My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

"boom--"

Although they had a premonition that the competition would be fierce, a suppressed uproar still erupted in the hall when the results were announced.

It really is the Cui family!

Inside the private room, Cui Chengya suddenly stood up, forcibly suppressing his excitement. He took a deep breath, bowed deeply towards the throne, and his voice trembled uncontrollably.

"Your subject, Cui Cheng, thanks Your Majesty for your divine grace! Thanks to the God of Literature for your favor! The Cui family will certainly regard this pagoda as a family treasure, inheriting the grace of Heaven above and continuing the literary tradition below, faithfully fulfilling our duties as subjects, serving Your Majesty, and glorifying the culture of the Tang Dynasty!"

In the other private rooms, there was a frozen, deathly silence, followed by a sense of resentment and anger that seemed to burst through the curtains.

Lu Yuan slammed his fist on the coffee table, causing the teacups to jump.

"hateful!"

"Your mother said she wouldn't come, but in the end she bought the most things!"

Zheng Hong's face was ashen, and he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.

"Cui Cheng...good...very good!"

Li Song closed his eyes, feeling a dull ache in his chest.

Li Shimin nodded slightly at Cui Cheng's statement, then glanced at the other private rooms and said calmly.

"You gentlemen have shown your sincerity, and I am well aware of it. Although there is only one chance for immortality, the prosperity of literature depends on one's own efforts. Strive on yourselves."

"The auction is now over. You may all return home."

Li Shimin rose to indicate the end of the meeting.

The eunuch immediately announced the end of the court session.

With their own thoughts in mind, everyone bowed and took their leave.

As I stepped out of the main hall, the sunlight was dazzling, yet it could not dispel the chill or heat in my heart.

Under the gaze of countless complex eyes (awe, jealousy, inquiry), Cui Cheng accepted the Nine-Turn Wenqu Pagoda.

The other family heads hurriedly boarded the carriage, their faces extremely grim.

This time, they not only lost the tower, but also exposed their true strength and weaknesses to the emperor.

Most importantly, that guy surnamed Cui got it!

With the blessing of the God of Literature, the Cui family of Qinghe will likely become the dominant force in the future...

No!

We can't let it go like that when we get back!

Cui Cheng naturally noticed the gazes of others, but he didn't care at all.

With the protection of the God of Literature, why would he need to care about these things?

Li Shimin exhaled a breath of stale air and returned to the inner palace, where Changsun Wuji was already waiting.

"Your Majesty, what was the result?"

Changsun Wuji asked in a low voice.

Li Shimin handed Cui Cheng the paper.

The horrifying figures and additional conditions above made Changsun Wuji gasp in shock.

"The Cui family... they really are willing to give up so much."

"It's not that I'm willing to give it up, it's that I have no choice but to."

Li Shimin sneered.

"They are not afraid of me, but of other powerful families obtaining this tower."

"Mutual suspicion and price gouging are exactly what I want."

He picked up the other sheets of paper.

"Look, the Lu family's iron mine, the Zheng family's canal transport, the Wang family's horse farm and marriage alliance, Li Song's trade routes... They usually kept them hidden, but now, for the sake of the glazed pagoda, they've all given some of it away. And this silver... Hah."

"A prestigious family... truly impressive!"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji immediately bowed and expressed his admiration.

"Your Majesty is wise. In this way, the imperial treasury will be full, and the military expenses for the border towns, the repair of water conservancy projects, and even Your Majesty's plans to expand the number of students taking the imperial examinations and build academies will all be supported."

"What's even more interesting is that they... can probably never go back to the way things were before."

He hesitated for a moment, a look of worry on his face.

"However... this Wenchang Pagoda is extremely miraculous, as everyone has witnessed. If the Cui family uses this to spread rumors and claim to be favored by the God of Literature, they will likely still have the upper hand in the public discourse. In the long run..."

Li Shimin smiled slightly.

"Auxiliary machine, you only see that the tower can manifest its power, but you've forgotten who caused it to manifest, how it manifested, and when it manifested?"

Changsun Wuji was taken aback.

Li Shimin turned around, a mysterious light flashing in his eyes, and lowered his voice.

"That pagoda... once it's out of control, it's just a remarkably transparent glass ornament. If Cui Cheng takes it back and places it in the ancestral hall, burning incense there every day, will it automatically light up again and reveal the characters again?"

"Unless the Cui family truly possesses extraordinary abilities."

"But if they truly possessed extraordinary abilities, could they merely be one of the five noble families and seven prominent clans?"

"Do you think you can win over the hearts of scholars across the land with just a tower, and thereby control the court?"

"Our Great Tang Dynasty will not allow such a powerful family!"

"Awesome?"

Changsun Wuji was taken aback.

Li Shimin coughed lightly.

"It's nothing, I just got used to it after learning it in the immortal realm."

Changsun Wuji nodded and pondered for a moment.

"Does Your Majesty mean... that this miracle is actually only under Your Majesty's control? Even if the Cui family obtains the tower, they may not be able to make it manifest its power to win over the people?"

"It's not just that it might not succeed."

Li Shimin's smile was slightly cold.

"If I do not wish it to be visible, it will forever remain a quiet glazed tower."

"Even... if the Cui family goes too far, and I instruct it to make a small mistake during one of its manifestations, such as its light dimming... what do you think the outside world will think?"

"Is it because the God of Literature is dissatisfied with the Cui family? Or is it because the Cui family is unworthy of their position and has angered the celestial beings?"

Changsun Wuji gasped, then clapped his hands and chuckled softly.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! In this way, the Wenchang Pagoda is not only not a talisman for the Cui family, but has become a sharp sword hanging over their heads by His Majesty! Its effectiveness depends entirely on His Majesty!"

"That's exactly right."

Li Shimin nodded and walked back to his desk.

"Besides, do you really think Lu Yuan and Zheng Hong are content to just watch Cui Cheng take the lead?"

"They lost a game today and suffered heavy losses. Their resentment will surely be directed at the Cui family."

"In the future, in the court and in local affairs, whenever the Cui family makes any moves, even if these families don't join forces to openly oppose them, they will inevitably try to trip them up and spread rumors."

"Sour remarks like 'The Cui family became arrogant after obtaining the Immortal Pagoda, and that the God of Literature is not someone who can be bribed with mere gold and silver' will soon spread."

"Many voices can melt metal, and accumulated slander can destroy bones. Does the Cui family think they can suppress everyone with just a tower? It's unlikely."

Changsun Wuji was completely relieved and smiled.

"His Majesty has a keen understanding of people's hearts and can manipulate the situation at will."

"I was overthinking it. It seems that this auction not only filled the national treasury and secured many tangible benefits, but also sowed discord among these powerful families."

"They are even more suspicious of each other, and they are probably even more wary of His Majesty."

"Being wary is the right thing to do."

Li Shimin sat back on the dragon throne, his tone calm yet exuding an undeniable authority.

"They want fame and literary success, which I can grant, but they must follow my rules."

"This Tang Dynasty belongs to the Li family, to all the people of the land, not to their small court where the five clans and seven noble families discuss lineage and rank behind closed doors. The God of Literature?"

"Ha, I am the emperor of this mortal realm, so who is the God of Literature is none other than me who decides."

"No matter how powerful they are, they need to understand who ultimately calls the shots on this land."

This time, Changsun Wuji finally couldn't help but ask, with a mixture of curiosity and embarrassment.

"Your Majesty, I have never heard of this word 'awesome' before, and I do not know its meaning..."

Li Shimin laughed heartily and waved his hand.

"This is... well, a slang term from the Immortal Realm, meaning extremely capable or extraordinary. Just listen to it and don't spread it around, lest those old scholars complain that I spoke improperly."

"Your subject understands."

"alright,"

Li Shimin's smile faded, and he spoke seriously.

"The auction is over. You will personally oversee the handover of the money, land, and contracts. Make sure it is done properly and don't let them try anything sneaky."

"Furthermore, have the Hundred Cavalry Command keep a close eye on the Cui family's movements, especially the situation after that tower was enshrined, and the reactions of the other families. I want to see what kind of tricks this first fire of the celestial artifact will produce."

"As you command!"

Changsun Wuji accepted the order and bowed as he withdrew.

The inner palace returned to quiet.

Li Shimin sat alone, his fingers unconsciously stroking the cold dragon carving on the armrest of the dragon throne, his gaze once again turning to the deepening twilight outside the window.

"Literary fortune..."

Li Shimin muttered to himself, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Human nature is a treacherous place, entangled in conflicts of interest; it's never that simple."

"I want to see whether your thousand-year-old family's foundation is deeper, or my methods from the immortal realm are superior."

"The game has only just begun."