My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 20 Li Shimin: How can I get the prince's forgiveness?

Changsun Wuji was very straightforward. To be honest, the reason why Su Tan had worked as a secretary for so long was because of Li Chengqian.

When the crown prince was regent, he could have found a way to promote Su Tan.

But the previous prince did not do it in order to avoid suspicion.

Later on, Li Chengqian's temperament changed drastically and his relationship with Su Yuer became strained, so naturally he would not do it anymore.

This was also a favor that Changsun Wuji did.

Li Chengqian called Wen Zhong and asked him to instruct Jialing Temple to make more Sushan.

Send one copy to all the princes, grandchildren and concubines in the palace, including Your Majesty.

"Send one to the Prince of Wei's palace, too, to avoid being accused of favoring one over the other."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Li Chengqian found it funny to think of the funny look on King Wei's face when he saw Sushan.

Wen Zhong was about to leave when Li Chengqian ordered, "Oh, and send five copies each to my sister, Princess Chengyang, and my aunt, Princess Changguang."

"Send a copy to all the royal family members who are still in Chang'an as well."

Princess Chengyang is Li Shimin's seventeenth daughter, and she is only fourteen this year.

Her husband was Du He, the son of Du Ruhui.

Princess Changguang was the fifth daughter of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, and her son Zhao Jie was also a staunch member of the prince's party.

In history, Du He and Zhao Jie were both sentenced to death for their failed rebellions.

Since they were willing to join in a rebellion, there is no need to say more about their loyalty.

"If the prince had come to his senses earlier, there wouldn't be any trouble for the King of Wei."

When Changsun Wuji saw the prince's arrangements, he couldn't help but sigh.

The power of the Wei Wang Party is so huge now, not only because of Your Majesty's excessive favoritism, but also because they took advantage of the Crown Prince.

Many people in the court and the country believed that the Prince of Wei, who was so favored by His Majesty, would most likely replace the Crown Prince and ascend the throne.

"It's not too late now, it just takes a little more thought."

Li Chengqian said nonchalantly.

Chang Sun Wuji smiled and said, "The prince is right."

In Changsun Wuji's view, as long as the prince cheers up, it won't be a big problem even if His Majesty favors the King of Wei.

None of these founding heroes would agree that Your Majesty would depose or enthrone someone simply because of favoritism.
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Tai Chi Palace.

Li Shimin is handling government affairs.

Most of the time, he is still very diligent.

"Your Majesty, the East Palace sent a portion of Sushan."

Li Shimin stopped writing and saw the Sushan in the hand of the eunuch Zhang Ananda. He asked curiously, "Where did the Sushan come from in the East Palace?"

Then he smiled and said, "The prince took as much ice as he could from the ice well. He was afraid that I would be angry, so he sent me some as well."

Zhang Ananda said, "The ice in the East Palace was not sent from the Bingjingtai."

Li Shimin smiled and shook his head: "If it's not Bingjingtai, where else can it be?"

Zhang Ananda sighed: "The prince not only sent Sushan to Your Majesty, but also to all the princes, grandchildren, and concubines living in Taiji Palace."

"Not only that, I inquired a little and found out that even the royal family outside the palace was sent to Sushan by the prince."

"Oh?" Li Shimin was a little surprised.

There are only a few pieces of ice on the ice well.

If they were all taken out, there wouldn't be enough for the concubines, let alone the princes, grandchildren, and royal family members outside the palace.

"Bring up the Su Shan."

Li Shimin looked at the crispy mountain on the table, scooped a spoonful with a spoon and put it into his mouth. It tasted cool and sweet.

"Where did the prince get so many ice cubes?"

"I don't know."

"Even the royal family outside the palace were given gifts. This is not something that can be made with just a few large pieces of ice."

"I heard that the prince also sent Sushan to the Prince of Wei's palace."

"Oh?"

Li Shimin was slightly surprised again. How could he not know about the conflict between the Crown Prince and the King of Wei?

The day before yesterday in the West Inner Courtyard, they were almost at loggerheads, without giving each other the slightest bit of face.

He didn't think that he was suddenly sent to Sushan today as a sign of brotherly love.

While eating the cold Sushan, Li Shimin said softly: "Everyone sent gifts, except the King of Wei. This is normal."

"But the prince gave it to him, which means that the prince is using Sushan to demonstrate to the King of Wei."

"Why would the prince use the Sushan Mountain to demonstrate his power? Unless the prince has a large amount of ice in his hands."

Li Shimin's intuition was very sharp.

Zhang Ananda said, "Your Majesty, why don't you ask the prince directly? Since the prince has done this, he will not hide it too much."

Li Shimin nodded, thinking that what Zhang Ananda said made sense.

"Ananda, then you should go to the East Palace."

"The minister obeys the order."

Zhang Ananda bowed slightly and went straight towards the East Palace.

In front of His Majesty, he was just a eunuch, but in other places, he was the Marquis of Wenchuan County and was appointed as the General of the Left Guard.

Zhang Ananda was a eunuch of the Sui Dynasty in his early years, and was later summoned into Li Shimin's court.

He made great contributions in the Xuanwu Gate Incident, was granted a title of nobility and appointed as a general, and became Li Shimin's trusted eunuch.

Historically, this was the precedent for eunuchs in the Tang Dynasty to control the imperial guards. After their death, they were buried in Zhaoling Mausoleum and received the highest honor. It can be said that they became a role model and goal for the eunuch group in the Tang Dynasty.

It is also the source of the trouble caused by eunuchs in the Tang Dynasty.

The west wall of the East Palace is only twenty steps away from the Imperial Palace.

In ancient times, one step was about 1.3 meters. The corridor between the East Palace and the Taiji Palace was roughly 25 meters wide.

Li Shimin’s portion of Sushan was the first one.

When Zhang Ananda received the news, he saw many eunuchs and servants, and even a horse-drawn carriage going to send Sushan off, so he knew some of the news.

Zhang Ananda was very famous in the palace. After entering the Eastern Palace, he met the prince very smoothly.

Li Chengqian did not hide it and told Zhang Ananda directly.

After learning about the situation, Zhang Ananda immediately rushed back to report.

Li Shimin was surprised when he heard this and said, "I killed his Taoist priest, but he learned the art of turning water into ice. From now on, he will never lack ice again."

Zhang Anan said, "Your Majesty, Changsun Situ is also in the East Palace. When I left, I heard Changsun Situ talking to the Crown Prince about Bingsi."

"It seems that the prince is planning to open an ice shop in Chang'an City to sell Sushan."

Li Shimin heard this and said, "Open an ice shop and sell Sushan? The prince's ice-making skills can make so many ice cubes?"

Li Shimin felt a little bit unbelievable. How come such a magical technique of turning water into ice has no restrictions at all? Even an ice shop can be opened.

"I have long since lifted the restrictions on the Crown Prince's treasury, but now the Crown Prince wants to engage in business. It seems that he still has a grudge against Zhang Xuansu for his last complaint."

Recalling the last time Zhang Xuansu complained that the prince had spent 70,000 coins in 60 days, Li Shimin believed that was the source of the prince's desire to do business.

Zhang Ananda heard His Majesty say this and could not help but remind him: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince can give away so many mountains of ice, which shows that the art of making ice should not cost much."

"Sushan is a rare treasure, sweet and delicious. If you open an ice cream shop, it will be popular throughout Chang'an City."

"Prince, the cost is low. The profits contained in this Sushan deal are probably beyond imagination."

After Zhang Ananda's reminder, Li Shimin immediately understood the value of Sushan.

After a moment's silence, he said, "The prince asked Changsun Wuji to go. It seems that he wants to cooperate with his uncle to open an ice shop."

Zhang Ananda replied: "That should be the case."

Li Shimin thought for a while and asked, "Ananda, what do you think I should do to participate in it?"

The landlord's family has no surplus food.

Even though Li Shimin was the emperor, looking back at the dynasties, which emperor was not short of money?

People with large families and large businesses need money for everything.

Even Emperor Wu of Han, who was once known as the greatest emperor of all time, became so poor after years of war that he had to sell official positions for money.

It was inevitable that such a rare thing as Sushan would become popular in Chang'an.

Chang'an has a population of over a million. How could Li Shimin not be envious of the huge benefits here?

(End of this chapter)