Chapter 137: Escaping Disaster? No, It's Fortune at the Door

"Come, His Majesty, let's be a bit careful, Awo."

After getting off the carriage, Chen Yan stumbled as he helped His Majesty down, then arranged the footstool and let Li Lizhi and Empress Changsun down.

His Majesty saw his everywhere‑flattering demeanor and couldn't stop the twitch at the corner of his mouth.

"Weren't you quite resolute before?"

"Weren't you originally going to directly accuse the Dali Temple Deputy Minister?"

"Wasn't I going to have you cut down?"

"Why has it become like this now?"

His Majesty glanced at his increasingly beloved daughter and silently sighed.

"How could he not understand what Chen Yan is scheming?"

"It's just that he has indeed tacitly approved, and Empress Changsun also expressed support."

"Mainly because Li Lizhi herself likes it, and Chen Yan has shown the proper attitude; if he were to disagree, wouldn't that be like beating a pair of lovebirds?"

"Alright, look at you, still Lord Bo!"

"Don't waste time, let's go in."

His Majesty glared at him in irritation, but Chen Yan was unbothered, cheerfully leading the three of them in from the back of the auction.

Long before His Majesty said he wanted to take a look, he had already prepared everything in advance.

The building's location was never in a bustling district, and it was at the back gate, with hardly anyone nearby.

As long as they entered through the back door they had prepared, it wouldn't draw attention.

As for the auction hall, Chen Yan also had Xiao Shunzi ready.

Entering the building His Majesty had prepared, Chen Yan led the three of them to an exquisitely decorated room on the third floor.

On the wall opposite the room hung a carefully prepared silk curtain, through which one could see the entire auction hall below.

Although the view wasn't crystal clear, this was already the limit of what Chen Yan could achieve.

They arrived a little late; the hall below was already full of people, and the chatter and clamor could be heard even on the third floor.

At the front sat mostly low‑ranking minor nobles, while at the back were many wealthy merchants.

On the second floor a circle of Taishi Chairs was arranged, occupied by people of distinguished status, each accompanied by a page or maid.

As for the third floor…

Besides their room, the rest were basically reserved for aristocratic families or great clans.

His Majesty surveyed the room for a moment, then glanced down and said, "Kid, you've done a decent job with this, quite fitting."

"Of course," Chen Yan replied cheerfully. "If it weren't like that, how could we host those noble families?"

"Today they're the big masters, how could I not arrange things better?"

"Big master?" His Majesty could only laugh, "What big master? I'd say you're treating them like big fools."

"Your Majesty, you can't put it that way; one party is willing to strike, the other to take it. How can you say I treat them as big fools?"

The two chatted intermittently, while Empress Changsun silently contemplated the matter of Changsun Wujie, with Li Lizhi by her side.

"By the way."

His Majesty suddenly asked curiously, "Are you so sure that, by virtue of the Crown Prince's status, you can definitely attract the aristocratic families?"

He had naturally observed the Crown Prince's actions during this period, but His Majesty thought that, aside from the Li family possibly attending to give Cheng Qian face at the event,

other aristocratic families might not come, and even if they did, they probably wouldn't be of significant rank.

Thus he was somewhat doubtful.

Chen Yan spoke from the passage: "I'm not certain the aristocratic families will show deference to the Crown Prince, so I made several preparations in advance to guarantee we can attract them."

"And those who come will certainly not be minor figures!"

"Oh?" His Majesty raised an eyebrow, "Tell me."

Chen Yan was very straightforward today, answering whatever was asked. "First, I asked the Crown Prince to send invitations to many wealthy officials; under the Crown Prince's authority, most of these officials won't decline."

"Of course, this doesn't include the aristocratic families, so I made an additional arrangement specifically for them."

"We must understand that to attract someone, we can only appeal to what they care about."

"What do aristocratic families care about? Nothing beyond reputation, lineage, and how to expand their own influence."

"A while ago, news spread that a glass phoenix was received at the Empress's birthday banquet; people are now saying the Empress will rule the world, destined to be remembered in history."

"All I need is to send people to spread the word; at today's auction a glass treasure symbolizing refined culture will appear, in no way inferior to the Empress's phoenix."

"Will the aristocratic families be able to sit still?"

His Majesty was momentarily stunned, his attention shifting to Empress Changsun.

"Is that really how the rumors go?"

Even Empress Changsun was surprised; she hadn't expected the glass phoenix to have such an effect.

Chen Yan patiently said, "Your Majesty, this is essentially a difference in perspective. You focus mainly on the glass's intrinsic value, forgetting its current rarity and the significance of a phoenix soaring at the Empress's birthday banquet."

"How so?"

"It's like the jade seal passed down from the First Emperor; its symbolic meaning far exceeds its material value."

"Now I understand," His Majesty sighed lightly, exclaiming, "The Imperial Jade Seal…"

Just as Chen Yan said, the Imperial Jade Seal's symbolic significance far surpasses its own value.

Since the First Emperor, the seal has become the symbol of legitimacy for Central Plains dynasties, engraved with the eight characters 'Mandated by Heaven, May Longevity and Eternal Prosperity.'

If someone were to obtain the Imperial Jade Seal, they could even claim to be the person of Heaven's Mandate.

Regarding symbolism for an emperor, perhaps only the legendary Xuanyuan Sword could outweigh the Imperial Jade Seal on this land.

However, the Xuanyuan Sword has never appeared; legends remain legends, while the Imperial Jade Seal truly exists.

His Majesty's claim to the throne was never legitimate, so over the years he has been sending people to search, hoping the Imperial Jade Seal could restore some of his reputation.

Unfortunately, after all this time there is still no news.

He was silent for a moment, then laughed, "It seems the noble family today is inescapably doomed."

"Ah, His Majesty, that remark is inappropriate."

"Hmm?" Li Shimin said in surprise, "What is inappropriate?"

Chen Yan replied earnestly, "Your Majesty, I have not made any false propaganda; everything I said is true. Today, a crystal Xuanwu symbolizing cultural aura will definitely appear."

"If the noble family buys this crystal Xuanwu, won't their own cultural aura skyrocket?"

"That should be a sign of good fortune arriving, how can one say it's inescapably doomed?"

"......"