Li Xiang thought there was something urgent in the palace, so he rode all the way here. However, when he arrived outside the Qinzheng Hall, he heard laughter coming from inside. Li Xiang knew it was not a big deal. But if it was not a big deal, why did the emperor ask the eunuch to pass the imperial edict to Cheng Yaojin's house?
In the room were some officials from the Ministry of Works. They reported to the emperor about some matters concerning the Yellow River embankment. In fact, the main problem in building the Yellow River embankment was the lack of money. As long as there was money, any project would be no problem. Now that Li Xiang had brought back four million strings of cash from the Western Regions, construction had already begun on more than a dozen repair sites. How could the emperor not be happy?
Seeing His Royal Highness the Crown Prince coming in from outside, these people had almost finished reporting their work. Naturally, they knew that the Emperor and His Royal Highness must have something important to discuss, so these people saluted Li Xiang and then left.
"The money you brought back this time is really useful. All of it has been allocated to them. It's really earmarked for the intended purpose. These people are also very fast. Look at the proposals they brought back. It is estimated that before the rainy season arrives next year, the entire Yellow River embankment will be renovated."
Li Shimin said very happily that the Yellow River is indeed the mother river of the Chinese nation, but if it encounters the rainy season and it rains heavily, it will immediately bring various disasters to the people, so maintaining the Yellow River embankment is also a top priority.
There have been wars in recent years, and repairing river embankments is not a cheap task. Except for a major repair during the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, subsequent years have only been small-scale repairs, which have not played a big role at all.
Li Xiang's money made Li Shimin happy for a long time. In fact, Li Shimin wanted to repair the Yellow River embankment a few years ago, but he was powerless. Although he wanted to do this big thing and do something good for the people, if you don't have money, where can you find so many people and buy various materials?
Now that Li Xiang had finally solved the problem, Li Shimin returned the favor. Knowing that Li Xiang might be in a very embarrassing situation this morning, he sent someone to call Li Xiang over, which helped him out. After he returned to the East Palace, everything that needed to be arranged had been arranged, so he would not be so embarrassed.
"Thank you so much, Grandfather Emperor. This matter is really..."
Li Xiang kept shaking his head when he said this, and he couldn't say anything else. Li Shimin had always seen a very confident Li Xiang. Nothing could stop this guy from saying anything. This was the first time that Li Xiang had such an expression.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
Seeing Li Xiang in such an embarrassing situation, Li Shimin was indeed very happy. He thought that his grandson might have always been a shrewd and scheming person, but he did not expect that he would be in such an embarrassing situation.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. This is basically a normal thing among the nobles in Chang'an City. You can also look at the concubines in the imperial harem. Many of them are sisters living together. There's nothing embarrassing about this. You don't have to take it to heart. Someone will take care of all this when you return. But you have something to explain to me..."
The first half of Li Shimin's speech was about daily life, but the second half immediately took a turn. If your brain is not fast enough, you may not be able to keep up with Li Shimin's speed.
Li Xiang immediately understood what was going on. They were talking about Aunt Fan.
To be honest, when Li Chengqian married this wife, Li Shimin also expressed doubts. However, at that time, Li Shimin wanted to find something for Li Xiang to do, so he didn't care about this matter. Otherwise, with Li Shimin sitting in Chang'an, how could such a thing happen?
"Aunt Fan has ulterior motives, and so does the Nanyang Fan family. I simply want to maintain the integrity of the royal family. Didn't Grandfather say that before? To safeguard the interests of the royal family and the court, anyone can be sacrificed. Is that not the case with Aunt Fan?"
When Li Shimin was teaching Li Xiang that day, he did say these words, so now Li Xiang returned the words exactly as they were. It is probably unlikely that Li Shimin would use this incident as a handle to hold Li Xiang accountable. Li Xiang used these words to respond to Li Shimin, which was also to tell Li Shimin that this incident was not only not a handle, but he should also be rewarded.
"You've truly not wasted your time out there these past few years. You still remember some of the things so clearly. This Nanyang Fan family is indeed not in a good position, but I have already had the Imperial City Division prepare to take action. You don't need to intervene. I will give you an explanation."
When saying this, Li Shimin was still observing Li Xiang's expression. After all, this was like picking peaches. Li Xiang's people were investigating in the front, and your people were confiscating the property in the back. Wouldn't all the benefits be given to you?
"Everything is up to Grandfather."
What surprised Li Shimin was that Li Xiang did not say much about this matter. If it were in the past, he might have bargained. After all, the Fan family of Nanyang was a large family that had lasted for hundreds of years, and the family had countless properties. If all of them were swallowed up by Li Shimin, Li Xiang might feel at a loss.
But Li Xiang did not have such a feeling at the moment. What Li Xiang wanted was for these unstable factors to leave the Eastern Palace. The Eastern Palace must be an ironclad entity. People like Cheng Ying could come in, but people like Aunt Fan could not.
Even if someone like Cheng Ying has a bit of a temper, it can be considered an internal family relationship. If someone like Aunt Fan comes in, it will involve some things in the court. Therefore, Li Xiang must not let these people continue to stay in the East Palace, even if it will make Li Chengqian and Li Shimin dissatisfied.
"Then go back. I'll grant you a favor. Bring your new bride to the palace for dinner tonight and serve tea to the ladies in the palace. As for your title, for your future, it can only be the sixth rank. You cannot be promoted until you give birth to a prince."
Li Shimin's arrangement can be said to be very appropriate. He could only give some honors and money, but never too high a status. If he gave them too high a status, the Cheng sisters would be too powerful. If the others were to marry Li Xiang, then these people would probably have no room for advancement. A mere sixth-rank concubine was only slightly higher than a palace maid in the palace, which was nothing.