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

After Li Shen finished speaking, he was about to walk inside, but Cheng Chusi stopped him.

"Hmm?" Li Shenyi frowned.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has decreed that no one is allowed to contact Songtsen Gampo in private," Cheng Chusi said with some difficulty.

"Why is that?" Li Shen asked, puzzled.

"This humble official doesn't know either," Cheng Chusi shook his head. How could he possibly tell him what his superiors meant?

"What? Not even I, the King, can do it?" Li Shen's expression changed.

"Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for me. I am only acting under imperial orders. If I could, I would have let you in long ago."

Cheng Chusi pleaded with a bitter face, for Prince Ji was his biggest financial backer, and his happiness depended on Prince Ji.

Li Shen looked up at the house in the distance, where many guards were patrolling.

He kept thinking to himself, why not let people have contact with Songtsen Gampo? Didn't he and the prince go there once before?

Privately? Why can't we meet alone? Li Shen was completely baffled.

However, he felt there must be a deeper meaning behind this.

But whatever the deeper meaning behind it, he had no say in it; he had his own things to do.

"So what if I insist on going in? Go ahead and chop me up."

With that, Li Shen pushed Cheng Chusi aside and led his men forward.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, His Majesty will be furious! This is defying the imperial decree!" Cheng Chusi hurriedly caught up.

"This is not the first or second time I have disobeyed your orders. I must see Songtsen Gampo today."

Li Shen ignored Cheng Chusi completely, striding forward without stopping.

Cheng Chusi didn't dare to really do anything to Li Shen. After all, he was a prince, and putting aside any pretense, he wouldn't dare to make a move.

He could only turn to the person beside him and instruct them to quickly report to His Majesty. Then he followed behind.

Upon arriving at the residence where Songtsen Gampo was staying, Li Shen looked up at the gate and then had Tie Niu push it open.

Meanwhile, Songtsen Gampo was in the garden in the backyard, drinking tea and enjoying the scenery with Gar Tongtsen and his chief minister, Nyaung Mangbu Gyaltsen.

Although the weather was cold, they were all wearing thick cotton-padded clothes and were quite comfortable sitting around the stove.

"It's really great. Even in winter, Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, has a different kind of scenery."

After taking a sip of tea, Songtsen Gampo exclaimed that Tibet is a desolate wasteland in winter, with nothing to be found.

Upon arriving in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, one is surprised to find a different kind of scenery.

"Yes, the Tang Dynasty is truly a land blessed by the gods, rich in resources, and has many things that we don't have."

"If we took all these things to Tibet, how many would we have?"

Niang Mangbu Jieshangnang also sighed. "Hearing is believing, seeing is believing. Everyone used to say how wealthy the Tang Dynasty was, a paradise on earth."

They had never seen it before and thought it was an exaggeration, but they found out it was true when they came here, which broadened their horizons.

The locals have an air of arrogance written all over their faces; they look down on foreigners like them.

That kind of arrogance that comes from the bone is something you can't see in other countries.

"Grand Minister, you should try not to say such things in the future, lest the people of the Tang Dynasty hear them. The Zanpu is still here; we cannot cause trouble."

Lu Dongzan, holding a teacup, reminded them. They were now trapped in enemy territory, and every step they took had to be taken with caution, as there were Tang Dynasty spies everywhere.

"Your Excellency, there's no need to be nervous. This is actually what I wanted as well. We can ask the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty to bestow these things upon us."

Songtsen Gampo, however, said it indifferently.

"Your Majesty, now that you have fully recovered from your injuries, it is time to think about how to return to Tibet."

Tibet still needs the Zanpu (Tibetan king) to take charge of the overall situation. Gar Tongtsen bowed, a hint of worry on his face.

Their king faces immense difficulties in returning to Tibet; without him, who knows what would have happened to Tibet?

Songtsen Gampo poured himself a cup of tea and smelled it:

"No rush. Let's discuss peace talks with the Emperor of Tang first. Now that I'm here, I also want to take a good look at Tang."

I never imagined that the capital of the Tang Dynasty would be so prosperous and bustling. The streets were teeming with people, not only from the Tang Dynasty, but also from the Western Regions.

Such a grand spectacle is nowhere to be seen in Lhasa.

Songtsen Gampo took a sip of tea as he spoke. He had looked around when he entered the city earlier and saw that the streets were packed with people.

The people of the Tang Dynasty wore happy smiles, which were the envy of many. Even many people from the Western Regions looked composed.

"Your Majesty, tomorrow is the New Year of the Great Tang Dynasty, which is why it is so lively. The East and West Markets are packed with people and bustling with activity."

The New Year was one of the most important days in the Tang Dynasty. The court would lift the curfew for one day, allowing people to go out in the evening.

Lu Dongzan explained for Songtsen Gampo.

“I see. Then we should go out and travel if we have the chance. By the way, didn’t the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty just send someone to inform us that he will be hosting a banquet for envoys from various countries tomorrow?”

"You may come with me, and take this opportunity to see what the Tang Dynasty's imperial palace looks like, and whether it is as magnificent as our palace."

Songtsen Gampo looked expectant. He had been there for several days and only entered the city today. He wanted to see what the legendary Tang Dynasty was really like.

And wasn't that Tang emperor, who was called His Majesty the Heavenly Khan, really that mighty?

"Your Excellency, His Highness Prince Ji has arrived and is waiting in the front hall."

At this moment, a maid came over to report.

"Understood. Tell His Highness Prince Ji that I will be there soon."

Songtsen Gampo exchanged a glance with the two men, then said something to the maid, who bowed and withdrew.

“King Zanpu’s sudden visit is a good thing we should do,” Gar Tongtsen warned, rising to his feet.

"Well, let's go, let's go meet this young prince and see what business he has?"

Songtsen Gampo smiled and nodded, then stood up.

He knew, of course, that Li Shen's visit was not without reason, and the two had no connection whatsoever.

After saying this, Songtsen Gampo led Gar Tongtsen and Nyaung Mangbu Je Shangnang to the front yard.

"Why are there maids here?"

Li Shenzheng sat in the main seat of the living room, frowning as he asked.

"Your Highness, this was arranged by the Court of State Ceremonial. I was unaware of it and never even entered the premises."

Cheng Chusi, who was standing to the side, quickly replied that he didn't know why there were maids. Besides, wasn't it normal to have maids?

Are you suggesting we let the Zanpu (Tibetan king) take care of himself?

"Tell the Court of State Ceremonial to replace the maids with servants. What if Songtsen Gampo goes berserk? The people of our Great Tang are all subjects of the imperial family."

How can we give them the opportunity to bully us?

Li Shen's ideas were different from others, catching people off guard.

"Yes, I will send someone to report His Highness's words later," Cheng Chusi said helplessly. Prince Ji meddles in everything.

"Well, just say it was me who said it. If they don't comply, I'll smash up their Court of State Ceremonies and burn it down."

(The small building has just begun to show its pointed tip.)