svetikya Page 151
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Unable to get Li Chang'an's approval, Zhan Doudou secretly turned her face to see Li Chang'an's reaction.
"This sentence is acceptable, but how can the forest flowers and mountain winds bear the grandeur of the soaring clouds!"
Upon hearing the "fairly acceptable" evaluation, Zhan Doudou immediately beamed with joy.
"Your Highness, how should it be revised?"
Li Chang'an said, "When I traveled the world, I once gazed at the clouds and mist over Mount Dadong. I will help you complete this poem."
"I pat the railing, the mist blows through my hair, the sea breeze is cold, and my loud song startles the floating clouds away."
Counting the verdant mountains, one can see Penglai Island in the distance. On the gauze-covered bank, accustomed to riding on the backs of cranes. Raising their heads, they let out a long cry, ascending straight to the Altar of Heaven.
After listening to Li Chang'an's copy of the poem, Zhan Doudou couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Fog flowers, sea breeze, Penglai, cranes, and the Temple of Heaven—these are indeed more evocative than her words.
Haitang Duoduo sat down and took a bite of a big red date.
"Li Chang'an has made great progress over the years, and there is much less decadent tone in his poems. This Holy Maiden likes it very much."
"Especially the last line, 'Raise your head and let out a long roar, soaring straight to the Altar of Heaven,' that has a very high level of artistic conception!"
Zhan Doudou smiled and said, "As expected of the three saints of poetry, calligraphy and painting, I have learned a lot."
Li Chang'an said bluntly, "Your Majesty is exceptionally talented, but your vision is still somewhat limited. After all, you grew up in the inner palace, and your perspective is a little narrow."
Zhan Doudou was no longer surprised by Li Chang'an's words.
After all, in his eyes, Emperor Qing was nothing more than a scheming old man.
She fought Dou Dou, a young emperor who hadn't yet assumed personal rule. How good could Li Chang'an's opinion of her be?
Haitang spat out the jujube pit, looking as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.
"Your Majesty, this man is used to being arrogant and disdainful of others. You'll get used to it."
Zhan Doudou seemed unconcerned. "I invited Prince Yong here for two reasons: first, to discuss poetry, and second, to make a deal with you."
Li Chang'an asked, "I wonder what Your Majesty wishes to exchange, and what you will use in exchange?"
Zhan Doudou smiled mysteriously, her eyes exuding charm.
"My elder sister is willing to marry you as a concubine, and the Empress Dowager has agreed."
"However, I have not yet agreed."
Li Chang'an chuckled lightly, "Your Majesty, those who threaten me never have a good ending."
You'd better think this through, lest you regret it later.
After being told by Li Chang'an that Zhan Doudou lacked vision, she inevitably felt a competitive spirit.
After all, he had been emperor for many years, and was surrounded by sycophants.
"Oh, is it so?
This is the capital of Northern Qi. I'd like to see how you'll make me regret this."
Haitang Duoduo was anxious; she was genuinely afraid that Zhan Doudou would get herself into trouble.
Li Chang'an is not only incredibly strong, but he also knows everything.
There was no use in her being anxious; she dared not remind Zhan Doudou at all.
Li Chang'an continued, "Your Majesty, what do you want me to do in exchange for your consent to Pianpian marrying me as a concubine?"
Zhan Doudou said, "Shen Zhong's faction wields immense power and has countless henchmen, yet they are loyal to the Empress Dowager."
"He holds a high position and has many connections, so it won't be easy to remove him from his official post. The Empress Dowager is keeping a close eye on all the experts around me."
As Zhan Doudou spoke, she glanced triumphantly at Li Chang'an.
"Your Highness, rest assured, Duoduo is on my side."
Judging from Zhan Doudou's expression, she wanted to surprise Li Chang'an.
Look, the Holy Maiden beside the Empress Dowager is actually in my faction. Aren't I amazing!
Li Chang'an knew that dealing with such a pure and innocent woman required careful maneuvering. He had just suppressed her, and now he needed to encourage her, making her feel anxious and uncertain.
"Oh! Your Majesty is truly shrewd; the Empress Dowager is still completely unaware!"
Seeing the joy in Zhan Doudou's eyes, Haitang Duoduo secretly thought, "This is bad; His Majesty is still too young."
Zhan Doudou continued, "His Highness Prince Yong brought half of the Shadow Guards this time, so it shouldn't be a problem for him to kill Shen Zhong for me."
Li Chang'an disagreed, "Shen Zhong is the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He has countless experts around him. Killing him without affecting yourself is indeed difficult."
"Of course! My elder sister is the most beautiful woman in the world, yet she wants to be your concubine. There's no such thing as an easy thing in the world!" Zhan Doudou said with a smile.
Li Chang'an said without hesitation, "Deal, but I have some doubts."
"Shen Zhong is a loyal minister of your Qi state. Aren't you cutting off your own arm?"
Upon hearing Li Chang'an question her decision again, Zhan Doudou proudly declared, "What kind of loyal minister is one who is not loyal to me?"
"Once I assume full power, I will be able to cultivate and promote Jinyiwei commanders who are both loyal to me and capable."
That's true, but it's not easy to train an intelligence chief without long-term practical experience.
Li Chang'an said calmly, "Since that's the case, I agree. There are still half a month until the poetry gathering, which should be enough time."
After Li Chang'an left, Zhan Doudou suddenly smiled and said, "Li Chang'an is indeed an interesting person."
Haitang said meaningfully, "Your Majesty, this person is very dangerous. You'd better not get too close to him."
Zhan Doudou said, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. He's not going to eat me, is he?"
"Li Chang'an keeps saying that I have a narrow vision, but I want to see what he has up his sleeve."
In the Nanqing Palace.
Li Chang'an's various words and deeds in Northern Qi were collected by the Surveillance Bureau and reported to Emperor Qing.
Chen Pingping firmly stated, "Your Majesty, these claims are likely fabricated by the Northern Qi."
“From the moment His Highness Prince Yong entered Northern Qi, Northern Qi used all sorts of means to spread rumors about him. Such methods are really not clever.”
"In the past six months, most of the rumors about Prince Yong in the capital have been spread by Northern Qi spies."
Emperor Qing tossed a piece of paper to Chen Pingping and said, "I reckon those words really were said by Prince Yong himself."
After reading the intelligence, Chen Pingping exclaimed in surprise, "Prince Yong secretly reported that he intends to take advantage of the political turmoil in Northern Qi to eliminate Shang Shanhu and Shen Zhong?"
"One is a battle-hardened general, and the other is a long-time adversary of the Overwatch Council. If this can be accomplished, it would be a great blessing for Daqing!"
Emperor Qing said calmly, "I'm not afraid that he can't do it; I'm worried that he actually will."
Chen Pingping smiled and said, "It would be a great blessing for the country if it were accomplished. His Majesty is worried about family matters. I'm sure His Majesty already has a plan in mind, so this old servant will refrain from saying more."
Emperor Qing polished the arrow in his hand, his eyebrows furrowed tightly. "Old man, the older you get, the more cunning you become!"
Both men knew perfectly well that if Li Chang'an succeeded in this matter, his prestige would be far greater than that of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.
Emperor Qing said he was worried, but he didn't really think so in his heart.
Even if Li Chang'an is very strong, Emperor Qing believes that the situation is still under control.
In his view, the possibility of Li Chang'an rebelling was extremely slim, given the presence of the Grand Master in the palace.
The current situation is that Li Chang'an has real skills, so Emperor Qing must make good use of this weapon to help him counterbalance Li Yunrui's power, and even Chen Pingping's Supervisory Council.
If Li Chang'an can still make contributions, then throw him into his fiefdom or send him to the border army. Change his location every year; there are plenty of ways to keep him away from the political center.
In Emperor Qing's mind, as long as one is far from the center of power, one cannot affect the supreme authority.
Emperor Qing's confidence stemmed entirely from his status as a Grandmaster.
Even if Li Chang'an really led troops in rebellion, he wouldn't be afraid at all.
Arriving in the capital, night falls.
Li Chang'an brazenly strolled around the Northern Qi palace without being noticed by anyone.
Lang Tao, currently the strongest expert in the capital, is a confidant of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's teacher, but he does not live in the palace.
The strongest expert in the palace is undoubtedly Haitang Duoduo; even the commander of the Imperial Guards is only at the mid-ninth rank.
After figuring out the terrain, Li Chang'an flashed into Zhan Pianpian's room.
At this moment, Zhan Pianpian paced back and forth in the room, feeling uneasy.
"You've already come to the capital, why haven't you come to see me yet?"
"I've had several big arguments with His Majesty because of him, but His Majesty still doesn't agree. What should I do?"
"I heard that many young ladies from prominent families went out to welcome him in the streets. Could it be... could it be... could it be!"
As Zhan Doudou pondered, she couldn't help but pout and then shake her head.
"No, no!"
Zhan Pianpian puffed out her chest and looked proudly in the mirror.
"Zhan Pianpian! You must have confidence!"
"You are the most beautiful person in Northern Qi!"