Chapter 55: Stay by My Side

Drink, feast! Liu Tan, who had originally planned to engage in a grand battle with Yuan Yuan, suddenly remembered that tomorrow was the seventh day of his challenge with Zhao Xiaoyun.

Therefore, he merely bestowed a gentle rain and dew, and under Yuan Yuan’s slightly reproachful gaze, he mounted his horse and returned to the imperial palace.

If tomorrow his legs turned weak because of tonight, he might very well lose to Zhao Xiaoyun—he simply could not afford such humiliation.

Returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he did not see the three empresses. This brought him a breath of relief.

In truth, being emperor was exhausting—not only did he have to worry about the country and its people, but he also had to balance all kinds of relationships, offending none and neglecting no one.

At least for now, he could not.

The next day, shortly after dawn, Zhao Xiaoyun arrived as promised, carrying the emperor’s token. Led by Wang Li, she was brought to the rear courtyard.

At that moment, Liu Tan was already practicing with the Dragon Gallant Spear, repeatedly lifting it. During these exercises, he could now circulate his internal energy for several minutes.

The advantage of cultivating both internally and externally was rapid progress; his strength and overall coordination had improved markedly.

The Dragon Gallant Spear, which once required both hands and considerable effort, was now being lifted up and down single-handedly by Liu Tan. In a few more days, he would surely be able to spin the spear with ease.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!” Zhao Xiaoyun knelt, following Wang Li’s direction.

Liu Tan glanced at her, stopped his movements, walked over to Wang Li, and planted the long spear upright in the ground for Wang Li to steady.

Because the spear stood vertically, Wang Li needed only a little force to keep it upright.

Liu Tan clapped his hands, turning to Zhao Xiaoyun, “Rise. Are you prepared to be defeated today?”

Zhao Xiaoyun stood, gritting her teeth. “Today, I won’t be careless again! Your Majesty, you’d best be careful!” For the past seven days, aside from eating and sleeping, she had trained relentlessly, incorporating her father’s breathing technique. In just a week, she felt her martial skills had taken a great leap forward.

“Good! Let us begin, then!” Liu Tan took a few steps back to the center of the courtyard, palm facing upward, beckoning to Zhao Xiaoyun.

“Hmph!” Without further words, Zhao Xiaoyun charged at Liu Tan.

Her boxing was learned from Zhao Yun—bold and powerful. But Liu Tan saw that she was cautious today, holding back at least forty percent of her strength.

He countered using the essence of Taiji Fist—he had no other option, as that was all he knew.

But today, Liu Tan also held back most of his strength and techniques, striving to match Zhao Xiaoyun’s level to prolong the bout.

It was like two players of unequal strength playing chess; the stronger would give a handicap or let a piece be taken to make the game interesting.

Thus, to outsiders or even Zhao Xiaoyun herself, the emperor’s skill seemed on par with hers—fists and feet flying, the contest fierce and evenly matched.

“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. “Do you believe I can defeat you in three moves?”

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

She could not believe it; she did not think an emperor could spend all his time training, unlike herself—no one in her household dared disturb her.

“Do you dare make another wager with me?” Liu Tan asked.

“Again!” Zhao Xiaoyun stamped her foot, recalling her previous humiliation, and her first instinct was to refuse.

She could not fall into the trap again.

But the emperor spoke with a mocking shake of his head and a sly smile, “I knew you wouldn’t dare!”

Her pride flared. “Who says I don’t dare? What’s the wager?”

“If I defeat you within three moves, I’ll take it upon myself, for your Uncle Zilong, to give you a new name! Zhao Xiaoyun sounds truly grating!”

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

“Heh!” Liu Tan chuckled inwardly—how could he possibly fail? But he said, “The same as before—I’ll grant you one request!”

“One request?”

Liu Tan’s words rekindled Zhao Xiaoyun’s sense of past humiliation. Now, the chance for revenge was at hand; she could not resist and launched another attack at the emperor.

In a flash, Zhao Xiaoyun’s delicate fists were at the ready. Liu Tan shouted, “Well done!” and, changing his style, met her with his own fists.

Taiji Fist typically emphasized stillness over motion, but it could be used offensively, adapting its movements accordingly.

At that moment, Zhao Xiaoyun smiled. Was the emperor really going to meet her punch for punch? Delighted, she thought, as long as he didn’t evade, even if her fists suffered, she would topple him in one go. With this in mind, she held nothing back, channeling all her strength into a single punch.

Yet, as their fists were about to meet, she felt no pain—instead, her wrist was seized by a sudden force.

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

In the next instant, Liu Tan bent low, grabbing her waistband with his other hand. Following the momentum, he yanked upward.

By now, Liu Tan’s strength far surpassed what it had been when he first arrived; lifting a girl of a hundred pounds with one hand was now just a matter of gritting his teeth.

Thus, Zhao Xiaoyun was hoisted high into the air by Liu Tan.

“Hmph, defeating you takes but a single move!” With these words, he flung Zhao Xiaoyun horizontally.

His throw was powerful. Zhao Xiaoyun, airborne and unable to leverage herself, found her face heading straight for the ground. Even if she managed to catch herself with her hands, she could not escape a humiliating fall.

It was not that Liu Tan was heartless—he had already spotted Zhao Yun being led into the courtyard by a palace maid.

The direction in which he threw Zhao Xiaoyun was precisely towards Zhao Yun.

Yet, Zhao Xiaoyun, terrified and closing her eyes, did not notice her father’s arrival.

Sure enough, as she was about to crash down, Zhao Yun intervened—covering several meters in a flash and catching his daughter by the shoulders, neutralizing her fall.

“Xiaoyun! You’ve lost again!” Zhao Yun shook his head. “I told you, His Majesty is a peerless genius—you cannot defeat him. Why won’t you believe it? Hurry and ask His Majesty to bestow you a new name!”

Indeed, the name Zhao Xiaoyun had always sounded awkward to Zhao Yun, but he felt indebted to his wife and daughter and dared not suggest a change. Now that the emperor had offered to bestow a new name, it suited him perfectly.

“Father, you heard?” Zhao Xiaoyun was inwardly aggrieved, but before the emperor, she could not renege. She straightened her clothes, turned, and bowed to Liu Tan, “I ask Your Majesty to bestow me a name!”

Liu Tan nodded, feigning deep thought. Suddenly, he clapped his hands, delighted, “I have it!”

Zhao Xiaoyun looked up, worried, unsure what kind of name the emperor would give her.

She only hoped it would sound pleasant.

Liu Tan stifled his laughter and said with utmost seriousness, “From this day forth, you shall be called Zhao Teddy. Your nickname shall be Teddy!”

“Zhao Teddy?”

Both Zhao Xiaoyun and Zhao Yun repeated the name.

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 the first to respond. He nodded solemnly, “Teddy is a fine name. Though it doesn’t follow the Zhao family’s generation, it doesn’t matter for a girl. It’s a good name—sounds pleasing!”

Liu Tan mused that no matter what it was, as long as it changed, Zhao Yun would surely find it pleasant.

“Very well, thank you, Your Majesty, for the name!” Zhao Xiaoyun—no, Zhao Teddy now—thought for a moment. Though the name was somewhat androgynous, at least it didn’t sound harsh.

“Mm, Teddy, you may rise,” Liu Tan said, inwardly delighted.