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

Hearing Li Tai's words, Li Shimin glanced at him and asked, "Why, do you have any objection to your mother's decision?"

"I dare not, but...this..." Li Tai wanted to argue, but he felt that he should not argue.

After all, this is my mother's decision. I have to know that my father will unconditionally support my mother's decision.

He also saw the stern look from Empress Changsun.

Empress Changsun was not that loving and filial to her own son.

"Father, isn't this against the ancestral system? The late emperor has already established the rules, and I'm afraid the ministers won't agree."

Li Zhi spoke.

"I have naturally considered this. I will not reward you in the name of your mother. I will find other reasons.

Besides, the land granted is all in your mother's name, not the court's, so they shouldn't be too embarrassed."

"But Father, even if it is a reward, it has violated the rules set by the late emperor. If it sets a precedent,

If everyone follows this example in the future, there won’t be enough land to go around.”

Li Zhi was somewhat unwilling to hear Li Shimin's nonchalant answer.

His salary was not as much as Li Shen's, and his fief was not as much as Li Shen's.

"What exactly do you want to say?" Li Shimin frowned and looked at Li Zhi.

How could Li Shimin not see through his little tricks? He had just told him not to make things difficult for Li Shen.

How long has it been since he forgot?

"Forgive me, Father. I have no objection to Li Shen's reward, but you can change it to something else.

It could be property or good farmland, but this fiefdom is indeed a bit beyond the limit.

If Duke Wei were still alive, he would also speak out against it."

Li Zhi stood up and saluted respectfully, and also moved Wei Zheng out.

When Empress Changsun heard this, she felt a little unhappy. How could her son be so unkind?

Even though Li Shen is not his biological son, he is so filial to him. He has worked hard and never asked for anything in return over the years.

Now that he wanted to reward something, his own son actually tried to stop him.

The Ji Wang Mansion is a wealthy and powerful place, how can I afford to give away ordinary things?

If it is a reward of money, how much money would it take to satisfy Li Shen?

At least one million guan would be enough. How many years would it take for a thousand households to earn one million guan? One hundred years? Or several hundred years?

The atmosphere was a little subtle and fell into a brief silence, with no one speaking.

"Kaka."

At this moment, a crackling sound became so obvious that everyone looked over.

I saw Li Shen holding a big crab and gnawing on it.

Feeling someone was looking at him, Li Shen raised his head blankly, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Aye, do you want to eat?" In order to ease the embarrassment, Li Shen held out the crab in his hand.

Li Shimin ignored him and said to Li Zhi:

"Your mother has already made the decision on this matter. You don't need to say anything more."

"Yes, Aye." Li Tai nodded and pulled Li Zhi back to his seat.

"Haha, tenth brother, congratulations to you."

Li Chengqian laughed, picked up the wine glass and said to Li Shen.

Li Shen was reluctant to put down the crab in his hand and raised his glass as well:

"Brother, you are so polite. I am flattered by mother's kindness, but I cannot refuse a gift from an elder, so I have to accept it.

No matter what reward mother gives me, I will be very grateful.”

As they spoke, they both drank it all in one gulp.

"Haha, Old Ten, you got a great deal this time. Fourth Brother will toast you as well."

Li Tai also raised his glass.

"Taking advantage? What are you talking about, Fourth Brother? How can mother's reward be measured in money?

If we really measure it in terms of money, do you know how much today's banquet will cost?"

Hearing Li Tai's words, Li Shen asked disdainfully.

"Although it's rare, it shouldn't cost that much, right?" Li Tai didn't care.

"Haha, it seems that Fourth Brother doesn't understand that half of the things in this sea come from the south. Just like these red shrimps, they are very difficult to catch. It took me two months to catch these dozens of big red shrimps.

In order to transport them fresh to Chang'an City, I spent a lot of effort and invested a lot of manpower and resources.

All the food for today will cost at least 8,000 guan."

Li Shen chuckled and explained it to these people who had never seen the world.

Let them know what luxury and waste are, this meal is all about money.

"Eight thousand strings of cash? Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration, Old Ten?"

Li Tai looked incredulous. How many people could be supported by eight thousand strings of cash?

"Fourth brother, I never brag about this. If you don't believe me, there is nothing I can do."

Li Shen was too lazy to argue.

"Since Old Ten said so, it should be true. Let's eat quickly. Don't waste Old Ten's kindness."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin smiled and gave an order.

Everyone started eating again.

Then something strange happened at Li Shen's table. Whatever Li Shen ate, Li Tai and the others ate as well. Li Shen even wanted to eat the plate to see if they would follow suit.

Soon everyone was almost done eating, Li Tai wiped his mouth and said:

"By the way, Lao Shi, I just heard that you brought a gift for your mother, it seems to be a scented soap.

I wonder if you can give some of these soaps to my fourth brother."

"Okay, I'll ask Boutique to send some to Fourth Brother when we get back. We're all brothers after all."

Li Shen nodded. He was not a stingy person and some soaps were not worth much.

"That's not what I meant. I wanted to ask if Old Ten could give me a share of the soap business.

Fourth brother, I don't want too much, just one state is enough. How do you think?"

Li Tai looked at Li Shen and asked seriously.

He had long wanted to cooperate with Li Shen, but he had never had the chance, and Li Shen did not agree.

Today he also wanted to give it a try in front of his father, hoping that Li Shen would agree to this matter for his father's sake.

Li Shen didn't even raise his head, and replied while eating:

"No."

"Hmm?" Li Tai glanced at Li Shimin and asked:

"You and I are brothers, can't you help fourth brother?"

"I'll consider this matter after you return to your fiefdom." Li Shen continued eating.

"Why?" When Li Tai and Li Zhi heard that they were going back to their fiefdoms, their pupils shrank.

Li Shen took a sip of wine slowly, then wiped his mouth and hands, raised his head and replied seriously:

"Because I don't want there to be another me in Chang'an City. Chang'an City can only have me, a wealthy member of the royal family."

"Pfft~~~" Li Chengqian spat out a mouthful of wine after hearing this. He never expected Li Shen to speak so bluntly.

Li Tai was also a little confused and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Even Li Shimin was speechless.

"Li Shen, what do you mean by that? You are too overbearing. We are all members of the royal family. Do people in the royal family have to live in poverty?

Is this the only way to show your wealth? "