Chapter 8 of the Romantic Continent: A Secret Letter

page views:1 Publication date:2023-02-27 08:14:32

Back in Esnia, it wasn't fully light yet. Only the citizens heading to the early market were preparing to set up their stalls, and the city was gradually becoming lively.

Seeing Ye Tianlong's army escorting a large number of prisoners, marching in a grand procession through the bustling city gates, the citizens along the way realized that overnight, Lord Ye Tianlong had led his army to defeat the enemy and recapture the occupied Anshan Rock Village.

In an instant, news of Ye Tianlong's great victory spread throughout Esnia, and everyone exclaimed in admiration. If the citizens of Esnia had only heard about Ye Tianlong's previous impressive victories, now they had witnessed his performance firsthand. Just yesterday, they were filled with fear, listening to the fleeing civilians recount the enemy's brutality and terror; but in the blink of an eye, this enemy force had completely vanished.

"Lord Ye Tianlong is truly amazing! No wonder he's never been defeated..."

"The ever-victorious general, Lord Ye Tianlong is indeed an ever-victorious general. With him around, Esnia will be safe..."

"Fast is so fortunate to have Lord Ye Tianlong..."

The rumors circulating in the streets and alleys grew more numerous and exaggerated. Amidst all this excited discussion, much of it was the quiet, behind-the-scenes manipulation and planning of someone.

However, for the ordinary citizens of Esnia, their concern was simply about Ye Tianlong's deeds. Considering his previous achievements, his performance as the Eastern Governor of Esnia, and the legendary story of his composed command when facing assassins during the Queen's tour, it's safe to say that Ye Tianlong had gradually established an unshakeable position in the hearts of the Esnian people.

In truth, this particular victory wasn't particularly outstanding, but for the citizens of Esnia, it was a rare sight in recent years—a triumphant return of the army. Furthermore, since it directly affected their interests, its psychological significance was even greater.

However, for those with ulterior motives, Ye Tianlong's army's triumphant return was even more infuriating. When someone's achievements are widely recognized, their flaws are often forgiven.

For example, Ye Tianlong's lecherous behavior was now perceived by the people of Esnia and even Fast as a heroic romantic escapade, or rather, a true gentleman's romantic charm.

This view had been deeply ingrained in the minds of the people on the continent since ancient times. Take, for instance, Emperor Aristotle I, the fifth emperor of the Fast Empire. Although he already had three thousand beauties in his harem, he still met many women and had countless romantic affairs while traveling the continent.

Most egregiously, he even had a relationship with the concubine of one of his ministers and made her his own consort. Yet, this same man, because of his outstanding achievements in martial arts and civil administration, was known as the "Heroic Emperor," one of the most outstanding monarchs in the continent's history.

Praise spread throughout the streets and alleys of Esnia, but Ye Tianlong, as the person involved, had no time to concern himself with such matters. For him, there were more important things urgently needing his attention.

"What do you think should be done with this letter?"

In a small meeting room in the Palace of No Joy, Ye Tianlong summoned Shi Yixin, Lu Tuxian, Zuo Daojin, Yue Ru, and Empress Qian. The six sat around a table, in the center of which lay an opened secret letter. This was one of the spoils Ye Tianlong had obtained from Luo Shangfa—a secret letter written by Arsamis to Yunaia, the contents of which all six present had already read.

"Is there even a need to ask? We should immediately send men to arrest Arsamis and interrogate him thoroughly to see if he has any accomplices!"

Queen Qian was the first to speak. To her, treacherous, fickle, and unreliable people were the most detestable. Arsamis, while working for her, was secretly writing to Yunaya to explain his grievances and even agreeing to act as Yunaya's inside man during their attack on Esnia—this was utterly heinous, and she absolutely could not allow such a thing to happen.

But to Queen Qian's surprise, the others remained silent, seemingly still reeling from the sudden turn of events.

Ye Tianlong's gaze fell on Shi Yixin's face, and he said, "Old Shi, what do you think?"

Shi Yixin pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "Killing one Arsamis is very simple, but that would frighten the other ministers who remain. We haven't fully controlled the situation in Esnia yet, and we still need their loyalty."

"Lord Shi Yixin is right. The morale of our men is still unstable, and we don't have many replacements," Zuo Daojin chimed in.

"Besides, if we don't use the people left behind by Yunaia, we'll only have the people provided by the temple, which will only lead to an even more troublesome situation..."

"This is a conspiracy!" Rutu suddenly slammed his hand on the table, interrupting Zuo Daojin. Ye Tianlong was taken aback.

"A conspiracy? What conspiracy are you talking about?"

Ye Tianlong's question was also what Shi Yixin and the others wanted to ask; now all eyes were on the expressionless man.

"Using someone else to do the dirty work, that's a brilliant scheme!" Rutuxian, after briefly gathering his thoughts, explained to Ye Tianlong and the others, "Arsamis wouldn't be the kind of person to play double games, and time wouldn't allow it. When you summoned him, sir, he refused to come to the Palace of No Joy, even at the cost

of his life. How could he possibly be a coward now?" Ye Tianlong nodded slightly. He recalled his visit to Arsamis's residence that day. Judging from Arsamis's reaction then, just as Rutuxian said, he was definitely not a coward. Moreover, Ye Tianlong knew that Rutuxian had always paid close attention to the ministers in the court, especially those from the Yuna and Gilimans factions. Rutuxian had secretly investigated everything about them.

"If Lord Arsamis is truly cunning, and all his previous actions were to gain Lord Ye Tianlong's trust, then this secret letter might be genuine,"

Yue Ru, who had been silent until now, spoke up. A soft, melodious voice, sweet as heavenly music, was so pleasant to listen to that everyone present perked up their ears.

"I think we should use delaying tactics to deal with the current situation and not make any moves against anyone for now. However, to avoid being controlled by others in the future, we need to cultivate our own strength."

"You mean…" Ye Tianlong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly pressed for an answer.

"It's simple. Select outstanding talents from among the common people and fill the ranks of grassroots officials. This way, we can fully utilize the power of the people and gain their support."

Yue Ru's words sparked a slight discussion among the crowd. In the rigidly hierarchical Fast Empire, the gap between each class was insurmountable. Ye Tianlong's rise from commoner knight to his current position was certainly due to the reforms of the previous emperor and the favor of the princess, but more importantly, his luck was unparalleled.

In most cases, officials were selected from within the nobility; without being knighted, it was impossible to squeeze into the ranks of officials. If one is a noble knight, there is a chance for hereditary succession. However, for a commoner knight like Ye Tianlong, the succession is only for one generation. In other words, Ye Tianlong's knighthood was originally meant to end there. If he could not earn enough merit in his military career to be awarded the title, then his descendants would lose the title of knight.

Therefore, over the centuries, the nobility of the Fast Empire has almost completely controlled the official class, making officials of commoner origin an exception. It is precisely for this reason that Ye Tianlong is looked down upon by many nobles in the Fast Empire's court. However, with his power growing daily, these people can only speak in secret.

"Only by reforming the foundation can we truly rebuild a powerful empire,"

Yue Ru said confidently, her self-assured demeanor making it hard to reconcile with the image of the beautiful woman renowned throughout the continent for her captivating singing and dancing skills and unparalleled elegance.

"But Miss Yue Ru, we have a long way to go. To reform the foundation of the empire will inevitably shake the interests of the imperial nobility. Given our current situation, this is a very unwise move,"

the naturally expressionless Iceblood Ghost man coldly interjected. He was unmoved by the alluring words of the stunningly beautiful state secretary, sharply pointing out the crux of the problem.

“Let’s issue a selection decree to all regions! I’ve already discussed this with Empress Qian many times.” Yue Ru didn’t give up on her idea and continued to suggest to Ye Tianlong, “At this time, most of the empire’s nobles will not stand on our side. They are either closely connected with Yunaya or have intricate relationships with Gilmans. What’s more, some nobles who believe they have enough power want to take this opportunity to expand their influence and gain greater benefits.”

After glancing at Lu Tuxian, Yue Ru turned her gaze back to Ye Tianlong and continued to analyze, “Therefore, our greatest resource and advantage should lie in the common people, including merchants who have a lot of wealth but no power or status. With their help, we can truly confront Yunaya and Gilmans.”

Zuo Daojin and Shi Yixin couldn’t help but exchange an extremely surprised look. In their eyes, Yue Ru’s political acumen was truly unexpected.

If before they shared the same opinion as others, believing that appointing Yue Ru as State Secretary was solely due to Ye Tianlong's reckless personality, now they secretly admired Ye Tianlong's ability to judge character.

"Miss Yue Ru, you can gradually implement these things later, but how do we handle this thorny secret letter right now?"

After a moment of silence, Ye Tianlong changed the subject, steer the conversation back to the most pressing matter. Unexpectedly, his question elicited an unforeseen answer.

"Of course there's a way to handle it; it's actually quite simple."

Yue Ru's charming eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly smiled, "But after I tell you the solution, how will you thank me?"

Everyone was stunned, and Ye Tianlong was even more dumbfounded.

Just moments ago, he had thought Yue Ru was a wise and experienced politician, but now she seemed like a novice.

Seeing the strange expressions on everyone's faces, Yue Ru couldn't help but giggle, "I was just joking with you all, Lord Ye Tianlong, you won't take offense, will you?"

Ye Tianlong was immediately speechless with exasperation. But he didn't know whether to scold Yue Ru or pretend he hadn't heard.

"My lord, you can directly hand the secret letter to Lord Arsamis and see how he handles it. That will tell you whether he truly has ulterior motives,"

Yue Ru quickly offered her solution. Although it seemed unbelievable at first, upon closer examination, Ye Tianlong and the others couldn't help but applaud the idea. Regardless of whether the secret letter was real or fake, this way they could get a clear answer from Arsamis.

With the plan settled, Ye Tianlong quickly invited Arsamis over. After he sat down, he immediately handed him the secret letter.

Arsamis, looking bewildered, glanced at the letter in his hand and immediately jumped up from his chair. He then quickly read through the entire letter, his hands trembling as he read, and even his body was shaking slightly.

"Have you finished reading? What are your thoughts now?" Ye Tianlong asked Arsamis in a relaxed and leisurely tone as he sat down.

"Lord Ye Tianlong, this is my handwriting, but I didn't write this letter." Taking a deep breath, Arsamis looked up at Ye Tianlong with some disbelief and asked, "May I ask where you got this letter, sir?" "

It was left behind by Luo Shangfa when he escaped. Can you tell me what happened?"

Ye Tianlong said, gesturing for Arsamis to return to his seat.

But Arsamis bowed to Ye Tianlong and said in a dazed tone, "Lord Ye Tianlong, I really don't know anything, but I can't say anything more now. Please decide what to do with it!"

Nodding, Ye Tianlong stood up from his chair and walked to Arsamis. "Then you should keep this secret letter safe and don't let anyone else see it."

Arsamis's body trembled, and he looked up at Ye Tianlong in a daze.

"Keep this secret letter safe; you might need it in the future." Ye Tianlong smiled and casually patted Arsamis's shoulder.

As if startled awake, Arsamis jolted, then his eyes flashed with gratitude.

"Go back! Don't dwell on this letter anymore."

Hearing Ye Tianlong's words, Arsamis silently turned and took a few steps towards the door. Suddenly, he turned back to Ye Tianlong: "Lord Ye Tianlong, I owe you my life."

With that, Arsamis knelt on the ground and kowtowed deeply to Ye Tianlong.

Ye Tianlong quickly stepped forward and helped him up: "Lord Arsamis, just focus on your work and don't think about anything else."

Seeing the gratitude in Arsamis's eyes, Ye Tianlong knew that this move was the right one.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

A gentle knocking sounded, and Yue Ru's sweet voice rang out like heavenly music.

"Lord Ye Tianlong."

"Miss Yue Ru, is there anything I can help you with?"

Ye Tianlong responded and opened the door. The beautiful woman under the moonlight was like a dream, truly deserving of her reputation as a peerless beauty renowned throughout the continent. No wonder countless people were infatuated with her, their minds captivated by her. Especially striking were Yue Ru's clear and beautiful eyes, seemingly innocent yet possessing a worldly and strange light, instantly drawing one in. Those lacking self-control might find their entire being drawn to them.

"If there's nothing else, can't I at least have a chat with you, Lord Ye Tianlong?"

Yue Ru moved with unparalleled allure, her dress fluttering, her steps radiant, her face glowing, making her seem like a fairy under the moon.

One step, two steps…

until he reached Ye Tianlong, a faint, exquisite fragrance wafted towards him. Ye Tianlong took a deep breath, composed himself, and said, “Miss Yue Ru’s presence is a great honor, and I would naturally welcome you with open arms. How could I not welcome you?”

“Perfunctory words, do you think I can’t see through them?”

Yue Ru glanced at him sideways, her charming and delicate features captivating.

“However, I like to hear such words, so I am still very happy.”

As she spoke, Yue Ru passed by Ye Tianlong and entered his room. As they brushed past each other, their bodies lightly touched, and a soft, fragrant sensation immediately filled Ye Tianlong's heart.

"I've come up with a good plan for you today, so I'm here to collect my payment."

Seeing Ye Tianlong turn around and open his mouth to speak, Yue Ru immediately extended a slender, white finger. Under the light of the wall lamp, the delicate finger seemed almost transparent. Ye Tianlong stared at the slowly swaying finger, momentarily captivated.

It wasn't until Yue Ru mentioned compensation that Ye Tianlong snapped out of his daze and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Compensation? When did Miss Yue Ru make such a request?"

Yue Ru chuckled softly, her delicate finger dangling in front of Ye Tianlong's nose. "With your memory," she said, "how can you be a great general?"

Her sweet words carried a subtle hint of flirtation, and coupled with her charming smile and slightly reproachful expression, Ye Tianlong's heart fluttered. He couldn't help but laugh, "I'm not a great general."

Yue Ru covered her mouth and chuckled softly. "Since you're not a great general, that's even better."

"What's even better?"

Ye Tianlong thoroughly enjoyed bantering with beautiful women, especially a stunning beauty like Yue Ru. His answer came naturally.

"Still pretending? You're quite an interesting man,"

Yue Ru giggled, her slender finger finally touching Ye Tianlong's nose. That feeling, like smooth, jade-like cream, instantly traveled from the tip of Ye Tianlong's nose to the depths of his heart.

"Good heavens! This woman truly lives up to her reputation as the epitome of womanhood!"

Ye Tianlong exclaimed inwardly. No wonder people had always said that the stunningly beautiful Yue Ru was the epitome of womanhood. Even this light touch of skin was extraordinary. If he were to hold Yue Ru in his arms, what a blissful feeling it would be!

"Come, come with me. I'll show you things you've never seen before,"

Yue Ru said, extending her slender hand and naturally taking Ye Tianlong's right hand. Her demeanor was like that of an old friend, or childhood sweethearts.

Ye Tianlong truly hadn't expected that such a stunningly beautiful woman like Yue Ru could make such a pure and innocent gesture, and it felt so captivating.

If it were anyone else, this shift in status and demeanor would feel uncomfortable, even awkward. But with Yue Ru, Ye Tianlong felt no disharmony, nor any artificiality.

"A woman of a hundred faces,"

the term flashed through Ye Tianlong's mind. Such a beautiful woman, capable of endless transformations, was indeed the ultimate gem in a man's eyes, a peerless gift from heaven.

Arriving at a lush, flower-filled courtyard within the Wuyou Palace, Ye Tianlong knew this was Yue Ru's residence. This was one of the privileges of being the Queen's Secretary; ordinary ministers couldn't have residences within the Wuyou Palace.

Passing through a spacious, two-story hall, and following the black marble floor into the corridor, they soon arrived at a heavy wooden door wrapped in gold thread. Yue Ru, who had led the way, stopped.

"Why isn't there a single maid here…"

Ye Tianlong looked around, finding the surroundings quiet. In the vast building, not a single maid was in sight, and a sense of unease crept into his heart.

"I've already sent them back to rest," Yue Ru said with a smile, then asked playfully, "Would Lord Ye Tianlong like to see them?"

"No need, no need,"

Ye Tianlong chuckled wryly, then pointed to the door in front of him and asked Yue Ru, "Miss Yue Ru, what good things are inside?"

"Of course, please close your eyes now."

Ye Tianlong closed his eyes as instructed, but at the same time, he used a trick, focusing his mind and using his spiritual eye to "observe" the situation inside.

The room was completely empty. A thick carpet covered the floor, and besides, there was only a set of chairs placed against one wall. In the center of the chairs was a low table made of white marble, on which seemed to be some various objects.

The door was now unlocked, and a warm, smooth sensation wafted out. Yue Ru's slender hand took Ye Tianlong's hand, and they pushed open the door and went inside.

Ye Tianlong quickly regained his composure. From the situation inside the room, he couldn't fathom what Yue Ru was up to.

Suddenly, a strange thought popped into Ye Tianlong's mind. Could it be that this woman, renowned throughout the continent for her beauty, wanted to enjoy some pleasure with him?

However, Ye Tianlong quickly dismissed this almost absurd idea. Even with his confidence, he couldn't imagine a beauty like Yue Ru willingly throwing herself into his arms. Besides, a woman like Yue Ru would never be so simple.

"Now, please open your eyes, sir."

Ye Tianlong felt himself in front of that set of chairs, and upon hearing Yue Ru's voice, he immediately opened his eyes.

Sure enough, he and Yue Ru were standing in front of that set of chairs, Ye Tianlong standing right in front of the marble low table.

When he saw the things on the low table, Ye Tianlong's eyes widened.

A multi-headed whip, leather shackles, golden earrings, small golden bells, a silver chain, and other objects of various lengths.

"These are..." Seeing these familiar yet uncertain items, Ye Tianlong looked at Yue Ru with some confusion.

"Lord Ye Tianlong, I think you should know the purpose of these things, right?" A mysterious smile appeared on Yue Ru's pretty face. A strange light flickered on her intelligent and beautiful face, something familiar yet unfamiliar to Ye Tianlong.

Strangely, a strange desire and impulse arose within Ye Tianlong; it seemed this was exactly what he had longed for.

"Many high-ranking officials, nobles, and royalty on the continent are trying every means to obtain their coveted treasures from me."

A bewitching glow shone on Yue Ru's pretty face; the light in her beautiful eyes was enough to make any man lose himself, willing to be a moth drawn to a flame.

"The women I have personally trained are all the best, but good women are hard to find. Therefore, I would like to ask Lord Ye Tianlong for a favor."

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Chapter 8 of the Romantic Continent: A Secret Letter

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