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

"Thank you...to us?"

Cheng Chumo and the other two seemed a little lost, looking at each other blankly, not knowing what to say.

They found it hard to explain their current feelings; they were...complex and indescribable.

Who is Chen Huai'an?

First, there was the Duke of Anguo, who held a high position of power, enough to be on par with, or even surpass, their fathers.

Secondly, this is their teacher.

The principle of respecting teachers and valuing their teachings needs no further explanation.

Moreover, Chen Huai'an has helped them so much all along, leading them to make money and teaching them life lessons through interesting little stories. He has never treated them like children.

No kidding, sometimes, the respect that Cheng Chumo and the other two have for Chen Huai'an even surpasses that for Cheng Yaojin.

But this very person actually said "thank you" to them in person?

Li Zhen hesitated and said, "Sir... there's no need for this, it's what we should do..."

"No!" Chen Huai'an said gently, "Xiao Zhen, many things in this world are not a matter of obligation. You think you owe me, but you don't actually owe me anything. Helping me is certainly not something you should do."

"You helped me, so I should thank you. That's what I should do, understand?"

"But...but you are a gentleman..." Li Zhen seemed to want to say something, but Chen Huai'an interrupted him directly.

"Does that make me superior to you?"

"So I can just take your help for granted without feeling guilty?"

Li Zhen scratched his head and hesitated, then said, "It shouldn't be."

"That's right," Chen Huai'an said with a smile. "That's not how it works. There's no such logic in the world. It's only when I say thank you that it's truly genuine."

Li Zhen seemed somewhat lost in thought, as if he had been subjected to some kind of cognitive shock. Cheng Chumo and Tang Heshan also fell silent.

Li Chengqian blinked, unlike Cheng Chumo and the others who remained silent.

From the first time he met Chen Huai'an, he knew that this was an extraordinary man, a man worthy of respect for a lifetime.

"..."

"Huai'an".

As Chen Huai'an left Hongwen Hall, he was about to go home when Li Shimin suddenly appeared, accompanied by two children.

One was a chubby boy who looked a bit younger than Li Chengqian. The other one was very familiar to him—Little Lychee!

"Your Majesty," Chen Huai'an said with a smile, bowing.

Li Shimin waved his hand and introduced him: "This is Li Tai, you should know him. As for Li Zhi, I won't go into details."

"Of course, Your Highness Prince Yue and Princess Chang Le." Chen Huai'an remained outwardly calm, but in reality, he had been sizing up the chubby Li Tai.

His arrival changed many things. Last month, Li Tai was enfeoffed as the Prince of Wei and was greatly favored by Li Shimin.

Of course, as a time traveler, he knew more.

This chubby little boy in front of me is not as simple as I imagined...

That might not be right, because none of the three sons born to Empress Zhangsun were simple.

Let's not talk about Crown Prince Li Chengqian, or Li Tai, who will compete with Li Chengqian for the throne.

Even Li Zhi, who is already in the womb and expected to be born next year, is a heartless child.

Li Tai stared at him with curious eyes.

In contrast, Li Lizhi seemed much more embarrassed and kept avoiding him.

"Your Majesty, is there something you need from me?" Chen Huai'an glanced at Li Tai, but only for a moment.

Putting aside the fact that Li Tai was originally ineligible for the throne, now that I have arrived, Li Tai has even less hope.

To him now, Li Tai, this little brat, is really nothing to worry about.

Li Shimin sighed and said, "I'm feeling a bit down. Why don't you come for a walk with me?"

"Traveling incognito?" Chen Huai'an asked in surprise.

Li Shimin paused for a moment: "You can understand it that way if you want. I know you don't have any official duties right now. Most of the construction projects in the Tang Dynasty have basically stopped, except for the salt mines which are still being mined."

"The army that quelled Liang Shidu has also set off, so you, the Minister of Works and Minister of Revenue, can finally have some free time."

Chen Huai'an complained, "Where is the leisure? Isn't there still the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor?"

"The two ministries are only relatively less busy than before, but there are still quite a few official duties. I finished teaching my students and was just about to return to the Ministry of Revenue."

"Then there's no need to go. Come with me!" Li Shimin chuckled. "Anyway, a little more time won't make a difference."

"Where would Your Majesty like to go?"

"You'll find out when you come with me."

Li Shimin, along with his two children, Chen Huai'an, and five or six disguised guards, set off in two carriages.

Inside the carriage, Chen Huai'an looked at the few guards outside and said with a strange expression, "Your Majesty, you only brought this many people? Aren't you afraid of encountering any danger?"

"I've already disguised myself. Do you think anyone in the common people would recognize me and immediately send someone to kill me?" Li Shimin raised an eyebrow.

"What if?" Chen Huai'an was speechless. "Are we going to gamble on something like this? Anyway, it's still early, so we might as well prepare more. It's too casual to just set off like this."

"What's so casual about it?" Li Shimin's eyes held a deeper meaning. "Didn't I bring you along?"

"Even if a thug tried to assassinate me, with a scholar like you, who has mastered the Six Arts of a Gentleman, by my side, what could possibly happen to me?"

Chen Huai'an: "..."

"Does Your Majesty have so much confidence in me?"

"It's not that I have confidence in you," Li Shimin said earnestly, seemingly more concerned about the issue. "It's that you have confidence in yourself!"

"I told you a long time ago to bring more guards when you go out, but you never listened. Even after being attacked by six assassins, you still didn't take it seriously."

"If you're so confident about something that concerns your own life, shouldn't I have confidence in you too?"

Chen Huai'an twitched the corner of his mouth. From this perspective, Li Shimin's words did indeed make some sense.

"His Majesty......"

"Alright!" Li Shimin interrupted, "There's no need for further persuasion. Just come with me."

"I'm not afraid even with my two children, what are you afraid of?"

"Also, we're outside now, so don't call me Your Majesty, understand?"

Chen Huai'an nodded: "Okay, then what should I call you?"

Li Shimin thought for a moment and said, "Call me Brother Li. After all, you're only a few years younger than me, and we're of the same generation, so this form of address is appropriate."

Chen Huai'an's eyes widened: "Is this appropriate?"

"Why isn't it suitable?"

"I don't think it's appropriate!"

Li Shimin: "..."

"Then it's up to you, call me whatever you want."

"...Alright, Li Er, where are we going?"

Li Shimin: ? ? ?

"You son of a bitch, what did you call me?!"

"..."