《Adult Tang Dynasty: I, the Scoundrel, Fully Support the Empress》


 Chapter 1 - I Reincarnated in the Tang Dynasty, And the Empress Is My Sworn Sister?

    Chapter 1: I Reincarnated in the Tang Dynasty, And the Empress Is My Sworn Sister?


    Tang Dynasty.


    Year One of the Zhenguan Era.


    In Eastern City Chang¡¯an.


    Inside an extravagant estate, more luxurious than anything he had ever seen, Su Yang stood frozen, his mind struggling to process the situation.


    ¡°Did I¡­ just travel through time?¡±


    He was still trying to wrap his head around it. Su Yang wasn¡¯t from this world¡ªhe had come from the Earth.


    And that wasn¡¯t even the most shocking part.


    Somehow, after arriving in this new life, he had become the sworn brother of the current Empress, Guan Yinbi. And she wasn¡¯t just treating him well¡ªshe absolutely doted on him.


    Case in point?


    The sprawling estate he was standing in was a gift from her.


    ¡°So¡­ I have an Empress as my sworn sister?¡± he muttered under his breath. Then, the realization hit him like a bolt of lightning, sending a rush of excitement through his veins.


    With the Empress backing him up, wouldn¡¯t that make him untouchable in the Tang Dynasty? He could do whatever he wanted¡ªcommand the winds and call the shots. No one would dare mess with him.


    Unless he did something truly outrageous, even high-ranking officials¡ªwhether a lowly ninth-rank magistrate or a prestigious third-rank noble¡ªwouldn¡¯t be able to lay a finger on him.


    The thought sent a thrill through him. If he played his cards right, he could just sit back and enjoy a life of luxury. After all, no matter what happened, his sworn sister had his back.


    Just then, a cold mechanical voice rang in his head.


    Su Yang¡¯s eyes widened. A moment of stunned silence passed before he broke into a huge grin.


    A Playboy System? Now this was a proper transmigration experience. Every protagonist needed their golden finger, and he had just arrived.


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to understand how it worked. The system rewarded him with points based on how much of a rich, arrogant playboy he acted like. The more he indulged in a carefree, extravagant lifestyle, the more points he earned. And those points could be exchanged for just about anything.


    Su Yang let out a dramatic sigh!


    And that was the truth. Even with the Empress as his sworn sister, he hadn¡¯t planned on living recklessly. He just wanted to enjoy wealth and status, without making too much trouble.


    But now¡­


    With a system that literally forced him into becoming the supreme playboy, he didn¡¯t really have a choice.


    And what exactly did being a ¡°Supreme Playboy¡± entail? sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Naturally, it meant being arrogant and domineering, acting unruly, as if the world revolved around him.


    If he didn¡¯t like someone, Su Yang could put them in their place without a second thought. If he wanted something, he might not even care about it, but others had to hand it over, or they¡¯d suffer the consequences.


    Would that cause trouble?


    Didn¡¯t matter.


    The Empress had his back.


    That said, Su Yang wasn¡¯t an idiot. He knew where the line was and wouldn¡¯t cross his sworn sister¡¯s bottom line.


    And the worst-case scenario? He had a system now. There was nothing he couldn¡¯t handle.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, outside on the bustling streets, a grand carriage rolled up, escorted by over a dozen attendants.


    But these weren¡¯t just any servants.


    Each of them was built like a warrior, their presence exuding a dangerous aura. Clearly, they were men who had seen battle.


    And that was exactly the case.


    These attendants weren¡¯t ordinary servants¡ªthey were the Empress¡¯s personal guards, handpicked from the elite Jinwu Guard, the best of the best.


    And all because of one passing remark from Su Yang.


    He had mentioned his fear of being targeted by schemers, and just like that, the Empress had dispatched an entire squad of elite guards to serve as his personal bodyguards.


    She had even gifted him a ¡ªa literal get-out-of-jail-free card.


    If that wasn¡¯t proof of how much she favored him, nothing was.


    The moment the guards entered the estate, they all dropped to one knee in unison.


    ¡°Greetings, my lord!¡±


    Su Yang beamed, clearly enjoying the moment. He turned to the Empress¡¯s personal maid, Qing Yi, who had escorted them, and said with a pleased smile, ¡°Be sure to thank my dear sister for me. Let her know I truly appreciate her kindness.¡±


    ¡°Tell her I¡¯ll visit the palace soon to show my gratitude in person.¡±


    Qing Yi gave a polite nod, but inwardly, she couldn¡¯t shake her confusion.


    She had no idea why the Empress had taken this man as her sworn brother, let alone why she favored him so much.


    And she wasn¡¯t the only one.


    Everyone in Chang¡¯an ¡ªand even across the entire Tang Dynasty¡ªwas baffled by it.


    After all, Su Yang had been around for a while, and he hadn¡¯t exactly shown any extraordinary talent.


    So what was so special about him?


    Was it just because he was absurdly handsome?

 Chapter 2 - The Notorious Playboy

    Chapter 2: The Notorious Playboy


    To be honest, Su Yang was still trying to wrap his head around how he ended up in this world¡ªlet alone how he somehow managed to have the Empress¡¯s maid take him in as her godbrother. It didn¡¯t make much sense, but he wasn¡¯t about to question a stroke of good luck.


    After seeing off his servant girl, Qing Yi, Su Yang turned to glance at the personal guards the Empress had assigned to him. A grin spread across his face.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± he called out.


    With that, he led his new entourage out of the courtyard, ready to indulge in some fun. After all, now that he had a system backing him, Su Yang was determined to become the most notorious playboy the entire kingdom had ever seen.


    His destination was the Golden Rose Tavern.


    Located in the eastern district of Chang¡¯an, Golden Rose Tavern was the definition of luxury. Only the wealthy and powerful could afford to dine there. A single meal at this place could cost as much as an average citizen¡¯s annual income.


    In the past, Su Yang wouldn¡¯t have dared to set foot here too often. Sure, he had the Empress as his sworn sister and was undoubtedly favored by her, but she wasn¡¯t exactly generous when it came to money. That had everything to do with her frugal nature.


    Besides, it was only the first year of the new dynasty. The kingdom had just been established, and the national treasury wasn¡¯t exactly overflowing with silver.


    That being said, Su Yang never had to worry about his daily expenses.


    The moment he stepped through the doors, the tavern¡¯s owner spotted him from afar. With a wide smile, he rushed over.


    ¡°Mr. Su! What an honor! Please, come inside. Your private room has been reserved just for you.¡±


    Everyone in Chang¡¯an with even the slightest bit of awareness knew that Su Yang was the Empress¡¯s sworn brother. He didn¡¯t hold any official title, nor did he have any real power, but that didn¡¯t mean anyone dared to cross him. If the Empress ever caught wind of someone disrespecting him, their life would be as good as over.


    More importantly, despite his connections, Su Yang wasn¡¯t arrogant. He never acted entitled, and he always paid for his meals. That made him a rare breed among the nobility.


    Inside a quiet and elegantly decorated private room, Su Yang leaned back and waved his hand lazily.


    ¡°Bring me everything on your menu¡ªthe best of the best,¡± he ordered. ¡°And make sure it¡¯s only the most expensive dishes.¡±


    The tavern owner¡¯s grin widened.


    ¡°Of course, Mr.Su! We¡¯ll take care of everything.¡±


    He was practically rubbing his hands together in excitement, already calculating how much he¡¯d be making from this order.


    But when the meal was over, and it came time to settle the bill, his excitement quickly turned into shock.


    Su Yang got up, stretched, and made his way toward the exit without even reaching for his money pouch.


    The owner¡¯s heart nearly stopped.


    ¡°Mr. Su¡ªno, Lord Su, please!¡± he pleaded, practically on the verge of tears. ¡°We¡¯re just a small business. Could you¡­ maybe pay for the meal? We¡¯ll even give you a discount!¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just any meal he had eaten. Every dish had been a delicacy¡ªabalone, shark fin, the finest meats. The cost alone was enough to make an ordinary person go bankrupt.


    Su Yang simply raised an eyebrow, letting out a questioning hum.


    Before he could say another word, his guards all turned their eyes on the tavern owner, their gazes sharp and threatening. It was clear that if he pushed any further, he¡¯d regret it.


    The owner¡¯s face turned pale. He forced a smile, quickly bowing his head.


    ¡°Please, take your time, Lord Su. If you like the wine, I¡¯ll have it delivered to your estate right away.¡±


    He escorted Su Yang out, watching helplessly as he left without paying a single cent.


    Not far from the entrance, a waiter frowned in confusion. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Boss¡­ you just let him go? He didn¡¯t pay! We could report this to the authorities.¡±


    The tavern owner shot him a sharp glare before sighing heavily.


    ¡°Do you have any idea who his sister is?¡±


    The waiter shook his head.


    ¡°She¡¯s the Empress,¡± the owner said flatly.


    ¡°Report it? Do you wanna get me killed?!¡±


    He took a deep breath, forcing down his frustration. In the end, he could only smile bitterly, chalking it up as the price of doing business.

 Chapter 3 - Su Yang’s First Goal—Becoming a Top-Tier Tycoon

    Chapter 3: Su Yang¡¯s First Goal¡ªBecoming a Top¨CTier Tycoon


    sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as Su Yang was strolling down the street with his guards, letting his food settle, a cold, robotic voice suddenly rang in his head.


    He immediately pulled up the system interface, his curiosity piqued.


    Inside the store, a vast assortment of items was available¡ªeverything from everyday necessities to cutting-edge technology and advanced weaponry. The selection was overwhelming.


    A bag of potato seeds cost 100 points, a refined salt extraction technique was priced at 500 points, and a martial arts grandmaster technique went for 5,000 points. And for those with deep pockets, modern firearms and high-tech weaponry could be purchased for over 10,000 points.


    Su Yang¡¯s eyes gleamed as he browsed through the options. His excitement grew¡ªno matter what he redeemed, he knew he could turn a serious profit.


    Right now, though, his focus was locked on the refined salt extraction technique.


    He had to admit¡ªit was embarrassing. As a so-called modern, well-educated man from the 21st century, he had absolutely no idea how to refine salt.


    As for why he wasn¡¯t choosing the cheaper option, like the potato seeds¡­


    Su Yang wasn¡¯t an idiot. He knew that right now, in the first year of the Zhenguan era, a major drought and locust plague were just around the corner. If his memory served him right, the disaster would soon hit Guandong, leaving countless people homeless and even forcing families to resort to desperate measures to survive. The entire Tang Dynasty would be thrown into chaos.


    Buying potato seeds now would be pointless. They wouldn¡¯t sell for much, and trying to build an empire off potatoes alone was a pipe dream.


    More importantly, the land distribution policies of the Tang Dynasty hadn¡¯t been reformed yet. Even though he had the Empress backing him, it wasn¡¯t like he could just start grabbing land for large-scale farming.


    That would mean stepping on the toes of the most powerful aristocratic families¡ªespecially the Guandong elite.


    Su Yang might have been aiming to live the high life as a rich playboy, but he wasn¡¯t reckless. He knew he couldn¡¯t afford to get himself killed before he even built a solid foundation.


    Messing with the Guandong aristocrats was a death sentence.


    Even Li Er himself had to tread carefully around them. Some of these noble families didn¡¯t even fear the imperial throne.


    The best example was the Emperor himself.


    Historically, Li Er once tried to form marriage alliances with the Five Great Families, but they outright refused. They didn¡¯t see it as an honor at all and completely ignored the offer.


    It wasn¡¯t until the rise of Huang Chao and Zhu Wen that these aristocratic clans were finally wiped out. Of course, that also indirectly led to the fall of the Tang Dynasty.


    With that in mind, Su Yang¡¯s short-term goal was clear¡ªhe needed to become as powerful as the Five Great Families.


    Sure, having strong connections mattered, but if he had nothing to offer, he¡¯d just be a disposable puppet. Su Yang needed real leverage to secure his place at the top.


    And the refined salt extraction technique was his golden ticket.


    In this era, salt was a strategic resource, worth its weight in gold, and nearly impossible to buy.


    The current refining methods were crude at best, producing bitter, impure salt that was barely edible. The demand far outweighed the supply.


    But if he had a way to produce refined salt¡­


    It would be a game-changer.


    He was sure of it¡ªonce he introduced high-quality refined salt to the market, even at premium prices, it would sell out instantly.


    With that thought, Su Yang¡¯s eyes burned with determination.


    ¡°Alright then¡­ time to fully embrace this playboy lifestyle.¡±


    ¡°I need to rack up as many points as possible.¡±

 Chapter 4 - Zhangsun Chong’s Fury—Changle Is Mine!

    Chapter 4: Zhangsun Chong¡¯s Fury¡ªChangle Is Mine!


    In the 21st century, everyone knew that the nightlife in Chang¡¯an was dazzling, a city bathed in golden lights and overflowing with extravagance.


    But back in this era, things were different.


    The Tang Dynasty hadn¡¯t yet undergone major reforms. The empire still prioritized agriculture over commerce, and night markets were unheard of in Chang¡¯an.


    As a result, once night fell, the city went under strict curfew. The streets were dark and eerily quiet.


    Still, even with those restrictions, it was undoubtedly more exciting than the palace.


    The imperial palace was synonymous with discipline and authority. Just stepping inside made people anxious, afraid to even breathe too loudly, lest they unwittingly cause trouble.


    It made sense, though. After all, this was the heart of the empire.


    Because of this, many within the palace longed to escape and experience a bit of freedom. High-ranking officials and noble families had the luxury of leaving whenever they pleased, but the imperial princes and princesses? That was a different story.


    Their movements were strictly controlled. Unless they found a way to sneak out, they weren¡¯t allowed to leave.


    And tonight, Princess Changle had done exactly that.


    Under the cover of darkness, she had slipped out of the palace and headed straight to a residence in the Eastern District.


    ¡°Su Yang, it¡¯s been forever! Did you miss me?¡±


    The moment she stepped inside, she greeted Su Yang with a playful smile.


    ¡°Of course I did.¡±


    Su Yang¡¯s lips curled into a grin. ¡°I missed you every day. Even in my dreams.¡±


    There was no denying it¡ªPrincess Changle had inherited every bit of her mother¡¯s beauty. She was slightly curvier than most, but that only added to her charm. She was the kind of woman a man couldn¡¯t help but want to hold close.


    ¡°Liar.¡±


    Changle rolled her eyes at him, though she couldn¡¯t hide the smile tugging at her lips. ¡°If you missed me so much, why haven¡¯t you come to visit me at the palace?¡±


    She liked Su Yang, a lot.


    He was, without a doubt, the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. His fair complexion and striking features were enough to make even her feel a pang of jealousy at times. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, across the Eastern District, in another grand residence¡­


    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡±


    ¡°Changle snuck out of the palace?¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t she tell me?¡±


    Zhangsun Chong¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement as he questioned the servant who had delivered the news.


    His feelings for Princess Changle were no secret. Everyone knew he was infatuated with her¡ªincluding the emperor himself.


    Even the Emperor had considered the possibility of marrying Changle off to him. It made perfect sense. After all, Zhangsun Chong¡¯s father, Changsun Wuji, was not only the emperor¡¯s closest confidant but also his brother-in-law. Strengthening that bond through marriage seemed like a natural course of action.


    ¡°Where did she go?¡± Zhangsun Chong pressed, already signaling for his attendants to prepare his carriage.


    The servant hesitated before answering. ¡°P-Princess Changle¡­ she went to Su Yang¡¯s residence.¡±


    A tense silence filled the room.


    The teacup in Zhangsun Chong¡¯s hand shattered against the marble floor as his expression darkened with fury.


    ¡°Him again?¡±


    His voice was low, but the rage in it was unmistakable.


    He had never liked Su Yang.


    It was obvious that Changle shared a close bond with him¡ªtoo close for comfort.


    Su Yang might have been the adopted brother of the empress, but there was no blood relation between them. If he had any designs on Changle, then that was a serious problem.


    Zhangsun Chong scoffed. ¡°That bastard.¡±


    Without wasting another second, he stormed toward his carriage. He was going to Su Yang¡¯s residence immediately.


    That low-born nobody needed to be reminded of his place.


    If he had any sense at all, he¡¯d keep his distance from Changle.


    At best, he was the empress¡¯s sworn brother. At worst, he was nothing more than a commoner who had gotten lucky.


    Did he actually think he could challenge someone like Zhangsun Chong?


    How ridiculous.


    His father was the Minister of Personnel¡ªa third-rank official and the emperor¡¯s brother-in-law.


    More importantly, the empress herself was his aunt.


    Did Su Yang really think he stood a chance?

 Chapter 5 - You’ve Got Some Nerve—Daring to Disrespect the Empress?

    Chapter 5: You¡¯ve Got Some Nerve¡ªDaring to Disrespect the Empress?


    Zhangsun Chong was furious, and maybe even a little jealous.


    He¡¯d grown up alongside Princess Changle. Their families were close, and since the Empress was his aunt, the two of them had practically been inseparable since childhood.


    He had always been sure about his feelings for her.


    His father knew it too and fully supported him. He had even mentioned talking to the Emperor when the time was right, hoping to arrange their marriage.


    And Changle never seemed to mind his presence.


    But everything changed when Su Yang showed up out of nowhere.


    Somehow, that guy had completely won her over. Changle lit up whenever she saw him, and there were even moments when she looked at him with something close to admiration.


    Zhangsun Chong clenched his fists, his jealousy burning hotter.


    ¡°Changle is mine. You hear me? Mine!¡±


    ¡°You filthy commoner!¡±


    His face twisted with rage as he shouted. Without wasting another second, he jumped into his carriage and headed straight for Su Yang¡¯s residence.


    ¡­


    Standing outside the grand estate, Zhangsun Chong¡¯s irritation grew more intense. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He still couldn¡¯t wrap his head around why his aunt had taken Su Yang in as her sworn brother¡ªlet alone why she spoiled him so much.


    It was ridiculous.


    As far as Zhangsun Chong was concerned, Su Yang had stolen his aunt¡¯s affection, and that only made him hate the guy more.


    ¡°Lord Zhangsun has arrived!¡±


    A servant by his side barked out the announcement before glaring at the guards. ¡°Well? Are you just gonna stand there? Get your master out here right now!¡±


    The arrogance in his voice was unmistakable. Most people feared Su Yang because of his connection to the Empress, but the Zhangsun family didn¡¯t care.


    The moment that demand rang through the air, the crowd watching from a distance sucked in their breath.


    Some looked uneasy, while others could barely contain their excitement.


    Among them was the owner of the Golden Rose Tavern, who was practically giddy at the thought of Su Yang finally getting put in his place.


    Lately, Su Yang had changed.


    He¡¯d gone from being easygoing to acting like an entitled brat. He even dared to declare that anything he set his sights on had to be his¡ªSu Yang might not want it, but nobody else could have it either.


    People had been living in fear ever since.


    No one dared to cross him. After all, he had the Empress backing him up, and even the most powerful families had no choice but to tolerate his arrogance.


    But today was different.


    This time, the challenger wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªhe was the eldest son of the Minister of Personnel.


    Unlike Su Yang, who was only the Empress¡¯s sworn brother, Zhangsun Chong was her actual blood nephew.


    There was no competition.


    Outside the residence, the guards exchanged nervous glances. This wasn¡¯t someone they could afford to offend.


    One of them hesitated before stepping inside to report the situation.


    ¡­


    Inside the courtyard, Su Yang¡¯s expression darkened the moment he heard the news.


    ¡°That little brat has the nerve to come looking for trouble?¡±


    His eyes narrowed as he stood up.


    He didn¡¯t bother telling Princess Changle about it. There was no need to.


    Zhangsun Chong was already waiting outside.


    ¡­


    On the street, Zhangsun Chong remained seated inside his carriage, his appearance radiating arrogance.


    He hadn¡¯t even bothered to step out.


    As far as he was concerned, Su Yang was nothing but a lowly commoner. Sure, he could act high and mighty around regular folks, but did Su Yang really think he could put on airs in front of him?


    Not a chance.


    Before long, Su Yang emerged from the residence, his guards following closely behind.


    From a distance, he spotted the lavish carriage parked outside and immediately let out a mocking laugh.


    ¡°Well, well, look who decided to show up.¡±


    ¡°Turns out it¡¯s none other than the great Mr. Zhangsun!¡±


    Su Yang had never liked him¡ªnot in the slightest.


    And why would he?


    In history, this bastard had ended up marrying Princess Changle.


    That meant they were destined to be rivals.


    From inside the carriage, Zhangsun Chong glanced at him with nothing but disdain.


    ¡°So you do know who I am.¡± His voice was aloof. ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you crawling over here to pay your respects?¡±


    Su Yang didn¡¯t move a muscle. He barely spared him a glance, as if he were nothing more than a speck of dust.


    Without his father¡¯s status, this guy wouldn¡¯t be worth a damn.


    Su Yang¡¯s lips curled into a smirk.


    ¡°You little brat.¡±


    ¡°Did your family forget to teach you some manners?¡±


    ¡°In case you forgot, the Empress is my sworn sister. And you? You¡¯re her nephew.¡±


    ¡°So tell me, what does that make me to you?¡±


    His voice turned stern.


    ¡°You expect me to come crawling to you?¡± Su Yang¡¯s smirk faded as his expression sharpened. ¡°What, are you trying to disrespect the Empress?¡±


    His voice rang loud and clear, drawing gasps from the crowd.


    Then, in one swift motion, he turned to his men and snapped¡ª


    ¡°Seize him!¡±


    ¡°Drag this bastard out and beat the hell out of him!¡±

 Chapter 6 - The Arrogant Playboy—Beating Down Zhangsun Chong in Public!

    Chapter 6: The Arrogant Playboy¡ªBeating Down Zhangsun Chong in Public!


    Outside the estate.


    Su Yang stood there in his finely embroidered robe, hands tucked into his loose sleeves, watching aloofly.


    Behind him, his guards stepped forward without hesitation, completely ignoring Zhangsun Chong¡¯s servants. Without a word, they grabbed him and dragged him down in front of everyone. Then, without mercy, they started beating him right there in the street.


    Screams and curses filled the air.


    ¡°You¡ª!¡±


    Zhangsun Chong¡¯s face was covered in dirt and bruises. He tried to shield himself with his hands while glaring furiously at Su Yang. But before he could finish his sentence, another punch landed, sending him sprawling on the ground, sobbing and writhing in pain.


    He was seething with rage, but deep down, fear crept in. He never imagined this lowly commoner¡ªat least in his eyes¡ªwould order his men to beat him down so brutally. And Su Yang wasn¡¯t holding back in the slightest.


    He was pretty sure several of his bones were already broken.


    ¡°What? You got a problem with this?¡±


    Su Yang took a step forward, towering over Zhangsun Chong, his voice calm but filled with contempt.


    ¡°The Empress is my sworn sister. If we¡¯re talking seniority, that puts me on the same level as your father.¡±


    ¡°And yet, you dared to come here acting high and mighty, demanding that I come out and bow to you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a direct insult to the Empress herself!¡±


    His voice carried an undeniable authority as if he were simply teaching a junior a well-deserved lesson.


    The moment those words left his mouth, the crowd watching from the sidelines fell silent. Their expressions twisted with a mix of disbelief and amusement, though none dared to say a word.


    ¡°Seriously? He¡¯s barely older than Zhangsun Chong, and he¡¯s calling himself a senior?¡±


    Still, they had to admit¡ªSu Yang wasn¡¯t like the other spoiled heirs. He was sharp, quick-witted, and ruthless. With just a few words, he had completely humiliated Zhangsun Chong, pinning him to the ground both physically and verbally.


    And technically, Su Yang wasn¡¯t wrong. He and the Empress might not be related by blood, but their sworn sibling bond was official. If anyone followed the hierarchy strictly, Zhangsun Chong was indeed a generation below him.


    He was a true arrogant playboy.


    The realization sent a shiver through the crowd. After all, the one getting beaten to a pulp wasn¡¯t just some nobody¡ªhe was the son of the Minister of Personnel. But apparently, only Su Yang had the guts to beat him up in broad daylight.


    Among the onlookers, the owner of Drunken Fragrance Pavilion was trembling from head to toe, his face pale as a sheet. He had made up his mind right then and there¡ªanytime Su Yang came to his restaurant, everything would be on the house.


    Who in their right mind would dare offend this lunatic?


    And he wasn¡¯t alone in thinking that.


    By nightfall, the entire noble circle of Chang¡¯an had heard about the incident. Many high-ranking officials swallowed hard, labeling Su Yang as a complete madman.


    However, among the younger noble heirs, admiration flickered in their eyes.


    ¡°Now this is what it means to be truly untouchable!¡±


    But of course, not everyone found Su Yang¡¯s arrogance entertaining.


    Plenty of people despised him, and they were all waiting for him to crash and burn.


    After all, the Minister of Personnel wasn¡¯t someone to be trifled with. It was only a matter of time before he brought this matter up in court.


    By tomorrow morning, the entire imperial court¡ªfrom minor officials to the heads of the six ministries¡ªwould surely have something to say about this. Many of them had opposed the Empress¡¯s decision to take in Su Yang as her sworn brother, believing it was a disgrace to the royal family.


    Especially that old hardliner, Minister Wei Zheng.


    The moment Su Yang started acting like an arrogant playboy, Wei Zheng had made it his mission to attack him at every opportunity.


    And now¡­ With Su Yang openly beating the son of a high-ranking minister in public, Wei Zheng would  let this slide.


    Sure enough, before the night was over, word of the incident had already reached the palace.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±


    Outside the estate, Su Yang cast a glance at the barely conscious Zhangsun Chong. Then, with a wave of his hand, he signaled his guards to stop.


    He wrinkled his nose in disgust, turning to Zhangsun Chong¡¯s servants.


    ¡°Take your master home before he ends up permanently crippled. If he ends up with lifelong injuries, don¡¯t come blaming me.¡±


    Just as Su Yang was about to turn away, a mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind.


    For a split second, Su Yang¡¯s face froze with confusion. Then, a strange smile crept across his lips as realization hit him.


    The point rewards were way too tempting, after all.


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 Chapter 7 - Teaching Princess Changle About Sex—What a Pair!

    Chapter 7: Teaching Princess Changle About Sex¡ªWhat a Pair!


    Deep in the courtyard¡­


    ¡°What¡¯s going on out there?¡±


    Princess Changle looked at Su Yang as he returned, her face full of curiosity.


    ¡°Nothing serious,¡± he said with a casual smile. ¡°Just a crazy guy causing trouble. I had someone teach him a lesson.¡±


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t about to tell her that he had just beaten the hell out of the Minister of Personnel¡¯s son.


    ¡°But it sounded like someone screaming in pain¡­¡±


    Changle frowned, unsure whether to believe him. She started toward the entrance, but before she could take a step, Su Yang blocked her path.


    ¡°Changle.¡±


    He put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a knowing smile. ¡°Your mother asked me to take care of you. She¡¯s my sworn sister, after all. And since you¡¯re not a kid anymore, I figured it¡¯s time for a little¡­ education.¡±


    ¡°Education?¡± She looked confused.


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m talking about sex education. Wouldn¡¯t want you getting tricked or taken advantage of in the future.¡±


    ¡°Sex education?¡± she echoed, her brows furrowing.


    Su Yang nodded. ¡°It¡¯s all about your physical and mental well-being.¡±


    Changle hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll listen. But why do I have to take off my clothes?¡±


    Su Yang grinned. ¡°Makes it easier to explain, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    She glared at him. ¡°You¡¯re messing with me.¡±


    ¡°No way! I swear!¡± he said solemnly, but his hands had a mind of their own, reaching out toward that generous pair of¡ª


    ¡­


    News of Su Yang¡¯s brutal public beatdown of Zhangsun Chong spread like wildfire, shaking all of Chang¡¯an to its core.


    At that moment, inside the Zhangsun estate¡­


    ¡°This is outrageous!¡±


    Zhangsun Wuji¡¯s face darkened as he looked at his son, lying on the bed, groaning in pain. His body trembled with fury.


    Su Yang hadn¡¯t held back at all.


    According to the physician, Chong had more than a dozen broken ribs. He wouldn¡¯t be getting out of bed for months.


    ¡°Dad¡­¡± Zhangsun Chong¡¯s face twisted in pain as he looked up at him. ¡°You have to get justice for me!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhangsun Wuji didn¡¯t respond. His expression was grim as he waved a hand, signaling the servants to tend to his son. Then, without another word, he turned and stormed out.


    That very night, Zhangsun Wuji ordered his carriage to be prepared. He was heading straight to the palace to see the Emperor.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, deep within the Imperial Palace, in the Lijing Hall¡­


    ¡°That kid¡­¡±


    Guan Yinbi sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°I remember him being a pretty well-behaved boy. When did he turn into such a troublemaker?¡±


    Qing Yi, the maid standing beside her, pursed her lips but said nothing. She knew exactly why Su Yang had the guts to act so recklessly¡ªit was all because of the Empress¡¯s protection.


    But now¡­


    The Empress was known for being fair and impartial. Now that Su Yang had beaten Zhangsun Chong half to death, he was definitely in for some serious consequences.


    Or so she thought.


    The next moment, she was left completely dumbfounded.


    ¡°That boy has always been spoiled rotten,¡± Guan Yinbi muttered. ¡°My brother coddled him too much. Maybe getting his ass kicked will finally teach him a lesson.¡±


    Qing Yi¡¯s jaw nearly dropped. The Empress wasn¡¯t mad at Su Yang¡ªshe was blaming Zhangsun Chong instead?!


    Of course, she also admitted that Su Yang had gone a little overboard. Breaking a dozen ribs was a bit excessive, after all.


    With that in mind, she turned to Qing Yi. ¡°Send a physician to the Grand Duke¡¯s manor and bring some medicinal supplements as a gesture of goodwill.¡±


    After Qing Yi left, Guan Yinbi let out a weary sigh. The outside world had always been skeptical about her decision to take in Su Yang, an orphan with no noble lineage, as her sworn brother.


    Some even speculated that the Empress had taken him in for¡­ improper reasons. That she wasn¡¯t treating him as a brother, but rather grooming him as a personal plaything.


    Utter nonsense.


    She knew the real reason.


    Once, Guan Yinbi had a dream where an immortal told her that Su Yang was the key to the Tang Dynasty¡¯s prosperity. If she didn¡¯t protect him, disaster would befall the empire.


    And as a devout believer in fate, she had taken the dream to heart.


    That was why she had done what she did.

 Chapter 8 - Zhangsun Wuji’s Complaint – The Emperors Fury

    Chapter 8: Zhangsun Wuji¡¯s Complaint ¨C The Emperor¡¯s Fury


    Deep within the royal palace, inside the imperial study, the night had long settled in. The candles burned low, casting flickering shadows on the walls. It was already past the first watch, yet the Li Er showed no signs of retiring. He remained seated on his couch, meticulously reviewing stacks of reports.


    He had no choice.


    The Tang Dynasty was still in its infancy, and everything was in a state of rebuilding. There was no room for complacency.


    Especially after the coup at the Xuan Wu Gate.


    Though no one dared to voice their thoughts openly, he knew the people whispered behind his back. They called him a usurper, a man who had seized the throne through bloodshed. After all, he had not only killed his own brother but had also imprisoned his father to take the crown.


    That was why he had to prove himself¡ªa just and wise ruler. He needed to show the world why he was the rightful king.


    ¡­


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± a eunuch announced, stepping into the study with a respectful bow. ¡°Lord Zhangsun requests an audience.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Er waved a hand, granting permission.


    Before the man even entered the room, his wails echoed through the halls. ¡°Your Majesty! You must bring justice for me!¡±


    Zhangsun Wuji stumbled inside and fell to his knees, tears streaming down his weathered face.


    Li Er¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What happened?¡± He rose from his seat, startled.


    Zhangsun Wuji had always been composed, as unshakable as a mountain. Seeing him this distraught was deeply unsettling.


    ¡°You have no idea, Your Majesty,¡± Zhangsun Wuji cried. ¡°This morning, my son went to visit Su Yang. Not only was he denied entry, but that scoundrel ordered his servants to beat my son in the streets! They broke nearly a dozen of his ribs! The physician said that if he¡¯d arrived any later, he might not have survived!¡±


    He wiped his tears, his voice trembling with both sorrow and fury. ¡°My son is the only heir to the Zhangsun family. If something happens to him, what am I supposed to do?¡±


    Zhangsun Wuji took a shaky breath before continuing, ¡°I know Su Yang is the Empress¡¯s sworn brother. No matter how much anger I feel, I dared not go to him for answers myself.¡± His tone was heavy with frustration. ¡°Even though the Empress is my own sister, our statuses are vastly different. There are lines I cannot cross.¡±


    Li Er¡¯s brows knitted together. Even with his composed nature, he couldn¡¯t hide his shock.


    ¡°Su Yang has always been a quiet and respectable man,¡± he murmured. ¡°Are you sure this isn¡¯t some misunderstanding?¡±


    When the Empress had insisted on making Su Yang her sworn brother, Li Er had been reluctant. However, he eventually relented. Still, he had secretly ordered people to observe Su Yang behavior. If the man ever stepped out of line, he would deal with him personally.


    But in all this time, Su Yang had never abused his connection to the Empress. He had always been polite, humble, and kept a low profile. He never threw his weight around or acted out of turn.


    How had he suddenly changed overnight?


    ¡°Your Majesty, you¡¯ve been fooled by his act!¡± Zhangsun Wuji protested, his face flushed with rage. ¡°He behaved himself before, but only so he could gain your trust. Now that he thinks he¡¯s untouchable, his true colors are finally showing!¡±


    He clenched his fists. ¡°Everyone in the city knows Su Yang has become the most notorious playboy in Chang¡¯an! I¡¯m not making this up¡ªthere are witnesses!¡±


    Zhangsun Wuji glared, his voice laced with barely contained fury. ¡°Go ask the owner of the Golden Rose Tavern if you don¡¯t believe me.¡±


    He wanted to say more¡ªto voice the rumors spreading in the streets. Whispers claimed Su Yang wasn¡¯t really the Empress¡¯s sworn brother. Some said he was nothing more than a favored plaything she kept by her side.


    Otherwise, how else could he act so recklessly?


    Who else would dare to attack Zhangsun Wuji¡¯s son in broad daylight?


    Li Er¡¯s hands tightened into fists. His eyes burned with barely restrained anger.


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡± His voice thundered through the room. ¡°Wuji, get up. I promise you, justice will be served.¡±


    If these accusations were true, then Su Yang had gone too far. He would not allow anyone to tarnish the dignity of the royal family.


    Chang¡¯an would not become another kingdom ruled by unchecked power and corruption. That would not happen under his rule.

 Chapter 9 - Li Er’s Fury—Was Su Yang Really the Empress’s Secret Lover?

    Chapter 9: Li Er¡¯s Fury¡ªWas Su Yang Really the Empress¡¯s Secret Lover?


    Rumors had been swirling in the capital that Su Yang, a mere commoner, wasn¡¯t just the Empress¡¯s sworn brother but her secret lover.


    As the reigning Emperor, Li Er,  of course, had heard the gossip.


    It enraged him, but he didn¡¯t let it get to him too much. After all, he and the Empress had been through thick and thin together¡ªtheir bond was unshakable.


    He trusted her completely. There was no way she would do something so disgraceful.


    That said, if anyone dared to speak of it in his presence, he¡¯d have them dragged out and executed on the spot.


    The next morning, after court, Li Er didn¡¯t return to his study. Instead, he slipped out of the palace in disguise. He had one goal: to meet this Su Yang.


    It was the first time he was going to see the man in person.


    And he wasn¡¯t going for a friendly visit. He was going to demand answers.


    ¡­


    Eastern City, in Chang¡¯an


    Li Er didn¡¯t head straight to Su Yang¡¯s residence. He took his time gathering information.


    And what he found out was outrageous.


    Just as his minister Zhangsun Wuji had reported, Su Yang had changed. The once mild-mannered and humble man was now an arrogant, lawless troublemaker. People had even given him a nickname¡ª¡°The Supreme Scoundrel.¡±


    Li Er didn¡¯t even need to ask why no one had reported him to the authorities. Everyone knew the reason. The Empress was backing him.


    ¡°This is absolute madness,¡± Li Er seethed. But what angered him the most wasn¡¯t Su Yang¡¯s antics¡ªit was the damage these rumors were doing to the imperial family¡¯s reputation.


    People were starting to wonder. Was Su Yang acting so brazenly because he had the Empress¡¯s approval?


    There was an old saying¡ªwhen the beam at the top is crooked, the ones below it will be, too.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve been too soft lately,¡± Li Er muttered, his expression darkened.


    With that, he made his way straight to Su Yang¡¯s residence.


    ¡­


    Outside Su Yang¡¯s Residence


    Two burly guards stood at the gate, their fierce expressions intimidating the passersby.


    Li Er¡¯s face twitched in irritation.


    These guards were elite soldiers from the imperial Golden Guard¡ªpersonally assigned to protect the Empress. Yet here they were, standing guard for Su Yang.


    That alone spoke volumes about how much she favored him.


    ¡°Your Ma¡ª¡±


    The guards recognized him instantly. Their faces turned pale, and they almost dropped to their knees, but Li Er silenced them with a sharp wave of his hand.


    He was here incognito, so no need to make a scene.


    With a stern expression, he stepped inside.


    ¡­


    Inside the courtyard


    Su Yang was in high spirits, playing with a parrot he had just bought.


    ¡°Enjoying yourself, are you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve caused this much trouble, and you still have time to play with birds?¡±


    The moment Li Er stepped in, his sharp gaze landed on Su Yang, his voice thick with anger.


    Su Yang turned, startled.


    ¡°Li¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hey, my brother-in-law! What brings you here?¡±


    He barely stopped himself from calling out the Emperor¡¯s name. Quickly setting the birdcage aside, he rushed forward with a bright smile.


    ¡°Would¡¯ve been nice if you sent word ahead! I¡¯d have prepared a proper welcome.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell is your brother-in-law?¡± Li Er snapped. He nearly cursed out loud but held back.


    Ignoring Su Yang¡¯s flattery, he strode straight into the hall and took the seat of honor.


    Su Yang, still smiling, poured tea for him.


    ¡°Here. Have some tea.¡±


    ¡°So, what brings you here today?¡±


    Of course, he already knew why the Emperor had come. It had to be about the beating he¡¯d given Zhangsun Chong.


    Li Er narrowed his eyes, staring hard at Su Yang. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without touching the tea, he got straight to the point.


    ¡°Why did you beat Zhangsun Chong in the middle of the street?¡±


    ¡°And don¡¯t give me any nonsense about seniority. I want the truth.¡±


    If not for the Empress¡¯s sake, he would have had Su Yang thrown in front of the Minister of Justice already.


    Su Yang shrugged.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t like him, so I beat him up. Simple as that.¡±


    Li Er was speechless.


    His eyes widened in disbelief.


    He slowly stood up, staring at Su Yang as if he had just grown a second head.


    ¡°That¡¯s your reason?¡±

 Chapter 10 - Signs of Betrayal—Li Er Was Jealous!

    Chapter 10: Signs of Betrayal¡ªLi Er Was Jealous!


    Deep within the imperial palace, inside Lijing Hall, Li Er sat with a stern expression.


    His recent undercover trip had been for one reason¡ªto confront Su Yang. He had wanted to see for himself whether the rumors about the young man¡¯s arrogance were true. And once he had confirmed it, his anger only grew stronger. He had been planning to strip Su Yang of his honorary status as the adopted brother of the Guan Yinbi.


    But before he could act, something unexpected happened.


    Just as he was about to issue the order, a palace maid in green robes arrived in a rush, delivering an urgent message from Guan Yinbi. She had summoned him to the palace for a private discussion.


    The moment Li Er stepped into the chamber, his voice was sharp.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you have no idea what your so-called ¡®sworn brother¡¯ has been up to.¡± His gaze was stern with frustration. ¡°How much longer do you plan to shield him? Do you even know what people are saying outside these palace walls?¡±


    Guan Yinbi, however, remained unfazed. Unlike the other imperial consorts, she never cowered before him. With a calm expression, she replied, ¡°And what? Don¡¯t tell me you actually believe those rumors?¡±


    Her words made Li Er falter. The rage in his eyes dimmed, and the anger on his face melted into an awkward smile.


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I mean,¡± he said, his tone softening. ¡°But your dear ¡®brother¡¯ has definitely crossed the line this time.¡±


    He sighed and rubbed his forehead. ¡°Let¡¯s set aside all the other things he¡¯s done. Just yesterday, he beat Zhangsun Chong senselessly in the middle of the street. I can¡¯t just let that slide, or I¡¯ll have a hard time keeping Zhangsun Wuji in check.¡±


    ¡°Besides,¡± Li Er added with a pointed look, ¡°isn¡¯t Zhangsun Chong your nephew?¡±


    He watched her closely, unable to stop the sting of jealousy from creeping into his chest. The way she favored Su Yang¡ªwasn¡¯t it a little too much?


    Guan Yinbi remained indifferent. ¡°I already heard about what happened. Su Yang is my sworn brother, and if he did anything wrong, I¡¯ll handle it myself. You don¡¯t need to trouble yourself over it.¡±


    She then warned him, her tone leaving no room for argument, ¡°Don¡¯t touch him.¡±


    Li Er let out a bitter chuckle. ¡°I have to ask¡ªwhat kind of magic spell has that boy put on you? You always take his side, no matter what.¡±


    His jealousy flared even stronger. He couldn¡¯t understand it. Why did she favor Su Yang so much?


    Guan Yinbi¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°He is a blessing to the Tang Dynasty,¡± she said firmly. ¡°He has the talent to bring peace and prosperity.¡±


    Her conviction left Li Er stunned. He blinked at her, momentarily speechless.


    A blessing to the empire? Talent?


    What talent did Su Yang possibly have?


    Li Er was baffled. Other than his good looks, what did that brat have?


    And as for that ridiculous prophecy about a divinely chosen minister¡­


    Li Er scoffed inwardly. What nonsense.


    But he didn¡¯t dare say it out loud. He wasn¡¯t stupid enough to challenge her directly.


    In the end, he had no choice but to drop the subject.


    Before leaving, Guan Yinbi made one thing crystal clear. No matter what Su Yang did, she alone would be the one to discipline him. No one else was allowed to interfere.


    ¡­


    The next morning, at the Court Assembly.


    Inside the grand Taiji Hall, Li Er sat on his throne, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the court officials gathered below. His golden robe shimmered as he subtly exhaled, his expression unreadable.


    But when his eyes landed on Zhangsun Wuji, his mood soured.


    He had promised the man that he would seek justice for his son. Yet in the end, he had returned empty-handed.


    To his surprise, however, Zhangsun Wuji showed no sign of displeasure. Li Er quickly realized why¡ªhe must have already met with Guan Yinbi the night before.


    The other officials glanced at one another, their expressions a mix of curiosity and unease. One thing was clear. Su Yang¡¯s status had just risen dramatically in their eyes.


    After all, even the son of the Minister of Appointments had been beaten senseless, yet nothing came of it. Who in their right mind would dare cross Su Yang now?


    At that moment, a voice broke the tense silence. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± a court official stepped forward. ¡°I have a matter to report.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s eye twitched at the sound of that voice.


    It was Wei Zheng.


    D*mn it.


    That man never brought good news.


    Wei Zheng was notorious for his sharp tongue and unyielding nature. Unlike the other officials, he wasn¡¯t afraid of imperial authority. If he believed he was right, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to point a finger straight at the emperor¡¯s face and call him out.


    And, sure enough, the moment he opened his mouth, the entire hall fell into uneasy silence.


    The officials held their breath.


    Whatever was coming next¡ªit wasn¡¯t going to be good.

 Chapter 11 - Was Su Yang the Empress’s Kept Man?

    Chapter 11: Was Su Yang the Empress¡¯s Kept Man?


    At the morning court session, inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the tension in the air was thick.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I urge you to strip Su Yang of his position!¡± Minister Wei Zheng spoke firmly, his voice ringing through the hall. ¡°And I also implore the Empress to uphold morality. Some lines should never be crossed.¡±


    The entire court fell silent. Officials exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions filled with shock. Wei Zheng was never one to shy away from the truth, no matter how dangerous it was to speak.


    Everyone in court knew what he was referring to.


    Rumors had been spreading like wildfire throughout Chang¡¯an. People whispered that Su Yang was not actually the Empress¡¯s sworn brother. Instead, they claimed she had been keeping him as her consort in secret.


    And honestly, the theory wasn¡¯t far-fetched.


    Su Yang was strikingly handsome¡ªmore beautiful than most men. If he weren¡¯t, how else could anyone explain why the Empress favored him so much? He wasn¡¯t a scholar. He had no literary talent. If anything, he was arrogant and reckless to an extreme.


    Still, no matter how many people suspected the truth, no one had dared to say it out loud. Let alone accuse the Empress in front of the Emperor himself. That was asking to get executed!


    And sure enough, the moment the words left Wei Zheng¡¯s mouth, the Emperor¡¯s face darkened. His piercing gaze burned with barely contained fury.


    His first instinct was to order the guards to drag Wei Zheng out and behead him immediately.


    But he held back.


    The Emperor knew his reputation had already suffered after the Xuanwu Gate Incident. The last thing he needed was to prove his critics right by shedding more blood in court. If he executed Wei Zheng now, no one would ever dare to speak honestly in court again.


    Taking a deep breath, he forced his rage down and spoke in a low, dangerous voice.


    ¡°Do you have proof?¡±


    Wei Zheng stood his ground. ¡°Not at this moment, Your Majesty. But there¡¯s no smoke without fire. For the sake of the royal family¡¯s dignity, it would be best to remove Su Yang before things escalate.¡±


    He was fearless. He believed he was doing the right thing. If the Emperor wanted to execute him for speaking the truth, then so be it. A ruler who couldn¡¯t handle honest criticism didn¡¯t deserve to be called a wise king.


    Li Er¡¯s eyes flashed with fury. He slammed his hand against the table. ¡°Then bring me proof first! If you dare spread baseless rumors again, I won¡¯t let this slide!¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With that, he stood abruptly and stormed out of court, his fury barely contained.


    On the way to the imperial study, Li Er could no longer hold it in. He cursed under his breath, swearing he¡¯d flay that stubborn fool alive. The eunuchs trailing behind him trembled, afraid to even breathe too loudly.


    Meanwhile, in the Eastern District of Chang¡¯an, inside Su Yang¡¯s residence, a different kind of trouble was brewing.


    Su Yang sat with a troubled expression. Ever since he had beaten Zhangsun Chong to a pulp, every rich kid in town had been avoiding him like the plague. No one wanted to be anywhere near him, which meant he had no one to bully for points.


    Just then, a carriage rolled up outside his residence. A maid stepped out and walked straight in without hesitation. She was none other than Qing Yi, the Empress¡¯s personal attendant.


    She wasted no time delivering her message. ¡°The Empress has summoned you to the palace.¡±


    Su Yang¡¯s expression turned grim.


    His sworn sister wanted to see him?


    He had a feeling he knew why.


    Word must have reached her about his latest antics¡ªespecially the part where he beat the living daylights out of Zhangsun Chong.


    So she was going to scold him, huh?


    Well, that was fair. No matter how much she spoiled him, there had to be limits.


    And because even his ¡°brother-in-law,¡± the Emperor himself, had gone out of his way to check in on him¡­


    Yeah.


    Su Yang was definitely in trouble.

 Chapter 12 - The Ever-Graceful Guan Yinbi and the Journey to the Imperial Academy

    Chapter 12: The Ever-Graceful Guan Yinbi and the Journey to the Imperial Academy


    Deep within the palace, inside the Hall of Governance.


    ¡°Good day, dear sister.¡±


    Su Yang stepped inside, quickly wiping away his usual exaggerated grin. He straightened up, looking at Guan Yinbi with nothing but respect.


    When it came to the Empress, Su Yang truly admired her. He knew that Li Er¡¯s reputation as a wise and enlightened ruler¡ªhis ability to usher in an era of prosperity¡ªowed a great deal to her influence behind the scenes. Without her guidance and support, such a golden age wouldn¡¯t have been possible.


    It was no wonder history would remember Guan Yinbi as one of the greatest Empresses of her time.


    But admiration aside, Su Yang had to admit¡ªshe was stunning. Her beauty was undeniable, and her figure was simply exquisite. More than that, she carried herself with an elegance that made her truly unforgettable.


    And so, every time Su Yang stood in her presence, a rather inappropriate thought crept into his mind.


    He had a sister to rely on when in trouble, but¡­ what about when there¡¯s no trouble?


    He shook the thought away instantly.


    Guan Yinbi had treated Su Yang like family ever since she took him in as her sworn brother. The way she doted on him, she might as well have been his own mother. If he ever dared to cross the line, he wouldn¡¯t even be able to call himself a man.


    Then again¡­


    Even Li Er himself wasn¡¯t exactly the most righteous man. He had stolen more than a few women from other men. That thought made Su Yang smirk to himself.


    ¡°Relax, Su Yang. There¡¯s no need for formalities here.¡±


    Guan Yinbi¡¯s warm smile softened the air as she gestured for him to come closer.


    He didn¡¯t hesitate. Su Yang strode over and sat beside her on the couch, ready to listen to whatever she had to say. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had a strong feeling that he knew why she called him here¡ªit had to be about the incident with Zhangsun Chong.


    ¡°Su Yang,¡± she said gently, ¡°what¡¯s been going on with you lately?¡±


    ¡°You seem a bit¡­ impatient.¡±


    That confirmed it.


    But what really caught him off guard was her tone.


    She wasn¡¯t scolding him. She wasn¡¯t even angry. Instead, she looked at him with genuine concern.


    That threw Su Yang for a loop.


    He had done plenty of reckless things, but beating up Zhangsun Chong was a big deal.


    Even if she wasn¡¯t going to punish him, she should at least be giving him a lecture, right?


    Truthfully, Guan Yinbi had considered doing just that. But in the end, she held back.


    She firmly believed in the words of the celestial dream she had. If the vision had told her something, it must have held some truth.


    Besides, the more she thought about it, the more she realized Zhangsun Chong had been the one at fault. He was arrogant¡ªdemanding Su Yang kneel before him the moment they met.


    Anyone would have been furious.


    As for Su Yang¡¯s other so-called reckless behavior¡­


    Guan Yinbi understood.


    A commoner who had suddenly been elevated to nobility¡ªespecially as the sworn brother of the Empress¡ªwas bound to feel a little untouchable.


    If anything, the fault was hers for not guiding him better.


    ¡°Su Yang,¡± she said, her tone calm but firm, ¡°I can¡¯t change who you were before.¡±


    ¡°But now that you¡¯re my sworn brother, you need to be more mindful of your actions. Every word you speak, every step you take¡ªit all matters now.¡±


    She had already heard about the morning court session. One of the ministers had criticized her for taking Su Yang under her wing.


    That angered her.


    But she would never interfere with political affairs directly.


    Instead, Guan Yinbi had a different plan.


    She wanted Su Yang to study at the Imperial Academy. It would help temper his temper and force him to develop discipline. More importantly, it would be a way to prove himself, not just to the king but to the entire court.


    ¡°Would you be willing to go?¡± she asked, her voice gentle but expectant.


    She believed in him.


    She believed he had the potential to do great things.


    Su Yang was stunned for a moment¡ªbut then, excitement flooded through him.


    He had been itching for a challenge.


    And now¡­he was about to be thrown into the heart of it.


    ¡°Of course, dear sister,¡± he said immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you think is best.¡±


    That response made Guan Yinbi smile with relief.

 Chapter 13 - Taking Whats Li Er’s

    Chapter 13: Taking What¡¯s Li Er¡¯s


    Guan Yinbi felt a sense of satisfaction seeing how obedient Su Yang was.


    As for sending him to the Imperial Academy for further studies, she had no real concerns.


    Sure, Su Yang was just a commoner¡ªno noble lineage, no prestigious mentor to guide him¡ªbut she trusted her dreams. They had never steered her wrong before. This man was destined to become a great statesman of the Tang Dynasty.


    He just needed the right guidance, and she was certain she could help him unlock his full potential.


    With that in mind, Guan Yinbi gave him another piece of advice. She urged him to take his studies seriously once he arrived at the academy and not to let her expectations go to waste.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my sister.¡±


    Su Yang grinned. ¡°I won¡¯t let you down.¡±


    With that, he was about to leave, but something unexpected happened.


    Guan Yinbi, who had been sitting beside him, suddenly let out a soft moan. Her face paled slightly, a trace of exhaustion showing in her delicate features.


    ¡°It¡¯s an old issue, nothing serious,¡± she said with a faint smile, shaking her head as if to brush off any concern.


    She knew her body well enough.


    The problem dates back to when she had followed Li Er in his conquest for the throne. The battle wounds had left lasting damage. Even the best imperial physicians were at a loss¡ªat best, they could alleviate her symptoms with acupuncture whenever the pain flared up.


    Su Yang frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me try something.¡±


    In his past life, he had spent some time studying therapeutic massage under a skilled master. He had learned a unique technique that relieved tension and pain. This was the perfect chance to put it to the test. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At first, Guan Yinbi was skeptical. After all, if even the imperial doctors couldn¡¯t fix her condition, what could Su Yang possibly do?


    Still, she humored him and lay down as he instructed. The moment his hands began kneading her pressure points, she felt an immediate sense of relief. A warmth spread through her body, as if years of blocked energy were suddenly flowing freely again.


    It was far more effective than acupuncture had ever been.


    She let out a soft sigh, her voice carrying a breathy undertone as her body fully relaxed.


    The sound sent a jolt through Su Yang¡¯s mind, and he couldn¡¯t help but be affected.


    After all, Guan Yinbi was no ordinary woman. Though older, she had maintained herself incredibly well. Her smooth, flawless skin had the luster of fine jade. Her figure was full yet toned, without the slightest hint of excess weight.


    And then there was the matter of her attire. In this era, silk was the fabric of choice, and no matter how many layers she wore, it was still sheer enough to leave little to the imagination. The warmth of her skin, the softness beneath his fingers¡ªit was impossible not to notice.


    His breathing grew unsteady.


    A dangerous thought began creeping into his mind, threatening to consume his rationality.


    ¡°No. She¡¯s my sworn sister.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s always treated me like family.¡±


    ¡°How could I even think of her like this?¡±


    His conscience waged war with his desires. But then, another thought surfaced¡ªone that tipped the scales.


    The royal family had never exactly been known for their morality. Emperor Li Er himself had stolen half of his concubines from other men. His son, the future Emperor Li Zhi, would go on to claim Wu Zetian for himself.


    So really, was it such a big deal if Su Yang had his own ambitions?


    A smirk played on his lips.


    ¡°That old bastard Li Er has no right to talk. Half of his consorts were taken from other men. And his son is going to bring Wu Zetian into his harem one day.¡±


    He scoffed.


    He knew he couldn¡¯t act just yet. To make a move now would be suicide. But this moment had planted a seed¡ªa plan he would nurture in time.


    One day, he would take from Li Er the same way Li Er had taken from others.


    And when that day came, he would make sure Guan Yinbi was no longer left out in the cold, cast aside for the emperor¡¯s latest infatuation.


    He would give her the devotion she deserved.


    ¡­


    ¡°I never would¡¯ve guessed you had medical skills like this.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got me impressed.¡±


    After a round of therapeutic massage, Guan Yinbi felt completely refreshed, and more energized than she had in a long time. She stretched slightly, marveling at how light her body felt, then turned to Su Yang with a look of surprise.

 Chapter 14 - The Elite’s Wails—The Ultimate Playboy’s Coming!

    Chapter 14: The Elite¡¯s Wails¡ªThe Ultimate Playboy¡¯s Coming!


    Whenever her illness flared up, imperial doctors would treat her with acupuncture, but the pain was always unbearable.


    But this time¡­


    Su Yang¡¯s therapy completely changed the game for Guan Yinbi. She felt a wave of relief wash over her, making her both surprised and delighted.


    ¡°I knew it! He¡¯s exactly the kind of wise and capable man our empire needs.¡±


    ¡°My dream about him wasn¡¯t just some illusion¡ªit was real.¡±


    The more she looked at Su Yang, the more she liked him. A rare, radiant smile lit up her face.


    ¡°If it¡¯s working for you, then I can come by regularly to take care of you.¡±


    Seeing her reaction, Su Yang seized the opportunity and offered with a polite smile.


    To him, this therapy wasn¡¯t just about easing her pain¡ªit was a perfect way to get closer to her. And, well¡­ let¡¯s just say the hands-on approach had its perks.


    Just thinking about Guan Yinbi¡¯s soft, curvaceous figure made Su Yang eager for more.


    He calculated in his mind: If he kept this up, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he completely won her over.


    ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of you,¡± she said warmly, nodding without hesitation.


    She had noticed some questionable movements from him during the massage, but she never doubted his intentions. As far as she was concerned, her dear sworn brother wouldn¡¯t have any improper thoughts about her.


    And besides, the treatment worked wonders¡ªshe simply couldn¡¯t say no.


    ¡°Then please rest well, my sister.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave for now.¡±


    Su Yang knew better than to rush things. No need to push his luck. With a respectful nod, he stepped out of the hall and headed back to his residence.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, in Chang¡¯an, Eastern City¡­


    Inside a lavish estate, Su Yang sat in silence after returning home, forcing himself to suppress the desire burning inside him.


    As much as he craved his beautiful sworn sister, he knew now wasn¡¯t the time for distractions.


    His top priority was to rack up more points.


    After all, now that he had built a reputation as the most feared and reckless playboy in town, enemies were bound to pile up. First on that list? Zhangsun Chong.


    If he didn¡¯t start getting stronger soon, there was a real chance he¡¯d get taken down when he least expected it. He couldn¡¯t rely on Guan Yinbi to save him every time.


    Luckily, today¡¯s visit to the palace had given him a golden opportunity.


    He was going to the Imperial Academy. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Back in the Tang Dynasty, institutions like Lijing Academy and Jixian Hall mainly focused on preserving and editing royal manuscripts. The true hub of elite education was the Imperial Academy, where only royals and the children of high-ranking officials could enroll.


    For example, the sons of those legendary statesmen in the Lingyan Pavilion? Yeah, they studied there.


    ¡°Finally! This is my chance to rack up a ton of points.¡±


    Su Yang¡¯s excitement grew. The academy was full of spoiled rich kids¡ªwalking treasure troves of points just waiting to be harvested. A few days of putting arrogant brats in their place, and he¡¯d be rolling in rewards.


    A few days later, his maid, Qingyi, came to inform him that Guan Yinbi had made all the necessary arrangements. He could report to the academy whenever he was ready.


    Without wasting a second, Su Yang gave a nod, got in his carriage, and set off the same day.


    ¡­


    Inside The Imperial Academy


    At that moment, the academy was buzzing with whispers. From the royal heirs to the privileged sons of noble families, everyone was stunned by the news.


    Su Yang was coming.


    Reactions varied¡ªsome exchanged nervous glances, others looked downright uneasy.


    His reputation preceded him. Everyone in Chang¡¯an had heard of him.


    He wasn¡¯t just a rich kid¡ªhe was the Empress¡¯s sworn brother. The kind of guy who could beat Zhangsun Chong to a pulp in broad daylight without batting an eye.


    A lot of students were secretly panicking. Some had even lodged formal complaints, desperately trying to prevent Su Yang from enrolling. None of them wanted to be his next victim.


    Sure, they were all from powerful backgrounds, but so what? Su Yang had the biggest trump card of all¡ªhe had the Empress herself backing him.


    Unfortunately for them, their objections fell on deaf ears.


    Even the senior scholars at the academy were feeling the pressure. Many of them dreaded Su Yang¡¯s arrival, wanting nothing more than to avoid him altogether.

 Chapter 15 - Targeted by Prince Wei, Li Tai

    Chapter 15: Targeted by Prince Wei, Li Tai


    The Imperial Academy stood on the eastern side of the Nanming Palace, flanked by the Lizheng Academy and the Hall of Scholars.


    Most of the students here were either royal princes from the Hundred Heirs Residence or the sons of powerful officials. Over time, the Hundred Heirs Residence would evolve into the Ten Princes¡¯ Mansions.


    Speaking of the Ten Princes¡¯ Mansions, Su Yang couldn¡¯t help but find it ridiculous. During the An-Shi Rebellion, nearly all the royal bloodlines from these mansions were wiped out in one fell swoop, saving the rebels a great deal of effort. And the one who set everything in motion? None other than Emperor Xuanzong, Li Longji¡ªthe so-called ¡°half a legendary ruler.¡±


    Su Yang had mixed feelings about him. He wasn¡¯t entirely incompetent, but his failures far outweighed his achievements. If the man had died twenty or thirty years earlier, the Tang Dynasty might not have fallen apart so quickly. But that was all in the distant future¡ªsomething that had nothing to do with Su Yang right now. In fact, it wasn¡¯t even certain that Li Longji would ever ascend the throne in this timeline.


    At the moment, as soon as Su Yang stepped into the Imperial Academy, the surrounding students instinctively sucked in sharp breaths. Their gazes darted away, avoiding eye contact with him altogether.


    And who could blame them?


    Ever since Su Yang had beaten Zhangsun Chong to a pulp in broad daylight, his reputation had been cemented. No one dared to challenge him. After all, word had spread that even the Minister of Appointments had been left utterly humiliated, forced to watch helplessly as his son lay bedridden, wailing in pain.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re the infamous troublemaker everyone fears?¡±


    ¡°The Empress¡¯s sworn brother?¡±


    ¡°Su Yang?¡±


    A few voices rang out from nearby. Unlike the others, these newcomers didn¡¯t seem intimidated. In fact, they walked over deliberately, their expressions showing clear interest, as if they were looking to make acquaintances.


    And they weren¡¯t just anyone. These were the sons of some of the most esteemed generals in the empire¡ªthe legendary figures enshrined in the Hall of Valor.


    Leading the group was Cheng Chumo, the eldest son of Duke Lu, Cheng Yaojin.


    Beside him stood Yuchi Baolin, the son of Duke Wu, Yuchi Gong.


    Then there was Qin Huaiyu, the son of Duke Yi, Qin Shubao.


    And finally, Luo Tong, the son of the late war hero Luo Cheng, who had died in battle.


    Bound by the legacies of their fathers, these four had grown up together, forming an unshakable brotherhood. They had long been curious about Su Yang, eager to meet him, but they had never had the chance¡ªuntil now.


    To the rest of the world, Su Yang was nothing more than an arrogant, untouchable delinquent. But to them, he was the kind of fearless, straightforward man they respected. Someone who didn¡¯t bow to authority, who had the guts to put entitled nobles in their place.


    They had grown sick of the so-called ¡°elite¡± young lords who strutted around flaunting their family backgrounds while lacking any real skills. But because of their powerful connections, no one dared to touch them.


    Now, however, someone had finally stepped up and put one of those frauds in his place. Naturally, that earned their respect.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Su Yang said, flashing a grin. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±


    He had no reason to turn down their goodwill. If anything, he was thrilled¡ªthese four came from extraordinary backgrounds. Befriending them could only work to his advantage, and he had no doubt he could benefit from their connections in the long run.


    Besides, he genuinely liked them. A few minutes of conversation was all it took for them to hit it off. They had the same sense of humor and the same attitude, and before long, they were talking like old friends. Given that Su Yang was slightly older, it was only natural that he took on the role of their leader.


    Just then, a mocking voice cut through the air.


    ¡°Ha¡­ Birds of a feather, I see. Trash always finds its way to the same garbage pile.¡±


    The words dripped with disdain. The sneer in his tone was unmistakable.


    The speaker was none other than Li Tai.


    The Empress¡¯s second son. The man who would one day be known as Prince Wei.


    Li Tai stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression cold, his gaze filled with hostility toward Su Yang. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And it wasn¡¯t surprising.


    After all, Zhangsun Chong was one of Crown Prince Li Chengqian¡¯s men. Su Yang had publicly humiliated him, which meant he had indirectly offended everyone in the prince¡¯s circle.


    ¡°Say that again, I dare you!¡±


    Before Su Yang could even react, Cheng Chumo and the others had already stepped forward, their eyes blazing with fury.


    Su Yang was their sworn brother now. They weren¡¯t about to let anyone insult him.


    Even without Su Yang in the picture, they and Li Tai had never gotten along.


    The royal princes, with all their scholarly pretensions, had always looked down on them as nothing more than brutes who knew nothing beyond wielding swords and spears.


    But at the end of the day, no one dared to cross the Crown Prince.


    As for Li Tai¡­


    He was just another prince, and that didn¡¯t count for much.

 Chapter 16 - The Ultimate Plagiarist!

    Chapter 16: The Ultimate Plagiarist!


    Inside the Imperial Academy.


    Su Yang knew he had no personal grudge against Prince Li Tai. In fact, they had barely interacted at all. So why was Li Tai suddenly targeting him like this?


    It all boiled down to one thing¡ªhis older brother, Crown Prince Li Chengqian.


    In any dynasty, being named crown prince didn¡¯t guarantee a smooth path to the throne. Take the previous regime, for example. Emperor Yang of Sui, a notorious tyrant, had seized power through usurpation. And the Tang royal family was no different.


    After all, everyone knew that Emperor Li Er had claimed the throne by killing his own brother and imprisoning his father!


    Though he wasn¡¯t the first to do such a thing, his actions had cast a long shadow over the empire. As a result, every time a struggle for the throne emerged, it turned into a bloodbath that shook the heavens.


    So, when Su Yang publicly humiliated Zhangsun Chong in the street, it was no surprise that Crown Prince Li Chengqian took offense. He would definitely find a way to retaliate.


    But it wasn¡¯t about Zhangsun Chong himself¡ªhis status alone wasn¡¯t enough to warrant the crown prince¡¯s attention. The real reason was his father, Zhangsun Wuji.


    Zhangsun Wuji wasn¡¯t just the Minister of Personnel; he was also a key figure in the powerful Guanlong aristocratic faction.


    If Li Chengqian wanted to secure his claim to the throne, he had to win over Zhangsun Wuji. Otherwise, he could be replaced at any moment.


    After all, his grandfather, Emperor Gaozu, had only been able to establish the Tang dynasty because of the Guanlong faction¡¯s backing.


    Their influence was immense.


    Historians later studied the faction in-depth and came to a shocking conclusion: throughout history, many emperors owed their thrones to them. Some even speculated that imperial power itself was nothing more than a game of musical chairs orchestrated by the faction.


    ¡°Li Tai!¡±


    ¡°Did you just eat garbage? Because that¡¯s the only way to explain the trash coming out of your mouth.¡±


    At that moment, Su Yang¡¯s sworn brothers, led by Cheng Chumo, didn¡¯t hesitate to step forward, glaring at Li Tai with open hostility.


    They had long been fed up with this guy.


    And it made sense¡ªwherever people gathered, cliques formed. Li Tai and his circle prided themselves on being refined intellectuals and looked down on anyone who relied on brute strength.


    Tensions between the two groups had flared up more than once.


    ¡°You seem pretty full of yourself,¡± Su Yang said, stepping in to hold back his friends. As their sworn brother, he couldn¡¯t just let them fight his battles for him.


    Besides, when it came to arguments, his side had never come out on top. Li Tai always had the upper hand.


    The guy was undeniably talented.


    Even Emperor Li Er had allowed him to establish a literary academy at his residence, where he gathered and mentored scholars.


    Though Li Tai didn¡¯t respond, the arrogant smirk on his face said it all. He clearly thought of himself as the modern-day equivalent of the legendary scholar-prince Cao Zhi.


    ¡°How about this?¡± Su Yang suggested with a playful glint in his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s an academic competition coming up soon, right? Why don¡¯t we settle this with a contest?¡±


    ¡°If I win, you have to kneel and apologize to my boys.¡±


    ¡°If I lose, I¡¯ll let you deal with me however you see fit.¡±


    ¡°Do you dare?¡±


    The moment those words left his mouth, a wave of shock swept through the crowd. Students and scholars alike stared in disbelief.


    Had the infamous playboy Su Yang just challenged Li Tai to an academic duel?


    Was he insane?


    Even Cheng Chumo and the others were dumbfounded. They quickly tried to talk Su Yang out of it. Li Tai was no joke¡ªhe had dominated every academic competition he had ever entered.


    ¡°If you¡¯re dumb enough to dig your own grave, who am I to stop you?¡± Li Tai sneered. He had been momentarily caught off guard by Su Yang¡¯s challenge, but now he was just amused.


    To him, Su Yang was nothing more than a lowly commoner. How much knowledge could he possibly have?


    ¡°Hey, are you out of your mind?!¡± Cheng Chumo and the others looked at Su Yang in a panic, trying to convince him to back out of the bet.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Su Yang grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve got this in the bag.¡±


    After all, he wasn¡¯t just any scholar¡ªhe was a reincarnated one, armed with the accumulated wisdom of centuries. If plagiarism were an art, Su Yang was the grandmaster.


    Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 17 - Li Er’s Jealousy and That So-Called ‘Destined Minister’

    Chapter 17: Li Er¡¯s Jealousy and That So-Called ¡®Destined Minister¡¯


    News of Su Yang¡¯s bet with Li Tai spread like wildfire, shaking the entire city of Chang¡¯an.


    Everyone¡ªfrom high-ranking officials to the imperial court¡ªwas stunned.


    Their first reaction was Su Yang had lost his mind. How dare he challenge Li Tai in a battle of intellect?


    Li Tai¡¯s talent was beyond question. Many esteemed scholars had praised his intellect, some even claiming he was destined to stand alongside the greatest literary minds of the Tang Dynasty.


    And Su Yang was a mere commoner with barely any formal education. Where did he even get the confidence to challenge Li Tai?


    Residence of the Minister of Civil Affairs.


    ¡°That lowly commoner dares to challenge Li Tai in a literary duel?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s done for.¡±


    Even bedridden with injuries, Zhangsun Chong couldn¡¯t hide his excitement when he heard the news. The pain wracking his body didn¡¯t matter¡ªhe was grinning ear to ear. He had already made up his mind.


    No matter what, even if he had to be carried there, he was going to the Imperial Academy. He had to witness Su Yang¡¯s humiliating defeat with his own eyes.


    Inside the Palace.


    ¡°What? That idiot actually challenged Li Tai?¡±


    Guan Yinbi sighed the moment she heard the news.


    She was more than familiar with Li Tai¡¯s capabilities. The boy was brilliant¡ªfew could match his intellect. Su Yang going up against him in a battle of wits was walking straight into disaster.


    Truth be told, Guan Yinbi wanted to step in and put an end to this before things got out of hand. The stakes were too high. No matter who won, someone¡¯s reputation was going to take a serious hit, and there would be no easy way to clean up the mess afterward.


    Especially for Su Yang.


    Guan Yinbi had always believed he was a fated minister¡ªsomeone destined to bring prosperity to the Tang Dynasty. But if he suffered a crushing defeat and lost all confidence in himself, who knew what kind of impact that would have?


    And if things spiraled out of control¡­ it could even affect the fate of the entire empire.


    But there was one problem.


    It was too late.


    The entire city already knew about the bet. If she stepped in now, it would only make things worse.


    After all, rumors had already been circulating¡ªsome people, from commoners to court officials, suspected that she was secretly protecting Su Yang for¡­ less-than-honorable reasons.


    And if she intervened now, it would only add fuel to the fire.


    To make things worse, Li Tai was her son. If she openly took Su Yang¡¯s side, there was no doubt her enemies would use it against her.


    Guan Yinbi had nothing to feel guilty about¡ªshe knew she had done nothing wrong¡ªbut not everyone saw it that way. Especially not someone like Wei Zheng, who would jump at the chance to use this against her.


    And even if Guan Yinbi wanted to step in, Li Er would never allow it.


    Lately, he had started to feel that Guan Yinbi was getting carried away when it came to Su Yang. Her favoritism was beginning to go too far.


    Li Er didn¡¯t believe for a second that Guan Yinbi would ever betray him, but the constant rumors about her and Su Yang had begun to wear on him. He would never admit it, but he was getting jealous.


    In fact, he was almost hoping Su Yang would embarrass himself¡ªmaybe then he could finally strip the boy of his title as his sworn brother.


    No matter how many people insisted Su Yang was some kind of ¡®destined sage minister,¡¯ Li Er wasn¡¯t buying it.


    Nightfall.


    The sky was dark, with only the full moon and a few scattered stars above.


    At that moment, Cheng Chumo and the others slipped out of their family estates and made their way to Su Yang¡¯s place.


    ¡°Su Yang, what¡¯s going on?¡± Cheng Chumo asked, his voice filled with curiosity and a little nervousness. The others looked just as uneasy.


    After all, it was well past curfew. If they got caught, things could get ugly.


    Su Yang smirked. ¡°Relax.¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°If anything happens, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±


    His confidence put the others at ease. Without another word, he led them toward Zhuque Street.


    As they moved through the city, they narrowly avoided the Jinwu Guards on patrol, slipping past undetected under Su Yang¡¯s lead.


    Eventually, they arrived at a secluded location.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± Cheng Chumo whispered, scanning their surroundings.


    Su Yang grinned. ¡°A place as close to paradise as you can get.¡±


    With a knowing smirk, he stepped forward, exchanged a few words with the guards at the entrance, and was promptly allowed inside.

 Chapter 18 - Eight Hundred Points—Unlocking the Secret of Refined Salt!

    Chapter 18: Eight Hundred Points¡ªUnlocking the Secret of Refined Salt!


    Back in ancient times, strict curfews were enforced every night due to the prevailing belief that agriculture should be prioritized over commerce. The nights were dull and lifeless, and doing business was practically forbidden.


    It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that if someone from a prestigious family went into trade, they¡¯d be looked down upon and ostracized. In some cases, they weren¡¯t even allowed to have their ancestral tablets placed in the family shrine after death. That was how low merchants were ranked in society at the time.


    Things started to change during the Tang Dynasty. As the empire sought to expand its treasury, the status of merchants gradually improved. Curfews were lifted, and night markets flourished. But that was still far off¡ªat this point in history, strict nighttime restrictions remained in place.


    Still, not everyone was content to spend the long nights in boredom. Some people always find ways to entertain themselves. That¡¯s how the so-called ¡°Ghost Market¡± came to be.


    Despite its name, this market wasn¡¯t a black market filled with illegal goods. Instead, it referred to places like high-end brothels and gambling dens. Business-minded individuals were sharp enough to recognize that members of the elite would get restless at night. So, once the curfew went into effect, these underground establishments quietly opened their doors, catering to the wealthy and powerful. Prices were significantly higher than during the day, but for the privileged few, money was no object.


    Of course, not just anyone could get in. These places operated on a strict membership basis. If you didn¡¯t have the right credentials, no amount of wealth or status could get you through the door. The reason for this was simple: secrecy. If word ever got out, even the most well-connected proprietors would find themselves in serious trouble.


    ¡°Wait, this is the Ghost Market?¡±


    When Cheng Chumo and his friends realized where they were, their jaws nearly hit the floor. They had heard rumors about it, but none of them had ever seen it for themselves. And now, here they were¡ªbrought in by none other than Su Yang.


    Excitement buzzed through the group. They had always heard that the Ghost Market was like paradise on earth¡ªwhere anything was possible as long as one could pay for it.


    ¡°Look at you guys, all wide-eyed like a bunch of rookies,¡± Su Yang teased, flashing a mischievous grin. ¡°Tonight, I¡¯m going to show you what real luxury looks like.¡±


    At first, even though they were surrounded by the pleasures of the Ghost Market, Cheng Chumo and the others felt uneasy. Coming from strict military families, they had been raised with rigid discipline. Their daily routine revolved around training and studying at the academy¡ªthere was no room for indulgence.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the stiff faces?¡± Su Yang laughed. ¡°Afraid someone¡¯s going to eat you?¡±


    He wasted no time summoning a few talented performers to entertain them, determined to help his friends loosen up. ¡°Relax, enjoy yourselves. No one¡¯s going to find out about this night¡ªI promise.¡±


    That assurance was all they needed. The weight lifted from their shoulders, and they finally let themselves enjoy the night. They watched the dancers, drank fine wine, and reveled in the forbidden delights of the Ghost Market.


    By the end of the night, they were having the time of their lives¡ªsome even outdoing Su Yang himself in their indulgence. It was hardly surprising. They were young, full of energy, and had spent their whole lives under strict rules. Now that they had a taste of freedom, there was no holding back.


    Cheng Chumo, in particular, was having a blast, surrounded by four or five women at once¡ªproving he had inherited his father¡¯s legendary wild streak. Even Qin Huaiyu, usually the most reserved of the group, was starting to let loose.


    Then, suddenly¡ª Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Yang¡¯s eyes lit up. Just as he had predicted, breaking these privileged brats out of their rigid family rules was an incredibly lucrative strategy.


    With this latest haul, he had racked up a total of 800 points¡ªjust enough to unlock the technique for refining high-quality salt!

 Chapter 19 - The Court Officials Accuse Su Yang!

    Chapter 19: The Court Officials Accuse Su Yang!


    With the points he had already accumulated, Su Yang had long since surpassed the 800-point threshold. That meant he could finally exchange them in the system¡¯s store for the technology to refine pure salt.


    The moment that thought crossed his mind, he didn¡¯t hesitate. He acted immediately.


    As the system¡¯s cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind, a flood of information surged into his brain. It contained a step-by-step guide on how to refine pure salt¡ªdetailed enough that he could follow it precisely and extract high-quality salt with ease.


    Excitement coursed through him. This was it. This was the key to his rise as a top financial mogul!


    In ancient times, salt was a strategic resource¡ªextremely rare and valuable. The price was outrageous. Common folk rarely got to taste it, maybe a few times a year if they were lucky. Even the wealthy and noble families had to make do with crude, unrefined salt, which was far from ideal in taste and quality.


    But if he could produce refined salt and bring it to market? It would be a game-changer.


    To put it bluntly, a single ounce of refined salt could be worth ten, maybe even a hundred ounces of gold. And demand? Through the roof.


    Once he cornered the salt trade, his wealth would skyrocket.


    Just as he was lost in thought, a voice snapped him back to reality.


    ¡°Hey, Su Yang!¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯d you stop drinking?¡±


    Cheng Chumo was visibly tipsy as he swayed toward him. The others followed, all of them completely drunk.


    By now, the once well-mannered young heirs had thrown all restraint out the window. They had abandoned their usual uptight behavior, indulging in everything they¡¯d never dared before. Not only were they downing alcohol by the gallon, but they were also reveling in the company of countless courtesans, embracing a life of complete debauchery.


    If word got out about this?


    It would be an absolute scandal.


    Their families¡ªespecially their fathers¡ªwould probably lose their minds. These men were the sons of distinguished families, sent to the Imperial Academy to study and refine their knowledge. The empire was at peace now; there were fewer wars to fight. Their parents expected them to become scholars and officials, not waste their days in vice.


    Yet here they were, partying in the black market under Su Yang¡¯s influence.


    If their families found out¡­


    Oh, they¡¯d lose it.


    Su Yang let out a dramatic sigh, his face full of regret. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Sorry, guys,¡± he said, looking at Cheng Chumo and the others with a guilty expression.


    He planned to expose everything.


    The only way to fully embrace his role as a rich, reckless playboy was to make sure this scandal spread far and wide. That way, he¡¯d rack up even more points.


    The next morning.


    At dawn, the usually peaceful city of Chang¡¯an erupted in chaos.


    The entire imperial court was in an uproar.


    News had spread like wildfire¡ªSu Yang had ¡°accidentally¡± let slip everything that happened in the black market last night.


    Now, everyone knew.


    Cheng Chumo and his friends had openly defied the curfew, sneaking out at night to indulge in drinking, gambling, and a level of debauchery that was hard to stomach.


    And if that wasn¡¯t bad enough¡­


    Word was that after a night of revelry, they ran out of money and got themselves detained in a brothel! If their families hadn¡¯t rushed over to bail them out in time, who knew how much worse it could¡¯ve gotten?


    The court officials were stunned.


    All eyes turned to Cheng Yaojin and the other generals. Their expressions ranged from amusement to pure ridicule.


    The scholars¡ªwho already looked down on the military¡ªwere especially smug.


    To them, this was just more proof that warriors were nothing but brainless brutes.


    ¡°Tell me, what exactly qualifies these muscleheads to hold positions in court?¡±


    ¡°Do they have the intellect to govern a nation?¡±


    One of the officials sneered. ¡°Duke Lu, you really outdid yourself raising your son. The kid¡¯s a perfect copy of his father¡ªthe infamous troublemaker of his generation.¡±


    Laughter rippled through the court as other ministers piled on with sarcastic remarks.


    Cheng Yaojin and the other generals were furious.


    Their faces turned red with rage, but what could they do? Their sons had indeed made fools of themselves. All they could do was grit their teeth and endure it.


    After all, Cheng Chumo wasn¡¯t just some random noble kid¡ªhe was a young Cavalry General in the empire¡¯s army. And yet, here he was, making headlines for sneaking off to the black market for a night of debauchery.


    This was not a good look.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Cheng Yaojin finally spoke, his voice heavy with frustration.


    ¡°I won¡¯t deny that our boys acted like fools¡­ but let¡¯s be fair here. They weren¡¯t the ones who started this mess.¡±


    He shot a murderous glare in Su Yang¡¯s direction.


    ¡°The real instigator? That spoiled brat Su Yang!¡±


    Other generals immediately chimed in, nodding furiously.


    ¡°Our sons are good kids! They were just led astray by that troublemaker!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the worst of them all!¡±


    And just like that, the court descended into a heated debate, as officials and generals threw the blame back and forth¡ªwhile Su Yang, the true mastermind behind the chaos, simply watched the show unfold.

 Chapter 20 - The Empress Slips Out of the Palace—A Secret Rendezvous with Su Yang

    Chapter 20: The Empress Slips Out of the Palace¡ªA Secret Rendezvous with Su Yang


    Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a group of high-ranking officials, including Cheng Yaojin, stood before Li Er with long faces, practically wailing in frustration.


    Of course, they pinned the blame squarely on Su Yang.


    If it weren¡¯t for him leading their sons astray, there was no way Cheng Chumo and the others would have dared to break curfew and sneak off to the black market. No matter how reckless they were, even a thousand lifetimes¡¯ worth of courage wouldn¡¯t have been enough for them to take such a risk¡ªunless, Su Yang had been the one egging them on.


    ¡°Your Majesty, we urge you to see the truth of the matter!¡± Cheng Yaojin and the others pleaded. They wanted Su Yang punished, and they wanted it now.


    At the same time, they made their stance clear¡ªonce they got back home, they¡¯d make damn sure their sons stayed far away from Su Yang. One bad influence like him was enough to corrupt them beyond repair.


    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±


    A voice cut through the commotion. It was the imperial advisor, Wei Zheng, stepping forward with a grave expression. ¡°I must agree with Duke Lu. This guy must be punished severely.¡±


    His words stirred the hall. Whispers rippled through the gathered officials, all nodding in agreement.


    For a while now, the court¡ªand even the common people¡ªhad been abuzz with rumors about Su Yang. Many refused to believe he was simply the Empress¡¯s sworn brother. The more scandalous whispers claimed he was nothing more than a secret lover she kept hidden away.


    Why else would the Empress favor him so much?


    As for the so-called prophecy about Su Yang being a ¡°heaven-sent sage¡± meant to bring glory to the empire was absolute nonsense.


    Looking at his background, his offenses, and his overall arrogance, Su Yang was no great scholar or miracle worker. He was a spoiled brat who abused his connections, flaunted his power, and stirred up trouble wherever he went.


    Hadn¡¯t he already beaten up the son of the Minister of Appointments in broad daylight? And now, he had dragged the sons of nobility into yet another scandal. Who knew what kind of disaster he¡¯d cause next?


    A wave of murmurs spread through the court, escalating into outright condemnation. Even Grand Chancellor Zhangsun Wuji finally spoke up. ¡°Whether the rumors are true or not, we cannot allow this to continue. Su Yang must face consequences. Otherwise, what dignity does the royal family have left?¡±


    ¡°Are we really going to let one rotten apple spoil the whole barrel?¡± he added, his voice laced with disdain.


    Just then, someone in the hall mentioned a recent bet between Su Yang and Prince Li Tai.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Su Yang wager against Prince Li Tai not too long ago?¡±


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be much longer before we see the results.¡±


    ¡°As for whether he deserves punishment¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll let the outcome decide.¡±


    Li Er sat on his throne, his face unreadable. Deep down, he wasn¡¯t particularly fond of Su Yang either. The Empress¡¯s blatant favoritism toward him had been driving him insane. If he hadn¡¯t known the Empress for so long, he might have suspected something was going on between them.


    He wanted to deal with Su Yang himself, but if he acted too rashly, he¡¯d have to answer to the Empress. So, rather than making a direct move, he decided to wait.


    The bet with Prince Li Tai would provide the perfect excuse.


    At that moment, the court fell into uneasy silence. Even Wei Zheng, normally unyielding, said nothing more. Everyone believed the outcome of the bet was already set in stone.


    After all, Prince Li Tai was a well-known scholar, praised even by the Four Literary Masters of the early Tang Dynasty. Compared to him, Su Yang was a nobody. He had no noble background, no education¡ªwhat could he possibly bring to the table?


    When he inevitably lost, that would be the perfect moment to crush him. They¡¯d make sure he fell so hard he¡¯d never be able to rise again.


    After all, who would dare offend the mighty Zhangsun family and expect to survive?


    ¡­


    Chang¡¯an, at the Eastern City.


    Inside his estate, Su Yang had no idea what had gone down at court that morning, but he had already expected something like this.


    He knew the officials were just looking for an excuse to target him.


    But was he worried?


    Not in the slightest.


    He wasn¡¯t just some average scholar¡ªhe was a master of plagiarizing history¡¯s greatest literary works. Going up against Li Tai was child¡¯s play.


    For now, though, Su Yang ignored the political scheming and focused on something far more important¡ªrefining his latest batch of purified salt.


    Just as he was about to get back to work, a sudden disturbance caught his attention.


    Someone had arrived at his estate.


    Not just anyone.


    It was his so-called ¡°sworn sister.¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Empress herself.


    Disguised and having slipped out of the palace unnoticed, she stormed into his residence with barely contained fury.


    ¡°Su Yang, get over here. Now.¡±


    Her voice was sharp with frustration, and the look in her eyes made it clear¡ªshe was absolutely livid.


    And she was here for him.

 Chapter 21 - A Dangerous Move – The Enchanting Empress

    Chapter 21: A Dangerous Move ¨C The Enchanting Empress


    That morning at the Taiji Hall, the court was in an uproar.


    Word had spread that Su Yang had taken the sons of several noble families to the underbelly of the city, indulging in drinking, gambling, and even worse. The worst part was they hadn¡¯t made it back, ending up detained in the place they had been partying.


    The scandal sent shockwaves through the court.


    Minister Wei Zheng immediately seized the opportunity to push for punishment, insisting that the emperor strip Su Yang of his honorary status as a sworn brother. According to him, as long as Su Yang held that title, rumors would never die down.


    After all, the streets were already buzzing with gossip that Su Yang was nothing more than Guan Yinbi¡¯s plaything.


    How else could he act so recklessly?


    Hearing all this, Li Er didn¡¯t bother defending Su Yang. In fact, he had been waiting for an opportunity to deal with him. He, too, felt that Guan Yinbi had grown far too indulgent with Su Yang, almost to the point of obsession.


    However, because of her influence, he couldn¡¯t just openly make a move against him. Instead, he decided to use the upcoming literary duel as an excuse to get rid of Su Yang through someone else¡¯s hands.


    After all, Su Yang had already declared that if he lost the duel, he would accept whatever punishment was given to him.


    When the time came, even if Guan Yinbi wanted to protect him, she wouldn¡¯t dare cross that line in front of the entire court.


    And sure enough, the moment she heard about what had happened in court that morning, she was livid.


    While she wasn¡¯t exactly pleased with Su Yang¡¯s actions, she couldn¡¯t stand how many people were so eager to bring him down.


    They wanted him dead.


    To her, Su Yang wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªhe was the destined wise minister of the Tang Dynasty, and she wouldn¡¯t let anyone lay a hand on him.


    With that in mind, she immediately ordered her people to prepare a carriage and set off for the Eastern City.


    Inside a secluded residence in the East Market, Guan Yinbi had arrived in disguise, careful not to draw attention.


    ¡°Su Yang.¡±


    She sighed, looking at him with a mix of frustration and concern.


    ¡°You just promised me that you¡¯d focus on your studies at the academy. And now, after only a few days, you¡¯ve already stirred up this mess?¡±


    Her tone carried a trace of exasperation, but what truly troubled her wasn¡¯t just his reckless behavior¡ªit was his upcoming literary duel against Li Tai.


    ¡°What am I supposed to do with you?¡± she murmured, shaking her head.


    ¡°Do you even realize who Li Tai¡¯s mentor is? He was taught by one of the Four Great Scholars of the early Tang era. You challenging him to a literary duel is exactly what he wants.¡±


    Her expression darkened with worry. Even if the outside world wasn¡¯t certain, she herself had little faith that Su Yang could win. In all likelihood, Li Tai would tear him apart.


    ¡°Listen to me,¡± she said, her voice firm.


    ¡°Just let this whole thing go. Ignore it, pretend it never happened. Yes, it might hurt your pride, but that¡¯s still better than giving them an excuse to destroy you.¡±


    She knew better than anyone¡ªeveryone at the court, including the emperor, was waiting for a chance to take Su Yang down.


    But Su Yang simply smiled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my sister. I¡¯m not reckless,¡± he assured her.


    ¡°If I challenged Li Tai, it¡¯s because I know I can win.¡±


    His confidence was unwavering. He even chuckled, as if he found her concern unnecessary.


    After all, he wasn¡¯t just any scholar¡ªhe was the ultimate literary genius. Forget Li Tai¡¯s prestigious mentor, even the legendary poet Li Bai himself would have to bow before him. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°But¡­¡± she started, still unsure.


    Before she could continue, Su Yang smoothly changed the subject.


    ¡°How¡¯s your health?¡± he asked, his eyes glinting mischievously.


    ¡°It¡¯s about time for another therapy session, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    His voice was calm, but there was something else hidden in his words. Without waiting for her response, Su Yang stepped closer and gently helped her toward the private chamber.


    ¡°You¡ª¡±


    She sighed, shaking her head in resignation.


    Guan Yinbi knew there was no talking him out of this. In the end, she simply lay down on the couch, allowing him to continue his treatment.


    She had to admit¡ªSu Yang¡¯s massage techniques were nothing short of miraculous. After the last session, even her long-standing ailments had improved significantly. The imperial physicians had been astonished, unable to explain how he had managed it.


    ¡°I¡¯m your sworn brother,¡± Su Yang said with a smirk, his gaze lingering on her figure.


    ¡°I would never embarrass you.¡±


    His hands pressed firmly against her back, his movements deliberate and controlled. But as the session continued, his touch gradually became bolder.


    At first, he remained disciplined, focusing on the massage. But as time passed, and as Guan Yinbi gradually drifted into sleep, completely relaxed under his touch, Su Yang grew more daring.


    His fingers traced the smooth curve of her back, then her slender waist¡­


    And finally, his eyes locked onto her full, inviting hips.

 Chapter 22 -

    Chapter 22: ¡°Be gentle, that hurts!¡±


    Back in the Tang Dynasty, being full-figured was considered the height of beauty.


    But this wasn¡¯t the kind of obesity that looked sluggish or oversized¡ªit meant a soft, curvy figure with just the right amount of fullness.


    Even in modern times, everyone knew that a little extra weight in the right places was perfection. After all, even an idiot could tell that a twig-thin branch couldn¡¯t bear fruit. If it did, it had to be some kind of scam!


    And Guan Yinbi¡¯s body was the epitome of perfection.


    At that moment, she was lying flat on the bed, her curves on full display. Every inch of her was smooth and shapely, accentuated beneath the sheer silk draped over her. The faint outline of her fair, flawless back was visible through the delicate fabric, making her look impossibly alluring.


    Especially those hips¡ªthey were like something straight out of a painting.


    As Su Yang massaged her, his hands moving expertly over her skin, he kept a close watch on her. When he realized she had dozed off, his courage swelled, his thoughts running wild.


    ¡°What was Li Er even thinking?¡±


    ¡°Guan Yinbi is breathtaking¡ªevery curve in the right place.¡±


    ¡°And yet, he barely pays her any attention. I bet he hasn¡¯t visited her chambers in ages.¡±


    Su Yang couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself. It wasn¡¯t even a secret in Chang¡¯an anymore¡ªeveryone knew the Emperor¡¯s heart belonged to Consort Wei.


    And that was the truth.


    Later, when Guan Yinbi passed away, the very first thing Li Er did was try to make Consort Wei his Empress. That alone showed just how deep his obsession ran.


    With that thought in mind, Su Yang¡¯s hands started to stray, slowly sliding lower from her delicate back.


    He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but at some point, he had crossed the line.


    The sensation alone made him suck in a sharp breath. If he weren¡¯t afraid of waking her, he swore he would have gone even further.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡±


    ¡°Su Yang, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Be gentle¡­¡±


    ¡°That hurts¡­¡±


    Just as he was lost in the moment, Guan Yinbi¡¯s eyelids fluttered open, and she let out a soft murmur, her voice laced with drowsiness. She shifted slightly, as if uncomfortable. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was still groggy, lost in a half-asleep haze. If she had been fully awake, she would have instantly realized something was off. She would have known that Su Yang was doing something way out of line.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°I got a little distracted.¡±


    Su Yang broke into a cold sweat. He hadn¡¯t won her over completely yet. If she caught onto what he was doing, the consequences would be unthinkable.


    His mind raced. He had to come up with a way to make his little advances feel natural¡ªso natural that she couldn¡¯t resist, wouldn¡¯t even think to push him away.


    ¡­


    A few days later.


    The Imperial Academy¡¯s academic examination had arrived.


    And that meant one thing¡ªSu Yang¡¯s literary duel with Prince Li Tai was officially underway.


    The atmosphere was tense.


    Everyone¡ªfrom the scholars at the academy to the high-ranking officials in court¡ªwas paying close attention. But no one seemed the least bit worried about the outcome.


    It was a foregone conclusion.


    Prince Li Tai was practically guaranteed to crush Su Yang with ease.


    ¡°This year¡¯s exam is simple,¡± one of the academy¡¯s esteemed scholars announced, standing at the front of the hall.


    ¡°All you need to do is describe your perspective on life experiences.¡±


    On the surface, it seemed easy. But there was a catch.


    Each student had to express their thoughts in the form of a poem¡ªone that perfectly captured their understanding of life¡¯s journey.


    And that was no small feat.


    As soon as the prompt was given, many of the students looked troubled. Most of them were still young. They barely had any real-life experience to draw from. To condense profound wisdom into just a few lines of poetry? It was as difficult as climbing to the heavens.


    Even Prince Li Tai, who had studied under some of the greatest literary minds of the early Tang Dynasty, furrowed his brows slightly.


    But he was a genius.


    After a brief moment of contemplation, he picked up his brush and began to write.

 Chapter 23 - Bring the Wine—I’m About to Put on a Show!

    Chapter 23: Bring the Wine¡ªI¡¯m About to Put on a Show!


    In the Taiji Hall.


    That morning¡¯s court session was different from usual. None of the civil or military officials presented any petitions. Even Wei Zheng, known for his outspokenness, remained uncharacteristically silent.


    Because everyone¡¯s attention was fixated on the results of the academic examination at the Imperial Academy. The entire court was waiting to see how Su Yang would fare against Prince Li Tai in their literary duel.


    ¡°The exam question this time¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about personal life experiences.¡±


    ¡°For those young scholars who have barely stepped into the real world¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not exactly an easy topic to write about.¡±


    The officials murmured among themselves. Writing poetry about life required more than just talent¡ªit demanded real experience and wisdom gained through time. Without that, it was nearly impossible to compose anything truly profound.


    ¡°Prince Li Tai shouldn¡¯t have too much trouble.¡±


    ¡°His mentors were among the Four Literary Masters of the Early Tang Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s been immersed in their teachings since childhood. That kind of influence is bound to leave its mark.¡±


    Many officials held Li Tai in high regard. They believed this test wouldn¡¯t be much of a challenge for him. Not only did he have brilliant teachers, but he was also exceptionally talented in his own right. As a prince, he had access to experiences and knowledge that common scholars could only dream of.


    And as expected¡­


    Before long, a eunuch arrived, carefully holding a copy of the poem Li Tai had written. The court fell into hushed anticipation as the eunuch stepped forward to present it to Emperor Li Er.


    All eyes were on the Emperor.


    Sitting on his throne, Li Er leaned forward as the eunuch spread the poem on the table before him. His expression shifted almost immediately.


    ¡°Excellent!¡±


    ¡°As expected of my son! His knowledge and refinement shine through his words.¡±


    Li Er was delighted, though he hadn¡¯t been the least bit surprised. Li Tai had always been intelligent. If he weren¡¯t, the emperor wouldn¡¯t have allowed him to establish his own literary academy at such a young age.


    With a wave of his hand, Li Er signaled for the eunuch to circulate the poem among the officials.


    Moments later, murmurs of admiration spread through the court.


    ¡°Prince Li Tai truly has a remarkable gift.¡±


    ¡°No wonder the Four Literary Masters hold him in such high esteem.¡±


    ¡°At this rate, he might even reach their level one day.¡±


    Their praise was genuine. The Four Literary Masters themselves had gathered to observe this exam, and they, too, had received a copy of Li Tai¡¯s poem.


    ¡°It¡¯s still a little youthful, lacking some boldness¡­¡±


    ¡°But for someone his age to write like this¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impressive.¡±


    They agreed¡ªif Li Tai continued honing his craft, he might even surpass them in the future.


    Meanwhile¡­


    Inside the Lijing Hall, Guan Yinbi paced restlessly, her anxiety clear in every step.


    ¡°Still no word from Su Yang?¡±


    She hadn¡¯t even bothered to look at Li Tai¡¯s poem. She didn¡¯t need to do so. With his talent, of course, he would produce something remarkable. The only thing she cared about was Su Yang.


    She knew exactly what was at stake.


    If Su Yang lost this literary duel, Li Er and the entire court would use it as an excuse to turn against him. At best, he¡¯d be stripped of his honorary status as the emperor¡¯s sworn brother. At worst? He could be exiled to the borderlands.


    Either way, it would be a disaster.


    Su Yang was the kind of brilliant mind that only came once in a lifetime. She was convinced he was destined to be a pillar of the empire, a wise minister who could shape the future. There was no way she would let him fall.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Qing Yi answered hesitantly.


    ¡°There¡¯s still no sign of movement from Lord Su.¡±


    Even Qing Yi found it baffling. The exam was nearly over, yet Su Yang remained completely unbothered, sitting there with his eyes closed as if none of this concerned him.


    What was he thinking?


    Had he already given up, realizing he wasn¡¯t capable of writing anything on this topic?


    It wasn¡¯t impossible.


    Back at Taiji Hall.


    ¡°Su Yang still hasn¡¯t written anything?¡±


    Even Li Er was growing impatient. He turned to his attendants, but they could only shake their heads with wry smiles.


    ¡°He hasn¡¯t moved, Your Majesty. He¡¯s just sitting there with his eyes closed as if he¡¯s meditating.¡±


    The court erupted into murmurs.


    ¡°Haha!


    ¡°The outcome is obvious now. That fool is completely out of his depth.¡±


    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t he started writing?¡±


    ¡°Because he has no idea what to write, that¡¯s why! Does he even know enough characters to compose a decent poem?¡±


    Laughter rippled through the hall.


    They assumed Su Yang was simply saving himself from further humiliation. If he never wrote anything, he wouldn¡¯t technically lose outright¡ªat least not in the most embarrassing way possible. Trying and failing would be far worse than not trying at all.


    But just as the ridicule reached its peak¡­


    A commotion erupted outside.


    A eunuch rushed in from the Imperial Academy, panting as he addressed Li Er.


    ¡°Su Yang has finally moved, Your Majesty!¡±


    The hall fell silent. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What did he write?¡±


    The eunuch hesitated before replying, his voice carrying an unmistakable note of disbelief.


    ¡°He hasn¡¯t written anything yet¡­¡±


    ¡°Then what is it?¡± Li Er frowned.


    ¡°He asked for wine.¡±

 Chapter 24 - Drunk and Disorderly in the Academy—This Is Outrageous!

    Chapter 24: Drunk and Disorderly in the Academy¡ªThis Is Outrageous!


    On the east side of the Palace, inside the Imperial Academy, the exam was in full swing. The questions were particularly challenging this time, and aside from Prince Li Tai, who had already finished, the rest of the students were still racking their brains, struggling to come up with at least a halfway decent response.


    Yet, one person stood out¡ªSu Yang. Unlike the others, he wasn¡¯t sweating over the test. In fact, he didn¡¯t even seem remotely concerned. He simply leaned back, closed his eyes, and looked as if he was about to take a nap.


    This didn¡¯t go unnoticed. Many of the scholars observing the exam scoffed at his attitude, clearly unimpressed. But after a moment, they dismissed it¡ªafter all, Su Yang was a commoner. He barely had any formal education and likely didn¡¯t even have the literacy skills to write a coherent sentence. Expecting him to complete the test was just wishful thinking.


    Even in the distant Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the Emperor and his ministers were following the exam, everyone assumed Su Yang had simply given up. It made sense. Rather than embarrassing himself with nonsensical scribbles, leaving the page blank was probably the smarter move.


    ¡°This guy¡¯s not as dumb as I thought.¡±


    ¡°At least he knows when to quit.¡±


    ¡°Not that it matters¡ªhe¡¯s doomed either way.¡±


    ¡°Not even the Empress can protect him this time, right?¡±


    The room buzzed with quiet discussions. Even though the exam wasn¡¯t over yet, most of the officials had already decided Su Yang¡¯s fate. The only question now was how he should be punished.


    Some of the more extreme ministers thought he should be executed immediately¡ªafter all, the moment he had the audacity to beat up Zhangsun Chong, his fate had been sealed. He was the only son of the Minister of Personnel, a high-ranking official. If anything happened to him, Su Yang wouldn¡¯t be able to pay for it even if he died a hundred times over.


    But on the other hand, Su Yang was also the Empress¡¯s sworn brother. Killing him outright would be a messy political problem. The more reasonable solution? Strip him of that title, exile him to the borderlands, and leave his fate to the gods.


    Just as everyone was debating his punishment, a sudden commotion broke out.


    A eunuch from the academy rushed in, out of breath.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Su Yang has finally stopped napping!¡±


    The officials immediately perked up.


    ¡°He¡¯s started writing?¡± someone asked.


    The eunuch hesitated. ¡°Uh¡­ no.¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯s he doing?¡±


    ¡°He¡­ he asked the chief examiner to bring him wine.¡±


    Only silence filled the room.


    Then, a collective uproar shook the court. Even Li Er himself was left speechless.


    What kind of nonsense was this? The exam was nearly over, and instead of picking up his brush, Su Yang was asking for a drink.


    ¡­


    At the Imperial Academy


    If the royal court was stunned, the reaction inside the academy was even worse. The chief examiners were furious. This was the most prestigious academy in the kingdom¡ªa place of learning and discipline. And here was Su Yang, treating it like some tavern?


    If it weren¡¯t for his connection to the Empress, they would¡¯ve thrown him out on the spot.


    ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Su Yang finally spoke, his voice laced with impatience. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? I want a drink.¡±


    The examiners stared at him, dumbfounded.


    Then, he added, ¡°I¡¯m about to go head-to-head with Prince Li Tai in a battle of wits. If you waste my time, you¡¯ll have to answer for it.¡±


    The examiners exchanged looks. As much as they wanted to strangle him, they couldn¡¯t afford to take that risk. With clenched jaws, they sent someone to fetch a jar of fine wine and tossed it to him with barely concealed irritation.


    ¡°Fine,¡± they thought. ¡°Let¡¯s see what kind of ridiculous poetry you can come up with.¡±


    But before they could process what was happening, Su Yang made another outrageous demand.


    ¡°You might want to get some brushes and paper ready,¡± he said lazily. ¡°You¡¯re going to need them.¡±


    The examiners nearly exploded.


    ¡°What?¡± One of them stepped forward, seething. ¡°You expect us to transcribe your work for you?¡±


    They were among the most respected scholars in the kingdom, and he was treating them like lowly scribes. If he had the literary talent of one of the legendary poets, maybe they could tolerate it. But not this spoiled brat. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, Su Yang couldn¡¯t have cared less. He casually tore the seal off the wine jar, tilted his head back, and took a long, satisfying drink.


    ¡°Back in the day, the great poet Cao Zi once composed a masterpiece in the time it took to take seven steps,¡± he mused, his voice loud and confident. ¡°Now, I¡¯m feeling inspired.¡±


    Then he grinned.


    ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to do the same.¡±


    Laughter erupted around him.


    No one was laughing harder than Prince Li Tai, who sneered openly.


    ¡°This is hilarious. Does any random nobody off the street think they can compare themselves to Cao Zhi now? What a joke.¡±


    He shook his head, his voice dripping with sarcasm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see if this idiot can even come up with a single decent line before he passes out from the alcohol.¡±

 Chapter 25 - A Single Verse Stunned the Four Great Scholars of the Early Tang!

    Chapter 25: A Single Verse Stunned the Four Great Scholars of the Early Tang!


    Cao Zhi.


    One of the most renowned poets and literary figures of the Three Kingdoms era celebrated as one of the greatest talents of the Jian¡¯an period. His masterpiece, The Rhapsody on the Goddess of the Luo River¡±, shook the literary world of his time.


    Centuries later, during the Southern Dynasties, the famous poet Xie Lingyun once commented, ¡°The world¡¯s talent is like a stone¡ªCao Zhi alone holds eight parts, I have one, and the rest of the world shares the last.¡± This showed the immense respect scholars had for Cao Zhi. The phrase ¡°talent as high as eight dou¡± even originated from this admiration.


    Because of this, countless poets and writers throughout history revered Cao Zhi as an idol. Even during the early years of the Tang Dynasty, the legendary , including Wang Bo, spoke of him with awe and reverence. No one dared to disrespect his legacy.


    But now¡­


    Su Yang, a man widely known for being a reckless playboy, dared to claim that he could compose a poem in seven steps, just like Cao Zhi.


    This wasn¡¯t just arrogance; it was downright ridiculous. He wasn¡¯t just making a fool of himself¡ªhe was outright insulting one of the greatest literary figures in history.


    As expected, the moment Su Yang spoke, the entire room erupted in outrage. Even the esteemed scholars sitting above gasped in shock, their faces darkening with fury. Their eyes burned with rage¡ªthey would never allow anyone to disgrace their idol like this!


    The uproar spread fast. When word reached the imperial palace, even the court¡¯s literary officials were livid, some ready to grab their swords and cut Su Yang down on the spot.


    ¡°This is pure madness!¡±


    ¡°How dare he insult Cao Zhi like this?¡±


    ¡°He thinks he¡¯s worthy of composing a poem in seven steps?¡±


    ¡°He should be dragged out and executed!¡±


    The scholars were furious. To them, Su Yang¡¯s claim wasn¡¯t just an act of arrogance¡ªit was a direct attack on everything they held sacred. He was mocking the foundation of their beliefs.


    Meanwhile, the Four Great Scholars of the Early Tang, the most revered poets of their time, were just as enraged. To them, Su Yang¡¯s arrogance was beyond infuriating¡ªhe was openly disrespecting the literary giants they revered. Even though they usually prided themselves on being calm and collected, at that moment, they were so outraged they nearly stood up and started cursing him out loud.


    ¡­


    At the Imperial Academy.


    Su Yang remained completely unfazed by the anger and accusations surrounding him. He didn¡¯t care about them, at all.


    Then, right in front of everyone, he took a step forward, raised his cup of wine, and boldly began to recite:


    At first, no one paid him much attention. The scholars and students around him scoffed¡ªwhat could a spoiled rich kid possibly come up with? They were certain his so-called poetry would be nothing but nonsense.


    But as he continued, verse after verse, the crowd¡¯s expression changed. The sneers vanished as shock took over them


    Even the esteemed scholars, who had been the most dismissive of him, were now completely stunned. Their initial mockery turned into disbelief, and then into pure, speechless awe.


    Because they knew better than anyone¡­


    What Su Yang had just composed wasn¡¯t just good. It was


    It was beyond anything they could have imagined.


    The moment his poem reached the Four Great Scholars of the Early Tan, their faces turned pale. As they held the transcribed verses in their trembling hands, it felt as if they were holding an imperial decree, personally written by the emperor himself.


    Then¡­


    One of them suddenly dropped to his knees.


    The others, including Wang Bo, were stunned. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This poem is beyond anything we¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not something mere mortals like us can even judge!¡±


    ¡°I feel ashamed to even call myself one of the Four Great Scholars of the Early Tang.¡±


    ¡°The only way I can ease my conscience is by kneeling before it.¡±


    Lu Zhaolin, one of the Four Great Scholars, spoke with deep reverence, his anger from earlier completely gone. Now, all he felt was overwhelming admiration.

 Chapter 26 - A Spoiled Playboy? More Like a Poetry Legend!

    Chapter 26: A Spoiled Playboy? More Like a Poetry Legend!


    ¡°Bring on the Wine¡±¡­


    As one of the most iconic poems by the legendary poet Li Bai, ¡°Bring on the Wine¡± had the power to shake the entire literary world. Su Yang knew this better than anyone.


    But even he had underestimated just how influential and captivating Li Bai had been during the Tang Dynasty.


    Take this moment, for example.


    The second Su Yang composed ¡°Bring on the Wine¡± in just seven steps, the entire Imperial Academy fell into a stunned silence. It wasn¡¯t until long after that the sheer weight of what had just happened finally hit everyone, setting off an explosion of excitement.


    Many of the scholars in attendance didn¡¯t fully grasp the poem¡¯s brilliance, but Prince Li Tai was completely dumbfounded. He stood frozen in place, eyes wide with disbelief. He had been utterly crushed by the poem¡¯s overwhelming power.


    A bitter sense of despair gnawed at his heart. Li Tai had to admit¡ªno matter how hard he worked, no matter how many years he dedicated to his craft, he could never hope to write something this majestic.


    Hell, he couldn¡¯t even pretend to be in the same league!


    And it wasn¡¯t just him.


    Even the so-called great scholars in attendance were losing their minds. Clutching the freshly transcribed copy of ¡°Bring on the Wine,¡± some were laughing, some were crying¡ªcompletely overwhelmed by what they had just witnessed.


    A sight like this baffled many of the military officers present, including General Cheng Chumo and his peers. They couldn¡¯t understand why the scholars were acting so out of character.


    But if they had known the full extent of it¡­


    Even the Four Great Scholars of the Early Tang, the most revered literary figures of their time, had fallen to their knees upon hearing Su Yang¡¯s poem. If the generals had seen that, they would¡¯ve been even more shaken.


    And the storm caused by ¡°Bring on the Wine¡± was only just beginning. When news of the poem reached the Grand Hall, it sparked an unprecedented uproar.


    At first, most of the court officials had opposed Su Yang¡ªnot out of personal grievances, but simply because they wanted to curry favor with the Minister of Appointments. They had stood against Su Yang just to show loyalty.


    But then¡­


    Now that they had seen ¡°Bring on the Wine¡± with their own eyes, their entire outlook changed. In an instant, their opposition crumbled.


    ¡°A spoiled brat? Are you kidding me?¡±


    ¡°This guy is a damn poetry god!¡±


    If not for the fact that they were in the middle of morning court, these officials might have followed the Four Great Scholars¡¯ lead and knelt before the poem itself.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me that he wrote this? That scoundrel actually created this masterpiece?¡±


    Even the military officials, who knew next to nothing about poetry, were shaken. After reading ¡°Bring on the Wine,¡± they couldn¡¯t help but feel an unexplainable awe. How could that reckless playboy, Su Yang, be capable of such genius?


    It defied all logic.


    Even Li Er, seated high upon his golden throne, was momentarily stunned into silence. For the first time, he found himself genuinely impressed. Someone capable of writing a poem like this couldn¡¯t possibly be dismissed as some spoiled noble brat.


    Could the rumors be true?


    Could Su Yang really be the prophesied great minister of the Tang Dynasty, just as the Guan Yinbi had foretold?


    For the first time, he seriously considered the possibility.


    In the end, there was no room for debate¡ªthe literary duel ended in Su Yang¡¯s overwhelming victory.


    The result left Li Er feeling strangely sentimental, while Zhangsun Wuji and his faction seethed with frustration. Even the notoriously stubborn Wei Zheng had no choice but to lower his head in defeat, looking utterly dejected.


    Because they all knew the truth.


    If they continued to oppose Su Yang now, it wouldn¡¯t just be the court officials who would stand against them¡ªthe entire literary world would erupt in outrage.


    Su Yang¡¯s ¡°Bring on the Wine¡± had already taken the literary world by storm.


    People were calling him the reincarnation of a poetry god.


    The so-called Four Great Scholars of the Early Tang had turned into Su Yang¡¯s biggest fanboys, even proclaiming that they would be honored just to tie his shoes!


    That alone spoke volumes about his newfound status in the literary world.


    Some even declared¡­


    ¡°If the world¡¯s literary talent were divided into ten parts, Su Yang alone would claim eight. Cao Zhi would take one, and the rest of the world would have to share the last.¡±


    In the Eastern City of Chang¡¯an.


    Su Yang¡¯s residence.


    By now, the literary duel was long over, yet the flow of visitors to Su Yang¡¯s mansion never ceased. Day after day, nobles and officials lined up outside, eager for an audience with him. The sheer number of guests was so overwhelming that the threshold of his doorway was nearly worn away.


    Everyone had the same request. They wanted Su Yang to compose a poem for them. Some were even willing to offer a fortune in gold just to have his words on paper.


    But money wasn¡¯t what tempted Su Yang the most.


    The real prize was the connections.


    His visitors weren¡¯t just common nobles¡ªthey were the most powerful figures in the empire. From the Grand Chancellors to the high-ranking ministers, they all came, humbling themselves before him.


    In a matter of days, Su Yang had built an extensive web of influence.


    And if that weren¡¯t enough, many of these officials were now eager to introduce their daughters to him, hoping to secure a marriage alliance with the literary prodigy who had taken the empire by storm.

 Chapter 27 - Preparing for Empress Guan Yinbi’s Oil Massage

    Chapter 27: Preparing for Empress Guan Yinbi¡¯s Oil Massage


    For the first time, Su Yang was playing the role of a plagiarist¡ªthough, in this case, it was more of an intellectual duel. He took extra caution and picked none other than Li Bai, the legendary ¡°Immortal Poet,¡± as his inspiration.


    When ¡°Bring on the Wine¡± hit the scene, it sent shockwaves through the literary world.


    Su Yang had expected it to make an impact, but even he hadn¡¯t anticipated just how far-reaching it would be.


    Before he knew it, his name was on everyone¡¯s lips.


    Even though Su Yang had issued orders that he wouldn¡¯t be seeing guests anytime soon, that didn¡¯t stop a flood of nobles and officials from showing up at his doorstep every single day. His threshold had practically been worn down from how many people had stepped on it. It was a never-ending stream of visitors¡ªno matter how hard he tried to turn them away, they just wouldn¡¯t leave.


    And their goal was simple. They were willing to spend a fortune to get their hands on one of Su Yang¡¯s original works, treating it as a priceless collectible.


    To put it bluntly, his reputation had skyrocketed to the point where even a discarded draft of his writing¡ªif it ever made it into the public¡ªwould spark bidding wars, selling for jaw-dropping sums.


    Now it made perfect sense why Li Bai had never needed to take up a government position. He had been free to travel, drink, and indulge in pleasure because money had never been a problem for him.


    ¡°Ha¡­¡±


    ¡°I wonder what Li Bai would think¡­¡±


    ¡°If he were born in this era¡­¡±


    ¡°And saw his own poems already written out for him?¡±


    Su Yang chuckled at the thought. But deep down, he had no doubt that Li Bai¡¯s talent wouldn¡¯t be stifled just because he had gotten a head start. If anything, it would probably push him to create even greater works.


    ¡°So I can actually earn points just by showing off?¡±


    Su Yang grinned from ear to ear. As soon as the literary contest ended, his system had coldly notified him that he had received a massive influx of points. After all, he had stunned the entire literary world and even snatched the title of  right out from under Li Bai¡¯s name.


    That wasn¡¯t all.


    He had gained a network of powerful connections¡ªadmirers who treated him with the utmost respect, almost like devoted fans.


    Of course, not everyone was thrilled.


    The one suffering the most had to be Zhangsun Chong. He had originally planned to use Li Tai¡¯s influence to teach Su Yang a harsh lesson. But instead of Su Yang being humiliated, the guy had become the most sought-after figure among the elite. Zhangsun Chong was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood.


    ¡°Now that this problem is handled¡­¡±


    ¡°I can finally start refining pure salt.¡±


    The playful grin on Su Yang¡¯s face faded as he became serious. His ultimate goal was to become a financial powerhouse.


    Sure, he had just become the Immortal Poet and was basking in the admiration of the literary world, but that was still a niche audience. It wasn¡¯t enough to break into the upper echelons of wealth and power.


    But if he introduced pure salt, it would impact


    At that point, whether it was making money or expanding his influence, it would far surpass anything he could achieve through poetry alone.


    With that in mind, he wasted no time getting to work.


    But just as he was about to start, something unexpected happened.


    Guan Yinbi had arrived.


    This time, however, she wasn¡¯t furious like before. Instead, she walked in with a radiant smile, looking both pleased and triumphant.


    After all, just days ago, the court had been buzzing with rumors about her. Officials, particularly Minister Wei Zheng, had been vocal in their criticism, comparing her to Zhao Ji, the notorious Empress Dowager of the Qin Dynasty¡ªaccusing her of keeping a harem of male companions.


    But now?


    With Su Yang¡¯s  shaking the literary world, all those rumors and slanders had vanished overnight. Not only had it cleared her name, but it had also given her the satisfaction of putting her detractors in their place.


    ¡°This man truly is a fated sage of the great Tang Dynasty.¡±


    Her belief in Su Yang had only grown stronger as she confidently walked into the main hall.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you here, dear sister!¡±


    ¡°I was actually planning to visit you at the palace soon.¡±


    Su Yang immediately stood up and greeted her with a warm smile.


    Without wasting any time, he led Guan Yinbi into a private chamber, explaining that he had recently mastered a new therapy technique¡ªone that could help relieve her persistent ailments.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    The moment those words left his mouth, Guan Yinbi¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. She had been suffering from these chronic issues for years, and any chance at relief was worth trying.


    Historically speaking, her untimely death had been linked to these very health problems.


    ¡°This treatment is¡­ a little unconventional.¡±


    ¡°There might be some¡­ awkward moments during the process.¡±


    ¡°I hope you won¡¯t mind.¡±


    Su Yang¡¯s smile widened, but in his mind, mischievous thoughts were already brewing. This was the perfect opportunity to make his move. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because Su Yang had a special treatment in mind for her¡ªan oil massage.


    And for an oil massage to work¡­


    Clothes needed to come off.


    Which meant he¡¯d finally get the chance to admire Guan Yinbi¡¯s curvy figure up close.

 Chapter 28 - Empress Guan Yinbi’s Unease—This Is Getting Out of Hand!

    Chapter 28: Empress Guan Yinbi¡¯s Unease¡ªThis Is Getting Out of Hand!


    Chang¡¯an, Eastern City


    Inside the manor.


    ¡°This is a new therapy technique I developed,¡± Su Yang said, rolling up his sleeves.


    ¡°It works wonders for stubborn ailments like yours.¡±


    ¡°But I should warn you¡ªsome of the movements might seem a little¡­ inappropriate.¡±


    ¡°So, uh¡­ just don¡¯t take it the wrong way, alright?¡±


    He clasped his hands together as if swearing an oath, knowing that if he didn¡¯t set the right expectations now, things could get awkward fast. The last thing he wanted was for Empress Guan to misinterpret his actions and lose her temper. Explaining his way out of that would be impossible.


    Luckily, she wasn¡¯t suspicious at all. Thanks to their previous therapy sessions, she trusted his expertise completely. She simply smiled and nodded.


    The thought of any ulterior motives never even crossed her mind.


    After all, Su Yang was a trusted advisor of the kingdom. More importantly, he was her sworn brother. What could he possibly be up to?


    This was just a medical treatment, wasn¡¯t it?


    What could go wrong?


    Then, the next second¡ª


    She froze.


    Had she heard him right?


    Did he just ask her to undress?


    And not just a little¡ªhe wanted her to take off everything on her upper half?


    Even though she had prepared herself mentally, hesitation crept in. Women in this era were raised to be modest. Even showing a bit of ankle could stir up gossip, let alone stripping down like this!


    But after a brief internal struggle, she took a deep breath, turned her back to him, and started undoing her robes.


    She held onto a sheer layer of fabric, keeping it from slipping completely, while covering her front as best as she could. Then, she lay down on the cushioned bench, doing everything in her power to avoid exposing anything.


    Su Yang swallowed hard.


    His throat was suddenly dry.


    Even though she had been quick and careful, his sharp eyes had caught just the slightest glimpse of forbidden territory.


    Oh my.


    ¡°From that little peek alone, I can tell she¡¯s at least a C+¡­¡±


    His mind started racing. And before Su Yang could stop himself, he spotted something a few feet away¡ªthe bright red undergarment she had taken off. From the way it was shaped, there was no doubt.


    Yeah, that thing was built to support serious weight.


    ¡°Damn,¡± he muttered under his breath.


    ¡°She¡¯s¡­ stacked.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°With the right modern support, she could probably hit a D¡­¡±


    His thoughts were spiraling. The temptation was almost unbearable.


    For a second, he considered throwing caution to the wind and making a move.


    But his survival instincts kicked in.


    If he so much as tried anything, he¡¯d be dead before he even got the chance.


    He wasn¡¯t in a position to take that kind of risk yet.


    Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to refocus. He grabbed the bottle of special oil he had prepared and got to work.


    ¡­


    Over an hour later.


    The bowl of massage oil was empty.


    Su Yang finally pulled his hands away, reluctant to stop.


    Meanwhile, Guan Yinbi was mortified.


    Her face was burning. Her ears felt like they were on fire. Her heart was pounding so hard it echoed in her head.


    Now, she fully understood what he had meant earlier.


    Su Yang¡¯s ¡°therapy¡± had been way too intimate.


    His hands had wandered dangerously close to places no man should ever touch.


    It was scandalous.


    If anyone had seen what just happened, there would be no saving her reputation.


    As for the rumors about her keeping a secret lover¡­


    This would confirm them.


    And no matter how hard she tried to deny it, no one would believe her.


    Guan Yinbi hurriedly pulled her robes back on, her fingers trembling slightly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stick to the usual method next time,¡± she muttered, barely able to meet his eyes.


    She couldn¡¯t risk another session like this.


    It wasn¡¯t just the fear of rumors.


    It was the fact that in all these years, the only man who had ever been this close to her was Su Yang.


    As for Li Er¡­


    Ever since he took Concubine Wei as his favorite, he had all but forgotten about her.


    She couldn¡¯t even remember the last time he had spent a night at her palace.

 Chapter 29 - Guan Yinbi’s Undergarment and the Birth of Refined Salt

    Chapter 29: Guan Yinbi¡¯s Undergarment and the Birth of Refined Salt


    Guan Yinbi left the estate with a complicated expression on her face.


    It wasn¡¯t that Su Yang¡¯s oil massage had scared her¡ªit was just that the whole experience had stirred up memories of Li Er.


    The thought that he was nothing more than a heartless man had never felt stronger.


    After all, she had been with Li Er since she was fourteen, standing by his side through countless trials and hardships.


    And yet, what had she gotten in return?


    Yes, she had been granted the title of Empress and ruled as the mistress of the Eastern Palace, but in recent years, she might as well have been exiled to the Cold Palace. Compared to the ever-favored Consort Wei, she was practically invisible.


    Especially after she took Su Yang in as her sworn brother¡ªshe didn¡¯t care about the court¡¯s whispers accusing her of keeping a secret lover. Outsiders would think whatever they wanted. But what truly broke her heart was that even Li Er saw her that way.


    That was what hurt the most.


    Did he really not trust her anymore?


    Lost in these thoughts, Guan Yinbi left the estate in a hurry, so much so that she didn¡¯t even realize she had forgotten to take her most intimate piece of clothing with her.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Ha¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, would you look at that?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t even started making my move¡­ and an opportunity just dropped straight from the heavens?¡±


    Su Yang watched her departing figure with a bright, amused smile.


    It wasn¡¯t hard for him to guess what she was feeling.


    After that moment of physical closeness, his dear sworn sister¡¯s defenses had clearly begun to crumble.


    It made sense, though.


    Even if she was the mistress of the Eastern Palace and should have had a strong mindset, at the end of the day, she was still a woman¡ªa woman who longed to be cherished by her husband.


    But Li Er¡¯s heart belonged entirely to Concubine Wei now. He had no interest in looking back at the wife who had stood by him all these years.


    Thinking of this, Su Yang quietly stashed away the undergarment she had left behind. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    A few days later, Su Yang was fully prepared to begin extracting refined salt.


    Thanks to the system¡¯s detailed instructions, his chances of failure were minimal. Sure enough, his first attempt was a complete success.


    As he gazed at the crystal-clear salt on the table, Su Yang couldn¡¯t help but break into an ecstatic laugh.


    Because he knew, without a doubt¡­


    With this refined salt, he had the key to opening the doors of the most powerful financial empires.


    ¡°The literary world is just too niche.¡±


    Su Yang muttered to himself. Sure, he had earned the title of ¡®Immortal Poet,¡¯ and for now, his name carried great prestige. But in reality, his fame was limited to the literary circle. It didn¡¯t extend to the entire empire.


    Especially not to the military commanders who held true power.


    And as time went on, his popularity was already starting to wane. Many of those who had once sought to befriend him had begun to withdraw, fading into silence.


    The reason was obvious.


    They had been warned off by Zhangsun Wuji.


    Everyone in Chang¡¯an knew that Su Yang and Zhangsun Chong had an unresolvable grudge. Worse yet, he had even offended the Crown Prince, Li Chengqian.


    Naturally, those in the literary world had to think about their own futures. If they insisted on associating with Su Yang, they could easily find themselves blacklisted by Zhangsun Wuji.


    But once refined salt was introduced, everything would change.


    Salt was a strategic military resource in ancient times¡ªextremely valuable. And refined salt was on a whole different level. It was something military commanders would go mad for.


    And once they tasted food seasoned with refined salt? There would be no going back.


    The coarse, bitter salt of the era was barely edible. But with refined salt, every dish would be transformed into a delicacy.


    ¡­¡­.


    That day, Su Yang carefully packaged his refined salt and sent samples to the high-ranking officials and nobles who had once visited him. He wanted them to experience true flavor for themselves.


    As expected, the results were exactly what he had anticipated.


    The moment the refined salt touched their food, the dishes changed completely. The difference was night and day. Compared to what they had been eating before, the flavors were on a whole new level.


    The nobles were utterly stunned.


    And before Su Yang could even think about promoting it, word of the miraculous refined salt spread like wildfire through the upper-class circles. Eventually, the news even reached the depths of the imperial palace.


    Before long, everyone was talking about this incredible new seasoning.


    Some were even willing to pay a fortune just to get their hands on it.

 Chapter 30 - To Stand by My Beloved, I Had No Choice but to Steal the Throne!

    Chapter 30: To Stand by My Beloved, I Had No Choice but to Steal the Throne!


    Salt had long been known as the ¡°king of all seasonings.¡±


    When cooking, even if no other spices were added, just a pinch of fine salt could work wonders, turning something bland into a delicious masterpiece.


    That was something ancient coarse salt could never compare to.


    Back in the day, salt was unrefined. It appeared grainy, impure, and often unbearably bitter. Even the best palace chefs couldn¡¯t completely mask its harsh taste.


    When Su Yang first found himself in this era, he struggled to adjust to the food. He would rather survive on plain congee and bread than force himself to eat the so-called delicacies made with that awful salt.


    But he had an ace up his sleeve.


    Su Yang possessed a complete, refined method for extracting pure salt.


    In ancient times, salt was as valuable as gold because the extraction methods were inefficient. The process relied on boiling seawater, which was slow and yielded little product. As a result, the government monopolized the salt trade, driving prices higher and higher.


    However, with Su Yang¡¯s technique, production could skyrocket while costs plummeted. Salt would no longer be a luxury¡ªeveryone could afford it.


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t about to hand over this knowledge for free. He wasn¡¯t running a charity. Without the right incentives, there was no way he¡¯d give up such a game-changing advantage.


    ¡­


    At that moment, outside a grand estate in the eastern district of Chang¡¯an.


    Word of the fine salt¡¯s unparalleled taste had spread among the nobility, and what had once been a quiet residence was now swarming with visitors. Wealthy merchants and high-ranking officials crowded the entrance, all desperate to get their hands on the prized salt.


    However, Su Yang had anticipated this and implemented an auction system. He released only a limited amount of salt each time. The reasoning was simple: no matter how valuable something was its worth would plummet if it became too common.


    ¡°Our master has made it clear,¡± the estate¡¯s steward announced. ¡°Only ten portions of fine salt will be available per auction. Each portion weighs exactly one ounce. The starting bid is ten gold taels.¡±


    The declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd.


    An ounce of salt for ten gold taels? That was an outrageous price! And yet, despite the cost, the bidding frenzy erupted immediately. Everyone was willing to pay top dollar to secure a portion. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Su Yang expected, it wasn¡¯t just noble families fighting over the salt. Even high-ranking military officers had joined the fray.


    That was exactly what he had hoped for.


    By drawing the attention of military officials, he was expanding his influence beyond the aristocracy. He wasn¡¯t just making powerful connections in the civil administration¡ªhe was now on the radar of those who controlled armies.


    Seeing this, Su Yang discreetly instructed his men to send select gifts of fine salt to the homes of certain military leaders¡ªfree of charge. One of these recipients was none other than General Li Jing, a man revered as the God of War.


    To Su Yang, forging ties with key military figures was far more valuable than hoarding gold or silver. If things ever took a dangerous turn, those connections might just save his life.


    ¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m growing fonder of my dear beauty by the day.¡±


    ¡°My desire for her is uncontrollable¡ªI ache to claim her as mine.¡±


    ¡°But that means I¡¯m destined to clash with Li Er and the entire Tang royal family.¡±


    ¡°If I want to survive, I need to start stacking the odds in my favor.¡±


    Su Yang spoke with a grave expression. The moment he set his sights on taking what belonged to Li Er, a treacherous idea had taken root in his mind¡ª


    He would steal the throne.


    If the emperor ever discovered what he had done, no amount of pleading or bribery could save him. Even if he had a hundred lives, they wouldn¡¯t be enough to escape execution.


    So, if he wanted to live, he had to play the long game.


    The best time to strike would be when the emperor grew old or passed away.


    By then, with Crown Prince Li Chengqian already stripped of his title, the remaining royal heirs would undoubtedly follow in their father¡¯s footsteps¡ªplunging into a vicious struggle for the throne.


    And Su Yang saw his opportunity.


    If a barbarian or a beggar could seize the imperial seat, why couldn¡¯t he?


    Besides, he was technically part of the royal circle now. Being the sworn brother of his beloved beauty gave him a legitimate connection to the Tang dynasty. If he entered the battle for the throne, he could argue that he had every right to claim it.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace.


    The popularity of fine salt had taken all of Chang¡¯an by storm. Naturally, it had also caught the attention of Li Er himself.