Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

Li Shen has always been thick-skinned and self-satisfied, and he has developed arrogance and conceit over the years.

But he still had some idea in his mind that so many princes and ministers came to greet him today, and they were definitely not here to greet him.

Even though he was of noble status, he had not reached such a level that the prince could personally lead civil and military officials to greet him.

Even if Ashina She'er came back from robbing, at most they would have sent Zhangsun Wuji and others to greet him.

When he and the crown prince returned victorious from the eastern expedition to Goguryeo, His Majesty didn't even bother to come out and greet them.

Seeing Li Chengqian's contemptuous look, Li Shen became even more certain of this.

But he felt a little unconvinced. Songtsen Gampo was a king, and he was also a king. Why was there such a big difference in their character?

The other ministers remained silent, and their contempt for Li Shen grew even stronger, thinking that Prince Ji was truly shameless.

"Tenth brother, you don't think we come here to welcome you, right?" Li Chengqian asked a murderous question.

"This little brother feels like he might or might not be here to pick me up."

Li Shen felt bad. After all, he hadn't come all the way to serve the imperial court. What was wrong with just a welcome?

"Don't be surprised, Tenth Brother. It was His Majesty's will that we come to greet him. After all, Songtsen Gampo is the Tibetan king."

Seeing that Li Shen was about to lose his temper, Li Chengqian immediately put the blame on his father and said, "It wasn't us who said that. It was His Majesty who ordered it. If you have any opinions, go and talk to your father. It has nothing to do with us."

As expected, when Li Shen heard his brother order him to welcome Songtsen Gampo instead of himself, he immediately got angry and said:

"Humph, I invited Songtsen Gampo to Chang'an City as a guest. He has nothing to do with the imperial court, so I won't bother the imperial court with any intervention."

Li Shen hinted very clearly that Songtsen Gampo is mine and has nothing to do with you.

"Your Highness Prince Ji, this is wrong. Songtsen Gampo is the Tibetan king. His arrival in the Tang Dynasty was naturally arranged by the Honglu Temple. You must not lose your manners."

Upon hearing this, Minister of Rites Xu Jingzong immediately stood up to refute it.

The Tibetan king came to Chang'an City, which was unprecedented in history. Whoever took over would be able to leave his name in the history books.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go down in history.

But Li Shen just glanced at him indifferently, with disdain and contempt in his eyes. He didn't take Xu Jingzong seriously at all, and his words had no weight at all.

"Your Highness Prince Ji, I agree. Songtsen Gampo is, after all, the King of Tubo. Our Tang Dynasty is a nation of etiquette and should treat him with courtesy."

Changsun Wuji spoke up in agreement, saying that the Ministry of Rites was under the jurisdiction of the Secretariat, and the Honglu Temple was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. Who wouldn't want to get a piece of the pie?

"What? Duke Zhao is saying that I don't know etiquette? I can't treat the Tibetan king well?"

Li Shen raised his eyebrows and spoke in a somewhat unfriendly tone.

"That's not what I meant." Changsun Wuji said calmly.

"Hmph, even if it's a hospitality, is my Ji Wang Mansion worse than your Honglu Temple? The simple meals you provide are really a disrespect to the Zamp.

The part-time job must be very different from that of my Ji Wang Mansion. Which of the food, clothing, housing and transportation of the Honglu Temple can compare with that of my Ji Wang Mansion?

I really don’t know what it means.”

Li Shen snorted coldly, causing Xu Jingzong's expression to change to a slightly awkward one. However, he was powerless to refute.

In terms of luxury, the imperial court's Honglu Temple cannot compare with Prince Ji's Palace.

Their food is standardized.

"Hahahaha, calm down, Tenth Brother, they didn't mean that. It's just that Songtsen Gampo is the Zamp, the King of Tubo.

Now that we have arrived in Chang'an, the imperial court should show its hospitality."

Seeing that Li Shen was about to lose his temper, Li Chengqian quickly spoke to calm him down, fearing that Li Shen might cause trouble.

"There's no need to be a landlord. I can do it for you. If the court is willing, you can give me some money.

Songtsen Gampo and I hit it off right away and he came to visit me specially. How could I turn him away and send him to the court?

Isn’t this a disgrace to my reputation?”

Li Shen would never hand over Songtsen Gampo so easily. If his father didn't pay a little, all his efforts would be in vain.

It would be better to sell Songtsen Gampo to Tubo, which would be worth at least several million strings of gold.

"Well... you have a point. Well, since Tenth Brother is back, let's drink this glass of wine."

Li Chengqian couldn't argue with Li Shen, and he could see that Li Shen didn't want to hand over Songtsen Gampo. So he had no choice but to go back and discuss with his father and ask his father to come forward.

He just didn't believe that his father couldn't get the person. No matter what, Songtsen Gampo must be controlled by the court.

Wang Zhong brought over two glasses of wine, one for Li Chengqian and one for Li Shen.

"Tenth brother, congratulations on your triumphant return." Li Chengqian raised his glass and said, the news that Li Shen wiped out tens of thousands of rebels in Xizhou had already been reported back.

This is also a great achievement.

"Thank you, brother!" After Li Shen expressed his gratitude, the two of them drank it all in one gulp.

The original welcome ceremony ended hastily, and everyone got on their own carriages.

"Tenth brother, come with me into the palace to meet His Majesty." After getting on the carriage, Li Chengqian lifted the curtain and shouted to Li Shen.

Li Shen's carriage came alongside and Li Shen stuck his head out:

"Brother, please go ahead. I've been exhausted from the journey and need to return to Prince Ji's mansion first to bathe, change clothes, and wash off the dust before I go to see His Majesty."

Li Shen gave a very good reason, that every time he came back he had to see his father first, because he had a young wife waiting for him at home.

"Well... well, then please don't delay and keep His Majesty waiting.

I think mother will host a welcoming party for you, so you can take your sister-in-law with you."

Li Chengqian reminded him that he knew he couldn't stop Li Shen from going home. Unless his father gave the order, Li Shen would never go to see his father first.

Li Shen nodded.

The prince's carriage was in front, Li Shen's carriage was behind, and at the end were the carriages of the officials and the generals on horseback.

A grand welcoming ceremony ended in smoke and nothing happened.

At Prince Ji's Mansion, countless maids and eunuchs were pouring clean water on the streets and sweeping the road in front of the gate, all the way to the entrance of the Qinrenfang archway.

The whole street was spotlessly clean.

At the gate, Lu Dingniang was looking forward to it, with Lan Yuer and Su Xiaoxiao beside her. All the servants in the palace were there in front of the gate, ready to welcome Prince Ji's return.

"Xiaoxiao, the weather is cold, you should go back to the backyard. There is no need to wait here any longer, but you must not harm your health."

Lu Dingniang looked at Su Xiaoxiao, who was pregnant, and said with concern.

As the mistress, every child in the Prince Ji’s Mansion is very important, and it is her responsibility to have children and expand the family.

"Thank you, Princess. I am fine. I have put on more clothes. When the prince returns, I will wait for him again."

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head gently. She was about to give birth to a child for Prince Ji, which would give her status in the future.

Moreover, her child is of extraordinary significance and extremely important to the Prince Ji’s Mansion.

(The Shrimp Anime is called Zhenguan Xiaoyao Wang. I watched it once and it’s pretty good, but the updates are too slow. Slower than me.)