Chapter 212: The mantis stalks the cicada, Li Su is behind (asking for monthly tickets)
The Shandong nobles have not had an easy time recently. Ever since the Cui family of Boling was caught by the Xueyantuo for buying low and selling high on the grassland, the reputation of the Five Surnames and Seven Families on the grassland has become extremely bad.

People on the grassland no longer welcomed the Shandong gentry. Even the Khitan and Silla people had heard about the unscrupulous deeds of the Cui uncle and nephew on the grassland.

Not to mention going to the grassland to sell goods, even if they went to buy goods, the tribes would no longer receive people from the Shandong gentry.

The loss from the previous wave of goods hoarded was at least tens of thousands of strings of cash.

Don't underestimate these tens of thousands of strings of cash. During the Zhenguan period, this was a huge sum of money.

This bad reputation spread from the grasslands to the Tang Dynasty. Merchants in the border counties were the first to know about their deeds, and then through word of mouth among the merchants, it reached the ears of the people of the Tang Dynasty.

In addition, Cui Tingzhi's uncle and nephew instigated Qi Wang Li You to rebel the year before last. In the territory of the Tang Dynasty, the reputation of the Five Surnames and Seven Families is no longer as popular as before, and even the sky-high bride price has been reduced a lot.

But after all, a centipede is still alive even after its death. Some people look down on the Five Surnames and Seven Families because of these things, but there are still some people who are still flocking to the women of the Five Surnames.

The Shandong gentry, with generations of nobility and hundreds of years of accumulation, should not be underestimated.

This time, the banquet was not initiated by Fang Yiai's cousin Lu Xuan, but by Cui Shi, and Lu Xuan only made an invitation.

Roh Hyun did not attend the banquet, claiming he was ill.

It's nothing, it's just too embarrassing.

"To achieve great things, one does not need to be too particular about small details. To achieve great things, one does not need to be too particular about small details..." Lu Hyun said with emotion as he sat in front of the window, looking at the red sunset.

However, no one responded to him, only the sound of Lu Xuan's little cousin grinding ink.

"Shengzhi, what are you doing?" Lu Hyun asked, tilting his head.

The little cousin did not stop what he was doing, but said calmly: "I plan to write an article and submit it to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Lu Xuan opened his mouth and tried to say something several times, but he finally put his hand down dejectedly.

"Forget it. Since you want to join His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I won't stop you. But now..."

"You guys did it, what does it have to do with me?" The younger cousin still looked neither sad nor happy: "It is rumored that His Royal Highness is as virtuous as Han Wen. Han is a man of high moral character. How could I be affected by your setting up of the Hongmen Feast and matchmaking?"

"The future of my Lu family depends on you." Lu Xuan shook his head and sighed.

At the same time, he was also hoping in his heart that Princess Gaoyang would hold on so that nothing could go wrong and be blamed on him.

Despite expectations, the reputation of the Tang princesses today is still very good.

Contrary to the stereotype, the most outrageous princess of that time was Li Shimin’s fifteenth sister, Princess Danyang.

When Xue Wanche first married the princess, Princess Danyang thought he was a fool and didn't want to sleep with him. Xue complained to Li Shimin about this, and Li Shimin was furious. So he summoned all his brothers-in-law to the palace, and they drank and played chess, and used Li's sword as a bet.

Li Shimin had already informed them of the situation and pretended that he could not win, so he deliberately lost his sword to Xue Wanche and his wife.

From then on, Princess Danyang felt that her husband was smarter than other husbands, and she became happy. The couple returned home in the same car, got married, and lived happily ever after.

Later generations said that Tang princesses were not to be married, which was actually a generalization. Even the most promiscuous Princess Taiping was forced into that state by her mother. A pure and innocent girl who treated Xue Shao with respect was forced to become the Princess Taiping.

Two days ago, when Cui Shi was in a restaurant, he heard Princess Gaoyang and others sighing at Bian Ji's handsome appearance. From that time on, he kept it in mind.

No matter whether it is sincere or not, we have to make an appointment to see if these two people can get together.

If they really like each other, they can use this as an excuse to criticize the Tang Dynasty royal family; if they don't like each other, it doesn't matter, it's just a meal, and there's no loss.

Fang Yiai and his wife arrived at the appointment on time, but when they arrived at the restaurant, they found that Lu Hyun was missing and a monk was there.

In fact, Bian Ji didn't really want to come, but Cui Shi was the eldest son of the Qinghe Cui family, so he had to save face.

Even though he is a monk, monks these days don’t just practice meditation.

Lending money, seizing people's land, and plundering by trickery. In short, there is nothing the monks can't do, except what you can't think of.

Of course, being involved in the world is also a part of spiritual practice, it’s fun.

Another interesting thing is that they also made up a story of "Thirteen stick monks saving the Tang king" to flatter themselves. In fact, the Shaolin monks took advantage of the battle between Li Shimin and Wang Shichong in the Central Plains to capture Wang Shichong's nephew Wang Renze.

Because of this great achievement, Emperor Li Shimin gave Shaolin Temple "40 hectares of land and a water mill".

In short, the temples also have close ties with the Shandong gentry, so Bian Ji cannot but give them face.

The restaurant also serves vegetarian dishes, which are cooked in a small stove, so there is no need to worry that the monks will not be able to eat them.

In fact, in restaurants, a considerable number of the big customers of vegetarian dishes are monks.

There are also many people who eat meat. The meat and wine pass through their intestines, but remain in the Buddha's heart.

It's not that they are not pious, but the rule that monks can't eat meat was set by Xiao Yan, the idiot. I don't know where his mercy lies. Are vegetables not life? Damn it.

"My name is Cui Shi, nice to meet the princess and her husband." Cui Shi stood up and saluted the two of them.

Afterwards, everyone at the table stood up and saluted.

Li Shu signaled that they didn't need to be so polite, and then Fang Yiai asked, "Brother Shizhi, where is my cousin?"

"Oh, Brother Lu is not feeling well. Maybe he ate something last night because he wanted to stay cool. He has been suffering from diarrhea today. Let me apologize on his behalf." Cui Shi nodded.

"In that case, there's no need to force it." Li Shu pulled Fang Yiai's sleeve, and the two sat together.

"Who is this?" Fang Yiai looked at Bian Ji and asked.

"This is the eminent monk from Hongfu Temple, Master Bian Ji." Cui Shi introduced him to Fang Yiai with a smile, but in his heart he was mourning for Fang Yiai.

You fool, this monk wants to cheat on you.

"So it's Master Bianji." Fang Yiai understood and said, "I've heard that Master Bianji is knowledgeable and talented. It's a great honor to meet him today."

"Thank you for your praise, donor." Bian Ji chanted the Buddha's name with an indifferent expression.

Cui Shi glanced at Princess Gaoyang and found that her eyes were staring at... Fang Yiai.

No, ladies.

You said you thought Bian Ji was handsome? Why are you staring at your stupid husband?
Is there something on his face?
Cui Shi thought so, still with a smile on his face, and began to order dishes to be served.

During the meal, Cui Shi chatted with Bian Ji about Master Xuanzang from time to time.

Bian Ji was also quite polite and answered every question.

"Master Bian Ji is so knowledgeable and handsome. It's a pity that he became a monk." Cui Shi seemed to be saying with emotion, looking at Li Shu while speaking.

As a result, Li Shu was picking up a piece of food with chopsticks and feeding it to Fang Yiai, who was waiting to be fed with a happy look on his face.

Cui Shi felt like he was about to spit out a mouthful of blood. Damn it, did I invite you two here to show off our love?
Are all the princesses of the Tang Dynasty so virtuous? Princess Xiangcheng was like this, Princess Changle was still like this, Princess Qinghe was also like this, and now Princess Gaoyang is still like this...

"There is only Buddhism in my heart, and no other thoughts." Bian Ji chanted "Amitabha" and then said, "The so-called handsomeness is nothing but a bag of skin. After a hundred years, it will be nothing but a handful of dust. What's there to worry about?" Cui Shi was very uncomfortable after being rejected like this.

Things were not developing at all as he expected, in the direction he wanted.

Until the end of the banquet, Cui Shi tried to guide Bian Ji and Li Shu in the direction of matchmaking.

However, what made Cui Shi uncomfortable was that no matter how he led the topic in this direction, Li Shu never looked directly at Bian Ji, nor did Bian Ji look directly at Li Shu.

In fact, it is not surprising. After all, what is in Bian Ji’s heart is Buddhism. He is truly a great monk.

But Li Shu's heart was filled with Fang Yiai, and he had no interest in looking at other men, let alone a monk.

Before leaving, Fang Yiai turned back and called out.

"Thank you——"

Cui Shi: …

So angry...

As soon as he got on the carriage, Li Shu's face immediately turned gloomy.

"Qinghe Cui family is really so bold!"

"Ah? Madam, what's wrong?" Fang Yiai asked stupidly.

"You're still asking what happened! Your wife was almost tricked by someone, and you're still asking what happened!" Li Shu grabbed Fang Yiai's ears in anger and scolded him angrily, "Eat, eat, eat! You're going to eat to death sooner or later! You bastard!"

"Who? Who plotted against my wife?" Fang Yiai rolled up his sleeves and immediately became unhappy.

Damn it, plot against him? Sure; plot against his wife? No!

"You really didn't see it?" Princess Gaoyang looked at Fang Yiai with pity: "They specially invited Master Bianji to come out, just to..."

Speaking of this, even though Li Su has always been a strong-willed person, he found it difficult to say it.

"What should I do?" Fang Yiai had a bad premonition. This premonition was just like the feeling he had when his brother Fang Yizheng stared at the meat in his bowl while eating as a child.

"Hehe, you want to test whether I am interested in Master Bian Ji." Li Shu snorted coldly.

"What?!" When Fang Yiai heard this, he suddenly felt as if he had fallen in love with Miss Dong, as if there was a Pampas grassland on his head.

He took a deep breath, stood up, and roared.

Damn, no man can stand this, okay?
"Sit down! What are you doing?" Li Shu scolded.

"I'm going to fight them to the death!" Fang Yiai cursed breathlessly.

"Sit down!" Li Su ordered, "What evidence do you have to prove that they want to do this?"

"I..." Fang Yiai opened his mouth and his face turned red - anxious.

Li Shu felt very relieved when he saw Fang Yiai's anxious look.

"Don't you want to think about who is the instigator of this incident?" she reminded.

"Yes, it's my cousin? Is it that bastard Lu Hyun?!" Fang Yiai suddenly woke up.

"You're not stupid, but you're not smart either." Li Su snorted coldly, "The instigator of this incident is certainly not Lu Xuan, it should be this Cui Shi, and behind them are their Five Surnames and Seven Families, who want to use this incident to target and take revenge on my Tang Dynasty royal family."

"The reason is ready. Look, the princesses of the Tang Dynasty are not virtuous. I am better off with the women of the five surnames..."

"As for your cousin Lu Xuan, he must have been used as a pawn. At least he still had a little shame and knew that this was not a decent thing to do, so he did not come to the banquet."

"Does he have any sense of shame? If he had any sense of shame, he wouldn't have tried to plot against me again and again!" Fang Yiai cursed angrily.

Li Shu didn't say anything, just curled his lips.

"After I get home, I will explain this matter to my father in detail!" Fang Yiai said angrily, "What relative? From now on, the Lu family will not be allowed to visit our Liangguo Mansion! Cut off! Cut off completely!"

Li Shu just hummed in satisfaction and raised his hand to rub Fang Yiai's head gently.

The Shandong gentry were plotting against her, but she was also plotting against the Shandong gentry.

Madam Fang, also known as her mother-in-law, Madam Lu of Liang State, was a woman from the Lu family of Fanyang.

When Fang Xuanling was poor and almost dying of illness, he told his wife Fang: "I am dying of illness. You are still young. Don't be a widow. Marry someone else if you can."

When Mrs. Fang heard this, she gouged out one of her eyes without saying a word to show her loyalty to Fang Xuanling.

Fang Xuanling was deeply moved, and from that time on he always showed great respect to Mrs. Fang.

It is precisely because of this respect that Fang Xuanling takes good care of Lu’s family.

Li Shu also used this excuse to completely cut off ties between the Fang family and the Fanyang Lu family.

Without this reason, Fang Xuanling would probably not be able to bring it up. Although Lu had deep feelings for Fang Xuanling, she could not save face and help the Lu family.

It just happens to be a reason for my mother-in-law.

After returning home, Li Shu and Fang Yiai immediately found Mrs. Fang.

Of course, you can't say it too directly, you have to say it in a roundabout way.

"Mother." Fang Yiai muttered.

"Is there something?" Mrs. Fang was taking a nap. When she heard Fang Yiai's voice, she opened her eyes unhappily.

But when she saw Li Su, her expression changed immediately and she showed a smile from the bottom of her heart.

"It's Shu'er, how come you have time today?"

This is not an act at all. Li Shu is a model wife at home. Most importantly, she can make money.

After spending a number of years with Li Xiang, the family became increasingly wealthy. Copper coins were brought into the house in cartloads, and Mrs. Fang became happier and happier.

Just ask yourself, who would hate a daughter-in-law who is polite, capable, and like a hen that lays golden eggs?

Li Shu bit her lip, looking like she was about to cry.

When Mrs. Fang saw Li Shu's pitiful look, she immediately became angry.

She threw an uppercut at Fang Yiai, cursing as she punched him: "Fuck you, you damned beast! What on earth have you done to let Shu'er down!"

(Go to bed! Good night.)
(End of this chapter)