Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

"Hmph, it's settled then. Later, I will send Wang Hongfu to deliver the money to you and sign a contract with you."

If you do not comply, then don’t blame me for being impolite to you. Don’t think that just because you’ve written two volumes of legends you’re something special.

Just as you said, I can print and sell them myself, and you won't get a single penny.

Did you hear me?

Li Shen snorted as a warning, grabbed Tang Lin's hand and tightened his grip, causing Tang Lin to wince in pain and immediately squat down.

"Ah, yes, yes, I will follow His Highness Prince Ji's orders."

Upon hearing Tang Lin's words, Li Shen finally released his grip with satisfaction, though inwardly he was disdainful.

Li Chengqian is shameless and doesn't even know how to judge people. He said that Tang Linjian was frugal, had few desires, didn't build a mansion, lived simply, and was lenient with others.

They say Tang Lin is indifferent to wealth and has few desires, but today it seems he's nothing but an act; he's not satisfied even with 50,000 strings of cash.

"Oh dear, Your Highness Prince Ji, thank goodness you didn't go far."

Just then, a voice that Li Shen found extremely annoying came from behind him.

"Hey Lao Wang, I've noticed you're really persistent. I run into you wherever I go."

Li Shen turned around and said irritably.

He didn't even need to look to know it was that old eunuch Wang De.

"Look at what Your Highness Prince Ji is saying. This old servant is only here because of His Majesty's decree," Wang De said with a smile, showing no anger whatsoever.

“But every time you come to me, it’s never anything good. I’ve been beaten up so many times.” Li Shenyi pouted.

“If Your Highness doesn’t provoke His Majesty, why would His Majesty punish you? If you ask me, Your Highness should be more obedient, so that His Majesty will not punish you again.”

Wang De replied, thinking to himself, "With you causing trouble every day, who else but you will get beaten up?"

At this moment, Wang De also noticed Tang Lin and bowed slightly:

"I have seen Minister Tang. Has Minister Tang not left yet?"

"Steward Wang, you are too kind. I was just about to leave when Prince Ji asked me to discuss something."

Tang Lin also bowed slightly. Wang De was no ordinary person; he was someone close to His Majesty.

"Let's discuss this with Minister Tang..."

"Alright, I have some important matters to discuss with Minister Tang. Tell me what it is?"

Li Shen quickly interrupted Wang De, fearing that he might reveal his coercion and inducement later.

"His Majesty has decreed that Your Highness must return home to ask you some questions."

Wang De quickly got down to business.

"Go back? I've only just come out; I haven't even had time to pee. Do you know why my father wants me to go back?"

Li Shenyi rolled his eyes. Was his father too lonely in the palace, so he was spending his days like Sundays?

Wang De smiled, his eyes crinkling.

"Your Highness, how would this old servant know why His Majesty summoned me? You will find out when you go there."

"Well... Minister Tang, our matter is settled then. You can go home and wait. I still need to go back to my father's bedside to fulfill my filial duties."

Li Shen waved to Tang Lin, signaling him to go first.

Tang Lin bowed to Li Shen and left.

"Let's go," Li Shen said, striding towards Ganlu Hall.

"Your Highness, please go ahead. This old servant still needs to summon His Highness the Crown Prince."

Wang De did not go with them.

"Still looking for the Crown Prince? Then go ahead." Li Shen waved his hand and left alone.

"Minister Tang, please wait."

Tang Lin hadn't gone far when someone called him from behind. Hearing this, Tang Lin stopped and turned around, only to find it was Wang De.

"Is there anything else, Steward Wang?" Tang Lin asked.

Wang De turned around and glanced at Li Shen, who was already far away, before turning back.

"Minister Tang, I just wanted to inquire what His Highness Prince Ji wanted to discuss with you just now?"

"This..." Tang Lin hesitated for a moment. Ji Wang's business dealings were definitely confidential, and he didn't want too many people to know that he was cooperating with Ji Wang.

If he were to make excuses later, others would simply assume that Prince Ji had taken it for himself. But when Wang De asked him this, he hesitated whether to speak up.

Upon seeing this, Wang De immediately laughed and said:

"Minister Tang, the reason I asked this is actually to tell His Majesty. Rest assured, I will not spread what you said today."

You know His Majesty dotes on Prince Ji, but Prince Ji often gets into trouble, so His Majesty must keep a close eye on him.

"Well... since His Majesty knows, I dare not hide it. In fact, His Highness Prince Ji has taken a fancy to the two volumes of legends I wrote and wants to buy the copyright."

Tang Lin hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Copyright?" Wang De was taken aback.

Tang Lin quickly explained what copyright was to Wang De, but Wang De was still confused, though he still remembered it.

"Judging from His Highness Prince Ji's demeanor just now, it seems that Minister Tang has reached an agreement with His Highness Prince Ji. I just wonder what Minister Tang sold?"

Wang De was also very curious about how much these two legendary books could sell for.

Tang Lin glanced helplessly at the Imperial Guards not far away and stretched out a hand.

"Five million strings of cash? That much?" Wang De blurted out, his face full of surprise. Had Prince Ji gone mad? Could it be that Tang Lin had written some kind of cultivation method?

This may be informing His Majesty.

Tang Lin's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood. He was even more shocked than when he was talking to Li Shen earlier.

Who are these people? They casually mention millions of strings of cash. His annual salary, including everything else, is only a few thousand strings of cash.

Seeing Tang Lin's expression, Wang De quickly realized that he must have guessed wrong. Indeed, even if Prince Ji himself sold the two books, he wouldn't be able to sell them for five million strings of cash.

"Hehe, Minister Tang, 500,000 strings of cash is quite a sum. Being able to cooperate with His Highness Prince Ji is just the beginning."

If this collaboration goes well, there will be plenty of opportunities to make money in the future.

Wang De smiled slightly, thinking that Tang Lin was not very satisfied, and even said a few words of comfort.

Tang Lin was going crazy, he really was going crazy. He felt like he didn't belong to this world.

"Steward Wang has misunderstood. It's not 500,000 strings of cash, it's 50,000 strings of cash."

Tang Lin emphasized as he spoke, implying that it was 50,000 strings of cash, more than he could earn in ten years of his salary.

But to everyone's surprise, Wang De's expression changed, and he looked utterly disappointed:

"Only fifty thousand strings of cash? Prince Ji is indeed shrewd."

"Steward Wang, fifty thousand strings of cash! That's quite a lot." Tang Lin emphasized again that it was fifty thousand strings of cash.

Wang De nodded calmly:

"That is indeed a bit too little. May I ask how much Minister Tang is asking for?"

Just as Tang Lin was about to speak, holding up two fingers as before, Wang De interrupted:

"Hmm, two hundred thousand strings of cash is more like it. It seems that His Highness Prince Ji threatened Minister Tang, which is why Minister Tang agreed."

But this is also an opportunity; next time, just ask for more.

"Steward Wang, please don't say such things again. I want twenty strings of cash, twenty strings of cash!"

Tang Lin got anxious.

(It's been adapted into an anime, but it's too simplistic. Still, it's alright. I've watched it all. It's called "The Little Prince of Zhenguan." You guys can check it out.)