[Fantasy] The Rogue Landlord (Complete) - Part 2

Chapter Three: The Girl's First Night

Zhao Qian felt a little embarrassed by her gaze and said softly, "Your Highness, please take a seat. This servant will fetch water for you to wash your feet."

"Hmm..."

Xu Ping looked at her beautiful curves, licked his lips, and casually sat down on the edge of the bed, ready to enjoy the little beauty's service.

Zhao Qian fetched a basin of warm water and knelt before Xu Ping. Somewhat clumsy and nervous, she removed the man's shoes and socks, gently holding Xu Ping's feet and carefully washing them, not forgetting to massage the soles. The warmth of the water and Ling'er's familiar technique made Xu Ping groan comfortably. He looked at the earnest girl before him with tenderness in his eyes. Unlike those stiff or even flirtatious palace maids, she seemed so focused, as if each gentle touch of her small hands was meant to bring him extreme pleasure.

After washing her lover's feet, Zhao Ling blushed and dried them, but then didn't know what to do next.

Xu Ping lay on the bed, looking expectantly at Ling'er's bewildered expression. She stood there blankly like a child who had done something wrong. He chuckled softly and said, "My little darling, the moon is high in the sky. Shouldn't we consummate our marriage?"

He patted the blankets beside him.

Ling'er hesitated for a moment, then glanced shyly at Xu Ping before getting up and blowing out the candles.

In the darkness, she could vaguely hear the rustling of clothes changing, and then a delicate body exuding a captivating fragrance approached her. Seeing the beauty approach, Xu Ping immediately pulled her into his arms. Unfortunately, Zhao Ling was still wearing her close-fitting underwear, so he couldn't feel her smooth skin, which was a little disappointing. However, just smelling her fragrance was enough to entice him.

It was the first time Zhao Ling had been held like this by a man, and she felt a surge of heat, her heart raced, her breathing became slightly rapid, and her delicate body began to stiffen with tension.

Xu Ping, having watched too many adult videos in his past life, was still a virgin. After a slight moment of surprise, he rolled over and pinned her beneath him, whispering, "Ling'er, let me take care of you from now on, okay?"

Zhao Ling felt her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to explode. Smelling the overwhelming scent of the man, she closed her eyes and whispered in a voice barely above a whisper, "Brother Ping, you must cherish Ling'er."

Seeing her alluring, submissive appearance, Xu Ping knew he'd be a fool not to act. He gently removed his own clothes, his hands beginning to undress the beauty. With each clasp he unbuttoned, he felt Ling'er tremble. The atmosphere grew increasingly intimate as he stripped the beauty beneath him into a naked lamb.

Although it was darkness, Zhao Ling instinctively closed her eyes and covered her private parts with her small hands. Xu Ping gently removed her small hands that were covering her chest, his tongue deftly licking her delicate earlobe as he breathed hot air into her ear: "Ling'er, be good, let your brother take good care of you."

Before he finished speaking, his hand had already grasped her firm, shapely breasts. They weren't large, but they were round and full, soft and incredibly elastic, just the right size to hold tightly in one hand.

Zhao Ling had never experienced such stimulation before; it was the first time her youthful body had been touched like this. A tingling sensation ran through her, and she couldn't help but moan softly, then shyly covered her mouth. Xu Ping chuckled mischievously as he removed her hands and lowered his head to kiss her two rosy lips. Seeing the beauty nervously keeping her mouth shut, he mischievously squeezed her breast with his large hand. Zhao Ling instinctively wanted to moan, but Xu Ping seized the opportunity to invade her mouth with his tongue, savoring her sweet taste and guiding her tongue to follow suit.

Gently licking the girl's smooth little tongue, Xu Ping had soon kissed her until her delicate body trembled. Zhao Ling gradually began to respond awkwardly, their tongues entwining fiercely in the air, greedily seeking each other's taste, making a series of wet, smacking sounds.

Xu Ping kissed her until she was breathless before reluctantly lifting his head. Zhao Ling's eyes were already glazed over, covered with a layer of alluring mist, her slightly parted mouth breathing hot air.

While gently kissing her heaving breasts, Xu Ping took her small hand and guided it to his penis. The moment her hand touched the hot, hard rod, Zhao Ling immediately tried to pull it back as if she had been electrocuted, but helplessly, her hand was held by her lover, so she had no choice but to obediently hold it gently.

After guiding her smooth little hands up and down, Xu Ping couldn't help but inhale a comfortable breath, saying with an ambiguous expression, "My darling Ling'er, look how beautiful you are, making your husband so excited."

Zhao Ling shyly felt her lover's large penis, which was too big to hold with one hand, hot and burning. Hearing the embarrassing words, she closed her eyes, looking completely at his mercy. Seeing the beauty so shy, Xu Ping, while enjoying the pleasure from her little hands, used both his hands and mouth to roam over her body. When his tongue lightly teased her tender nipples, Ling'er couldn't help but murmur.

Xu Ping's large hand reached down, touching the soft, short pubic hair, teasing her flower cave that had never been touched by a man before. After a gentle caress, Zhao Ling had never experienced such stimulation. After a soft moan, her private parts gradually became wet, and Xu Ping's fingers, taking advantage of this moisture, slowly inserted themselves.

Zhao Ling, a virgin, was no match for Xu Ping's teasing. Soon, her grip on his penis loosened, and soft, seductive moans escaped her lips. Her smooth, beautiful legs opened limply, allowing Xu Ping to violate her most sensitive and alluring triangle.

Seeing how wet she was, Xu Ping prepared himself, hoisting her legs onto his shoulders. He aimed his penis at her wet opening, and with some difficulty, thrust into her tight, alluring place.

The intrusion caused Zhao Ling to wince in pain, but she bit her lip, remaining silent, her hands trembling as she gripped the sheets. She felt a hot, hard iron rod being inserted into her lower body; its size was beyond her comfort, and a wave of fullness and throbbing pain washed over her.

Her tension caused her vagina to contract even more tightly, making it difficult for Xu Ping to slowly insert his penis. He felt Zhao Ling's small body begin to tremble violently, and he quickly stopped at a barrier—the legendary hymen. The intense pleasure of feeling the tightness of her hymen and the friction of her tender flesh was incredibly pleasurable.

After a short adjustment, Xu Ping gently lowered his head and began licking her white neck. The beauty beneath him was still too tense; if he didn't relax her, it would be difficult to penetrate.

Using every method he knew, Xu Ping licked her nipples and sucked on her earlobe, teasing her for a while before finally feeling Zhao Ling's lower body become wet, and her tense clenching loosened slightly. Seeing the beauty's slight arousal, Xu Ping immediately whispered gently in her ear, "Baby, it might hurt a little in a moment, but it'll be over after the first time."

The beauty felt she was already getting used to the man's penis beneath her, unaware that the biggest obstacle hadn't been overcome. She wrapped her arms around Xu Ping's neck, gazing deeply into her man's eyes and saying, "Yes! Come in, Ling'er wants to be your woman."

Xu Ping saw the opportunity; better a short, sharp pain than a long, drawn-out one. He thrust his lower body forward, his entire penis plunging inside. He felt his penis reach its very end, seemingly hitting an even narrower spot. His entire penis was tightly enveloped by a warm place, the tender flesh rhythmically undulating, like a group of children gently caressing him. He was so overwhelmed with pleasure he almost groaned.

Qian'er let out a piercing scream, feeling a tearing pain in her lower body. It felt as if the entire penis had penetrated her abdomen, splitting her in two. She gritted her teeth in pain, tears streaming down her face, but she only sobbed softly.

Feeling her body trembling and convulsing, Xu Ping quickly lowered his head and licked away the tears on Zhao Ling's face with the tip of his tongue, whispering comforting words while licking her nipples and whispering sweet nothings. One hand caressed her firm, fragrant buttocks, while the other gently teased her beautiful breasts, his lower body still pressed tightly against her deepest depths, enjoying the powerful clenching of her vagina.

"Baby, does it still hurt?"

Xu Ping asked, tenderly licking her lips.

Zhao Ling was still sobbing softly, but the pain seemed to have lessened considerably. She said shyly but with a hint of anticipation, "A little...it doesn't hurt much anymore."

Seeing that she had adapted much better, Xu Ping gently began to thrust, pumping in and out of her small flower-like opening. Each movement was exceptionally gentle, as if afraid of startling the beauty beneath him again.

Zhao Ling initially felt a little pain, but with her lover's gentle movements, she began to feel a surge of pleasure. Seeing that his beauty had adapted, Xu Ping slowly increased the intensity of his thrusts.

As the rhythm of his movements gradually quickened, Zhao Ling experienced unprecedented pleasure, involuntarily moaning. Although soft, to Xu Ping's ears, it was an aphrodisiac signal. His mind went blank, and he pulled her jade-like legs to his waist, lifting her firm, fragrant buttocks with both hands and thrusting even harder, slamming into the beauty's tender flesh.

The room was filled with passion; the woman's silvery moans and the sounds of flesh colliding, along with their heavy breathing, made the entire night sensual.

"Brother Ping... I can't take it anymore..."

"Ling... Ling'er is... is going to die... ah..."

Zhao Ling had been suppressing her emotions, but finally, when a powerful current, unlike anything she had ever experienced, surged through her lower body, she felt every cell in her body go wild, and she couldn't help but moan and cry out.

Xu Ping also felt her vagina contract with unusually strong force, gripping him so tightly that he couldn't bear the intense pleasure. He couldn't help but roar, letting out a muffled groan as the woman swayed almost frantically, powerfully ejaculating his first semen into her body. After a few weak swaying movements, waves of heat gushed out, and he felt a gush of hot liquid also gushing from Zhao Ling's vagina, knowing that they had both reached orgasm simultaneously. A

perfect first time!

After the initial pleasure subsided, Xu Ping felt utterly exhausted. He let out a deep breath, rolled over, and pulled the limp, boneless beauty into his arms. He smugly thought to himself that he was indeed impressive; he had brought this little beauty to orgasm on his first try—his future was limitless!

Zhao Ling seemed completely drained, lying weakly on Xu Ping's chest with her eyes half-closed. Her full, soft breasts rose and fell with each deep breath, truly captivating.

"Qian'er, Ling'er."

After resting for a while, Xu Ping felt the beauty's breathing gradually stabilize and couldn't help but call out twice, only to find, to his amusement and dismay, that she had fallen asleep on top of him, while his limp penis remained inside her.

Having just experienced lovemaking for the first time, Xu Ping felt himself hardening again soon as he held the soft, fragrant body in his arms. Hearing her sweet breath, he couldn't bear to cherish her again. He gently stroked her hair, shifted his hips slightly, and withdrew his member from her body.

"This girl..."

Xu Ping smiled, holding her tightly, suppressing the intense urge in his lower body. Embracing his first woman in this life, he slowly drifted off to sleep.

The morning sunlight slowly streamed into the room, waking the sleeping man. Xu Ping reluctantly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Qian'er, who was holding him happily. Her beautiful face was full of sweet smiles, her long eyelashes fluttering alluringly. In the beautiful morning light, the girl's jade-like hands held him tightly, her soft, smooth skin pressed against his body, and his lower body began to harden again.

He didn't know whether to be happy or frustrated, his manhood remained erect. Knowing that the little beauty must have been badly injured after he deflowered her last night, he could only helplessly choose to endure it for the time being. What a pity.

After gently setting her delicate body down, Xu Ping tiptoed to his feet and stretched. Things were finally over. Today's task was to properly modify his carriage. If it continued this bumpy ride, he'd probably die before even becoming emperor. Besides, in its current state, if the two of them got excited and had sex, it might shake the carriage apart. Naked

, looking back at Zhao Ling's alluring curves on the bed, Xu Ping almost wanted to lose all humanity and pounce on her again to enjoy her beautiful body, or even have her give him oral sex. But she was, after all, his first woman, and the tenderness in his heart prevented him from doing so.

Zhao Ling had a sweet dream all night. She woke up abruptly when someone moved, and she quickly pulled the covers over her body. Still a little groggy, she looked at the healthy male body before her, shyly turning her head away. In a gentle voice, she said, "Brother Ping, why are you up so early? Let me help you change."

Her face, now that of a newlywed, already exuded a charm and allure; after last night's encounter, she was practically a little wife.

Zhao Ling tried to sit up, but even the slightest movement caused a slight pain in her lower body, and she couldn't help but frown.

Xu Ping looked at the flower he had ravaged all night; the bright red flower on the sheet testified to her purity. Seeing Zhao Ling's pained expression, he couldn't help but hug her tightly, saying with heartache, "Silly girl, you've just lost your virginity, so rest well today. I can do it myself. I have something to do in a little while, I'll have someone make you something nourishing. Just lie here quietly and don't move, okay?"

Zhao Ling glanced at the plum blossom marks on the sheets that witnessed her becoming a woman, and the traditional virtues of obedience and chastity began to stir in her mind. She immediately shook her head, her face flushed with a mixture of shyness and joy, and said, "No, I have to serve you now, please let me get up."

Xu Ping pressed her shoulders somewhat domineeringly, looking at her chest covered with his kiss marks with a lewd smile, licking his lips as he said, "Alright, but I want to do it again, how about you put your clothes back on afterward?"

"No..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ling immediately put on a pitiful look and pleaded, "I don't even hurt anymore!"

"If you know it hurts, lie down properly, or I'll do it to you again,"

Xu Ping threatened sternly, but his tone was full of affection, without a trace of blame.

Zhao Ling felt a warm sense of happiness as she savored her lover's tenderness. She nodded shyly, leaning against Xu Ping, and said softly, "Brother Ping, I feel like I'm dreaming! Thank you for being so kind to Ling'er."

Class consciousness is still at play! Xu Ping sighed inwardly. Besides male chauvinism, there's also the difference in status. Will this deeply ingrained idea make her afraid to play the woman-on-top role with him in the future? Interesting!

Xu Ping stared lewdly at her breasts and said, "It's alright, I'm already very happy! There will be plenty of opportunities next time. We can try other things, and you'll have to serve me well then, understand? This is our bedroom pleasure."

He then began to caress the girl's rounded breasts, expertly fondling them. His large hands squeezed her full breasts, and soon Zhao Ling, who had just lost her virginity, was panting heavily. Seeing Zhao Ling's flushed face and faint moans, her beautiful eyes filled with a layer of mist, she looked particularly alluring and seductive. Afraid that he might lose control and become a beast, he quickly and gently put the girl down, pulled the blanket up, and after a moment of tenderness, left.

Xu Ping, humming a tune to celebrate his loss of virginity, sat down in the front hall when Lin Wei approached, bowing with a sly grin and saying, "Congratulations, Your Highness! You've eliminated a menace, reaped silver, and won the heart

of a beauty on your wedding night." Xu Ping, though in a good mood, ignored him. He instructed Zhang Hu to find a group of carpenters and blacksmiths, pondering the simplest shock absorber design and other necessary components for the carriage. While thinking, he diligently drew blueprints. Seeing his master so focused, Lin Wei dared not frolic and busied himself serving tea and water.

A short while later, Zhang Hu returned with several men. Xu Ping didn't say much, leading them to the courtyard. Pointing to the carriage, he began explaining his ideas—how to build the things, how to make the new carriage. His advanced knowledge astonished the group of old craftsmen. These ideas were simply fantasy to them.

Xu Ping had no choice; if it weren't for the need to make things more comfortable for himself, he wouldn't have bothered with this idea. You see, there was no spring steel back then; everything had to be achieved through substitutes, which made things more difficult.

An old man who looked to be in his sixties excitedly held up the blueprints, his lips trembling as he said, "I've been a blacksmith all my life, and I've never seen such an ingenious structure. If it can really be built according to this design, I can die in peace."

Xu Ping didn't even bother to look at them. What were these old men getting so excited about? He had already guessed this outcome; otherwise, all those years of reading online novels would have been for nothing. He ordered them to get to work quickly. An older craftsman patted his chest and said, "Young master, don't worry. Although we don't have your exquisite skills, we've been craftsmen all our lives. We'll definitely have this car finished by tomorrow morning."

Seeing that Xu Ping had already gotten up and returned to the living room, Zhang Hu said to the group, "Do your work well. Money is not a problem. If the young master is satisfied, there will be a reward. But you all have to do your work beautifully, without the slightest mistake, understand?"

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly went back to work, holding the blueprints as if they were precious treasures.

Everyone was amazed by Xu Ping's design. Zhang Hu, though not understanding it, couldn't help but mutter, "Our Prince is truly amazing. He seems to be proficient in everything; there's nothing he doesn't know."

Lin Wei sighed, "Yes, although our master is only fifteen, his cultivation is unfathomable. We still don't know how high his martial arts level is. People in the palace say he can now fight the Wanbaoge's retainers one-on-one. I really don't know how he trained!"

Both of them unanimously concluded with two words: freak. If they had to add two more words, it would only be "abnormal."

Xu Ping sat on the Crown Prince's chair, closed his eyes, and pondered.

His mind was still on the issue of money. Three million taels of silver had to be handed over to his grandfather, the Emperor. According to the normal procedure, he would one day become Emperor himself, and before that, he had to accumulate enough wealth and cultivate his own power. Over the years, he had seen plenty of those pedantic scholars, threatening suicide in court, each one trying to remonstrate with their lives. Just hearing the rumors made him want to kill them.

If I were to ascend the throne, I wouldn't want any of these people. Besides their glib tongues, they have practically no other abilities; they're just asking for trouble. My greatest purpose in life is to have fun. If, after becoming emperor, the borders are unstable, the country is in turmoil, and the treasury is practically empty, where would I find the time for pleasure?

Simply killing these corrupt officials won't accumulate that much wealth, and it's not sustainable. Moreover, killing too many would definitely create panic. Those ministers have received plenty of tribute from the borders, and they'll surely fear being implicated and petition the court. Therefore, this method is only usable in the short term; it's unreliable in the long run. It seems doing business is a safer bet.

Thinking about my chemistry background, where can I find such sophisticated instruments these days? A brilliant idea flashed into my mind. Even the wine he drank in the palace was a bit yellowish and bitter. People in the Ming Dynasty hadn't mastered fermentation and distillation techniques, but that was child's play for him. He'd already experimented with making strong-aroma baijiu before and succeeded.

Represented by brands like Luzhou Laojiao Tequ, Wuliangye, and Yanghe Daqu, it's characterized by its strong aroma and sweet taste. The main fermentation ingredient is sorghum, and it uses a mixed-steaming, continuous-fermentation process. It's made in aged cellars, some of which are artificially cultivated. Among famous liquors, strong-aroma baijiu has the largest production volume. Wineries in Sichuan and Jiangsu produce this type of baijiu, and this brewing method is sure to be successful in this society.

And the key is that Xu Ping himself enjoys a few sips. Since coming to this world, drinking those bitter "fine wines," he's even considered giving them up. This way, he can satisfy his cravings—why not?

Having made up his mind, Xu Ping quickly drew up a set of design drawings for the brewing equipment and had Zhang Hu handle it immediately. Once the trial was successful, mass production could begin. He felt more comfortable having his own people manage the distillery, and with the prestigious "Ding Wang" brand, the wine would become a famous brand without even being tasted, ensuring a steady stream of business.

After considering his options, he sent Lin Wei to fetch Zhao Meng.

Zhao Meng rushed in, looking at his brother-in-law with utmost respect. Ever since learning that his sister had risen in status, Zhao Meng had walked with a much straighter back. Especially after returning to the county yesterday, all the local gentry had craned their necks to invite him for drinks. He had never received such treatment before; truly, when one person achieves success, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!

Xu Ping didn't say much, simply telling him casually that he was going to start a distillery and asked him to gather the people from Black Tiger Village back to work there!

Without a second thought, Zhao Meng said happily, "Your Highness, with such an opportunity, we brothers would definitely be willing to earn a decent living. If it weren't for Li Dong forcing us, we wouldn't have become outlaws. We just don't know how to do it, and we're afraid we won't do it well."

Xu Ping thought for a moment. This wasn't a particularly complicated technique; one or two tries would be enough to get the hang of it. To prevent leaks, he still said with some concern, "It's very simple. I'll teach you, and you'll understand. Just manage this distillery well and make sure the method doesn't get out."

Seeing Xu Ping's trust, Zhao Meng immediately patted his chest and excitedly promised, "Your Highness, rest assured! We brothers are only able to live peacefully because of your great kindness. If anyone harbors any disloyalty or does anything to betray you, I'll behead them and offer my own head along with them."

"Hmm,"

Xu Ping nodded in satisfaction. People in this era were still quite simple-minded. But the best thing about them was their trustworthiness. Zhao Meng had always been a good person, and now he was his brother-in-law; there shouldn't be any problems with him getting things done.

After Zhang Hu returned with the supplies, Xu Ping began teaching brewing and distillation techniques in the side hall. He worked tirelessly for an entire afternoon, leaving them dumbfounded and watching as if they were witnessing a magic trick. The first bottle of strong-aroma baijiu of this era was finally produced.

When Xu Ping nervously opened the bottle, a sweet and mellow aroma immediately wafted out. It was a success! Xu Ping breathed a slight sigh of relief. It seemed the physical reactions in this world were still the same as before; at least there was no need to worry about things like rice fermenting into sulfuric acid.

Everyone was invigorated by the smell. Lin Wei, in particular, insisted on trying the liquor.

Zhao Meng poured a glass for each person, and the three of them gulped it down. Xu Ping watched their reactions nervously. This was a way to make money in the future; he couldn't afford to make a mistake and poison someone.

Lin Wei's eyes lit up as he said, "Young Master, I simply don't know how to describe you! Even the imperial chefs in the palace couldn't make this kind of divine brew. This is the first time in my life I've tasted such fine wine."

Zhang Hu, usually so composed, couldn't help but exclaim with delight, "Young Master, this wine has perfect color, aroma, and taste! What's even more remarkable is its clear, transparent color—something I've never heard of before. After tasting it, I realize I've been drinking the wrong wines all along!"

Zhao Meng, after a long while, finally savored the experience, his face beaming with excitement, "Your Highness, the brewing of this wine is truly ingenious, and its aroma is incredibly fragrant. If brewing this wine didn't make money, I'd be worse than a dog. The fragrance is so far-reaching and lingering, it's truly the best in the world!"

Xu Ping, seeing the successful brewing, breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing their excited expressions, he couldn't reveal that he had sent them to test for poison.

He instructed Lin Wei to set aside 50,000 taels of silver to set up a winery, and that it had to be a large-scale operation to maximize profits. After giving the second detailed instructions, he instructed that the first batch of brewed wine be divided in half according to quality: one half to be sent to the palace, and the other half to the Prince of Yan's residence. After all, he had to be a dutiful son, and if even the royal family drank this wine, its reputation would surely rise quickly.

Given the unreliable equipment and unstable technology, coupled with some inexperienced brewers, the quality of the wine produced in a single batch would inevitably vary, so he deliberately separated the wines by quality.

Zhao Meng meticulously noted everything down, then asked with unease, "Your Highness, how should the price be set?"

Xu Ping thought for a moment. High-end goods in any era always command high prices; people buy expensive, not cheap. This mentality has always been a hard truth. He immediately offered a hefty price: "Divide it into two types. When you get back, categorize them. One type is the best, packaged in exquisite porcelain, each bottle containing only one jin (500 grams), priced at twenty taels of silver. The other type is slightly inferior, in ordinary jars, each containing five jin, selling for fifty taels of silver. Both bottles and jars must be engraved with the words 'Ten Mile Fragrance.' Keep the best quality for yourself; don't sell it outside."

Zhao Meng was startled upon hearing this, listening to Xu Ping's... His tone wasn't joking; he tentatively asked, "Isn't this price too high? I just calculated the cost of brewing; one tael of silver can produce about ten catties. Besides, the best Daughter's Red wine outside only sells for one tael of silver for two catties. I'm afraid I won't be able to sell it!"

Xu Ping laughed loudly, slowly patting Zhao Meng's shoulder and saying, "Just rest assured and sell it at the price I set! It's a rare commodity; not raising the price would be foolish. You'll definitely make a fortune every day; you don't need to worry about that. Remember, the unified name for the wine is 'Ten Mile Fragrance.'"

Zhao Meng still harbored doubts, but he could only agree. Perhaps it was out of a strange admiration for his brother-in-law or the royal family that he felt somewhat at ease. After bidding farewell to everyone, he hurried off to prepare for the winery's affairs.

Chapter Four: The New Emperor

Ascends the Throne . Originally, according to the plan, Xu Ping should have continued south, but suddenly news arrived that the old emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was critically ill. Thinking of his grandfather's handsome face and smiling countenance, so stern yet filled with extraordinary love for him, Xu Ping felt as if his heart had been struck hard by a hammer, leaving him breathless with sorrow.

He rushed back to the capital, so worried that he couldn't eat, causing his new wife, Zhao Ling, to weep silently at times. When he saw the vast capital draped with white banners, Xu Ping felt dizzy and collapsed, his body giving way. Although he didn't faint, he terrified the three people traveling with him.

Returning to the palace with a heavy heart, Xu Ping was met with the old emperor's imposing body. His head throbbed with pain, unable to believe the cold corpse before him. Just days before, his grandfather had been laughing and chatting with him. For the fifteen years since his time travel, this adoptive grandfather had never been stingy with his love for Xu Ping, and Xu Ping had completely embraced the role of grandson. But before he could even fulfill his filial duty, the emperor was gone. He found it hard to accept.

Although Zhu Yunwen was also deeply grieved, he suppressed his sorrow and led his officials in a month-long, elaborate, and solemn funeral for the late emperor. Only when the emperor was laid to rest in his mausoleum did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Xu Ping felt like a walking corpse during this time, fainting several times from grief before his grandfather's memorial service. The entire court was moved, proclaiming that the late emperor would surely be pleased if he knew. Those pedantic scholars, waving the banner of "a country cannot be without a ruler for a day," held the enthronement ceremony after the old emperor's seven-day

mourning period ended. Xu Ping, bearing the title of the new crown prince, was exhausted, overwhelmed by the numerous rituals and regulations, and nearly wanted to run away. Although somewhat hastily, Zhu Yunwen officially sat on the dragon throne. Despite his lingering grief, he couldn't help but feel a secret joy at ruling the world. After ascending the throne, before the civil and military officials could even adjust, Zhu Yunwen suddenly launched a swift and decisive purge. Overt and covert forces gradually surfaced, employing a ruthless and insidious method that led to the downfall of officials caught completely off guard.

The turmoil in the court made Xu Ping look at his father, who had always feigned madness, with new respect. It seemed he had long been prepared for his own ascension, with someone quickly filling every vacant position. With the support of Xu Ping and another prince of a different surname, the court, which had been in turmoil for over a month, finally stabilized.

Although only a small portion of the powerful ministers and their former subordinates were purged, it deterred others with ulterior motives. After all, a new emperor brings a new court; it's best to be obedient to ensure one's safety.

The three months of turmoil in the court had left Xu Ping sweating profusely. These officials were all ruthless in their manipulations; if he didn't learn to be a little more cunning, he wouldn't be able to keep up. Their methods and intellect were simply too formidable. Compared to the shamelessness of those officials, he was truly too naive.

It seemed he needed to make more preparations to avoid a future situation where powerful ministers held sway. His father had secretly and openly amassed so much influence; this foresight was truly surprising! After pondering his plan for several days, Xu Ping decided to talk to his father.

Zhu Yunwen had recently lost a lot of weight; if it weren't for his thorough preparations, this turmoil might have lasted a long time. Although the methods were ruthless, some even involving framing, for the sake of the greater good, some had to be appeased. After all, this was a new dynasty, and many old guard from the founding era remained; if they couldn't be controlled now, trouble was inevitable later.

In a rare moment of leisure, Zhu Yunwen sat in his study, his mind still preoccupied with the intricate relationships within the court. Seeing his only son, looking serious, approach him, Zhu Yunwen felt a surge of pride as he gazed at his growing son. Smiling, he said, "My good son, I heard that even after becoming Crown Prince, you haven't moved into the Eastern Palace. Those old fogies in court are very unhappy about it, saying it violates ancestral etiquette. Your old man is under a lot of pressure."

Xu Ping noticed that his father had indeed been quite burdened since becoming emperor, especially with internal instability and border problems. In just three months, he seemed to have aged considerably. His once jet-black hair was now streaked with white. Bearing the pain of losing loved ones, accomplishing these tasks was indeed difficult for him.

Xu Ping waved for the palace maids to leave, then stood behind his father, massaging his shoulders. He said casually, "Father, don't you know my personality? If I live there, facing those old geezers and androgynous eunuchs all day long, aren't you afraid of making me impotent? I think you'd better be my shield."

Zhu Yunwen was truly exasperated with his son. He was both useless and incredibly capable, having unknowingly gained the support of the palace's highly skilled retainers and guards, and even secretly won over some more radical minor officials. Yet, he was also always up to something strange, occasionally causing a little surprise.

Zhu Yunwen smiled kindly and said, "I heard you found a girl from a bandit background. Although I have no objection to it, and your grandfather's original intention was for you to have more children, those stubborn old men will definitely cause trouble. Now is not the time to deal with them. After all, we've already purged a group of people, and people's hearts have just settled down. We can't make any big moves now, so you'd better not think about a proper marriage for now. Wait a while!"

Xu Ping also roughly understood how stubborn those old devils were, recalling the crying faces and the innocent women being exiled. The old man, whose face looked as if it had been ravaged, felt a pain in his testicles and a chill run down his spine. He quickly nodded and continued, "Father, I know what I'm doing. I've come to see you mainly because I need your support on something."

Zhu Yunwen asked with interest, "Oh, what strange thing is my good son up to now?"

Xu Ping concealed part of his plan, only revealing the key points: "The court's funds are running low. You know that when Grandfather was alive, he was so troubled by this problem that he almost fainted. I imagine you have your share of worries about this, don't you?"

Seeing the headache on his face, Xu Ping immediately pressed his advantage, saying, "Which of the six ministries in the court isn't a tightwad these days? As far as I know, the Ministry of Revenue just replaced its head with your confidant Liu Quan, and he's been complaining about being broke every day. Although he's gritting his teeth, he still can't come up with the silver to stabilize the border. So I'm thinking of establishing two more ministries: one is the Ministry of Works, whose specifics you'll find out later, and I'll raise the funds and supplies for its operation myself; the other might be a bit tricky, and you'll need to be able to withstand the pressure for a while."

Zhu Yunwen was already used to his son's strange ideas, and after rubbing his temples, he gestured for Xu Ping to continue.

Xu Ping paused, then said seriously, "The other is the Ministry of Commerce. Since the founding of the dynasty by my grandfather, all merchants have had a relatively low status. Although they have vast wealth, they can only wear coarse linen clothes. What I need is for you to completely relinquish control over my two ministries, allowing them to serve the court while remaining isolated, not needing to attend court meetings. Moreover, I want complete control over them, so that no one can interfere." "

As for the Ministry of Works, although I don't know what you intend to do, the court already has a Ministry of Works. Since it doesn't need the court's funds to support it, I think there shouldn't be any major problems. As for your proposal regarding the Ministry of Commerce, that's more difficult. Merchants have always had a relatively low status, and it will be hard to prevent those old fogies from opposing it. However, if you want to do it, your father supports you. You can start preparing secretly first. It will be at least a month before it's officially established."

Zhu Yunwen's expression changed for a moment, but he still decided to continue supporting his son in cultivating his own power.

Xu Ping was overjoyed. Although the Ministry of Commerce wouldn't be officially established for more than a month, it didn't matter. There was enough time to make preparations, but thinking of those old guys who were always threatening to bang their heads against the wall or hang themselves, he asked with a mixture of hatred and worry, "The Ministry of Commerce might encounter a lot of resistance. Those old guys will definitely cause even more trouble. What will we do then?"

Zhu Yunwen's eyes turned vicious, and he sneered, "If it weren't for those old guys' elaborate theories, your uncle would have already conquered the grasslands and marched directly to their royal court when the court was at its strongest. We wouldn't have left behind these troubles. Now that the dynasty has been established for over thirty years, and the internal problems have stabilized, it's time to expand our territory."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Yunwen's eyes, and suddenly his voice was devoid of emotion, as if he were talking to himself, "Some people are getting old, and it's time for them to pass away. Even the healthiest person can't stop the wheel of time. After all, everyone has to be born, grow old, get sick, and die one day. It's not uncommon for someone to die in their bed at home after falling asleep."

Xu Ping knew immediately that his father planned to secretly eliminate some of the people who were occupying positions without doing their job. If he didn't do this, his Ministry of Commerce probably had no hope. Seeing his father's unwavering support without asking a single question, Xu Ping was filled with gratitude. He said, "Father, rest assured, within a year, I will have the imperial army march onto the grasslands."

Zhu Yunwen, seeing his son's rare filial piety, affectionately patted Xu Ping's head and smiled, saying, "Silly child, you're my only son now. If I don't stand by your side, who else can I help? Just do it with peace of mind! I believe your imperial grandfather in heaven will be pleased."

"Yes!"

Xu Ping nodded earnestly, tears welling up in his eyes.

Zhu Yunwen paused, then suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "Look at my memory! Now that you're the Crown Prince, you should have your own Imperial Guard under your control. Although there won't be any more sibling rivalry, the other prince isn't exactly a staunch supporter of us. As your father, I will try my best to eliminate this threat while I'm still alive. If that's not possible, we must at least weaken them."

Speaking of the only prince of a different surname, Xu Ping recalled the image of the kind yet dignified old man who had fainted from crying at the state funeral. He had never really known this prince, who was like himself, but just looking at his face gave off a sense of oppression. It was definitely not an ordinary aura; only someone who had survived piles of corpses could give off such a feeling.

Xu Ping immediately asked curiously, "Father, given Grandfather's personality, why would he appoint someone who isn't from the Zhu family as a prince? What's the story behind this? I haven't really looked into it!"

Zhu Yunwen playfully punched his son, laughing and scolding, "You've always been messing around with all sorts of nonsense. Forget about these old records, you don't even recognize many people in the Six Ministries right now. The other prince, whose surname isn't Zhu, is Ji, named Ji Zhongyun. The late emperor bestowed upon him the title of Prince Zhenbei. He followed your grandfather in battles across the north and south for over twenty years, and his scars are more numerous than anyone else's. In a war during the Yuan Dynasty, he saved your grandfather..." "My grandfather and uncle were both given lives, but even so, they only received a reward and not a royal title. Until the founding ceremony, the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty, unwilling to accept defeat, buried gunpowder underground, intending to kill all these founding heroes and members of the royal family. Ji Zhongyun shielded them from the rockets with his body, preventing this disaster. Considering his life-saving grace and numerous merits, the late emperor bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Zhenbei. He can be considered another figure second only to the emperor in our Great Ming."

Xu Ping listened with great interest, but then began to ponder. Logically speaking, the Prince of Zhenbei was also an old man nearing his deathbed, given his long service to the old emperor... His son's loyalty meant he would never rebel, but if an ambitious son inherited the throne, things would be different. He couldn't help but ask, "Father, are you worried that if his son inherits the title of Prince of Zhenbei, he might be unwilling to be subordinate to someone else?"

Zhu Yunwen, seeing that his son immediately understood his meaning, nodded approvingly and said, "That's right. Given Ji Zhongyun's temperament, he would absolutely never betray the court. Although he has high prestige in the army, he is a staunch loyalist. However, he is already seventy years old now, and perhaps one day he will follow your grandfather in death. At that time, his..." "The successor is unknown, but a person's ambition is never satisfied. Once that successor stands at the height of a prince, all he can see is the emperor's throne, so he must be constantly on guard. You must know that the Zhenbei Prince's family has been cultivating the north for over thirty years since the founding of the dynasty; they are deeply entrenched. They also command an army of 100,000 men. Regardless of their intentions, this instability must be completely eliminated."

Zhu Yunwen finished speaking, a ruthless glint in his eyes, as if some subtle movement had already made the newly enthroned emperor extremely sensitive.

Xu Ping had vaguely heard that Ji Zhongyun had never retired since the founding of the dynasty, always guarding the north against Goryeo and Japan, and also wary of the Khitan and Manchus. Small conflicts and battles were almost constant every year; theoretically, that 100,000-man army should be a formidable force, far superior to ordinary garrisons.

Now, while his father is in power at court, he must cultivate his own power structure, otherwise things will become truly unstable. After all, he can't feel at ease unless he has complete control over an army.

Zhu Yunwen saw his son deep in thought and chuckled a few times: "Don't be too hasty. Don't put too much pressure on yourself right now. The original Prince Yan's residence has been converted into the Crown Prince's residence. You'll live there from now on! Visit your mother often; she's now the Empress, and the pressure is immense. Go now!"

Xu Ping took his leave and walked home, pondering his plan. He had to be completely discreet, whether it was money, intelligence, or the army, to at least give himself a period of respite. But most importantly, he needed a large sum of money and manpower as a backing.

After arriving home in a daze, the old steward, Uncle Liu, came over. Because men other than eunuchs were not allowed in the palace, this old man, who had served in the Prince Yan's residence for thirty years, stayed in the new Crown Prince's residence to continue serving his young master.

Uncle Liu said respectfully, "Your Highness, Lin Wei and the others have been waiting for you outside for a long time. Would you like to see them now?"

Xu Ping looked at the old steward, who was dressed in a simple steward's uniform and walked with a stoop, as if he could be blown away by the wind. However, judging from his steady breathing and footsteps, he must have a strong martial arts skill. Xu Ping had hardly paid attention to him when he was a child, probably because he was too playful.

If he hadn't cultivated the Battle Dragon Technique, he wouldn't have realized that this elderly man was actually a hidden master. Xu Ping snapped out of his daze, nodded, and said, "Uncle Liu, don't call me Your Highness at home, it's awkward! Just call me as before. Let them all come in!"

The old steward responded and went out. A moment later, Lin Wei and the others entered. After kneeling and bowing, Lin Wei stood up, his face somewhat tentative, and said, "Master, as you instructed, we've acquired enough land for the Ministry of Works in the suburbs of the capital. The houses and courtyards are almost finished. As for the land for the Ministry of Commerce, Zhang Qinghe, a wealthy merchant in the capital, immediately donated a courtyard of over thirty acres upon hearing it was for you, and it's currently being redecorated."

Xu Ping gave an approving look and gestured for him to continue. It seemed Zhang Qinghe knew Lin Wei; a courtyard was enough to curry favor with the Crown Prince—everyone would be scrambling to do such a thing.

Holding the account book, Zhang Hu said with a delighted expression, "Master, this is the account book Zhao Meng presented. Three months ago, the distillery started selling wine. With your seal affixed and the mellow aroma of Shili Xiang, it's now known throughout the country and has become the imperial wine. Merchants are rushing to Tongyang County hoping to buy a batch, but production capacity is limited, so we can only satisfy a small group of people. It's said that the inns there are now full of people queuing to buy wine. Although we withheld some of the best quality wine over the past three months, the profit has still reached 400,000 taels."

This figure was somewhat different from his expectations, and Xu Ping asked listlessly, "With such high profits, this profit is 10% lower than originally expected. What happened?"

Zhang Hu noticed his master's somewhat... "Oh no!" he hurriedly explained, "It's like this, because the production over there simply can't meet the demand of those merchants. Generally, only one in ten people can buy a batch. In addition, there are still relatively few factories and workers, and you've been busy with palace affairs these past few months. So, after discussing it with Uncle Liu, the young mistress decided to only take half of the profits and continue to invest the rest to further increase production."

Xu Ping's expression softened slightly. During this time, the obedient Zhao Ling had already won the respect of these people. Besides comforting himself, he didn't expect that this delicate young girl was quite capable in doing business. Although women in this era couldn't show their faces in public, she still resolutely took over. It could be seen that although she was delicate, she was not the kind of weak woman.

Xu Ping felt a sense of relief. Turning to look at Lin Wei's anxious expression, he immediately smiled and instructed, "Lin Wei, go tell Zhang Qinghe that the Crown Prince has accepted this gift, and he will have a place in the Ministry of Commerce in the future. You should hurry up and finish your work. Zhang Hu, go spread the word that the Ministry of Works is recruiting skilled craftsmen from all over the country, regardless of background, age, or gender. As long as you have the ability and skills, you can try. After joining the ministry, you will enjoy the salary of an official."

Both of them nodded solemnly. Xu Ping then waved his hand and said, "You can go now. Call Uncle Liu and Zhao Ling here!"

The two responded and withdrew. The old steward, Uncle Liu, came in with faltering steps, still looking half-dead. Xu Ping pretended not to know that he was skilled in martial arts. After all, Uncle Liu had been in the mansion since before he was born. He had a heartfelt respect for this loyal old man, and his father had treated him with great courtesy when he was alive. He couldn't put on airs.

Xu Ping said humbly, "Uncle Liu, I know you were once a member of the martial arts world, and your skills are high. I hope you can help me organize a hidden intelligence network. I need to know the movements of all forces immediately."

The old steward's wrinkled face showed a relieved smile, and he said gently, "Young Prince, you've really grown up. Your father said the same thing to me back then. The Prince of Yan's power has been completely exposed to others, so your father began building a new intelligence network for you half a year ago."

His father's schemes were truly profound! Since his own power began to be exposed, he had already cultivated a new intelligence organization for him. It seems he was considering the instability in the court and made such preparations, as if he wanted to take care of everything for him first. Being an only child is so great!

Xu Ping felt a warmth in his heart and asked curiously, "Uncle Liu, how's the scale now? What are the actual results? And your background—with your mid-level Earth Rank strength, establishing your own sect wouldn't be a problem at all. Why are you content to be a steward in the Prince's mansion?"

Uncle Liu had never been able to see through the cultivation level of this young master before him, and now, hearing Xu Ping reveal his cultivation level in a single sentence, he was both curious and particularly shocked.

Uncle Liu's expression turned serious, and he slowly said, "Your Highness, my original name is Liu Tiangu. Back then, I was known in the martial arts world as 'Thunder Ghost,' and I was as famous as the late Emperor's retainer. I was a powerful figure in my own right. In my youth, in pursuit of a higher realm, I challenged powerful figures everywhere. One day, when my name had spread throughout the land, I returned home to find my wife and children killed by Yuan soldiers, and my village trampled upon, with corpses and ruins everywhere." "

At this point, Uncle Liu's face clearly showed some sorrow. He paused and continued, "Back then, I had a fiery temper, and my mind was clouded by hatred. Without thinking, I charged straight into their camp. Unfortunately, I was no match for so many people, no matter how good my martial arts were. If it weren't for the Prince leading his army and pulling me out of the pile of corpses, I probably would have been reunited with my family long ago. The Prince not only avenged me but also saved my life. The deaths of my family have made me hate those empty names to the bone. I only hope to repay the Prince's great kindness for the rest of my life."

Thinking of his still-childlike and adorable son and the horrific scene of his wife's humiliation at the time of her death, Uncle Liu couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow, and two lines of tears streamed down his cloudy eyes.

Although Xu Ping had vaguely heard about this experience from his father, hearing it from Uncle Liu himself still carried a heavy sense of desolation. Although he spoke of it casually, one could still imagine the hatred in his heart at that moment, a hatred so intense he wanted to tear the Yuan soldiers who had killed his family to pieces. Xu Ping felt a pang of empathy, and his heart ached slightly.

Seeing that he had affected his master's mood, the old steward wiped away his tears and chuckled, saying, "Young Prince, old people are always rambling, please don't take offense! These things happened a long time ago. I've been very happy in the Prince's mansion for the past thirty years, forgetting those empty titles and hatreds. The Prince also respects me like a brother and considers me a confidant. From your birth to now, you've grown into a handsome young man, this old servant is content with my life."

Xu Ping smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Uncle Liu, this is actually your home. Why be so sentimental!"

Uncle Liu smiled happily, and after a while, said seriously, "Young Prince, have you ever heard of the Demonic Sect?"

Xu Ping nodded. The Demonic Sect had begun to rise two years ago, occasionally clashing with the imperial court. They acted ruthlessly and viciously, but had many followers and their whereabouts were mysterious. Even some people in the martial arts world felt that this sect was too mysterious. Although they called themselves the Demonic Sect, people in the martial arts world still held them in high regard because they often robbed the rich to help the poor.

"I've heard of it, but this Demonic Sect sometimes seems like a righteous sect, yet sometimes it does truly wicked things. I've heard they even dared to rob the imperial court of its money and grain; it

's a miracle they've survived this long," Xu Ping said after a moment's thought, his eyes thoughtfully fixed on Uncle Liu.

Uncle Liu smiled slightly, a hint of pride in his eyes, and said, "The Demonic Sect was founded by this old servant. The current leader is my prized disciple, Liu Ruxue. I adopted her when she was a child, a homeless girl. This old servant doesn't have much time now, so she handles most of the affairs."

Xu Ping's eyes lit up, and he asked in surprise, "You mean the Demonic Sect is actually just a lower-level force within the Prince's mansion?"

Uncle Liu chuckled and nodded, saying, "Actually, it was created unintentionally. After all, the martial world is full of mixed characters, and you need someone to keep an eye on things. This old servant doesn't have enough time to assist the next young prince; this is just my way of doing my part. As for some of the more extreme things, they were tacitly approved by the late emperor; otherwise, given the Demonic Sect's style of operation, the imperial court would have already begun its crackdown."

Xu Ping couldn't help but admire them inwardly. Regardless of the dynasty, most martial artists would use their skills to break the law. Often, those causing internal strife would rally other sects to rebel, but the court couldn't possibly suppress them all; that would only lead to more trouble. These chaotic individuals were a headache—they couldn't be controlled, nor could they be completely eradicated; they were always a highly unstable factor.

The establishment of the Demonic Sect was undeniably a brilliant move. It could be used to do shady things when necessary, gather information, and monitor the major sects of the martial world. Occasionally, they could be allowed to rob some things, giving the impression that the Demonic Sect didn't respect anyone—a way of establishing authority. But in reality, this sect opposing the court was the biggest spy; their calculations were incredibly shrewd.

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