I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 312 Brother
Despite Emperor Pingyuan and his cabinet ministers remaining silent, the death of Grand Secretary Li still caused a great uproar.

How could Grand Secretary Li have died so suddenly after entering the palace in good health?
Was it a sudden illness and death as the court claimed, or was there another reason?
Regardless of the truth, the death of Grand Secretary Li was a thunderbolt, making the already precarious Dayu court even more turbulent. The people prayed to the gods and Buddhas for Grand Secretary Li's peaceful passing, while inwardly cursing Emperor Pingyuan.

At Grand Secretary Li's residence, after Grand Eunuch Wang finished reading the imperial decree, he personally helped Grand Secretary Li up. "Grand Secretary Li suddenly fell ill and died. His Majesty is deeply saddened. Considering Grand Secretary Li's decades of diligent service to the country, His Majesty has specially granted favors to the Li family. Does Lord Li understand His Majesty's good intentions?"

Lord Li raised the corners of his mouth and said, "Your Majesty, I understand. I will explain to the world that my father's death has nothing to do with Your Majesty."

Wang Dajian nodded in satisfaction, then offered three incense sticks on behalf of Emperor Pingyuan before taking his leave.

Master Li said indignantly, "Brother, are we really going to accept His Majesty's explanation like this?"

Others may not know, but as his sons, how could they not know that Grand Secretary Li was not ill?

When the imperial physician came to take his pulse some time ago, he remarked that with Grand Secretary Li's health, he would surely live to be a hundred!
"What do you intend to do?" Master Li glanced at his younger brother. "Go out and tell the court officials and common people who are paying their respects that Father did not die suddenly from an illness, but was disillusioned with the Emperor and would rather die than serve His Majesty any longer?"

Master Li sneered, "If you want to die, go die by yourself, don't drag the entire Li family down with you!"

Master Li Er retorted, “I may not be as considerate as my elder brother, but I have received the Li family education since childhood, and I will never pretend that nothing happened and enjoy wealth and honor by stepping on my father’s corpse!”

"It's rare that you have this kind of heart," Master Li said with relief. "Don't worry, I will definitely not let my father die in an unclear way."

At the behest of Emperor Pingyuan, Grand Secretary Li received extremely high honors after his death. Not only was his portrait enshrined in the Hall of Famous Ministers, but the eldest son of the emperor also personally attended his funeral.

Lord Li watched coldly, feeling no emotion whatsoever. He only thought that Emperor Pingyuan had truly put on a good show, no wonder he was able to deceive Emperor Gaozu and the previous emperor.

After Grand Secretary Li was buried, Grand Secretary Li submitted a memorial requesting to observe the mourning period, but Emperor Pingyuan rejected it on the grounds that he was too busy with state affairs. Instead, Emperor Pingyuan bypassed the cabinet and appointed Grand Secretary Li as the new Grand Secretary.

Lord Li could not refuse the order and had to accept it, and was known as Young Grand Secretary Li.

While the political landscape in Luoyang was in flux, the northwest remained peaceful and tranquil. As the New Year approached, the people of the northwest were overjoyed, celebrating the decades of peace and tranquility to come.

In the Northwest Army camp, soldiers with families had all gone home to reunite with their loved ones, while those without families stayed in the camp drinking and eating meat. Although they enjoyed their lives, they exuded a strong aura of single life.

Very pitiful.

Tang Zhao pulled over a soldier in his late thirties and asked, "Do you want to get married?"

The soldiers' eyes widened instantly, and they nodded vigorously, "I want to marry her, I dream about marrying her!"

"Should I marry a widow?"

The soldiers nodded again, "Marry him!"

"Are you with children?"

Without hesitation, the soldiers shouted, "Marry him!"

What kind of person do you like?

The soldiers said realistically, "As long as someone is good and hardworking, we'll like any kind of subordinate!"

Just kidding. In the Northwest, how many single men are lucky to even get a wife? Who would dare to be picky?
Tang Zhao patted his shoulder, turned around and left.

The soldiers wanted to pursue but dared not. They were so anxious that they couldn't sleep at night. The next day, they mustered up their courage and went to find Gu Ci, asking him to inquire whether Tang Zhao intended to bestow a wife upon them.

Gu Ci looked at the old soldier who had fought alongside King Xuan his whole life, and led his men directly to Tang Zhao to inquire.

"Give me a wife?" Tang Zhao was taken aback. "When did I say I was going to give you a wife?"

People are not commodities; how can they be given away so easily?
The soldiers felt utterly disheartened and wanted to cry.

"Hey, hey, don't cry. I can't just give you a wife right away, but I can organize a matchmaking event." A matchmaking event? Gu Ci hadn't heard of it before, but he understood the literal meaning. "How do you organize it?"

Tang Zhao spoke eloquently, “After the Lantern Festival, when the people are free, I will have the government issue a notice inviting single men and women in the city who do not have wives or husbands to participate in a matchmaking event. They can get to know each other through games and tasks. As long as they have mutual affection, they can go directly to the government office to register their marriage. The government office will also give them a wedding gift.”

The soldiers' eyes lit up at the news. "This humble officer wants to sign up!"

Tang Zhao chuckled, "No problem, just sign up with the strategist."

The soldiers ran off to sign up, not forgetting to share the good news with their comrades who had shared life and death with them.

Gu Ci watched as a large group of people surged towards the strategist's tent, and said with a smile, "It seems everyone wants to get married."

"That's natural. What a man's ultimate pursuit in life is nothing more than a wife, children, and a warm bed!"

Tang Zhao turned to look at Gu Ci and teased, "Unlike the General of the Cavalry, who's married but not really married at all. What, do you want to go to a matchmaking event and find another wife? With our friendship, I'll definitely cut you in line!"

Gu Ci narrowed his eyes.

Tang Zhao chuckled awkwardly, "Just kidding. Look at you, can't you even take a joke?"

Gu Ci slowly asked in return, "A joke?"

Tang Zhao sensed something was wrong from Gu Ci's tone and turned to run. But before she could run more than a few meters, Gu Ci caught her, found a secluded corner, and kissed her.

Tang Zhao stared wide-eyed and struggled desperately.

Ignoring the cat-like scratching in his arms, Gu Ci kissed her with all his heart and soul, deeply moved.

Tang Zhao was so angry that she stomped on Gu Ci's foot.

Gu Ci wrapped his arms around Tang Zhao's slender waist and lifted her up with force.

Tang Zhao's feet suddenly left the ground, and she subconsciously tiptoed to find the ground. Whether it was Gu Ci's intention or not, Tang Zhao's toes just touched the top of Gu Ci's boot.

Tang Zhao was furious and bit down hard on the tongue that was causing trouble in her mouth.

Gu Ci winced in pain, but refused to let go, sucking on Tang Zhao's tongue even harder.

Tang Zhao was so exasperated by his antics that she could only look at Gu Ci pitifully.

Gu Ci kissed Tang Zhao's lips down to her nose, then her eyes, her forehead, and finally opened his mouth to take her red, almost bleeding earlobe into his mouth, and mumbled, "Do you still dare to talk nonsense?"

Tang Zhao's legs went weak, and if it weren't for Gu Ci's arms around her waist, she would have collapsed to the ground.

"I won't dare to do it again, I won't dare to do it again, Gu Ci, please forgive me this time."

"What did you call me?"

"Gu Ci, A Ci, Yuan Ye," Tang Zhao called them one by one, trying to find the right one, "Brother, Fifth Brother."

Gu Ci's body stiffened.

Tang Zhao blinked, as if she had discovered a great secret, and called out again, "Brother Yuanye."

Gu Ci's arms tightened suddenly, his breathing becoming heavier. "That's enough, stop yelling."

The author's drafts are exhausted, so updates will no longer be possible in the morning. Updates will now be moved to 8 PM.