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

If Li Shimin remembered correctly, Li Shen had said before that he would not receive his salary until he was sixty-seven or sixty-eight years old.

Li Shen has now cut off his salary for ten years, meaning he will only be able to receive his salary when he is seventy-seven or seventy-eight years old.

This guy has no intention of taking a salary at all.

With his frail body, it's questionable whether he can even live to be eighty.

"Hehe, good, my son is indeed filial, very good."

Li Shimin chuckled twice, but Li Shen could detect a different meaning in his laughter.

"Thank you for your praise, Father. This is what I should do. If you think it's not enough, I'm willing to give up another ten years' worth of salary."

Li Shen pretended not to understand and bowed to express his gratitude.

If you can give me double the salary, why can't I offer you my salary too? If you're happy, what's wrong with me offering you my salary for a hundred years?

Li Shen has now made up his mind: from now on, he will settle all matters with his salary.

Anyway, he realized that he was lacking in salary according to the Five Elements theory and probably would never receive it in this lifetime.

Other people's salaries are used to support their families, while my salary is just for fun.

"His Highness Prince Ji is so filial, which I admire greatly."

Just then, someone suddenly shouted something.

Li Shen didn't even need to turn around to recognize Cheng Yaojin's voice; that guy really knows how to seize any opportunity.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin glared fiercely at Cheng Yaojin, then waved his hand at Li Shenyi.

Li Shen bowed and returned to the ranks. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he knew that even if his father was angry, he couldn't lash out.

"Tenth Brother, you're really something." Li Tai couldn't help but give Li Shen a thumbs up. This guy actually dared to challenge his father, the Emperor, in this kind of situation; his courage is admirable.

Li Tai also knew that Li Shen was not receiving a salary, and that the guy had complained about it countless times.

"Tenth Brother, if you do this, you'll inevitably be punished by Father again later," Li Chengqian reminded him with a smile.

"I'm not afraid, I already got a beating earlier anyway," Li Shen replied nonchalantly.

Next, everyone would present their own congratulatory gifts, especially the gifts from foreign envoys, each one more valuable than the last.

Pearls, gemstones, coral, jade, gold and silver jewelry—all local specialties are available.

Li Shen's mouth watered at the sight, wishing he could possess them all.

After the gifts were presented, everyone took their seats. Li Shen didn't dare sit at the same table as his father and instead sat with the other members of the imperial clan.

At Li Shimin's command, the banquet officially began. As the Qin King's battle music played, maids began to bring out the dishes.

A few years ago, we ate separately, but since Li Shen's large round table appeared, we now eat together.

Fine food naturally needs fine wine. The wines for this New Year's Day banquet were provided by the Prince Ji's Mansion, including tribute wine, grape wine, and rice wine. The emperor and his ministers drank three cups together, which were called the Longevity Wine.

"Prince Ji, are you sitting at the wrong table?" Li Daozong asked curiously at Li Shen's table.

His gaze fell on the emperor's table, where the crown prince, princes, and the heads of the three provinces and six ministries were seated.

"There are too many people at that table, so I'll sit with Uncle Wang so I can eat more," Li Shen replied, gnawing on a chicken leg.

"Hehe, I think Prince Ji is afraid of seeing His Majesty, isn't he?" Li Xiaoke laughed.

"Uh... Uncle Wang, what are you saying? How could I be afraid of my father? Can't you see how kind and filial we are?"

Li Shen felt somewhat embarrassed that his thoughts had been exposed.

“Prince Ji, I toast you. Thank you for taking care of my sons, which has enabled them to make a lot of money.”

Li Daozong then picked up his wine cup.

“Indeed, I’ll also toast you. Chongyi told me about it when he returned, and he’s very grateful to Prince Ji for taking care of them.”

Li Xiaogong followed suit and raised his wine glass as well.

"Uncles, please don't say that. We are all family. Aren't they my cousins ​​too?"

I hope they can make something of themselves and not have their future ruined by making a living.

Li Shen also raised his wine glass and said modestly.

"Your Highness is too kind. If it weren't for you, they wouldn't be living such a comfortable life these past few years."

If they do anything wrong in the future, Prince Ji, please feel free to discipline them; I will have no complaints.

Li Daozong expressed his heartfelt gratitude.

Their sons have earned quite a bit of money in recent years, especially the youngest one, who was able to join the company thanks to Prince Ji's contribution from his own share.

"Uncles, there's no need for formalities. It's all in the wine. I'd like to toast you both."

Li Shen drank it all in one gulp, and Li Xiaogong and the other man followed suit.

"Xiao Gong, you guys just said you'd make money by following the leader, how much money did you actually make?"

Just then, Li Boyi, who was sitting at the same table, asked curiously.

They knew that the纨绔 (playboys) of Chang'an were making money with Prince Ji; it wasn't a secret.

I originally thought there wouldn't be many, but seeing what Li Xiaogong and Li Daozong meant today, it seems like there are quite a few.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaogong and the other looked at Li Shen. After Li Shen nodded slightly, Li Daozong spoke:

"Cousin, it's not much, just tens of thousands of strings of cash a year."

"Tens of thousands of strings of cash!!" Li Boyi's mouth dropped open in surprise, and the meat that Li Fengci had picked up with his chopsticks fell onto the table.

"Daozong, are you saying that your two sons can earn tens of thousands of strings of cash a year?" Li Fengci asked in shock, putting down his chopsticks.

Li Daozong shook his head:

"Cousin, it's not two sons, it's one son."

"A son!" This statement shocked the two even more.

They had just thought that two sons could earn tens of thousands of coins, which would be a lot, but now it turns out they only have one son.

They all looked at Li Shen, wanting to verify.

Li Shen nodded and calmly took a bite of the dish:

"Uncles, yes, that's right. The dividends from newspapers, paper, Heaven and Earth nightclubs, chambers of commerce, and so on amount to tens of thousands of strings of cash a year."

Just a few days ago, they each received 17,000 strings of cash from the betting competition alone.

I'm not entirely sure about the exact amount.

Li Shen's nonchalant attitude made it seem like he didn't take it seriously at all.

But it looks different to others. Each person has tens of thousands of coins, and there are more than a hundred of them.

If that's the case, wouldn't that mean giving these纨绔子弟 (spoiled brats) millions of strings of cash? How could that not be astonishing?

"It is said that Prince Ji is the reincarnation of the God of Wealth. Today it seems that the rumors are true. I never thought that my Li family really has a God of Wealth."

"Come, let me toast Prince Ji." Li Boyi excitedly raised his wine glass.

"Yes, it is truly a blessing for the Li family that a living God of Wealth has descended upon us."

Li Fengci was also extremely excited.

"Hehe, you two uncles are too kind. I am not a god of wealth, I just have some good fortune."

Li Shen smiled gently, raised his wine cup, and drank with the two men.

Setting down his wine glass, Li Shen looked at the two men and said earnestly:

"Uncles, I have a business opportunity to discuss with you. Would you be willing to participate?"

(A ten-year dream of Yangzhou, only to earn a reputation for heartless dalliance in brothels.)