The Idle Man of Zhenguan Intercepts Wu Zetian at the Start

"Your Majesty, you have graciously permitted Dan'er to keep a hundred private soldiers. This has opened a dangerous door for the powerful and wealthy of the Tang Dynasty. I fear that Dan'er will be targeted by the censors and impeached day and night..."

Empress Zhangsun frowned slightly. Keeping a private army, even if it was approved by His Majesty, would probably cause trouble for Dan'er sooner or later.

Li Shimin's gaze was deep, and he laughed heartily:

"This young man has been abused since childhood, which has made him cowardly and timid. Even if he has some talent, he will hardly amount to anything. Now that he has Guanyinbi backing him up, I am merely using these hundred soldiers to embolden him."

"Within Chang'an City, there are many famous families. Not to mention a hundred armored soldiers, there are many who even keep thousands of guards. They just lack an extra layer of armor."

Li Shimin then let out a cold snort:

"These powerful families already have deep-rooted foundations, and they have formed alliances through intermarriage, making them an unbreakable unit."

"The scholars in the court all came from aristocratic families, and the rice, grain, salt, and iron in the market were all monopolized by aristocratic families."

"Chengqian is no match for them at all. That brat was willing to risk his life to save you, and Guanyinbi helped him become a rising star in Chang'an. He can't just do nothing, can he?"

"Let him stir up this stagnant water for me. Only by stirring it up into the open will I have a chance to change the current situation."

Empress Zhangsun stepped forward and took Li Shimin's hand, her gaze tender:

"Second Prince, I understand your worries, but Dan'er is only fourteen years old and easily manipulated. I'm worried that if he gets involved in these troubles again, these officials might force His Majesty to take action against him..."

Li Shimin patted Empress Zhangsun's hand, his face full of tenderness, and said meaningfully:

"Wu Zetian is the knife I've handed to that young man. I'll wait and see how capable she really is."

"But after all, this is still the Li Tang dynasty. As long as that boy doesn't rebel, I can spare his life. Besides, even if I can't win the argument with these officials, there's still the Empress's decree. Although the empress's family is not allowed to interfere in politics, it doesn't mean that the Empress is not allowed to meddle in the affairs of her relatives."

Empress Zhangsun's eyes lit up. Erlang's thinking was brilliant. His words were enough.

Snowflakes were falling in Chang'an, and the sky was beginning to darken.

The palace maids and eunuchs were quite sensible and had already left the hall.

……

"Erlang, my health is..."

"With Master Yuan's help, Guanyinbi will be unharmed..."

"Then Erlang, be gentle..."

……

Changsun Dan was completely unaware that while he was freezing to death, Li Shimin was working hard and diligently, and that the hundred soldiers he had been granted permission to serve were also part of a deeper scheme.

But the most important question right now is where to settle down.

Seeing Changsun Dan's embarrassment, Chun Chan stepped forward, took his arm, and giggled softly:

"Young master, where are you planning to take us? If we need a place to stay, Dongyao and I still have some money."

Changsun Dan blushed:

"How could I, a grown man, use a woman's money... How much do you have?"

Dongyao pursed her lips, trying hard not to laugh.

When Chun Chan smiles, her eyes crinkle, her nose wrinkles slightly, and two deep dimples appear on her rosy cheeks.

"Dongyao and I usually only keep one string of cash for emergencies. If you think it's not enough, young master, you'll have to go to the bank to get more."

Changsun Dan hopped and skipped through the snow, saying, "That's enough, that's enough. Consider it a loan from this county magistrate."

The three chatted and laughed, and soon left the imperial city. At the city gate, Liu Tiezhu and Xu Daniu were waiting there. When they saw Changsun Dan come out, they quickly went to greet him.

"Liu Tiezhu and Xu Daniu pay their respects to the magistrate."

The two bowed respectfully, and behind them stood a thin, small eunuch.

The eunuch simply nodded slightly and handed a key to Changsun Dan with both hands:

"By order of Her Majesty the Empress, I have been ordered to deliver a house in Dunhua Ward to the county magistrate."

Changsun Dan was overjoyed. His cheap aunt was a real lifesaver, and she was very generous, giving him a beautiful young woman and a house. If she could also give him some money, it would be perfect.

Seeing that Liu Tiezhu and his companion were still bent over, he stepped forward, put his arm around their shoulders, and said with a smile:

"Why are you here? I have already asked His Majesty for you. From now on, you are people of this county."

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree lowered his head and looked meek, but inwardly he wondered if this small county had a penchant for homosexuality. He glanced at Liu Tiezhu and his companion, both of whom were burly and had particularly coarse appearances—the county's tastes were probably a bit too extreme.

Chun Chan and Dong Yao couldn't help but wonder why, with two beautiful girls beside them, the county magistrate wouldn't even glance at them, yet he was so enthusiastic towards these two jailers... Could it be...?

Liu Tiezhu and his companion already admired Changsun Dan immensely. Despite committing such an overstepping act, Changsun Dan managed to escape danger and was even granted the title of county viscount.

With such extraordinary abilities, Young Master Dan was overjoyed. Following him would naturally give them a much brighter future than being a mere jailer. They then recounted how Wang Youde had instructed them to wait here.

Just as Changsun Dan was about to chat with the two men, the imperial eunuch, seeing that it was getting late, quickly summoned a carriage from the side:

"Plum Garden is the private property of Her Highness after her marriage. Servants are left in the mansion to manage it, including this carriage and the coachman. They will all belong to the county magistrate from now on. The county magistrate can get in the carriage. This servant must return to the palace to report."

Changsun Dan walked up to Chun Chan with a smile and extended his hand:

"Where's the money?"

Chun Chan pouted and reluctantly opened the bundle.

Changsun Dan took the whole string of coins, turned around, and with a smile, stuffed them all into the hand of the eunuch who was delivering the imperial decree:

"Thank you for your hard work. Please thank your aunt for me. I will go to the palace to pay my respects as soon as I have prepared the medicine."

The eunuch declined several times, but seeing the magistrate's resolute attitude, he had no choice but to accept. One string of cash was equivalent to half a month's salary, and a slight smile appeared on his face. After thanking him, he returned to the palace.

Dongyao hugged her bundle tightly to her chest, muttering softly:

"We're dirt poor right now, and you're being so generous."

Dongyao was a bit aloof, but when she mentioned "us," Changsun Dan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Yes, he had come into this world alone, but now someone was treating him as one of them.

Changsun Dan reached out and gently pinched Dongyao's cheek. It was pink, tender, and warm. He teased her on purpose, saying:

"Don't worry, you still have money, hahaha."

Dongyao didn't dodge, letting him pinch her a few times, only secretly rolling her eyes a few times.

"Don't worry, if you follow me, you'll have more money than you can spend in the future. You'll become the most luxurious young ladies in the entire Chang'an City."

Changsun Dan's voice carried far.

After saying that, he stepped forward and took Dongyao and the other person's hands:

"Come on, let's go home with this county magistrate!"

Liu Tiezhu and Xu Dani lifted the curtains on the left and right sides of the carriage, and after Changsun Dan and the other two got into the carriage, they sat on either side of the coachman.

With a clatter, the carriage chugped through the spring snow.

But in Chun Chan and Dong Yao's hearts, Changsun Dan's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in their hearts.

Miss, in his heart, we would be the most luxurious young ladies in Chang'an.

This enigmatic little county, perhaps unlike any other place with its powerful and wealthy, will embrace a lowly jailer and laugh with him, and he will also think of making us nobles.

Although I thought he was joking, I couldn't help but feel a lump in my throat.

In this world, everyone is marked from birth. A noble person may not always be a noble person, but a commoner will always be a commoner.

The two girls each had their own thoughts, but Changsun Dan's attention was drawn to the four boxes in the carriage.

"Spring Cicada, Winter Jade, look at us, now we have money!"

Changsun Dan thought they were some rare treasures, but when he opened them, he found that the four boxes were filled with copper coins.

Spring Cicada excitedly hugged a box, her little face almost touching it:

"That's a lot of money."

Dongyao's eyes also lit up. Back then, when Hong Fu Nu picked her up from a pile of corpses, she was so hungry that she was barely clinging to life.

Those who have experienced hunger know that money is life.

Changsun Dan grew up in a comfortable environment, and his desire for money was far less than his desire to explore the unknown.

Money is merely an additional reward for understanding and execution.

He leaned somewhat listlessly against the carriage, his eyes half-closed.

"Chun Chan, your money is easier to swindle, so you'll be in charge of managing the money from now on. Dong Yao is more stingy, so she'll be in charge of managing our family's expenses and purchasing."

"Me...I'll manage the money?"

Chun Chan's face flushed red, her heart pounding like a deer's:

"What should we do if the lady comes in?"

Dongyao stared at Changsun Dan in disbelief. The expenses of the entire household... were just handed over to her to manage... Could it be...?

Upon realizing this, his face turned completely red.

Changsun Dan smiled slightly, the corners of his mouth curving upwards.

"Madam is still young; children should focus on their studies."

Seeing the two of them staring blankly and looking silly, Changsun Dan thought to himself, "It's just being an accountant and cashier, is it really necessary to make such a big deal out of it?"

"drive."

The coachman cracked his whip, which made a sharp sound in the air.

As dusk approached, the streets began to close, and the Imperial Guards, clad in silver armor, began their patrols. The sky was dark, and the wheels of their vehicles left two long tracks in the snow.

With the curfew about to begin, the driver sped up his ride.

Changsun Danzhong closed his eyes again; his journey had only just begun.