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

Upon his return, Feng Ang immediately received high praise from Li Shimin, who also promised to prepare some specialties from the Central Plains for him to take back to Lingnan.

After the three of them had another dinner, Feng Ang and Chen Huai'an left the East Palace.

On the way, Feng Ang asked, "What did you say to His Majesty? He seemed to be in a very good mood."

"I don't know either," Chen Huai'an said innocently. "Anyway, of the eight ships of supplies you brought, six will go to the national treasury, and the remaining two will go into His Majesty's private coffers."

"Moreover, His Majesty had to pay for the return gift himself out of his own pocket."

"He clearly suffered a huge loss, and I don't know why he's so happy."

Feng Ang: "..."

His expression was very strange. Could this be... what they call venting one's anger?

They had agreed to each make a profit, and in principle, all of this should have gone into Li Shimin's own pocket. However, Li Shimin only accepted two boatloads of gifts and then had to give him a lot of return gifts.

He clearly suffered a huge loss, but he acted all happy...

Feng Ang is really hard to judge.

He didn't know how Chen Huai'an had managed to do it.

"You...you won't get into trouble, will you?" Feng Ang couldn't help but ask.

Chen Huai'an waved his hand: "Don't worry, everything will be fine!"

He was also very adept at dealing with Li Shimin.

Dragon taming, you know.

Who wouldn't do the same?

You, the one surnamed Wei, should learn from him!

"Alright, it's good that you know what's going on." Feng Ang clicked his tongue in amazement, but didn't press further. Instead, he changed the subject: "Let's go back. It's already mid-June. In less than a month, you two will be getting married."

"Once you two get married, it'll be time for me to leave."

"Although I had made some arrangements before I came, it would be best to get back as soon as possible."

"Once I return, trade can commence where appropriate."

"Getting married..." Chen Huai'an was in a daze for a moment.

Before he knew it, he had arrived in this era and was almost ready to get married.

Even if the initial intention of this marriage was not good.

He had many considerations, and the Feng family also wanted to get a lot out of him.

But judging from the results, it's still pretty good.

Thinking of this, Chen Huai'an turned his head and said, "It would be best to leave as soon as possible. We should stay in Chang'an as little as possible."

"However, before you leave, His Majesty and his ministers will definitely seek you out frequently. Trade is no small matter; many things need to be discussed, and the system needs to be established."

"No problem." Feng Ang didn't ask any more questions. He had noticed something unusual when he first came to Chang'an to attend the banquet.

She also knew that Chen Huai'an was reminding her.

But most of these things were irrelevant to him. After arriving in Chang'an, he carefully collected information on everything that had happened since Li Shimin ascended the throne, especially information about Chen Huai'an.

In his view, Chen Huai'an and Li Shimin were utterly ruthless.

By forcibly dividing the five surnames and seven noble families with limited benefits, their alliance crumbled. Those who took the position of rule-maker could not tolerate anyone below them coveting their place.

The feigned death stirred up a huge storm, and even the two giant ships, Lu and Zheng, which had been sailing for hundreds of years, suffered heavy losses in this storm, leaving only some insignificant clansmen to guard their ancestral land and barely survive.

With such means and value to be exploited, Feng Ang was not worried about Chen Huai'an's safety at all.

Feng Ang believed that as long as Chen Huai'an did not rebel, he would be absolutely safe for the next ten years, and Qiao'er would also be safe following him.

It's hard to say what will happen ten years from now, because Li Shimin will be forty years old by then.

However, he believed that Chen Huai'an must have already prepared an escape route for himself, and the Feng family was at least part of his plan.

"Chang'an..." Feng Ang sighed inexplicably, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"..."

Li Shimin returned to Empress Zhangsun's palace with great joy, wanting to share the good news with her.

He had already had the items sent by Feng Ang inventoried. Even if it was just two boatloads, their value was immeasurable, and it would greatly replenish his private treasury.

"Erlang, what makes you so happy?"

When Empress Zhangsun saw Li Shimin enter, she smiled and asked him a question.

Compared to her weakness immediately after giving birth, Empress Zhangsun looked much better after resting for a while, and her face regained some color.

In ordinary households, many people are still working the day after giving birth, but Empress Zhangsun was already on her fifth child, and given her frail health, recovery was not easy for her.

"Lie down, lie down." Li Shimin quickly ran over and gestured for Empress Zhangsun to lie down. He then happily told her about what had happened that day.

And how much value the things Feng Ang sent were.

After hearing this, Empress Zhangsun immediately realized something was amiss. Seeing her husband's happy expression, she smiled and said, "Second Prince, you've probably been tricked by Mr. Chen again."

Li Shimin paused, but wasn't as surprised as he had imagined: "Guanyinbi, please continue."

Empress Zhangsun breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this and explained with a smile, "As previously agreed, before the official commencement of trade, both Feng Ang and you can make a fortune. You can use this to enrich your private treasury and use it to reward your subordinates or win people's hearts, while Feng Ang can use this to show his loyalty and profit from it at the same time."

"This move can be described as a win-win situation."

"But now six ships of supplies have been put into the national treasury, and you have only received two ships."

"But you haven't given Feng Ang a return gift yet."

"Since it's a reward for your subordinates, it can't come from the national treasury; it has to come from your personal funds."

"If you do the math, you can still make a profit, but it will be much less."

"Judging from the results, that is indeed the case." Li Shimin remained noncommittal, showing no anger, as if he already knew this.

Empress Zhangsun's heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "Second Prince, don't you think you're being taken advantage of?"

"You've missed out on a lot of money; that's all money!"

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Judging from the surface results, I did indeed earn less."

Empress Zhangsun blinked, but didn't reply; she simply looked at him quietly.

She knew her husband too well. Li Shimin was a decisive and ruthless man on the battlefield and an exceptionally shrewd man in the court. He was never one to suffer a loss.

Since he said that, he must have his reasons.

Li Shimin sat on the edge of the bed, reached out and tucked the blanket around her, and said slowly, "You do the math. Feng Ang brought eight boatloads of supplies to Chang'an this time. Six boatloads went into the national treasury, and two boatloads went into my private treasury. I still have to give him a return gift."

"On the surface, I did indeed earn less."

"But have you ever considered what the money in the national treasury is currently used for?"

"..."