Chapter 168 Li Shimin also invested.
"The Emperor Emeritus not only cares about his other children, he also cares about His Majesty!"
"He knew the national treasury was empty and that they couldn't come up with the money..."
"So he doesn't want to trouble Your Majesty, and wants to pawn the jade ruyi and redeem it after making money!"
However, upon hearing this, Li Shimin flew into a rage.
"presumptuous!"
Li Shimin shouted, "How can the Emperor Emeritus engage in the business of merchants? Wouldn't people laugh at us if word got out?"
"Furthermore, as an official of the imperial court, you encouraged the Emperor to engage in commerce, which is an even greater crime!"
I've finally caught you red-handed.
I'm going to really mess with you now!
"Your Majesty, if you wish to punish me, I have no objection."
"But have you ever wondered why the Emperor Emeritus did this?" Wei Shuyu said calmly.
Li Shimin remained silent.
Do you think I would answer?
Answering gives you the opportunity to criticize, doesn't it?
However, Li Shimin did not reply, and Wei Shuyu continued talking to himself...
"If he hadn't been forced to, why would the Emperor Emeritus have taken out the jade ruyi?"
"If the Emperor Emeritus didn't know the national treasury was empty, why wouldn't he have sought out His Majesty?"
“You have no idea how reluctant the Emperor Emeritus was to part with it. He handed it to me and refused to let go.”
"I reminded him repeatedly, but in the end I pulled him back."
"But then he thought of his children and took it out again..."
Li Shimin remained silent.
Li Yuan always adopted a closed-off, domesticated approach to raising his children.
They gave him a title, arranged for one or two eunuchs and palace maids to take care of him, and then didn't interfere much else.
To be honest, their lives were probably not as good as some of the senior eunuchs in the palace.
"You should return the jade ruyi."
Li Shimin finally softened: "Tell Father that I will prepare supplies for my brothers and sisters."
"Your Majesty, you mustn't."
Wei Shuyu quickly stopped him.
If you take care of everything, how can I continue to use the Emperor Emeritus's name to swindle and deceive people?
"What do you mean?" Li Shimin asked, puzzled.
"This is a secret between me and the Emperor Emeritus. If you forcefully intervene, wouldn't that expose that you have planted spies around him..."
"It may seem like you're helping him, but in reality, it will chill the heart of the Emperor Emeritus?"
"Now that the retired emperor has nothing to do, it's a good time to find something to do."
"As long as they don't interfere in politics, isn't this a good thing?"
Li Shimin pondered.
What Wei Shuyu said wasn't entirely unreasonable.
As long as Li Yuan doesn't focus on politics, it's understandable that he might engage in some small-scale business.
As for whether it will sound bad if it gets out?
Who would dare to spread this?
"You're making money for the retired emperor, so you're going into business?" Li Shimin couldn't help but ask.
It is a major taboo for officials to engage in commerce.
Wei Shuyu dared to engage in commerce, and Wei Zheng was the first to not let him off the hook.
"I am in charge of the affairs of Hu County and have a lot of contact with merchants. I am just helping the Emperor Emeritus invest money in places where it can make money!"
"Can it make money?" Li Shimin looked on with suspicion.
"Making money is inevitable."
Wei Shuyu replied with a smile, "Promoting commerce can elevate the status of merchants, and they will surely flock to it one after another!"
"Approximately how much can I earn?"
"Earning enough to buy a jade ruyi every month is more than enough."
Li Shimin's expression immediately turned strange.
money!
I need it too.
The imperial treasury has almost been emptied.
Xiao Wei seems to have a talent for this.
At least they made a good profit from that ice.
Old Wei, who used to be so thin, has gained weight recently…
"Your Majesty, do you perhaps also wish to earn some money?"
Just as Li Shimin was pondering, Wei Shuyu said something inexplicably.
Li Shimin was startled.
He was the emperor; how could he engage in commerce?
If this gets out, Wei Zheng will probably be furious with him.
etc……
Wei Zheng? Wei Shuyu?
It might not work for others, but it might not work for Wei Shuyu.
These two are father and son.
If the father and son start arguing, then I'll sell everything I own to watch the show...
"Father, how much money were you planning to pawn this jade ruyi?" Li Shimin asked casually.
"Two thousand strings of cash," Wei Shuyu replied.
"I see..."
Li Shimin coughed awkwardly and said, "Then I will take five thousand strings of cash from the imperial treasury. You can use it for business."
Huh?
So generous?
Just as Wei Shuyu was wondering, Li Shimin added another sentence...
"Remember, Father's jade ruyi costs two thousand strings of cash!"
Wei Shuyu's lips twitched.
Got it!
Li Yuan received two thousand strings of cash, while Li Shimin received three thousand strings of cash!
Li Shimin had no shame when it came to earning a living.
"Minister Wei, the matter of Hu County must be handled properly."
Li Shimin said with a smile, "You don't want the retired emperor to live in your house, do you?"
What matter concerning Hu County must be properly handled?
I have to make you money, right?
Wei Shuyu was utterly speechless.
"OK."
Wei Shuyu nodded seriously: "As long as His Majesty can persuade my father, that's fine."
Your dad?
You, Wei Shuyu, threaten me with your old man name at the slightest disagreement.
Li Shimin gritted his teeth.
"I'm not going to waste time with that nonsense. Just tell me, can you make money?"
"able!"
"Then this matter is entrusted to you. Make sure the Emperor Emeritus makes money!"
"promise."
Wei Shuyu accepted the order, and then added, "Your Majesty, when the time comes, if I need your help, will you help?"
"What kind of help?"
Li Shimin was slightly dissatisfied.
"It's very simple, whether you write a few words or draw a picture," Wei Shuyu said with a grin.
"It's that simple?"
Li Shimin asked cautiously.
"Your Majesty, if you want to make money, you naturally have to invest."
Wei Shuyu's eyes darted around: "There's a term called 'writing fee'."
"It is perfectly reasonable for merchants to donate a little money to the court if His Majesty casually mentions a few words."
A writing fee?
That's a great excuse...
Is it too much for me to mention a few words in support of the pro-commerce policy?
People are eager to donate money to the imperial court; I can't possibly stop them, can I?
"There are no requirements for the calligraphy or painting? I can write whatever I want?"
As if afraid that Wei Shuyu would ask him to write something, Li Shimin kept a watchful eye on things.
"It will be all right."
Wei Shuyu smiled and nodded.
"Won't this damage my reputation?"
"Won't."
"They won't make it into a sign or something, will they?"
"Won't."
"Minister Wei has devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Tang Dynasty, which greatly comforts me, but you must still take care of your health..."
Li Shimin praised it highly, then changed the subject: "I wonder how much the writing fee is?"
"..."
You're really realistic.
"His Majesty has provided 5,000 strings of cash, with a guaranteed minimum of 5,000 strings of cash per month!" Wei Shuyu answered truthfully.
Li Shimin then nodded with a smile.
Five thousand strings of cash a month, sixty thousand strings of cash a year!
In seven years, he could amass 420,000 strings of cash.
He had only saved 200,000 strings of cash over the previous seven years.
This is a great deal...
After chatting for a while longer, Wei Shuyu announced his departure.
"Your Majesty, why would you engage in business for such a small amount of money!"
After Wei Shuyu left, Wang De suddenly asked a question.
For an emperor to engage in commerce would be a source of eternal infamy if it were known to the public.
"A pro-commerce policy is imperative."
Li Shimin's eyes instantly deepened: "My intervention is a way of giving Shuyu some support."
Sixty thousand strings of cash a year? Why wouldn't you take money that's practically free?
If people find out, why not just pin the blame on the Emperor?
Anyway, Father has a brain disorder...
"By the way, Wang De, tell Guanyinbi to raise the status of the Emperor's children a little in the future."
"promise."
Wang De bowed and accepted the order.
"Do you think Wei Shuyu can make money?" Li Shimin asked with a smile.
"Your Majesty, this servant doesn't know if Imperial Censor Wei can make money, but..."
Wang De bowed, seemingly wanting to speak but then stopping himself.
"But what?" Li Shimin asked unhappily.
"Your Majesty, didn't you intend to teach Wei Shuyu a lesson?"
"Why the reversal..."
After omitting a few words, Wang De said, "And you even cheerfully asked him to leave?"
What the hell?
Li Shimin was struck dumb.
That damned Wei, he's fooled him again...
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