Time Travel: I am the idle king Li Shen and Li Shimin in the Tang Dynasty

Li Shimin's newly awakened compassion shattered instantly. He had thought that his son had changed his ways and would actually consider giving him gifts.

Unexpectedly, he had another purpose, and a much bigger one at that—his token, the emperor's token.

While commanding the three armies might be an exaggeration, getting local officials to do things is certainly possible.

Empress Zhangsun was also shocked. She was surprised that such a thing had happened. She did not know that Li Shen had taken Li Shimin's token.

"Shen'er probably didn't mean that, did she?" Empress Zhangsun was somewhat uncertain.

“That’s exactly what he meant. Otherwise, why would he send me the token? He wants to make an exchange,” Li Shimin said confidently.

"Your Majesty, Consort Wei and Prince Ji have arrived." At this moment, a eunuch walked in to report.

"Let them in," Li Shimin immediately ordered.

A moment later, Consort Wei led Li Shen and Lu Dingniang in.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress."

"Greetings, Father, Mother."

Upon arriving before Li Shimin, everyone bowed.

"Hmph." Li Shimin snorted coldly.

"Li Shen, now that you have returned to Chang'an, return the token I lent you."

Li Shimin reached out his hand to Li Shen.

"What token? What do you mean by that, Father?"

Li Shen looked bewildered, his face showing a strange expression.

"You scoundrel! This is my token, the Emperor's golden decree! Don't play dumb with me!"

Seeing Li Shen feign ignorance, Li Shimin immediately flew into a rage. It seemed his guess was correct; this rebellious son indeed wanted to embezzle his token.

Seeing that he couldn't fool him anymore, Li Shen quickly put on a smiling face:

"Hehe, Father, although I've returned to Chang'an, things in Xizhou aren't over yet. I'll be going back to Xizhou next spring."

Father, don't worry, I will return the token when I return from Xizhou."

"No, do you think I don't know? The matter in Xizhou is over. The reason you went to Xizhou was to transport your treasure."

There's absolutely no need to use the token anymore. Give it back to me immediately; don't force me to use money.

Li Shimin shook his head decisively. Didn't he understand this rebellious son? He just wanted to delay. Wasn't that how he lost his golden sword back then?

"But...but I didn't bring it with me. I'll bring it to you when I get back."

Li Shen deliberately touched himself and then shrugged.

Li Shimin frowned and looked at Li Shen, saying very seriously:

"If I do not see the token by evening, I will send people to search your Prince Ji's treasury tomorrow."

"No way?" Li Shen immediately made a face. "Father, it's just a token, is it really necessary to confiscate our house?"

"Just a token? You have quite the nerve. That's my token. It grants me free access to the palace and the forbidden gardens. Even the Crown Prince doesn't have one."

Li Shimin was even angrier. Judging from Li Shen's tone, it seemed like he didn't take it seriously. Did he even know what his token represented?

"Fine, fine, I'll deliver it. So stingy," Li Shen muttered, somewhat unwilling.

"What did you say!" Li Shimin was furious and was about to get up.

"It's nothing, it's nothing, I'll bring it as soon as I get back," Li Shen quickly waved his hand.

"Hmph, my golden sword is with you, my dagger is with you, and now you want my token too? Should I give you the imperial seal as well?"

"Do you perhaps want to be emperor?"

Li Shimin snorted coldly and looked at Li Shen with disdain.

His golden knife and dagger had been tricked away by this child. He had lent the golden knife to Yang Yuzhi for his sake, but it was never returned.

"Imperial seal?" To be honest, Li Shen had never actually seen what an imperial seal looked like.

Li Shen was referring to the Imperial Seal of the State. The imperial edicts he received were stamped with either Li Shimin's private seal or the state seal stamped by his subordinates.

Li Shen had never seen the legendary Imperial Seal, which was said to grant eternal life and was ordained by Heaven.

It is said that the imperial seal is only used when issuing national decrees.

Li Shen's imperial edicts were not worthy of being stamped with the Imperial Seal of the State.

"What? You really want to be the emperor?"

Seeing Li Shen lost in thought, Li Shimin immediately asked with a dark face.

"No, no, no, I've said before that I don't want to be emperor, it's too tiring. I was just thinking about what the imperial seal looks like."

"I've never seen this before in all these years. Would you like to let me see it, Father?"

Li Shen asked tentatively, "This is the Imperial Seal of the State. Which person from later generations wouldn't want to see it with their own eyes?"

However, this time he was disappointed, and Li Shimin angrily rebuked him:

"How dare you! The Imperial Seal of the State is not a child's play, something you can't just look at whenever you want!"

The Imperial Seal of the State was actually just a piece of jade, and it might not even be as precious as the jade given by Li Shen. However, its meaning and symbolism were different.

Even if the materials of Qin Shi Huang's chamber pot were the same as those of ordinary people, the price difference was enormous.

"I was just curious and wanted to take a look. If you don't want me to look, then you don't want me to look." Li Shen said as he walked to the table and was about to pick up the box on it.

"Slap!" Li Shimin reached out and pressed it down, then looked up at Li Shen:

"what are you doing?"

“Since Father doesn’t want to exchange it, then we won’t. I’ll take back the jade pendant,” Li Shen said matter-of-factly.

"Isn't this a gift for me?" Li Shimin asked.

"Yes... we're planning to change it," Li Shen replied.

"Hmm?" Li Shimin's expression grew increasingly grim.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Shen'er is a gift to Your Majesty. He was just joking with Your Majesty."

Even Consort Wei, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand it anymore. She came over, grabbed Li Shen's arm, and pulled him back.

"Ouch~~~" Li Shen suddenly felt a sharp pain in his arm, and immediately grimaced, looking pitifully at his mother.

Fine, I'll give it to you. Why are you pinching me?

However, seeing his mother's stern gaze, Li Shen fearfully withdrew his hand and respectfully retreated.

"You child, you always deliberately make your father angry. You clearly want to give it to your father, but you always end up making him unhappy."

Empress Zhangsun smiled and lectured.

This jade pendant was clearly prepared for the emperor; it even has dragon patterns on it, so it's not something anyone could just possess.

Li Shen could only give this thing to His Majesty, or keep it as a decoration at home; he wouldn't dare accept it if given to someone else.

“Yes, Mother is right.” Li Shen nodded, but didn’t take it seriously.

He can give things to anyone, but he cannot give things to the emperor, as this would cause some people to misunderstand.

They wonder if they are vying for favor or if they have other ideas.

He has been very careful all these years.

His father was the emperor, so how could he not know how to flatter him? But flattery isn't something you can just do casually.

Just like that fat guy Li Tai, he made his father so happy back then, but in the end, he caused the entire court and the crown prince to misunderstand.

This also fostered his ambition.

Actually, this is a good thing; it saves me some money.