Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

Li Tai held the two iron chains in his hands, staring blankly at the rusty chains, on which he could even see dried bloodstains.

"Tenth Brother, did you take this off a dead body?"

Looking at the iron chain in his hand, Li Tai frowned, his face full of bitterness. He could feel the resentment emanating from the chain.

"Don't talk nonsense, how could that be?" Li Shen immediately retorted, but after thinking for a moment, he added, "It shouldn't be, right?"

"Look, even you yourself aren't sure, so it must be. Tenth Brother, you actually gave me such filthy things to use. Aren't you afraid I'll be possessed by evil spirits?"

Seeing Li Shen's guilty look, Li Tai immediately flew into a rage.

"Alright, alright, Fourth Brother, don't worry. Evil spirits aren't scary. I've received guidance from a master, and last time I even exorcised an evil spirit for Wang De in the palace."

Father and mother were both present at the time.

Li Shen waved his hand to comfort Li Tai.

"It's just dead people's stuff, what's so great about it?" Li Shen looked down on Li Tai, but kept wiping his hands on his body.

"You can exorcise evil spirits?" Li Tai looked at Li Shen with suspicion, then turned to look at his father, wanting to know if it was true.

“Your Highness Prince Wei, what Your Highness Prince Ji said is true. That day, Your Highness Prince Ji performed an exorcism for this old servant, and this old servant saw it clearly.”

The candle flame suddenly grew larger, shooting into the sky, and the evil spirit was terrifying.

Finally, after being subdued by His Highness Prince Ji, the monster was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. The oil was scalding hot, and His Highness Prince Ji pressed the monster directly into it, even plunging his hand in, yet his hand was completely unharmed. His abilities were truly extraordinary.

At Li Shimin's behest, Wang De vividly recounted to Li Tai the story of Li Shen's charade that day.

Li Tai listened, completely bewildered, as if he were listening to a legendary tale.

"Steward Wang, is it true? Could it be that you're lying to me because you're on good terms with the Tenth Prince, and you're just spouting nonsense?"

Li Tai felt increasingly uneasy as he listened, and asked suspiciously.

"Oh, my lord, His Majesty is right here. How could this old servant dare to deceive His Highness?"

Wang De quickly bowed and explained.

After glancing at his father, Li Tai noticed that his father's expression hadn't changed, and only then did he begin to believe him.

"Hurry up, someone light the incense."

Li Shen and the others grew impatient, so he ordered someone to light incense and then gave Li Tai a demonstration himself.

Actually, it's very simple. Li Shen practiced this in his previous life, so teaching Li Tai is no big deal.

Fang Yi'ai had been watching for a while, and the two of them squatted down and began to practice.

"Splash, splash."

The sound of chains echoed incessantly. Li Shen walked over to Li Shimin, sat down, and began to drink tea.

Li Shen was wondering if he should bring the recliner over tomorrow, so that it would be more relaxing.

"Tenth Brother, where did you learn these moves from?"

Li Shimin, who was standing to the side, asked.

"Reporting to Father, it was Dr. Sun and his team who researched it."

Li Shen shifted the blame to Sun Simiao. Li Shimin nodded; it was normal for a medical school to come up with some health-preserving products.

"Are you sure these exercises can help your fourth brother lose weight? I don't see anything particularly remarkable about them."

Li Shimin looked at Li Tai and Fang Yi'ai and asked them with a puzzled expression.

"Don't worry, Father. It doesn't really have anything to do with the movements. The main thing is to get Fourth Brother moving."

"As long as you keep your fourth brother moving, he'll naturally lose weight."

Li Shen nodded and said, "There's no such thing as excessive exercise or scientific exercise. In the end, it'll be Sun Simiao who takes care of it."

If there's a lingering illness, say it's something left over from before by Li Tai, and it definitely has nothing to do with weight loss.

The incense was specially made, and one stick of incense burned for exactly fifteen minutes. When the fifteen minutes were up, Li Tai was still slumped on the ground.

This time he learned his lesson and persevered without Li Shen's supervision.

He finally understood that no matter how much he resisted, he wouldn't change anything and would still have to be whipped like an animal by Li Shen.

It's better to do it honestly and suffer less.

And so, for an hour in the afternoon, Li Shen had Li Tai and the other man practice battle ropes, as well as pull-up running and sit-ups.

Li Tai was exhausted and his clothes were soaked with sweat.

Li Shen was puzzled. How could one person have so much water on their body?

After a day of training, Li Tai and his companion bathed and changed clothes. They were then helped away from the palace by several eunuchs. Before leaving, they drank a bowl of medicinal soup prepared by Sun Simiao.

"Tenth Brother, tell me the truth, were you deliberately torturing those two?"

Li Shimin stood there, watching the two figures disappear into the distance.

"What are you saying, Father? Do you think I'm that kind of person?" Li Shen quickly shook his head.

“You’re that kind of person.” To everyone’s surprise, Li Shimin nodded with certainty.

"Um... I want to go now. I'll come back tomorrow."

Li Shen was speechless and left. It was too humiliating. He realized he was so worthless in his father's eyes.

"Your Majesty, after all this trouble, I'm afraid the Prince of Wei won't be able to come tomorrow, will he?"

Wang De offered a reminder from the side.

"No, the last bowl of medicine given to Qingque was definitely to replenish his vital energy."

Tomorrow, they'll only have aches and pains in their backs; nothing serious will happen.

Li Shimin watched Li Shen flee in disarray and explained softly. He had guessed it.

Li Shen wouldn't dare to torture Li Tai to death, but he certainly wouldn't have an easy time either.

This guy would never let Li Tailian fall down in just one day; he must have a backup plan.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has sent word that the Tibetan king has requested an audience with you several times, hoping to negotiate peace with you."

Wang De then began to report on another matter.

"If you refuse to see him, just say that I am unwell and recuperating. I will see him again when I am fully recovered."

Li Shimin shook his head.

It's not the right time yet.

"Yes, this old servant will immediately send someone to inform the Ministry of Rites." Wang De accepted the order.

After Li Shen got home, he first went to see Xiao Wu, then slapped his forehead, realizing that he had forgotten about Xiao Wu's name again today.

They were too busy tormenting Li Tai.

The next day, Li Shen was still asleep when someone started worrying about him.

"Your Highness, Prince Wei is waiting outside the mansion gate. He says it's time to enter the palace."

Stone stood at the door and reported.

"He's here so early? Couldn't he have waited at the imperial city gate first?"

Li Shen lost his temper, but still got up and told people to get dressed and wash up.

He also knew that Li Tai had learned his lesson this time and wouldn't wait for him; he would come directly to him.

Outside the main gate, Li Tai looked at the imposing gate tower of the Prince Ji's mansion and a sense of revenge rose in his heart.

He knew Li Shen was a heavy sleeper, and his special trip to wake Li Shen was also motivated by revenge.

Yesterday, several people were sent to summon Li Shen, but you refused to come. This time, I'm coming in person. I don't believe that a prince like myself would be ignored by the gatekeeper.

After some time, Li Tai saw Li Shen walk out looking exhausted, his eyes half-closed, as if he hadn't woken up properly.