At no time, Chang'an City
After Qin Ming and Xiao Changxi had lunch at Ximenglou, they led Qin Da and his party to send New Year's gifts to various uncles' families.
Qin Ming had already thought about the order of giving gifts. The first family went to the Prince's Mansion of Hejian County, then Qin Qiong, Duke of Yi State, Niu Jinda, Marquis of Langya, and finally went to Duke Lu's Mansion.
The reason why Qin Ming went to Hejian County Prince's Mansion first was to get patched. Since it was a New Year's gift, it would definitely be unjustifiable if he didn't give it to Li Er.
But Li Er's family lived in the palace, and he definitely couldn't send them there. In addition, for such a long time, I have never asked Li Er and Queen Changsun where they live in Chang'an, which is very unreasonable in itself.
If I came to Chang'an this time, wouldn't I ask where Li Er's family lived? That seemed very unreasonable. As long as Li Shimin thought about it for a moment, he would know that he had guessed his identity.
Although Li Shimin will reveal his identity sooner or later, Qin Ming still hopes that day will come later. After all, if Li Shimin reveals his identity, then he will definitely not be as comfortable getting along with Li Shimin and the others in the future as he is now.
What's more, he really doesn't want to be an official. Just thinking about getting up and going to court every day gives Qin Ming a headache.
Being an official is not as comfortable as being in Zhuangzi. It is king to teach the children every day and play cards after class.
Thinking of this, Qin Ming and his party arrived at the Hejian County Prince's Mansion.
Qin Ming asked Qin Da to give a greeting card to the concierge, and then waited at the door of the mansion with everyone in the mansion.
After a while, Prince Hejian brought his servants to the gate of the mansion.
Prince Hejian saw Qin Ming standing on the street at a glance. Prince Hejian smiled and said:
"My dear nephew, I have been wondering for the past two days whether your son has forgotten me and did not come to Chang'an to visit his elders during the Chinese New Year."
When Qin Ming saw the prince of Hejian County going out to greet him in person, he hurriedly saluted and said:
"I've met Uncle Li. Even if my nephew forgets himself, he can't forget his uncle. He just arrived in Chang'an today and came over to greet you immediately."
The group of people behind Qin Ming also hurriedly saluted and said:
"I have met the King of Hejian County."
Everyone in Hejian County waved their hands, and then said to Qin Ming:
"My dear nephew, stop standing on the street and follow me into the house."
Then the Prince of Hejian County pointed at Qin Ming and told his concierge:
"Remember, next time Mr. Qin comes again, you don't need to notify him, just take him to the front hall directly."
The concierge said:
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Qin Ming saw that Li Xiaogong had entered the mansion, so he hurriedly said to Qin Da and Xiao Changxi:
"Qin Da, please unload the gifts from the carriage and wait for me outside the door. Chang Xi, follow me into the mansion."
After saying that, Qin Ming took Xiao Changxi into the Hejian County Prince's Mansion.
On the way, the king of Hejian County asked Qin Ming how he was doing recently and whether anyone with ulterior motives went to Zhuangzi to cause trouble. Qin Ming answered them one by one.
After a while, Qin Ming followed the Prince of Hejian County to the front hall.
After the maid served Qin Ming some tea, Prince Hejian said:
"My dear nephew, I just heard you say that all the workshops in Zhuangzi are closed for bathing?"
Qin Ming took a sip of tea, nodded and said:
"Well, there is still a lot of inventory in the workshop, so my nephew plans to wait until the fifteenth day before starting work, so that the craftsmen can have a good New Year.
Liquor shops, teahouses and vegetable shops in Chang'an City will also be closed for these two days and will reopen on the seventh day of the first lunar month of the following year. "
The prince of Hejian County nodded when he heard this. In the past two months, he and Qin Ming have been doing business together, and the family has made a lot of profits. So he had no objection to Qin Ming's arrangements.
Prince Hejian took a sip of tea, thought for a while and asked:
"My dear nephew, are you really not planning to build a soap workshop next year?"
Qin Ming put down his teacup, thought for a while and said:
"Don't worry about the soap workshop. I brought two boxes of soap for uncle this time. After the Chinese New Year, I will ask my servants to send another batch over."
Hejian County King heard this and said:
"My nephew, my nephew should think about the matter of the workshop during this period. You don't know that the nobles in Chang'an City like this soap very much. Maybe someone has already started to study this thing. ”
Prince Hejian didn't say the rest, but Qin Ming also understood what he meant. If someone really studies it, Qin Ming doesn't care.
At present, the Qin Mansion's industries are indeed sufficient. In the short term, he really has no plans to add other industries. However, he does have plans to open a teahouse and a wine shop in Luoyang and Yangzhou respectively next year.
But there is no rush to do this. We can wait until after the New Year to arrange it.
So the king of Hejian County in Qin and Ming Dynasty said:
"Uncle, my nephew will consider this matter carefully. By the way, uncle, I wonder where Uncle Li's family is in Chang'an? This time, my nephew also brought some gifts to Uncle Li's house and thought of paying a visit. My nephew was negligent before and didn't ask. Pass the address of Uncle Li’s house.”
When Li Xiaogong heard this, he secretly thought that it was too bad. He and His Majesty had not discussed this matter. What should he say? It was a bit against the rules to have people leave gifts here, but he couldn't tell Qin Ming that the Uncle Li he mentioned was His Majesty the Emperor, and he now lived in the palace.
The only one who can tell His Majesty's identity is His Majesty himself.
He calmly picked up the tea cup and took a sip, and then said leisurely:
"My dear nephew, it's easy for you to come to my uncle's house. Don't you want to leave today? I'll leave it here. Today you will stay in the house to have a drink and you can't go anywhere. Tomorrow I will ask my servant to take you there. At Uncle Li’s house.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Ming quickly waved his hands and said:
"Uncle, it's not that my nephew doesn't want to have a drink with you. It's just that a few days ago, my grandfather came to the house. It seems that the Chinese New Year is about to come. My nephew has to hurry back to accompany him after seeing him off. Besides, my nephew has to go back to his house today. Go visit Duke Xiayi, Duke Lu and Marquis Langya."
The Tang Dynasty governed the country with filial piety. After hearing Qin Ming's reasons, Li Xiaogong thought about it and said:
"My dear nephew, it's already late. You probably won't be able to visit them all this afternoon. Why don't you go visit them first? After the visit, you go back to the palace. Tomorrow I will arrange for someone to take you to visit your Uncle Li. good?"
Qin Ming's original plan was to leave the gift at the Hejian County Prince's Mansion, and then ask the Hejian County Prince to bring the gift to Li Er. But when I heard what Prince Hejian said, I could only swallow it.
Qin Mingdao wouldn't care if he went back just one day late. What he was more worried about at this time was that Li Shimin would take this opportunity to directly reveal his identity and have people take him directly into the palace.
Thinking of this, Qin Ming could only nod his head, and then chatted with Li Xiaogong for a few more words.
Qin Ming took Xiao Changxi out of the Hejian County Prince's Mansion, and the group headed towards the mansion of Yi Guogong Qin Qiong.
.....
