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

Feng Zhidai's words were half polite, and half genuinely doubtful.

This isn't Lingnan; the Feng family is the largest here.

This is Chang'an, a city where powerful families, nobles, and the imperial family are intertwined.

Feng Zhidai had to be careful.

"Unworthy?" Li Shimin scoffed at this. "If even your Feng family isn't worthy of Chen Huai'an, then how many people in the world are worthy of him?"

"There's no need to say more of that!"

Feng Zhidai was speechless, unsure of what to say for a moment.

Feng Qiao'er gradually calmed down, raised her eyes to look at Li Shimin, and bowed again: "This humble woman will obey Your Majesty's orders."

At this point, she didn't have much left to choose from.

Compared to marrying into the palace, marrying Chen Huai'an was already incredibly lucky.

Even if the other party was unwilling, even if the marriage was a political consideration from beginning to end, she accepted it.

From now on, she only needs to do her duty, manage the inner quarters, not drag the family down, and not annoy people.

Seeing her so sensible, Li Shimin was even more pleased: "Good! As expected of a daughter from the Feng family, so insightful and understanding."

"Later, I will issue an edict to grant you a house. You can get to know Chen Huai'an first. If you both feel it's acceptable, I will issue an edict to grant you marriage."

"If you feel it's inappropriate, then pretend I never mentioned it."

what?

The Feng siblings were truly astonished, their eyes filled with deep shock.

What does "make initial contact" mean?

Does that mean Li Shimin simply issued an imperial decree to grant the marriage?

He had already agreed; the only uncertainty lay with Duke Anguo, Chen Huai'an himself.

So, was Li Shimin considering the other party's feelings?

Is that correct?

Feng Zhidai found it hard to believe that since ancient times, marriage had always been decided by parents. It was an extreme honor for His Majesty and the Empress to personally arrange the marriage.

Especially for people of their background and status, emotions are an extremely luxurious thing.

Almost all of them are about interests and political marriages, so how can there be any talk of "meeting"?

Seemingly anticipating their thoughts, Empress Zhangsun smiled and explained, "His Majesty is not a rigid person, and he would never deliberately force you into a marriage alliance."

"His Majesty simply felt that you two were indeed a good match, so he acted as a matchmaker for you."

"If it succeeds, it will certainly be a good thing; if it fails, it won't be a big deal."

"Your Feng family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, and Huai'an is also wholeheartedly devoted to the country and its people. If we were to force you all for political reasons, it would be disheartening."

Li Shimin nodded slightly: "Huai'an has suffered a lot since childhood. A few days ago, he finally found his long-lost sister. He is usually quite busy with official duties, so his sister must be a bit bored living alone in the mansion."

"If you have time, you can go and chat with his sister, Chen Sujin."

Li Shimin had hinted at it to such an extent that even a fool would understand what he meant.

Moreover, what about the clever Feng Qiao'er?

She paused for a moment, then understood what she meant and agreed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I understand."

"Alright, then..." Li Shimin was about to speak when Zhang Anan suddenly bent down and came over.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince seems to be looking for you. He's been asking around about your whereabouts."

"Hmm?" Li Shimin was somewhat surprised, but didn't think much of it. "Bring the Crown Prince over."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Anan slowly withdrew.

Li Shimin would occasionally chat with Feng Zhidai, asking about life in Lingnan and inquiring about the situation.

Empress Zhangsun, meanwhile, pulled Feng Qiao'er aside and chatted about everyday matters.

Before long, Zhang Anan led Li Chengqian over. The little boy was carrying a framed scroll. Upon seeing Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun, he bowed respectfully.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and Your Majesty."

When outsiders were present, Li Chengqian still cared a lot about etiquette.

Li Shimin casually waved his hand, staring at what Zhang Anan was holding, and asked, "Zhang Anan said you have urgent business with me? Is your purpose in seeking me out because of what you hold in your hand?"

"Yes, Father." Li Chengqian raised his head, carefully holding the scroll in his hands. "This is something that my teacher specially asked me to find the newest bamboo paper for before he left. After writing on it and mounting it, I gave it to you, Father."

"Hmm?" Li Shimin raised an eyebrow. "What's inside?"

"Father, it is a poem." Li Chengqian's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Poetry?" Li Shimin was somewhat surprised this time. He exchanged a glance with Empress Zhangsun, and then said to Feng Qiao'er, "Huai'an's poetry is indeed outstanding. The poem he composed last time astonished me and all the civil officials."

"Perfect timing, since you're all here today, why don't you come with me and take a look?"

"Okay." Feng Qiao'er's curiosity was also piqued.

No kidding, although Feng Qiao'er is not very old, she is already a famous talented woman in Lingnan, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

His poetry and prose were equally impressive.

"Open it and take a look," Li Shimin ordered.

Zhang Anan immediately stepped forward and, together with Li Chengqian, unfurled the newly mounted scroll.

The smooth, fine bamboo paper was slowly unfurled, and lines of vigorous and unrestrained calligraphy leaped onto the paper.

"A golden goblet of fine wine costs ten thousand coins, and a jade plate of delicacies is worth ten thousand coins."

"I stop drinking and eating, I draw my sword and look around, my heart filled with confusion."

Empress Zhangsun read it softly, and in just two sentences, she could feel the melancholy and confusion hidden in the words.

"Wanting to cross the Yellow River, the ice blocks the way; wanting to climb Mount Taihang, the snow covers the mountain."

"At leisure, I fish on the green stream; suddenly, I dream of sailing to the edge of the sun."

As her voice rang out again, the atmosphere in the room unconsciously became heavy.

Following that were four short, abrupt questions. Empress Zhangsun paused briefly, then read them softly:

"The road is hard, the road is hard, so many are the forks in the road, where am I now?"

Each word struck Li Shimin like a heavy hammer, reminding him of his previous confusion.

He had only been on the throne for a year when various natural and man-made disasters occurred frequently. Then, he learned from Chen Huai'an that there was a high probability of a locust plague next year.

At that moment, Li Shimin was truly confused and heartbroken; he too had such a moment of bewilderment.

Just as everyone was immersed in this feeling of distress and depression, the last two lines of poetry suddenly caught their eye.

Empress Zhangsun's eyes brightened slightly, her voice filled with barely concealed emotion:

"There will be times when the wind and waves are strong, but I will set sail and cross the vast ocean!"

After he finished speaking, the entire garden fell silent.

The confusion and stagnation that had been weighing on everyone's hearts seemed to dissipate completely in this one sentence, leaving only a vast and open-minded spirit of boundless horizons and soaring ambitions.

"Hahaha, well said! How difficult the road is! How true it is that there will be times when the wind and waves will be broken, and the sails will be hoisted to cross the vast ocean!"

Li Shimin could not hide his amazement; though he was smiling, his eyes were slightly moist: "The last sentence is truly a stroke of genius!"

"Huai'an understands me, Guanyinbi, he understands me!"

Feng Qiao'er stood there, her gaze fixed on the scroll, her heart filled with lingering emotions.

"..."