hsntnovel Chapter 2721 You Are Nothing
Chapter 2721 You Are Nothing
Only four princes, Li Chengqian, Li Shen, Li Tai, and Li Zhi, remained in the main tent; the others had been driven out by Li Shimin.
With the charcoal fire smoldering and the curtain lifted, Li Shen was afraid that these people might suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning again.
Li Shen obediently sat back down in his seat. At this moment, he wished he had a rocking chair or a bed.
For no other reason than that he couldn't sit still any longer.
There's a reason he's physically weak: he's incredibly lazy.
"Father, is there anything else you need? It's getting late, and I haven't had much fun yet."
After sitting down, Li Shen asked with some dissatisfaction.
I'm here to have fun, not to discuss politics with you. Look at this, have you done anything productive all day?
They all revolve around you.
"Is there something you're hiding from me? There are no outsiders here, so tell me everything, or I'll have to summon you to the palace later."
Li Shimin took a sip of tea.
Based on his understanding of Li Shen, he knew that Li Shen had only told half of what he said today, and the rest was clearly not Li Shen's forte.
Li Shimin understood Li Shen, and what he said next was clearly just Li Shen talking nonsense.
There might be some truth to it, but ultimately it still needs to be reformed by the imperial court. Li Shen certainly had his own ideas, but he just didn't say them.
Li Shen picked up his teacup, but did not answer, pretending not to hear. He sipped his tea, his eyes drifting towards Li Tai and Li Zhi.
This infuriated Li Zhi and Li Tai.
"Tenth Brother, what do you mean by this? Do you think I and Zhinu are outsiders?"
Li Tai asked with a hint of resentment.
"That's right, if we're talking about outsiders here, you're the only outsider."
Li Zhi angrily echoed.
"Insolence, you scoundrel, what are you saying?"
Before Li Shen could even retort, Li Shimin had already lost his temper and berated Li Zhi.
"Father..." Li Zhi wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Li Shimin's angry rebuke:
"Shut up! After all these years of schooling, don't you even know basic manners? If you don't want to stay here, get out!"
"I..." Li Zhi was speechless for a moment after being scolded; he dared not disobey his father.
He could tell that his father was truly angry.
"Yes, Zhinu, what you said is rather impolite. If outsiders heard this, what would become of the royal family's reputation?"
"Tenth brother, you and I are all sons of Father, descendants of the royal family. How can you say such a thing?"
Li Chengqian also spoke with a serious expression, his tone earnest and lecturing.
This was also the first time that Li Chengqian spoke to Li Zhi in such a tone.
Li Zhi felt wronged. In his view, among the four princes present, only Li Shen was a son born out of wedlock and an outsider.
They were all the Empress's children, born of the legitimate wife; only they were their father's sons.
What is Li Shen? He's just an illegitimate son; what status or position does he have?
Now, not only is his own father scolding him for Li Shen's sake, but even his own elder brother is reprimanding him for Li Shen's sake.
Isn't it all for Li Shen's money? Why would they do this?
He just didn't dare to say a word in rebuttal.
“Zhi Nu.” Li Tai tugged at Li Zhi and gave him a wink.
Li Zhi finally stood up reluctantly and bowed to Li Shimin and Li Chengqian.
"Father, please calm down. I misspoke. I hope you will forgive me."
"Hmph! If I ever hear you say such treasonous things again, don't blame me for punishing you severely."
My beloved, I watched you grow up and always had high hopes for you. But since your success, I have neglected your upbringing.
Look at what you've done all these years! If this isn't accepted, then go back to your fiefdom.
Li Shimin snorted coldly, his eyes filled with disappointment as he looked at Li Zhi.
Li Zhi grew up by his side from a young age and often tested his studies. Among all the princes, Li Zhi was the one who was in charge of him for the longest time.
Even Crown Prince Li Chengqian had never received such treatment.
But in the end, it greatly disappointed Li Shimin.
Seeing the disappointment in his father's eyes, Li Zhi felt a surge of anger, and his gaze toward Li Shen was filled with resentment.
Li Shen acted as if nothing had happened, holding his teacup and sipping it with a smile, not taking big gulps.
This made Li Zhi even angrier; this guy was deliberately trying to annoy him.
"Father, please calm down. Zhi Nu is still young and acted impulsively. Father, please don't upset yourself." Li Tai stood up, bowed, and spoke to Li Zhi.
He cursed the idiot inwardly. It was such a good thing to have the opportunity to hear about national policies. He was afraid that he would be kicked out again because of him.
Throughout history, whether they were royalty, nobles, kings, or generals, they all valued the ability to participate in politics.
Even if you don't understand or have no right to speak, being able to stand in that position and listen is an honor, a symbol of status and position.
Currently, half of the people standing in the court are like this: those retired dukes, and princes and dukes like Li Tai who have no real power.
These people, as long as they were able to move, would almost always attend court on time to listen to government affairs; this was a right granted to them by the emperor.
"Qingque, you must teach Zhinu well from now on. He is still young, and you must not let others laugh at our royal family."
Li Chengqian gave Li Tai his instructions seriously.
It couldn't be clearer: since he's young and doesn't know any better, you'd better teach him properly.
"Yes, brother will follow your teachings." Li Tai bowed to Li Chengqian, feeling that his elder brother was demonstrating the status of the crown prince to him.
"Alright, Tenth Brother, tell me, do you have any other thoughts?" Li Shimin didn't want to waste time on their argument.
"Slurp~~ Slurp~~~" Li Shen took two more slurps, not answering Li Shimin's question, but looking at Li Zhi with a smile on his lips.
"My surname is also Li." This unexpected statement surprised everyone.
“I’m also twenty-one, a few months younger than you,” Li Shen added.
"Ten years ago, I began to share Father's burdens and work for the court. And you were like the flower in the room, being pampered in every way."
"And now I can serve the court and the country, while you... are nothing."
Li Shen would pause after each sentence, and the last sentence, which was not even a single word, was powerful and resonant.
Li Shimin frowned; he had a bad feeling.
Li Zhi was even more furious and said:
"You don't need to lecture me? What are you trying to say?"
"Slurp~~ Slurp~~" Li Shen slurped up two more mouthfuls of tea.
"What I want to say is that you are nothing. You have wasted so many years of studying the classics. You have no official position, you have never done anything for the court, and you have never shared any of Father's worries."
You only have the status of a prince, living a life of luxury by receiving a stipend.
(Slurp, slurp, do you know what that means?)