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

"Tenth brother, don't forget, we are brothers." Li Chengqian tilted his head and looked helplessly at his unreliable younger brother.

Now that he was at the mercy of others, Li Chengqian could only accept his fate. He figured it was best to stay out of the power struggles between his father and his son, Li Shen.

They're not even on the same level; if you're not careful, you might hurt yourself.

But it's too late to regret it now. Li Shen has probably suffered a great loss this time, while his father must have made a huge profit, otherwise he wouldn't have betrayed his three brothers.

To think that I, the dignified Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty, would be reduced to a mere tool in someone else's trade is truly shameful.

With a "smack!", Li Shen slapped him hard.

"Uh~~" Li Chengqian groaned, thankfully without crying out.

"Don't worry, elder brother. How could I possibly harm you? It's just to fulfill Father's wishes."

After saying that, Li Shen raised his arm and slapped it down with a "smack!"

Li Tai and Li Zhi's eyelids twitched as they watched. Li Shen was too ruthless. His elder brother was the Crown Prince, after all. How could he be so cruel in front of their parents?

They looked up at the head of the table and saw their father and mother teasing Li Shen's eldest son, Li Xu.

Li Xu stood on the table, swaying unsteadily, which made Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun laugh from time to time, and they didn't even look at him.

The slapping sounds continued, but Li Chengqian, being a tough guy, remained silent and didn't utter a sound.

The thirty lashes were quickly finished, and Wang De immediately ordered the eunuchs to help the crown prince up.

"Tenth brother, you're really ruthless." Li Chengqian gave a bitter smile.

"Brother, I went easy on you," Li Shenyi said, spreading his hands.

"Then I thank you very much, brother." Li Chengqian was helped to the side with a limp.

"Fourth Brother, it's your turn. Don't worry, I won't go too far." Li Shen then looked at Li Tai.

Li Tai was already sweating profusely.

"Tenth brother, we have no grudges against each other, but your body can't withstand my ruthlessness."

Li Tai walked over, trembling.

Li Shen glanced at Li Tai and then gave Wang De an instruction:

"Go and get another chair."

After receiving Li Shimin's instructions, Wang De immediately ordered his servants to bring a long bench.

Li Shen arranged the benches side by side, and reached out his hand:

"Fourth Brother, please. Don't worry, I'm a skilled marksman, nothing will happen."

Helpless, Li Tai lay down on the two stools.

Suddenly he felt a tightness in his buttocks, and he turned his head sharply:

"Tenth Brother, why are you touching me?"

Li Shen walked up to Li Tai and started touching Li Tai's big buttocks.

"Fourth Brother, you're dressed too thickly. Even a cane wouldn't be able to penetrate it. Someone, help the Prince of Wei remove his pants."

"Tenth Brother, you..." Li Tai pointed at Li Shen angrily.

"Don't worry, I'll leave you some." Li Shen took a step back, and the eunuch stepped forward and pulled down Li Tai's trousers, leaving him only in his underwear.

After all, there are still so many concubines here, Li Shen can't let Li Tai be naked.

"Fourth Brother, I'm about to be executed. Just bear with it and it will pass."

After giving a reminder, Li Shen swung the ruler and slapped her across the face.

"Snapped!"

"what!!"

A bloodcurdling scream, like a pig being slaughtered, rang out, and Li Tai began to tremble all over. Li Shen quickly ordered his men to hold Li Tai down.

"Smack!" Another sound.

"Awesome!" Li Shen felt incredibly envious at this moment. Was this what it felt like to be a whale (someone who spends a lot of money on in-game purchases)?

If you can't beat the big boss, taking on the smaller ones shouldn't be a problem.

I'll make you kick me when I'm down.

Snapped!

I told you not to talk so much.

Snapped!

I told you not to be so foul-mouthed, because it cost me 800,000 coins.

Snapped!

With each thought in his mind, Li Shen would lash out hard, causing Li Tai to cry out in pain and scream.

"Mother, Mother, help me!"

"Keep your voice down, you're scaring the child," Empress Zhangsun complained to Li Tai, holding the frightened Li Xu in her arms.

At that moment, Li Tai cried; his loving mother was gone.

"Huff...huff...huff..."

Li Shen really whipped him thirty times hard, panting heavily, and you could see Li Tai's buttocks were red and swollen even through his pants.

You little brat, I'll beat you to a pulp.

Li Shen looked at Li Tai, who was being helped down by several people, and felt disdain in his heart.

Li Tai looked at Li Shen with resentful eyes, thinking that the guy had gone too far.

I knew Li Shen would take the opportunity to retaliate, but I never expected him to be so ruthless in front of his parents.

Li Shen ignored Li Tai's gaze and looked at Li Zhi at the back. Li Zhi clenched his fists, wishing he could rush up and strangle Li Shen.

But in the end, he suppressed his impulse and, without Li Shen saying anything, lay down on the stool.

"Um... wait a minute, please allow me to have a sip of water."

Li Shen beckoned to Wang De, who quickly brought him a cup of tea. Li Shen gulped it down and then began to undress.

"What are you doing?" Li Shimin asked, frowning.

"Father, it's getting a bit hot." Li Shen took off his outer clothes, then stretched his arms and lifted his legs.

Taking the opportunity to rest, Li Zhi's trousers were also removed by the eunuchs.

In the cold winter, they all wore thick cotton-padded trousers.

After Li Shen finished preparing, he went to Li Zhi's side, swung his arm, jumped up, and struck Li Zhi with a ruler.

"I'll fight~~~~"

With a scream of "Ahhhhhh!", even though Li Zhi was prepared, he was still hit and cried out in pain.

He suddenly turned around and glared angrily at Li Shen.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, my hand wasn't steady." Li Shen apologized repeatedly.

I didn't hear a sound when I picked it up. It turned out that Li Shen had stood the ruler up and hit Li Zhi on the buttocks.

This time, the pain was doubled, except that it didn't penetrate as deeply as a knife.

A ruler is a board, and when it's held upright, it's almost like the back of a knife; how could it not hurt?

"You did this on purpose!" Li Zhi was furious. This bastard did it on purpose.

Li Shen shrugged.

"Ninth Brother, you've misunderstood. It really was a mistake," Li Shen said innocently.

"Hurry up, we need to go to the sacrificial ceremony soon," Li Shimin urged. He had also noticed that Li Shen had deliberately made a cut.

He gave Li Shen a warning look, telling him not to go too far, and that even if he was paid, he couldn't do whatever he wanted.

Li Shen gave an awkward smile and continued to torture the victim, using all his strength with each blow.

Li Zhi was beaten so badly he almost fainted, and each blow added to the ruthlessness he showed to Li Shen.

In the end, he saw that Li Shen's eyes were bloodshot, and he held on for a breath, managing not to utter another sound.

"Huff...huff...huff..." Li Shen gasped for breath.

"Ninth Brother, please don't blame me. This is all Father's idea. I was just following orders."

Thirty strokes were quickly finished. Li Shen looked at Li Zhi, who was in a sullen mood, and said provocatively.

That 800,000 strings of cash was really well spent!

(This risk warning is inaccurate too. Chapter 1 warned of 28 instances of vulgarity and pornography, but this one has 23. Where is there even a hint of it? I'm speechless.)