Chapter 703 - 210: The Emperor Sits in the Bright Hall, Watching Victory and Defeat from Across the River

Chapter 703: Chapter 210: The Emperor Sits in the Bright Hall, Watching Victory and Defeat from Across the River

As compensation, he also sincerely treated these wives as family.

Because he needed family.

He needed affection.

Since they supported each other, leaned on each other, warmed each other, they were family... Li Yuan was even willing to suffer some grievances to move them, even willing to let them take advantage, let them bully him at will.

But family cannot be added just casually. For instance, Gu Xuejian, he had no intention of touching her at all because Gu Xuejian was of no use to him...

The women on the scrolls sent by the Commanders were the same.

Li Yuan knew these women must be very good and outstanding, some might even be better than the wives in his home, but... he simply didn’t want them.

The world is full of countless flowers, each one lovely, but if they don’t grow in his garden, they are just ordinary flowers to him.

He finds them beautiful but wouldn’t bend over to pick them unless he truly encountered one he considered overwhelmingly beautiful...

However, he hadn’t encountered one.

So, Li Yuan directly pushed the scroll back to Xie Wei and said, "I am not in good health, even if I selected one, I wouldn’t be able to favor her. Let’s just leave it at that..."

Xie Wei’s beautiful eyes widened, staring at him in a daze.

She had actually sneaked a peek at part of them and had prepared for the fact that the Emperor would inevitably choose a few.

Because... for emotion, for reason, even for desire, for balance, the Emperor should not refuse.

Yet Li Yuan didn’t choose a single one.

This made Xie Wei’s heart waver slightly, full of curiosity.

She asked a question outside of reason: "Why?"

Li Yuan stepped forward, holding her hand, softly saying, "I have the Empress, and that is enough."

Xie Wei’s delicate body trembled, and she softly said, "Unfortunately... I am just a harlot."

Li Yuan said, "Being wanton with only me, then you are not a harlot.

If only I know, then the Empress is still the Empress."

After saying that, he said, "Tomorrow I will patrol around the Lianyi House, then inadvertently get tainted with Yin Qi, and then announce that I am seriously ill and need to lie on a sickbed... after that, everything will be left to the Empress, what do you think?"

These words meant more to Xie Wei than a thousand sweet nothings; she didn’t know what to say, just looked at the man in front of her and softly said, "You should have taken the chance to balance the power, no matter how powerful the Xie Family is, they cannot fight against the other eight Commanders at the same time..."

Li Yuan said, "That night, I already said. This is just following the original plan."

Xie Wei chided, "Can’t you lie? What kind of Emperor doesn’t lie? What kind of Seniors don’t lie? I was ready for you to lie to me..."

Li Yuan smiled and said, "I won’t lie to you."

Xie Wei felt warmth in her heart.

This was the first time she had emotions other than desire for the man in front of her.

She lowered her head, gently holding Li Yuan’s hand in return, softly saying, "Your Majesty truly is a fool; the Xie Family will arrange everything afterwards."

Li Yuan said, "Then... when I am lying comfortably on the sickbed in the Imperial Palace, the Empress can issue a decree allowing the Crown Prince to oversee the state affairs, and then hold Hu’Er and sit on the Dragon Throne together."

"Um..." Xie Wei softly responded, then asked, "What does Your Majesty want?"

Li Yuan raised his hand, lightly lifting her chin, and, filled with deep affection, said a cheesy line, "I want you."

Xie Wei’s cheeks flushed red, gently tapping him, saying, "You’re awful."

Li Yuan laughed heartily, then said, "What I want is just not to be blind.

At the same time, I also believe the Empress and I are actually in the same boat.

So... at crucial moments, I also wouldn’t want the Empress to be blindfolded."

Xie Wei softly said, "I trust you, not others."

...

...

The next day.

Li Yuan arrived at the perimeter of the Lianyi House.

Though still dozens of miles away from the real Lianyi House, blood-colored "Forbidden Tokens" had already been erected.

He rode on horseback, lamenting the great battle that took place here, raising his hand to the sky, loudly and mournfully called out, "Profound Immortal, Profound Immortal, do you see? The day we anticipated has finally arrived!!"

With that, he couldn’t help himself, tears welling in his tiger eyes, his beard and hair trembling.

The entourage knew this Emperor was commemorating Grand General Lü Xuanxian.

Back then, the Emperor endured burdens, and alongside Lü Xuanxian, acted against the Evil Ghost at a critical moment, trying to disrupt the Evil Ghost’s plan, but failed.

His agitation now was understandable.

After all, during those long years, only that Grand General Lü accompanied the Emperor closely.

The Emperor’s deep affection and loyalty surprised everyone.

Yet some observant people speculated that "the Emperor is putting on a show of eagerly seeking talent," as his deep loyalty to his generals could win many hearts, drawing more civil and military officials to him.

Li Yuan rode on horseback, reflecting along the way.

Deep in the Lianyi House, a Shouyi Evil Ghost coldly stared out.

Unfortunately, Li Yuan remained outside its Ghost Realm, and no matter how many methods the Shouyi Evil Ghost had, it couldn’t act.

At that moment, to everyone’s eyes, the Emperor’s mighty steed suddenly neighed loudly and then crazily charged towards the Lianyi House.

Everyone was shocked.

But in such a sudden situation, who could prevent it?

In a flash, the steed crossed the blood-colored "Forbidden Token."

In the distance, the Shouyi Evil Ghost’s eyes flashed with a bloody, human-like expression, staring straight at the Emperor...

Three meters...

Two meters...

One meter...

Half a meter???

Point one meter???

Splat.

The Emperor dropped precisely, followed by a crisp sound of a shattered Jade Pendant in his arms, and then a cry of pain, a wretched scream.

When everyone reached him, they found the Emperor’s face pale as gold paper.

They hurriedly dragged him out and sent him back to the Imperial Palace, and countless physicians rushed to his side.

Yet the Shouyi Evil Ghost at the Lianyi House was utterly bewildered.

No... it hadn’t acted at all?

What was going on?

People know the terror of ghosts.

Yet ghosts, still unaware of the evil in human hearts.