I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

Li Shen returned to the study angrily. He saw that he had not checked the almanac that day. Misfortune came from the sky while he was still at home.

From now on, I have to tell my fortune every day to seek good luck and avoid bad luck. If there is a bad omen, I will close the door and not let anyone in.

He can refuse his father, but he cannot refuse his mother.

Otherwise, wouldn’t I be an orphan without a father or a mother?

What's more, there is his sister.

"Someone is coming."

"My Lord, what do you want me to do?"

Shitou ran in. Li Shen was angry just now, so Shitou chose to avoid him.

"Send someone to notify Wang Xuance and Wang Hongfu to come over. I have something else to discuss with you."

After Li Shen sat down, he poured himself a cup of herbal tea and gave instructions to Shi Tou.

"Yes."

Shitou took the order and went out. Li Shen drank tea and began to think of a solution.

It is actually not easy to eliminate the outside influence in seven days, even if Li Shen has a newspaper.

This is different from other rumors.

As it concerns the legitimacy of the crown prince’s identity, the topic has attracted too much attention.

If Li Shen's first thought was to change the subject, as long as that could be achieved, then it would be easy to solve later.

After all, ordinary people are forgetful. As long as you don't mention it, they will soon forget about it.

"Change the subject? Change the subject."

Li Shen lay on the couch, looking at the ceiling, muttering uncertainly.

"See you, Your Majesty."

After a long time, Wang Hongfu and the two Xuan Ce came in and saluted Li Shen together.

Li Shen turned over and sat up.

"Well, excuse me, sit down and talk."

Li Shen walked to the desk and sat down.

He ordered someone to make tea, and then continued:

"I'm here to ask you to come here because I've accepted a big job, a job worth four million strings of cash."

"Four million kan!?"

Wang Hongfu and Wang Xuance were shocked. What could be worth four million strings of cash? Was it a treason?

"Oh, that's right. The palace just issued an order, asking me to quell the rumors about the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace within seven days.

After the deed is done, the four million strings of cash that were swindled before will be written off."

Li Shen briefly recounted the story.

Oh~~So that's how it is. After hearing Li Shen's words, the two of them suddenly realized.

They said that there were only a few people in the Tang Dynasty who could come up with four million strings of cash, and even the aristocratic families would probably have a hard time doing so.

"Does the prince have any good ideas?"

Wang Xuance asked.

“Not at the moment, but there is a general direction.”

Li Shen shook his head.

“Your Highness, I’m afraid this matter is not easy to handle. People are talking about it now, and there must be someone behind the scenes fanning the flames.

Even if we clarify in the newspapers or try to persuade people, the effect will be minimal.

Plus there are people behind the scenes guiding us, our newspapers are almost ineffective.”

Wang Hongfu thought about it and expressed his judgment.

“That’s right, I think what Manager Wang said makes sense. Although there were criticisms about things in the past, the topic was not so serious.

Even if someone guides it, people will just treat it as a topic of conversation after dinner and will not pay too much attention to it.

But this time it’s different, it’s about the crown prince.”

Wang Xuance also agreed with Wang Hongfu's opinion.

"Of course I know what you are talking about. The countermeasure I am thinking of is the same as before, changing the subject."

Li Shen nodded and said.

“But my Lord, if I want to overshadow the matter of the Eastern Palace, I’m afraid this topic will have to be very big.”

"Yes, Your Majesty, we don't have a topic that's so big that can overshadow the East Palace right now."

Both of them knew that if they wanted to change the subject, the topic had to be explosive enough to suppress the matter of the Eastern Palace.

"Yes, that's why I asked you to come and discuss this. I really can't figure out the answer to this question.

I'm afraid that only the news that I am really plotting a rebellion is explosive enough."

Li Shen rubbed his head.

Wang Xuance and Wang Hongfu couldn't help but smile. They were planning a rebellion. The last time they talked about it, they were severely injured and had to rest for a month.

The injury has just healed, and you are still coming? Are you trying to kill yourself?

"By the way, Old Prince, do you still remember the Nine Dragon Cup I gave to His Majesty last time?"

"The villain remembers."

“Well, that’s good. Let the craftsman carve an identical one. I remember there are still a few pieces of jade in the storeroom.

Remember to give it to His Majesty in exactly the same way."

Li Shen remembered the matter of the Nine Dragon Cup and gave the order.

"Yes, I will arrange it later."

Wang Hongfu agreed.

"Oh, there is one more thing. Xuan Ce, take a look at this list. Do you know all of them?"

Li Shen took out the paper given by Wang De and handed it to Wang Xuance.

Wang Xuance took it, opened it and took a look.

"Your Majesty, these are all lower-ranking officials of the fifth and fourth ranks."

Wang Xuance replied that in the capital, they were lower-level officials.

"You know them all?"

Li Shen was a little surprised. Wang Xuance knew so many people?

"Your Highness, I know them all. These four are ordinary censors from the Censorate, and these two are fourth-rank assistant ministers of the Ministry of Rites.

And these few are lower-level officials from the six ministries, all of them are fifth-rank officials.”

Wang Xuance pointed out each one to Li Shen.

"Well, it's good that you know him. It saves me from having to investigate. They reported that the lightning that struck the Eastern Palace was a bad omen.

The implicit meaning of the words is that the prince is not worthy of his position.

This made His Majesty very angry and annoyed.

However, their rank is too low, and Your Majesty cannot take action against them. Therefore, as a son, I cannot ignore them.

These people need to be taught a lesson.”

Li Shen took a sip of tea and nodded. If Wang Xuance knew him, it would save some trouble.

“I see, it seems that Your Majesty also knows that there are people behind these people.

Otherwise, how could these lower-level officials have the courage to submit memorials?

Your Majesty is asking the prince to give you some light punishment and a warning."

Wang Xuance suddenly realized.

"That's right, these bastards, if it weren't for them, how could this king have encountered such troubles.

It would be so nice if the prince could be happy in the mansion.

What does the affairs of the Eastern Palace have to do with them? It’s not like their family will be destroyed.

A bunch of bastards with nothing to do but eat.

Why didn't the thunder strike their house last night?"

Li Shen was indignant and kept cursing, but suddenly Li Shen stopped.

"Huh? Yeah, hehe, hehe, hahahaha."

Li Shen first sounded puzzled, then chuckled twice, and then burst into laughter.

Wang Xuance and Wang Hongfu felt uneasy at Li Shen's smile and shuddered.

Has Prince Ji come up with another bad idea?

"Old Wang, have our people be ready at all times. As soon as there is any movement, blow the trumpet hard inside Chang'an City."

Li Shen gave orders to Wang Hongfu.

"Your Highness, um...what are you bragging about?" Wang Hongfu didn't know what Li Shen meant.

"You'll know then."

"Xuan Ce, write an article saying that thunder is a natural phenomenon and that thunder tends to attack high objects and copper, iron, and gold objects.

This is a normal thing, not a punishment from heaven.

Print more, put it on the front page, and wait for the opportunity to sell it out.”

"Yes, Your Majesty."