120: The Empress's Challenge to Doudou! (23)

Chapter 120: Empress Zhan Doudou's Provocation! (23)

"Fine wine in a luminous cup at night, the pipa urges me to drink on horseback. Drunk, lying on the battlefield, sir, do not laugh, how many have returned from ancient wars!"

"The north wind sweeps the earth, breaking white grass, in the eighth month, snow flies in the barbarian sky. Suddenly, like a spring breeze overnight, ten thousand trees bloom with pear blossoms..."

"Holding a lamp to look at a sword while drunk, in dreams, bugle calls echo through connecting camps... Autumn troop review on the battlefield..."

Li Chang'an, without any qualms, couldn't remember how many poems he had recited, just saying whatever came to mind.

By the end, the scholars in the hall were all utterly drunk, their blood boiling, singing endlessly!

At the last moment, Li Chang'an slowly walked out the door, muttering something that no one could quite understand.

"The world of Joy of Life no longer needs poetry!"

The poetry gathering ended, and Fan Xian and Zong Zhui supported Young Master Guo down the mountain.

Just outside Yunmen Temple, they found all eight paths leading up the mountain brightly lit.

Everywhere, there were sounds of poetry recitation!

Drunken scholars, with disheveled hair, danced wildly under the moonlight!

Some scholars even snatched long spears from soldiers and began to wield them.

Others held wine jars, drinking with the not-so-bright moon!

Suddenly, Guo Baokun broke free from their support, shaking out his hair.

"Life on earth is not as one wishes, tomorrow I'll loosen my hair and drift in a small boat! This Guo is off to boat!"

After speaking, with a "plop," he jumped into the nearby river!

Fan Xian painfully rubbed his forehead, while Zong Zhui, without a word, jumped in to rescue him.

Immediately after, one after another, the river was like a pot of boiling dumplings!

Tonight, they had read too many maddening poems, and these well-read scholars, one by one, had succumbed to delirium after drinking!

By the river, soldiers stood ready, having already pulled out many drenched scholars.

Li Chang'an was also leading Wang Qinian down the mountain, witnessing the madness of Yunmen Mountain firsthand.

Wang Qinian clicked his tongue in amazement, "Your Highness's poetry truly holds such great magic for scholars!"

The accumulation of thousands of years of poetic civilization, carrying the warmth and sighs, passion and fervor of those most skilled at expression!

All of it, in one night, poured like a waterfall of lava onto this civilization!

How could it easily bear it!

Inside Yunmen Temple, Zhan Doudou struggled to pull herself out of the ocean of poetry.

Haitang let out a long sigh of relief, "Finally, I've recovered, Your Majesty!"

Zhan Doudou wiped the sweat from her forehead, her eyes filled with a fervent intensity.

"It was too shocking!"

"I truly never imagined that in this life, I would meet such an extraordinary person as Li Chang'an!"

Seeing Zhan Doudou's dazed expression, Haitang felt immensely relieved.

Fortunately, Li Chang'an was about to leave, otherwise, he would have stolen the young emperor's soul.

However, an unsettling madness suddenly appeared in Zhan Doudou's eyes.

"Little Martial Aunt, what rank is Li Chang'an now?"

Haitang Duoduo hesitated for a moment, then reported Li Chang'an's ostensible false cultivation level.

"Eighth Rank Middle Level, I suppose..."

A cold sharpness flashed in Zhan Doudou's eyes, "Are sleeping drugs effective on him?"

Haitang felt bitter, but she had to say, "Perhaps."

"What about aphrodisiacs?"

"Also... perhaps."

"Then, if both sleeping drugs and aphrodisiacs are used together, will it affect the efficacy?"

"It shouldn't... perhaps."

"Little Martial Aunt, I shall avenge your drug-induced humiliation!"

Haitang was stunned. You want to sleep with him, and you say it's to avenge me!

Hearing Zhan Doudou's crazy words, Haitang quickly lowered her voice.

"Your Majesty, your plan to borrow a seed won't work. Li Chang'an is from the Southern Qing imperial family!"

"You can't let a descendant of the Li family inherit the Northern Qi throne, can you!"

"No, no, others can be discussed, but Li Chang'an is absolutely out of the question!"

What Haitang Duoduo didn't realize was that Zhan Doudou wasn't thinking of borrowing a seed at all.

"Little Martial Aunt, who told you I want to borrow a seed?"

"I have no other intentions; I just want to sleep with Li Chang'an."

"Li Chang'an is handsome and his literary talent is astonishing; no one in this world can compare!"

"I am rich in all four seas; what if I sleep with him!"

Haitang Duoduo looked at Zhan Doudou as if she didn't know her, "My Majesty, what's wrong with you! Have you gone mad?"

Zhan Doudou looked down the mountain from afar, speaking as if to herself.

"When life is good, one must enjoy it to the fullest; do not let the golden goblet face the moon empty!"

"Flowers that can be plucked must be plucked; do not wait until there are no flowers to pluck empty branches!"

"Little Martial Aunt, if I am to be a man for Great Qi all my life, what harm is there in being selfish for one night and being a woman for a night!"

Haitang Duoduo was anxious!

Li Chang'an was a quasi-Great Grandmaster; let alone sleeping drugs and aphrodisiacs, even poison would be useless against him!

But Haitang had a deal with Li Chang'an, and she absolutely dared not reveal his true strength.

"Your Majesty, must it be Li Chang'an? Can't it be someone else?"

Zhan Doudou smiled and asked, "Little Martial Aunt, besides Li Chang'an, who else is worthy of me?"

Haitang sighed, "Well, no one... No! Absolutely not! This Li Chang'an is ruthless and has ulterior motives!"

Zhan Doudou smiled and said, "I know he has ulterior motives. He burned the Bureau of Surveillance and killed the Brocade-Clad Guards, so of course he has ill intentions."

"Precisely because of this, I must sleep with him and show him a thing or two!"

"He always acts so arrogant; what expression will he have if he loses his innocence to me, haha!"

Haitang Duoduo couldn't imagine it; if the beautiful young maiden Zhan Doudou offered herself, Li Chang'an would probably die laughing!

Zhan Doudou was still immersed in her own world, "You are a Ninth Rank Upper Level, your cultivation is far superior to his!"

"Didn't you arrange to drink with him? Invite him out tonight and drug him!"

Haitang Duoduo cupped her hands and pleaded, "Your Majesty, think thrice!"

Zhan Doudou suddenly said sharply, "Saintess, this is an imperial decree!"

Haitang was exasperated, "Your Majesty, you will regret this!"

Zhan Doudou said firmly, "Once you've seen the vast ocean, other waters are not worth seeing; once you've seen the clouds of Wushan, other clouds are not worth seeing. I will never regret it!"

Haitang Duoduo stomped her foot in anger, "Hmph! Poetry is going to be the death of us!"

But her mind raced, and she quickly came up with an idea.

She wouldn't tell Li Chang'an the truth of the matter; she would just follow Zhan Doudou's imperial decree and invite Li Chang'an out for a drink.

She would put sleeping drugs and aphrodisiacs in the wine, but these drugs would be useless against Li Chang'an, so Zhan Doudou wouldn't be able to do anything to her.

If Li Chang'an found out, Haitang would take the blame herself, claiming she drugged him to avenge her own drug-induced humiliation, which was very reasonable!

Having formulated a counter-strategy, Haitang secretly led Zhan Doudou to her own small courtyard.

Afterward, she had the Inner Court guards protect her first, then she went to the guesthouse alone.

As soon as Haitang arrived at Li Chang'an's small courtyard, Wang Qinian and Teng Zijing darted out.

Wang Qinian politely said, "Saintess, visiting late at night, may I ask your purpose?"

Haitang impatiently said, "To find your Your Highness, of course; it's not like I came to find you!"

Wang Qinian bowed and cupped his hands, saying, "Saintess truly has deep affection for my Your Highness. Your subordinate will go and inform him right away!"

All Southern Qing people were scoundrels; Haitang didn't even know how she showed deep affection for Li Chang'an.

Li Chang'an, who had already heard the commotion, slowly walked down from the second floor.

"Haitang, if there's anything, just come to my room. Why disturb Old Wang? He's old, and his sleep isn't good to begin with."

Wang Qinian exchanged a meaningful glance with Teng Zijing, who also understood perfectly.

Haitang sighed dismissively, "You promised this Saintess a drink. Tonight is the Shangsi Festival, perfect for drinking."

Li Chang'an's eyes narrowed slightly, "Haitang, meeting late at night, do you have other intentions?"

Haitang nodded very straightforwardly, "Precisely, this Saintess has ill intentions towards you. Do you dare to come?"

Li Chang'an nodded solemnly, "Even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, this king will go!"

Seeing Wang Qinian's gossipy expression, Haitang was also afraid he would spread rumors.

"I was joking. Your poetry tonight had a strong killing aura, which this Saintess quite likes. It's just right for a drink and some guidance!"

"No problem, this king will impart everything without holding anything back!" Li Chang'an solemnly agreed.

After Haitang left with Li Chang'an, Wang Qinian and Teng Zijing were left with expressions of astonishment.

"Northern Qi's customs are truly open; the Saintess actually stated her intentions so clearly!"

"This is good too. Meeting late at night and getting straight to the point saves them from guessing back and forth, which is a waste of time."

"Sir marrying The Eldest Princess of Northern Qi, and being deeply in love with Saintess Haitang, and also completing that major task, this trip to Northern Qi is truly a fruitful one!"

Haitang's small courtyard.

The courtyard was filled with lanterns, and willow branches were stuck at the entrance, creating a strong Shangsi Festival atmosphere.

There were several small garden plots in the courtyard, planted with various vegetables, which seemed very out of place with the Saintess's status.

The courtyard was not large, and Li Chang'an easily sensed the presence of several other people, all with Seventh or Eighth Rank cultivation.

However, those people were quite far away and couldn't hear Li Chang'an and Haitang's conversation.

With the first sip of wine, Li Chang'an understood everything; after all, he had foreknowledge.

There were large amounts of sleeping drugs in the wine, as well as aphrodisiacs that muddled the mind.

"Haitang, you have always kept our agreement, and I am very satisfied."

This small courtyard was indeed very cozy, giving one a feeling of home, and Li Chang'an unconsciously changed his self-address.

Haitang drank a cup heartily and said, "How could I not keep the promise? A single word from you could bring Northern Qi to utter ruin."

With the emperor being a woman as a weakness, Northern Qi indeed faced the risk of collapse at any time.

Li Chang'an savored the taste of the medicine in the wine, "Saintess, the quality of the medicine you used is too poor. Can't you get something more upscale?"

Haitang's heart tensed; these medicines were all given by the young emperor, and they should have been concocted by masters, so their quality would definitely not be low.

She pretended to smile triumphantly, "Anyway, no medicine can drug you, so why waste that money."

"This Saintess is just unable to swallow this insult and must avenge the drug-induced humiliation."

Things were progressing according to Haitang's plan, and she was very happy.

Li Chang'an couldn't possibly be drugged, so the young emperor's plan was definitely going to fail.

Afterward, Li Chang'an and Haitang chatted about martial arts for a while.

Haitang, as a Disciple of a Great Grandmaster, found that Li Chang'an's martial Dao attainments were indeed extraordinary; even his casual remarks had illuminating insights.

In Haitang's bedroom in the distance, Zhan Doudou was secretly peeking out the window.

Her long hair was completely loose, and she had even bathed.

"Why isn't Li Chang'an falling down yet? The Eastern Island divine medicine secretly offered by Duke Zhengguo actually has no effect!"

"Could it be that Li Chang'an secretly Broke Through to Ninth Rank, and the medicine is ineffective on him?"

Just as Zhan Doudou was wondering, she suddenly saw Li Chang'an's body begin to sway, and then he fell backward.

"It's done! Li Chang'an, I will definitely make you suffer tonight!"

Haitang, sitting opposite Li Chang'an, was already rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"Li Chang'an, don't pretend!"

"It's just the two of us drinking; why are you pretending to be drunk!"

Li Chang'an mumbled drowsily, "The medicine is useless against me... but I drank too much tonight... Congratulations on avenging your drug-induced humiliation!"

Haitang was speechless!

"Li Chang'an, do you think I'm stupid!"

"If the medicine is useless, the alcohol is even more useless!"

Haitang squatted in front of Li Chang'an and patted his face.

"Such good skin... The Great Grandmaster with the stick last time also had extremely good skin."

"Southern Qing people really know how to take care of themselves... Eh! What am I doing! Am I also drunk!"

"Li Chang'an, don't pretend; if you're going to pretend to be drunk, don't do it today!"

Haitang was about to shake Li Chang'an awake when she heard the young emperor calling her loudly from afar.

"Haitang, it's late, let's rest!"

Helpless, Haitang could only carry Li Chang'an towards her room.

She was certain that Li Chang'an was deliberately feigning drunkenness.

But how he knew, Haitang couldn't figure it out!

Haitang placed Li Chang'an on her bed, then glanced at the stunningly beautiful Zhan Doudou.

"Be gentle, don't break my bed."

That scoundrel Li Chang'an hit the jackpot tonight.

Afterward, Haitang walked out of the small courtyard, ordering all nearby Inner Court guards to disperse and stand guard a hundred feet away.

But she herself couldn't go too far; she had to protect Zhan Doudou.

To have to listen to the young emperor being 'ravaged' tonight was truly heartbreaking!

In Haitang's bedroom, the lamps were brightly lit, and Zhan Doudou sat triumphantly at the head of the bed.

With Zhan Doudou's stubborn declaration, the painful yet anticipated final conquest began.

Haitang, in the next room, frowned, listening to Zhan Doudou's painful moans, her heart filled with vexation.

"Your Majesty, why make things so difficult for yourself!"

"Li Chang'an, you are truly shameless to the core!"

...She wiped the fragrant sweat from her forehead, and even though she was grimacing in pain, she still felt like she had returned victorious from battle.

She gasped, "Hmph! No matter how capable you are, you still have to be at my mercy!"

...She almost couldn't catch her breath, and her heart was even more alarmed!

Li Chang'an was awake, the divine medicine had failed!

Indeed, Li Chang'an also opened his eyes, but his expression was also extremely pained.

Zhan Doudou was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face, "Today, I'll let you off easy! What kind of expression is that!"

Li Chang'an gritted his teeth and said, "You're strangling me!"