The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"Minister, hurry!"

Wang Bai closed his eyes, opened his arms, and roared.

However, he did not receive a response from Chen Huai'an, nor did he experience the expected pain.

Just as Zhang Ming was about to strike him with his knife, Chen Huai'an raised his hand and grabbed Zhang Ming's wrist, then twisted it forcefully!

"ah!!!"

Zhang Ming roared in pain, the short knife in his hand slipped to the ground, and Chen Huai'an's eyes were cold as he kicked Zhang Ming in the chest.

"Bang!"

With a heavy thud, the somewhat obese Zhang Ming was kicked away and crashed heavily to the ground.

Wang Bai was stunned when he opened his eyes, and Pei Ju was equally dumbfounded.

Chen Huai'an clapped his hands and turned his head, saying, "What did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly."

"Oh, and what are you admiring with your eyes closed?"

Wang Bai: "..."

"...Your subordinate, your subordinate wasn't intoxicated by anything, please forgive me, sir." Wang Bai awkwardly picked at his toes, quickly lowering his head to hide his unnatural expression.

"Haha." Chen Huai'an chuckled, but didn't continue teasing Wang Bai. Instead, he turned his gaze to Zhang Ming, who was coughing up blood and barely breathing.

By this time, a large crowd had gathered around.

"According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, what crime would it be to attack me with a knife?"

Wang Bai hurriedly replied, "Sir, according to the laws of martial virtue, committing a crime with a knife in the street seriously disrupts the order of the capital and undermines the authority of the imperial court. Even if the attempt is unsuccessful, the maximum penalty is death!"

"But your status is rather special... Neither the Court of Judicial Review nor the Ministry of Justice has the authority to try you. You must be detained first, and the final decision will be made by His Majesty."

Chen Huai'an nodded slightly: "Then let's do it this way. Send it to the government office first and let them handle it according to the laws of the Tang Dynasty."

"Yes, sir." Wang Bai walked toward Zhang Ming with a resentful expression.

Chen Huai'an and Pei Ju paid no attention to what happened next, and the two quietly left.

Pei Ju looked at him strangely: "Minister Chen... has practiced it?"

Chen Huai'an humbly replied, "I know a little bit about martial arts; I've learned some of the Six Arts of a Gentleman."

Pei Ju: "..."

Have you learned some techniques that allow you to break a person's wrist directly?

Knowing a little bit of martial arts, can you kick someone several meters away with one kick?

"Haha..." Pei Ju didn't ask any more questions and strolled around Chang'an with Chen Huai'an in high spirits.

The two visited many grain shops, and now all the prices had dropped to 170 wen, with people and officials from the Ministry of Revenue continuously buying grain.

The grain merchants looked like they had just lost their mothers, clearly unwilling, and every now and then a few shouts of cursing could be heard.

Similarly, they also went to see the city gate.

Many grain merchants still want to go out, and some even tried to bribe the Imperial Guards, but they were all taken away.

Chen Huai'an found it a bit strange; did this old guy have so much energy?

I walked for so long, but I didn't feel tired at all.

Finally, the two ascended the high building where Chen Huai'an and Li Shimin had stayed that day. Pei Ju looked at the extremely relaxed atmosphere of Chang'an City and said with satisfaction:

"Minister Chen, I wasn't a good person before, but now I've done something good by following you."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Chen Huai'an was a little puzzled, as he didn't know much about Pei Ju.

Pei Ju remained silent for a moment, as scenes from the past flashed before his eyes, and he murmured softly, "I was born into the Pei clan of Hedong, and in my early years I served in the Northern Qi and Northern Zhou dynasties."

"During the Northern Zhou Dynasty, I became an advisor to Yang Jian, the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty, and was highly valued. After the establishment of the Sui Dynasty, I made many great contributions and rose to important positions such as Vice Minister of Revenue and Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat."

"Especially after Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, I ushered in the most glorious moment of my life. I was appointed to manage the trade in the Western Regions in Zhangye, and through investigation, I wrote the three-volume 'Records of the Western Regions'."

He paused, then asked, "Do you know about the Five Nobles of the late Sui Dynasty?"

Chen Huai'an nodded: "I was young at that time, but I had heard about it."

"Haha," Pei Ju said with a laugh, "Then let me tell you, the so-called Five Nobles are me, Su Wei, Yuwen Shu, and others who jointly govern the court, and we are collectively known as the Five Nobles!"

"At that time, I wielded immense power and enjoyed unparalleled prestige."

Pei Ju smiled and said, "However, I know how I got to this position. Others say that I am good at understanding the emperor's intentions and skilled at planning. I am a sycophant who flatters the monarch without any bottom line."

"I agree with that statement, haha... Climbing the ladder isn't shameful."

"Then how come Lord Pei has now become a loyal and upright minister?" Chen Huai'an asked curiously.

"Because I can judge people!" Pei Ju said frankly. "Emperor Yang of Sui was an ambitious man, but he was too hasty. To the people, he was a tyrant, and he did indeed have some of the characteristics of a tyrant."

"So I went along with him."

"And His Majesty is a wise ruler who listens to advice and is able to correct his mistakes, so I became a capable minister who dares to speak frankly and offer advice."

"To put it nicely, it's 'a wise ruler and upright ministers'; to put it bluntly, it's still sycophantic ministers..."

Pei Ju's tone was full of sighs, but Chen Huai'an did not reply.

After a while, Pei Ju leaned on the railing, supporting himself with his arms, looked at the horizon, and said softly, "Minister Chen, the skill I am most proud of in my life is my ability to judge people."

"I treat people differently depending on who I am. Over the past few decades, I believe my ability to judge people has reached a level of perfection."

"You're the only one I can't understand."

Chen Huai'an raised an eyebrow: "Then I'll have to be proud of myself."

Pei Ju smiled faintly: "When I said I didn't understand, I didn't mean I didn't understand your personality or character. To be honest, after knowing each other for so long, have you ever disliked me?"

Even if I pointed my finger at you and berated you in court, did you ever hate me?

Chen Huai'an paused slightly, thought about it carefully, and shook his head: "It seems there really isn't one."

Pei Ju said smugly, "Of course. If I couldn't even do this much, why would I hold a high position in every dynasty?"

"Minister Chen, when it comes to ingenious ideas and strategic planning, let alone me, no one in the Tang Dynasty can compare to you. However, when it comes to judging people, no one in the Tang Dynasty can surpass me."

Sometimes... I feel like you're a celestial being descended to earth, and you have a quality that's completely out of place with us.

Pei Ju said leisurely, "All living beings in the world pursue fame, fortune, and wealth. Even those sanctimonious bald monks in temples are like that."

"But you completely disregard this!"

"Since ancient times, no one has been unafraid of imperial power, but you are outwardly respectful, yet you have never bowed your head in reality."

"All the officials in the court, including His Majesty, seem to care about the common people and the world all day long. But in reality, they all have their own purposes in doing this for the people."

"But you're different!"

Chen Huai'an turned his head: "How is it different?"

"You have no ulterior motives; you are purely for the good of the people, so purely that it's unbelievable," Pei Ju exclaimed. "I have never seen anyone like you."

"It's hard to explain, hard to understand~"

Chen Huai'an remained silent.

Pei Ju's voice was hoarse: "Minister Chen, I have a suggestion, I wonder if you would be willing to listen?"

"Minister Pei, please speak. I am all ears!"

"If you are truly a celestial being descended from heaven, now that you've come to the mortal realm, you must learn to conceal yourself, integrate into us, and integrate into this era." After saying this, Pei Ju added, "Of course, you can also consider this old man's ramblings; don't take it seriously if I'm wrong."

"I'm a little tired..."

Chen Huai'an suddenly felt something was wrong. The once energetic old man seemed to have aged and become hunched over in an instant.

He was so energetic just a moment ago, and we've been shopping together for so long.

This reminded him of a term—a final burst of energy before death!

"Minister Pei?" Chen Huai'an hurriedly went to help him up. "It's too late today. Look, the sun has already set. Let's go home!"

"Tomorrow... I'll go shopping with you again tomorrow!"

"Hehe..." Pei Ju forced a smile, his voice as light as the wind, "Minister Chen, I helped you get back all 30% of the revenue from the Ministry of Revenue, and kept it in the Ministry of Revenue."

"From now on, 40% of the profits from ironware and refined salt will go to the Ministry of Works, and 60% to the Ministry of Revenue... You can now freely do what you believe is right..."

"This old man... is he still of some use?"

Chen Huai'an supported Pei Ju, feeling somewhat at a loss for what to do.

He thought Pei Ju just wanted to try it out and didn't think he could succeed. Unexpectedly, Pei Ju actually succeeded.

"Yes... how could you be useless? Anyone who dares to say you're useless, I'll fight them! Minister Pei, you're the most capable Minister of Revenue I've ever met!"

What could Pei Ju possibly do?

It's nothing more than swallowing your pride and going door-to-door to plead and beg, pleading again and again.

Keep begging them until they agree!

Therefore, when Pei Ju heard Chen Huai'an's words, he felt that everything he had done was worthwhile: "Back then... you said that if I was a coward, I should retire and live out my days in peace, and you would become the Minister of Revenue."

"Now that I have heard your words, I... can die without regret, and I am content!"

Chen Huai'an opened his mouth: "I...I was just talking nonsense, don't take it seriously. Minister Pei, I still need you, His Majesty still needs you."

"Is that so..." Pei Ju responded softly, looking towards the horizon. The setting sun was melting gold, dyeing half the sky crimson, and dusk was slowly pressing down from the horizon.

The wind, carrying the twilight, swept across the tall buildings, and Pei Ju's body swayed gently, his weight in Chen Huai'an's arms growing heavier and heavier.

He was too old; he had exhausted himself to complete this operation.

"Minister Pei! Minister Pei! Old man, don't scare me! Didn't you want to go shopping? Let's not wait until tomorrow, let's go down now, okay? Don't sleep, open your eyes, open your eyes!!!" Chen Huai'an shouted anxiously.

But Pei Ju could no longer hear him. He gazed at the fiery clouds on the horizon, his lips moved, and his voice was barely audible: "So beautiful... The sunset in Chang'an is still so beautiful."

"It's such a pity... we'll never see it again..."

The light in Pei Ju's eyes gradually faded, and his breathing grew weaker and weaker.

"This world...it's truly hard to leave..."

"Young friend... I'm entrusting the Ministry of Revenue to you..."

"......"