Although Mo Jiazi's Xie Qianchou was affected by the rumors of using poisoned food and its reputation was slightly damaged, with the news that Tubo sorghum was used as raw material and the exquisite crystal Xie Qianchou was listed on the market, it once again became popular in Chang 'an City.
Moreover, Xie Qianchou was the first high-alcohol wine to appear in the Tang dynasty. If one was not a good drinker, they would probably get drunk very quickly. Not long after, Lu Shuang was drunk in the restaurant.
However, while Lu Shuang was drunk, the news that the emperor's newly conferred Madam Zheng, who was originally engaged to Lu Shuang, spread like wildfire in Chang 'an City.
"Unfilial son! Do you know what kind of trouble you have caused? "
In the Fang Mansion. Fang Xuanling stared at Fang Yiai angrily and was about to hit Fang Yiai with the ruler in his hand.
"Father, I'm being loyal to my friends! Lu Shuang and Zheng Chang are really hateful. They are robbing in public. I really can't stand it anymore. "Fang Yiai immediately ran away with his head in his hands and defended himself.
"You dare to use force at the feet of the emperor?" Fang Xuanling was so angry that he couldn't help but raise the family law together.
"Well, if you hit him again, Erlang will be killed." Madam Lu rushed over and protected Fang Yiai.
"Mother!" Fang Yiai quickly hid beside Madam Lu.
Fang Xuanling saw Madam Lu and said hatefully, "It's all your fault for spoiling your son! Not only did this kid secretly join the Western Region Chamber of Commerce, but he also detained a group of people from Luoyang and extorted a large ransom from them! "
"So what?" Madam Lu was unmoved.
Fang Xuanling said angrily, "You still spoil him?"
Madam Lu said indifferently, "The Western Region Chamber of Commerce is not competing with the people. Erlang can't inherit your title. In the future, he won't have to worry about food and clothing. Why not?"
"What about the ransom?" Fang Xuanling said angrily.
"Since the Luoyang family has done something wrong, they naturally have to pay the price. In my opinion, they should just take some money and be done with it." Madam Lu said valiantly.
Although the Lu family and the Luoyang family had a marriage alliance, Madam Lu had no feelings for these distant relatives. Naturally, she would protect her son's interests.
"Yes! Father wouldn't let the Luoyang aristocratic family off just like that, right? "
Fang Yi 'ai immediately said. It was impossible for him to spit out the fat meat in his mouth.
Fang Xuanling helplessly put down the ruler and said, "Since we've already done it, it's not good to go back on our word. When the ransom from Luoyang arrives, we'll immediately donate it to the Red Cross!"
"Donated it all?" Madam Lu's heart instantly ached. This was a large sum of money!
"That's just a woman's view. Do you think His Majesty doesn't know what you've done? Donating it to the Red Cross can also help the Fang family avoid disaster. "Fang Xuanling glared at Fang Yiai.
Others didn't know Li Shimin, but as the Prime Minister, Fang Xuanling naturally knew how strong Li Shimin's control over the entire Tang dynasty. The business war between the Luoyang aristocratic family and the Mojia Village was a big deal, so Li Shimin naturally sent people to keep an eye on it. How could what happened on the brick road be hidden from Li Shimin?
"Ah!" Fang Yiai was suddenly dumbfounded and said repeatedly, "I'll listen to father and donate it to the Red Cross."
"Remember, you must donate anonymously. Otherwise, if the news spread that the Fang family donated so much money, I'm afraid the Old Man won't be able to clear his name." Fang Xuanling said worriedly.
"Father, don't worry, I know what to do." Fang Yiai nodded.
"Take good care of your good son. The Old Man still has to go to the palace!" Fang Xuanling complained to Madam Lu.
"Go to the palace? Why do you still have to go to the palace at this time? Isn't there no official business today? "Madam Lu was dissatisfied. It was not easy for Fang Xuanling to rest for half a day, but he still had to go to court.
Fang Xuanling sighed and said, "It's spread all over the palace that His Majesty's newly conferred Madam Zheng and the Lu family have an engagement. Today, they must be discussing this matter."
Madam Lu was shocked and said, "There's such a thing?"
Immediately, Madam Lu helped Fang Xuanling put on his court clothes, boarded the carriage, and went directly to the palace.
In Taiji Palace.
"There's an engagement?" After Li Shimin heard the news that Madam Zheng and Lu Shuang had an engagement, he couldn't help but frown.
Wei Zheng stepped out and said with a solemn face, "Replying to Your Majesty, there is indeed an engagement. The Zheng and Lu families have many marriages. Lu Shuang and Madam Zheng were engaged. This is known to all. It's not a secret."
"There's such a thing!" Li Shimin was surprised. This was the first time he heard that the woman he liked was engaged to someone else. It would be strange if Li Shimin's mood was good.
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, Linghu Dexeng, couldn't help but angrily said, "Madam Zheng was engaged, but she deceived the emperor and flattered the imperial family! This subject requests to thoroughly investigate the crimes of the Zheng family. "
Linghu Dexeng was originally a member of the Guanlong family. He was at odds with the Luoyang family. Naturally, he was happy to add insult to injury. What's more, Linghu Dexeng was an official of the Ministry of Rites. This kind of thing was within the scope of his duties.
Many of the Luoyang family officials couldn't help but tremble when they heard this. Deceiving the emperor wasn't a very serious crime. If the Zheng family confirmed it, they would definitely not end well.
An official of the Luoyang family hurriedly stepped out and said, "Replying to Your Majesty, it's still unknown whether Madam Zheng and Lu Shuang have an engagement. Furthermore, Your Majesty has already ordered that all engagements under the age of fourteen are to be annulled. As long as the two of them haven't made a new engagement, it's naturally not considered deceiving the emperor."
"Oh! We did indeed issue such an edict! "Li Shimin's expression relaxed slightly.
Wei Zheng snorted coldly and said, "Even so, it's still not in line with etiquette. Now that the engagement between the Zheng and Lu families has spread throughout Chang 'an and Luoyang, I'm afraid it will damage Your Majesty's reputation."
Wei Zheng's worries weren't without reason. Those in the know naturally knew that the engagement between the two had been annulled. However, the commoners who didn't know would spread false rumors. They would definitely think that Li Shimin had stolen their beloved.
As soon as Wei Zheng spoke, many civil officials immediately echoed him. If such a scandal were to spread in the harem, it would indeed be extremely inappropriate.
In the case of the court officials being one-sided, to everyone's surprise, Fang Xuanling suddenly stepped out and said, "Madam Zheng's engagement to Madam Lu has not been revealed. What's more, Your Majesty and Madam Zheng's wedding ceremony has already been completed. It cannot be stopped."
The officials couldn't help but be stunned. They didn't expect Fang Xuanling to take the initiative to defend the Zheng family.
However, they didn't know that Fang Xuanling was bitter. The reason why he was involved in this kind of thing was to clean up his son's mess and help the Zheng family once to resolve the grievances with the Luoyang family.
Moreover, Fang Xuanling's words just happened to hit the spot in Li Shimin's heart. If there was no previous edict to annul engagements under the age of fourteen, Li Shimin would definitely give up generously for his reputation, just like in history.
But now he was not rude, and the edict to confer Madam Zheng had already been issued. If he was asked to do it again, he would not be willing to do it.
"Replying to Your Majesty, before this official came, Lu Shuang had asked the Minister to submit a letter. The Zheng and Lu families were originally in-laws, but there was a lot of close financial transactions and there was no talk of an engagement. Moreover, the two families might be suspected of being close relatives, so it was naturally impossible for them to be engaged." An official of the Luoyang family said. He had come with the Zheng family's entrustment to facilitate the marriage of Zheng Chonghua, so he naturally spared no effort. As for Lu Shuang's letter, it was naturally true. Even if he drowned his sorrows in wine, under the coercion of the Luoyang family, he could only obediently write this letter, not to mention that the engagement between the two of them had already been annulled.
Li Shimin nodded and said, "In that case, we will suspend the discussion of this matter for now. After the matter is clarified, we will discuss it again."
Wei Zheng suddenly frowned. According to Li Shimin's character in the past, he would certainly not allow this kind of thing that might damage his reputation. However, today's Li Shimin was beyond his expectations and seemed to have changed.
"It just so happens that all my beloved officials are here. Qingque's" Kuo Di Zhi "also has unexpected results. Why don't you all accompany me to broaden my horizons?" Li Shimin laughed and changed the topic.
"We dare not disobey!" The officials immediately bowed.
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