"What did you say? Say it again, who is Li Ting?" Zhao Yunwan was so shocked that she dropped the teacup in her hand.
"Your Majesty, Grand Tutor Li is none other than Hu Changshi, the brilliant scholar who briefly topped the list of the civil service examination twenty years ago. This morning at the Wenchang Pavilion, Prime Minister Wan verified his identity, confirming that Grand Tutor Li is indeed Hu Changshi. Moreover, his essay this time is even better than before!" Yuan Qibao knelt on the ground, answering cautiously.
Xiao Ding didn't go to the Imperial Academy today. When he heard the news, he felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.
Zhao Yunwan was furious and was about to unleash a torrent of curses, but seeing Xiao Ding's distraught appearance, she had no choice but to suppress her anger.
"Ding'er, it's alright. It's just a top score in the liberal arts exam. You still have the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's support. Now all the ministers in the court are on our side."
“Don’t you know Xiao Sheng’s abilities? Even if the God of Literature were to descend to earth and teach him, he still wouldn’t be able to,” Zhao Yunwan kept comforting Xiao Ding.
"Ding'er, you should spend more time with your father. Once you win his heart, your mother will take care of the rest. Don't go to the Imperial Academy today. Your father should be in the Imperial Study at this hour. Go and keep him company!"
"Your subject will listen to Your Majesty. Your subject will work even harder! Your subject doesn't want to hear people say those things about you anymore! Your Majesty, your subject can do it, right?"
“Of course my Ding’er can do it. If you don’t become emperor, who is capable? Xiao Sheng has no mother to think for him. Li Ting is just a tiger without sharp teeth and claws. He can’t cause any trouble.” Zhao Yunwan thought that the border defense line was now full of her own people, and she was instantly less worried.
Even if Li Ting is Hu Changshi, what can he do? He only has a group of literati, no army, no power. Can he defeat her million-strong army? Can he fight against the imperial court?
This is like throwing an egg against a rock!
Thinking of this, Zhao Yunwan calmed down. She thought to herself: I must keep the emperor under my control.
So Zhao Yunwan summoned Lu Dacheng. The two were just about to discuss how to seize the emperor's power when a carrier pigeon flew into Kunning Palace and landed in Zhao Yunwan's hand.
Zhao Yunwan pulled out the note and quickly read it. Lu Dacheng looked at his apprentice and gradually smiled.
"Your Majesty, is something making you happy?"
"Teacher, the message from the person we sent to contact the Qinglian Society says that the deal for opium has been finalized. Once the money arrives, the Qinglian Society will send someone to deliver the opium to the capital. We will then give the money to the messenger, cash on delivery."
"Your Majesty, have you heard of Fan Zu'an, who has appeared in the capital today?" Lu Dacheng asked Zhao Yunwan somewhat timidly.
"Fan Zu'an? Is he the folk doctor who supposedly can cure opium addiction?" Zhao Yunwan replied casually.
"Exactly. Recently, many officials have asked him to treat them and help them quit opium."
"Teacher, you are a doctor yourself, don't you know how dangerous opium is? Once you get hooked, you can never get rid of it unless you stop using it and suffer to death. Otherwise, there is no cure."
“But…” Lu Dacheng wanted to continue.
But Zhao Yunwan interrupted her: "Even if someone can control themselves for a short time, they can become addicted again after just one relapse. With our methods, wouldn't it be easy to make those people relapse? If you don't believe me, go find two minor officials who are supposedly quit and try it."
"If all else fails, I'll send someone to kill Fan Zu'an."
Lu Dacheng thought to himself, "Those in power really do see things differently from me." "I was too panicked. Your Majesty is much more composed. Fan Zu'an is a scoundrel; we can easily ruin him with a simple scheme."
“Teacher, we two personally tested the opium, and the extraction process was a unique technique of the Yuexing Sect. If the Xiao family hadn't acted first, the Jin Sheng Dynasty would have been swallowed up by the Great Yue Kingdom. Unfortunately, our ancestor missed by one move, and the Xiao family gained the upper hand. Do you really distrust the methods of our Yuexing Sect?”
"This time, we will make the Xiao family hand over their empire to us without hesitation."
"That cauldron?"
“Ding’er will be the emperor, but he will also be an emperor in the palm of your hand.”
What Zhao Yunwan didn't know was that the person who sent the carrier pigeon back had already become a secret agent within Xu Ningyou's guild.
Her trusted confidants were sent to the secret realm of the Qianji Gate to live a peaceful and carefree life.
After processing the message from the carrier pigeon, Zhao Yunwan inquired about the emperor's recent health.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor's health is deteriorating. Shouldn't you change your medicine?"
"I understand. I won't need to use him for a while. You should help Xiao Jing get better. He still has a great use for us, and we can't let him die at this time." Zhao Yunwan's eyes were full of calculation, and there was not a trace of love left.
"So, should opium be added to the Emperor's food?"
"Add a small amount, just enough to keep him from having an urge to quit. Then use a life-sustaining pill to keep him alive and make sure nothing unexpected happens before we succeed."
"I believe that Her Majesty's love for His Majesty is genuine," Lu Dacheng said, finally voicing what he had long wanted to say.
"Love? He doesn't love me, so why should I love him? It's just a matter of each of us getting what we need."
"How could the Emperor not love the Empress? He has already offered the empire as a dowry."
"That was because I was clever, not because he was sincere."
"Your Majesty, I have overstepped my bounds. Please forgive me!"
"It's alright. You are my teacher, and your position in my heart is higher than that of the emperor. There's no need to be so apprehensive."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
After leaving Kunning Palace, Lu Dacheng thought about going to Jishetang to check on things, as he was still worried.
Because Li Ting, who was poisoned by him, has not yet shown any signs of illness and can still walk normally, Lu Dacheng felt that something was definitely amiss.
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