Wang Wei could bear witness—the Emperor and Duke Chu hadn’t said a single sentence about court affairs. The two spent an entire morning speaking vulgar words. The topics they covered were extensive, from the voluptuousness of Western Region dancing girls to the passionate nature of Lingnan women. In between, they seemed to have also discussed the enchantment of Yuezhou women. In any case, Duke Chu said Yuezhou women were as white and tender as lotus roots—pinch them and water would come out…

What Wang Wei found most unbearable was their descriptions of positions. Duke Chu said Hebei women had fierce temperaments and could only be subdued by the “Striking an Ox Across Mountains” technique, while His Majesty stubbornly believed that holding them in one’s arms with a single “Old Tree Entwining Roots” move was sufficient to make them completely docile…

After finishing his recording, Wang Wei pondered carefully for a day and couldn’t help but feel immense admiration for His Majesty and Duke Chu’s sophisticated method of discussing matters. According to previous records, these two seemed to be Chang’an’s two most famous young rakes. The number of times they were caught together at brothels by the Great Emperor was apparently more than once or twice…

Concealing for elders, avoiding taboos for superiors—after Wang Wei wracked his brains to carefully organize everything, he suddenly discovered that the beauty from Hebei seemed to be a Zhangsun family member…

“Can’t do it. I haven’t touched alcohol for a year—my tolerance is far less than before. If you like it, drink more. The wine sent from Lanling should be good stuff.”

Li Chengqian’s tongue felt somewhat stiff, but he still had his wits about him. He pushed away the white jade bowl before him, not wanting to drink anymore.

“What will you do about that child from Lanling? Whether or not they’re from the Dou family doesn’t matter. As long as Lanling gave birth to them, you’re the elder uncle. She sent you ten carts of fine wine and is waiting for you, as family head, to speak.”

Yun Ye stuffed a handful of peanuts into his mouth, crunching loudly.

“What else can I do? With you and Anlan’s precedent before me, Lanling handled this matter with complete righteousness. I’m definitely stuck as this convenient uncle. Heh heh, since Lanling wants to learn from you all, then no need to be polite—the child must take the Li surname. On this point, I won’t yield an inch!”

Yun Ye nodded. The Li family married off daughters precisely to assimilate bloodlines. If they gained no benefit at all, wouldn’t Lanling have married her own relatives for nothing?

“Now you should feel at ease. You’ve completely returned all power to government offices. Private armed forces have little room for development. You’re even harsher than the Late Emperor—you’ve completely eliminated the position of Regional Commander. It’s just that the power of prefectural governors has expanded beyond bounds. You canceled officials at the circuit level precisely to subdivide power. I suggest you simply use Chao Cuo’s strategy to the extreme—further divide governors’ authority downward. If you can ultimately distribute power to the common people’s hands, I believe your Li family can remain emperors forever.”

“Right now, Great Tang doesn’t lack clothing or food—material wealth is very abundant. Have you calculated how many new trades have emerged in recent years? The Thirteen Guilds? They’ve long since expanded to more than three hundred and sixty trades. What the court needs now is to continuously strengthen management of these people. When a new trade emerges, it requires regulation and cultivation. These trades will eventually help you support your people.”

“Your luck is good! In just ten years, Great Tang’s national power has risen to a new level. I went south to see the fleet—Qing Que installed steam engines on the great ships. Now great ships basically don’t need to watch wind direction when sailing. They can leave whenever they want—extremely convenient. However, to reach Far Island, without supply stations in between, it’s still out of reach.”

“Ha ha, forget about Far Island. Except for the Emperor, anyone can go there!”

“Under heaven, all land belongs to the sovereign!”

“Forget it. If you have such plans, first eliminate the nearby people of the Caliphate and Tocharians, then sweep westward across the world all the way to the world’s end. At that time, you can proclaim those words with mighty domination!”

“Those places will belong to Great Tang sooner or later. Our people aren’t numerous enough now. When Great Tang fills with people, at that time, the second round of expansion will begin, then there will be a third time, a fourth time, until we cover to heaven’s end.”

Speaking to this point, Li Chengqian suddenly became sorrowful. He grasped Yun Ye’s hand and wept silently. The cruelest thing in the world was having great ambitions yet lacking the matching lifespan.

“I’m now full of ailments. Forget sex life—even going to the privy to urinate wets my shoes. I get up three or four times a night. Wanmin Palace’s lamplight is as bright as day. Sometimes I can’t distinguish day from night. You don’t know—when I look up and discover Wanmin Palace is bright as daylight, thinking time is still early, I look up and see the jade plaque atop Wanmin Palace shining brilliantly. I believe this is heaven extending my lifespan, wanting me to treat night as day.”

“When too exhausted, I want to walk outside. Whether wind rolls lotus leaves or fish jump from water making sounds, I think it’s because I haven’t done the emperor’s work well, which is why these warning signs appear.”

“Ye Zi, do you have any way to let me sleep well? I’m truly too tired.”

Yun Ye had always satisfied Li Chengqian’s requests. He carried mandala sleeping medicine that Sun Simiao had prepared. He took it from his bosom and placed it before Li Chengqian. “Eat this and you can sleep soundly for three days and nights.”

Without thinking, Li Chengqian picked up the small porcelain gourd, pulled out the stopper, poured all the powder into his mouth, and asked, “What is this? The taste isn’t pleasant.”

“Mandala sleeping medicine. After eating it, you’ll fall into deep sleep. What you just took is a three-day dose. You’ll fall asleep immediately. If there’s anything to arrange, hurry and say it. When you open your eyes, it will be three days later.”

The medicine took effect faster than Yun Ye expected. Li Chengqian looked at Yun Ye in a daze and said, “If I can’t wake up from sleep, put Li Jue on the throne. After he comes of age, you can leave…”

Yun Ye sighed. Watching Li Chengqian’s head plunge into a dish, he helped him lie on the brocade couch, clapped his hands, and two eunuchs emerged from behind the pillars. While helping Li Chengqian wipe the vegetable soup from his face, Yun Ye said to the eunuchs, “The Empress Dowager will supervise the state these days. Did you hear what His Majesty just said?”

The eunuchs said nothing. When Yun Ye was about to leave, one eunuch said, “Duke Chu, you should still remain in the palace. It’s not too late to leave after His Majesty wakes.”

Yun Ye looked at the speaking eunuch and kicked at his crotch. The eunuch’s expression didn’t change at all, as if Yun Ye had kicked someone else.

Since it had no effect, Yun Ye didn’t insist. These eunuchs were the imperial family’s most loyal servants. Watching him drug the Emperor unconscious yet being able to restrain themselves until now without twisting off Yun Ye’s head—this was already due to Yun Ye’s overwhelming prestige.

“Fine, if I can’t leave the palace, I won’t. Find me a room in Wanmin Palace. I also plan to sleep. Three days.” After speaking, Yun Ye took out another small bottle from his bosom, tilted his neck back, and swallowed the medicinal powder inside. The taste was indeed unpleasant. Yun Ye picked up the wine pot and gulped wildly. He swayed standing for a while, then also plunged headfirst onto the brocade couch and fell into deep sleep…

When Zhangsun arrived with the palace consorts, both Li Chengqian and Yun Ye slept unconsciously. No matter how others pushed and shoved, they had no awareness. Fortunately, their breathing was long and steady—it didn’t seem like poisoning.

Empress Zhao shrieked shrilly, demanding palace guards immediately go to the Yun estate and throw all Yun family members into prison.

Zhangsun viciously slapped Empress Zhao across the face, drove away the other consorts, leaving only Empress Zhao, then clapped her hands. Those two eunuchs once again emerged from behind the pillars, awaiting Zhangsun’s instructions.

“His Majesty and Duke Chu agreed to wake three days later. Now they’re too tired and plan to sleep deeply for three days. His Majesty has ordered that the Empress Dowager supervise the state for three days.”

Zhangsun nodded, turned to look at Empress Zhao, and said coldly, “In court affairs, if you don’t understand, shut your mouth. This is the two of them re-establishing their trust relationship. If you dare destroy His Majesty’s grand plan, I will dismember you!”

Though Zhangsun hadn’t been in the palace for many years, her authority remained. Decades of domineering style weren’t something a sixth-rank official’s daughter like Zhao could withstand. She only dared kneel on the ground sobbing.

Three beds were set up in Wanmin Palace—Li Chengqian slept in one, Yun Ye in another, and the third was Zhangsun’s bed. For these three days, Zhangsun didn’t leave Wanmin Palace for a single step, caring for these two like infants. The entire Imperial City also entered lockdown. After Xinyue came to see Yun Ye, Zhangsun sent her away and had Xiao Miao come serve Yun Ye instead. The Yun estate was also placed on full alert.

On the third day’s evening, wind rose in Chang’an. Before long, rain poured down in sheets. Thunder and lightning showed their might atop the palace—strangely shaped lightning filled the sky.

Yun Ye irritably scratched his ear. Li Chengqian also lazily pulled the quilt over his head. After another thunderclap, they almost simultaneously sat up abruptly and cursed aloud.

Zhangsun looked at these two confused fools who had slept themselves silly and said gently, “Finally awake. You slept three days. Since you’re awake, you can continue squabbling. This old body is returning to Yushan. At this advanced age, still having to care for two elderly infants.”

Zhangsun rarely forgot her cane, striding with steady steps as she departed Wanmin Palace.

“I slept three days—why did you also sleep three days?” Li Chengqian finally remembered what happened before he fell asleep.

Yun Ye lay back on the brocade couch, clapped his hands, and after those two eunuchs emerged, said to Li Chengqian, “They feared I’d poison you to death and wouldn’t let me leave the palace, so I simply slept for three days as well.”

Li Chengqian looked at the two eunuchs and suddenly said, “Wang Dao, Li Qi—you two are experienced and dutiful. I specially grant you two positions for your chosen ones. Select people yourselves. Soon report to the Ministry of Personnel for priority appointment and assignment.”

The two eunuchs were overjoyed beyond expectation and hastily knelt in thanks. While Xiao Miao served him putting on his clothes, Yun Ye quietly opened the hall door while Li Chengqian arranged matters for these two guards and hastily departed as well. Wang Cai had already started calling out. Not seeing Yun Ye for several days, Wang Cai’s voice sounded extremely sorrowful and helpless…

The dim Wanmin Palace once again blazed with light. Every Chang’an person who saw this scene breathed a long sigh of relief. Duke Chu had entered the palace three days ago—finally, there was news.