Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

Hearing Zhou Xue's tearful scolding, Lin Dafu felt as if he was hit by a heavy hammer. The anger on his face just now disappeared in an instant, replaced by endless fatigue.

He slowly raised his hand, rubbed his temple, and sighed heavily.

"Zhou Xue," he said in a hoarse voice, "I've always known how you feel about me. For so many years, I've been deliberately avoiding you. Didn't you really notice?"

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes wandering, as if he couldn't look Zhou Xue in the eye. "Don't you understand why I transferred you to Jiangsu Province? I can't have children. This is something I've known from the beginning. You have to understand my difficulties."

"So, even if something like this happens, I can't marry you."

"If you don't use protection and you have a baby, abort it."

After saying that, he slowly turned around and looked straight at Zhou Xue.

When Zhou Xue heard this, she felt a sharp pain in her heart and tears welled up uncontrollably. She opened her mouth, wanting to refute, to question, but her throat seemed to be choked by something, and it was so dry that she couldn't make a sound.

After a long while, she finally managed to choke out a sentence: "President, is it really that important to you to not have children?"

"Yes."

Lin Dafu answered without hesitation. His usual cynical expression disappeared without a trace, and he exuded a cold aura that kept strangers away.

"I, Lin Dafu, am but a rough man. I am incapable of governing a nation through civil arts, nor am I capable of conquering the battlefield through military force. Compared to Your Majesty and Mr. Qi, I am truly far, far inferior."

He smiled to himself.

"I was originally just a refugee who could barely make ends meet. It is all thanks to Your Majesty's great grace and kindness that I have achieved my current position."

He narrowed his eyes slightly. "I haven't read much in my life, and I don't understand any profound principles, but my mother held my hand tightly before she died and told me that people should know how to repay kindness."

"Over the years, Your Majesty has valued me so much that he has allowed me to manage the Tang Dynasty's economy."

"But you know what? I'm just a commoner without any official position, yet I hold a huge fortune. How could those court officials trust me?"

His eyes revealed worry. "Officialdom and the business world are full of conspiracies. Many people hope that I, Lin Dafu, will fall. Even for His Majesty, my presence is not without threat to him."

"However, even facing so many problems, I still sit firmly in the position of president. Why do you think that is?"

He paused, "It is because of your majesty and Lao Qi who are protecting me from the wind and rain behind my back that I can be so safe."

"If I have no offspring, I won't cause any harm to the Tang Dynasty, and I can serve the Tang Dynasty wholeheartedly."

Every word he said seemed to come from the bottom of his heart.

"Although I am a rough man, I am also flesh and blood and have feelings."

"I can't let good fortune or bad luck not affect my family. If I have children, they will definitely be successful because of me."

A trace of struggle flashed in his eyes, revealing his inner conflict and pain. "But if I do that, I'll be selfish."

"Zhou Xue, even if I can be fair and selfless, others will definitely think that I am secretly plotting for my child."

"And I control most of the economic lifeline of the Tang Dynasty. The prices of all kinds of goods in the Tang Dynasty are all controlled by my thoughts. I can raise the price of something if I want it to, and I can lower the price of something if I want it to. Don't you understand the interests involved?"

He was a little excited, and his emotions were getting more and more excited. "Don't say that the court officials can't tolerate me. Even if Your Majesty is magnanimous, I can't forgive myself!"

"I'm afraid that once I start to worry, I won't be able to control myself. Do you know the inner torment of this?"

"I really can't cause any more trouble for His Majesty!"

His voice was trembling as he tried hard to suppress the pain in his heart.

Zhou Xue looked quietly at Lin Dafu in front of her, feeling that the person in front of her was so strange, yet so pitiful.

This person who is always laughing and joking and has no serious manners seems to be carrying too much weight at this moment.

He said that he couldn't control himself, but after so many years, he was still alone and had no children.

It's not that he can't control himself, it's clear that he has been restraining himself for nearly half his life.

Zhou Xue felt mixed emotions. When she looked at Lin Dafu, the anger had long since dissipated, leaving only heartache.

"President, you don't have to blame Grand Tutor Qi. I made my own decision on this matter. If you want to blame someone, just blame me."

Zhou Xue said softly, straightening her back.

Hearing Zhou Xue's words, Lin Dafu's eyes showed a hint of surprise. He opened his mouth slightly and uttered one word: "You?"

Zhou Xue nodded gently, her eyes revealing a hint of determination and helplessness. "Yes, it's me. I'm thirty-two years old this year. How many years of youth can a woman have?"

"I've been waiting for you for so long, I'm really getting impatient."

She lowered her head slightly.

"Do you know why I'm in Chang'an? With my status in the Qianyu Chamber of Commerce, it's not difficult for me to see His Majesty."

"I...I went to beg His Majesty and Grand Tutor Qi, asking them to grant us a marriage, even if it's just for one short night..."

Her voice became lower and lower, with a mixture of shyness and reluctance, and the blush seemed particularly glaring against her pale face.

The room fell silent again, with only the occasional bird song outside the window breaking the suffocating silence.

Zhou Xue raised her head.

"President, I know you have your concerns, but I don't care."

"Over the years, I've watched you dedicate all your energy to the Chamber of Commerce and serving His Majesty. It hurts."

"I just want to be with you, even if it's not official, even if it's only for a short time."

Lin Dafu's eyes moved slightly. He looked at Zhou Xue, wanting to say something. His lips moved, but he didn't know how to start.

He knew Zhou Xue's feelings and understood her waiting and dedication over the years, but his identity prevented him from responding to this feeling easily.

"President, Grand Tutor Qi knows what happened last night, and so does His Majesty. They truly regard you as a friend and are concerned about your future. You know what? You don't need to put so much pressure on yourself."

"I was very surprised that Your Majesty could take the time to meet with me despite his busy schedule. I didn't expect things to go even smoother than I imagined. Your Majesty and Mr. Qi are even quicker than those of us who are obsessed with money every day."

"No matter what, no matter what you think, I am very grateful to His Majesty and Mr. Qi."

"Whether you're angry or not, I don't care. Being with you is my lifelong wish."

"Also, President, you said that as businessmen, we can't let anger and profit cloud our minds. We must always stay sober. Only in this way can we win every battle."

"Besides, according to the rank of the Qianyu Chamber of Commerce, I am only one level lower than you. As colleagues, you shouldn't lose your composure in front of me when something like this happens."

"Also, President, I've learned everything you taught me. Don't leave anything out. Do everything well. Being watertight is the true nature of a businessman."

"so……"

Having said that, Zhou Xue looked at Lin Dafu in front of her.

"Whether you like it or not, you can't escape."

A bright yellow silk handkerchief was taken out from her sleeve.

Looking at the scene in front of him, Lin Dafu cursed in his heart.

Damn it! Qi old thief!

Zhou Xue didn't care what he was thinking.

She just took out the imperial edict.

Said solemnly.

"The Emperor of the Great Tang orders Lin Dafu to receive the order..."