Chapter 196 He might make a small profit, but I, Li Chengqian, will never lose money (asking for monthly votes)

Li Xiang always felt that even if he asked Li Xin to collect some negative information about Li Tai, Li Xin would agree without hesitation.

Thinking of this, Li Xiang reached out and rubbed Li Xin's head, and said to him with a smile: "It's not a difficult matter. Today, Li Yifu met with your uncle in the East Palace and collected some negative information about some officials in your second uncle's family."

"In this matter, your uncle gave this thing to Aong, and did not expand it to the court. Now your second uncle is being scolded in the palace, but Aong did not tell him that this note was sent by Li Yifu to the East Palace."

"I understand!" Li Xin gnashed his teeth and cursed, "Damn it, this Li Yifu is really not a good guy. He actually wants to provoke a fight between the Eastern Palace and the Prince of Wei's Mansion. He deserves death!"

"Who said it wasn't?" Li Xiang agreed with Li Xin's statement. Isn't Li Yifu's behavior just provoking a fight between brothers?
Li Xin said with great confidence: "Don't worry, brother. When I get back, I will tell Aye about this matter and I will never tell him where I heard about it—"

"I trust you to do the job." Li Xiang nodded.

Afterwards, Li Xin left the restaurant in a hurry and went to Prince Wei's Mansion.

Li Xiang stretched lazily and went to the room where his aunts were.

Inside the house, the three Li Shu sisters were obviously teaming up to tease Pei Xueqing and Feng Yingying, while Pei Xueqing was calculating with counting chips with a slightly blushing face, and Feng Yingying...her eyes were as pure as a deer's, with a clear sense of bewilderment.

When Pei Xueqing saw Li Xiang enter the room, his hands trembled and the counting sticks became messy.

"Look, Xueqing is upset." Li Shu teased from the side.

Pei Xueqing shook her head and said, "Well... counting the chips is still too troublesome."

But everyone could hear the unnaturalness in her words.

"Why don't I do it?" Li Xiang said, walked to Pei Xueqing and sat down, took out a charcoal pencil from the side, and wrote and drew on it.

Soon, the accounting of a book was completed.

"So fast?" Li Shu looked at Li Xiang in astonishment. Is there anything that his nephew can't do?

If one day Li Xiang told her that he would have a child, she would probably believe it without hesitation.

"How fresh, it's just arithmetic." Li Xiang curled his lips: "I don't know advanced mathematics, but this simple one is easy to master."

Li Mingda glanced at Li Xiang and just smiled softly with his hands covering his mouth.

This stinky nephew is really...

"What kind of method is this?" Pei Xueqing became interested: "It looks very convenient... Do these strange symbols represent numbers?"

"Yes." Li Xiang asked with a smile: "If you want to learn, I will teach you."

"Okay." Pei Xueqing responded happily.

Li Xiang grabbed a piece of paper from the table and wrote something on it: "Look, these symbols represent from 0 to 9. If you want to express ten, add a 0 in front of the 1. If you want to express eleven, add two ones, and so on."

"Then..." Pei Xueqing picked up the charcoal pencil and wrote '100' on the paper, "So that's one hundred?"

"Smart." Li Xiang praised with a smile, and began to explain the vertical calculation method to Pei Xueqing: "Look, like this, when adding, align the same digits. If the sum exceeds 10, move 1 forward; when subtracting, align the same digits. If there is not enough to subtract, borrow 1 from the previous digit as 10."

Pei Xueqing was very smart. He understood addition and subtraction as soon as he heard it and quickly mastered the simple vertical calculation method.

"If it's multiplication and division, then..." Li Xiang scratched his head, "There is a multiplication table. You should have heard of it?"

"Hmm." Pei Xueqing stretched out her white fingers: "Ninety-nine is eighty-one, eighty-nine is seventy-two, seventy-nine is sixty-three... My teacher told me this when I was a kid."

Li Xiang was not surprised. The multiplication table is a multiplication formula in mathematics, also known as the Nine-Nine Song, and it was created during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

Arithmetic is considered a popular subject these days. After all, mathematics was clearly included in the previous imperial examinations.

Mathematics classes are also taught in the schools of the provincial capital.

"For multiplication and division, the same general principles apply." Li Xiang used calculations on straw paper as examples to teach, and explained it in great detail.

Pei Xueqing sat quietly beside Li Xiang, looking at him with admiration in her eyes, exuding the aura of a fangirl.

Li Mingda and the other two sat aside, looking at each other, feeling that they were a little redundant here...

The most aggrieved person was Li Shu.

I originally wanted to tease Pei Xueqing, but unexpectedly I was fed a mouthful of dog food instead.

"I feel a little regretful." Li Su whispered to Li Mingda.

Li Mingda said nothing, but bit the rock candy with a crackling sound.

Although Li Xiang is a Sigma man, he cannot escape the worship of beautiful women.

He now understands Teacher Gao to some extent.

Satisfied, Li Xiang said to Pei Xueqing: "When we get back, I'll have someone make you an abacus and teach you how to use it. It's better than this..."

As he spoke, he pointed to the abacus sticks beside him and said disdainfully, "It's much more useful than this abacus stick."

"Yes." Pei Xueqing nodded and asked again: "Does the symbol used by the prince just now have a name?"

Li Shu rolled his eyes, grinned, and said to Li Mingda and Feng Yingying in a sarcastic tone, imitating Pei Xueqing's tone: "Hey, yo, yo, does the symbol used by the prince just now have a name?"

Seeing Li Shu's funny look, Li Mingda chuckled.

Feng Yingying couldn't help but lean on the table, her shoulders shaking.

"Don't worry about them." Li Xiang said to Pei Xueqing: "That symbol... has no name yet."

Pei Xueqing didn't take it seriously, it was just a harmless joke between friends.

"Since the symbols were invented by the prince, why not call them Xiangshu?" Pei Xueqing suggested.

Li Xiang was a little hesitant. Is this really a good idea?
It is said that this kind of numbers was invented by the ancient Indians, and was later spread to Europe by the Arabs and then to China.

Of course, in this era, even if Li Xiang said he invented it, there would be no problem.

If it were Li Shimin, he might have accepted it reluctantly, but this was the first time for Li Xiang to do such a thing, and he felt a little guilty.

As Li Xiang's aunt, Li Mingda could see that Li Xiang was embarrassed and immediately made the decision for Li Xiang.

"That's a good name! I think we should call it Xiangshu."

"Hehe, I still have to ask Grandfather for permission..." Li Xiang still wanted to struggle.

"Why are you asking for permission? The things you invented should naturally be named after you."

Li Mingda curled her lips. If her father knew about this, this number might become the "Zhenguan number".

Since his aunt said so, Li Xiang couldn't object.

So this matter was settled.

Recently, Pei Xingjian has been in the navy, and Feng Qing is also busy in Dengzhou, so Feng Yingying and Pei Xueqing live together. Li Xiang originally wanted Feng Yingying to live in the East Palace, but then he changed his mind and thought that she was a young girl after all, and it would be awkward to be in such a situation.

Feng Yingying had no opinion on matters such as the main wife and concubine.

It’s not that she didn’t understand what the queen meant, but she felt there was no need to fight for it.

Of course, this was what Feng Qing told her before she left.

Li Xiang was even more satisfied with Feng Yingying's attitude. Who doesn't like a peaceful harem?
Although Sister Baoer is a little dull, to be honest, Sister Baoer is not only beautiful, but also really big.

Such a big thing...how can I let it go?
On the way back, Li Xiang was still talking about this matter with Li Mingda.

Li Mingda said nothing, but just listened quietly to Li Xiang's story.

Li Xin made his way back home and heard his father yelling and cursing from a distance away in the main hall.

"I'm furious!"

He had already talked to Li Xiang about the matter, so of course he knew why his father was angry. It was just because of the small note handed over by Li Yifu that he was furious.

When he walked into the main hall, Li Xin saw a circle of people gathered around, all with their heads down and silent.

"Yeah." Li Xin crossed his arms towards Li Tai.

Seeing that it was Li Xin, Li Tai waved his hands impatiently, meaning that he should go wherever is cooler.

Unexpectedly, Li Xin stepped forward and said, "Father, I heard a piece of news in the restaurant, and it seems to be related to Father..."

"Oh?" Li Tai frowned. Hearing that it was news from the restaurant, he was willing to listen to Li Xin's words.

"That's right..." Li Xin cleared his throat, and after taking a stance, he said in the expectant eyes of everyone, "During the chat, I heard someone say that it was Li Yifu who passed the note to my uncle, hoping to cause a dispute between him and my father..."

Hearing this, Li Tai's face turned red.

"It turned out to be him!" Li Tai gnashed his teeth and cursed, "No wonder, no wonder, this man used to be a censor, of course he knows the secrets of the officials in the court... It's really like that! I knew he was a talented person and wanted to recruit him into the government, but you are such a beautiful woman, but you are a thief instead!"

Li Xin opened his mouth and found that it was so simple to throw dirty water on Li Yifu.

"Your Majesty, Li Yifu is a scheming man who is good at disguise. If he is eliminated, the prince will lose an arm!" Wei Ting said in a solemn voice.

"Hmm?" Li Tai glanced at Wei Ting, then nodded and said, "Hmm! After you go down, find out the crime of this Li Yifu. I don't want to see this beast in Chang'an again!"

It is said that people in Prince Wei's mansion are always quick in doing things.

On the one hand, it was because Li Tai gave the order, and on the other hand, no one knew what disgusting things Li Yifu, who had served as the Censor-in-Chief, had in his hands.

If you can kick him out as soon as possible, do it quickly, so that he won’t stay in Beijing and disgust people.

On December 26th, Liu Li, the Minister of the Interior, personally stepped forward to impeach Li Yifu.

Li Shimin also disliked Li Yifu, so he went with the flow and agreed to Liu Li's impeachment, and demoted Li Yifu to the position of Sima of Qianzhou.

Li Yifu was struck by lightning, he knew that his affair had been exposed.

But looking at the way Li Chengqian pleaded for him in the court, it didn't look like Li Chengqian had sold him out.

However, it was too late to say anything now. He could only pack his bags and go to Qianzhou to be the provincial Sima before the New Year.

Li Chengqian was somewhat helpless, as he knew that Li Yifu had violated Old Li's taboo, not to mention that he took this opportunity to deal with Li Tai's men.

He might make a small profit, but I will never lose money.

After Li Yifu was driven away, Li Xiang was in high spirits. Whenever he saw someone in the palace, he would give two Kaiyuan Tongbao coins to share his joy.

That afternoon, Li Xiang received another message.

Jiangnan sent a batch of white sugar and brown sugar to Beijing, and also sent a batch of fresh sugarcane for everyone to taste.

It just so happens that the sugar reserves in Beijing have been almost used up. If there is more sugar, we can eat many delicious foods in the New Year.

When leaving Lizheng Hall, Li Xiang was stopped by Li Shimin who had just returned.

"What's the matter? You look so happy?" Old Li asked with a smile, "It's just Li Yifu, look how happy you are."

"Does Li Yifu deserve my grandson's happiness?" Li Xiang said with a smile, "Jingren sent me news that the candy from Jiangnan has arrived."

"Oh?" Li Shimin also became happy when he heard it.

As a heavy sweets lover, Lao Li's craving for sugar is extreme.

Although he has always strictly followed Sun Simiao's diet, he can still eat a little bit of this sugar every day.

Recently, all the sugar in the palace has been used up. I haven’t had any sugar for several days, and I’ve been missing it.

"Then what are you waiting for? Why don't you go quickly?" Li Shimin said with a hum.

"Okay." Li Xiang smiled. This old man is really...

As soon as Li Xiang went out, he called for a carriage, which took him all the way to the restaurant.

This is his principle: he would never ride a horse if he could ride in a carriage, and safety is everything.

With the current medical technology, if you fall and break a bone, you will be in pain...

However, when he arrived at the restaurant, he found that Li Jingren and others were all sitting there in a depressed mood.

Seeing Li Xiang coming, all the brothers stood up to greet him.

"Brother."

"What's wrong? What's wrong with you?" Li Xiang had been in Dengzhou for more than a year and had acquired the habit of using inverted sentences: "You look unhappy?"

Li Jingren sighed and said to Li Xiang: "Brother, you don't know that the governor who went to Jiangnan to plant sugarcane has contracted a strange disease..."

"A strange disease?" Li Xiang asked in amazement, "Did Dr. Sun take a look?"

"Doctor Sun is on the way. When Shoudao was in Jiangnan, he hired several doctors, but they couldn't find anything. He took many medicines but there was no effect." Li Jingren sighed.

Li Xiang took a deep breath. Xiao Shoudao was the eldest grandson that Old Xiao loved the most. He was also the son of his eldest aunt Princess Xiangcheng and his cousin.

He was worried because he had contracted a strange disease while growing sugarcane in the south.

"It's not just Shoudao. There are more than a dozen people who came back with him. They all have this strange disease, and the symptoms are similar." Li Jingren added.

"There are more than ten people?" Li Xiang frowned and asked, "If the symptoms are similar, then it means that they are suffering from the same disease... Could it be that this disease can be transmitted from person to person?"

Li Jingren immediately said, "The strange thing is that the two servants who took care of the guards on the way back were not infected by him."

(Asking for a monthly ticket, I have been looking for emoticons for almost an hour...)
(End of this chapter)