Chapter 164: You Get Whatever You Want, But Not the Death‑Immune Token

"Ah~ happiness is a day, sorrow is a day, and the bickering is another day."

Chen Yan lazily reclined on the familiar lounge chair, gazing at the swaying tree shadows in the courtyard, and couldn't help a soft sigh.

After Gao Yang married in, the tranquil Bo Mansion was completely disrupted, and from top to bottom everything was markedly different from before.

Like a jubilant husky plunging headfirst into water.

Splashes, commotions, upheavals, water droplets scattering, ripples spreading in circles, with no calm in sight.

Strangely enough, Chen Yan found himself gradually enjoying this feeling.

"World affairs are hard to predict…"

"Zi Anxiong, sighing about life again?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind, carrying a hint of amusement.

Chen Yan didn't even turn his head and said, "Brother Cheng Qian, how do you have time to come over today?"

"Could it be that you've figured out His Majesty's intention?"

Li Chengqian's arrival surprised him, because Li Chengqian had already come to Weinan Bo Fu yesterday.

Given his status, he shouldn't be frequently leaving the palace.

Visiting again today, it must be about what wasn't clarified yesterday.

Li Chengqian walked to his side, tilted his head slightly and said, "Zi Anxiong, are you really not getting up?"

"I'm not the only one who came today."

"Hm?" Chen Yan was startled, turned around, and saw Du Gou, the son of Du Ruhui, had also arrived.

"Hey, Young Master Du, why are you here? Come, this way, please."

Saying so, he immediately stood and ushered Du Gou to the pavilion over there.

Li Chengqian: "......"

"Well, why the different treatment then?"

"When I arrived you were too lazy to even stand, but after learning someone else was here, you became enthusiastic?"

Li Chengqian smiled, shook his head, and wasn't angry about it.

"Isn't Chen Yan's conduct simply that he doesn't regard him as an outsider?"

"Young Master Chen, it's been a few days; your complexion… seems off," Du Gou said unreservedly, walking alongside Chen Yan, teasing, "Could it be that you've been overworking lately?"

Chen Yan: "......"

Li Chengqian laughed heartily, "What overworking?"

"Look at him—he'll sit but never stand, lie down but never sit; where could he be overworking?"

"I think he's just exhausted his body from tilling fields."

Having said that, both Du Gou and Li Chengqian laughed.

"Joking, would I exhaust my body?" Chen Yan boasted, "As a young man determined to inherit the fine virtues of our Yanhuang descendants, how could I be worn out by farming?"

"The fields being ruined by over‑farming is more plausible."

"Men, when they gather, just talk about that nonsense."

Chen Yan naturally wasn't shy.

The three laughed and chatted, walked to the benches inside the pavilion and sat, and Li Chengqian finally explained his purpose.

"Zi Anxiong, you're right; Ah Ye's intention has indeed been thoroughly investigated."

"In short, the reason Ah Ye did all this is to pave the way for you."

Du Gou nodded in agreement, feeling the same sentiment inside.

He had already learned His Majesty's plan from Du Ruhui, and naturally understood that Chen Yan would become his direct superior.

Moreover, this superior was exceptional; one could say the entire Weinan County was under his sole authority.

Even Crown Prince Li Chengqian couldn't intervene.

One can imagine how much power and trust His Majesty bestowed upon Chen Yan.

Chen Yan nodded and said, "I've guessed part of it; His Majesty probably wants me to treat Weinan County as a small‑scale pilot, right?"

Li Chengqian and Du Gou didn't quite grasp what a small‑scale pilot meant, but they understood the general idea.

"Exactly, Zi Anxiong, Ah Ye wants to see whether your so‑called economic circulation can actually work."

"He hopes to see some results, not just talk on paper."

"I understand." Chen Yan wasn't surprised, saying, "I've already speculated before; good horses and bad horses, you have to pull them out for a stroll to know."

"I just didn't expect His Majesty's boldness to be so great, that he could take Weinan County as a pilot, grant you a fief, and turn Weinan County into a One‑Word Hall."

He laughed, "His Majesty also isn't afraid that I'd just be all talk and end up losing everything."

Li Chengqian said earnestly, "Zi Anxiong, both I and Ah Ye trust you, believing you won't just be all talk."

Du Gou said, "Indeed, not only the Crown Prince and His Majesty trust you, my father and I also trust you."

"Marquis of Weinan, rest assured; when the time comes, leave all the trivial matters to me, and you just go ahead with implementing your proposed economic circulation."

"That does make me a bit flattered and surprised."

"However, before that, I have a few requests."

Li Chengqian: "Zi Anxiong, go ahead and speak frankly; I'm here today because Ah Ye asked me to. Whatever you need, just say it—if we can satisfy it, we will; if we can't, we'll find a way."

"Sss~"

Chen Yan was startled.

"If it can be satisfied, satisfy it; if not, find a way to satisfy it."

This sentence's value is exceedingly high.

Looking back since the Zhenguan era, perhaps only Li Jing leading troops against the Eastern Göktürks received such treatment.

It seems Li Shimin values this matter more than he imagined.

Chen Yan was about to speak when Li Chengqian suddenly remembered something, slapped his forehead, and hurriedly said, "Right, Ah Ye said, Death‑exemption Gold Medal excluded."

Chen Yan: "......"

Du Gou: "......"

Excluding the Death‑exemption Gold Medal for those who see ghosts, does that mean we can't have a little more trust between people?

Does Li Shimin think he's still that out of tune?

Chen Yan muttered a few words to himself, then said seriously, "First, apart from His Majesty, no one may point fingers at Weinan County. Second, if we want to pilot economic circulation, many policies in Weinan County need to be changed."

"For example, I may have to redesign the tax system; of course, I can guarantee I won't oppress the common folk or reduce revenue.... …"

Chen Yan spoke confidently, laying out each of the requirements he had already thought of.

Li Chengqian and Du Gou listened quietly; even when hearing about changing taxes, neither interrupted.

Although Chen Yan had not yet discussed his concrete plans, the two could at least discern the general direction from these demands.

Moreover, whether these demands can be granted is not up to them.

At most, they are just messengers; behind them, Li Shimin is the one who makes the decisions.

"How about it, Brother Cheng Qian, can you agree to these requests?"

After a long while, Chen Yan finally finished, fixed his gaze on Li Chengqian and said.

Li Chengqian was silent for a moment, then spoke frankly, "I can't give you an answer now; I still need to return to the palace and report to Ah Ye, and let him decide."

"No problem, go ahead."

Du Gou interjected at this point, "Marquis of Weinan, what if His Majesty doesn't approve your request?"

With that remark, Li Chengqian also became curious.

After all, several of Chen Yan's requests are indeed excessive, and Li Shimin may not agree.

He also wanted to know what Chen Yan would do if Li Shimin refused.

"Refuse?"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow and said, "If it's refused, so be it; these are just embellishments, they can be had but aren't essential."

"Besides, I was hoping to marry another of His Majesty's daughters; if he refuses, what can I do?"

Du Gou: "......"

Li Chengqian: "......"

"......"