Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 271 Temptation
You Di came here precisely to throw herself into my arms.

A witch like Kaohsiung wouldn't have anyone take her red pills and assume responsibility for her entire life.

But playing with fire will only lead to self-destruction. After a night of pleasure with Zhu Wen, You Di suddenly felt that there was no need to control the man she was using for cooperation so tightly.

The scheming and maneuvering among the powerful is quite interesting.

You Di initially chose Li Yi because Li Yi was the son of Li Tiao, a powerful figure in Lingnan, and was both fierce in appearance but weak in reality, making him easy to control.

If Li Tiao gains power, there will be no suitable successor other than Li Yi. You Di will then be able to control Li Yi just as Empress Wu Zetian controlled Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi.

But someone like Li Yi is simply incapable of being a ruler of a region and establishing himself in a chaotic world.

In the Battle of Guangzhou, the rebel army managed to survive and turn the tide of the battle, largely due to Li Yi's sabotage. At that time, Li Yi personally commanded the navy against Zhu Wen, and the outcome was still uncertain.

However, even if Li Yi stays behind to defend the city, he may not be able to hold it. If Li Tiao personally leads the navy into battle, Meng Kai might launch a surprise attack by land and capture the city by scaling the walls.

You Di further realized that Li Tiao's spreading of the rumor that Zhu Wen was the reincarnation of Li Jiancheng before his death was not entirely a bad thing.

This rumor will certainly lead to Huang Chao's suspicion and make him a target of the government troops.

If Zhu Wen truly did seize the Tang dynasty's throne, the claim that the Crown Prince Li Jiancheng was a reincarnation seeking revenge would give many loyal Tang officials a reason to convince themselves.

When the world is turned upside down, what those who are obsessed with their beliefs often want is just a seemingly acceptable stepping stone.

Yu Di, holding a pipa and wearing a light veil, leaned against a brocade-covered chaise lounge at the bow of the boat, her face radiant, as bright as the rising sun at dawn.

A playful smile flickered in her eyes as she carefully observed Zhu Wen's expression.

Previously, Youdi and Zhu Wen were always at odds.

But Youdi was extremely confident in defeating Zhu Wen.

Even she herself felt that compared to the old days when she teased handsome young men, it was much more interesting.

Although she was forcibly taken after losing the ability to resist, the afterglow of the experience, the taste of pleasure, was indeed soothing and invigorating.

Zhu Wen, having tasted her exquisite and flawless body, how could he not be completely intoxicated?
A little bit is enough to be intoxicated.

Because what Youdi could offer Zhu Wen was the allure of power.

The resources of the Demonic Sect can provide considerable assistance, yet they are kept well hidden. As long as one doesn't act as ostentatiously as one's grandmaster Qiao Beiming did in the past, one will not become a target of public criticism.

In a chaotic world, how could a young and outstanding man like Zhu Wen not have the ambition to become an emperor?

As You Di scrutinized Zhu Wen, Zhu Wen's mind raced with thoughts.

The name written on the document was only "You Di," not her full name, Ashina You Di.

Youdi would not reveal her origins in the Demonic Sect or her identity as a princess of the Khazar Turks to Huang Chao.

His status as the Flower King of the Ming Cult alone was not enough to make Huang Chao wary. After all, there were quite a few remnants of the Ming Cult among his followers.

As for You Di, whose hands were stained with the blood of Cao Shixiong and others, what value did he have in Huang Chao's recruitment efforts?

Maritime trade cannot be abandoned; after the massacre of the Hu people, we must find a way to invite some of them back.

The Hu people acted arrogantly and oppressed the Han people in Lingnan. Slaughtering a number of them could relieve public anger and also bring them considerable wealth.

However, this does not mean that we will refuse to trade with foreign countries and close ourselves off from the world.

It's simply about enforcing the law, establishing systems, and prohibiting foreign merchants from using bribery or other underhanded means to seize privileges and oppress the people.

The size of the foreign settlements was controlled, and the issuance of permanent residency was strictly limited. Foreign merchants who were too old to continue trading were sent back to their home countries.

Every system has loopholes that can be exploited. Over time, these loopholes will become larger and larger. Perhaps in the future, these barbarians will once again rely on their wealth and power to act recklessly and even dream of carving up territory within the Chinese borders.

In other words, it's about having future generations perform surgery again.

Immediate interests are ultimately the most important.

The Hu people are now terrified by the killings and dare not come over, causing a slump in trade at Guangzhou port. We need someone with connections and prestige to persuade a new group of Hu merchants, to convince them that as long as they abide by the law, they can trade peacefully without worrying about their lives and wealth.

It turns out that the clearing out of that group of Hu people actually made room for them to do business.

The fact that You Di had such connections and influence, and that he appointed this Hu woman as the Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Trade in Guangzhou, fully reflects Huang Chao's attitude.

You Di's alluring gaze landed arrogantly on Zhu Wen.

All the beautiful maids on the ship turned their gazes toward him.

Zhu Wen was surrounded by envious glances from onlookers.

Zhu Wen thought to himself, regardless of whether he was swayed by her act or not, if he appeared shy or submissive when You Di put on such a show of romance, he would lose face.

He placed the buckets and carrying pole on the riverbank and strode onto the plank.

Youdi stretched, and the veil fluttered off her face. The radiant light that shone forth was even more dazzling than the sunlight.

The blonde beauty slowly rose from the chaise lounge, displaying a languid, slumbering posture that truly captivated all.

She led Zhu Wen, one after the other, into the small cabin inside the ship.

The small room was ornately decorated, with gold powder painted on the walls and pictures made of tridacna and agate. Upon closer inspection, the patterns contained suggestive and sensual allusions.

There were no tables or chairs, only a double-flowered bed covered with a bright red quilt embroidered with peony patterns and various scrolling grass designs.

The Hehuan Bed is a double bed shared by a husband and wife. The scrolling grass pattern symbolizes the couple's mutual support and the wish for many children to grow up together.

Seeing a slight shift in Zhu Wen's eyes, You Di smiled and said, "A fleeting romance can also be a predestined relationship. What's wrong with using this? Liang Yu, you are a free-spirited and unrestrained person. Would you really hesitate because of something as trivial as appearances?"

“That’s true, he’s just a mere foreign minister. It’s nothing more than a bed and a red cloth.” Zhu Wen sat down calmly.

Both Buddhists and those of the demonic sects like to say that everything is just an external phenomenon, and that the mortal world is nothing more than a dream or a bubble.

You Di lightly pressed her delicate body against Zhu Wen's, sitting in his lap, her gaze fiery, and reached out to lift Zhu Wen's chin. Zhu Wen remained calm, letting her extend her slender hand.

Unexpectedly, the beautiful woman grabbed Zhu Wen's chin, pulled him down onto the bed, and the two ended up in a position where one was on top of the other.

A warm, soft sensation pressed against Zhu Wen's lips, the gentle sucking sensation spreading through him.

Then came a sharp pain.

Yu Di giggled and jumped off the bed, twirled twice, wiped the blood from her lips, and said sweetly, "You made me bleed last time, so I'll bite you until you bleed too!"

Her words were charming and alluring, yet also carried a wild and untamed quality.

She was originally a wolf girl from the Ashina family of the Turks, and she didn't shy away from showing that.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Wen remained calm and composed, like still waters in autumn: "As the Flower King said, the beauty I have seen and the wonderful sounds I have heard today are nothing but appearances, like dreams and illusions, not worth discussing."

After being seduced by Youdi, who first held him in her lap and then kissed and bit his lips until they bled, Zhu Wen showed no sign of wavering.

"What an upright gentleman!" You Di clapped her hands and said, "However, Young Master Zhu must also know that the so-called demonic nature is just the desire in one's heart. If the desire is not eliminated, one will inevitably be disturbed by external appearances."

“That day, you pressed yourself against me, ruining my body, but you succumbed to lust and ruined your chance to kill me with a single blow.” You Di said with a smile, “Was it involuntary, or was it an inability to control yourself?”

Upon hearing You Di's words, the erotic scenes of that night flashed through Zhu Wen's mind.

Qi Luoyu had also warned him that the Demon Blade wouldn't create demonic nature out of thin air; one must already have desires to become possessed by such a person.

That night, while Flower Queen Youdi was playing with fire and getting burned, Zhu Wen also couldn't resist the temptation of her body.

If Zhu Wen had chosen to control himself with overwhelming willpower, he could have killed her with a single blow. Instead, after their one-night stand, the injured Flower King had regained some strength, and she escaped.

The instinct of desire ultimately triumphs over reason.

Zhu Wen smiled and said, "The Flower King is right. I am a common man, and I couldn't resist taking a taste of the Flower King's beautiful appearance that day. But seeing how radiant the Flower King looks today, he must be quite pleased, right?"

“I’m not some weakling who complains about being taken advantage of all the time.” You Di’s eyes were fiery and alluring: “So, I’ve come to find you again?”

“But after tasting it, I found it was just so-so.” Zhu Wen poured cold water on her: “If the Flower King wants to move me, it should have some different attitude and let me see it.”

"A different kind of attitude?"

Youdi laughed so hard she almost fell over: "Alright, then let my lord take a look."

She suddenly rolled up her sleeves, clenched her fists, and her expression instantly became fierce and imposing. She scolded, "You little thief, you're acting innocent after taking advantage of me! This old lady will settle things with you!"

His demeanor and mannerisms were exactly the same as Tian Jun's spoiled and willful nature.

Her voice suddenly became delicate and gentle, carrying a refined and scholarly air: "Su Ting doesn't understand, but if you want to think about it, Su Ting will comply without hesitation."

She then moved closer to Zhu Wen and patted him on the shoulder in a very generous manner: "Junior Brother, play with this young lady for a bit!"

Then her expression turned icy cold as she looked at Zhu Wen with her piercingly cold eyes: "Go ahead, I'll just pretend I was bitten by a wild dog."

She is clearly the daughter of Xue Shuai, with the elegance of the physician Qi Luoyu.

In the blink of an eye, her eyes shone brightly, and she bowed solemnly: "I have never received your favor, please have pity on me, my lord."

This is the mannerisms and demeanor of the character.

Finally, Youdi lay back in Zhu Wen's arms, her body relaxed, and when their eyes met, she exuded a breathtaking majesty, her tone firm and resonant, like jade striking ice.

"Boy, if you cannot satisfy this commander, you will be court-martialed!"

Zhu Wen's expression finally changed slightly.

You Di still had the same face and didn't change her makeup, yet she was able to perfectly imitate the temperament and demeanor of the other beauties Zhu Wen knew.

In this way, she stirred up Zhu Wen's desires and told him that if he had her, one woman would be worth more than countless beauties.

Zhu Wen had previously regarded Yan Shuai as a formidable enemy, but after killing her, he witnessed her composure in the face of life and death, and recalling Yan Shuai's former demeanor, he felt a sense of admiration for her.

But she never imagined what such a stunningly beautiful and dignified woman, with a queen-like demeanor, would look like in bed.

This starkly contrasting taboo thought evokes feelings of guilt, yet it also makes one addicted to it.

Yu Di, that witch, is a master at arousing men's primal desires. She's incredibly good at it.

This woman is incredibly charming, possessing an endless array of skills and tricks to please men. Moreover, she can provide men with tremendous help in their careers, and she doesn't care at all that men have other women.

Of course, the price is that after the deed is done, there will inevitably be mutual scheming and power struggles with her.

There's no point in trying to win the heart of a woman like Youdi.

"The Flower King wants to invite me to a high-stakes gamble." Zhu Wen sighed, "What a pity, I quit gambling a long time ago."

You Di's expression returned to its usual charming and alluring manner. She poked Zhu Wen's nose with her jade-like finger and teased, "Quit gambling? Are you just all show and no substance? After all this time, you still can't straighten your back?"

Men are most susceptible to such provocation.

Zhu Wen's face immediately turned cold.

His words became as cold as an eternal glacier.

"I know you want to be empress."

"If you want it, you should serve me to the best of your ability, like a concubine serving me in bed."

You Di did not say that if Zhu Wen cooperated with her, she would do her best to support Zhu Wen to become emperor.

But this is self-evident.

At this moment, Youdi suddenly felt a kind of domineering aura from Zhu Wen that she had never seen before.

(End of this chapter)