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

At this moment, everyone understood that Prince Ji's concern wasn't about the negative karma caused by excessive killing; he simply wanted a reward and didn't want to help for nothing.

That's more like it. This is the Prince Ji they know. He's willing to do anything for money. This is how Prince Ji should be.

This guy is capable of anything—scamming, swindling, burning, killing, and looting—it just depends on whether the profit is enough.

At this point, the ministers fell silent. It was now a confrontation between His Majesty and Prince Ji, and they had just been defeated.

"Tenth Brother, this 500,000 strings of cash is practically a gift to you. It's enough for you to do this. People should be content."

"Don't be too greedy," Li Shimin lectured Li Shen in an educational tone.

Li Shen remained unmoved:

"Father, the so-called contentment is just a way for them to comfort themselves because they have no other choice but to live a better life."

Who in this world doesn't want a better life? Right?

Li Shen stood up. His understanding might be wrong, but that was his understanding.

"Hmph, aren't you living well enough? You're living a life of luxury, even better than me now, with delicacies every day, and you're still not satisfied."

Li Shimin snorted again, disagreeing with Li Shen's words. Li Shen was living a much better life than he, the emperor, was now.

The main problem is that this guy really spends money; he buys whatever is good and eats whatever tastes good, regardless of cost.

Even as emperor, he couldn't bear to part with it. It wasn't that he didn't have the money; he simply couldn't bear to part with it because he was tired of living in poverty.

He was also born into nobility and had been a playboy, but he was never like Li Shen.

"Father, who would complain about having too much money? I'll soon have five children in my family. Besides my eldest son, Li Xu, who will inherit the family business..."

I can't favor one child over another, so I should also help them build a family fortune.

After all, they are all my children. I can't let them be lonely and destitute in the future; that would be unworthy of being a father."

Li Shen replied in a sarcastic tone.

"You unfilial son, are you saying that I didn't leave you any inheritance? You bastard!"

Upon hearing Li Shen's veiled and indirect remarks, Li Shimin flew into a rage and abruptly stood up, but fortunately Li Chengqian stopped him.

"Father, please calm down. That's not what my tenth brother meant. He was only thinking about the future of our children. It's understandable, it's understandable."

Li Chengqian sighed inwardly, having long anticipated that the father and son would neither be like father and son, neither willing to yield to the other.

Whenever business is discussed, a fierce battle is bound to take place, and only after the battle can we sit down and have a proper talk.

The others, who had never seen such a scene before, were all taken aback. Wasn't this Prince Ji being a bit too arrogant and spoiled?

How dare you defy His Majesty like this? Do you have a death wish?

In their minds, Prince Ji was beaten because he made a mistake, but His Majesty still favored Prince Ji.

But now Prince Ji's actions have left them somewhat puzzled.

Unbeknownst to them, Li Shen had already revealed this idea more than once. Last year, when Li Shimin was ill, Li Shen cried at the wrong grave and was still thinking about dividing the family property.

Li Shen had a deep-seated obsession with the imperial treasury.

“Father, we don’t need the family business. I’ve accumulated some wealth over the years. It would be best if we could share some of the money.”

Li Shen ran to the pillar in the main hall before daring to speak his mind.

"You unfilial son, how dare you covet my money! Come here, I'll beat you to death!"

As Li Shen had expected, his father flew into a rage again as soon as he finished speaking, and this time he was even more furious.

Li Shen stood at a distance, naturally not daring to go over.

“Father, Er only wants money, it’s just material possessions. Believe me or not, I only want 20%, and I’ll give 80% to my elder brother.”

Even if it's just a few tens of millions of strings of cash, two-tenths would still amount to several million strings. Li Shen isn't greedy; a few million strings would be fine with him.

He never thought about his other siblings; he was the one who got the money.

"You still dare to say that? The money in the imperial treasury belongs to the royal family. If you want a share, you'll only get one if I die. No, even if I die, I won't give you a single penny."

Even if I moved all the money from the imperial treasury into Zhaoling, I would never give it to you, you rebellious son.

Cough cough cough~~~~.

Li Shimin was genuinely agitated. He was very worried that his rebellious son had set his sights on the imperial treasury. When he was alive, things were alright; he could barely protect it.

But if he were to pass away, he didn't know if Li Chengqian could be saved, since the money in the imperial treasury was meant for his descendants to make a comeback.

To wage war, one needs to recruit soldiers and horses, and recruiting soldiers and horses requires money. He hoped to use this money to ensure that the Tang Dynasty would last for several more generations.

The violent coughing made Li Shimin's face turn red. Wang De and Li Chengqian quickly helped Li Shimin sit down. Wang De brought tea, and Li Chengqian patted his back.

Li Shen looked rather grim. He hadn't expected his father to get so angry over money. Was it really necessary?

"Father, I was wrong." Li Shen walked over, took the teacup from Wang De, and respectfully handed it to Li Shimin.

"Hmph." Li Shimin snorted, then took the teacup and took a few sips to calm himself down.

"Remember, don't covet the imperial treasury anymore," Li Shimin said, handing the teacup to Wang De.

"But...but Father should at least leave me something, I'm Father's son too." Li Shen just felt it was unfair.

Why should I give all the money I earned to this guy Li Chengqian?

Li Shimin's expression turned serious, and he said earnestly to Li Shen:

"Don't worry, I've reserved a good spot for you in Zhaoling, right next to me."

"......"

Li Shen stared at his big eyes, his mind blank, blinking repeatedly, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Li Shimin's words left Li Shen completely bewildered.

What does it mean to have reserved a good spot for oneself in Zhaoling? Why not trouble yourself enough in life, and then continue to trouble yourself in death?

What a terrible father! What kind of father talks like that?

The others were initially shocked by Prince Ji's audacity, but the situation quickly changed. The father and son had reconciled and were even discussing the matter of being buried with him at Zhaoling.

What a loving father and filial son!

Everyone wanted to laugh when they saw Li Shen's constipated appearance, but they felt that laughing at this time was inappropriate, and they all felt very uncomfortable holding it in.

Even Li Chengqian, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but chuckle. His father and younger brother were really playing a funny game.

Li Shen's mind went blank for a while before he finally reacted, licked his lips, and managed to squeeze out a sentence:

“Ah... Father, that...that child is only twenty-one years old this year, I'm afraid...I'm afraid he can't go to accompany you so early, how about...how about letting one of the other brothers go instead?”

Don't worry, Father. I will burn a lot of money for you during every festival, so that you can enjoy wealth and luxury over there as well.

"Father, can you wait a few more years?"

(From now on, I have no heart to love the beautiful night, let the bright moon descend to the west tower.)