Li Xuanlie raised his head and saw a beautiful face looking at him with concern.
"Thanks."
Li Xuanlie quickly withdrew his gaze and took the teacup.
Zhangsun Wugou smiled faintly." Husband, you're too polite. Wugou is already husband's woman. It's my duty to serve you.”
For some reason, Li Xuanlie felt a faint warmth in his heart when he heard her call him "husband".
It felt like a home.
"Go to bed early. I might be late.”
Li Xuanlie put away his uneasiness and looked back at the table.
Zhangsun Wugou hesitated for a moment before kneeling down beside the table. He smiled and said,"The ink is dry. I'll help my husband grind the ink.”
As she spoke, she picked up the grinding stone and skillfully ground the ink.
With her by his side, how could Li Xuanlie be at ease and read these documents?
He wanted to persuade her to go back and sleep first, but seeing how attentive she was, he couldn't bear to reject her kindness and swallowed his words.
Li Xuanlie let her be and focused on reading.
Zhangsun Wugou was secretly delighted to receive her husband's tacit approval.
At that moment, she grinded the ink and served the tea until midnight.
After all, she was a girl, so how could she be as energetic as Li Xuanlie? After experiencing the tiredness of the day's concubine-taking ceremony, she was really tired. She leaned over the table and unknowingly fell asleep.
After approving the last document, Li Xuanlie let out a long sigh.
At this moment, he noticed that Zhangsun Wugou was already lying on the table, fast asleep.
A strand of hair at her temples covered her face. Under the dim yellow light, she looked extraordinarily beautiful.
Li Xuanlie couldn't help but gently brush away the hair on her face.
That familiar jade face was elegant and refined, making people feel the urge to pity her just by looking at her.
"Why did you nod and agree back then, saying that you were willing?"
Li Xuanlie couldn't understand what a girl was thinking. He still couldn't solve his doubts, so he could only shake his head and sigh.
The wind blew through the window and hit Zhangsun Wugou's body. In her sleep, her body trembled slightly as she felt a chill.
Li Xuanlie didn't want her to catch a cold, but he couldn't bear to wake her up. After hesitating, he gently picked her up and carefully placed her back on the bed.
"Brother Xuan Lie, do you really not remember me? I am that crybaby!"
The sleeping Zhangsun Wugou was mumbling something in his sleep.
Li Xuanlie shook his head and smiled bitterly.
The first time she had met him was during the incident with Ma Jing on Pingkang Street. Yet, she had said that she did not know her and that she loved to cry. She did not know what kind of nonsense she was talking about.
Could it be that she was willing to be his concubine because she was grateful for his saving grace?
Li Xuanlie suddenly had this speculation.
However, just to repay her kindness, she was willing to sacrifice her life's happiness and be a concubine. This repayment was too heavy.
Li Xuanlie couldn't guess a woman's thoughts, and he didn't want to guess anymore.
He tucked her in and returned to the study. He rested his chin on his hand and gradually fell asleep.
…
It was getting late.
Zhangsun Wugou woke up from his dream and suddenly realized that he was lying on the bed with a blanket covering his body.
She vaguely remembered that she had fallen asleep on the table last night. Why was she lying on the bed?
Could it be that Li Xuanlie had taken advantage of her sleep to secretly perform a husband and wife ceremony with her?
At the thought of this, Zhangsun Wugou's face flushed red as he chuckled shyly.
When she lifted the blanket, she sighed.
She was still wearing her wedding dress. It seemed that Li Xuanlie had only carried her back to the bed and had not touched her.
Although he was a little disappointed, Zhangsun Wugou was secretly gratified when he thought about how Li Xuanlie had taken the initiative to hug him last night.
"Take it slow. He can't possibly not touch me for the rest of his life, right?"
Zhangsun Wugou consoled him and got up. He looked around, but Li Xuanlie was nowhere to be seen.
At this moment, the door creaked open, and the maidservant Xiao Yun entered the room with a pot of bird's nest.
"Xiao Yun, where's His Highness?" Zhangsun Wugou looked outside.
"There's an urgent matter in the palace, so His Highness has already gone to the morning court. His Highness said that Young Lady's qi is lacking, so he specially instructed the kitchen to make this bowl of bird's nest and told Young Lady to eat it.”
As Xiaoyun spoke, she brought the steaming hot bird's nest into the room.
"How did my husband know that I was weak?" Zhangsun Wugou asked curiously as he fluttered his long eyelashes.
"I was curious at that time, so I asked His Highness. His Highness said that he accidentally took Miss 'pulse last night, and only then did he know that Miss was weak."”
Zhangsun Wugou's eyes flashed with surprise.
She had fallen into the water once when she was young and had fallen into a weak and weak condition. Only her family knew about this.
Li Xuanlie only needed to take her pulse to be able to detect the secrets of her body. This method was truly amazing.
Could it be that her husband, who had awed the world, knew medicine?
Zhangsun Wugou lowered his eyebrows and pondered, his gaze changing.
"It seems that His Highness is very considerate to Young Lady. This servant is relieved now. Young Lady should quickly eat His Highness 'intentions.”
Xiaoyun nagged and offered the bird's nest.
Zhangsun Wugou's thoughts returned to his mind. He looked at the bowl of bird's nest and thought of Li Xuanlie's concern for him. He couldn't help but purse his lips and smile.
…
Imperial Palace, Hanyuan Palace.
Li Yuan frowned and his expression was grave.
"It suddenly rained heavily south of the Bian River, and the road was muddy. The official grain transported from Jiangnan to the north was blocked on the road, and it will be at least twenty days late before it can reach Luoyang.”
"The news of Jiangnan's official grain being blocked has already spread throughout the city. The price of rice has risen by 30% overnight, and there are many complaints from the people.”
Below the steps, Pei Ji and the other officials were reporting in a heavy tone.
Li Yuan sighed, his old face filled with helplessness.
The Great Tang had just been established, and the entire north had been ravaged by war. At least, it had not yet recovered. For most of the time, the food in the Eastern Capital could only be supplied by the grain taxes in Jiangnan.
However, transporting grain from Jiangnan to Luoyang had to go through land transportation several times. Every time it encountered heavy rain and muddy roads, it would delay the date.
At this time, the price of rice in Luoyang would soar, and the people would suffer greatly and complain.
It was like this last year, and it was the same this year. It would inevitably give Li Yuan a headache again.
"Just like last year, order the rice merchants not to take the opportunity to raise the price of rice and make huge profits.”
"I will take the lead and cut the imperial food by half. All the officials should take the lead to save money and get through the difficulties of these few days together.”
Li Yuan passed down the decree.
For the past three years, this was the only way to remedy the situation.
The ministers were also helpless and could only sigh inwardly.
"Imperial Father, the grain in Jiangnan cannot be transported everywhere, and Luoyang suffers from a grain shortage every year. This is not a solution in the long run. There must be a solution once and for all.”
At this moment, Li Xuanlie stepped forward and spoke loudly.
Li Yuan sighed bitterly." I also want to solve it, but it's going to rain and the road will become muddy. There's nothing we can do about it. What can we do once and for all?"”
Li Xuanlie took a deep breath and cupped his hands."Your son believes that the solution is to rebuild the Grand Canal!”
Li Yuan's expression changed.
In the hall, all the officials were shocked.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]