Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

The setting sun slowly sank behind the palace walls.

Li Chengqian walked ahead with a smile, followed by Tang Jian, who was beaming, and Cheng Yaojin, who was carefree and irresponsible.

Behind him were several guards from the Eastern Palace carrying four mahogany boxes.

When the group entered the Ganlu Hall.

Li Shimin suddenly threw the memorial in his hand to the ground and roared:

"Brilliant! You're really turning the tables and licking my boots."

I sent you to investigate the case, not to confiscate property.

You actually led troops to blockade the West Market? Now the entire city of Chang'an is in a state of panic. You won't feel at ease unless you throw Chang'an into chaos, will you?

Li Chengqian glanced at the memorial on the ground, then said in a pitiful tone:

"Father, you're wronging me. I was very polite when I first went to the West Market today."

But those managers from powerful families were even more arrogant than the dukes of the Tang Dynasty.

Not only did they refuse to hand over the account books, they even secretly sent people to burn the receipts.

"Your Majesty, this is only necessary because of the laws of the Tang Dynasty; that's why I had to use the Eastern Palace Guards."

As he spoke, Li Chengqian walked to a wooden box and took out a booklet from it.

"Father, this is a summary of tax evasion by thirty-seven aristocratic families over the past eleven years."

Li Chengqian handed the account book forward.

"The total debt owed to the national treasury was 1.7 million strings of cash."

Wang De quickly stepped forward, took the account book, and carefully placed it in front of Li Shimin.

Li Shimin originally wanted to continue to put pressure on Li Chengqian.

But when he saw the numbers in the ledger, his pupils dilated suddenly.

One million seven hundred thousand strings of cash?

Is this going to the heavens?

Since ascending the throne, he has lived the most miserable life of any emperor in history.

The campaign in Liaodong emptied their coffers, and after returning to Chang'an, the various rewards and pensions were barely enough to make ends meet.

He even reduced the expenses for the harem again and again.

Even her own Guanyinbi has relied on her son for support all these years.

Now, the Crown Prince has brought back a windfall of 1.7 million strings of cash as soon as he went out?

Just as Li Shimin was about to burst out laughing, Tang Jian suddenly stepped forward.

"Your Majesty! This old minister is suffering. The Tang Dynasty is suffering."

Ever since the troops returned from Liaodong, money has been needed everywhere in Chang'an.

Repairing the city walls required money, providing compensation to wounded and disabled veterans required money, and even the salaries of officials and veteran ministers in various departments had to be paid by robbing Peter to pay Paul.

The rats in the Ministry of Revenue are starving and hanging themselves in the storerooms.

He pointed at the box of account books and cried out,

"Your Majesty, this is 1.7 million strings of cash. This is the money to save the life of the Tang Dynasty."

These powerful families spout platitudes about benevolence and morality in court every day, but behind the scenes they're leeching off the lifeblood of the Tang Dynasty. Even if the Emperor himself came today, this old minister would have to cough up this money.

Cheng Yaojin then chimed in from the side:

"That's right, Your Majesty. Old Tang has been so poor these past few months that he's even plucked his beard until it's all white."

Those aristocratic officials usually acted like respectable men, and whenever they spoke, they would quote classical texts.

I think they're not studying the classics, they're studying money-making techniques. This money absolutely cannot be allowed to go to them.

Li Shimin adjusted his expression, raised his head, and sighed in a mocking manner.

"One million seven hundred thousand strings of cash is indeed astonishing."

Li Shimin tapped his fingers on the table and said hesitantly,

"But behind these 37 shops are multiple forces, including the Cui family of Qinghe and the Wang family of Taiyuan."

The family has a deep-rooted history and extensive connections throughout the government and the country.

If we push too hard, it might cause turmoil in the court, or even lead to other troubles.

Li Chengqian was so angry at his father's current state of wanting money but not wanting to take the blame that he couldn't help but laugh.

For this old man, reputation still outweighs everything else.

Isn't he just waiting for me to step forward and take the blame for him?

"What Father says is absolutely right."

Li Chengqian immediately spoke up.

"My father is a divinely ordained and revered ruler, whose grace extends to all corners of the world. How could he be tainted by such greed?"

Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction, signaling Li Chengqian to continue.

"This kind of job, which offends people and is disliked, should naturally not be done by Father Emperor."

As the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, I should share the burdens of my father, the Emperor.

The villains who will pursue the debt will be your son and Minister Tang.

The Emperor could simply sit comfortably in the Ganlu Palace, waiting to collect his money and watch the show.

Anyone who dares to make a fuss about this will be skinned alive by your son.

Tang Jian nodded repeatedly at these words.

As long as he can get money into the national treasury, he'd be willing to be a villain, or even bite people on the street.

After pretending to hesitate for a moment, Li Shimin reluctantly agreed:

"Excellent, it's rare to find someone with such filial piety. Since you've put it this way, I'll entrust this task to you and the Ministry of Revenue. Remember, just take the money, don't push people too far."

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Li Chengqian pursed his lips.

Meanwhile, outside the Ganlu Hall...

The square was already packed with people.

Dozens of officials from prominent families rushed over after receiving the news.

The leaders were pacing anxiously down the steps.

It wasn't that they didn't want to rush in and see Li Shimin.

However, on the steps of Ganlu Hall, Li Junxian had already drawn the horizontal sword from his waist.

"My lords, without His Majesty's decree, no one may approach the Ganlu Palace even a step."

Anyone who disobeys this order will be punished as if they had forcibly entered the Forbidden City!

Just as the standoff was raging on here...

Li Chengqian led Tang Jian and Cheng Yaojin out from inside.

"Well, gentlemen, it's already dark. Why are you still wandering around the palace?"

Li Chengqian looked at them with a half-smile and asked.

Just as several aristocratic officials were about to step forward to question the matter at the West Market, Wang De, who was standing in front of the gate, immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to retreat.

"Bang!"

The gates of Ganlu Hall were tightly closed.

Suddenly, a burst of wild laughter erupted from inside the main hall.

"Hahahaha!!!"

The commotion caused a group of aristocratic officials outside the door to look at each other in bewilderment.

Is that His Majesty's voice?

What great joy has Your Majesty encountered?

Li Chengqian shrugged and led the delighted Tang Jian and Cheng Yaojin outside.

That night, Li Shimin couldn't sleep at all.

He pulled Wang De to sit on a small stool and began to check the account books that Li Chengqian had brought.

"Your Majesty, this sum of 30,000 strings of cash matches up."

"This eight thousand strings of cash also matches up."

While Wang De called out the numbers, he urged the eunuch who was checking them to do so.

Li Shimin sipped hot tea, listening with a smile.

"Calculate carefully, don't miss a single penny."

Li Shimin now feels that he has wasted his years as emperor.

I only realized today that when you're short of money, you don't necessarily have to keep an eye on taxes.

Some things are more profitable than taxes.

The residence of the Cui family of Qinghe.

Choi Min-won sat trembling in the armchair.

He's really afraid his older brother will come back and chop him up with a knife.

"My lord, a definite message has just arrived from the palace."

His Highness the Crown Prince has already submitted all the account books for the West Market to His Majesty's desk.

Choi Min-won's vision went black, and he almost fell off the chair.

Li Shimin at this moment is practically a starving dog on the street.

If such a large piece of meat were suddenly placed in front of him, how could he not eat it?

How am I supposed to fill out such a large sum of money by myself?