Chapter 328: I

Coming out of Lizheng Hall, Gao Yang still wore a puzzled expression.

She didn't even know what the Empress was up to, why she suddenly valued the introductory work Chen Yan compiled so much, and after learning she knew little, she even complained about the noise and drove her out.

Why is that?

The unschooled Gao Yang didn't understand at all.

But she's also bold, didn't think much, and plans to come back tomorrow to gauge the situation.

What she cares about most is still Chen Yan's affairs.

Ran back because she's angry?

Ran back because she misses home?

Impossible!

Gao Yang would love to be with Chen Yan every day; she wouldn't return over some trivial thing.

The reason she returned to the palace was to help probe Li Shimin and Empress Changsun's thoughts.

On the other hand, Li Lizhi, upon learning Gao Yang had returned, hesitated for a long while, then chose to stay inside.

The later it got, the more uneasy Li Lizhi became; before she could figure out why Gao Yang returned, she didn't want to take any risks, only wanted to wait calmly to marry Chen Yan.

As for Chen Yan…

After Gao Yang left, he let himself go a little.

He spent his days eating and drinking with the three brothers who had come back from Weinan County, ignoring everything else.

Thus, time quickly arrived at the eve of the grand wedding.

Chen Yan cheerfully clinked cups with Cheng Chumo and the other two, preparing to take his bride, when a lone figure silently appeared before them.

"Hey, Commander Li, can you walk with a little more noise?"

Chen Yan just felt a toothache, "You always do this, it's really scary."

Li Junxian ignored Chen Yan's complaint, speaking formally: "Marquis of Weinan, His Majesty has an urgent matter and asks you to enter the palace; please follow me."

Cheng Chumo and the other two looked at each other, then glanced left and right, as if they hadn't heard.

Chen Yan choked, "What urgent matter?"

"I don't know; I am the one responsible for escorting you into the palace."

Li Junxian, expressionless, said: "Marquis of Weinan, please hurry, don't keep His Majesty waiting."

"...... You say that, I'm a bit scared; can we not go?"

"What do you think?"

"...... Alright, is it by horse?"

"By horse!"

"Two horses?"

"One!"

Chen Yan: "......"

Damned horse!

"......"

Ganlu Hall, brightly lit.

Li Shimin sat at a desk in a side hall, with a seat opposite, as if waiting for a guest.

Soon, Li Junxian arrived with the guest he was waiting for.

However, the guest's first words left him both laughing and crying.

"Your Majesty, am I about to be beheaded?"

Chen Yan hunched his head, looking on the verge of tears.

The previously subdued atmosphere was instantly broken, becoming cheerful.

Li Shimin laughed, "What nonsense are you spouting now?"

"Who wants to chop off your head?"

"Not really?" Chen Yan peeked.

"Nonsense, roll over here and play a game with me!"

Li Shimin took out a board and black‑and‑white pieces from below, too lazy to chat with Chen Yan.

Chen Yan froze for a moment, then straightened his back, glared fiercely at Li Junxian, and strode to sit opposite Li Shimin.

"Hehe, playing chess face‑to‑face with His Majesty, I guess I'm making progress."

Behind him, Li Junxian felt helpless; he was merely following orders.

He hoped the Marquis before him wouldn't hold a grudge over his earlier attitude.

"Hmm, this familiar feeling—I haven't felt it in a while."

Li Shimin laughed, "You kid still have a knack for flattery."

After speaking, he nudged the direction of a piece with his chin.

"Don't say I don't give you a chance; you choose first."

"Then I'll take white." Chen Yan, unabashed, chuckled, "I just like white."

During the Zhenguan era, white moved first.

Li Shimin knew this shameless fellow would choose that, but he didn't mind.

After all, when he played before, even if he let the opponent choose, they would, out of respect for his rank, pick black, so the outcome was obvious.

After Chen Yan placed his piece, Li Shimin picked up a black stone, nonchalantly said, "Zi An, tomorrow is your and Lizhi's grand wedding; after the wedding it will be December, soon the Zhenguan Year Five."

"Next year, what are your plans?"

"Next year?" Chen Yan said, his tone wistful, "We'll see. If conditions permit, early next year Weinan County should be ready to open the first Money Shop."

"And some of our systems should also be put into practice."

"I'll try to give you, next month, a development plan for Weinan County over the next three years; you can review it then. My idea is that after three years, if our system works well, we should commence full implementation immediately."

"Having a plan is fine," Li Shimin said after listening, and the black piece in his hand fell.

"Zi An, last time, I asked you which historical emperor you most admired, and you answered well."

"How about you guess which emperor I most admire?"

Chen Yan laughed, "His Majesty, there's no need to guess; you've already excelled in martial arts, so what's left is naturally civil governance."

"Then Han Wendi is unavoidable."

Li Shimin said in surprise, "Kid, your guess is indeed spot on. Not bad; the emperor I most admire is indeed Han Wendi!"

"Many say Han Wendi can be called a benchmark of his generation. What do you think?"

Chen Yan replied, "I've heard that claim as well; like others, I agree with it."

"Otherwise, no one could bear the posthumous title 'Wen'."

"But..." Chen Yan shifted tone, "Han Wendi is ultimately a thing of the past; for us, he's already a very distant figure."

"Letting the predecessors be the sole standard is not good."

"If you also excel in 'Wen', achieving the pinnacle of civil and military governance, then from now on the benchmark will be you."

Li Shimin looked at him deeply, "Then will you help me?"

Chen Yan was startled, dropped a piece, "His Majesty, I will always help you."

Li Shimin felt moved, his gaze softened, and said word by word:

"Zi An, I, too, will help you......"

His tone was light, but Chen Yan heard sincerity in it.

For some reason, Chen Yan suddenly seemed a bit at a loss.

I will help you!

The brief five words, Chen Yan had said to Li Chengqian many times.

The purpose was to give Li Chengqian confidence, repeatedly telling him that he had his own support behind him.

No matter what, he would stand behind the other party.

However, unconsciously, Chen Yan seemed to have heard the same five words from Li Shimin's mouth many times.

Then, what is Li Shimin's purpose?

Is it the same as his own?

Chen Yan feels it is, but it also seems a bit different from what he says to Li Chengqian.

When Li Shimin says those five words, it seems there's something extra......

Something extra... that makes him believe the other's meaning......

Chen Yan's lips slightly part, his heart feeling warm.

"His Majesty, I......."

"No need to say more!" Li Shimin cut him off, "I understand, I don't blame you!"

Chen Yan fell silent for two breaths.

"His Majesty, I don't mean that; I want to say."

"I won!"

Li Shimin:?

He looked down at the board and saw that Chen Yan's five white pieces were already connected.......

Damn!

What the hell is this bastard thing?

"......."