Chapter 552: Chen Yan's Ten Thousand Guàn!

When the unflagged cavalry returned, Chen Yan was fully immersed in busyness.

Not only did the Ministry of Revenue need to tally various data and ledgers, but the other side also had to arrange the myriad chores after the unflagged cavalry's return, as well as the handling of Champa Rice.

Time flowed day by day, and in an instant it was the night of November 27th.

At this moment Chen Yan was still at the Ministry of Revenue, having just finished today's official duties, and stretched lazily.

After sitting still for a while, he stood up, ready to go back.

However, just as he left the Ministry of Revenue, he ran into two unexpected people.

"Grand Historian? National Teacher?"

The visitors were Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang.

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, glanced around, and said, "Seeing you like this, it seems you came specifically to wait for me. What's up? Anything?"

Li Chunfeng smiled lightly and said, "To be frank, Mr. Chen, Brother Yuan and I do have some matters we wish to discuss with you."

"Fine." Chen Yan nodded, tapped his chin toward the doorway, "Let's go, we can talk as we walk. I was just about to head back. Normally, Li Lizhi would have left food for me, so it's a good chance to go to my place for a couple of drinks."

Yuan Tiangang, hearing this, exclaimed in surprise, "Two drinks? What? We haven't seen each other for half a year—has Mr. Chen changed his ways? You never drank before."

"Alas, speaking too much only brings tears; better not mention it. Let's go, let's go."

Chen Yan let out a long sigh and ushered the two forward.

By now, the snow in Chang'an was already heavy; even though people often cleared it, a lot of drifts still remained on the ground.

Although they claimed to have business, Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang didn't speak at first, and Chen Yan remained silent as well; thus the three walked in silence, the snow crunching under their feet, leaving rows of footprints.

"Mr. Chen, the wind in Chang'an seems much stronger than it was when we left,"

Li Chunfeng turned his head and said something ambiguous.

Chen Yan gave a slight nod and replied, "It's natural; the changing of seasons and the turning of sun and moon are the norm. The wind of this world is like the heavens' mood—unfathomable."

"When you left, it was midsummer; now we've entered deep winter,"

"Stronger winds... are also normal,"

"Mr. Chen, do you feel cold?" Li Chunfeng asked again.

"Mr. Chen would feel cold, but Chen Yan wouldn't, because I'm still young and robust," Chen Yan joked, "Besides, I'm wearing clothes sewn by my wife, and there's always a bowl of hot rice waiting at home. Even in the coldest month, it's warm, so I naturally don't feel cold."

"Then... the two of us can rest easy."

Li Chunfeng was silent for a moment, then uttered a sentence.

In fact, everyone knew that the person before them was the source of all the storms, situated at the very heart of the tempest.

Yes!

The young man before them was indeed favored by Li Shimin, even to the point of being his sole favorite.

But isn't that also a kind of pressure?

Since returning to the Tang Dynasty and learning the recent situation, Li Chunfeng worried that Chen Yan couldn't bear such pressure, and that the path he would soon tread, though seemingly a road to the heavens, was riddled with thorns.

Now, hearing that he wasn't cold, that he wore his wife's sewn garments, and that hot rice awaited him at home, Li Chunfeng felt reassured.

"Mr. Chen, do you remember the little girl named Li Yuwan we met at Empress Changsun's birthday banquet?"

Li Chunfeng posed another question.

Upon hearing it, Chen Yan's steps faltered briefly.

How could he forget Li Yuwan?

She was Princess Wencheng, after all.

He has always kept that in mind!

"Of course I remember, but she was still young. Why does the Grand Historian bring her up now...?"

Yuan Tiangang said quietly, "Where there is cause, there is effect. All cause and effect were originally predestined, but Mr. Chen's appearance has disrupted everything..."

"Originally, the Tang Dynasty next year was supposed to continue recuperating, a situation that would have lasted several years, but now everything has changed; not only has it become incomprehensible to us, it also caught us off guard."

"If next year the Tang Dynasty mobilizes troops against Göktürks Hun and wins overwhelmingly, it's hard to guarantee what the other small states will think... Complete subjugation, secret alliances, or flattering gestures could all occur."

His words were diplomatic, yet enough for Chen Yan to understand.

Chen Yan came to a complete stop, bathed in wind and snow, tilting his head slightly, silent.

Cause and effect!

Cause and effect!

Where there's a cause, there's an effect!

A butterfly flaps its wings, stirring up more than just a simple storm.

The two seemed to be speaking of Li Yuwan, but were also reminding him that he is not omnipotent; the future holds many unforeseen circumstances.

"......"

The next day, November 28th, heavy snow swirled.

Today there is joy: Cheng Chu Mo takes a wife.

It was just that things had been truly hectic lately; after obtaining Cheng Chu Mo's prior consent, Chen Yan hurried back home after a brief audience, changed clothes, and then rushed with his wife and daughter to the Cheng residence.

By then, the bride had already been brought back, and the banquet had already begun.

Cui Clan laughed broadly, personally greeting guests outside.

Cheng Yaojin was also by his side.

Needless to say, his physique was indeed strong; after receiving ten lashes, he recovered surprisingly quickly, now looking as if nothing had happened.

As the couple welcomed guests, Cheng Yaojin caught a glimpse of two familiar carriages arriving in his peripheral vision.

He squinted, and instantly fell silent.

Soon the carriage stopped; Chen Yan, supporting his daughter Gao Yang and Li Lizhi, stepped down, saw Cheng Yaojin and his wife, and smiled as he approached to greet them.

"Uncle Cheng, Aunt Cui, congratulations, congratulations!"

"Ah! Zi An is here? Quickly, quickly, sit inside, sit inside, we're all family, don't be polite, ha." The Cui Clan's smile widened, and their mood clearly improved.

Cheng Yaojin, on the contrary, wore a scowl, his gaze sweeping up and down Chen Yan, and said, "What? Kid, today is your brother's grand wedding. I can understand if you don't help, but showing up empty‑handed is rather inappropriate, isn't it?"

"Tsk!" Upon hearing that, the Cui Clan snapped a hand onto his arm, "How dare you speak like that?"

"Is Zi An an outsider? Still empty‑handed—how come I never saw you give your son a wedding gift?"

Cheng Yaojin curled his lip, "This kid, day after day just eats and drinks for free."

Chen Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, "So, Cheng Bo Bo, does that mean if I don't bring a wedding gift today I can't even sit down for a meal?"

"Then what? You really want to eat and drink for free. If you don't bring a gift, at least give some cash."

The others were speechless at first, but then burst into laughter again.

Everyone knew the two were just sulking; it had nothing to do with any gift etiquette.

"Look at you, all worked up!"

Chen Yan's eyes twinkled with amusement, and he shouted, "Put it on the young master's account!"

"Chen Yan, ten thousand guan!!"

The remark silenced the scene for a heartbeat, then the atmosphere exploded, becoming uproariously lively.

Chen Yan tapped the second carriage behind him with his chin, signaled Cheng Yaojin with his gaze, then, chest out and head held high, led his wife and daughter into the manor.

Cheng Yaojin watched him go in, muttering softly, "He let this kid get on again."