My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

Faced with Li Shimin's intense gaze, Li Chengan dared not lie and recounted in detail the matter of the lost tribute from the Imperial Clothing Bureau.

Li Shimin listened quietly with his hands behind his back, then asked, "Have you finished speaking?"

"That's all," Li Chenggan replied.

"So, how do you plan to handle this?"

Li Chengan then recounted how he had ordered Su Gui and his men to conduct a city-wide search.

"So far, has there been any progress?"

"No tribute items have been found yet."

Li Shimin looked somewhat disappointed: "Fang Yi'ai is Fang Xuanling's son and Princess Gaoyang's husband. He is one of our own family."

Su Gui has risen through the ranks of the Imperial Guard at such a young age; now even someone of Fang Yi'ai's high status is inviting him for drinks.

Su Gui abandoned her post and left the Bureau of Clothing to attend a banquet. Do you think Su Gui did the right thing?

"Father, I have already criticized him, and he knows he was wrong."

"Is criticism enough?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chenggan wondered, "Father, what exactly do you mean?"

Fang Yi'ai invited Su Gui to dinner. Does that mean Fang Yi'ai is without fault? If Fang Yi'ai hadn't invited Su Gui, how could Su Gui have left the Shangfu Bureau?

Thinking of this, Li Chengan said, "Father, I think Fang Yi'ai is a suspect."

"What suspicions are there?"

He invited Su Gui for drinks, but intentionally got her drunk.

Moreover, the token on Su Gui's waist was also gone.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin sneered: "Does this prove that Fang Yi'ai took the token?"

If Fang Yi'ai says, "I only invited him for drinks, and I didn't do anything else,"

How would you answer?

Maybe Su Gui got drunk and lost it on the street.

Who can prove that Fang Yi'ai took that token?

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan realized that his father's words were not without merit, and he lowered his head in silence.

However, he always felt that his father was biased, as if he was protecting Fang Yi'ai but not very satisfied with Su Gui.

"Chenggan, you have undergone your coming-of-age ceremony and are no longer a child. You are already assisting me in handling state affairs."

We should think about issues more maturely, rather than speaking recklessly.

Recently, the Imperial Clothing Bureau has encountered a series of mishaps. First, they lost the Imperial Seal, and after much difficulty, they managed to retrieve it.

They lost the tribute from Tibet again; it was switched with something else. Do you know what kind of tribute Tibet sent?

"Father, I have a list here."

Li Shimin took the list and looked at it. It contained: 1,000 catties of gold, 500 bolts of fine silk, as well as ginseng, deer antlers, gold and silver jewelry, agate, jade and other valuable items.

Li Shimin handed the list to Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng was also somewhat surprised after reading it.

He thought to himself that Songtsen Gampo was incredibly generous; this list of gifts was unparalleled among the kingdoms of the Western Regions.

Other countries also paid tribute to the Tang Dynasty every year, but such generous tributes were rare.

Wei Zheng cleared his throat: "Your Majesty, I believe there is more to this than meets the eye."

"Oh, what do you think about this?"

"Just now, when Your Majesty inquired of me, I already mentioned that Songtsen Gampo's attitude towards our Great Tang Dynasty was still very respectful."

Your humble servant has also heard that when the Crown Prince went to Tibet last time, he helped Songtsen Gampo avenge his father.

I think there are several layers of meaning behind their generous gifts:

Firstly, it is out of respect for His Majesty, reverence for the Tang Dynasty, and gratitude to the Crown Prince;

Secondly, he wanted to marry a princess of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin listened, nodded slightly, and asked Li Chengan, "What is your opinion on Songtsen Gampo's request to marry a princess of the Tang Dynasty?"

"Your subject believes that we can agree. A marriage alliance would be a good thing for both the Tang Dynasty and Tibet."

"So, who do you think should go if a marriage alliance is to be formed?"

"Your Majesty, I think Princess Wencheng is of marriageable age, and she and Songtsen Gampo are quite a good match."

It's just unknown whether Princess Wencheng would be willing.

"Zha Yan," Li Shimin blinked. In truth, he thought the same thing; he also felt Princess Wencheng was more suitable.

Moreover, Princess Wencheng was different from ordinary women.

She was well-read, knowledgeable in matters of principle, and also had the ambition to contribute to the Tang Dynasty.

She once said that one day she wanted to marry a hero from the Western Regions, just like Wang Zhaojun.

Li Shimin said to Li Chengan, "I'm leaving this matter to you. When you have time, go and talk to Princess Wencheng to see what she thinks, but don't force her."

"Your subject understands."

"As for the tribute from Tibet, you must find a way to retrieve it as soon as possible."

It's not those things that I care about, but the reputation of our royal family.

Just think about it, those thieves can come and go as they please, how can that be allowed?

"Please rest assured, Father, I will solve the case in the shortest possible time."

Li Shimin stared at Li Chenggan and said angrily, "Also, I warned you last time that your future brother-in-law is no pushover."

He abandoned his post and lost the tribute, a crime he could not forgive. He was arrested and imprisoned in the Dali Temple jail.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan broke out in a sweat.

He was so anxious that he knelt down in front of Li Shimin with a thud: "Father, I think this is absolutely unacceptable."

"Why not?" Li Shimin's anger had not subsided.

"I implore Father to remember his past merits and not hold it against him."

"What merits did he have in the past?"

He simply followed you around, made some contributions on the battlefield in the Western Regions, and then went to Huainan to mine coal.

Can this be considered a merit?

If all of these can be considered merits.

So, can we even count all the meritorious officials of our Great Tang Dynasty?

How should I treat those meritorious ministers?

For a moment, Li Chenggan didn't know what to say.

At this moment, Wei Zheng took two steps forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I believe it is inappropriate to imprison Su Gui in the Dali Temple prison at this time."

First of all, Su Gui is the son of Su Dan, and Lord Su is extremely loyal to the imperial court.

His daughter, Su Wan, is the Crown Princess.

Originally, the Bureau of Clothing and Apparel had nothing to do with Su Wan and Su Gui, the siblings.

Consort Xu was unwell and needed to return to her hometown of Huzhou to recuperate. Before leaving, she recommended Su Wan to His Majesty to temporarily take charge of the Imperial Clothing Bureau.

His Majesty also nodded in agreement to this matter.

Because of past incidents, Su Wan was worried that something similar might happen again at the Imperial Clothing Bureau, so...

She transferred Su Gui to the Imperial Guard Bureau, and it should be said that both she and her brother had a very proper attitude.

He is very attentive to the affairs of the Imperial Clothing Bureau, which is commendable.

As for Su Gui leaving the Bureau of Clothing and going to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion for drinks, something happened at the Bureau of Clothing and Clothing.

In my humble opinion, Su Gui cannot be entirely blamed for this matter.

Su Gui also needs to have something to do; he can't stay in the Bureau of Clothing and Apparel day and night.

This can only mean that the guards in charge of the Imperial Clothing Bureau were a bit negligent.

Without properly verifying the other party's identity, they easily allowed them to take away the tribute.

"Didn't they take Su Gui's token and go there?"

"When those guards of the Imperial Clothing Bureau saw Su Gui's token, they naturally wanted to let her take it," Li Shimin said.

"Your Majesty, what you said makes some sense."

I think it would be better to let Su Gui atone for her crimes by performing good deeds.

"Currently, Chang'an is conducting a city-wide manhunt, and we are in dire need of manpower. What use would you be if you imprisoned him?"

Li Shimin walked back and forth with his hands behind his back and his head down.

Suddenly, he stopped, his gaze settling on Li Chengqian's slightly childish face: "Very well, this time, I'll let him off the hook for Lord Wei's sake."

However, I must make this clear: if you can retrieve all the tribute within ten days, this matter will be considered closed.

If it can't be found, not only Su Gui, but Su Wan will also have to bear the responsibility.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan's heart pounded, and he forced himself to reply, "Your subject understands."

After returning to the Eastern Palace, Li Chenggan was in a very depressed mood.

He sent people out to inquire about information, but they still found nothing.

Just then, Su Wan hurriedly walked in from outside.

Su Wan walked straight to the table, poured a bowl of tea, and then picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

Su Wan's face flushed red.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her hand: "Did you just go to the Zichen Palace to see your father, the Emperor?"

"yes."

"So what did you all say?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan thought to himself, "Father said he would punish you and your brother."

However, he didn't want to say it aloud and upset Su Wan: "Oh, I didn't say anything."

"Is it your father who wants to punish me and Su Gui?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan thought to himself that Su Wan was truly clever and quick-witted, having guessed it so easily.

However, Li Chenggan shook his head: "No, you're overthinking it. How could Father Emperor do such a thing?"

However, my father has ordered me to retrieve the tribute within ten days.

"What? Ten days? Even a hundred days might not be enough to find them. Chang'an is such a big city, do you know where those ten people have hidden?"

Where did they hide the tribute items again?

"Your father is really talking without any sense of the pain he's going through."

"No matter what, we have to find a way to get the tribute back."

In addition, Father Emperor mentioned something.

"What is it?"

"It was the marriage between Princess Wencheng and Songtsen Gampo."

"Has your father already agreed to this marriage?"

"It's too early to say. The key is Princess Wencheng's attitude."

Su Wan crossed her arms over her chest: "If Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng could really get married..."

That's a good thing, and I also think Princess Wencheng and Songtsen Gampo were a match made in heaven.

Okay then.

Leave this matter to me. I'll go and talk to Princess Wencheng.

We're both girls, so we can talk about anything.

"Thank you for your trouble."

Su Wan and Li Chengan chatted for a while longer before Su Wan left the East Palace.

Su Wan had just left when Qin Ying arrived.

He walked up to Li Chengqian, grinned widely, and said, "Your Highness, you seem to have something on your mind. What happened?"

To be honest, Li Chengan liked him quite a bit. He thought he was a little bit simple-minded, but most importantly, he was very loyal to him.

"Oh, it's nothing serious."

Immediately afterwards, Li Chengan recounted what had happened at the Bureau of Clothing and Apparel.

"Oh dear, I thought it was something serious, but it's just a small matter."

It's not that I'm talking badly about your father behind his back. But when it comes down to it, isn't your father just worried about money?

"It's just a matter of a thousand catties of gold, isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan laughed, thinking to himself, "You have quite the nerve. A thousand catties of gold, do you even know how much that's worth?"

"What, do you have a thousand pounds of gold?"

"Even if I robbed someone, I couldn't get that much money."

However, we might also have it.

"What do you mean by that?"

Qin Ying moved closer to Li Chengqian and lowered her voice: "Your Highness, do you know?"

Recently, a gambling game called the Grand Slam Gambling Game was opened on Suzaku Avenue.

The gambling den was very grand and luxurious, and many people, mostly high-ranking officials and nobles, played there.

Let's go there and have some fun.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan's face darkened: "You know perfectly well that Father and Mother are most opposed to me going to gambling dens."

If that's the case, then what's the difference between us and those spoiled brats?

"Oh, Your Highness. Why take it so seriously? We're just going to have some fun. We don't go every day. We just go occasionally to relax."

Let me tell you, it's really fun there.

Come on, come on, don't stay in the palace all the time.

Being cooped up in the palace for so long, even those who weren't sick before would develop illnesses.

Li Chengan didn't like going to those kinds of places.

However, he knew that Qin Ying meant well and was afraid that he would be depressed by staying cooped up in the East Palace.

Li Chenggan didn't want to offend him.

Anyway, I was getting bored staying in the East Palace these past few days, so I just agreed to go with him.

Li Chengan changed his clothes, packed his belongings, and was just about to leave.

Another beautiful girl was walking towards them from not far ahead.

Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Qu Zhili.

It turns out that Qu Zhili has stayed in Chang'an ever since she last came here.

Her reason was that she would leave after capturing the Blue Brahma.

Li Chenggan felt that what she said made sense.

As long as the Blue Rakshasa woman is not captured, she remains a potential threat.

If he relied solely on his own strength, he might not be able to defeat the Blue Brahma.

With Qu Zhili around, things are much better, since the two of them have already mastered the swordsmanship of combining two swords.

Qu Zhili, holding her sword in her left hand, asked, "Your Highness, where are you going to have fun? Take me with you."

Before Li Chengan could speak, Qin Ying quickly interjected, "We're going to the Grand Slam betting site."

"Are you going to the casino?"

"yes."

"That's great! Going to the casino? That's perfect, I can play a couple of rounds too."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan stared at her with wide eyes, wondering if she was serious or not.

Qu Zhili laughed and said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Do you think I don't know how to play?

You've forgotten, our family runs a gambling den too.

Li Chengan thought about it and realized that was indeed the case.

On one occasion, Qin Ying won a lot of money in a gambling game in Gaochang.