"What are you doing here?"
In Li Shimin's Qinzheng Hall, just as Li Shimin was about to open the jar of wine, two people came in from outside without informing the people below. As soon as he saw the two figures, Li Shimin knew who they were. These were the most shameless people in the entire Tang Dynasty, Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde.
If it were anyone else, they would have to take royal etiquette into consideration, but these two people also understood that it was not the time for the morning court, and the emperor had no other concubines here. In addition, given the friendship between the three of them, if they just barged in, they would at most be scolded.
"I heard that the Emperor got a jar of fine wine, and we both want to try it. When I followed the Emperor to start the rebellion, he said we should share the good fortune together."
There are no secrets in Chang'an City. The news that Changsun Wuji praised Li Xiang's wine spread throughout the entire Chang'an City in an instant. Apart from Changsun Wuji, these two people were also the ones who loved wine the most. They wanted to ask Changsun Wuji for some favors, but civil officials and military generals had never interacted with each other, so Changsun Wuji rejected them with this reason.
Are you kidding me?
Now the entire Changsun family only has this one jar of wine, and no one knows when Li Xiang will supply it next time. If I give it to you two to share, you two will drink and take it, and I guess this jar of wine will be gone.
Of course, Changsun Wuji also knew the temperaments of these two people. They had no dignity of a duke at all. If they could not achieve their goals, they could really set up tents at the door of Changsun's house.
So Changsun Wuji shifted the disaster eastward. Apart from the jar I have, His Royal Highness the Emperor Changsun also has no jar. There is only one jar in the whole Tang Dynasty, and that is with the Emperor.
When the two heard this, they immediately came running over. If others heard that the emperor had good things, they would basically not think about them, but these two people did not have that awareness. Just like what Cheng Yaojin said, when I, Cheng Yaojin, and you were fighting for the throne, you said that we would share the happiness together. Now, instead of gold or silver, I want a jar of wine from you. Would you be reluctant to give it to me?
As for Yuchi Jingde next to him, he didn't say a word the whole time, but he kept standing behind Cheng Yaojin. The meaning was very clear: I have contributed no less than him, so if you give him, you have to give me.
"You two are my generals and dukes of the Tang Dynasty. You have to respect yourself. You came here just for a jar of wine. If this gets out, how shameful it would be..."
Li Shimin was furious when he heard this. Why do people from the Five Surnames and Seven Families look down on us? Isn't it just because of your unruly habits? But after a few words, he couldn't continue. If it were someone else, a few words would still be very effective, but these two guys are ranked first and second. Even if you talk here for a whole day, they won't feel the slightest remorse.
"Your Majesty is right. We must reflect on our mistakes after we return. Wang De, go to the imperial kitchen and urge for some side dishes. The emperor is talking about being thirsty and lacking in judgment. Duke Wu and I will have a couple of drinks with the emperor to comfort him. Look at how you bastards always make the emperor angry."
Li Shimin took a breath, and Cheng Yaojin immediately seized the opportunity to speak.
No one dared to offend the eunuch chief Wang De. After all, he was a little devil beside the King of Hell and was very difficult to deal with. But Cheng Yaojin never took these people seriously. However, these people did not dare to offend him. They all knew that Cheng Yaojin was a tough guy and would resort to violence if they could not reach an agreement with him.
If it were someone else, they would have been dragged out by the palace guards long ago, but the emperor just fell for it. Whenever he chatted with Cheng Yaojin, he would recall the glorious past. So people like Wang De knew that they had to remember this scolding today.
Li Shimin was also speechless to Cheng Yaojin. When did I say I would invite you two to dinner?
Besides, look at the situation. It’s just past noon and there are still a lot of things to do in the afternoon. After drinking with a drunkard like you, what else can be done in the afternoon?
Maybe he was afraid of being beaten, or maybe he was already prepared. Within a few breaths after Cheng Yaojin finished speaking, the eunuchs below had already brought up the side dishes. Even if Li Shimin was dissatisfied, he had to swallow it. What's more, he also wanted to taste the wine. If it could attract two dukes to come here, it must be good.
Besides, Li Shimin knew Changsun Wuji very well. If the wine was not really good, how could Changsun Wuji praise it so highly?
Just as Li Shimin was thinking about these things, the jar of wine was opened, and the whole hall was instantly filled with fragrance. Even if he didn't drink it, he was already three-quarters drunk at this moment.
"Old Changsun never lied to me..."
This was the first sentence Yuchi Jingde said after he arrived. However, Cheng Yaojin had no time to speak. He had already pushed the young eunuch away and drank a bowl of wine.
"Good wine, good wine, it's really enjoyable!"
Cheng Yaojin drank a mouthful of wine and felt warm all over. He burped towards the top of the hall and felt extremely comfortable all over.
Yuchi Jingde was not willing to be left behind, so he picked up his big bowl and started drinking. Li Shimin, who was sitting on the throne, was a little slower.
"Can you two show some ambition? You are no longer the kings of the mountains. You are the Dukes of the Tang Dynasty..."
Seeing the two of them like this, Li Shimin was so angry that he was about to teach them a lesson, but Wang De had already brought the wine. Smelling the aroma of white wine, Li Shimin picked up the wine glass, took a small sip, and then drank it all in one gulp.
Li Shimin closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of the liquor sliding down his throat. Beautiful! Very beautiful!
In today's Tang Dynasty, whether it is the wine from the Western Regions or the carefully brewed liquor from various families, compared with this wine, it is simply rubbish.
"I thought Changsun was joking. He wanted to sell a pound of wine for five taels of silver. I thought he was crazy because he was poor. Now it seems that he was right."
Yuchi Jingde had already drunk his second bowl, and Li Shimin, who was sitting on the throne, also heard this.
Five taels of silver for a pound of wine?
Is this the wine for sale?
One tael of gold can be exchanged for ten taels of silver, and two catties of wine are equal to one tael of gold?
Even though Li Shimin was the emperor, he was shocked by the price at this moment. However, to be honest, this wine was definitely not expensive at this price. It was at least a hundred times better than the royal wine.
Originally, Li Shimin did not pay attention to the transaction between Li Xiang and Changsun Wuji, but after hearing what Yuchi Jingde said, he immediately began to think in his heart that this guy was really good at calculating, and with this, he would definitely tie Changsun Wuji to his boat.
Interesting! Really interesting!