Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

In Chang'an, amidst the prosperous scene, a large mansion is located in Yongningfang.

The housing prices in Yongningfang are extremely high, and it is the favorite place for dignitaries to live.

The rust on the door knocker seems to be the mottled traces left by time, showing the weight of history.

The stone lion in front of the door is majestic, with its mouth wide open, as if declaring to the world the inviolable status of the owner of the house.

Entering the mansion and passing through the winding corridor, you will see an extremely spacious courtyard.

In the courtyard, the rockery is rugged, some like strange peaks, some like crouching beasts, and the ingenious layout seems to be naturally formed.

A clear stream gurgles through the rockery, making a pleasant tinkling sound. Beautiful petals float on the water, swaying slowly with the flow.

The flowers around are vying for beauty, the hibiscus is gorgeous and the begonia is graceful, and the fragrance of flowers fills the air, rich and intoxicating.

No one knows that every season here costs a lot of money to transport seasonal flowers from other places.

In the main hall in the center of the courtyard, a group of young men from aristocratic families of the five surnames and seven names were sitting together.

The luxury in the hall is astonishing. The tables and chairs made of golden nanmu wood emit a faint fragrance, and the delicate texture is like the fingerprints of time.

The tables and chairs are inlaid with exquisite gems. The rubies are as bright as blood, and the sapphires are like the deep ocean, shining brightly under the lights.

Rare calligraphy and paintings are hung on the walls, including Zhang Xu's unrestrained cursive script, which shows his heroic spirit in every stroke; there are also Zhan Ziqian's colorful landscape scrolls. Each one is considered a priceless treasure by the world.

At this time, these children from aristocratic families were drinking tea leisurely.

The tea is a treasure that was shipped from the Qianyu Chamber of Commerce at full speed. The leaves are fresh and green, rolling and stretching in the boiling water, like elves dancing in the water.

The aroma of tea rises, and the fresh and elegant scent fills the entire hall.

The tea sets in their hands are fine products fired in official kilns. The porcelain is delicate and white, and the cups are painted with exquisite flower and bird patterns with delicate brushstrokes. Every detail is perfect.

A white-haired old man, dressed in a gorgeous brocade robe, gently held the teacup in his hand. He squinted his eyes slightly, sniffed the tea's fragrance, and then slowly brought the tea to his mouth, savoring it carefully. Then, with a satisfied smile, he exclaimed, "This tea is sweet and mellow, with an endless aftertaste. It is truly the best tea."

The others also nodded slightly, with a satisfied look on their faces.

However, in this seemingly leisurely atmosphere, several young men from aristocratic families looked uneasy.

One of the Cui family members was wearing a purple satin robe, with a frown on his face and beads of sweat on his forehead.

The teacup in his hand trembled slightly, and there was a hint of panic in his eyes. His lips trembled slightly as he said to the young Wang family member beside him: "Brother, look at His Majesty's recent actions. I really can't sleep or eat well."

"First, they severely punished officials who were involved with our family, and now they are turning a blind eye to our business. I don't think things are that simple."

"I'm really worried that His Majesty will take action against us." His voice was very low, but it was particularly abrupt in the quiet hall, and everyone around him could hear it clearly.

The Wang family member's face was also filled with worry. He clenched his fists, looked around anxiously, and said, "Yes, I'm worried too. Your Majesty's methods are becoming increasingly harsh, leaving us no room for maneuver."

"Although our family has been passed down for a hundred years and has great influence, if His Majesty is determined to deal with us, we are afraid..."

As soon as they spoke, they caused a small commotion.

But soon, an elder from the Cui family sitting in the main seat frowned, with a sharp light flashing in his eyes. He suddenly slammed the teacup heavily on the table, making a crisp "pop" sound, and the tea splashed out, forming a small stain on the table.

His eyes widened in anger as he shouted, "You worthless bastards! What are you afraid of? You are unworthy of being members of the Cui and Wang families!"

A young man mustered up his courage and said in a trembling voice, "But, Uncle, His Majesty's actions now are clearly aimed at us. We cannot be careless."

The elder of the Cui family sneered and stood up. He was tall and imposing. After looking around at everyone, he said loudly, "What do you know? What is the current situation in the Tang Dynasty? There are powerful enemies pressing in from the north, and the army is fighting hard. And from the west, the Tibetans are constantly invading. The court is fighting on two fronts and is exhausted."

"What about the country? Disasters continue to plague the people, and the people are suffering. The situation is unstable and turbulent."

"What the imperial court needs most right now is stability, but what are we? We are one of the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Houses, a prominent and prestigious family! The imperial court cannot survive without us."

"We control the wealth, resources, and connections of the world. If Your Majesty dares to touch us at this time, he will be digging his own grave, unless he no longer wants to be the emperor!"

An elder from the Wang family nearby nodded in agreement, "That's right. Take this medicinal herbs incident for example. So what if we drive up the prices? What can the imperial court do to us? If they want to help the victims, they can only buy our herbs obediently."

"Only if we are well fed will we support the court and the world will be at peace. This is our confidence. You young people should not be frightened by His Majesty's little tricks."

Another old man from the Lu family said slowly, "We are five surnames and seven families. We have gone through many dynasties. How many times have we not stood firm in the face of changing circumstances?"

"The court has always hated and feared us, but it can't do without us."

"We just need to hold our ground and see what His Majesty can do."

"If he knows what's good for him, we can continue to live in peace with the court. If he wants to become our enemy, well, we have enough power to teach him the consequences of offending us."

After hearing these words, some people who were originally a little shaken gradually regained their composure and nodded in agreement.

A middle-aged man from the Zheng clan of Xingyang frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He slowly said, "That being said, Your Majesty is young and energetic, and thoughtful. We still cannot be careless and need to make preparations early."

The elder from the Cui family gave him a disdainful look and said, "Humph! Of course you need to be prepared, but don't throw yourself into disarray."

"We will wait and see what His Majesty will do next. If he wants to oppose us, then we will make him understand that he cannot rule the world alone!"

The voices of the crowd echoed in the hall. Although the young disciples were still worried, they did not dare to say anything under the authority of the elders.

They could only drink tea in silence, but their hearts were like the turbulent sea, unable to calm down for a long time.

Outside the mansion, Chang'an's market was still prosperous and bustling. The people were busy making a living and knew nothing about the conversations going on in the deep courtyard.