Chapter 27: Collaboration

Li Shen did not have to wait long before the main gates were thrown wide open. As a Prince, he was entitled to this courtesy, whereas ordinary people were relegated to the side doors. Princess Changle, Li Lizhi, emerged with her maidservants to welcome him.

"Greetings, Elder Sister. You should have just sent word for me to enter; there was no need to come out and greet me yourself," Li Shen said, offering a bow. Although Li Lizhi was the fifth daughter of Li Shimin, she was the eldest daughter born of the Empress, and thus held the title of Eldest Princess.

"Tenth Brother, you are a Prince now. Propriety must be observed. Let us go to my courtyard to talk," Li Lizhi replied.

"Elder Sister, could I trouble you to lend me a hundred strings of cash?" Li Shen asked, feeling a bit embarrassed. For a proper Prince to come begging for money was truly shameful.

Seeing Li Shen’s bashful expression, Li Lizhi smiled. "Someone, bring a hundred strings of cash." To an ordinary person, this was a fortune, but to Li Lizhi, it was a trifle. Her dowry was so lavish that even the incorruptible official Wei Zheng had once criticized it for exceeding the bounds of propriety. She held ten thousand acres of fertile land and possessed three thousand households as her taxable fief—the Crown Prince only held two thousand.

For a Prince like Li Shen, eight hundred to a thousand households was the maximum. Thus, a hundred strings were nothing to Li Lizhi, whose annual income from her lands and princess stipend exceeded five thousand strings. In the Zhenguan era, grain cost only five or six coins per peck.

Soon, several servants carried out a few cloth bags and placed them before Li Shen. They were filled with copper coins. The Kaiyuan Tongbao coins were heavy; a thousand coins weighed over six catties. These hundred strings weighed over six hundred catties, making Li Shen wince. Silver was not yet common currency in this era, though gold was. One tael of gold could be exchanged for about ten strings of cash, but people rarely made such exchanges.

Li Shen looked back at Xue Rengui, wondering if he could carry it. Xue Rengui was stunned; he had never seen so much money in his life, and he certainly could not carry it. Recognizing this, Li Shen scratched his head and said to Li Lizhi, "Elder Sister, could you also lend me a carriage?"

Li Lizhi found Li Shen’s bumbling demeanor amusing. She turned to her steward and ordered, "Go bring the carriage used for purchasing supplies."

Once the carriage was brought, the servants loaded the money onto it. Li Shen turned to Xue Rengui: "Rengui, take this money to the West Market and buy a house. Keep the remaining funds for yourself. Don’t worry about returning the carriage quickly. Drive it back to your hometown to fetch your wife. Hedong is far, and you cannot let her walk all the way here. Once you arrive, get settled; the remaining money should be enough for your living expenses. After I leave the palace, I will take you to Huangzhuang to divide up some land. If you encounter any trouble, tell them you are a guard for a Prince. Even if they don’t recognize me, they won’t dare to make things difficult for you. Go."

Xue Rengui knelt on one knee: "Your Highness, rest assured. I will bring my wife back quickly and then dedicate myself to repaying your kindness."

"Rise," Li Shen said, helping him up. He then turned back to Li Lizhi.

"I must trouble you again, Elder Sister, to lend me a steward. I have no one around me familiar with the market prices in the West Market, and I need someone knowledgeable to accompany Rengui so he doesn't get cheated."

"Very well. I have already given the money and lent the carriage; I suppose I can spare a person as well. Steward Sun, go accompany this young man," Li Lizhi said with a sigh. This brother of hers was certainly good at taking liberties.

"Remember to buy something large and decent; don't be afraid to spend. Little Stone, you go along too. If anyone tries to swindle you, show them the token," Li Shen instructed. A two-acre house in the West Market should cost about a hundred strings; if the seller was in a hurry, perhaps seventy or eighty. Sending Little Stone was also to ensure he remembered the location for future visits. After all, who would dare to swindle a steward from the Duke of Zhao’s estate?

After watching the carriage depart, Li Shen turned to Li Lizhi. "Let’s go inside, Elder Sister. It’s sweltering out here, and I’m quite thirsty." He began walking inside without waiting.

Li Lizhi followed, speechless. They reached her courtyard and sat in the main hall. The Duke of Zhao’s estate had already adopted the tables and chairs Li Shen had introduced. Li Shen did not drink tea, so a maid brought him a cup of water.

"Elder Sister, I came today for two reasons: first, it has been a long time since I saw you, and I wanted to visit now that I am out of the palace. Second, I have something to discuss with you," Li Shen said after a sip of water.

Li Lizhi knew the first point was merely polite, so she asked, "And what is it that you wish to discuss, Tenth Brother?"

"To be honest, I want to enter the liquor business and need a partner."

"Tenth Brother, if you want a partner, you should approach Father, the Duke of Zhao, or your brother-in-law, Zhangsun Chong. I cannot make such decisions," Li Lizhi said, puzzled.

"No, Elder Sister, I want to partner with you personally. This has nothing to do with the Duke of Zhao or the Prince Consort." Li Shen glanced left and right.

Understanding his intent, Li Lizhi waved her hand, and everyone except her personal maidservant withdrew. "Speak. Ling'er can be trusted."

"Elder Sister, have you heard? When I was enfeoffed as a Prince, the Cui family tried to stop it. A gentleman does not let such an insult pass. I lack the strength to contest them in court right now, but I cannot let it go. I hear that their liquor business is a major source of their income. I have a recipe from an ancient book for a new kind of liquor—ten times stronger and more fragrant than their 'Immortal's Drunkenness'."

"Then why do you say you want to partner with me personally?" she asked.

Li Shen glanced at Ling'er before answering, "Partnering with you is effectively partnering with the Duke of Zhao, but the money will be yours. If you bear a son, he may inherit the title of Duke. But if you have two sons, don't you want to save up some family property for your second son? Your annual stipend is only five thousand strings, and your land and fief cannot be inherited. And if you have a daughter, she cannot inherit the title; don't you want to provide her with a generous dowry? How much can the Duke's estate really give? Relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself. I want to earn property for my future nephews and nieces. This money belongs to the Li family, not the Zhangsun family."

Li Shen continued, "I know you are virtuous and gentle, and do not care for power or profit. You have been married for many years, and you avoid having the Prince Consort live in your Princess residence for fear of gossip. Yet, there are many servants to maintain, and the wages and living expenses of those you brought with you are high. I estimate you have little left over. As far as I know, Zhangsun Chong often goes out with those young noblemen to drink and gamble. He is likely spending your money, isn't he? The allowance the Duke’s estate gives him, plus his stipend, is not enough to cover his visits to the galleries." Li Shen took a sip of water, giving her time to think.

A quarter of an hour later, Li Lizhi looked up. "You are right, Tenth Brother. What must I do?"

"You just need to provide the capital. Five hundred strings for a ten percent share. Don't think it's too little; you will recoup your investment within a year."

"Five hundred strings?" Li Lizhi was startled. It was not a small sum for only a ten percent share. However, she quickly agreed. Li Shen had saved her mother; regardless of whether it made money, she would treat it as a gesture of gratitude. "Very well. Five hundred strings it is."

"Good. Prepare the money, and I will send someone to collect it tomorrow. I have my own arrangements for the rest."

After chatting for a while longer, Li Shen rose to take his leave. It was already afternoon, and he had much to do.