Li Zhi was both happy and excited, and felt very proud of being held in his arms by his elder brother. He was just a five-year-old child and did not understand the struggles in the court.

Out of admiration for Li Yun, the little guy couldn't help but cheer in a cute and silly way. His pride came from happiness, but adults were as pure as children.

Li Shimin almost blurted out subconsciously, looking at Li Yun with shock and said, "Did you choose him?"

This question was very abrupt, but all the civil and military officials in the court knew what the emperor meant.

Fang Xuanling had already frowned, Li Xiaogong's eyes were flashing gently, while Prince Li Chengqian's body was trembling, feeling an uncontrollable panic and fear in his heart.

"How could it be a Zhinu? Why is it a Zhinu? Why did he hug Zhinu? Is it really because of a mat? Damn, why didn't I give it up..."

It was almost a moment ago, and countless thoughts flashed through Li Chengqian's mind. Li Yun was close at hand, but he was hugging his younger brother. Listening to his brother's cheers, Li Chengqian felt his heart sinking into the bottom of the valley.

Beside Prince Li Chengqian, King Li Tai of Wei was also in a state of sanity. Li Tai watched his younger brother having fun in Li Yun's arms with envy, hoping that the child being held could be himself.

At this time, Li Shimin seemed to have suppressed his shock, but the emperor's tone still seemed abnormal. He asked Li Yun again: "From the third family, this younger brother you decided to take care of?"

The emperor tried to remain calm when he asked this, but everyone could see that his palm, holding the dragon chaise, trembled a few times.

The hearts of the civil and military officials in the court were also turbulent. No one expected that King Zhao would actually pick up Li Zhi. When they reached their level, any small matter would be analyzed. It seemed casual to pick up Li Zhi, but who could be sure that this hug was really casual?

After all, King Zhao just said something: If you give me the mat, I will hold you and sit with you.

If this sentence is put on the battle between the emperor and the heirs, it can be regarded as King Zhao supporting Li Zhi immediately. Since ancient times, the battle between the emperor and the heirs has been more crazy than the battle on the battlefield. Many families will turn into ashes overnight because they stand in the wrong team.

Therefore, I am very cautious in taking sides and will not make a choice unless I have to.

In the entire court hall, needles can be heard, only Li Zhi’s innocent and innocent laughter kept ringing, lingering in the ears of the ministers in the hall.

"It is an amazing beginning to be able to smile casually in the court..." Several important officials looked at each other quietly, and for some reason this thought flashed through their hearts.

Li Shimin spoke for the third time, his tone had become solemn. He asked Li Yun again: "King Zhao, please reply to me."

This time, I didn’t call the third family or the bad guy. The emperor used the title of court, which highlighted his importance to this matter.

Li Yun looked up curiously, with a confused look on his face that no one could understand, and pretended to be stunned: "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you? I just hugged my younger brother? He gave me the mat. Would he let him sit on the cold bricks and stones? I am a big brother, how can I let my younger brother sit on the ground? It just so happens that he is a little guy, and it feels very suitable to hold it in his arms..."

"Then why don't you hug the prince Chengqian?"

Li Shimin almost blurted out, and then added another sentence, saying: "Or go and hug King Li Tai of Wei."

These words made Prince Li Chengqian look forward to it and King Li Tai of Wei. Both princes felt their hearts pounding. They hoped that Li Yun could answer, saying, "That's fine, I'll hug them too!"

Unfortunately, Li Yun burst into laughter and looked at Li Shimin helplessly and said, "Your Majesty, how old are Chengqian and Li Tai? He is fifteen years old this year, so tall. Chengqian is barely fine, Li Tai is very fat..."

Li Shimin was stunned and subconsciously said, "Yes, Cheng Qian is very tall and Qingque is fat."

"Right!"

Li Yun smiled and sat cross-legged on the mat.

He put Li Zhi's little guy on his legs and half-carried in his arms and continued, "I hugged Li Zhi because he was the youngest. There is no other reason. It's strange to say that, why do I feel that you were shocked today? And you ministers, all of you were shocked, strange, it's really strange..."

"Strange fart!"

Many ministers cursed in their hearts and said in disgust: "Who told you to be the King of Zhao of the Western Palace? Every time you act unexpectedly, let's try this happening today. Let's see if we will be surprised? That is, you are invincible when you go to the battlefield and have a wealthy man on the battlefield. You are the same as half of the Tang Dynasty. How can we be careless in your words and deeds?"

Of course, these slanderous complaints are only dared to say in your heart. Li Yun must not see them on his face. Not only can Li Yun not see their slanderous complaints and dissatisfaction, but he also has to show a sincere and friendly and humble smile.

Li Shimin glanced at Li Yun deeply.

The emperor was obviously relieved, but he was still a little worried. He asked the last question solemnly: "Are you sure you just hugged the Zi Nu?"

Li Yun held Li Zhi in his arms and smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm just playing with my younger brother."

"That's great!"

Li Shimin nodded slowly and finally stopped asking about this matter. He didn't know if he was really relieved or put his doubts in his heart.

It was already noon at this time, but many government affairs in the court were not handled at all. The morning was full of fighting, which was the first meaningless morning court in ancient times. For example, Li Yun and Wang Gui first fought, but drove the head of the Wang clan of Taiyuan out of the court, and then civil officials and military generals competed for the battle. As a result, Li Yun held Li Zhi and sat in the middle.

These things are meaningful to the court, but they are not of great significance to the people of the world. The morning court has to deal with the political affairs of a country, but until now, nothing has been handled.

Li Shimin looked up at the door of the hall and pondered: "It's getting late, can you report any news?"

"have!"

A fourth-rank official stood up and bowed and said, "Now, a delegation from Kucha Kingdom sent a group of musicians who were very good at music. They were preparing to book a garden on the bank of Baqiao, and then have a musical battle with the Tang Dynasty. The envoys of Kucha Kingdom have submitted their letter of state and filed the matter with the Ministry of Rites and Honglu Temple. They only have one request, hoping that if they win, they can reduce taxes..."

He stopped here, and subconsciously looked at Li Yun and explained carefully: "King Zhao opened a trading center in Fanyang, and the goods were connected to merchants all over the world. The trading center had to draw one in fifty every time. The merchants thought this was already a heavy tax, but King Zhao set up a tax yamen in Chang'an City, which stipulated that merchants must go to the tax yamen to pay taxes. The repeated withdrawals were repeated. The merchants complained a little, they believed that this was an injustice against foreign tribes by the Tang Dynasty, because our local merchants in the Tang Dynasty did not need to pay tariffs!"

The word tariff has become popular in the Tang Dynasty now. Even the people on the streets can say some truths, believing that this tariff is the most awesome existence in the Tang Dynasty.

The people thought it was awesome, but the ministers in the court helped outsiders to speak. Li Shimin was obviously a little unhappy because all these tariffs were income from the Tang Dynasty.

Although the emperor was unhappy, he did not scold him. Things in the court have always been necessary to argue, and Li Shimin could not end in person.

Sure enough, a royal family member stood up and directly refuted the minister's words, questioning: "What is the salary of a fifth-rank court official in the ninth year of Wude?"

Without waiting for the minister to answer, he continued to question and said, "How much was the salary of the fifth-rank court officials in Zhenguan in the second year?"

With just these two questions, the minister's face changed slightly.

However, the king still refused to let him go and asked again: "How much is the salary of the fifth-rank court officials in the past two years after the establishment of the Fanyang Trading Center..."

Basically, there is no need to answer. Salary is the treatment that every minister is most concerned about. Since Li Yun appeared in the Tang Dynasty, the salary of ministers has increased by five times.

This king was well versed in the way of fighting. He first started by questioning and instantly occupied the commanding heights of the truth. Then he began to refute the minister's words and sneered: "Eat the court meal and help outsiders poach your friends. Your salary has increased by five times, but the market price of buying things has dropped by 50%. How comfortable is life like this? I want to ask you, can you still be so comfortable after the tax yamen is cancelled?"

The minister's face turned slightly red and defended: "I have never said that I would cancel the tax yamen. I mean that King Zhao gave taxes to merchants."

"fart!"

Wang Jue blew his mouth and said furiously: "The King of Zhao gave taxes to others. Who will help Hebei? A few years ago, the Hebei Road was full of hunger. Did you, a fifth-rank court official, take out your salary?"

As he spoke, his eyes sharply said, "How much does the Kucha mission give you? Let you help them dig the corners of the Tang Dynasty."

The minister quickly shook his head and said indignantly: "I am as honest as water, and I have never had any corruption."

"laugh!"

Wang Jue laughed sarcastically, turned to look at Li Yun and said, "King Zhao, let's get to know each other, my father, King Huainan, I will be the King of Jiaodong. According to the seniority of the royal family, you have to call me "Uncle."

King Jiaodong?

Isn’t that Li Daoyan?

Li Yun quickly bowed and thought about it. He felt that it was impossible to just bow, so he gently put Li Zhi down and stood up from the mat.

Li Daoyan smiled and waved his hand at him, then pointed to the minister just now, and said, "This person is called Zheng Kuo. There are five villages outside Chang'an City. The people of the people have a name for him, jokingly calling him Zheng Bamao. However, he is an official of the Honglu Temple and usually only receives filial piety from foreign envoys. What do you think about this?"

Li Yun pondered for a moment and smiled and said, "I know nothing about the court, but I am a little confused about common things in the world. This Lord Zheng even called him to pluck his hair. It can be seen that the name of receiving gifts is already known to everyone, but he can still stay in the court, so there must be an unexplainable truth."

He stopped here and pondered for a long time before he said in an uncertain tone: "Although the geese pass by, it may be difficult to distinguish between loyalty and treacherous..."

...
Chapter completed!