Chapter 104: Chen Yan Wants to Find a Bodyguard

"Restaurants, drinks, stir‑fried tea—that's only a beginning; I have plenty of ways to make money, and you'll see later."

"And…" Chen Yan recalled the little girl named Li Yuwan, and laughed, "Doing business isn't as simple as you think; some matters don't have to be solved through marriage."

"Cultural invasion through commerce can achieve a similar effect, perhaps even better."

Li Chunfeng was startled by what he heard, recalling that after meeting Li Yuwan today he had asked Chen Yan: since you don't like that method, what do you intend to do?

Chen Yan replied that he was only a minor county marquis, and now wanted nothing else but to expand his trade and do business with more people.

At the time Li Chunfeng didn't think further, assuming Chen Yan had agreed to help Li Yuwan, so he wished Chen Yan's business to grow ever larger, ideally scooping up all the world's wealth.

Now, hearing this again and thinking it over, Li Chunfeng understood.

Perhaps back then he not only decided to help Li Yuwan, but also voiced the manner of assistance.

Although Li Chunfeng didn't quite grasp what it meant to use trade for cultural invasion to achieve an effect similar to marrying Li Yuwan off.

He chose to trust Chen Yan.

Li Chunfeng thought for a moment and asked, "Mr. Chen, would you mind revealing a bit to this humble Daoist about how you plan to make money from the aristocratic families?"

"Just a little is fine."

"Grand Historian, you're trying to pry into my business secrets," Chen Yan said with a laugh.

But unexpectedly, Li Chunfeng hurried to explain, "Mr. Chen, I have no such intention; I'm merely curious."

"After all, aristocratic families aren't fools; earning enough from them won't be easy, and making them willingly pay can't be done through ordinary trade."

"I am genuinely curious about this and have no intention of probing secrets."

"If Mr. Chen is unwilling to speak, just consider that I never asked."

"Look at you, look at you," Chen Yan pointed at him with a smile, "You'd only said a few words, and now you're suddenly so serious?"

"Weren't you just a child of over four hundred months ago?"

Li Chunfeng: "......"

"Fine, I certainly can't tell you everything, but sharing a little is no problem," Chen Yan said with a grin.

"I wonder, Grand Historian, do you recall the Glass Phoenix we saw today?"

Li Chunfeng's eyes widened instantly, understanding Chen Yan's meaning: "Mr. Chen, you don't still have that kind of Glass Phoenix, do you?"

"No," Chen Yan shook his head.

Li Chunfeng didn't know why, but upon hearing "no" he breathed a sigh of relief.

Giving that Glass Phoenix to Empress Changsun is fine, but selling it to aristocratic families would be a huge problem.

Then again, finding even one Glass Phoenix in the world is a tremendous blessing; where would a second one come from?

He asked, "Since Mr. Chen no longer has a Glass Phoenix, why bring it up?"

Chen Yan replied, "Just because I don't have it now doesn't mean I can't make one!"

"Didn't I tell you before?"

"That kind of thing is only considered a treasure by you, but actually its cost is still lower than the sculptor I hired."

"As long as you find the right method, I can produce as many as I want; any phoenix, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Azure Dragon, Qilin can be made!"

Chen Yan's eyes held a hint of meaning, "When the time comes, I'll tweak the inscription below so the imagery matches the Five Surnames Seven Wishes Clan; do you think they'll be able to sit still?"

Li Chunfeng's mouth twitched, already beginning to mourn those aristocratic families.

"From what I see, the issue isn't whether they can sit, but how mad they are."

"Mr. Chen, do you really know how to make glass?"

Glass, in the Tang Dynasty, is something countless royal descendants and nobles covet.

If Chen Yan truly could craft glass, Li Chunfeng couldn't even imagine how much wealth he would later possess.

Chen Yan spread his hands, "Isn't that obvious?"

"Could it be that you really think I obtained that Glass Phoenix by sheer coincidence?"

Hearing this, Li Chunfeng didn't know what to say, opened his mouth, and finally sighed, "Mr. Chen truly is a prodigy."

His intuition told him Chen Yan's preparations certainly aren't limited to glass.

But that has nothing to do with him now.

Anyway, he also dislikes the aristocrats; seeing them suffer makes him happy before he can even react.

As for anything else, Li Chunfeng didn't want to ask further; today's gains already far exceeded his expectations.

He must return and ponder Chen Yan's words carefully.

"......"

"Then let's stop here for today, Mr. Chen, this humble Daoist takes his leave."

Unwittingly, the two had circled the Weinan Bo Fu several times, and now they found themselves back in front of the main hall entrance.

Li Chunfeng also took his leave.

Chen Yan tried to keep him, "Since you're already here, why not have a meal at my place before you go?"

Li Chunfeng shook his head, "No, I've already wasted Mr. Chen a lot of time; how could I stay any longer?"

"When I return and fully understand Mr. Chen's words, I will certainly visit; by then I hope you won't turn me away."

Chen Yan clicked his tongue, "Alright, proper Grand Historian, since your mind is set, I won't be courteous."

"Rest assured, after you leave, I'll have someone remove the threshold of the Weinan Bo Fu so you can walk in effortlessly next time."

Li Chunfeng couldn't help but laugh a bit, then solemnly bowed to Chen Yan and stepped away.

Watching his departing back, Chen Yan was silent for a moment, then let out a slight sigh.

Don't be fooled by how easily he talks to Li Chunfeng; if he truly intends to act, many things must be done by his own hand to materialize.

He estimated he only had this tranquil period left before his marriage to Gao Yang is completed.

Once he marries Gao Yang, Li Shimin will likely arrange for him to enter the court as an official.

Thinking of this, Chen Yan fell into contemplation.

Should I… get a guard?

In the past his name was obscure; apart from Empress Changsun and Li Chengqian occasionally thinking of him, no one cared at all.

Naturally there was no need to worry about danger.

But now it's different, having gone through Sizi, Du Ruhui, and today's events at the birthday banquet.

He feels he must now pay attention to safety.

"Who should I find?"

Names flickered through Chen Yan's mind; after half a day of deep thought, finally he smacked his forehead and thought of someone.

"Damn, how could I have forgotten the white‑robed valiant general of the Three Arrows of Ding Tian Mountain?"

"......"