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

It took Li Shen a while to recover. He sat up and looked at his father with a pitiful expression.

I thought to myself, "Why didn't you beat me to death?"

Li Shimin knew he had gone too far, but as a father, he couldn't lose face, so he snorted:

"Hmph, this is your punishment. Let's see if you dare to do it again next time."

What, do you think you, the God of Wealth, only know how to cheat and swindle, and can't do legitimate business?

Is it the God of Wealth or a demon? Haven't you heard of endless ghost stories?

"I..." Li Shen rubbed his chest, speechless for a moment. He had only said it casually, how could he have known that he would be punched in return?

His father was drunk and didn't know his own strength; he felt like his ribs were about to break.

"Father, please calm down. Tenth Brother was just joking. How could he deceive his own brother?"

Li Chengqian pleaded for mercy from the side.

“That’s right, Father, how could I lie to my brother?” Li Shen nodded vigorously.

"Hmph, haven't you lied enough? You spent 500,000 strings of cash to repair the temple." Li Zhi snorted at this moment, trying to sow discord between Li Shen and Li Shen.

"Why are you unwilling to build a temple to pray for your father's mother?" Li Shen suddenly turned around, his eyes sharp.

"Alright, Tenth Prince, I'm just telling you, stop swindling them out of their money." Li Shimin didn't want to see his sons arguing in this setting, so he stopped them.

The two snorted and then ignored each other.

"Your Majesty, the Tibetan king wishes to come and offer you a toast," Wang De reported in a low voice.

Li Shen looked up and saw Songtsen Gampo holding a wine cup, followed by Gar Tongtsen, standing not far away being stopped by guards.

"Yes, let them come over." Li Shimin nodded gently.

With their consent, Songtsen Gampo and his companion came over:

"Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy good health and longevity."

"Yes, Your Majesty, no need for formalities." Li Shimin nodded slightly.

After thanking them, the two stood up and said:

"Your Majesty, I apologize for the unpleasant incident and wish to..."

After Songtsen Gampo bowed and began to speak, Li Shimin waved his hand to interrupt him:

"Tibetan Zanpu, today is the first day of the new year for my Great Tang Dynasty, let us not discuss state affairs."

"Yes, then I toast His Majesty the Emperor, wishing him a long and healthy life."

Songtsen Gampo glanced at Li Shen beside Li Shimin, then raised his wine cup high and held it up like a giant.

He knew that the Emperor of Tang did not want to discuss peace talks with him, which confirmed what Prince Ji had said yesterday: he would not be summoned today, nor would there be any peace talks.

Li Shen raised an eyebrow at him, as if to say, "You saw it, didn't you?"

Li Shimin picked up his wine cup and took a symbolic sip, without saying much to Songtsen Gampo.

This is the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, possessing the majesty of an emperor.

"I would also like to offer a toast to Your Highness the Crown Prince. I have heard that Your Highness is an outstanding person, and seeing you today confirms it."

It is hoped that the Tang Dynasty and Tibet can become closer and live in harmony in the future.

Songtsen Gampo then looked at the prince.

At this moment, Li Chengqian also put on a calm expression, picked up his wine and hummed in agreement, then said nothing more.

This made Songtsen Gampo feel slighted and humiliated.

He, the dignified king of Tibet, was being looked down upon in the Tang Dynasty, yet he was no match for them and dared not retaliate. This feeling truly infuriated him.

“Ji…” Songtsen Gampo looked at Li Shen, about to speak, but Li Shen waved his hand:

"Your Majesty, please go back. We still have things to discuss. Don't forget what I told you yesterday."

Songtsen Gampo nodded, bowed to the crowd, and retreated dejectedly.

Watching his retreating figure, Li Shen shook his head and sighed. This is what they mean by "a weak nation has no diplomacy." Before the strong, the weak don't even have the right to speak.

Songtsen Gampo was a benevolent ruler in Tibet. He unified Tibet single-handedly, defeated all enemies, and made all the major tribes submit. He can be considered a great hero of his time.

But here he was just an envoy. It was an honor for him to be received by the Emperor of Tang. Other envoys did not have this opportunity to meet the Emperor.

Li Shen suddenly understood you. What's wrong with paying some price in order to make the country strong and not be bullied by foreign powers? In the end, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Just then, Li Shimin waved his hand at Wang De, who then produced an imperial edict from somewhere.

He approached the delegation's seats and announced loudly:

"The Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo receives the imperial decree~~~"

The sound startled everyone present, then the drumming stopped, and the noise subsided.

"In the first month of spring in the twenty-fourth year of the Zhenguan era, on the day of Renyin in the month of Wuyin of the year Gengxu, the Emperor issued an edict: 'The Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo is wise and valiant, pacifying the people and bringing peace to the land…'"

We admire the imperial style from afar...and present this memorial to express our sincerity, wishing to establish an alliance. Our respectful attitude is commendable...

Now, I hereby bestow upon you the title of Prince of Xihai, with a fief of one thousand households, and grant you a golden seal and purple ribbon... so that you may forever be my subject....

The ministers obeyed the imperial edict and carried it out..."

Li Shen listened for a full five minutes; it was all in words he couldn't understand, but it was all kinds of praise.

It seems that there was also a claim that Songtsen Gampo intended to submit, and that he was granted the title of Prince of Weixihai.

This imperial edict shocked the envoys from various countries, and the Tibetan king submitted to the Tang Dynasty and was even granted the title of king.

Although they were prepared, they were still somewhat shocked when they actually saw the facts.

Tibet was incredibly powerful to these small countries, yet they all bowed down to the tyranny of the Tang Dynasty.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Songtsen Gampo bowed and received the imperial decree:

"Thank you for the divine grace of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty."

He knew this was a test from the Tang emperor to see if he would submit and obey. If he did, he could accept the decree and negotiate peace.

If they are unwilling, then there is no need for peace talks.

It was less of an imperial decree and more of a coercion, forcing him to submit.

Most of the officials present were not surprised; only some lower-ranking officials were unaware of the matter.

How to treat Songtsen Gampo was not something the emperor could decide alone; it would certainly have to be discussed in the court.

The decision to bestow upon him the title of king was also the result of discussions among the court officials.

Songtsen Gampo put away the imperial edict and seal, his face remaining expressionless, making it impossible to discern his intentions. Li Shen couldn't help but admire such a person.

These are the people who accomplish great things; those who are impulsive will never achieve anything significant.

The banquet ended quickly, and the rewards were given according to procedure, so there's no need to elaborate further.

Li Shimin was helped by Li Shen and Li Chengqian to walk towards the inner palace. Fortunately, Li Shen was tall and could support his father.

As soon as he entered the Lizheng Hall, Empress Zhangsun and her concubines came out to greet him. Seeing Li Shimin's appearance, they quickly had the two brothers escort him to his bedchamber.

He then ordered someone to prepare a hangover remedy for Li Shimin.

"Gao Ming, how could you let your father drink so much wine?"

After arranging everything, Empress Zhangsun turned around and scolded.

(After reading yesterday's comments, I must clarify that the events in the novel, except those related to the main character, are fictional.)

Most of the information is based on real events. Except for the part about attacking Goguryeo, which was fictionalized beforehand and did not take place during that period, the territory of the Tang Dynasty in the text is based on real events.

Other events, including the conquest of the various Tiele tribes in the north and this western expedition, are all real and historically documented.

The conferment of the title of Prince of Xihai upon Songtsen Gampo is also documented in historical records; it was conferred by Emperor Gaozong of Tang.

Therefore, Li Shimin's achievements are genuine and undeniable; don't misunderstand and think they're related to the main character. The protagonist is nobody.