26: Chapter 26: Is there a problem with Confucianism?

"Understood. You really don't hold back at all, do you? Who asks for a betrothal gift so proactively?"

If Yang Fan were to prepare a betrothal gift, he would certainly want to prepare it meticulously.

After all, he couldn't let Princess Xiangcheng feel disheartened, nor could he let her feel that her father had sold her off and that her husband's family didn't value her.

"Ahem."

"Um, I think this liquor is truly excellent."

"Get me 500 cases of this—what is it, Taijiu?—and Princess Xiangcheng, you can just take it with you!"

Emperor Taizong of Tang was actually asking for quite a lot.

After all, the liquor was truly good, and he estimated that there couldn't be much left in existence, so he asked for 500 cases first to test where Yang Fan's bottom line was.

"Fine, 500 cases. I'll probably need some time to gather them. As for Princess Xiangcheng, I'll just marry her here; it's inconvenient to go back to where we are."

Emperor Taizong of Tang couldn't believe his ears when he heard Yang Fan's words.

Had this guy Yang Fan changed his nature?

He didn't even haggle and agreed so readily?

"Very well, I will make the arrangements. There is a ready-made Princess's residence outside the palace; I will bestow one upon Princess Xiangcheng. Do you want a residence as well? I can bestow one upon you too."

Princess Xiangcheng marrying Yang Fan wasn't really considered marrying beneath her, as Yang Fan's current relationship with him was equal, and there was no requirement for Yang Fan to live in the Princess's residence.

Besides, the two of them definitely wouldn't be living in the Tang Dynasty in the future.

"No need, I'll just live in the Princess's residence."

Yang Fan actually wanted to haggle, but since the person involved was his own woman, he couldn't do that.

Emperor Taizong of Tang setting the price was his own business.

Emperor Taizong of Tang nodded and immediately had Wang De take care of it, as if he were afraid Yang Fan would change his mind.

Famous physician had already brought the prescription over at this moment.

"Your Majesty, I presume the palace has all these medicinal ingredients. Sorry for the trouble."

"Bring the medicinal ingredients over. I will brew the medicine for my little brother myself."

Famous physician could actually find them himself, but they certainly wouldn't be as good as the ingredients in the palace, as the aging would be different.

Emperor Taizong of Tang took a look and saw that there were indeed a few very precious medicinal ingredients.

However, it was all a small matter, so he immediately ordered people to handle it.

At this moment, Wang De ran over and said:

"Your Majesty, it is time to dine."

"Yang Fan, let's go. I'll take you to dine. I'll have someone bring Famous physician's medicine to you in a while."

Emperor Taizong of Tang was very happy thinking about the 500 cases of liquor; his expectation had actually only been about 50 cases.

"Mm, let's go."

Yang Fan also wanted to experience the taste of the imperial meal.

There were only four people dining, and all the food had already been tested for poison.

Normally, Princess Xiangcheng would not be qualified to dine with Emperor Taizong of Tang, but because she would soon be Yang Fan's wife, she naturally sat at the table.

At this moment, Yang Fan also took out two exquisite boxes.

He opened one of them and took out the watch inside.

"Give me your hand!"

Princess Xiangcheng looked at Emperor Taizong of Tang and Empress Zhangsun.

Empress Zhangsun nodded at her.

Seeing Empress Zhangsun nod, Princess Xiangcheng finally extended her hand.

Yang Fan helped her put on the watch.

"This is called a watch; it can tell the time accurately."

"Your time here is divided into 12 shichen a day, but we define time more precisely, dividing it into 24 hours..."

Yang Fan explained the rules of the watch's time to Princess Xiangcheng.

Princess Xiangcheng covered her mouth in surprise; this gift was truly ingenious.

Princess Xiangcheng was speechless for a moment; after all, she had never received such a gift before.

"Ahem."

"Yang Fan, what about mine?"

"Yours? Didn't I already give you the liquor?"

Yang Fan handed the other box to the Eunuch.

"This one is for Empress Zhangsun."

"Yes!"

The Eunuch took the box and handed it to Empress Zhangsun.

Empress Zhangsun looked at such an exquisite object that could also tell time accurately, and judging by the craftsmanship, it was clearly designed for a lady.

"Young gentleman, you have put a lot of thought into this!"

Empress Zhangsun also put the watch on her wrist and waved it in front of Emperor Taizong of Tang.

"How is it, Erlang?"

When Yang Fan was introducing it to Princess Xiangcheng earlier, she had been watching from the side and could roughly tell how to read the time on this thing.

"Mm, very beautiful."

Emperor Taizong of Tang turned his head to look at Yang Fan again.

"Kid, don't you think I need this thing more?"

"If you want to know the time, can't you just ask the Eunuch outside?"

"Where we are from, this thing is just an ornament!"

Emperor Taizong of Tang's meal time was quite precise; when Wang De came over to call for dinner earlier, he took a look, and it was exactly 12 o'clock.

It seems that these people in the palace have a very precise grasp of time.

"That's on a sunny day; on cloudy or rainy days, the time is completely inaccurate."

"And why did you only give them to Empress Zhangsuns nickname and Princess Xiangcheng? What about mine? And what about my many consorts?"

"I don't care; I have already finished giving my gifts."

Yang Fan was stubborn and wouldn't listen to reason; he ate his meal while picking food for Princess Xiangcheng.

Although the dishes here looked good, the taste was a bit lacking, but it was just right for a patient like him right now.

Empress Zhangsun looked at Yang Fan and felt very satisfied; he knew how to take care of people.

"Erlang, eat your meal."

Empress Zhangsun lightly interrupted their conversation. What did his consorts have to do with Yang Fan?

Emperor Taizong of Tang huffed angrily, knowing he had made a slip of the tongue; he shouldn't have mentioned it in front of Empress Zhangsuns nickname.

Princess Xiangcheng just blushed, lowered her head, and focused on eating.

After dinner, Princess Xiangcheng went to tidy up her things. Tomorrow she would be moving to the Princess's residence. She was still a bit puzzled; wasn't it said that she was going to marry far away?

Since Yang Fan's medicine hadn't been brewed yet, Yang Fan and Emperor Taizong of Tang came to the side hall together.

Famous physician was controlling the heat to brew the medicine. It seemed he really cared about Yang Fan's illness.

It was unknown whether it was because of Yang Fan's face or because of Yang Fan's liquor, but he kept monitoring the heat the whole time.

"Your methods for winning people over are even more skilled than mine!"

Watching Famous physician do everything himself, Emperor Taizong of Tang couldn't help but sigh that this guy Yang Fan really knew how to give gifts; he could always deliver them right into people's hearts.

Furthermore, this guy had just given Empress Zhangsuns nickname some kind of watch, and even she had been won over by him.

"Don't say that; I am trading sincerity for sincerity. Do not slander me!"

Yang Fan said this righteously.

This was the first time Emperor Taizong of Tang had dealt with such a person: someone who did not fear imperial power, was not short of money, likely wasn't short of women, yet he needed something from the other party, and the guy was also black-bellied.

He felt like he couldn't even throw a punch.

"Who do you think I should choose as my successor?"

Emperor Taizong of Tang was now watching Famous physician brew the medicine from a distance with Yang Fan, and his voice could only be heard by the two of them.

"The truth or a lie?"

Yang Fan was also looking into the distance, and his words became serious.

After all, this topic concerned the continuation of the empire. Since he last talked with Yang Fan, he had been thinking about who to choose as his successor.

"Naturally, the truth. I don't want the Tang Dynasty to perish after three generations."

"Actually, both Crown Prince and Li Tai are deeply poisoned by Confucianism, and they are no longer suitable to be pioneering emperors."

"Is there a problem with Confucianism?"

Emperor Taizong of Tang was a bit puzzled; he actually quite liked Confucianism, and the Crown Prince's teachers were all Confucian scholars.