Li Shimin watched Princess Jiujiang's fleeing figure, a wicked smile spreading across his face. But when he saw Li Jue also grinning wickedly, he glared angrily at his rebellious grandson.
Although this grandson's method was very satisfying, it was ultimately not good for his humiliation of the royal family to be spread.
"You unfilial grandson!"
"Who taught you to speak to Princess Jiujiang like that?"
“Grandpa, we have to be reasonable. I didn’t scold Aunt Jiujiang, nor did I force her. She herself said she didn’t want to live anymore and wanted to go find your father. As her junior, I have to grant her wish, right?”
"You... bastard!"
Li Jue muttered something upon hearing this.
"Fine, I'll leave then, I'm leaving right now..."
After saying this, Li Jue turned tail and ran away, leaving Li Shimin cursing on the spot.
"Damn it, when did I ever say you were free to get lost, you little bastard!"
"You get back here right now!"
Li Shimin watched Li Jue's retreating figure as he ran further and further away, and could only offer an awkward, bitter smile to those around him.
"Now you see, I can't do anything about him..."
"Stop kneeling, all of you, get up now!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"If it's as I say, then you can dump those craftsmen on this grandson and make things difficult for him!"
Changsun Wuji hesitated upon hearing this. He instinctively felt that this was a trap, but he couldn't figure out where the trap was.
Princess Luling was completely terrified. Now, hearing Li Shimin say this, she could only nod mechanically.
"Everything will be done according to Your Majesty's wishes..."
Li Shimin comforted the two of them again, and just as he was about to go back to rest, he saw several princesses and princes walking over.
Li Shimin was extremely annoyed when he saw this, thinking to himself, "Did they arrange to come and force me to abdicate today?"
Sure enough, these people had the same intention as the previous group: they had been driven to desperation by Li Jue and were begging him, the emperor, to find a way for his artisans to survive.
As always, Li Shimin pushed the problem onto Li Jue, regardless of whether Li Jue could recruit so many people, treating it as adding more burden to the Crown Prince.
Princess Jiujiang's Residence.
Princess Jiujiang was so angry after suffering such a great loss in the palace that she didn't even eat dinner when she got home. She just ate two braised pork knuckles and went to bed in a huff.
The next morning, she rushed to Changsun Wuji's house and spent the whole morning plotting with Changsun Wuji's wife.
"Wang, what does your husband think about this?"
Lady Wang, the wife of Changsun Wuji, pondered for a moment upon hearing this and then spoke.
"My master didn't say anything, but he asked me to compile a list of craftsmen and see how many of them had parents, wives and children with them, so that he could send them all to the Crown Prince at once."
"hiss……"
Princess Jiujiang gasped upon hearing this.
Changsun Wuji's family alone has over 100,000 craftsmen. If you include their families, the number would be over a million!
However, Changsun Wuji's move was truly brilliant. He simply refused to believe that Li Jue could support over a million people!
Even if he really has the ability to support him, wouldn't His Majesty be suspicious?
After all, supporting a million people is a force that could rebel at any time!
"I understand. I will go back and take stock of the craftsmen and send all the useless stuff to Li Jue. Let's see how he can support so many people!"
Princess Jiujiang not only did this herself, but also used her influence within the royal family to encourage others to do the same.
For a time, the imperial family members in the capital collectively dismissed their servants and craftsmen, and unanimously told them to seek a living from the Crown Prince.
...
Wang Shanbao's family was among them.
Wang Shanbao was originally the saltworkers manager of Princess Jiujiang's residence. Although the saltworks business had been very bad for the past six months, he had never worried about his family's livelihood.
Because his family had a life-or-death contract with the princess's mansion, in principle, as long as the princess's mansion was not destroyed, his family would always have something to eat.
However, he never expected that his name would be among those laid off in this massive layoff.
Wang Shanbao immediately went to the housekeeper to complain.
"Master Steward, please tell the princess that we have already signed a life-or-death pact with her household. We belong to her in life and in death. Please, princess, don't send us away! Waaah..."
"snort!"
"The saltworks are going out of business now, why should the princess support you for nothing!"
"The Crown Prince is very capable. You should all go find him. He will definitely be able to support you!"
"housekeeper……"
"roll!"
"The princess has given a strict order: you must move out before nightfall today, or she will set you on fire!"
"Oh, by the way, you're not allowed to take anything with you when you leave; you can only leave with the clothes you're wearing!"
"Butler, can we take some food with us?"
"no!"
"The princess said that even if this grain is used to feed the pigs, you cannot take it away!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Shanbao's face turned ashen, but he remained undeterred and secretly slipped a few rice balls into his sleeve. However, he didn't expect that as they were about to leave, the princess would send men to search them, and all his rice balls would be confiscated.
The leading soldier, holding two rice balls, questioned him.
"What's this?"
"Sir, this is food for the children on their journey..."
"snort!"
"The princess has ordered that you are not allowed to take away a single grain of food!"
After saying this, the soldier slammed the rice ball to the ground and then raised his hand to whip Wang Shanbao.
"roll!"
"From this day forward, you are no longer members of the Princess's household. If you dare to steal anything from the Princess's household again, I will beat you to death!"
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