Personally visit the Imperial Artisans' Bureau.

Seeing that Li Zhi stubbornly refused to reveal what the gift was, Li Shimin had no choice but to temporarily suppress his curiosity.

The next day, after completing his studies, Li Zhi immediately asked his personal eunuch, Liu An, to accompany him to the Imperial Workshop, which was responsible for crafting furniture and other items for the palace.

He chose to come in person because he still hadn’t figured out the measurement standards used in the Great Tang. In order to ensure that his ideas could be realized perfectly, he could only describe in detail the dimensions he wanted directly to the craftsmen.

Although Li Zhi was still just a child, his favor in Li Shimin’s eyes was an open secret at court. Thus, his arrival at the workshop quickly alarmed Pei Feishu, the supervisor of the Imperial Workshop.

Upon meeting, Pei Feishu greeted him with deep respect, “Your servant Pei Feishu pays respects to Your Highness the Prince of Jin. To what do we owe the honor of your visit today?”

Li Zhi returned the courtesy with proper decorum before speaking, “I have come to ask for your help with something, Supervisor. I hope you will not hesitate to assist me.”

Seeing such a young prince so well-mannered and knowledgeable, Pei Feishu could not help but think, “No wonder His Majesty cherishes the Prince of Jin so dearly. He is already excelling beyond many other princes.”

Though he was thinking this, Pei Feishu’s actions did not falter. As he led Li Zhi deeper into the workshop, he said humbly, “Your Highness is too polite. If you need anything, a word would suffice; there is no need for you to come in person.”

Li Zhi shook his head. “I am still young and unfamiliar with many matters. To avoid causing you unnecessary trouble, I thought it best to come in person.”

This was simply a sincere thought from Li Zhi, but in Pei Feishu’s ears, it took on a different weight.

The Imperial Workshop was a unique place. On one hand, its purpose was to craft the finest objects for the palace, so its craftsmen were the best of the best and highly trusted by the royal family. On the other, since they constantly dealt with nobles and royals, they were often made to endure unreasonable demands.

Yet today, Li Zhi had come himself, concerned about causing them inconvenience. This unexpected thought moved Pei Feishu, a high-ranking official, more than he could express.

With these words, Pei Feishu’s attitude became even more deferential. As he continued to lead the way, he asked, “May I ask what Your Highness wishes to have made? I can immediately summon the steward in charge.”

Hearing this, Li Zhi stopped in his tracks and asked, “Would it be possible for you, Supervisor Pei, to personally show me the woodworking workshop? I am quite curious about such things.”

Pei Feishu hesitated, “To be honest, Your Highness, the woodworking shop is rather rough and untidy. I fear it may not be suitable for you to see.”

Li Zhi shook his head. “That’s not right, Supervisor. Ever since I was born, I have enjoyed the fruits of these craftsmen’s labor. How could I remain ignorant of their work?”

Again, Li Zhi’s words struck Pei Feishu deeply. He gazed with a complicated expression at the small prince, whose head barely reached above his own knee. The prince’s clear and bright eyes revealed sincerity; it was evident every word came from the heart.

This attitude was what left Pei Feishu so astounded. Within the vast palace, setting aside the consorts, there were already over a dozen princes and princesses. Nearly all had, at some point, requested the workshop to make something special just for them.

Yet, not even the adult princes or the crown prince himself had ever shown interest in how these craftsmen worked. The Prince of Jin, on his very first request, wished to see the craftsmen at their labor. Whether out of curiosity or some other motive, it already placed him above his siblings.

Not wishing his reaction to show, Pei Feishu hurriedly gestured for Li Zhi to follow. “Since Your Highness is interested, allow me to take you, though the space is truly unsightly and you mustn’t stay long.”

Li Zhi waved it off. “It’s fine. If the craftsmen can work there, surely I can take a look.”

He was not joking. How could he proceed without a thorough look? He intended to make a business out of furniture; without understanding the current methods, how could he hope to manage costs or improve efficiency?

When they entered the workshop, Li Zhi’s eyes immediately fell on a group of carpenters gathered around a massive log, busily at work. It seemed they were preparing to raise it upright.

While Li Zhi was still puzzled, Pei Feishu explained, “They’re about to saw the log into planks.”

Li Zhi nodded, then shifted his gaze around the workshop, carefully observing each step of the process.

Since everything was done by hand, the air wasn’t too dusty, but wood shavings covered the floor, making it hard to find a clean spot to step.

Ignoring the dust and din, and refusing even when Liu An tried to lift him, Li Zhi strode around the workshop on his short legs.

Though he had no knowledge of carpentry, his understanding of mechanics soon allowed him to spot several areas where efficiency could be improved. He made mental notes of each, intending to study and design equipment to address these issues in the future.

After his inspection, Li Zhi didn’t forget to praise the craftsmen before Pei Feishu, complimenting their skills and dedication.

Then, right there, Li Zhi personally gave detailed instructions to one of the foremen Pei Feishu had summoned, specifying the dimensions and style of the furniture he wanted made.

Li Shimin stood just over six feet tall, so Li Zhi instructed the carpenter to craft a chair perfectly suited to his father’s stature, ensuring his feet would rest flat on the ground when seated.

Using this as a reference, he also commissioned a matching desk for Li Shimin.

In addition, Li Zhi ordered several other pieces of furniture made to suit the average height in the Tang dynasty.

At first, Pei Feishu, who had been accompanying Li Zhi, did not realize anything unusual about these requests. But as Li Zhi continued to describe his ideas and the carpenter produced more and more sketches, Pei Feishu’s eyes gradually widened in astonishment…