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

Heavy snow fell in early November.

The effects of frost disasters in various regions have been largely mitigated.

Wei Zheng and others returned to Chang'an.

Xue Wanche and Chai Shao have also set off with their armies, preparing to attack Shuofang, pacify Liang Shidu, and complete the unification.

Chen Huai'an lived a peaceful life during this period, spending his days going back and forth between the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue.

At home... Feng Qiao'er still visits Chen Sujin from time to time.

Seemingly realizing something, Chen Sujin became noticeably more enthusiastic towards Feng Qiao'er. Every time Feng Qiao'er came, Chen Sujin was overjoyed, pulling Feng Qiao'er aside to chat and laugh happily.

On this day, Li Shimin prepared a welcoming banquet for Wei Zheng and others at the Eastern Palace, and Chen Huai'an naturally had to attend.

Just as he finished dressing and was about to leave, Xiao He ran over, holding a cup of hot water in her hands. She raised it high and handed it to him, saying, "Uncle, it's cold outside. Mom said to drink more hot water to warm yourself up."

"Okay!" Chen Huai'an squatted down, took the cup from Xiao He's hand, and drank the hot water inside in one gulp.

"Uncle, are you going out again?" Xiao He asked, tilting her head.

"Yes, we're going to a welcome banquet. Some annoying guy is coming back. You'd better keep your eyes open and stay away from that Wei guy in the future." Chen Huai'an was smiling, but then seemed to remember something and quickly gave him this advice.

"Okay, Uncle," Xiaohe pouted. "But Uncle, why do I feel like you're always attending banquets? Even after becoming a high-ranking official, is attending banquets all you do?"

Chen Huai'an chuckled: "Isn't that right? Don't be fooled by official titles and positions. In reality, for someone in your uncle's position, holding small meetings and having meals are the most important things, and also the riskiest!"

"It's full of intricacies and backstabbing."

"Therefore, Uncle has to attend many banquets."

"But Uncle will be cold." Xiao He didn't understand much. She only knew that every winter, she and her mother would find a place to hide and try not to go out.

If it gets too cold, they could very well freeze to death.

Chen Huai'an felt a warmth in his heart and patted Xiao He's head: "Don't worry, your uncle is wearing many layers, you won't get cold. Be a good girl at home, Xiao He, and wait for your uncle to come back and play with you."

"Okay." Xiao He was a little disappointed; she didn't want Chen Huai'an to go out in such cold weather.

But she also knew that her uncle was a man destined for great things, and she couldn't stop him.

"Let's go."

Chen Huai'an smiled, held up a paper umbrella, and stepped into the wind and snow alone.

During the Zhenguan era, true political maneuvering was not about decades of forbearance, nor was it about a series of interconnected plans.

Here, the real power struggles are all about meals and meetings!

Most of the most important decisions are made here.

Then bring it up in court, and the officials below just need to agree.

Both Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng acted this way during the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

One day they were having a banquet, the other a meeting; the next day, one died and the other lived!

Now, holding a banquet is even more special.

Since it's already the end of the year, holding banquets now often involves deciding on the direction of development for next year and setting a general tone.

Before arriving at the East Palace, Chen Huai'an was in a good mood, after all, many things had begun to develop in a positive direction. But when he arrived at the East Palace, his mood instantly soured.

"Oh, isn't this the Duke of Anguo?" Wei Zheng said with a chuckle, "Why are you carrying such a small umbrella?"

"Don't you think it's too small and won't keep out the wind and snow?"

"By the way, the snowfall seems rather light today, doesn't it?"

Du Ruhui suppressed a laugh and said seriously, "I think so too. Speaking of which, the gate of the Eastern Palace seems a bit too small. Why don't we suggest that His Majesty expand it?"

Fang Xuanling, always eager for excitement, tilted his head back and said, "Not only is the wind and snow too light, but the stage in Chang'an is also too small. It's not enough for Mr. Chen to show off his skills."

"Oh dear, it's too small."

Changsun Wuji couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter.

A few days ago, after Chen Huai'an gave his reasons for rejecting Feng Qiao'er, the girl was furious.

They'd gone to such lengths—a girl came to propose, laying out all her conditions clearly—and all they got was Chen Huai'an saying she was too young.

Not to mention that Feng Qiao'er, a young woman, was furious, even Li Shimin was nearly driven mad with anger when he found out.

What the hell kind of brain circuit is this?

Where is it small?

Chen Huai'an said with a dark face, "Do you want to taste how hard my fists are?"

The group immediately fell silent.

Wei Zheng had personally witnessed how Chen Huai'an tore through the wooden pillars of the prison cell, and everyone else knew that Chen Huai'an was a ruthless man who could fight six people at once and kill them all without taking any damage.

Du Ruhui chuckled and said, "Duke Anguo is joking. We are too timid to try this."

"Hahahaha." Wei Zheng laughed loudly, unable to hold back any longer.

The others weren't much better off, and the Eastern Palace was immediately filled with joyful laughter.

Chen Huai'an: "..."

He really didn't want to pay attention to these people anymore, so he walked towards Xiande Hall on his own, but he had already taken notes of everything that happened that day.

None of them can escape!

"Hey, Mr. Chen, don't go! Let's continue talking about the little one..."

Wei Zheng wanted to catch up, but Chen Huai'an could not bear it any longer. He scooped up a handful of snow from the ground and instantly made a snowball.

With a whoosh, the snowball hit Wei Zheng in the face, leaving him stunned.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"You country bumpkin, do you think my snowball is small?"

Wei Zheng trembled with rage: "You...you're not human, you attacked us like that!"

"So what? What's wrong with it?"

Chen Huai'an spoke with righteous indignation. Before Wei Zheng could say anything more, Chen Huai'an swiftly made several snowballs and began to swing them wildly.

Du Ruhui and the others were originally waiting to see a good show, but they didn't expect Chen Huai'an to have no intention of letting them go. Snowballs flew over and hit them in the face with perfect accuracy.

Changsun Wuji flew into a rage: "This is outrageous! I wasn't talking about you!"

"Didn't you laugh?"

Changsun Wuji was speechless.

"Brother Fuji, why waste words with him? Beat him up!" Du Ruhui was eager to try, and imitating Chen Huai'an, he picked up a snowball and threw it at Chen Huai'an.

Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling were not to be outdone.

Inside the Eastern Palace, this group of high-ranking officials, right under the noses of numerous palace maids and eunuchs... started a snowball fight!

Inside the Xiande Hall, Li Shimin, still puzzled, asked Zhang Anan beside him, "Didn't they say everyone had already arrived? Why haven't they come yet?"

Zhang Anan hurried down to inquire about the situation, and soon returned with a strange expression: "Your Majesty, Duke Anguo and the others are outside... having a snowball fight."

"A snowball fight?" Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage.

"Outrageous! Why didn't they call me when they had their snowball fight?"

"..."