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

As mentioned in the previous chapter, Li Shen summoned Wang Hongfu immediately after returning to the Prince Ji's residence.

Wang Hongfu arrived at full speed and began to pay his respects upon entering Li Shen's study.

Li Shen lay lazily on the bed. He hadn't felt anything at first, but after seeing the doctor, he suddenly felt weak in his limbs and was indeed a bit weak.

"No need for formalities, please sit down." Li Shen waved his hand, looking somewhat listless.

"What's wrong, Your Highness? Have you caught an illness?"

Seeing Li Shen's dejected state, Wang Hongfu quickly inquired about his condition.

"I am indeed ill. My Yang energy is insufficient, and I lack energy. Doctor Sun said that I should replenish my Yang energy."

So I asked you to come and prepare some things.

Li Shen didn't hide anything and explained directly.

There's no point in hiding this. If Wang Hongfu were to tell anyone, he'd be fed to the dogs.

"I see. Then, Your Highness, what are your orders? I will certainly comply."

Wang Hongfu nodded. Prince Ji's poor health had been a problem for some time. In recent years, in addition to business matters, he had also been tasked with acquiring various precious medicinal herbs for Prince Ji.

"Well, Doctor Sun said that deer blood and deer antlers can replenish yang energy, so go to the Mohe region and buy a few deer, and have the merchant guild transport them back with you."

Also, ask if I can get any tiger bones. I'll soak them in wine, and I'll eat them alive too.

Thirdly, there must be thousand-year-old ginseng in the mountains near the Mohe and Khitan regions. Send people to buy it; paying more money is fine, but the ginseng must be very old.

Li Shen took a breath and drank a few sips of tea after saying this.

The situation is different now than in later generations. The ginseng on Changbai Mountain has not yet been developed, unlike in later generations when there is no ginseng of any significant age left.

There must be thousand-year-old ginseng at this time, which may even have become a spirit.

If one obtains a thousand-year-old ginseng, eating just a single root every day can prolong life.

Furthermore, tiger bone soaked in wine is sure to replenish yang energy.

"Yes, I will send out the message immediately and will definitely find it for Your Highness next spring."

Wang Hongfu patted his chest and assured him.

What Prince Ji wanted, he would dig three feet into the ground to get it.

"Also, go to the breeding farm and bring back a few young roosters, preferably red roosters," Li Shen said again.

"A rooster?" Wang Hongfu was taken aback.

“Yes, a rooster.” Li Shen nodded.

"Yes, I will arrange for someone to send it to Your Highness immediately. Your Highness is in poor health and should drink some chicken soup to nourish yourself."

Wang Hongfu misunderstood, thinking that Li Shen wanted to make soup.

"Supplement my ass! I want them alive, to keep as pets."

Li Shen cursed, "The three most yang things in the world are the deer, the tiger, and the rooster."

Li Shen tidied everything up in one go; he didn't believe he couldn't fix it.

"Yes, yes, I know I was wrong." Wang Hongfu quickly apologized. Prince Ji had a new trick up his sleeve; he was actually raising a rooster.

"By the way, where is that guy who was praised now?" Li Shen suddenly asked.

Wang Hongfu was visibly taken aback upon hearing this, and after thinking for a while, he tentatively asked:

"Is Your Highness referring to Gar, Chizheng Zanzhuo?"

“That’s right, he’s standing at attention. Where is he now?” Li Shen nodded immediately, as if he had completely forgotten about it.

However, it was only after meeting Lu Dongzan that he remembered.

Lu Dongzan never mentioned his son, which makes him seem like a heartless person.

"Your Highness, if I remember correctly, they were sent to Liaodong to dig pits," Wang Hongfu said after thinking for a moment.

"Let him stay there for now after he goes to Liaodong Circuit. Where is Gongri Gongzan?"

This standing thing was of no use to Li Shen, so Li Shen didn't care at all, no matter where it was.

Just like Changsun Chong, what use is he?

However, this Gongri Gongzan is quite useful, as he is the son of Songtsen Gampo.

If anything happens in the future, we can use this shared day and shared praise as a sacrifice.

Not to mention it could also pose a threat to Tibet.

“Your Highness, Gongri Gongzan is also doing corvée labor in Liaodong Road, such as building roads,” Wang Hongfu replied. He did have some recollection of Gongri Gongzan, after all, he was a prince of Tibet.

"Hmm, send someone to bring him back. Anyway, he's not involved in any secrets. Letting him and his son reunite is also a good deed for me."

After thinking it over, Li Shen decided to bring back Gongri Gongzan, which might be a trump card to control Songtsen Gampo.

"Yes, I will send someone to inform you as soon as possible." Wang Hongfu accepted the order.

"Alright, go ahead and get busy. Don't delay my important business." After giving his instructions, Li Shen waved for Wang Hongfu to leave.

After Wang Hongfu bowed, he turned to leave, but Li Shen suddenly asked another question:

"By the way, how's the Ice and Snow City project going?"

"Your Highness, construction is still ongoing and is expected to be completed before the New Year. This project involves the use of 2,500 people from the estate."

Wang Hongfu quickly replied.

"Pay them their wages according to the rules," Li Shen said after hearing this.

"Your Highness, they are grateful that Your Highness has exempted them from next year's taxes, so they insist on not taking their wages. There is nothing I can do about it."

This year's severe drought resulted in a complete crop failure, so Li Shen exempted them from taxes for this year and next.

It's actually similar to the imperial court.

"Since that's the case, let it be. I haven't treated them unfairly."

Li Shen didn't insist anymore. They had been given so many things for the New Year, so it was only right that they did some work.

Li Shen is not a savior; he is just an ordinary person without the heart of a bodhisattva.

"Yes, then I'll take my leave." Wang Hongfu said, bowed again, and withdrew.

Li Shen took a nap in his study. In the evening, he woke up groggily, and Lu Dingniang, Wu Meiniang, and a few others came to call him for dinner.

According to the rules of Prince Ji's residence, everyone ate in the dining hall. All of Li Shen's wives and children gathered together, chatting and laughing.

Such is the lavish provision they are receiving today; even Su Xiaoxiao, who is about to give birth, was helped here by her maid.

"Daddy!" Xi Xi was the first to rush over. She hugged Li Shen's leg and started acting cute and cuddly.

"Oh, my precious daughter." Li Shen squatted down and gently pinched Xi Xi's chubby little face.

"Ah-ye... Ah-ye..." Two-year-old Chi-cheeked boy stumbled over from behind Xi-xi.

"Haha, San Ya Danzi, let your father hold you." Li Shen reached out and picked up his third daughter.

"Oh my goodness, you're so heavy! What did you eat?"

These three girls have run quite a bit in the past six months, and their little bellies are all round and plump.

“Your Highness, Chi Jia drinks milk every day and is gaining weight very quickly,” Lan Yu’er explained from the side.

"Yes, drink more milk and grow tall, so you can be as tall as your father in the future." Li Shen nodded. He thought it would be great if his daughter was also over 1.8 meters tall and very elegant.

"Grandpa, I want a hug too." Xi Xi tugged at Li Shen's clothes and stretched out her hand.

(Oh dear, it's so late. I was thinking of asking for leave, but then I thought I'd just post it since I've already finished writing. I'll talk about it again at the meeting in the middle of the month.)