Chapter 69: Li Lizhi: How Do You View the Marriage with Gao Yang?

Does Li Shimin not know that giving birth is dangerous?

He certainly knows.

Although he doesn't usually pay much attention to such matters, he has heard of many women who died in childbirth.

It is no exaggeration to say that a woman's labor is like a walk through the Gate of Ghosts.

As for the loss of Qi, Li Shimin says this is the first time he's heard of it, but upon reflection he can understand.

Carrying a child for ten months is already hard, and delivery is a near‑death ordeal; it would be strange to claim there is no bodily depletion.

In the past, when Empress Changsun gave birth to Li Chengqian and Li Lizhi, there were no issues; moreover, Li Shimin's favorite was Empress Changsun, whom he visited most often, so he never noticed the problem.

It wasn't until today, when Chen Yan pointed it out, that he suddenly realized.

Empress Changsun held her husband's hand and said gently, "Er Lang, do not blame yourself; as a wife, bearing you children is only natural."

"A depleted body can be restored, especially since we have Zi An, the little divine doctor, with us."

"I recall His Majesty saying that Zi An could cure even Cai Duke, who suffered from intestinal abscess and was gravely ill."

"I am merely a bit unwell; what's the big deal?"

The more she said it, the more uneasy Li Shimin felt.

After calming himself, he looked at Chen Yan and asked, "Zi An, what do you think should be done now?"

Chen Yan replied immediately, "The most important thing now is to keep Her Majesty in a pleasant mood, eat well, sleep well, and nurture the fetus peacefully."

"Leave the rest to me."

Empress Changsun is already pregnant; it cannot possibly be aborted.

We can only wait for the child to be born, and then tell Li Shimin to be more careful in the future, lest Empress Changsun keep bearing children.

If he puts in some effort, he can always keep Empress Changsun healthy.

Li Shimin heard his words, felt much better, and a smile returned to his face: "With your words, I am far more at ease."

He has personally witnessed Chen Yan's abilities.

As the Empress said, Chen Yan could even cure Du Ruhui, who was gravely ill, so what does merely adjusting the body matter?

Having said everything, Chen Yan saw no need to linger and prepared to take his leave: "His Majesty, since Her Majesty the Empress is fine, I will depart now."

Li Shimin waved his hand, signaling him to go.

But just as Chen Yan was about to step out of Lizheng Hall, Li Shimin remembered something and called out to him.

"Wait a moment!"

Chen Yan halted, not understanding what Li Shimin wanted.

"Zi An!"

He hurried to Chen Yan's side, his expression gentle, and said, "I heard from Li Lizhi that the restaurant's opening business is excellent today."

"I wonder, how much has it earned so far?"

As he spoke, excitement flashed in Li Shimin's eyes.

Today Li Lizhi returned and told him that, shortly after opening, the restaurant had taken in seven to eight hundred guan.

Seven to eight hundred guan!

A day's earnings should be at least three thousand guan, right?

Li Shimin immediately did the math.

Three thousand guan a day, thirty thousand guan in ten days, ninety thousand guan in a month.

A year would be a million guan, right?

At a sixty‑percent profit margin, that would be six hundred thousand guan.

Of course, he knew this was naive, since costs weren't accounted for.

Buying ingredients for hot pot and grain for brewing wine all cost money.

After all deductions, ending up with two hundred thousand guan would be a blessing.

Even so, he was very satisfied.

All of it was his own money, not needing to go to the Ministry of Revenue, but directly into his personal treasury.

How could he not be satisfied?

Chen Yan looked at Li Shimin and couldn't help but laugh: "Your Majesty, on the first day of opening, the preparation was insufficient, causing the doors to close early."

"Revenue was just over five thousand guan."

Li Shimin widened his eyes and exclaimed, "Only five thousand guan?"

Chen Yan nodded.

Empress Changsun and Li Lizhi were both stunned at that moment.

They had imagined the restaurant could earn a lot in a day, but never expected it to be this much.

Li Shimin could no longer contain himself, "You call five thousand guan 'only'?"

He recalled how, back then, taking even a thousand guan out of his personal treasury pained him greatly.

Chen Yan actually called a daily profit of five thousand guan 'only'!!

"Your Majesty, I think you may have misunderstood something," Chen Yan explained. "Of the five thousand guan, most is membership revenue; the actual drink and hot‑pot fees are a small portion."

"Tomorrow's business will surely be good again, but it won't bring in this much money."

"Because membership means guests temporarily deposit money in the restaurant, so when they return they need not pay again."

"It's not that the amount we receive today equals our profit."

Li Shimin's excitement faded as he listened, and after calming down he asked, "Then what do you think the restaurant's daily revenue is roughly?"

Chen Yan thought for a moment and said, "If we don't count other branches, the profit of Zui Xian Lou alone per day is roughly around one thousand guan."

Li Shimin burst into an uncontrollable grin, "Very good, very good, a thousand guan is fine; after all, didn't you say that once the tavern, tea shop, and other restaurants open, true profits will begin?"

Go ahead and do it with peace of mind; I support you.

Afterward, the two chatted for a while; Chen Yan gave Empress Changsun a few instructions, then said he was leaving.

Li Shimin summoned Wushe in and had him take Chen Yan out.

However, not long after he and Wushe left Lizheng Hall, Li Lizhi suddenly came running after them.

"Marquis of Weinan, please wait."

Chen Yan, who was stopped for the second time, turned around helplessly and asked, "Your Highness, is there something you need?"

Li Lizhi seemed hesitant, holding something in her hand; just as she was about to speak, she remembered that Wushe was still nearby.

She immediately gave Wushe a look.

He hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself to say, "Your Highness, it's already late; Marquis of Weinan is a man, and this place is in the inner palace—I fear it would be improper for me to withdraw..."

Lizheng Hall is located in the heart of the inner palace, and most of the residents nearby are concubines or princesses.

In the dead of night, how could he dare let Chen Yan wander about alone here?

Li Lizhi naturally understood Wushe's concern and calmly said, "Wushe, please rest assured; I will personally escort Marquis of Weinan out of the palace—you need not worry."

"Your Highness...... this probably isn't proper......"

"I have already spoken with Father Emperor and Mother Empress; Wushe, you need not worry about propriety."

Li Lizhi directly invoked Li Shimin and Empress Changsun; Wushe had no recourse and could only withdraw.

After Wushe left, Chen Yan gazed at that breathtakingly beautiful face and asked softly, "Your Highness, may I speak now?"

He didn't know what Li Lizhi intended, but he felt her expression was somewhat off.

She seemed...... quite nervous?

Chen Yan couldn't be bothered to think deeply; his mind was full of going home to eat beef.

Li Lizhi feigned calm and said, "Actually, there's nothing much; I just have a few questions I'd like Marquis of Weinan to answer."

"'Fine, let's talk as we walk.' Chen Yan pointed toward the way out, then slowed his pace and walked on by himself."

The moonlight was like water, and their shadows overlapped and then separated on the blue stone slabs.

Li Lizhi lifted her skirt slightly, and as she took light steps, a faint fragrance drifted about.

"'Your Highness, ask whatever you wish; I, as a subject, will keep nothing hidden.' Chen Yan spoke first."

Li Lizhi posed the question casually: 'I want to ask Marquis of Weinan, what do you think about your marriage to Gao Yang?'

"........"