Chapter 918: Volume Three Released

Nighttime.

Li Tun quietly watched the starry sky outside the palace.

"Your Majesty."

Cui Xishan walked over gracefully and draped a coat over him.

Li Tun smiled gently and patted Cui Xishan's slender hand: "How many people do you think are sleepless tonight?"

Cui Xishan's delicate body trembled; this was the first time Li Tun had spoken to her about state affairs.

She deliberated for a moment before saying: "I fear many people cannot sleep!"

"Hahahahahahahaha!"

Li Tun laughed along, and once he started, he could not stop.

Cui Xishan bit her red lips. In truth, she was not pregnant; this was a rumor Li Tun had intentionally let out just now. Thinking of this, a self-mocking smile appeared on her face. In fact, the King had not even favored her once.

The moment Cui Xishan was exposed, she had nearly bitten her tongue to commit suicide, but Li Tun had stopped her.

First publication website:

Li Tun had looked at her quietly at that time: "Why are you willing to do this?"

That is correct.

From the moment she appeared by Li Tun's side, Li Tun knew this was a Beauty Trap sent by the Westerner Party.

But her ambition was limited to following behind Queen Inhyeon and having a small share of the spoils.

The situation in the Li Dynasty was not something she could manipulate on her own.

Cui Xishan naturally knew what Li Tun was asking—why she was willing to take this risk for Queen Inhyeon. After all, with her looks, she could have obtained much more. Cui Xishan was a clever person; she knew that beauty meant nothing in the inner palace. Throughout the Li Dynasty, there were countless people as beautiful as fairies, but how many could truly enter the palace to serve the King?

She does have ambition.

Therefore, she could only answer that she was deeply indebted to Queen Inhyeon and was willing to be shattered to pieces for her.

That night, Li Tun stared at her for a full quarter of an hour.

One must know that Queen Inhyeon had the entire, once-thriving Westerner Party, yet they had all been driven from power. Zhang Yuzhen had the support of the Southern Faction, yet she was now teetering on the edge.

As a Mandarin, what can she do?

She naturally knows.

This emperor, who appeared extremely mediocre, was actually a person with deep schemes.

Only then did she sleep in her clothes.

However, all night long, Li Tun did not touch her and simply promoted her to the rank of Shuyuan.

As for him, he acted as if he were obsessed with Cui Xishan's beauty, ignoring state affairs.

The next day.

Since he hadn't favored her, how could there be a pregnancy?

Today, Li Tun released this news naturally to test the movements of the Southern Faction and the Westerner Party.

Investigating forbidden books!

*Xie Clan's Southern Expedition* was listed as a forbidden book of the Li Dynasty in the royal court, despite the opposition of the Westerner Party. Once this news broke, the entire Li Dynasty was in an uproar.

Li Tun did not attend court.

Seeing this situation, and with the circumstances becoming urgent, the Southern Faction gritted their teeth.

Bang!

Clatter, clatter!

For a time, starting with Hancheng, everything fell into chaos.

Countless squads of soldiers began to set out from all directions to investigate bookstores in the city.

"A bookstore is such a sacred place—how can you allow it to be violated by weapons of war!"

At first, the people in the bookstores tried their best to resist, but how could they be a match for these brutes? Soon, the doors were smashed open, and the fierce-looking soldiers, with cold eyes, charged in recklessly. Their target was only one: *Xie Clan's Southern Expedition*!

"What are you all doing?"

"You, you are insulting the sages, insulting culture! This is a bookstore, a bookstore!"

For a time, the entire Li Dynasty was in a state of panic.

"Take them away, take them all away!"

Anyone in the city selling *Xie Clan's Southern Expedition* was to be taken away and held for judgment!

Li Xuanya was also anxious: "What do these Traitorous Officials want to do! Isn't it just a book? A forbidden book? Where is the need to ban it?"

Other members of the Min Family also looked at each other, falling into frustration.

"What?"

Queen Inhyeon, having just finished her work, heard the news, and her face immediately darkened.

Everyone could not help but look over.

The Southern Faction has gone mad, and you say it's just right?

Liu Zheng, however, chuckled: "It is just right!"

"What?"

Isn't that so?

If you weren't feeling guilty, why would you ban a book? Doesn't this admit that you've been poked in a sore spot? You, Zhang Yuzhen, are the Qiao Shi in the book! You, Li Hang, are that lover of Qiao Shi!

Liu Zheng laughed: "If they had adopted a gentle approach, it would mean our efforts this time were not satisfactory. However, they have become angry out of shame, which proves one thing: they are feeling guilty!"

The eyes of the crowd lit up as they listened.

Therefore.

The more you ban it, the more I will support it!

Furthermore.

One must know that in any era, especially in ancient times, scholars possessed a distinct character unlike that of ordinary people. In these past few days, the literary circles of the Li Dynasty have been extensively discussing this type of classical long-form novel; although there has been both praise and criticism, the majority of people still hold a welcoming attitude toward the emergence of this subject matter.

I have only just finished reading half of it, and you ban it on me?

In your dreams!

Just as Liu Zheng had guessed.

The moment the Southerner Party announced that the *Xie Clan's Southern Expedition* was designated a banned book, the scholar-gentlemen of Hancheng would not stand for it, one after another taking to the streets and hurling all sorts of abuse. What is a scholar? In ancient times, anyone who had any connection to scholarship could basically be called a Noble. Therefore, among them, there were naturally some people of status and prestige.

Do you think it's easy for us?

After so many years, such a good book finally comes out, and after only a few days, you ban it on me?

Some old men leaning on canes came out first, followed by a group of scholars, students, some wealthy young ladies, and some Nobles, all of whom joined in.

Even if you Southerners and Westerners are in a Bitter Remonstrance, you cannot deprive us of our spiritual enjoyment and cultural entertainment, can you?

When Li Hang and the others saw this situation, they were instantly stunned.

"What should we do?"

Make a scene!

We must make a scene!

Continue!

Suppress them!

"This..."

What should be done?

The first day.

Specifically arrest those bookstore owners, bookstore clerks, and book merchants.

Li Hang had made up his mind; since he had already made this decision, there was no turning back. Besides, look, the King hasn't said anything, has he? That shows he supports it!

More and more Duqi, Duwei, and Imperial Guards were mobilized to specifically arrest people.

"Still a little bit off."

Liu Zheng chuckled, then continued to write furiously.

By the second day, he had everyone who supported this book arrested and thrown into prison!

The third day was the same.

What Liu Zheng wanted was—

Bloodshed incident.

The scholars rose up to resist the Southerners, but their actions were relatively minor, with no major conflicts. What could scholars do? They only shouted a few times, held demonstrations, and hurled abuse.

To escalate the matter, more than that was needed.

Therefore.

The third volume of the *Xie Clan's Southern Expedition* was also ready to be released.

Just on the fifth day after the *Xie Clan's Southern Expedition* was designated a banned book.

The third volume came out.

The publication of this volume directly ignited the entire atmosphere of the Li Dynasty.