Tanabata Diva Concert: Happy Breakup

After Zheng Zhengjin finished shouting, Liang Hai came out from behind a rockery, scratched his head, walked slowly to the pavilion in the middle of the lake, and asked, "Master, is there something wrong?"

When Zheng Zhengjin called for help, Li Leyan struggled out of Zheng Zhengjin's arms. Knowing that Leyan was shy, he let her go. Her pretty face was as red as a ripe tomato in the field.

Zheng Zhengjin said at this time: "Tomorrow, Zhang San and I will arrange for people to fence off that piece of open space. Make it as high as this young master's villa in Qingcheng Mountain. Do you understand?"

"Master, don't worry. I promise I'll do it properly." After Liang Hai finished speaking, he ran away. He didn't want to be an eyesore here. After all, it was a big taboo to disturb the young master and his wife's love affair.

"Sir, what's going on?" Li Leyan looked at Zheng Zhengjin curiously.
"I just don't want to make it so shocking. You will know in a few days." Zheng Zhengjin took a sip of tea and then said.

Li Leyan didn't ask any more questions.
Zheng Zhengjin once again embraced Li Leyan in his arms. Looking at the lovely girl so close, Zheng Zhengjin smiled and said, "This is a surprise from your husband."

Without thinking, Zheng Zhengjin actually knew how wide Li Leyan's mouth would open when the baffle was removed. He gently stroked Li Leyan's forehead.
"By the way, Le Yan, your husband is going to the Prince of Hejian's mansion tomorrow to discuss some simple details with him. Do you want to go with us?" Zheng Zhengjin asked seriously.

"I won't go. You can go alone, young master." Li Leyan said shyly in a low voice.

Zheng Zhengjin could understand this. After all, although women of that era were open-minded, they were not that open-minded.

Time passed like quicksand. The two of them were cuddling in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, but the sky was gradually getting dark.
Zheng Zhengjin smiled and said to Li Leyan: "My lady, it's time to go to bed."

Li Leyan's body felt numb and her face turned red to her ears. She whispered, "Okay, see you tomorrow, sir."

Watching her young lady leave the pavilion in the middle of the lake, the maid Caidie stepped forward and went back to the courtyard where they were with her young lady.

"Caidie, Changle and Yuzhang, have they made arrangements?" Li Leyan asked about the two little cuties with concern.

"Your Highness, everything has been arranged for Her Highness Changle and Her Highness Yuzhang. They have both gone to bed." Caidie said truthfully. Those two little cuties love to play, but they never bother the maids. This is the benefit she learned from Empress Changsun.

"Well, let's go. I'm tired too," Li Leyan said in a domineering manner in order to hide the embarrassment left after she got up from Zheng Zhengjin's arms.

"Okay, Your Highness." Caidie said, and the two of them returned to the courtyard where Li Leyan was.

Changle and Yuzhang have already fallen asleep at this moment.

Caidie then said to Li Leyan: "Your Highness, I congratulate you on getting what you wished for."

She knew that the wedding would be in ten days, so it would be there in the blink of an eye.

Li Leyan teased, "Haha, as this princess's dowry, don't you have to come here?"

Caidie said softly, "I dare not."

"Okay, don't worry about it. At least in the future, this princess will promise you a good home." Li Leyan smiled faintly with her beautiful face in the night.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I will never forget how kind you have been to me." Caidie's eyes were slightly red, and she was very moved, Li Leyan.

"Okay, okay, speak softly, don't wake up those two little cuties." Li Leyan smiled, and she was talking about Changle and Yuzhang.

In the room, the faint candlelight flickered.

In the pavilion, Zheng Zhengjin fell into deep thought, thinking, how can it be simple? After all, Li Leyan's identity is there, a princess of the royal family. In fact, it is easy to do it simply, but the issue of betrothal gifts makes Zheng Zhengjin a little headache. If he gives too little, will others think that he does not value Xiangcheng enough? But if he gives too much, will it make Li Shimin greedy?

The next morning, at Taiji Hall,
Zheng Renji did not come today because he and the thousand guards arranged by Qin Qiong had already gone to the border adjacent to Gaochang Kingdom.

"Minister of Rites, did you come to an agreement yesterday on how to arrange Princess Xiangcheng's marriage?" Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne and glanced majestically at Li Xiaogong below.

Li Xiaogong stood up and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I and Duke Xian had not yet discussed some details yesterday, so we agreed to discuss it again today."

"Well, as the Minister of Rites, you should be more careful about this matter." Li Shimin, who was sitting on the dragon throne, looked at Li Xiaogong with a smile. Of course, he knew that Li Xiaogong was drunk last night, so he just wanted to give him a warning.

"Your Majesty, I obey your order." Li Xiaogong smiled and returned to his seat.

At this time, Cheng Zhijie patted Li Xiaogong on the shoulder and said with his teeth bared, "Your Highness, you are so mean. You went to drink the fairy wine without informing me."

Li Xiaogong cursed: "Humph, you still have the nerve to say that? Your cow drowned, but you didn't send me a few dozen kilograms of it, did you?"

Cheng Yaojin said awkwardly: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. My cow seems to be depressed recently and may be ready to jump into the river to commit suicide again."

The fat Changsun Wuji snorted and said, "Mr. Cheng, next time when you are looking for an excuse for the death of a cow, don't use the excuse that the cow drowned. Cows can swim. Do you think you are stupid?"

Cheng Zhijie was almost stunned, then he saw Li Xiaogong, and Li Xiaogong nodded slightly.

"Well, maybe the cow forgot how to swim, so it drowned. Next time, I, Old Cheng, will keep an eye on the cow and won't let it make such a mistake again." Cheng Zhijie's words surprised Li Xiaogong and Zhangsun Pangzi.

After the court session, Li Shimin's eunuch invited Fatty Changsun, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and others to the imperial study outside the palace gate. He wanted to see the attitude of his brother-in-law.

Li Shimin sat on a chair in the imperial study and spoke to several other seated ministers.

"I plan to reduce agricultural taxes. I wonder if you have any suggestions?" Li Shimin said.

In fact, he also knew that it would be unrealistic to reduce or exempt all of them at once. After all, some things cannot be accomplished overnight.

"Your Majesty, the people's taxes are already very light now. Isn't it a bit too hasty?" Du Ruhui asked.

Zhang Sun Wuji then asked: "Your Majesty, if the agricultural tax is further reduced, how can the national treasury be enriched?"

Li Shimin knocked on the table gently, and then said a few words: "I intend to collect business taxes! What do you think, my dear ministers?"

The concept of commercial tax had never appeared in the Tang Dynasty. Although Li Shimin's idea was a bit fanciful, except for Changsun Wuji who frowned slightly, the eyes of Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and others almost lit up.

But Fang Xuanling said, "Your Majesty, if you collect business taxes, it will affect the interests of the aristocratic families, right?"

Du Ruhui suggested: "Your Majesty, this matter should not be rushed, we should take it step by step."

As Li Shimin's brother-in-law, Changsun Wuji always sided with Li Shimin no matter what happened when Li Shimin was in power.

So he immediately said: "Your Majesty, I think your idea is very good, but you can slow down a bit. After all, the Tang Dynasty cannot go to war with the aristocratic families right now!"

"Well, I just want to discuss this with you. I want to let you know first." Li Shimin was very satisfied with Zhangsun Wuji's performance and thought, "He is worthy of being my brother-in-law."

(End of this chapter)