The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 172 Little Rich Woman Li Erniang?

Li Yi strode through the entrance hall and corridor, paused slightly at the entrance of the flower hall, and faintly heard low voices of conversation coming from inside.

He coughed lightly before stepping inside.

Li Tinggui and Han Jixun were sitting opposite each other, enjoying tea. Upon hearing the commotion, they looked up and saw Li Yi enter. The two quickly stood up and bowed.

"Lord Li, Lord Han, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Li Yi bowed and said first, "I apologize for not greeting you properly when you graced my humble abode!"

Li Tinggui quickly returned the greeting: "Commander Li, you flatter us. Our visit was extremely presumptuous, and we hope you will not take offense."

Han Jixun also bowed and took over the conversation, saying, "We heard that Governor Li has been a little less busy with official duties recently, so we two have taken the liberty of coming to bother you."

Li Yi smiled outwardly, but inwardly he was pondering—

It had only been a little over a month since the last banquet the emperor had hosted at the Jinxiang Hall, where he, Li, and Han had dined together.

As for the purpose of their visit, he had already vaguely guessed that they were simply trying to curry favor with him.

After all, Li Tinggui and Han Jixun were only given honorary titles without real power, so they certainly wouldn't visit him on official business.

"Please, both of you, have a seat!" Li Yi then walked to the main seat and sat down, lightly waving his sleeves to indicate that there was no need to be formal.

After the two sat down again, he continued, "Since our parting outside the Jinxiang Palace, I had intended to invite you two to my residence for a chat, but His Majesty entrusted me with an important task, which delayed me until today."

Upon hearing this, Han Jixun leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming even more respectful: "Before His Majesty personally led the expedition, he entrusted the command of the Imperial Guards and the defense of the capital to Commander Li. This trust is so weighty that it would be difficult to find another person like him in the court."

His words were a blatant expression of flattery, and anyone could hear the sycophantic undertones.

However, in reality, Li Yi and Han Tong were temporarily in charge of the Palace Guard and Imperial Guard respectively, and Li Yi did not have the final say on matters concerning the Imperial Guards.

As for inspecting the capital, Li Yi was only a deputy; Han Tong was the inspector in charge of both internal and external affairs.

However, when it comes to the specifics of execution... Han Tong focused most of his energy on engineering construction, while inspecting the capital and checking the imperial guards were indeed Li Yi's greater responsibilities.

Upon hearing this, Li Tinggui glanced at Han Jixun with a hint of reproach in his eyes, knowing that some things should not be said carelessly.

But words spoken cannot be taken back, so Li Tinggui could only change the subject, saying, "Commander Li bears the heavy responsibility of staying behind, yet he still thinks of the two of us. We are truly honored."

Li Yi smiled and exchanged a few polite words, then picked up his teacup and took a sip. In his heart, he made an assessment of the two men's personalities: Han Jixun was not as calm and composed as Li Tinggui.

This is not only reflected in their words and actions, but also in their clothing and appearance.

Han Jixun wore a purple robe and a gold fish-shaped pouch, which was a symbol of his status as the Grand General of the Guards. Although he only had the title and no real power, he was still quite intimidating when he went out.

Who among the low-ranking officials wouldn't tremble with fear upon seeing this outfit?
Li Tinggui, on the other hand, was much more low-key, wearing only an ordinary round-necked robe. Although the fabric was of superior quality, it did not appear to be ostentatious.

To be honest, as a surrendered general from an enemy country, he should have kept a low profile and kept a low profile.

Of course, in terms of background, Li Tinggui was a former subordinate of Meng Zhixiang, the first ruler of Later Shu, and his status in the Shu court was incomparable to that of Han Jixun.

Han Jixun was initially just a physician serving Meng Chang. It was only after gaining the emperor's appreciation and promotion that he was able to rise to the position of military governor and guard a region.

When Li Tinggui launched his western expedition to attack Shu, he at least managed to fight Li Yi, but Han Jixun didn't even see the Zhou army before he panicked and abandoned the city and fled.

This also shows the difference between the two.

Li Yi put down his teacup and said gently, "It's getting late. If you two don't mind, why don't you stay for a simple meal? Although my humble abode doesn't have any delicacies, I do have a few home-style dishes that can be enjoyed with wine."

Li Tinggui quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "How could this be? It's already inappropriate to disturb you like this, how could I dare to bother you any further?"

As he spoke, he tried to get up and take his leave.

"Yeah yeah."

Han Jixun wanted to stay and deepen his relationship with Li Yi.

But seeing that Li Tinggui had already expressed his opinion, he could only stand up and echo, "We two have come here today to pay our respects. We will surely have to bother you again in the future, Commander Li."

Li Yi smiled and waved his hand, "You two don't need to be so polite. I've already had someone prepare wine and dishes, why would you want to waste my good intentions?"

"Well... then we two will shamelessly ask Commander Li for a cup of wine." Seeing that things had come to this point, Li Tinggui hesitated for a moment, then stopped refusing.

"Since it is Commander Li's good intention, how dare we refuse?" Han Jixun was already eager to accept, and immediately sat down again, his attitude changing very smoothly.

Deep down, the two naturally wanted to get closer to Li Yi. Since being captured and arriving in the unfamiliar city of Daliang, Tokyo, they, as surrendered generals of an enemy country, did not feel very safe.

If they could get on Li Yi's good side, they would at least have more opportunities and security... Besides, they could only connect with Li Yi anyway.

However, because Li Yi has been busy with official business recently, Li and Han have no opportunity to visit during the day, but they also cannot openly wait for people at the government office.

Having no other choice, I could only visit at this time, not wanting to appear as if I was deliberately there to freeload.

"That's how it should be." Li Yi smiled slightly, turned around and called over a servant, instructing, "Go to the kitchen and urge them to bring the wine and dishes up quickly."

Upon hearing this, the servant dared not delay and quickly bowed and withdrew.

Before long, the servants filed in and laid out several exquisite dishes on the table. All three had the same dishes: two meat dishes, a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, a bowl of tofu soup, and a small dish of pickles.

The wine was just ordinary brewed rice wine... Li Yi rarely drank the distilled liquor at home, and usually only had a few cups of low-alcohol sorghum wine.

As the saying goes, drink in moderation; a slight buzz won't give you a headache.

Besides, Li Yi himself is not an alcoholic; drinking is more of a pastime for him than a habit. Unlike Ma Renyu, who drinks himself to death at the drop of a hat.

"This is just a simple meal, nothing special," Li Yi said, pouring wine and raising his cup. "Please make yourselves at home, consider this a private get-together."

Li Tinggui picked up his wine cup, his expression slightly moved: "We are speechless with gratitude for the kindness shown to us by Commander Li."

Han Jixun quickly raised his glass as well: "It is truly an honor for both of us to be invited to this banquet by Governor Li today!"

Li Yi laughed loudly and said, "There's so much to say, let's drink together... Cheers!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back and poured the wine into his glass. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down with each swallow, and a few drops of wine spilled from the corner of his mouth.

After the three of them had drunk a few cups, Li Yi picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and casually asked, "I have been busy with military affairs lately, so I wonder if your residences are properly arranged?"

Upon hearing this, Han Jixun's eyes lit up slightly. He quickly put down his chopsticks, cupped his hands, and said, "Thanks to His Majesty's great favor, the bestowed residence has been prepared. I will be moving there in a couple of days. If Commander Li does not mind..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Tinggui suddenly coughed lightly, secretly tugged at his sleeve under the table, then raised his cup and said with a smile, "The residence bestowed by His Majesty is located in Baoning Ward, which is not too far from Zhengyang Ward. If you have any free time in the future, Commander Li, you are welcome to visit our residence."

Han Jixun was taken aback by the abrupt interruption. Before he could speak again, he saw Li Tinggui shake his head slightly at him, so he could only awkwardly agree.

Li Yi nodded with a smile, taking in the two's subtle actions, but said, "What a coincidence."

He calmly raised his glass in return, the amber liquid swirling slightly in the glass. "Baoning and Zhengyang are only a few streets apart, so it seems convenient to move between them."

Seeing that the two nodded in agreement, Li Yi changed the subject: "Speaking of which, are you two settling in well in Tokyo? The customs and traditions of Sichuan must be quite different from those of the Central Plains, right?"

Li Tinggui put down his wine cup and sighed softly: "To my shame, I am originally from Taiyuan in Bingzhou. I followed my ancestor, the first ruler of Shu, to Shu, and have not returned to the Central Plains for nearly thirty years. This time, coming to Dongjing City feels like returning home."

"There were indeed many discomforts when I first arrived, but fortunately, as time went by, I gradually got used to it again..." Han Jixun continued, "Although the daily life and food in Tokyo are quite different from those in Sichuan, they have their own unique flavor."

Compared to Li Tinggui, Han Jixun was a native of Sichuan, and even his Central Plains Mandarin had a strong Sichuan accent.

He should have had a harder time adapting than Li Tinggui, but at this moment there was no trace of worry between his brows; instead, he was gesturing with great interest.

"Take mutton for example. In Sichuan, it is often seasoned with dogwood and Sichuan pepper, which is spicy and refreshing. In Tokyo, however, pepper and fennel are preferred, which brings out the original flavor of the meat."

Li Yi observed Han Jixun's radiant appearance with great interest.

"Master Han is indeed an expert in this field..."

Li Yi picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and chuckled, "However, the real delicacies in Tokyo are often hidden in those inconspicuous street stalls. If you two have some free time another day, you can take a stroll around the city and perhaps discover something new."

“Commander Li is absolutely right. Once we’ve settled in, we’ll definitely want to experience the local customs and culture of this capital city.”

As the group chatted idly, the atmosphere at the banquet became increasingly harmonious.

……

After several rounds of drinks, the candlelight flickered red.

The sky outside the window had completely darkened, and a bright moon quietly climbed into the sky, casting its clear light on the bluestone slabs in the courtyard.

The copper bells hanging from the eaves rang crisply in the night breeze.

Li Yi toyed with the celadon wine cup in his hand, then suddenly asked casually, "On the banks of the Longjin River outside the capital of Tokyo, there is a wine shop called Li's Wine Shop, which is run by a merchant from Sichuan. It is said that he has quite a business in Chengdu. I wonder if you two have heard of it?"

Upon hearing this, Han Jixun's eyes flashed with surprise, unable to understand Li Yi's intention in saying this. He subconsciously looked at Li Tinggui, only to see that the other party seemed to be deep in thought.

Seeing their reactions, Li Yi suddenly laughed loudly: "Don't take it to heart, you two."

He paused for a moment, then explained, "Back when I was just a junior officer in the Imperial Guard, I was most fond of drinking. Unfortunately, I was always short of money, so I often went to that wine shop to buy wine on credit, which is how I became familiar with the shopkeeper."

"That shopkeeper was a kind man, and he would give me some of his private brew every year during festivals. Later, when the imperial court launched its western expedition, the shopkeeper was afraid of being implicated, so he hurriedly returned to Chengdu. Today, while talking with you two, I suddenly remembered this old story, so I asked about it casually."

Li Yi's words were obviously nonsense. The so-called wine shop owner he mentioned was actually the pretentious Li Erniangzi.

Although he had always kept his distance from Li Erniang, he was also curious about the background of her family in Shu.

He figured that Li Tinggui and Han Jixun had lived in Sichuan for a long time, and their homes were both in Chengdu. He thought he could take this opportunity to inquire about the matter and see if he could find out anything.

“I see…” Li Tinggui’s expression shifted slightly, and he cupped his hands in greeting, saying, “Commander Li, you cherish old friendships so much; you are truly a man of deep affection and loyalty.”

Han Jixun quickly chimed in, "Exactly! Commander Li rose from humble beginnings, yet he still remembers his old friends; such magnanimity is truly admirable!"

Seeing that things had escalated to the point of involving the chest, Li Yi couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

He maintained a calm expression and waved his hand, saying, "I was just asking casually. Given your status and position, a mere merchant from Shu would not be worthy of your attention, so it is normal that you do not know."

To everyone's surprise, Li Tinggui said solemnly, "If it were an ordinary merchant, we would naturally not know. But since he has been able to do business from Sichuan to Tokyo, the manager must have some connections."

"There are quite a few well-known taverns in Sichuan, and several of them are named after the Li family... I wonder if this tavern has any unique and exquisite wines?"

"A unique, exquisite wine?" This question reminded Li Yi, who pretended to ponder and said, "Speaking of which, the most famous wine in that wine shop is a kind of wine called 'Qionghua Yuye'..."

Unexpectedly, Han Jixun suddenly exclaimed "Ah!" and when he saw Li Yi turn his gaze to him, he hurriedly said, "If this wine shop's 'Qionghua Yuye' is not a false name... I do know that there is indeed a winery in Chengdu that brews this wine."

"Oh?" Li Yi raised an eyebrow, took a small sip from his cup, and then continued, "It seems that the shopkeeper's family is quite famous in Chengdu. Even Master Han has heard of its name?"

"It's because this Jade Flower Elixir is exclusively produced by that winery..."

Han Jixun paused, his expression slightly embarrassed: "It's quite a coincidence, my son is engaged to the daughter of the Li family's winery, and they were originally planning to marry her this year. But... I'm currently in Tokyo, so the wedding will have to be postponed."

Li Yi was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself: This is too much of a coincidence.
He couldn't help but recall the letter Li Erniang had sent him in Guzhen, which mentioned the other party's marriage... Could it be Han Jixun's son?
Li Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and he feigned surprise, saying, "Such a coincidence? But I did hear the shopkeeper mention that his master has a daughter of marriageable age, about sixteen or seventeen, named Li Erniangzi."

Han Jixun nodded upon hearing this and said, "If what Commander Li said is true, then it must be correct."

“I was unaware that General Han had formed a marriage alliance with the Li family,” Li Tinggui continued, “but speaking of this ‘Qionghua Yuye’ wine, it reminds me of something. This wine is highly favored by the current ruler of Shu, and is presented to the palace every month.”

"As for the Li family..." Li Tinggui's gaze swept over Han Jixun, and he chuckled, "It is said that they seem to have some connection with Consort Huarui of the Shu Kingdom."

As a trusted general of Emperor Meng Chang of Shu, he had access to information within the palace and naturally knew more than ordinary people.

Han Jixun felt embarrassed upon hearing this, and could only cover it up by raising his glass to drink.

In fact, one of the main reasons he was willing to form a marriage alliance with the Li family was that although they were just merchants, they had a lot of connections in the Shu Kingdom and were even able to establish a relationship with Lady Huarui.

Moreover, the Li family provided him with significant support behind the scenes when he was able to be appointed as the military governor of Qin Prefecture.

"Lady Huarui?" Li Yi was naturally very familiar with this title.

However, to be honest, there was more than one woman known as "Lady Huarui" during the Five Dynasties period, but the most famous of them was Lady Fei, the concubine of Meng Chang of Later Shu.

In later generations, when people mention "Lady Huarui," they usually mean this woman.

His gaze swept over the two of them, and he probed indirectly, "I originally thought that the master the shopkeeper mentioned was just an ordinary merchant, but now it seems that it's not that simple at all?"

Li Tinggui didn't think much of it, assuming Li Yi was just curious, and said, "I have never dealt with the Li family and don't know much about them. Why don't you ask General Han about this?"

Seeing that both of them were looking at him, Han Jixun had nothing to hide and immediately told them everything he knew.

"The Li family moved from Shezhou to Shu in their early years. The eldest son of the family remarried to the daughter of the Liu family, a powerful family in Suizhou, which is how they were able to gain a foothold in Shu."

"However, that young master of the Li family passed away ten years ago, and the family is now run by his second wife... The eldest and second sons were both born to his first wife. The eldest son is said to have died when he was two or three years old. The second son was born with a speech impediment, but he has already married and had children, and has even obtained a sinecure as a court official."

"And his second wife, Liu, had three sons and a youngest daughter. Unfortunately, the third son had injured his leg in a horse-riding accident and was left with a limp, so he is still unmarried..."

"..."

Through Han Jixun's explanation, Li Yi finally gained a general understanding of Li Erniang's family background.

He had initially thought that the other party's family had a great deal of influence in the Shu Kingdom, but in the end, it turned out to be nothing more than that.
Even if you have a fortune, what good is it in this chaotic world?
But then he thought again that he was being too sensitive to the "remnants of the Li Tang dynasty"... In the end, in this world where military men hold power, the former noble families and royal descendants are now just a bunch of "fallen people".

Li Yi's father-in-law, Fu Yanqing, the Prince of Wei, was descended from Fu Jian, the Heavenly King of the Former Qin Dynasty. However, he earned his current prominent position through hard work and perseverance.

The Tang Dynasty has been gone for half a century, and there is no longer any merit or virtue left by our ancestors... At most, we can only be considered to be barely surviving.

Thinking about it, Li Erniang is quite pitiful. Her father had long since died, and her two older brothers were useless, one having a congenital stutter and the other being lame and disabled.

It seems the whole family is being supported by her and her mother, two women, one big and one small.
No wonder Li Erniang traveled all the way to Tokyo to investigate in person.

However, judging from Han Jixun's words, Li Erniang's family was quite wealthy... Li Yi suddenly felt that he didn't necessarily have to keep the other party at arm's length.

Although this way of thinking may seem a bit snobbish, it is possible that one day in the future I will need support in terms of manpower, financial resources, and other aspects.

Perhaps using someone else's resources to generate wealth would be a good option?

(End of this chapter)