Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 883 The Flowers I've Chosen
Yang Yuan strode in.

He was a frequent visitor to the Prince of Jin's residence, and Li Fengniang also lived there, so the two of them entered the house without any hindrance.

Therefore, Yang Yuan had already heard Zhao Dun's words while he was outside the palace.

Yang Yuan deliberately spoke loudly, intending for Zhao Dun to hear.

Inside the hall, Zhao Qu and his nephew looked out at the outside world with astonishment.

Yang Yuan entered the hall with a smile, and "suddenly saw" Zhao Dun. He was greatly surprised and quickly stepped forward to bow deeply.

"Your subject Yang Yuan greets Your Majesty."

"Ah, Minister Yang, no need for formalities. This is a private meeting at the residence of the Prince of Jin, not in the court. The Prince of Yan need not be so formal."

Zhao Dun subconsciously stood up to help her up, but his eyes were looking behind Yang Yuan.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Dun felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, and his eyes immediately turned red.

Li Fengniang, who was as beautiful as a flower of wealth and honor in the world, had already styled her hair from a young girl's bun into a woman's hairstyle.

She seemed to have been crying; her eyes were slightly swollen, which gave her a captivating charm that was not seen in her younger days.

Her face was beaming with joy, and her smile was genuinely sweet.

Especially her gait; her walk was somewhat strange, unlike her usual graceful and ethereal gait.

It was as if a mermaid had conjured up legs, each step taken with extreme caution, as if treading on the edge of a knife.

Zhao Dun felt a sharp pain in his heart.

Zhao Qu pointed at Yang Yuan in astonishment, then at Li Fengniang.

With his reputation as a womanizing playboy, how could Prince Jin not see that Li Fengniang had just lost her virginity?

"Uh... Erlang, what's going on... what's going on..."

Yang Yuan bowed solemnly and said, "Prince Jin, I have already taken Fengniang as my concubine, and we entered the bridal chamber last night."

Zhao Qu was speechless: "So fast! How come there wasn't a single word beforehand? This is outrageous!"

Zhao Dun was filled with resentment; the King of Jin was right!
Was Li Dao's daughter from a humble family?

How could you be so hasty in entering? Yang Yuan is clearly going against me.

Zhao Qu grew angrier as he spoke: "Shouldn't you at least have informed me? I'm Feng Niang's sworn brother, am I not allowed to drink a cup of your wedding wine?"

“Om?” Zhao Dun glanced at Zhao Qu.

He knew that this absurd uncle was utterly useless.

Yang Yuan remained expressionless: "I have long admired Feng Niang, and I have also been engaged to Li Daojiang... oh, my father-in-law."

Last night, I couldn't control myself either...

Don't worry, the wedding banquet will still be held. Once my father-in-law and I have set a date, we will definitely invite you to the wedding feast.

"Ah, I see. When passion is at its peak, clothes are easy to take off, right? Gently take them off, then take them off again, and your skin will be smooth as snow... Hehehehehe... Ugh!"

Zhao Qu got carried away with his words and suddenly remembered that Feng Niang was there. He realized he shouldn't say such lewd things, so he quickly slapped himself lightly.

Even though Li Fengniang was usually fierce, she couldn't help but feel ashamed when she recalled the scene of her undressing herself last night, which also coincided with what Prince Jin had said.

She quietly hid behind Yang Yuan, her face turning into a little red flower.

Prince Zhao Qu of Jin glanced at his ashen-faced nephew and sighed inwardly.

It's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that Yang Yuan acted too quickly.

They've already gotten there first, and even if you're the emperor, there's nothing you can do. Do you really want to steal their wife?

That being said, even someone as quick as me couldn't outrun Yang Ziyue back then.

It's normal that you, a little kid, can't beat him.

Yang Yuan's expression turned serious: "By the way, Your Majesty, what brings you here? Perhaps I have arrived at the wrong time?"

Zhao Dun suppressed his embarrassment and anger, and forced a smile, saying, "I have nothing to do today, so I've come to sit with my uncle, the Prince of Jin, for a while."

"By the way, has Yang Qing's illness been cured?"

Yang Yuan's upright posture suddenly became hunched, and her originally strong voice became weak.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am about 70-80% recovered."

She's still a little weak, but with some more rest and recuperation, she'll fully recover.

Zhao Dun gritted his teeth and smiled, "Bullshit!"
You're still timid? Even Fengniang is walking on tiptoe. How much pain must she be in?

You heartless beast who doesn't know how to cherish women!
"That's good, that's good! The imperial court can't do without the Prince of Yan!"
"Minister Yang should take good care of his health and return to the court as soon as possible to share my burdens."

Zhao Dun couldn't stay a moment longer. Looking at the beautiful and charming woman nestled beside Yang Yuan, his heart ached every time he saw her.

Soon, Zhao Dun set off to return to the palace.

Zhao Dun returned to his palace, sat there blankly for a moment, and then suddenly burst into tears.

The wailing startled the palace maids and eunuchs guarding outside, and everyone was at a loss, not knowing what to do.

After a long period of chaos, someone finally remembered to invite the Empress Dowager. Before they even reached the Empress Dowager's palace, Zhao Dun suddenly emerged with swollen eyes.

"Someone, summon Huang Xu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, to an audience."

The palace maids and eunuchs were relieved to see that the young emperor had calmed down.

Upon receiving the Emperor's edict, Vice Minister Huang immediately went to the palace and met the young Emperor in the Hall of Diligent Governance.

"Ah, the Emperor's eyes..."

Upon seeing the young emperor, Vice Minister Huang immediately noticed that Zhao Dun's eyes were red and swollen.

"It's nothing, I just had a minor eye ailment..."

Inspired by Yang Yuan's "abdominal ailment," Zhao Dun calmly gave Vice Minister Huang an answer.

"Minister Huang, I have summoned you here today because I want you to do something."

Vice Minister Huang quickly bowed and said, "Please give your orders, Your Majesty."

Zhao Dun said, "This matter should, in principle, be handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs."

However, having them make a public appearance would be too conspicuous, and I fear it might cause unnecessary trouble..."

Huang, the Vice Minister, looked completely bewildered. What had happened that had taken such an unexpected turn?

Zhao Dun changed the subject, saying, "Minister Huang is steady and experienced in his work. Moreover, when you served as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Minister Qian was the Right Vice Minister. The two of you worked together for many years and are familiar with each other."

Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Huang gradually came to his senses.

Could it be...

As expected, Zhao Dun said, "I have heard that the Qian family has a daughter who is naturally virtuous and obedient, and whose speech and demeanor are proper. I intend to make her empress."

"Go and discuss this matter with Minister Qian." Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Huang hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, the Qian family has a strong foundation in Jiangnan. Taking a daughter of the Qian family into the palace will naturally be of great benefit to Your Majesty."

However, it is enough to give one of the four consorts a prestigious position; the selection of the empress should be approached with utmost care.

In my humble opinion, the best choice would be the daughter of a military general, such as Li Dao of Jinghu…

"My mind is made up, no need to say more."

This blow reopened Zhao Dun's wounds, which had not yet healed.

Just thinking about Li Fengniang standing beside Yang Yuan like a little bird, her bright and charming eyes gazing at him...

And the way Li Fengniang took those careful, tiny steps filled him with indescribable pain.

The best candidate for empress is the daughter of a military general, especially given his current situation. Do you think he doesn't know that?

However, the military generals he could freely replace did not require him to be won over by the position of empress.

Of all the military generals he can't control, only Li Daojia has a daughter of marriageable age.

What Zhao Dun dared not admit was that he was actually cowardly.

Even military commanders like Li Xianzong and Geng Hongyuan, who command large armies, have wavering attitudes, so it's not impossible for him to win them over.

Even if these military generals don't have eligible daughters in their families, surely they have daughters in their collateral branches who are ready to marry?

However, Zhao Dun was afraid that Yang Yuan would find out and snatch the prize away before he could, which would make him truly ashamed.

However, he hid his cowardice very well, ashamed to talk about it with others.

Huang Xu didn't actually want to be a royalist or single-mindedly try to restore imperial power.

However, he felt that with Yang Yuan in power, the status of military officers was rising day by day, which seriously threatened the living conditions of the scholar-officials.

Let's see what Yang Yuan has been doing all this time.

He had just become the top scholar in the imperial examination and immediately began advocating for Yue Fei.

Then, he slandered the emperor and persuaded him to abolish the various privileges of the scholar-officials.

Under the "Imperial Song Criminal Code," scholar-officials were punished the same as military officers and commoners, which was tantamount to turning the world upside down.

The purpose of restoring imperial power was to suppress Yang Yuan's momentum and return to the ideal world where scholar-officials and the emperor jointly governed the country.

The Qian family was a powerful force that the emperor had to win over, but this force was not manifested in military strength.

For the young emperor now, what he needs most is a force that is absolutely loyal to him.

But for some reason, the young emperor insisted on making Lady Qian his empress.

Well then, if we give up the four consorts and the honorary position, we can at least win over the four generals who command troops, right?

If we first secure the position of Empress, then at least we can stabilize Jiangnan.

Yang Yuan would only be able to launch a rebellion and use force to destroy everything and then rebuild everything.

As long as he still acknowledges himself as a subject of the Song Dynasty and continues to work under the banner of the Song Dynasty, he cannot ignore the support this force provides to the emperor.

Thinking of this, Vice Minister Huang readily agreed and immediately went to the Qian family.

He had heard rumors that Yang Yuan was going to marry into the Qian family, but he did not reveal any of it to the emperor.

First of all, in his view, since the two sides have not yet formally agreed to the terms, everything is still invalid.

Between the Prince of Yan's concubine and the Empress of the Song Dynasty, is there even a question of which choice the Qian family will make?
Even if the Qian family were truly unreasonable and refused to agree to a marriage alliance with the royal family, it would still be entirely beneficial to him.

The official is so young; a boy of that age cannot bear such humiliation.

If the Qian family refuses but insists on marrying Yang Yuan, then Yang Yuan will be deeply hated by the emperor.

At that time, the emperor will have no choice but to rely entirely on these loyal and upright officials and the power of the scholar-officials to find ways to eliminate this treacherous minister.

Vice Minister Huang boarded his carriage, ordered his men to raise the official banner, and headed towards Renmei Ward.

Upon entering Renmei Ward, Vice Minister Huang rolled up the curtain.

Upon seeing the stone archway bearing the inscription "Three Scholars Passing the Imperial Examinations" from afar, Vice Minister Huang gave a cold laugh and let out a heavy snort.

This person, who should have been the pride of our society, has instead become a disgrace to our society.

One day, I, Huang Xu, will help the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty regain his prestige!
When that time comes, I will personally tear down your stone archway!
Suddenly, Vice Minister Huang saw a man with four servants.

The man had originally come from the direction of the stone archway, but upon seeing his car, his expression suddenly changed, and he hurriedly turned into a side alley.

If this person hadn't dodged in such a hurry, Vice Minister Huang would have noticed him instead.

The man hurriedly turned into the alley, his attempt to hide was so obvious that it caught the attention of Vice Minister Huang.

"Who is that?"

Vice Minister Huang gave the man a cold look and asked the question to the side of the carriage.

He arrived with an official banner, so as soon as he entered Renmei Ward, the ward head and two ward servants respectfully accompanied him beside his carriage.

Upon hearing the inquiry from the Vice Minister, the Palace Attendant quickly peeked out and reported respectfully into the carriage: "Minister of Agriculture, that man is Marquis Li Renxiao of Anshun."

"Li Renxiao? The former emperor of the Great Xia Kingdom, Li Renxiao?"

"Exactly."

Huang Shilang seemed to be deep in thought, and suddenly asked, "I think this Li Renxiao came from the Prince of Yan's residence."

Was he in close contact with the Prince of Yan?

Fang Zheng laughed upon hearing this: "To be honest, the Marquis of Anshun and His Highness the Prince of Yan do indeed have close ties."

Huang Shi's eyes lit up immediately.

Fang Zheng laughed and continued, "However, they are mortal enemies."

Marquis Anshun often picked fights with Prince Yan, and then he would get beaten by Prince Yan.

This Marquis of Anshun is forgetful; he actually enjoys doing it.

"Minister of Agriculture, do you think he's ill?"

Vice Minister Huang smiled but did not reply.

The image of Li Renxiao trying to cover up his actions just now kept lingering in his mind.

Are Yang Yuan and Li Renxiao really sworn enemies?

Logically speaking, yes.

After all, Li Renxiao's empire was ruined by Yang Yuan.

But... what were enemies in the past may not be so today!
Is it possible that they are putting on an act for others to see?

This matter should be thoroughly investigated by the Imperial City Guard, as Your Majesty decrees it.
As long as we can find a major weakness in the Prince of Yan...

(End of this chapter)