She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 146: A Desperate Dog Will Leap Over a Wall

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: A Desperate Dog Will Leap Over a Wall

Xiao Hongshen’s heart sank, and he just wished that Li Chengyuan, this foolish woman, would stop talking already, but she behaved as if she lacked a brain.

She only looked around at the objects on the table and finally picked up a delicate-looking wine pot. She faced the Emperor with an obliging and ingratiating smile, "Replying to Your Majesty, the amount is roughly that of this wine pot."

The Emperor’s gaze fell on the small wine pot, and even after a pot of wine, he hardly reacted.

But could it kill a hundred people in an instant if it were loaded with the Flaming Stone that Li Chengyuan mentioned?

He couldn’t help narrowing his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Hongshen’s face and landing on the dense cold sweat on his forehead. The Emperor turned his attention back to Li Chengyuan, "If it truly possesses the power Princess Yaochi speaks of, then pacifying the north would merely be a matter of time for Us."

As he spoke, he looked towards Yan Wanqing, "If We had had access to Flaming Stone earlier, Our Duke of the State and the Mighty General wouldn’t have met their demise at Governor’s Office Pass."

Under the Emperor’s gaze, Yan Wanqing bowed her head, half of her face hidden in the shadows, her emotions unclear.

The atmosphere suddenly turned eerie.

The Emperor continued, "How did a mere girl like you obtain these? Is there a mastermind guiding you from behind?"

Li Chengyuan playfully teased, "A while back, Princess Yaochi had a fall that jolted her mind, and she took a walk at death’s door. During her coma, she saw a white-robed old Taoist, who asked Princess Yaochi to become his disciple and learn these things. I thought it was all a dream, but upon waking, found that my mind indeed contained some knowledge not my own. It was the master who taught me about Flaming Stone, instructing Princess Yaochi to help Your Majesty dominate the world."

"Hahaha! What ambition to dominate the world!" The Emperor was instantly awakened by those four words to his own ambitions.

He took a deep look at Li Chengyuan and then said to Xiao Hongshen.

"We find Princess Yaochi to be quite suitable. She deserves the position of Imperial Concubine. What do you think, My Son?"

Xiao Hongshen’s back was already soaked through with cold sweat.

Upon hearing the Emperor directly decree the marriage, he didn’t even have time to question why.

He immediately knelt down and said, "The Imperial Concubine chosen by the Emperor is certainly to my liking. Thank you, Father, for granting me and Princess Yaochi this marriage."

"Good!" The Emperor laughed heartily once more, "Today is indeed a joyous occasion. The Seventh Prince’s Imperial Concubine is settled, and Our ambition to dominate the world is within reach. Heaven bless Dawei, for bestowing upon us such an extraordinary woman, delightful!"

With that, he directly gifted Li Chengyuan a mansion.

Minister Li could hardly contain his glee, contrasting starkly with the creased brows of the officials from the Ministry of Rites.

The Emperor’s actions today were indeed too flippant for proper court etiquette.

Empress Zhang Lanyi, holding a wine cup, smiled as she went to congratulate the Emperor, who joyfully embraced her, leading the officials in a merry feast to the music.

In the midst of an outpouring of blessings, Li Chengyuan cast a challenging glance at Yan Wanqing, but saw the other respond with a smile.

Li Chengyuan snorted coldly in response.

She had not forgotten that earlier today, this Princess Anping had been anything but kind, having one of her entourage slap her!

She would not consider herself a woman if she did not avenge this insult.

Li Chengyuan’s lips curved slightly.

She had thought she would have to use some strategies to secure the Seventh Prince, but now it seemed unnecessary.

She beckoned to her maid.

"Bring that bottle of wine here."

The maid naturally knew which wine Li Chengyuan was referring to.

Fearful yet intimidated by Li Chengyuan’s power on normal days, she obediently fetched it.

Lic Chengyuan was seen walking towards Yan Wanqing with the wine pot in hand.

"Congratulations to Princess Yaochi for becoming today’s greatest victor," Yan Wanqing said with a curl of her lip upon seeing her approach.

Li Chengyuan wasn’t expecting such biting sarcasm from Yan Wanqing and responded with a light laugh, "It’s also thanks to the Princess’s excellent sword dance that allowed Yaochi to win His Majesty’s favor."

"His Majesty’s favor can be obtained, but now those ladies will see you as a thorn in their side," hinted Yan Wanqing meaningfully.

Li Chengyuan, observing the noble ladies occasionally glancing her way, stated indifferently, "Those without ability can only watch, while the capable do actual deeds. Let’s not speak of them. I owe you thanks today, Princess Anping. Allow Princess Yaochi to offer you a toast."

She poured the drink into two cups.

Seeing Yan Wanqing’s wary eyes, Li Chengyuan scoffed with disdain, "The Princess is overly cautious. Even with a hundred times the courage, I wouldn’t dare to act against you under all these watchful eyes." With that, she raised one of the cups and drained the liquid before Yan Wanqing.

Yan Wanqing didn’t move.

Li Chengyuan rolled her eyes in response, "Worried there’s something wrong with the drink, are you? Watch, I’ll drink it for you to see."

As she spoke, Li Chengyuan downed another cup of wine.

She then tilted her head back and drank half a bottle more. After refilling her cup with wine, her cheeks flushed with a rosy tint as she looked at Yan Wanqing, her eyebrows provocatively raised, "Princess Yaochi came to offer a toast merely wishing to befriend the Commandery Princess. Since the Commandery Princess looks down upon Princess Yaochi, then let’s forget it, I must have been seeking embarrassment on my own accord."

Having said that, she turned and was about to leave.

Yan Wanqing watched her with calm eyes, her fair and slender fingers resting on a cup. She lifted the cup, tilted her head back, and drained the drink.

"No acquaintance without a fight. Given the Countess’s methods and magnanimity, it’s no wonder those noble ladies are no match for you. Princess Anping is fortunate indeed to choose you as a friend."

Seeing her drink, Li Chengyuan’s face lit up with a smile, "That’s more like it. No acquaintance without a fight. The Commandery Princess has a good tolerance for liquor."

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while longer before Li Chengyuan returned to her seat.

Yan Wanqing didn’t feel anything amiss with her body and relaxed.

It seemed she had been overly cautious.

It was impossible for Li Chengyuan to drug her under such public scrutiny.

She drank so much herself; if there were an issue, she wouldn’t have been able to avoid it either.

What Yan Wanqing didn’t know was that, at the moment Li Chengyuan turned around, a sly smile crossed her face, and at the same time, her maid disappeared amidst the banquet.

The selection banquet today started hastily and ended abruptly, everything seemed to be manipulated by a controlling hand.

This hand was named imperial power.

The Li family, hardly saying much in the court, became a dark horse. A legitimate daughter, with her extraordinary talent, broke through the encirclement and was granted marriage to the seventh prince by the Emperor, becoming the wife of the seventh prince.

The famed Princess Anping became merely an accessory to this common girl at this banquet.

In order for this lady to be worthy of the seventh prince, the Emperor even personally granted her the title of Countess, rewarded her with thousands of taels of gold, and granted her land!

Since the start of the court, this lady broke many precedents and became the talk of everyone!

The name Li Chengyuan became synonymous with a miraculous woman!

The Li family members were moved from the most secluded corner of the Summer Resort to a central position.

Truly, when one man gains the Dao, his poultry and dogs ascend to heaven.

The night grew deeper, and the waterside banquet was drawing to a close.

On the way back to the Empress’s sleeping palace, Yan Wanqing was walking the Empress.

Zhang Lanyi couldn’t hold back her sigh, "This palace knows you have many thoughts, but you don’t need to be a stepping stone for that woman."

Yan Wanqing curled her lips, her smile nonchalant, "Your Highness has been in the palace for so many years, there must be a saying you know well."

Zhang Lanyi disliked her all-too-mature demeanor and stopped to look at her, "’How do you capture tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s lair?’ Is that it?"

Yan Wanqing nodded.

"What I mean is, you don’t need to compromise your own wings. Do you realize how much this will affect your reputation going forward? You are already pledged to the Young Marquis of the Northern Border, and this will also impact the Northern Border."

Yan Wanqing nodded, she had of course considered all of this.

But what she needed to do was more important.

"Actually, there’s another saying."

Zhang Lanyi looked at her.

Yan Wanqing’s eyes were restrained, "The victor becomes king, the defeated are bandits."

The world is often fickle, remembering only the ultimate winner; the process doesn’t matter. Yan Wanqing only cared about the outcome.

Today, letting the Li family successfully ally with Xiao Hongshen, allowing Li Chengyuan to steal the spotlight, was all part of her deliberate scheme.

The seeds of suspicion had been planted since the last Gong of Appeal incident, and after today, the Emperor would only guard against Xiao Hongshen even more.

She just had to wait.

For the moment when a cornered dog leaps over the wall in desperation.

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