My name is Chang An, your name is Gu Li

Chapter 149 The Imperial Mansion

After standing up, Song Jing's face was flushed, and many officials came to congratulate him.

"Do you have anything important to report? If not, then we may adjourn the court."

So, all the ministers below knelt down again and kowtowed to Li Longji.

Song Jing was planning to leave with other ministers, but Li Longji stopped him at this time:

"Prime Minister Song, wait a minute."

Song Jing was stunned for a moment, then turned around and saluted Li Longji and said, "Your Majesty, do you have anything to tell me?"

"Come with me." Li Longji stood up and walked towards the back.

Song Jing hurriedly followed, and after he had gained quite a distance from the other ministers, Li Longji asked again:

"Prime Minister Song, what do you think of my reward to Ji Kangbo today?"

"Of course it's possible." Song Jing said.

Li Longji was somewhat surprised and asked, "Why didn't Prime Minister Song ask me why I made Gu a royal consort instead of giving Jikangbo a higher title?"

Song Jing smiled and said, "The whole world belongs to the king. This world belongs to your majesty. How could your majesty not know that Chang Yonghe's favorite is his wife Gu."

"Today, Your Majesty has conferred the title of Lady of Honor on the wife of my inferior disciple. He must be happier than if he had been conferred the title on himself."

“Hahahaha!” Li Longji laughed, “Sure enough I can’t hide it from you, Prime Minister Song.”

"I also heard from my younger brother that Ji Kangbo was not obsessed with material things nor women. He was very fond of his wife. Moreover, the scale of his wedding was the highest among the fifth-rank officials."

"As the saying goes, the love between Ji Kangbo and his wife is unmatched. Since I want to use and retain Ji Kangbo, of course I have to please him. What do you think, Prime Minister Song?"

"Your Majesty is wise, but I don't know why Your Majesty values ​​my inferior disciple so much."

"The problem of evil money has troubled the Tang Dynasty for a hundred years. With one strategy, he can solve more than half of the problem in less than half a year. The problem that you old ministers couldn't solve was solved by a young man who is not even an adult yet. How can I not pay attention to it?" Li Longji said.

"If you cultivate it, your future achievements will be limitless."

Although Song Jing did not change his expression, he was very happy in his heart. After all, there were only a few people in the world who could be favored by the current emperor.

"This matter will test you, Prime Minister Song. As his teacher, you must train Ji Kangbo well."

"Old minister, I obey."

Li Longji nodded with satisfaction, then waved his hand and said, "Prime Minister Song is also tired, so go home and rest first."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll take my leave now." Song Jing watched Li Longji leave before he turned around and left.

In the afternoon, Chang An and Gu Li were looking at the loquat sapling in the pavilion when a gatekeeper ran to the gate and said, "Sir, Sanniang, the emperor's envoy is here!"

Chang An raised his eyebrows and looked at Gu Li who was also puzzled.

"Master, Sanniang, let's go quickly. Don't keep the emperor's envoy waiting for too long." The doorman urged again, "Alang is already entertaining them."

Chang An helped Gu Li stand up, and followed the gatekeeper to the front yard. At this time, the front yard was full of servants, and an old eunuch was standing on the steps at the door, and there were many guards standing behind the eunuch.

"Hello, Earl Jikang," the eunuch nodded slightly to Chang'an, then said, "The imperial edict has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Chang An hurriedly pulled Gu Li to Chang Wenmeng's side and knelt down with the whole family.

"Men: The evil money is the root of the evil of the Tang Dynasty, which has brought disaster to the country and the people. It has not been cured for a long time. Now, thanks to the advice of the doctor of the Chang family, Ji Kangbo An, we can cure the evil money and capture the evil officials. This is a great good and will be a great achievement for generations to come. Moreover, Ji Kangbo is knowledgeable and has a talent for managing the world, which is a praise to the neighbors. I specially add that, hereby, I specially grant Ji Kangbo An a plaque with imperial calligraphy, a house in the southeast of Anrenfang, two thousand taels of gold, two hundred pieces of silk, and fifty servants and slaves, and his family will be exempted from miscellaneous duties forever. An's wife, Gu Shili, although she was born in a merchant family, she was virtuous, knowledgeable, and well-mannered, and she was a good wife for her husband. She is really a role model for all women in the world. Now I specially confer the title of Ji Kangbo's wife Li as the county lady of Zibo County, with a fief of 500 households and 800 acres of permanent land. The decree is announced to the world, and the master will implement it!

On March 21, the eighth year of Kaiyuan… The Minister of the Secretariat… The decree is as on the right. Please submit it. The decree shall be issued to the outside for implementation. Please speak with caution. The decree is acceptable… Please submit it. The decree is as on the right. Please submit it…

March 21, the eighth year of Kaiyuan, down.

"I accept your order and thank you for your grace!"

This imperial edict was designated for Chang An, so Chang An had no choice but to go forward and receive it. He took the golden silk book with both hands, and the eunuch helped him up with both hands at the right time. After Chang An stood up, the others behind him also stood up with him.

"I am here to congratulate Lord Jikang and his wife." The eunuch said with a smile, "No wonder the current emperor thinks so highly of Lord Jikang's family. Today, when I came here, I got a good look at him. He is indeed a young hero. Not only is he handsome, but he is also good at both civil and military affairs. When he reads poems, he is as light as a flying feather. Your talent is a blessing to the Tang Dynasty."

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it. Thank you for your compliment, eunuch." The people around the emperor are different. They feel very comfortable listening to compliments.

At this time, the eunuch also saw Gu Li standing beside Chang An, and asked with a smile: "This must be the wife of the county lord, not only is she well-educated and well-mannered, but she is also a stunning beauty, and she can compete with other beauties without makeup."

"You are too kind, eunuch." Gu Li also imitated Chang An's words and flattered him.

Chang An also took this opportunity to ask Huai Qin to go to the kitchen to get a bowl of rock sugar and snow pear soup. Then he smiled and said to the eunuch: "Eunuch, you are here today, and I haven't prepared any hot tea, but please enjoy some rock sugar and snow pear soup."

"Thank you very much for your kindness."

Arriving at the front hall, Chang An and Gu Li sat in the main seats, while Chang Wenmeng told the servants to collect the food. At this time, Huaiqin also brought a bowl of rock sugar and snow pear soup and placed it in front of the eunuch.

The eunuch pointed at the bowl of rock sugar and snow pears with some curiosity and asked, "Ji Kangbo, what is this?"

"My dear father-in-law, this is rock sugar and snow pear soup. It tastes sweet and can remove heat and moisten the lungs. My father-in-law must have worked hard to deliver the imperial edict just now. Drinking a bowl of this soup can help your throat feel better." Chang An explained with a smile.

The eunuch nodded in understanding and said, "Then we would like to thank Ji Kangbo for his kindness."

After the eunuch finished drinking it, he nodded and praised: "It really tastes good. Was this invented by Ji Kangbo?"

"I'm ashamed." Chang An didn't say it explicitly, but admitted it tactfully.

The eunuch smiled and said, "Yes, Lord Jikang. The emperor's edict just now also said that Lord Jikang was rewarded with a house. Why don't you two come with me to take a look."

Chang An and Gu Li looked at each other, nodded, and said, "Okay, please lead the way, sir."

The eunuch smiled and nodded, then stood up and took Chang An and his wife out of Chang's house, and then walked to the other side. After walking a few steps, the eunuch stopped in front of a large mansion and said, "Ji Kangbo, this is the house given by the emperor."

Chang An raised his eyebrows - it turned out that this house was right next to his home!

"Earlier, we sent the fifty servants in to clean up the house. I think it's clean now. And the house is fully furnished. Ji Kangbo can move in after cleaning up. Anyway, it's only a few steps away from the Chang Mansion." The eunuch said, pointing to the empty plaque at the door, and said, "The imperial plaque is still being made and will be delivered tomorrow."

"Excuse me, sir." Gu Li also spoke at this time.

"Please speak, Madam County Lord."

"Do we have to live in this mansion bestowed by the current emperor?" asked Gu Li.

"What are you talking about, Madam County Lord? How can we not live in the house bestowed by the Emperor?" The eunuch said with a smile, "You two can follow me in and take a look."

Then, the eunuch walked in directly, followed by Chang An and Gu Li. This house is not small, the front hall and front yard alone are larger than their own home, and there are servants doing the work of sprinkling water and cleaning.

At this time, the eunuch clapped his hands, called all the servants together, and said, "You all have to look carefully. The two behind us are Lord Jikang and his wife, who will be your future masters."

"Greetings, sir and madam." Fifty servants bowed respectfully to Chang An and his wife.

The eunuch then waved his hand and told them to go back to work. He then led Chang An and his wife to the back of the house and came to a courtyard.

Chang An knew without thinking that this was the main house. The yard was large, clean and spacious. Apart from a pavilion inside, there were no plants planted in the garden.

"Mr. Ji Kangbo, this is the master bedroom. You and the county lady's wife will rest here. It is clean inside." The eunuch introduced and took them into the yard. There was an exit on the side wall of the yard.

The eunuch pointed to the opposite side of the door and said, "That's the study room. It's also close to the master bedroom."

After the introduction, the eunuch took the couple on a tour of the entire house. The house was indeed very large, even larger than the original residence where the couple lived.

The three of them returned to the front yard, and Huaiqin and Zhen'er also brought their servants to move the bounty and silk in. Then the eunuch smiled and called a few servants, ordering them to take the rewards to the storeroom.

"Mr. Ji Kangbo, Madam County Lord, we have finished our business here. You two will have to come in person to purchase the rest of the items." The eunuch bowed to Chang An and his wife, and then said, "I will take my leave now."

"Father-in-law, walk slowly."

Chang An and Gu Li finally saluted the eunuch and watched him leave.