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

Li Shimin's last sentence was full of meaning.

Empress Zhangsun, who was standing nearby, and many ministers in the hall almost instantly understood what was going on. Some understood, some frowned, and some were waiting to see a good show.

Even Li Chengqian showed a gossipy expression.

Since ancient times, men have married very young, usually around eighteen years old.

Now, Chen Huai'an, who is the Duke of Anguo and holds two ministerial positions, is already twenty-one years old and still unmarried, which is obviously unreasonable.

Li Shimin often teased Chen Huai'an about this, and said several times that he would find him a wife.

Now, Feng Ang's daughter is specifically mentioned, with special emphasis on her intelligence, beauty, and youthful appearance, and her age and good looks are also highlighted.

The meaning is self-evident.

Instead, Chen Huai'an seemed not to understand and said, "Then I really must meet this Miss Feng. To be honest, Your Majesty, I am under a lot of pressure right now. Although the national treasury has a lot of income, the expenditure is also quite high."

"There are so many things to do in the future. All I can think about is how to increase the national treasury's revenue."

"Feng Ang has a special identity. Lingnan is connected to the sea and borders the southwestern barbarian tribes. If we can get in touch with Lady Feng, I might be able to sell the salt, tea, wine and other goods of the Tang Dynasty through her, thereby increasing the national treasury's revenue."

Everyone: "..."

Li Shimin: "..."

These words silenced everyone in the hall.

Even Empress Longsun's eye twitched.

We're here telling you how virtuous and beautiful she is, how well she's a good match for you, but all you're thinking about is what you can get out of her?

All you ever think about is money, can't you think about things a normal man should think about?

It's really not a waste to give you the position of Minister of Revenue.

Li Shimin was speechless: "Fine, whatever makes you happy. I called you here today to celebrate, to host a welcome banquet for our guests who have come from afar, and to discuss the matter of sending troops to Liang Shidu."

Chen Huai'an's smile remained unchanged, but he felt a pang of unease in his heart.

He understood Li Shimin's meaning perfectly well, but... putting aside the fact that he had no intention of getting married, even if he were to get married, he couldn't marry Feng Ang's daughter.

Who is Feng Ang?

Although they did not rebel, they held great power and were true overlords of the region.

And who is Chen Huai'an? He is the Duke of Anguo and the Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue.

In terms of social status, the two are indeed a good match.

But the problem is that you can't look at it that way.

If Feng Ang were to marry his daughter to Chen Huai'an, and the two families were to become related through marriage, what a mess that would be!

Logically speaking, Li Shimin would never allow Feng Ang's daughter to marry a powerful minister; he would either marry her himself or have the crown prince marry her.

That makes sense!

He had no idea what Li Shimin was up to, but it seemed to be an implication that he should marry Feng Ang's daughter.

Honestly, even if Li Shimin dared to issue an imperial decree to grant a marriage, Feng Ang wouldn't dare to marry off his daughter, and Chen Huai'an wouldn't dare to take her as a wife!

Furthermore, why make such a grand spectacle to welcome guests who have come from afar?

Stop joking, do Feng Zhidai and Feng Qiao'er even deserve each other?

It would be more like it if Feng Ang came!

Today's banquet looks strange no matter how you look at it.

"......"

"Summon Feng Zhidai and Feng Qiao'er to the palace." Li Shimin waved his hand, and immediately someone left.

A short while later, a man in his thirties, handsome and with an extraordinary air, walked in.

Beside him was a woman dressed in a moon-white cross-collar ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a dark blue half-sleeved garment with subtle patterns, the hem of which was embroidered with tiny jasmine flowers.

Chen Huai'an was slightly surprised when he saw her. Feng Qiao'er had a slender and well-proportioned figure, a straight back, and a composed gait. She had a soft oval face and a very even, fair complexion, but it was not the pale white of someone who had lived in seclusion for a long time. Instead, it had a healthy, jade-like luster.

She is indeed a rare and stunning beauty.

But that was all; Chen Huai'an quickly lost interest.

Even a dog wouldn't marry Feng Ang's daughter!

Besides, women will only slow down his earning speed.

"Your subject Feng Zhidai and your daughter Feng Qiao'er pay their respects to Your Majesty."

The two bowed respectfully, and Li Shimin raised his hand and said, "No need for formalities. Today is a banquet, so please make yourselves at home. You... please sit next to Huai'an."

Chen Huai'an: ?

The two nodded in agreement, then smiled kindly at Chen Huai'an and sat down at the table next to him.

"Speaking of which, dozens of officials from Lingnan submitted joint memorials more than once, saying that your father was plotting a rebellion. I almost believed them all. Later, Huai'an said that there were conflicts of interest between the various prefectures and counties in Lingnan, and that the contents of the memorials were exaggerated. He told me not to believe them easily and to see for myself," Li Shimin said with a faint smile. "If it weren't for Huai'an's timely advice, I might have misunderstood a loyal and virtuous official."

Feng Zhidai felt a chill run down his spine. He never expected that such a thing had happened back then, and he certainly never expected that Li Shimin would say it in public.

However, he reacted quickly, smiling as he replied, "Your Majesty is wise. My father has always taught us to wholeheartedly protect the territory of the Tang Dynasty, never to claim the title of king, never to establish a separatist regime, and never to become traitors or rebels, even unto death!"

"However... recently, my father had a conflict with another local chieftain's tribe, and was unable to report for duty on time. Before coming here, my father specifically instructed me to apologize to His Majesty on his behalf!"

"I see." Li Shimin suddenly realized, though he actually believed it in his heart.

This is because it matches the message he received. Furthermore, the fact that Feng Ang immediately sent his eldest son and daughter as hostages after he sent an envoy shows that Feng Ang truly had no intention of rebelling.

"Of course." Feng Zhidai turned to Chen Huai'an and bowed. "I also want to thank Duke Anguo for speaking up for justice. Otherwise, my Feng family would probably have been framed by villains."

Chen Huai'an smiled politely, "No need, His Majesty rewarded me with five hundred silks."

Feng Zhidai: "..."

Li Shimin: "..."

Feng Qiao'er frowned almost imperceptibly. This Chen Huai'an doesn't seem like the person in the rumors at all.

He is indeed as handsome as rumored, but as for other things... I really can't see anything else.

Seeing that the atmosphere was getting a little awkward, Feng Qiao'er spoke up at the right time, her red lips slightly parted: "I have heard that the Duke of Anguo has always promoted the work relief program, advocated mutual trade and the popularization of charitable granaries. When my father learned about this, he was amazed."

"In particular, I wonder if the salt-making method proposed by the Duke of Anguo can be popularized in regions like Lingnan?"

"Lingnan is close to the sea and is a natural salt field. Moreover, many ports such as Leizhou and northern Hainan connect with Southeast Asia and Persia. The salt produced can be traded with other small tribes and countries by sea."

Everyone looked at each other strangely, glancing at Chen Huai'an from the left and then at Feng Qiao'er.

These words are exactly the same as what Chen Huai'an just said... not just similar, but exactly identical!

Chen Huai'an himself was also tempted.

Maritime trade—it's incredibly lucrative!

"......"