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

Everyone knows that Prince Ji's 16 million strings of cash are too heavy a sum, so heavy that no one can resist them.

Prince Ji is right, money can move mountains, and only the Crown Prince is here today to discuss this.

If His Majesty were here, he wouldn't have this opportunity at all. For the sake of 16 million strings of cash, His Majesty would have directly decided that Han Yuan would be the Vice Minister of War.

"Alright, it seems everyone has reached a conclusion. Since everyone thinks Han Yuan is capable of great things, then I hereby issue the imperial decree to promote Han Yuan to the position of Vice Minister of War, to take office after the New Year."

Seeing that the situation was settled, Li Chengqian finally spoke.

The struggle for the position of Vice Minister, which had lasted for several months, came to an end. What Li Chengqian had failed to accomplish over several months was resolved by Li Shen in a single move.

Looking at the smug Li Shen, Li Chengqian thought to himself: He's really useful.

Lee Shin-ko is hailed as the strongest mouth double in history.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is wise!" Led by Changsun Wuji, the officials bowed and shouted.

"Dismiss the court!" Wang Zhong shouted, and Li Chengqian got up and left.

Li Shen walked out of the main hall, stretched on the steps, finished his work, and went back to catch up on some sleep.

"Your Highness Prince Ji."

Just as Li Shen was about to leave, someone called him back.

Li Shen turned around and saw Changsun Wuji walking over. However, Li Shen noticed that the old man didn't show any anger at being coerced.

Instead, he approached Li Shen with a smile on his face.

"What advice do you have for me, Uncle?" Li Shen asked with a smile, and the two seemed to be getting along very well.

"Hehe, nothing more than a reminder to Your Highness Prince Ji, don't forget what we just said, we're even now."

Changsun Wuji chuckled twice.

"Don't worry, I know the rules, and this matter will be let go. However, I hope my uncle will remind them that they shouldn't be so blatant in their actions."

That would make me feel like I haven't accomplished anything, so I'd better keep it a little hidden.

Li Shen deliberately acted very boring.

"Your Highness Prince Ji, rest assured, I will definitely remind them, otherwise wouldn't that spoil Your Highness's mood?"

"His Highness Prince Ji's actions this time, using a meritorious deed worth sixteen million strings of cash to exchange for only the position of Vice Minister, I truly admire you."

Changsun Wuji's expression was playful, seemingly mocking, yet also appearing to feel sorry for Li Shen. After all, Li Shen could have made even greater demands for this achievement.

But Li Shen just wasted it all.

"It's not easy to earn my uncle's admiration. Thank you for thinking of me, but I only care about the result, not the process."

It's only 16 million strings of cash; I think it's worth it to exchange it for the position of Vice Minister.

Furthermore, does my uncle really think this is just a simple position like a vice minister? I believe my uncle understands the implications better than I do.

Sixteen million strings of cash—if I can have one, I will naturally have a second, and a third.

Money? I have plenty. Uncle may not know this, but I'm so poor now that all I have left is money. I have nothing else, and I feel so empty.

Ha ha ha ha!!!"

After Li Shen finished speaking, he laughed loudly, then ignored Changsun Wuji and walked down the steps toward the palace gate.

Changsun Wuji stood on the steps, looking at Li Shen walking away. He didn't show any anger on his face. Instead, he squinted his eyes and had a smile on his lips.

"Your Highness Prince Ji... Your Highness Prince Ji..."

As Li Shen was triumphantly carrying the stone back to the palace, he heard a voice calling from behind. Li Shen immediately stopped and turned around to look.

A figure ran towards them from a distance. When he got closer, Li Shen realized that it was Wang Zhong, Li Chengqian's personal eunuch.

"What do you need me for?" Li Shen frowned.

"This servant greets Your Highness Prince Ji. His Highness the Crown Prince requests Your Highness to go to the Liangyi Hall for a meeting."

Wang Zhong approached and bowed respectfully.

"I'm not going. Just say I have a stomachache and need to go home to poop." Li Shen waved his hand and turned to leave.

"Your Highness Prince Ji, please wait." Wang Zhong quickly stepped in front of Li Shen.

"You bastard, how dare you block my way! Believe me or not, I'll break three of your legs."

Li Shen was furious. Good heavens, someone actually dared to stop him. Didn't they know he was a little tyrant in this palace?

"Your Highness, please forgive me. His Highness the Crown Prince truly has important matters to discuss. Please do not make things difficult for me."

Wang Zhong nodded and bowed repeatedly.

"What's it to me?" Li Shen shoved Wang Zhong aside and walked away.

"His Highness the Crown Prince wants to discuss the rewards for this donation," Wang Zhong's voice came from behind Li Shen.

Li Shen immediately drew a circle and turned towards the Liangyi Hall:

"The Crown Prince has important matters to discuss and cannot be delayed. Please lead the way quickly."

Seeing Prince Ji's lack of integrity, Wang Zhong was speechless. Just as His Highness the Crown Prince had said...

When the Crown Prince asked him to find Prince Ji earlier, he said that if Prince Ji did not come, he should talk to him about the reward.

Now it seems that His Highness the Crown Prince was truly farsighted and prescient.

No wonder he told himself that the only way to deal with King Ji was through coercion and bribery; reasoning with him wouldn't work.

His Majesty used coercion, while the Crown Prince used bribery.

Both of them knew Prince Ji in this way.

Li Shen arrived at the Liangyi Hall, announced his arrival, and entered the hall, where he saw Li Chengqian looking at him with a smile.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince." Li Shen bowed in greeting.

"Haha, alright, tenth brother, don't put on such an act. It makes me feel like it's too fake."

Li Chengqian walked up to Li Shen, laughed heartily, and patted Li Shen's shoulder twice.

“Your Highness, etiquette must not be disregarded. You are the ruler, and I am the subject. We cannot abandon the proper etiquette.”

Li Shen said in a very serious tone.

However, what he was really thinking was that I shouldn't try to get close to him. It's best to keep rewards strictly businesslike. What if he tries to win me over by appealing to my emotions?

"Oh, you, come on, let's go to the bookstore." Li Chengqian shook his head helplessly, then pulled Li Shen to the side hall.

After taking their seats, Li Chengqian spoke first:

"Tenth Brother, thank you so much this time. Otherwise, the position of Vice Minister would probably have gone to Yang Hongli."

Li Chengqian was extremely grateful.

"Brother, what are you saying? When it comes to war, we're brothers. If I don't help you, who else can I help? This is what I should do."

Li Shen did not become complacent; he replied humbly.

"Yes, we are brothers, and we should help each other, but some people don't understand this simple principle."

Not only did they not help their elder brother, they also stood there watching the show. "Elder brother..."

Li Chengqian was deeply moved by Li Shen's words, and some of his true feelings were revealed. It was clear that he was not feeling well.

"Eldest brother, are you referring to...fourth and ninth brothers?" Li Shen asked after a moment's hesitation. He could hear the reproach in Li Chengqian's tone, along with a hint of sadness.

After all, Li Tai and Li Zhi were his full brothers from the same mother, while Li Shen was only his half-brother from the same father. The difference in their closeness was obvious to everyone.

But his own younger brother stood by indifferently when he needed help, while his half-brother stepped in to help. How could this not break his heart?

"Sigh, never mind, let's not talk about anything else." Li Chengqian waved his hand.

(I attended an event organized by the Writers' Association today.)