Chapter 55: Offering the Changmen Garden

The Dong Yan before her was merely a youth of eighteen or nineteen. His black hair was tied atop his head, and his sword-like brows and star-bright eyes were incredibly striking. At first glance, he appeared to be a refined young gentleman, making one unable to help but feel a sense of favor toward him.

And he was quite polite; after knowing Liu Li's identity, he immediately bowed, without any appearance of being arrogant because of favor.

Liu Li couldn't help but look at him a few more times, thinking in her heart, who wouldn't like such an obedient and well-behaved male favorite? No wonder Dou Taizhu Liu Piao, after a hundred years, was not even willing to be buried with her husband, but wanted to be buried with Dong Yan.

Dong Yan turned slightly and raised his hand to invite Princess Jianling into the Marquis Mansion: "Princess, please come in."

Liu Li responded and walked into the Marquis Mansion with Chen Ran. A maid had already run to notify Liu Piao. When Liu Li walked to the backyard, Liu Piao had already brought a group of maids and was coming in a mighty manner.

"A Li." Seeing Liu Li, a faint smile appeared on Liu Piao's face.

Liu Li and Chen Ran bowed to Liu Piao together: "Grandmother, Grandmother, are you well?"

"Good, good, good." Liu Piao nodded repeatedly, reaching out to help the two granddaughters up. She glanced at Dong Yan standing on the side, and the smile on her face became even greater: "Yan has also returned."

"Foster Mother."

Hearing Dong Yan's address to Liu Piao, Liu Li blinked her eyes. At this time, Dong Yan was only Liu Piao's foster son. It seemed that at this moment, they hadn't developed into that kind of relationship yet.

The *Book of Han* records that the relationship between Dou Taizhu and Dong Yan began after Dou Taizhu became a widow.

"Let's all follow me into the house; it's so hot outside, don't get sunburnt." Liu Piao reached out to hold Liu Li's hand and called Dong Yan and Chen Ran.

Just as she walked into the house, Liu Li felt a chill. Looking closely, it turned out that a large block of ice was placed in the center of the room.

Liu Li raised her hand to wipe the sweat on her forehead. At this moment, she missed the days of air conditioning and refrigerators in modern times very much; she really wanted to eat ice cream.

A maid walked in holding a large tray, and Liu Piao greeted Liu Li: "I asked people to prepare some refreshing fruits. A Li, come and taste them to cool down."

Liu Li walked over and found that the tray contained some washed pears, oranges, etc., and there was even sliced kiwi.

She reached out and took a pear, then handed it to Chen Ran: "Cousin, this is for you."

Chen Ran took it with both hands: "Thank you, cousin."

Liu Li ate a piece of kiwi; the taste was a bit sour, obviously picked before it was ripe, but the cold and refreshing taste was indeed very comfortable to eat.

Liu Piao ate a few slices of orange and saw that Liu Li and Chen Ran, the cousins, were getting along well, and she was happy in her heart. She smiled and said: "Is A Li staying at the Marquis Mansion today?"

Liu Li looked at Liu Piao and nodded: "Okay."

Chen Ran was also happy: "Grandmother, can cousin A Li sleep with me tonight?"

Liu Piao nodded: "Naturally, you can." Sure enough, letting Chen Ran replace Chen Yu was a correct choice.

"Grandmother, then remember to arrange for someone to tell Father Emperor and Mother Empress." Liu Li said: "Otherwise they will be worried."

Liu Piao nodded: "This is natural."

In the evening, Liu Li, Chen Ran, and Dong Yan accompanied Liu Piao for dinner. Several people sat around a large table, sitting on chairs.

Liu Li didn't expect that the Tangyi Marquis Mansion had already started using tables and chairs for meals.

As if seeing Liu Li's thoughts, Liu Piao smiled: "Ever since A Li invented these tables and chairs, I truly feel it is very convenient, especially when dining."

Liu Li climbed onto the chair and sat down, shaking her dangling little legs, her eyes curved: "Grandmother, you have already mastered the correct way to use tables and chairs."

Liu Piao was amused by Liu Li's glib tone. Perhaps because of Liu Li's arrival, or perhaps because it was really lively for everyone to eat around a table, Liu Piao ordered people to prepare iced fruit drinks.

The maid poured it for everyone. Liu Li leaned over and took a sip; it was cold, refreshing, and sweet and sour, and it was quite delicious: "Grandmother, what fruit is this fruit drink brewed from?"

"This is brewed from *qiu* (hawthorn). There happens to be a *qiu* tree in the Marquis Mansion. In May or June, the tree will be

full of beautiful flowers, and recently it has borne small fruits. The cook in the mansion said this fruit can be eaten, but it is very sour, so it was made into jam." Liu Piao told Liu Li with a smile: "How is it, does A Li like to drink it?"

Liu Li nodded: "Like."

"Grandmother, can you send some fruits for me to take back?"

"Of course you can." Liu Piao said: "Later I will ask someone to climb the tree and pick more for you to take back."

"No, Grandmother." Liu Li hurriedly said: "This fruit will only be delicious in two months. I will come to ask Grandmother for fruits in two months."

"So that's how it is, then wait a little longer."

Liu Li tasted the flavor in the first sip of this fruit drink; this so-called *qiu* was actually hawthorn, and the fruit drink in front of her was made of hawthorn and maltose.

The ripening time of hawthorn fruit was from September to October. The small fruits that were borne now must be sour. Liu Li planned to pick some to take back to Weiyang Palace after the hawthorn ripened, and then make them into candied hawthorns to eat.

After drinking the hawthorn juice to whet her appetite, the kitchen sent the dinner, placed it on a large table, and everyone picked what they wanted to eat. Ever since the Tangyi Marquis Mansion used tables and chairs for meals, it was convenient for the kitchen to prepare meals; they only needed to prepare one portion.

Liu Piao was happy today and couldn't help but drink a little wine. After dinner, she was already slightly drunk. Dong Yan stood up, reached out to support Liu Piao, and said to Liu Li and Chen Ran in a gentle voice: "I will send Foster Mother back to her bedroom to rest. Princess and A Ran, eat slowly."

Liu Li nodded: "Okay."

"A Li, sleep with me today." Chen Ran invited enthusiastically: "My room is cooler at night."

"Okay."

In fact, no matter how cool Chen Ran's room was, it couldn't compare to the Qingliang Hall of Weiyang Palace. Recently, the weather was hot, and even Liu Che didn't live in the Jiaofang Hall but moved to the Qingliang Hall. Liu Li also had her own room in the Qingliang Hall, and it was truly cool inside.

After Liu Li and Chen Ran finished dinner, Chen Ran planned to take Liu Li back to her room. At this time, it was already dark outside, and the maids were carrying lanterns to lead the way for the two.

Walking on the corridor, Liu Li found that there were fireflies in front, and the water in the pond reflected the moon in the sky, illuminating the lotus flowers blooming in the pond. Chen Ran exclaimed: "So beautiful, there seem to be glowing insects over there."

"Those are fireflies. When summer is hot, they will appear." Liu Li said with a smile: "If you are not afraid of insects, you can catch one to see."

Fireflies are active at night and like to inhabit places with lush vegetation. The adults glow to attract the opposite sex.

"I'm not afraid." As she spoke, Chen Ran blinked and had already lifted her skirt and walked over there. Liu Li leaned against the railing and waited for her, secretly laughing that Chen Ran still had a childish heart.

However, seeing Chen Ran walking further and further away, Liu Li couldn't help but remind her: "Cousin, pay attention to safety."

Chen Ran replied from afar: "I know."

Liu Li waited for a while, and Chen Ran finally came back, but she didn't catch any fireflies.

"Didn't you go to catch fireflies? Didn't you catch any?"

Chen Ran's voice seemed a bit panicked: "No... didn't catch any, A Li, let's go back."

Huh? Liu Li clearly heard that something was wrong with her voice and looked suspiciously at the pond side where Chen Ran had just gone.

"Let's go, let's go, A Li, let's go back and rest." Chen Ran held Liu Li's hand and took her forward.

Until they entered the courtyard where Chen Ran lived, she was still holding Liu Li's hand tightly. The maid prepared water for Liu Li and Chen Ran to bathe separately. Because Liu Li didn't bring a change of clothes, she turned to look at Chen Ran: "Cousin, can you lend me a set of undergarments?"

Chen Ran's expression was dazed, as if she had been stimulated by something.

Liu Li frowned and reached out to wave in front of her eyes: "Cousin."

Chen Ran suddenly came back to her senses and nodded dumbly: "Oh oh, okay." She turned to find clothes for Liu Li to change into.

After the two finished bathing separately, they lay on the bed together. The maid closed the door for them, and the whole room suddenly became quiet. Only the sound of insects outside the room could be heard, like a harsh piece of music.

Liu Li lay quietly, staring at the carved patterns on the top of the bed. She was waiting for Chen Ran to speak.

Sure enough, after a while, Chen Ran finally couldn't hold it anymore and called out in a low voice: "A Li, are you asleep?"

Liu Li pretended that she hadn't discovered anything and replied softly: "Not yet, it's my first time sleeping outside, a bit unable to sleep."

Chen Ran swallowed, hesitating and struggling in her heart, not knowing how to tell Liu Li.

"Cousin, what happened to you by the pond just now? Did you see something?" Liu Li turned over to face Chen Ran, lowered her voice, and said in a whisper: "Tell me, I won't tell anyone else."

Chen Ran also turned over, lying face to face with Liu Li. After struggling for a while, she leaned into Liu Li's ear and said: "I was by the pond just now, and by the moonlight, I seemed to see Grandmother and..."

She didn't know how to say the words behind, struggling to bite her lower lip, "and that Master Dong... in... doing shameful things." After finishing, she closed her eyes tightly, and her face still showed nervousness.

Liu Li: "!!!"

Western Han people really know how to play; is this the legendary grass play?

No wonder Chen Ran's face became like that after coming back; this was a shocking piece of news for her!

Although Liu Li had long known that Dong Yan was Liu Piao's male favorite, hearing Chen Ran say this, she was still a bit surprised. She thought for a while and asked: "Then... did they see you?"

Chen Ran shook her head hurriedly: "I, I don't know."

Even if Liu Piao and Dong Yan didn't see anyone go over, they must have known that someone had been there. After all, Liu Li was still standing on the corridor and called out "Cousin." With such a big movement, they couldn't have not noticed.

"A Li, you have to save me, what if Grandmother knows that I bumped into her..." Chen Ran was about to cry. If she had known, she wouldn't have gone to catch any fireflies.

"Should... be okay, right?" Liu Li said uncertainly.

After all, in history, the affair between Liu Piao and Dong Yan was almost known to everyone, and even Emperor Wu of Han, after knowing it, still called Dong Yan "Master."

"But..." Chen Ran was still very panicked: "But how could Grandmother be with her foster son..."

Liu Li raised her hand to rub the tip of her nose and could only appease Chen Ran: "It's okay, you don't have to worry, if Grandmother really blames you, I will help you."

Hearing Liu Li say she was willing to help her, Chen Ran finally felt a little at ease: "A Li, thank you."

The room returned to silence. After a while, Chen Ran still couldn't sleep and pulled Liu Li: "A Li, do you think if Grandfather knew about this, would he come to Chang'an from Tangyi?"

Liu Li fell into silence.

Liu Piao's husband, Tangyi Marquis Chen Wu?

Speaking of which, there was one thing that made Liu Li feel very strange. As the only daughter of Empress Dowager Dou, with her status and status, Liu Piao should not have married Chen Wu, a marquis with only 1,800 households.

If it was said that Liu Piao was not liked by Han Wendi, so she let her eldest daughter marry Chen Wu, it seemed a bit unreasonable.

After all, according to the records in the *Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Imperial Relatives*, a few months after Han Wendi ascended the throne, the ministers asked Han Wendi to choose a crown prince. So he chose the eldest son of Consort Dou to be the crown prince, then established Consort Dou as the Empress, and her daughter Liu Piao as the Eldest Princess.

Even the character *piao* in Liu Piao meant brave and light, which was enough to see Han Wendi's love for this daughter. So why did Liu Piao marry Chen Wu? Could it be because of true love?

Regarding this conjecture, Liu Li quickly denied it. If it was true love, how could Liu Piao have lived apart from her husband for many years and even kept Dong Yan as a male favorite? I am afraid that the reason why Liu Piao married Chen Wu is only known to Liu Piao herself.

"As for the affairs of the elders, we juniors should not ask too much." Liu Li reached out and patted Chen Ran's arm: "Let's sleep, you should forget about this matter, just pretend you didn't see anything."

Chen Ran could only nod.

Let's talk about Liu Piao's side.

Originally, she had drunk some wine tonight and was supported back to her room by Dong Yan. When passing by the pond, she felt the moonlight was just right, so she had the idea of enjoying the moon.

She asked the maids around her to retreat, leaving only Dong Yan to follow.

The two walked toward the pond together.

Perhaps the moonlight was too beautiful, or perhaps the young boy beside her was too tempting. Taking advantage of the drunkenness, Liu Piao felt a bit restless.

When she adopted Dong Yan, it was because this child looked good and was obedient.

Her two biological sons were not worry-free. At that time, her daughter's affairs also weighed on her heart, so seeing the obedient and well-behaved Dong Yan, Liu Piao decided to adopt him.

After raising him for several years, Dong Yan was now seventeen. This child was becoming more and more handsome, and his temperament was also excellent. Liu Piao naturally liked him more and more.

As for whether this liking was a mother's love for a son, or a woman's love for a man, did it matter?

So under such a tempting moonlight, Liu Piao couldn't help but kiss Dong Yan. And Dong Yan, after a slight struggle, also complied with Liu Piao.

Dong Yan knew very well that his current status and status were given by Dou Taizhu, and he was very grateful for Liu Piao's upbringing.

If it weren't for Dou Taizhu, I am afraid he would still be a small person living by selling pearls. He didn't want to go back to the bitter days before he was thirteen. If he could serve Dou Taizhu for a long time, he was also willing.

The two soon rolled onto the grass. Liu Piao was a bit unclear, and Dong Yan was also confused by the wine. It wasn't until Liu Li called out "Cousin, pay attention to safety" on the corridor not far away.

Liu Piao suddenly woke up, tilted her head, and only saw Chen Ran's back hurriedly leaving in the moonlight.

Dong Yan panicked. He hurriedly moved away from Liu Piao's side and knelt beside Liu Piao: "Foster Mother, what should we do?" If this matter spread out, let alone himself, I am afraid Liu Piao herself would be punished by the Son of Heaven.

Liu Piao pulled her clothes together, stood up from the grass, and stared at Chen Ran's back as she pulled Liu Li away in a hurry. After a long time, she raised her eyebrows and said: "You get up first."

Dong Yan was terrified in his heart and stood up tremblingly: "It's all Yan's fault. Yan is not afraid of being punished, only afraid that this matter will implicate Foster Mother." Now that the Tangyi Marquis was still alive, their adultery would definitely be punished if people knew.

"You are afraid of implicating me?" Liu Piao looked at him, her eyes filled with a little smile: "When I kissed you just now, why didn't you push me away?"

Dong Yan pursed his lips, seeming a bit shy: "Everything Yan has is given by Foster Mother. If Foster Mother wants Yan, how can Yan not obey?"

The moonlight above her head was bright and clear, just enough to illuminate one side of Dong Yan's cheek. Liu Piao stared at him deeply for a long time, and her mood was pleasant: "Don't call me Foster Mother in the future."

Dong Yan was stunned, but grievances gradually appeared in his eyes: "Does Foster Mother not want Yan anymore?"

Liu Piao chuckled, turned and walked toward the corridor, leaving a sentence: "Just focus on serving me."

After hearing this, Dong Yan finally realized the meaning of Liu Piao's words. He was happy in his heart and hurriedly chased after her, but he was still a bit hesitant: "But just now A Ran and Princess Jianling..."

"I will handle this matter, you can rest assured." Liu Piao said lightly: "You go back to rest too."

Dong Yan paused and said softly: "Yan will send Foster Mother... send Taizhu back."

"Hmm." Liu Piao responded and continued to walk toward her place.

The next day, Liu Piao's maid came to ask Liu Li and Chen Ran to have breakfast together. Chen Ran subconsciously looked at Liu Li, and after getting Liu Li's appeasing look, she took a deep breath.

The two came to the place where they ate together. Liu Piao and Dong Yan were already there. Chen Ran saw Dong Yan standing behind Liu Piao, helping Liu Piao serve food, and she hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to look again.

Liu Li was very calm and greeted Liu Piao first, then sat down on the chair and looked at the breakfast on the table.

"Did A Li get used to staying in the mansion yesterday?" Liu Piao asked with a smile.

Liu Li nodded: "Used to it, thank you Grandmother for your concern."

Liu Piao looked at Chen Ran: "What about A Ran? Do you need to add anything to your courtyard?"

Chen Ran lowered her head and didn't dare to look at Liu Piao, just shook her head: "No, nothing, thank you Grandmother."

"That's good." Liu Piao's voice was light, and she couldn't tell if she was happy or angry. Dong Yan behind her stepped forward and put side dishes into her bowl.

Liu Piao said: "A Yan, sit down and eat too."

Dong Yan put down his chopsticks: "Nuo."

Liu Li observed the two of them while eating. In fact, in her opinion, although Liu Piao was a bit old, she was well-maintained, and she didn't look like someone in her fifties.

"Why does A Li keep staring at me?" Liu Piao noticed Liu Li's gaze and turned to look at her.

Liu Li smiled: "Grandmother, I think you look really young, better than Empress Dowager Wang in Changle Palace."

Liu Piao laughed out loud. She reached out to stroke her temples and raised her eyebrows: "Really? I am a few years older than Wang Zhi." Which woman doesn't want to hear that she is young?

Liu Li nodded: "A Li never lies."

"You have a sweet mouth." Liu Piao was coaxed by Liu Li and was in a great mood, then asked: "Why do you call her so distantly?"

Liu Li curled her lips, and her voice sounded spoiled: "Because she doesn't like A Li, so A Li doesn't like her either. I don't want to call her Grandmother; A Li likes Grandmother."

"Hahaha." Liu Piao was even more happy.

After having breakfast at the Tangyi Marquis Mansion, Liu Li prepared to return to Weiyang Palace. Liu Piao arranged for the Marquis Mansion's carriage to send her back and also asked her to say hello to her parents after returning to the palace.

Liu Li nodded and agreed. Before leaving, she didn't forget to secretly tell Chen Ran to forget about yesterday's events.

After Liu Li left, Liu Piao looked at Chen Ran and said: "A Ran, come with me."

Chen Ran's heart skipped a beat, and she followed Liu Piao into the room anxiously. When only the two of them were left in the room, Liu Piao didn't speak and drank tea quietly.

Chen Ran stood there, suffering in her heart, and finally couldn't hold on anymore, biting the bullet and speaking: "Grandmother, you called A Ran here, is there anything?"

Liu Piao said: "Last night..."

Chen Ran interrupted directly: "Last night A Ran didn't see anything."

Liu Piao: "..."

"Since that's the case, A Ran, remember what you said. If you say anything you shouldn't say, don't blame Grandmother for being ruthless to you."

Chen Ran nodded tremblingly: "Nuo, A Ran remembers."

Liu Piao stared at her for a while: "Go down." If only these granddaughters were as smart as A Li.

Liu Li really didn't take Liu Piao and Dong Yan's affairs to heart, so she didn't mention this to A Jiao.

Now that the Imperial Academy was on summer vacation, Liu Li didn't have to go to school. She stayed in Weiyang Palace for a day and suddenly felt a bit bored, and suddenly felt that the days of going to school were better.

Hearing her state of mind, A Jiao laughed at her for having a life that couldn't be idle. Then she mentioned that it would be the middle of July soon, and they had to go to the Gucheng Temple to sacrifice to Han Wendi.

Liu Li felt a headache when she heard about the sacrifice. She had been in the Western Han for almost a year, but she had experienced many large and small sacrificial activities. She had experienced more sacrifices in the Western Han than in her twenty-plus years in modern times.

"The middle of July is a folk sacrificial custom, and as the Son of Heaven, I naturally have to go." A Jiao was also helpless.

As they were talking, the eunuch outside reported: "Your Majesty, Dou Taizhu requests an audience."

A Jiao hurriedly asked the eunuch to invite her mother in.

Seeing the Son of Heaven, Liu Piao first smiled and exchanged pleasantries, and then stated her intention: "Your Majesty is going to the Gucheng Temple in the middle of July. The journey is long and there is no accommodation. It just so happens that I have a garden near there, so why not offer it to Your Majesty as a place to stay."

As soon as this was said, A Jiao and Liu Li were stunned because they both thought of a name: Changmen Palace.

Liu Piao continued: "That garden is not big, and I don't go there often, so it is most suitable to give it to Your Majesty. This was proposed by my foster son yesterday. What does Your Majesty think?"

Historical records confirm that it was indeed Dong Yan who offered the plan for Liu Piao to give the Changmen Garden to Liu Che, so that Liu Che would not punish Liu Piao and Dong Yan for their affair. Unexpectedly, in this space-time, she actually witnessed this piece of history in this way.

Liu Li stared at the 【Offer Changmen Garden】 task that popped up on the system interface, which already showed a completed state, and also received a reward of 500 points. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. ===== CHAPTER 56 =====