svetikya Page 150
Page 150
Although Li Chang'an had many later versions in mind, he was unwilling to use them to desecrate the classics, so it was better to stop at the 80th chapter.
Fan Xian cursed inwardly, "Is it really that hard to stand up and speak?"
Fortunately, at this moment, Empress Dowager Wei could no longer bear to listen and said, "Please, Envoy Fan, rise."
Fan Xian bowed dramatically and shouted, "The Empress Dowager is wise!"
Knowing that her mother was unhappy, Zhan Doudou said to everyone, "Let's call it a day. All of you may leave now."
"Shen Zhong is fully responsible for the handover with the Nanqing delegation. There must be no mistakes."
After everyone received the decree and left, Zhan Doudou said again, "Please stay, Your Highness Prince Yong. I have something to say to you."
After the officials left, the Empress Dowager slowly emerged from behind the curtain, followed closely by Haitang Duoduo.
Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, Haitang Duoduo made a face at Li Chang'an.
The saintess is actually quite cute, and after spending half a month together, we gradually got to know each other.
The Empress Dowager of Northern Qi was very well-preserved and looked to be only in her early thirties. Her figure was shapely and graceful under her elegant clothes.
Her beautiful face exuded authority, but upon closer inspection, it revealed a unique charm and maturity, along with a faint fragrance.
"Your Majesty, it is rather presumptuous of you to ask Li Chang'an to refrain from sitting before the Emperor on our first meeting."
Zhan Doudou seemed completely unconcerned, casually saying, "His Highness Prince Yong is renowned throughout the land, and the Southern Qing Dynasty cherishes him dearly. Naturally, our dynasty must also show him respect."
"To be honest, I even considered bestowing upon His Highness Prince Yong the title of a non-royal prince of my Great Qi!"
Upon hearing this, Haitang Duoduo's eyes widened, and the Empress Dowager was instantly enraged.
"Nonsense! This is absolutely unacceptable!"
"There is no reason to enfeoff a prince of an enemy state as a king of a different surname."
Zhan Doudou calmly explained, "Mother, Prince Yong's talent far surpasses that of Li Chengqian and Li Chengze, and this is known throughout the land."
"Now that Emperor Qing is considering the succession to the throne, he will definitely try to get rid of Prince Yong."
"I am trying to find a genius for the Great Qi, so that the two literary giants will be in the Great Qi... Even the two celestial beings are in the Northern Qi."
Li Chang'an succinctly stated, "Your Majesty's concerns are entirely unnecessary."
Zhan Doudou's bright eyes sparkled, her face revealing her appreciation for talent.
“Your Highness Prince Yong, I am the emperor and I understand the heart of an emperor best. Emperor Qing will not allow his brothers to be better than his sons.”
"You need to think about this as soon as possible. If you're pushed to the limit, it won't be time to run away!"
Li Chang'an shrugged and said, "Your Majesty misunderstands. What I meant was..."
If pushed too far, I will rebel.
Upon hearing this, Zhan Doudou froze on the spot like a wax figure, her eyes fixed.
Empress Dowager Wei opened her mouth in disbelief, her eyes filled with astonishment.
Li Chang'an's audacity is a bit frightening!
Haitang Duoduo stared at the monster with her mouth slightly open, revealing the grapes she had just secretly placed inside, which she hadn't yet chewed.
These three women are all talk and no action, making a fuss over nothing!
Chapter 113 The Arrogant Li Chang'an! Zhan Doudou, your vision is too narrow! (13)
Li Chang'an had privately discussed rebellion with Haitang Duoduo, and they did so frequently.
But Haitang never expected that Li Chang'an would declare his intention to rebel against Emperor Qing in front of the Empress Dowager and the young emperor!
It's simply the opposite of Tiangang!
To the prescient Li Chang'an, the Empress Dowager Wei and the young emperor's performance here was nothing short of pretentious.
Whether the young emperor truly intended to bestow titles upon those of different surnames, it's unclear. However, sowing discord between Li Chang'an and Emperor Qing was undoubtedly her primary objective.
Zhan Doudou paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your Highness Prince Yong, this is not the Qing Kingdom. You should restrain yourself a bit."
Li Chang'an said calmly, "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, Holy Maiden."
When I was in Nanqing, I still had to give that old imperial brother some face.
"The old man works hard to govern the country, scheming and plotting all day long."
After scheming against his ministers, he schemed against his son; after scheming against his son, he schemed against the enemy state. He still had to give them face.
"Once you have to give face to your elder brother, you become constrained and uncomfortable."
"I was like a bird in a cage, a fish in a net. Now that I've come to Northern Qi, it's like a bird soaring into the sky, a fish entering the sea—no longer bound by any constraints!"
Empress Dowager Wei frowned and said, "Li Chang'an, your words are utterly arrogant and outrageous. Aren't you afraid that His Majesty Emperor Qing will hear them?"
Li Chang'an stood with his hands behind his back, facing south, as if he were the master and the three women were guests.
"When I arrive in Northern Qi, whatever I say or do will be exaggerated and reported back to Qing Kingdom by you."
"Perhaps the memorials impeaching me are already written in the Qing Kingdom's court right now."
"I am worried because you lack courage, literary talent, and taste."
The crimes and transgressions you've fabricated against me are hardly worthy of my status.
"Therefore, why don't I personally help you fabricate charges? It would be a way to relieve His Majesty and the Empress Dowager's burdens."
After her initial surprise, Zhan Doudou's eyes gleamed with a hint of brilliance. Li Chang'an was not only exceptionally handsome, but also possessed an audacious and domineering air.
She had never seen such an imposing presence among all her ministers.
"Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness. Your words are insightful and I will certainly have our spies report them back to Nanqing."
Empress Dowager Wei chuckled lightly, "I've long heard that His Highness Prince Yong of Nanqing was reckless and audacious in his youth."
Seeing it today, it's indeed even more true than the rumors.
Li Chang'an suddenly realized and said, "Your Majesty flatters me. I suppose you are referring to the poems I wrote for Lili. They are nothing special."
"If Your Majesty is interested, I am willing to have in-depth discussions with you."
Upon hearing this, the three women were stunned again and dared not respond for a moment.
The Empress Dowager, upon reading the poem, knew that it was Li Chang'an's blatant flirting, but she was unaware that the young emperor and Haitang had also read it.
The young emperor blushed slightly. She had seen it before, but she absolutely could not show it.
Haitang nearly choked on a grape seed; the Prince Yong's shamelessness and audacity far exceeded her imagination.
Empress Dowager Wei not only read it, but also savored it carefully, and still finds it endlessly fascinating. But how could she just casually reveal this?
So she could only pretend to be deaf and dumb, bringing up the Dou Baihua essay that Li Chang'an had publicly written to Si Lili, and pretending not to know anything else.
“Your Highness is joking. That poem about fighting flowers is just so-so. I would have forgotten about it if you hadn’t mentioned it.”
Li Chang'an sighed inwardly; without a man in the court, he had no confidence.
I'm determined to bully you two, mother and daughter.
As for Zhan Pianpian, it wasn't about bullying her; she's such a cute girl, she'd definitely take the initiative.
At this moment, Zhan Doudou said to Empress Dowager Wei, "Mother, I would like to have a private discussion about poetry and literature with Prince Yong. I hope you will grant me permission."
Empress Dowager Wei said, "You are the emperor. If you want to talk about something, just do it here in this hall."
Zhan Doudou said, "The main hall is too solemn for intimate conversations. I would like to ask His Highness Prince Yong to accompany me for a walk."
Empress Dowager Wei glanced at Li Chang'an and said, "Li Chang'an's words are astonishing. I would also like to take a walk with you."
"Your Majesty works hard on state affairs, how could I dare to trouble you?" Zhan Doudou gave Empress Dowager Wei a gentle rebuff without hesitation.
"In that case, I will return to the palace. If there is an opportunity in the future, I would like to discuss poetry and literature with Chang'an."
Although the Empress Dowager left, she still seemed somewhat unwilling.
Haitang watched the two perform helplessly. They could pretend to be at odds in front of others, but it was all in vain in front of Li Chang'an.
Now, the Holy Maiden of Northern Qi was filled with curiosity about how this quasi-Grandmaster would wreak havoc on Northern Qi and what kind of mess he would make.
Zhan Doudou addressed Li Chang'an by his title, while Empress Dowager Wei always referred to Li Chang'an by his given name, making it seem as if she were a generation older than Li Chang'an, deliberately elevating her own status and putting on an air of superiority.
"We will surely have such an opportunity to respectfully see off the Empress Dowager."
After Li Chang'an finished speaking hypocritically, the Empress Dowager pointed to Haitang beside her.
"The Holy Maiden is returning to the palace. You are all the same age, why don't you go together?"
After the Empress Dowager left, Zhan Doudou led Li Chang'an and Haitang into the inner palace.
Inside a pavilion in the palace, the eunuchs served sandalwood incense and tea before dispersing.
Zhan Doudou held onto the railing, staring into the distance as she recited the lyrics she had written.
"I pat the railing, the forest flowers blow my hair in the cold mountain wind, and my loud song startles the floating clouds away."
After Zhan Doudou finished reading, she was still gazing into the distance, but her hand holding the railing tightened unconsciously.
Haitang kicked Li Chang'an's foot, "Say something! Say it! Praise her!"
She turned her head and saw Li Chang'an gazing affectionately into the distance, lost in thought.