Chapter 40: Doing Business with Your Majesty

  "Fang Jun, how are you here?" Fang Yi Ai was just feeling pleased with himself when he heard a terrifying voice. Damn it, why did Li Shimin have to come at this time?

  "Brother Li, you're famous today!" Li Mingda said with a smile, hugging Li Shimin's neck.

  "Your humble servant has arrived to pay respects, wishing Your Majesty eternal good fortune and longevity..." Fang Yiai hadn't even finished speaking when Li Shimin impatiently curled his lip and scolded with a smile: "Alright, alright, every time I hear you say this it makes my teeth ache. You still haven't answered me, how did you end up coming here? I was originally going to have Zhao Chong summon you, but you've come on your own!"

  "Your Majesty, what has Jun'er done again today?" Empress Changsun asked with a puzzled smile as she took Li Mingda from Emperor Taizong of Tang's arms.

  "Haha, you may not know, I just heard Xiaozhu say that this kid made a big show today!" Li Shimin sat on a chair and told the story of what happened in the study room. After he finished, Empress Changsun nodded her head and said happily: "Jiunnier, really didn't expect you to have such insight at such a young age!"

  "The Queen Mother is overpraising me, I just say whatever comes to mind, a shallow view, not worthy of being discussed in refined company!" Fang Yiai smiled humbly, but his facial expression had already betrayed him.

  "You stinky little brat, look at your audacity! But this insight of yours is indeed unexpected. I'm afraid the entire court will know about the benevolent heart of Farang by tomorrow." Li Shimin looked at Fang Yi's smug expression and felt a strong sense of annoyance in his heart. This little brat was truly one of a kind.

  Li Mingda, with two small braids on her head, big eyes shining brightly as she turned around and smiled, leaned into Empress Zhangsun's arms and said: "Motherly Queen, is Brother Yi also here to ask for rewards?"

  "...." Empress Changsun was immediately amused by Li Mingda's innocence, "Little rabbit, do you think that your brother Yì'ài is like you, always asking me for things without any reason?"

  "Mother, what did your brother come to you for?" Li Mingda asked with her big, lovely eyes wide open.

  "Heh heh, Your Majesty, this matter still needs to be decided by you!" Empress Changsun briefly explained the purpose of Fang Yi'ai's visit, and after listening, Li Shimin's face turned a bit dark.

  "You stinky brat, do you think the imperial pharmacy is just an ordinary medicine shop? You're even playing at releasing goods in batches. Don't you know what kind of medicinal herbs I want?" Li Shimin stood up and stretched out a thick finger to poke House Yi Ai's forehead repeatedly, as if doing so could vent his anger.

  Fang Yi'ai rolled her eyes, "If these medicinal herbs weren't so precious, I wouldn't have to come to the palace and pretend to be pitiful. Your Majesty, I'm also helpless, think about it, where else can you find such a vast array of rare and precious medicinal herbs? Besides, Your Majesty has always been benevolent, in my eyes, you are the greatest wise ruler since Yao, Shun, Tang, and Wu. So, I thought for sure you would agree to my request."

  After hearing Fang Yi's words, Li Shimin couldn't help but feel proud, "Hmph, you're quite eloquent, but am I not comparable to Yao, Shun, Tang and Wu?"

  "... Fang Yizhi was almost shocked by Li Shimin, thinking he already had a thick enough face, but didn't know that Li Shimin's face was even thicker. This is the emperor, only knowing how to listen to flattering words. However, Fang Yizhi still smiled respectfully and said: "Your Majesty, you are not inferior to them at all, it's just that no matter what they are seniors, we should respect our seniors, shouldn't we?"

  "Hmm, that's reasonable." Li Shimin nodded thoughtfully and smiled: "Since you've already said I'm kind, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Alright, I can give you the medicine, but you have to pay for it. Don't worry, I'll give you a discounted price."

  Fang Yu Ai thought she had misheard and dug her ears, very uncertainly asked: "Your Majesty, what did you just say?"

  "Are you deaf? It's simple, I told you to take the money and buy medicine. Is it that hard for you to understand?" Li Shimin said with a glare.

  "Your Majesty, are you going to do business with me?" Fang Yiai was so angry that she wanted to curse. Nima, it's Mingjun, is there such a thing as a wise king? If I had money, would I still need to come and beg you?

  "Doing business? Did I ever say I wanted to do business with you?" Li Shimin chuckled and stroked his beard, saying mysteriously: "I am the Emperor, how could I possibly do business with you? These medicinal materials are a gift from me to you. It's just that, considering the national treasury is empty, you couldn't bear it and contributed some gold and silver on your own accord. Do you understand?"

  "Ah?" Fang Yi'ai cursed the old fox in a low voice, this typical... still wants to set up a plaque. Fang Yi'ai asked uncertainly: "Your Majesty, I don't know how many you want?"

  "Hmm, not much, just 10,000 two whites of silver a month!" Li Shimin smiled casually.

  "What, 10,000 taels of white silver?" House Yi Ai's eyes widened, he really wanted to ask Li Shimin, what are you trying to do, the entire House and Qin families combined can't even get 10,000 taels of white silver in a month, aren't you scamming me?

  "Your Majesty, I don't have that much money..." Fang Yi said with a dejected tone.

  "You don't have money, can you owe it first? Don't worry, I won't force you to donate to the country" Li Shimin smiled magnanimously.

  "Hmm, Your Majesty is indeed wise. However, I also have an impolite request! Since you want money, I'll go make some. We're contributing to the country, you can't not allow that, right?"

  "Speak!"

  "Your Majesty, I beg to be allowed to remain in love and continue with business!"

  "Hah!" Li Shimin chuckled and stroked his beard, while Empress Changsun said anxiously: "Jun'er, don't be reckless! Don't you know the laws of our Great Tang? If you engage in trade, you'll never become a general for the rest of your life!"

  The house is left with love, pitifully looking at the kind and gentle Empress Dowager, my Empress Dowager. It's not that I wanted to, it was your husband who forced me, if he didn't force me, would I have to do such a thankless task?

  "What? You want to do business, huh? I guess you won't be doing business either. Never mind, just go and do what you want, as long as you remember to hand over the donation when the time comes. Today, I didn't hear anything!" Li Shimin muttered seriously, then shouted: "Zhao Chong, send Fang Jun back to the mansion, I'm a bit tired too!"

  Fang Yiai was completely stunned. What a ruthless emperor! Just as Fang Yiai was about to say something, Zhao Chong walked in and said, "Please, Second Master."

  Fang Yu Ai inwardly despised Li Shimin and reluctantly followed Zhao Chong out of the Taiji Palace.

  "Your Majesty, how can you let Jun'er go into business?" Empress Changsun asked after Housekeeper Jun left.

  "Guanyin, you don't know, being an emperor isn't easy either. A few years ago, the war with Tujue cost a lot of gold and silver. The Yellow River flood also used up a large amount of disaster relief funds. Now the entire national treasury can't even gather 500,000 taels of white silver. What if another sudden event occurs? Should I follow the example of Yang Guang of Sui and rob?" Li Shimin sighed helplessly.

  "But, Your Majesty, there's no need to force Jun'er into business, he's still so young, aren't you harming him? Empress Changsun smiled bitterly with concern. If the imperial historians were to find out about this matter, wouldn't it cause a huge commotion in the court? The second young master of the Prime Minister's estate has gone into business, and won't he be ridiculed to death by all the officials? From now on, Fang Yu will never have to worry about becoming a general again."

  "Haha, Guanyin, don't worry, I'm not being reckless. Don't be fooled by this young man's silly appearance, he's actually very clever. If he wasn't clever, could he have come up with that oxygen thing? And what he said is quite right, whether one is a merchant or a farmer, as long as they have a kind heart, aren't they also gentlemen?" Emperor Taizong of Tang smiled and explained after taking a sip of tea.

  "Your Majesty, you may think so, but your courtiers will not!"

  "Don't worry about this, I think that kid won't be so stupid, he'll definitely find someone to trade for him!"

  Empress Changsun looked at Li Shimin with a suspicious gaze, it seemed that Your Majesty had already planned this out, and Fang Jun was done for!