hsntnovel Chapter 2725 Li Tailai's Visit
Chapter 2725 Li Tailai's Visit
Li Shen held Lu Dingniang's small hand and praised her with a smile.
He felt from the age of ten that he wanted to stay in Chang'an.
The prosperity here is unmatched by any other place; making money here is easy, and you can enjoy everything imaginable.
This is the capital city. Given the chance, who wouldn't want to stay in the capital?
Having grown accustomed to the dazzling world of Chang'an, Li Shen might not be able to adapt well to life in those prefectures and counties.
From frugality to luxury is easy, from luxury to frugality.
Li Shen never thought about becoming emperor; he just wanted to enjoy life and live it to the fullest.
Therefore, the best place is Chang'an.
Moreover, his father, the emperor, would never agree to him going to his fiefdom; how could he possibly let a wealthy merchant like him leave?
It was only here that Li Shen realized the wickedness of the world, what it meant to kill without a knife, and that those TV dramas and novels about developing in fiefdoms were all unrealistic.
It could destroy your family and ruin you in no time.
If Li Shen hadn't had his emperor father protecting him, he wouldn't have lived to be a hundred feet old.
"Your Highness, His Highness Prince Wei has come to visit you."
Just then, a servant ran in to report.
"Who?" Li Shen was taken aback.
"Your Highness, Prince Wei," the servant repeated.
"What's he doing here? Didn't we just part ways?" Li Shen asked, puzzled.
"Perhaps it's because you were injured, my lord, that the Prince of Wei came to visit you," Lu Dingniang guessed.
"Who knows, my wife? You should go and greet them yourself. People will say we're impolite."
Since Li Tai has arrived, it would be against etiquette for anyone to go and greet him; only Lu Dingniang is allowed to do so.
Lu Dingniang is a princess and also her brother's wife; they are all family.
Lu Dingniang nodded, led her people out, and went to the front yard. She instructed the servants to open the main gate wide and personally welcomed Li Tai in.
Throughout the journey, Li Tai wore a broad smile, praising the grandeur of the Prince Ji's residence.
"Oh dear, I am so sorry for not welcoming you properly, Fourth Brother. Please forgive me."
Li Tai entered Li Shen's bedroom and heard Li Shen's voice.
Like Li Zhi, Li Shen lay on the bed and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Li Tai.
Li Tai quickly stepped forward, grasped Li Shen's hand, and asked very kindly:
"Tenth Brother, how are your injuries? Are you alright? Did you break any bones or tendons?"
"Don't worry, Fourth Brother. The doctor just said it's all superficial wounds. He just needs to rest for half a month. Thank you for your concern, Fourth Brother."
Li Shen also looked very grateful.
"What are you saying? We are brothers, and I am the elder brother. I feel extremely guilty for not taking good care of you younger brothers."
"It's all Zhi Nu's fault. Please don't hold a grudge against him. I'm apologizing to you on his behalf."
After speaking, Li Tai sincerely bowed to Li Shen.
Li Shen quickly spoke up to stop him:
"Fourth Brother, this is absolutely not right. Please don't make me feel bad. Ninth Brother is also a man of strong character. We are all brothers, so how could I care?"
“Tenth Brother, you are magnanimous; Zhinu is far inferior to you.” Li Tai shook his head.
"Fourth Brother, please sit down. Stone, quickly brew some of my treasured tea for my fourth brother."
Li Shen looked up at the stone and gave it an order, then pulled Li Tai to sit down in the seat in front of him.
After sitting down, Li Tai sighed and said:
"Sigh, Tenth Brother, you deserved this beating. Father is really something. It was all Zhinu's fault. Why punish him?"
And eldest brother, that was too ruthless; even I think it went a bit too far.
"Fourth Brother, you're absolutely right. I think so too. Ninth Brother started it, but Father hit me too."
My older brother hit me really hard; it hurt even more than the times he hit me a few days ago.
Li Shen seemed to have found a kindred spirit and poured out his grievances along with him.
Li Tai was taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovered.
This was somewhat unexpected for him. Shouldn't Li Shen have pretended to say something about a son not speaking ill of his father, or about the proper relationships between ruler and subject, father and son?
His relationship with Li Chengqian has always been very solid, so why is he now speaking ill of His Majesty and the Crown Prince?
Moreover, there was a hint of resentment in his tone. What's going on?
For a moment, Li Tai was at a loss because of Li Shen. Should he continue with what he was about to say?
"Your Highness, please have some tea." Shi Tou walked over with a teacup in hand.
Li Tai took the opportunity to calm himself down, opened the lid and smelled it.
"Hmm, not bad, it's indeed good tea, with a rich aroma."
"If you like it, Fourth Brother, I'll give you a jar when you leave. This tea is precious, and I don't have many jars myself."
Li Shen said politely.
"Haha, then thank you very much, Tenth Brother." Li Tai laughed and took a sip of tea.
"Tenth brother, you have truly impressed me today. I never expected you to be so knowledgeable and talented."
Not only did they form their own school of thought in commerce, but they also had unique insights into politics, believing that the world belongs to all and that this is the ideal of Great Harmony.
As your elder brother, I truly admire you.
"Haha, Fourth Brother, you flatter me. I was just talking nonsense. How could I know anything about politics?"
Li Shen laughed a few times, speaking modestly, but there was no trace of humility in his words.
“These are my heartfelt words, not an exaggeration. Everyone has seen what you have done for the court over the years.”
Your contributions are probably unparalleled in the entire Tang Dynasty.
Among us princes, you are the most outstanding; none of us are as good as you.
You deserve such favor from your father.
Li Tai looked on with admiration and respect.
Li Shen's smile widened upon hearing this, but he remained modest:
"Fourth Brother, please don't say that. I am still young, how can I be compared with you brothers?"
I was just lucky; I managed to do a few things.
Moreover, where has Father shown any favor? You only see the thief eating meat, but you don't see the thief getting beaten.
My brother has only been back from the Anxi Protectorate for a few days, and he's already been beaten countless times.
Being beaten up several times a day—is that considered an act of favor?
"Hahaha, tenth brother, do you know how many people still hope to be beaten by Father? Sixth brother made a small mistake in his fiefdom and was reprimanded by Father, and his fiefdom was demoted again and again."
Third Brother Li Ke was also reprimanded by his father several times for trampling on crops, and his fiefdom was downgraded to medium level.
Your style of doing things is simply to get beaten up, yet you haven't lost any favor—something many people dream of.
Li Tai laughed and explained for Li Shen.
Li Shen, however, did not take it to heart.
"Fourth Brother, you don't know that I don't even have a fiefdom? Sixth Brother has a fiefdom, even if it's the lowest grade, it's still a fiefdom."
In their fiefdoms, far from the emperor's reach, how wonderful it was to be free and at ease.
Speaking of favor, I think you and Ninth Brother are the most favored.
"Oh? Why do you think so?" Li Tai was taken aback, not understanding the meaning behind Li Shen's words.
How did he and Li Zhi become favored? Why didn't he realize it?
In the past, he was indeed favored, but things changed after Li Shen rose to power.