[Fantasy] The Rogue Landlord (Complete) - Chapter 19

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Chapter Five: Little Pet Zhao Ling, Beset by Trivial Matters

Although many guards with martial arts backgrounds were very interested in this mysterious Grand Elder, they could only disperse and return to their posts due to the strict rules of the palace. However, this matter was particularly serious. The guard captains ordered increased vigilance while running to report to their superiors!

Xu Ping ran to the palace gate, knocked out four night school students, and escaped. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he turned around and couldn't help but curse. He hadn't noticed someone following him. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was his nominal master, "Judge of the Human World"—Shi Tianfeng. He immediately felt interested in testing him.

Shi Tianfeng wasn't in a hurry to attack. After Xu Ping left the palace gate, his eyes sharpened, and his pace quickened. Xu Ping naturally didn't dare to be negligent and also quickened his pace, running into the bamboo forest in the east mountain.

The commotion at the palace gate was quite loud; this was sure to cause a stir. However, the guards had to strictly guard the palace gates and could not leave the palace without permission. Once they saw someone leave the palace, they naturally could not pursue them. Such matters could only be handed over to the Imperial Guards.

Not long after the handover, a troop of Imperial Guards on light cavalry took advantage of the night to pursue towards Dongshan.

After running through the woods for a while, they came to an open area, a good place for a duel. Xu Ping suddenly felt a chill on the back of his head and instinctively turned around and threw a punch, which collided head-on with Shi Tianfeng's fist. The two were immediately separated like slingshots.

Damn it, when did this old guy catch up with me? Playing dirty tricks, damn it! Xu Ping shook his hand. It seemed that he was just testing him. That punch just now did not have the power that a true Earth-grade martial artist should have.

Shi Tianfeng was also secretly surprised. He had decided to leave the palace to capture this person in order not to disturb others. He did not expect that although Shi Tianfeng's lightness skill was not good, his internal strength was not good. His casual punch was actually taken by Shi Tianfeng. Despite this, he didn't hold Xu Ping in high regard, as Xu Ping didn't seem like a peerless master.

With a light tap of his foot, Shi Tianfeng shot towards Xu Ping like an arrow released from a bow. This time, he wasn't holding back at all, unleashing a punch of Earth-grade power imbued with hard internal force. This

was Xu Ping's first time fighting him, and he was momentarily flustered. Furthermore, his Battle Dragon Technique lacked any set routines, so he could only grit his teeth, roar, and clench his right fist to meet Shi Tianfeng's attack head-on once more.

"Lower Earth-grade!" Shi Tianfeng exclaimed in surprise, not expecting his previously underestimated opponent to possess Earth-grade strength from the start. It was too late to withdraw his hand.

Their fists collided, and Xu Ping immediately felt a sharp pain in his hand, gritting his teeth in agony. Fortunately, his mask concealed his expression.

Shi Tianfeng wasn't faring much better; his fist throbbed with pain. He stepped back, steadied himself, and looked at Xu Ping, saying politely, "May I ask which school of martial arts you belong to, or if we are old acquaintances?" "

Let's fight! Enough with the nonsense!" Xu Ping said hoarsely, mimicking a starting move he'd seen on TV, striking a pose similar to Wong Fei-hung!

Shi Tianfeng immediately became wary. The pose didn't seem to belong to any particular school of martial arts, so he dared not underestimate Xu Ping.

Xu Ping inwardly groaned. The Battle Dragon Technique, if used to cultivate internal energy, was like a bomb without a fuse. "Am I supposed to stand here and dance for you if I don't strike this pose?" Despite his uncertainty, he still provocatively beckoned to Shi Tianfeng.

"What bizarre martial arts! I, Shi, will have a go at you." Shi Tianfeng hadn't felt the urge to fight in years, knowing the newcomer's cultivation was likely no less than his own. Maintaining his composure, he clenched his fists, stood firmly on the ground, and then charged straight at Xu Ping. His fists created a powerful gust of wind in mid-air, but upon reaching him, a sharp kick swept across.

"Well done!" Xu Ping deliberately changed his voice as he met the attack, deflecting the powerful kick with his left hand and striking with his right, a hand chop aimed straight at Shi Tianfeng's face. Shi Tianfeng quickly turned, blocking Xu Ping's chop with one hand and throwing a punch.

Xu Ping immediately countered with a punch of his own. The difference in their internal strength was immediately apparent. Shi Tianfeng, still in mid-air, was knocked back and staggered a few steps before regaining his footing. Although both were at the lower level of the Earth Rank, Xu Ping, relying on the powerful internal strength cultivated from the Battle Dragon Technique, won the first exchange.

"Your martial arts are impressive, but why did you break into the palace at night? Don't you know this is a capital offense?" Shi Tianfeng roared, striking a strange pose Xu Ping had never seen before. His left hand was raised to the sky in a claw shape, while his right hand was clenched into a fist in front of his chest. He adopted a low stance, took a deep breath, and realized that the person before him was clearly more skilled than himself. At this moment, he didn't hold back and unleashed his most powerful technique.

"What a strange routine. What kind of martial arts is this?" Even though Xu Ping's Battle Dragon Technique had reached the third level, it only focused on internal energy cultivation and lacked any set techniques. Seeing that the old man had indeed been holding back, he imitated Shi Tianfeng's stance and asked, quite interested in the martial arts routine that Shi Tianfeng was hiding.

"Form without spirit, all show and no substance!" Shi Tianfeng roared, then charged towards Xu Ping with his hands moving rapidly. Each strike was swift and without pause, sometimes a fist, sometimes a claw, and he even attacked Xu Ping's neck with a hand chop. Each attack was brief, immediately withdrawn upon being blocked, and the attacker shifted to attack elsewhere.

This complex and varied style of attack initially overwhelmed Xu Ping, making his defense somewhat strained.

After more than ten minutes of fighting, Shi Tianfeng's speed increased, and his attacks became fluid and rapid. Xu Ping had already taken more than a dozen blows, but he had begun to understand Shi Tianfeng's style and began mimicking it, attacking back at him. Although every move was identical, Shi Tianfeng deftly deflected all of Xu Ping's attacks, leaving Xu Ping at a disadvantage and forced to defend.

"You lack spirit and substance, you scoundrel, yet you dare to imitate me!" Shi Tianfeng roared, then struck Xu Ping's chest with a powerful palm strike.

Xu Ping quickly crossed his arms to block, suffering no real damage but still being forced back several steps. He inwardly groaned, never expecting this old man to be so strong at his age. His slightly higher internal strength was practically no advantage against Shi Tianfeng's exquisite fist techniques. "

Fight!" Shi Tianfeng roared, and before Xu Ping could even catch his breath, he clenched his fists and attacked again.

Xu Ping wanted to fight back, but he was so angry he was practically fuming. This old man wouldn't fight him head-on. The moment he tried to strike, Shi Tianfeng's fists would become incredibly soft, dodging his

attacks. When Xu Ping had no choice but to defend, Shi Tianfeng would become incredibly fierce, giving him almost no chance to strike. "Damn it!" Xu Ping's eyes turned red. He cursed and ignored the attacks, taking a punch and a kick to the chest before slamming his fist into Shi Tianfeng's shoulder. Shi Tianfeng immediately staggered back in pain.

"Come on!" Xu Ping was also furious. He had suffered so much earlier and was only now getting some back, so he rushed forward excitedly.

"Good!" Shi Tianfeng smiled approvingly and assumed a fighting stance again. This time, his attacks were even more fluid, as if he had held back some of the martial arts that had already made Xu Ping feel unbearable.

"You old bastard!" Xu Ping was completely flustered this time. He had no set routine to begin with, and at this moment he could only awkwardly dodge his vital points and desperately block the increasingly ferocious punches and kicks.

"Grand Elder, we are here to help you!" While the two were locked in combat, the Imperial Guard cavalry arrived. The galloping horses immediately raised a cloud of dust, and judging from the dust they kicked up, there were definitely no fewer than five hundred of them.

The Imperial Guards were immediately taken aback to see that the thief could actually fight the Grand Elder Shi Tianfeng to a standstill. The three generals exchanged a knowing glance, leaped from their horses, and joined the fray, each unleashing their signature moves. None dared to let their guard down; every attack was a direct assault of their own. Even more astonishing was the subtle coordination in their attacks, resembling a sophisticated group martial arts routine. Their frantic assault quickly overwhelmed Xu Ping, who was already struggling with Shi Tianfeng. Now, with three second-rate experts joining the fray, he was barely able to defend himself, let alone launch an attack.

In no time, the difference in skill was clear! Shi Tianfeng, unfazed by the Imperial Guards' presence, continued to hurl punches at Xu Ping. Xu Ping felt a dense, throbbing pain all over his body; if he wasn't mistaken, he had taken at least two blows in a single second.

"Damn it!" This further fueled Xu Ping's fighting spirit. With a roar, ignoring the rain of punches raining down on him, he gritted his teeth and, his mind clearing, launched a counterattack using Shi Tianfeng's martial arts techniques. Even though he was just learning, he managed to temporarily diminish the ferocity of the three Imperial Guard generals.

Seeing that Xu Ping had grasped his martial arts techniques and was using them so skillfully, Shi Tianfeng quickly switched to a palm-based style. Taking advantage of an opening in the generals' attack, he struck Xu Ping squarely in the chest. A searing pain shot through his chest. Although it didn't appear to have broken any bones, the palm strike would cause internal injury. Blood immediately trickled from the corner of Xu Ping's mouth. He staggered back a few steps before charging forward to fight them again.

"With such high martial arts skills, why oppose the court? Surrender!" Shi Tianfeng shouted after dodging Xu Ping's attack.

Caught off guard, one of the three generals, who was attacking with his leg, was suddenly struck in the thigh by a frenzied punch from Xu Ping, breaking the bone. He screamed in agony and fell backward, clutching his leg.

"Second Brother!" The burly man with the claws roared and attacked Xu Ping's face. Xu Ping quickly blocked the fierce claw attack with one hand and blocked another general's powerful punch with the other.

Shi Tianfeng immediately found an opening and, in a flash, unleashed another palm strike, aiming fiercely at Xu Ping's chest. Just as the attack was about to hit, Xu Ping suddenly became ruthless, ignoring the attacks from the two generals beside him. He took their blows with his body, roared, and gathered all his true energy into his palms, colliding head-on with Shi Tianfeng.

The moment their palms collided, a gust of wind swept through, scattering all four. The remaining two generals, whose martial arts were far inferior to the two, were immediately struck by the powerful clash of internal energy, causing their internal organs to ache.

Shi Tianfeng was mostly unharmed, though he felt a piercing pain in the web of his hand. Turning his hand over, he saw that his entire hand was red and swollen, which startled him. Xu Ping, on the other hand, fared much worse. Although his hands were unharmed, he coughed up blood like a kite with a broken string, flying backward for about ten meters before crashing into a large tree and falling to the ground, limp and lifeless.

"This man's internal energy is so high that few in the martial world can rival him," Shi Tianfeng said solemnly. Turning his hand over, he saw that his palm, which had been fine just moments before, was now slowly cracking open, oozing blood, and the bones in the web of his hand were slightly dislocated. " To win with four against one with such difficulty, this battle is actually our own defeat."

"Grand Master, who is he? The intelligence didn't mention any top-level expert hidden in the capital." The general whose leg bone was broken by Xu Ping stood up with the help of the other two, his face covered in cold sweat, and asked.

The cavalry slowly surrounded him, and a middle-aged man who looked skilled in medicine began to treat his deformed calf. He gritted his teeth and didn't utter a sound, but his eyes were sharply focused on Xu Ping, as if to say, "If we can't capture him alive, we'll just give the order to execute him on the spot."

"I don't know, but if it weren't for your help, I wouldn't be confident that I could take him down. This person has high internal strength, but he's like an unusable treasure trove. I think if he had a familiar set of boxing moves, even if he couldn't win our siege, he could at least retreat calmly." Shi Tianfeng said with lingering fear, while tearing off a piece of his clothes to slowly wrap his hand, which was swollen to the point of looking like a pig's trotter, and cold sweat dripped down his face.

"This man's martial arts are so high. Whatever his purpose in infiltrating the palace, let's capture him first!" The general with the claws said nervously, recalling the terrifying strength in Xu Ping's hand.

Xu Ping frowned, his expression contorted, as if the bones in his body were shattered. The moment he tried to move, his entire body ached violently. He could almost smell the blood inside his body with his breath. He opened his mouth to speak, but a gush of blood immediately rose from his throat. "

Damn it, am I going to die here?" Xu Ping thought, looking at the night sky. "I haven't even had a chance to enjoy this decadent life, am I really going to die?" The palm strike just now had almost drained all his true energy. Now he felt lightheaded, as if weightless, extremely uncomfortable.

His head was slightly dizzy, and Xu Ping began to regret his foolish decision to challenge Shi Tianfeng. What use is this formidable internal energy? This person has immersed themselves in martial arts for decades; they're already a renowned master in the martial world. Their profound cultivation is far beyond what a mediocre person like myself can contend with.

Regret gripped Xu Ping. He felt his mind growing increasingly foggy, his eyelids growing heavier as if he couldn't lift them. Just as he was drifting off to sleep, countless images flashed through his mind, each one so vivid and fleeting: Zhao Ling's tearful emotion at the Fierce Tiger Stronghold, Liu Ziyi's tender affection, the helplessness of the empty-headed refugees outside the capital, their only desire to fill their stomachs, and the joy his parents and grandfather felt upon his birth. "

I won't die!" Xu Ping snapped awake, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth to keep himself from falling asleep. Good people don't live long; this scourge of mine will live on for a thousand years.

Just then, something unbelievable happened. Xu Ping was astonished to find that his previously depleted true energy was rapidly being generated from his dantian, filling his entire body at an unprecedented speed, and seemingly even stronger than before. His

meridians were filled with abundant true energy. Xu Ping had never felt so comfortable. He closed his eyes, feeling the increasingly surging true energy flowing through all the acupoints of his body, as if he were beginning to ascend to a new realm.

"Grand Elder, this child…!" The Imperial Guard generals looked at Xu Ping, who lay motionless on the ground, with lingering fear. Although they had beaten him into immobility, they still dared not approach rashly.

Shi Tianfeng took out the gourd tucked into his waistband, took a big gulp of wine, and said, "If we can capture him alive, let's do it. After all, there are only a few experts like him, and I really can't bring myself to kill him. Besides, no matter who sent this kid, just the fact that he could orchestrate a Rank

1 expert to sneak into the palace at night shows that we must interrogate him properly." Everyone nodded solemnly, but they didn't dare to underestimate Xu Ping. The three generals didn't dare to step forward alone, and could only wave their hands to signal the other cavalry to slowly surround Xu Ping.

Just as everyone was slowly surrounding him, Xu Ping also completed a qualitative breakthrough. Although his body, which had just been beaten and was full of wounds, could no longer fight, he still stubbornly stood up, looked at the Imperial Guards who were frightened by him, and laughed wildly at the sky. With a wave of his hand, explosive true energy immediately burst out, stunning them.

"Mid-Rank 1 Earth! This person actually managed to comprehend such a realm while seriously injured!" Shi Tianfeng exclaimed. Seeing the aura faintly emanating from Xu Ping, one immediately understood what was happening!

Although somewhat absurd, this experience of going from death to life allowed Xu Ping to break through the mid-stage Earth Rank that had stagnated for several years. Xu Ping laughed until tears almost streamed down his face. The abundant true energy within his body made him feel refreshed, but the only drawback was the soreness and pain in his body, which made him particularly uncomfortable. Damn it.

Seeing Xu Ping's unrestrained laughter, the Imperial Guards immediately retreated warily. Even Shi Tianfeng, who had thought he had it all figured out, now wore a serious expression and was on high alert. Although he envied Xu Ping's breakthrough to the middle level, he had no choice but to prepare to attack again.

"Three cavalry units, listen to my command!"

The leading Imperial Guard general knew exactly what the middle level of the Earth Rank was like. If the newcomer escaped today, there would be no chance to capture him later. His second brother and the Grand Elder were already injured, and he estimated that they wouldn't be able to take him down even if they fought again. Once Xu Ping's middle-level strength was fully restored, the consequences would be severe.

At this moment, he couldn't care less about morality or manners. His face was full of gloom, knowing how great a threat such a master would be if he were sent by the enemy. He gritted his teeth and prepared to use the five hundred cavalrymen behind him to charge and kill this freak, striking while the iron was hot.

Shi Tianfeng knew he was incapable of fighting any longer. At this point, the Imperial Guards' decision was perhaps the wisest. If they let such a fierce tiger escape, there wouldn't be many peaceful days ahead. Even at his peak, he probably wouldn't be able to escape the charge of five hundred Imperial Guards. Although it was a pity about his powerful skills, this was the best course of action. Looking at Xu Ping, who had gradually stopped laughing and quieted down, a sense of unease crept into his heart.

"All-out attack!" With a shout from the leading general, the cavalry immediately roared, spurring their reins and charging towards Xu Ping's position, their broadswords flashing coldly in the moonlight. The dust and murderous aura stirred by a true army charge filled even Shi Tianfeng with fear. Even the most skilled expert, severely wounded, would likely not survive such a ferocious charge. Thinking of this, his unease lessened somewhat.

Xu Ping stood calmly in place, as if he couldn't see anything. He opened his arms to the five hundred cavalry charging straight at him, and the powerful aura of a mid-level Earth Rank cultivator instantly emanated from him. His previously depleted true energy surged back to fill his body. Although he hadn't yet broken through to the fourth level of the Battle Dragon Technique, Xu Ping felt he had already gained a great deal from this Earth Rank breakthrough.

"Come on!" Xu Ping's expression hardened, a solemn resolve as if everything was about to crumble.

"Kill!" Although the Imperial Guard soldiers trembled inwardly, their excellent discipline allowed them to quickly regain their composure, brandishing their swords and continuing their charge.

The shouts of battle were so deafening in the quiet night; the sheer chilling atmosphere alone was enough to terrify the enemy.

"Kill your mother? I'm not that stupid!" Xu Ping suddenly smiled slyly, using the momentum to quickly climb up a large tree. He cursed at the dumbfounded Imperial Guards, "You bunch of bastards, do you really think I'm an idiot? One person against five hundred? Are you out of your mind?!"

Not to mention the Imperial Guards, even the usually composed Shi Tianfeng was dumbfounded. Just a moment ago, he had an aura of mutual destruction that commanded respect, but in the blink of an eye, he had become like a swearing thug. Where was the demeanor that a master of Earthly Realm should have?

"Damn, a bunch of idiots! What are you doing riding horses in such a small place?" Xu Ping chuckled as he watched the Imperial Guards' cavalry charge and squeeze into the dense forest, some horses unable to turn their heads, some knocked to the ground by long branches, and some even collided together, creating complete chaos. He immediately burst into wild laughter.

The general, witnessing this scene, turned green with rage. So many cavalrymen crammed together in the dense forest were completely unable to maneuver effectively. The five hundred well-trained imperial guards at this point were less effective than a hundred infantrymen.

Chaos reigned in the woods; men and horses were thrown about. Once inside, the cavalrymen were almost unable to turn back, some already tumbling to the ground, dodging their comrades' hooves. This unexpected scene also turned Shi Tianfeng's face green; he probably hadn't expected Xu Ping to react to the terrain so quickly.

Xu Ping's clothes were now torn to shreds, his muscular upper body exposed. His strong muscles were covered in wounds and bruises from the previous battle. His long, black hair fluttered in the wind, obscuring his face, and coupled with his foul language, the imperial guards were utterly exasperated.

Helpless, they could only dismount one by one to quell the chaos, but the horses, frightened and unruly, were no longer capable of fighting Xu Ping.

Xu Ping, no longer wanting to play with them, leisurely leaped a few times to Shi Tianfeng's side. Just as he was about to remove his cracked mask to reveal his identity, the earth suddenly trembled violently, growing louder as it approached, accompanied by the increasingly rapid sound of hooves.

"It's the First Battalion!" The general looked on with delight at the large cavalry approaching.

Xu Ping turned his head and was startled, his tongue lolling out in shock. A larger contingent of cavalry was coming from the direction of the palace; this battalion was the largest. There were over three thousand of them, all top-notch warriors. The dust they kicked up as they charged forward was overwhelming. Leading them was an old man with a white beard and a long sword. Apart from the sound of hooves, the three thousand imperial guards were almost silent as they marched forward, their chilling aura sending shivers down one's spine.

"Haha, I didn't expect tonight to be so lively. You old codger, you really did keep something from me. If I hadn't used this opportunity to test you, how long would you have kept it a secret?" Damn

, the entire First Battalion of the Imperial Guards has come out. Xu Ping, realizing he'd gone too far, quickly stopped playing around. Under Shi Tianfeng's wary gaze, he removed his mask, tidied his slightly disheveled hair, and gave an apologetic smile.

"You, you..." Shi Tianfeng recognized the voice, but Xu Ping's disheveled appearance, long, messy hair, and the late hour made him difficult to see clearly.

"Damn it, you can't tell if I'm a little disheveled?!" Xu Ping didn't want to be used as a target by these three thousand imperial guards; even if he was only at the Earth rank, he'd still be slaughtered, even at the Heaven rank. He cursed as he helplessly tidied his hair, and only then did Shi Tianfeng realize that the person before him was actually the Crown Prince.

"How is it you?" Shi Tianfeng was immediately dumbfounded, staring at Xu Ping in disbelief.

The three generals of the Third Column were also somewhat confused, but upon seeing that it was indeed the Crown Prince, they knelt down despite their surprise: "This humble general greets the Crown Prince."

The other cavalrymen, except for those who were injured and unable to rise, also quickly knelt down. The old general with the longsword had seen Xu Ping before. After giving a wink, he led his men to dismount, their faces full of confusion as they looked at the situation.

Everyone wore a puzzled expression.

"Damn it, you old bastard, you really hit hard. My chest still hurts," Xu Ping complained to Shi Tianfeng, rubbing his chest as he waved for them to stand up. [Xiao Qian Shen Ling]

Is this my fault? You're up in the middle of the night, running around the palace like a thief. Everyone would be suspicious. After getting up, Shi Tianfeng realized what had happened. His face turned black with anger, and he shouted hysterically, "And you brat, are you really kidding me? You came to cause trouble when I was watching the night, deliberately trying to make things difficult for me!" "

Alright, Imperial Guards, leave two horses and go back first! Tonight, I, the Crown Prince, just had a sudden urge to spar with the Grand Master, but I didn't expect it to cause such a commotion. Tomorrow, I'll have someone send some silver to the injured brothers." Xu Ping chuckled and said. This old guy's first use of boxing techniques was really too profound; he definitely had to squeeze some money out of him. He basically ignored Shi Tianfeng's roar!

"Your subordinate obeys." The generals responded and began to help carry the wounded onto their horses. Leaving two horses behind, they drove off in a grand procession, and no one asked what had happened that night.

The farce of the night ended so simply. The Imperial Guard commander should be worried about how to explain this absurd farce. After making a ruckus for most of the night, it turned out to be just the Crown Prince having a moment of fun. You should know that both inside and outside the palace are now under heavy guard as if facing a formidable enemy.

"I'm going home first. My whole body aches terribly; I need to find a medicinal tub and soak it properly." Xu Ping mounted his horse and slowly rode out of the bamboo forest.

"Your Highness, aren't you just making trouble for yourself? You're younger, so you can recover more easily. Look at my old bones and feet; I don't know how long it will take to heal this injury." Shi Tianfeng mounted his horse and immediately caught up, complaining in Xu Ping's ear with a bitter face, "And what kind of trouble did you cause tonight? If I go back and explain to the Emperor, do you think he'll believe me? You have to come to the palace with me first."

Although he had broken through to the middle stage, his injuries were still there. Xu Ping moved and still felt a tingling pain. Thinking about how absurd things had been that night, he knew he would definitely get a lecture when he returned to the palace. He immediately changed the subject: "You old bastard, you're not being fair, you actually kept secrets from me. What kind of martial arts are you using? Now my whole body aches."

"What's it to me? You're the one who had to play those thieving tricks." Shi Tianfeng retorted, not to be outdone, but at his age, he wouldn't be so easily fooled by Xu Ping. He changed the subject, saying, "Stop with your schemes, just come back to the palace with me and give me an honest report!"

"What kind of martial arts did you use first? It looked strange!" Xu Ping asked curiously, feigning innocence as if he hadn't heard him.

"I won't tell you!" Shi Tianfeng grunted, throwing a tantrum like a child and turning his head away.

"A bottle of top-grade fragrant wine, Ten Mile Fragrance." Xu Ping knew this old fellow was a real drunkard, just like the Fiery Daoist, and immediately tried to tempt him.

However, Shi Tianfeng had an expression that said, "You can't bribe me."

"Two bottles." Shi Tianfeng remained unmoved.

"Three bottles." He started gritting his teeth.

"Four bottles." His lips seemed to be slightly moistened with saliva.

"Five bottles." His cloudy old eyes began to shine.

"Damn, add another six bottles of Chu Shuang! At most, I'll have you put on the tiger bench and pepper spray, and then give you the position of Grand Eunuch." Xu Ping knew the old man was tempted and began to threaten him.

"Six bottles." Shi Tianfeng finally spoke, but still said with a resolute look, "Although this wine is precious, I can still afford it. You have to come back to the palace with me today no matter what. Otherwise, I don't know how to explain what happened tonight!" "

Deal!" Xu Ping chuckled. Anyway, he was going to get a lecture from his mother sooner or later. It was all the same whether he faced it or not. It was better to find out while he still had the energy.

"The two sets of fist techniques I just used are ancestral skills of the Shi family. One is called the Cross Fist, known for its speed and unpredictability. Claws, hand chops, and fists can all be used as attack methods, specifically targeting the enemy's vital points and weaknesses. The final palm technique is a closely guarded skill, also a concentrated attack method. Once an opportunity arises, strike with all your might; if it hits, even if you don't die, you'll suffer internal injuries. I rely on these skills to make my way in the world, but this palm technique is my lifeline. I would never use it unless I encounter a truly powerful opponent."

Shi Tianfeng said with a smug look, "Although the Cross Fist is not as famous as other fist techniques, its varied routines and the combination of hardness and softness are unmatched by other fist techniques."

"Oh, what's the use! It still can't kill me." Xu Ping said with a feigned disdain, but in his heart, he was particularly interested in Shi Tianfeng's Cross Fist. This fist technique was indeed too unpredictable; it seemed that everything was for the purpose of effective attack. Although it didn't have any dirty tricks like the monkey stealing the peach, its many variations made it truly difficult to defend against.

"Are you even human? You're a pervert!" Shi Tianfeng snorted and retorted, but he still couldn't accept that Xu Ping's cultivation level was already a level higher than his own. He had spent decades cultivating to reach the lower level of the Earth Rank and still couldn't break through, while this guy had broken through after just one beating. Where was the justice in that?

Several eunuchs were already waiting as soon as they entered the palace gates, saying that the Emperor summoned the Crown Prince. It seemed the Imperial Guards had rushed off to report this as soon as they returned. Shi Tianfeng reminded Xu Ping not to forget that he had gone to heal his injuries after drinking. Although he spoke lightly, he was still quite badly injured after fighting for so long.

Xu Ping followed the eunuchs to the inner palace, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to deal with his father's barrage of questions. This situation had gotten a bit out of hand. Luckily, his mother wasn't there; otherwise, would he have survived a mixed doubles beating?

Inside the palace, Zhu Yunwen, dressed in white pajamas, stood with a face full of rage. He had just been having a secret tryst with two newly arrived palace maids when the sudden appearance of assassins and men in black completely extinguished his interest. His hard-won erection went limp, and upon hearing that it was all his own damned son's doing, he was so angry that his blood vessels felt like they were about to burst.

Xu Ping, looking embarrassed, lowered his head and went inside. Before he could even see anyone, a thunderous roar rang in his ears: "You brat, are you out of your mind or just itching for a fight? You actually lured Shi Tianfeng out for a fight in the middle of the night, and you even dragged the Imperial Guards along! Do you know those guys are ruthless killers? If something had happened to you, our Zhu family line would have ended. Who would inherit this great land then? Neither you nor I would have the face to see your imperial grandfather!"

Although Zhu Yunwen was cursing loudly with a gloomy face, he couldn't be too angry when he saw his son's disheveled appearance. He walked over with concern to check Xu Ping's injuries and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that he was alright.

Xu Ping, not wanting to spend the whole night being lectured, immediately patted his chest and promised, "Dad, I promise there won't be a next time! Besides, I'm fine, aren't I? Look at me, full of energy, I don't look injured at all. Don't worry about me. I promise I'll behave myself at night and go harass other people's daughters, do some kidnapping to try and get you a few more grandsons to hold, okay?"

Seeing that his son really didn't seem to be hurt, Zhu Yunwen breathed a sigh of relief. But then, seeing his son's nonchalant attitude again, he couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Stop with the nonsense! Don't do that again. I'll have the imperial physician send you some medicine to soak in, so you don't leave any lingering effects. As for your mother, you can explain to her yourself when she gets back!"

"Yes, sir. I won't disturb your ardent pursuit of the young lady any longer." After saying this, Xu Ping, fearing another scolding, quickly left the palace. He breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he stepped outside; he thought he'd be lectured for ages, but it was so easy. What little fox could bewitch his father to the point of not even wanting to scold him? A benefactor indeed!

"I was reading memorials. If I can't get to court tomorrow, I'll give you a good beating!" Only Zhu Yunwen remained, roaring hysterically.

Thinking about having to deal with his mother's nagging, Xu Ping felt a headache coming on, but also a warm feeling inside. It was nice to have someone care. He wanted to go back by himself, but unfortunately, he was quite weak, so he could only take a carriage back home.

"Master, you've just returned!" As

soon as Xu Ping entered the mansion, he turned around and saw that it was already past midnight. Qiao'er, the little girl, was actually wearing only a thin nightgown to greet him. He could vaguely see the soft, delicate skin of a young girl beneath the flowing silk, her slender, jade-like arms like white lotus roots, making his heart itch. Wasn't she afraid of any perverts in the middle of the night? She really had no sense of vigilance.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Xu Ping asked without turning his head as he walked inside. He was so dirty; he needed to wash up first.

Qiao'er followed behind, her little face full of worry, and said, "It's all because of you! I was almost asleep. But someone from the palace came and said you were injured, how could I sleep? Sister Ling is already brewing those medicines for you." "

Hmm!" Xu Ping didn't say much. When he entered the bedroom, he saw Xiao Mi looking worried, leading several maids, standing beside a large wooden tub with sorrowful expressions. Zhao Ling sat wearily on the edge of the bed, forcing herself to stay awake, also looking worried.

"Brother Ping!"

"Master!"

The two women greeted Xu Ping with beaming smiles. Normally, a man's bedroom was rarely entered, not even by his parents, except by his concubines. Ji Jingyue was a little worried but couldn't stay and watch over him. Cheng Ningxue and Lin Ziyan didn't have any confirmed relationships with Xu Ping, so they couldn't stay either.

"Xiao Mi, give me a massage!" Xu Ping gave them a reassuring smile, then took off his tattered clothes and threw them aside. He stepped naked into the tub and soaked in the strong scent of herbs and alcohol. The soak immediately made him feel much better.

Xiaomi immediately and obediently massaged Xu Ping's shoulders, saying timidly, "Master, I'm so glad you're alright. We were so scared!" "

It's alright!" As Xu Ping spoke, he felt another pair of smooth, jade-like hands on his shoulders. Turning his head, he saw that even the usually shy Zhao Ling was blushing and massaging his shoulders. Although she wasn't as professional as Xiaomi, her silent yet alluring gaze was quite pleasing.

"Damn it!" Xu Ping turned his head again and couldn't help but curse angrily. Zhao Ling and Xiaomi were serving him so obediently. Meanwhile, Qiao'er, that little devil, didn't even glance at him, burying her head in the pastries on the table.

The two girls giggled at this. Qiao'er was just a little greedy, but her eating manners were quite adorable.

Zhao Ling massaged him for a while, then whispered coquettishly in Xu Ping's ear, "Brother Ping, I'll go tell Auntie and the others first, so they won't worry!" "

Okay!" Xu Ping nodded, feeling genuinely tired.

Zhao Ling looked at her beloved's wounds with reluctance and heartache, nodded, and left. As soon as she left, Xu Ping waved for Xiaomi to go out as well. Xiaomi, though full of questions, didn't dare ask any more and left with the other maids.

As soon as he closed the door, Xu Ping relaxed completely, closing his eyes and enjoying the soothing sensation of the medicinal wine soaking his body. He asked softly, "How did things go?" Qiao'er,

though still grinning, nodded earnestly, put down the delicate pastries she was holding, and walked over, saying smugly, "It's done! Hehe! The person was successfully delivered to Kong Hai's residence yesterday." She finished with a sly grin.

Xu Ping nodded approvingly. Although Qiao'er always seemed a bit crazy, like she was playing around all day, she was actually incredibly intelligent and an invaluable right-hand woman. He knew from seeing her standing at the door that she had something to tell him. Although he could trust Zhao Ling and Xiaomi, Xu Ping didn't want them to know too much about the darker side of things.

"Master!" Qiao'er giggled, her face mischievous yet adorably adorable. She couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "Your idea is so wicked! Nobody knew you were so evil."

Xu Ping smiled, closed his eyes, and remained silent. Ever since learning in the mourning hall that Kong Hai and Zhang Danian were homosexual, a brilliant idea had suddenly formed in his mind. He could secretly eliminate Kong Hai while keeping Ji Long's faction in the dark.

Upon returning to the capital, he instructed Liu Ziyi to secretly find a nine-year-old twin boy among the refugees. The boy possessed delicate features, a petite figure, and snow-white skin, as beautiful and alluring as a girl. After secretly brainwashing him, she fed him a potent poison that would only manifest a month later, and then placed him near the house where Zhang Danian secretly kept boys, posing as a refugee orphan to beg for alms.

As expected, Kong Hai developed lust for the little boy. With Qiao'er's flawless arrangement, this poisonous boy naturally became one of the boys he kept. All that was left was for the poison to take effect, at which point Kong Hai would die a gruesome and shameful death. Of course, the little boy wouldn't survive either, being buried with him. Thinking about it

, Xu Ping felt a chill run down his spine, despite his smugness. That old pervert Kong Hai, who had a lifelong obsession with anal sex, dying in the body of a young boy was a fitting end. Since the child's fate was unfortunate, sending him to reincarnation was a good deed for him.

"I'm going to sleep!"

Exhausted from the fight, Xu Ping didn't have much energy to think about anything else. After saying a few words to Qiao'er, he rubbed his eyes, walked out of the water bucket naked, grabbed a towel to wipe himself dry, and collapsed onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep almost immediately.

Seeing her master so exhausted, Qiao'er couldn't be mischievous anymore and obediently ran out to call Xiaomi to serve her.

Xu Ping slept until midday. He moved around; his muscles, strained from yesterday's exertions, were noticeably sore. He sat up and meditated for a while. His true energy, having just broken through to the mid-level, was still recovering; although powerful, it was still somewhat unstable.

Xu Ping couldn't help but sigh. It was best not to fight anyone until his true energy was properly regulated. He got up, casually put on some shorts, and went straight to the hall, habitually sitting on the rocking armchair and calling out, "Xiaomi, Xiaomi!"

"Master, your servant is here!" Xiaomi quickly ran over, panting, her innocent face flushed, making her even more adorable. "

Where did everyone go so early?" Xu Ping asked, somewhat puzzled. Logically, the women in the house should all be up by now; was it all out because it was so quiet?

Xiaomi thought for a moment, counting on her fingers as she said earnestly, "Sister Zhao Ling went to the Ministry of Works, saying there were some new and interesting things there. Ningxue felt a little unwell, so Aunt Lin took her to see a doctor, and Qiao'er…"

Xu Ping quickly gestured for her to stop counting, "Stop, stop, just tell me who's home."

"Uncle Liu and Aunt Ji are home." Xiaomi smiled shyly and immediately said respectfully, "Master, you must have had a long day yesterday! You should eat something. What would you like to eat? I'll go prepare it for you right away."

"Prepare something light for me, and have Uncle Liu come over." Xu Ping said, rubbing his temples. The people in this house must be so busy.

A moment later, Xiaomi brought Uncle Liu in, and then obediently ran behind Xu Ping and started massaging his shoulders. After Xu Ping had Uncle Liu sit down, he said, "Write down what happened today, and have someone do it this afternoon. Send 100,000 taels of silver to the imperial court, but don't send it to the Ministry of Revenue; give it directly to my father. Give the Imperial Guards 5,000 taels of silver, and have that old devil Shi Tianfeng get him six bottles of top-grade Ten-Mile Incense."

"Okay, have someone do it in a bit. But why give the imperial court such a large sum of money?" Uncle Liu asked, looking up as he wrote. Besides his question, he seemed to have caught Xu Ping's stinginess and was a little heartbroken about suddenly having to spend such a large sum of money.

"Don't mention it, just do as I say." Xu Ping felt a pang of pain at the thought of being squeezed out of such a large sum of money. He had spent a lot of time and effort earning this much money, so busy that he didn't even have time to chase girls. Now his father had squeezed it all out of him with a single exorbitant demand, and his once slightly prosperous family was now empty again. It was really too damn unfair.

"Hmm, is there anything else?" Uncle Liu didn't ask any further questions.

"Have Ouyang Tai, Zhang Qihua, Zhang Qinghe, Zhang Hu, and Chen Qi come over this afternoon!" Xu Ping said after thinking for a moment. He needed to deal with these people a bit; he needed to finish his work first before he could have time to flirt with the girls.

Uncle Liu responded and left. After breakfast, Xu Ping felt sleepy again, perhaps due to exhaustion from last night. He felt weak all over and had no choice but to lie down on the armchair for a nap. Seeing that her master was sweating a little, Xiao Mi quickly grabbed a fan and fanned him by the bedside, her eyes full of tenderness and concern, moving gently so as not to disturb Xu Ping.

"Xiao Mi, you've been here for almost a month. How's it going?" Xu Ping asked casually, yawning with his eyes closed.

"Yes, Master and the sisters treat Xiao Mi very well. It's much better than in the palace," Xiao Mi said happily. Looking at her master's tired face, her heart ached, and she almost blurted out, "It's so comfortable to hold you every night."

"I'm going to sleep for a bit, wake me up when they arrive!" Xu Ping said casually, then felt sleepy again and couldn't help but drift off to sleep in the slightly humid summer breeze.

Summer makes people prone to drowsiness, and Xu Ping, with his eyes closed, wasn't even sure if he was asleep. In his drowsy state, he felt a gentle pat on the ear, a faint warmth on his skin, and a soft, sweet fragrance as someone said, "Brother Ping, wake up!" Xu

Ping opened his eyes and turned to see Zhao Ling gazing at him with deep affection, her pure and lovely face playfully yet tenderly close to his. He thought about how he hadn't been intimate with her for the past two weeks, neglecting this beauty. He stood up and pulled her into his arms, kissing her smooth neck and breathing hot air as he asked, "Little Ling'er, have you missed me lately?"

"Brother Ping, stop teasing me! It's still broad daylight, and Zhang Hu and the others are waiting outside." Zhao Ling glanced at the envious Xiao Mi, and seeing her lover's large hand about to slip inside her clothes, she blushed and struggled.

"Never mind them, Young Master is going to comfort you properly today." Xu Ping finished speaking and rolled over, pinning her beneath him, chuckling as he looked at her youthful body, his lust undisguised.

"No, Brother Ping!" Zhao Ling shyly followed Xu Ping to the bedroom. Before she could finish speaking, Xu Ping couldn't resist kissing her rosy lips; besides the scent of rouge, there seemed to be a natural, youthful fragrance!

"Ugh..."

A low whimper escaped Zhao Ling's lips as she panted, her eyes brimming with desire. Xu Ping had already teased her smooth, delicate tongue, licking and sucking it in his mouth, until the young girl, consumed by passion, had lost all strength to struggle. Her already weak hands had gone limp.

"Hehe, comfortable, isn't it!" Xu Ping

reluctantly pulled away from her mouth, reaching out to loosen her skirt. With a swift movement, he stripped Zhao Ling of her skirt, leaving her only in a small bodice covering her body. Her skin was as white as snow, making it impossible for Xu Ping to look at her beauty tenderly. He lowered his head and began kissing her neck.

"No, Xiao... Xiao Mi is still here!"

Zhao Ling gasped, her pretty face flushed with passion, but she still weakly pushed against Xu Ping.

Xu Ping turned around and saw Xiao Mi looking at Zhao Ling, whose clothes were disheveled, with envy. She seemed to be waiting for him to carry her. Knowing Zhao Ling was shy, Xu Ping immediately said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Xiao Mi, you go first! Wait outside and take Lord Zhang and the others to the main hall for tea."

"Okay!" Xiao Mi replied disappointedly, obediently closing the door gently.

Xu Ping chuckled, then turned to look at Zhao Ling. Her bright eyes were filled with heartache, and her skin was already slightly red. Her small hands gently touched the bruises on her chest from yesterday, and she asked in a trembling voice, "Brother Ping, does it still hurt?" "

It doesn't hurt anymore!" Xu Ping's mind raced. Looking at the alluring, disheveled beauty beneath him, he swallowed hard, lay down beside her, and said in a pained tone, "It just feels a little uncomfortable when I move!"

Zhao Ling propped herself up, and her already unbuttoned top immediately fell down, leaving only a small red bodice with ethnic flair covering her small, perky breasts. Her slender, white, lotus-root-like forearms were even more captivating. Seeing Chuanping's slight frown, Xu Ping felt a pang of pain in his heart. He leaned closer and said softly, "Brother Ping, since you're feeling unwell, why don't you rest for a bit?"

"No way!" Xu Ping said with a pained expression, straightening his back, "Look how unwell I am! If I don't get intimate with my wife today, how can I survive?" Zhao Ling glanced shyly at the bulge in Xu Ping's crotch, her expression hesitant for a moment. After a while, she bit her lower lip and said in a trembling voice, "Then, please don't move. Be careful not to hurt yourself. How about I serve you this once?" "

Okay!" Xu Ping almost jumped up and kissed her hard. He had never seen Zhao Ling so proactive since they got together. Even when they made love, she was still so shy and timid. If he hadn't pretended to be innocent, it would have been quite difficult to get her to take the initiative.

"Look at you like that..." Zhao Ling chuckled, then blushed and looked at Xu Ping with deep affection. Her trembling little hands gently touched Xu Ping's chest. Looking at his masculine body, she felt a surge of nervousness, but seeing the dense scars, her heart ached. She whispered, "Brother Ping, doesn't this really hurt?"

"Hehe, give me a kiss, and I won't feel any pain!" Xu Ping deliberately made a lewd gesture, looking at her with a lewd smile.

Zhao Ling only blushed slightly before gently tucking her hair behind her ear. Too shy to look into Xu Ping's eyes, she closed her beautiful eyes slightly and bent down to give him a light kiss on the neck, her soft and delicate lips slowly moving downwards.

Xu Ping took a comfortable breath, seemingly still able to feel the slight nervousness in her soft, thin lips. Knowing Zhao Ling's traditional and shy nature, this was quite a breakthrough. He reached out and encouraged her flushed face with a gentle stroke.

Zhao Ling paused slightly, then, as if greatly encouraged, continued her kisses down Xu Ping's chest, shyly leading to his stomach.

"Help me take them off!" Xu Ping said gently. Although she didn't yet know how to use her tongue to please him, just doing so was incredibly pleasurable, especially with her shy expression.

Zhao Ling nodded shyly and carefully pulled down Xu Ping's pants. Seeing his erect penis, long and thick, hard as an iron rod, her breathing quickened, and she froze, unsure what to do!

Xu Ping waited a moment, seeing her dazed and helpless expression, and couldn't help but smile wryly, deciding it was better to take the initiative himself. He immediately sat up and hugged her, kissing her rounded shoulders as he pulled off her panties and skirt.

Zhao Ling obediently removed her clothes, and Xu Ping slowly put her down, admiring her youthful body. Zhao Ling might not be a stunning beauty, but she always made people feel relaxed. He gently pressed his large hand on her breasts, and the beauty instinctively moaned, her voice clear and high-pitched, so reserved yet incredibly alluring.

"Little Ling, does it feel good...?" Xu Ping pounced on her, one hand kneading her firm breasts, the other sucking on her cute pink nipples, while his hand couldn't resist reaching between her legs, playing with the soft, tender pubic hair. The girl's vulva felt especially delicate and soft, making it impossible to pull away once touched.

"So, so comfortable..." Zhao Ling's breath seemed to stop as she spoke, her trembling little hands suddenly grasping Xu Ping's penis, awkwardly stroking it.

Xu Ping was stunned for a moment, paused slightly, then immediately became excited, using both his hands and mouth, roaming over her entire body, making Zhao Ling murmur moan. His hands between her legs worked even harder, teasing her labia. Soon, Zhao Ling's face was flushed, and she was panting heavily, unable to speak. His large hands were already overflowing when they touched the girl's pink and tender private parts.

"Ping, Ping... Brother... Love me well!"

Zhao Ling trembled beneath him, unable to resist the itch like ants crawling and the need from her sensitive spots. She felt the emptiness below needing to be gently filled by her lover, her little face flushed as she sent out a signal of love.

Xu Ping could no longer hold back. Seeing her confused and infatuated appearance, he couldn't resist any longer. He slowly spread her long, beautiful legs apart, squatted between them, and held his penis between his legs. He gently rubbed the entrance of her already wet vagina a couple of times, then pulled apart her engorged labia like flower petals. He slowly thrust forward, watching his big thing enter her tender vagina once again.

"Ah..." Zhao Ling sighed contentedly as Xu Ping's penis was fully inside her. He could faintly feel her still-virginal, tight vagina gripping him like a child's tender hand, the soft flesh undulating rhythmically and powerfully. Xu Ping inhaled deeply

, his hands gripping her waist as he began thrusting in and out. Watching Zhao Ling's satisfied expression and her rapid breathing with each full penetration filled him with satisfaction.

The sounds of flesh against flesh gradually intensified, and Zhao Ling, who hadn't been intimate with her lover in a long time, soon convulsed and reached her first orgasm. Xu Ping immediately stopped, feeling her vagina becoming increasingly wet. After tenderly kissing her for a while, he chuckled and said, "Little Ling'er, let's try a different position!"

"Change..." Before Zhao Ling could finish speaking, Xu Ping had already picked her up, holding her back tightly so that her full breasts pressed against his chest. He began an increasingly deep piston-like motion in a sitting-on-the-back position.

"No... come on, want..."

"Light... heavy, faster... it's hitting the spot..."

The continuous thrusting made Zhao Ling moan uncontrollably, but her mind was completely overwhelmed by pleasure, and she couldn't even speak clearly. She only knew to hold Xu Ping tightly, raising her small, upturned buttocks, welcoming her lover's powerful thrusts again and again, making the ecstasy even more intense.

Both of them were drenched in sweat. Xu Ping counted, and in just half an hour, she had ejaculated at least four times. Her lips, which had been kissing his, were now trembling slightly, and her body was becoming increasingly weak, her moans gradually subsiding.

Although he was somewhat reluctant and wanted to continue trying other positions, seeing that Zhao Ling was almost unconscious, he could only put her down and, in the most traditional position, grab her little feet and thrust hard, making her scream.

A numbness ran through his waist, and Xu Ping felt that he was about to ejaculate as well. Looking at the beautiful girl beneath him, her hair disheveled with satisfaction from his actions, he couldn't express the excitement in his heart. He groaned a few times, then thrust hard, continuing to thrust until her lower body was suspended in the air, spraying all his semen into her tender uterus in bursts.

"Ah..." Zhao Ling, scalded by the hot semen, felt her already sensitive uterus spasm even more intensely after her orgasm, arching her body and trembling as she welcomed her final, blissful climax.

After ejaculating, Xu Ping breathed heavily for a few moments, seeing her eyes roll back in her head. Enjoying the powerful contractions of the girl's narrow vagina, he rolled over and lay down, holding her close, his penis still inside her, continuing to savor the warm sensation.

Only their rapid breathing remained in the room. Xu Ping closed his eyes, enjoying her warm breath on his neck, while Zhao Ling, her face flushed, enjoyed the afterglow of her orgasm.

As the storm subsided, Zhao Ling lay contentedly on Xu Ping's chest, her face radiating satisfaction. Essence began to slowly trickle from her vagina. Coming to her senses, she looked at her lover's lecherous grin, her small hands tracing circles on his chest. She said with a mixture of shyness and happiness, "Brother Ping, you're so naughty to make me do such shameful things in broad daylight!"

"Hehe, I have even more naughtier things to do, you just haven't tried them yet," Xu Ping chuckled, unable to resist reaching down to pinch and play with her firm, full buttocks. Although his penis was already soft, a teasing thrust still made Zhao Ling let out a soft moan.

"You're so mean, you don't know how to be gentle with a woman! Now I'm all swollen down there!" Zhao Ling buried her face in her lover's chest, giving him a symbolic bite, her face filled with happiness and joy.

"I wonder who was yelling just now, 'Faster, harder, faster!'" Xu Ping imitated her rare moan with a sly grin, laughing loudly.

Xiao Mi, hiding outside the door, listened to the loud noises inside. She hadn't expected her usually quiet and composed mistress, Ling, to make such alluring sounds. The two's unrestrained lovemaking was becoming unbearable for the young palace maid, whose heart was just beginning to stir with desire. With the slightest movement, she felt her lower body become wet, and her body burned. Finally, when the sounds inside quieted down, Xiao Mi patted her chest to slow her heartbeat. Remembering that there were still a group of people waiting in the main hall, she cautiously knocked on the door and said, "Master, Lord Zhang and the others have been waiting for over an hour. Are you still going to see them?"

"Yes, little Ling'er, look how much I love you. I've left everyone waiting for over an hour just to comfort you." Xu Ping teased, kissing her cute little face. He stood up, his bare bottom exposed, and said, "If Zhang Qinghe asks later, I'll just say I was having sex with my wife here, how about that!" Zhao

Ling, thinking that Xiaomi had heard her wanton cries earlier, immediately felt embarrassed and hid under the covers, murmuring, "Brother Ping, you're so annoying! Go to

bed with me!" "Oh, still shy! Hehe! I'll come back tonight for a reward. Xiaomi, find me some shorts." Xu Ping teased as he called out to Xiaomi outside the door.

Xiao Mi cautiously opened the door, turned around and grabbed a pair of loose shorts. She knelt before Xu Ping, her small hands

holding his now-soft penis, still bearing the remains of their union. Her voice trembled slightly, yet held a hint of pleading as she asked, "Master, let me clean you up." "Good girl! Hehe." Xu Ping sat on the edge of the bed, lewdly stroking her face. He couldn't resist slapping Zhao Ling's buttocks, who was hidden under the covers.

Xiao Mi glanced at Xu Ping happily, parted her lips slightly, and took the softened head of his penis into her mouth, sucking it carefully. Then, she extended her delicate tongue, tracing its path down, not even sparing Xu Ping's groin and testicles, cleaning it thoroughly until Xu Ping gave her an approving look. Only then did she swallow the small amount of semen. Xiao Mi's increasingly skilled oral sex, coupled with her occasional innocent glances, made Xu Ping's penis hard again in her mouth.

Xiaomi desperately wanted her master to take her, but knowing she had other important matters to attend to, she only helped Xu Ping put on his shorts after thoroughly cleaning his penis. Zhao Ling, lying on the bed, secretly watched this scene from under the covers, her face flushing red. She felt deeply disappointed, realizing she hadn't properly served her lover even once.

Xu Ping glanced at the grievance and self-reproach in her eyes and knew exactly what this considerate beauty was thinking. After putting on his pants, he turned around and gently kissed her still slightly flushed face, whispering, "Little Ling, rest well, don't overthink it, okay?" "

Mmm!" Zhao Ling looked at Xu Ping with gratitude and nodded obediently.

"Sorry, I overslept! Did I keep you waiting?" "

Instructing Xiaomi to tidy up the room, Xu Ping, dressed only in shorts and straw slippers, walked slovenly into the living room. Zhang Hu and the others waited while discussing matters, but Zhang Qihua and Ouyang Tai were rather restless, glancing here and there, touching things with great interest, showing no sign of restraint or unease.

Looking at these two clowns, Xu Ping couldn't help but chuckle, and after coming out, he said with a laugh, "Don't you dare break anything, or I'll send you two to the palace to work for the rest of your lives to pay off your debt."

Men going to the palace have no other use or possibility than becoming eunuchs, and Zhang Qihua and Ouyang Tai immediately withdrew their hands in fright upon hearing this. Although it was just a joke, coming from the Crown Prince, it was taken seriously. It seemed that Zhang Qinghe had already told them before they came, and seeing that the current Crown Prince was the young man they had been drinking and chatting with not long ago didn't seem to shock them much.

Everyone quickly stood up and respectfully bowed.

Zhang Qinghe also hurriedly stepped forward, trembling, and said, "My lord, my son truly meant no harm. Please don't take offense."

"I must say," said Zhang Qinghe, "you're really riding high these days. You've been elected Minister of Commerce, and your son has passed the imperial examination with flying colors. You must have been spending a lot of time burning incense at the temples lately!"

Xu Ping sat down in the main seat with a smile, leisurely sipping his tea and teasingly remarking that he was in a great mood after just enjoying himself.

"Hehe, the Zhang family's current prosperity is all thanks to you, Master. How could I possibly seek favors elsewhere?" Zhang Qinghe said humbly, quickly signaling his son to behave himself.

"Alright, let's get down to business! How are the Ministry of Commerce's tax revenue and overall situation?" Xu Ping paused, then asked with a serious expression.

"The docks in Guangdong have been built, and the market construction is complete. Initially, some merchants were hesitant about such matters, but after Yu Qing led several transactions with foreigners there, and seeing that the government didn't interfere at all and even sent local constables to help maintain order and guard the goods, their interest was immediately piqued. Yu Qing clearly posted all the rules and regulations of the chamber of commerce, as well as a series of rewards and punishments for taxes and official goods, at the entrance of the market. Now, everyone was frantically buying up stalls. But Yu Qing's intention was to only rent, not sell, regardless of who came. As the demand far exceeded the supply, the rent of 300 taels a year was driven up to more than 2,000 taels the next day, and the price was still skyrocketing when he wrote the letter. Those who were slow to act regretted it. However, the number of members in the chamber of commerce is still very small. Yu Qing is very strict in his screening, and anyone who commits crimes or is rich but unkind is excluded."

"Oh!" Xu Ping took a sip of tea, frowned slightly, and asked, "Has Yu Qing told you his plans?"

"Yes!" Zhang Qinghe immediately reported, "When Yu Qing wrote to us, he said that the Chamber of Commerce hasn't actually absorbed those big players who are already entrenched in the local market. Some big players like Chen Baiwan are still maintaining an unstable wait-and-see attitude. Yu Qing is deliberately ignoring them, but he's sending people to keep a close eye on their shipments. He's also hesitant about whether to let them suffer a hidden loss."

"Whatever!" Xu Ping frowned slightly, his tone unfriendly. "It's just Chen Baiwan. Even if he's rich, would he dare disobey the court? You need to petition for such a trivial matter? Yu Qing is making a mountain out of a molehill!" Before his initial surprise could fully register,

Zhang Qinghe, seeing Xu Ping's displeasure, immediately said cautiously, "According to Yu Qing, Chen Baiwan has good relations with the local gentry and is related to the local officials. He also has private dealings with Yu Qing. He's worried that rashly taking action against Chen Baiwan will frighten other merchants and scare away those who are still observing." "

..." Xu Ping thought for a moment, then waved his hand and ordered, "Tell Yu Qing to do what needs to be done! Don't overthink it."

"Yes!" Zhang Qinghe lowered his head, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes. This was tantamount to telling Yu Qing that when it was time to act, there was no need to hold back.

Xu Ping sipped his tea, suddenly remembering the 100,000 taels of silver his father had swindled him out of. That was almost all the money he had painstakingly saved up recently. He was so distressed that his face turned green. Rubbing his temples, he asked, "Has Yu Qing paid any money yet?" Zhang

Qinghe answered without hesitation, "He paid 960,000 taels a couple of days ago, more than the combined amount paid by the three northwestern provinces. Yu Qing also mentioned in his letter that he still has about 500,000 taels in reserve. He is currently negotiating the standardization of prices and goods with other major smugglers who have already joined the association. It is estimated that an agreement should be reached by now. He guarantees that the tax revenue and profits will amount to at least 1.5 million taels a month for the Ministry of Commerce."

Xu Ping was delighted to hear this. After a little thought, he knew that Yu Qing could not possibly make that much profit in such a short time. The only possibility was that he had manipulated the market stalls. It was estimated that those buying and selling and inflating prices were all his people, taking advantage of the opportunity to make a quick buck. This old man was truly ruthless.

Thinking of this, Xu Ping couldn't help but smile approvingly, nodding and asking, "What about Liu Dong's side?" Zhang

Qinghe smiled reassuringly and immediately replied respectfully, "Liu Dong has also established his own brand. He no longer needs to run around with the caravans; he just needs to sit at home and wait for others to come to him, then coordinate relationships and prices." He handed over 300,000 taels a few days ago, and yesterday he sent another 200,000 taels. His caravan is doing very well now. "

Give me a total. How much money does the Ministry of Commerce have now?" Xu Ping, seeing that his plan had worked, realized these two were truly money-making machines. With silver flowing in like water, he beamed with joy. With their money, his father's 100,000 taels wasn't so bad after all.

"The total tax revenue was 2.16 million taels, and the membership fees and donations reached 1.1 million taels. However, after deducting the 300,000 taels for the Ministry of Works' operating expenses, the 500,000 taels for the establishment of the arsenal, and the 190,000 taels used to buy food and medicine for disaster relief at the capital gate, the actual surplus was only 2.8 million taels. This is the account book for this month."

Zhang Qinghe took out the account book, read it aloud, and handed it to Xu Ping with both hands. He was satisfied with the income, but he was somewhat resentful that the Ministry of Commerce had been funding the Ministry of Works, yet he dared not inquire.

"Hmm, not bad! Put it there." Xu Ping was too lazy to look through it and gestured for him to put it on the table.

After putting it down, Zhang Qinghe hesitated for a while before cautiously glancing at Xu Ping. Seeing that Xu Ping was in a good mood, he bent down and tentatively said, "Master, there's something I don't understand. Relief for disaster victims is a good thing, and spending some money is fine. Now our Ministry of Commerce's reputation among the people has improved a lot, but why spend so much silver to support the artisans of the Ministry of Works?" "

You don't need to worry about that. Just manage the Ministry of Commerce well. These revenues are far below my expectations," Xu Ping said, waving his hand. Although he was happy inside, there was still a hint of dissatisfaction in his words.

"This servant understands," Zhang Qinghe quickly bowed his head and retreated tactfully.

Xu Ping looked around; these guys were all sitting in their chairs with serious expressions, waiting to be questioned. Even Zhang Qihua, with a serious expression, exuding an air of scholarly integrity, couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You two, aren't you most fond of discussing romance? Why are you acting all proper now? You just made the list and haven't even picked it up before running off to a brothel to find girls. Quite something!" "

It's a hobby, it's just a personal hobby!" Zhang Qihua said, scratching his head a little embarrassedly, his tone somewhat tense despite his joking manner.

Ouyang Tai smiled awkwardly, but seeing that Xu Ping didn't seem angry, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Ping didn't want to scare them. After thinking for a moment, he said with a seductive smile, "Alright, do you think I don't know what kind of people you two are? There's a cushy job for you two

, are you interested?" Zhang Qinghe's ears perked up as Xu Ping spoke. The other ten successful candidates had all been assigned positions and taken up their posts, each one beaming with pride. Only his son and Ouyang Tai had been left unassigned, and he had been particularly anxious about this, but dared not ask. Now, hearing Xu Ping mention it, he was naturally very concerned.

Ouyang Tai's eyes immediately lit up as he asked, "What kind of cushy job?" Xu

Ping nodded and smiled, saying, "Of course it's a cushy job, and after thinking it over, I think it's more suitable for you two."

"Oh, suitable for us?" Zhang Qihua and Ouyang Tai exchanged puzzled glances. They were proficient in all sorts of vices, and they really didn't know what decent work was suitable for them.

"Yes, the imperial court will issue a new decree tomorrow because many brothels are now forcing women into prostitution, gambling dens are engaging in extortion, and some even disregard human life. Therefore, a large-scale cleanup and punishment of brothels and gambling dens is necessary. Those who commit evil deeds will be dealt with, while the good ones will be spared, but they must all submit to the control of the imperial court and, of course, pay a portion of the taxes. As for the girls, a certain amount of tax will also be levied."

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