Changle Palace!
Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang sneaked to the front of the palace.
"Cuozi! Go and see if Sister Changle is still here. If she isn't, bring her glasses here. "Li Zhi urged Princess Jinyang.
"Why should I go?" Princess Jinyang didn't take the bait at all.
"In the entire palace, other than Eunuch Pang, Sister Changle is the only one who has reading glasses. Do you still want to see how to light a fire in the air?" Li Zhi tempted.
"You mean to light a fire in the air like Mo Jiazi?" Princess Jinyang's glasses lit up.
"Yes!" Li Zhi nodded vigorously.
When he saw Mo Jiazi's method of lighting a fire in the air, Li Zhi couldn't resist the temptation. After thinking for a while, he finally realized that Princess Changle was the only one in the entire harem who used reading glasses to treat pseudo-myopia. Moreover, she didn't wear them often. Thus, he brought Princess Jinyang along to Changle Palace to 'borrow' them.
"Okay!" Princess Jinyang reluctantly sneaked into Changle Palace.
After a while, Princess Jinyang walked over with a pair of reading glasses in her hand. Li Zhi was overjoyed. Just as he was about to get up to greet her, he suddenly froze. He actually saw a familiar figure behind Princess Jinyang.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch. Sister Changle, I won't dare to do it again." Li Zhi wanted to run away but couldn't. Changle grabbed his ear and he hurriedly shouted.
Princess Changle said hatefully, "Let's see if you dare to teach Cuozi bad things in the future. You actually told her to steal things."
"Sister Changle, I won't dare to do it again!" Li Zhi loudly begged for mercy without any backbone.
"Hmph!" Princess Changle finally let go of Li Zhi.
Li Zhi rubbed his ears and looked pitifully at the reading glasses in Princess Jinyang's hands.
Princess Changle's heart immediately softened. "You can play if you want, but you can only play in Changle Palace. Otherwise, what if you cause a fire?"
Li Zhi immediately beamed with joy and nodded repeatedly. He instantly forgot the pain in his ears and happily ran to Princess Jinyang. He took out a piece of paper that he had prepared beforehand and pointed the light spot at the paper with his reading glasses.
The brother and sister pair lay there and started playing. Not long after, the paper quickly emitted green smoke and caught on fire.
"Wow!"
Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang looked at the small flame that lit up. Both of them opened their mouths wide and felt a sense of accomplishment.
Princess Changle looked at the two of them and couldn't help but reveal a trace of pride. She ordered the palace maids to watch the two of them and not cause a fire. She picked up the ink magazine beside her and looked at the serialized Liang Zhu in the ink magazine. She couldn't help but fall into a sweet memory.
On the night of the Lantern Festival, she disguised herself as a man and met Meton. It was so similar to when Liang Zhu and Liang Zhu met on the grass bridge. Previously, she received a secret letter from Mo Jiazi saying that he had a surprise for her. At this moment, she knew what Meton's surprise was and used Liang Zhu as an example to prove the two of them.
"This is Mo Jiazi's idea!" In the Administrative Hall, Li Shimin put down the ink magazine and said angrily.
Meton's cliffhanger made him feel uncomfortable.
"This child can be considered thoughtful," Empress Zhangsun said with a satisfied expression.
As a woman, she was more meticulous. Although Meton and Princess Changle were privately engaged, it had already caused a huge commotion before it was made public.
In the beginning, Empress Zhangsun was naturally unhappy. After all, this matter would cause Princess Changle to be criticized. However, when she saw Meton changing the marriage system and writing Liang Zhu to prove the two of them, how could she not be moved?
Liang Zhu only published a part of it and it was enough to cause a heated discussion in the city. In the future, if Meton and Changle's relationship was made public, everyone would only be envious. There would not be a trace of criticism.
Even Li Shimin's expression softened. He was quite satisfied with Meton's actions and his resentment towards Meton for abducting his daughter decreased slightly.
Li Shimin bitterly smiled and said, "Although this boy's idea is good, it's also going to cause a huge commotion!"
Liang Zhu's story had spread far and wide. It was beautiful and poignant, but it promoted the concept of free love. In this era where feudal etiquette was extremely strict, Meton had exhausted all his strength and only managed to pry open a small gap in the matchmaker's order, allowing the man and woman to meet before marriage and voluntarily sign the agreement.
In the eyes of the common people, free love was no less than a huge commotion. How could it not attract criticism?
"Mo Jiazi is spreading lies to mislead the public. This subject requests that Your Majesty investigate this matter thoroughly." As expected, the next day, Li Shimin had just taken his seat when he was besieged by a large group of imperial censors. This time, the scale was even greater.
The officials couldn't help but sigh. Ever since the end of the year, Mo Jiazi had not stopped. When the officials of the court heard about Mo Jiazi, they were speechless.
"Oh! What did Meton do this time? "Li Shimin pretended to be confused.
The officials' mouths twitched. They didn't believe that Li Shimin hadn't seen such a huge commotion when the Mo Journal was released.
Quan Wanji stepped out with a determined expression and said, "Replying to Your Majesty, Mo Jiazi didn't say anything about his private engagement with a mysterious girl on the night of the Lantern Festival. Now, he's publicly announcing the private engagement between a man and a woman in the Mo Journal. This is against the laws of nature. Your Majesty, please investigate this matter thoroughly."
"Oh! You're all talking about Liang Zhu! "Li Shimin said with a look of realization.
"That's right!" The officials said excitedly.
No matter how bad Mo Jiazi's influence was, it was only around Chang 'an City. However, once the Mo Journal was released, Liang Zhu's matter would definitely spread throughout the Tang dynasty. The two of them didn't have any orders from their parents, and they didn't have any matchmaker. Yet, they had actually shared a bed for three years. Furthermore, Liang Zhu had promoted the idea that women should go to school. In the eyes of some stubborn old men, this was extremely disgraceful.
Li Shimin couldn't help but frown. If it was before, he would definitely stand on the side of the officials. However, Meton's actions were to clear Princess Changle's name. Naturally, he would stand on his daughter's side.
Li Shimin suddenly had an idea. He looked at the Minister of Rites, Linghu Defen, and said, "Minister Linghu, you're the Minister of Rites. You're in charge of all etiquette. What do you think?"
Linghu Defen immediately stood up helplessly. He was a member of the Guanlong Clan, and Mo Jiazi was the key to their prosperity. Naturally, he wouldn't easily offend Mo Jiazi. He immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, what Liang Zhu said is true. It has been widely spread throughout the Tang dynasty. This is something that everyone knows. What Marquis Merton wrote is not false. This lowly official doesn't know how to comment."
"Oh, it's true!" Li Shimin looked surprised. He immediately started acting like a movie king.
The Assistant Minister of the Secretariat, Yan Shigu, had no choice but to step forward and say, "Your Majesty, the matter of Liang Zhu has been spread everywhere and recorded in the county records. Although the versions are different, it's clear that it's true."
Li Shimin nodded and said, "The Mo Journal is a matter that has been widely spread. Since Meton didn't lie, how can he be punished for his words?"
The group of Imperial Censors were stunned. They looked at Li Shimin in confusion. None of them had expected that Li Shimin would let Mo Jiazi off so easily. He even had a trace of indulgence.
"Of course. Since Meton has been appointed as the Firearms Supervisor and Chancellor by the imperial court, how can he be idle all day? Announce that Mo Jiazi has neglected his duties and will be fined three months of salary. Meton is ordered to take office immediately and serve the imperial court. If he slacks off, he will be severely punished." Li Shimin shouted.
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