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

Li Shen knew very well that his father, the emperor, would definitely find out if he defied the imperial decree and forcibly visited Songtsen Gampo; otherwise, Cheng Chusi would not be able to bear the responsibility.

After changing into his home clothes, Li Shen went to the front hall.

"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Highness Prince Ji."

Upon seeing Li Shen arrive, the anxious Cheng Chusi hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects.

"No need for formalities, we're all brothers, no need for such formalities. Bring tea."

After Li Shen sat down, he spoke politely to Cheng Chusi.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Cheng Chusi also sat down.

"Chu Si, you've come to see me again after we just parted, has something happened?"

Li Shen asked.

"Your Highness, I have just come from the palace," Cheng Chusi replied.

As Li Shen had expected, it was definitely his emperor father who summoned Cheng Chusi to inquire about the situation.

"Oh, what did you say to His Majesty?" Li Shen asked immediately.

I just told him that there are some things I can't say.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I know what I should and shouldn't say. I only told His Majesty about Your Highness's debt collection."

Regarding the matter of inquiring about the Tibetan king's inside man, I did not mention a word, not even when Your Majesty spoke of the crime of deceiving the emperor.

Cheng Chusi, as if seeking credit, recounted his experience in the main hall to Li Shen.

"What? You told His Majesty about the ten thousand catties of gold?"

As soon as Cheng Chusi finished speaking, Li Shen involuntarily stood up.

"Yes, Your Highness, but I did not tell His Majesty the question that Your Highness used as leverage to ask."

Cheng Chusi nodded.

"Then I should thank you," Li Shen said, his expression turning somewhat grim.

"Hehe, Your Highness, what are you saying? Your Highness is a role model for us all, and the driving force that guides us forward."

Even if it were deceiving the emperor, this humble official would not reveal the prince's affairs.

Cheng Chusi smiled slightly, expressing his admiration for Li Shen.

But Li Shen now wants to kill Cheng Chusi. This guy clearly doesn't understand what he should or shouldn't say.

Why are you keeping the matter of the traitor a secret? I'm not plotting a rebellion, I just want to know. I don't know what you're afraid of, and why you're hiding it from me.

As a result, he revealed the most important thing, and Li Shen can now fully imagine that at least half of his 10,000 jin of gold will be gone.

That's 800,000 strings of cash, the wages of 100,000 craftsmen for a year.

"Cheng Chusi, how did you get the position of Left Guard Inspector General?" Li Shen asked sarcastically with a gloomy face.

"This... was bestowed by His Majesty. Does Your Highness find anything amiss?"

Cheng Chusi had not yet grasped the seriousness of the matter and looked at Li Shen with suspicion.

"That's right. His Majesty bestowed titles upon you, so you are grateful for His Majesty's favor and have forgotten the kindness I have shown you, and you have deliberately framed me."

Cheng Chusi, I hereby sever all ties with you!

Li Shen roared.

"Ah? Your Highness, what... what is the reason for this?" Cheng Chusi was immediately dumbfounded, not understanding what he had done wrong.

He even deceived the emperor for the sake of Prince Ji; isn't that an act of gratitude towards him?

"Why? What did you tell His Majesty? You actually told him about how I asked Songtsen Gampo for money."

"Do you know how serious this is?" Li Shen was furious.

"Your Highness, I am puzzled. What is so serious about this? Is Your Highness worried that His Majesty is suspicious, or that someone is impeaching Your Highness for accepting bribes from the Tibetan king?"

But isn't this all something that the Tibetan Grand Minister owes the Prince?

I believe this is by no means a problem.

Cheng Chusi was somewhat wronged. Being able to ask the Tibetan king for money should be considered a skill, not a mistake.

"Then why don't you mention the matter I asked Songtsen Gampo about? Do you think I'm up to something in private?"

Li Shen questioned.

"Well... I felt at the time that this matter should be kept secret, as it involved spies within the Tang Dynasty who were treasonous and colluding with foreign powers."

Cheng Chusi replied that this was exactly what he thought; investigating spies must, of course, be kept secret.

Upon hearing this, Li Shen rolled his eyes and nearly died on the spot.

"You scoundrel! There's a spy within the Tang Dynasty. Don't you think we should report this to His Majesty? Why keep it a secret from him?"

I am not a spy, so what do I have to be afraid of?

"If you act this way, it's as if I'm the spy, needing to keep it a secret from His Majesty."

Li Shen cursed angrily, thinking, "This guy is really his father's son; he just thinks differently."

It's true that investigating spies should be kept secret, but what do you mean by keeping it secret from the top leader of the Tang Dynasty? The entire Tang Dynasty belongs to them, and you're still hiding it from them.

Doesn't that just admit that he's a spy?

Cheng Chusi was somewhat stunned upon hearing this. "Right, why should we keep it a secret from His Majesty?"

At the time, he didn't think much of it, only that the matter should be investigated secretly. Now, he realizes he was a bit foolish.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I was confused for a moment and didn't think things through. I was only thinking about investigating this matter secretly."

Cheng Chusi tried his best to explain.

But Li Shen was so angry he was stunned:

"You're talking nonsense. Even if it's a secret, you should keep it a secret. But you just had to tell everyone that I wanted 10,000 catties of gold."

"You did this on purpose! You were sent by His Majesty to deliberately torment me!"

Li Shen was on the verge of losing his mind. The thought of losing his gold made him unable to control himself.

"Your Highness, we haven't received the ten thousand catties of gold yet. Besides, it's all your personal property. Who in the Tang Dynasty would dare to rob Your Highness?"

Cheng Chusi felt that Prince Ji was making a mountain out of a molehill. It was just money, a private transaction, not a bribe. What was there to be afraid of? Could someone possibly rob him?

These words struck a nerve with Li Shen, who sat down dejectedly, startling Cheng Chusi.

A secret passage... what's going on here?

"Cheng Chusi, you have really caused me a lot of trouble. You have no idea how much I have lost."

Why didn't your father kill you?

Li Shen pointed at Cheng Chusi, his fingers trembling incessantly.

Cheng Chusi didn't know what was wrong with Prince Ji.

After a long while, Li Shen finally spoke:

"You must compensate me for my losses."

"Huh? What loss has Your Highness suffered?" Cheng Chusi was dumbfounded.

"We'll know what the losses are tomorrow. No matter how much they are, you'll have to compensate the king. The initial estimate is 800,000 strings of cash."

"How much?" Cheng Chusi suddenly stood up. Why was the crime of deceiving the emperor so expensive?

"Your Highness Prince Ji, even if you sold my entire Duke Lu's mansion, it wouldn't be worth 800,000 strings of cash. Is Your Highness perhaps trying to extort me?"

Cheng Chusi frowned and asked.

"Young master, don't worry. My lord acted rashly in a fit of anger. To be honest, His Majesty was unaware of this matter."

After the eldest son informed His Majesty today, His Majesty will surely require my prince to present a tribute to His Majesty.

That's why Your Highness..."

Seeing that Cheng Chusi was anxious, Shi Tou quickly explained that if he didn't make it clear, people would really think that Prince Ji was trying to extort money.

It wouldn't be good if the relationship became too strained.