current Li Chengqian was more mature and steady.
However, when he saw Meton, he turned a blind eye, as if he didn't see Meton at all.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Princess Changle secretly tugged at Meton's hem a few times. Only then did Meton reluctantly greet him.
"So it's Merton!" Li Chengqian glanced at Meton and couldn't help but coldly snort.
"Brother Crown Prince!"
Princess Changle saw that the two were about to quarrel again and hurriedly mediated, "Brother Crown Prince didn't come just now. Imperial Mother just allowed the Capital Express to send packages to the Imperial City. The concubines in the imperial harem are quite happy."
"Imperial Mother is benevolent!" Li Chengqian flattered. The outside world had to bear the risk of delivering goods to the imperial harem, but Empress Zhangsun still agreed. Although this policy was set up for the concubines in the imperial harem, the Eastern Palace also benefited greatly. The situation of the Crown Prince's concubines was not much different from that of the imperial harem.
"Meton did well this time! This empress has heard that the common people of the world are full of praise for the Capital Express! "Empress Zhangsun looked at Meton benevolently and said.
There were both praise and criticism for the Capital Express. The imperial court believed that the quality of the goods purchased by the Mo Magazine was inferior and that fakes were rampant. However, among the common people, the Mo Magazine was full of praise. After all, the goods sold by the Mo Magazine were what they urgently needed and could afford.
"Imperial Mother is too kind. Benefiting the common people is what the Mo Family should do. In fact, the Capital Express is the same as the Mo Magazine. They are also divided into civilian and commercial versions!" Meton said modestly.
"Oh! There is such a distinction? "Empress Zhangsun asked curiously.
Meton explained, "The so-called commercial version is what we call Mo Magazine Shopping. Jingdu Express can deliver goods for the people and merchants, while the civilian version is for the ordinary people."
Empress Zhangsun said in surprise, "Even ordinary people can send packages!"
Meton nodded and said, "That's true. If a mother's family is in Chengdu, and her son is studying in Chang 'an, every autumn, when the imperial court has a winter clothing holiday, the student will travel thousands of miles back to his hometown, get winter clothing, and then return to Chang' an to study. Just the journey alone will take more than half a month. But now, with the Capital Express Delivery, this mother only needs to make winter clothing, write down the address of her son's school, and spend ten coins to safely deliver the winter clothing to the student."
"This is indeed a move that benefits the people!" Empress Zhangsun nodded. This way, the time and travel expenses to and fro would be saved, and the student would have more time to study.
"If there are relatives or friends in other places, they can use the Capital Express Delivery to send gifts during festivals. Now that the end of the year is near, the Capital Express Delivery has opened a Luoyang line. In time, the Capital Express Delivery will spread throughout the Tang dynasty. Even if it is thousands of miles away, the Capital Express Delivery will reach its mission." Merton said.
"The Capital Express Delivery traveled thousands of miles just to deliver a little gift for someone. Isn't this too much?" Li Chengqian shook his head disapprovingly.
"As the saying goes, goose feathers are sent thousands of miles away. The gift is light, but the sentiment is heavy! The gift is light, but the sentiment it represents is heavy. "Meton said seriously.
"Goose feathers are sent thousands of miles away. The gift is light, but the sentiment is heavy! What is this allusion? "Empress Zhangsun raised her eyebrows and asked in confusion.
Meton couldn't help but be stunned. Then he remembered that the allusion of goose feathers being sent thousands of miles away hadn't appeared in this era, so he had to use the Secret Writings of Mozi again.
"There's another story in the 'Secret Writings of Mozi'. When Mozi was famous all over the world, a friend of his came all the way from the State of Chu to visit him. Before he left, he brought a goose from his hometown as a gift. However, when he was resting by a lake, the goose that was given as a gift broke free and jumped into the lake. Mozi's friend only had time to catch a few goose feathers.
In desperation, Mozi's friend had to put away the goose feathers and continue on his way. After seeing Mozi, his friend handed over the goose feathers as a gift with a guilty face.
Mozi didn't dislike it at all. Instead, he was very moved and said, "Goose feathers are sent thousands of miles away. The gift is light, but the sentiment is heavy!" Mozi didn't get angry because the gift was light. Instead, he valued the friendship with his friend more! "
"The Secret Writings of Mozi are indeed worthy of their reputation. They are very effective." Empress Sun sighed with emotion. Thinking back, she also had many close friends. Unfortunately, since she married Li Shimin, she rarely contacted them. Especially after she became the Empress, she became even more alone.
"That's because Mozi's friend came in person. Mozi valued his friend more than the weight of the gift. Is Merton's understanding of the Secret Writings of Mozi misunderstood?" Li Chengqian said sarcastically. With his knowledge, he could naturally understand the meaning of "Goose feathers are sent thousands of miles away. The gift is light, but the sentiment is heavy." However, Mo Jiazi had implicated it in the Jingdou Express Delivery. Just like how he misunderstood the spirit of grinding an iron pestle into a needle in the court, he wasn't moved by the spirit of grinding an iron pestle into a needle. Instead, he thought that the embroidery needle was too expensive. Such a classic Secret Writings of Mozi in the hands of Mo Jiazi was simply a waste of God's gift.
Meton cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is very talented. The original intention of sending goose feathers from thousands of miles away is indeed so. However, in reality, once a friend goes far away, it will be very difficult to see them again. How many people would travel thousands of miles just to meet a friend? I'm afraid that most people will say goodbye forever. This friendship will gradually dissipate. With the Jingdou Express Delivery, the gifts between friends demand reciprocity. I believe that the friendship of the past will reappear."
"When the Jingdou Express Delivery delivers the package, does it wrap a letter around it? Since the gift has already been sent, it is natural to write a letter to contact them. "Li Chengqian said in a strange tone.
Princess Changle's heart thumped. She thought that her brother must be blaming Meton's Jingdou Express Delivery for stealing the courier station's business. She immediately said, "No …"
Meton stopped Princess Changle and explained, "The Jingdou Express Delivery treats both letters and packages equally. As long as it is not prohibited by the court, the Jingdou Express Delivery will deliver it. I personally delivered such a beneficial matter to the people to Your Highness the Crown Prince. What did Your Highness do? Right now, the Jingdou Express Delivery only covers the Guannei Circuit. If it were a courier station, I'm afraid that all the people in the world could enjoy this benefit."
"The courier station is a public tool of the court. Using public tools for private purposes is a great taboo. I did not do anything wrong at the time!" Li Chengqian argued.
Seeing the two of them begin to quarrel again, Princess Changle, who had originally planned to resolve the conflict between the two, became flustered. Promptly, she turned to Empress Zhangsun, asking for help, "Imperial Mother, look at them …"
Empress Zhangsun did not appear to be surprised in the slightest, paying no attention to the quarreling pair. Looking at the anxious Princess Changle, she smiled wryly and said, "You foolish child. Even now, you still do not understand?"
"Ah!" Princess Changle calmly Empress Zhangsun. She looked at the two arguing until their faces were red, but their expressions were relaxed. They did not look like two people who had fallen out with each other. In her understanding of the two, she had never seen the two lose their composure and argue like this.
"Although the mail order is suspected of using public tools for private purposes, sending packages for the people of the world is a matter that benefits the country and the people. We should do our best." In the end, Empress Zhangsun made the final decision and ended the argument.
Li Chengqian could only helplessly say, "This child will follow Mother's orders."
Meton showed a trace of pride and said, "The mail order was the Minister's idea. His Highness the Crown Prince once said that the courier station can also do things that benefit the world. I hope that His Highness the Crown Prince will not forget his promise."
"Hmph! I don't need you to remind me! "Li Chengqian snorted and left with a flick of his sleeve.
Princess Changle saw this situation and did not know whether to feel gratified or resentful. She was gratified that her husband and brother had never fallen out with each other. She was resentful that the two of them had kept it from her for so long and made her worry for so many days.
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