Chapter 139: Such a Smooth Operator

"I promise you, I'll find some time in the next couple of days to go see him and make sure he's beaming with joy, alright? Who's that young man in the back?" Cai Cong turned his head slightly to glance at the scholarly young fellow.

"He is my cousin, the eldest son of my uncle, Changsun Chong. My father betrothed my younger sister to him, so he is my brother-in-law," Li Chengqian said casually. He didn't much care for this fellow; his personality was far too much like his father's.

Cai Cong gave Changsun Chong an extra look. The young man had a very pleasant demeanor, and some people compared him to Wang Xizhi—noble by birth yet entirely devoid of ambition. Seeing his refined and scholarly appearance, Cai Cong was actually inclined to believe that claim.

Li Chengqian was a busy man; having obtained the answer he wanted, he took his leave. Li Lizhi stayed behind to chat with Sister Cai, exchanging idle words, their attention soon captured by someone else.

Chu Yao's tragic background filled Li Lizhi with profound sympathy, prompting her to gift the young girl her own jade bracelet just moments ago.

Cai Cong went to pay his respects to the old patriarch; returning home meant greeting one's elders first. The old man was still tending to those few patches of Chinese cabbage; grain was the most precious thing in the world to him.

Cai Cong stepped forward to help apply fertilizer, completely unconcerned by how foul-smelling the nightsoil was. The old patriarch snatched the ladle from his hand, placed it on the ground, and said with a warm smile, "How can a marquis of such noble status touch such filthy things? Go wash your hands at once."

"Grand-uncle is also a marquis, and you are tending to these vegetables. Why shouldn't I, as the Imperial Grandson, be allowed to do the same?" Cai Cong smiled back, picked up the ladle from the ground, and resumed his work.

"Did you meet Master Kunan when you went to Duolin Temple?"

"He died long ago; his bones have probably turned to dust by now," Cai Cong said, lowering the ladle with a sigh.

"Is that why your men rushed back beforehand and chased away every Buddhist believer in the household? Who was eager to see you, that even someone like Master Kunan had to be exploited after his death?"

"It's all because of those bald donkeys. They wanted me to put in a good word for them with the Emperor, to loosen the restrictions on issuing Buddhist ordination certificates."

"You must not agree to this!" The old patriarch put down his ladle, staring intently at Cai Cong. Though he didn't know what the consequences might be, the mere mention of Buddhism and ordination certificates gave him an ominous feeling—purely the intuition of an elderly man.

"How could your grandson ever interfere in such a matter? You probably don't realize it, but Buddhism and Daoism are locked in a mortal struggle; goodness knows how many people have died over this period," Cai Cong said calmly. As long as commoners weren't dying, he didn't care how many perished.

"That's good."

The old patriarch uttered those three words and fell silent. Cai Cong looked at him and tentatively probed, "Chu Yao is my sister..."

"Mm, your father was truly remarkable, upholding his oath unto death. Your sister has only you as an elder brother, so naturally, she will come with you. From now on, she will be the eldest young miss of the Changshun Marquis Estate."

"Grand-uncle, what do you mean by that..." Cai Cong immediately stood up and exclaimed to the old patriarch. What did "eldest young miss of the Changshun Marquis Estate" even mean?

"Grand-uncle wants to move out." The old patriarch looked up at Cai Cong, grinning broadly. Cai Cong didn't know whether to feel happy or sad.

"Are my cousins willing to move in and live with you now?"

"Indeed! Grand-uncle is truly overjoyed; the children have accepted me. When I die in the future, they will be able to inherit my peerage." The old patriarch smiled brightly, and when speaking of being accepted by his children, he looked just like a child himself.

"This is a wonderful thing; your grandson should be happy for you, but I hate to see you go."

"Silly child, what is there to regret? Grand-uncle will be living right next door to you. I've thought it over: if we keep living together, my peerage would pass to you after my time. But you are already a marquis; how could you possibly inherit a viscountcy? The most likely outcome is that the title would be revoked. Living on my own is different; the officials of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices will register the household properly, and then your brothers can become viscounts. You won't have to shoulder the burden of this family all by yourself anymore, struggling so bitterly."

"Alright then! I'll buy the estate right next to the marquis mansion and convert it into your residence. When the time comes, we'll all move to Chang'an to live permanently, and whenever there's free time, we can come back to visit the village."

Cai Cong smiled as he spoke. It was indeed time to move to Chang'an for permanent residence; otherwise, every time Li Shimin wanted to see him, he'd have to wait half a day, and if an urgent matter were delayed because of that, it would spell serious trouble.

Registering the household was not difficult at all; there was no need to bother Old Li. Cai Cong brought Chu Yao for an audience with Empress Changsun. The girl's sparkling, dark eyes were full of spirit, instantly winning the Empress's deep affection. Changsun immediately ordered the staff to officially register Chu Yao and, along the way, enrolled the old patriarch's several great-grandsons into the imperial registry as well.

When Li Shimin laid eyes on the lively and adorable Chu Yao, he nodded in satisfaction and bestowed several sets of fine garments and jewelry upon her. Alarm bells began to ring in Cai Cong's mind; the old man's gaze toward his younger sister was exactly like that of an elderly couple in a park sizing up prospective brides for their son upon seeing someone to their liking.

My sister has only been home for a few days, and you're already trying to reserve her for yourself? That simply won't do; I need to think of a way out of this.

Cai Cong rolled his eyes mischievously. Li Shimin brought a heavy palm down onto the crown of his head: "You rascal, what wicked scheme are you hatching with those rolling eyes of yours?"

"None at all! Your subject was just thinking that the Crown Prince is already ten years old; it's about time to select a match for him. Anyone would do, but for heaven's sake, you mustn't pick a wild girl like my sister. She has no manners whatsoever, and I've completely spoiled her."

"What unbridled... nonsense are you uttering? You're ten years old yourself, shouldn't I also be looking for a wife for you? Little Yao is quite exceptional—sensible and full of spirit. She is absolute perfection as a daughter-in-law for my family." Li Shimin glared at him indignantly. It had been no easy feat finding a satisfactory daughter-in-law, and before he could even issue an imperial decree for the marriage, this fellow was rejecting it out of hand.

Little Yao had felt quite distressed when her brother called her mannerless; even the Emperor's praises couldn't cheer her up.

Cai Cong pulled his sister into an embrace and said to Li Shimin, "Yaoyao is very disobedient. Besides, she's only been home for a few days—to betroth her to the imperial palace right now? This brother of mine cannot bear to part with her. If you have the ability, wait until my Yaoyao grows up and let your own sons win my sister's heart themselves."

At this moment, Cai Cong was neither a marquis nor a court official; he was simply the head of a family protecting his younger sister. Not even in two lifetimes would he let anyone take her away just like that.

By then, Chu Yao had also figured out what was going on—so these people actually wanted to pull her into the imperial palace! How could she possibly agree? She poked her head out from the embrace of Cai Cong's arms and feigned foolishness, saying, "I'm not well-behaved at all, and I eat a tremendous amount—a single meal takes a mountain of food. I'll end up eating your whole family out of house and home!"

Hearing this, Li Shimin burst into hearty laughter. Even the mythical beast *taotie* couldn't eat the Li family into poverty, let alone a little girl like this. He patted the young girl's head and told Cai Cong, "Since you cherish your sister so much, I won't issue a decree for the marriage. When this lass grows up in the future, I'll send my sons to come and marry your sister into our home."

"It's a deal then! As long as they are truly devoted to one another, this older brother of theirs will never play the executioner of love." Cai Cong wanted to high-five Li Shimin to seal the oath, but Li Shimin didn't even deign to look at him, calmly sipping his tea.

"Um, your subject has heard that the Prince of Wei is neglecting his proper duties and running wild outside all day long?" Cai Cong scratched his head awkwardly and addressed Li Shimin.

"Don't mention that rebellious son to me! I've already placed him under house arrest. Did the Crown Prince send you here to intercede for him? Let me tell you right now, pleading for him is forbidden!" Li Shimin shot a glance at the imperial historian and slammed the table as he shouted.

Cai Cong hurriedly raised his voice: "Who's pleading for him? Who would dare plead for him? If he did wrong, he deserves to be punished." Then, shifting his tone with a cheeky grin, he added, "Your subject isn't pleading for him, but would it be all right if your subject went to visit the Prince of Wei?"

"That is permissible, but you are forbidden from taking him out of the Prince's residence, or I'll flay your skin off," Li Shimin said with a deadpan expression, thinking to himself that even if this rascal hadn't accomplished his recent feats, if he were to castrate himself and spend a decade or so mingling in the inner court, he'd still manage to rise to prominence anyway. The boy was just entirely too good at playing the game.

Cai Cong laughed and swore up and down that he would never take the little fatty out of the prince's estate, prompting Li Shimin to nod in satisfaction.

"The Tujue..." Li Shimin uttered those two words, and Empress Changsun immediately stood up, leading everyone else away and leaving only Cai Cong and Li Chengqian behind.