[Fantasy] My World (Complete) - 16

Chapter Twelve: Funds and Food in Crisis
"What else? Tell me everything."
I looked at the others.
"Your Highness, this humble official, Lang Youxin, the Registrar of Xiliang City, has something to report."
Another obese official stood in the center of the hall.
"Oh, you're the Lang Youxin who's known for gaining weight even from drinking water?"
I smiled.
"Indeed, this humble official is. It's truly an honor for Your Highness to know my humble name."
Lang Youxin's smile was so wide it almost disappeared. So what if he's ugly? "It's a good thing that His Highness remembers us," Lang Youxin said. "Your Highness, what I need to report is the food crisis in Xiliang City."
"Food crisis?"
"Yes."
Lang Youxin looked embarrassed, but when he talked about it, he was very clear. "Xiliang City, as the fortress of the three northwestern prefectures, has always had a large stockpile of supplies. However, with the addition of nearly 600,000 people, the supplies are becoming insufficient. What was originally enough food for a year is now only enough for three months."
"Isn't it a bit exaggerated?"
Zhou Jing was in charge of the army's food and logistics, which was the same position as Lang Youxin. "After the war, we will take stock of the supplies together. Aren't there still 300 million kilograms of rice and 80 million kilograms of flour?"
Out of 1.5 million people, there are only about 700,000 men, of whom 450,000 are soldiers. Their daily consumption is at most 2 million kilograms, which should last at least half a year. How can it not be enough?" "
General Zhou, you underestimate your men."
Lang Youxin retorted, neither too soft nor too hard. "How much do 450,000 soldiers consume every day?" "The 15 million kilograms of rice, 5 million kilograms of flour, 1,000 fat pigs, 3,000 sheep, 1,000 and a half sheep, and countless vegetables we previously transported to you have all been eaten up in just over ten days, haven't they? The day before yesterday, your men came to our warehouse and took away another 20 million kilograms of rice and 3 million kilograms of flour. Don't tell me you didn't know."
Zhou Jing's face flushed, but when he saw me, he smiled. "Lord Lang, the soldiers eat so much because they expend a lot of energy. Every morning they run around the mountains and valleys, and in the afternoon they help you with your work. How tiring is that? You can't just expect the horses to run without feeding them, can you?"
"Don't try to put me down with your words. I know the training methods were issued by His Highness, but you are being far too wasteful. " "
Lang Youxin said loudly, "Grain is one thing, but today you've come asking for ten thousand pigs, cattle, and sheep, and two hundred thousand kilograms of various vegetables, and you even say it's only for ten days' use. These livestock and vegetables aren't things that can be stored; they all need to be bought for the people. Where would our Xiliang City get so much money?"
"Fine, you can tell the soldiers to only eat dry rice and steamed buns, I have no objection."
Zhou Jing nodded repeatedly, but his words were extremely malicious, "However, you have to go and tell them yourself."
Lang Youxin's face changed. How could he dare to say such a thing to the soldiers? He'd be torn apart!
"Enough, this isn't a place for you to argue. Thinking about solutions is the right thing to do."
I coughed lightly and said to Lang Youxin, "The soldiers are also working very hard. Eating too little won't do. Don't even think about saving money in this regard."
"I understand, Your Highness."
Lang Youxin nodded. "I'll say it again: the grain can last for three months. After three months, we must replenish the grain, otherwise Xiliang City will collapse. Besides, if we continue to eat this much vegetables and meat, our treasury will be empty next month." "
You're talking nonsense!"
Zhou Jing jumped out again. "His Majesty has granted Xiliang City an annual allowance of one hundred million gold coins. Where did you spend it? You actually say that a little bit of meat and vegetables can deplete the money?"
One hundred million gold coins?
My father-in-law, the Emperor, is really generous!
But upon closer inspection, it's not that much.
The Silver Tiger Legion, the empire's second-elite legion, numbers 200,000. Even the most ordinary soldiers receive five gold coins a month, resulting in an annual expenditure of 30 million gold coins on their salaries. There are also 100,000 garrison troops, considered elite due to their strategic location, receiving at least two gold coins a month. Add to that the replacement of weapons, uniforms, and armor, and the cost approaches 40 million gold coins.
The remaining 60 million are used for the one million residents of Xiliang City.
While Xiliang City has a large population, its situation differs from other cities; 200,000... These were all soldiers of the "Silver Tiger Legion," with an additional 100,000 garrison troops remaining. Adding their families and children, the total population was already 900,000. The remaining 100,000 consisted of merchants who provided them with various supplies and fine goods, as well as their families.
In the empire's border regions, the soldiers' families were guaranteed to be cared for by the empire. This differed from the military households of the previous dynasty, where the freedom of the soldiers' descendants was perpetually restricted, and their treatment was poor. The empire's care meant that as long as one was stationed on the border, one's wife and children were entirely provided for by the court—food, housing, and everything else. It cost no money.
This was an extremely effective way to boost morale, and because the city was filled with their own families, the soldiers fought with all their might, significantly increasing their combat effectiveness.
Supporting the families of soldiers only involved providing food and housing. Housing was easy to arrange; it had already been built when Xiliang City was constructed, so they could simply move in. Originally, the court purchased rice, flour, vegetables, and meat and distributed them, but it was later discovered that those in charge of this were all extremely corrupt officials, causing considerable unrest. Therefore, later on, it was simply calculated on a per-family basis, with a minimum monthly allowance... They were also given two gold coins to buy their own supplies.
This led to the tens of thousands of merchants settling in Xiliang City with their wives and children.
Three hundred thousand families would cost ten million gold coins a year.
Then there were the soldiers' daily living expenses for training, another significant expense, at least thirty million gold coins a year. The remaining twenty million gold coins were used for repairs and defenses, espionage, government expenditures, and the maintenance of Xiliang City—not a huge surplus, but certainly not a shortage.
It's only August, and Lang Youxin is already saying the year's expenses will be used up by September. No wonder Zhou Jing is furious.
"General Zhou, why can't you see things clearly? What time is it now? A massive influx of people, a large influx of new troops, and the destruction of towns and villages within a hundred miles—vegetables and meat are already scarce. With supplies running low and no timely replenishment, do you think they'll still sell at the original prices? Let me tell you! If they weren't afraid of us turning against them, they'd dare raise prices tenfold tomorrow!" Even so, they will gradually raise prices, doubling or tripling them, and we can't say anything! If you have the guts, go and requisition all that stuff for military use!"
Lang Youxin seized the opportunity this time, giving Zhou Jing a sharp taunt. The old general's face flushed red and then turned pale; if his superior hadn't been sitting there, he would have rushed up and slapped the fat man several times.
"We definitely can't stop the soldiers from eating meat. Men who don't eat meat have no energy in the bedroom with their wives, let alone fight,"
I said gently. "However, we can't interfere too much with the merchants' business, otherwise, who will come to your Xiliang City to sell their goods?"
Hearing the first half of my words, the two generals smiled slightly, thinking I was favoring them; but when I said the last part, the civil officials laughed again—I was saying exactly what they were worried about. After
thinking for a moment, I said, "The soldiers' supplies cannot be reduced. Let's continue supplying them as before. After a month, we will select 100,000 unqualified soldiers and return them to their respective prefectures. After three months, at least 50,000 more will be sent back." "That will reduce the pressure somewhat."
"Yes."
Lang Youxin nodded helplessly. Reducing the supply for 150,000 men was better than not reducing it at all.
The city garrison and the military had different views. The city garrison wanted their soldiers to be elite, capable of fighting a hundred men each, and the fewer the better; the military, however, felt that the more troops they had, the better. For example, if they had 500,000 men, even if they lost 150,000 in an ambush, they would still have 350,000 left, and the steppe barbarians would definitely not dare to act rashly.
The military also knew that this was impossible; supporting 300,000 troops and their families was already the limit for Xiliang City. Adding hundreds of thousands more would surely incur the wrath of the Minister of Revenue.
Seeing Lang Youxin's dejection, I smiled and said, "As for the money, I will apply to the Emperor. After all, we suffered huge losses this time, and the court will surely provide more."
These words immediately lifted Lang Youxin's spirits. Haha, if Lord Lanting went to ask for money, the imperial treasury would definitely flow in!
Gao Qimeng quickly gave Zhou Jing a wink, and the old general, understanding perfectly, continued my words, "Your Highness, you can't be biased. The 'Silver Tiger Legion' and the garrison are being rebuilt simultaneously, and they're severely lacking in uniforms, armor, and weapons. The Registrar Lang has no money. Could you perhaps apply for funds from the military headquarters as well?"
I smiled kindly, "How much do you need?"
Zhou Jing quoted a number, "Ten million gold coins would be best, but eight million would be enough."
"Understood,"
I nodded, "Give it to me as well."
"Your Highness is wise!"
Praise rang out again, this time with a touch more genuine respect than before.
Emerging from the government office, it was the hottest time of day.
I witnessed someone pour a basin of water onto the bluestone street. As if poured onto a fire, with a "whoosh," the water turned into a mist, drifting into the sky and disappearing completely after rising only a few meters.
"Damn, is this a city or a furnace?"
Little Bird muttered.
"Our Wushuang County is so much better, sunny and breezy, so much better than this godforsaken place,"
Little Turtle chimed in. "If this keeps up, my little sister won't even recognize me when we get back."
I immediately laughed. The two of them had been following me around the military camp and city walls for the past few days, and the sun's rays had really affected their skin, especially Little Turtle, whose face had turned quite dark, making him look a bit like the Black Impermanence from a traditional opera.
"Why don't you just wear a hat with a curtain on it like those noble ladies when you go out?"
Little Bird teased, his face was a little better, just a bit ruddy.
"Pah! I'm a grown man, how can I hide my head and tail like that?"
Little Turtle shook his head repeatedly.
As we spoke, I led them eastward. The two quickly followed, asking, "Young Master, aren't we going back to the manor?"
"Let's go back later,"
I sighed. "Do you want to go back and eat the food Mei and Cai cook?"
Little Turtle and Little Bird's faces changed drastically, shaking their heads frantically. "Young Master, please have mercy! Stop talking! We want to live a few more years!"
These past few days, the two beautiful twins from the He tribe, having nothing to do at the city magistrate's manor, had started researching how to cook.
He tribe women are best at serving men, and among those skills, cooking delicious meals is naturally very important.
The problem was, the two princesses had never cooked before, and Little Turtle and Little Bird privately complained endlessly about the meals they had prepared these past few days.
"The young mistresses are really something. Even if they don't eat meat, they can't make the meat dishes taste so bad."
"Damn it, if anyone dares not confess, I'll feed them a few bites of the young mistress's cooking, and see if they still dare to be so stubborn!"
"Damn it, before coming to the Northwest, Old Man Li won three hundred gold coins from me. I'll bring him two dishes made by the young mistress when I go back, and see if he still dares to be so smug."
"Old Man Li? Little Turtle, isn't that your father-in-law?"
"Yes, but he said himself, there are no fathers and sons in gambling dens, so I won't show him any mercy! I'll kill him without hesitation!"
I shook my head again. These two unruly servants can use stomach aches or other excuses to avoid me, but I, the young master, can only sit next to two little beauties, being fed a bite by each of them, and then they keep asking me "Is it good?" That insincere answer of "It's good" is the greater pain.
Today I also made up my mind that I couldn't let them continue to act recklessly, so I took Little Turtle and Little Bird to visit various restaurants in Xiliang City to see if we could find a few good chefs.
Incidentally, I can also find a few more maids. The city magistrate's mansion doesn't have any servants right now, which is really inconvenient.
Life is short, so one should always know how to enjoy it!

Episode 9: The Enchanting Jade Maiden

[Episode Synopsis]
A restaurant from the Great Yuan Kingdom is actually a stronghold of the Demonic Sect in Xiliang City? Just then, Young Master Ri was looking for a cook, but unexpectedly, the beautiful manager recommended a stunningly beautiful girl…
As the saying goes: "Reading ten thousand books, traveling ten thousand miles, and seducing ten thousand women" is the true meaning of a man's life. How can we let the sages monopolize the glory? With Young Master Ri and his two servants, how could the beautiful widow not be easily captured!
Self-funding! This is relief money, Your Majesty!
Urgent military intelligence? Why are there so many bad things every year, especially today?

Chapter 1: Fellow Demonic
Sect Members Xiliang City can be considered a military fortress. The four areas—east, west, south, and north—are inhabited by soldiers and their families. As for the merchants, they are scattered throughout the various areas, their shops appearing wherever there is a need.
Even so, the residential areas of Xiliang City are still somewhat distinct.
The defense of Xiliang City was divided into the "Silver Tiger Legion" and the garrison. As the undisputed elite force of Xiliang City, the 200,000 soldiers of the "Silver Tiger Legion" and their families resided in the east, north, and south, leaving only a small plot in the west for the 100,000 garrison soldiers and their families.
Fortunately, the "Silver Tiger Legion" was widely recognized as having superior fighting strength compared to the garrison. Furthermore, the garrison, also under Chen Fuyue's command, received generous salaries and family allowances, so things remained relatively peaceful.
However, after a devastating defeat followed by a half-month siege, Xiliang City's original 300,000 troops were reduced to just over 30,000. Of the 60,000 to 70,000 first-class county soldiers who rushed into the city to reinforce it during the siege, only 20,000 remained.
Of the 300,000 families, only one-tenth remained intact; the rest were left as orphans and widows.
One of the three things Chen Fuyue entrusted to me concerned the compensation of the "Silver Tiger Legion" and the garrison troops. Besides them, there were also those soldiers who sacrificed their lives to support Xiliang City, totaling over 340,000.
I specifically checked the compensation standards of Liufeng Kingdom. According to custom, the four elite legions receive 200 gold coins for the dead and 100 gold coins for the wounded. The compensation for local soldiers varies depending on the local financial situation; better-off regions receive 50 gold coins for the dead and 20 for the wounded, while less fortunate regions receive 20 for the dead and 5 for the wounded. Of
course, I couldn't separate the compensation for the elite legions and the local soldiers—that would be too heartbreaking for their families. More importantly, the other local troops would be dissatisfied, and who would come to Xiliang City's rescue in the future? Based
on these calculations, according to the compensation standards, at least seven million gold coins would be needed.
Seven million gold coins in compensation isn't a huge sum, but it's not a small amount either. Given the current finances of Xiliang City, it's extremely difficult to bear: rebuilding the military and repairing city defenses requires money, accepting refugees requires money, and training the 450,000 troops outside requires even more… I almost want to tell my father-in-law, the Emperor: Don't be shy, just bring over your entire treasury!
There are currently thirty million gold coins left in the treasury. At this time of year, there should have been around fifty million gold coins, but Chen Fuyue, in an effort to boost morale, allocated ten million gold coins as an advance reward before the "Silver Tiger Legion" set out. Unexpectedly, the campaign failed, and the army was almost completely wiped out. That ten million is essentially wasted and cannot be recovered.
The remaining ten million gold coins have naturally been used for expenses and repairs in recent days, and it seems inevitable that more will be needed.
So Chen Fuyue and I discussed the memorial to the court. Before the Ministry of Revenue's allocation next year arrives, we need at least 30 million gold coins. I thought to myself that I have a lot of relatives in the court, and with Chen Fuyue, who knows Xiliang City best, speaking on my behalf, I boldly asked the Ministry of Revenue for 60 million gold coins. The
60 million gold coins won't arrive until September at the earliest, but appeasing the people can't wait until September. I plan to see how the families of the fallen soldiers in Xiliang City are feeling. If they're doing well, I'll delay the payment for a while. If the situation is bad, and they're generally pessimistic and disappointed, then I'll need money to pave the way and cheer them up.
The city garrison and the government office are located near the east city gate. This is where the high-ranking officials and military generals of Xiliang City reside, so these streets should be the most prosperous area in Xiliang City.
Shops along the streets were open, but cloth shops, restaurants, and cosmetics stores were deserted. Only two places were doing brisk business: incense and paper money shops and tailor shops, though the tailor shop was only making mourning clothes.
Since the siege was lifted, Xiliang City had been filled with weeping, and incense and paper money were selling like hotcakes, the entire city shrouded in smoke.
Little Turtle mentioned that the merchants selling incense and paper money were quite honest, giving everything away for free. The owner of the largest shop said, "Damn it, I've died once already. If I don't give these things to the families of the soldiers who sacrificed for Xiliang City, how can I face them when I'm gone?"
Chi Changyun, adept at seizing opportunities, saw that Xiliang City was currently emotionally unstable and needed support. He immediately lauded these incense and paper money merchants as role models, bestowing upon them immense honors.
Even now, walking along the deserted streets, many houses still have incense and candles burning in front of them. Occasionally, the ashes of burnt paper money are blown into the air by a gentle breeze, but most simply scatter on the ground, leaving traces everywhere on the bluestone pavement.
"Young Master, these past few nights you've been looking at information about Xiliang City in your study. Little Bird and I went out for a stroll. It was much more desolate back then; it's enough to bring tears to your eyes."
"Oh, what were you planning to do last night?"
"To drink and have fun at brothels, of course… oh, no, to comfort the poor girls. These days, no one's patronizing their businesses; the brothels are deserted. We only spent ten gold coins and got a super luxurious experience…"
Little Turtle spoke with great enthusiasm, but I wasn't angry. He and Little Bird never dwell on sad things. One moment they could be weeping with the families of fallen soldiers, the next they could be out drinking and having fun with women. It wouldn't be surprising at all.
Back then, I was just as young and impetuous!
While his apprentice remained as dashing as ever, Ri Shaojian, burdened by various responsibilities, had to project a mature and composed facade.
Damn it, once things in Xiliang City are over, I'm going to return to the capital and bring Yunfu, the Han twins, and Xiangting out. Back in Wushuang County, I'll live my life as a tyrant. If my father-in-law disagrees, I'll elope, let him do whatever he wants.
Daring to disregard the Emperor, my aura suddenly surged. The little turtle and bird, who were also practicing the Heavenly Demon Art with me, immediately noticed, their expressions changing as they quickly moved aside, whispering amongst themselves.
"See? When we told you to go drinking with the young master, he took you with him. Now he hears us having a good time, while he's been busy all day. Of course he's furious and waiting to be scolded."
"I'm telling you, the young master is just unsatisfied and jealous of us. Back in Wushuang County, he had five or six young mistresses with him every night. Now that he's in Xiliang City, he only has two young mistresses with him. He's lonely and wants to go with us but is too embarrassed to ask."
"What you said makes sense, but next time we should still take the young master. Isn't the top courtesan at 'Fengming Tower' very proud? Let our young master go and support her. Let's see if she dares to refuse to play for us!"
"Tch, if the young master goes, will she still be able to play the flute? She'll definitely be forced into his room and forced to play the flute!"
"..."
My expression changed several times. Dealing with these two scoundrels, getting angry is useless. The best way is to pretend I didn't hear them.
"What's the best restaurant in Xiliang City?"
I asked as we walked.
"It all depends on personal preference. Southern cuisine goes to 'Yijianglou,' northern cuisine to 'Saibeicun,' Yuan cuisine to 'Kaigemen,' and Huayun cuisine to 'Cangshandong.'"
These two scoundrels, out drinking and carousing, rattled off these dishes off the cuff, clearly having gained experience.
I knew without a doubt that they'd had the chefs from various taverns prepare these dishes and send them to some "Fengminglou." They did this all the time in Wushuang County, and what's worse, they even charged the Liu family's bill, claiming it was "to help the young master understand the people's plight." I didn't care what Little Turtle, Little Bird, and I ate; those of us who travel the martial world naturally prefer something simpler. I couldn't bear to see my two delicate He clan princesses suffer, so hiring a chef was partly for their sake.
Fusang Island is located on the outskirts of the Sea Mi Continent, close to the Yuan Kingdom, so I figured the Yuan Kingdom's cuisine wouldn't be too different from Fusang's. Having made up my mind, I nodded and said, "Lead the way, I'm going to 'Kaige Gate'."
"'Kaige Gate'?"
Little Bird asked, surprised. "What's so good about that? Young Master, according to our tastes, I think 'Yijiang Tower' is better... Uh, of course, Young Master, you can go wherever you want, I'm just suggesting, haha..."
Seeing my expression, Little Bird quickly yielded, looking utterly loyal: "Young Master, I'll lead the way, this way please!"
Restaurants, eateries, and other good things are almost always located on bustling streets. The reason is simple: bustling streets have more wealthy people, and only they can afford to spend money there.
"Kaige Gate" is located in the middle of the second street in the east of the city. It's very large; the gate alone is three people tall and eight meters wide. Two bronze lions, symbolizing wealth and prosperity, stand at the entrance, smiling amiably at the passersby.
The restaurant inside has at least three floors, and its towering pagoda spire can be clearly seen from afar.
According to Little Turtle and Little Bird, every night, hundreds of lanterns are lit atop the pagoda, creating a dazzling spectacle in Xiliang City.
Because there were no customers, the six young men dressed in blue waiter's uniforms in front of the door seemed listless, huddled together, talking amongst themselves.
"Guests are here...please come in..."
One of the waiters, seeing us approaching the restaurant, quickly abandoned his companions and greeted us with a beaming smile.
Little Turtle also stepped forward a few steps; without any apparent movement, a glittering gold coin arced through the air and landed precisely in the waiter's outstretched hand.
"Hehe, sir, you're too kind..."
The waiter touched it, beaming, and shouted, "Honored guests have come to dine! Everything is ready inside and out..."
Watching him shout loudly, I chuckled to myself. Damn, this Xiliang City is really interesting. Going into a restaurant is almost like visiting a brothel. If someone were easily frightened, they'd probably run away!
While I was thinking this, the rewarded waiter, amidst the envious glances of his companions, led us inside.
It was past lunchtime, and Xiliang City was incredibly hot, but as soon as we entered the gate, we felt a completely different kind of coolness, and the sky suddenly darkened.
Looking up, I discovered that the spacious courtyard was filled with five- or six-meter-tall green trees, their branches and leaves incredibly developed, forming a huge canopy overhead, covering the twenty-meter distance from here to the three-story restaurant.
"Not bad, not bad, it's rare to see such big trees growing so well in this heat,"
I casually praised.
"You flatter me,"
the waiter said with a smile. "The weather in the Northwest is often hot, and apart from the taste, it doesn't have any distinctive features. How could our foreign cuisine stand out here? However, our owner has put in a lot of effort for this tree. There are three wells in the yard, and almost a whole ox's worth of water is used to irrigate it. There are twenty people specifically responsible for watering it three times a day, morning, noon, and evening."
"Such dedication deserves a fair reward,"
I smiled. "I'm looking forward to meeting your owner."
The waiter just smiled and didn't reply, walking quickly forward. Before I even reached the building, a beautiful woman emerged from the doorway, waiting there gracefully.
The woman was tall and beautiful, with delicate eyebrows, bright eyes, and a cherry-like mouth. Her slender figure was encased in a silk pleated skirt from the Yuan Dynasty. Above her slightly cinched waist, a pair of large, round breasts, bound by a sea-blue top, trembled slightly, exuding the mature and alluring charm of a beautiful woman.
From afar, she looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six, but upon closer inspection, slight wrinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes, suggesting she was probably thirty-five or thirty-six—the prime of her beauty.
Little Turtle and Little Bird's eyes lit up immediately. They had always been fond of beautiful women, especially those older than themselves. In their words, older women were always better at serving their men than younger ones. Therefore, in Wushuang County, they were notorious heartbreakers, having slept with many charming widows. "I heard from Lian'er recently that they were planning to take a concubine, and the object of their affections was a beautiful young widow," they said.
Little Er was even more easily swayed than the other two; his eyes immediately went fixed on the beautiful woman's full breasts and the high mound beneath her slender waist.
Soon, Xiao Er's greedy and eager gaze shifted away. He tried his best to calm his desire, but a tremor could still be heard in his voice: "Ah... Manager, you... you also came out to greet our distinguished guest?"
"With such a distinguished guest, 'Kaige Gate' naturally has to give you a grand welcome. You may leave now; I'll take care of things here."
The beautiful woman gave a faint smile, and Xiao San nodded repeatedly, bowed, and retreated.
"Distinguished guest... ah..."
The beautiful woman turned to me, displaying her alluring side, but before she could finish her sentence, I strode forward and casually wrapped my arm around her slender waist, my devilish hand caressing her incredibly elastic and plump buttocks.
The beautiful woman's body trembled violently, her pretty face flushing crimson. She twisted and turned, finally regaining her balance, and said coquettishly, "Little brother... I'm not a prostitute, don't touch me like that..."
Rather than being angry, this mature beauty was a blatant temptation. Her soft, melodious voice sounded pitiful, yet even more alluring, fueling a man's desire.
I spread my hands and chuckled, "Sister, I'm a straightforward person. If I like something, I want it. A beauty like you, why are you working as a manager here? Come with me, and I'll give you wealth, luxury, and the finest food!"
"Ugh... you're trying to steal my man... be careful our boss doesn't come after you..."
The beautiful woman gave me a flirtatious wink. "But, little brother, since you've come to 'Kaige Gate,' you should at least try our fine wine and food... I'll make an exception today and personally pour you wine and serve you... We can talk about the rest after we eat, okay?"
"Okay, okay!"
I put my arm around her again, "Sister Cheng, please take us inside..."
This time, the beautiful woman darted in even faster, quickly entering the restaurant. She giggled and strode forward, her plump hips swaying with an irresistible charm that made it impossible to feel any anger.
I smiled slightly and followed behind her with Little Turtle and Little Bird.
Little Turtle and Little Bird were naturally captivated by the alluring woman's charm, but I was different. I never turned down beautiful women, but this time I acted like a lecherous young man because I sensed a bewitching aura emanating from this woman's charm.
A bewitching aura and... The demonic energy of my Heavenly Demon Path is different. It is domineering and forceful, yet it possesses a seductive and alluring quality, reminiscent of Xiao Yan's Soul-Capturing Technique.
Thinking of this, the woman's identity becomes clear: a disciple of the Soul-Sealing Sect! In
all these years of practicing the Heavenly Demon Art, I have been searching for fellow disciples of the Demonic Sect. Perhaps because the Demonic Sect is universally reviled in the martial world, everyone has kept a deep hide. Apart from a few fellow disciples of the Heavenly Demon Path in the palace, I haven't seen a single person from the Soul-Sealing Sect or the Demonic Cult.
Now, in this rather desolate Xiliang City, a disciple of the Soul-Sealing Sect has appeared! I, the current leader of the Heavenly Demon Path... As disciples, we should at least get closer to them.
Of course, I understand that the Ecstasy Sect wouldn't appear without reason, nor would they be without purpose, merely to open a restaurant to make a living. With their extraordinary charm and stunning beauty, achieving a life of luxury would be incredibly easy; they could easily seduce and control a few wealthy individuals, enough to live a life of extravagance.
Thinking of "Triumphant Song Gate," a restaurant supposedly from the Great Yuan Kingdom, a thought struck me. Could it be that the reason I haven't been able to find them all these years is because the Ecstasy Sect's base is in the Great Yuan Kingdom, not our Liufeng Kingdom?
It seems that after this matter is settled, I'll have to make a trip to the Great Yuan Kingdom and the Huayun Kingdom. As the saying goes, "Read ten thousand books..." "Reading books, traveling ten thousand miles, and seducing ten thousand women—this is the true essence of a man's life. How can I, Liu Ri, let the sages monopolize this glory?"

Chapter Two: Offering Embrace.
"Kaige Gate" has four floors. The bottom three are for diners, while the top floor is not used for entertaining guests, but only for hanging lanterns. Few people are willing to climb the fourth floor, filled with the smell of lamp oil and burning materials, for a panoramic view.
The third floor is for entertaining distinguished guests. Because "Kaige Gate" is an octagonal pagoda building with eight corners, the third floor is divided into eight rooms, each named after a famous mountain of the Yuan Dynasty.
The beautiful woman led us into the room named "Wuyi Mountain."
Wuyi Mountain is quite famous in Liufeng Kingdom, and its tea is very popular, though a bit pricey. However, due to its health benefits, wealthy officials naturally wouldn't be stingy with the money.
Upon entering the room, I didn't stand on ceremony with the beautiful woman. I grabbed her and pulled her to a nearby armchair, my hands immediately moving up and down her body. In no time, I had thoroughly enjoyed her large breasts and round, plump buttocks.
"Please wait a moment, young master... ah... let me carefully select some famous dishes from the Great Yuan Kingdom for you, and then I'll serve you..."
the beautiful woman gasped, managing to say these words before breaking free from my grasp and running out like the wind.
The room was spacious and elegant, with a large round table, a small tea table, and several small wooden stools for resting.
Several ink paintings depicting the landscapes of the Yuan Dynasty hung around the room, along with a few elegant orchids, creating an atmosphere of refined scholarly elegance.
Most notably, each of the room's four sides featured a life-sized mirror. These bronze mirrors, polished hundreds of times, were essential for achieving a clear reflection, making them highly prized. The four mirrors here were clearly high-end.
However, their placement seemed somewhat incongruous. Was it perhaps meant to allow people to check their appearance while eating, ensuring their clothes and hats were straight?
Without anyone else around, the little turtle and bird, who usually only observed beautiful women, immediately changed their demeanor.
"Young Master, don't you prefer young, beautiful girls? Why are you interested in this old lady now?"
Little Bird said seriously. "She's too old for you."
Little Turtle also said solemnly, "Young Master, I suspect she's a spy sent by the Great Yuan Kingdom to harm you. As your most loyal servant, I'm willing to go with Little Bird to thoroughly interrogate and torture her to prevent your precious body from being harmed." I asked,
half-laughing and half-crying, "You usually let me taste the beauty of women, so why are you trying so hard to stop me now that I'm interested?"
"This is different. She's too dangerous. I think the only way is for me to take her into a secret room and interrogate her carefully for three to five days to determine if she's innocent..."
Little Turtle and Little Bird continued their nonsense. If the beauty was taken into the secret room by them, she would probably be devoured alive. What chance would I have? As their young master, I couldn't possibly steal a beauty who had already become their woman, could I?
Fortunately, I didn't really want to possess this stunningly beautiful woman. My words to the two cunning servants were merely a pretext. After learning that "Kaige Gate" might be connected to the Ecstasy Sect, I feared being monitored, so it was best to maintain a playboy facade to lull the enemy into a false sense of security.
On the fourth floor, a girl of unparalleled beauty sat before a polished bronze mirror, watching with interest the figures reflected within.
Her large, clear eyes were jet black, her delicate nose as smooth as jade, her pink lips soft and full, her cheeks beautifully defined, and her exquisitely beautiful face seemed flawless. Her aura was ethereal and gentle, like a fairy about to ascend to heaven. The playful smile at the corner of her lips, coupled with her perfectly curved mouth, was enough to captivate any man.
The reflection in the mirror was of myself, Little Turtle, Little Bird, and me. Our every move was clearly visible to everyone here through a special reflective device. If one looked closely, they would notice that there were eight such mirrors, but only one was currently active.
The door opened gently, and a voluptuous and beautiful woman drifted in, immediately spotting our reflection in the bronze mirror.
"How is it? Doesn't it feel different to be taken advantage of by the Imperial Envoy, the First-Class Duke of Lanting?"
the young girl said without turning her head, her voice as clear and melodious as a nightingale's.
"Hmph!"
The beautiful woman swayed her plump hips as she sat beside the girl, her face flushed. "That little rascal is a lecherous devil! A few pinches and he's already aroused my lust. If I didn't have a mission, I'd drain him dry tonight and see if he dares to flirt with any beautiful woman he sees."
"Hehe..."
the girl chuckled softly. "Aunt Lei, you've been empty for over a decade anyway. If the Duke of Lanting were to take you as a concubine, you could enjoy wealth and luxury, and the long-lost sweetness of the boudoir. That wouldn't be bad..."
"Pah! Who would want that brat! Could he last a full incense stick's time on me without ejaculating?"
the beautiful Aunt Lei spat.
“That’s not necessarily true. Ren Lanting is born with superhuman strength. I saw him slaughtering the grassland cavalry that day; he was truly incomparably powerful, a valiant general indeed!”
the girl giggled. “Just wait until he’s like a tiger relentlessly assaulting your flower garden in bed!”
“Being good at martial arts doesn’t mean being good in bed…”
Aunt Lei muttered under her breath, then straightened her expression. “Young Sect Master, do you think Ren Lanting is the person we’re looking for?”
“To be honest, not really.”
the girl said lightly. “We’ve received news that Ren Lanting has used the Demon Sect’s martial arts, but during the battle below the city that day, I saw him use very powerful and expansive techniques, with an astonishing aura, somewhat like Taoist divine skills.”
“Could it be that he’s deliberately concealing his identity as a member of the Demon Sect?”
Aunt Lei asked.
"Hehe... Aunt Lei, you're not the sect leader of the Soul-Destroying Sect, so you don't know the origins and characteristics of our Holy Sect."
The girl said softly, "Besides our Soul-Destroying Sect, the other three sects of the Holy Sect are: the Demon Sect's martial arts are unorthodox, ruthless, and vicious; the Heavenly Demon Path's martial arts are arrogant, powerful, and domineering. How can a martial artist transform ruthless martial arts into a powerful and unrestrained aura?"
"Hmm, after hearing what the young sect leader said, I wonder if he's a disciple of the Heavenly Demon Path? Liufeng Kingdom is originally their Heavenly Demon Path's territory."
"I thought so too, so I came to see."
The girl nodded slightly, "If he really is a disciple of the Heavenly Demon Path, then the Heavenly Demon Path is truly too strong, not only because Ren Lanting's kung fu is superb, but also because of his identity..."
"Hmph, if they knew they had such a fellow disciple, that little bitch from the Dongfang family would definitely use his power to attack us!"
Aunt Lei also realized, "Young sect leader, the situation is not good!"
"Hehe... What's wrong?"
The girl gave her usual coquettish laugh. "Dongfang Daming has been missing for over a decade. Whether the Heavenly Demon Path will even acknowledge him is another matter. Besides, if he really is a disciple of the Heavenly Demon Path, since he's letting us get to him first, he certainly won't let Dongfang Minmin have a chance!"
"That's true, hehe, with the Young Sect Master's charm, he's definitely better than that little slut Dongfang's tomboyish appearance!"
Aunt Lei said, biting her red lips. She could call the fourth-ranked beauty on the Imitation Phoenix Ranking a tomboy, which shows how much resentment a woman can harbor when she hates someone!
"Aunt Lei..."
"Young Sect Master?"
"Today... I'll have to trouble you to sacrifice your looks... Use our Soul-Stealing Sect's techniques to test him, and we'll know if he's the person we're looking for..."
The girl looked apologetic, "It's just... I'm sorry to trouble you..."
"Hahaha..."
Aunt Lei covered her mouth and laughed, "Young Sect Master, look how polite you are... It's just being taken advantage of by that stinky man, right? I'm not afraid... With his two subordinates here, he won't dare to eat me!" "Besides, if he angers me, I'll let him in tonight and make him die on my belly..."
With that, she stood up, gave a graceful bow, and left.
As soon as she stepped outside, the apologetic expression on the girl's face vanished, and a wry smile appeared on her lips as she turned to the bronze mirror.
※※※ After waiting for almost half an hour, Little Turtle and Little Bird had discussed everything from the beautiful woman's figure to her family, and even whether she had a daughter. Finally, the charming woman gently knocked on the door and led her entourage into the room.
Six waiters, carrying trays, placed twelve steaming dishes on the table. Then, two little girls, about seven or eight years old, took out bowls, chopsticks, and two jugs of wine from a carrying box. After a few orderly arrangements, the eight people quickly left the room without saying a word.
"Ahem! This is truly outrageous!"
The little bird slammed his hand on the chair aggressively, "How come the prestigious 'Kaige Gate' doesn't even have anyone to serve its guests? I think you're not even as good as 'Fengming Tower'!"
Aunt Lei, having seen too many grand occasions, wasn't intimidated by him. She pointed at the little bird with her jade-like hand, "Esteemed guest, look at what you're saying. This is a proper place to eat, not a brothel like 'Fengming Tower'... When you're eating, you should focus on the taste. As for entertainment, you can go wherever you want after you finish eating, we have no objection."
The little bird's momentum faltered: "But... you can't expect us to serve the food and pour the wine ourselves, can you? Is this the rule of your Great Yuan Kingdom's restaurants?"
"Of course not..."
Aunt Lei swayed her wasp waist and plump hips, taking the lead to the table. She picked up the wine pot with her jade-like hand and gently poured wine into the cup, "Am I not the one who serves the guests?"
Well... that's more like it. "Little Turtle chuckled and stood up from the chair,"
he said. "Sister, I have so many questions about the Great Yuan Kingdom that I want to ask you. Come, come with me..."
Before Little Turtle could finish speaking, I had already pulled the beautiful woman into my arms, and the two of us sat together on the large armchair.
"Ouch..."
Aunt Lei let out a soft moan, her face flushed as she leaned against me, instinctively trying to break free and stand up on her own.
"This chair isn't big enough, and I don't want you to stand, so just sit on my lap." "
I whispered with a smile in her ear, one hand firmly around the beautiful woman's slender waist.
This banquet table was set with eight armchairs, but the waiters had already taken away the extras, leaving only three. However, they hadn't taken the extra armchairs out of the room; they were just placed aside.
Looking at the five chairs behind me, the two servants rolled their eyes and sat down opposite me with sighs.
Enduring the trembling of her delicate body as the man caressed her, Aunt Lei, who outwardly smiled coquettishly, felt a surge of anger rising in her heart: 'This lady has never been so disrespected before, you brat... ah, heavens... how... how did you touch that place?' Aunt Lei no longer dared to let me do as I pleased, her hands repeatedly grabbing my devilish hand that had slipped into her breasts, pleading, 'Young master... please... I'm not that kind of person...'
'I know you're not that kind of person. '"
My hands paused slightly, and just as Aunt Lei breathed a sigh of relief, my hands suddenly exerted force, breaking through her delicate hand defenses and grabbing one of her large, firm breasts! "
Ah..."
As a woman who had cultivated seductive arts, the more sensitive her areas were, the more vulnerable she was to teasing, especially Aunt Lei, a long-deprived and resentful woman. Her body trembled immediately, and a hint of anger and murderous intent flashed in her eyes.
"Young master, let me go... Didn't you say you knew I wasn't a prostitute?" "
Aunt Lei's alluring eyes revealed a pleading look. Because she used her seductive skills, even the little turtle and little bird opposite her felt a pang of pity.
I first roughly kneaded her a few times, and Aunt Lei felt waves of electricity surge through her body, as fierce as a tidal wave, making her delicate body hot and almost convulsing with pleasure.
A few drops of nectar had already unknowingly flowed from the beautiful woman's honeypot.
"I know you're not that kind of person, but I am the kind of person you imagine. Resistance is useless, beauty, you'd better submit to me!"
After taking advantage of her for a while, I finished speaking, almost making Aunt Lei so angry she raised her jade hand to slap me.
As the liquid slowly flowed from her honeypot, Aunt Lei dared not let me take liberties any longer. She twisted and struggled violently, finally escaping my embrace for the second time.
The little turtle and little bird, sipping their wine, were speechless, and quickly began to communicate their feelings through telepathy.
"Damn! Little turtle, do you think these few days are the young mistress's wedding days?"
"I think so, otherwise why would the young master seem even more eager than us? I bet if we weren't here, he would have already dragged that beautiful lady onto the armchair and taken her!" "
Sigh, in that case, shouldn't we not take him to 'Phoenix Cry Tower'? The young master is already more handsome than us; if he goes, won't he steal our thunder?"
"Exactly, we shouldn't take him to Phoenix Cry Tower. As a local lord, the young master should prioritize official business. If he's going to go... it should be us who get our hands on those beautiful ladies first."
Finally, the two nodded together, clinked their glasses, and smiled knowingly.
Taking advantage of this brief moment, Aunt Lei, who had slipped to the side, gently tidied her hair, and most importantly, lightly squeezed her snow-white, plump legs together to stop the slowly flowing stream.
Giving me a subtle glare, Aunt Lei became even more determined: "You brat!" "If you're from the Demon Sect, I'll make you my slave... If not, you'll be drained dry by me..."
Once the beautiful widow, who had been widowed for many years, was aroused, her desires were unstoppable, and even the way she looked at me changed.
Even Aunt Lei herself didn't know that the reason she was aroused so quickly was because of my cultivation of the Heavenly Demon Art's absorption technique?
The eighth level of the Heavenly Demon Art was incredibly powerful; not all the leaders of the Demon Sect throughout history had reached the eighth level. Naturally, this supreme martial art of the Demon Sect had immense pressure and absorption on the inferior Ecstasy Sect's seductive techniques. Especially someone like Aunt Lei, the higher her seductive skills, the easier it is to be attracted?
My initial intention was to confirm the beautiful woman's identity. While caressing her large breasts, a hidden demonic energy entered her body, thus confirming that she was indeed a disciple of the Ecstasy Sect.
However, this beautiful woman was definitely not one of those low-level seductive women who were ridden by a thousand men. Her large breasts were soft yet firm and elastic, and her delicate body was extremely sensitive—all signs of not having been touched by a man for a long time.
Thinking about her purpose in personally greeting me, I beckoned to her and said, "Come here, how can you serve us standing over there?"
"No... I won't come over..."
Aunt Lei's coquettish manner was like that of a young girl, beautiful yet innocent, "Unless you promise me you won't touch me..."
"Okay, okay, I promise!"
I said with a grin, clearly not entirely sincere.
Just as Little Turtle and Little Bird were wondering if the beautiful woman would run away, Aunt Lei hesitated for a moment, lightly stamped her foot, and walked towards us.
"You said it yourself, if you dare to touch me, I'll have the constables arrest you!" "
Aunt Lei said fiercely, her hands not stopping, raising and lowering the wine pot high, quickly refilling our cups.
"Haha, a yamen runner?"
Little Bird couldn't help but laugh, "A yamen runner only knows how to kowtow and greet me like a young master!"
"I knew you dared to be so frivolous, you must have some background... Humph! But don't forget, the imperial envoy who has come is a rare hero in the world, upright and full of a sense of justice, he won't let you little guys run wild!"
Aunt Lei's words made me immediately withdraw my hand that was reaching for her: "Yes, Lord Lanting is a good man admired by all, it's not an exaggeration to describe him with the best words in the world. In order not to cause him any trouble, I promise, I will behave myself today."
If she didn't know my identity, Aunt Lei would definitely think I was a boy who admired heroes, but after knowing my identity, Aunt Lei could only suppress her laughter and remain silent.
With such a big label on me, I became much more obedient from then on.
Without the psychological pressure, Aunt Lei fully utilized her charming and eloquent nature, vividly introducing us to the delicacies of the Great Yuan Kingdom with a smile and anecdote about each dish.
The meal was naturally exceptionally enjoyable in such a relaxed atmosphere; the two little girls brought in twenty jugs of wine, barely enough to satisfy our cravings.
Before we knew it, the sun was almost setting, and the entire feast was devoured, a truly satisfying and enjoyable meal!
"Check, please!"
Little Turtle called out casually, a toothpick dangling from his mouth. He and Little Bird had already decided that after the meal, they would go to "Phoenix Cry Tower" to socialize with the girls—a rare treat in the dreary city of Xiliang!
Aunt Lei waved her hand, and the people waiting outside immediately rushed in.
The thin, middle-aged man quickly calculated, "Gentlemen, you ordered twelve 'Kaigemen' delicacies in total, and then added three more, bringing the price to three hundred and eighty gold coins."
"Not bad, not bad, it's a bit pricey, but you gentlemen are very satisfied."
After I nodded, Little Bird pulled out a cloth bag and tossed it over. "Three hundred gold coins, and the rest is a reward from our young master!"
"Thank you for the reward, sir!"
The middle-aged accountant grinned, squeezed the bag, and knowingly clasped his hands in thanks.
"Wait a minute..."
Aunt Lei, who had been smiling silently, spoke up at this moment, "The accounts aren't finished yet, what's the rush?"
"Not finished?"
Not only us, but even the accountant, Shen Nian, was stunned.
Aunt Lei smiled seductively: "Besides the banquet, you've drunk a total of twenty-two jugs of wine. This isn't ordinary wine; it's top-grade Daughter's Red wine, transported all the way from the Great Yuan Kingdom. It sells for fifty gold coins a jug in the Great Yuan Kingdom itself. Here, it's not unreasonable for me to raise the price tenfold, is it?"
"Uh..."
The little turtle and bird's minds flashed with numbers like "eleventeen thousand gold coins..."
and they broke out in a cold sweat, their slight intoxication vanishing.
They'd been ripped off!
I was instantly furious: Damn it, I'm a fearsome little tyrant in Wushuang County, but I've never dined and dashed. Are you trying to force me to make an exception today, woman?
"Madam..."
"My name is He Lei."
Aunt Lei interrupted me. "Young master, I haven't even added the cost of my service yet. You can ask around; in this 'Kaige Gate,' I, Aunt Lei, have never served meals to guests. Surely a distinguished person like you wouldn't try to renege on the bill?"
Enraged that my thoughts had been exposed, I stood up abruptly and approached the beautiful woman standing by the window. "This place is a rip-off! Where do you get such expensive wine? Isn't it blatant ripping people off? If you anger me, I'll tear down your shabby shop!"
Unfortunately, my fierce expression was child's play to the beautiful woman.
Aunt Lei was not surprised but delighted. She took two steps forward, her firm breasts almost touching my body before stopping. Then, with lightning speed, her hand reached out and grabbed me. This fierce action terrified me, and my momentum vanished.
"What? You have a problem with that?"
Aunt Lei lowered her voice, her breath sweet as orchids as she whispered in my ear, "This old lady is going to kill you, you little pervert! You're not happy about it? You brat, when you took advantage of me, didn't you ever think this day would come?"
I had my back to the little turtle and the little bird, so they couldn't see my expression, but judging from my slight trembling, their anger instantly turned into a burst of laughter, and they had to pinch their arms to barely suppress their laughter.
"Young master, what should we do?"
the two servants asked deliberately.
"What do we do?"
I turned around, my face full of anger. "Pay up! What kind of meal doesn't require payment? This top-quality Daughter's Red wine imported from the Great Yuan Kingdom is worth this price!"
"Oh!"
the two responded loudly. Little Turtle pulled out a large stack of silver notes from his pocket, picked through them several times, and handed them to the middle-aged accountant. "Here, count them."
The middle-aged accountant was already stunned. Those twenty-two bottles of wine were just ordinary fine wines, usually given as complimentary items to accompany banquets. Today, this new manager had sold them for a sky-high price of eleven thousand gold coins, truly shocking everyone present.
However, the few boys who clearly looked like the Fleece Pants Brother immediately changed their minds after a few words and obediently paid eleven thousand gold coins. Could it be that the words of a beautiful woman really work that well?
This question remained unanswered even after the middle-aged accountant walked out with the silver notes.
"Ahem, you guys wait outside too. I have something to say to Madam He."
With one sentence, I dismissed Little Turtle and Little Bird.
The two women gave me knowing smiles, made a "Go, young master" gesture, and then slammed the door shut. I could hear them yelling at the other servants to leave.

Chapter Three: Retreating to Advance .
The huge room was now empty except for the two of us.
At this moment, He Lei and I were still in an ambiguous position, almost touching.
I unusually whispered, "Big sister, you should let me go. If you break it, my wives will cut you into eight pieces."
"Can you break it?"
The beautiful woman chuckled. She had just acted on a sudden impulse, which was why my protective true energy hadn't reacted in time before she grabbed the Tyrannosaurus Rex Spear.
She was very proud now, and in her pride, her honeyed orifice between her legs was once again filled with desire.
The women of the Ecstasy Sect, whether they were low-level lustful women, mid-level virtuous women, or high-level jade women, all inevitably studied men while practicing the demonic sect's martial arts. One very important aspect of this was naturally the man's penis.
My Tyrannosaurus Rex Spear was born to be a ruler. The moment the beautiful woman touched it, the spear, stimulated, immediately revealed its ferocious face, making it almost impossible for her to grasp it with one hand.
In her surprise, the beautiful woman recalled the young sect leader's words earlier. The young man before her was of noble birth, with a bright future, and now, with his extraordinary talent, becoming his concubine seemed like a good choice…
With such desires, it's no wonder her breathing was more rapid than before.
However, after so many years of widowhood, He Lei was still able to control herself and hadn't forgotten her mission.
While answering, He Lei's small hand gently moved up and down my large penis a few times, and the unique seductive energy of the Ecstasy Sect instantly entered my body.
Being prepared, I naturally wouldn't let her succeed. My Heavenly Demon True Qi instantly retracted, replaced by a simulated righteous energy, written in my master's secret manual, specifically for dealing with the inspections of righteous people. Back
then, I thought righteous people were just bored and had nothing better to do than constantly check other people's martial arts skills and want to kill anyone from the demonic sect. Wasn't that just utterly callous disregard for human
life? They were even worse than my father! But now I understand my master's foresight. It turns out this wasn't just about dealing with righteous people, but also with our own members of the demonic sect!
Saying righteous people are bad doesn't mean the demonic sect is any different.
My master once said in the manual that if you encounter a woman from the Ecstasy Sect, unless you're absolutely certain of victory, don't provoke her lightly. Otherwise, she'll drain you dry sooner or later, and even if she doesn't, she'll ride roughshod over you for life, making you obedient.
Therefore, I maliciously speculated whether my master's wife was also a woman of the Ecstasy Sect, which was why my master was so moved.
The beautiful woman's true energy briefly surveyed the area before immediately withdrawing it.
The Ecstasy Sect's seductive arts were very sensitive to the true energy within a person's body, but even so, she only discovered what I wanted her to know. Feeling slightly disappointed, the beautiful woman's lust quickly cooled.
He Lei knew that if I lived with her for a long time, she would definitely discover that she was a member of the Ecstasy Sect. If I were just a powerful nobleman of Lanting, it wouldn't matter, but my martial arts were Taoist, and the major sects of the Holy Sect would kill anyone from the Demonic Sect. In that case, she probably wouldn't have a good ending.
Thinking of this, He Lei subconsciously released me: "Young master... He Lei was rude just now, please..."
The beautiful woman, who had been alluring allure, suddenly became dignified and virtuous; such a transformation was truly remarkable.
Unable to guess her thoughts, I could only laugh and regain control, wrapping my arms around her slender waist and pulling her close. The natural fragrance of a mature beauty wafted through me, rich, alluring, and fiery. "
You little rascal, you've taken liberties with me, are you trying to run away now?" "I feel the incredible elasticity of your breasts," I thought. "
Am I really that easy?"
"Young...Young Master, if you don't let go of me, I'm going to scream!"
He Lei said, her face burning.
"Scream then. Call out a few more stewards, I'll negotiate with them and take you back to the young master's residence. It's such a waste to leave a beauty like you here." "
Pah! I'm thirty-five years old, how old are you? How dare you call me Xiao Lei?" the beautiful woman thought sullenly, a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance, yet also a strange, indescribable thrill. Being addressed with such an affectionate title by someone old enough to be her son made Aunt Lei feel as if she had instantly returned to her teenage years.
"Don't worry, once you're in my manor, the young master will definitely treat you well,"
I continued, trying to intimidate her and draw out the high-ranking members of the Ecstasy Sect behind her.
"No! No way..."
Her breasts were touched again, and He Lei finally snapped out of her reverie. She used her seductive skills, her voice trembling with tears, "No... young master... I... I have a husband... You're abducting a woman like me..."
Keep spouting nonsense. Once a woman from the Ecstasy Sect is married, she's nowhere to be seen in the martial world.
I didn't expose her lie, smiling and saying, "What's so difficult about that? Let him come over. I have plenty of money. Or maybe he wants to do business?" "We can open branches anywhere in the three northwestern prefectures, I guarantee no one will dare to cause trouble."
He Lei's eyes lit up, but she quickly concealed her excitement: "He, he's out now... wait a few days, wait a few days, young master, you can come and talk to him yourself, okay?"
"Alright."
I loosened my grip, releasing the beauty I was holding, "I'll come back in three days, you're not allowed to run away, or I'll burn down this 'Kaige Gate'."
"Young master, you're too domineering..."
He Pu glared at me resentfully, but inwardly she admired me greatly. She was originally a disciple of the Demonic Sect, and she never cared about human ethics and etiquette, so what outsiders saw as a young man throwing a tantrum, she saw as particularly manly.
"Oh, by the way, Xiao Lei, the sashimi I ate earlier was quite delicious, do you have any Japanese chefs here?"
"Yes."
He Lei nodded. "Our 'Kaige Gate' has a total of eighty-three chefs from all over the Yuan Dynasty. Among them are two chefs from Japan. They came to our Yuan Dynasty when they were young and created a unique Japanese cuisine that combines Yuan Dynasty flavors. It's quite famous in the Northwest." "
How about lending one to me?"
"Lend one to you? Young master, are you opening a restaurant?"
"No, I have two concubines from Japan. Life in the Northwest is too hard. I hope they can eat some home-style food to make them happier."
"Oh... I didn't realize you were so considerate of your wife."
"Of course, so don't worry. As long as you follow me, I guarantee you'll be happy every day and won't have to work so hard. " "
No matter how composed He Lei is, seeing that I've brought up this issue again, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at me, but not in an unpleasant way; rather, it was quite alluring.
The charm of a mature beauty is indeed different from my Yan'er's! It takes the accumulation of years to achieve such captivating elegance!
He Lei was somewhat annoyed by the young man's frivolity, and immediately made an outrageous demand: "Alright, I'll lend it to you... just give me a hundred gold coins a day."
I nodded and said, "Okay!"
I had originally thought that I would blush and haggle for a while, and then she could take the opportunity to mock and tease me. Hearing my straightforwardness, the beautiful woman seemed a little unaccustomed.
For some reason, He Lei explained somewhat guiltily: "She's been trained by us since she was a child. Not only is she pure and beautiful, but she's also skilled in everything from cooking to playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting... charging you a hundred gold coins a day isn't expensive..."
My eyes lit up: "The cook is a woman?" “
Of course…”
He Lei nodded vigorously, “Half of the chefs at our ‘Kaigemen’ are women, and their dishes are no worse than those of the male chefs.”
“Haha, female chefs are great! I like them!”
I clapped and laughed.
He Lei, however, was annoyed. It turned out that this Lord Lanting wasn’t interested in her, but rather in any beautiful woman… What a lecherous man!
“Please wait a moment, I’ll bring her to you right away.”
He Lei’s face regained its calm smile, and after respectfully adjusting her robe, she went out.
Women are so strange. He Lei was initially somewhat interested in me, but later gave up because of the Holy Gate martial arts I possessed. She should have been calm, but she couldn’t stand the lecherous look I exuded, as if a wife were looking at her husband and didn’t want him to turn his gaze to other women.
“Young Master, you’ve got it all sorted out so quickly?” "
Little Turtle and Little Bird came running over, puzzled. They were experienced women, and they could tell at a glance that the beautiful woman showed no signs of pleasure.
"How many times have I told you, you must win a woman's heart. What's the point of just having her body?"
I shook my head.
"That's for the best!"
Little Bird chuckled. "We like to pursue the body first. If you don't want to, young master, then don't waste it... Ouch! " "
Halfway through his sentence, I slapped the little bird aside with a palm strike, and it quickly shut up, no longer daring to joke.
But I didn't intend to monopolize the beauty. Given He Lei's seductive skills, Little Turtle and Little Bird would have a hard time resisting. If she discovered we were also members of the Demonic Sect, things would likely get complicated.
Little Turtle and Little Bird were the kind of people who never learned their lesson. Having just been beaten by me, they immediately came over with giggles, talking about what they had seen and heard in Xiliang City these past few days. They
had been to so many places, practically exploring the entire city. Little Turtle even let slip that they had found out the residences of the most beautiful widows in Xiliang City and were planning to secretly visit them in the next couple of days to see just how beautiful these universally praised widows were."
A moment later, He Lei arrived, followed by a young girl who walked with small steps and kept her head down. The girl, dressed in a simple coarse cloth top and blue-black trousers, had long black braids and looked like a gentle little flower, endearing and lovable.
Wushuang County was never short of such delicate beauties, especially the wives of Little Turtle and Little Bird, so the two women only glanced at her before turning their attention back to the voluptuous and beautiful young woman in front of them.
I wasn't as relaxed as they were. The girl walked lightly, her head bowed, her eyebrows lowered, making it difficult to see her face clearly. But if you looked closely, every step she took was so gentle, and a strange, soft aura emanated from her as she moved, flowing into the room.
Could it be that the person behind the scenes had emerged? I watched the two women with interest. When He Lei looked at me, her eyes changed from gentle to fierce, and she glared at me fiercely.
"Young master, this is Xiao Liang, the head chef of Japanese cuisine at our 'Kaige Gate'."
He Lei pointed at the little girl with her slender hand. "Come, Xiao Liang, this is your future employer. Greet the young master."
"Greetings, young master..."
The little girl timidly raised her head, her voice soft and melodious, startling the indifferent little turtle and bird. When they saw the little girl's face, they were suddenly shocked, as if struck hard in the chest by a heavy hammer.
The little girl's skin was as white as jade, and her pointed face was exquisitely beautiful. At first glance, she seemed beautiful, but at second glance, she seemed even more beautiful than the first... In short, every time you looked at her, you felt she was more beautiful than before.
And the shyness and timidity revealed in the little girl's dark eyes made people feel an even stronger urge to protect her.
A demoness! Absolutely a demoness!
I suddenly laughed. Although she was indeed a peerless demoness from the Ecstasy Sect, if you wanted to come to the young master's side, wasn't that just sending me a wife? You know, many of the sect leader and jade maidens of the Ecstasy Sect are the favored concubines of my Heavenly Demon Daoist!
※※※ Back home, I handed the two young women over to them.
Since they were impersonating Japanese girls, the two young women naturally knew something about Japan, which was some comfort to the two girls who had been away from home for so long.
The Jinggong sisters looked like beautiful and cute porcelain dolls, but these princesses, who had aspired to be good assassins since childhood, were not brainless women. They knew what to say and what not to ask outsiders, and wouldn't let the two young women trick them out of their secrets in just a few words.
This young woman, who was at least a jade maiden of the Ecstasy Sect, was someone I had teased for a while.
When she saw that we had entered the city lord's mansion, her little face exaggeratedly showed shock and nervousness, and her fair forehead was covered in sweat, fully demonstrating the panic and fear of an ignorant little girl entering the mansion of a high-ranking official.
But I pretended not to see her, casually led her to the two women's courtyard, and left without a word, leaving her performance unappreciated.
The Jade Maiden of the Ecstasy Sect was just a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person of the martial arts world), and I couldn't afford to bother with testing her right now; a whole host of matters in Xiliang City awaited my attention.
Construction work in Xiliang City was in full swing.
Besides the people of Xiliang City, the governors of the three northwestern prefectures were also overjoyed.
The safety of Xiliang City meant the safety of the three northwestern prefectures. Furthermore, the newly appointed city lord of Xiliang City was a first-class duke and imperial envoy, wielding life-or-death power over the three prefectures. Officials throughout the three prefectures were scheming to curry favor with this rising star of the court.
The governors of the three prefectures were the easiest to mobilize resources. Besides bringing the troops I requested immediately, they had also delivered a considerable amount of grain and a small amount of meat and vegetables in recent days, significantly alleviating Xiliang City's predicament.
But a major problem arose—the consumption of resources.
"You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you've been in charge," that's a damn golden rule. If I weren't the lord of Xiliang City, how would I know that only 50 kilograms of every 100 kilograms of grain transported from Xishuo County actually reach Xiliang City? Xingyong County and Longliang County are even worse, with only 20 kilograms out of 100 kilograms arriving.
What's the reason?
The laborers on the road need to eat, right? Pulling carts is hard work. Even though there are many carts in the Northwest, the terrain there is extremely rugged, with many mountains, trees, and hills. The road to Xiliang City is particularly difficult, resulting in enormous energy expenditure along the way.
Holding this string of data, my head started to ache. To supply Xiliang City with 80 million kilograms of rice, 50 million kilograms of vegetables, and 1 million kilograms of meat, the actual expenditure from the three counties reached a staggering 400 million kilograms of rice, 20 million kilograms of vegetables, and 2 million kilograms of meat.
Fortunately, it's summer now, and meat is difficult to store, so it can only be supplied by the nearest county, Xishuo County. Otherwise, transporting meat from the other two counties would have been an even greater expense.
Now I finally understand why, despite the danger, Xiliang City still tried its best to absorb landless farmers, allowing them to cultivate and live on the open land within a hundred miles of the city. It was all to reduce the heavy burden on the three northwestern prefectures!
If they continued to rely on the three northwestern prefectures for supplies, it wouldn't be long before the already impoverished prefectures would become dissatisfied, perhaps even revolting. It seems that once the repairs are completed and the training is finished, I still need to think of ways to restore productivity in the surrounding villages.
The prefects of the three prefectures sent a lot of grain, and the Wang family, one of the three great powers of the continent, was also very proactive this time. Wang Guowei sent five hundred elite Wang family members as captains for the new army's training.
The Wang family's efforts immediately put the elite "Silver Tiger Legion" to shame. Whether it was stimulating the soldiers' potential, correcting their posture, sword-wielding techniques, or other aspects, the Wang family had their own unique methods, rapidly improving the combat effectiveness of the reserve legion.
Those who assisted the "Silver Tiger Legion" in defending the city that day included members of the Wang family and martial arts heroes from all over the Northwest. After the final battle, 1,500 men remained. Under Wang Guowei's orders, none of them left Xiliang City; in fact, they had even moved their families there, which was a great boon to Xiliang City.
Chen Fuyue told me that if it weren't for these martial arts figures fighting desperately in the last few days, Xiliang City would have fallen long ago. Therefore, the court's high-pressure policy towards martial arts figures could actually be effectively applied in Xiliang City. I wholeheartedly agree.
Don't underestimate martial arts figures just because they are ineffective against cavalry on the open field or against large-scale army attacks on flat ground. In defending a city, they can be incredibly effective, each one fighting like ten… mainly because in the relatively narrow confines of the city walls, soldiers fight almost individually, and when it comes to individual combat, martial arts masters have never lost to anyone.
The 1,500 people who moved to Xiliang City were all incorporated into the city's garrison. They are not part of the regular army, but my private armed force, and therefore their salaries are paid by myself: fifty gold coins per month. Their families receive the same benefits as soldiers, with food and housing provided.
No matter where they are, these江湖 (jianghu) figures, despite their outward appearance of chivalry and swift victories, are always constantly on the move, always worrying about trouble for their families. Now, I've provided them with a generous salary that ensures they have no worries about food and clothing, and I've also helped solve their family problems, for which they are extremely grateful.
The amount of money is irrelevant to these jianghu heroes, but the fact that their parents, wives, and children can be placed with military families, living in an environment surrounded by soldiers, means that no enemy would dare to come near. They would be shot down by arrows before they even get close!
This is a great favor, and I have gained their loyalty because of it. Even if they aren't experts like Little Turtle or Little Bird, they will certainly unleash astonishing power when facing the barbarian army of the grasslands, letting those barbarians taste their own might.
I didn't usually impose many requirements on them. The martial arts practitioners are different from the Wang family. The Wang family is a clan with a thousand-year-old order; to put it bluntly, it's a miniature kingdom. Both direct and indirect descendants of the Wang family are trained according to strict standards. In the martial arts world, they are chivalrous heroes;
in the army, they are qualified officers. The martial arts practitioners, however, are the least able to tolerate constraints, and they don't understand military discipline. Using them in the army would only cause trouble. Therefore, I gave them ample freedom, allowing them several months each year to go out and do what they like. However, from May to October each year, they must stay in or around Xiliang City.
Hearing my rule, the martial arts practitioners were overjoyed. Although they enjoyed the life of wandering the martial arts world, they didn't want to be out all the time. Being able to spend half a year with their families and enjoy family life was something they couldn't ask for!
After settling their families, most of them were responsible for maintaining order in Xiliang City, preventing unrest and unease after the disaster. I also allowed them to kill any criminals they encountered without reporting to the authorities.
This tactic really worked. After killing hundreds of the thugs who had rushed in, Xiliang City was more peaceful than ever before.
The remaining three hundred or so martial arts heroes, led by Wang Miao'er, headed straight for the southern grasslands. Their mission was even more arduous; the important task entrusted to them by Chen Fuyue—to investigate the cause of this great defeat—fell to their shoulders.
Originally, given Wang Miao'er's noble status, she could have helped me handle some political and military affairs in Xiliang City. However, after being reprimanded by me several times, the little girl couldn't bear the embarrassment and disregarded her father's arrangement for her to stay by my side, leading several hundred martial arts heroes into the grasslands.
In this respect, Wang Miao'er possessed the spirit of a heroine, which made me look at her with new respect.

Chapter Four: Homesickness and Fear
I had just thought of Wang Miao'er here, and with a weary face, I entered the city magistrate's mansion.
Sitting under the shade of trees beside the garden, Wang Miao'er took a few sips of water. She was about to speak when she saw my ambiguous smile. The young woman's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "What? Don't you recognize me?"
Wang Miao'er had been out for a while. It was the hot season on the grasslands, and her daily horseback riding had tanned her considerably, but she looked very energetic, and her beautiful, lively eyes were even more captivating.
I smiled. "Miss Wang, I truly admire your noble birth and willingness to travel so far for the people of the Northwest. I was petty about what happened before; please forgive me."
"I know you noble children are all arrogant like this, I don't care."
Wang Miao'er waved her hand, her words almost choking me. "Besides, we have no connection whatsoever, so let's not waste any more words. Just listen to my important intelligence."
Her words clearly indicated she was still holding a grudge. I could only manage a wry smile and raise my hand, saying, "Please speak, Miss Wang. I am all ears."
This time, Wang Miao'er didn't say anything unpleasant. She organized her thoughts and said, "This time, we ventured deep into the grasslands, posing as merchants from small tribes. Small tribes are as numerous as hairs on the grasslands, and given our small numbers, they didn't attract much attention. However, because we secretly bribed important figures from various nobles and tribes, we finally obtained the data that General Chen had instructed us to find.
"The Five Tribes of Southern Desert launched an allied force to aid the Dangxiang people. It's true that the initiator was Duoluban of the Liji tribe, but according to the unanimous confirmation from those we bribed, the one who made this suggestion was not Duoluban, but his daughter, Princess Bilan, known as the 'Pearl of Southern Desert.' Eighteen years old this year, she is exceptionally intelligent and has been a renowned genius girl in Southern Desert since childhood. She studied under Gebuluhan, the national teacher of Huayun Kingdom, and her martial arts and wisdom are both top-notch."
"The Southern Desert Allied Forces achieved a Pyrrhic victory this time, but they plundered a great deal of people and wealth. According to our intelligence, the Dangxiang, Chaqin, Ciyi, Baotu, and Tai Niao tribes each obtained 50,000 women and children, as well as treasures and grain worth tens of millions of gold coins. Because of Princess Bilan, the Liji tribe alone obtained 100,000 women and children, and treasures and grain totaling 20 million gold coins.
With such a large influx of people and wealth, the Southern Desert will certainly have a better winter this year. However, due to a sharp decline in able-bodied men, the six tribes met at the Dangxiang camp and decided to form a formal alliance. Firstly, to defend against attacks from the large tribes of the Northern and Central Deserts; secondly… and thirdly, to prepare for another invasion of Xiliang City next year."
"Hmph! These barbarians are really addicted to this! Do they think my Xiliang City is so easy to bully?"
I roared in anger. "Come on, if you dare come, I'll make sure you never leave!"
Wang Miao'er glanced at me indifferently: "Your Highness, that's all my report. Do you have any other questions?" "
After my impassioned speech, this little girl not only didn't agree, but instead remained indifferent, instantly calming my anger.
"That woman named Bilan, what level is her martial arts?"
I asked her.
"Since she's the disciple of the Grand Preceptor of Huayun Kingdom, she's naturally skilled. I haven't had a chance to test her. Wherever she goes, she's followed by dozens of rigorously trained maids. I think even our Liufeng Kingdom's princess can't match her grandeur."
"Yes, yes, our Princess Yunfu is naturally kind and approachable; how can this barbarian woman compare?" "
Your Highness… although Princess Yunfu is your cousin, you don't need to flatter her so directly, do you?"
"What do you know? I'm telling the truth. Go to the capital and you'll see. " "
I was both amused and exasperated. Of course I'd praise my own wife; why would I say other women are better? Wang Miao'er didn't know our true relationship and took it as flattery. She
clearly didn't believe me, and said dismissively, 'Those maids are not only highly skilled in martial arts, but one of my men also discovered they've mastered a very powerful formation, no less formidable than a top-tier expert. It's quite troublesome.'
'How powerful can a group of women be?'
I said dismissively. 'Once things are settled here, I'll personally go and meet this Princess Bilan!'
'Anyway, be careful, don't come back angry after suffering a loss.'
Wang Miao'er nodded lightly. 'I'm back. Is there anything you want me to do?'
'What do you like to do?'
I countered.
'I'm good at intelligence processing. Let me command your city guard. I've had them deployed around the grasslands for the past few months; we can't let our guard down until winter arrives.'
Wang Miao'er said without hesitation.
'Okay.'" "
I nodded. "There's another matter you need to help me with."
"What is it?" "
There are about 260,000 to 270,000 new widows in Xiliang City. I'm worried they might be emotionally unstable. If they have any problems, I'll ask you to help them solve them. If they need money or things, you can handle it yourself; just ask them. You don't need to ask me."
This surprised Wang Miao'er greatly. The stubbornness in her eyes gradually faded, and she whispered, "You'd be so kind? Aren't these women and children worse than pigs and dogs in your master's eyes?"
"That's other people, not me."
I shook my head slightly. "For the sake of Liufeng Kingdom, their men have already died in battle. We can't let their families shed tears after the heroes have shed blood. I don't care what others do, but in my territory of Ren Lanting, I won't allow them and their children to be bullied."
"You do have some redeeming qualities."
Wang Miao'er hesitated for a moment. "You said you'd leave everything to me?"
"Of course."
Seeing her posture, I quickly added, "Xiliang City's foundation isn't strong enough right now, don't drain me dry all at once, be gentle."
For some reason, Wang Miao'er blushed, glared at me, said nothing, and got up to leave.
I thought about it for a long time, but still couldn't understand why the girl who had initially shown some gentleness would suddenly become coquettish again. Never mind, I've had too many worries lately, I'll deal with this little brat when I have time.
The afternoon sun in the Northwest was incredibly scorching; even though I was hiding in the shade, sweat was still pouring down like water.
Every morning, I would go to the military camp with Little Turtle and Little Bird, leading by example as we trained with the reserve army soldiers. With a high-ranking imperial envoy and a first-class duke training alongside them, the soldiers, needless to say, had fewer and fewer complaints.
After returning at noon, Little Turtle and Little Bird quickly washed up and went straight to the dining hall, not for any other reason than to see the newly arrived head chef of the city garrison.
In just a few days, Xiao Liang had become inseparable from the Keiko sisters. She talked about the situation in Japan in recent years, making my little beauty cry countless times. These past few nights, seeing my tearful wife clinging to me, I had no desire for intimacy. I could only gently coax my little beauties, promising to take them back to Japan as soon as possible.
Besides pleasing the Keiko sisters, Xiao Liang didn't forget her duty. On her first night at the manor, she prepared exquisite Japanese kaiseki cuisine. The taste was too bland for me, but it brought tears to Xiao Mei'er and Xiao Cai'er's eyes as they ate.
The most hateful were the two traitors, Xiao Gui and Xiao Niao! They ate with gusto, tears streaming down their faces, constantly calling out "Mama"—meaning the taste was so much like their mother's cooking back home. Back in Yizhou County, they had seen Keiko Hideyoshi's men crying towards the east at night, calling for their mothers in the same way, and they were using that method today.
However, despite it being the He tribe's way of expressing themselves, these two quintessential Liufeng people were putting on such a pretentious act for the sake of a beautiful woman. I utterly despise them.
Seeing the little turtle and bird like this only intensified the homesickness in the He tribe's little princesses and the young lady, who couldn't stop crying. If I hadn't kicked them out in the end, I don't know how long those two bastards would have continued their act.
Holding my wives, who had long since lost their appetite, I comforted them while keeping an eye on the young lady's behavior.
The young lady was also crying her eyes out, her delicate and innocent appearance breathtakingly beautiful. From any angle, she seemed genuinely heartbroken, but her identity as a Jade Maiden of the Ecstasy Sect made me feel that everything she did was fake.
The young lady was crying very sadly, but my divine sense clearly saw the little demoness's jade hand drawing circles behind her back.
If only we were in Wushuang County now, I could take some crushed ice from the ice cellar and make a chilled watermelon, with a few maids around to help me feel comfortable.
Just then, a stunningly beautiful young woman approached me. Dressed in a maid's outfit, she carried a large basket with apparent difficulty. As she slowly reached me, beads of sweat appeared on her delicate face, making her look even more fragile and charming.
In terms of appearance, Wang Miao'er and Xiao Liang were incomparable. Wang Miao'er was at best a pretty girl with delicate features, while Xiao Liang was a breathtakingly beautiful woman capable of causing the downfall of a nation.
However, I still preferred Wang Miao'er. This had nothing to do with their social status; it was mainly because I admired Wang Miao'er's straightforwardness and talent, and disliked the cold eyes behind Xiao Liang's charming smile.
"My lord..."
Xiao Liang put down her basket at the stone table beside me, slightly out of breath. A faint fragrance of magnolia emanated from her, and the warmth of her body stimulated my senses.
"What is it?"
I asked calmly. In her presence, I always maintained a cold and distant attitude.
"The young mistress said it's too hot, so she asked me to bring you some melons."
The maid, often treated coldly by me, spoke with a hint of timidity, but she moved quickly, opening the basket in a few swift movements. She took out two melons, round in the middle and pointed at both ends, cut them into six pieces, and placed them in front of me.
The Northwest has a hot climate, but it produces many good things. Leather goods and warhorses go without saying, and the melons I've been eating these past few days are also excellent.
The melons aren't as big as watermelons, with many veins on their surface, and they don't feel as smooth as watermelons. Inside, the flesh is a pale golden yellow, somewhat firm, but crisp when you bite into it. It's not as sweet as a watermelon, but it's more refreshing and delicious, especially suitable for the hot and dry weather of the Northwest.
"Have you settled in these past few days?"
I asked casually as I ate the melon.
"It's...okay..."
the maid's voice was soft and weak, "The young mistress and everyone have taken good care of me."
"That's good, go ahead and get busy!"
I waved my hand.
"Yes,"
the two boys replied softly, turning and running quickly back the way they came, nearly bumping into the little turtle and little bird coming from the opposite direction.
"Young master, you've made a move on the young lady again?"
The little turtle and little bird sat unceremoniously on my back, eating melons as they asked.
"Nothing, the two boys are naturally shy, and the more you talk, the more timid they become,"
I smiled.
"Oh!"
the little turtle and little bird drawled, clearly not believing me. In their eyes, I would never let go of such a beautiful female chef, so they usually just looked and didn't try to flirt with the two boys.
"Why didn't you go to the government office to learn how to handle government affairs? What are you doing back here?"
I asked curiously.
Because I didn't want to deal with trivial matters all day long, I sent the little turtle and little bird there under the pretext of helping them grow faster, but these two weren't the type to sit still and often ran away. Chi Changyun was at a loss with them, and vaguely mentioned to me that the two chief stewards had been busy with military affairs all morning, and suggested that they should take a rest so they wouldn't have to worry about political matters. However, I ignored him.
"Hey, what's the point of managing political affairs?"
Little Bird finished a piece of melon, then lowered her voice with a grin, "Young Master, aren't you going to 'Kaige Gate' later?"
"Yes, what, you want to go too?"
"Going to 'Kaige Gate' or not doesn't matter, but after we eat there, we can go out for a stroll in the evening."
Little Bird emphasized the word "stroll."
"This is a remote, impoverished place, filled with the sounds of weeping everywhere. What's there to see?"
I said lazily. "I'd rather stay home and sleep with my wife."
"Haha, young master, you don't know this, do you? After Little Turtle and I investigated and gathered intelligence, we found the four most beautiful widows in Xiliang City. We were originally going to invite you to see them tonight, but since you're not interested, let's forget it."
"Who said that?"
A smile appeared on my face. "As the city lord of Xiliang City, it's only right that I go and observe the people's conditions!"
"Hehe, we understand, we understand. Since young master is going to inspect the people's conditions, we will naturally escort him."
The two men exchanged glances with me and laughed heartily.

Chapter Five: A Private Visit to the People's Conditions
When we arrived at "Kaige Gate," the same waiter greeted us again, but this time he looked anything but relaxed. He was trembling with fear, afraid of saying the wrong thing, probably because he'd heard about my identity.
When asked if He Lei was there, the waiter was so frightened he could barely speak, stammering for a long time before finally saying that the manager had gone to Xingyong County on business and wouldn't be back until next month.
I smiled, unconcerned. He Lei's status was, after all, lower than the waiter's. Now that the waiter was with me, she wouldn't bother with the commotion. Besides, I was clearly interested in her beauty, and she wasn't ready to be taken advantage of. If she didn't avoid me, would I really let her into bed?
"Bring me some good dishes and a few bottles of good wine, quickly,"
I said, heading upstairs. Little Turtle, of course, tipped me another gold coin.
"Okay! Please wait a moment, coming right away!"
Holding the gleaming gold coin, the waiter finally called out loudly.
The cuisine of the Great Yuan Dynasty wasn't heavily seasoned, focusing on light and sweet flavors. Eating beef and mutton every day in the Northwest would be torture; in hot weather, a taste of Great Yuan cuisine was the best choice.
Because we were anxious about our evening "inspection of the people's conditions," the three of us ate very quickly, making the three young maids serving us laugh. They were mostly twelve or thirteen years old, unaware of social etiquette, which actually made us feel quite comfortable.
When it came time to pay the bill, the middle-aged accountant from last time was also very cautious, saying that since His Highness Lanting Gong was visiting "Kaige Gate," the owner had specifically instructed that there would be no charge.
Why would I take advantage of them? I instructed a young servant to bring out a bag of gold coins and place it on the table, about a hundred coins, but not as much as we had been ripped off by the beautiful woman last time.
Delicious food was now secondary in our eyes; our first priority was naturally to sneak into the widow's house at night.
For centuries, due to continuous warfare, the male-to-female ratio on the continent has been extremely skewed, resulting in a surplus of women. Therefore, the demands placed on women, especially widows, are not as strict as those in the old Confucian classics. Concepts like chastity arches and lifelong fidelity are meaningless.
All nations know that the most important thing is not these empty titles, but rather how to strengthen their own power. More men, more people, and more troops mean increased actual strength.
If every widow upholds the concept of chastity and doesn't bear children, what use is it besides wasting food?
Only when widows marry and have children is it truly beneficial to the empire. Therefore, both the Liufeng Kingdom and the Dayuan Kingdom on the continent have laws stipulating that widows, after observing a 49-day mourning period, can freely remarry, and no one can stop them.
Women who have been barren for a long time and remain single until old age are truly lonely and isolated; having a companion is better than anything else. Therefore, almost all widows are overjoyed by this law.
Most widows are young, many in their twenties or thirties. While they may not marry into wealthy families, marrying a bachelor in the countryside or a small town and receiving love and care is still quite good. Those
with some beauty naturally choose to become concubines in wealthy households, at least ensuring a comfortable life. If they can bear a child, even if the husband dies, they can still inherit some property and live a worry-free life.
As for Huayun Kingdom and other tribes on the grasslands… well, needless to say, they are practically a paradise for men!
In a large family, if the father dies, all his concubines except his own mother are divided among his sons; if a brother dies, his wives and concubines also belong to his brothers.
As for sisters, mothers and daughters, sisters-in-law, etc., as long as they are beautiful, there's no one they wouldn't dare marry. Unlike here, where even marrying a mother and daughter has to be done secretly; there's no way to do it openly.
After saying all this, you should now understand why we don't feel guilty about sneaking into widows' homes at night, right?
If Little Turtle, Little Bird, or I were to take a fancy to a widow, we would pursue her honestly and respectfully, always following proper etiquette, and never resorting to force.
As long as it's not rape or defilement of widows, and as long as it's consensual, no one can interfere. But if it's rape or humiliation, especially treating a soldier's widow like that, then her penis might be cut off—although the law doesn't apply to nobles, even many nobles wouldn't dare risk being gossiped about for such an evil deed.
Today's visit is quite particular.
Our so-called "visiting the widows' gates" is completely different from the activities of a wandering flower thief.
We're just using our light-footed skills to sneak a peek at just how beautiful the Four Great Beauties of Widows really are, and we're not doing anything else... well, but if we happen to stumble upon them bathing or something, then don't blame us for spying, right?
A senior member of the Heavenly Demon Path once said that a man's greatest interest in a woman is when he hears legends praising her beauty, and at the same time, he's on his way to meet her.
Right now, I'm half-heartedly imagining the charming appearances of the so-called Four Great Beautiful Widows, while simultaneously racing through the streets with Little Turtle and Little Bird, all the while trying to avoid patrolling soldiers and the city garrison guards.
"We're here."
At the back gate of a tall courtyard, Little Turtle and Little Bird stopped, glancing once more at their self-made "Guide Map for Stealing Fragrances," and pointed inside, saying, "The first beautiful widow is inside."
"Young Master, shall we go in?"
Little Bird rubbed his hands together, impatient.
"Wait a minute."
I looked around somewhat suspiciously. This was a street comprised of dozens of large courtyards, with crisscrossing paths between them, like a maze.
"Is there a problem?"
Little Turtle lowered his voice. "Don't worry, Young Master, I've inquired. This household only has women left now, plus servants, a total of fifteen women and six children."
"No, wait, why do I feel like I've been here before?"
I said, a look of recollection on my face.
"You've been here before?"
The little turtle and the little bird exclaimed in surprise. "Young Master, you've been here to steal kisses and lustful glances before?"
"Nonsense."
I gave them each a flick on the forehead. "Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
"But we finally found this place. How could you possibly know about it, Young Master?"
"Shut up... Let me think."
I raised my hand to stop them and closed my eyes to think.
I hadn't been in Xiliang City long, and soon my eyes lit up: "Hehe, I know! This is the residence of the lieutenant generals of the 'Silver Tiger Legion'!"
Little Turtle and Little Bird laughed in unison: "Young Master, isn't that obvious? Where else but members of the 'Silver Tiger Legion' could live in these residences in the eastern part of the city?"
I shook my head: "The reason I know this isn't because of that. A few days ago, I told Feng Wei and the others that I wanted to visit the families of the fallen generals, and they brought me here, and one of the families is this residence."
"Wow, Young Master, did you see that beautiful widow?"
"No, it was an old lady who came out to meet me."
I recalled, "She told me that the salary and rewards she received at home were already enough, and that I shouldn't give her any more gold coins, but rather give them to the ordinary soldiers who needed money."
"That's really good."
Little Bird gave a thumbs up. "Even her son sacrificed his life and she's still so loyal. Young Master, can we give her some honorary reward?"
"Well said!"
I praised him, "I've been thinking about it these past few days, but the Emperor's decree hasn't arrived yet. Once the money comes, let's award it along with the honor. If she weren't so polite, she would definitely have given it to us."
"Yes, yes,"
Little Turtle agreed, then asked, "So, shall we go in...go in and take a look?"
"Yes! Why wouldn't we?"
I said solemnly. "One thing at a time. Besides, we're just looking, we're not going to do anything. If you don't want to go, you can go home."
"How could we!"
the two quickly said. "Young Master, we can't let you be in danger alone. We have to be the first to go in dangerous places."
Without waiting for me to take a step, they swiftly scaled the wall, leaping through the air and landing on a large tree in the courtyard.
I smiled slightly, my figure barely moving, leaving a shadow in the moonlight, and landed beside them, my feet firmly planted on a soft branch.
Inside the courtyard walls were typical Northwest courtyard houses. Except for two rooms near the inner hall, which had dim lights, the rest was pitch black.
"Go,"
I nodded. The little turtle and the little bird understood and floated down to the ground, circling the rooms like a gust of wind.
"Gurgle...gurgle..."
Following their signal that it was safe, I darted to their side. Without a word, I landed silently and quietly approached the two adjacent rooms.
The windows were made of paper with wooden frames in the middle; a gentle poke in the corner would create a small hole. The little turtle and the little bird each poked a hole in one room. Then, the little turtle stepped back, while the little bird trembled, its eyes widening suddenly.
I was immediately furious. How could I not let my young master have a good opportunity first? So I shoved the little bird aside and stood at the small window hole myself.
Inside, a dim oil lamp illuminated the room. On the traditional Northwest kang (heated brick bed), a voluptuous and alluring young woman cradled a child, pressing the baby's head against her chest. Though only a glimpse of white skin was visible, not the large, rounded breasts, it was a delightful sight nonetheless.
The woman's face was slightly rounded, her fair skin rosy yet beautiful, exuding a mature charm. Her eyes, gazing at the child, seemed like pools of clear autumn water, and the faint smile on her lips enhanced her youthful allure.
Beside her sat a young maidservant with a towel and a paper fan, gently fanning the woman and occasionally wiping the sweat from her face.
The Northwest nights were as hot as the days, so the woman wore only a thin, loose undergarment and trousers. The fabric was rough, and only the outline of her full figure could be vaguely seen.
"Young Master, have you seen enough? Let me see too!"
"Wait!"
"Young Master, you can't keep it all to yourself..."
"I told you to wait!"
Seeing that I was staring intently, and that I hadn't given up my spot after a few words, the little turtle and little bird exchanged a glance and quietly poked two small holes next to me. The three of us, master and servants, lined up in a straight line in front of the window, watching intently.
Although the beautiful young woman didn't make any moves, only gently patting the child's body and occasionally humming a few soft tunes, this beautiful scene had already captivated the little turtle, little bird, and me.
After all, I've had countless beauties, and my resistance is much stronger than the little turtle and little bird's. After an incense stick's time, I looked away and tugged at the little turtle and little bird, signaling them to stop looking.
"Don't rush, let me see some more!"
The two ignored me completely, still staring hungrily and intently.
"It's almost time. Aren't there three more beautiful widows to see? If you like them, you can come again tomorrow..."
These words made the two reluctantly lower their heads and leave.
"Little bird, I suddenly want to nurse..."
Little Turtle said seriously, making me almost burst out laughing.
But even more pathetic than me was Little Bird. Instead of laughing, he seemed to share my sentiments: "Little Turtle, you've hit the nail on the head! Look at this beautiful widow's breasts, how big! How could a little brat possibly finish them all? It's no good leaving them inside! It seems these beautiful widows can only be saved by us two brothers!"
"I think we can make a plan called 'Saving Breasts'... Ah, young master, why did you hit me? I didn't say you couldn't come and save breasts too."
"You scoundrel, you should just say 'Saving your lustful brains' would be more direct,"
I laughed and scolded. "Aren't you going to hurry up?"
"Okay!"
The second house was at the South Gate, also among rows of neat courtyards. The two cunning thieves skillfully found the second beautiful widow's door.
I asked them why they hadn't taken any wrong turns. They patted their chests and boasted that they had a natural ability to smell beautiful women from thousands of miles away—how could they be wrong?
Chatting and laughing all the way, we arrived at the beautiful widow's house. But as soon as we stepped into the courtyard, before even reaching the house, we heard faint lewd whispers. This was because our martial arts skills allowed us to hear in all directions; an ordinary person wouldn't have been able to hear it from this spot.
"You haven't come to the wrong place, have you? The two stewards of the 'Scent of a Woman'?"
I turned and asked them.
"No mistake, this is the place. We even marked it yesterday afternoon. 'Little Turtle and Little Bird are also very curious,'" "
It might not be the beautiful widow, but someone else in her family. What if her brother-in-law's family is also involved?"
"Then let's go check it out first."
I nodded, somewhat disbelieving, but still walked inside. This time ,
due to my ancestral aversion, I had no intention of hiding; I'd strike anyone I encountered. There are probably very few who could sneak into a widow's house as openly and honestly as I did, right?
The houses around the south gate were where the lower-ranking officers of the "Silver Tiger Legion" lived. The courtyard wasn't large; a few steps led to the room where the maids were making lewd noises. I first poked open the window paper and saw a man and a woman rolling around on the kang (heated brick bed).
The woman was sitting on top of the man, rocking back and forth, constantly making joyful moans.
Upon closer inspection, the woman was very beautiful, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. She had an oval face and willow-leaf eyebrows, a beautiful face above a full, snow-white body. What was most astonishing was that she was swaying her hips while touching her own breasts, a lewd and stimulating sight.
The man beneath her wasn't particularly handsome, but he was young and strong; only a man like that could satisfy a woman's desires!
I took two steps back, just as Little Turtle and Little Bird returned from the side, shaking their heads at me, indicating that there were no beauties in the other rooms. It seemed that this well-furnished room was the residence of the mistress—the beautiful widow.
This time, I didn't compete with them, generously pointing and saying, "Fairies fighting, watch if you like."
Little Turtle and Little Bird hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Yes, let's watch. We need to gather detailed evidence to bring this adulterous couple to justice!"
Having found a good excuse, the two boys eagerly pressed their faces against the window, greedily watching the live sex show, their focused attention even more intense than when they had watched the first beautiful woman breastfeeding.
Perhaps the two of them were also interested in the gentle breeze and fine wine, but they preferred the thrill of a storm!
When they left the second house, Little Turtle and Little Bird's eyes were already red, but they still had to see the remaining two beautiful widows, so they suppressed their urge to go to "Phoenix Cry Tower" and went to the third widow's house instead.
Unfortunately, the third widow was similar; the beautiful woman was thrusting her large buttocks into a man's penis.
The only difference was that the man having sex with her was a middle-aged man in his fifties, who was excitedly thrusting relentlessly, while the beautiful young woman moaned softly, tears welling in her eyes.
"Damn it, rape!"
Little Turtle and Little Bird were furious upon seeing this and immediately tried to rush in.
"Wait."
I grabbed the two of them, lowering my voice. "Even if it's rape, what kind of behavior is it to just barge in like this? Besides, don't you think that although this young woman is unwilling, she's not resisting very fiercely? The situation doesn't seem like what you're thinking."
"How can it not be?"
Little Turtle took two steps back and said angrily, "Look at the beautiful young woman's teary eyes, look at that man's smug look, what else could it be but rape?"
"Yeah, young master, you usually can't stand seeing others bully people, what's wrong with you today?"
Little Bird asked, puzzled. "You don't think they're playing a rape game, do you?"
"Why are you all panicking? Do you think I'm the kind of person who would just stand by and watch someone die?"
I laughed. "I'm just afraid that if you rush in, the man will certainly be cut into pieces, but this beautiful widow won't survive either."
"Why?"
"Idiots, can't you use your brains? Don't you think this looks like what happened at Zhang Zhen's house outside the West Gate two years ago?"
Three years ago? Ah! You mean... incest! "Little Turtle and Little Bird are clever after all, and they immediately realized what was going on.
'Stealing ashes' is a euphemism, meaning that after a woman marries into a family, her father-in-law uses various means to seduce her into bed, and from then on, the father and son share her. This is a very serious moral issue... but every lecherous man likes it.
" The two thought for a moment and nodded repeatedly: "That's right, who else but her family could make the beautiful widow resentful but not be allowed to speak out, and still appear openly in the house?"
They finally understood, so I told them the rest: "Think about it, if you discover this, the man will certainly die, but what about the beautiful widow? If such a humiliating thing is discovered by others, who can guarantee that you won't tell? How can she face living on?"
"Yes, then she will be like Zhang Zhen's maternal granddaughter-in-law, unable to bear everyone's pointing fingers, and finally commit suicide by jumping into the river." "
Little Turtle and Little Bird broke out in a cold sweat. 'Young Master, you're so smart, otherwise we would have harmed this beautiful widow.'"
"Good that you know. We're all grown up now, no longer the little tyrants of Wushuang City. It's never a bad thing to think things through before acting."
I said, adopting a composed and aloof demeanor.
"Yes."
The two chuckled. "Young Master, since you stopped us, you must have figured out what to do, right?"
"Of course."
I lowered my voice again, "Come closer..."

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