Chapter 29: Administering the Potion

Chapter 29: Administering the Potion

Ever since Zhou Shao suggested the brilliant idea of administering the potion, the tyrant's enthusiasm for Consort Lu grew by the day.

He urged daily, and Zhou Shao, of course, did not dare to delay.

Before long, a palace servant specially came to report that the little flower cat fed with "Immortal's Drunkenness" seemed to have become pregnant.

Xie Xuan Yuan heard this while he was busy reviewing memorials without lifting his head.

The palace servant sent by the chief eunuch Zhou Shao to deliver the message saw that His Majesty was busy with important affairs and was already extremely nervous.

Everyone knows of His Majesty's busy schedule handling endless state affairs, especially disliking disturbances while reviewing memorials.

Yet today, Chief Steward Zhou actually had him report the news of a palace cat's pregnancy while His Majesty was occupied with national affairs...

With such broad ambitions and magnanimity, how could His Majesty care about such trivial matters? If he were to get angry over the interruption, both he and Chief Steward Zhou could forget about having good days ahead.

The more the servant thought about it, the more frightened he became, trembling uncontrollably. To the uninformed, it might seem as if he was on the verge of entering the halls of Yama, with the handsome and radiant tyrant himself as Lord Yama.

Xie Xuan Yuan glanced at the messenger during a break from reviewing the documents and asked with some confusion:

"The palace cat giving birth to kittens is a sign of adding to the family, a good omen. Why are you trembling like this?"

"I... I am just overjoyed for the mother cat, no, I mean, for Your Majesty."

The servant, frightened by the tyrant's glance, stumbled over his words in panic, followed by many auspicious sayings.

Normally, Xie Xuan Yuan would not indulge in such superstitions, but thinking of his impending "fruitful outcome" with Consort Lu, he found these good omens pleasing to hear.

He marked the last memorial with "Reviewed," then urged the servant, "I've got the message, what are you waiting for? Hurry and have Zhou Shao bring the potion to the Zichen Hall."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The servant, feeling pardoned, couldn't help but ask before leaving, "What potion is Your Majesty referring to?"

Xie Xuan Yuan, not expecting Zhou Shao to send such a clueless servant, laughed instead of getting angry: "What else could it be? It's the 'Immortal's Drunkenness' we fed to the cat recently!"

Saying this, the tyrant was the first to feel awkward. He blushed uncomfortably and coughed lightly:

"Just go if I tell you to. What are you dawdling here for? I'm just trying to breed the palace cats and dogs."

With the tyrant's overly defensive explanation, those present were even more confused.

The emperor, known for his ruthless and decisive actions, has suddenly taken a liking to breeding cats and dogs? Could this be influenced by Consort Lu?

What kind of divine being has Consort Lu descended from, to transform a tyrant, who used to delight in confiscations and killings, into a homebody who loves raising cats and dogs?

Could this be the power of true love?

……

"Achoo!"

While petting the dog in Yi Xiao Palace, Consort Lu, unaware someone had just mentioned him, sneezed unexpectedly.

The little milk dog, Xue Tuan Er, startled by the sneeze, thought something serious had happened and began barking incessantly in a babyish voice.

Lu Changping, looking down at the lively puppy wriggling in his arms, couldn't help but laugh.

They say pets resemble their owners, and this silly dog, not usually under his care, must have taken after Xie Xuan Yuan, the tyrant.

Strangely enough, although the tyrant hadn't visited his palace today, Xue Tuan Er had found his way over on his own.

And once here, the dog didn't seek out Ji Yue or any other palace servants but clung to him begging for food.

Could it be that Xie Xuan Yuan used some secret method unknown to others when training the dog? Or does His Majesty of Southern Chu look like a delicious bone?

While suspecting the tyrant hadn't fed Xue Tuan Er enough, Consort Lu planned to take the puppy and escape the tyrant's clutches.

Lately, Xie Xuan Yuan had been openly and covertly trying to sleep with him.

Consort Lu had almost exhausted all conceivable excuses to reject the tyrant.

Even Ji Yue couldn't stand it anymore, fretting like a mother worried about her daughter's marriage prospects, nagging in Consort Lu's ear:

"Even a servant like me can see that Your Highness actually likes His Majesty, and His Majesty so fondly adores Your Highness. Wouldn't it be perfect for you two to be together?"

"If you keep refusing His Majesty's favor, he might get angry and bestow his affection on another concubine, and by then, Your Highness will regret it."

Lu Changping wanted to ask Ji Yue how she figured he liked the tyrant when he had been contemplating how to assassinate the tyrant during their intimate moments, unnoticed by gods or ghosts.

Yet, fate played its hand; not only did his assassination plans never come to fruition, but he also inexplicably became the object of the tyrant's desire.

This less-than-smooth journey to Beiwei has led His Majesty of Lu to deeply question the martial prowess and wisdom that have earned him much praise from the officials and people of Southern Chu...

However, Ji Yue's words inspired him from another perspective. If he could make the tyrant shift his affection and favor someone else, wouldn't he be able to escape Beiwei with ease?

Consort Lu acted immediately, seeking out Xie Xuan Yuan at the Zichen Hall under the guise of delivering a dog.

The tyrant, having not expected the sought-after beauty Lu to approach him proactively, showed a fleeting excitement in his eyes, but quickly assumed his imperial demeanor:

"The Consort has come to see Us personally. Have you finally come to a realization?"

Lu Changping gave no direct answer, merely revealing a profound and inscrutable smile.

Confronted with the dazzling smile on the beauty's face, the tyrant felt a momentary daze, then dismissed the serving courtiers with no courtesy and demanded:

"Why do you smile at Us like that? Do We amuse you that much?"

The beauty, Lu, shook her head and truthfully replied, "I merely thought of something pleasant."

For some reason, Xie Xuan Yuan felt an ominous premonition and couldn't help asking, "What kind of good news?"

"Seeing the palace so deserted and Your Majesty often feeling lonely, I thought to organize a selection for you. Once many newcomers enter the palace, Your Majesty's attention will be divided among them, surely leading to the early arrival of a prince."

Lu spoke with sincere and earnest compassion, without a trace of jealousy on her face. Such magnanimity, if seen by the court officials, would certainly earn her another round of praise as a "virtuous and gentle consort."

Yet, upon hearing this, Xie Xuan Yuan's face turned green with anger.

He slammed the memorial in his hand onto the desk with a "bang" and glared at Consort Lu with his striking brown-grey phoenix eyes: "You spurn my affection, and yet you're so eager to push me away?"

The little puppy, Xue Tuan, had never seen the tyrant angry before, and scared, it buried its head in Lu's arms.

And Lu herself was also shocked by the tyrant's sudden outburst of temper.

Reflecting on his recent words, Consort Lu added fuel to the fire with his explanation:

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I sincerely wish to enrich Your Majesty's harem, so I will certainly not choose those who are not to Your Majesty's liking. If Your Majesty prefers someone like me, then I will pay extra attention to find someone who will satisfy Your Majesty."

Xie Xuan Yuan took a deep breath, restraining the impulse to force Consort Lu, and angrily shouted:

"Who told you that My harem lacks people? Are you so eager to fill My harem because you wish to drain My treasury? Do you realize how much silver I have spent on you? I have allocated all expenses for the ladies of the harem to you alone, leaving no surplus for others."

Consort Lu had not expected the usually generous tyrant to ever complain of being financially strained.

Yet, this complaint seemed far too contrived. Just recently, the tyrant had nonchalantly ordered the palace's wardrobe department to work overtime to produce over a hundred sets of dresses for him.

Each of these hundred-plus dresses was elaborately crafted and made from luxurious materials... Why didn't Xie Xuan Yuan worry about his treasury then?

If the tyrant had made fewer dresses and gifts for him, he wouldn't be so poor as to not afford a concubine!

Influenced by his habit of managing a nation in Southern Chu, Consort Lu stubbornly attempted to discuss how to increase revenue and reduce expenditures, a matter crucial to the sustainable development of the harem:

"Lack of funds is not an issue, Your Majesty could reduce my expenses. With so many clothes and jewels, I won't use them all in years. Why not distribute them to Your Majesty's new favorites..."

However, before he could finish, Xie Xuan Yuan firmly rejected the suggestion:

"You expect Me to take back what I've given and re-gift it to others? I refuse to lose face like that! Besides, those dresses were tailored to your measurements. Who else do you think could wear them?"

This was true, Consort Lu, being eight feet tall, had clothes made to fit him that would certainly look like lengthy floor-sweeping rags on anyone else.

But this was easily resolved; with so many skilled maids in the wardrobe department, a little tailoring and alteration would make the dresses as good as new.

Ultimately, these were just excuses the tyrant used to adamantly refuse new additions to his harem.

Despite his genuine suggestions being rejected by the tyrant, Consort Lu felt not only frustration but also an inexplicable, strange sensation.

He had thought the tyrant's affection for him was merely a fleeting fascination, opportunely coveting his "beauty" in women's attire.

After the novelty wears off in a fortnight or so, he would turn his attention to favor other consorts.

But the current situation was far more complex than he had anticipated.

Xie Xuan Yuan insisted on making him the Empress of Bei Wei, clearly exceeding the bounds of a sovereign's affection for a beauty and instead harboring intentions of "sharing life and death together."

Realizing the tyrant's sincerity, Lu Mei Ren started to panic.

At this moment, his thoughts were in turmoil, with the rational and emotional sides of his mind battling each other.

The rational side shouted, "Never show mercy to the tyrant of the enemy nation."

Yet the emotional side hesitated, "Xie Xuan Yuan is not utterly irredeemable, and with such genuine feelings, he might already be in debt to this tyrant."

Fortunately, this intense internal struggle was soon interrupted.

A palace attendant waiting outside the Zichen Hall reported that Chief Steward Zhou had personally brought the "medicine" His Majesty requested.

Lu Chang Ping wondered: What medicine? Hasn't the tyrant's cold gotten better yet?

Xie Xuan Yuan had already risen from behind his desk, piled high with memorials.

He appeared excited and animated, his eyes sparkling, and even his cheeks flushed with a suspicious glow.

But he quickly became aware of Lu Mei Ren's presence and moderated his demeanor.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Lu Chang Ping couldn't help asking, "Is Your Majesty feeling better? What medicine are you taking now?"

The veiled concern and worry in his words greatly pleased Xie Xuan Yuan.

But after the joy, Xie Xuan Yuan became hesitant in answering this simple question, "The cold has long since passed. This medicine is not for me, but for... mating cats and dogs."

He finished with a serious look at the little puppy, Xue Tuan'er, in Lu Chang Ping's arms.

Noticing the tyrant's "dangerous" gaze, Lu Mei Ren immediately objected. Ignoring the risk of displeasing the tyrant, he sternly advised:

"Your Majesty, Xue Tuan Er is only a few months old! Preparing such things now, isn't it a bit too early? Doing this is like joking with Xue Tuan Er's life! This must not be done!"

Xie Xuan Yuan never expected his hastily made-up excuse would earn him a lecture from Consort Lu.

Perhaps feeling his status in Lu Mei Ren's eyes was even lower than that of a small milk dog, the tyrant, feeling jealous, sourly said:

"I was merely thinking of preparing in advance, how could I possibly act immediately? Seeing how anxious you are, I know now, in your eyes, there's only the dog, not me!"

The tyrant, failing to win over the affection from Xue Tuan Er, felt a deep blow to his pride, and with much dignity, turned his back, refusing to speak further with Consort Lu.

Lu Changping, worried the tyrant might truly act out and extend his malicious intentions towards the palace's small animals, couldn't help but lecture him again.

Things like cats and dogs are lives too. Propagation should involve mutual affection and happen naturally.

Perhaps because his voice was slightly hoarse and deep, lacking the crisp charm of a real woman's coquetry, the tyrant simply waved him off, dismissing him back to Yi Xiao Palace.

Consort Lu couldn't fathom what was behind Xie Xuan Yuan's erratic behavior today.

Regardless, breeding underage puppies is utterly insane.

Fearing the tyrant might indeed "commit such cruelty," he had no choice but to take Xue Tuan Er back.

On the other side, Xie Xuan Yuan, feigning anger to dismiss Lu Mei Ren, then had Zhou Shao brought in.

Taking the small paper packet containing "Immortal's Drunkenness" from Zhou Shao, he couldn't help but complain:

"Didn't you inquire what I was doing before you came? Consort Lu was just here. If the drugging plan had been detected prematurely, wouldn't it have ruined my plans!"

Zhou Shao knew that these days Consort Lu had been avoiding His Majesty, never imagining that today of all days, the Consort would seek an audience with His Majesty.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, he immediately knelt to admit his fault:

"Your Majesty, please forgive my carelessness, I deserve to die. Your Majesty, there are no secrets that aren't eventually revealed, to avoid prolonged risks, please make a decision soon."

The intention of Chief Steward Zhou was clear; he was blatantly advising the tyrant to drug Consort Lu sooner rather than later!

The tyrant agreed, tightly holding the small paper packet, his eyes chillingly determined: "Today, I'll make the final preparations. Tomorrow night, have drinks and dishes ready in the side hall, I wish to dine with Consort Lu."

He spoke obliquely, but as one of only two people in the know, Chief Steward Zhou immediately understood the true meaning of this "casual drink."

Preparing the drinks and dishes was merely a formality; the most important part was that tomorrow night, His Majesty and Consort Lu would end up drinking their way to the couch...

To prevent their romantically inexperienced Emperor from fumbling, a stove of fragrant incense to warm the heart and enhance the mood must also be prepared in advance.

Zhou Shao mentally checked off the items that needed to be prepared, confidently responding:

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will ensure everything is meticulously prepared."

……

Lu Changping, carrying Xue Tuan Er, strolled leisurely along the gravel path of the Imperial Garden.

The season was deep autumn, and the trees, stripped of their red and yellow autumn leaves, were left with only their bare branches reaching up to the sky.

Lu Changping's visit to the Imperial Garden this season was naturally not for leisure or to enjoy the scenery.

He approached a rockery, glanced around to ensure no one was in sight, and then nimbly leaped onto the rocks.

Xue Tuan Er, having never seen such a spectacle, was frightened and let out a whine, wanting to escape.

While soothing the little milk dog in his arms, Consort Lu carefully searched the crevices at the top of the rocks and eventually found a secret letter hidden in a nook.

After becoming the favored consort of the tyrant, Consort Lu had unrivaled influence in the harem. Arranging for a few spies to enter the palace as menial workers and secretly pass messages was not a difficult task for him.

However, the tyrant was overly attentive to Consort Lu, closely monitoring Yi Xiao Palace on a daily basis. After the assassination attempt at the Ancestral Temple, every palace servant serving in Yi Xiao Palace was personally vetted by the tyrant.

Those infiltrated into the palace, unable to enter the Yixiao Palace, were relegated to menial tasks such as tending to the Imperial Garden.

Faced with no other choice, there ensued the scene of Lady Lu personally climbing the artificial mountain to retrieve the secret letter.

Lu Changping had initially thought the letter was from Cui Yue, but upon opening it, he discovered it was an encrypted letter from his sister, Zhao Ping, sent from Southern Chu!

The siblings had grown up together, sharing a close bond, and thus, recognizing each other's handwriting was second nature to them.

By the warm glow of the candlelight, Lady Lu began to read the letter earnestly, but soon his serious demeanor began to waver.

As he read faster, Lady Lu eventually burst into light laughter. His brow relaxed in amusement, his demeanor graceful without a hint of affectation, yet irresistibly captivating.

Fortunately, with the night deep and no one around, otherwise, it might have caused the tyrant sleepless nights for days on end.

The real Princess Zhao Yun of Southern Chu did possess some talent in governing, but her heart was not set on being an emperor.

The court of Southern Chu had grown accustomed to Emperor Lu's perfectionist and workaholic approach to governance, so Zhao Ping, disguised as a man, filling in for her brother as emperor, found herself overwhelmed.

As she mentioned in her letter, since taking over, she had been rising at dawn and retiring at dusk, not to mention staying up late to review documents and dealing with sudden incidents in court.

Even with the entire treasury at her disposal, the stress of early mornings and late nights had become unbearable.

To persuade her brother in Beiwei to return and take over, Zhao Ping had made considerable efforts.

She reassured her brother that assassinating the tyrant of the enemy state required the perfect alignment of time, location, and human factors, and that he should not dwell too much on success or failure, as long as he kept himself safe.

Indeed, changing tactics and drugging the tyrant to dull his wits was also a viable strategy.

Zhao Ping, well-versed in medicine, even included a few newly developed prescriptions that could induce idiocy without harm.

Emperor Lu, after reviewing the letter and prescriptions, noticed that Zhao Ping chose non-toxic, common herbs and exploited their synergistic and antagonistic effects to induce idiocy, all to protect him.

Even the most skilled royal physician would likely not detect anything amiss for at least ten days to a half month – ample time for him to make a swift escape back to Southern Chu…

While internally praising his sister's intelligence and capability, Emperor Lu couldn't help but imagine Xie Xuan Yuan becoming an innocent fool.

Yet, for some reason, the thought of the tyrant turned fool did not bring him joy, but rather, a tightness in his heart.

Before meeting Xie Xuan Yuan, he would have used the prescriptions without hesitation.

But having unexpectedly become the tyrant's favored consort, the more he understood the other, the harder it became to make a decision…

Given the perilous nature of the Beiwei royal palace, drugging Xie Xuan Yuan into idiocy and then abandoning him would be akin to indirectly taking his life.

With the deep-seated hatred harbored by the Empress Dowager's faction, the tyrant wouldn’t just lose his life; he wouldn’t even be afforded a dignified death.

Unable to bring himself to such cruelty, Lady Lu came up with an excellent alternative:

He planned to use his current favor with Xie Xuan Yuan to persuade him to replace warfare with trade, benefiting both Southern Chu and Beiwei mutually.

If successful, the tyrant would be transformed into a monarch who cherishes peace and enlightenment!

Lu Changping burned the potentially harmful prescriptions, spreading out paper and ink on his desk to start drafting a detailed trade proposal between Southern Chu and Beiwei.

Already familiar with Southern Chu and having spent recent days accompanied by Xie Xuan Yuan in the palace library for his amusement.

Whenever Lady Lu encountered something he didn’t understand, the tyrant would patiently explain, enhancing Lady Lu’s understanding of Beiwei to a new level through such attentive service.

That night, the tyrant unexpectedly did not send anyone to urge him to the Zichen Hall.

Though curious, Lu Changping did not dwell on it, focusing all his energy on the trade strategy that would affect the future of both nations.

To his left was an open atlas, to his right, a collection illustrating Beiwei's produce, and in the center, neat handwriting from right to left on rice paper.

This was his first serious engagement in state affairs since leaving Southern Chu, aimed at benefiting the people of both countries.

As he flipped through books and wrote fervently, his actions slowed when he came across an illustration of candied fruits – the tyrant's favorite treat.

Curious, he carefully read the caption below the illustration.

It mentioned that Beiwei's production of fruits was limited, making the raw materials for candied fruits scarce. Due to strained relations with neighboring countries, fresh fruits from Southern Chu were expensive and rare, making candied fruits a luxury.

Remembering how Xie Xuan Yuan insisted on feeding him candied fruits, he realized the tyrant valued them as rare delicacies.

Belatedly understanding the tyrant's thoughtful intentions, Emperor Lu couldn't help feeling more sympathetic towards him.

Emperor Xie Xuan Yuan's reign seemed truly pitiful, unable to enjoy the freedom of fruits, cherishing candied fruits as treasures.

If the borders were opened for trade, specifically establishing a route for Southern Chu's fresh fruits, perhaps the tyrant could be fed a bit more...

Perhaps overly eager to see a well-fed and slightly plumper tyrant, Lu Changping worked through the night like one possessed.

The result of his sleepless night was an extensive, illustrated trade strategy between Southern Chu and Beiwei, spanning thousands of words.

As dawn broke, Lu Changping reluctantly set down his pen to catch up on sleep, but he barely drifted off before sensing someone entering his chamber.

The intruder seemed to have lightened their footsteps, lingering near his bedside and desk.

Could it be someone attempting to steal the trade strategy he had just finished writing?!

Startled awake and somewhat confused, Lu Meiren abruptly opened his eyes and sat up, staring straight at the visitor.

However, Yi Xiao Palace, heavily guarded and closely watched by the tyrant daily, could hardly be breached by thieves.

The figure sitting in front of the desk, earnestly reading a commercial strategy paper, was none other than Xie Xuan Yuan himself!

But he hadn't had the chance to revise and polish that strategy paper yet!

Lu Meiren, worried about where he might have written poorly to incite the tyrant's wrath, heard the other party ask first: "Did you write this strategy paper for me?"

Lu Changping nodded apprehensively, already preparing a series of placating words to soothe the tyrant's ego. Unexpectedly, the tyrant, proficient in self-preservation, couldn't hide his delight upon seeing the nod:

"To think that my queen is not only heavenly in looks but also outstanding in intellect!"

Wait, he hadn't agreed to become the queen yet!

"Your Majesty..." Lu Guifei started, trying to explain something.

"No need to explain, I understand. You wanted to relieve me of my worries, which is why you put so much effort into writing this strategy paper."

In an instant, Lu Guifei was at a loss for words, wondering how everything turned into "proof of love" in the love-struck tyrant's mind.

"I wish to crown you as my queen not for these trivial matters, but simply because I want you by my side at all times, devoting your undivided attention to me alone..."

At this point, a hint of indignation colored the despot's pale face:

"But lately, you've ignored me, focusing instead on this paper on trade policies! What am I worth in your heart? I'm less significant than a snowball, and now even these mere scraps of paper surpass me?"

Seeing the tyrant torture those pages he had painstakingly filled with words as if confronting a rival in love, Lu Changping leaped from the bed in distress and snatched back the treatise.

Smoothing out the wrinkles, she explained:

"Your Majesty is indeed far more important than a few sheets of paper, but this treatise was meant to be presented to you after it was written! Imagine, if in the future, the Southern Chu and Northern Wei could replace mutual aggression with trade, not only would it allow the people to live in peace and prosperity, but it would also enhance the national power of both countries more swiftly..."

"Given the current complex and unclear situation, rashly going to war would only lead to a lose-lose outcome. However, if trade were to continue for several years, allowing each side to compete on their own merits in this matter, it would be possible to subdue the enemy without fighting."

Her logical and well-founded words even moved the tyrant, who looked at Lady Lu, who was eloquently discussing trade, with a thoughtful expression.

But even though Lady Lu made her point clear, she couldn't make the tyrant act immediately.

Xie Xuan Yuan regained his composure and quickly reverted to his usual contrary demeanor, seizing the opportunity to set conditions:

"In fact, I am not against considering this trade strategy. But to ask me to temporarily give up attacking Southern Chu is not as simple as just saying it. You'll have to give me a taste of the benefits first."

Upon hearing the word "benefits," Lady Lu couldn't help but feel anxious. Could this shameless tyrant be planning to extort a hefty sum from Southern Chu?

Is he thinking of demanding cities, tributes, or even presenting beauties?

However, in the next moment, Xie Xuan Yuan perfectly exemplified what "shamelessness" truly meant.

Suddenly, he closed the distance between them, and his lips found her earlobe with impeccable precision.

Even in women's attire, Lu Changping chose a style of elegance, wearing no jewelry on her ears.

But this only made it easier for the tyrant to take advantage.

A teasing, slight pain transmitted from the earlobe, causing Lady Lu's body to shiver slightly. She pushed him away and stepped back several steps, covering her ear.

The tyrant had learned to misbehave! Resorting to physical advances without a word, did he really think he was a puppy?

After taking a small advantage, Xie Xuan Yuan whispered in Lady Lu's ear, "Hurry up and bear my dragon seed, and I'll consider this trade treatise. What do you think?"

In the tyrant's world, everything ultimately comes down to serving in his bedchamber.

Lu Changping was acutely aware that as long as he remained honest, he and the tyrant could still cherish some "pleasant" memories. However, once he revealed his true self—a man disguised in women's clothing—the tyrant discovering his beloved consort was not the woman he thought, but a man...

Forget about trade negotiations; the two nations would likely go to war immediately.

Seeing Lady Lu's face clouded with worry once again, Xie Xuan Yuan knew the answer. His pride immense, he preemptively spoke without waiting for a consolation:

"Forget it, you need not answer! Let's pretend what I said earlier...was just a joke. If you still wish to discuss trade matters, I will have wine and dishes ready in the side hall of Zichen Palace tonight, waiting for you."

After leaving these words, the tyrant merely gave him a deep look, unprecedentedly refraining from further pestering.

Lu Changping hadn't expected the tyrant to be so amenable today, not only sparing him from being coerced into servitude but also quickly turning his thoughts to border trade matters!

Could it be because of the exceptionally well-written trade proposal?

Failing to find another reason, Lu Changping convinced himself that the tyrant was moved by his passion and talent for governance.

He eagerly hoped to persuade the tyrant to finalize the trade matters, spending the entire day locked in his room, tirelessly revising his proposal.

Until the moon was high, escorted by palace servants into the side hall of Zichen Palace, Lady Lu's mind was still preoccupied with which border towns to open and what policies to adopt to encourage border trade.

However, he was stunned upon entering the side hall of Zichen Palace.

In just one day, the side hall had been completely redecorated, even the familiar purple sandalwood bed he had grown accustomed to was replaced with a larger and wider nanmu bed.

Around the bed were light, soft, and hazy curtains, with a warm-colored palace lamp at the head emitting a soft, dim light.

Moreover, a faint fragrance he had never smelled before wafted through the chamber, making it seem as though he had stumbled into a princess's boudoir...

Lady Lu glanced at the simple wine and dishes on the table, then at the bed clearly prepared for two, and instantly felt an ominous premonition.

Could it be that discussing trade was just a pretense, and the real intention was to get him drunk and take advantage?

Just as he was contemplating retreat, the tyrant, now dressed in splendid new attire and looking radiant, entered the side hall.

He naturally took Lady Lu's hand to seat him, and then all the eunuchs and maids in the palace respectfully filed out, with the last one even closing the doors behind them.

In the dead of night, isolated in a meticulously arranged double deluxe bedroom, Lu Changping's mind was already ringing alarm bells.

He deliberately spoke to test the waters, "If it's just about drinking, why can't these palace servants wait on us?"

As if expecting this question, the tyrant replied with a light smile, unhurriedly, "Discussing trade involves the major plans of both the Northern Wei and Southern Chu nations. Isn't it safer to speak only to me?"

Despite this, why was there a need for a new bed if we were to discuss serious matters?

Xie Xuan Yuan saw Lu Changping's gaze frequently resting on the bed behind him and asked with utmost naturalness, "Are you satisfied with this new bed I've prepared for you?"

This clearly seemed like a leading conversation, but coming from the tyrant's mouth so openly, it seemed like he was the one overthinking.

With no other choice, Lu Changping nodded in agreement, "I quite like it, but isn't this bed a bit too large?"

Xie Xuan Yuan did not expect such a forthright response and could no longer maintain his composure, his handsome face darkening as he questioned:

"Do you intend to monopolize this large bed all by yourself? Not even my own bed is as wide and comfortable as this; do you not plan to invite me to share it?"

Empress Lu wanted to firmly decline, but with the tyrant holding the decision-making power over trade, she knew she had to appease him first.

She carefully answered, "This bed was a gift from Your Majesty, and since Your Majesty likes it, I am naturally willing to share. However, the matters of trade are of greater importance. Regarding the proposals in the trade discussions, I wonder what Your Majesty thinks?"

Perhaps the most disappointing thing in the world is when you wish to speak of love and sweetness with your beloved, and they insist on discussing business.

The tyrant, frustrated by Beauty Lu's obtuseness at such a critical moment, personally poured wine into his cup, saying, "The night is still young; let's drink and talk."

The tyrant usually had such a low tolerance for alcohol, getting drunk from just one cup, yet tonight, he surprisingly encouraged drinking while discussing serious matters—could it be he planned to dismiss him later under the guise of drunkenness?

Empress Lu frowned in dissatisfaction, intending to reason with the tyrant, but then noticed a flash of white from Xie Xuan Yuan's sleeve while he was pouring the wine.

However, when Beauty Lu looked closely, the tyrant was composed, his movements in pouring the wine graceful and smooth, with no sign of the unexpected white flash.

Tonight, from head to toe, the tyrant wore dark colors, even the collar of his undergarment was dark, making the brief appearance of that white flash all the more curious.

Beauty Lu became wary and reached out to choose a wine cup himself. Yet, before he could touch any cup, Xie Xuan Yuan handed him the one that seemed tampered with.

To cover the awkwardness, he added, "This is a twenty-year-old fruit wine taken from the palace cellar, I remember you like this type."

The tyrant was probably not accustomed to engaging in such underhanded deeds; his technique was clumsy and too obvious.

Such a reaction clearly indicated that the two cups of wine were not the same.

Lu Changping initially had his suspicions, even worrying if his vision was blurred from staying up late. But after this test, he was certain the tyrant had tampered with the wine.

The only question now was whether the "ingredient" added was a lethal poison or some other torturous substance that made life worse than death.

In that moment, Lu felt a chill in his heart.

He had thought that although Xie Xuan Yuan was a somewhat capricious tyrant, at his core, he was just a naïve and passionate young man, and he had even developed a kind of indescribable pity and affection for the tyrant.

But now, the pure-hearted tyrant in his heart had turned into a man-eating flower, eagerly spraying poison at him.

This scene reminded him of a classic scene from a storybook that Zhao Ping loved, involving a character.

A beautiful young woman named "Pan Jinlian" held a bowl of medicine mixed with something, and said sweetly to her husband:

"My dear, it's time to take your medicine."

Coincidentally, the tyrant before him was also exceptionally beautiful, his fair and delicate skin shimmering under the light, perfectly fitting the role of a murderous femme fatale.

Xie Xuan Yuan's overly refined and handsome appearance made him seem seductive even when doing something wicked...

But being beautiful is no excuse for deceiving others!

Lu Changping took the wine cup, pretended to drink a sip behind his sleeve, and then sighed, "Though it's fine wine, it's a pity it's too strong."

Seeing him not finishing his drink in one go, Xie Xuan Yuan planned to continue urging him to drink. However, Lu Changping didn't give him the chance.

In the next moment, he discreetly pulled out the densely written pages of the trade policy discourse from his sleeve and tossed it towards Xie Xuan Yuan's feet under the table with a flick of his wrist, then pretended to stoop to pick it up.

Of course, he couldn't reach it.

Xie Xuan Yuan asked with some confusion, "What's the matter?"

Lu Mei Ren's face showed a hint of urgency as she replied truthfully:

"Your Majesty, I accidentally dropped the trade policy discourse on the floor just now. A few pages are by your feet, and I can't reach them... This represents all the hard work I put in last night and all day today. What would I do if the writings were to get smudged?"

Unaware of the deceit, Xie Xuan Yuan bent down to pick up the pages in an attempt to comfort her, actually doing as she said.

In the moment he bent down to pick up the papers, Lu Chang Ping seized the opportunity and swiftly switched his wine cup with the tyrant's.

By the time the tyrant returned the trade policy discourse to him, everything on the table had been restored to its original state.

After switching the wine, Lu Mei Ren felt confident. He accepted the discourse, placed it on the table, and boldly raised his wine cup, saying, "Your Majesty, I toast to you."

The tyrant looked at him with a smile, and eventually, leaning in, he intertwined his arm with Lu Chang Ping's to partake in a shared drink...

This time, both drank down their wine in one gulp.

Xie Xuan Yuan, having drunk too hastily, his face flushed red and he coughed a few times.

He frowned slightly, expressing his mild discontent, "The twenty-year-old fruit wine is indeed a bit strong, and somehow, the taste is a bit odd."

The situation was set, and Lady Lu remained silent, merely sitting across from him, looking on without sorrow or joy.

Lu Changping's spur-of-the-moment strategy of using the enemy's tactics against them was not only for self-preservation but also to see how Xie Xuan Yuan would act towards him.

If the tyrant intended to poison him with a lethal concoction, then it was time to abandon those unrealistic dreams and give up hope completely...

As time ticked away, Xie Xuan Yuan, fully believing that the one who drank the spiked wine was his beloved Lu Changping, sat patiently at the table, waiting quietly.

They exchanged a few absent-minded words, but neither was in the mood to discuss serious matters; they were both waiting for the moment the drug would take effect.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Xie Xuan Yuan began to frown, his hand holding the ivory chopsticks trembling slightly.

Struggling to ignore the strange sensations rising in his lower abdomen, he suddenly looked up with his face flushed red and asked Lu Changping in a trembling voice, incredulous, "Do you feel something is wrong?"

Still thinking of others at a time like this...

Had he not known in advance that the person before him was the one who drugged his drink, he might have been moved by the tyrant's deep concern.

Beauty Lu shook his head, his soft, jet-black hair brushing his cheeks, making him appear gentle and harmless. He asked with concern, "Your Majesty, where do you feel unwell? I shall fetch the imperial physician immediately."

At Beauty Lu's inquiry, Xie Xuan Yuan's already flushed face reddened further.

Indeed, he felt uncomfortable all over.

Not only was his body's temperature rising, making him want to strip off his many layers of clothing, but the unspeakable area in his lower abdomen was also swelling and aching.

More embarrassingly, it felt as though thousands of ants were crawling inside him, itching him so badly he wished he could thrust something inside to relieve it.

At this point, Xie Xuan Yuan had a suspicion. But how could he possibly voice such symptoms!

He slammed down his ivory chopsticks and, clutching his abdomen with a look of shame and pain, said in a trembling voice, "No need for the physician. Come, help me... to the bed to rest awhile."

Beauty Lu was surprised by Xie Xuan Yuan's request. Not calling for a physician immediately when something was wrong... Could it be that the tyrant hadn't poisoned him with a lethal substance?

This speculation reignited the hope in Beauty Lu's heart, which had cooled completely. He hesitated only briefly before leaving his seat to support Xie Xuan Yuan, bending to lift his arm.

Being slightly taller than the tyrant, he moved effortlessly.

Meanwhile, Xie Xuan Yuan's hands were constantly trying to cover up, attempting to hide an overly obvious physiological reaction.

Witnessing the tyrant's embarrassed state, Beauty Lu suddenly had a horrifying thought: could the tyrant have prepared an aphrodisiac for him? How desperate could he be?

Finally making it from the table to the bed, Beauty Lu, not wanting to add to the self-inflicted suffering of the tyrant, tried to be as gentle as possible, softly placing him on the bed.

But no sooner had he accomplished this than the previously listless tyrant suddenly erupted with surprising strength, catching him off guard, grabbing his hand, and pulling him down onto the bed.

The tyrant propped himself above, looking down at his "trophy" trapped in that confined space, his beautiful, narrow phoenix eyes shining intensely.

His hot breath fanned over Beauty Lu's neck, as if ready to devour the beauty beneath him at any moment, yet his tone was unexpectedly gentle and tender when he spoke:

"Stay here tonight... and serve me in bed, will you?"

Beauty Lu, having barely recovered from the shock, and seeing that Xie Xuan Yuan was indeed making a move on him, was utterly flustered, struggling as he said, "Your Majesty is drunk, I will call for the physician immediately."

Though his words were those of an innocent, his long, straight legs were dishonestly engaging with the tyrant in a struggle.

After all, Xie Xuan Yuan was under the influence of a strong aphrodisiac, "Fairy's Intoxication," half of his body limp, no match for Lu Changping's desperate struggle to preserve his chastity.

A moment's negligence allowed Lu Changping to bump him aside, causing him to stagger into a bed of brocade quilts.

Seizing the opportunity, the disheveled Lu Changping fled from the bed and rushed towards the door of the side hall.

If the tyrant sought to bed him, and he couldn't confront him, couldn't he at least evade him?

Leveraging his height and long legs, he dashed to the door in a few strides, only to find that, unbeknownst to him, the door of the side hall had been locked from the outside, the more anxious he became, the harder it was to open.

The imminent threat of dishonor forced Lu Mei Ren to think of a solution; he stepped back and, gathering his internal energy, attempted to break the door open.

However, just as he charged towards the door, suddenly all the internal energy in his dantian was drained, his knees weakened and he fell to the ground, his forehead almost hitting the raised threshold.

Lu Chang Ping's eyes widened as he watched his limbs lose their strength.

This can't be happening!

He clearly didn't drink the spiked fruit wine, so why was he still affected?

Behind him, Xie Xuan Yuan, with eyes clouded, staggered over and wrapped his arms around Lu Mei Ren's lean waist from behind, tightly embracing him in a declaration of dominance:

"I have said, your life is mine, your body and heart are also mine, I want to give you everything best... But why do you think of running away? Do you despise my body?"

This time, Lu Mei Ren was truly frightened, he exerted his strength again, trying to break free from Xie Xuan Yuan's grip. But without his internal energy, he was momentarily unable to overcome the insatiable tyrant.

Suddenly, Xie Xuan Yuan pressed his feverish cheek against his back, softly asking, "Consort, do you like the fragrance in this room?"

Author's note:

Very sorry for the delayed return, apologizing to the little angels QAQ

Staying up late is really bad for the health, I dare not stay up late anymore. The next goal is to finish this book during the holiday~