Chapter 274 Li Linfu sends his niece away, Yang Yuhuan feels disappointed
"Saint, my lady, cotton can not only be used to make quilts, but also to sew light cotton robes. When the saint goes hunting, the cotton robe will make him look more majestic."

Seeing that Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan couldn't let go of the quilt, Li Xuan continued to introduce the benefits of the quilt to them.

"Qi Lang has a heart..."

Li Longji smiled and nodded in agreement. He already knew that the brocade quilt that Li Xuan sewed for him could keep out the cold.

Tonight he will change the jade quilt for the brocade quilt prepared for him by Li Xuan.

Although the emperor's quilt was not made of kapok, reed fluff, or thatch like those of ordinary people.

But even the down of chicken and duck is not as comfortable as cotton in this era.

Not to mention animal fur, which is not only heavy but also smells.

"Your Majesty, cotton is not as rare as animal fur, nor as precious as the down of chickens and ducks. It is a crop similar to mulberry and hemp, and can be widely promoted throughout the country. If cotton can be filled into people's winter clothes and quilts in the future, why should people fear the cold wind and snow?"

Li Xuan took the opportunity to give advice to Li Longji.

When promoting a crop, it is very important whether the emperor and the court support it.

"This is a gift from heaven. It will benefit the people of the world. We must make cotton bloom all over the Tang Dynasty..."

Li Longji stroked the brocade quilt and said without hesitation.

Since cotton is defined as "mulberry and hemp", cotton should be as popular as mulberry and hemp.

Since ancient times, many people have died due to cold winters.

Food was enough to fill their stomachs, but most ordinary people could only fill their stomachs with kapok, or even reed fluff and thatch.

Li Longji certainly knew that this kind of quilt would cause various accidents in the cold winter.

For example, the recent snow disaster in Shandong.

Therefore, the emergence of cotton is of epoch-making significance.

"Saint, because of the emergence of cotton, the new Changping Law must be implemented firmly to curb mergers and acquisitions. The people not only need to use land to grow rice and millet, but also need to leave land to grow cotton." Li Xuan said to Li Longji.

"I never thought that there would be so many diehards in the government and the opposition who would resist the new law. If Qilang uses some means when necessary, I will definitely fully support Qilang."

Li Longji nodded and said solemnly.

Just as Li Xuan wrote in his poem, “There is no idle land in the world, yet farmers still starve to death.” The people did not even have land to grow food to feed themselves.

Why grow cotton?
The new Changping Law must be implemented, and Li Longji will give Li Xuan the right to speak in the Council of State to suppress Li Linfu.

On this matter, Li Linfu was not liked by Li Longji.

He thought Li Linfu was old.

As the old is replaced by the new, Li Xuan is the minister who can help the country in the future and even assist his descendants.

"Thank you, Saint. I will do my best to complete the new Changping Law as soon as possible!"

Li Xuan said to Li Longji.

Many changes basically mean starting over from scratch, and there will always be gaps between ideals and reality.

In particular, the Tang Dynasty had a vast territory, which isolated it from the eyes and ears of the imperial court.

Li Xuan should work towards the success of the reform.

"Since I ascended the throne, I have inherited the mandate of heaven and ruled over the people. However, the snowstorm in Shandong is raging, and the people are suffering. I am deeply saddened. I will now entrust all the snowstorms in Shandong to Qilang. You can allocate money and grain from the treasury at will and select capable officials to carry out disaster relief. I hope that the roads will be reopened and the houses will be repaired as soon as possible."

When Li Longji saw the brocade quilt, he thought of the snow disaster in Shandong.

Although Li Xuan requested to send a censor to investigate, Li Longji was still worried.

He treated Li Xuan as an omnipotent person, and in addition to handling government affairs and reforms, he also had to deal with local disasters.

"The people are displaced and starving in the ice and snow. This is the responsibility of our ministers. Once the Censors and local officials report the counties affected by the disaster, I will send capable officials to save the people. I have already ordered the treasury to prepare grain and silk and hemp and load them on the carts. We will set out soon."

Li Xuan reported the progress of disaster relief to Li Longji.

Natural disasters came from the sky, but Li Xuan did not believe in destiny. He also warned his ministers that natural disasters were nothing to be afraid of.

"Qi Lang, please put my heart at ease and follow me to the banquet."

Li Longji nodded slightly and prepared to invite Li Xuan to a banquet.

Li Xuan was stunned for a moment, then bowed.

He sighed deeply in his heart.

Li Longji cared about the people affected by the disaster, which showed his image as a wise ruler.

Banqueting in Huaqing Palace is the joy of the king.

No conflict at all!
Li Longji once wanted to go out of the palace to hunt, but after hearing that Prime Minister Su Ting had passed away, he immediately withdrew the hunting team.

Li Longji could control himself then, but now he has no self-control.

In Huaqing Palace, court was often abolished, which was unimaginable during the Kaiyuan period.

Historically, Li Longji "never attended court early in the morning" because he entrusted state affairs to Li Linfu and remained inactive.

It was now the end of the sixth year of Tianbao, but Li Longji had not entrusted state affairs to any prime minister.

Perhaps it was the appearance of Li Xuan that gave Li Longji some fighting spirit, but not much.

What Li Longji hoped for more was brilliant civil governance and illustrious military achievements, without causing too much trouble while establishing these.

Li Xuan knew that as time went on, Li Longji would indulge in drinking, watching cockfighting and horse dancing, and his life would become more extravagant.

Yang Yuhuan also reluctantly put down the brocade quilt. After looking at Li Xuan, she followed Li Longji into Feishuang Palace.

Li Xuan followed behind.

Feishuang Hall has a unique design and is surrounded by hot spring water. Once you enter the hall, you can clearly feel the difference between the inside and the outside.

The palace maids and eunuchs are preparing drinks and snacks.

Li Longji has also notified the three sisters of the Yang family to attend the banquet in Feishuang Palace.

In general, for small banquets, Li Longji would first invite Lady Guo, Lady Qin, and Lady Han.

"Qi Lang, play another song of Water Melody later."

When Li Longji went to change his clothes, Yang Yuhuan spoke to Li Xuan in Feishuang Palace. She sounded coquettish and shy when she spoke.

"Listen to my wife!"

Li Xuan responded to Yang Yuhuan.

Although she did not carry the Jiuxiao Huanpei with her, there must be a Yaoqin in the palace that was no worse than the Jiuxiao Huanpei.

Many of the yaoqins made by the master zither maker Lei Wei also flowed into the imperial palace.

"Qi Lang has become the prime minister, but he is still unmarried. There are many people in Chang'an who admire Qi Lang. There was also a princess who wanted me to find a wife for Qi Lang, but I refused. Yesterday, the right prime minister even asked the saint to marry his relative, a girl from the Jiang family, to Qi Lang!"

Yang Yuhuan took the initiative to tell Li Xuan about this matter.

Now Li Xuan's marriage is a matter of concern to countless powerful people.

Becoming Li Xuan's wife meant not only being the prime minister's wife, but also the prince's concubine.

"I have different political views with the Right Prime Minister. How can he possibly propose marriage for me?"

Li Xuan did not question Yang Yuhuan's words, but felt that Li Linfu had bad intentions.

He is now at loggerheads with Li Linfu, and their political views are completely different.

The Jiang family is Li Linfu's maternal clan, which is equivalent to a marriage.

"The Saint seems to be trying to arrange a marriage between Qilang and the Right Prime Minister's niece. The Saint already knows that you and the Right Prime Minister are incompatible, and he is ready to use this relationship to make peace and jointly assist in the new government."

Yang Yuhuan smiled sweetly and answered Li Xuan.

When Li Longji was not around, she could chat with Li Xuan about some casual and interesting things.

It would be okay to say these words to Li Longji, but Li Xuan would never do that.

The feeling of being close yet distant is also the most tempting. Fortunately, Yang Yuhuan was able to keep her emotions to herself.

No one can find out.

"I'm afraid I'll disappoint the Right Prime Minister. I already have someone in my heart."

When Li Xuan heard this, he no longer felt shy.

Marrying Li Linfu is like a joke.

As an experienced prime minister, how could he fully support his new Changping Law just because of the marriage with his mother's family?
That would not be Li Linfu.

Li Xuan will not hold back, and neither will Li Linfu.

Li Linfu must have had other purposes in proposing a marriage alliance with him at this time.

"Which family does Qilang belong to?"

Yang Yuhuan's heart tightened, and she forced a smile and asked Li Xuan.

"She is the granddaughter of Pei Pushe, the Prime Minister of the Kaiyuan Period."

Li Xuan replied to Yang Yuhuan.

He felt that Pei Lingxi was also interested in him, so even if he wanted to marry, he would marry Pei Lingxi.

When you reach adulthood, you should get married and have children, thus completing the most important things in your life.

He liked Pei Lingxi's personality and felt that Pei Lingxi could become his wife's helper in the future.

"I think they must be a good match..."

Yang Yuhuan said softly that she knew Pei Yaoqing and she had met him in Luoyang.

But she didn't know she was Pei Yaoqing's granddaughter.

Yang Yuhuan really wanted to know whether Pei Yaoqing’s granddaughter was beautiful.
How does it compare to her?
She still felt a little sad in her heart and envied the Pei girl for being able to marry Li Xuan.

"Her name is Pei Lingxi, and her father is Pei Fan, the governor of Yishou."

Li Xuan also inexplicably introduced it to Yang Yuhuan in detail.

"Lingxi is a good name. When the banquet comes, you can bring her to the palace and let me see her."

Yang Yuhuan said slowly to Li Xuan.

"Yes...but I haven't proposed to the Pei family yet, and I don't know if she agrees..." Li Xuan didn't say anything absolute.

"Haha...Among all the women in the world, who would reject Qilang, who was a general, a prime minister, and a king? It is her blessing to be chosen."

There was light in Yang Yuhuan's eyes as she stared at Li Xuan's handsome face and blurted out the words.

"If she agrees! It's my blessing!"

Li Xuan looked up and glanced at Yang Yuhuan inadvertently.

She was wearing a luxurious silk dress, her face was as pure and elegant as a lotus, her skin was as white as snow, her slightly upturned mouth was filled with an intoxicating smile, her charming and pure eyes were full of affection.

This look seems familiar.

Yang Yuhuan's stunning beauty overshadowed everything else at this moment. But after all, there were palace maids preparing around her, so Li Xuan didn't dare to look at her any more.

"She is so lucky to have Qilang say that."

Yang Yuhuan was also moved by Li Xuan's tenderness.

A heroic young man in a high position of power could actually say such words to an ordinary noble woman.

She looked at Li Xuan infatuatedly, her eyes full of envy, an expression mixed with longing and loss, like a captive bird looking at a bird flying freely in the sky.

"The Saint has arrived..."

A shout interrupted the atmosphere, and Yang Yuhuan could only come back to her senses.

"Yuhuan, what are you talking about with Qilang?"

After Li Longji sat down, he casually asked Yang Yuhuan.

"I'm asking about Qilang's lifelong affairs. The Right Prime Minister's wish will not come true. Qilang already has a woman he likes."

Yang Yuhuan smiled and answered Li Longji.

"Really? Yesterday, the Right Prime Minister wanted to ask for his niece to marry Qi Lang. I never thought that Qi Lang already had someone he liked. Whose girl is she?"

Li Longji asked the same question.

"Your Majesty, she is the granddaughter of the late Prime Minister Pei Pushe." Li Xuan replied to Li Longji.

"Pei Pushe was a meritorious official during the Kaiyuan reign. This is a perfect match, a match made in heaven!"

Li Longji exclaimed in praise. He was deeply impressed by Pei Yaoqing and believed that he was a promising prime minister in the late Kaiyuan period.

It seems that Pei Yaoqing's descendants do not have great talents. It is a blessing for the Pei family that Li Xuan falls in love with a girl from the Pei family!

However, Li Longji immediately thought of what Li Linfu had proposed.

He was quite moved yesterday. If Li Xuan could marry Li Linfu, Li Linfu would fully support Li Xuan's new Changping Law.

In Li Longji's mind, there was no such thing as Li Xuan and Li Linfu forming a clique for personal gain.

Because Li Linfu's position would be prepared for Li Xuan sooner or later.

He allowed Li Linfu to continue to stay in the position of prime minister only because he considered that Li Linfu had worked diligently for more than ten years.

In the Zhongshu Menxiatang, Li Xuan was squeezing out Li Linfu. How could Li Longji, who had been playing the balancing game for decades, not see it?

He just didn't break it!

Just like when Li Linfu was the prime minister, he constantly excluded Zhang Jiuling and Pei Yaoqing, all of which was tacitly approved by Li Longji.

After all, Li Linfu was already old. At the banquet, when Li Longji saw Li Linfu taking off his hat, he had a head full of white hair.

In addition, in the past two or three years, there have been frequent mistakes in government affairs and personnel selection.

The saying “it’s not too late to enjoy the sunset even though the morning has passed” will never happen again to the decadent Li Linfu.

"Qi Lang wants Pei's daughter to be his principal wife?"

Thinking of this, Li Longji asked Li Xuan another question.

"Your Majesty, if the matchmaking is successful, I will marry Pei next spring!"

Li Xuan replied to Li Longji that he didn't quite understand what Li Longji meant.

"Since Qilang has made up his mind, I won't force it. Marry Pei's daughter next spring and summer, and take Jiang's daughter as a concubine! Qilang is a hero, he was made a king for his military merits, and he is the prime minister. It is not unfair to let Jiang Jiao's granddaughter be his concubine."

Li Longji thought of a compromise.

In the past, Li Longji's favor for Jiang Jiao was no less than that for Li Linfu, so he early on appointed Jiang Jiao as Duke of Chu, which was the previous title of Li Xuan.

Li Longji and Jiang Jiao had such a good relationship that they often had meals together, and Li Longji told Jiang Jiao his private matters.

But Jiang Jiao was a talkative boy and he spread Li Longji's private affairs to brothels and music schools. Soon everyone in Chang'an knew about it.

This made Li Longji furious, and he gave Jiang Jiao a good beating and drove him out of Chang'an.

Thanks to Li Linfu's return to power, Jiang Jiao's son was able to become a minister again.

Thanks to his favor for Li Linfu, Li Longji did not care about this matter any more.

"Saint, the daughter of the Jiang family must be a noble lady from an aristocratic family. I'm afraid this is a bit inappropriate."

Li Xuan immediately told Li Longji.

Before he got married, Li Longji asked him to take a concubine.

Moreover, Li Xuan suspected that the girl named Jiang was Jiang Yueyao, a good friend of her younger sister Li Yuying.

She seems to be unmarried.

Li Yuying had complained to Li Xuan before that when Li Xuan was at home, Jiang Yueyao didn’t dare to come to Duke Song’s Mansion.

Said she was very scared of him!

In this era, it would be abnormal for princes and nobles not to take concubines.

Aren't all those great poets romantic and nostalgic for brothels? Even "wind, flowers, snow and moon" can be called Xiaoya.

If you look at the poems of ancient poets, the characters that appear most often are not wives, but two types of women.

One is a fairy and the other is a prostitute.

Fairies are the fantasies deep in the hearts of literati, and prostitutes are the physical indulgence of literati.

However, there are also more honest people, such as Du Fu. There are quite a few poems he wrote to his wife that have been passed down, and there is even a story that has been passed down through the ages, "I pity my young children from afar, who do not yet understand the memory of Chang'an."

When seeing high-ranking officials playing with prostitutes, people would even sarcastically say, "You already have a wife, don't imitate the wild mandarin ducks."

Li Xuan could remember Li Longji's intention with his buttocks. He wanted to resolve the conflict between him and Li Linfu. The prime ministers worked together to implement the Changping New Law.

is it possible?
Li Xuan had reason to believe that even without Li Linfu, the conservatives would nominate other leaders to counter him and secretly disobey him.

What's more, Li Linfu is not a good person. He must have other purposes in marrying Jiang Yueyao to him.

"Sanlang, stop playing the piano."

Seeing that Li Xuan did not want to marry Jiang's daughter, Yang Yuhuan spoke up for Li Xuan.

"Yuhuan, how can this be nonsense? With Qilang's status, shouldn't he leave more outstanding offspring? Jiang's daughter is a noble, and ordinary dignitaries can't marry her, but Qilang is the King of Tianshui, the prime minister! Taking a concubine is not a formal marriage, I will inform the right prime minister and find an opportunity to take her home. Be nicer to Jiang's daughter in the future!"

It was rare for Li Longji not to listen to Yang Yuhuan.

In his view, it was only a matter of a day for a rich and powerful person to marry a woman into his family.

Li Xuan is so talented and capable, he must have more offspring. Even if those younger generations can only inherit 30% of their father's talent, they can still become marshals and prime ministers.

Li Linfu said that her cousin's daughter was extremely beautiful and would definitely not lie.

A beautiful woman for free? A noble lady at that. He thought Li Xuan had no reason to refuse.

Just like he gave Li Xuan gold and silver.

Li Xuan said that he loves money, but a gentleman loves money but gets it in a proper way.

Li Longji himself was an old-fashioned person, so he naturally judged others by his own standards and believed that lust was human nature.

No one is an exception!

Therefore, he would give beautiful women to generals who had made contributions to win their hearts.

If a marshal gives the gold and silver he is rewarded with to his subordinates, or gives the beautiful women he is rewarded with to his soldiers as wives.

Everyone will be wary!

But Li Xuan showed no such signs.

"If the Right Prime Minister agrees, the Saint will make the decision!"

Li Xuan no longer refused and finally said this.

Facing an emperor who had the power of life and death, he was indeed helpless.

But he had to find an opportunity to find out the old thief's purpose first.

Yang Yuhuan said nothing more. She drank a glass of wine and drank away her resentment.

While Li Longji and Li Xuan were chatting about this and that, Lady Guo, Lady Han, and Lady Qin arrived.

They were dressed in brocade skirts, gorgeous fur coats, and jewels.

After they took their seats, the banquet began.

After listening to what Yang Yuhuan said before, Li Xuan played "Song of Water Melody" himself. Li Longji and the Yang sisters were all very interested.

They will never forget the scene of the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

"clank……"

The beautiful sound of the piano rang out, and Yang Yuhuan's heart was burning with desire, but she was both eager and helpless. She could only stare at Li Xuan, locking her eyes on the beauty before her.

When Li Xuan finished playing "Song of Water Melody", Yang Yuhuan suggested that she would dance a Huxuan dance.

Li Longji played the 羯鼓 and Li Xuan played the pipa.

Amid the sound of drum music, the Hu Xuan dance was as light as snow in the wind, and her skirt fluttered as she turned left and right.

The figure was like a tumbleweed in the wind, spinning rapidly, with the sleeves dancing and bringing up gusts of fragrant breeze.

It seems to be spinning out a glorious chapter.

When the dance ended, Li Xuan was still gently touching the strings of the pipa.

Yang Yuhuan took a deep look and stepped back.

"Qilang, if it continues like this for ten thousand years, is he a god in heaven?"

In the Feishuang Hall in Huaqing Palace.

Li Longji put down the 羯鼓, drank the wine, and asked Li Xuan.

"I think so..."

Li Xuan didn't know how to answer, he just looked eastward, as if he was traveling thousands of miles.

The snow had stopped, but the two-foot-thick snow made it difficult to walk.

It can only be moved by horses.

Those collapsed thatched houses looked like snow-white tombs.

The cold body was buried underneath.

Those old and young outside gathered together in silence.

On the official road, officers and soldiers were clearing the snow and clearing the road.

Is the sun in the east or the west?

Not warm enough for the world!

(End of this chapter)