Seeing Li Shiming and Empress Zhangsun turn around, Kong Yan went back to his seat first.
He naturally heard those voices. Over the years, his business had grown bigger and bigger, and the number of people who were jealous had also increased. The status of those who were jealous had also increased.
The truth was that he was now being targeted by Li Shi Min, the Great Tang's Supreme Being.
In other words, the wealthy Li Shimin was jealous.
As for those righteous officials who couldn't hide their jealousy, they didn't understand the current situation at all. They just thought that Kong Yan, a merchant, could be easily destroyed!
Kong Yan poured himself a cup of wine and took a sip. His eyes were sizing up the officials who had returned one after another.
He discovered an interesting phenomenon. It seemed that the higher the official position, the friendlier the attitude towards him. Some of the officials who could only sit in the last few rows were either indifferent or smiled coldly. In short, there were not many who were friendly.
Naturally, there were exceptions. For example, Zhangsun Wuji, the head of the officials, had never looked Kong Yan in the eye.
The reason was easy to guess. After all, Kong Yan had just beaten his son up a few hours ago.
After the officials checked in, Li Shimin glanced at Kong Yan, who was drinking alone, and couldn't help but snort.
The impact of the Golden Phoenix just now was too great.
"You're quite willing." Li Shiming snorted.
Empress Zhangsun looked at Kong Yan and asked worriedly,""Isn't this too wasteful?"
Kong Yan looked up at Empress Zhangsun and asked with a smile,""Does the Empress like it?"
Empress Zhangsun looked at Kong Yan's smiling face and felt strange. She smiled and said,""This is the most precious gift BenGong has ever received.”
"As the empress of a country, the Empress is noble beyond words and is worthy of any precious gift.”Kong Yan looked at Li Shimin and smiled."I think this humble man's golden phoenix is definitely not as good as the birthday gift Your Majesty gave to the Empress."”
"..."
Li Shimin was embarrassed.
Empress Zhangsun chuckled and said,""This birthday banquet is the best gift Your Majesty has given to ChenQie.”
Li Shi Min's expression softened,"As long as Guanyin likes it."
Kong Yan drank a mouthful of wine and did not say anything else.
Going too far was as bad as falling short.
Next, Zhangsun Wuji sent a congratulatory gift. He gave a calligraphy and painting that he had written himself. Then, the gifts of the officials were not displayed one by one. Instead, the internal affairs eunuch announced loudly.
Perhaps it was because Kong Yan's gift was too shocking, some of the officials were embarrassed when they heard the announcement of their birthday gift.
"Alright, let's begin." Li Shi Min ordered.
Then, groups of palace maids walked out in order, carrying sumptuous dishes and brand new wine.
Li Shiming and Empress Zhangsun had removed the dragon and phoenix chairs from the high platform, and replaced them with a lower table and cushion that were slightly larger than the other ministers.
"Everyone, there is no need to avoid anything. You can speak freely. Just pretend that Zhen and the Empress are not around.”Li Shimin said with a smile after seeing the table full of delicious food.
Delicious food, fine wine, singing and dancing, the banquet gradually became lively.
The civil officials were reciting poems, the military officials were drinking and chatting, the princesses were laughing, and the princes were a little distant and cold.
Naturally, Kong Yan was the coldest. He drank alone and had no one to talk to.
Li Shi Min looked at the lively atmosphere in the hall and felt happy. He also turned a blind eye when he saw some drunk officials secretly taking advantage of some palace maids from time to time.
In the end, he couldn't avoid glancing at Kong Yan, and his heart was filled with disgust.
Today, he actually wanted to cause some trouble for Kong Yan, but until now, he was the one who was provoked. He had never seen Kong Yan embarrassed.
Li Shimin coughed lightly and looked at his brother-in-law. As far as he knew, his brother-in-law was not a broad-minded person.
His son had been beaten up like a pig's head. No matter what, he had to regain his face.
Zhangsun Wuji drank alone, occasionally chatting with Du Ruhui beside him, turning a deaf ear to Li Shimin's hints.
Li Shi Min's expression stiffened as he glared at his brother-in-law before turning to look at his own Crown Prince, Li Chengqian.
"..."
Li Chengqian looked at Li Shiming with a dumbfounded expression, not knowing what to do.
Li Shiming sighed secretly, thinking that his son was still too young and did not have any tacit understanding.
He turned to look at the chubby Li Tai and asked with a smile,"Green Sparrow, have you written any poems recently?”
Li Tai put down his wine glass and said,""For mother's birthday, your son has prepared a poem.”
"Read it." Li Shiming took a sip of wine and glanced at Kong Yan.
The attention of most of the officials in the hall was drawn to the front, and the entire hall gradually quieted down.
"Only for the sake of the people, I am moved by Shangxuan. Today, Chang 'an is full of immortals.
I've told you to add to my mother's longevity, which is 18,000 years longer than the emperor.”
Li Tai shook his head and recited a poem.
"Not bad." Li Shi Min nodded.
Some of the civil officials also nodded and whispered to the people around them, thinking that Li Tai's poem was not bad.
"Green Sparrow, you're very thoughtful." Empress Zhangsun chuckled.”
Li Tai's eyes narrowed into slits, and he couldn't help but smugly glance at Crown Prince Li Chengqian.
Li Chengqian's expression was gloomy as he drank a cup of wine in silence.
"Ancestors, what do you think of Green Sparrow's birthday poem?”Li Shiming squinted at Zhangsun Wuji.
The auxiliary machine was Zhangsun Wuji's character.
Zhangsun Wuji sighed and put down his wine cup."Your Majesty seems to have asked the wrong person. His Highness the King of Yue has a relationship with this subject, so this subject's opinion will always be somewhat biased.”
"Oh? Then who do you think should evaluate it?" Li Shi Min said with a smile.
"Young Master Kong Yan is the descendant of a Saint. He must be very knowledgeable and talented.”Zhangsun Wuji said expressionlessly.
Upon hearing Zhangsun Wuji's words, many people's spirits were greatly shaken. He was here!
Kong Yingda looked at the front with anxious eyes.
Li Shiming glanced at Kong Yan and said,""Then why don't you tell me about Green Sparrow's poem?”
Kong Yan drank without saying a word, occasionally taking a bite of the delicious food on the table.
Although it was delicious, it was only because the ingredients were expensive. As for the taste, it could only be said that everyone had their own opinions.
At least Kong Yan didn't feel that it was delicious.
Li Shiming's face darkened again.
Empress Zhangsun glanced at the hole and called out softly,""Kong Yan, His Majesty is calling you."
Kong Yan looked up at Empress Zhangsun with a puzzled expression.
"Empress, why do you say this?"
"Heh, you can't hear me?”Li Shi Min asked with a dark face.
Kong Yan frowned and said,"Your Majesty, you didn't mention your name. There are so many people in the hall. How can I think that Your Majesty is talking to me?"”
"So it's still Zhen's fault?”Li Shi Min was so angry that he almost laughed.
"I wonder why Your Majesty has summoned me?" Kong Yan asked.”
"Green Sparrow…The King of Yue wrote a poem, and His Majesty wants you to comment on it.”Empress Zhangsun kindly explained.
"His Highness the Yue King's literary talent is the best among the princes.”Kong Yan praised.
Li Tai was delighted, but the other princes didn't look so happy.
However, they had no choice. Li Tai was famous for his talent, and even Li Chengqian would never compare to him in this aspect.
"How about compared to you?" Li Shi Min asked coldly.
"I'm not good at poetry.”Kong Yan said ambiguously.
"If you're not good at poetry…how can a Saint not know poetry?”Li Shi Min was unwilling to let go.
"Your Majesty, don't you know that I've been expelled from the Confucius Sect?" Kong Yan explained.”
"..."
Li Shiming was speechless.
"Alright, Your Majesty, don't make things difficult for him.”Empress Zhangsun smiled and tried to smooth things over.
At this moment, Zhangsun Wuji said leisurely,""This subject remembers that Young Master Kong seemed to have come with Lord Kong and had a conflict with Chong-er and the others in the Apricot Garden.”
"Hmm?" Li Shi Min laughed and snorted,"You're wearing a Confucian robe and you say you don't know poetry?”
Kong Yan sighed and asked,""Your Majesty, what do you want me to do?”
"Just like Green Sparrow, you should also write a birthday poem for the Empress!”Li Shi Min said directly.
"Your Majesty, why do you have to force me?”Empress Zhangsun frowned. She could not bear to see so many people looking at Kong Yan.
Li Shiming was embarrassed. This was the first time Empress Zhangsun had spoken to him like this in front of outsiders.
"Mother, you've underestimated Kong Yan.”Li Tai helped Li Shi Min out of the predicament in time.
"A pot of flowers, drinking alone without a matchmaker.
I raise my cup to invite the moon, facing the shadow, I become three people!”
After chanting, Li Tai smiled and said,""This song,'Drinking Alone Under the Moon', was written by Kong Yan. He wrote it especially for the wine among the flowers.”
"This poem was written by you?" Empress Zhangsun looked at Kong Yan curiously.
"Does Your Majesty like it?" Kong Yan asked hesitantly.”
Empress Zhangsun nodded and said,""This poem can be considered a famous poem through the ages. It has a strange imagination, and the poetic mood is undulating and similar to the sound of nature.”
"Then this poem will be given to the Empress.”Kong Yan took a sip and said with a smile.
"Give it to bengong?" Empress Zhangsun was stunned. How could she give this poem?
Kong Yan explained,"This poem was bought by this commoner. This commoner owns all the copyrights to this poem. I can give it to whoever I want."”
Li Shi Min's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He asked angrily,"Where did you buy it?"
"Who would remember such a small matter?”Kong Yan looked at Li Shiming strangely,"It's just a poem. It won't cost much."”
"Can poetry be measured in silver?”Li Shi Min gritted his teeth.
Kong Yan thought about it seriously and said regretfully,""It still depends on the person. Some of the seniors in the literary world have already passed away. Even if a commoner spends more money, they can't buy their works.”
"
F * ck, I can't take it anymore. I can smell the stench of money from him from so far away!"”
"I can't stand it either. How can there be such a person? How can Your Majesty let him live in the same hall as us?”
"You can buy poems with silver? Then I, Old Cheng, will also be a cultured person in the future
…"”
"..."
The civil officials found it unbearable. In their hearts, poetry was an extremely elegant thing. How could it be measured by silver?
Some of the generals who were watching the commotion did not mind the matter getting out of hand and started to cheer.
Kong Yingda's face was flushed red, and her entire body was trembling.
Angry!
"This disobedient nephew is really treasonous!”
Princess Chang Le turned around and looked, and she couldn't help but shrink back.
"It's too terrifying." Princess Chang Le was speechless. She looked at Kong Yan, wanting to know what he was thinking.
A descendant of a Saint actually used silver to measure poetry. This was too bizarre.
"Niangniang, they won't rush over to beat this commoner, right?”Kong Yan looked in the direction of the Eyebrow Official and couldn't help but worry.
Empress Zhangsun's face darkened, thinking that she couldn't help but want to kick him.
Li Shi Min looked at the indignant faces of all the civil officials in the hall, but he didn't feel so angry.
"Is this kid doing this on purpose?”Li Shi Min couldn't help but think.
"Niangniang, why don't I leave first?”Kong Yan stood up and wanted to leave first.
"This..." Empress Zhangsun looked at the civil servant and then at Li Shimin, feeling a little awkward.
"Don't worry, without Zhen's orders, they won't dare to do anything to you.”Li Shi Min said unhappily.
Kong Yan sat down again, raised his cup and smiled.""In that case, this commoner can rest assured. In fact, this commoner likes to see them want to beat this commoner, but they can't beat this commoner.”
"Puchi!" Princess Chang Le burst out laughing.
Empress Zhangsun was speechless.
"I seemed to have said that I wanted you to write a birthday poem.”Li Shi Min said faintly.
Kong Yan's face stiffened.
"You are not joking." Li Shi Min sighed.
"Can't I just not do it?" Kong Yan looked troubled.
"Can you ask them?" Li Shi Min raised his chin and pointed at the civil servant.
Kong Yan took a look and his eyelids twitched.
The group of people glared at him like hungry wolves.
Even Kong Yingda, Zhang,
"If I had known that I was going to write poems, I would have bought a few in advance.”Kong Yan muttered to himself.
Empress Zhangsun, who was the closest to him, heard everything clearly. Black lines instantly flashed across her forehead.
"I'm just a small merchant. Compared to the princes, I'm naturally not as good at literature and not as good as you.”Kong Yan stood up and cupped his hands at Fang Yunxia."It's difficult for a poem to be refined. If it dirties everyone's ears, please don't blame me!"”
Finally, Kong Yan looked at Empress Zhangsun and said with slight embarrassment,""Niangniang, if this commoner's poem isn't nice to listen to later and has offended you in any way, please forgive me.”
"Do I look like a petty person?" Empress Zhangsun chuckled.”
"The Empress is graceful and noble. One look and you can tell that she is a generous person.”Kong Yan complimented.
"Alright, compose your poem!”Li Shi Min snorted coldly, thinking about how he would mock them later.
Kong Yan coughed lightly and took a step forward, pretending to be deep in thought.
He looked back at Empress Zhangsun and frowned in thought. Then, he took another step forward.
Just like that, he took a step forward and turned back to look at Empress Zhangsun.
When everyone was getting impatient, Kong Yan spoke.
He pointed at Empress Zhangsun and said slowly,""This woman is not human!"
...........
[PS: 4,000-word chapter (Crazy Hint)]
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