Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 882 Anxious and Impatient

Yang Yuan held his teacup, looking at Li Fengniang with a blank expression.

He heard it clearly, but it also seemed like he didn't quite catch it.

What did she say?
Seeing that Yang Yuan remained silent, Li Fengniang gently bit her bright red lips and mustered her courage to ask again, "Will you be my wife?"

This time, Yang Yuan finally understood.

"Uh... Fengniang, I watched you grow up."

"So what? If you keep watching, I'll get older too."

"But... how will I explain this to your father, Brother Li?"

"What's there to explain? He's an old man, what could he possibly be dissatisfied with?"

"Um……"

"So, you're just worried that my dad won't agree, right?"

Li Fengniang suddenly laughed.

At such a young age, she possesses an innate allure; she truly has the potential to become a legendary empress.

"Then I'll take it as your agreement."

"Wait, let me think about it..."

Yang Yuan extended Er Kang's hand, still not understanding anything.

Suddenly a beautiful girl appeared, shouting that she wanted to be his wife, leaving him with many questions.

But Li Fengniang didn't want to wait any longer.

This feisty young woman had just downed several mouthfuls of strong liquor to bolster her courage, and now her head was spinning.

Suddenly, she ripped open her belt.

The beautiful woman stood there gracefully, her silk robes quickly falling away. Her skin was smooth and delicate, like a piece of fine jade carved from mutton fat.

The only thing she wore was a pearl necklace around her neck.

The necklace wrapped around her slender neck three times, the pearls as lustrous as cream, radiating light, further accentuating her jade-like, translucent skin.

Every inch of that skin was brimming with vibrant, fiery energy.

……

In the east courtyard, Duozi knelt behind a table, frowning as he looked at Belle opposite him.

"So, you're here to stay tonight?"

"Yes!"

Emmanuelle chuckled: "Feng Niang is Li Dao's daughter, so I think... it's not a loss for our Yang family, is it?"

Belle smiled and added, "Besides, Feng Niang is so beautiful, my husband isn't at a loss either."

Duozi sighed and stood up gracefully.

Belle asked in surprise, "Where are you going?"

Duo Zi rolled her eyes at her: "You know how fierce my husband is. Since you love Feng Niang so much, are you willing to let a virgin like her suffer?"

"Huh? So..."

Duozi ignored her and gracefully walked past her.

The light, crisp "tap-tap" sound of the high-toothed wooden clogs on the floor is like a gentle tap on one's heart, a ticklish, delightful sound.

Belle thought for a moment and then followed.

……

The palace received Li Dao's reply, only one day later than the letter he wrote to his daughter.

But that spirited young woman from Jingchu, upon receiving the letter, immediately "married" herself off that very night.

In the palace, when Empress Dowager Xie saw Li Dao's reply, even though the letter was written in a very tactful manner, her face still darkened.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat embarrassed.

Li Fengniang had participated in talent shows before, so she knew that.

Being able to participate in a talent show means that you are not yet married.

After that, Li Fengniang stayed in Lin'an and never returned to Ezhou. So when did she get engaged?

This is clearly a pretext.

The emperor wants to marry your daughter, and he has clearly told you that he wants to make her his empress, but you refuse!

Zhao Dun, who rushed over upon hearing the news, thought he had received good news, but when he saw his mother's gloomy face, he realized that something was wrong.

"Mother, what's wrong..."

"Your Majesty, please see for yourself."

Empress Dowager Xie handed Li Dao's letter to Zhao Dun. After reading it, Zhao Dun's face turned purple. This was too much of a blow to the emperor's pride.

Xie was still furious. After pondering for a long time, he said, "Enough. What an arrogant military leader!"

"Your Majesty might as well abandon the Li family and directly make the Qian family's daughter your empress."

Zhao Dun clenched his fists tightly, still feeling ashamed and indignant.

I, the emperor, dare not confront the Prince of Yan head-on.
But besides the Prince of Yan, who else in the world could there be?
Do you, Li Dao, dare to look down on me and my Song Dynasty imperial family?
Zhao Dun gritted his teeth and said, "Mother, now is not the time to take a Li family girl as empress and win over Li Dao."

I am the sovereign, and Li Dao is my subject. I wish to take his daughter as my empress, but he politely declined!

If this news gets out, what will become of our royal dignity?

Empress Dowager Xie asked in confusion, "What does His Majesty intend to do?"

Zhao Dun said, "I originally intended to discuss with Li Dao the possibility of a happy union between the two families."

Since he is so ungrateful, then I will issue an edict to make Li Fengniang my empress!
"I want to see if Li Dao dares to disobey my imperial decree."

Empress Dowager Xie frowned and said, "Your Majesty, we originally intended to send a message to Li Daotong."

He also thought that if his father agreed, it would be easier to talk to the Prince of Jin.

Now that Li Dao has refused to let his daughter enter the palace, if you forcefully issue an edict to make her empress, how will you explain this to the Prince of Jin?

Zhao Dun said, "It's alright. I will go see the Prince of Jin and tell him about the situation."

"The Prince of Jin is also a member of the Zhao family. If I lose face, does that mean the Prince of Jin will feel honored?" "This..."

"Your Majesty need not say any more, my mind is made up!"

Zhao Dun flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

Outside the Empress Dowager's palace, a roar rang out as he suppressed his anger: "Prepare the carriage! Prince Jin's residence!"

……

At this moment, Prince Zhao Qu of Jin was enjoying himself with beautiful women, drinking and making merry.

Since relinquishing regency, he has finally returned to his true self.

I can get up whenever I want and go to bed whenever I want, spending every day playing with my beloved. Isn't that wonderful?

Watching the beauties singing and dancing in the hall, Zhao Qu slapped his thigh, beaming with pride, and said:
"During the Tang Dynasty, powerful and wealthy families flaunted their possession of Kunlun slaves, Silla maids, and Bodhisattva maids."

In my palace, I already have a Silla maid, and I also have a Bodhisattva maid. Eh?

Zhao Qu suddenly turned his head and asked the chief eunuch of the Prince's Palace, "What do you think, should I find a few more Kunlun slaves? Females."

The chief eunuch was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the Kunlun slaves have dark skin. With the lights off, they are almost invisible..."

Zhao Qu waved his hand, becoming even more excited: "It's more interesting if we can't see anyone. The bed is only so big, why are we afraid of not being able to touch someone?"
I was right here on that big bed, touching and touching, goose goose goose goose..."

He was amused by the scene he imagined, slapped his thigh, and made up his mind.

"I'm telling you, the merchant Lu Ya from the Great Sea often goes to the Western Ocean, and he has seen the purest Kunlun slaves."

Go back and tell him to bring me a few nicer ones...

Oh well, I can't see anything clearly anyway, so whether it's pretty or not doesn't really matter.

But you need to have a good figure, hee hee hee hee hee…

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Emperor is here."

A eunuch rushed into the main hall, and Zhao Qu's laughter was abruptly cut off, like a goose being choked.

"The Emperor has arrived?"

Zhao Qu was taken aback: "What brings Your Majesty here?"

Suddenly, Zhao Qu's expression changed drastically, and he said repeatedly, "Quickly, quickly, disperse! Go tell the Emperor that I have caught a cold and am bedridden..."

“Uncle Prince Jin, I heard your laughter. It was so loud and clear, even louder than the geese you keep in your mansion.”

Zhao Dun walked in with a helpless expression: "Uncle King of Jin, don't worry, I didn't invite you to court to assist in governing."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qu felt a great weight lifted from his heart and immediately greeted him with a beaming smile.

"Your Majesty has arrived! Is Your Majesty in good health? What brings you here? Please, Your Majesty, have a seat."

As Zhao Qu spoke, he waved his hand repeatedly behind him, signaling the dancers who were showing their navels but had half-covered their faces to quickly retreat.

Zhao Dun sat down in Zhao Qu's seat, glanced at the palace maids and servants serving in the hall, and waved his hand: "You may all leave."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall immediately withdrew.

Zhao Qu sat down on a chair next to him and said with a grin, "Your Majesty, what brings you to my place today?"

Zhao Dun sighed and said softly, "Uncle, seeing you so carefree and happy makes me envious."

Before Zhao Qu could answer, Zhao Dun said, "The Imperial Uncle is surrounded by beauties."

Although I am the Son of Heaven, I am now all alone, without even a servant to attend to my needs.

Zhao Qu raised an eyebrow: "Does Your Majesty intend to hold a selection of concubines? Your Majesty has now ascended the throne, it is time to enrich the harem."

However, please don't come to me with the talent show.

I don't have much self-control. If someone is too beautiful, I'm afraid I'll end up choosing someone from my own household, hehehehehe..."

Zhao Dun's eyelids twitched, and he said, "Uncle, to tell you the truth, I have already taken a liking to a young lady, but... I still need your permission..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qu was immediately displeased.

“Nephew, it’s not that your uncle is reluctant to part with her. Every girl I’ve taken into the Prince’s mansion has never stayed overnight.”

"The woman your uncle has already taken as a concubine cannot be sent to your palace under any circumstances; that would be utterly outrageous."

Zhao Dun immediately asked, "What if this woman had not been with the Imperial Uncle?"

Zhao Qu immediately said, "Here you go!"

Zhao Dun smiled slightly: "This woman is in the Imperial Uncle's residence, and she is not the Imperial Uncle's woman."

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. My household... eh?"

Zhao Qu was taken aback: "You mean... Li Fengniang?"

Zhao Dun said, "That's right! To be honest, Uncle, I once met Miss Fengniang and fell in love with her at first sight. I couldn't eat or drink anything."

Zhao Qu frowned and said, "That's not right. Your uncle has already recognized her as his sworn sister, so in terms of seniority, she is your aunt. How can that be allowed?"

Zhao Dun said, "Uncle, isn't this not recorded in the Imperial Register? Moreover, you only said it verbally and did not announce it to the world."

My nephew truly loves her and is willing to make her his empress.

"To be made empress?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qu hesitated.

Zhao Dun then offered up the position of Empress, it seems he's truly infatuated with that young lady.

To be honest, that young lady is a natural beauty, and she does indeed have the air of a queen.

If she were to be made empress, the Li family would surely be more than happy to accept it, wouldn't they?

Feng Niang would probably be overjoyed.

Thinking of this, Zhao Qu relented.

"Well, this is a tremendous opportunity for the Li family."

If I ruined someone's chance to become empress by recognizing her as my sworn sister, I'm afraid I'll be burdened with her resentment for the rest of my life.

"Since that's the case, it wouldn't hurt for your uncle to sever his sworn brother-sister relationship with her..."

Just as Zhao Qu finished speaking, a voice came from outside the hall: "Prince Jin, brother-in-law, your younger brother Yang Yuan, along with my wife Fengniang, have come to pay a visit!"

(End of this chapter)