Chapter 466: Li Shimin: You Kid, Your Heart Is Truly Dark

"You're back?"

At the Duke of Wei's residence, as soon as Chen Yan arrived home, Li Lizhi came to greet him.

That made him feel rather emotional.

In the past, it had always been Gao Yang who did this job; although the words she received each time were unpleasant, she was almost never absent, which satisfied him.

After all, whether pleasant or not, it ultimately made him realize that someone at home was waiting for him.

"Hmm, I'm back."

Chen Yan smiled, "Didn't you say yesterday you wanted to exercise with Gao Yang? How was it? The experience was okay, right?"

Li Lizhi replied, "It was fine; the first time felt quite tiring, but a short rest will do. Gao Yang is indeed much stronger than me."

"Hmm." Chen Yan was not surprised and said casually, "It's natural that Gao Yang is stronger than you; she has a better constitution. Take your time, no need to rush."

"By the way, where are Xiao Sizi and Chengyang?"

"Sizi..." Li Lizhi sighed, "Sizi finished her homework and is probably playing now; Chengyang is with Xiao Qingyue."

When Chengyang first lived with them, he often played with Xiao Sizi, but later he gradually started playing with Xiao Qingyue, who is his own age.

Xiao Qingyue loves studying; she spends every day delving into the knowledge Chen Yan taught her. As Chengyang interacts more with her, he no longer loves to play.

Li Lizhi feels immensely gratified that Chengyang spends time with Xiao Qingyue instead of idly playing with Sizi all day.

Now her attitude toward the two younger sisters could be described as completely opposite.

"Tell them to get ready; this afternoon I'll take you all back to the Imperial Palace for a visit." After a few days back in Chang'an, Chen Yan plans to see Li Shimin.

"Back to the palace." Li Lizhi's eyes lit up at the words.

After all, that was the home she had lived in for a long time, and she inevitably missed it.

Then, recalling something, she asked curiously, "Are we going this afternoon? Is it a bit urgent? Or did you discuss something with the aristocratic families that requires a quick trip to the palace?"

"What was discussed..." Chen Yan said oddly, "Nothing much; they just sent me money, connections, and favors."

"I previously misunderstood the aristocratic families; they really are good people!"

Li Lizhi's eyelid twitched.

Aristocratic families?

Good people?

What a niche term!

Her father emperor has struggled with the aristocratic families for many years, trying every method to pull them apart, wishing they could be eliminated swiftly, and now they become 'good people' in your mouth?

Of course, Li Lizhi also understood that Chen Yan's words came from a place of confidence.

She stopped asking further, noticing Chen Yan's lips were rather rosy and he smelled of hot pot, and silently poured him a cup of warm water.

At that moment, Sizi happened to pass by the doorway.

Seeing this, Chen Yan darted forward in a single stride and snatched the little braid on her head.

Sizi looked bewildered, "Big brother, why are you grabbing my hair?"

"Heh heh, of course I'm afraid you'll run away!" Chen Yan crouched, smiling darkly, "This afternoon I'm taking your big sister to the palace and will drop you off on the way. I caught you now so you won't run!"

Sizi twitched her nose, and a faint dimness appeared in her bright eyes.

"Fine, since big brother wants me to go back, I'll go back then."

"But after I leave, big brother, you must take good care of yourself~ don't keep getting angry with big sister Gao Yang; getting angry will ruin your health."

"Lizhi big sister is being uncooperative, you should be more tolerant; she truly cares about you, wants to talk more with you, wants to stay with you longer."

"I really envy the two big sisters; as my husband's wives, they never give him peace of mind, unlike me, who only feels sorry for my husband."

Chen Yan: "......"

Li Lizhi: "......"

"......"

In the afternoon, Chen Yan took some gifts and then rode a carriage with the whole family to the Imperial Palace.

At that time, Li Shimin generally had nothing to do and was very idle.

So when they entered the palace, after someone reported it, they met Li Shimin and his wife in the imperial garden.

Seeing her four daughters return, Empress Changsun immediately became delighted, smiling so broadly she could not close her mouth.

Li Shimin gestured for Chen Yan to come over, and he, without hesitation, sat down very casually.

Empress Changsun gathered her daughters, asking all sorts of questions, joyfully cradling Xiao Sui An, while Li Shimin had Wushe pour Chen Yan a cup of tea.

"I heard you kid got involved with the aristocratic families; this morning you even dined with the Cui family at the Drunken Immortal Tower."

"Huh?" Chen Yan exclaimed, "Your Majesty, your information is so prompt—how do you already know about something that just happened this morning?"

"Heh heh," Li Shimin said irritably, "It's not that my information is prompt; the matter has already spread, and it's hard for me not to know."

"I see," Chen Yan said, not surprised, smiling, "The aristocratic families are rushing to give us favors; I have no reason to refuse."

"Their situation is currently dire; if this continues, one day they'll be swept away by you, so they're now looking for a way to break the deadlock. Look, they've found it in me."

"What exactly is the situation?" Li Shimin nodded.

"It's like this..."

Chen Yan explained to Li Shimin how the aristocratic families approached him, what was discussed today, and gave a full overview of the situation.

After understanding, Li Shimin thought for a moment, frowned, and said, "Actually there's no need for this. As you said, as long as the status quo is maintained, the aristocratic families will eventually collapse."

"Why take the risk?"

"Cooperating with them, even though there are greater benefits and a chance to solve the aristocratic families' problem faster, also carries the risk of leaking silk-weaving technology."

"You have many important assets in Weinan County."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, you still don't understand me?" Chen Yan said with a faint smile, "Cooperating with them, I have absolute confidence. The aristocratic families have existed for many years, with deep foundations; many things they possess are exactly what we urgently need."

"For example, stable channels through the Si Chou Zhi Lu; if the Tang Dynasty can control them, it would be another silver mine, enough to bring continuous wealth to the Tang Dynasty."

Saying this, he paused, "As for the technology leak… hehe, His Majesty, have you perhaps forgotten that I also have a research institute?"

"They have indeed been researching new, better weaving machines, and now have preliminary results."

"Moreover, in the future we will have hydraulic silk‑reeling machines, hydraulic large spinning wheels, and other inventions that can greatly improve efficiency."

"Just a hydraulic weaving machine, I even intend, depending on the situation, to hand it straight to the aristocratic families."

"After all, if you want the horse to run, you have to feed it some grass, right?"

Li Shimin grew increasingly strange in expression as he listened.

So, does that mean the aristocratic families are destined to take a huge loss this time?

Just imagine, they exhausted great effort, paid a series of costs, and finally managed to obtain Chen Yan's current hydraulic weaving machine for making silk cloth.

But Chen Yan then produced an even more efficient new technology, along with a series of supporting facilities, causing the silk‑cloth production efficiency to increase severalfold.

Who could possibly withstand that?

Li Shimin smacked his lips, "You kid, your heart is truly black!"

"......"