Chapter 35: Forced Into Marriage!

After properly arranging the affairs of the Great Tang for the next seven days, Li Chengqian felt physically and mentally exhausted. The long hours of handling state affairs were like fine spider silk, slowly draining his energy bit by bit.

"If there are any matters to report, speak now. If not, we shall conclude today’s session. Court is dismissed."

Li Chengqian’s voice, tinged with weariness, echoed slowly through the imperial hall.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Fang Xuanling stepped forward. Dressed in his official robes with a solemn expression, every step he took seemed to carry a sense of mission.

"Your Majesty, this old minister has an urgent matter to report!"

Fang Xuanling’s voice was steady and powerful.

Li Chengqian looked toward him with some surprise. Usually, when there were important matters, Fang Xuanling would communicate with him privately; after all, the court was a place of many ears, and certain confidential affairs were not meant to be discussed in public. Moreover, all the day’s business had already been settled, and he could not fathom what else needed to be brought up in the hall.

Nevertheless, Li Chengqian said gently, "Prime Minister Fang, if you have a matter to report, just speak plainly."

"Your Majesty!" Fang Xuanling bowed slightly, his tone earnest. "This old minister implores Your Majesty to marry as soon as possible!"

As soon as these words left Fang Xuanling’s lips, the civil and military officials in the hall, as if they had rehearsed it beforehand, shouted in unison, "We implore Your Majesty to marry as soon as possible!"

The sound reverberated through the hall with overwhelming force.

Li Chengqian scanned the ministers below with a helpless expression, a bitter smile forming in his heart. He had not expected that the nightmare of being pressured to marry in his past life would follow him here, even after he had become an emperor.

In truth, Li Chengqian had little interest in marriage. Looking back, when he was fourteen, Li Shimin had wanted to arrange a Crown Princess for him. At that time, young and headstrong, he had stubbornly refused. But Li Shimin was the Emperor, and a ruler’s word was law; no one could defy his decision. Thus, the marriage was set. Even though Li Chengqian inwardly resisted and kept stalling, the eldest daughter of the Su family had been unable to marry anyone else, left waiting in her maiden home.

When Li Shimin had arranged the match, the young lady of the Su family was only eleven, and he was but fourteen. They were still naive children—how could they shoulder the responsibilities of marriage? Now, time had passed; Li Chengqian was twenty-two, and the eldest daughter of the Su family was nineteen—a woman grown. Li Chengqian thought that perhaps the time had finally come.

His gaze fell upon Su Dan, the Secretary of the Secretariat, standing below. He saw Su Dan looking at him with eyes full of longing, holding years of expectation and helplessness.

Seeing Li Chengqian silent, Fang Xuanling feared a refusal and hurriedly continued to persuade him: "Your Majesty, the foundation of the state lies in the succession of heirs! For Your Majesty to marry and beget an imperial prince is a blessing for the nation, ensuring the ancestral legacy for ten thousand generations. The mistress of the Middle Palace can manage the trivial affairs of the inner court, allowing Your Majesty to focus on statecraft without worry. This also demonstrates Your Majesty’s ability to govern the family, adding to your imperial virtue. This old minister implores Your Majesty to marry soon."

Having said this, Fang Xuanling bowed respectfully to the floor. The officials followed suit, bowing and shouting in unison, "We implore Your Majesty to marry!"

A trace of helplessness flashed in Li Chengqian’s eyes. He waved a hand and said, "Gentle ministers, do not be so anxious. I never said I would not marry; there is no need for such pressure. All these years, the daughter of the Su family has suffered." He then looked at Su Dan. "Su Dan, step forward."

Upon hearing this, Su Dan was overcome with emotion, his body trembling slightly as he stepped forward, step by step. Tears welled in his eyes, the grievances and expectations of years surging in his heart.

"The Emperor Taizong once arranged a marriage between me and your eldest daughter, but I was young then and truly had no intention of marrying. Now that the matter has been raised again, I cannot bear to let your daughter down further," Li Chengqian said slowly. "I recall you are a Secretary of the Secretariat? A rank of 5b, is it not?"

Su Dan knelt on the ground and nodded respectfully. "It is just as Your Majesty says."

"Good," Li Chengqian nodded slightly. "Prime Minister Fang, draft an imperial decree later. Appoint Su Dan as the Minister of the Secretariat, specifically elevating him to rank 3a. From now on, he will be the Imperial Father-in-law; the original rank 3b of the Secretariat is no longer appropriate. Su Dan’s salary shall be issued according to rank 3a."

Hearing this, Su Dan was moved to tears. He knelt and knocked his head firmly against the floor twice. For him, this was nothing short of ascending to the heavens in a single step! To be promoted five ranks in a single day was something he dared not even dream of.

"This minister thanks Your Majesty for your immense grace."

"Rise. You are my Imperial Father-in-law; from now on, you are exempt from formalities when you see me," Li Chengqian said. "Prime Minister Fang, please arrange the matters for my wedding."

Li Chengqian looked at Fang Xuanling again. "Grand Tutor Qi, as for the betrothal gifts, notify the Qianyu Chamber of Commerce. Tell that fat man to bring out the treasures he’s been hoarding at the bottom of his chest for me. He is not to hide anything."

A glimmer of amusement flashed in Li Chengqian’s eyes as he spoke to Grand Tutor Qi.

Mr. Qi responded with a beaming smile, "I obey your decree, Your Majesty. I will ensure your orders are delivered perfectly. If that fat man still tries to act like a miser... heh heh, I shall peel the skin off that fat pig for you, Your Majesty!"

His words carried a touch of banter, clearly showing a very close relationship with Li Chengqian.

Watching how familiar Grand Tutor Qi was with the Emperor, the ministers below were filled with envy. The rise of Grand Tutor Qi was a legend of the Great Tang—going from a commoner to a Grand Tutor in a single day was, in everyone’s eyes, simply inconceivable. More terrifyingly, this man was young, barely thirty, yet already held a high position and managed state affairs with impeccable order, his ability on par with Fang Xuanling. At first, the ministers had been somewhat unconvinced, but in just seven days, he had used his talent and capability to win them over completely.

However, everyone was also curious: who was this "fat man" the Emperor and Grand Tutor Qi spoke of? And what kind of mysterious entity was the Qianyu Chamber of Commerce?

***

At the headquarters of the Qianyu Chamber of Commerce in Xianyang, it was a scene of bustling activity.

"Achoo!"

Lin Dafu suddenly let out a loud sneeze, the sound exploding like a thunderclap within the headquarters. The staff nearby, who were busy tallying accounts, were so startled that they nearly dropped their pens.

"Sorry, sorry, just a sneeze. Everyone, please continue your work! I’ll give you all a raise at the end of the month," Lin Dafu said, his fat face breaking into a smile as he looked at the crowd with an apologetic expression. As he spoke, he rubbed his nose and muttered softly, "Damn it, which bastard is cursing me!"

"Chairman, the statistics for this month’s report are ready. Please take a look." A young man holding a thick stack of financial reports approached and handed them to Lin Dafu with caution.

"Good, good, good. You child, take care to rest. Don’t ruin your health while you’re still young." Lin Dafu took the reports and looked at the young man with concern. "I remember you still have an elderly mother to support?"

The young man nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Yes, Chairman. The salary the Chamber pays me is already enough to support my mother!"

Lin Dafu shook his head, a look of gratification on his face. "I’ll add five hundred coins to your salary this month. Buy your mother something good to nourish her!"

Upon hearing this, the young man’s nose tingled, and his voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, Chairman."

"No need to thank me. It is what you deserve. Rather than thanking me, you should thank yourself for studying so hard in school back then." Lin Dafu smiled, though a trace of regret flashed in his eyes. "Actually, I still owe you all a bit. I had the chance to send you to Chang’an to become officials back then."

The young man looked at Lin Dafu with a firm gaze. "Chairman! I don’t want to be an official! I just want to follow you!"

"Silly child, go and get some rest! When there is an opportunity, I will recommend you to the Emperor. Fu Changyuan, right?" Lin Dafu patted the young man’s shoulder.

Fu Changyuan nodded solemnly. "Yes, Chairman!"

"Alright, go on. I need to look at last month’s financial reports." Lin Dafu waved his hand.

"Yes, Chairman!" Fu Changyuan turned and left.

***

Not long after, a shrill cry of misery erupted from Lin Dafu’s room, a sound so piercing it seemed to shatter the roof and soar into the clouds. However, the people nearby had little reaction, continuing their work as usual. If one were to ask why, the answer was: they were used to it!

Lin Dafu held the financial report, looking at the shocking strings of numbers, his heart weeping.

"How can a war cost fifty million coins!" He widened his eyes in disbelief. "And why were thirty million coins allocated to renovate Chang’an? Is Chang’an made of gold?"

As he spoke, he used his pudgy fingers to gesture frantically at the report. "And why is another fifty million needed as an advance for the war!"

Looking at these exaggerated financial reports, Lin Dafu felt a sudden wave of dizziness. In just one month, even with the most frugal calculations, they would have to spend at least one hundred and fifty million coins. He could hardly believe his eyes.

"God damn it! What exactly is happening in Chang’an? How did I not hear a whisper of this before the money started flowing out like water!" He paced back and forth in his office, his stout body trembling with rage.