Chapter 128: Open Defiance of the Imperial Decree

"Very well, let's proceed as you suggested!" Li Zhi replied.

"The Prince has agreed?"

"Yes, he has. Send someone to the agricultural cultivation base and tell them to deliver five catties of 'Immortal Vine' every day. Also, instruct the First Restaurant to prepare 'Stir-fried Immortal Vine' according to my specifications!"

Luo Tong had only been speaking casually; he never imagined Li Zhi would actually agree.

Stir-fried Immortal Vine?

Could one really make a fortune from that?

Luo Tong was skeptical.

...

One day, Emperor Li Shimin, traveling incognito, arrived at the First Chamber of Commerce. He wanted to see how Li Zhi was handling the issues regarding the aristocratic families. He also wanted to confirm whether Li Ji, who had recently returned from Luoyang, had taken charge of the Chamber's affairs, as several ministers had recently reported that Li Ji had not shown up for work.

This was tantamount to openly defying an imperial decree. How could Li Shimin let that slide?

Upon arriving at the Chamber of Commerce, he found it empty. Luo Tong had gone to the cultivation base, and Li Zhi had gone to Li Ji's estate. Lou Yi was sitting behind the counter, temporarily filling in as the head of the Chamber.

"Your Majesty..."

"No need for formalities! Where are Zhi'er and Luo Tong? Why are they not here?"

Lou Yi reported the situation truthfully. Li Shimin turned and left the Chamber, heading straight for Li Ji's estate. Li Ji was a Duke of the realm, known as the Duke of Ying. His estate was in the east of the city, separated from the East Market by only a wall. As a Duke, he should have lived in the designated administrative quarters where all officials resided, as it was closer to the palace and convenient for court duties. Li Ji, however, was an exception for reasons unknown.

Li Shimin walked up to the Duke of Ying’s estate and asked the guards at the door, "Is General Li Ji in?"

"And who might you be?"

"Never mind who I am, tell him to come out and see me!"

...

Li Shimin possessed such an imposing presence and an air of authority that even standing there in silence, one knew he was a man of great importance. The guards dared not offend him.

"Please wait a moment, sir, our General will be out shortly!" one of the guards scurried off to report.

Before long, Li Ji came trotting out of the estate.

"I did not know Your Majesty had arrived. I have failed to welcome you in time, please forgive me, please forgive me!"

Meeting Li Shimin's gaze, his heart sank. *Could the Emperor be here to... hold me accountable?*

"I heard you were ill, so I came to check on you."

"Your servant is not ill?"

Li Ji seemed to have forgotten that he had told Li Zhi days ago that he would feign illness to avoid working at the Chamber. If that were not the case, why would he still be lingering at home?

Li Shimin scoffed, "Since you are not ill, why have you not been to the Chamber?"

"I..."

Li Shimin flicked his sleeves and strode into the estate. The guards at the gate looked at each other, relieved they hadn't been rash earlier.

Li Ji followed closely, explaining, "Your Majesty may not know, but I have indeed been feeling quite unwell lately. Once I recover, I will certainly go to the Chamber!"

"Is that so?"

"With Your Majesty here in person, I would not dare not to go!"

"It's good that you know."

Li Shimin had originally intended to lose his temper, but seeing Li Ji's soft response, he let him off the hook.

Entering the courtyard, Li Zhi came out to receive him. "Father..."

"Did you hear what the General just said?"

"I heard it, Father!"

Li Zhi looked at him with a smile. "General, we have an agreement: you will report for duty at the Chamber within five days!"

"Uh... very well!"

With Li Shimin present, Li Ji could not go back on his word. He had no choice but to agree.

Li Zhi chuckled. "You are just like a stubborn donkey—you won't move when led, and you pull backward when whipped. I said so much to you, yet you wouldn't listen, only agreeing once Father arrived!"

Li Ji's expression darkened.

"Hahaha!" Li Shimin laughed. "That's right, General Li is indeed a stubborn donkey!"

"Your Majesty jokes. How could I be a stubborn donkey? Have I ever failed to carry out any of your orders?" Li Ji said awkwardly.

"Don't even get me started!" Li Zhi couldn't even be bothered to refute him. If not for Li Shimin's arrival, Li Ji would still be reluctant to go to the Chamber.

"Your Majesty, shall we go to the parlor to talk?"

"Very well!"

Once seated in the parlor, Li Shimin asked about the situation with the aristocratic families.

"Recently, the various families of Guanzhong have been continuously driving up prices. The people are suffering immensely!"

"Zhi'er, what measures do you have to keep the families in check? Have they been implemented?" Li Shimin asked.

"Yes," Li Zhi replied. "I have already shared the methods to curb the influence of these families with Minister Zhangsun, and he is overseeing the implementation. I expect that by now, the local yamen have all received the orders. Before long, these families will no longer be able to run rampant, and the people will find relief."

"Oh?" Li Shimin was stunned. This was a problem the imperial court hadn't been able to solve for so long, yet Li Zhi had handled it so easily? "Is what you say true, Zhi'er?"

"Indeed!"

"You really are a genius!" Li Shimin was overjoyed.

"Father, my ears have grown calluses from hearing you say that. Can't you use a fresh word? For example... a monster?"

The word "monster" transcended the human realm. It referred to things that were impossible for humans to achieve, yet Li Zhi could do them. It seemed a more fitting description.

"A monster?" Li Shimin thought for a moment, raised an eyebrow, and laughed heartily. "That's right, you truly are a monster!"

Li Ji bowed and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. With the Prince of Jin, the Great Tang will surely be able to carry on your brilliance!"

"Hmm!"

The remark seemed to carry a hidden meaning. Did Li Ji believe that Li Zhi was more suitable to inherit the throne than the Crown Prince?

"Ahem..."

The conversation had veered off course. Li Shimin coughed a few times and continued, "The power of the aristocratic families is plain for all to see. You must not be careless, Zhi'er!"

"Rest assured, Father, I am well prepared!"

...

They discussed the matter of the families until noon. Li Zhi led them to the restaurant opposite the Chamber.

"There is a new dish today called 'Stir-fried Immortal Vine'. You must try it, Father!"

"What kind of dish is that?" Li Ji's eyes lit up. He still couldn't forget the feast he had at the Chamber a few days ago. The so-called new dish couldn't be bad!

Li Shimin said happily, "You can even turn mud into a delicacy, so I imagine today's dish must be quite extraordinary?"

"So you already knew, Father?"

"As soon as the Chef God Competition ended, I knew. I never imagined that the mud of the Yellow Mud Tribe could be turned into a delicacy. Their envoys were truly shocked!"

"It has also made the border tribes completely admire the Great Tang in the realm of cuisine!"

If not for that, how could Li Shimin have been so lenient with Li Zhi? To dare to use mud as an ingredient in a competition and then serve the finished product to him—it was simply too audacious.

"That's good then..." Li Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.

Cheng Chuliang arranged for the three of them in a quiet, private room. Through the window, one could see the Chamber of Commerce across the way. He took out the menu and said, "Your Majesty, this is the restaurant's latest selection, please take a look!"

"Very well! Let me see what delicacies there are."

There were over forty dishes on the menu, each with a unique name that made their eyes light up. Li Shimin glanced through it quickly, then waved his hand and said, "Bring one of everything! I want to eat to my heart's content! And bring three bottles of Immortal Wine as well!"