Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

Twenty lifelike tricolor glazed pottery pieces were delivered to Dou Fengjie, and the young master craftsman Yan Lide couldn't help but sigh, "Nephew, this deal has been a huge loss."

In his view, how could mere tricolor glazed pottery compare to a promotion?

Because Yan Xuansui and Dou Fengjie were classmates and had a good relationship, Yan Lide used a more casual, informal address instead of their official titles.

Dou Fengjie chuckled as he brewed tea: "Uncle, you don't know, but all the merits combined won't earn you a single promise from the emperor. It would be better to exchange them for tricolor glazed pottery."

Yan Lide knew that he had channels to monetize the sancai glazed pottery, and could only sigh.

The number of tricolor glazed pottery pieces that Yan Lide secretly delivered to Dou Fengjie was limited, with a maximum of one piece per month.

After all, the technique of firing tricolor glazed pottery was not very mature, and there were many defective products. In addition, a certain number had to be put into storage, becoming legal burial items for the powerful and wealthy.

The fact that the Imperial Workshop could exchange an extra 500 shi of rice each month was an enormous blessing for the artisans of the Imperial Workshop.

After all, although artisans and musicians were not slaves, their personal lives and future prospects were still restricted, and the chances of making extra money were too slim.

Those who have never worked as artisans do not know the hardships they endure.

Yan Lide held the Yuezhou celadon bowl, took a sip of Shuzhou compressed tea, and said with a hint of disdain, "The bowl is a top-notch one, and the tea is a decent compressed tea, but the way you brew it... you should really learn from it."

Dou Fengjie smiled but remained silent.

There were so many intricacies to tea preparation during the Tang Dynasty, with each region having its own methods and making slight adjustments based on individual preferences.

For someone as unfussy as Dou Fengjie, loose tea costing fifty coins per pound was acceptable, and he also preferred top-quality Huzhou compressed tea.

"The emperor sent someone to my residence to ask for the hand of the eldest daughter of Prince Yue, Tai, to become his princess."

"I've been feeling very uneasy, afraid that I might ruin Auntie's life. My dear nephew is always very opinionated; could you perhaps offer some advice?"

Yan Lide finally posed a difficult question.

"Uncle, this teacup and the compressed tea were gifts from the King of Yue. If my words are slightly inaccurate because of this, please consider them carefully."

"The lady is still young and not suitable for marriage; this is the first reason."

"Qi Da is not a suitable match, and the rules that members of the imperial clan must follow may not be acceptable to the eldest daughter-in-law; this is the second point."

"The emperor intends to use the Prince of Yue as a whetstone, for the victor is king and the loser is villain. The example of the Princess Consort of Hailing is still fresh in our minds. This is the third point."

Dou Fengjie's words struck Yan Lide's heart like a heavy hammer, shattering his last shred of hope.

As a father who dotes on his daughter, Yan Lide suddenly felt that it was good to let his aunt remain unmarried.

The first two points are just a smokescreen; the third point reveals the true intentions.

Princess Yang, wife of Li Yuanji, is still suffering in the Taiji Palace, yet she still holds the title of Princess Consort of Hailing County. Li Yuanji in the afterlife must be furious.

Thinking about Yang's fate, Yan Lide felt a chill run down his spine.

It would be safer for her to marry into an ordinary family of equal social standing, and Yan would not need to sell her daughter for that vague and illusory wealth.

"But, if I decline the emperor's kind offer, won't he be displeased?"

Yan Lide hesitated.

This is the legendary dilemma of wanting both ways; nothing in this world can be a win-win situation for everyone, and some people will always suffer losses.

Dou Fengjie smiled and said, "My uncle's residence is in Xinghua Ward, Chang'an County. To the north of the ward, in Tongyi Ward, there is Xingsheng Nunnery, which was built on the former residence of the retired emperor. In Yongchong Ward, Wannian County, there is Sandong Nunnery."

In Xingdaofang, Wannian County, there is a Taoist temple called Zhide Nuguan Temple. Unfortunately, it has never had a good reputation. The female Taoists wear heavy makeup and look frivolous.

Yan Lide quickly figured it out.

Dou Fengjie's intention was for Yan Wan to use the pretext of becoming a nun to escape her marriage, and then return to secular life at an appropriate time.

Interestingly, there was an unspoken rule in the Tang Dynasty that a woman who had left home to become a nun could return to secular life without being restricted by conventional views on marriage. She could choose a good husband regardless of social status or simply choose not to marry at all.

Therefore, it was not uncommon for daughters and granddaughters of officials of the fifth rank or above in the Tang Dynasty to become nuns.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Sacrifices even issued a special regulation: women and granddaughters of officials of the fifth rank or above who become nuns are not allowed to participate in official fasting or religious ceremonies.

That is, not interfering.

Once he became a monk, the emperor could no longer arrange marriages for him.

With his worries gone, Yan Lide enthusiastically began discussing the construction with Dou Fengjie.

The Yan brothers' proudest skills were painting and construction.

Among them, construction can be considered a business passed down from father to son.

Yan Lide spoke eloquently: "If we are to build a palace or villa, it should be situated by mountains and water, in accordance with the stars above and the geography below..."

Dou Fengjie listened patiently to Yan Lide's boasting, and casually added, "The environment of the house is also very important. If it's full of snakes and insects, that's a real headache."

"In addition, if you want to escape the summer heat, you can't choose a site in a river valley or a low-lying area."

Yan Lide was speechless.

These two questions were not only unthinkable to Yan Lide, but also unthinkable to Yuwen Kai, the master architect who built Daxing City—also known as Chang'an City—during the Sui Dynasty.

Although Chang'an City had many intricacies and rules, the imperial palace was built in the lowest-lying area.

Therefore, in the summer, Taiji Palace was so hot that people would sweat profusely. Li Shimin would be so hot that he would jump up and down, and every year or two he would go to Jiucheng Palace in Linyou County, Qizhou to escape the summer heat.

Upon closer reflection, Yan Lide broke out in a cold sweat.

If I were to build a palace for the emperor according to my original ideas, I would be in big trouble!

"By the way, two suspicious-looking men were captured near the Imperial Workshop, who are said to be craftsmen accompanying the Japanese envoy to Tang China."

The Lieutenant Colonel's Office was responsible for boats, vehicles, weapons, livestock, and miscellaneous equipment; it was a standard military industrial unit.

The Japanese's intention in spying here was as obvious as a louse on a monk's head.

-----------------

The 22nd day of the first lunar month.

Outside Chunming Gate, there is the West Canal with Dragon Head.

Dou Fengjie felt as if he were bathed in a spring breeze, leading the envoys who were still in the Tang Dynasty by a step, and his words were full of warmth.

"Chang'an's boiled mutton has a history of over a thousand years, and it's been enjoyed from ancient times to the present..."

"The gourd head soup, improved by Master Sun Simiao, is delicious and not greasy at all. I crave a bowl of it every day..."

Dou Fengjie's rambling manner made him seem like just a gluttonous young man.

Yet, he wielded a powerful bow with a three-stone capacity and, without batting an eye, shot and killed a scruffy fox, sending chills down one's spine.

The deputy envoy to Tang China, Hui Ri, clasped his hands together and chanted Buddhist mantras in a low voice, as if he truly could not bear to see the killing of living beings.

When it comes to killing whales and killing people, the Japanese have never shown any mercy.

A hint of unease flickered across the narrow face of the Japanese envoy to Tang China, Inu no Mitasugi, and his large eyes, deep-set, darted left and right.

Unfortunately, the Honglu Temple sent a travel document to the Left Guard and borrowed a troop of infantry to ensure the safety of Dou Fengjie and his party.

One type of official document for equal relations is the official document used for coordination between two departments at the same level.

Fifty infantrymen wasn't many, but they were elite troops who had followed Li Jing in his campaign against the Turks. The infantrymen were well-organized, and several others were sent out to scout out the surrounding area.

Under such conditions, no messenger would dare to act rashly. Even if they needed to urinate, they would have to call out "I need to relieve myself" beforehand.

Dou Fengjie chatted with the envoy about local customs and traditions, and before he knew it, the conversation drifted to Japan: "I've heard that Mount Fuji breathes fire every few years?"

The topic was not inappropriate, and Dou Fengjie's expression remained unchanged, but Inugami Mita felt a rush of blood to his head, as if he was mocking Japan.