Chapter 340: Trying to Play Big

Huh~

Finally home, and I've escaped another disaster.

Stepping through the familiar front door, Chen Yan's heart fully settled back into his belly.

Meanwhile, Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were completely fooled by themselves on the way home.

The last flaw of the Wujing Riders has been patched; with these two talented eccentrics and Su Dingfang, great things can be accomplished!

Thinking of that, Chen Yan felt a surge of joy; on the road, the maidservants greeted him respectfully and asked a couple of extra caring questions.

But he hadn't expected that those two caring remarks would provoke a bizarre, snide retort from Gao Yang, who seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Yo, our County Magistrate is truly kind, modest and courteous, treating the servants so gently—truly the Tang Dynasty's number one dashing gentleman.

How fortunate I, a little lady, am to be able to marry you.

I bet the ancestors of my Li family down below are laughing themselves mad.

Chen Yan: "......"

I don't know whether your Li family's ancestors down there are laughing madly, but I do know that if you don't go back, you'll probably get cut!

Tsk!

Gao Yang looked rather disdainful, paying no mind to the threat.

Chen Yan, unable to bear it any longer, scolded: "It's freezing cold—can you just settle down?"

"Look at how big your belly has gotten?"

"Isn't staying inside fine?"

"Must you come out to show off?"

"Why not freeze you turtle‑grandson to death?"

Just then, Li Lizhi, who had been waiting for Chen Yan to return, walked over, heard the words, and hurried to explain: "Husband, Sister Gao Yang is worried about you, so she's waiting here for your return."

She said in a teasing tone: "It's so cold; if it weren't for worrying about you, given Sister Gao Yang's temperament, she'd have already curled up in bed."

Chen Yan didn't understand Gao Yang's tsundere nature at all, he just hadn't called her out on it.

After all, a tsundere little princess must save face.

But Li Lizhi had already spoken it, so there was nothing to be done.

Chen Yan remained silent, staring at Gao Yang intently.

She stuck out her neck and asked, "Who worried about him?"

Having her little thought exposed, Gao Yang forced a smile through the awkwardness: "The night is beautiful tonight; can I go out to look at the stars?"

Chen Yan looked up; the sky was pitch black—where could any stars be?

He raised an eyebrow, stayed silent, but a faint teasing smile curled at his mouth.

Gao Yang's face flushed even more, an utter embarrassment.

Li Lizhi found it somewhat amusing, and unwilling to let her sister keep freezing outside, she pulled Gao Yang back inside.

"Alright, let's drop this. We'll look at the stars later; let's go back inside to warm up first."

Chen Yan shook his head helplessly, ordered the servants to prepare a basin of hot water, and then followed.

My wife may be simple, but she's loyal as a hound and a horse.

What more is there to say?

Just pamper her.

Reward her by letting her enjoy Lord Chen's foot‑pressing service party~

"......"

Staring at Chen Yan patiently washing his feet, Gao Yang's gaze grew increasingly odd.

She had always known Chen Yan especially liked this, and she often obliged him.

But she had thought that after Chen Yan married Li Lizhi, he wouldn't cling to her any longer.

She hadn't expected that after washing for Li Lizhi a few times, Chen Yan would bounce back to wash for her again.

Gao Yang just couldn't understand.

She looked up at Li Lizhi, who sat at the table in the distance, staring intently at the item in her hand, ignoring this side, then leaned down slightly and whispered, "Chen Yan, why do you like washing me so much?"

"Isn't Li Lizhi even smaller?"

Since that day of mutual exposure, Chen Yan has become reckless, caring little about such things.

He curled his lip and said, "Small isn't necessarily better; I think yours is the most perfect......"

"Heh!" Though pleased inside, Gao Yang let out a light chuckle, "Watch out that Li Lizhi says you're playing favorites; then I'll be sure to add extra fire."

"Sigh~"

Chen Yan sighed lightly, wiped the water from Gao Yang, then said, "Sometimes, I think you're truly wonderful; though your tsundere mouth is a bit tough, there's no one in the world better than you."

"But sometimes, damn it, I really want to hammer you to death!"

Gao Yang didn't get angry, smiling, "Likewise, you're no different at all."

"Otherwise, how would the Grand Historian say that we two are destined by heaven?"

"I..." Chen Yan was about to speak when Li Lizhi's anxious voice came over.

"Husband, this isn't right, is it?"

"This National Heirloom Jade Seal seems to have a missing corner!"

Li Lizhi, clutching the jade seal, rushed over and pointed at one corner, "Look, this part is clearly damaged, it was repaired later."

"No way?" Gao Yang heard, couldn't quite believe it, leaned in to look, and indeed found it to be so.

One corner of the National Heirloom Jade Seal is broken, appearing to have been post‑hoc repaired with gold.

"How could this happen?"

The Heirloom Imperial Seal actually has damage?

Gao Yang murmured.

Chen Yan rolled his eyes and gave each of the two a head crack.

If you had read more books regularly, you wouldn't have asked such a stupid question; it's a shame you're still Imperial Family princesses.

Don't you know the Heirloom Imperial Seal was already damaged at the end of the Xi Han?

Later, Wang Mang ordered skilled artisans to repair the broken corner with gold, so the Heirloom Imperial Seal is also called the gold‑inlaid Jade Seal.

This is clearly recorded in the historical records.

"I see," Gao Yang said, enlightened, then he didn't care any more.

Anyway, Chen Yan saying she's uncultured wasn't the first time; he's gotten used to it.

Li Lizhi, however, was obviously a bit embarrassed.

As an Imperial Family princess, being unaware of such historically recorded, relatively important matters really shouldn't happen.

Fearing Chen Yan would continue, Li Lizhi quickly changed the subject, saying, "Husband, since you delivered the Heirloom Imperial Seal to the Father Emperor, why did the Father Emperor give the Heirloom Imperial Seal back to you?"

"What else could it be?" Chen Yan smiled, "Just to make a big show."

"Otherwise, given your Father Emperor's temperament, he would have tucked it away properly long ago and then looked for every chance to flaunt it everywhere."

"Where would he give it to me?"

"...... Uh," Li Lizhi didn't know what to say.

But on further thought, she realized Chen Yan's words made sense; this indeed was something Li Shimin could have done.

In the past, he had obtained a high-quality crystal goblet and could flaunt it to Du Ruhui and the others for several months.

Li Lizhi suddenly felt a resentment that he didn't contest it.

But after all, he's her own Father Emperor, so she thought it was fine.

Gao Yang, puzzled, asked, "What does Father Emperor's desire to make a big... mean?"

"It's just the literal meaning," Chen Yan shrugged, "Your Father Emperor wants to shine at the New Year's Day grand court meeting, so he grabbed me to serve as labor."

"Can you be more specific?" Gao Yang said impatiently.

"Heh, you ask me!"

"Heh, you're ugly, but you think…"

"Tsk, I......"

Li Lizhi slapped her forehead.

Sigh, it's starting again.

"......."