Chapter 51 Lip Friendship: "Teacher Qin, you'd better behave, or there won't be any lip friendship left."
At the same time, Li Xian had already ordered the trial of Prince Anguo, Li Dan, and Princess Zhenguo, for their involvement in the Crown Prince's rebellion.
The witness was alive and the emperor supported him, but the presiding judge, Cui Zhizhong, unexpectedly turned against him, pleading with tears in his eyes: "Your Majesty possesses the whole world, yet you cannot tolerate even a brother and sister, and instead send someone to frame and harm them!"
The officials responded enthusiastically, pleading for justice for the two men.
Seeing the ministers' support, Li Xian felt uneasy. His younger siblings had helped him launch a coup, and they had already rendered meritorious service, gaining immense prestige and titles. It seemed far-fetched for them to risk their lives to help a powerless crown prince rebel in a moment of impulsiveness.
Li Xian sighed, then "suddenly realized his mistake" and staged a scene reminiscing about his brotherly affection. The matter of the two men's rebellion passed by with a lot of noise but no real consequences.
Empress Wei was quite unwilling, and Empress Anle was so angry that she jumped up and down. She was also helpless against Princess Taiping, so she became even more wary of her.
After years of getting along, Empress Wei had seen through Li Xian's true nature. Li Xian was an incompetent fool, but she, Empress Wei, was unwilling to serve under such a fool. She admired her mother-in-law even more, the woman who single-handedly created the myth of the Empress.
More importantly, she, like Empress Wu Zetian before her, realized the value of power—she had had enough of being manipulated by others.
The current situation bears some resemblance to that of the late reign of Emperor Gaozong—she too was an empress ruling from behind the curtain, while the emperor's power steadily waned. Like Empress Wu Zetian, Empress Wei cultivated her own power base, seized control, and awaited becoming the next Wu Zetian.
After Wu Sansi's death, the Wu family fell from power, and the five key figures of the Shenlong Coup had long since lost their influence. Empress Wei's faction dominated the court. Among all the factions, Empress Wei feared only Princess Taiping's shrewdness and decisiveness, and thus she recruited many talented individuals.
Empress Wei lacked the profound insight and personal charm of Princess Taiping, who could win over her retainers with her charisma. Instead, she and Emperor Li Xian prioritized promoting their relatives, leading to a frenzy of appointments of members of the Wei clan as prime ministers. They also used their power and beauty to win over the court officials.
As Taiping had predicted, Empress Wei then set her sights on Shangguan Wan'er.
Despite Princess Anle's strong protests, Empress Wei still set out to win over Shangguan Wan'er. How did she do it? Empress Wei's focus remained on her personal affairs. Knowing that Wan'er was quite talented in literature and romantic by nature, she suggested to Li Xian that Wan'er move out of the palace to facilitate her private life.
Li Xian also relied heavily on Shangguan Wan'er's administrative experience. Not long ago, Shangguan Wan'er had tried her best to remonstrate and almost lost her life. Of course, he had to appease her. So, he generously rewarded Shangguan Wan'er with a fine mansion and allowed her to live outside the palace.
Empress Wei promptly hinted, "These are all benefits that I have secured for you."
Shangguan Wan'er readily accepted the offer, and from then on, she was not only the only female prime minister in Chinese history, but also the only female prime minister who could leave the palace and go home after get off work, truly achieving the same status and equality as male prime ministers.
After successfully winning over a group of important officials in the court, Empress Wei followed the example of Empress Wu Zetian and began to create a great deal of momentum.
For example, she imitated the colorful auspicious cloud rising from her clothes, and the folk song "Sangwei Song". In short, she copied everything that Empress Wu had done back then.
Compared to Wu Zetian, Empress Wei appeared very anxious and clumsy, and most importantly, Li Xian was still alive.
During the long period of peace, Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian and Empress Wei were fond of pleasure and often held banquets until dawn, indulging in merriment.
At that time, new buds were sprouting in the literary world, already faintly illuminating the dawn of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Shangguan Wan'er was an exceptional writer, whose representative work is "The Lament of the Colored Letter".
As the leaves fall on Dongting Lake, my thoughts turn to you, a thousand miles away.
The dew is heavy, the fragrance is cold, and the moon sets behind the brocade screen, leaving it empty.
He longed to play the music of Jiangnan, but was greedy for the official documents of Jibei.
There is no other meaning in the book than the sorrow of being separated from loved ones for so long.
Her poems offer a glimpse into her personality and temperament. Ancient court poetry was often criticized for its pursuit of ornate forms, its eulogistic content, and its homogenized style influenced by mutual echoing. Chen Zi'ang's assessment of the poetry of the Qi and Liang dynasties—"competing in colorful and elaborate styles, yet devoid of genuine feeling"—is apt. While Wan'er also wrote poems for imperial occasions, she strived for innovation, imbuing her works with emotion, safeguarding her own romantic world. Some of her poems also possess a grand and majestic style, truly befitting a heroine among women.
On one occasion, Emperor Zhongzong and his ministers wanted to visit Kunming Pool. As scholars naturally gather, they would compose and recite poems together, so Li Xian erected a decorated pavilion and appointed Shangguan Wan'er as the judge.
This was Shangguan Wan'er's highlight moment. To achieve a realistic effect, Yu Jintang spent two days building a decorated pavilion, which was just completed yesterday.
The film set was packed with people, bustling with activity.
Qin Lan had been kept alone in a dressing room since morning. Since filming began, her makeup had been relatively light, highlighting her capable and intellectual side. Today, however, she would be appearing as a concubine of Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian, and would have to overshadow the court officials, so her makeup and styling were unprecedentedly elaborate and gorgeous.
As everyone sat at the banquet, drinking and enjoying themselves, Shangguan Zhaorong slowly stepped out. Adorned in colorful embroidery, radiant and dazzling, her face like a lotus blossom, her demeanor elegant and graceful. With a fluttering of her light skirt, she gracefully bowed, then ascended the decorated tower, gazing into the distance like a celestial being.
Empress Wei praised, "The Consort Zhao is graceful and elegant today, with an ethereal beauty."
Anle snorted: "Does Father Emperor think I am more beautiful, or does that Shangguan Zhaorong look more beautiful?"
Li Xian was overjoyed: "Naturally, my precious daughter is the most beautiful and charming."
Princess Taiping's eyes remained fixed on Wan'er from beginning to end. Her gaze was discreet and concealed, a trait she had maintained since her youth; only Shangguan could perceive her gaze.
Qin Lan could sense it too. One moment it was Princess Taiping's gaze, the next it was Jiang Yan's own eyes.
A surging, overwhelming admiration. Dangerous yet grand.
As the camera zoomed out, she glanced down at Jiang Yan, who was already talking to the extras next to her.
From Qin Lan's angle, all she could see were everyone's heads. Jiang Yan wore a pearl hairpin and a dangling ornament, which couldn't compare to An Le's colorful, peacock-like hair not far away. One looked like a dignified imperial princess, while the other looked like a spoiled and willful young lady from a wealthy family.
After several rounds of drinks, everyone presented their poems. Those who carried the poems passed around, sending countless sheets of paper up to the decorated pavilion.
Shangguan Wan'er sat motionless, glancing at each sheet before letting it fall to the ground. The air was filled with paper and ink like white doves, resembling a grand snowfall.
The crowd surged forward to receive the poems, and those who couldn't catch them bent down to pick them up. Once they picked one up, they shouted their names. Then, some people dejectedly accepted their poems, quickly hid them in their sleeves, and left the scene in disappointment.
The nobles and aristocrats laughed at this scene, displaying an air of leisure and laziness.
Empress Wei took the wine and asked Princess Taiping insincerely, "Princess Taiping, who do you think will win?"
Princess Taiping, wanting to maintain appearances, quickly exchanged pleasantries with her again before carefully observing her. Everyone was scrambling for the papers Wan'er had thrown down, but two people remained unmoved, quite confident.
Taiping looked closely and indeed saw Shen Quanqi and Song Zhiwen, both renowned for their literary talents. These two were equally famous in the poetry world, and no one could distinguish who was better.
Princess Taiping hesitated for a moment, and Empress Wei asked again, "Does Princess Taiping also find it difficult to choose? I wonder what choice Consort Zhaorong will make?"
Taiping cursed her in her heart for being so narrow-minded, spending all her time worrying about interpersonal relationships.
But she still had to wear a humble smile on her face: "It is indeed a difficult choice. I have heard that Your Highness is a man of exceptional literary talent and will surely be able to select a masterpiece."
Empress Wei smiled, but before she could speak, a clear and melodious low murmur suddenly came from the decorated tower: "The imperial carriage turns with the spring, the divine pool returns like the Han dynasty. The twin stars left behind old stones, the lonely moon hides in the ashes."
Everyone fell silent, listening to her recite slowly.
"...Thoughts flow freely across the Fen River, songs flow like wine cups at the banquet. Your humble servant, of inferior quality, is but a mediocre talent from Yuzhang."
Shen Quanqi raised his head.
Shangguan Wan'er glanced at him: "This is Lord Shen's excellent writing."
Everyone exclaimed in admiration, "The imagery is magnificent; truly extraordinary!"
Shen Quanqi looked at Song Zhiwen with a smug expression, and Song Zhiwen smiled and said, "Brother Shen's work is superb; I am ashamed to admit that I am inferior to him."
Shangguan Wan'er ignored the frenzied cheers and endless flattery from the crowd below the decorated tower and began reciting Song Zhiwen's poem. At first, the crowd cheered and made a ruckus, as if they had already decided that Shen Quanqi was the champion of today's poetry competition. But when she read the line "The hibiscus has all fallen, spring is late and the willows are dark and urging," the crowd gradually quieted down and listened attentively.
Shangguan Wan'er seemed oblivious, lost in her own world.
"...Zhou Wenle drank at Hao, and Han Wu sang at Fen. We have no worries about the moon's end, for the night pearl will come."
She stopped; that was the last sentence.
Taiping stared at her intently, watching as her lips moved silently, and she repeated in a voice only she could hear: "The bright moon will not fade, for the night pearl will come."
Then she fell silent, lost in thought.
Princess Taiping already had the answer in her heart, so she confidently turned her head and said, "Your Majesty, I think Lord Shen's poem is quite good."
"Oh?" Empress Wei looked satisfied. "I find it quite good too."
At that moment, the fairy of the painted pavilion waved her hand, and a piece of paper fluttered in the wind, gradually falling to the ground, eagerly awaited by countless fingertips. One person jumped up impatiently, grabbed the paper, his face instantly turning red, and after a long while, shouted, "This is Lord Shen's poem!"
The atmosphere was electric.
Empress Wei was also taken aback. She glanced at Princess Taiping without making a sound, and only when she saw the princess's surprised expression did she feel relieved.
It seems that Taiping doesn't understand Shangguan Wan'er either; her worries have somewhat faded.
Shen Quanqi suddenly turned to look at Song Zhiwen, then looked up at the decorated tower, and after a long while asked loudly, "Why?"
The room gradually quieted down.
The lady-in-waiting's melodious voice drifted down: "The poems of the two gentlemen are perfectly matched and melodious, but the last line is where one can distinguish the other. Minister Shen's couplet, 'This humble subject, of decaying nature, has only glimpsed the talent of Yuzhang,' lacks vigor. Minister Song's couplet, 'Not worried about the moon's end, for the night pearl will come,' is still vigorous and has the power to soar. Therefore, I have chosen Minister Song's poem to present to Your Majesty for your perusal."
Now that Taiping could look at her openly, she couldn't help but feel very proud. See? She understands Wan'er best.
＊
After filming the famous scene of the poetry recitation at the decorated tower, Yu Jintang immediately began preparing for the grand scene of Princess Anle's remarriage.
Princess Anle originally had a husband, Wu Chongxun, the son of Wu Sansi, but he was eliminated by Crown Prince Li Chongjun during his "purging of corrupt officials." This time, Anle married Wu Chongxun's cousin, Wu Yanxiu, a prominent young man, and the wedding was a grand affair.
The filming took two days in total, but Qin Lan and Jiang Yan didn't have their scenes until the afternoon of the second day.
Qin Lan let several hands remove the overly complicated clothes from her body: "So you're saying I can finally rest."
"A day and a half, you can go out and act as you please." Yu Jintang waved her hand to shoo them away.
Qin Lan sighed: "Actually, I also really want to stay here and learn more, to increase my understanding and appreciation of the script."
Yu Jintang: "You're finished, Lao Qin. You've been corrupted by Jiang Yan."
Qin Lan's expression changed instantly: "So what? I can do whatever I want, it's none of your business!"
Yu Jintang scoffed at her: "Stop wasting your time. If you want to watch, then stay and watch. If you want to see something, there's nothing there. I'm upright and honest, why would I be afraid of you looking?!"
Qin Lan said sincerely, "I think Xiahou Cheng is quite good. The main thing is that he can keep up with your thought process, and he's also good-looking. Why don't you just go for it?"
Yu Jintang opened her mouth, but closed it again the next second when she saw the person who had come.
Xiahou Cheng twirled and jumped, closing her eyes as she arrived next to Qin Lan, giving her makeup artist a big hug: "Oh my god, Teacher Qin, I felt an instant connection with you the moment I saw you. Let's be friends, do we have each other on WeChat?"
"Sure." Qin Lan readily agreed, and found Xiahou Cheng quite agreeable: "Come sit here."
Xiahou Cheng sat down: "Teacher Tangtang, I'm getting married tomorrow!"
Yu Jintang: "It's a remarriage."
Xiahou Cheng: "Is Teacher Tangtang really so cold and heartless as to marry me off like this?"
Yu Jintang: "So what else do you want? Do you want me to make a big fuss and celebrate for you?"
Xiahou Cheng rested her chin on her hand: "Director, I suggest adding some innovative plot elements."
Yu Jintang: "Speak."
Xiahou Cheng: "I suggest the director crash the wedding."
Qin Lan sprayed a mouthful of water all over Yu Jintang's face.
She wiped her mouth and patted Xiahou Cheng's shoulder sincerely: "Comrade, I like it when you're straightforward like this."
Xiahou Cheng grinned, revealing his bright white teeth: "Comrade, we're comrades now."
"Hey, Xiahou!"
"Old Qin!"
"Xiahou!"
"Old Qin!!"
When Jiang Yan came in, the two of them were already planning to light candles, buy chickens, and become sworn brothers.
Jiang Yan turned her head to look at Yu Jintang's expression.
Yu Jintang silently wiped her face with a tissue.
Jiang Yan watched her wipe for several minutes and couldn't bear to watch any longer: "Teacher Yu, is there dust on your face?"
Yu Jintang calmly replied, "There's no ash, just your teacher Qin's saliva."
Qin Lan: "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Jiang Yan: "You put your face right up to Teacher Qin's lips?"
Qin Lan's expression changed from dangerous to safe.
Yu Jintang stared at Jiang Yan in disbelief, her finger trembling for a moment before she suddenly pointed at Qin Lan: "Look at her, look at her, is this right?! You can't just bully me all by yourself!!!"
Qin Lan gloated: "I don't think there's anything wrong with it."
Yu Jintang glared at Jiang Yan with resentment: "You might as well accuse me to death. I'll hang myself at your doorstep tomorrow."
Jiang Yan: "No, I'm afraid of ghosts."
Yu Jintang: "You've gone too far!"
Xiahou Cheng smiled brightly: "I...I...Teacher Yu, I won't bully you."
Yu Jintang was speechless: "Why have you changed how you address me again!"
Xiahou Cheng tilted her head: "When I think you're cute, I want to call you Teacher Yu, but I usually call you Teacher Tangtang."
Jiang Yan: "Ugh—"
Qin Lan: "Disgusting."
Jiang Yan's face fell: "There are still single people here."
Yu Jintang laughed in exasperation: "Who's that person next to you who kissed you?"
Qin Lan straightened her back.
“Her?” Jiang Yan smiled utterly slyly: “A lip-to-lip friendship.”
Qin Lan: "?"
Yu Jintang: "Even lip-to-lip friendships can sleep?"
Jiang Yan suddenly realized: "Then let's add 'bed friendship' as well."
Xiahou Cheng raised his hand: "Teacher Tangtang, I also want to develop a bedroom friendship with you..."
Yu Jintang flew into a rage: "Get out! Get out! All of you, get out!"
＊
The group rolled out.
Xiahou Cheng sang and walked away.
Just before disappearing, she suddenly turned around and winked at the two people behind her: "Enjoy your holiday time, it's all thanks to my hard work."
After saying that, it flew away.
Jiang Yan glanced at Qin Lan.
This person must be unhappy, walking very fast, but still holding their head high with a proud look, just like a peacock.
Are you angry?
Jiang Yan quickened her pace, her voice tinged with a smile.
Qin Lan didn't even look at her: "What's there to get angry about with a friend?"
Jiang Yan pondered, "Am I a friend?"
"It's just pure friendship."
"Just teasing you." Jiang Yan laughed, "It's because she has your saliva on her face."
Qin Lan: "I threw up there, okay!"
Jiang Yan: "That won't work either."
Qin Lan was furious: "You have the nerve to talk to me like that? You're such a jerk, aren't you?"
Jiang Yan nodded seriously, reaching out to undo her belt: "There are a lot of scumbag women out there these days, Teacher Qin, you should be careful."
Qin Lan: "What are you going to do?"
Jiang Yan folded the belt in her hand, put it around her neck, and gently smoothed it with her palm, leaving a not-too-small snare.
She held the other end herself and led Qin Lan ahead.
"As punishment, you'll have to walk back with me like this."
"You! My dignity!" Qin Lan quickly reached for her mask. "Let me go!"
People were already watching them, their faces filled with astonishment.
"No way," Jiang Yan smiled. "Teacher Qin has to behave, or we'll lose our friendship."
"Damn it, if you don't have it, you don't have it!" Qin Lan cursed in a low voice, "You shameless bastard, weren't you the one who loved to pretend the most? Why aren't you pretending anymore?"
Jiang Yan led her all the way back to the lounge, where they randomly found an empty room and locked the door. Before she could even catch her breath, Jiang Yan suddenly tightened her grip, forcing her to stumble and fall forward.
"What are you doing!" Qin Lan glared angrily.
Jiang Yan fiercely pinched her chin: "Kiss me."
"Fine, we can kiss, but what's with you holding my hand?"
Jiang Yan looked at her like a wolf seeing a sheep: "You mean you want to lock up a naughty puppy."
"Who's the puppy?" Qin Lan retorted loudly, "Are you drunk?!"
"Aren't you? Don't puppies love to bite their owners?" Jiang Yan said softly, her fingers lightly brushing against a small patch of skin exposed on her waist. "Who bites me all over with red marks every time we make love? I remember you loved to nibble on it. Want to take a bite now?"
Qin Lan's gaze involuntarily shifted.
Jiang Yan gently shrugged her shoulders.
“Bite doesn’t mean I’m a puppy,” Qin Lan said dryly, swallowing hard as she argued with herself. “Who told you to hold my hand like that?”
“You can break free if you don’t like it, as long as you want,” Jiang Yan pressed closer and closer: “Isn’t Teacher Qin very skilled? He should be able to subdue me easily.”
She handed the belt to Qin Lan, saying seductively, "Want to get your revenge? Put it around my neck, so you can control me completely?"
Just as Qin Lan was getting excited, she heard Jiang Yan add with a smile, "Hmm? My little dog."
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