strictlysupreme Chapter 2800 Li Shimin's Little Scheme
Chapter 2800 Li Shimin's Little Scheme
Li Shimin frowned, his expression somewhat indifferent. The meaning was clear: how could the Empress, of all virtues, lower herself to visit a mere maidservant who had given birth?
Empress Zhangsun shook her head:
"Second Brother, although this child was born to a maid, he is still of royal blood and is Shen'er's child."
Similarly, this child's birth was of extraordinary significance, as it concerned Shen'er's offspring.
So I must go and see."
Empress Zhangsun's face showed worry.
After listening, Li Shimin pondered for a long time, and finally sighed:
"Sigh... Fine, since you insist on this, Guanyinbi, then I will accompany you."
As you said, this child is of royal blood.
Li Shimin looked helpless, as if he wouldn't have gone if Empress Zhangsun hadn't gone first.
"Second Master, how about I go with Sister Wei instead? You are the ruler of a country, it is indeed not appropriate for you to visit a maid who is giving birth."
Empress Zhangsun immediately offered her advice. She also felt that it was indeed somewhat inappropriate for an emperor to visit one of his son's maids.
"It's alright, Guanyinbi. You're not feeling well. How can I be at ease if you go alone?"
Wang De immediately arranged for the Imperial Guards and carriages to be brought to the Dongshan Medical College.
Before Empress Zhangsun could refuse, Li Shimin had already given the order to Wang De.
"Then I will go and select some medicinal herbs to nourish the body."
"No need, the medical school has everything, and Lao Shi has already made preparations. Besides, it would be the greatest blessing for us to be able to visit them."
Li Shimin quickly pulled the Empress aside, telling that he would save money wherever possible for that rebellious son, since he had plenty of it anyway.
Although Empress Zhangsun felt it was inappropriate to go empty-handed, she had no choice but to agree after Li Shimin said so.
Soon, the carriage was ready. This time, Li Shimin did not make a big fuss about going out. He only took three thousand Imperial Guards with him and did not even have any ceremonial procession.
They only displayed the dragon flag so that the people could see it and avoid it.
The carriage exited through the east gate and headed towards the medical school.
Unaware of this, Li Shen was playing mahjong with a group of beautiful women in his hospital room.
"Your Highness, I've won again. Please pay me."
Wu Meiniang pushed the cards in front of her and reached out her hand to Li Shen.
Today, Lu Dingniang brought all her concubines to the medical school. Since Li Shen wasn't home, they weren't particularly interested.
"What's going on? Did I touch something? Why does it smell so bad?"
Li Shen looked at his hand, then at the cards in front of him. He was having a bit of bad luck today.
He took a gold bar from the drawer of the table and placed it in Wu Meiniang's hand, looking very unwilling.
Ten strings of cash are gone just like that; that was a loss that happened way too fast.
"Again, again." Li Shenyi pushed the cards.
"Your Highness, I've won too, give me the money!"
"Your Highness, I won! Pay up!"
The other two are Lu Dingniang and Liu Ruyan.
The three of them went back and forth, leaving Li Shen completely bewildered.
"Wait a minute, something's not right. Why haven't I won a single round, while you guys keep getting wins?"
Li Shen felt something was wrong. Why was he so unlucky today? He hadn't won a single game.
"Your Highness, something's not right. We just had good luck."
Lu Dingniang said with a smile.
Li Shencai didn't believe it and asked with a straight face:
"Tell me, are you hiding cards?"
"Your Highness, as you can see, where do we have the hidden tokens? If you don't believe me, ask Chunxiang and Dongmei."
Wu Zetian shook her head in denial.
"No, I don't believe it. I suspect you've hidden the cards in your clothes. I need to check."
As Li Shen spoke, he reached out and thoroughly checked all three of them, more rigorously than a security check, from the inside out.
"Your Highness is cheating," Lu Dingniang said coquettishly, straightening her clothes.
"I didn't! I've already lost almost a thousand strings of cash, and you won't even let me search you? I just suspect you're cheating."
Li Shen immediately shook his head in rebuttal.
Li Shen has lost nearly a hundred gold bars, each worth ten strings of cash. That's too fast.
"Xiangxiang, keep an eye on them for me and see if they've colluded to deliberately win my money."
Li Shen looked up and said to Chunxiang.
"Okay." Chunxiang nodded obediently, but Li Shen lowered his head and didn't see Chunxiang's sly smile or the eye contact with the other three.
"Come on, let's continue. I refuse to believe we can't win back."
Li Shen is like a gambler who's desperate to win.
"Your Highness, lunch has been changed," Shi Tou reported as he entered from outside.
"I'm not eating anymore. Can't you see how much money I've lost?"
Li Shen didn't even turn his head. A thousand strings of cash, a million coins—such a huge bet was enough to warrant imprisonment.
"Your Highness, let's eat first before we play. I'm getting a little hungry."
Wu Meiniang moved closer to Li Shen and used her magic on him. Her charming and alluring appearance immediately captivated Li Shen.
"Alright, let's have our meal first." Li Shen revealed his lecherous nature.
Upon arriving at the dining hall, he found the table already set with dishes, still the usual delicacies, which made Li Shen frown slightly.
"Why are you eating this again? Can't you get me something vegetarian? I'm getting a bit of a sore throat from all this."
Despite saying that, Li Shen still sat down; having something to eat was better than having nothing at all.
"Your Highness, I have already sent someone to fetch vegetables from the greenhouse," Shi Tou replied hurriedly.
"Yes, bring more over. I don't know how long I'll be staying here." Li Shen nodded, gnawing on a large lamb leg.
As the group was eating, a commotion suddenly came from outside the door, as if many people were moving around.
Li Shen frowned.
"Go and see who is disturbing my meal. Drag them out and give them fifty strokes of the cane."
"Yes," Stone replied, and had just reached the door.
With a loud "bang!", the door was kicked open.
"Hmph, I'd like to see how you're going to drag me out and beat me."
A loud, angry voice rang out, and then Li Shimin led his men in.
With a "clang," the lamb leg in Li Shen's hand fell onto the table, and he seemed to freeze in place.
He stared blankly at his father who had suddenly appeared, his mind still reeling.
"What? You're not trying to pretend you've lost your mind and pretend you don't recognize me, are you?" Li Shimin looked at Li Shen with disdain.
Li Shenteng suddenly stood up, knelt down in front of Li Shimin with a thud, hugged Li Shen's leg, and wiped the oil off his hands in the process.
"Your son pays his respects to Father. It has been many days since I last saw you. You are still as handsome as ever. My longing for you is as vast as the ocean."
I pray for my father every day, hoping he will live a long and healthy life.
"Get out of my way." Li Shimin kicked Li Shen so hard that he fell to the ground. Seeing the grease on his clothes, he was immediately enraged.
"I remember I ordered you to be confined to your quarters for three months, yet you dared to disobey and leave without permission. Li Shen, what is your punishment?"
"Huh? I...I'm under house arrest?"
Li Shen looked completely bewildered.
"Oh dear, my prince, how could you forget? His Majesty once decreed that you be punished with three years of imprisonment and confined to your quarters for three months."
Wang De, who was standing nearby, reminded him.
Is that true?
(From now on, I have no heart to love the beautiful night, let the bright moon descend to the west tower.)