From a courtyard on the back mountain of Xiangguo Temple, bursts of piano sounds came.
Liu Zhao was wearing a loose robe with big sleeves, sitting on the ground like a noble man, playing the piano with both hands.
The sound of the piano is sometimes distant, sometimes high-pitched, sometimes like crying and complaining, and sometimes like traveling to the ends of the earth with a sword.
The servants served him with their bows bowed, not even daring to breathe.
Qian Fu walked in from outside, hesitated for a moment, and still did not dare to step forward to disturb Liu Zhao's interest.
The piano music suddenly stopped.
A string broke and bounced high up, passing by Liu Zhao's face, almost scratching his cheek.
"Is your Highness in trouble?"
Eunuch Lin Shuping asked worriedly.
Liu Zhao had a serious face and stretched out his hands. A handsome servant came forward and wiped and maintained his hands.
In the past, these tasks were done by beautiful maids.
Knowing that Gu Jiu was a jealous person, all these personal service tasks were assigned to Qingjun, a servant.
When people who didn't know the truth saw this, they mistakenly thought that Liu Zhao was a homosexual.
Liu Zhao looked at Qian Fu.
Qian Fu hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, Minister Li has arrived."
He looked hesitant.
Liu Zhao asked, "Is there anything else?"
"Minister Li brought a woman here."
Liu Zhao scoffed, "Please ask Sir Li to come in."
"That woman?"
"Find another place to arrange it."
"I obey your command."
After a while, Minister Li was invited into the side room and sat on the ground opposite Liu Zhao.
"I just heard your highness's piano playing. It's truly heavenly. I wonder when I'll have the good fortune to hear your highness's piano playing again."
Liu Zhao wiped his hands gently, and the servants took the guqin away and replaced it with tea and snacks.
"Lord Li, please have some tea." Liu Zhao's face was cold and he did not respond to the other party.
Minister Li picked up the teacup, blew on it gently, took a sip, and found the temperature of the tea was just right.
The tea fragrance is long-lasting.
However, I am not in the mood to drink tea at the moment.
He put down the teacup and said, "Your Highness is indeed very patient."
Liu Zhao smiled faintly, "It has been less than two years since my father ascended the throne, so naturally, Your Highness is not in a hurry."
"But your brothers are very anxious." Minister Li looked at Liu Zhao with a smile.
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows. "They are them, and I am me. If Lord Li is interested in one of my brothers, he can go there by himself. Why bother making this trip?"
Minister Li laughed heartily.
After laughing, he said, "If anyone else had said this, I would have thought they were arrogant. But Your Highness, you do have the confidence. Last year, you left the capital for six months under the pretext of suppressing the rebellion, but in reality you were training your navy in the south.
Even your few trusted guards have remained in the south. I've heard that your navy is growing in size and is working tirelessly to eliminate coastal threats and combat the pirate Li Hailong.
Liu Zhao asked coldly, "Lord Li, you've taken the trouble to come see me, is it just for this old news? The first year of Wende is almost over, why don't we talk about the events of the second year of Wende?"
"Your Highness is so anxious?"
"Isn't Master Li in a hurry?"
Liu Zhao smiled contemptuously.
Minister Li held the teacup in his hand and said, "It seems that Your Highness has guessed my purpose."
Liu Zhao did not deny it, "I know a little bit."
Minister Li said, "I won't keep you in suspense. Someone in the south has asked me to limit the navy's operations to the coastal areas."
Liu Zhao laughed heartily, then sarcastically said, "Could it be that the pirate Li Hailong managed to get through to Lord Li through some connections? He certainly has a way."
"The person who asked for help wasn't the pirate Li Hailong, but the Grand Commander of the Jiangnan Grand Commandery."
Liu Zhao's brows twitched slightly. "Grand Commander Zhang is asking for a favor?"
"Exactly. You can refuse face to others, but you must refuse face to Admiral Zhang. Otherwise, your Highness's navy will be unable to move an inch along the coast."
Liu Zhao sneered, "Are you threatening me, my Lord?"
Minister Li shook his head. "No. I'm trying to build connections for you."
Liu Zhao: Haha!
"So, Your Highness would like to thank Lord Li."
Minister Li wasted no time and said bluntly, "General Zhang is guaranteeing that Madam Zhao's maritime trade will be able to carry three ships of goods every year. This is absolutely true."
Ever since Gu Jiu and Zhou Jin fell out, Gu Jiu's maritime trade business has not been going well.
The emperor is far away and the sea merchants in the south of the Yangtze River are all hypocritical.
What His Royal Highness the Prince, what His Royal Highness the Prince's Wife, are not as effective as a word from the pirate Li Hailong on the sea.
Li Hailong said that the ships of Sihai Trade would not be allowed to pass through, and Gu Jiu’s goods would not be able to leave the near sea.
Li Hailong is so arrogant.
Of course, Li Hailong is just the pseudonym of the pirate leader Zhou Jin.
Liu Zhao attacked Zhou Jin, and Zhou Jin in turn attacked Gu Jiu's business in Jiangnan.
Now that General Zhang has stepped forward to mediate, it seems to be an opportunity.
Liu Zhao smiled and asked, "If Your Highness disagrees, will Grand Commander Zhang impeach Your Highness?"
Minister Li said, "Grand Commander Zhang has been in charge of Jiangnan for many years. In my opinion, Your Majesty will not remove Grand Commander Zhang within the next four or five years."
The implication was that if Liu Zhao didn't agree to mediate, everyone would start fighting within four or five years. It wouldn't necessarily be General Zhang who would suffer.
It was just because Liu Zhao was a prince, there were some things that court officials could do but he could not.
What he did was a taboo.
For example, last year he secretly went to Jiangnan to train the navy.
Once this matter was exposed, Emperor Wende would have to give an explanation to the court officials.
Because there was no clear order for Liu Zhao to go to the south of the Yangtze River to train the navy. This matter involved military power, and his status as a prince was very taboo.
Many times, the identity of a prince is not as convenient as that of an emperor's grandson.
The biggest difference is that the prince cannot hold military power, at least not openly.
In the past, Liu Zhao, as the emperor's grandson, could lead troops into battle.
Now, he could only serve as a military supervisor at best, with the military power he controlled no more than a thousand men.
Liu Zhao shook his head slowly.
Minister Li frowned, "You don't agree? This is a lose-lose situation."
Liu Zhao chuckled. "The other party's offer is insufficient. With just three ships of cargo, they want to confine the navy to the coastal area. Do they think I'm a beggar?"
Minister Li asked, "Then you set the conditions and I will fight for you."
Liu Zhao smiled and said, "Twenty ships of cargo."
Minister Li frowned, "Your Highness's appetite is rather too great."
Liu Zhao smiled contemptuously, "Master Li can refuse."
"I don't mind. The key is that the Grand Admiral might not agree. If it's ten ships, I can try to get one or two for Your Highness."
"Fifteen ships, this is my bottom line. Otherwise, I don't mind turning Jiangnan upside down. No matter what the outcome, I am still a prince. I can turn things around after a few years of silence. As for Grand Admiral Zhang, he may not be the admiral anymore."
Liu Zhao threatened directly without any politeness.
Minister Li was a little embarrassed.
Liu Zhao then said, "I won't make it difficult for Lord Li. If Lord Li is willing, I can make the decision and give you a share of the cement road from the capital to Luozhou."
Minister Li laughed heartily, "Your Highness can be the master of Madam Zhao?"
Liu Zhao looked at him with a half-smile.
Minister Li waved his hands repeatedly. "Alright, alright, I was wrong. I will do my best to mediate this matter. Your Highness, please write to the navy as soon as possible to restrict their actions."
"I will not let Lord Li down, provided Lord Li does not let me down either."
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I always keep my word."
"That's great."
Liu Zhao picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Minister Li said, "I came here today because I have something important to do."
Liu Zhao said nothing.
"Your Highness should already know that I have brought a woman with me."
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows and waited for Minister Li's next words.
Minister Li continued, "This person's identity is extremely sensitive. I am unable to protect her, so I have no choice but to come before His Highness for help."
Liu Zhao laughed, "Why should I help you protect a woman of unknown origin?"
"Because this is a sin committed by you, the Liu family."
Liu Zhao sneered.
"Whoever did this evil, you should look for him."
“Those who work evil are already dead.”
"If he's dead, he's dead. So much nonsense."
Minister Li looked at Liu Zhao with a strange expression, "Your Highness, are you really not curious about this woman's identity?"
Liu Zhao sneered, "Since Lord Li mentioned the Liu family's evil deeds, I guess this person is an illegitimate daughter of the royal family. You should consult the Minister of the Imperial Household about this matter. It's useless to consult my Highness."
Minister Li shook his head, "I really can only ask you for help on this matter. If I ask the Minister of the Imperial Household, she will die."
"Master Li is indeed kind and compassionate to women. Why don't you take her in and bring her back home as a concubine?"
"Your Highness is trying to harm me." Minister Li said bluntly.
Liu Zhao smiled coldly, "Isn't Lord Li also trying to harm me?"
"How could I harm you?"
"You asked me to protect her, but how do you expect me to explain this to my wife?"
Minister Li's mouth twitched, "I didn't expect the rumors to be true."
snort!
"I have always thought it was nonsense that His Highness was afraid of Madam Zhao, but now I know there must be a reason for the rumors."
Liu Zhao snorted again.
He asked in return, "If all the expenses of the lord's family are borne by your wife alone, would you be afraid?"
Minister Li was speechless, a look of disbelief on his face. "Your Highness is so poor?"
Liu Zhao's temples twitched, his face was gloomy, and he said nothing.
Minister Li succeeded in angering Liu Zhao, but he burst into laughter.
"It's all worth it to see His Highness's true character. Does Your Highness remember Master Jingsi of Ganye Temple, the most favored Consort Su of Emperor Zhongzong in his later years? (For details, please see Chapter 473)"
Liu Zhao frowned, "If I remember correctly, she burned herself to death."
"Exactly. She died, but her daughter survived."
Liu Zhao's heart was in turmoil, but he remained calm on the surface. "She has a daughter?"
"She does have a daughter, eighteen years old. She is the late emperor's flesh and blood. You must call her aunt."
“Nonsense!”
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
There is a third
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