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

February, the second year of the Zhenguan era.

Inside the martial arts hall of the Duke of Anguo's mansion, a Shaolin monk, though not young, appeared quite robust and was instructing Chen Huai'an in martial arts.

The martial monk was naturally invited by Chen Huai'an. His strength and physical fitness were getting better and better, so his fist and foot skills as well as his weapon skills had to keep up.

At this time, only seven years had passed since the thirteen Shaolin monks saved Emperor Taizong of Tang. Emperor Taizong personally commended Shaolin, affirming their status, and Shaolin Temple's status was on the rise.

Logically speaking, it is extremely difficult for outsiders to learn Shaolin Kung Fu, almost to the point of being impossible, but there are very few things in the world that Chen Huai'an cannot obtain.

With a large financial investment and an imperial decree from Emperor Taizong of Tang, the Shaolin Temple was also required to provide instruction.

Of course, this came with conditions: Chen Huai'an's skills could not be passed on to others; this was the only condition Shaolin Temple agreed to.

Chen Huai'an readily agreed.

And that's how this scene came about.

"Senior brother... this..." One of the martial monks, who had a mole on his forehead, watched as Chen Huai'an wielded an iron rod with incredible skill, the constant whooshing sounds making his eyelids twitch.

The lips of Jingkong, whom he called his senior brother, were a little dry: "Jingming, the Duke of Anguo is no ordinary person... Don't judge him by common sense."

"Just do your own thing."

"Yes, Senior Brother." Jingming replied with his palm raised, still unable to contain his shock.

Is this a scholar? Or a civil official?

"gentlemen."

Yunyan knocked on the door and came in.

Upon hearing her voice, Chen Huai'an reluctantly stopped.

Yunyan has been with him for many years, and she won't bother him unless it's something important.

Chen Huai'an casually took the handkerchief Yunyan handed him, wiped the sweat from his face, and exhaled a breath of stale air: "What is it?"

Honestly, he's starting to enjoy the feeling of practicing martial arts, and he finally understands why he's always heard of martial arts fanatics.

When practicing martial arts, all worries are left behind, and the mind is filled with the key points of the movements. Moreover, one can clearly perceive oneself becoming stronger little by little.

This feeling is really addictive.

He even decided that after learning Shaolin Kung Fu, he would spend a lot of money to learn all the martial arts in the world, and he wouldn't let any weapons go unlearned.

Anyway, I have plenty of time, so I can take it slow.

"Sir, Vice Minister Li Baiyao of the Ministry of Rites has arrived. I have arranged for him to be in the living room, and tea has been prepared," Yunyan said softly.

Chen Huai'an understood and said to the martial monks beside him, "Masters, I have other matters to attend to, so let's stop here for today."

"Yes, Duke Anguo." Jingkong replied, feeling a slight sense of relief.

Chen Huai'an was simply too abnormal; he learned things at an inhuman speed. He was afraid that if he ran out of things to teach after a while, he would have no way to explain it to His Majesty.

Otherwise, one might think they didn't want to teach martial arts and were just going to teach a few moves to fool people.

"If you need anything, just tell the people in the manor. Thank you all for today, masters." Chen Huai'an was quite polite to them.

The monks readily agreed, saying they would do as they pleased.

Chen Huai'an then took Yunyan out, where they quickly washed up, changed their clothes, and went to the living room.

By this time, Li Baiyao had been waiting for a while and had drunk two cups of tea, but he did not complain at all.

After Chen Huai'an entered, Li Baiyao was about to get up when Chen Huai'an casually waved his hand, signaling him not to move. He then sat down and explained, "Minister Li, I was delayed by some matters earlier. Please forgive me if I have neglected you."

"Not at all, not at all." Li Baiyao didn't care about such a trivial matter at all, and said with a smile, "The Duke of Anguo is very busy with state affairs, I can understand."

Li Baiyao casually changed the subject and got straight to the point: "I suppose Duke Anguo already has a guess as to why I have come here today."

Chen Huai'an liked this straightforward attitude. He picked up the tea that Yunyan had poured for him and took a sip: "The news of the Wang family's donation of books has spread throughout Chang'an. In another month, the donation ceremony will be held."

"I know perfectly well why Vice Minister Li has come here today."

"Let's be frank. The Wang family gave them their collection of books. What can the Li family of Zhao County offer?"

Li Baiyao was surprised to hear this.

They had already studied Chen Huai'an and knew he wasn't one to waste words, so he got straight to the point.

He just didn't expect the other party to be even more direct than him.

Not only did they skip the unnecessary formalities, but they also skipped the question of whether they could cooperate, directly asking what conditions they could offer.

But Li Baiyao was prepared. After a moment's thought, he replied, "The Wang family is offering their own collection of books, which is something none of us expected."

"I think the Wang family did it voluntarily. If they were unwilling, even if Duke Anguo forced them, they would not agree."

"I roughly understand the intention behind it."

"You ask me what the Li family of Zhao County can offer..." Li Baiyao smiled slightly, "What the Wang family can offer, we can offer as well!"

One sentence made Chen Huai'an pause in his work.

What the Wang family could provide, the Li family of Zhao County could provide as well.

This statement simply means that if the Wang family can provide their collection of books, so can they.

However, Chen Huai'an was not as surprised as last time. He blew on the steam from the tea and said, "Minister Li should understand that the Wang family's act of giving up their collection of books first is a timely help."

"It would be the icing on the cake that your Li family is also contributing books."

"The unification of the classics involved countless great Confucian scholars, including the venerable Kong Yingda of the Confucian school, Yan Shujian of the Yan school, and great Confucian scholars from both the North and the South."

"If we include the Cui family of Boling, the Wang family of Taiyuan, and the Wang family's collection of books, its authority needs no one to question it, and no one can question it."

"The books that your Li family is now offering are no longer necessary for us."

"It would be good to have it, but I can accept not having it."

"Could it be that Minister Li doesn't understand this principle?"

Li Baiyao nodded slightly; they hadn't expected to impress Chen Huai'an with this anyway.

Just as the other party said, the Wang family has already given away their collection of books. If they continue to give them away, it will not be a timely help, but rather adding to their already good fortune.

I made this request just to give it a try.

If it works out, then of course there's something to be happy about; if it doesn't, he still has a backup plan!

Li Baiyao smiled and said, "Although I don't know what Duke Anguo plans to do next, I do know that the Zheng family probably left a very bad impression on him. We... can help you!"

"..."