Although Li Jue listed a lot of disadvantages, it was still not enough for Li Er.

It wasn't until Li Jue said that even if they built it, they wouldn't be able to sell it that Li Er reluctantly gave up on this unrealistic idea.

Otherwise, he really might do something absurd like demolishing the entire Chang'an city and then rebuilding it.

"In that case... then you should get some rest!"

Li Er returned to Ganlu Palace dejectedly, his mind filled with thoughts of getting rich quick through land expropriation.

"I just don't understand why it's okay for Qunxianfang, but not for other wards?"

Zhang Anan, who was pouring tea for Li Er, heard this and chuckled unkindly.

“Your Majesty, Qunxianfang is different from other places. Qunxianfang is adjacent to the West Market, which is a gathering place for merchants from the Western Regions. Over the years, these merchants have made a fortune thanks to Your Majesty’s reputation. Even if the price is a bit high, they can accept it.”

“But other neighborhoods are different. First, the government might not allow them to buy property, and they might not be able to get them household registration certificates. Second, too many foreigners living in Chang'an is not good for our Great Tang!”

"this……"

Li Er glanced at Zhang Anan with surprise.

How do you know these principles?

Zhang Anan smiled upon hearing this.

"Has Your Majesty forgotten that my godson serves in the palace of the eldest grandson?"

"Furthermore, I've heard that the eldest grandson deliberately set the housing prices extremely high. And that these prices are tied to the household registration documents and are limited to houses in Qunxianfang."

"According to the eldest grandson, what's this called again... Oh, right, it's called harvesting Hu merchants!"

"Harvesting the Hu merchants?"

"Yes!"

"The foreign merchants have made so much money in the Tang Dynasty, we should at least let them keep their money in the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Shimin smiled smugly upon hearing this.

"That bastard is really cunning, actually coming up with this idea!"

"However, this is a good idea. Those merchants from the Western Regions should indeed make some contributions to the Tang Dynasty!"

"Oh, by the way, let's have all the vassal kings come back for the Lunar New Year this year, so they can have a good get-together with us!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Anan's heart skipped a beat. Perhaps His Majesty wasn't thinking about those vassal kings, but rather about Qingque and Li Ke?

"Your Majesty, shall the Prince of Pu also come to the capital?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin glared fiercely at Zhang Anan, thinking to himself, "I've gone to so much trouble, how can I not let Li Tai return to the capital?"

"certainly!"

"Not only will Qingque be coming back, but Chengqian's eldest son, Li Xiang, will also be coming back!"

"Oh oh oh!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Anan's face immediately broke into a wide smile.

"If the eldest grandson sees his elder brother return, he will be very happy!"

Li Shimin laughed heartily upon hearing this.

"I just wanted to give this grandson a surprise, to let him know that I care about him, and to stop him from always using orphans to disgust people, hahaha!"

Li Shimin's messenger arrived at the fiefdom of Prince Pu, Li Tai, who was painting a landscape with his beloved wife Yan Wan. When he saw the messenger carrying a scroll of imperial edict, he didn't even raise his eyelids and continued to show affection to his wife.

"Wan'er, the strokes of your brush are too weak; they fail to capture the ruggedness and imposing grandeur of the mountain peaks!"

"Your Highness, how could I compare to you? Why don't you hold the brush and I'll grind the ink for you?"

"Stop trying to cheat!"

"We clearly agreed that this painting was a gift from you, so why should I have to paint it myself!"

"Your Highness...why don't we accept the imperial decree first?"

"I won't answer!"

"Your Highness, please don't be angry with Father. You should understand his good intentions!"

Li Tai snorted coldly upon hearing this.

"I understand him?"

"Let me ask you, in what way am I inferior to my elder brother, and in what way am I inferior to Zhinu!"

"Why would Father Emperor rather pass the throne to a child like Zhi Nu than to me? Why is that?!"

Although more than two years have passed since the struggle for the crown prince position, Li Tai's emotions are still far from calm.

In terms of literary talent, everyone in the Tang Dynasty said he was more talented than Cao Zhi!

In terms of character, he respected his teachers and valued virtue, and was praised throughout Chang'an for his wisdom.

In terms of lineage, he was the second son of Empress Zhangsun!

Given the Crown Prince's rebellion, the throne should have been his right to inherit. Why should that scoundrel Li Zhi have taken it first?

In fact, he had already shown considerable restraint and forbearance in front of the envoy today.

When the couple closes their bedroom door, he always talks about that old man...

The envoy stood awkwardly to the side, listening to the Prince of Pu's disrespectful remarks to His Majesty. He couldn't bear it any longer and finally spoke up.

"Your Highness, this is good news!"

"Good news?"

"Hmph!"

"What good thing could Father Emperor possibly have? He probably just thinks I'm too idle and wants to move me to another place, right?"

"No, no, no, His Majesty is inviting His Highness to return to the capital for the New Year!"

"Chinese New Year?"

"What's so great about celebrating a broken New Year? It's all the same no matter where you are, it's just a plate of dumplings!"

Yan Wan's eyes lit up when she heard this. She quickly pinched her husband secretly and then took over the conversation.

"Does His Majesty truly invite us back to Chang'an for the New Year?"

"yes!"

"Your Highness, please persuade His Highness to accept the imperial decree. This old servant must hurry back to the capital to report!"

"Oh oh oh..."

Upon hearing this, Yan Wan quickly pulled her husband aside and stood respectfully, listening attentively as the eunuch read out the imperial edict.

After reading the imperial edict in a short while, Li Tai was still a little incredulous. Had that old man in Chang'an really changed his ways and remembered his son?

Li Tai only spoke after the eunuch left.

"Wan'er, pinch me!"

"Your Highness, what do you intend to do?"

"I just don't feel right. I have a feeling that the old man is up to something!"

"Do you think that old man might be planning to lure us back to Chang'an, then secretly kill us to clear the way for his precious darling?"

Yan Wan's face darkened upon hearing this. She thought to herself that her husband was overestimating the Emperor. Even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs, no matter how strict the Emperor was...

No, no, no, it's not absolute. At the very least, that brat Li You, the Prince of Qi, was killed!

"Your Highness, I think you are overthinking it!"

"I think Your Majesty is simply getting old and wants to experience the joy of family affection."

"If Your Highness performs well, you might be able to reclaim the throne!"

"Storehouse?"

"Do I still have hope?"

Yan Wan didn't actually care about the position of heir apparent. Whether Li Tai became emperor or an ordinary prince, she would stay by his side and never abandon him.

But she couldn't bear to see her husband sad. Her husband's lifelong pursuit was the position of crown prince, but no one expected that he would be defeated by his brother-in-law in the end!

"Your Highness, how will we know there's no hope if we don't try?"

"Your Highness, consider this: if His Majesty were truly satisfied with Ninth Brother, why would he issue an edict ordering us to return to Chang'an for the New Year?"

"It seems that His Majesty still remembers your kindness and intends to pass the throne to you!"

Upon hearing this, Li Tai's eyes lit up, and a blazing fire seemed to rise in his heart. However, this fire rose quickly, but it also cooled down just as fast.

"well!"

"I don't want to think about it anymore. Let him pass the throne to whomever he wants. We should just live our own lives!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Wan secretly rolled her eyes, and couldn't help but mutter to herself.

If Your Highness truly has such a magnanimous heart, then I wouldn't have to live in fear!