Chapter 329 Sesame Dumplings Li Zhi
Building a few palaces will not be a loss for Li Xiang anyway.

The Daming Palace will also be Li Xiang’s property in the future. It has to be built anyway, so it is better to finish it early and enjoy it early.

After all, this palace is not like Gabe Newell's game. There will be no discounts for late construction, and perhaps the labor cost will become higher and higher.

Building a palace is no different from any other project. This is the palace where the royal family lives. Using barbarian prisoners of war to build it... is a bit difficult.

As for using your own people, it would be a waste of money and manpower... you're kidding. As long as the money is in place, will there be any waste of manpower? At most, it would cost a little money.

This is also the main reason why Li Xiang built the Daming Palace for Li Chengqian. After all, he is the first heir.

Li Chengqian was so happy to get the new palace that he completely forgot about tax reform.

Li Xiang couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It was all okay. As long as he didn't think about struggling with tax laws, he would just have to spend a little money.

Every tax law reform adds a heavy burden on the shoulders of ordinary people.

As a good young man of the new century, although he became a decadent and reactionary feudal imperialist, he should not be as immoral as Dai Ying.

After solving this problem, Li Chengqian indeed stayed quiet for several days.

Li Xiang thought that he should find something for his father to do, so after much deliberation, he decided to send his second uncle and youngest uncle to test it out to see if his father was still interested in entertainment.

He did invite Li Ke, but Li Ke would be leaving for the Western Regions next month to take up his fiefdom, and would be busy with related matters, so he would have no time to come out and play.

In the Eastern Palace, Li Xiang was entertaining Li Tai and Li Zhi.

"My dear nephew, you still care about our two uncles. Although you are the crown prince, you still care about your family." Li Tai said with a smile: "Unlike your father, who forgot about us two brothers after ascending the throne to become the emperor."

"Look at what my second uncle said." Li Xiang responded with a sweet smile: "As a nephew, if I don't miss my two uncles, how can I miss other people?"

"Well, Xiang'er said it well!" Li Zhi said with a bright smile, "I knew you were a kind and filial child!"

"That's right, he's much better than your father." Li Tai dissed Li Chengqian again.

Li Xiang cleared his throat and began to defend Li Chengqian, "Actually, Second Uncle doesn't know. My father is helpless. After all, he has just ascended the throne. He can't indulge in fun without even having the experience of working hard, right?"

"Xiang'er's words make sense." Li Zhi began to agree: "Second brother, we should also understand the difficulties of eldest brother."

"Yes, yes. Otherwise, if I take the initiative to find you, and if Chu Suiliang reports it and a memorial is submitted to the Lizheng Palace, wouldn't it be my father who will be in trouble?" Li Xiang shook his head and said.

"That makes sense." Li Tai nodded to show that he accepted this reason.

"So, actually, my uncle also wants to be happy with the two uncles, but due to special circumstances, I can't take the initiative to invite them." Li Xiang finally began to summarize: "Otherwise, if someone finds out that I'm weak, it will be terrible."

"Then we won't be reported if we go to play with him?" Li Zhi suddenly asked.

"That's hard to say." Li Xiang spread his hands to indicate that he didn't know either: "Who can tell for sure about such things?"

and many more!

Li Tai was about to speak when an idea suddenly came to his mind.

Yes, since the eldest brother doesn’t take the initiative to indulge in fun, why don’t we take him to play with us?
Don't I know best what kind of person Big Brother is?

Last time when he was the regent, he pushed government affairs to others as much as possible, and played around secretly - saying he was diligent? Even a pig wouldn't believe it!

So the question is, if I can bring my eldest brother along to play, causing people from all walks of life to go to my father to make complaints, then wouldn't my eldest brother not be able to become emperor?

Of course, Li Tai didn't want to be emperor himself.

His central idea has changed long ago. If I can't become the emperor, you, Big Li Zi, can't expect to be comfortable either!
Wouldn't it be better to give up the throne to Xiang'er early? This man should know his own weight. If such a huge Tang Empire is handed over to you, can you control it?
Listen to my brother's advice, the water here is too deep, you can't grasp it, let the elephant grasp it!
Thinking of this, Li Tai's eyes began to burn with fighting spirit.

"In that case, we two younger brothers should take the initiative to share our elder brother's worries." Li Tai pounded the table and said firmly, "Look at my elder brother, how exhausted he is. He started talking nonsense just a few days after ascending the throne, and even called Aye's Zhenguan Dynasty the 'Valley of Shadows'. He must be hallucinating from exhaustion!"

"Is that so?" Li Xiang saw that Li Tai had taken the bait and secretly cheered for his second uncle in his heart.

Yes, you guys should just take my father out to play so that he won’t have time to think about those reforms that are ahead of the times.

At this critical moment, it still has to be the second uncle...

Li Xiang's eyes were moist.

Second uncle, when I become capable in the future, I will definitely give you more titles!

After the banquet, Li Tai and Li Zhi returned home happily.

Li Zhi was not in a hurry to return to his Prince of Jin's Palace. He followed Li Tai to the Prince of Wei's Palace.

Today, the Prince of Wei's Palace is no longer as bustling as it used to be. Since Li Chengqian ascended the throne, it has been like a tree falling and monkeys scattering.

Important officials of the court who followed Li Tai, such as Liu Li, Wei Ting and others who were above the third rank, had already retired early; while others volunteered to follow Han Wang Li Ke to the Western Regions.

Although it was said that he was looking for another way out, in fact, Li Tai specifically went to Li Ke to ask for it.

No matter what Li Chengqian said, after he ascended the throne, he would definitely take action against those who had previously depended on Li Tai. No matter what his current relationship with Li Tai was, this was something that was inevitable.

This isn't about brotherhood, this is politics.

A retired second-rank official like Liu Li might not always have a good ending, let alone their little cats and dogs.

Therefore, the best way is to exile yourself, exile yourself far away, preferably far away from the center of the Tang Dynasty, and be completely forgotten.

Only in this way can people feel at ease.

Even if the new emperor's old ministers wanted to settle accounts with them, the new emperor would not do anything to them because they are so sensible.

If he is lucky, he might get the chance to return to the Central Plains after the next new emperor, Li Xiang, ascends the throne.

The only one among them who had a good ending was Wei Ting.

It was not for any other reason, but because his son had already been serving the current Crown Prince Li Xiang and recognizing him as his elder brother when the latter had just become successful.

As the saying goes, don't look at the monk's face, look at the Buddha's face. For Li Xiang's sake, no one would call for the killing of Wei Ting, who has already retired.

This is the profoundness of the saying that a fool has good fortune. Of course, this fool does not refer to Wei Ting. Although Wei Ting bet on the wrong horse twice, he still has some brains to think.

This fool refers to his son Wei Daijia.

Wei Ting is now truly grateful that his eldest son has such good fortune that he can get the upper hand over the prince at such an early age.

Every time he thought about how he had beaten Wei Daijia for this matter, he felt scared.

If this Daijia was an obedient child, then their whole family would be finished.

So people, they don’t know anything.

Looking at the deserted Prince Wei's Mansion, although Li Zhi was usually a bit heartless, he couldn't help but sigh.

"What's wrong, Zhinu?" Li Tai asked with a smile.

"Nothing. I just thought about the time when I came to my second brother's house before, everyone was reciting poems and composing couplets, dancing and enjoying the moon. Now, there is almost no one here, and I feel that the world is unpredictable." Li Zhi shook his head and sighed.

Li Tai was more open-minded. He laughed and said, "What's the big deal? In history, those who wanted to fight for that position but failed all ended up in misery. Now I can still have a leisurely life and even maintain my honorable position. What else can I ask for?"

When he said this, he was still saying viciously in his heart, the only thing I want is to quickly make that Li Chengqian abdicate and become the emperor, and let Xiang'er ascend the throne as soon as possible!
Of course Li Xiang didn't know what his second uncle was asking for, otherwise he would definitely complain that his second uncle's behavior was a bit like appointing Mr. Xiang.

"Second brother is quite open-minded." Li Zhi crossed his arms and smiled, "If it weren't for Xiang'er, our ending might not have been so good."

"It's hard to say." Li Tai glanced at Li Zhi and said quietly, "If it weren't for Xiang'er, my brother and I might not have had such a good ending, but the same may not be true for you."

"Why?" Li Zhi asked, scratching his head.

"Guess?" Li Tai laughed.

Li Zhi:......

"Not necessarily. My eldest brother just had a disagreement with me at the beginning. In essence, he is still a person who cares about his family." Li Tai said with a smile: "But this is impossible to happen. After all, we still have Xiang'er now."

"Yes." Li Zhi nodded with a smile: "Then the question is, what do you think about what Xiang'er said?"

"What do I think?" Li Tai laughed, "Do you think Xiang'er is just having a meal with our two uncles? Didn't you hear what Aye said yesterday? Our eldest brother has a grand plan to reform the tax system. If Xiang'er hadn't spent money to avoid disaster and promised to build a few palaces for our eldest brother in Daming Palace, I'm afraid he would have planned to carry out drastic reforms now!"

"How to reform?" Li Zhi became interested.

Li Tai shook his head and said, "Brother, what you mean is that you want to set the tax collection as copper coins instead of the crops harvested by the people."

"Isn't this good?" Li Zhi scratched his head and asked, "In this way, the government will also reduce losses and transportation costs will also be reduced. Isn't this a good thing? Why doesn't Xiang'er agree?"

"You only know one side of the story." Li Tai sighed and said, "Such a statement would certainly reduce the government's costs, but have you ever thought about what would happen to the people?"

Li Zhi was not a fool. He thought about it and nodded in understanding: "It's just to make the people suffer. Reducing the cost of the government is more important than anything else, right?"

Li Tai smiled and nodded at Li Zhi: "You see, this is why Xiang'er is in Aye's eyes. Xiang'er puts the interests of the people above the interests of the government. Do you remember what Aye once said? 'The ruler is a boat; the people are water; water can carry the boat but can also overturn it.' We all just listened to it, but Xiang'er really took it to heart."

Li Zhi nodded, but his face showed disapproval.

It's not surprising that he doesn't take it seriously. After all, this gentleman is capable of taking the palace soldiers to roam around Chang'an.

Seeing that Li Zhi didn't care, Li Tai didn't plan to continue talking.

Anyway, this kid Li Zhi will just be a prince in Chang'an in this life. It doesn't matter whether he can understand the spirit of it or not. He is not Li Ke, who can go out and become a prince.

Li Tai thought he knew his younger brother quite well.

"Xiang'er's intention is simply to let us two uncles go and play tricks on the eldest brother so that he has no time to think about these things and has to go through less trouble." Li Tai said again.

"Oh, so that's how it is." Li Zhi suddenly realized, "I was wondering why he invited two uncles like us to dinner during this festive occasion...wouldn't he just say it directly? He had to beat around the bush, really."

"Can we talk about this kind of thing directly?" Li Tai said helplessly, "There are many people in the palace. If this kind of thing gets to the ears of someone with ulterior motives, it will be troublesome in the end."

"That's right." Li Zhi nodded in agreement and pretended to be innocent and asked, "So, second brother, what should we do? Should we listen to Xiang'er or play dumb?"

"Why are you pretending to be stupid?" Li Tai looked at Li Zhi with a look of laughter and tears: "I think you are pretending to be stupid with me, why - don't you want Xiang'er to ascend the throne as soon as possible?"

Li Zhi thought for a moment and said with a smile: "I don't care. After all, it makes no difference to me whether my elder brother is the emperor or Xiang'er is the emperor - I am my elder brother's favorite little brother!"

He didn't make this up. After all, he had been an unknown person since he was born. He and Li Chengqian couldn't be said to be brothers, but at least they kept to themselves.

Therefore, Li Zhi, who had no conflicts with Li Chengqian, was definitely the most comfortable one in the Yonghui Dynasty.

Li Chengqian, on the other hand, cared more about his family, especially his brothers and sisters who were also born to Empress Changsun... and even Li Tai.

Therefore, Li Zhi was not at all panicked, since he had never offended his elder brother.

Hearing what Li Zhi said, Li Tai took a deep breath.

Good boy, are you playing tricks with your brother?
"Then what do you mean?" Li Tai asked viciously.

"It's not that interesting." Li Zhi spread his hands: "I know you want me to become the emperor as soon as possible, then... I can help you, but..."

"But what?" Li Tai always felt that this kid was up to no good.

"One thousand strings of cash." Li Zhi said with a smile.

This one thousand strings of cash was the money that Li Tai could get from the Chamber of Commerce in less than a day.

Of course, Li Zhi knew how wealthy Li Tai's family was, but he was not short of money. He just didn't want to work for Li Tai for free.

Hearing Li Zhi's words, Li Tai almost fainted.

You little bastard, you are such a sesame dumpling!
Death stared at Li Zhi for a long time before Li Tai finally spoke.

"Deal!" Li Tai said gritting his teeth.

(I'll write one chapter today to help my friend decorate his new house.)
(End of this chapter)