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

News of Chen Huai'an and Pei Ju's assassination attempt on the streets of Chang'an quickly reached the Eastern Palace.

Upon learning of this, Emperor Taizong was furious and immediately ordered the Court of Judicial Review to conduct a thorough investigation and imprison the main culprit.

This matter alarmed many people, but no one really cared much, since Chen Huai'an and Pei Ju were not in any serious trouble.

At most, it was a grain merchant's revenge. The reason it became so big was entirely because Chen Huai'an and Pei Ju got involved.

But no one thought

A shocking piece of bad news soon reached the Eastern Palace.

Inside Xiande Hall,

A messenger eunuch stumbled into the hall, his face pale and his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Your Majesty, the Duke of Anguo has sent an urgent report: Minister Pei, Minister Pei...!"

"What's wrong?" Li Shimin looked up and saw the eunuch in front of him stammering and speaking incoherently, and a bad feeling welled up in his heart.

"Minister Pei... has passed away!" the eunuch said through gritted teeth.

Li Shimin froze, his eyes instantly reddening: "How is this possible? How could this be? Didn't you just say that Pei Ju and Huai'an were strolling around Chang'an?"

"How could someone who was perfectly healthy suddenly pass away?"

The eunuch knelt down, his forehead pressed tightly to the ground: "Your Majesty, this is a message sent by the Duke of Anguo, it should... it should not be wrong!"

Li Shimin remained frozen on the dragon throne for a long while before he could no longer sit still. He abruptly stood up, his robes fluttering, and shouted, "Where are they? Take me there! Take me there now!!!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The eunuch dared not delay and quickly arranged for men to lead Li Shimin to the high building where Chen Huai'an and the others were.

Li Shimin didn't care about anything else and rushed forward.

Upon reaching the top, they saw Chen Huai'an wearing only his inner garment, his outer garment having been removed and placed on the ground, while Pei Ju... was lying peacefully on it, like a sleeping old man.

"His Majesty......."

Chen Huai'an stood there, head down, eyes stinging, voice hoarse: "Lord Pei is gone, just now."

For some reason, Li Shimin felt a lump in his throat, and tears welled up in his eyes: "Hongda... how could you leave like this!"

"Why so suddenly? How can I accept this?"

Pei Ju's original name was Pei Shiju, courtesy name Hongda. In order to avoid using the same character as Li Shimin's name, he changed his name to Pei Ju.

Chen Huai'an sighed deeply; Pei Ju was already eighty years old.

In this era, Pei Ju was considered to have lived a very long life.

However, his departure was so sudden that it caught everyone off guard.

He was just joking with Chen Huai'an a moment ago, and Pei Ju seemed quite energetic yesterday.

"father!"

Pei Ju's son, Pei Xuanji, followed closely behind Li Shimin, running up with his clothes disheveled.

Suddenly, the person crying and complaining went from one to two.

"Huai'an... How did Hongda leave us? Why so suddenly? Did he leave any last words?" Li Shimin choked up.

Chen Huai'an's lips moved, then he shook his head: "Lord Pei didn't have any last words. He had completed this plan, seen the people buy grain at low prices, and taken 30% of the profits from the Ministry of Revenue. He had no regrets."

He paused, then continued, "It's also my fault. I should have realized it sooner. These days, Master Pei often drags me out for strolls. He's clearly quite old, yet he's walked to so many places without showing any signs of fatigue..."

"It's not Duke Anguo's fault!" Pei Xuanji said dejectedly. "Father must have sensed it long ago. He's been giving us a lot of instructions lately."

He said his only wish was to do this well.

"It seems he has finished."

Chen Huai'an and Li Shimin both remained silent.

Both of them knew that what Pei Xuanji was talking about was the operation in Chang'an to secure enough grain for the Ministry of Revenue.

He has done it now.

The national treasury received large quantities of grain every day, which was enough to support Li Shimin and Chen Huai'an in implementing the work-for-relief program and achieving great success.

Chen Huai'an's voice was hoarse: "Your Majesty, I know it is not appropriate now, but Pei Gong's merits are great and should benefit future generations. I humbly request Your Majesty to transfer Pei Xuanji to the Ministry of Revenue."

"Good." Li Shimin nodded repeatedly. "That's how it should be, that's how it should be!"

"Your Majesty, I thank you. Duke Anguo." Pei Xuanji should have been happy about his promotion, but he couldn't be happy at all.

"However, I must first arrange my father's funeral, so please forgive me for not being able to take up my post for the time being."

"It's alright, I'll send a carriage to take you home," Li Shimin said immediately.

Pei Xuanji left with Pei Ju.

Li Shimin watched his retreating figure and slowly said, "Huai'an, Hongda has paved the way for you and cleared away the obstacles."

"I know, I know everything." Chen Huai'an was very sad.

He hadn't known Pei Ju for very long, but they had been in close contact.

After Li Shimin designated him as the next Minister of Revenue, Pei Ju gradually entrusted him with many affairs of the Ministry of Revenue.

This is a mischievous little old man, shameless and a bit stubborn, but not unlikeable.

Chen Huai'an was sad, firstly because Pei Ju had left so suddenly, right in front of him.

Secondly, because... he suddenly realized that Pei Ju might just be the beginning.

Endless lifespan, an ageless face, divine strength capable of lifting a cauldron... Is it a blessing or a curse?

Was he lucky or unlucky?

Chen Huai'an could no longer tell the difference.

He may still have a long time to find the answer.

"From today onwards, you will be the Minister of Revenue," Li Shimin said softly. "Your actions will not escape the notice of those who are observant. Anyone with a bit of sense can see that you are in a hurry and quite dissatisfied."

"You disregarded offending many powerful forces and insisted on making money. Even though you already had enough food to survive the drought, you still wanted more, and for this you did not hesitate to play such a big game in Chang'an."

Pei Ju saw through it, so in order to get back 30% of the revenue from the Ministry of Personnel ahead of schedule, he almost went so far as to humble himself to the dust.

"Huai'an...don't let him down."

After hearing these words, Chen Huai'an felt a pang of sadness and nodded heavily.

Li Shimin strode away, and as he descended the stairs, he turned his head and said, "Thinking back to Gongjin in his prime, at the age of twenty-one, he held considerable military power and was the supreme commander of Eastern Wu. His heroic bearing was magnificent, and everyone praised him, saying that a true man should be like this!"

"Now, Chen Huai'an, from failing the imperial examination at eighteen to now holding the positions of Minister of Works and Minister of Revenue at twenty-one, you are truly first-rate!"

"It's time to be full of vigor!"

"..."

April 25th, the first year of Zhenguan, spring!

Pei Ju, Duke of Anyi County and Minister of Revenue, passed away at the age of eighty!

Emperor Taizong of Tang suspended court for a day, personally visited Pei Ju's residence to offer condolences, and posthumously granted Pei Ju the title of Prefect of Jiangzhou, with the posthumous name of "Jing" (敬).

"..."