Watching couples perform loving performances actually tests the audience's acting skills.
He clearly knew that this couple was in the same bed, and he clearly saw them flirting with each other in front of him, but Li Qinzai could only pretend to be "Wow, I'm so envious, I'm crazy about this couple."
Can't everyone be more sincere, pull each other's hair and spit on each other, and have a frank talk?
Seeing Li Qinzai looking at him and the Queen with envy, Li Zhi smiled and said, "What do you think of Jingchu? I heard that you and the two ladies are also very affectionate, so there is no need to envy me and the Queen, haha!"
Li Qinzai tried his best to smile: "Your Majesty and the Queen have a deep love for each other, which is really a blessing to the court and a blessing to the people in the world. Your Majesty and the Queen have such a long-lasting love, which is really enviable to others."
A trace of discomfort suddenly flashed in Li Zhi's eyes.
Why? Is my performance a little too much? Not long ago, the power of my mother-in-law was turned upside down. Today, they are so affectionate to each other, which seems a bit unjustifiable.
Li Zhi adjusted his expression and said with a smile: "I haven't praised you yet. Yesterday King Teng came back from the south and brought more than two thousand kilograms of sweet potatoes. Facts have proved that the yield of these sweet potatoes introduced by Jingchu was really huge. The Tang Dynasty The people no longer fear famine."
Li Qinzai smiled bitterly and said: "It is my duty to share your majesty's worries, but I really don't dare to accept your majesty's generous gifts. Your majesty's promotion of the title of minister really makes me panic and uneasy, and I can't sleep at night..."
Li Zhi snorted: "The imperial edict has been issued, and the official department has also made a book. Jingchu should not be pretentious."
Empress Wu also smiled and said: "Jingchu knows that your Majesty has put a lot of thought into your promotion to the title smoothly."
"Your Majesty summoned all the prime ministers and ministers of the current dynasty into the palace. He gave you preparations and compliments, and silenced several important ministers with words. Then he successfully promoted you to the title of County Duke. Don't let Jingchu live up to it. Your Majesty has worked so hard."
Li Qinzai could only say gratefully: "Your Majesty is worried about me. I am deeply grateful and willing to devote my whole life to your Majesty."
Li Zhi laughed and said: "It's good to know that I have worked hard. Queen, Jingchu is not an outsider. It is rare for Jingchu to enter the palace today. Please go down and let the imperial chef cook some delicious dishes while I and Jingchu have a few drinks."
Empress Wu accepted the order with a smile.
Not long after, the wine and food were served, and Li Zhi ordered the palace servants to move the low table into the palace. Li Qinzai and Li Zhi sat opposite each other, while Empress Wu sat obediently next to Li Zhi and poured wine for him.
Li Qinzai glanced around and saw that the dishes on the low table looked familiar, including beef stew, stewed pig's trotters, and even the long-lost bamboo tube rice.
With his own special skills, it is obvious that the royal chefs in the palace are very proficient in learning, and are much better than the little bastards in the school.
He took the initiative to toast Li Zhi with a cup, and Li Qinzai drank it all in one gulp.
Li Zhi didn't hold back either. He was always very relaxed when drinking with Li Qinzai.
After the monarch and his ministers drank a few drinks with each other, Li Zhi put down the wine cup and sighed with a smile: "Having implemented the sweet potato production introduced by Jingchu, I have put down most of my thoughts."
"In two years, sweet potatoes will probably be able to spread throughout Guanzhong. With such a huge output, even if there is another natural disaster, I and the court will not be so anxious."
"I can finally calm down and set my sights on the east."
Li Qinzai was secretly shocked and immediately understood what Li Zhi meant.
The Eastern Expedition was something that Li Zhi had never forgotten since he ascended the throne. Li Zhi still wanted to continue to do what Emperor Taizong failed to do, and he wanted to completely conquer Goguryeo.
This is another real achievement, proving that he is not inferior to the late emperor's achievements.
Now Baekje has been subjugated by the Tang Dynasty, Silla is still in alliance with the Tang Dynasty, and the Japanese country was destroyed by Li Qinzai.
Only Goguryeo remained to the east of the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty, Baekje garrison, and Silla formed a three-sided surrounding of Goguryeo.
The right time, right place, and right people are gradually gathering momentum towards the Tang Dynasty. Look at the heat, it's almost time.
Li Zhi drank from the same cup as Li Qinzai and said with a smile: "If I want to conquer Goguryeo eastward, can Jingchu give me some advice?"
Li Qinzai thought for a while and said: "I have no advice, only a few reminders. First, before the Eastern Expedition, the court stockpiled a large amount of food and grass. Second, training and selecting generals is particularly important. Third, launching in winter is not an option. Fourth, With Baekje and Silla cooperating with the Tang Dynasty to encircle the enemy from three sides, the matter can be settled."
Li Zhi and Empress Wu nodded at the same time.
Of course they knew what Li Qinzai said. Starting from the Sui Dynasty, successive emperors had conquered Goguryeo many times. Although they all ended in failure, the Central Plains dynasty still accumulated many experiences and lessons from failures.
What Li Qinzai said is these experiences and lessons.
"Jing Chu thinks, what will be the victory or defeat in this King's Eastern Expedition?" Li Zhi asked the question he was most concerned about.
Li Qinzai smiled: "As long as we don't make any big strategic mistakes, I think there is at least an 80% chance of winning. Goguryeo can be completely conquered and included in the territory of the Tang Dynasty."
Li Zhi laughed loudly: "I never miss what Jing Chu said. It seems that I really want to borrow your good words. Come on, let's win!"
The monarch and his subjects drank another glass of wine. Li Zhi was in a very happy mood. He picked up a pig's trotter and started chewing it, completely losing his imperial demeanor.
Empress Wu watched from the side, but she couldn't say anything, so she could only give Li Qinzai a wry smile.
Li Qinzai also smiled at her.
His grudges with Empress Wu became more complicated after the murder of Mrs. Wei.
It was none of his business at first, but later Li Qinzai protected Wu Minzhi and suggested that the Korean lady return to Bingzhou to avoid trouble. And it was still he who ordered the assassination of Wu Minzhi sent by Li Yifu to stop, and also ordered the assassin named Du Yuanji to be killed. The warlock was handed over to Xu Jingzong...
Does Empress Wu hate him?
Of course, I also hate it. Old grievances have not been resolved and new ones have been added. How can I not hate it?
But it would be a bit far-fetched to blame Li Qinzai entirely for this incident.
Empress Wu knew better than anyone that when Li Zhi made up his mind to deal with her and cut off her wings, it would be useless no matter how hard she struggled.
Li Yifu must die, and Du Yuanji will still fall into the hands of Xu Jingzong. Even if Li Qinzai doesn't interfere, others will interfere. This is a general trend against her, and it is crushing. She simply couldn't resist.
Moreover, Empress Wu also knew that Li Zhi summoned Li Qinzai to the palace alone and asked him to clean up the rear party, but Li Qinzai refused.
This statement was very important. No matter what Li Qinzai's refusal was, at least in Empress Wu's view, her feud with Li Qinzai was not settled.
There were grudges and grudges, but at this moment she and Li Qinzai could still smile at each other.
The way adults behave in the world, just like the world in their eyes, is not just black and white.
Li Zhi was quite drunk today and was obviously in a good mood.
In his opinion, he has solved the food problem, and preparations for the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo can begin. Once the Eastern Expedition is successful, he will be able to surpass the late Emperor and calmly inherit the honorific title of "Tian Khan" from the late Emperor. Pilgrimage from all over the world.
The emperor's life and death are nothing more than a "name".
