The Great Wei Music Bureau

Last time, we talked about Nangong Xue using Taoist magic to ask Li Yi a few questions in his dream. Don’t get me wrong, Nangong Xue is not in love with Li Yi. She just wants to figure out some questions, such as whether a man should be faithful to a woman and why a man can have three wives and four concubines. She is just thinking about the true meaning of love. So how will the story develop next? Let’s take a look together.

The next day, Li Yi woke up at almost noon. It was Shiyu who woke him up. Li Yi opened his eyes and looked at Shiyu, who was smiling, and asked curiously, "What are you so happy about? You're almost happy all over your face."

Shiyu helped Li Yi up and said, "Li Lang, get up quickly. Steward Zhou sent someone to tell you that he will be here soon!"

Li Yi said, "Oh, so I made quite a lot of money yesterday. My boss is very satisfied!" He yawned, stretched his waist and continued, "Okay, my wife, help me wash up."

Shiyu happily took the towel from Xing'er's hand and wiped Li Yi's face. Yue'er was shocked and said, "Oh my, if you don't know, you would think that you are a high-ranking official, but you let the young lady serve you like this! In the end, you are still penniless! I really don't know what the young lady will do after following you!"

Shiyu glared at Yue'er, who kept silent. Li Yi thought for a moment and said, "Well, you did remind me, but I have already paved the way. I plan to sell books to earn money to support you."

Shiyu asked, "Selling books?"

Li Yi said, "Yes, didn't I say last night that I want to write a book, a novel? Wasn't last night the first promotional event? I think there will be quite a few people who want to read my book now, so I guess I can make some money."

As Shi Yu dressed Li Yi, she said, "Li Lang, are you really going to write a book? I thought you were just trying to calm the rumors about Ji Yun and Gong Sun Chan! It turns out you want to sell the book to make money."

Li Yi smiled and said, "It doesn't matter what you do! So, you don't have to worry about suffering if you follow me. If I, Li Yi, don't have the ability to make money, I will be letting my wife down!"

Shiyu smiled and said, "Yes! Li Lang is very capable! I thought Li Lang would go live with the teacher, but now it seems that Li Lang has already planned it and is just waiting for Manager Zhou to come. He wants to discuss another deal, right?"

Li Yi smiled and said, "My wife really understands me! You guessed it right. The owner of this Exiled Immortal House is no small matter. If I don't get more money from him, I won't feel at ease!"

After lunch, Manager Zhou came. In the elegant room of the Moon Palace, Li Yi sat opposite Manager Zhou, Shi Yu sat next to Li Yi, and Xing Yue stood behind Shi Yu. Manager Zhou was much more polite to Li Yi. He heard what Tao Zhongwen said last night, and he also saw the attitude of His Majesty towards Li Yi. He knew that this Li Yi, Master Li, might become the most important minister of the Wei Dynasty in the future.

Manager Zhou said with a smile on his face, "Mr. Li, these are the indentures of Shiyu, Yue'er, and Xing'er. I have brought them all to you."

Li Yi looked at this Manager Zhou and said without revealing his identity, "Oh? Why are there three people selling their bodies?"

Manager Zhou smiled and said, "The boss said that Master Li has worked hard this time, and we must not treat him unfairly. I thought that after Miss Shiyu regained her freedom, she would have to have two close friends around her. These two girls Xingyue have been with Shiyu for many years, so it would be good to let them serve Shiyu from now on."

When Xingyue heard this, they knew they would also be free again. They were overjoyed and looked at the indenture on the table excitedly. Li Yi took the three pieces of paper and put them in his palm. The three pieces of paper instantly burned to ashes. Li Yi turned around and looked at the three people and said, "From now on, you are all free. Yue'er and Xing'er, do you two want to go out and make your own way or do something else? Just tell me. Manager Zhou happens to be here. I will ask Manager Zhou to arrange everything for you if I can."

Xingyue and the other girl fell to their knees and kowtowed to Li Yi. Li Yi reached out and pulled the two girls up, saying with a smile, "Why are you kowtowin' for no reason? No need to thank me! I should thank you. You two have worked hard to serve Shiyu these years. This time I'll just thank you for your companionship over the years."

Shiyu smiled and said, "Li Lang is right, Yue'er and Xing'er, you have indeed worked hard." As they were talking, the two began to cry. Li Yi interrupted them quickly, saying, "Stop, stop, stop! Don't play these tricks. You two are free now. You can do whatever you want in the future. It's up to you."

Xingyue and the others looked at each other and said, "Master, we still want to follow the young lady and serve her. Although we have regained our freedom, we don't have the ability to support ourselves."

Xing Er added: "Mr. Li, we can live like before, just in a different place!"

Li Yi sighed inwardly: This is slavery. Being used to being enslaved, one has lost the desire for freedom!

Li Yi said, "Okay, that's it. Before you two have other ideas, you can continue to stay by Shiyu's side and serve her. If one day you want to leave, or want to get married, tell Shiyu and she will never make things difficult for you." Upon hearing this, the two of them were about to kowtow and thank him, but were stopped by Shiyu. The matter of the two girls ended here, and Li Yi should think about Shiyu's problem next.

Li Yi looked at Manager Zhou and said, "Manager Zhou, you see, Shiyu and I don't have a place to stay right now, so how about this..."

Manager Zhou waved his hands and said, "No, no, no, Master Li, look at this!" He took out a land deed and continued, "The boss said that Master Li has made so much money for the Exiled Immortal House this time, and we can't let you be without a place to stay, so we have prepared all this for you. This is the land deed. This yard is not big, but it still has ten rooms, and the things inside are also ready. Master Li, just rest assured and live there.

Shiyu Xingyue looked happy, but Li Yi felt something was wrong, so he asked, "The boss is so thoughtful, do you have any other conditions?" Manager Zhou smiled and said, "Young Master Li is really a smart man. The boss said that as long as Young Master Li can often compose some songs for the Exiled Immortal Building and let the girls in the building sing, and if he can train them in his spare time, that would be even better. You can live in this courtyard without worry, and all expenses will be managed by the Exiled Immortal Building!"

Li Yi knew that Tuoba Jun was taking care of him, but he really couldn't refuse at the moment, so he smiled and said, "Well, I will shamelessly accept this kindness from my boss! Please ask Manager Zhou to tell Master Xiao that Li Yi will write a song for the girl in the Exiled Immortal Tower every month, which will be regarded as rent. I will not accept this land deed."

Manager Zhou understood what Li Yi meant and said with a smile, "Okay, okay, Master Li, do you have anything else to tell me?"

Shiyu asked, "Manager Zhou, Shiyu wants to ask how much money the Exiled Immortal House made from the singing party last night?"

Manager Zhou smiled and said, "Not counting the tickets, it's thirty thousand taels!"

Li Yi was stunned when he heard this. How could it be so easy to make money? This was not counting the ticket money! If the ticket money was included, wouldn't it be 50,000 taels? Adding the income from the previous poetry meeting, he had earned nearly 100,000 taels of silver for the Exiled Immortal House in just over a month! He felt a little regretful and wondered if he should get the deed back!

Li Yi said, "Manager Zhou, Li Yi has something else to discuss with you."

Manager Zhou smiled and said, "Sir, you have given me an order, so what else do we need to discuss?"

"Li Yi also said last night that he wanted to write a book. I wonder if Manager Zhou can help arrange this matter? Of course, how about we split the money we earn 50-50?"

Manager Zhou didn't even think about it! Now, any business related to Li Yi is a sure win! What's there to hesitate about? He smiled and said, "This is easy to do. Mr. Li just needs to give me the manuscript, and I will take care of the rest of the book, printing, and sales. How about that?"

This is exactly what Li Yi wanted! The two hit it off immediately, and the discussion was very enjoyable! That afternoon, Li Yi, Shiyu and Xingyue moved to their new home. It was a three-courtyard house. Although the decoration was not as luxurious as the Exiled Immortal Building, it was also elegant and unique. There were more than a dozen servants in the courtyard, including guards, firemen, errand boys and maids. Shiyu and Xingyue were familiar with these people. They were all from the Exiled Immortal Building, so they quickly adapted to the new environment.

Li Yi saw all this, thinking that the emperor really cared about him, and he had to find a way to repay this favor as soon as possible. It was not a matter of money, but of the heart. He paced in the courtyard, thinking about how to repay the favor, when the footsteps of a group of people came from outside the door, followed by the eunuch's shouting "The imperial edict has arrived!" Li Yi and others knelt down to receive the edict.

A young eunuch in a bright red dragon robe entered Li Yi's courtyard holding an imperial edict, and then read out the edict in a loud voice: "In compliance with the will of heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Last night, the singing party held by Li Yi caused a sensation in Shangjing City. This morning, the Minister of Rites personally recommended Li Yi as the Minister of Music of the Ministry of Rites, responsible for the singing and dancing performances at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet for the Queen Mother's birthday. The three departments of Rites, Households, and Workers will fully assist. This is the decree!"

Li Yi knelt on the ground, pondering the meaning of this imperial edict. Shi Yu beside him urged him, "Li Lang, quickly accept the edict and thank the emperor!"

Li Yi looked up at the eunuch who was announcing the decree, bowed and asked, "Excuse me, sir, can we discuss this decree?"

The eunuch who announced the decree was none other than Tuoba Jun's accompanying eunuch Tong Qing. He was stunned. This was the first time he saw someone wanting to negotiate when announcing a decree. But considering that the person was Li Yi, he put away the imperial decree, stepped forward, bowed, stood beside Li Yi, and whispered, "Mr. Li, can you please stop joking with me? This is an imperial decree. How can you negotiate with me?"

Li Yi said, "Everything else is easy to deal with, except for the Minister of Revenue Yuwen Zheng. I had a feud with his nephew Yuwen Ye before, and I am afraid that the Ministry of Revenue will embarrass me. Everything else is fine."

Tongqing whispered back, "Mr. Li, please stop making trouble. His Majesty's decree has been sent to the Ministry of Revenue. Besides, Lord Yuwen will definitely not make things difficult for you regarding the Queen Mother's birthday banquet!"

Li Yi nodded when he heard it. Tongqing returned to Li Yi and straightened his back. Li Yi kowtowed to express his gratitude. Tongqing handed the imperial edict to Li Yi, and the attendant presented him with official uniform and seal. Tongqing whispered, "Sir Li, you'd better get started as soon as possible. The Queen is keeping an eye on His Majesty." After saying that, he turned and left. Li Yi hurriedly stood up to stop him and winked at Shiyu. Shiyu understood immediately. Yue'er took out an ingot of silver and handed it to him. Shiyu came to Tongqing, saluted, and then stuffed the silver into Tongqing's hand.

Tong Qing hurriedly said, "Master Li, Master Li, this is unacceptable! This is unacceptable! I am following your orders, but I dare not accept your money!"

Li Yi asked sternly, "Does this eunuch look down on Li Yi?"

Tong Qing said hurriedly: "I absolutely wouldn't dare to do that! I absolutely wouldn't dare to do that! You are the most talented person in the capital. I would look down on anyone but you!"

Li Yi asked: "Oh, then why do you dare to accept other people's money but not mine?"

Tong Qing was stunned and said, "I have never taken money from others!"

Li Yi smiled and said, "That's easy!" Li Yi took the silver from Shiyu and stuffed it into Tongqing's hand, then asked the people following him, "Did you see me giving silver to this eunuch?"

Everyone in the group looked at each other and shook their heads at the same time. Li Yi released Tong Qing's hand and asked again, "Did you see this eunuch accept the money?" Everyone shook their heads again. Li Yi smiled and said, "Okay, that eunuch never accepted Li Yi's money!"

Tongqing was confused, he didn't understand what Li Yi was saying, he looked at Li Yi, the latter smiled and waved his hand to indicate that he could leave! Tongqing bowed and thanked him and left. On the way back, Tongqing kept wondering why Li Yi gave him money? Was he trying to bribe him? This was impossible, why did he ask everyone those two questions? He was puzzled, in his opinion, Li Yi's move must have a deep meaning...

In the courtyard, Shiyu asked with a smile: "Why did Li Lang tease that eunuch?"

Li Yi replied: "He specifically reminded me, do you think it was His Majesty's instruction or his own idea?"