Chapter 154

Although it was said in a joking manner, she finally got a concrete answer.

But this answer left her unsure whether to be happy or sad.

Gao Yang sneered, "I just said you're a bastard, and I wasn't wrong at all."

"Should I be happy for you or feel sorry for you?" Chen Yan chuckled, "Having a bastard husband."

She immediately turned her head, "Xiao Sizi, older sister and your older brother have something to say, why don't you go play over there for a bit?"

Xiao Sizi had wanted to run away since Gao Yang arrived; now letting her go, she would certainly agree.

She waved her hand and took off running.

After Xiao Sizi left, Gao Yang gave a cold snort, "If that's the case, then I'll just tell you directly."

"I cannot accept my husband having other women; this household can have only one mistress—me!"

Of course, this is just a small test to see whether Chen Yan is willing to back down.

While saying these words, she had even prepared herself to face Chen Yan's anger.

But unexpectedly, Chen Yan wasn't angry as she imagined; he calmly nodded.

"I can understand your feelings, but telling me this is useless; you should go tell your father emperor."

"If I'm not mistaken, the imperial edict of marriage will arrive at our home soon."

"Whether this household has you as its mistress is not for me to decide."

Gao Yang's eyes widened in disbelief, "You mean the father emperor agreed to Li Lizhi?"

She never expected that her mere probe of Chen Yan's attitude would yield such a big surprise from him.

No wonder!

No wonder Li Lizhi has been so quiet lately, remaining calm even at her wedding, and even sending him blessings.

As it turns out, she really did persuade the father emperor.

Gao Yang forced down her anger and said, "In this, the husband must have also contributed, right?"

"After all, she is the Tang Dynasty's eldest legitimate princess, Li Lizhi, of exemplary virtue and beauty."

"She treats the husband that way; if he didn't put in some effort, it would be hard to explain."

"...... Uh." Chen Yan didn't know what to say.

He couldn't very well tell Gao Yang that he and Li Lizhi, to some extent, were mutually pursuing each other, could he?

Wouldn't that make her furious?

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Gao Yang grew even angrier.

At the same time, she knew she could wait no longer; they must have a child as soon as possible.

Otherwise, once Li Lizhi really comes to marry in, it won't be clear who will be the mistress of this household.

Having made up her mind, she gave him a cold glance, "I don't even know whether Li Lizhi will regret marrying you later; what's the difference between that and living alone in an empty room?"

"If I weren't afraid of hurting your self-esteem, I wouldn't even bother calling you those two names."

?

Chen Yan wore an expression of disbelief.

No, sis.

When I typed the question mark, it wasn't me who had a problem; it was you.

Afraid of hurting my self-esteem?

Is this even right, damn it?

Since it's a major matter, Chen Yan couldn't just lie back; he rose straight from his chair and said, "Zhao Tang, did your brain get smashed by bird droppings falling from the sky when you went out this morning?"

"Or did you accidentally pour water into that ornament on your neck while washing your face?"

"How could you forget so quickly how you begged for mercy last night?"

"Want me to help you recall it?!"

Bringing up this matter, Gao Yang's aura weakened considerably.

Recalling what she had said, she wished she could dig a hole and bury herself.

Yet she still stubbornly retorted, "So what?"

"Anyway, I won't accept it."

"Tsk!" Chen Yan was utterly convinced.

This bitch of a woman really can't be indulged; she's soft all over, except that her mouth is incredibly hard.

If Qin Shi Huang had used her mouth to build the Great Wall, it wouldn't have been brought down by Meng Jiangnu's weeping.

"Alright, I don't know what you're scheming; your childish reverse psychology won't work. Later, when you go with me to pay respects to my parents, we can discuss anything tonight."

Upon hearing that, Gao Yang fell silent at once.

Petty thoughts aside, the important matter certainly cannot be delayed.

"Fine, we'll talk about it tonight."

"......"

"Guanyin Maid, have you been hiding something lately?"

After Li Shimin finished handling court affairs, with time approaching noon, he went to Lizheng Hall as usual.

But he found Empress Changsun sitting dazed on the soft couch, not noticing his entrance.

This wasn't a sudden occurrence; it had been since the day they returned from the auction.

At first he thought it was because Gao Yang was about to marry, and Changle would marry later, so Empress Changsun was worried and thus didn't pay attention.

But now he increasingly feels something is off.

Empress Changsun came to her senses, gave an apologetic smile, "Sorry, Er Lang, I was just thinking about something."

"Ah." Li Shimin waved his hand, "Between us husband and wife, why bother saying these?"

"You have something on your mind; you might as well say it—I might be able to offer some suggestions."

"This..." Empress Changsun hesitated somewhat.

What is she thinking?

It's naturally what Chen Yan said to her that day.

Naturally the one who is worried is her elder brother, Changsun Wujì.

However, she really couldn't bring herself to tell Li Shimin about this.

Li Shimin immediately saw that Empress Changsun seemed unwilling to tell him, and out of trust in his wife, he did not press further.

Instead, he changed the subject and complained that Chen Yan hadn't come to see him the day after his wedding.

Empress Changsun, of course, understood Li Shimin's thoughts; she forced a smile and said, "Er Lang, Zi An and Gao Yang are after all young people; it's understandable that they wouldn't come the day after their wedding."

Besides, didn't you tell Gao Yang yesterday not to come?

How come you've changed your mind today?

Li Shimin: "Ah, never mind—married daughters are like water spilled; these two ungrateful ones, if they don't come, they don't come."

I don't even care if they come.

Let's not talk about them.

Immediately, Li Shimin became excited, chattering on to Empress Changsun about how much money he had gained from the auction, and saying that even if they needed to build flood-control works and buy grain, there would still be a surplus that could be saved, so that if disaster struck that region, the court would have funds.

Empress Changsun listened quietly, and the more she listened, the less pleasant she felt.

With such a large sum, Li Shimin's thoughts were all about how to help the people, considering the welfare of all.

He truly is a qualified ruler.

After a moment of silence, Empress Changsun let out a long breath and figured things out.

Since her husband is a qualified ruler, she naturally ought to be a qualified empress.

Thinking to this point, she spoke in a joking tone: "Er Lang, the other day when you went to the auction, Zi An asked me a very interesting question."

Do you know what it is?

"Oh?" Li Shimin pressed, "What is it?"

Empress Changsun's gaze was infinitely complex as she said: "He asked me what the greatest achievement of Wencheng is..."

"........"