Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

Li Shimin looked at Cheng Yaojin with a helpless expression.

The attitude is clear: there's nothing I can do to help. You know this rebellious son is disobedient.

Upon seeing this, Li Shen immediately shouted:

"Duke Lu, I am only being so calm with you because I respect you. Otherwise, I would have already captured your Cheng Chusi and broken his hands and feet, crippling his limbs."

Previously, I granted you a few years' grace because you were nobles, but you should also think of me.

I am currently heavily in debt and living in poverty, which is why I have no choice but to ask you for money.

Besides, a mere 100,000 strings of cash is nothing to you, Duke Lu.

If you don't repay the money, we naturally have ways to avoid it; think it through carefully.

Li Shen's tone was full of threat. If it were anyone else, Cheng Yaojin would immediately shout, "If you're so capable, then kill Cheng Chusi!"

This is a typical example of a shameless, thick-skinned, and utterly ruthless person.

But when facing Prince Ji, Cheng Yaojin's words stuck in his throat, and he dared not utter them.

Because he knew that Prince Ji might actually dare to beat Cheng Chusi to death. If this scourge dared to beat his own brother, what did he have to be afraid of?

As a high-ranking official, Cheng Yaojin was not a reckless person. He was meticulous and had noticed many things that others did not.

He knew that back in Qinghai Province, Prince Ji, in his attempt to find the traitor, disregarded the safety of Prince Jin and Prince Wei, and the two were almost killed in the end.

If he's this ruthless to his own brothers, what chance does he have against others? He was truly afraid that Prince Ji might take his own son down with him in a fit of rage.

After much deliberation, Cheng Yaojin finally gritted his teeth:

"Alright, the Cheng family keeps their word, we'll pay you back. It's just that we're a little short on funds this time..."

“It’s alright,” Li Shen interrupted Cheng Yaojin.

"Your six sons received a total of over 103,000 strings of cash in dividends. After deducting that amount, you still owe over 3,000 strings of cash."

"I'm not in a hurry to pay the rest; you can repay it slowly."

Li Shen smiled lightly.

"Three thousand strings of cash?" Upon hearing this number, Cheng Yaojin couldn't help but tremble; he was now extremely sensitive to this number.

"No, no, no, I'll send the remaining money over as soon as I get back, then we'll be even."

Cheng Yaojin shook his head repeatedly. After saying that, he glanced at the six receipts in his hand and reluctantly placed them on the table.

Many people don't understand why Cheng Yaojin would give in when Li Shen was clearly trying to extort money.

It's unreasonable that three thousand strings of cash could multiply to one hundred thousand in just seven or eight years.

How could a dignified Duke admit defeat?

But only high-ranking officials present, such as Li Shimin, Li Chengqian, and Tang Jian, knew that Cheng Yaojin had no choice.

The First Emperor was the emperor's son, holding a high position and enjoying the emperor's favor; it was impossible to touch him.

Secondly, Li Shen's reckless and unscrupulous behavior, disregard for rules and using any means necessary, was most fatal to these high-ranking officials.

Even if Cheng Yaojin is shameless, he still has his bottom line and there are many things he won't do.

But Li Shen didn't care about any of that. With the emperor's support, he became even more feared.

In addition, Li Shen had indeed made a lot of money with this group of playboys, and even after giving away 100,000 strings of cash, there was still a lot left over. That's why Cheng Yaojin was willing to be tricked.

Of course, it was also for his son's safety; who knows if this guy will actually do something serious.

The events in Xizhou Workshop District are still vivid in my mind.

Li Shen chuckled as he put away the six receipts.

"Well... Your Majesty, there's nothing more for this old minister to do here, so I'll take my leave now."

Yuchi Jingde felt a chill when he saw Li Shen's gaze and immediately turned to leave.

"General Yuchi, please wait." Li Shen called out again.

“Your Highness, this old minister does not owe you any money,” Yuchi Jingde emphasized immediately as he turned around.

“That’s right, General Yuchi certainly doesn’t owe me any money, but your three sons might not be so.” Li Shen chuckled.

"What do you mean? Does His Highness Prince Ji intend to extort this old minister?"

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Jingde immediately panicked. He had only received 50,000 strings of cash this time, and he certainly couldn't come up with 100,000.

"General Yuchi, please calm down and let me explain." Li Shen made a calming gesture and then continued:

"General Yuchi, Baolin and Baolin have been eating, drinking and having fun at Heaven and Earth for several years now without paying any money."

You should also know that the expenses at Heaven on Earth are considerable, and over the years the debts are far more than ten thousand taels of silver.

They drank the finest wines and delicacies, and occasionally brought along a few close friends. This money, plus interest…”

“Your Highness Prince Ji, wasn’t this Heaven and Earth Paradise a joint venture between you two? Shouldn’t my two sons also have a share in it?”

Since they are shareholders, the expenses should be free.

Before Li Shen could finish speaking, Yuchi Jingde argued.

They own 50% of the shares.

"No, no, no, even I have to pay to go there. This is to avoid harming the interests of other shareholders."

All the shareholders outside know this rule.

Everyone, regardless of who they are, must abide by these rules; Baolin and Baoqi, the two older brothers, are only on credit.

"If you don't believe me, you can call them over for a confrontation."

Li Shen shook his head in denial.

"Bring the young master of the Yuchi family here," Li Shimin ordered immediately, his interest in watching the spectacle reaching its peak.

Before long, the three brothers, Yuchi Baolin, Yuchi Baoqi, and Yuchi Baohuan, were brought in, followed by the six brothers of the Cheng family.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness Prince Ji..." The group began to bow as they entered.

"No need. I've called you here to ask you something." Li Shimin nodded, indicating that Yuchi Jingde should ask the question himself.

Yuchi Jingde turned around and glared fiercely at his three sons:

"I'm asking you, did you eat, drink, and have fun at Heaven on Earth and then not pay us?"

"Huh?" The three of them were clearly taken aback. They looked at Li Shen and found him smiling at them.

“I know about this, and I can prove that it is true. The three of them did not pay after having fun at Heaven on Earth.”

Before the young man from the Yuchi family could speak, Cheng Chuliang behind him answered first.

"Yes, Father, just as Chu Liang said, we did not pay for our entertainment at Heaven on Earth. You could say we owed money and will pay when we have the money."

The eldest brother, Yuchi Baolin, reacted the fastest, immediately bowing and replying.

“That’s right, that’s right, it really is on credit.” Yu Chi Baoqi immediately chimed in.

"You bastards, who gave you permission to run up debts outside?"

Enraged, Yuchi Jingde kicked Yuchi Baolin. Cheng Yaojin's family had 3,000 strings of cash, yet they already had 100,000 strings in interest. He himself was already in debt of tens of thousands of strings, and he didn't even know how much more he owed.

"Father, please calm down. We have no choice. All the money we earn goes into your treasury, and we only get a dozen or so strings of cash a month."

We don't have the money to pay our debts.

We also need to make friends and play with them; Ada gives us too little.

Yu Chi Baoqi said, feeling wronged.

(The Double Ninth Festival is here, but it seems to have faded a bit, not as memorable as May 520th.)