In the small study room of Taiji Hall, Emperor Li Er, Xiao Rui, Weng's son-in-law, and the chamberlain Lao Gao were waiting for tea.
"I'm very relieved that your son is focused on the construction site. But it's not right not to come back for several months in a row. I will make a rule for you. Before the end of the project, you will go back to Chang'an at least once a month to see your parents. Go to the palace and see Xiangcheng again, after all, you two will get married next year."
Xiao Ruixin said, I'm afraid the last sentence is the key point, right? Not to mention, although Li Er is ruthless, he is really good to his daughter.
"It's okay. You're not too stupid. You know how to send Xiangcheng back in person. It's so late. If you want to come over and see me, go home quickly. I heard that your father has been sleeping in the study for a month." Li Erqiang endured. I didn't laugh out loud.
The tea that reached Xiao Rui's mouth spurted out. Didn't you hear anyone say that?
However, the emperor's information is absolutely correct. Which minister's house does not have a hidden stake buried by the emperor?
Turning his head and looking at the surroundings, Xiao Rui whispered: "Your Majesty, something big happened."
Um? ? ? event?
Li Er winked at the chamberlain Lao Gao. Lao Gao quickly went out and came back after a while. He nodded, which meant that the surrounding arrangements had been made.
"Tell me, what big deal could make you be so cautious and come here late at night?"
Xiao Rui slowly recounted what happened in the restaurant today, "According to Xiangcheng's guess, the one named Li Yi'an is the son of Li Xiaochang, the king of Yi'an County. As for the other two, one of them is named Changsun, and he is Changsun Chong's cousin. Brother. There is another person named Liu, I don’t know who it is.”
"But what we know is that the father of the person named Liu is in charge of the guards of Chang'an City. The person named Changsun can control the palace gate."
Li Er's face was as dark as water, and he turned to look at Lao Gao, the chamberlain. Lao Gao bowed and said: "It should be General Liu Deyu of the Youwu Guards. He is responsible for the two-month guard of Chang'an City. As for the eldest grandson... it should be Sun Anye, the general of the right prison gate."
Changsun Anye?
"Isn't that the queen's brother? How could he..." Xiao Rui was puzzled.
Li Er nodded, "This eldest grandson Anye is the queen's half-brother, ranking third. In the early years, the eldest grandson's family did not get along. In order to monopolize the family property, the eldest grandson Anye drove the auxiliary machine and the queen's brother and sister out of the house. The two had no choice but to I can only seek refuge with my uncle Gao Shilian. The relationship between the three of us has gradually eased over the years. This is my attitude of appointing my eldest grandson Anye to guard the palace gate. I didn’t expect... Humph! A treacherous and ruthless traitor."
So that's it. It's a pity that Queen Changsun, such a kind, generous and virtuous woman, has such a brother.
"You are really my blessing. If you encounter something like this when we go out for a meal, it is your credit. After the incident is completed, I will change your clothes."
Change clothes? Of course it doesn't mean to buy some clothes, the implication is to change into official robes. Now Xiao Rui is the censor of the sixth rank, wearing a yellow robe. The fourth and fifth grades higher up are the red official robes. Tang Dynasty rank three and above are luxurious purple robes. Tang law stipulates that ordinary people have strict regulations on the color of clothes they wear. They must not wear these clothes indiscriminately, otherwise they will go to jail.
Therefore, when walking in the Tang Dynasty, you can know the status of the other person by looking at his clothes. This is the reason why you should first respect the clothes and then the person.
The advantage is that you can avoid being ignorant and offending people who can't afford to offend. Of course, guys like Xiao Rui who usually like to wear casual clothes and pretend to be pigs and eat tigers don't count.
"Li Xiaochang? It's in vain that two generations of us trusted him so much. We are both descendants of the clan. He was granted the title of king during the Wude period. I also appointed him as the governor of Lizhou to guard important places. Unexpectedly, he cultivated a white-eyed wolf." He cursed. Man, Li Er looked at Lao Gao.
Lao Gao was sweating profusely and fell to his knees with a plop, "I failed in my duty. The details of the newly opened Cyclamen are not clear yet. The other party is very strict in employing people. It takes time to bury hidden piles, so there was an oversight..."
Lao Gao is also unjustly accused. Who would have thought that these guys are so bold and dare to let their sons eat, drink and blatantly pass on information?
Xiao Rui's tea spurted out again, "Did you do it to bury the hidden stakes in Cyclamen?"
"Huh? Boy, what are you doing?" Li Er was puzzled.
Lao Gao also wondered, this is a matter of our secret guards, does the Prince Consort also know about it? Are you a god?
Xiao Rui put down the tea cup, stood up and explained: "Hey! If I had known it was one of my own, I would have asked someone to be gentler. I asked someone to open that Cyclamen secretly, disguised as my enemy, and used Zuixian Tower A gimmick of fighting, a deal to make extra money. I was afraid of being discovered, so I gave the death order..."
Open your own Cyclamen and compete with your own Drunken Immortal Tower? You kid... you can't think of it! Li Er was speechless.
Xiao Rui explained with a smile: "The space in Zuixian Tower is limited, and you have to queue up every day when it is full. Sooner or later, someone will follow suit and open a restaurant to compete with me. Instead of letting outsiders earn your money, why not I’ll open another one.”
"Then you might as well open a Zuixianlou branch. Why is it called Xiankelai?" Lao Gao asked in confusion.
Xiao Rui said proudly: "I have offended too many people in Chang'an recently. I would like to open Zuixian Tower all over Chang'an City, but in that case, enemies everywhere will not like me, and something will happen sooner or later."
"Simply, I pretended to be an enemy and opened a rival restaurant, Cyclamen. Anyone with a discerning eye would know by looking at the name that it is the enemy of Zui Xian Lou. Zui Xian Lou caters to me and ordinary people. Cyclamen, on the other hand, caters to those who hate me. "
Li Er said angrily: "Such a damaging move is only what you kid can do. If those who hate you know that they deliberately don't go to Zuixian Tower and go to Xiankelai to give you money, I don't know what will happen." I won’t be pissed off.”
"Okay, since this guy is driving the Cyclamen, don't let go of the hidden stakes."
"You're a good boy. Even my people can't figure out the details of Cyclamen. I'm afraid it will be even harder for others."
Xiao Rui was secretly proud. We had the emperor's secret guards helping us test the firewall. This was so profitable that he would go back and give the Cyclamen people a salary increase. But, you can't believe him. Did he really not put the hidden stake when he said he wouldn't? If you don’t believe it, you won’t believe it even to death. When I go back, I have to tell my men that next time someone puts a hidden stake in the cyclamen, they will be more ruthless and beat them to death.
After talking about business, Xiao Rui stood up to say goodbye and walked quietly out of the palace. Anyway, his family lives in Kaihuafang, not far from Zhuque Gate.
The emperor told him not to show his face a year ago. Now he, Xiao Rui, is the evil star of Chang'an City. What if you return to Chang'an City and alert the enemy?
Xiao Rui promised to go back to see his family tonight and quietly return to the construction site tomorrow.
A carriage came out of the West Market and galloped towards the East City. It bumped into several stalls selling lanterns along the way, but those vendors dared not speak in anger. As soon as they saw the carriage, they knew they were the sons of nobles.
Coincidentally, when the carriage reached the middle of Zhuque Street, it met a pedestrian. The coachman shouted arrogantly: "Get out of the way, you will not be compensated for being hit to death..."
Xiao Rui, who originally wanted to step aside, frowned when he heard this, and immediately stood where he was.
The coachman is stupid, is there anyone who is not afraid of death? Dare you stand in the middle of the road? Aren't you afraid of being hit by a carriage? Okay, if you're not afraid of death, then try it.
"Sir, there is a pariah blocking the road ahead." The coachman asked inside the carriage.
In the carriage, Li Yi'an, who was eighty percent drunk, said arrogantly: "Hit me. Who dares to block my way in Chang'an? He is just a pariah. No matter if he is hit or killed."
The driver's eyes were fierce, and he flicked the reins with both hands, making the horse go faster.
With anger in his heart, Xiao Rui turned around, facing the galloping horse, and glanced at the driver with disdain.
Under the dim moonlight, the coachman couldn't clearly see the other person's eyes, but for a moment, he felt a chill down his spine, as if he was being stared at by the god of death. His body was trembling slightly, and his hands involuntarily tightened the reins in his hands.
