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

"many?"

"How much more?"

Li Shimin was thrilled and said with great enthusiasm, "Since it is the Duke of Yue's good intention, I cannot not even see the congratulatory gift."

"Alright, send someone to bring it over. I also want to see what kind of congratulatory gift the Duke of Yue has sent me."

Feng Ang's eyelids twitched; he was finding it difficult to answer the question. After a moment's hesitation, he replied, "It's nothing particularly precious, just some common local products from Lingnan..."

"It's alright!" Li Shimin waved his hand. "Whatever it is, it's a token of the Duke of Yue's goodwill, and I must see it with my own eyes."

"Zhang Anan, take some men and go with the Duke of Yue right now to deliver the congratulatory gifts!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Anan received the order and came before Feng Ang.

The latter had a strange expression, but didn't say anything and left with Zhang Anan.

Initially, everyone was actually prepared for this. Back when the Lingnan canal was first opened, Li Shimin and Chen Huai'an had privately considered exchanging a batch of goods to make a profit.

Feng Ang presented the prince when Empress Zhangsun had just given birth to him, which was indeed a well-chosen time, but no matter what, it had nothing to do with them.

Li Shimin himself didn't take Feng Ang's words to heart. In his opinion, how much stuff could Feng Ang bring?

At most, it's just two truckloads of goods.

However... as everyone in the hall occasionally praised Li Zhi, time slowly passed. Zhang Anan rushed in, covered in sweat: "Your Majesty... the Duke of Yue's congratulatory gifts have arrived... but..."

Li Shimin was in high spirits and, without giving Zhang Anan a chance to finish speaking, waved his hand and said, "Come, my dear ministers, let's go see the congratulatory gifts sent by the Duke of Yue!"

"Excellent!" Fang Xuanling said with a smile. "I've long heard that there are many rare items in Lingnan. Perhaps we'll be able to see them today?"

"Isn't that right?" Du Ruhui chimed in, "Many things from Lingnan are quite precious here."

The group chatted and laughed as they walked out of Xiande Hall.

As soon as Li Shimin stepped outside the hall, he was delighted, for outside the Xiande Hall, there were already boxes of all sizes laid out. If nothing unexpected happened, these must have been brought by Feng Ang from Lingnan, and there were indeed quite a few of them.

Li Shimin handed Li Zhi to a female official to carry, walked to a long, rectangular box, and said to the ministers behind him, "My dear ministers, I think this box contains ivory."

Fang Xuanling chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, we can't say for sure until it's opened. What if it's not ivory?"

"I think, judging from its shape, the box probably contains... a rhinoceros horn."

Cheng Yaojin crossed his arms: "Old Fang, you're mistaken. You yourself said that before it was opened, no one knew what was inside, except for the Duke of Yue... Hmm? Where is the Duke of Yue?"

He looked around but couldn't find Feng Ang, and was a little confused.

At this moment, everyone realized that Feng Ang did indeed not appear!

Li Shimin turned his gaze to Zhang Anan and asked what had happened.

Zhang Anan quickly explained, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Yue brought far too many things. These are only a small part of the total. The Duke of Yue is currently finding people to transport them over, so I had no choice but to bring a portion of the gifts over with a small group of people."

Li Shimin was startled: "This is only a small part?"

Zhang Anan nodded: "Your Majesty, it is indeed a very small portion. I was just about to ask if you should send more people to transport it, otherwise I'm afraid we won't be able to finish transporting it today..."

"Go, go, go!" Li Shimin was startled again, then urged, "Take men there immediately and bring back the Duke of Yue. Send as many men as you can, and make sure they bring back all the congratulatory gifts the Duke of Yue sent!"

"This servant obeys the decree." Zhang Anan dared not delay and immediately carried out Li Shimin's instructions.

Li Shimin looked at Chen Huai'an, who had a calm expression, and was somewhat speechless.

This father-in-law and son-in-law... well, one of them is utterly incompetent, while the other is overly so!

The area in front of Xiande Hall was already overflowing with congratulatory gifts, and this was only a small fraction of what Feng Ang had sent. One can only imagine just how much he had actually given.

"Cheng Laohei, what were you about to say?" Fang Xuanling changed the subject at the right time, bringing up the congratulatory gift itself.

Cheng Yaojin snorted, "I think it probably contains special spices!"

"Oh?" Li Shimin became interested. "Since we have different opinions, Xuanling guesses it's rhinoceros horn, while Zhijie says it contains special spices. Why don't we make a bet on what's inside?"

"How about we bet twenty jars of the best 'Beauty Pass'?"

Fang Xuanling and Cheng Yaojin exchanged a glance and immediately agreed.

"Very well, since Your Majesty is in such a good mood, let's make the bet!"

"No problem!" Cheng Yaojin patted his chest and said, "It seems His Majesty wants me, Old Cheng, to drink more wine today. Perfect, I've been craving some lately, and that beauty's place is really not cheap."

"Heh." Li Shimin sneered, "You act like you've already won."

"Unboxing!"

Li Shimin called out to himself, but instead of letting anyone else open the box, he opened it himself.

Upon closer inspection, two large and long ivory tusks were neatly arranged inside!

"Hahahaha!" Li Shimin laughed loudly, Fang Xuanling sighed, and Cheng Yaojin felt a pang of heartache.

"It seems I have won!"

"Both of you are not allowed to cheat. Each of you must send me twenty jars of the finest Beauty Elixir later, do you hear me?"

Cheng Yaojin didn't reply, but you could tell from his eyes that he was somewhat unconvinced.

Fang Xuanling looked regretful, with a hint of annoyance.

Li Shimin was overjoyed, not only because he had won the bet against the two men, but more importantly because he was now completely certain that the things Feng Ang had sent were definitely not the ordinary local specialties he had claimed to have.

I bet they're all really valuable stuff!

Chen Huai'an glanced almost imperceptibly at Fang Xuanling and Cheng Yaojin. To be honest, these two were practically Oscar-worthy; their little expressions were damn well on point.

If I say a few more flattering words, won't I be so easily swayed by Li Shimin that I'll become like an embryo?

However... the two of them were clearly sensible, content with just pleasing Li Shimin, and did not go so far as to fawn over him.

"Open all the other boxes and take a look. I reckon they definitely contain the rhinoceros horn that Xuanling mentioned, as well as the spices that Zhijie mentioned."

Li Shimin's lips curled up slightly. This time, he didn't do it himself, but ordered someone to open the box.

However, even with mental preparation, after each box was opened, a silence inevitably and slowly descended outside the Xiande Hall.

"..."