In the Taiji Palace, Li Shimin had just finished handling his official duties and was preparing to stroll over to visit Empress Chang sun.
However, just as he was about to leave, a eunuch arrived to report that Changsun Wuji, wished to see him.
Changsun Wuji's visit was a private meeting about money.
Although he was currently the Minister of Personnel, everyone in the court knew that he would soon be promoted to the position of the Minister of the Right . This would make him the chief minister, one of the highest-ranking officials in the government.
Furthermore, as a member of the imperial clan and an old friend of Li Shimin, he not only had to manage his own department, but also take care of other matters.
Changsun Wuji had come to talk about money because the national treasury was empty.
Not only had the Tang Dynasty been cheated out of a large sum of money by the Jie Li rebellion this year, but Li Shimin also had ambitious plans to develop irrigation systems, cultivate new land, and strengthen the military.
All of these plans required money, and the Minister of Revenue, Dai Zhou, was under a lot of pressure.
When Li Shimin heard about the shortage of funds, he was also concerned.
At that time, the national treasury did not have the various sources of income it would have in later periods. The two main sources of income were taxes and state monopolies on salt and iron.
However, taxation was already high enough and Li Shimin did not want to increase the burden on the people. Meanwhile, the state monopolies could generate substantial revenue, but they were not a quick solution.
Unable to come up with a solution, Li Shimin decided to take Changsun Wuji to see his wife Chang sun.
When he heard that Empress Chang sun had a hidden illness, Changsun Wuji was very worried and forgot about the formalities of the court.
Li Shimin then mentioned how he had taken the empress to eat at Zhang Nuo's small restaurant and how Zhang Nuo had identified her illness.
Since Changsun Wuji knew Zhang Nuo's father, Li Shimin explained in detail how Zhang Nuo had answered his questions.
Changsun Wuji was relieved to hear that his sister's illness was not serious, but he was also moved by the news of Zhang Nuo.
However, he was a little skeptical of Li Shimin's high praise for Zhang Nuo's skills. After all, he was just a commoner who had offered some advice.
Nevertheless, Li Shimin didn't mind and said to him,
"Fuji (Changsun Wuji's courtesy name), after tomorrow's court session, change your clothes and come with me to see. I won't say anything else, but just the craftsmanship of Zhang Nuo, the shopkeeper, is definitely worth trying. I can't forget it, but you must not reveal your identity."
Changsun Wuji had no reason to refuse, and he also wanted to see for himself how the son of his old friend, who was praised by Li Shimin, was doing.
If he really had the talent that Li Shimin said he had, then he would have to be recruited, as Li Shimin was in dire need of capable people.
The two arrived at the queen's palace and coincidentally met the imperial physician who had just finished examining Chang sun Empress and was chatting with her.
When Li Shimin entered, the informed Chang sun Empress hurried over to pay her respects, while the imperial physician honestly reported the examination results.
After a careful examination by the physician, it was found that Chang sun Empress did have a respiratory illness, but the symptoms were extremely mild at the moment. Chang sun Empress had occasionally experienced chest tightness and coughing, but had not mentioned it to anyone, fearing that Li Shimin would worry.
If it hadn't been for Zhang Nuo revealing the condition, the illness would have worsened before anyone knew.
However, the physician also said that as long as she was carefully cared for, she would not only recover, but at least maintain the current condition with no major problems.
Although Li Shimin was not completely satisfied with the result, he was at least reassured to some extent. He knew how much he had wanted to kill these imperial physicians when he had just returned to the palace.
Now, the physician had been spared and both Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji were relieved.
In the evening, Li Shimin invited Changsun Wuji to have dinner together, as he was the brother of Chang sun Empress after all. The two siblings rarely met, so if they had the chance, they would catch up over a meal.
However, as soon as the dishes were served, Chang sun Empress began to lament.
"Your Majesty, may I ask where Zhang Nuo , the shopkeeper, learned to make such delicious food with such ordinary ingredients?
"I am not one to indulge in food, but after having the meal at lunch, I find myself hesitating to eat the dishes prepared by the imperial chefs."
Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh, looking at the carefully prepared dishes in front of him. He himself had lost his appetite.
"The ancient saying goes, 'It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality'. When I was conquering the world, I ate and slept in the open air. But after having two meals at Zhang Nuo's shop, even the skills of the imperial chefs seem lacking. It's quite thought-provoking!"
Changsun Wuji was surprised to hear his sister praise the culinary skills of Zhang Nuo, the shopkeeper.
It was well-known that the Empress Chang sun was a thrifty and virtuous woman who never indulged in luxuries. But now, she couldn't stop thinking about the food. It seemed that Zhang Nuo's culinary skills were not to be underestimated.
But it was already evening, and the whole city of Chang'an City was almost under curfew. Zhang Nuo's shop must have already closed. They couldn't just go knocking on his door for food.
So Li Shimin and his wife reluctantly ate a bowl of rice, hardly touching the food on the table.
If someone didn't know better, they would think that the couple was barely surviving on a meager diet. Changsun Wuji, on the other hand, enjoyed his food and wondered why they had to wait for dishes like dragon liver and phoenix marrow to be served.
After the meal, the eunuchs served tea to aid digestion, and Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji continued their discussion on how to fill the treasury.
But after much debate, they found themselves at an impasse. Either they had to raise taxes on the people, who had only just escaped the onerous taxes of the Sui Dynasty, or they had to accept that there was no money.
Suddenly , Chang sun, who had been silently listening, spoke up ,
"Since we are discussing ways to make money, why not ask Zhang Nuo ? He is quite adept at making money, and we might learn something from him ."
Li Shimin's eyes lit up at the suggestion . Of course , how could they forget about Zhang Nuo , who was so skilled at making a profit ?