Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

Li Shimin lifted the Yuezhou celadon bowl, leisurely took a sip of tea, and looked at Yu Shinan with a half-smile: "If it were an ordinary middle-aged man, the Junior Supervisor wouldn't need to report to me, right?"

Yu Shinan smiled and said, "Your Majesty's judgment is impeccable. The middle son resides in Longzheng Ward and is named Dou Fengjie."

Li Shimin immediately felt a headache coming on.

If it were someone else, even a serious offender, they would at most receive a pardon by imperial decree.

Even if someone commits murder, they can be exonerated by claiming to be a filial son or a martyr.

However, Dou Fengjie was the ideal husband chosen by Princess Yongjia, and she insisted on marrying him.

However, Dou Fengjie was exceptionally stubborn, preferring to remain a commoner rather than become a prince consort.

Li Shimin couldn't understand. Were the women of the Li family really that bad? What was the reason behind Dou Fengjie's attitude of avoiding the plague god?

Li Shimin selectively ignored the matter of Princess Yongjia's promiscuity.

It was not unusual for wealthy women to keep male lovers in this era.

However, Yu Shinan's tone was conciliatory, yet he was determined to protect Dou Fengjie, which made things difficult.

Li Shimin took a big gulp of tea and gave a wry smile: "Yongjia is obsessed with him, and he keeps pestering me."

"Dou Fengjie is strong and handsome; it's understandable that the Princess likes him." Yu Shinan put down his teacup and gestured for a servant to refill it. "But aren't there forty tall guards at the left and right gates enough for the Princess to choose from?"

Tall person, another name for someone who is tall.

The two gatekeepers on the left and right were tall men, over six feet six inches tall, which is about two meters high. They were handsome and imposing, and were the face of the entire Tang Dynasty.

Yu Shinan's words were veiled in barbs, subtly implying that Princess Yongjia was only interested in physical appearance.

The selection of a son-in-law as a military officer usually involved families with other sons; Dou Fengjie, being an only son, was an exceptional case.

In the eyes of an old man like Yu Shinan, there is no longer any love or affection; all that exists is lust at first sight.

Moreover, Princess Yongjia herself was quite adept at such things, and even Yu Shinan had heard of it.

"I possess the entire world; if I cannot even find a suitable brother-in-law, what is the point of being emperor?" Li Shimin said, slightly displeased. "At most, I will make an exception and allow him to take a concubine."

Li Shimin refused to believe that Dou Fengjie, a mere nobody, could defy imperial power, even if he refused to drink water.

It was only because Princess Yongjia went too far in smashing up the Duke of Zan's mansion that Li Shimin dared to issue an edict to suppress her.

The persuasion from Lady Dou and Yu Shinan could at most prevent Li Shimin from using force to exert pressure, but it could not make him change his course.

How serious is being cuckolded?

The eldest princess is marrying into the family; she should be secretly happy!

Even if Dou Fengjie were to raise someone else's child, he would have to accept it!

It is true that Li Shimin possessed the wealth of the entire world; there were four ponds within the Taiji Palace, named the East Sea, South Sea, West Sea, and North Sea.

After finishing his tea, Yu Shinan took his leave. He had made his meaning clear, and whether Li Shimin listened to his advice or not was beyond his control.

-----------------

Honglu Temple.

Liu Shan, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, stared at Zhao Dekai, the Director of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs: "What is the content of this letter from the Franks?"

Zhao Dekai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and replied with a bitter face, "I can't recognize all the Latin translations."

Liu Shan's brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a mosquito: "How could this be? Isn't Fulin's official script Latin? How could they not recognize it?"

The Frankish envoy was not unfamiliar with the language and writing of the Tang Dynasty, but he deliberately presented an untranslated letter of state to test the Tang Dynasty's translation capabilities.

Fulin refers to the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Kingdom.

"Fulin claims that the official language is Latin, but in reality, communication and documents are in Greek," said Changsun Huan, the newly appointed Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, casually.

Therefore, expecting someone who understands the script of the Fulin to translate it is simply wishful thinking.

"Wow, I didn't expect that Minister Changsun was so knowledgeable about both Chinese and foreign affairs! The Changsun family is involved in these things too?" Liu Shan exclaimed in surprise.

I've never heard of the Imperial Academy teaching these things!

Even among Sogdian merchants, none of them were known to know Latin.

"My father and the Changsun clan are limited to the Pamir Mountains; how would we know about this? This is something my classmate Dou Fengjie boasted about." Changsun Huan raised his eyebrows.

The problem is that Dou Fengjie is observing mourning at his own residence, and the court is still suppressing his claim to the title. Is it convenient for the Court of State Ceremonies to come to him for help?

The fact that Changsun Huan and Dou Fengjie were classmates does not necessarily mean they had a good relationship.

The white head is as new and the top is as old as before.

Their relationship was as dazzling as freshly fired glaze.

Changsun Huan was highly accomplished in etiquette and law, and was mainly in charge of the Master of Ceremonies in the Court of State Ceremonies, which in plain terms meant he was the chief official in charge of funerals.

The proud Changsun Huan could say that he was able to become the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices entirely through his own abilities, without relying on his father, the Minister of Personnel Changsun Wuji, or even on his aunt, who was Empress Changsun.

Changsun Huan was just that confident.

Minister of State Ceremonies Tang Jian glanced at his subordinates and shook his head helplessly: "What's the big deal? You're just delaying my game."

"I will go and tell His Majesty that the imperial edict has been sent to Longzhengfang to have the official letter translated."

Changsun Huan still voiced his concerns: "Your Excellency, the matter between Dou Fengjie and Princess Yongjia is ultimately not very convenient!"

Tang Jian rolled his eyes: "State affairs come first! If His Majesty doesn't agree, I'll make him negotiate by hand, even if he loses!"

He and Li Shimin were old friends, and he might not even give Li Shimin a handicap when playing chess.

One time, they won too much, and Li Shimin was so angry that he ordered Yuchi Jingde to kill Tang Jian—really, they didn't even give the emperor any face!

Li Shimin felt a little embarrassed after hearing Tang Jian's words.

In such a vast imperial city, with twenty translators from the Court of State Ceremonial and ten translators from the Secretariat, they were completely helpless when it came to so-called Latin!

"We can only offer him a small reward," Li Shimin sighed softly. "Let's grant him the official title of 'Chief of the Imperial Guard.'"

The Office of Guests of the Court of State Ceremonial, a ninth-rank official position, was headed by fifteen people.

Although his rank was quite low, at least he was considered part of the elite.

Compared to Changsun Huanyi, this position seems like a joke.

-----------------

"According to the regulations for the official residence, mourning clothes are not allowed to be worn in public places, but it seems that official clothes are also not suitable for wearing in places associated with mourning."

Dou Fengjie made a joke and glanced at the Latin script of the official document.

Wait, history has shifted, and the Frankish Kingdom has actually crossed paths with the Tang Dynasty?

This Frankish kingdom later largely split into Germany, France, and Italy, with Germanic peoples as the main body, speaking Frankish, but the official script was Latin.

Even if someone can read Latin, they can still be killed.

The act of execution is not subject to individual will; everyone is equal before execution.

"There was really no other way. That's why Changsun Shaoqing recommended Young Master Dou, and the Master himself went to His Majesty to plead for him, which is how he got the position of head of the guest room."

Zhao Dekai briefly explained the whole story.

Tang Jian's emphasis on this matter must be made clear.

Old Latin differed somewhat from later Latin, but with Dou Fengjie's expertise and the addition of Wei Huo's system, the entire text was quickly translated.

The content is not surprising: the Frankish Kingdom agreed to trade with the Tang Dynasty and jointly conquered Fulin and Persia, realizing the great dream of the East and West meeting.

In short: Let dreams be great again.