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

Li Shen's words were extremely malicious and deeply hurt Li Zhi's heart. Not to mention Li Zhi, even Li Tai's face darkened after hearing Li Shen's words.

Li Chengqian had a headache. This guy's words were too provocative.

Even though it's about reality, you can't just say it out loud.

Li Tai and Li Zhi would attend court every time it was time to hold court, because they were princes and had titles.

According to ancestral teachings, they could attend court and participate in politics, but they had no real power and spent most of their time listening and watching.

Watch as people like Changsun Wuji make decisions on matters of national importance.

However, for everyone, being able to participate in national affairs is something to be proud of.

But now Li Shen says he's completely worthless.

"Tenth Prince, you're spouting nonsense here. Don't forget, aren't you just a prince without any real power?"

Li Tai retorted, "We're all the same, so let's not criticize each other."

"I have money." Li Shen said without looking up as he changed his herbal tea.

"Uh..." Li Tai swallowed back his words.

"Hmph, so what if you're rich? You're just a merchant, what's so great about you?" Li Zhi sneered and said disdainfully.

In the Tang Dynasty, merchants were considered a lowly class, belonging to the lowest social rank, and it was not something to be proud of.

"Well, but I have more money than I can spend."

Li Shen took a sip of tea and continued speaking calmly, which almost made Li Zhi so angry that he vomited blood on the spot.

Why is this guy so despicable? I really want to go up and teach him a lesson.

"Isn't the way of merchants a minor matter? Is that all you have to say?" Li Zhi said angrily.

"Yes, I can say that I have mountains of gold and silver, more than I can ever spend," Li Shen said innocently, raising his head.

"Damn it..." Li Zhi's anger rose from his heart.

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control and that Li Zhi was about to take action, Li Chengqian quickly stepped forward to stop him.

"Zhi Nu, don't be impulsive. We're all brothers, so let's not ruin our harmony."

“Yes, Zhi Nu, don’t be angry. He’s just trying to provoke you.” Li Tai also held Li Zhi, then looked at Li Shen and said:

"Tenth Brother, we're all brothers, why are you acting like this?"

“Yes, tenth brother, Mother just said not to be foolish,” Li Chengqian said to Li Shen.

Li Shenyi shrugged, "I still have to give the Empress face."

"Alright, let me put it another way. I'm not powerless. Don't forget, I am the Junior Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, a fourth-rank official, personally appointed by the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty."

The group was taken aback, then immediately realized that they had indeed forgotten Li Shen's identity as the Junior Minister of the Imperial Clan Court.

The main problem is that this guy doesn't go to work. He stays home all day doing whatever he wants. Li Chengqian suspects that Li Shen doesn't even know where the Imperial Clan Head is.

"What power does the Junior Minister of the Imperial Clan Court have? He merely manages the imperial clan. What decisions can he make?"

Li Zhi was somewhat unconvinced.

Li Shenyi grinned:

"I can at least manage the two of you, right? Hehe, you better not mess with me, or I'll frame you for some fabricated crime, and at best you'll be punished, at worst you'll be expelled from the royal family."

Li Shen's smug and petty demeanor was extremely annoying.

"..." All three were shocked by Li Shen's words. This guy actually dared to take revenge on his personal life?

"Li Shen, how dare you!" Li Zhi shouted angrily, pointing at Li Shen.

"How dare you! Please call me Lord Shaoqing." Li Shen slammed his hand on the table, his official authority immediately rising.

“Tenth brother, the Junior Minister of the Imperial Clan Court is only a fourth-rank official, not a local official.” Li Chengqian rubbed his forehead, looking utterly hopeless.

Is this guy having another brain attack? Should we call the imperial physician to take a look at him?

Li Shen waved his hand dismissively:

"Anyway, don't mess with me in the future. If you don't want to be punished, visit me more often during holidays, understand?"

Li Shen rubbed his fingers together as he spoke to the three men, conveying his intentions.

All three of them understood the gesture; they had seen it before, it was a gesture Li Shen often used, meaning he wanted money.

Li Shen used to do this often with his emperor father.

Li Chengqian and Li Tai were both amused by Li Shen's words.

"Heh, tenth brother, are you openly embezzling and breaking the law?"

"What are you saying, brother? How is that corruption and bribery? Didn't we say we're brothers and should visit each other more often?"

What? You call the New Year's gifts I send you every year considered embezzlement and corruption?

Brother, you, the crown prince, are the most corrupt. Even if you're exiled 30,000 li away, you'll have to travel back and forth several times.

Even if the Ministry of Justice's prison collapses, you won't be able to get out.

Li Shen rolled his eyes and said disdainfully.

Li Chengqian was instantly speechless; he had accepted the bribe and was powerless to do anything about it.

Li Tai and Li Zhi remained silent this time. Although they didn't have a good relationship with Li Shen, Li Shen did send them gifts every year, and they never missed a day of formalities.

Li Shen was mainly afraid of giving others cause for gossip, saying that he was impolite.

"Tenth Brother, you have money, yet you still ask us for money. Just now you gave each of your two uncles five hundred strings of cash without even blinking."

"You think you'd even care about our little bit of money?"

Li Tai put on a smiling face. Actually, he was genuinely afraid that Li Shen would frame them; what wouldn't that guy do?

If we really frame them, although there won't be any major problems, it won't do our reputation any good.

"I gave my two uncles money so they could start a business, and also..." Li Shen suddenly stopped talking, as if he had said something wrong.

They pretended to be nonchalant as they poured and drank tea to cover up their true feelings.

This left the three of them looking at each other in bewilderment, each only half-finished from their sentences. Li Tai's eyes, however, gleamed with curiosity.

"Tenth Brother, putting everything else aside, Fourth Brother is just curious about what kind of business you're going to do. Even if it's a collaboration with Father, tell us about it."

Li Tai poured himself a cup of tea and asked slowly and deliberately.

"Actually, it's fine to tell you. Last year, I had Baekje plant a lot of soybeans."

I want to open an oil pressing workshop to extract oil from Baekje soybeans for the people to consume.

However, it is necessary to purchase some grain from the imperial court and exchange it with Baekje.

"Do you think you can decide this? Do you have that much food?"

Li Shen looked up at the three of them.

"Oil extracted from beans? That's truly unheard of," Li Chengqian said with a serious expression.

This matter truly concerns the people of the Tang Dynasty.

Although food is plentiful now, people's lives have not yet reached a point of luxury.

Oil is still not cheap, and ordinary families have to be frugal with their food every time they eat.

"Tenth Brother, nowadays, sesame oil is commonly used in our Great Tang Dynasty, and it is quite expensive. People only use a small amount each time, and they are reluctant to eat it."

In contrast, the homes of high-ranking officials and nobles primarily consumed meat and oil.

If my tenth brother can obtain cheap oil for the people of the Tang Dynasty, it will be a truly great achievement, a truly great achievement indeed!

Li Chengqian was somewhat excited. Wasn't this a political achievement? During his regency, the people were able to use cheap oil, which would surely be recorded in history.