Li Shimin held a small bowl of soy milk and walked leisurely in Xingqing Palace.
Under the afterglow of dusk, the scenery of the palace where I lived when I was a child brought back memories. Without the smell of cats, the entire palace seemed much closer.
Li Shimin thought at first that the bean aroma was too strong and overshadowed the smell of cats. After walking in, he gradually realized that the smell of cats here was much lighter.
The ubiquitous cats also seemed different from before, but Li Shimin couldn't tell what was different.
After drinking a glass of soy milk, Li Shimin went outside the palace.
Standing outside the Wuming Palace, Li Shimin saw from the window that his father was playing with his cat in the palace. It was still the same as before, not much different.
"Did something happen to Xingqing Palace recently? Why are there something wrong with these cats?"
Li Shimin asked again, it was the same palace maid who asked the question before.
The palace maid hurriedly responded: "Back to the Emperor, a miracle doctor came recently and cured the Emperor's mink. He also performed sterilization operations on all the cats here."
"Sterilization?"
"Just so that these cats can no longer give birth."
Li Shimin understood this time and thought this was a good thing.
These cats are all the treasures of the father, and no one dares to touch them. They can only let them multiply in the palace, and their numbers are increasing day by day.
If they were all sterile, these cats would be able to calm down a bit, and the entire Xingxingqing Palace would not be so chaotic.
"Is this sterilization operation a bit cruel? Father, can he agree to it?"
The palace maid replied calmly: "The miracle doctor said that cats can live longer after sterilization. If the Emperor really loves cats, he should perform operations on these cats. As a result, the Emperor really agreed, was very satisfied, and ordered We learned from that miracle doctor. Now every maid in Xingqing Palace is a good cat caretaker."
"I see. As soon as I entered the palace, I felt different from before."
Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction. This is really good. Just as he was about to enter the hall, he saw a long wooden basin placed on the haystack outside the hall. It was filled with white powder. There were many cats squatting on it. He also watched Li Shimin warily.
"What's that?"
"Back to the emperor, that's called cat litter."
"Cat litter? What is cat litter?"
"The so-called cat litter is actually the bean dregs left after grinding beans, mixed with a certain proportion of black soil and lime, and then pressed to become cat litter. This cat litter is for the convenience of cats. There is no need to teach them, those little guys will come here on their own. It’s convenient up there, but after it’s convenient, you’ll bury it yourself, it’s so interesting.”
"With this thing, the cats will come here for convenience?"
Li Shimin was greatly surprised. He looked at the cat litter box carefully and saw with his own eyes that the cat was digging sand to bury its own poop.
"Since I got this cat litter, the cats no longer have to go around. They are all buried in the cat litter. The cat litter has the smell of beans and covers up the odor. Cleaning up is also very simple for the slaves, as long as they clean it every day Just dig them out, collect them and throw them away together. From now on, there will be no more cat odor in Xingqing Palace."
"So it's this thing!" Li Shimin said, "This cat litter is a bit strange. Several concubines in the palace are also good at raising cats. I will prepare some for them and send it to the palace."
"It's the Emperor."
There was a conversation going on outside, and Li Yuan came out: "Your Majesty, you are finally here."
When he saw his father, Li Shimin straightened his face and knelt down respectfully: "My son, please see your father."
"Pingshen, Pingshen."
"Thank you, Father."
The father and son had not seen each other for a long time. After the customary ceremony, they supported each other and entered the palace with smiles on their faces.
Wine and food have been prepared in the palace. It is a tofu feast.
"Your Majesty, come and try it. These are the delicacies recently developed by your father. They are all made with tofu and have different flavors."
Li Shimin couldn't help but frown when he heard it was all tofu. He wanted to ask his father why he was suddenly obsessed with tofu, but he thought about it and let it go.
After Li Shimin tasted it, he immediately changed his original idea.
Although there are all tofu on the table, they all have different tastes and textures. They are very rich and do not feel monotonous.
"Father, this tofu is so delicious, I will definitely ask the imperial chef to come over and learn from it someday."
The father and son chatted affectionately for a long time.
Halfway through the meal, Li Shimin put away his chopsticks and asked, "My father summoned my son and I don't know why?"
When he got down to business, Li Yuan also put away his chopsticks.
"Did the emperor see the changes in Xingqing Palace when he came?"
"Back to my father, there have been many changes in Xingqing Palace. I have already asked the maids outside."
"Then what do you think of this change?"
"It seems to have gotten much better."
"My father recently met a strange man. He not only has superb medical skills, but also has many fantastic ideas. He takes care of the cats here, and he teaches the cat litter, as well as these tofu feasts."
"Oh? Written by one person? Is there such a strange person in the world?"
"The prince must know this."
"who?"
"It is the Bai Song who will never become an official."
"Bai Song? The one who wrote the water-melody song?"
"Exactly!"
"My son knew that Bai Song was good at medicine and wanted him to be the head of the Taiyuan Hospital. But he didn't expect that he could take care of cats?"
Li Yuan nodded: "Father owes him a big favor this time, so I want to take this opportunity to ask for a reward from the emperor."
Li Shimin frowned when he heard the words: "Father, do you mean to ask your son to take back what he said in the court and give him an official title? It's just that I..."
Li Yuan waved his hands repeatedly: "The emperor is now the king of a country, how can he change it easily? My father will not let the emperor give him an official title, it's just something else."
"Father, please speak."
Li Yuan paused and became a little more serious: "The father wants the emperor to give him Princess Runan."
Li Shimin was stunned. He remained stiff for a long time before asking, "Father, aren't you joking?"
"How can we be joking?"
"Then does the emperor know that Runan is going to promise a marriage between the two countries to the Turks?"
"You should know."
"Since my father knew it, why did he still..."
"I watched Xiang Nan grow up. I came to Xingqing Palace to cry because of this marriage. I really couldn't bear to see her marry a Turk..."
"My father also taught his sons that national affairs are more important than family affairs. As a royal child, you must have the awareness to contribute to the country. This matter is related to the long-term peace and stability of the two countries. How can you follow Xiangnan's liking?"
Li Yuan frowned: "This matter is different from the past. Since my father came to Xingqing Palace, he has never asked the emperor to do anything? It is rare for my father to speak once. Isn't my father's face enough for the emperor to make changes?"
As they spoke, the atmosphere changed, and the smiles on both of their faces gradually faded.
"Father, it is difficult to change this matter. Today, the Turkic envoys have just entered the palace and selected a candidate for marriage. The marriage has been decided. Wouldn't a change at this time mean that I will not keep my word?"
"It's just surrendering to the country, how can they have the final say in everything! Even if the marriage is set, it can be changed. It depends on whether you listen to the father or not!"
