I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 295 Power for Sex
...

Zhao Yu's original plan was to cooperate with Yelü Yanxi, or rather, to take advantage of Yelü Yanxi.

Unexpectedly, it turned out that Yelü Yanxi was more trouble than he was worth, and had no value whatsoever.

Zhao Yu even thought of a song whose lyrics were a perfect match for Yelü Yanxi.

"They all look down on me, and I'm just not good enough. No one can help me reach my lofty ambitions, and I can't even get there myself. Everyone laughs at me, and I'm the funniest one. If I had even a little bit of ability, I wouldn't be completely useless. Rather than pushing myself, I'd rather give myself a break."

If Zhao Yu still wanted the Liao and Jin dynasties to weaken each other, and ultimately achieve the goal of the Song dynasty benefiting from the Liao and Jin dynasties' conflict, then he would definitely have to replace Yelü Yanxi.

Zhang Chun suggested that Zhao Yu choose to support either Yelü Chun or Yelü Aoluwo.

To be honest, Zhang Chun's suggestion makes a lot of sense.

Looking at the entire Liao Dynasty, it seems that perhaps only Yelü Chun could fight against Wanyan Aguda. Even Yelü Dashi, who has been serving as Zhao Yu's advisor for many years, is not yet capable of leading the Liao Dynasty.

Even Yelü Chun was unable to command the entire Liao Kingdom because his authority was illegitimate, unless he could eliminate Yelü Yanxi.

No.

Simply eliminating Yelü Yanxi is not enough, because even if Yelü Yanxi is gone, his throne should be passed to his son, not his uncle.

Therefore, in order for Yelü Chun to smoothly inherit the throne from Yelü Yanxi, not only must Yelü Yanxi be eliminated, but all of Yelü Yanxi's sons must also be prevented from inheriting the throne.

Only then could Yelü Chun rightfully become the new emperor of the Liao Dynasty and lead all the remaining Liao forces in a desperate struggle against the Jin Dynasty.

Zhao Yu considered that one should not underestimate a young man's potential, and that Yelü Aoluwo was too young to be a match for Wanyan Aguda. Therefore, he had to choose between Yelü Chun and Yelü Aoluwo to support, and Zhao Yu chose Yelü Chun.

Therefore, Zhao Yu decided to wipe out Yelü Yanxi's entire family in one fell swoop, clearing all obstacles for Yelü Chun.

To ensure everything went smoothly, Zhao Yu entrusted the task to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Left Army of the Divine Machine Army, and the Northern Auxiliary Army.

In addition, Zhang Chun gave Yuwen Xuzhong a brocade pouch.

Just as Zhao Yu finished instructing Yuwen Xuzhong, Zhang Jun, Zhang Shuye, Li Yanxian, Li Miao, and others, he returned to the inner palace when Yelü Yuliyan came to find him. She said to Zhao Yu, "Your Majesty, my mother has invited you. She says she has prepared a surprise for you."

Upon hearing Yelü Yuliyan's words, the palace maid whispered in Zhao Yu's ear, "Consort Xiao has brought her elder sister Xiao Qinqin, her younger sister Xiao Pipa, and her five nieces Yelü Jiusi, Yelü Tesi, Yelü Saisi, Yelü Sui, and Yelü Yan into her palace from Chengping Palace. Yelü Jiusi and Yelü Tesi are already adults."

Upon hearing what the palace lady said, a hint of amusement flashed in Zhao Yu's eyes, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "Let's go and see her."

Zhao Yu walked briskly through the winding, secluded palace corridors, each step seemingly echoing with the power struggles and desires emanating from the palace bricks. He was filled with both curiosity about the surprise to be revealed and a deep suspicion about Xiao Sese's motives.

'Xiao Sese's proactive approach suggests she has ulterior motives... Could it be that she knows I intend to depose Yelü Yanxi and choose either Yelü Chun or her son Yelü Aoluwo as the emperor of Liao?'

"This shouldn't be happening. Only Zhang Chun and I know about this. Yuwen Xuzhong and the others only just found out about the mission to capture Yelü Yanxi. Xiao Sese's information couldn't possibly be that readily available."

'Could it be that Zhang Chun leaked the information?' No, although Zhang Chun isn't very clever, she should still know the simple truth that 'If a ruler is not discreet, he will lose his ministers; if a minister is not discreet, he will lose his life; if matters are not kept secret, they will lead to disaster.'

'Why did Xiao Sese come to me? She even sacrificed her own sister and niece; her intentions must be far-reaching.'

Zhao Yu pondered various possibilities in his mind, but his steps never stopped, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived at the desolate palace.

At this moment, all the women in Xiaose Palace had carefully dressed themselves up and were waiting at the door to welcome Zhao Yu's arrival.

Xiao Sese was dressed in a gorgeous ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hair styled in a high bun, adorned with pearls and jade, making her appear exceptionally dignified and charming. A gentle smile graced her face, and her eyes revealed an indescribable allure and depth, as if she had prepared for a meticulously planned drama, just waiting for the protagonist to appear.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Xiao Sese bowed gracefully, her voice soft, magnetic, and alluring, captivating all who heard it.

"No need for formalities, please rise." Zhao Yu responded with a smile, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall before finally settling on the women beside Xiao Sese.

What truly captivated Zhao Yu's attention were not the two Khitan girls who bore some resemblance to Xiao Sese, even though one was bright-eyed and radiant, and the other gentle and quiet with an elegant demeanor.

What attracted Zhao Yu's attention the most were two beautiful Khitan women who looked eight or nine parts similar to Xiao Sese, namely Xiao Sese's older sister Xiao Qinqin and younger sister Xiao Pipa.

Although Xiao Qinqin was over thirty, she showed no signs of age's wear and tear; instead, she possessed a dignified and serene demeanor. Her features were more relaxed than Xiao Sese's, her eyes slightly upturned at the corners without any sharpness. When she smiled, faint lines appeared at the corners of her eyes, much like ripples on an autumn lake touched by an evening breeze. Her every gesture carried the composure of someone long accustomed to a high position. When she saw Zhao Yu looking at her, she nodded slightly, her lips curving into a perfectly measured arc—respectful yet retaining the poise of a noblewoman. Her eyes held a serene understanding of the world, as if she had long since mellowed through the years, embracing both glory and disgrace.

Xiao Pipa, on the other hand, possessed a different kind of charm. Her eyebrows and eyes were sharper, her nose high and straight, her lips well-defined. When she wasn't smiling, she exuded a natural air of heroism, but when she smiled, two small dimples appeared, softening her sharpness. Two gold hairpins adorned her hair, swaying gently and tinkling as she bowed. Her skin was the healthy honey color characteristic of women from the grasslands, a stark contrast to the fair complexion of her two older sisters. A string of wolf teeth adorned her neck. When her eyes looked over, they held a scrutinizing gaze, quickly transforming into a demure and docile demeanor, like a tamed yet still wild she-wolf.

In general, the three Xiao sisters are all mature beauties. They look very similar, yet each has her own unique charm. Any man who gets them should be able to experience the ultimate pleasure.

'That's interesting. The whole family's working together to seduce me.'

"Alright, since you've already set up your formations, I won't hold back anymore. Let's have a match first, and then I'll see what you're really up to."

With this in mind, Zhao Yu unceremoniously put one arm around Xiao Qinqin and the other around Xiao Pipa, embracing these two incredibly beautiful women, and entered Xiao Sese's palace with the support of Xiao Sese and others.

The character “Kun” is profound and complex. Zhao Yu, a great man, was able to bend and stretch; the three Xiao sisters were able to open up and close; and the two Khitan girls, Yelü Jiusi and Yelü Tesi, also possessed the bravery and fearlessness of women from the grasslands.

After the sun had set behind the mountains and the Yellow River had flowed into the sea, everything that Xiao Sese had meticulously prepared for Zhao Yu was accepted by Zhao Yu with a smile...

……

afterwards.

Zhao Yu had one arm around Xiao Qinqin and the other around Xiao Pipa.

Unable to get a chance, Yelü Jiusi and Yelü Tesi could only wait for their opportunity, one on the left and one on the right.

At this moment, feeling that all the foreplay had been laid and Zhao Yu had been given a full dose of peak enjoyment, Xiao Sese pushed aside Xiao Pipa, put her arms around Zhao Yu's waist, and said softly, "Your Majesty, the Liao emperor is extremely incompetent. If he continues to rule the Liao Kingdom, he will surely allow the Jurchens to rise and become a major threat to our Great Song Dynasty..."

Hearing Xiao Sese say this, Zhao Yu thought to himself, 'Yelü Yanxi, Yelü Yanxi, how badly must you be as an emperor for your former concubines to look down on you so much?'

Zhao Yu's eyes flickered in the dim candlelight, carrying a hint of amusement and disdain. He gently stroked Xiao Sese's smooth back, remaining silent and waiting for her to continue.

Seeing that Zhao Yu did not blame her for interfering in politics, Xiao Sese continued, "The Liao emperor is more trouble than he's worth, so it would be better to... make him abdicate..."

At this point, Xiao Sese looked up at Zhao Yu's expression, fearing that her words would anger him, causing him to storm off, or even bring about her own death.

But Xiao Sese's worries about the future of the Liao Kingdom and the Khitan people, as well as her desire for power and to make a name for herself in politics, compelled her to take the risk.

Zhao Yu's lips curled into a subtle smile, and his deep eyes seemed to be able to see into the deepest secrets of people's hearts, making Xiao Sese feel a little flustered.

At this moment, Xiao Sese's heart was pounding like fifteen buckets of water being drawn up and down, or like a drumbeat striking her heart, each beat vibrating her nerves. She pressed her lips tightly together, afraid that the slightest tremor would reveal her inner unease, yet she still forced herself to remain calm, hoping to catch a glimmer of approval in Zhao Yu's unfathomable eyes.

Zhao Yu's fingers gently glided across Xiao Sese's smooth, silky skin, the touch like the gentlest spring breeze, yet carrying an undeniable power. He spoke slowly, his voice deep and magnetic: "It's not impossible to make him abdicate, but if he abdicates, who will be the emperor of Liao?"

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Xiao Sese's eyes. She leaned close to Zhao Yu's ear, her breath sweet as orchids, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz yet each word clear: "If Your Majesty has no suitable candidate in mind, I am willing to be the vanguard and help Your Majesty install a puppet, so that the Liao Kingdom may become a vassal state of our Great Song Dynasty and share in a peaceful and prosperous era."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu's eyes gleamed with even greater amusement. He gently tilted his head, letting the wisps of Xiao Se'er's hair brush against his cheek, savoring this rare moment of intimacy tinged with complex emotions of calculation. He asked calmly, "Whom does my beloved consort wish to recommend?"

Xiao Sese secretly regulated her breathing, afraid that her nervousness would ruin the carefully crafted atmosphere. She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and said in an almost murmured tone, "Your Majesty, I recommend worthy men without regard to kinship. My son in Liao, Your Majesty's adopted son, is now the Prince of Jin. He is quite prestigious in Liao. If Your Majesty follows the example of the late Emperor of Liao and poisons the Liao ruler for his tyranny, and supports my son, the Prince of Jin, to ascend the throne, it will be a great favor to Liao. The people of Liao will be grateful to Your Majesty and willingly become a vassal state of my Great Song."

Fearing that Zhao Yu would disagree, Xiao Sese added, "Your Majesty can also marry one of your daughters to my son, the Prince of Jin, and make her the Empress of Liao. In that case, Your Majesty will be both the stepfather and father-in-law of the Liao Emperor, and the entire Liao Kingdom will surely obey Your Majesty's every command."

It must be said that Xiao Sese's idea was not bad.

She was imitating the way Yelü Hongji poisoned Empress Dowager Liang and Yelü Yanxi married Yelü Nanxian to Li Qianshun to become the Empress of Western Xia.

To be fair, historically, if the Jurchens had not suddenly risen to power in the northeast, the Liao Dynasty could indeed have used this method to control the Western Xia.

Even during the Liao-Jin War, in the early stages, when Yelü Yanxi was in trouble, Li Qianshun, as his son-in-law, did not stand idly by.

When the situation in Liao was deteriorating, Li Qianshun sent 5,000 troops to aid Liaoxijing, but Liaoxijing was quickly lost.

Then, Li Qianshun learned that Yelü Yanxi had fled into Jiashan, so he sent General Li Liangfu with 30,000 troops to rescue him. They fought against the Jin general Wanyan Loushi on the banks of the Yichuan River, and the Xia army was defeated.

Later, Li Qianshun sent his minister Cao Jia to Jiashan to inquire about Yelü Yanxi's well-being and to present him with provisions.

Later, Li Qianshun once again sent troops to rescue Liao, but was blocked by the Jin army and could not advance.

After that, Yelü Yanxi even sought refuge in Western Xia.

It wasn't until the Jin dynasty sent envoys to Western Xia that Li Ganshun was told that if Yelü Yanxi fled into Western Xia territory, he should be captured and handed over to the Jin. In return, if Western Xia treated the Jin with the same courtesy as it had treated the Liao dynasty, the Jin would cede the northwestern territory formerly belonging to the Liao dynasty to Western Xia. Seeing that the fall of the Liao dynasty was inevitable, Li Ganshun, in order to preserve Western Xia, agreed to the Jin's terms, thus declaring that he too had abandoned Yelü Yanxi.

Looking at it this way, the Liao Kingdom played a very clever move, and it is indeed worth using.

After listening, Zhao Yu said, "The Liao Kingdom is in a critical situation, and the Prince of Jin is young. How can he possibly defeat the Jin ruler?"

Xiao Sese didn't say, "Didn't you also ascend the throne when you were a teenager, and didn't you also revitalize the Song Dynasty?" Instead, she took this opportunity to reveal her biggest objective.

Xiao Sese cautiously said, "Your Majesty may not know, but the Liao Dynasty has a tradition of... Empress Dowager ruling."

Only then did Zhao Yu fully understand Xiao Sese's true intentions: she wanted to emulate Empress Xiao Chuo of the Khitan, ruling as regent and making her son Yelü Aoluwo a mere puppet, while real power would be firmly in her hands. In this way, she could both use the power of the Song Dynasty to ensure the continuation of the Khitan bloodline and secretly control the Liao Dynasty, realizing her grand ambitions.

'No wonder your whole family came; you wanted so much!'

Zhao Yu looked at Xiao Sese, who had just been fawning over him, and thought to himself, 'I never expected you to have such wisdom and ambition. You've really gone to great lengths for the future of the Liao Kingdom and the Khitan people, scheming and plotting so boldly. I really underestimated you before…'

……

(End of this chapter)