Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

In ancient times, when communication was underdeveloped, information asymmetry was very important, as things changed rapidly.

Otherwise, the territory of the Tang Dynasty would probably be much larger than it is now.

The Malacca region can effectively protect the south; even if the locals wanted to flee, they wouldn't be able to escape.

Unless they go around in circles, they won't be allowed in if they see so many people when they come in.

Although Li Shen's plan was not very benevolent, it was very beneficial to the Tang Dynasty.

"Gao Ming, you also think this bastard has a point?"

When Li Shimin heard Li Chengqian plead for mercy, he turned to ask him.

"Yes, Father, and I believe that my tenth brother's actions are beneficial to the Li family's empire," Li Chengqian replied affirmatively.

"Hmm." Li Shimin nodded after hearing this.

"It's good that you agree. Since you know that he did it for the sake of my Li family's empire, I hope that you will ignore anyone who uses this matter after I am gone."

Li Shimin remained calm and composed, yet Li Chengqian was slightly taken aback.

After a long while, Li Chengqian finally smiled:

"Father, rest assured, this matter was handled by the court, which spent 500,000 strings of cash and two regions to hire my tenth brother. What does it have to do with my tenth brother?"

"You're right, five hundred thousand strings of cash." Li Shimin showed a pained expression.

Li Shen, who was kneeling at the door, was still confused and thought that his father was just making trouble for him and wanted to punish him.

He was prepared to have his salary deducted, but when he heard the last part, Li Shen fell silent. Then he silently kowtowed to his father and remained kneeling on the ground for a long time.

At that moment, he felt a pang of regret. He shouldn't have swindled 1.5 million guan from that city; he had originally intended to give it away for free, and 1 million would have been enough.

Furthermore, he was hired by the imperial court, yet he not only demanded two plots of land but also an additional 500,000 strings of cash. He truly had no conscience; 300,000 strings of cash would have been fine.

Thinking about this, Li Shen wondered whether he should return 200,000 strings of cash to his father.

Li Shimin glanced at Li Shen, who was kneeling on the ground, out of the corner of his eye, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Li Chengqian sat opposite, facing Li Shen. He glanced at Li Shen, who hadn't gotten up, and then at his father, who seemed to be smiling but not smiling, and felt a pang of jealousy.

"Ahem." Li Shimin suddenly coughed, his voice becoming somewhat hoarse.

"Alas, I am old and do not know how much longer I can live. I only wish to do more for my Li Tang dynasty while I am still alive."

Whether it's to improve the lives of ordinary people or to make our Tang Dynasty more prosperous, money is indispensable.

Although the imperial court has become wealthier in recent years, there are many places where money can be spent, and it often finds itself in a predicament where income cannot cover expenditures.

If only we could save two million strings of cash, or even just one million! Sigh…

In closing, Li Shimin sighed deeply once again, a sigh filled with weariness and a sense of vicissitude.

Li Chengqian felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this. He saw his father's graying temples and how heartbroken he was because of him.

“Ah…” Li Chengqian opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he heard a loud shout:

"Father, I am willing to die to atone for my sins."

Li Shen had already stood up, and with a sway of his body, he crashed into the door beside him.

With a "thud!", Li Shen's head made intimate contact with the study door, and he bounced back and fell to the ground, causing the door to shake.

"I wipe!"

Li Chengqian reflexively shouted out a catchphrase he had learned from Li Shen.

Every time Li Shen was surprised, he would involuntarily shout out these two words.

Everyone was stunned. No one expected that Prince Ji, Li Shen, would suddenly do such a thing. Isn't this the kind of scene that usually only happens when ministers are remonstrating to the death?

Even Li Chengqian had never seen it, and Li Shimin, who had been emperor for so many years, had only seen it a few times. Unexpectedly, it happened in the study of Ganlu Hall.

Even Li Shimin, a seasoned general, was shocked by the scene.

Wang De was the first to react and rushed over to check on Li Shen's injuries, while Li Chengqian also stood up and ran over.

At this moment, Li Shen's eyes were closed, and he lay slumped on the ground, seemingly unconscious.

Wang De extended two fingers to check Li Shen's breathing, then felt the pulse in Li Shen's neck before raising his head and saying:

"He's not dead, he's still alive."

Li Shimin breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Tenth brother, tenth brother." Li Chengqian squatted down and shook Li Shen.

"Hmm..." Li Shen slowly opened his eyes, his gaze blank. "Where is this? Is this the underworld? Are you Ox-Head and Horse-Face?"

“I… Your Highness Prince Ji is an old servant.”

Wang De was utterly speechless after Li Shen's words. He might look a bit old, but he didn't look like a bull-headed or horse-faced demon.

Li Shen struggled to sit up and then rubbed the bruises on his head.

"Could this not be the underworld?"

"You scoundrel, if you want to go to the underworld, I can grant you that request."

As soon as Li Shen finished speaking, Li Shimin walked barefoot from the bed and kicked Li Shen.

"Ah~~ Haha~~~"

The kick landed squarely on Li Shen's hamstring, causing him to scream in pain.

Li Shimin showed no sign of stopping and continued to abuse Li Shen.

He kicked and cursed at the same time.

"You worthless wretch, I'm sending you to the underworld to find Ox-Head and Horse-Face."

"Father, Father, please calm down."

"Your Majesty, calm down."

When Wang De and Li Chengqian saw Li Shen being kicked and rolling on the ground, they rushed forward to stop him, fearing that Li Shimin might accidentally kill Li Shen.

"Hmph." After kicking him several times, Li Shimin finally calmed down, snorted coldly, and returned to his bed to sit down.

"Ouch, Father, you don't have to be so harsh. If you hit me like that, I might as well have just killed myself by smashing my head against a wall."

Li Shen, having narrowly escaped death, rubbed his backside and began to complain.

“That’s perfect. Now, Prince Ji, you can ram it again. This time, hit it harder. See the corner? Just ram it there.”

Li Shimin pointed at the door and said angrily.

"Hehe." Li Shen chuckled, then crawled over to Li Shimin's side with a cheeky grin and gently massaged Li Shimin's legs with both hands.

“Father, I have already been hit by a car and am unconscious. A fairy told me that I cannot die now.”

He said he wanted his son to assist a wise ruler, save the people, and become the ruler of the world.

The son thought for a moment and realized that his father was the ruler of the world, a virtuous and wise monarch.

"I will naturally assist my father well and bring blessings to all people."

Li Shen fawned over his father without any qualms. So what if he was a sycophant? He was a third-generation prince, and now he was a second-generation prince.

So many people want to curry favor with their fathers but don't even have the chance.

As for accusations of bullying others, being a privileged class, or unfair treatment, that's all utter nonsense.

They're all just saying that out of jealousy.

Don't they even think about what their fathers went through? The Xuanwu Gate uprising of eight hundred men, what great risks they took, wasn't it all for the sake of their descendants?