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

Not long after, Li Shen saw Wang De walking in with a group of people.

"Oh, this old servant pays respect to His Royal Highness Prince Ji. May His Majesty be well and safe."

When they saw Li Shen and Wang De, their faces were all smiles.

"Why, you brought so many people here to capture me and take me to the palace?"

Li Shen knew what was going on when he saw the situation.

"Look at what the prince said, I came here to ask the prince to come.

But you, my Lord, also know His Majesty's personality. His Majesty said that if you, my Lord, are sick, then you should be carried to the palace and let the imperial physician treat you."

Wang De was always smiling and did not say to arrest Li Shen, but rather to carry him away for medical treatment. The wording was different, but the meaning was the same.

"Haha, Lao Wang, you are quite good at talking." Li Shen spoke to Wang De in a weird accent in a sarcastic tone.

"This is what a servant should do, my lord. I see that you have nothing to do, so why don't you come with me to the palace?

The chefs who cooked today were specially transferred from the Flavor House, and they are all dishes that Your Majesty likes."

"What did you say?" After hearing Wang De's words, Li Shen stood up.

"Why did you transfer people from the Flavor House? Why didn't I know about it? Today is the New Year's Day, and the Flavor House is packed with guests.

Isn't this cutting off my source of income?

The imperial court is interfering in the affairs of merchants like this, aren’t they afraid that merchants will become chaotic?”

Li Shen was a little anxious. Today was the New Year's Day and many merchants from other places were celebrating the New Year in Chang'an City. It was a good opportunity to make money.

I didn't expect that the palace would borrow the cook even though I had paid the corvée tax.

However, Wang De replied calmly:

"Your Highness, have you forgotten that this restaurant is not yours? Didn't you give it to Princess Linchuan as a dowry?"

"So what? What belongs to my sister is mine, and even if it belongs to my sister, you can't just move it around. I make thousands of guan a day, will you pay me?"

Li Shen was not stingy with the money, but he was disgusted by the court's direct intervention in merchants. If your products were good, the court would requisition them or even confiscate them, which Li Shen would not allow.

I have spent ten years purifying the business environment of the Tang Dynasty. How can I let it be destroyed by others?

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Princess Linchuan has agreed to this. Today, His Majesty is happy to host a grand banquet for all the officials and envoys from foreign countries to broaden their horizons.

It was also to show the wealth of our Tang Dynasty. So I borrowed a cook from Princess Linchuan. "Wang De explained quickly.

He could feel that Prince Ji was really angry.

"Hmph, come here, pass on my order. Since the Flavor Restaurant was requisitioned by His Majesty and suffered losses, starting tomorrow, the prices of all dishes in the Flavor Restaurant will increase by 50%.

Have all restaurants post notices at their doors.”

Li Shen suddenly snorted coldly and gave orders to his servants. After he finished speaking, someone would naturally be responsible for carrying it out.

"Your Highness Prince Ji, you can't do that."

Wang De hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade him, feeling very annoyed in his heart, this little prince was really a cause for concern.

Isn't this going against His Majesty? Once the news comes out, it will quickly spread among the people.

Wouldn't others then talk about it in private, saying that the emperor was oppressing merchants?

Even though I dare not say it openly, I think so in my heart. Your Majesty, please save your face.

Is this kid crazy?

"Why not? I'll tell you, I own half of the shares of the Flavor House. Only the Flavor Houses in the East and West Cities are my dowry to my sister.

The largest food hall in the industrial park is jointly opened by my sister and I. We make a profit of one to two thousand guan every day."

Li Shen has a stubborn temper and no one can stop him.

"But Your Majesty, if you do this, His Majesty will criticize you. Aren't you afraid of being punished by His Majesty?

My Lord, please don't make His Majesty angry again."

Wang De advised earnestly.

“No need to say more, this is just normal business behavior. Let’s go, aren’t we going to go and deal with it?

I will go to this banquet today and try it to see if the dishes in the palace are really that delicious."

After saying that, Li Shen stood up and walked out.

Wang De regrets it now. It seems that letting this young prince go is not a good thing.

Isn't this obviously going to cause trouble?

The officials are fine, but what about the envoys from the foreign vassal states?

"Hey, hey, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we have something to discuss."

Wang De chased after him.

Li Shen had a cold face all the way, he felt that his sister was being bullied.

What is borrowing? It is no different from requisitioning. If the emperor asks you to borrow something, would you dare not lend it? How is this different from robbing?

You can rob me, but you can’t touch my family. Don’t you understand this principle?

Li Shen is a very protective person. He doesn't care if he is bullied. What he cares about most are his mother and his sister who has always loved him.

As soon as the carriage arrived at Zhuque Street, Li Shen found that the place was heavily guarded.

The imperial guards have surrounded this place.

"Stop!"

The imperial guards stopped Li Shen's carriage.

Li Shen jumped off the carriage and walked towards the imperial city gate.

"go away."

When Li Shen passed the captain who was blocking his way, he pushed him with his hand, showing his most dissolute side.

Wang De quickly shook his head at the captain and followed him.

Li Shen was familiar with the route into the palace. After inspection, he was led by Wang De straight to the Taiji Hall.

At this moment, people in the Taiji Hall have started to take their seats, except Li Shimin and the prince have not arrived yet.

Wang De led Li Shen to his seat, then bowed and left.

There is an imperial tent in the Taiji Hall, and seats are arranged for civil and military officials and guests.

Civil officials are on the left, military officials are on the right, and officials of the third rank and above are in the front.

The fourth and fifth-rank civil officials are located on the right side of the main area, and those below the sixth rank are in the corner, seemingly to fill in the empty spaces.

The envoys of the vassal states faced the emperor, and the guests from the east, south, west and north were arranged behind the civil and military officials of the third rank and above.

There is also a group of very key people who can enter the Taiji Hall, namely the royal family members, who are lined up in the last row.

Li Shen belongs to the front row, because he is a prince, the emperor's biological son, so he is different from ordinary royal family members.

Others had no seats in the Taiji Hall and were called seats outside the gate, but they could also participate in the grand court meeting.

Just when Li Shen was bored, two princes, Li Xiaogong and Li Daozon, came to Li Shen.

"Meet the two uncles."

Li Shen performed a junior’s salute.

"Prince Ji, there is no need to be so polite." The two men returned the greeting.

After the two sat down, Li Xiaogong spoke first:

"I also want to thank King Ji for the gift."

Li Shenyuan sent gifts to Li Xiaogong and Li Daozon every year.

"Uncle Wang, you're too polite. These are all gifts from your nephew to show his filial piety to you." Li Shen replied humbly.

After a while, Li Shen suddenly felt a little quiet, and Li Daozon and Li Xiaogong turned to look at the door.

Li Shen also looked outside the door.

Li Tai and Li Zhi walked in, supported by guards.

Don't these two have food at home? Did they bring it here just for this meal? Li Shen looked down on them.

(Below is a diagram of the emperors of the Tang Dynasty entertaining ministers during the Kaiyuan and Zhenguan years.

I can't draw as fast as I can with my hands, so it's not easy to use.)

This picture is my own and cannot be used for commercial purposes. Violators will be prosecuted.