I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

Li Shen picked up his teacup and slowly sipped his tea, listening to the juicy gossip coming from the court. He hadn't expected it to be so intense.

Many factions coveted the position of Vice Minister of War, and the person recommended by the Crown Prince was relegated to the back of the list.

However, Li Shen was secretly laughing to himself. This time, Li Chengqian should know that even the emperor can't do whatever he wants.

He's wondering if Li Chengqian regrets becoming the crown prince. You know, this makes you feel really frustrated.

"Father-in-law, how long has this matter been going on?"

Li Shen treated this matter as nothing more than a spectacle.

"It's been four months already," Lu Shuang sighed, noting that even the Crown Prince had stopped mentioning the matter.

"Father-in-law, do you think we should help the Crown Prince?" Li Shen asked suddenly, fiddling with the teacup in his hand.

"Help the Crown Prince? I wonder what Your Highness means by this?" Lu Shuang was taken aback.

"It means exactly what it says: to help the Crown Prince promote Han Yuan." Li Shen smiled slightly.

"I wonder what Your Highness intends to do. If there is anything you need me to do, please just give the order."

Why did Lu Shuang not do what Li Shen did?

Li Shen shook his head:

"Father-in-law, just do your own thing. There's no need for you to get involved in this kind of thing."

I've been away from court for a long time, so it's time for me to show my face, otherwise they'll all forget about me.

This is a perfect opportunity to show them that I, the King, have returned.

By the way, I wonder when the holiday break starts?

Li Shen was a little excited after he finished speaking. He wondered what kind of expressions these people would have if he got involved.

Li Shen enjoyed seeing these people hate him, yet be unable to do anything about it.

Li Shen didn't care who Han Yuan was or what position he held; it was just an excuse for him.

"The holiday will begin in two days." Lu Shuang looked at the mischievous smile on her son-in-law's face and knew that something was definitely going to happen in the court again.

My son-in-law is invincible, and the reason he didn't make a move in the imperial court this year is because he went to Xizhou Prefecture.

Just by looking at his mischievous, trouble-loving expression, you know there's going to be a good show.

"Two days from now... I will go to court the day after tomorrow."

Li Shen decided, "How can I let the Guanlong Group, the Shandong Group, and the powerful families have their way?"

Next, Lu Shuang talked to Li Shen about some things that had happened in the court in the past year, such as some veteran nobles starting to retire to the second line.

Many meritorious officials died of old age and had to retire to their hometowns.

However, these elderly people were only in a semi-retired state; they could come to the court to discuss matters during the grand court assembly.

Wang Xuance hadn't had a chance to report these things to him yet, but Lu Shuang told him them today.

"My lord, shall we have another meal today?"

Just then, Lu Dingniang and Zheng Shi walked in.

However, Li Shen keenly noticed that Lu Dingniang's eyes were a little red. This made Li Shen frown.

"If my wife says we should dine here, then let's dine here."

However, Li Shen still nodded in agreement, as he had hardly ever eaten here in all these years.

This time they've really given me face.

"Thank you, my lord." Lu Dingniang sat down next to Li Shen.

"Has something happened to my wife?" Li Shen leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

Lu Dingniang was living a happy life, and Lu Shuang and his wife were not facing any difficulties. Lu Dingniang should not have anything to be sad about.

“My lord, my elder sister is ill,” Lu Dingniang replied softly, her voice tinged with sadness.

"Who?" Li Shen was taken aback, but he quickly realized that Lu Dingniang had an older sister who was married to Pei Xingjian.

"Is your illness still serious?" Li Shen asked with concern.

“I heard from my mother that I’ve been admitted to the medical school.” Lu Dingniang’s eyes began to redden again.

"My lady, don't worry. I'll accompany you to the medical school later to visit her." Seeing Lu Dingniang's sadness, Li Shen quickly comforted her.

People in this era are really fragile; sometimes they just disappear without a trace.

Even a common cold, or a chill, can be fatal.

"Thank you, sir." Lu Dingniang nodded.

"Hehe, why are you being so polite with me?" Li Shen affectionately patted Lu Dingniang's head, then turned to look at Lu Shuang:

"By the way, I wonder how your elder brother is?" Li Shen asked about Lu Dingniang's elder brother, Lu Tai.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My son needs to attend court today," Lu Shuang replied hastily.

"Oh, I wonder what official position you hold now, brother?" Li Shen knew nothing about this matter.

He had only met Lu Tai a few times.

"My son is now the Vice Minister of Agriculture."

"Yes, not bad. At this age, the future of the Minister of Agriculture is limitless."

Li Shen nodded and offered a flattering remark, but in his heart he thought that this was basically the end of it.

Zheng went downstairs to prepare the meal, and Li Shen started awkwardly chatting with Lu Shuang again, even Lu Dingniang, who was standing to the side, could feel the embarrassment.

Fortunately, half an hour later, Madam Zheng came in and said that the meal had been prepared.

Li Shen was finally freed.

After all, one's father-in-law is not one's biological father, so there is still a significant distance between them when they speak.

If this were his own father, Li Shen would have already started talking non-stop, trying to swindle as much money as he could without any guilt.

After the guests and hosts took their seats, Li Shen opened a bottle of fine wine, and the meal was both enjoyable and awkward.

After cleaning up the mess, Li Shen couldn't stay any longer, so he took Lu Dingniang and said goodbye.

The carriage did not return to the Prince's Mansion, but went directly out of the East Gate and headed towards the Medical College. Li Shen had promised Lu Dingniang that he would visit his eldest sister.

As the carriage exited the east gate, the snow on the road had been completely cleared thanks to Li Shen's words.

Both sides were fields, covered with a layer of white frost.

"My lord, I have a request to make." Lu Dingniang suddenly spoke from inside the carriage.

"Hehe, we are husband and wife, why talk about asking for anything? Just tell me, and I will do whatever you ask."

Li Shen chuckled softly upon hearing this. He lay on Lu Dingniang's lap, enjoying the rare tranquility.

"My lord, could you find a good job for my brother-in-law? My mother said today that my sister is struggling financially."

Lu Dingniang said somewhat embarrassedly that over the years, she had never asked Li Shen to do anything for her relatives.

She has an older brother and a younger brother.

If it were anyone else, they would definitely have whispered in Li Shen's ear to ask him to help arrange a position for her brother.

But Lu Dingniang did not do that, and Li Shen had only met her a few times, and her brother had never visited the Prince Ji's residence.

She felt a little guilty about asking for help because of her brother-in-law's situation.

"Does Madam mean Pei Xingjian?" Li Shen was taken aback.

My brother-in-law is Pei Xingjian, but wasn't Pei Xingjian a famous general of the Tang Dynasty? How could he be living in poverty?

“That’s right.” Lu Dingniang nodded.

"My lady, may I ask what official position Pei Xingjian holds now?" Li Shen sat up.