Time Travel: I am the idle king Li Shen and Li Shimin in the Tang Dynasty

The nobles were grouped in other private rooms, while Li Shimin and his family were in one private room.

Not only Li Shimin brought his family with him, but Li Shen also brought his family with him.

Finally, Li Shen's family, led by Lu Dingniang, greeted the young mothers.

The four brothers Li Shen accompanied Li Shimin, the queen, and Concubine Wei.

There are two more people here, one is Li Xiaogong and the other is Li Daozon.

This was Li Shimin's request, after all, these two people were also his family members.

Li Shimin looked at the menu, flipped through it for a long time, and finally handed it to Empress Changsun beside him.

As an emperor, he didn't know how to order food. He just ate whatever others cooked.

"Let Shen'er arrange it."

Empress Changsun then gave the task to Li Shen.

"Uncle Wang, please order whatever you like. I'll be the host today."

Li Shen looked at Li Xiaogong and Li Daozon.

The two replied politely:

"It's all right. We are the guests and we should follow the host's wishes. It's up to you, Prince Ji."

"Big brother, fourth brother, ninth brother, look at that..."

"Tenth brother, this is your property, you are the master and you are the one who makes the decision."

Li Chengqian smiled.

Li Tai and Li Zhi also remained silent.

Li Shen had no choice but to hand the menu to the steward and said:

"Fry one."

"What?" Everyone was stunned and didn't understand.

The person in charge was also confused. What did it mean?

“I asked you to cook all the dishes on this menu. Don’t you understand?” Li Shen frowned.

"Asshole, how can we finish frying such a thick book? Isn't it a waste of food?

Since it’s a family dinner, ten dishes will suffice.”

When Li Shimin heard this, he was furious. He had been frugal all his life, but how could he give birth to such a prodigal son?

Li Shen was startled and quickly told the steward:

"Did you hear me? Go ahead and serve ten of our signature dishes."

The manager quickly agreed and went out, and Shi Tou and Wang De followed him out.

While waiting for the food, Li Shen had someone bring hot water and made tea for Li Shimin using the tea leaves he brought with him.

"Old Ten, have you ever calculated how much money you have today?"

Li Shimin asked curiously.

"Your Highness, it's almost 1.3 million strings of cash." Li Shen poured a cup of tea and handed it to Li Shimin, while replying.

"So many?" Li Shimin was stunned. It was different from what he calculated.

But Li Zhi and Li Tai on the side were also stunned, and their calculations were different from theirs.

Li Shimin calculated that the amount was less than one million, while Li Tai and Li Zhi calculated that together with the money given to His Majesty, the Empress and the Crown Prince, it was at least more than one and a half million strings of cash.

"Old Ten, if I remember correctly, my father and mother alone have 500,000 strings of cash, plus the Crown Prince and the Imperial Concubine have 200,000 strings of cash.

That’s about 700,000 strings of cash.

The rest of the people together have nearly a million strings of cash, so the total should be more than 1.5 million strings of cash."

Li Zhi reminded with an expressionless face.

"Yes, Old Ten, I remember it too. It's pretty much the same as what Old Nine said."

Li Tai agreed with a smile.

Only then did Li Shimin remember that there were still 700,000 strings of cash belonging to the big guys like them, so this calculation should be less.

After hearing this, Li Shen remained calm and continued to pour tea for everyone, replying with a smile.

“What Ninth Brother and Fourth Brother said is correct, it is indeed so.

However, the 1.3 million strings of cash that I mentioned does not include the 700,000 strings of cash that Aye and the others had.

If it is counted, it would probably be around two million strings of cash.

The exact number will only be known after the people below have completed the statistics.”

"Oh? Old Ten, why is there so much more? According to my estimation, the others only have about one million guan in total."

Li Tai asked curiously.

How come there are an extra 300,000 strings of cash here?

Li Shen took his time and drank a sip of tea:

"It's simple, because I paid the 300,000 strings of cash on behalf of Prince Ji's Palace.

Everyone contributed to this auction. Although the Ji Palace is the organizer, we cannot sit idly by.

And to be honest, I also like the paintings that Aye and my mother took pictures of today.

Maybe you guys don't understand it, but I was really amazed after watching it.

This painting focuses on the body and conveys the spirit through meaning, turning the tangible into the intangible, and contains great truths.

It has deeply understood the truths of Taoism and Buddhism, and contains the Buddhist principle that all appearances are illusory, and the Taoist principle that the great way is invisible and everything is natural.

The mystery behind this is not something that outsiders can understand.

I have shown this painting to the famous monk Master Xuanzang, and also to Taoist Master Sun Simiao.

Both of them said that this painting was extraordinary and that the painter must have extraordinary understanding and wisdom.

It’s just that this can only be understood but not expressed in words. Those who can understand it will naturally understand it, and those who can’t understand it will naturally not understand it.”

Li Shen took a sip of tea to moisten his throat when he said this. He admired himself for being so intelligent and being able to say such a magical thing.

Everyone else looked at Li Shen. Could such a painting really be so magical? Except for Li Shimin and his wife, everyone else was skeptical.

"Old Ten, isn't what you said a little too mysterious? Why do I feel like you are deceiving me?"

Li Tai asked, and even Li Xiaogong and Li Daozon had the same expression.

Li Shen shook his head:

"Fourth brother, your vision is too narrow."

"What do you mean?" Li Tai was stunned.

Even Li Shimin looked at Li Shen in confusion.

"Fourth brother, do you know why I want to buy a painting?" Li Shen asked mysteriously.

Li Tai shook his head to indicate that he didn't know.

“It’s okay to tell you that the man who painted for us was very old and only painted a few paintings like this in his later years.

Since it has been affirmed by Master Xuanzang and Taoist Priest Sun, this painting must be extraordinary.

I have already sent someone to inquire about the painter. It turns out that the painter is seriously ill and I am afraid he won't have much time left.

He passed on this painting skill to his two disciples.

After this auction, his paintings have become familiar to the world, and I reported it in the newspaper.

Everyone in the world knew that one of his paintings cost at least 100,000 strings of cash.

With this operation, do you think this painting skill will be developed in the future?

After he dies, the paintings he painted will be pioneering works, and their prices will definitely increase.

I bought one of his paintings for 300,000, and it might turn into 600,000 in no time."

Li Shen spoke proudly, but Li Tai and Li Zhi frowned after hearing it. Why did this sound a bit familiar?

Isn’t this the trick Li Shen used to deceive people?

They both suffered a lot.

Li Shen is really something. He actually wanted to use the same trick to cheat people out of money. It's simply wishful thinking.

"Hmph, you said 600,000, so it's 600,000. You said to raise the price, so we raise the price?" Li Zhi said disdainfully at this time.

Li Shen did not make any excuses. He would not explain it so clearly to Li Zhi.

He just smiled mysteriously and said:

"Brother Jiu is right. In fact, even if the price does not increase, this painting is still worth the money. In the eyes of people like me who can understand,

It is priceless.

But in the eyes of people like you who don’t understand, it is useless.”