Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 873 Unbound
Li Renxiao had always been wary of Tuoba Heiyi and therefore had been suppressing him.

But if we're talking about who directly threatens his throne, it's actually his three younger brothers, not Tuoba Heiyi.

Li Renxiao has always tended to win over and support other members of the royal family rather than exclude or suppress them.

Because the mountain above his head was Ren Dejing.

At this time, he especially needed the support from the Tuoba clan.

However, he harbored deep suspicion towards Tuoba Heiyi ever since he ascended the throne.

The reason is that Tuoba Heiyi, as a member of the royal family, had served as Li Renxiao's attendant in the palace when he was young.

The young attendants who served as Li Renxiao's personal bodyguards were all members of the royal family.

Tuoba Heiyi had stood out among these people since childhood.

In Tuoba Heiyi's view, this was his way of proving his excellence to His Majesty the Emperor and hoping to be given an important position.

However, his excellence made Li Renxiao feel somewhat inferior, and he became wary of him.

Since Li Renxiao ascended the throne, Ren Dejing had been looming over him, making him feel suffocated.

He absolutely did not want another person, whose methods and wisdom surpassed his, to gradually become his nightmare under his personal guidance.

Isn't that how Ren Dejing climbed up step by step?
Ultimately, Ren Dejing became too powerful to control and instead became a huge burden on the emperor.

Now that the country is in ruins, the only hope for rebuilding the nation can be placed on Tuoba Heiyi.

The person he once guarded most has now become his last hope.

However, the thought of the decadent music coming from the main courtyard and the erotic scenes he imagined fueled Li Renxiao's anger.

What a shame!
What a shame!

If you won't let me have an easy time, then let's all have an easy time!

A wicked idea surfaced in Li Renxiao's mind.

……

While Li Renxiao was feeling down, Ren Muyan and Wang Yunmei were both enjoying themselves.

As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. After more than a hundred days apart, our reunion today is like rain after a long drought.

The candlelight flickered red, and the curtains were like mist.

The aroma of ambergris wafts from the Boshan incense burner.

As the red candles burned out, the people were already entwined in each other's arms.

Yang Yuan came today intending to ask them to write a letter home to Western Xia, instructing the Ren and Wang families to keep peace in Western Xia.

Because the imperial court is currently facing a headache regarding Liangshan Prefecture, it is imperative to keep the Western Xia in check at this time.

But he underestimated the extent to which the two young women, whose hearts had been parched but had suddenly blossomed with spring, were so infatuated with him.

When they finally got to talk about serious matters, they were too exhausted to do so.

"Mu Yan, your Ren family is undoubtedly the best, especially in the Northwest..."

"Mmm, okay, um..."

Ren Muyan changed to a more comfortable holding position and fell asleep.

Yang Yuan then switched to Wang Shi in front of him, his voice low and deep: "Yun Mei, there are still people in Western Xia who are eager to cause trouble..."

"Ugh, it's as fierce as a tiger..."

Wang Yunmei pouted and snuggled closer to him, too lazy to move.

Yang Yuan sighed. Am I the only one who is single-mindedly focused on my career?

Never mind, let's go to sleep first. We'll talk to them properly tomorrow when they're more lucid.

But Yang Yuan was not sleepy for the time being.

He pondered carefully how to consolidate his power in the court and how to gradually eliminate those who were getting in his way.

Once he finally had a clearer idea of ​​what was going on, he breathed a sigh of relief and turned over.

Then, what caught my eye was Ren Muyan's beautiful face.

With her delicate features and jade-like skin, she appeared even more rosy under the candlelight.

However, a few fine lines had already appeared at the corners of her eyes.

Youth is fleeting.

Yang Yuan thought that given their sensitive status, it would be difficult to invite them into the mansion.

Therefore, it wouldn't hurt to make an exception and pass on the technique to them.

Of course, Yang Yuan also knew that their feelings for him were definitely not as pure as those of Lu Xi, Dan Niang, and Yu Ye.

Their infatuation with themselves does indeed stem from a genuine sense of dependence, and a subservience and humility towards the powerful.

But it's unrealistic to expect them to be completely oblivious to everything else, like young girls.

How could I possibly feel the same way about them as I do about Luxi?

"Hmm... teach them slowly, so they can stay young, live longer, and stay together for a longer time."

Yang Yuanru stroked the mutton-fat jade, gently caressing Empress Dowager Ren's plump buttocks, lost in thought.

Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

……

Some tribes in Western Xia were constantly in conflict with officials appointed by the imperial court, and there were even incidents of them storming government offices because of some disputes.

In the past, such a heinous incident would have been reported as a "rebellion".

When Yang Yuan served as an advisor, he submitted a memorial to the throne regarding the bizarre phenomenon of local officials in the Song Dynasty frequently reporting rebellions in order to gain official reputation and public favor.

After that, the imperial court strictly defined the concept of "rebellion" and required local officials to conduct rigorous screening and not to exaggerate.

Otherwise, this kind of thing would have been reported to the imperial court as "rebellion" long ago.

These messages were reported to the imperial court through the Privy Council's Information Office.

Of course, those officials also submitted memorials to the Tongjin Division through their channels, but the process was slower than that of the Jisu Division.

Yang Yuan saw the news before the other officials.

After all, Liu Shangqiu is now in charge of the flight attendants' room. The moment he saw the message, he knew he was still a step too late.

This matter will certainly become an important pretext for the ministers to demand that troops be sent to quell the rebellion in Liangshan Prefecture.

If he continues to obstruct the resolution of the Liangshan Prefecture issue peacefully, and if a rebellion breaks out in Longyou, it will become evidence of his "tolerance of evil."

Even powerful ministers who can control everything still need to have a "legitimate" claim.

Why did Qin Hui, in the Song Dynasty, a period with a relatively more relaxed political environment, resort to the most ruthless means to suppress dissenting voices?
For the same reason.

Even the most powerful minister, who can control everything, would find it unbearable to be condemned by everyone.

Therefore, when this matter was brought to the emperor's attention, and the ministers once again raised the issue of using force to suppress the rebellion in Liangshan Prefecture, Yang Yuan could no longer insist on his own opinion.

Upon returning to the Prince of Yan's residence, Yang Yuan went to the study.

Anyone could tell he was in a bad mood.

Aman gently tugged at Qingtang's sleeve: "Go and bring the master a bowl of white fungus soup. Try to coax him. His sullen face is too scary."

"Why aren't you going?" Qingtang rolled her eyes at Aman.

Ah Man pouted, "In Master's heart, you're not the same as me. Who can compare to you?"

"That's true."

Qingtang immediately beamed with joy, picked up the white fungus soup, and walked towards Yang Yuan's study.

She gently opened the door, and Qingtang carried in the white fungus soup. She immediately closed the door again and gracefully walked towards the desk.

Yang Yuan sat slightly to the side, resting her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

Qingtang gently placed the white fungus soup on the table, then stood beside his desk, gazing at him with concern in her bright, clear eyes, without saying a word.

She was just a little girl of twelve or thirteen back then, but now she has blossomed into a beautiful young woman.

Although she is still as playful and lively as ever, her appearance and figure have lost their youthful naiveté and gained a more charming and alluring air.

Having been by Yang Yuan's side for so long, she can now often discern his thoughts from a single glance or a small gesture.

Therefore, when serving by his side, Xiao Qingtang was the most understanding, and thus won Yang Yuan's favor.

Although she may not seem to rank highly among Yang Yuan's wives and concubines, she was actually a very favored maid.

Girls from wealthy families like Meizhen and Taixi are best able to see through this.

Therefore, in daily interactions, women like them, who are famous, have a higher status, family background, and social standing than Qingtang, will also pay attention to their attitude towards Qingtang.

Yang Yuan didn't even look up when she came in.

When he was sitting alone in his study, looking unhappy, few people dared to come in and disturb him.

Lu Xi is one, and next is Qing Tang.

Although he didn't look up, he already knew that Qingtang had come in.

Sitting in the chair, Yang Yuan, deep in thought with his chin in his hand, exuded a somewhat cold and stern expression.

His long tenure in a high position has made him exude a cold and aloof aura that intimidates people.

Qingtang didn't disturb him, but just stood quietly to the side.

After a long while, Yang Yuan leaned back in his chair, looked up, and let out a soft sigh.

Upon seeing this, Qingtang walked over, gently sat on his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and skillfully massaged his temples and the back of his neck.

"Master, if someone outside upsets you, don't come back with a bad attitude. They'll be afraid."

With a charmingly innocent expression, Qing Tang said she was scared, and then, using her coquettish gesture, she gently rubbed her buttocks against each other a few times.

Yang Yuan smiled, opened his eyes, and wrapped his arms around her slender waist.

"Little vixen, are you afraid of me?"

"Of course, they're terrified of Dada, terrified of him."

Qingtang's eyes were alluring, seemingly... a double entendre.

She even stuck out her little tongue and gently licked her lips like a cat.

That's... not convincing at all.

Yang Yuan's mood brightened up after she made him laugh.

He grabbed Qingtang's mischievous little hand and sighed softly, "There's big trouble in the southwest, and the northwest is not peaceful either."

Many more people are going to die soon, but it didn't have to be this way. I'm really upset.

Qingtang snuggled closer to Yang Yuan and said affectionately, "It's a matter of national importance; a little girl like me wouldn't understand."

But when people were idling around, they learned a lesson: you can't reason with a damned person.

Yang Yuan sighed, "But those damned ghosts won't die. The ones who will truly die are the cannon fodder who were foolishly driven onto the battlefield."

Qing Tang's eyes darted around, and she asked, "Then... can Master save them now?"

Yang Yuan remained silent for a moment, then gently shook her head.

Qing Tang narrowed her eyes and said softly, "Since that's the case, why are we still hesitating?"

Brother-in-law, when you were still the official in charge of imperial decrees, did you get annoyed by things like this?

"will not."

"why?"

Yang Yuan was speechless for a moment.

Qing Tang chuckled softly, tightening her arms around Yang Yuan's neck, and whispered in his ear, "It seems the Prime Minister has come to his senses."

Yang Yuan nodded slightly: "Well, if I can't row against the current, I'll go with the current."

Yang Yuan was conflicted because although those people had different views from him, he could not classify them as the same kind of people as Qin Hui and Wan Qixie.

This is precisely what bound his hands and feet, as well as his mindset and the means he could use.

But now, he's figured it out.

Yang Yuan kissed Qing Tang's bright red lips approvingly and said affectionately, "Little thing, you can be quite useful sometimes."

Xiao Qingtang's eyes were alluring: "This servant is useful in many ways, and can be used anytime. I wonder what Your Majesty would like this servant to do?"

(End of this chapter)