Chapter 144: Sometimes I Truly Think You Are a Reincarnated Immortal

On the other side, while Li Shimin and Chen Yan were discussing the terms, the auction had already reached its middle‑late stage.

The other treasures Chen Yan brought, as well as the collection Li Shimin offered, were already bought off.

Seeing the guests' interest gradually fade, You Lan curved a smile, "Everyone, the warm‑up is over; up next, none will be inferior to the opening glass Black Tortoise."

"Believe it, it will certainly not disappoint you all."

Treasure not inferior to the glass Black Tortoise?

The crowd's eyes flickered, falling into thought.

Logically, the glass Black Tortoise is already the world's topmost treasure.

Aside from rumors that Empress Changsun once obtained a glass Phoenix, there is probably no treasure that can compare with the glass Black Tortoise.

Moreover, most importantly, You Lan's words revealed a crucial piece of information.

"None of the upcoming items will be inferior to the opening glass Black Tortoise."

What does that mean?

Could it be that more than one item can match the glass Black Tortoise?

Realizing this, many guests could no longer stay calm.

"Miss You Lan, please stop teasing and bring out the lots quickly, so we can open our eyes."

"Right, Miss You Lan, we can't just take your word for it and believe there are treasures that can stand beside the glass Black Tortoise, can we? You have to show us the items so we can see the actual objects."

"Tsk tsk, I have no idea what it could be that You Lan claims is not inferior to the glass Black Tortoise—could it be another glass piece?"

The guests at the venue shouted in unison, demanding You Lan bring the lots up quickly.

At the same time, one person unusually guessed something, but unfortunately no one believed it.

After all, seeing two glass items of this size and quality is already extraordinary; how could they appear consecutively?

No one would believe it.

You Lan stopped teasing, clapped lightly, and the familiar four big men emerged from behind carrying a black‑cloth‑covered object.

I have to say, this scene is far too familiar.

The crowd froze for a moment, gradually realizing a possibility.

"No… maybe?"

Someone stared in disbelief at the black‑cloth‑covered object.

Meanwhile, on the third floor, the aristocratic families' eyes lit up.

You Lan scanned the room, unfazed by their chatter, and pulled the black cloth away.

A glass White Tiger, roaring toward the sky, suddenly appeared before everyone.

Just like the earlier glass Black Tortoise, this glass White Tiger's craftsmanship is flawless; every hair detail is vivid, and from a seated view one can even sense the ferocious glint in its eyes.

"Sss! There's really more glass, and it's the White Tiger among the four sacred beasts."

"I never expected this auction could produce two glass sacred beasts at once; could the glass Phoenix Empress Changsun obtained also have come from the Crown Prince's hands?"

"Not impossible; look at this White Tiger—it's unbelievably lifelike. If it weren't perfectly still, I would have thought it were a real White Tiger."

"Hey, now we have a good show: the opening glass Black Tortoise went into the Cui family's collection, and we don't know which family will snap up this glass White Tiger. The drama's on."

You Lan lightly brushed the White Tiger's back with her finger, giggling, "Lot eleven: glass White Tiger, starting price ten thousand guan, each bid must increase by at least one thousand guan."

"Now I announce, the auction begins!"

"Twenty thousand coins!" As soon as You Lan finished speaking, Li Baiye impatiently placed a bid.

The earlier glass Black Tortoise was bought by someone from the Cui family; he will not give up on this glass White Tiger no matter what.

Although in concept this White Tiger cannot match that Black Tortoise, it is still one of the four great sacred beasts, its value incalculable.

Since we've encountered it, how could we let it go?

Of course, there are many who share Li Baiye's sentiment.

Several major aristocratic families immediately launched a fierce contest......

"......"

In Room One, Li Shimin looked smugly at Chen Yan before him.

"How does that sound?"

"If you agree to marry Gao Yang and then take office in the court, I will issue an edict to marry Li Zhi to you."

"Moreover, I will provide Li Zhi with a larger dowry; once she is married, those will be yours."

Only now does Li Shimin finally reveal his purpose.

He is not merely playing a whim with Chen Yan; he intends to present a final condition.

This condition, well......

Naturally, it is to have Chen Yan enter the court as an official.

This is what he and Empress Changsun have planned from the start.

However, after many encounters, the Li Shimin couple found that Chen Yan seems to dislike officialdom, his temperament extremely lazy.

Clearly possessing peerless talent, yet he willingly stays home as a petty Marquis of Weinan.

Li Shimin also fears Chen Yan will refuse to enter the court, so he has no real choice but this scheme.

Chen Yan scowled, "Your Majesty really makes a good calculation; if I agree, I fear I can never be a carefree wanderer again."

Li Shimin's face softened as he patted his shoulder, no trace of the earlier anger, and said warmly:

"Zi An, you are sufficiently clever, your ideas are unlike those of ordinary people, and your way of dealing with others is also vastly different from ours."

"To be honest, I sometimes can't understand you either."

Without waiting for Chen Yan's reply, he continued, "Since our first meeting, I have noticed you actually respect me a great deal, yet you are not afraid of me at all."

"Moreover, the respect you show differs greatly from that of others; most people respect me because I am the emperor, but you seem to respect me simply as a person."

You clearly have a strong background, being a second‑generation who grew up without anyone disciplining you, yet I have never found in you the overbearing arrogance that I see in other second‑generation heirs.

At this point, he seemed to recall something and sighed, "The Grand Historian once told me that he saw in your eyes a sense of equality, a truly genuine equality."

You do not treat servants as mere servants or slaves; you simply regard them as ordinary people who work for you, never lashing out at them as nobles do, but instead paying them on time, allowing them rest and to return home to visit relatives, and even when a servant errs you at most scold them a few words.

The Grand Historian said that in your eyes, the Crown Prince, the Princess, officials, second‑generations, servants, and even beggars are all the same.

It's as if everyone is just one head and two legs, with no real difference.

Thus you treat every person equally.

I do not understand your thinking, including Guanyin Maid and the Grand Historian; we all do not understand your thoughts.

Li Shimin suddenly chuckled at himself, "To be frank, sometimes I fully agree with Imperial Physician's words and think you might truly be a reincarnated immortal."

Otherwise, how could we explain your extraordinary attitude and thoughts?