[Fantasy] My World (Complete) - Chapter 27

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Chapter Five: Testing the True Intent
Another location in the capital was the residence of Prime Minister Han.
The Prince of Zhennan's residence covered a thousand acres, with countless pavilions and terraces. Prime Minister Han's residence was no less impressive, covering at least five hundred acres, and was equally luxurious. It housed Prime Minister Han's family and hundreds of servants, guarded by over a hundred palace guards sent by Emperor Kangzong.
The residences of high-ranking officials in the outer city were built among the houses of ordinary wealthy people and commoners. The sounds of the outside world could be heard all day long, creating a lively atmosphere that everyone found enjoyable.
Therefore, the emperor was truly the most pitiful person in the world, living in the palace all day, surrounded only by his wife, children, eunuchs, guards, and palace maids, constantly facing competition for favor and intrigue, never experiencing the joys of ordinary life.
Perhaps it was precisely because they longed to experience this kind of ordinary warmth that the high-ranking officials of Liufeng Kingdom preferred to live in the commoner's area!
However, there were still significant differences between the houses of high-ranking officials, low-ranking officials, and commoners.
Prime Minister Han's residence stood alone in the middle of the street. The streets around it, thanks to his residence, were spacious and tidy, each at least ten meters wide.
Dozens of guards and soldiers stood watch at the front and back gates, ready to pounce on any suspicious individuals and nip any danger in the bud.
Of course, I wasn't going to be so docile as to enter through the gate. I found a section of the wall, and with a "whoosh," I entered Prime Minister Han's residence, then swaggered down the cobblestone path.
"Halt!"
Before I'd gone ten meters, two imposing guards leaped out of the bushes, their broadswords flashing as they were drawn, the tips pointed directly at me.
"Who are you?"
the guards shouted sharply, ready to strike at me if I didn't answer correctly.
"You scoundrel, don't you even recognize Young Master Ri?"
Before I could answer, an even louder voice came from a corridor behind them. Looking up, I saw it was one of the mansion's stewards.
There were over twenty stewards in the Han household, divided into inner and outer sections. The inner section was entirely staffed by women, while the outer section was staffed by men. They were all long-time members of the Han family and had all seen me before. The steward, startled by their shouts, rushed over and, upon discovering it was Liu Ri, the master's godson, quickly intervened.
"Hehe, Eighth Steward, you've arrived."
Two guards, unfamiliar with me but recognizing the steward, sheathed their swords and greeted him obsequiously.
"Hmm, go on. Don't be so oblivious next time. This is Young Master Ri, the master's godson!"
The Eighth Steward said authoritatively, waving his hand.
Few in the Han household knew that Liu Ri was Ren Lanting, but the mere fact that he was Han Shuliang's godson and the lover of two young ladies was enough for them to fawn over him.
After dismissing the two guards, the Eighth Butler's expression immediately changed, transforming into the same obsequious smile as the guards. "Young Master Ri, when did you arrive? I didn't hear anything. This way, I could have come to greet you, sir."
"Get lost!"
I laughed and tossed out a small bag, naturally filled with gold coins. "I'm only seventeen, what 'sir'?"
"Yes, yes!"
The Eighth Butler grinned and pocketed the bag. Why not take the master's reward?
"I just arrived in the capital. I climbed over the wall to surprise Su Yan and Su Yue. Where are they?"
"Ah? The two young ladies?"
The Eighth Butler was taken aback. "It seems... it seems Her Highness the Princess invited them out for tea early this morning, and they haven't returned yet."
"The Princess invited them?"
I immediately understood. Suppressing my excitement, I waved my hand. "Then I'll go find them. Remember to tell my godfather and godmother I'm here."
"Yes, Young Master Ri!"
The Eighth Butler replied respectfully.
"Halt!"
Just as I was about to turn around, a steady voice came from another direction. I was startled and turned around. A group of people were coming from the main road outside. Who else could it be but my godfather, Prime Minister Han, leading the way?
When he came to greet me earlier, I was wearing a magnificent suit of armor, the helmet even covering half of my face. Now, however, I was wearing a simple cotton robe, and my handsome face was filled with a gentle smile.
One was the majestic and valiant Duke of Lanting, exuding the aura of a soldier; the other was a handsome and refined young man, with a touch of shyness. The difference between them was striking, and it was difficult for anyone other than someone very familiar with them to tell them apart.
I glanced over and, apart from my godfather, the guards behind him were looking at me with curiosity, but there was no surprise or horror on their faces.
Relieved, I greeted Prime Minister Han with a smile, "Godfather, are you out on business?"
"I went to welcome the victorious Duke of Lanting back to court. Look at him, he's about your age, yet he has achieved such merit. And you? You're never serious."
Prime Minister Han walked to the side with a stern face, "Come with me!"
Knowing that Prime Minister Han had something to say to me, I smiled and followed behind him. The others were stopped by the clever Eighth Steward, "Alright, alright, this is our young master. You don't need to follow the master. A banquet has been prepared. Please take your seats and eat. There will be several good plays later, all performed by famous opera troupes from the capital."
These guards were temporarily assigned to the palace and rotated every six months. They had just arrived in the winter month and didn't know much about the Han family's situation. They had just been wondering why the "Poisonous Prime Minister" was so friendly with this young man. Although it was called a reprimand, their concern was evident in their words.
Now, thanks to the Eighth Steward, I learned that he was actually Prime Minister Han's godson. No wonder he was so affectionate.
Back at the mansion, they weren't originally assigned to guard duties. Now that Prime Minister Han was safe and sound, the guards were naturally happy to enjoy the delicious food and wine provided by the Han family. After all, their duty for the day was over, and it was the eve of the Lunar New Year. After enjoying good food and wine, listening to music for a while, and finally taking a long nap, it would be a pleasure!
"My dear Ri'er..."
Just as I entered the inner courtyard, the beautiful woman who had rushed over upon hearing the news hugged me tightly. I quickly struggled to get out: "Godmother, why are you so excited?"
"What? I..."
Madam Han only got halfway through her sentence before her husband glared at her. Then she realized that this wasn't the place to talk, so she pulled me in: "Come on, let's talk inside."
I, Young Master Ri, am now a person with a name, yet my godmother still leads me around like a child, which made me feel quite annoyed.
Back in the hall, the servants were told to wait outside. I'd barely closed the door when someone grabbed my ear.
"Ouch, Godmother…it's broken, it's broken…"
I cried out in pain.
At this moment, who else but my godmother would dare pull my ear? To satisfy her sadistic desires, I had no choice but to feign a pitiful look.
"Don't play dumb. Everyone knows how incredibly brave Lord Lanting is, slaughtering tens of thousands of barbarians without batting an eye. What's a little pain like this?"
Madam Han said irritably.
"Tens of thousands? Who exaggerates like that?"
I said with a forced smile. "No matter how powerful I am, I still get disciplined by you, Godmother… Ah, please stop pulling… Godfather still has something to discuss with me… and my sisters are waiting for me…"
Mentioning Su Yan and Su Yue only made Madam Han angrier: "You brat! Going to Xiliang City alone is one thing, but what's with the show-off? Leading people to fight on the vast grasslands? Do you think that's fun? Do you know how worried Su Yan and Su Yue were? Do you know how many tears they shed for you?"
"I was just being loyal to the Emperor and working hard for the survival of the people!"
I said helplessly.
Why was I, the young master, being scolded so badly by my godmother for finally doing something for the country and its people? Does she only feel happy if I become a spoiled brat?
"You dare to talk back?"
Madam Han's eyebrows shot up in anger, and she unconsciously increased the force in her hand.
As usual, I didn't dare to use my inner energy to protect myself. I finally understood where Su Yan and Su Yue's previous unruly behavior came from. My seemingly gentle and kind godmother actually had a violent streak!
"Alright, alright, let go."
In the end, my godfather couldn't stand it anymore and came to my rescue, saying, "Before we came back, you three were so worried, and now that we're back, you're beating us up? What kind of behavior is that?"
Madam Han was very concerned about her husband's words, and upon hearing this, she quickly let go, "Husband, I acted on impulse. These children won't behave unless they're disciplined, don't you think?"
"Yes, yes."
Prime Minister Han replied helplessly, "You'd better hurry up and prepare. Didn't Empress Ren say that you should go and help her with the arrangements for the New Year's Eve banquet? It's almost dusk now, and you haven't even dressed up yet."
"Ah, I almost forgot!"
Madam Han nodded repeatedly, turned around and walked towards the door, but halfway there, she turned back and glared at me fiercely, saying, "Ri'er, when you see your sisters later, you must carefully apologize, or I won't forgive you."
"Godmother, what are you saying? Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
"Bang!"
My ingratiating smile was only met with the sound of the door slamming shut.
Prime Minister Han, somewhat reluctant to let it go, patted my shoulder: "Xiao Ri, your godmother is just too concerned about you, that's why she's so angry. You mustn't be angry with her."
I nodded: "Godfather, how could I be angry with you? We're all family, everything you do is for my own good, isn't it? Godmother is just an ordinary woman who doesn't know martial arts, so naturally she doesn't know that with my strength, I can conquer thousands of troops. Her heartfelt concern is more than enough for me!"
"Hehe, it's best if you think that way."
Prime Minister Han looked me over and slowly smiled: "Kid, you're quite something. You went to Xiliang City and actually caused such a commotion!"
"Actually, I was forced into it,"
I said sheepishly.
In front of my godfather, I didn't need to hide anything: "My first time as an official, I became such a high-ranking official, managing millions of people. If it weren't for the solid foundation left by Chen Fuyue and the powerful title bestowed by the Emperor, how could I have commanded those civil and military officials at the beginning?"
Prime Minister Han smiled noncommittally: "And now?"
I paused, then said: "Now, of course, they are very obedient. Both the 'Silver Tiger Legion' and the civil officials of Xiliang City admire me greatly... Controlling Xiliang City shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"No problem?"
Prime Minister Han sighed: "Little Ri, you're still too green."
With a "thud," he pulled out a thick stack of documents from his robes and threw them onto the small table beside him: "Come, sit down and take your time reading."
I didn't stand on ceremony, sat cross-legged, and casually picked up a document to read. My face changed as soon as I started reading, then the second, the third... By the end, my face had turned ashen.
These bastards!
"I've been so good to you all, sharing all the credit and opportunities to make money, and you still write memorials against me?
That's right."
The documents Prime Minister Han produced were all secret memorials written to Emperor Kangzong by officials from the three northwestern prefectures. They all accused me of being "arrogant and domineering," "bloodthirsty and cruel," "tyrannical and barbaric," "unauthorizedly buying people's hearts and minds, disregarding national laws and imperial decrees," and "colluding with outlaws with treacherous intentions"... In short, in these memorials, Lord Lanting was not only not a hero of the empire, but also a cancer on Liufeng Kingdom, and only by killing Lord Lanting could Emperor Kangzong's throne be preserved.
"Godfather, which bastards wrote these memorials? Tell me, and I'll send them all to the desert to herd sheep when I get back!"
I said viciously.
Sending them to herd sheep is certainly not the last step. Next, I will inform the kind-hearted desert army that those corrupt officials of Liufeng Kingdom, stained with the blood of their compatriots, are coming. Go and take revenge… It's rather strange, really. The memorials that Prime Minister Han showed me had their headings torn out. I don't usually study documents or calligraphy, so I have no way of knowing who wrote them.
However, one thing is certain: these officials are not insignificant. Many of the things I've done are listed on them as evidence to attack me. These are things that only officials of a certain rank could possibly know.
"Nonsense!"
Prime Minister Han rebuked softly, "These memorials were given to me by the Emperor this morning, asking me to show them to you. Even if you know who those people are, do you really dare to kill them? If you dare to do so, the Emperor will definitely remove you from all your posts, send you back to the capital, and imprison you in the imperial jail."
"He wouldn't be that ruthless, would he? I am..."
"You think you're his future son-in-law, so he wouldn't dare?"
Prime Minister Han interrupted me, sneering, "In the Emperor's eyes, you are just someone he has high hopes for, but you will definitely not be the only candidate. If you really show that you want to become a warlord who controls a separatist force, he might even kill you for the sake of Liufeng Kingdom's territory. What I just said was just a special favor he gave you out of consideration for Princess Yongyue."
"Hmph, kill me? He'd have to see if he has the ability!"
I said dismissively.
"Yes, you are one of the best in the world. Even Wang Guowei might not be able to kill you."
Han Cheng asked me in return, "But can you withstand the attack of a thousand 'Royal Golden Armor Army' by yourself? Even if you can with a thousand, what about two thousand or five thousand? You are powerful, but can your father, uncle, and the rest of your family be as powerful as you?"
"He dares!"
I said angrily, "Godfather, if anything happens to my family, even if there are thousands of troops in his palace, I can still take his head!"
"You... even if you say something treasonous, what good will it do? Your family will be harmed because of this. Will they come back if you do this?"
Han Cheng sighed, his tone softening. "Xiao Ri, you must understand that you only realize the value of many things after you lose them. To protect the people and things you cherish, you must not make a single wrong step, or you will regret it for the rest of your life."
Han Cheng's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over my head, causing my face, which had been full of murderous intent just moments before, to gradually fall into deep thought.
My godfather is right. If I really killed those who opposed me because of these memorials, even if Emperor Kangzong trusted me, he would have doubts and would definitely not be willing to hand over the army to me again. Just as Prime Minister Han said, he sent me to the imperial prison because he had good intentions. Which emperor can have compassion for those who want to rebel?
Seeing my uncertain expression, Prime Minister Han didn't say much. He knew this was time for his godson and son-in-law to think things through. If he figured it out, his godson's future would be limitless; if not, he would immediately have me resign and retire, taking my wife and family to a remote place to live happily with my unparalleled martial arts skills and vast wealth.
"I understand,"
I nodded. "The Emperor showed me the memorial to test my mind and my resolve. Becoming a successful bureaucrat isn't easy."
"Of course,"
Prime Minister Han nodded and smiled. "Except at home, I have to have eyes in the back of my head when I walk. Otherwise, do you think being prime minister is easy?"
I bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for your advice, godfather. I know what to do."
Prime Minister Han didn't stop there but continued to ask, "What do you plan to do?"
I pondered for a moment, "Since the Emperor hasn't touched me, it proves that these people's memorials have no effect. I won't think too much about it. I'll focus on stabilizing and developing Xiliang City, making it a solid fortress for my Liufeng Kingdom, and then I'll voluntarily resign and become—a carefree duke."
Prime Minister Han shook his head: "People are afraid of becoming famous, just as pigs are afraid of getting fat. You're already in the eyes of countless people..." "It's settled. Without the protection of power, what makes you think you can be a carefree nobleman?"
I laughed. "Godfather, those people hate me because they're worried I'll block their path. If I just give up power, they won't bother me anymore. After all, I have considerable military strength. Unless it's the Emperor, everyone has to consider the consequences of bearing the wrath of the world's top masters."
Prime Minister Han smiled slightly. He knew I was right. Even without military power, my wives, my subordinates, and I were all masters. Just my "Divine Power Horse Throw" at the gates of Xiliang City had already shocked everyone. Add to that my later leadership in killing at least several thousand barbarian soldiers, and I vaguely resembled the world's number one master.
Anyone who offended such a master would probably never sleep soundly. So, unless it was a life-or-death feud, no one would be willing to go to such extremes.
"What you're doing is a wise move to protect yourself,"
Prime Minister Han said slowly. "But in doing so, the Emperor will be even less likely to marry the princess to you, and your original intention of joining the army will be completely lost. Are you willing to accept that?"
"Hmph, can his disagreement stop me?"
I said dismissively. "Godfather, if you piss me off, I'll elope with Yunfu, and after we've given birth to five or six big, fat boys, we'll go back to see him together."
"Hahaha..."
Prime Minister Han laughed loudly, imagining how interesting Emperor Kangzong's expression would be if that really happened!
"Since you already have a solution, then try it yourself."
After laughing, Prime Minister Han patted my shoulder again: "Xiao Ri, don't worry, even if something really happens, as long as I'm here, no one can touch you!"
Prime Minister Han already had connections with my father and uncle, and we shared common interests. Now that I'm his son-in-law, who else would he help if not me?
That's the advantage of being related!
"Thank you, godfather. I will definitely take good care of you and godmother."
I said sincerely, "In a few years, Su Yan, Su Yue, and I will have a bunch of chubby little boys, so you can enjoy the joys of family life."
"Go away, go away, go away!"
Prime Minister Han said with a wry smile, "Your godmother and I are still young. You're already bringing out a few little ones. Isn't that disturbing us? We'll talk about it in a few years." After saying that, he waved his hand again, "Go on, Su Yan and Su Yue have gone to your residence. Don't forget the time. The Emperor is holding a banquet tonight. You are one of the main characters. Don't be late... Hey, hey... you brat, can't you have some patience?"
Prime Minister Han's complaint came from the fact that I ran out quickly halfway through his sentence, which made him sigh. It's really good to be young!

Chapter Six: A Long-Awaited Reunion
Every district in the capital has several areas that have always been the gathering places for the mansions of high-ranking officials and nobles.
While high-ranking officials and nobles enjoyed living among the common people to flaunt their status, a closer proximity still provided mutual support.
In the Dongcheng District, for example, several streets, aside from the mansions built by wealthy merchants from other regions, were predominantly occupied by the homes of meritorious nobles. These houses were unsurprisingly large, and each noble was eager to outdo the others in their own opulent and beautiful construction.
As a result, ordinary people passing by would often stop to admire them. The high-ranking officials and nobles not only didn't stop this behavior but also specifically instructed their servants not to disturb them. Many even built benches on the spacious streets so people could rest and enjoy the view.
This made the already wide streets even more lively in the evenings, with many people bringing their children to play after dinner, further boosting the area's vibrancy.
Seeing this bustling scene, almost all the high-ranking officials' and nobles' mansions in the capital followed suit, adding hundreds more places for people to relax and enjoy themselves, which was beneficial to the rule and the stability of the populace.
I rode in the Han family's carriage, which bore the insignia of Prime Minister Han's residence. With the escort of guards, the carriage traveled swiftly, arriving at the Lanting Duke's Mansion in the East District, about five li away, in the
time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Passing through the main gate, I saw the lavish decorations at the entrance. Two enormous lions stood at the foot of the steps, and above the twelve steps were two bronze doors, at least three meters high and five meters long. The nails on the slightly closed doors gleamed, creating a magnificent and imposing sight. The surrounding walls were
even higher than the bronze doors, at least six meters high. From the outside, only the tops of some pavilions and large trees were visible, though their design was exquisite and elegant. Of
course, I wouldn't be foolish enough to enter through the main gate. All mansions, besides the front and back gates, usually have several small side gates. I instructed the eight stewards accompanying the carriage to enter through one of the side gates.
The guards at the Lanting Duke's residence were all palace guards. They all recognized the Han Prime Minister's carriage, but they still diligently checked his identification before letting it in.
"Eh, weren't the two young ladies of the Han family here? Why is another Han family carriage here?"
Just as the carriage stopped in the courtyard, a soft murmur reached my ears. I opened the curtain and jumped out of the carriage. I saw a beautiful young woman in a palace dress.
She was tall and slender, with a beautiful face, delicate eyebrows like distant mountains, and a cherry-like mouth. Even in the slightly bulky, thick palace dress, her graceful figure was still evident.
"My lord?"
She was also stunned when she saw me. In the blink of an eye, before the beautiful young woman could say a second word, she felt herself being embraced, and a familiar scent appeared beside her.
"Qianlan, my darling, it's been a long time."
I didn't care about anything else and embraced the beautiful young woman, kissing her repeatedly, my hands groping her slender waist and plump hips.
The head steward stared in disbelief, but immediately turned his head away, daring not to look any further.
Damn, Young Master Ri is truly amazing! He even dared to seduce the princess's beautiful maid! But the young ladies have a good relationship with the princess, so she probably won't get angry so easily!
"Um…My lord…"
the beautiful maidservant pushed me away forcefully before she could catch her breath, her face flushed red, and said, "Here…here isn't suitable…"
"There's no one else here, what are you afraid of?"
I smiled slightly, but didn't become affectionate with her again. I simply took her small hand and said, "Qianlan, my darling, it's been so long. You seem to have lost a little weight." The beautiful Qianlan was Yunfu's personal maid and had long been designated as Yunfu's concubine to accompany her in her marriage. So, when I was recuperating in the palace last time, I had already consummated my relationship with her and several other beautiful palace maids. Now, seeing her again, I was especially happy.
Qianlan's already shy and flushed face softened even more... She was indeed the princess's maid, but she also had her own thoughts. To her, having a man who knew how to cherish her was already a very good ending.
"The princess has lost even more weight..."
Qianlan whispered, "Come with me. They're all talking to two beautiful He tribe girls in the back garden."
Along the way, Qianlan didn't dare let me hold her hand, otherwise, if the guards saw her and reported it, she would definitely be in big trouble.
However, with me by her side, the beautiful Qianlan was very happy, and her steps became lighter.
From Qianlan, I learned some details about the Lanting Duke's mansion.
The mansion occupies 600 acres, slightly exceeding the standards for a prime minister, but falling short of those of a prince or duke.
This vast mansion originally belonged to a duke, but the emperor reclaimed it after the patriarch retired to his hometown. Upon hearing of my great achievements in Xiliang City, Emperor Kangzong immediately instructed the Ministry of Rites to select a suitable residence for its renovation, so that the Lanting Duke could reside there upon his return to the capital. The Vice Minister of Rites, in charge of the project, chose this place.
The renovation plans were taken from the palace and registered under Empress Ren's name, but were actually designed by Yunfu, Ni Xiangzhang, and the devilish sisters. They considered it their future residence, so they put their heart and soul into the design… cough cough, of course, they also disregarded costs, ultimately spending two million gold coins from the Ministry of Revenue.
However, the Lanting Mansion was thus built to be exceptionally beautiful and unique, which greatly impressed Zhu Binshan, the Minister of Rites who came to inspect it. He repeatedly said he wanted to ask designers to help him renovate the house.
After passing through several archways, gardens, ponds, and pavilions, I soon heard Jing Gongcai's cheerful voice from behind a large archway.
Little Cai'er was lively by nature, and when Yunfu and the others pressed her for details, she naturally recounted her experiences in the Northwest. I had actually mentioned these things in my documents, but they were far less thrilling than those told by someone who had been there in person.
When I entered the back garden, the little princess of the He ethnic group was talking animatedly to me. She was surrounded by a circle of beauties, four of whom stood out from the others just by their clothing and appearance.
One of them, dressed in a snow-white dress, was Ni Xiangting, who had just arrived in my carriage. To her left was a girl in a gorgeous pale purple dress, a precious sable fur draped over her shoulders. She was voluptuous and beautiful, her hair casually styled in a girlish bun, adorned with a single golden phoenix hairpin. A little further on were two girls in black robes, their figures even somewhat similar from behind.
Jing Gongmei stood quietly to the side, listening to her sister's conversation. But Wang Zi and Xiao Yu weren't there. Two miles away, the two pleasure-seeking creatures, Little Turtle and Little Bird, had set up a huge table under a large tree ten meters away from the beauties. A small stove burned in the center of the table as they ate hot pot, supposedly a dish from the north.
Hot pot involves placing various vegetables and meats into boiling broth, cooking them, and then enjoying them with dipping sauces. It tasted quite good, especially suitable for cold weather.
"Brother..."
Jing Gongmei was the first to notice me, calling out sweetly, but she didn't run over.
Hearing her call, Jing Gongcai waved happily at me. Ni Xiangting and five or six beautiful maids also turned around and smiled at me immediately. The other three stunningly beautiful girls trembled violently and then froze.
I don't know what Ni Xiangting whispered, but the maids stood up and, with Jing Gongmei and Jing Gongcai, gracefully walked to another table next to the little turtle and little bird, where they also picked up their bowls and chopsticks and began to eat hot pot elegantly.
In a short while, when I walked to the three beautiful girls sitting motionless on the wooden chairs, there was no one else around.
Standing behind them, smelling their fragrance, all my words boiled down to one sentence: "My wives, I'm back!"
"Waaah..."
Hearing my gentle tone, suppressed sobs came from the three beauties' delicate noses, and their trembling became more pronounced.
A wave of pity washed over me, and I quickly moved to stand directly in front of them. There I saw three stunningly beautiful women, their eyes red-rimmed, gritting their teeth and sobbing softly.
Such beauty—I swear, I'll never forget it.
Yunfu was a little better; she clenched her hands tightly, trying hard not to cry. But the Han family's devilish sisters were crying their hearts out… yet in their beautiful eyes, without exception, lay a deep longing and yearning for me.
"Alright, alright, I'm back now, why are you crying?"
I clumsily tried to wipe away their tears, but they wouldn't stop falling, no matter how much I wiped.
So, I simply kissed each of my wives' lips: "My beauties, I've just returned from a long campaign, and instead of performing a seductive dance to please me, you're just crying here. What a spoilsport!"
"Pah!"
Su Yan and Su Yue spat, reaching out to pinch me, but I grabbed their hands, pulled them up, and drew them into my arms.
Of course, I didn't forget Yun Fu either. With my free hand, I flicked her cheek, and the incomparably beautiful and voluptuous princess was drawn in by a powerful force, also entering my embrace.
The four of us, husband and wife, held each other tightly.
At that moment, words were superfluous; just holding them quietly made me feel comfortable.
And my beauties felt the same way; being held by me brought them warmth and comfort.
After a while, Su Yan suddenly chuckled, because her playful hand had slipped inside my robe and grabbed my lazy, languid penis.
The Tyrannosaurus Rex couldn't withstand the stimulation. In an instant, it glared angrily, its massive, hard body radiating heat.
Su Yue also reacted, gently reaching out to join her sister in grabbing the Tyrannosaurus Rex's spear, slowly playing with it.
The two twin beauties had tasted the sweetness of flesh before. At first, it was somewhat playful, but as they played, their large eyes became watery, as if about to overflow.
They were aroused, and so was I. Even though I had been diligently working on Xiang Ting'er these past two days, I couldn't resist the charm of these two devilish sisters!
"Good sister, go to your room and wash up, then wait for me!"
I whispered, stroking their plump, upturned buttocks.
"Mmm..."
Su Yan and Su Yue obediently agreed softly, letting go of my hands and leaving, their lustful glances back at me were incredibly alluring.
After they left, only Yun Fu remained in my arms.
The beautiful princess with her impressively large breasts looked up at me, her eyes like shimmering water, filled with tender affection.
I whispered in her jade-like ear, "Yunfu, when I was in Xiliang City, I thought about you day and night. When I return to the capital, I'll definitely settle accounts with you."
The beautiful princess rolled her eyes at me. "Settle accounts? Do I owe you anything?"
"Of course!"
I nodded solemnly, "If it weren't for my beloved Yunfu, why would I have gone to such a remote place? You have no idea, during those days in the desert, I could smell the stench of horses, cattle, and sheep in the air every day. I only managed to get through it by thinking about how to come back and torment Her Highness."
"You little rascal! How dare you be disrespectful to me?"
Yunfu punched my chest hard, the force seemingly strong but actually quite weak, "Liu Ri..."
"What?"
"Is it too hard?"
Yunfu looked at me gently, "For Yunfu, you have to suffer so much... If it weren't for me, you could have married them all by now and lived a comfortable life as a lord in Wushuang County, how pleasant that would be!"
"It is hard, otherwise I wouldn't have thought of spanking you."
I cupped her pretty face, "But I have never thought of giving up. You are mine, in this life and the next, and in all future lives, Yunfu will always be Liu Ri's wife, and that will never change."
"Naughty!"
Yunfu was delighted and immediately tilted her head back to give me a sweet kiss, which I savored for a while before she said, "Alright, since that's the case, let's continue our efforts together... Now, go and appease your two older sisters!"
"Aren't you going?"
I asked expectantly.
"Me?"
Yunfu stretched out her jade finger and tapped my forehead: "Silly boy, what would I do? It'd be uncomfortable to watch, wouldn't it? When Yunfu becomes your woman, you won't be able to refuse... Hmph, it's my responsibility to drain you dry!"
"If we don't take your virginity, we have other ways."
I lowered my voice and whispered a few more words in the beautiful princess's ear.
Yunfu's face flushed even more, and she repeatedly punched my chest with her small fists: "You bad boy...you bad boy...you're going to embarrass me to death!"
"How could I? This is normal intimacy between husband and wife!"
I said seriously, holding her close, my other hand kneading her beautiful buttocks: "Yunfu, although you are a princess, once you enter the stronghold of the mountain king, you must be obedient. Do whatever your husband tells you to do, or I will strip you naked and spank your bottom!"
Yunfu was of such noble status that only I dared to treat her like this.
The beautiful princess actually enjoyed my intimacy, including spanking her noble buttocks. In the midst of the tingling sensation, she felt a surge of passion, and she couldn't help but bite her pink lips to stop herself from moaning.
"Let's talk about it when you become a prince consort!"
Yunfu said shyly, then pushed me away and hurriedly went to the hot pot table not far away. If she didn't leave soon, the sweet nectar of the beautiful princess would flow out.

Chapter Seven: Springtime
in the Bath Led by the maid, I arrived at a small building not far from the garden I had just visited.
The building was exceptionally spacious. Even before stepping into the living room, I felt a wave of steam rising from the building.
My heart instantly warmed. Following the direction of the steam, I passed through the lobby, and to my left was a room emanating from the steam.
Looking closer, I saw a finely crafted bronze plaque on the side of the door, bearing the two characters "Bathroom" in clerical script.
"Creak..."
The door opened, and three steps away was another small door. A thick curtain concealed the scene inside, but the sound of rushing water reminded me that a beautiful woman was bathing inside.
"Suyan, Suyue, are you there?"
Although the chance of making a mistake was very small, I called out in advance, just to be on the safe side.
"Silly little brother..."
A clear, disdainful voice replied.
Overjoyed at the news, I quickly stripped off my clothes, naked, and lifted the curtain to step into a warm, steamy space.
The bathroom was larger than I had imagined, at least five meters long and wide. The floor wasn't ironwood, but rather uneven bluestone slabs, designed for drainage and to prevent slipping.
The bath was divided into three sections, all filled with steaming hot water, separated by bluestone slabs. One of the tubs was already bubbling.
The bubbling was supposedly from imported scented soap, which not only easily removed dirt but also left the body smelling wonderful. Moreover, if you used a lot, it would create countless bubbles, which was quite interesting.
This scented soap was usually the size of a fist and worth the equivalent of a gold coin. Despite its high price, it was in high demand and short supply; almost every wealthy woman used it.
As for us men, we don't care about such things. For example, when we were fighting in the desert and grasslands, we only bathed once every ten days or so. At night, we would wipe ourselves a few times with a towel in the tent and then rinse with water.
Back in Wushuang County, every time I bathed, the five little wives of the "Beautiful Girl Sex Slave Group" would help me wipe myself. I just had to lie in the bath. This kind of life is perfect for someone like Young Master
Ri who likes to enjoy life! A thought flashed through my mind, and my eyes immediately turned to the bath full of bubbles. Two beautiful, rosy faces were visible in the water. The best part was that the two faces looked exactly alike. In such an environment, I couldn't help but feel lustful. I was almost about to shout out loud.
I acted instead of speaking. With a "plop," I jumped into the bath. Water immediately splashed out, covering the faces of the two beautiful girls not far away.
"Ah..."
"You naughty little brother..."
The two beautiful girls scolded me coquettishly. Oh, no, it was more like they were being coquettish than scolding me.
I ignored their scolding and leaned comfortably against the bathtub wall, lazily saying, "Haha, Suyan, Suyue, come and give your husband a massage and a bath!" "Wang, you smell so bad, you didn't even wash yourself before coming in... and you still want someone to bathe you..."
The twin sisters scolded me repeatedly, while standing up, revealing their beautiful chests in the at least two-foot-deep tub—although many bubbles still lingered on their bodies, the hazy allure was still incredibly captivating.
A few steps passed in a flash, and two delicate, fragrant bodies leaned against me on either side, giving me a "pop" on both cheeks before the devilish sisters placed their hands on my shoulders and began massaging and washing me.
Suyan and Suyue were pampered young ladies, and it was already a blessing that they weren't served by others on a daily basis; they had no time to serve anyone.
But now they were busy with soap and towels, their faces serious, and in no time, sweat was streaming down their faces.
"Oh!"
Su Yan, who was sitting cross-legged on a small wooden stool by the pool, busy washing my hair, suddenly exclaimed. Her hand trembled, and the hot water in the wooden ladle poured all over my neck.
"Sister, what happened?"
Su Yue, sitting on the wooden stool in the pool, looked at her sister in surprise, her small hands that were massaging and washing my thighs stopping instinctively.
"I... this little pervert!"
Su Yan hit me angrily, "He sneaked up on me, touched my... ah!"
Without her saying a word, Su Yue had already seen it all. A large hand reached back and touched her sister's round, slightly pointed breasts. With a slight kneading, the snow-white breasts changed shape, and pink cherries appeared between her fingers. This scene left the little beauty somewhat stunned.
"Oh..."
As her sister groaned, the younger sister felt a slight tingling between her legs, and another large hand was already on her high, beautiful buttocks. After
giving me a coquettish glare, Su Yue said in a trembling voice, "Little brother, don't touch me like that... How can I take a bath like this?"
"You two are busy, don't worry about me."
The two women's skin was as delicate as a baby's, smooth and full of elasticity. My hands were busy with their caresses. "Xiao Yan'er, Xiao Yue'er, your figures are so good, I love them so much!"
The twin beauties, who had experienced lovemaking, were naturally aroused by the caresses of their beloved men and the long-awaited reunion.
Hearing me say that, both girls slapped me simultaneously… no wonder they're twin sisters, their slaps landed on me at the exact same time.
“You’re so annoying…”
Su-yan stood up from the small wooden stool and gently jumped into the pool, while her younger sister simply sat on me, her legs tightly crossed, her cherry lips burning hot against my face: “Little brother… I missed you so much…”
“I missed you both too!”
I bluntly sealed Su-yue’s mouth, cupped her shapely buttocks with both hands, and moved them slightly downwards. My large member squeezed between the beauty’s legs, and with a forceful thrust forward, a “whoosh” sound rang out as my member broke through the barrier and entered the little beauty’s honey hole.
“Oh…”
Su-yue was very sensitive, and her vagina immediately tightened, severely hindering my member’s further progress.
How could the Tyrannosaurus Rex Spear give up so easily? The shaft swelled up again, forcefully pushing open the walls of my vagina that were squeezing me, struggling forward in the hot honey passage.
The beautiful girl's juices had flowed freely, but her vagina remained tight. With each inch of penetration, we gasped.
Su Yue, being the most sensitive, felt an overwhelming pleasure surge from her heart to her head, then radiate throughout her body, making her feel as if she were floating.
I wasn't much better off. When my large penis entered the depths of the beautiful girl, her clitoris felt like a tiny mouth, constantly sucking on the glans. Anyone slightly weaker would probably have surrendered immediately.
However, as a top-notch lover in bed, I naturally didn't stop there. I pulled my penis out from the deepest part, but not completely out, leaving a jade pillar inside the beauty's vagina. Then, with lightning speed, I thrust it back in, making the beauty roll her eyes and almost fly into the sky.
"Slap slap slap..."
The penis thrust in and out repeatedly, parting the beauty's lips with each stroke, reaching all the way in. After only a few dozen thrusts, the beautiful girl, who had been clenching her teeth, could no longer hold back her moans.
"Ah... little brother... it feels so good... um... harder... ah... oh... I like it... um... so... so beautiful... um... all the way in... oh... so full... so full... ah... ah... stop... no... oh... let me... let me rest a bit..."
The beautiful sister's slender waist swayed incessantly, her plump, round, and beautiful buttocks trying to escape, but I held them back firmly with both hands.
Su Yue's expression at this moment was so beautiful that even a god would be moved. The beautiful girl, her face flushed with desire, breathed sweetly, her beautiful eyes half-open and half-closed, her eyelashes trembling. Seeing this made my blood boil, and I naturally thrust even harder, wanting to bring her to orgasm as soon as possible.
Having been deprived of intimacy for so long, how could Su Yue withstand such a sudden attack? Unfortunately, I held her tightly, and she couldn't even dodge. She could only cry out in vain the beautiful girl she felt, her beautiful breasts heaving, her pink nipples and areolas trembling in front of me, looking extremely delicate and charming.
However, my mouth was currently passionately kissing Su-yeon beside me, and I couldn't deal with these two little cuties, which was a real pity.
"Mmm... ah... thrust... thrusting to death... little brother... you... you go do... ah... Su-yeon... she's better than me... oh... sister is going to... go to pee... pee... oh... ah!"
With the Tyrannosaurus Rex spear thrusting tirelessly, the beautiful sister finally took the initiative to cooperate with me, thrusting forward a few times, making the big meat stick deeply penetrate her flower core. Su-yue was as if struck by lightning, her delicate body suddenly convulsed, her jade arms, which had already lost their strength, tightly wrapped around my neck, and a stream of vaginal fluid gushed out, instantly flooding the glans.
In the blink of an eye, the beauty's honeyed orifice was filled with her released juices, and at this moment, her flesh walls tightened again, several times tighter than before her orgasm. Being squeezed by layers of soft flesh, waves of pleasure washed over her.
"Don't move anymore, or I'll bite you!"
the beautiful older sister said softly, clinging to my shoulder, having exhausted her last bit of strength.
As soon as she finished speaking, she weakly released her legs, sinking into the dizziness of orgasm. If I hadn't been holding her round buttocks firmly, the beautiful girl would have fallen into the pool.
"Little brother..."
Having just finished dealing with one of them, Su Yan, already aroused by the scene of her sister and lover making love, immediately called out to me softly.
Just that one word made my already excited member swell even more, stimulating the semi-conscious Su Yue to let out another low moan.
"Little Yan'er, come here, lie on the ground!"
I ordered her loudly.
Su-yeon readily agreed, but as the older sister, she felt obligated to speak first: "Little brother, put Yue-er in the middle pool; the temperature there is perfect for her to rest."
I nodded, lifted the unconscious Su-yue with one hand, and with the other, I slapped the beautiful girl's plump, round buttocks: "You hurry up too!"
Su-yeon glared at me, then delicately picked up a long towel from the side, wet it, and laid it on the ground. A wisp of steam rose into the air through the towel.
After traveling all over the country these past few years, I easily recalled the heated kang beds of Northwest China and asked curiously, "Hey, is there a stove down there?"
"Yes, there's a stove under each pool. The maids add firewood every two hours. The temperature of the three pools is different, and the temperature of the pools naturally raises the temperature of the bathroom, so it's not cold at all, but rather feels quite warm."
Su Yan knelt on the towel with both hands and knees, turned her head and said, "Little brother... come..."
Su Yan was truly a natural beauty. Kneeling there, her long, black hair cascaded down from one side of her pink neck, her shy eyes were full of affection, and her pink cherry lips made one want to take a bite.
The young girl's body was full and alluring, like snow-white cream. From my angle, Su Yan's breasts were perfectly round, like inverted jade bowls, hanging naturally as she knelt. Her breasts were white, smooth, and elastic, resembling two blooming lotus flowers, plump and firm, exuding youthful pride.
Looking further down, Su Yan's plump buttocks were high and rounded, like two mountain peaks, standing proudly beneath her smooth back. Having just bathed, her buttocks had a captivating pink hue, appearing healthy and full of vitality.
As I shifted my gaze again, a patch of dark pubic hair sprouted between the beautiful girl's plump yet firm buttocks, almost completely obscuring her pink mons pubis. Her thin labia weren't as full as her sister's, but the narrow slit in the middle was still a delicate pink.
A few breaths later, I was kneeling behind her, kneading her buttocks firmly with both hands, gently parting them slightly. Besides a clearer view of her slightly parted labia, a pale pink, wrinkled vulva shyly peeked out.
My large, erect penis slid down her buttocks and landed on this beautiful little vulva, causing the girl to instinctively tense up, her buttocks clamping down on my penis.
"Little brother...stop playing around..."
The beauty turned her head and looked at me resentfully, "Don't you want your sister soon?"
"Yes! Of course I do!"
I played with her incredibly elastic buttocks while sighing, "Little Yan'er, it's because I want to possess both your backdoor and your pussy right away that I'm a little hesitant. Which one should I take first?"
"Or...let's start with the pussy..."
Su Yan said shyly.
Just thinking about how her two holes would be penetrated by her brother's big penis and give her unparalleled pleasure made the beautiful girl feel hot all over, a warm current surging in her honey hole.
I laughed and moved my penis down a few inches, just touching her constantly opening and closing labia. The hot penis met the slightly cool labia, and suddenly it seemed to stick together, unable to move away.
"You naughty little guy..."
Su Yan saw that I was only rubbing against her pussy in ecstasy and not penetrating her, so she gritted her teeth and wanted to give me a light punch.
But beating her lover wasn't the most urgent task at this moment; the most urgent thing was to satisfy her little sister and fulfill her empty heart.
The stunning beauty's mind raced, her pink, snowy buttocks slightly twisted, and then she thrust backward with force. With a "plop," the enormous Tyrannosaurus Rex spear immediately parted her labia and plunged into her plump, juicy, narrow opening.
"Oh..."
As expected of the beautiful young woman I had cultivated, Su Yan beamed with delight as she was thrust into. Having tasted the flavor, she didn't even need me to lift a finger; her fragrant buttocks began to undulate back and forth.
I looked down, watching her snow-white, rosy buttocks constantly swallowing and releasing, my large penis moving in and out—a truly visually enjoyable experience.
"Oh...it's so deep...so deep...oh...good...brother is so...good...so...comfortable...ah...oh...so beautiful..."
Su-yeon controlled her strength, thrusting her round, tender buttocks towards wherever it itched, ensuring the large penis reached the correct spot to relieve the itch. The pleasurable, fulfilling pleasure made the beauty's small hands tightly grip the towel on the ground, her joyful moans continuing.
Since my beautiful wife was working so hard, I didn't disturb her.
I simply maintained the right position, ensuring the large penis thrust in and out precisely each time, while my hands reached forward, pinching and kneading her two bouncing orbs...In the heat of passion, a little pain and roughness are actually the key to a sexual climax, and my actions made the beautiful girl's plump buttocks bounce back even faster.
"No... Waaah... Little brother... Ah... You're going to... Squeeze... Oh... Sister's... breasts... Ah... Squeeze... They're... Squeezed... Oh... Son... Then... Ah... Then... There's no... milk to eat... Oh... You're going to starve... My son...?"
The beautiful girl's moans aroused my lust, and I immediately bent down, licking her from her pink neck down.
Su Yan was already enjoying herself immensely, and with this stimulation, she was experiencing a triple attack. How could she possibly hold back? Her moans turned into incoherent babbling, and the speed of her thrusts slowed considerably.
The experienced young master Ri Shao was well-versed in; he could tell at a glance that the beauty was close to climax. In this situation, of course, I had to give her a final push.
After some thought, I straightened my back, withdrew my hands, and pressed down on her slender waist, while simultaneously thrusting my penis forward forcefully.
"Smack...smack..."
The impact was strong and powerful, making the beautiful girl's buttocks tremble and shake incessantly.
"Oh...good little brother...good husband...gentle...ah..."
Su Yan already had little strength left. With my fierce attack, she didn't even have the strength to support herself. She could only lie on the towel, resting her head on her arms. Only her fair and tender buttocks were raised high, forming a clear downward slope from my perspective. In
this position, the beautiful girl naturally saved energy, but her buttocks were raised even higher, highlighting the plumpness of her two buttock mounds. They were stunningly beautiful, making my attacks heavier and heavier. Her eyes twitched, and the moans coming from her nose were sweet and intoxicating.
"Oh...oh...ah...chew...chew...woo woo..."
As the beautiful girl's plump buttocks swayed, each thrust of my big penis brought up the lustful fluid in her vagina, making the honey-like juices splash like water arrows, and the lewd smell slowly spread.
"Ah!"
After persisting for several dozen more thrusts, the beautiful girl finally lost her last bit of strength, her delicate body plummeting downwards and landing heavily on the ground. My body followed, pressing down on her, my penis plunging into her honeyed cave to its maximum extent, just in time for her to ejaculate her vaginal fluids from the depths of her flower.
As the walls of her honeyed passage tightened continuously, a stream of hot vaginal fluid gushed out, drenching my glans and shaft—it felt incredibly pleasurable. However, this climax wasn't the most wonderful one yet; I needed to continue manipulating her to send this stunning beauty to paradise.
Therefore, my thrusting didn't stop; instead, I continued to withdraw and re-enter, my large glans constantly moving in and out, scraping against her narrow, tight vagina and rubbing against her flesh.
The beautiful girl, experiencing wave after wave of climaxes, writhed and swayed like a pendulum, her moans silenced, already immersed in a continuous stream of orgasms.
Su Yan and Su Yue, the two maids, weren't particularly skilled in martial arts, so their stamina wasn't great. In less than half an hour, both sisters collapsed, forcing me to postpone my desire to continue enjoying their beautiful rear passages once more.
By the time they woke up and we could have another round, it would be past the start time of Emperor Kangzong's New Year's Eve banquet, and I didn't want to be caught red-handed.
Knowing I couldn't continue to pluck the twins' two little chrysanthemums, I couldn't hold back any longer. Just as the elder sister's vaginal walls tightened and squeezed, my ejaculation occurred, and a torrent of thick, white fluid gushed from my penis, hitting her deep inside.
"Oh..."
Su Yan convulsed violently as if scalded by boiling water, then fell completely still after a moment.
If I hadn't still felt my beautiful wife's vagina sucking on my glans like a baby, I would have thought Su Yan had suffocated.
Looking at the beauties beneath me and in the pool beside me, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. This satisfaction was not only physical, but more importantly, psychological. To have such beautiful childhood sweethearts was something not everyone could achieve!

Chapter Eight: Attending the Banquet.
In the winter twilight, the light was already quite dim. Starting a hundred paces outside the palace gates, countless tall torches were erected, illuminating the smooth ground within a hundred meters radius of the imperial city.
I originally only intended to bring Little Turtle, Little Bird, and the Jinggong sisters, but Xiaoyu, that little devil, found out about the New Year's Eve banquet and kept pestering me to come and see it. I had already added her to my list of future wives to conquer, and since I wasn't afraid of her playing tricks, I readily agreed. The little devil was so happy that she almost kissed me to express her gratitude.
Of course, I've always preferred to do things myself and be self-sufficient. Since she wouldn't kiss me, I kissed her instead. I took a step forward and kissed the little devil's delicate face, startling Xiaoyu so much that she trembled and flew to another corner of the room, glaring at me angrily.
My skin is known to be thicker than a city wall, so I naturally didn't take such a small act of anger to heart, leaving the little devil gritting her teeth in fury.
Seeing that Xiaoyu was also going, Wang Zi, who had always acted aloof, also asked the Jing Palace sisters to come along. I had plenty of money to spare, so I readily agreed, only requesting that the mysterious beauty not wear her veil to avoid attracting attention or being blocked by the palace guards from entering.
Wang Zi nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. When she came out after entering the room, her veil was gone, replaced by an ordinary mask. Only her pair of bright, childlike eyes, like stars, told me that the beauty had not been switched.
The 10,000-strong "Royal Golden Armor Army" was now spread out in every corner. They didn't block the main roads, but their eyes were still fixed on everyone passing by. In their eyes, everyone except the emperor's family was a suspect—this almost indiscriminate suspicion was what Emperor Kangzong liked most, and what he had always taught the "Royal Golden Armor Army."
The "Royal Golden Armor Army" was only responsible for security outside the Imperial City; the inner city was entirely under the control
of the Imperial Guards. These highly skilled individuals, trained by my nephews, were incredibly elusive, making it impossible to pinpoint their whereabouts. Normally, things were fine, but in case of trouble, several of them could appear anywhere. Walking through the inner city, the sedan chairs of officials were endless, mostly from the capital, with a few being county officials granted permission to attend, along with their families.
This was the advantage of being an official under the emperor's nose. Although my rank wasn't as high as yours, I could frequently meet with the emperor. Even if you held a high position, someone might speak ill of you to the emperor, and you'd be dismissed.
This also led to another saying—"Having someone in court makes it easier to be an official."
You need someone to speak on your behalf to ensure a long and successful career.
In fact, as early as the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, countless officials of all ranks from other regions arrived in the capital to pay their respects to their superiors. The residences of vice ministers, ministers, grand secretaries, prime ministers, the Three Dukes, princes, and so on were all overflowing with people, each with their own faction and their own tributes.
Although everyone knew the true nature of these visits, they dared not be open about them. The only time they dared to be open was tonight, the eve of the
Lunar New Year. The grand banquet at the imperial palace on the eve of the Lunar New Year had a family-like atmosphere. The emperor's invitation to the officials indicated that those with families should bring them along, as being alone would diminish the festive atmosphere and sense of reunion.
Walking on the main road outside the imperial city, everyone greeted each other warmly, established relationships, and chatted and laughed, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
There were eight roads leading to the imperial city, in all directions, paved entirely with marble quarried from the southwest. They were very beautiful and wide; even ten people walking side by side would not feel crowded.
Most officials, except for the military officers, were bundled up in thick cotton-padded coats in the cold winter, some even wearing two or three layers, making them look bulky.
Their wives and daughters were mostly the same, causing Little Turtle, Little Bird, and me to sigh in dismay, the beautiful scenery thus obscured.
As a martial arts master, unafraid of the cold, I wore a simple long robe today. Combined with my slender, imposing physique, I looked incredibly handsome, causing any young girl or woman who saw me to have their eyes light up, whispering to their companions who this handsome young man was.
The two stewards of the Liu family, with their considerable flirtatious potential, were even more extravagant than me. Not only were they wearing thin long robes, but they also pretended to be refined, constantly waving two folding fans, almost as if they were about to open them, gently stir the air, and recite a few lines of poetry to attract the young ladies.
The little turtle and bird weren't particularly handsome, but their battlefield experience gave them a powerful aura. Their gait was brisk and steady, yet carried a hint of sharpness, attracting some young girls and mature women.
Many descendants of meritorious officials, especially young men around twenty, looked at us with envy and disdain.
Few of them practiced martial arts; even many descendants of military generals had their ambitions worn away by the luxurious comforts of the capital, no longer possessing the grandeur of their ancestors.
Even those who knew martial arts were somewhat astonished. Under the tutelage of their parents and elders, they dressed impeccably, even walking cautiously, never daring to stand out. They could only watch us steal the spotlight with envy.
While we were popular with noblewomen, young women, and girls, the Jinggong sisters, Xiaoyu, and Wang Zi behind me were the focus of countless men's attention.
The Jinggong sisters, with their porcelain doll-like sweetness and charm, dressed in bright silver-white kimonos and possessing identical faces, immediately attracted the attention of most people upon their appearance. Whether it was elderly men in their sixties and seventies or middle-aged people, none could hide their possessive desire; if they were like that, then it was even more obvious to teenagers and young adults in their twenties, who were practically drooling.
Behind them, Xiaoyu received just as much attention. With her pure and playful beauty, Xiaoyu wore traditional light yellow clothing from the Liufeng Kingdom. Her beautiful long hair was parted in several strands, with two small braids framing her ears, cascading down her jade-like earlobes. Combined with her stunningly beautiful and curvaceous figure, she exuded youthful vitality.
Following calmly behind them, Wang Zi, with her ordinary appearance and beautiful eyes, lost most of the attention, becoming the least noticeable person in our group.
Wang Zi showed no sign of disappointment. She looked around at the outside of the imperial city, her childlike innocence growing stronger, like a child leaving home for the first time.
We moved forward with the crowd, but due to the large number of people and the strict checks required to enter the imperial city, our pace slowed down, and we were now waiting in line.
Actually, we had already been checked once when we entered the inner city. Everyone, from the highest officials to the six ministers, was checked without exception, but the people conducting the checks were all female soldiers from the palace, which avoided any awkwardness.
"Brother, please!" It
was a young man who approached me. He was about twenty years old, with very bright eyes and quick movements, and he squeezed in front of me in no time.
As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, and it was during the New Year holidays, so I naturally didn't put on a cold shoulder. I smiled and said, "What can I do for you, brother?"
"It's nothing much, brother. Which family are you from?"
the young man whispered. "I'm Zheng Mingyu from the Zheng family. I've never seen you before."
The Zheng family?
Then it dawned on me. The fact that they dared to speak like that proved that the "Old Zheng Family" was extremely prestigious in Liufeng Kingdom, and in Liufeng Kingdom, there was only one "Old Zheng Family" with such prestige... the family of Shi Zheng Guoying.
The Old Zheng Family was one of the few families that followed the founding emperor in raising an army. Due to their loyalty and outstanding talent, the Old Zheng Family has produced five prime ministers, eight grand tutors, grand preceptors, and grand protectors, and dozens of other ministers and vice ministers. Their influence in the court was deeply rooted, forming a faction of their own.
Grand Tutor Zheng Guoying is only thirty-seven years old this year. He rose steadily from the position of county magistrate in the capital region, and only three years ago was he promoted from Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion to Grand Tutor. He is considered a strong candidate to succeed Right Chancellor Wu Siguo in two years and become the new Right Chancellor of the Empire.
The Zheng family is indeed powerful, but they also know how to keep to themselves. They never interfere in military and political affairs, but simply focus on cultivating their own power in the court. This is why successive emperors have been at ease. There is a saying, "A scholar's rebellion will not last three years!"
I said, "No wonder no one criticized Zheng Mingyu for running around earlier. His background is so profound!
" "I just returned from out of town, so you naturally haven't seen me before."
I intentionally or unintentionally ignored the fact that I was not the one in charge. "Hehe, no wonder, I was wondering why you looked so unfamiliar."
Zheng Mingyu was extremely clever; knowing I didn't want to talk about it, he immediately steered the conversation to the main topic: "Brother, your Japanese concubines are truly beautiful. I overheard some people discussing what rare treasures they could exchange for them."
It wasn't surprising that people here had such thoughts of exchange. Women on the mainland didn't have a high status, especially women from these overseas tribes. They were often considered as valuable as commodities, easily given away and bought and sold. To outsiders, the Jinggong sisters were merely among the more valuable items.
"They are my wives, I wouldn't trade them for anything."
I immediately refused, my gaze towards Zheng Mingyu turning colder: "Young Master Zheng, if you're familiar with people who harbor such thoughts, please tell them that if they want to experience what it's like to be an aerial acrobat, they can come find me." I was
a battle-hardened, decisive commander; if I wanted to, my eyes would be filled with a strong killing intent. This gaze sent a chill down Zheng Mingyu's spine, despite his extremely sensitive nature.
Just who was this kid? The aura was astonishing… Zheng Mingyu kept recalling the faces of the people he had seen, but still couldn't find any clues.
"Haha, I'm a gentleman, I don't know them at all."
Zheng Mingyu suppressed a trace of panic in his heart and pointed to the side and behind him: "Look, they're the ones who want to cause you trouble."
I looked over and saw that Zheng Mingyu was pointing to a group of young men and women about twenty meters behind me. There was about a dozen of them talking and laughing. Their voices were loud, and the occasional giggles of young girls could be heard. They were quite a focus of attention.
There were clearly two people in the lead. One was wearing a thick cotton robe, tall, and looked to be in his twenties. He had a round face, but he was definitely not honest. On the contrary, his voice was sharp, and his laughter was the loudest. The "Royal Golden Armor Army" next to him frowned, but none of them reprimanded him.
The other was a woman, in her early twenties, equally tall and beautiful with a mature, alluring charm. She wore a long pink dress with a smooth, white shawl draped over it. But what people usually noticed more was the small portion of her full, white breasts peeking out from under her low-cut dress, dazzlingly bright in the torchlight.
Their conversation had been focused on our group, so they quickly noticed my attention. Aside from a few girls giving me bold, seductive smiles, all the boys glared at me with malevolent eyes, while making no attempt to hide their lust for the three stunning girls behind me.
"Why are you staring so wide-eyed? You're not going to kill anyone."
I chuckled, too lazy to argue with these brats. "Young Master Zheng, you don't get along with them, do you?"
"Haha, you can tell that?"
Zheng Mingyu wasn't embarrassed at all, and patiently explained to me, "They are all representative figures of the spoiled brats in the capital. The round-faced boy is Wu Xiao, the youngest son of Prime Minister Wu, and the flirtatious girl is Wan Xueping, the eighth daughter of Grand Tutor Wan. None of them are simple." " They
are not simple!"
I nodded. "She's clearly no longer a virgin, yet she wears a hairstyle that represents unmarried women. Doesn't she care about embarrassing her father?"
"Pfft!"
Zheng Mingyu gasped. "Brother, you... you don't know who Grand Tutor Wan is, do you?"
He expected me to say something unpleasant, but he didn't expect me to be so direct, without any pretense.
I took a step forward with the procession and said casually, "Isn't he just the Grand Tutor, one of the Three Dukes?"
"Brother, are you sure you're not surnamed Chen?"
Zheng Mingyu looked at me strangely. Of course, he was joking; he knew all the members of the royal family and royalty with the surname Chen, but he had never seen me before.
After a moment's hesitation, he decided to remind me, "Grand Tutor Wan is also a Grand Academician of the Lingyun Pavilion. Don't cause trouble for your family!"
Among court officials, the Three Dukes held extremely prestigious positions, all of the first rank, equivalent to the Left and Right Chancellors, and as honorable as a Duke, second only to a Prince or King.
However, conversely, the power of the Three Dukes was far less than that of the Left and Right Chancellors; it was merely a position of respect.
But if one held the title of Grand Academician in addition to the Three Dukes, then it was a completely different story.
In the court of Liufeng Kingdom, the most important were the Ministers and Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries, who were responsible for specific affairs. Above them, the Left and Right Chancellors governed them.
When discussing state affairs and formulating governance policies, in addition to the two prime ministers, the participants also included the scholars of the three pavilions: Wenyuan Pavilion, Lingyun Pavilion, and Qilin Pavilion. Officials concurrently serving as scholars of these three pavilions would sit with the emperor and the left and right prime ministers to discuss the development and governance of Liufeng Kingdom; their crucial role was self-evident.
Moreover, the scholars of the three pavilions often traveled the country on behalf of the emperor to investigate corruption and misconduct, making them a veritable "cradle of imperial envoys"—how could anyone not show them respect?
Zheng Mingyu's pointing out that Grand Tutor Wan concurrently served as a scholar of the Lingyun Pavilion was already quite generous; it was clear he didn't want me to incur the wrath of those people.
"No need to talk about that."
I waved my hand. "Brother Zheng, why don't you tell me what's on tonight's program while we have the time?"
"Tonight's program is truly abundant, brother, you've come to the right person."
Mentioning this, Zheng Mingyu immediately became animated. "Not only will there be acrobatics, opera, and dance as in previous years, but to celebrate His Highness Prince Lanting's outstanding military achievements in the Northwest, the Emperor has specially ordered the rehearsal of the ancient 'Rainbow Feather Dance' as the highlight of the evening. I heard that there are more than 800 beautiful women performing, and the performance will last for an hour. With fine wine and delicacies accompanied by the beautiful women's singing and dancing, it will be a great enjoyment!" Looking at Zheng Mingyu's excited appearance, I thought to myself: "It's not like I can take these beautiful dancers home after the dance, so why am I so happy?" Martial arts are not prevalent in Liufeng Kingdom. In Huayun Kingdom, during festivals, warriors bravely fight lions and tigers, and fight each other. This is the most popular pastime among the nobles there. I heard that they are not happy without bloodshed.
For me, rather than attending such a tiring banquet, it would be better to set up a feast at home, have a warm meal with my wives, and then continue to work hard for the prosperity of the Liu family... Just thinking about that scene makes my blood boil!
"Brother, where are your parents?"
Zheng Mingyu asked warmly as we continued walking. "Why don't we sit together? I'm alone today anyway, and my seat is quite good, it's near the Emperor." '
Only fifty people away from the Emperor, that should be considered very close, right?' Zheng Mingyu muttered to himself. He had gone to great lengths to win over this seemingly unusual young man, and even had to negotiate with his relatives to squeeze out a few seats.
Zheng Mingyu was never a kind-hearted person, but his judgment was always accurate. Leaving aside the young man's audacity in standing out in such an important setting, his outstanding demeanor alone told him he was no ordinary person.
The Zheng family's deep-rooted power lay not only in their merit in supporting the emperor but also in their consistent ability to unite and cultivate relationships. Only when everyone in the court was willing to help could they avoid being targeted by many.
As a member of the new generation of the Zheng family, Zheng Mingyu might not be the smartest, but like everyone else, he had learned from a young age how to plan for the family. Revealing the potential danger to me was his first step in this process.
Even if he didn't gain anything, it didn't matter; the Zheng family and Wu Weiguo weren't exactly enemies. In recent years, Wu Weiguo, as Right Chancellor, had suppressed the Zheng family, and everyone in the Zheng family gritted their teeth in anger at the mere mention of his name.
However, Wu Weiguo not only held a high position and wielded great power, but also had a close relationship with the Prince of Tang. The two were considered sworn brothers. The Prince of Tang even secured a special privilege for Wu Weiguo: after retiring from his position as Right Chancellor, Emperor Kangzong would bestow upon him a "golden edict" granting him "exemption from three deaths, and one death for his descendants," enough to rid him of any troubles after leaving office.
Incidentally, Right Chancellor Wu Weiguo was already seventy-five years old, a veteran of three reigns. Even Emperor Kangzong dared not lay a hand on him, let alone the Zheng family.
Faced with Zheng Mingyu's invitation, why would I be interested?
Tonight, the second table to Kangzong's right is my seat. If I go to his table, where will Kangzong find me?
I just received a lecture from my godfather, and I don't want to anger Kangzong and make him think I lack manners.
Hmph, lack manners?
Do you think I, Liu Ri, am that kind of person?
Who in Wushuang County dares to say I'm not a polite, learned, and refined young man? "...Believe me, they said this willingly. I absolutely did not bribe them with thirty catties of rice, ten catties of pork, and five catties of cooking oil every year!
Hehe, don't be fooled by how you, the emperor, are mistreating your meritorious officials now. Once I get your daughter pregnant, you'll know how powerful I am!"
Young Master Ri, harboring a self-deceptive mentality, considered the matter and shook his head, refusing Zheng Mingyu's offer: "My elders want me to sit with them later. I'll have a drink with you another time."
Zheng Mingyu—thinking it made sense—and decided to see whose son this young man was, didn't insist: "Alright, brother, be careful—."
"Be careful of what?"
A sharp voice came from behind.
"Ah!"
The words had barely left his lips when a deafening scream shattered the silence, drawing almost everyone's attention.
The "Royal Golden Armor Army" responsible for security swarmed in, and among the unsuspecting crowd, many timid individuals screamed and retreated to the side. They had no idea what was happening, only that there might be danger.
Chaos erupted outside the imperial city.

Chapter Nine: An Unexpected Incident .
Others couldn't see it clearly, but I saw it very clearly.
The person who greeted us was Wu Xiao, and the scream came from one of his henchmen. His arm bones had been shattered by Jing Gongcai's hand chop, and he was now lying on the ground, hoarsely screaming, clutching his arm hanging at an odd angle.
Upon seeing the situation, Wu Xiao was stunned for a moment, then immediately grabbed Wan Xueping's hand and pulled her back. After maintaining distance from us, they suddenly roared, "Hurry! Hurry! These people are committing violence in the imperial city, with malicious intent! Arrest them!" Good heavens, no wonder he's Wu Weiguo's son; in the blink of an eye, he's labeled us as "plotting something sinister."
The injured boy was named Guan Dong, whose father was Guan Ji'en, the Vice Minister of Works.
Guan Dong was the most lecherous among them. He was standing right next to the two stunning twins when he was injured. Wu Xiao didn't see how it happened, but based on his understanding of Guan Dong, he knew that Guan Dong must have made advances on the beautiful girls, which was why his bones were broken.
"What a fiery girl!" Wu Xiao smiled coldly. "Perfect. I love feisty women. I'll take them home later, and I'll pamper them so much they won't be able to get out of bed for three days… Oh, right, and there's that still-virgin, stunningly beautiful girl. I never thought any man would leave such a beautiful woman untouched. If it were me, even if she were my own sister, I'd do it first!"
As Wu Xiao fantasized about his "sexual bliss," he looked up at Guang and his group, a smug smile on his face.
"Smack!"
Wu Xiao, who had just looked up, suddenly felt a blackout, followed by a sharp pain in his face. His mind raced, and he was sent flying.
Wu Xiao's injuries were more severe than Guan Dong's. Guan Dong still had the energy to cry out, but Wu Xiao, after landing on the ground, could only convulse, foaming at the mouth, with dark red blood continuously flowing from his lips.
"Clap clap!"
I clapped my hands and shrugged at the stunned Wan Xueping. "There's nothing I can do. Some people have foul mouths; they need to be taught a lesson."
"Ah..."
Only then did Wan Xueping react. She hastily stepped back, but unexpectedly fell to the ground. Her clothes ripped open, revealing most of her breasts, even the red areolas and nipples were clearly visible.
But who was in the mood to look at that now? One of the most spoiled brats reacted the fastest, pointing at the "Royal Golden Armor Army" surrounding us and shouting, "Are you all dead? Didn't you see he tried to kill Young Master Wu? Kill him!"
He was also panicked and terrified, actually ordering the "Royal Golden Armor Army," who only obeyed the Emperor's orders.
Zheng Mingyu stood not far away, his face uncertain.
He was very happy that I had so easily knocked Wu Xiao away with one palm, but he also understood how serious the consequences were. He wanted to help me, but he was concerned about his family's interests and ultimately dared not say a word.
I saw this and couldn't help but smile slightly. These scions of noble families only cared about their own family interests. What friends were worthless to them when it mattered!
The reason why the "Royal Golden Armor Army" surrounding us didn't move was simple. The team responsible for this section of the road happened to be a thousand-man squad that was going to pick me up in Shangjin County. Even if they were ignorant, they wouldn't dare to arrest the Empress's nephew, the new generation's military god of Liufeng Kingdom. Only an idiot would do that!
However, it now seems there's more than one idiot. After that spoiled brat's shouting, the whole group erupted in noise and clamor, each one practically wanting to kill me with their eyes, yet none dared to step forward.
Because the "Royal Golden Armor Army" had blocked off the surrounding area, people on the periphery were watching and whispering, inevitably attracting the attention of those further away.
No matter how much the spoiled brats shouted, the "Royal Golden Armor Army" didn't move, which made them somewhat uneasy, and their shouts gradually subsided.
They were indeed spoiled brats, but that didn't mean they were fools. The actions of the "Royal Golden Armor Army" proved that the boy before them was more than just a show-off.
Zheng Mingyu was the first to react. He had initially assumed that our group would definitely be arrested by the "Royal Golden Armor Army," because the "Royal Golden Armor Army" only obeyed the emperor's orders, and I had caused trouble and assaulted someone in the emperor's territory; they would definitely arrest me without hesitation.
What Zheng Mingyu saw, however, was that the "Royal Golden Armor Army" remained motionless like statues. No matter how much the sons of high-ranking officials shouted, no matter how much the sons of the Vice Minister of Works and the Right Chancellor on the ground shouted, they didn't receive a single sympathetic glance.
Oh no!
"Missed the big fish!"
Zheng Mingyu was filled with regret, but he wasn't a simple man. After a moment's thought, he resolutely stepped forward.
"My lord, please don't make things difficult for my friend. I can testify that those people wanted to harass my friend's concubine, which is why they angered him. Please investigate thoroughly and don't wrong an innocent person."
Zheng Mingyu spoke with great confidence and fluency.
He even put on an upright and awe-inspiring expression, which I admired: It's not easy to be so shameless!
The two centurions weren't fools. They looked at Zheng Mingyu with a half-smile, but didn't speak or dare to ask me anything. They could only remain silent.
Not far away, the noise continued, but our place had become somewhat deserted, and the atmosphere was truly eerie.
"What's going on? Why are so many people gathered here?"
A clear voice rang out from outside the crowd. Hearing this voice, the "Royal Golden Armor Army" quickly made way, and a handsome young man in golden armor led several centurions in.
His gaze immediately fell on Wu Xiao and Guan Dong, who were panting on the ground. The young general could tell at a glance that their miserable state was indeed due to a heavy blow, and they weren't faking it.
Then, his eyes turned to me, who was smiling, and he was taken aback.
"Lan Ting?"
the young general asked in surprise. "Why aren't you going in yet? Her Majesty the Empress is waiting for you." "
How do I get in?"
I spread my hands. "Someone has taken a fancy to my wife. I can only teach these ignorant fools a lesson first!"
The young general chuckled. "Aren't all your wives stunning beauties? I like them all, let alone the others... Alright, alright, for my sake, don't cause me any more trouble. Hurry up and go in." "Since it's Brother Fu Yue who asked, of course there's no problem." I cupped my hands and smiled. "
I'll be hosting a banquet at my residence in a couple of days and invite you and Madam Xiao Han. You must do me the honor!"
Who else could this handsome, golden-armored general be but Chen Fu Yue, the heir of the Prince of Chu?
Although he and Xiaohan were already married, and the Prince of Chu had been forced to agree under pressure from Emperor Kangzong and the Prince of Zhennan, the Prince of Chu had always refused to allow Xiaohan into his palace
. Even many officials from the Prince of Chu's faction dared not get too close to Xiaohan, leaving Chen Fuyue very lonely, and Xiaohan even more so. Now, the most powerful official in the court, the Duke of Lanting, had publicly invited the couple to a family banquet. This public attitude naturally enhanced Xiaohan's standing in people's eyes.
Chen Fuyue was deeply grateful and stepped forward to pat my shoulder forcefully, expressing his gratitude.
With Chen Fuyue present, I naturally felt embarrassed to stage another "heroic young Liu Ri versus the spoiled brat" drama. Without even glancing at the stunned crowd, I turned and walked forward.
Under the command of the Prince of Chu's heir, the "Royal Golden Armor Army" quickly surrounded me, escorting me towards the capital—attracting even more surprised and speculative glances along the way.
Chen Fuyue wasn't saying I needed protection; he was afraid I'd cause more trouble—friendship aside, as the guard in charge today, he didn't want any more injuries. After all, this Lord Lanting's destructive power was simply too great!
The spoiled brats, led by Wan Xueping, were practically staring blankly, even their breathing had become shallow. Who didn't recognize the Crown Prince of Chu? Someone even the Crown Prince treated with such respect—even their parents probably couldn't handle him, right?
Zheng Mingyu was so angry he almost pounded his chest.
Damn it, what a big fish! They'd missed a great white shark!
Lanting!
Who else is named Lanting? Who else is worthy of His Highness the Crown Prince of Chu's favor?
Only one… Lord Lanting!
No wonder such a young and handsome man possessed the killing intent of a battle-hardened veteran; it turns out he truly is a returning war god!
What a pity, what a pity!
If I had stepped forward immediately, Lord Lanting would have treated me differently! Then our Zheng family wouldn't have to worry about Wu Weiguo!
"By the way, baby, why did you break that kid's bones just now?"
I asked Jing Gongcai beside me as we walked.
"He wanted to touch me, and seeing his hand about to make a move, I naturally struck first."
The pure and innocent porcelain doll-like beauty pouted, "Brother, I didn't cause any trouble, did I?"
"Hmph, cause trouble? Let anyone who's unhappy try! Daring to have ill intentions towards my wife, I'm being lenient by not killing him."
I said coldly, and casually took the hand of the little princess of the He tribe, "Little Cai'er, you did the right thing. No matter what, never wrong yourself." "Yes!"
Jing Gongcai nodded emphatically, her beautiful face showing a bright smile.

Chapter Ten: Earnest Admonition This
wasn't the first time I had entered the imperial city. I had lived in the imperial city for a period of time before when I was treating Empress Ren's injuries, but every time I saw these magnificent buildings, I felt a surge of excitement.
The emperor stood in these places, issuing decrees that would affect the entire nation. All eyes, filled with a mixture of fear and envy, were fixed on this place, on the heart of the empire!
The feeling of controlling everything could be truly wonderful at times.
Perhaps this is why so many people aspire to conquer the Central Plains and become emperor!
I rarely have such thoughts, so this idea only flashed through my mind before I was immediately drawn to the lively atmosphere of the evening.
The inner city outside the imperial palace was deserted and heavily guarded, while inside the palace itself was a scene of bustling peace
and joy. Lanterns and colorful ribbons connected like spiderwebs, illuminating the magnificent imperial city in vibrant colors. The sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air from the pavilions, refreshing and cheerful, yet not noisy.
Countless men and women in their finest attire sat or stood in small groups, chatting, building rapport, and occasionally bursting into laughter.
The guards stood in the corners, motionless unless it was something very important.
Moving among the crowd were palace maids, also dressed in snow-white palace attire, carrying boxes of various sizes. They hurried between the Imperial Kitchen and the Changqing Palace, where the banquet was being held. Because of the large number of ministers and their families, they had been busy since morning and were still not finished.
Empress Ren had already notified the "Royal Golden Armored Army" outside, instructing me to see her immediately if I arrived. So, when the "Royal Golden Armored Army" led me to the Great Bronze Gate of the Imperial City, a squad of palace female soldiers took over the escort, leading us along a side path to Empress Ren's palace.
The palace was packed with people today, so even though we tried to be discreet, many people saw me along the way.
These officials and their wives were no fools; with a little coaxing, they knew who this handsome young man was.
In no time, news of Lanting Gong's arrival at the palace spread throughout the entire imperial city.
Just then, the ministers who had just entered from outside also began talking about the fight that had taken place outside the imperial city. Through the spread of these rumors, everyone soon learned that the sons of Prime Minister Wu and Vice Minister Guan had offended the Duke of Lanting and gotten injured.
Gossip, like an eagle spreading its wings, flew through the palace. When I arrived at Empress Ren's chambers, she was listening to several different versions of the story.
"You're always causing trouble!"
My beautiful mother-in-law, the Empress, looked at me helplessly, with my even more charming and cheerful little princess beside her.
"Your Majesty, these bastards tried to steal my wife,"
I said confidently, without the slightest fear. "I'm only sparing their hands and feet because I'm giving you and His Majesty face."
"Nonsense!"
Empress Ren raised an eyebrow and playfully poked her daughter in the waist. "Hey, look at your man! He went to the Northwest, and he's become so bloodthirsty!"
"What could I do... Wasn't it you and Father who forced him to go?"
Yunfu was so obedient, speaking up for me even before she was married: "In a place like that, you could easily be killed. What could he do if he wasn't ruthless? Look at my cousin Fuyue, he suffered so much at the hands of the barbarians because he was kind-hearted!"
I was speechless: "Miss Yunfu, it doesn't sound like you're praising me, but rather insulting me! I'm actually a very kind person!"
There were only the three of us in the palace pavilion. The nearest eunuchs and maids were standing ten meters away, unable to hear what we were saying, but they were also dutifully watching our direction. After all, etiquette couldn't be disregarded, and we couldn't allow any scandals to spread in the palace.
It was precisely because there was no one else around that we could speak so freely. Otherwise, if everything were done according to the rules, bowing every few words would be exhausting.
Yunfu rolled her eyes at me, wanting to tease me, but then she realized her mother was beside her, so she could only pout her sexy lips and stop herself from saying what she was about to say.
Empress Ren watched her young children flirting and teasing each other, feeling a surge of joy. It was rare for her daughter to like Liu Ri, and for Liu Ri to be willing to risk his life for her. If they could arrange a marriage now, wouldn't she be able to hold her grandson next autumn? Lost in her beautiful vision of the future, a smile unconsciously appeared on the Empress's lips.
"Liu Ri, you've done very well in the Northwest."
After a while, Empress Ren finally got to the point: "The Emperor and I are very satisfied. He told me privately that with this achievement, he can face his ancestors with a clear conscience." "
It's all thanks to the Emperor, the Empress, and Her Highness the Princess for choosing the right people,"
I said with a grin.
My future wife, flattered by my words, smiled gently at me, clearly thinking the same thing.
"Naughty! Are we so foolish that we only feel happy when you flatter us?"
Empress Ren glared at me. "It's all thanks to you; no one can erase that. Didn't we tell you beforehand? The Emperor is preparing to reward you handsomely!"
"Wealth and honor are nothing but fleeting clouds to me,"
I said righteously. "If Your Majesty pities Xiao Ri, then you should simply let Yun Fu marry into the family sooner. Not only is Xiao Ri suffering from the wait, but she is too!"
"Hmm, I completely agree with your statement, but you should speak to the Emperor yourself. I cannot make that decision."
Empress Ren wouldn't fall for it and directly refused.
Upon hearing this, Yun Fu's smile grew even sweeter. She wasn't saddened by her mother's firm refusal because she knew that this matter required long-term effort and couldn't be rushed.
The princess's happiness stemmed not only from my sweetness at my concern for her but also from the fact that she noticed her mother's kind and affectionate attitude towards her lover, indicating that her mother had accepted him.
Could Empress Ren possibly refuse this son-in-law?
Now, everyone in the court is praising Empress Ren as truly the mother of the nation, and how outstanding the young man raised by her family is, achieving such great military merit. These people have completely forgotten that just a few months ago, it was this same group who jointly petitioned Emperor Kangzong, vehemently criticizing the powerful maternal relatives for seizing power, and how a mere child was sent to relieve the siege of such a crucial place as Xiliang City – treating the tens of millions of people in the three northwestern prefectures as a joke!
My outstanding performance naturally gave them a resounding slap in the face, and allowed Empress Ren, who had been under constant pressure, to finally breathe a sigh of relief. The concubines in the palace who had been harboring ambitions now only felt envy and fawning over Empress Ren.
Empress Ren understood that although the Emperor currently only had one daughter, Yunfu, the other concubines had never given up their hopes of conceiving a royal heir. Now, she not only had a clever and skillful daughter, but also a "nephew" hailed as a new generation "military genius," which greatly benefited the stability of her position as Empress.
Next, Empress Ren inquired about the lives of ordinary people in Xiliang City. Fortunately, I had done my homework and explained in detail the policies I had implemented there.
When the Empress heard that such a small city as Xiliang had housed so many refugees, and that even more would be going there in the spring, a knowing smile appeared on her face, but she couldn't help but sigh softly.
Even without her saying it, I knew what Empress Ren was lamenting—severe land annexation and displacement of people were headaches in any dynasty or country!
It wasn't just the Empress who was troubled; Emperor Kangzong must have been even more troubled, otherwise he wouldn't have secretly supported these refugees in setting up settlements and cultivating land on the frontier.
"Although the Northwest is vast and sparsely populated, people from the Central Plains have never really adapted to it, so for hundreds of years, not many people have gone there. Now, however, people are flocking to the Northwest, which breaks the hearts of both the Emperor and me!"
Empress Ren told me. "Liu Ri, if you could help the refugees settle down and thrive in the Northwest, it would be a great service to the court. Perhaps the Emperor would even grant your and Yunfu's request sooner."
Your Majesty, I haven't used this trick of offering empty promises since I was twelve. Isn't it unethical of you to make such empty promises? Every word is "maybe" and "maybe"... Do you think I'm stupid?
I could think that, but I couldn't afford to offend my mother-in-law.
A resolute look appeared on my face: "Yes, I will definitely work hard to ensure that the people can live and work in peace in Xiliang City, and not disappoint Your Majesty and the Emperor's expectations."
Empress Ren nodded slightly: "It's easier said than done, but Xiliang City is a battlefield. If we're not careful, it could end up like the tragic scene a few months ago. You must be very careful."
"I understand."
"Well, it's getting late. You should go to Changqing Palace to wait. Yunfu and I still need to get ready before we go."
After Empress Ren finished speaking, she got up and took Yunfu to another palace, leaving me standing there, gritting my teeth.
Mother-in-law, you really don't know how to be both kind and strict! After scolding me, you should at least leave the princess here so we can have some time to get along! Really, do all the women who enter the palace lack social skills?

Chapter Eleven: Madam Xiaohan
The seven of us, led by the female soldiers, arrived at my assigned spot.
By this time, about half of the guests had taken their seats, but the three rows of twelve main seats along the central wall of the Golden Hall, and the twelve seats on each side, were almost entirely empty.
The seating at Changqing Palace was not simple; it was very long, and each family had more than one table—two in front and one behind, making three tables in total. A more spacious table could seat about three people, while a slightly cramped one could seat five. However, there was
a hierarchy: the most important person in the family sat at the front, followed by their children or relatives at the back. Attending the Emperor's banquet was always an immense honor, so the selection of attendees for each family on the eve of the Lunar New Year became crucial. It wasn't just about the honor itself, but also about one's status within the family—if you had never been brought to a Changqing Palace banquet by your family elders, how high could your status be?
So each family's three tables are almost always full every year.
I looked around and saw that besides our group of thirty-six seats, which were clearly isolated from the crowd, there were about two hundred more tables to the left, right, and behind us, plus the side seats, making over six hundred tables in total.
However, the seating arrangement was clever, with the tables staggered to ensure that no one in front or to the sides could block the view. Even with all six hundred tables, Changqing Palace didn't feel crowded; the open space in the middle was at least twenty meters wide and fifty meters long, apparently prepared for the upcoming song and dance performance.
The ceiling lights in Changqing Palace were exceptionally bright, illuminating the room like daytime with no blind spots.
Therefore, when we leisurely walked to the second table on the right, the previously noisy Changqing Palace suddenly lowered its volume, and countless eyes, like arrows fired instantly, were all fixed on us. To be precise, ninety percent of the people turned their eyes to me.
Perhaps many people didn't know who was sitting in front of, behind, to their sides, but they could recite the positions and seating arrangements of the thirty-six groups in front of them.
As is customary, the twelve tables before and after the main seat are naturally for the Emperor, Empress, princesses, and concubines—this goes without saying.
Next, the twelve groups of seats on the left represent the civil officials, starting with the Prince of Tang and the Prince of Chu, then the Three Dukes and the Left and Right Chancellors, all the way to the Five Ministers. On the right is the military officials, led by the Prince of Zhennan, followed by the Duke of Lanting, the Minister
of War, the commanders of the "Golden Dragon Legion," "Bronze Leopard Legion," "Iron Wolf Legion," and "Royal Golden Armor Army," and the five Grand Secretaries of the Three Pavilions. Currently, the Three Dukes also serve as Grand Secretaries of the Three Pavilions; they lean towards civil service. However, there are other Grand Secretaries within the Three Pavilions, the five who will sit on the military side, who lean towards military service and frequently participate in the formulation and execution of military affairs. Yunfu says that despite their refined scholarly appearance, each of them has personally killed at least several hundred arrogant soldiers and generals while inspecting military affairs throughout the land, making them feared figures in the army.
"Huff..."
A series of heavy breaths echoed throughout the hall.
This was Lord Lanting!
Because I first served in Yizhou County and then went directly to Xiliang City, very few people in the court had seen me. Now they finally saw my true face.
No matter how they imagined it before, they could never have imagined that the real Lord Lanting would be so young and handsome. Looking at him casually dressed in a long robe, he looked like an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy. His handsome face also had a gentle smile, much like a young man who had just passed the imperial examination, rather than a great hero who had chased barbarians for thousands of miles and whose military achievements shook the three kingdoms of the continent!
No one doubted that I was not Lord Lanting. In such a solemn occasion, the guards at all levels would not make a mistake, and the female soldiers would not make a mistake either. The most important reason was that these high-ranking officials saw my relaxed and unhurried attitude and recognized me as Lord Lanting at first glance!
After a pause, the voices in the room became a few decibels louder than before. The focus of their discussion was, of course, His Highness Lord Lanting, who was appearing in a formal setting for the first time.
For a time, countless families considered marrying their daughters to this newly risen court nobleman and super-popular figure. However, many were also stunned by the beauty of the Jinggong sisters and Xiaoyu beside me, and reluctantly gave up the idea.
It was our first time visiting Changqing Palace, so we were all quite curious. To maintain the demeanor of a first-class duke, I could only solemnly turn my eyes, unable to freely observe and admire the beautiful young women and ladies filling the hall—it certainly didn't suit my taste!
In contrast, Xiaogui, Xiaoniao, the Jinggong sisters, Xiaoyu, and Wang Zi were much more relaxed. They looked around, examining everything and everyone they could see: the gleaming golden emperor's throne, the pillars inlaid with pure gold dragon and phoenix patterns, the lanterns overhead—no two were alike… everything looked new and interesting.
"Brother…"
Jinggong Mei called softly beside me. When I turned to her, the beautiful girl pointed to a spot not far behind us, where a beautiful young woman in aristocratic attire sat, her eyes also looking in our direction.
Meeting my gaze, the beautiful young woman smiled gently, expressing her goodwill.
Jing Gongmei, fearing I might forget, reminded me, "It's Lady Xiaohan..."
Originally, Chen Fuyue, the Crown Prince of Chu, former commander of the "Silver Tiger Legion," and titled General of the Guard, was also entitled to sit in one of the seats in the row behind us. However, today he and the commander of the Imperial Guards were unable to come due to security duties, so Lady Xiaohan sat alone in his seat.
As the only son of the King of Chu, his wife should have sat in the seat directly opposite me, where the King of Chu sat. But because she was not favored, Chen Fuyue had to arrange it.
"Brother, Lady Xiaohan looks so lonely. Let's invite her over,"
Jing Gongmei, a kind-hearted girl, suggested instinctively. "Yes, General Chen is on duty outside. Let's have some fun together!"
Seeing her, Jing Gongcai readily agreed.
The princesses of the He tribe were incredibly beautiful and skilled in martial arts, but they were too naive. They thought that inviting Lady Xiaohan over would make things more lively and prevent her from being lonely.
This was certainly a good thing, but once Lady Xiaohan sat down, we would completely offend the Prince of Chu. He had already heard rumors that I had seduced Yunfu, which caused the Emperor and Empress to change their attitude. Now, if I gave him another chance to openly sever ties, he would definitely not let it go. From then on, he would have a legitimate reason to deal with me. Out of
the corner of my eye, I saw Xiaoyu and Wang Zi's eyes flicker. I guessed they had also realized what was going on. These two women were both extremely intelligent, so it was no surprise that they reacted quickly. However, Jing Gongmei and Jing Gongcai hadn't thought that far ahead. They just looked at me with their innocent, beautiful eyes, waiting for my approval.
As for the two careless little turtles, Xiaogui and Xiaoniao, they were already secretly discussing which noblewoman had the biggest breasts and the most perky buttocks, which beautiful girl was still a virgin, and which one looked like a slut... They didn't care about us at all.
"Alright, you two go together."
I nodded slightly. "Remember, if she doesn't want to, just drag her over, understand?"
"How could that be... It's not as lively as having a whole bunch of us by herself. She'll be happy!"
Jing Gongcai stood up with her sister Yingying, dismissing my words with disdain, and even pouted her pink lips at me, looking incredibly cute.
A moment later, the twin beauties angrily brought her back. Jing Gongcai did even more ruthlessly than I had instructed, directly silencing Madam Xiaohan, because Madam Xiaohan's fussiness annoyed her.
"Madam Xiaohan, they are both young and don't understand many social customs. Please forgive them."
I released Madam Xiaohan's pressure points. "Don't speak, listen to me... Others may fear the power of the King of Chu, but I, Ren Lanting, have never been afraid. You and Brother Fuyue are in love; it's none of his business what he
, an outsider, has to say." "But he is my husband's husband, not an outsider,"
Madam Xiaohan said softly.
"There's no need to respect a father who doesn't care about his son's happiness,"
I said calmly. "Madam Xiaohan, you can sit here today. I will speak to Brother Fuyue myself. I, Ren Lanting, will take responsibility for everything. You and Brother Fuyue are my friends, Ren Lanting. Others may not respect you, others may not acknowledge you, but you still have me, Ren Lanting."
After she finished speaking, Madam Xiaohan was already in tears. Since arriving in the capital, few people had acknowledged her marriage to Chen Fuyue. No matter how indifferent she was, thinking that as long as Chen Fuyue treated her well, she couldn't help but feel a little desolate. The warmth from my and the Jinggong sisters was like a clear spring flowing into her heart, or a warm current, comforting her soul.
Madam Xiaohan wasn't good at hiding her feelings, so it was only natural that two lines of tears fell.
The Jinggong sisters, who were initially unaware of what was happening, finally understood when Xiaoyu volunteered and whispered the reason for Madam Xiaohan's actions to them.
"Sister Xiaohan, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you..."
Jinggong Cai said to her, feeling very embarrassed.
"No."
Madam Xiaohan wiped away her tears. "Sister Cai, I should be the one apologizing. It's my own fault..."
"Hmph, I never expected there to be such a stubborn old man!"
Even the usually gentle Jing Gongmei swore this time. "He doesn't even acknowledge his own daughter-in-law. What does he want to do? Is he going to be alone forever?"
"Speak of the devil, and he appears."
I suddenly laughed. "Little Mei'er, the stubborn old man you were cursing is here."

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