Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 436 Coaxing
Li Wang was hesitant to let Yan Ciwan take the risk, but Xiao Wenyi thought it was worth a try.

Now that Li Wang has just ascended the throne, his power base is unstable. If the King of Xizhou launches a war at this time, it will not only cause great suffering to the people, but also pose a great threat to Li Wang's throne.

If Yan Ciwan could persuade the King of Xizhou to abandon his rebellion, then all the problems could be solved without losing a single soldier, which would be the best possible strategy.

Even if she were to fail, she could still buy the court some time to prepare war supplies.

Seeing that Li Wang remained unyielding, Yan Ciwan took the initiative to persuade him, "My mother's grave is still in Xizhou. Even without the Xizhou King's uprising, I would still have to go back to Xizhou. I'll have to go sooner or later, so I might as well go now."

Li Wang said in a deep voice, "These are two different things. There's no need to rush to move the grave. The wolfish ambitions of the King of Xizhou are now obvious. If you go back now, it will be like a lamb entering a tiger's den. I can't let you go to your death."

"My injuries have healed. With my martial arts skills, I have no problem protecting myself. You have to believe me."

No matter how much Yan Ciwan tried to persuade him, Li Wang refused to agree.

With the two sides deadlocked, they had no choice but to temporarily suspend the matter.

As evening approached, Li Wang returned to Penglai Palace, where Yan Ciwan had already prepared wine and dishes to wait for him.

Tonight is the fifteenth of the lunar month, and the full moon hangs high in the sky, its light bright and clear.

The two sat facing each other on a bamboo couch, drinking wine and eating food while enjoying the moon and chatting in a very harmonious atmosphere.

After a few rounds of drinks, both of them were slightly tipsy.

Yan Ciwan stood up, propped herself up on the edge of the table, walked around the low table and sat down next to Li Wang, deliberately blowing a breath into his ear.

"Xiao Liu, I've heard that some people in the court have recently suggested that you get married as soon as possible so that you can have children for the royal family."

Li Wang felt an itch in his ears and a itch in his heart.

He remained seated upright, but his right hand quietly wrapped around Yan Ciwan's waist.

"Who did you listen to?"

Yan Ciwan betrayed Si Buping without hesitation.

Li Wang laughed and said, "It was clearly me who saved Si Buping's life that day, but he valued you more than me and devoted himself to serving you wholeheartedly."

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"

“I originally planned to have you serve as empress and rule the court with me. Since Si Buping is under your command, why not simply transfer the Inner Guard to your name? In the future, you can have the Inner Guard handle whatever you want to do without having to ask me. This will save you a lot of trouble.”

Yan Ciwan was surprised and sat up slightly: "Are you serious?"

"I've already ordered someone to make a phoenix throne. From now on, I'll place your phoenix throne next to my dragon throne." As Xiao Wang spoke, he pulled her closer into his arms.

Yan Ciwan leaned against him and looked up at him. She saw that although he was smiling, his eyes were clear and peaceful, which was obviously from the bottom of his heart.

She said, "Aren't you afraid of being opposed by the officials in the court if you do this?"

"As the saying goes, harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things. My husband and I have a harmonious relationship, which they should be more than happy about. What is there to object to?"

Yan Ciwan deliberately put on a stern face and said angrily, "What husband and wife? I haven't agreed to marry you yet."

Li Wang asked with a smile, "Then what do you want me to do to make you agree to marry me?"

Yan Ciwan picked up the wine pot on the table and gently shook it: "If you finish this, I'll agree."

Li Wang took the wine pot without hesitation and drank it down in large gulps.

A little bit of wine spilled from the corner of his mouth, slid down his chin, and flowed into his clothes.

He quickly finished the whole pot of wine.

He choked a little because he drank too fast, and coughed softly while holding onto the edge of the table. Then he turned the wine pot upside down to indicate that there was no more wine in it, and said in a hoarse voice.

"Now it's time for you to keep your promise."

He used to be unable to drink alcohol due to health reasons, but after the toxins in his body were neutralized, he no longer needed to abstain and could drink alcohol, although his alcohol tolerance was not very high.

After drinking that pot of wine, his cheeks were flushed, his eyes were blurry, and his body was swaying slightly.

Yan Ciwan reached out and touched his chin, wiping away the traces of alcohol, and said with a smile, "Okay, I promise you."

Li Wangqing couldn't help but laugh out loud, his eyes filled with joy. "Tomorrow I'll have the Ministry of Rites choose an auspicious day for the wedding."

"Let's talk about tomorrow's matters tomorrow. You're drunk, let me help you back to your room to rest," Yan Ciwan said as she helped Li Wang to his feet.

A palace maid led the way with a lantern, and Yan Ciwan helped the drunken Li Wang through the long corridor and into the bedchamber.

Li Wang was placed on the bed, and Yan Ciwan ordered someone to bring hot water to help him clean his hands and face. Then she sent all the palace servants away.

Only Yan Ciwan and Li Wang remained in the room.

Yan Ciwan wanted to help Li Wang take off his shoes, but Li Wang sat up and pushed her away, saying vaguely, "You don't need to do this, I can do it myself."

After saying that, he took off his shoes and socks and threw them aside.

Yan Ciwan gestured for him to take off his clothes as well.

So Li Wang began to undress, and in the blink of an eye, he was down to only his underpants.

Seeing that he was about to take off his pants, Yan Ciwan quickly stopped him.

"Okay, that's fine."

Li Wang was unusually obedient when he was drunk. When Yan Ciwan told him to stop, he immediately stopped.

Yan Ciwan rarely saw such an adorable side of him, and couldn't help but feel a little teasing. She leaned in and commanded, "Give me a kiss."

Li Wang looked at her face so close to his own, slowly leaned in, and gently and clumsily kissed her lips.

He then stepped away.

Yan Ciwan wanted to laugh. She asked him to kiss her, and he really only kissed her once. He was so honest.

Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly asked, "Do you like me?"

If it were the usually reserved and brooding Li Wang, he definitely wouldn't have answered this question directly. But now that he was drunk and his mind was muddled, he nodded without hesitation, giving his most honest answer.

"like very much!"

Yan Ciwan pressed on, "If you had to choose between the throne and me, which would you choose?"

"Choose you."

Yan Ciwan felt a surge of tenderness in her heart, and her voice involuntarily softened: "May I kiss you?"

Li Wang didn't answer, and immediately kissed him.

Yan Ciwan wrapped her arms around his neck, not letting him kiss her once before pulling away, but instead deepening the kiss.

The two parted ways after a long time.

Li Wang's breathing became completely disordered. His eyes were fixed on Yan Ciwan. At this moment, in his world, there was only the person in front of him.

He longed to hold her in his arms and possess her completely, but without her permission, he could only endure and remain still.

Yan Ciwan cupped his face in her hands and whispered, "I'm going to Xizhou. I'll leave Grandma in your care for now. When I return, I'll marry you."

Li Wang wanted to shake his head to show his unwillingness, but Yan Ciwan held his head and wouldn't let him move.

He said, "It's too dangerous, you can't go."

"I assure you that if any danger arises that I cannot handle, I will immediately retreat back to Chang'an to find you."

"But……"

Before Li Wang could finish speaking, Yan Ciwan kissed him, making him dizzy and disoriented.

Yan Ciwan coaxed, "Didn't you want me to be empress? I have to do something to win the hearts of the people. Please give me this opportunity to make a contribution, okay?"

When his sweetheart acted coquettishly, how could Li Wang resist? He nodded in agreement without really understanding what was going on.

(End of this chapter)