Chapter 142: Your Majesty, This Is What You Forced Me To Do~

"Alright, next up, please present our second auction item......"

Since Liuli Xuanwu raised the auction's enthusiasm, even though the subsequent several items were not especially precious, they still attracted many bidders.

Moreover, Youlan was adept at gauging the guests' psychology, openly claiming that the later items were more valuable, even possessing a supreme treasure that could rival Liuli Xuanwu's.

Therefore, no one at the venue left their seat.

Even the half‑fuming Cui Minggan didn't leave.

As for Empress Changsun, she and Li Lizhi were already too busy to pay attention to the auction, silently watching the two men argue from the side.

"Damn, how could you act like that? Unload the mill and kill the donkey, unload the mill and kill the donkey!" Chen Yan glared at Li Shimin.

"What nonsense about unloading the mill and killing the donkey? When did I ever promise to marry Li Lizhi to you?" Li Shimin argued, "Never, right?"

"I have never said that, have I?"

"Everything is just your own speculation; how can you say I unloaded the mill and killed the donkey?"

"Why not count it?" Chen Yan was about to die of anger.

All the hard work he put in for so many days, was it all wasted?

Yes!

You indeed never said aloud that you would marry Li Lizhi to him.

But earlier at Cai Duke's residence, didn't everyone already understand tacitly?

How could one bully like this?

"His Majesty, this isn't a game. Over this period, I've put a lot of effort into this auction."

"I even risked offending the noble families for it."

"The reason I do all this, don't you understand why?"

"Stop messing around, please just agree."

Li Shimin's heart softened after hearing that.

Indeed, although this auction seemed insignificant, if Liuli later flooded, the noble families would eventually react.

By then, they might bear a grudge against Chen Yan.

This move truly put Chen Yan at great risk; it could be said he offended all the noble families.

Of course, Li Shimin had actually already discussed it with Empress Changsun.

As things have progressed, Li Lizhi is definitely to be married to Chen Yan.

In two days, Chen Yan and Gao Yang will have a grand wedding; now that he proposes to take Li Lizhi, Li Shimin should have smoothly agreed.

But today he was in a good mood and wanted to tease Chen Yan.

Seeing Chen Yan start to get anxious, Li Shimin was quite pleased and mockingly said, "Still the same line, I have never verbally agreed to you."

"Moreover, I have already married Gao Yang to you; as my son‑in‑law, shouldn't you help me?"

"Conversely, if the noble families want to deal with you, they must first get past me, right?"

Chen Yan: "......"

Seeing this, he could only speak flattering words, hoping Li Shimin would change his mind.

Unexpectedly, Li Shimin held his tongue firmly.

Whatever he said was useless.

Having no choice, he could only cast a pleading glance at Empress Changsun, hoping she would help.

However, to his surprise, the Empress Changsun, who had promised to help him when she arrived, was now indifferent.

Facing his pleading gaze, she merely gave a faint smile, then returned an encouraging look.

Chen Yan was completely stunned.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Why is it different from what I imagined?

Shouldn't it be that he proposes to marry Li Lizhi, and then you reluctantly agree?

Why not follow the usual script?

Li Shimin and his wife, watching Chen Yan frantically scratching his ears and cheeks, smiled knowingly.

Empress Changsun, of course, would not break her word; she merely saw that Li Shimin was just joking.

In her heart, she had probably already decided to marry Li Lizhi to him.

After all, just two days ago they were together pondering a suitable reason to send Li Lizhi over.

How could Li Shimin refuse at such a moment?

"......"

Chen Yan took a deep breath, indignant, "His Majesty, I am young, and young people act without any sense of proportion."

"I advise you not to force me!"

"Otherwise, the one who suffers will certainly not be me!"

Li Shimin glared.

It's infuriating, he still dared to threaten him.

Truly a perverse Tiangang.

Empress Changsun feared Chen Yan might do something foolish, tried to signal Li Shimin to stop, but it was already too late.

"What, do you still intend to rebel?"

"Then I wouldn't dare," Chen Yan honestly shook his head.

Joking, exchanging barbs with Li Shimin, how is that any different from vying for favor with Empress Ma?

This is not something a person should do.

Li Shimin hummed twice, "I guess you also don't have that gall."

He himself knew clearly, Chen Yan would absolutely not rebel.

The reason is simple: from the beginning, Chen Yan gave him his greatest asset for rebelling.

That is the salt-making method.

If anyone said Chen Yan wanted to rebel, Li Shimin himself wouldn't believe it.

"Alright, Zi An, since you don't want to rebel, hurry up and sit down."

"Once the auction is over, you can stay at home and wait in peace to marry Gao Yang."

"Lizhi, don't even think about it."

Chen Yan stared at him gloomily, "Your Majesty, are you really unwilling to agree?"

"I won't claim to have rendered meritorious service, but I can be said to have contributed my share to the Tang Dynasty."

"From start to finish, I never wanted high office and generous pay; I only wish to achieve a happy marriage with my beloved."

"You won't even agree to such a small request?"

Beloved woman?

Lizhi, who also guessed Li Shimin's thoughts from the side, upon hearing this, was overjoyed.

Although she and Chen Yan had already broken through that layer of window paper.

But she had never heard Chen Yan say he liked her.

Lizhi understood that Chen Yan probably saw her sincere affection for him, and mostly out of being moved decided to marry her.

In his treatment of her, Chen Yan likely held the same mindset as toward Gao Yang.

That is to wait until after marriage to slowly cultivate feelings.

As for this, Lizhi knew it clearly in her heart, and couldn't really be called disappointed.

Anyway, she had even considered the worst outcome; now that she can marry Chen Yan and have a chance to slowly cultivate feelings later, she is already quite satisfied.

However, she never expected that, just because Li Shimin was whimsical, she would actually hear these words from Chen Yan's mouth.

Lizhi only felt her cheeks burning, her heart as sweet as if she had eaten honey.

"A small request?"

Li Shimin retorted angrily, "You marry my two daughters, and you still call this a small request?"

"Look ahead— in the Tang Dynasty, who has ever married two princesses?"

Chen Yan, hearing that, let out a light sigh.

"Alright, Your Majesty, this is you forcing me."

Saying that, he slowly rose.

Li Shimin and his wife were puzzled about what he intended to do.

The next moment, amidst the couple's stunned gazes, he dashed forward, ran to Lizhi, opened his arms, and embraced the bewildered Lizhi.

Then he instantly activated woodpecker mode, frantically kissing Lizhi's slightly flushed cheeks.

While kissing, he shouted, "Your Majesty, this is all because you forced me!"

"Please don't blame me."

Li Shimin:!!!

"Damn it, you make His Majesty...... shut up!!!"

"......"