Li Shimin had already secretly ordered people to calculate that Shi Dakai's fried dough stick stall was doing very well, selling thousands of sticks every day, and making a net profit of about one guan (a unit of currency).

Even so, it would take thirty years to earn ten thousand strings of cash.

Therefore, he really couldn't understand where this child got such great confidence.

“It would be difficult to earn 10,000 strings of cash by selling fried dough sticks alone, but I’m not just good at selling fried dough sticks…”

"You can do other things too?"

"Of course!"

"This junior is skilled in many things. If it weren't for my status, making money would be a piece of cake for me!"

"identity?"

Li Jue sighed helplessly, speaking with a hint of self-pity.

"yes!"

"I am too young, and I have no elders in my family. Even if I have great skills, I can't use them. Even if there were a business that could make a fortune every day, I wouldn't dare to do it, for fear of arousing the covetousness of some powerful people..."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin felt a pang of sadness and almost shed tears.

This is his own grandson! How could he worry that if he earns too much money, someone will take advantage of him?

"Son, go for it with confidence!"

"If anyone dares to steal your business, I'll take care of them for you!"

"you?"

Li Jue's eyes were filled with suspicion, feeling that this "tasteless" guy in front of him was talking too unreliably.

"hehe……"

"Then I will thank you in advance, Elder Li. If anyone bullies me, I will definitely ask Elder Li to stand up for me!"

Just as the two were talking, they heard a series of urgent knocks on the door in the courtyard.

Li Jue hurriedly abandoned Li Shimin and ran into the courtyard to open the gate.

"Aunt Zhang, why are you back?"

"Young master, something terrible has happened! Brother Pan Hu has been arrested by the authorities!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jue stood frozen in place, and then tears streamed down his face.

"It's all my fault that Uncle Pan Hu is in trouble, sob sob sob!"

He had basically guessed the reason: his previous business of selling frosting sugar had been exposed, attracting the covetous eyes of certain powerful figures.

"Aunt Zhang, didn't the people who arrested Uncle Pan say anything?"

"I'll tell you!"

"They said the young master should go to the Wannian County government office to ransom the people!"

"I'll go right away..."

Just as Li Jue was about to leave, Li Shimin stopped him.

"Little one, do you need any help?"

"As long as you call me Grandpa, I'll get the person out for you, and I guarantee no one will dare mess with you again!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Elder Li, but I no longer wish to stay in Chang'an. After rescuing Uncle Pan Hu in Wannian County, I will leave Chang'an with him!"

"Where to go after leaving Chang'an?"

"Wandering the world!"

Li Jue was deeply disappointed with Chang'an and even with the Tang Dynasty. He decided to leave this land forever and find a place where he and Pan Hu could live.

"Old Li, please do me a small favor."

"Can!"

"If a junior is killed, you must spread this thing!"

Li Shimin looked at the thing Li Jue handed him with a puzzled expression and asked with a frown.

What is this?

"This is a priceless secret recipe!"

"Their aim in dealing with Uncle Pan Hu is to obtain the secret formula from me."

"I don't care about the secret formula itself; I'm just afraid they'll get it and use it to kill people to cover their tracks!"

"After all, the laws of the Tang Dynasty don't apply to high-ranking officials and nobles; they only bully ordinary people like me..."

After giving his final instructions, Li Jue bowed to Li Shimin, wiped away his tears, and headed straight for Xuanyangfang, where the Wannian County government office was located.

As Li Shimin watched Xiao Shitou's departing figure, he felt as if a stone was lodged in his chest.

How disappointed this child must have been to have the idea of ​​leaving Chang'an and wandering the world!

I will absolutely not allow this child to suffer the slightest injustice!

Absolutely not!

"Zhang Anan, immediately send someone to investigate who dares to bully my eldest grandson!"

Zhang Anan offered a tactful reminder upon hearing this.

"Your Majesty, it's not confirmed yet..."

Li Shimin shook his head firmly.

"I have made up my mind. Such a loyal and righteous child must be my eldest grandson!"

Zhang Anan was speechless upon hearing this. His Majesty was too sentimental. He had already accepted this grandson?

However, this child is indeed remarkable. He was willing to hand over a priceless secret recipe just to save an old servant!

"promise!"

"This old servant will give the order immediately!"

When Li Jue arrived at the Wannian County government office, he was led to the gatehouse by a yamen runner as soon as he revealed his identity.

"Young master, please wait a moment!"

Not long after the yamen runners left, an old man with a goatee walked in.

"You are Shi Dakai?"

"yes!"

"I had someone investigate, and it turns out your household registration was only registered in Xianyang County two months ago, right?"

Upon hearing this, beads of sweat instantly appeared on Li Jue's forehead.

His worst fears came true: people started to doubt his identity!

“I’ve seen your household registration. Your father’s name is Shi Jingtang, and your grandfather’s name is Shi Shouzhou. Your household registration level is fifth class…”

"yes……"

"Your household registration is very problematic. There are no ancestral records, no land or property. You must be a runaway slave, right?"

"I'm not!"

"I am a commoner of the Tang Dynasty who fled from the Kingdom of Shi in the Western Regions. My ancestral home is Xianyang. I am returning to Xianyang to acknowledge my ancestors and return to my roots!"

The old man with the goatee didn't believe Li Jue's explanation at all, and just casually pulled out another piece of paper from his sleeve.

"And your servant Pan Hu, that man also has a lot of problems. He speaks with a thick Guizhou accent, yet insists he's from Xianyang. Does he think he's making a fool of me?"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!