He will definitely be able to answer it.

Li Zhi said, "Your Majesty should know very well that the aristocratic families firmly control the market through various relationships, industries, and immense capital!

"Just like Your Majesty holding millions of troops and controlling the entire country, it is extremely difficult for outsiders to break into their circle, let alone destroy or change them!"

"Could there really be no other way?" Li Shimin refused to believe it.

He had even conquered the empire.

Could he not handle a few aristocratic families?

"Where on earth did Zhi'er learn so much about the aristocratic families at such a young age?" Li Shimin pondered for a moment, unable to help asking.

"I just read books!" Li Zhi made up an excuse.

"Read books?"

"What books?" Li Shimin considered himself well-read, yet he had never seen any books detailing the aristocratic families.

"I haven't been studying for long, and have only read the *Records of the Grand Historian*. There are accounts regarding aristocratic families in it. Ever since the Northern Wei dynasty, aristocratic families gradually took shape and subsequently gained control of the realm's economy."

"Mmm!"

That was indeed the case.

This phenomenon had persisted for a thousand years.

It was hardly a secret.

It was just that facing the aristocratic families' grip on the market so abruptly, Li Shimin felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

"Father, with me handling these matters, you can rest easy. Longest three years, shortest two, and the aristocratic families are bound to fall! The imperial court will regain control of the market!" Li Zhi declared.

"It is good that you have confidence. However, Father also wants to know precisely what you plan to do."

Li Shimin had no desire to sit on the Dragon Throne like a fool.

He had to be personally involved in matters concerning the aristocratic families.

Besides, he was deeply curious about what Li Zhi actually intended to do.

...

"Possessing the same resources as the aristocratic families grants us the qualifications to compete with them! Father, please be patient for a few days. Once the government fields across various regions harvest the sweet potatoes and rice and stockpile them to a certain quantity, the aristocratic families will no longer have any possibility of contending with the imperial court!"

Li Zhi still did not spell it out clearly.

He was afraid that if Li Shimin knew too much, he wouldn't entrust him with the heavy responsibility of striking down the aristocratic families, and that would ruin everything. Completing the system's tasks would also become extremely difficult.

Li Shimin remained half-enlightened and utterly baffled.

As for Zhangsun Wuji, he was a total fool.

The task of striking down the aristocratic families could only be accomplished by Li Zhi.

This setup was ideal!

Given time, the aristocratic families would undoubtedly fall!

Father and son conversed in whispers for a long time.

Li Shimin did not get the answers he wanted.

Yet he asked no further.

He would simply wait obediently for the results.

...

Time flew by in the blink of an eye.

Before long, winter had arrived.

Pure white snow drifted from the skies.

The imperial palace was draped in a blanket of silver.

Li Zhi returned to the Lizheng Palace and shared a birthday banquet with Empress Zhangsun, Li Tai, Li Lizhi, Li Chengqian, and the others.

Because Li Tai was turning six years old.

This little fellow...

Though small in stature, he was cunning and harbored a rather vicious heart.

During the first half of the year, out of jealousy toward Li Zhi, he had sent assassins on several occasions.

If not for Luo Tong and the Golden Blade Guards, Li Zhi's little head would have already been relocated.

"Li Tai... do you know what younger brother Zhi's birthday celebration was like?" Li Lizhi asked.

Her tone was frivolous, seemingly intended to mock Li Tai deliberately.

Moreover, she did not call Li Tai older brother.

She addressed him directly by his full name.

Clearly, she felt a strong aversion toward Li Tai.

"Hmph!"

Li Tai snorted. "No matter how grand his birthday banquet was, I don't envy it..."

"Is that so? Or is it that you can't even afford to envy it?"

"Oh my, oh my..." Li Lizhi said with a sarcastic drawl, describing the scene of that birthday banquet. She praised the deliciousness of the cake as if it were something out of this world.

Li Tai listened until his mouth began to water.

He desperately wanted to taste that so-called cake.

Turning to Li Zhi, he put on a flattering expression and asked, "Younger brother Zhi, is that cake really delicious?"

"Delicious!"

"Can you make one for me too?"

"I can..." Li Zhi started to agree.

But Li Lizhi cut him off, snapping, "No, you can't!"

"If you make him a cake, don't blame me for disowning you as my younger brother!"

Li Lizhi spoke with utmost seriousness.

"Ugh..." Li Zhi was taken aback.

He thoroughly disliked this fellow Li Tai as well.

If Empress Zhangsun hadn't insisted on calling him back, he wouldn't have attended Li Tai's birthday banquet at all.

"Older brother Tai, you saw it yourself. It's not that I won't make it for you, but older sister Lizhi forbids it. If I insist on making it for you, I'm afraid she'll get angry. Since we're supposed to be manly men, making a young girl angry isn't quite right, is it?"

"Hmph!"

Li Zhi's tactful refusal only made Li Tai even more furious.

He even harbored murderous intentions once again.

Aside,

Li Chengqian interjected, "Lizhi, stop bullying your younger brother!"

"What business is it of yours? I haven't even interrogated you yet—was your hand in that assassination attempt against younger brother Zhi?" Li Lizhi brought it right out into the open.

In truth, she had suspected it all along.

How could someone as young as Li Tai understand such intricate plots?

It must have been Li Chengqian pulling the strings behind the scenes.

It was only because she lacked evidence

that she had kept her silence and endured.

Now, however, she could endure it no longer.

She had to use this birthday banquet to get to the bottom of it!

"What are you all chatting about?" At that moment, Empress Zhangsun and Li Shimin emerged from the inner room. Seeing everyone sitting together and conversing, they felt the atmosphere seemed quite pleasant.

However...

As they walked closer to take a look,

Li Lizhi was pouting angrily.

Li Tai looked equally flushed with fury.

Sensing something was amiss, Empress Zhangsun asked, "What is the matter?"

"Nothing, nothing at all... Mother, when does the banquet start? I still have matters to attend to and simply don't have that much time!" Li Zhi said.

"Even if the heavens were falling, you would have to put it aside!"

"Today is your brother's birthday banquet, and all of you must attend!" Empress Zhangsun stated.

"Very well!"

Having made a special trip back purely to attend Li Tai's birthday banquet, Li Zhi felt deeply resentful inside.

He remembered that during his own birthday, neither Li Tai nor Li Chengqian had been present.

Why must he be forced to show up for theirs?

...

The wine and dishes were served.

Li Shimin walked with a vigorous, tiger-like stride to the head of the table and sat down.

Feeling rather hungry, Li Tai reached out to grab a roasted fat duck from the table.

Yet Li Shimin stopped him, saying, "No rush! Father must test your studies first! Over the past year, you have studied half of the *Records of the Grand Historian*. According to your tutor, you have been doing exceptionally well?"

"Yes, yes!"

Nodding repeatedly with great excitement, Li Tai replied with absolute confidence, "Father may test me however you wish. As long as it is something I have studied, I can answer it!"

"Hahaha, so confident?" Li Shimin grew rather expectant.

All of his sons possessed good natural talents.

They would surely amount to something great in the future.

"Very well, Father asks you—how did the Sui dynasty perish?"

This question was very simple.

And it was recent history.

Anyone who had studied the *Records of the Grand Historian* ought to know it clearly.

After thinking for a moment, Li Tai lifted his chin and answered, "Reporting to Father, the Sui dynasty was destroyed by our own dynasty!"

Puff!

Li Zhi, who had just taken a sip of water, spat it right out.

Li Shimin was also dumbfounded by this answer, asking in shock, "What? Is it really that simple? What I asked you was why the Sui dynasty perished, and what conditions drove it to its demise!"

Li Tai felt deeply embarrassed...

He had misunderstood the question entirely.

Empress Zhangsun intervened, "Your Majesty, do not be impatient. Give Tai'er some time to collect his thoughts before he answers!"

"Mmm!"

Li Shimin also believed it was merely a slip of the tongue just now, and that Li Tai would certainly be able to answer correctly.