Chapter Fifty-Five: Teddy Zhao

Drinking and feasting! Liu Tan, who had initially intended to engage in three hundred rounds of battle with Yuan Yuan, suddenly remembered that tomorrow was the day of his seven-day challenge with Zhao Xiaoyun.

Thus, he offered her only a brief taste of affection, and under Yuan Yuan’s slightly resentful gaze, rode back to the imperial palace.

If his legs gave out tomorrow because of tonight, he might end up losing to Zhao Xiaoyun, and he could not bear such disgrace.

Returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he did not see the Empress and her companions, which allowed him a sigh of relief.

Truly, being an emperor was exhausting—not only must he worry for the nation and its people, but he also had to balance the relationships of all parties, offending no one and neglecting none!

At least, not for now.

The next day, just past dawn, Zhao Xiaoyun arrived as promised, bearing the imperial token, and was led by Wang Li to the rear courtyard.

At that moment, Liu Tan was already lifting the Dragon Gallbladder Spear repeatedly, and during the process, the flow of qi in his body could now circulate for several minutes.

The benefit of honing both inner and outer strength was rapid progress; whether in strength or overall coordination, he had improved remarkably.

The Dragon Gallbladder Spear, once difficult to lift with both hands, was now being hefted single-handedly by Liu Tan. In a few more days, he might well be able to twirl it with flourish.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!” Zhao Xiaoyun knelt under Wang Li’s guidance.

Liu Tan glanced at Zhao Xiaoyun, halted his movements, walked to Wang Li’s side, and set the spear upright for Wang Li to hold.

Since the spear was vertical, Wang Li only needed minimal effort to steady it.

Clapping his hands, Liu Tan said to Zhao Xiaoyun, “Rise. Are you prepared to be bested?”

Zhao Xiaoyun stood, gritting her teeth. “Today, I won’t be careless again! Your Majesty, you had best be cautious!” For the past seven days, aside from eating and sleeping, she had devoted herself to rigorous training, integrating her father’s method of breathing into her practice. In just a week, she felt her skills had advanced greatly.

“Very well! Let us begin!” Liu Tan stepped back a few paces to the center of the courtyard, palm up, beckoning Zhao Xiaoyun forward.

“Hmph!” Without further words, Zhao Xiaoyun launched her attack.

Her boxing style, inherited from Zhao Yun, was bold and open, but Liu Tan could tell she was being cautious today, holding back at least forty percent of her strength.

He responded with the essence of Tai Chi, simply because it was the only martial art he knew.

Today, however, Liu Tan also held back most of his strength and techniques, striving to match Zhao Xiaoyun’s level to extend their exchange.

It was like two players of unequal skill playing chess; the stronger one must give odds or handicap pieces, or else the match would not be interesting.

Thus, in the eyes of outsiders and Zhao Xiaoyun herself, the emperor’s skill seemed on par with hers, and for a while, fists and feet flew, locked in a fierce contest.

“Heh, Your Majesty, isn’t it much harder to defeat me today?” Zhao Xiaoyun laughed after pushing Liu Tan away.

Liu Tan found it amusing, but only snorted, saying, “Do you believe I could defeat you within three moves?”

Zhao Xiaoyun shook her head with a hint of disdain. “Your Majesty, I truly do not.”

She didn’t believe it. After all, she couldn’t imagine an emperor had time to do anything but eat and sleep, let alone devote himself to training as she did, uninterrupted by anyone in her household.

“Do you dare make a wager with me, then?” Liu Tan asked.

“Again?” Zhao Xiaoyun stomped her foot, recalling her defeat seven days earlier—her first instinct was to refuse.

She must not be tricked again.

But the emperor spoke once more, and seeing his mocking shake of the head and sly grin, she grew heated and retorted, “Who says I don’t dare? What’s the wager?”

“If I defeat you within three moves, I shall rename you on behalf of your Uncle Zilong. Zhao Xiaoyun sounds truly unpleasant to the ear.”

“And if Your Majesty fails?” Zhao Xiaoyun countered sharply.

Liu Tan chuckled. He thought to himself, “As if I could fail.” But aloud he said, “As before, I’ll grant you a favor of your choosing.”

“A favor?”

Liu Tan’s words brought back the humiliation of that previous day. Now, with a chance to redeem herself, she could not resist and launched another attack at the emperor.

In a flash, Zhao Xiaoyun’s delicate fists shot forth. Liu Tan shouted, “Well struck!” and, changing his technique, met her with a fist of his own.

Tai Chi emphasizes defense, but can also be aggressive, albeit with a different approach.

At that moment, Zhao Xiaoyun smiled. Seeing the emperor’s stance, it seemed he was ready to clash fists. Delighted, she thought: as long as he doesn’t dodge, even if her own hand is injured, she’ll take him down in one blow. With this in mind, she held nothing back and struck with all her might.

But as her fist neared the emperor’s, instead of feeling pain, she felt a tug at her wrist.

“Ah!” Zhao Xiaoyun instantly realized she’d been tricked again.

The next second, Liu Tan bent forward, grabbed her sash with his other hand, and, using her momentum, lifted her upwards.

Now, Liu Tan’s strength was far beyond what it had been before. He could raise a girl of a hundred and eighty pounds with one hand, though it took some effort.

Thus, Zhao Xiaoyun was hoisted high into the air.

“Hmph, defeating you takes but a single move!” he declared, and, in that instant, tossed Zhao Xiaoyun horizontally away.

His throw was forceful, and Zhao Xiaoyun, suspended in midair, could not shift her weight. Her face was headed straight for the ground; even if she managed to break her fall with her hands, she was destined for a humiliating tumble and a scraped face.

But Liu Tan was not being cruel—he had already seen Zhao Yun being led into the rear courtyard by a palace maid.

He had thrown Zhao Xiaoyun in Zhao Yun’s direction.

Zhao Xiaoyun, frightened and squeezing her eyes shut, failed to notice her father’s presence.

Sure enough, just before she hit the ground, Zhao Yun made his move. In a flash, he crossed the short distance and caught his daughter by the shoulders, halting her fall.

“Xiaoyun, you’ve lost again!” Zhao Yun shook his head. “I told you, His Majesty is a born genius; you’re no match for him. Why won’t you believe it? Go quickly and request a new name from His Majesty!”

Truth be told, Zhao Yun found the name ‘Zhao Xiaoyun’ rather grating as well. But feeling indebted to his wife and daughter, he never dared propose a change. Now that the emperor offered to bestow a name, it suited him perfectly.

“Father, you heard?” Zhao Xiaoyun felt thoroughly aggrieved, but before the emperor, she could not renege. She straightened her clothes, turned, and bowed to Liu Tan. “I humbly request Your Majesty to grant me a name.”

Liu Tan nodded, feigning deep contemplation. Suddenly, he clapped his hands with delight. “I have it!”

Zhao Xiaoyun looked up, a bit anxious, uncertain what kind of name the emperor would give her.

She hoped it would at least sound pleasant.

Liu Tan barely suppressed a laugh and solemnly declared, “From this day forward, you shall be called Zhao Teddy. Your childhood name shall be Teddy!”

“Zhao Teddy?”

Both Zhao Xiaoyun and Zhao Yun repeated the name, turning it over on their tongues.

Liu Tan bit his tongue to keep from laughing aloud, thinking, “Surely, there are no teddy dogs at this time!”

As expected, Zhao Yun was first to respond. Nodding gravely, he said, “Teddy, that is a fine name. Though it doesn’t follow the Zhao family’s generational order, for a girl, that hardly matters. An excellent name—pleasant to the ear!”

Liu Tan mused inwardly—no matter what the name, as long as it was changed, Zhao Yun would surely be pleased.

“Very well. Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing the name!” Zhao Xiaoyun—no, Zhao Teddy now—thought for a moment. Though the name made it hard to tell her gender, at least it didn’t sound unpleasant.

“Yes, Teddy, rise now,” Liu Tan said, inwardly delighted beyond measure.