Chapter 482 Don't talk about money, talk about fate.

"deliver an imperial order……"

"Li Shuang (courtesy name Ganyou) was appointed as the Grand Censor to cooperate with Ma Zhou in establishing the Anti-Corruption Bureau and rectifying the Censorate!"

After a heated discussion, the position of Imperial Censor was finally decided to be held by the Li family of Longxi.

no way……

Ma Zhou was not qualified enough to serve as the Imperial Censor.

Most of Li Shimin's confidants were military generals.

After much deliberation... the only option left is to rely on established families.

This was Li Shimin's sore spot.

Without powerful families, no one would help him govern the Tang Dynasty.

"The court session is finally over."

"Is it really worth skipping meals for the sake of a mere Imperial Censor?"

Wei Shuyu muttered something to himself...

"..."

Upon hearing this, the official in front of him turned around sharply to look at Wei Shuyu.

How dare you say that?

The Wei family is the best at delaying the end of court sessions, isn't it?

Am I right?

Seeing the other person staring at him, Wei Shuyu smiled.

"roll."

The official turned his head away, looking ashamed to be associated with them.

"..."

The old man is foul-mouthed, disrespectful of his age, daydreaming, damaging relationships with colleagues, slacking off in court, and lacking official ethics...

Believe it or not, I'll impeach you!

"Court adjourned!"

Li Shimin got up and left.

After the officials had all left the hall.

Wei Shuyu touched his belly.

Going home is a bit far, so I'll just go find the Emperor Emeritus for a free meal.

Since the invention of stir-fried dishes, the food in the palace has improved significantly.

The courtyard of Da'an Palace.

When Wei Shuyu went to court, the two of them accompanied Li Yuan in Da'an Palace.

at this time……

Li Yuan was lying on the table, drawing something intently.

The two guys were striking poses in front of him...

Choi Shin-ki, holding a large sword, looked imposing.

Fang Yi'ai held a folding fan, exuding elegance.

"Kamiki, can you move that sword to the side?"

Fang Yi'ai glanced at the sky every now and then, trembling with fear.

Shinki's hand tremors have turned into Parkinson's disease.

If that knife comes down, won't my head turn into a cold gourd?

"I want to too."

"But didn't the Emperor Emeritus say that..."

"The paper is only so big... I can't draw it to the side!"

Listening to the two of them rambling on and on about nonsense.

Li Yuan slammed the pen down on the table...

"Can you two stop shaking?"

Li Yuan scolded, "How can I draw it if it's trembling like this?"

"Your Majesty, have you finished drawing?"

"We're so tired."

Choi Shin-ki's hand holding the knife trembled, as if the blade might fall at any moment.

What's the rush?

Li Yuan looked up and scolded, "Painting requires patience and meticulousness."

"You get tired just standing, what future can you possibly have?"

What does it mean to stand?

You dare to try?

"Your Majesty, when we're drawing, is it alright if you stand up?"

"You bastard!"

"It is your good fortune to have me paint portraits for you both!"

"..."

Snap.

Choi Shin-ki threw the knife away.

"Then let's not paint it. Anyway, the Emperor Emeritus's painting skills are just average."

What?

Li Yuan was unhappy.

You may doubt my civil and military achievements, but you must never doubt my painting skills!

I have devoted myself to this research for eight years!

"You brat, say another word!" Li Yuan snapped, pointing the tip of his pen at Choi Sin-ki.

"It's just average."

Choi Shin-ki retorted, "None of them are as good as those lecherous bastards from the Manhwa Pavilion."

"That's right!"

Fang Yi'ai nodded earnestly.

Those patrons weren't very good at writing, but they were quite skilled at using paintings to seduce the women of Wan Hua Ge.

Damn it.

Li Yuan was so angry that his beard trembled wildly.

Dare to say that I am inferior to a john?

If I don't teach you two a lesson today, I'll have wasted my life.

"Bring me my golden rattan cane!" Li Yuan shouted.

"..."

The two of them dashed to the door and peered at Li Yuan while clinging to the doorframe...

"Your Majesty, you can't do this!"

"I tried to sell your paintings, but no one would buy them!"

Fang Yi'ai curled his lip: "The highest he's willing to offer is only three coins, and that's only because of me!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Li Yuan roared, on the verge of going insane.

Three coins?

Damn it...

I use more than three coins' worth of paper myself!

"I'm not kidding you."

"If you don't believe me, Your Majesty can try it yourself!"

Fang Yi'ai added fuel to the fire, saying, "If we don't stamp it and don't reveal our identities... we'll only get a few coins at most."

"Try it then, are you afraid of me?"

Li Yuan glared and said, "If I sell this painting for a high price, I will punish you for deceiving the emperor!"

Since I'm just idling around anyway, I might as well take a stroll outside the palace.

As for the beast?

With the golden rattan cane in hand, I possess the world!

"What if you can't sell it, Your Majesty?" Fang Yi'ai pressed.

Li Yuan scoffed at it.

My painting skills are unparalleled throughout history, how could they not sell?

"If you can't sell them, I'll give you a hundred blank imperial seals!" Li Yuan shouted.

Oh ho?

The two men's eyes lit up immediately.

They've landed another sure-fire, profitable deal.

As for the crime of deceiving the emperor?

The retired emperor wouldn't bear to execute us.

Bang bang.

Just then, the two of them got kicked in the butt.

"Which king dares to..."

Looking back, oh, it's a big pot.

"What are you doing loitering at the entrance of Da'an Palace?" Wei Shuyu asked.

"Big pot, it's because the Emperor Emeritus is leaving the palace."

"Yes, yes, he wants to go into business and compete with the people for profit."

Um?

Has the retired emperor become this steadfast?

It seems that the golden rattan cane is quite intimidating.

"Shuyu, you've come at the perfect time."

As soon as Li Yuan saw Wei Shuyu, he took the initiative to greet him.

He then produced one of his proudest works: "Take a look and see what I think of this painting?"

Wei Shuyu unfolded it and took a look...

It's actually a painting of a tiger descending a mountain!

"Good, very good!"

Wei Shuyu pointed to various parts of the tiger and said, "These tiger eyes are piercing and spirited, this tiger tail is lifelike, these tiger teeth are sharp and intimidating..."

"The Emperor Emeritus's painting skills are simply superb and unparalleled. It is truly a blessing from my past life that I can see such a painting in my lifetime."

Wei Shuyu blew a string of notes.

It's not shameful to say a few nice words when you're just getting a free meal.

"Um."

Li Yuan squinted and stroked his beard, expressing his complete agreement.

Then suddenly he asked, "Would you like to buy it for 100 strings of cash?"

Snap.

Wei Shuyu threw the painting aside and turned to leave.

One hundred strings of cash for a free meal?

Am I crazy?

"Hey, don't go!"

"Friendship price: eighty strings of cash!"

"How about another fifty strings of cash?"

"stop!"

Li Yuan was angry.

Suddenly, he shouted, stopping Wei Shuyu: "Just tell me how much you're willing to pay for this painting?"

Wei Shuyu glanced back at the painting of a tiger descending the mountain in Li Yuan's hand...

"Your Majesty, it's not that I'm unwilling to buy it."

"I am truly short of funds and cannot afford it."

"Why don't you sell it to someone else?"

"Oh, right."

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, the Prince of Wei...they are rich!"

"Don't even mention a hundred strings of cash, I guarantee I can sell it for you for a thousand strings!"

"...

Li Yuan's mouth dropped open.

That makes so much sense...

Next time I'm short of money, I'll swindle them out of it.

But what I need now is to prove my painting skills!

"Just tell me how much it's worth!" Li Yuan pressed.

"Your Majesty, this is the genuine article."

"Don't talk about money, talk about fate."

"One hundred and eight thousand... Ugh!"

"It will be obtained by those who are destined to receive it!"