Guan Yu and Zhang Fei looked at the two figures on the ground, disbelieving their own ears.
"You, you, you, you are a descendant of the Guan or Zhang family?!"
"Mhm, mhm!"
Guan Chang and Zhang De nodded heavily in response.
"Quick, quick, get up and speak! Tell your ancestor about our family's affairs over the past few centuries!"
Zhang Fei grabbed Zhang De and lifted him up. He no longer sat back at the table but pulled Zhang De towards the outside of the banquet hall.
Guan Yu similarly pulled Guan Chang and walked out.
Watching the four of them leave, Li Xiuning gave Hua Mulan and the others a look.
The group rose. "Your Majesty, we have finished eating. We shall take our leave!"
With them gone, only Chai Shao and his wife, Li Shimin and his wife, and Fang Er and his wife remained in the banquet hall. The welcoming banquet had turned into a family dinner.
Li Tai and Li Ke exchanged glances, then, flanking Chai Lingwu, they found an excuse and left.
Li Xiuning rose and walked to Li Shimin's side, pouring him a cup of wine. She then asked with displeasure,
"Er Lang, tell me, what are your plans for An Zhi and Li Zhi?"
Hearing this, Li Shimin shivered involuntarily.
The scene of her beating him in Suiye City flashed in his mind, as clear as if it were yesterday.
"Big, big, big sister, whatever you say goes!"
With outsiders gone, Li Shimin completely shed his imperial demeanor in front of Li Xiuning.
*Duang~*
Li Xiuning placed the wine bottle heavily on the table, then lifted a leg to rest on her chair. She pointed her right finger at Li Shimin, exuding the aura of a powerful, almost gangster-like matriarch.
"My son-in-law's noble title must be elevated! Read book reviews."
"Since an engagement is set, let's first grant him the title of Duke! Upon the wedding day, he shall be enfeoffed as a King!"
"Also, the money the Ministry of Revenue owes An Zhi must be settled within a month. If even a single copper coin is short, don't blame me for coming to your doorstep!"
"If you agree, I will decide this marriage, allowing Li Zhi to marry and be the principal wife."
"Anyone in court who dares to object, note them down. Later, I will personally go and have a chat with them."
"There are some things that are inconvenient for Si Chang to do, but I have no qualms about doing them!"
Chai Yue covered her mouth and giggled at this. Fang Er almost dropped his eyeballs; his mother-in-law was truly formidable!
Empress Changsun, holding Li Zhi, smiled and took Changle's little hand. "Come, let's go see the big lions with Mother."
Changle blinked her big eyes, completely bewildered, and mumbled an "Oh" before following Empress Changsun out.
Li Shimin wanted to reach out to Jin Yi and the other two, but after a moment's thought, he gave up.
He looked at Li Xiuning with a wronged expression. "Big sister, doing this makes it very difficult for me."
"An Zhi is also here, and I have no intention of hiding it anymore. My plan is, on the wedding day, to grant An Zhi the title of Duke. As for enfeoffing him as a King, that is reserved for Cheng Qian."
"Otherwise, after Cheng Qian ascends the throne, there will be no titles left to bestow. What then?"
Fang Er: "..."
'Should I learn from that scoundrel Fang Jifan, who, when idle, would beat up dukes and kings just to lower his own rank?'
'Speaking of which, wouldn't doing that be too obvious? They haven't provoked me, have they?'
Li Xiuning slapped the table and pointed at Li Shimin's nose again, shouting,
"I don't care! When will Cheng Qian ascend the throne?"
"If I remember correctly, Er Lang is only thirty-two this year!"
"If you live to be eighty, then An Zhi will have to wait another fifty years to be enfeoffed as King?"
"You can wait, but I cannot!"
"Speak! Will you do it or not?"
"If not, hand over that marriage contract!"
Fang Er was ecstatic!
Overjoyed, being protected felt so good!
Since meeting Li Shimin, he had rarely gained any advantage over him. He never expected that his mother-in-law's return would instantly put him under her heel.
"Wonderful!"
"Hiahiahiahiahiahia~~~"
Li Shimin instinctively touched his chest. The marriage contract was kept there. Thinking of his little plans, he straightened his neck and stood up.
"Enfeoff! It shall be as Big Sister says, he will be granted the title of Duke!"
"Once I return to Chang'an, I will officially issue the decree!"
Li Xiuning raised an eyebrow. "No!"
"Now, immediately, send a wireless message to Chang'an!"
"Have Old Man Fang and Old Ghost Du draft the decree, and stamp it with the seal of the Secretariat."
"There's no need to send an eunuch to deliver the decree. I will personally send someone back to retrieve it!"
Li Shimin spread his hands helplessly. "Fine, it shall be as Big Sister wishes!"
After speaking, he looked at Chai Shao. "Si Chang, go send the message!"
"Got it~"
Chai Shao was incredibly pleased. His own wife was truly amazing, even making the Emperor hesitate!
"Hahaha~~!"
In the Ministry of War office in Chang'an, a clerk rushed in with a telegram.
"Duke Wei, a telegram from His Majesty!"
"Read it!"
"Telegram to inform Yaoshi and the others. My elder sister has returned. Quickly draft a decree to promote Fang Anzhi to Duke. kanδん"
"No need to deliver the decree, someone will go to Chang'an to retrieve it soon."
Li Jing was bewildered. What kind of content was this!
What did "elder sister has returned" mean!
His Majesty only had one sister named Li Xiuning, right?
But she had been dead for seven years! Her bones should have turned to dust by now!
And this sudden, inexplicable promotion of Fang Anzhi to Duke?
Being promoted to Duke was not a problem; based on his achievements, he was certainly qualified. However, what about the title?
Duke Wei, Duke Yi, Duke Lu, and so on. Wei, Yi, Lu were all titles. Just throwing out the phrase "enfeoffed as Duke" was too irresponsible!
"Go invite Duke Fang and Duke Du here!"
Unable to figure it out, he could only ask the clerk to fetch Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui to discuss it together.
Soon, the two were summoned separately from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel by the clerk.
"Yaoshi, why have you summoned us here in such a hurry?"
Fang Xuanling asked with a grin as he entered, deliberately exposing his set of clean, white false teeth.
Du Ruhui, seeing this, immediately became displeased.
"Can you stop showing off! Look at the mouth you've given me, all green! Damn it!"
As he spoke, Li Jing clearly saw the imperial green jadeite false teeth in his mouth.
Li Jing: "..."
'These two old rogues, ever since returning from Shenyang, have been showing off their false teeth everywhere. Damn it, they've lost all semblance of dignity just to attract business!'
After rolling his eyes at Fang and Du, he handed them the telegram.
"Look for yourselves!"
"Elder sister? Princess? Has she come back from the dead?"
Fang Xuanling looked at Li Jing, completely bewildered.
Du Ruhui was the same. Fang Er, let alone being enfeoffed as Duke, they wouldn't have objected even if he were directly made a King. But this mention of "elder sister has returned" had completely confused them.