Imperial Secrets - 1

The following are brief introductions to the nine most important women in the life of Jiang Hanqing, the male protagonist of "The Secret History of the Imperial Dynasty." Nine were chosen because it represents the limit of numbers in ancient China. The inclusion of "four dogs" and "four foals" is inspired by the historical figure known for his archery skills.

Yin Yufeng —Jiang Hanqing's mother, 41 years old. Yin Yufeng's mother possessed unparalleled political talent and exceptional military prowess. She was one of only five Grand Marshals in the 630-year history of the empire. At the age of seventeen, she accompanied her father—Marshal Yin Shixiong, then known as the "Empire's First Fierce General"—to fight against the Western Barbarian coalition in the western frontier. After her father's ambush and death, she led her remaining 20,000 troops to defend Tianlang Pass, defeating a barbarian army of 150,000 and killing the barbarian's first general—Hami Chi—aching instant fame. For the next eleven years, she led her "Yufeng Legion" to sweep across the powerful nomadic tribes of the western empire, winning 43 battles without a single defeat, conquering 72 countries and expanding the empire's territory by thousands of miles. At 33, he was appointed Grand Marshal of the Empire. He then returned to the capital to participate in politics, displaying astonishing political talent. At 38, he became Prime Minister of the Empire, governing the empire with remarkable efficiency within two years. Later, due to the other three major families' power struggles and their constant slanderous remarks to the aging and increasingly senile emperor, he was forced to resign and return to the west to continue leading his own legions, biding his time. Shortly afterward, the emperor was murdered. My mother was also a rare individual possessing both formidable combat skills and exceptional magical abilities. She held the titles of "Sword Saint" and "Grand Magister," and her swordsmanship and magic ranked among the top three on the entire continent. Due to her incredible versatility, she was jokingly called an "unprecedented all-around female monster" by Emperor Wu Ming, the restorer of the Great Xia Empire. At the age of twenty, she met the Duke of Zhenguo, who was responsible for her army's logistics, and they married that same year, giving birth to Jiang Hanqing the following year. Their marriage was met with fierce opposition from the other three major families of the empire and nearly failed. After Jiang Hanqing discovered her lewd nature and disciplined her, she became his sex slave, wholeheartedly assisting him in establishing a new empire. She was Jiang Hanqing's favorite and was eventually crowned Empress. She later became the de facto ruler of the empire and the direct commander of the Four Dogs and Four Horses. Because of her incestuous relationship with her son, she is infamous in history as the "Sex Slave Empress." Shi Yanying—Lady of the Duke of Anguo, 42 years old. One of the empire's five Grand Marshals, possessing extraordinary military talent comparable to Yin Yufeng. Known as the "Invincible Flying Eagle," she guarded the empire's northern border, achieving victory in over 50 battles. Her "Flying Eagle Legion" was as renowned as Yin Yufeng's "Jade Phoenix Legion," shaking the continent. She also possessed extremely strong magical skills, widely recognized as the continent's number one "Grand Magister." Her signature spells, "Earthquake" and "Ghostly Howls," have each killed tens of thousands of enemies on the battlefield, making her army virtually invincible. However, she, a passionate strategist and warrior, firmly believes that "victory on the battlefield should be achieved through genuine military talent, not through magic!" Therefore, she only uses these spells when the enemy's defeat is inevitable, to end the battle quickly and minimize her own casualties. Because of this, defeated enemy generals are convinced of her abilities, praising her as a "truly admirable military genius," while those within the empire who oppose her call her a "self-serving opportunist" and a "butcher who doesn't value the lives of her soldiers." To balance the power dynamics within the empire, her parents' marriage was arranged by the cunning emperor at the age of twenty-six to marry the young and handsome Duke of Anguo. After nine years of marriage without children, conflicts arose between her and the Duke of Anguo, which even the emperor's intervention could not mend, ultimately leading to their separation. In the early stages of the civil war, she barely managed to command the army of the Duke of Anguo's family. After defeating the army of the Duke of Dingguo, her conflict with the Duke of Anguo intensified again. She led her "Flying Eagle Legion" back to her garrison in the northern frontier, ignoring the war in the Central Plains. Later, Jiang Hanqing discovered her masochistic tendencies and used trickery to train her. From then on, she was completely submissive to Jiang Hanqing, becoming an obedient sex slave. She faithfully carried out Jiang Hanqing's war plans, continuously extending his winning streak. Yan Ying was extremely cruel to her enemies. After leading her army to defeat the army led by her former husband, the Duke of Anguo, and capturing them alive, she personally executed the Duke of Anguo by slow slicing. After Jiang Hanqing became emperor, he made her a Noble Consort. One of the Four Dogs and Four Horses. Consort Qingsi—24 years old. A natural strategist, praised by Yin Yufeng and Shi Yan Ying as "the most cunning among all the sisters." Fei Qingsi possessed exceptional magical talent, becoming a Grand Magister at the age of 14, the youngest person in history to achieve this feat, and was hailed as "the most promising candidate to surpass Shi Yanying." Born into an imperial family of officials, her father was a high-ranking staff officer in the Imperial Military. Fei Qingsi displayed remarkable intelligence from a young age; at 15, she outshone numerous strategic experts at an Imperial Military strategic seminar, earning her the title of "another military prodigy of the Empire after Yin Yufeng and Shi Yanying" from the Emperor Wuming, who was observing the proceedings. At 18, she became a commander of a division under the Southern Legion of the Empire. In a battle against the invading Southern Barbarian forces, she led a division of 20,000 men to annihilate an invading army of 200,000, causing a national sensation. After reading the battle report submitted to the military, Yin Yufeng exclaimed, "Even if Yanying and I personally led the charge, we might not have been able to achieve this! The Imperial Grand Marshal's extraordinary merit will surely be his within ten years!" Later, Qingsi went to the capital to meet the Emperor, and Yin Yufeng invited her to her home for a long talk, where she met Jiang Hanqing. Unfortunately, before she could obtain the title of Grand Marshal of the Empire, the empire collapsed. When the civil war began, Qing Si, holding the rank of Grand Marshal, was serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Expeditionary Force, attacking the southern barbarian kingdoms. Upon receiving news of the situation at home, she hurriedly led her troops back. Upon her return, she rescued Jiang Hanqing, who had fled the capital and was being pursued by the Duke of Dingguo's army, living in constant fear. She met with Xi Sili, who had come to rescue Jiang Hanqing, and they arrived at Jiang's mother's base camp in the west, where she performed unparalleled feats. Later, she led her troops to defeat the attack of a powerful western enemy. While Jiang Hanqing's army was fighting against Yin Yuji's army, she led her troops to attack Longkou Pass. Unable to win by force, she resorted to strategy. She used a counter-espionage plot to persuade Yin Yuji to surrender, and then captured Yong'an Prefecture, achieving unparalleled merit. She was bestowed the title of Consort Shu and gave birth to Jiang Hanqing's only son—Jiang Hanqing's heir to the empire. One of the Four Dogs and Four Colts. Xi Sili—Yin Yufeng's goddaughter, 30 years old. At the age of 19, Yin Yufeng launched a campaign to exterminate the western barbarian Tu La tribe. A fierce Tu La general fought against the Celestial Empire's army, refusing to surrender, and died from exhaustion. Before his death, he pleaded with the Celestial Empire general to spare his one-year-old orphaned daughter, Xi Sili. Moved by his unwavering heroism, Yin Yufeng adopted the orphan as her goddaughter, entrusting her with the responsibility of protecting Jiang Hanqing for life. Xi Sili displayed exceptional military talent from a young age, growing up alongside Yin Yufeng in the military camp, and began fighting at the age of 13. After Yin Yufeng returned to the court to pursue a political career, she commanded the western garrison. At the outbreak of the Imperial Civil War, she held the rank of Imperial Marshal. Upon hearing of the uprising, she immediately led her army eastward, joining forces with Fei Qingsi's army, and successfully brought Jiang Hanqing back to her mother's garrison. One of the Four Dogs and Four Horses. Yin Yuji—Jiang Hanqing's aunt, 38 years old. Crown Princess of the Great Xia Empire, and Jiang Hanqing's mother's only younger sister. The virtuous and capable Empress Wu Ming garnered many supporters for the Crown Prince during his lifetime. After the empire's collapse, despite her elder sister's attempts to recruit her, she insisted on assisting her husband, Crown Prince Yi Sheng, in his fight for the throne. During the civil war, she gradually displayed extraordinary military talent similar to her sister's. Leading the Crown Prince's army, she defeated thirteen rebel forces, including the army of the Duke of Jingguo's family, unifying the eastern part of the empire. Later, she marched into the Central Plains, defeating the army of the Duke of Anguo and occupying Yong'an Prefecture. She fought a bloody three-month war against the invading Southern Barbarians, achieving a great victory. Her prestige rivaled that of her sister, Yin Yufeng. At Tianlang Mountain, she ambushed Jiang Hanqing's army and fought a six-month battle against Empress Han Yuexue of Qiu Te Kingdom, one of the Four Dogs, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides and a stalemate in the Tianlang Mountain area. At this time, Jiang Hanqing, who had already controlled the former western and northern territories of the empire, dispatched Shi Yanying to lead an army from the north to the south, severely damaging her husband Yi Sheng's army, with their advance aimed directly at Yong'an Prefecture. Emperor Yisheng, panicked, ordered his troops to retreat. Left with no other option, he abandoned the strategic location of Tianlang Mountain and retreated towards the Central Plains. Jiang Hanqing's army, led by Empress Helis of the Northern Special Forces Kingdom, who later became one of the "Four Horsemen," pursued them. The two sides fought a retreating battle. To escape the pursuit, Yin Yuji led her troops in a decisive battle with Helis in the river valley, resulting in heavy losses on both sides. Helis ceased her pursuit, and Yin Yuji retreated to the fortress of Longkou Pass near Yong'an Prefecture. Later, Consort Qingsi, one of the "Four Dogs," led her army in a fierce attack on Longkou Pass, but failed to capture it in May. Using a counter-espionage scheme, Emperor Yisheng, influenced by his close advisors and concubines, suspected Yin Yuji of having an affair with her sister and preparing to surrender. He plotted to bring her back to the capital for imprisonment and interrogation. Upon learning this, Yin Yuji was filled with grief and indignation, hating her husband's foolishness and heartlessness, and angrily surrendered Longkou Pass. Fei Qingsi's troops then advanced swiftly, capturing Yong'an Prefecture and taking Yisheng prisoner. Afterwards, Yin Yuji devoted herself to her mother, making outstanding contributions to the expansion of the empire's territory. One of the four dogs and four steeds.

Han Yuexue—Empress of the Eastern Kingdom of Qiut, 30 years old. She ascended the throne at the age of sixteen after her father's death. She suppressed domestic opposition to consolidate her imperial power, while simultaneously reforming the economy and developing trade with other countries, leading to the increasing strength of the nation. From the age of 23, to expand the country's living space, she personally led troops to invade several neighboring countries, including the Empire, for four consecutive years, acquiring vast amounts of land and wealth. A year before the Empire's collapse, a 700,000-strong allied army of the Empire and two other neighboring countries of Qiut, led by the fierce general—Marshal Li Jixing of the Empire—launched a major counter-offensive, determined to defeat Qiut. Han Yuexue led her entire army of 400,000 men to meet the enemy near the border. Taking advantage of the allied forces' three-pronged attack and the large distance between them, she defeated them separately. Within four days, she marched 500 li (approximately 250 kilometers), fought three battles, killed 300,000 enemy soldiers, captured 200,000, and Li Jixing also perished on the battlefield. The allied forces of the three countries were almost completely annihilated. After this battle, the empire was in an uproar, with calls rising for the reorganization of a new army, led by Jiang Hanqing's mother or Shi Yanying, to avenge the national humiliation. However, before the army could be formed, the empire collapsed. After the outbreak of the empire's civil war, she initially stood by and observed for a while, then quickly assessed the situation and formed an alliance with Jiang Hanqing, participating in the internal struggles of the empire in an attempt to gain a share. Her original intention was only to use Jiang Hanqing, but she quickly became a love captive of Jiang Hanqing, and from then on, she fought everywhere for her beloved husband's grand plan. One of the Four Dogs and Four Horses.

Helis – 35 years old. The first empress in the history of the northern nomadic nation of Teqin. At the age of fifteen, she accompanied her father, the Khan, on his campaigns. Until her father's death at the age of twenty-seven, she fought more than 70 battles against neighboring nomadic nations, without a single defeat. Based on her outstanding military achievements, she ascended the throne of the Great Khan, becoming the first empress in the country's history. After ascending the throne, she continued to fight everywhere, increasing her undefeated record to more than 90 battles. Later, she signed an agreement with Jiang Hanqing to jointly deal with the Xiongnu tribes who were caught in the middle. After their forces joined together, she met Jiang Hanqing, and her wild nature in bed was eventually tamed by him. She then led her fierce special cavalry in numerous battles, making great contributions to the founding of the empire. She is one of the four dogs and four foals.

Yu Bingxin – 25 years old, Duchess of the Korean District in the northeast of the empire. After the outbreak of the civil war, she participated in the Jingguo Duke's army, responsible for defending against the invasion of the East China Sea Japanese. She won many battles, and in the "Battle of Hanchuan," she led her cavalry into the enemy's main force, personally killing the Japanese's most powerful general, Kaikawa Nobuhide. Later, she was shocked to learn that the Jingguo Duke had been defeated by the Crown Prince's army led by Yin Yuji, and that the Jingguo Duke had been killed. Yu Bingxin was determined to avenge her lord, but she was outnumbered and outmatched. Considering the situation, she decided to join Jiang Hanqing's army. She led her 20,000 cavalry in a surprise attack on the Crown Prince's army on a rainy night, forcibly breaking through the camp. After a thousand-mile march, traversing the empire, they arrived at Jiang Hanqing's army camp. This marked the beginning of the "Frost Legion's" miraculous journey. One of the Four Dogs and Four Horses.

Lilin—Lilin's appearance was absolutely unexpected for everyone. During the "Battle of Shanzhong Lake," Jiang Hanqing's central army was suddenly ambushed by Korean cavalry, suffering a defeat and fleeing. The enemy pursued closely, and just as they were about to catch up, a nomadic cavalry appeared before Jiang Hanqing, repelling the pursuers and saving his life. The commander of this cavalry was Lilin, the daughter of their tribal chief. To thank them for saving his life, Jiang Hanqing promised them a rich land to live on if they sent troops to help in the battle. From then on, this cavalry joined Jiang Hanqing's army. And Lilin, like her later sisters, fell deeply in love with Jiang Hanqing. One of the Four Dogs and Four Horses.

Prologue

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The Great Xia Empire was the most powerful nation on earth. The people who made up this nation were called the Yanhuang tribe.

Long before the ancestors of other ethnic groups on this land were still in primitive tribal form, the ancestors of the Yanhuang people established their own state, more than three thousand years ago. During these three thousand years, the Yanhuang people established more than a dozen dynasties. Regardless of internal strife, the Yanhuang people always stood tall on the land with their advanced culture, superior productivity, and strong national character, leaving surrounding peoples no choice but to submit.

The Great Xia Empire was established after the fall of the previous dynasty, through seven years of arduous struggle by a hero named Xia Yuanrong, and has existed for six hundred and thirty years.

When Xia Yuanrong established the Great Xia Empire, he mainly relied on the strength of the powerful landowners of the previous dynasty. Therefore, after establishing the empire, he treated the powerful landowners very well; it can be said that the foundation of the empire's rule was built upon this powerful class. Among these powerful families, the four most prominent were the hereditary imperial duke families—the Zhenguo Duke family, the Anguo Duke family, the Dingguo Duke family, and the Jingguo Duke family. These four families checked and balanced each other, maintaining the power balance within the empire. For over 630 years, although many events had occurred, the empire's rule had remained relatively stable overall. The imperial family, supported by the four great families, continued peacefully.

This year marked the 631st year of the empire's founding. Emperor Wuming had been on the throne for 56 years since his ascension at a young age.

In the early years of his reign, with the Empress Dowager acting as regent, the four great families engaged in small-scale internal strife, leading to an invasion by the western Tu La barbarians. The war on the land of the Yanhuang people continued intermittently for ten years. It wasn't until Emperor Wuming assumed personal rule at the age of sixteen that he displayed remarkable ability, bringing prosperity to the vast nation. Backed by the nation's strength, the Great Xia army fought the Tu La barbarians for two years before finally driving them out of the country. Afterwards, Emperor Wuming implemented a policy of intermarriage and peace, maintaining peace on the borders for 40 years, and the Great Xia nation's power reached its zenith. However, as the emperor approached his fifties, he seemed no longer content with the posthumous honor of being a wise and virtuous ruler. He began to seek a greater place in history through military force. He wanted to prove himself the greatest monarch in history. Thus, a series of wars began.

With its powerful national strength and a constant stream of fierce generals, the Great Xia Kingdom was invincible in these wars for over a decade, with neighboring states bowing in submission.

So, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month this year—the imperial New Year—the 61-year-old emperor, brimming with pride, announced the discontinuation of the imperial founding era from this year onward, adopting the new era name, Taiping Zhenzhi, making this year the first year of Taiping Zhenzhi. Because his achievements surpassed those of his ancestors, he naturally shouldn't be treated with the ordinary founding era name of his predecessors.

Amidst the praises of his ministers, the emperor smiled contentedly. He seemed to see his great reputation still being praised by future generations a thousand years later…

Chapter One: Parting from My Son on His Journey West

Chapter One: Parting from My Son on His Journey West

It was March, and after four months of cold winter, the imperial capital, Yong'an Prefecture, finally welcomed the first spring buds. The migratory birds that had returned early had already begun to build their nests.

In a large courtyard within the imperial city, a handsome young man of about twenty years old stood on the steps, gazing blankly at the busy birds in the trees.

“Qing’er, what are you thinking about?” A soft voice came from the room behind him. It was sweet, as melodious as the song of a nightingale. One couldn’t help but wonder if the owner of the voice was a great beauty.

The young man continued to gaze at the birds in the trees, and sighed, “Spring has come again. The day the army sets off for war is approaching again, isn’t it? Mother should be going to the Western Regions soon, shouldn’t she?”

There was no sound from the room, and after a long while, a sigh came out: “Alas!”

For a moment, there was a deathly silence inside and outside the room, except for the chirping of the birds in the trees.

The young man stood there stunned for a long time before finally turning around and going into the house.

Inside sat a beautiful young woman, her hair styled in a flowing bun, adorned with jewels and lightly powdered, looking to be about thirty years old.

She was sitting in a chair, staring blankly at the ground, when she noticed the young man approaching and snapped out of her daze. Her bright, phoenix-like eyes swept over him, and her gentle voice rang out again: "Qing'er! Your mother is also reluctant to leave you! But you know the current situation in the court. Last month, your father and Duke Dingguo, Wang Mingde, argued fiercely in front of the Emperor about the southern expedition. Your father understands the dangers of war and the inauspiciousness of war, and firmly opposes another large-scale expedition. Wang Mingde, however, only wants to place his son in the position of commander-in-chief of the southern expeditionary force, hoping for a victory and a double gain of fame and fortune. He, along with the four Grand Secretaries of the Wenyuan Pavilion, accused your father of seeking fame and fortune, and even said that some families were colluding with powerful border tribes, amassing military power, forming cliques, and attempting to control the court. Alas! Two years ago..." "The Emperor insisted that I return from my post as Prime Minister of the Empire, and forbade me to resign from my positions as Commander-in-Chief of the Western Regions and Governor of the Protectorate of the Western Regions, saying that only my prestige could quell the rebellion of the Western Barbarians. I knew then that this would inevitably attract criticism from court officials, but I had no choice but to reluctantly accept the order in order to be with you. For the past two years, I have been cautious in everything I do, practicing a policy of quiet governance and non-interference. I have strived to get along well with all the ministers, but who knew that in the end… Alas! Half a month ago, I resigned from my position as Prime Minister of the Empire and begged the Emperor to allow me to return to the Western Regions. I had no other choice!"

This young woman was none other than the current Prime Minister of the Great Xia Empire, and also the invincible general of the Empire—Lady Yin Yufeng, wife of the Duke of Zhenguo. Yin Yufeng is one of only five Grand Marshals in the history of the Empire. At the age of seventeen, she accompanied her father—Marshal Yin Shixiong, who was known as the "First Fierce General of the Empire"—to fight against the Western Barbarian coalition. After her father's ambush and death, she led her remaining 20,000 troops to defend Tianlang Pass, defeating a barbarian army of 150,000 and killing the barbarian's top general, Hami Chi, thus gaining fame. For the next eleven years, she led her "Jade Phoenix Legion" to sweep across the powerful nomadic tribes of the western empire, winning 43 battles without a single defeat, conquering 72 kingdoms and expanding her territory by a thousand miles. At the age of 33, she was awarded the rank of Grand Marshal of the Empire, and was considered one of the two invincible female generals of the empire, alongside another Grand Marshal of the Empire—Lady Shi Yanying, wife of the Duke of Anguo. At the age of 20, she met Jiang Haoyu, the Duke of Zhenguo, who was in charge of her army's logistics, and they married that same year, giving birth to their son, Jiang Hanqing, the following year. Her marriage had faced fierce opposition from the other three major families of the empire and almost failed. The young man speaking to her now was none other than her beloved son, Jiang Hanqing.

Seeing his mother's resentful expression, Jiang Hanqing comforted her, "That's good, Mother won't have to get angry over those petty people anymore." He then chuckled and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

Yin Yufeng spat at her son, "Pah! You silly boy, my foot! I can't bear to leave you. By the way! Aren't you happy, you heartless bastard?! Without me by your side, you can seduce women however you want, right?" She pinched his arm.

Jiang Hanqing quickly hugged his mother, "How could I? I can't bear to leave you either! Besides, what woman in the world, besides you, Mother, would I even want?" He then slipped his hand inside his mother's clothes, grasping and kneading her left breast.

Yin Yufeng glanced at her son with seductive eyes, her face flushed, giggling as she let him play with her breasts.

It turns out that Jiang Hanqing, who developed sexually very early, began to see his mother as his ideal woman at the age of ten. Influenced by the licentious practices prevalent in aristocratic families at the time, he became obsessed with sadomasochism from the age of twelve. From then on, he fantasized daily about making his mother his woman and sought opportunities.

Finally, one night five years ago, in his mother's military camp, after a celebration of her historic victory against the enemy, the thirteen-year-old Jiang Hanqing raped his mother, who had been plied with alcohol by her soldiers until she was dizzy.

To Jiang Hanqing's surprise, when his mother regained consciousness, she didn't blame him. Instead, she became addicted to the thrill of their incestuous affair, and would have sex with him whenever she had the chance. In bed, she acted like a little girl in heat, flirting and using all sorts of seductive gestures to seduce him. Even Jiang Hanqing sometimes couldn't believe that this woman was the unattainable "beautiful war goddess" in other people's eyes. Gradually, Jiang Hanqing discovered the evil nature hidden deep within his mother—she was actually a masochist! Under Jiang Hanqing's gradual training, her long-held dream finally came true: his mother became his sex slave. Each time they made love, Jiang Hanqing would brutally humiliate his mother: he would force her to wear various sadomasochistic leather garments, whip her delicate body, fondle her full breasts, clamp her erect nipples, insert the handle of the whip into her anus, and constantly hurl insults at her, calling her a "whore," a "slut," and an "old sow." His mother would always cry and beg her cruel son to quickly penetrate her burning vagina and anus. After each frenzied act of lovemaking, his mother seemed to become even more infatuated with Jiang Hanqing, clinging tightly to him on the bed with her warm, voluptuous body, unwilling to leave him. In that era, in an empire where aristocratic life was decadent and licentiousness was rampant, many people openly declared themselves someone's sex slave and signed sex slave contracts with their masters. These contracts were recognized by the empire and held complete legality. Incestuous relationships have been circulating underground for a long time, but they mostly involve siblings, nephews, and uncles/aunts. Incest between mother and son, like Jiang Hanqing's, is still taboo in society. This only made Jiang Hanqing and his mother feel more excited while secretly having their affair.

While caressing his mother's breasts, Jiang Hanqing asked, "Mom, why won't you let me go with you this time? I really don't want to leave you!"

"Silly child, I don't want to leave you either. But there's no other way! Your father said he wants you to learn more about politics so that you can take over the Jiang family's affairs in the future, and he wants you to stay in the capital. I think what he said makes a lot of sense, so I agreed. You must study hard with your father in the days to come!"

"Don't worry, Mom. I will definitely study hard!" As he answered his mother, Jiang Hanqing's hand movements as he caressed his mother's breasts became increasingly intense. His other hand reached down to his mother's genitals, caressing them through her skirt.

Yin Yufeng gasped, "Qing'er, no! Don't do this... It's broad daylight... If someone sees us, we'll be in big trouble!"

"Hehe... Mother... don't worry... Father went hunting at the royal ranch with the Emperor... He definitely won't be back today. As for the servants, I ordered them this morning not to enter this courtyard without permission. Let's have some fun before you leave these next few days!"

"But don't do it here!... Okay, Qing'er, carry me inside to do it!"

Unable to resist his mother's pleas, Jiang Hanqing carried her to a secret room in his bedroom. This was a room Jiang Hanqing had specially prepared for his trysts with his mother, hidden behind a bookcase in his study. The room was filled with sex toys. Every inch of this place had once been soaked with Yin Yufeng's fluids. To outsiders, the sacred and inviolable Yin Yufeng was nothing more than a sex slave, a female dog kept by her son, subject to his humiliation.

In the secret room, both mother and son stripped naked, standing face to face, their eyes locked in a passionate gaze.

"Mom, how shall I punish your lewd cunt today?" Jiang Hanqing walked over, put his arm around his mother's slender waist, pressed his hard penis against her naked lower abdomen, stroked her full buttocks, and kneaded her elastic breasts.

Stimulated by her lewd passion, the mother trembled slightly, her voice burning with desire. "Anyway, I'll be Qing'er's sex slave for life. You can do whatever you want with me."

Jiang Hanqing inserted his fingers into the anus of his beautiful mother, now his sex slave, and gently probed. "Mom, even though I've fucked your asshole so many times, it's still so tight. Sigh! Father is such an idiot, he doesn't even know how to use such a good hole. I'm the only one who gets to enjoy it."

"Qing'er, please! Stop! I'm a lewd mother. Please punish me!"

As the mother was immersed in the pain of her own lewdness, Jiang Hanqing slapped her plump buttocks hard. "Mom is always so lewd. Fine! Today, before you go to the Western Regions, I'll let you have your fill! Let you enjoy the taste of whipping first!"

Jiang Hanqing tied his mother's hands behind her back, then took out a red gag and forcibly stuffed it into her mouth, fastening the strap around her jaw and securing it behind her head. The gag was about four centimeters in diameter, forcing her cherry-like mouth open to its limit. There were small holes in the gag, making a soft hissing sound when Yin Yufeng breathed.

Although her son had played with her countless times, she could never forget her identity as a mother, which still made Yin Yufeng feel extremely ashamed. Seeing her son's lecherous gaze fixed on her breasts and vulva, Yin Yufeng lowered her head. But as she lowered her head, a trickle of saliva flowed from the gag's hole, dripping down her chin onto her breasts, causing her to feel a wave of shame.

"Swish...crack..."

"Ah!..." A leather whip had appeared in her son's hand, lashing Yin Yufeng's buttocks hard.

"You slut! Look at you, you're drooling! If you drool again, I'll beat you again! Now spread your legs!"

When the mother obediently spread her legs, a heavy slap landed on her high breasts.

"You filthy bitch, after just a couple of times, your cunt is already soaking wet! You're such a slut! I wonder what those people outside who treat you like a goddess think when they see you like this!"

Under the cruel stimulation of her son, Yin Yufeng's breathing quickened, and the saliva that had accumulated in her mouth due to the gag and couldn't be swallowed flowed out through her trachea.

"Crack!...Crack..." The cruel whip struck the mother's tender buttocks repeatedly.

"Mom! You're such a bitch! You're being beaten like this and you're drooling nonstop!"

Yin Yufeng, who was already used to the painful pleasure of the whip hitting her tender skin, immediately began to twist her body excitedly, her head shaking in the air, and saliva flying everywhere.

"Slap... Ah... Slap... Hmm... Slap... Oh...!" The stinging pain from her son's continuous whipping of her body, already accustomed to sexual abuse, combined with the shame of drooling, excited the incestuous mother. Saliva flowed down her jaw, throat, breasts, and lower abdomen; the sticky sensation of the highly viscous saliva on her skin constantly reminded her of her shameful, drooling state.

Under Jiang Hanqing's whipping, Yin Yufeng's buttocks were covered with red welts, and blood gradually seeped out. At the same time, her snow-white naked body suddenly convulsed, her thighs clenched tightly, her entire body stiffened instantly, and a large amount of fluid gushed from her vulva.

"Haha! Mom, you came so quickly! You're getting worse and worse."

With cruel laughter, Yin Yufeng seemed to have lost all strength and slowly squatted down, collapsing to the ground.

With a triumphant laugh, Jiang Hanqing removed the gag from his mother, placed a black dog collar around her neck, and secured it with a rope.

"Alright! Mom, get up. Now let's practice dog crawling. It's been months since we last did this, I wonder if you, this bitch, still remember?"

Yin Yufeng, recovering from the pleasure of her orgasm, got up and crawled on all fours like a dog. Jiang Hanqing reversed the whip in his hand and inserted the handle into his mother's anus.

The sensation of the foreign object entering her anus immediately caused Yin Yufeng's large intestine to contract, and her anus to tighten, gripping the whip handle tightly. This further intensified the friction between the whip handle and her anus, a strong stimulation reaching deep into her large intestine, causing her to collapse to the ground again.

"Alright! It's in! Now you, this bitch, have a proper tail! Now start crawling!" He then kicked his mother's sensitive genitals, urging her to crawl faster.

Yin Yufeng groaned in pain and quickly began to crawl on the ground. As she crawled, she felt as if her son, following behind, was staring cruelly at her anus and vulva. Driven by her feminine instincts, especially the shame and guilt of exposing her most intimate parts to her own son, she desperately tried to keep her knees together to conceal her genitals. But how could this posture, with her buttocks raised high on the ground, possibly shield her from her son's lustful gaze?

Watching his mother crawl like a dog, admiring her purple anus—now pierced by a leather whip and glistening with vaginal fluid—Jiang Hanqing laughed triumphantly, while simultaneously twisting the whip handle inserted into her anus, occasionally pushing it deep into her rectum. Whenever his mother collapsed to the ground from excessive stimulation, she would be slapped on the buttocks or kicked in the breasts and vulva. Gradually, Yin Yufeng forgot her shame. She reveled in the humiliating pleasure of being her son's sex slave. Her legs, which had been tightly pressed together, slowly parted, her buttocks circling in the air. As she crawled, her buttocks swayed from side to side, and her anus and vulva, where the whip was inserted, oozed lustful fluid, glistening and looking extremely lewd.

After she had circled the room a few times, Jiang Hanqing finally called for a stop.

"Alright! You slut, now come here and lick my cock!"

Yin Yufeng hurriedly crawled to her son, who was sitting high in the armchair, and knelt down in front of him. When she tried to remove the whip from her anus, her son slapped her repeatedly across the face.

"You slut! Who told you to take it out!"

"Yes! Mom was wrong. Please don't hit my face, or your father will suspect something."

"Damn it! You old bitch, you dare to make demands." However, Jiang Hanqing was obviously afraid that his father would discover his secret with his mother, so although he cursed, he grabbed his mother's erect nipples and pinched them hard.

As Yin Yufeng grasped her son's penis, preparing to lick it, Jiang Hanqing pinched her nipple hard again. Gripping in pain, Yin Yufeng heard her son's curses: "You stinking pig! Have you truly forgotten your master's teachings? What should you do before licking your master's flesh? Hmm!"

"Yes! Mother understands! Master, please give your penis to your mother, the slave, to serve!"

"Hehe... Mother, do you really want my big penis that much?" He grasped the base of his penis and slapped it against his mother's beautiful face.

"Yes! Mother is a lewd woman. Please, Master, grant your penis to Mother to lick!" The shame of having her cheek slapped by her own son's penis made her beautiful face, looking up at her son, appear even more pitiful, satisfying the sadistic son.

Satisfied, he grabbed his mother's hair, pulling her face towards him, and with a forceful thrust, Jiang Hanqing plunged his penis deep into his mother's mouth.

Yin Yufeng, in ecstasy, grasped her son's penis and began to suck and lick it vigorously. With his penis in her mouth, she licked it with the tip of her tongue, while simultaneously looking up at her cruel son with sorrowful tears in her eyes. This expression fueled the cruel son's ferocious lust to its extreme.

"Alright! Enough! You slutty woman, now it's time for you to penetrate me. Turn around and lie on the ground, stick your horny ass up."

The obedient sex slave immediately turned around and lay on the ground, simultaneously raising her plump buttocks covered in red whip marks high. Stimulated by the lewd desire of anticipating her son's penis penetrating her, her buttocks gently circled in the air.

Jiang Hanqing walked behind his mother, grabbed her hair and pulled it back forcefully, shouting angrily, "You slut! Spread your legs and raise your ass. A bitch like you can only enjoy the position of a bitch."

The poor mother immediately obeyed.

Jiang Hanqing stared at the anus and vulva exposed between his mother's high, snow-white buttocks, slapping her buttocks hard, while as if teasing her, rubbing his hard penis against her labia and clitoris.

"Qing'er, please. Put it in Mommy! Mommy can't take it! My vagina is so itchy! Please... ah... don't torture Mommy anymore...!"

Yin Yufeng, finally unable to bear the lewd pleasure, cried out in agony.

Watching his mother, of noble birth, driven mad by incestuous lust, Jiang Hanqing triumphantly thrust his fully erect penis into her already lubricated vagina. Thick vaginal

fluid flowed continuously from the gap between Jiang Hanqing's engorged penis and his mother's swollen labia; some flowed down her snow-white thighs to the ground, while the rest became a white lubricant, creating a lascivious rubbing sound as his penis rubbed against her vagina. The wanton mother tightly gripped her beloved son's penis, vigorously shaking her plump buttocks.

Jiang Hanqing skillfully manipulated her, leading his mother to one climax after another. Under her son's tireless thrusting, Yin Yufeng lost count of how many times she climaxed. She was driven mad by passion, only knowing to twist her buttocks to meet her son's thrusts. Her hair was disheveled, saliva dripped from the corners of her lips onto the ground, and she emitted incomprehensible, frantic cries. Her full breasts swayed violently beneath her, occasionally being squeezed forcefully by her son.

Enjoying his mother's disgraceful state, Jiang Hanqing smiled smugly. Although this incestuous drama between mother and son had been performed countless times, for the wicked mother and son, who were intoxicated by it, the lewd and sinful pleasure derived from this incestuous act was always incredibly stimulating—the mother's shame, the son's sin, the pleasure of intercourse, and the thrill of incest drove them both to madness each time.

When the mother could no longer resist the urge to climax, her hot, lustful fluids sprayed onto Jiang Hanqing's glans, causing him to shudder. He finally ejaculated his pent-up semen. The stimulation of the semen entering the mother's cervix intensified Yin Yufeng's pleasure, and her lustful fluids flowed even more freely. While Jiang Hanqing was lost in ecstasy, he didn't forget to follow the methods his mother had taught him, using the art of yin and yang union to enhance his skills through sexual intercourse with his mother.

Afterwards, mother and son lay on the ground, embracing and kissing passionately, whispering sweet nothings to each other. For a long, long time, they slowly drifted into a deep sleep, their passion fading away.

Three days later, it was time for Yin Yufeng to depart for the Western Regions.

At the ten-mile-west pavilion in Yong'an Prefecture, banners fluttered, a large black banner embroidered with a phoenix in gold thread. This was the banner of Yin Yufeng, commander of the "Flying Phoenix Legion." Soldiers of the Flying Phoenix Legion stood in rows on both sides of the road, clad in bright armor, strong and spirited. The 20,000 elite guards of the Flying Phoenix Legion, to protect their commander, followed him back to the capital from the frontier and were stationed at the Green Willow Camp west of the city. For years, although they trained daily, this peaceful and boring life was utterly monotonous for them, accustomed to the bloody battles on the battlefield. Now, their commander was returning to the Western Regions. They could once again gallop across the battlefield, fighting for the prosperity of their nation. The thought of returning home in two years, having accumulated enough military merit to apply for tax exemption at the county government, and the envious and respectful looks from onlookers, filled these rough-around-the-edges, hot-blooded men with an irresistible urge to immediately fly back to the frontier.

However, for their commander, this was not so pleasant. After leaving his beloved son, he didn't know when he would be able to endure his son's cruel training again. The thought of the painful yet pleasurable experiences she had with her son immediately made the masochistic Yin Yufeng feel a wetness in her genitals. She desperately wanted to escape the persistent old men around her and have her beloved Qing'er hold her and find a place to have some fun. However, despite her desires, she still had to deal with the large group of ministers who had come to see her off.

Today, Yin Yufeng was dressed in a white, tight-fitting warrior's outfit, covered with silver carved chainmail, wearing a phoenix-adorned pear blossom soft crown, and leopard-skin riding boots. She was stunningly beautiful, yet still possessed the heroic spirit befitting a soldier.

Watching his beautiful mother bid farewell to the courtiers and occasionally glance at him with resentful eyes, Jiang Hanqing felt a deep sadness. Although his methods of toying with his mother were cruel, it was merely a sexual act between a sadist and a masochist. In his heart, he truly loved his mother madly, wishing he could hold her in his mouth. If possible, he would spend every day cuddling his mother naked in bed, playing until he died. But now his mother was about to leave him, alas!

When his mother finally finished entertaining the ministers and came to bid farewell to her family, Jiang Haoyu hugged his wife tightly, reluctantly reminding her of things to be careful about in the distant West. At this moment, Yin Yufeng clearly saw the jealousy, resentment, and sorrow reflected in the eyes of her son standing behind her husband, and felt a pang of desolation in her heart. Her and her son's actions were ultimately unacceptable to the world; wanting to live with her son was just a fantasy, forever impossible.

Breaking free from her husband's embrace, she went to her son and gently hugged him. At this moment, Jiang Hanqing felt that he had never felt so attached to anyone. He rested his head on his mother's shoulder and said in a hoarse voice, each word distinct, "Mother, I will wait for you! Forever and ever! One day, I will live with you and marry you! Even if it means going against everyone else! I swear!" With that, he hugged his mother tightly around the waist, then firmly pushed her away and strode towards his mount.

Yin Yufeng watched her son's majestic figure with tearful eyes. She knew that although her son had always been domineering during their sexual encounters, deep down he was still just an eighteen-year-old boy. Yin Yufeng had never wanted her beloved son and lover to leave her side. In the past, from the moment this child was born, whether she was at home in the capital or in the army, she had always kept him by her side. For the first eighteen years, there wasn't a single day that this child wasn't with his mother; on the contrary, because of his time in the army, he hadn't been able to see his father for eleven years. But now it was no longer possible, because the child had grown up. He should stay in the capital with his father to study politics, so that he could shoulder the heavy responsibility of leading the Jiang family in the future. Yin Yufeng was truly reluctant to part with her precious son, wondering how he would live in the years without his mother by his side.

At this moment, Yin Yufeng knew that her son was about to become a real man. She wondered what he would be like the next time they met.

Jiang Hanqing mounted his horse, lashed it hard on the belly, and the horse galloped off towards the capital. He didn't look back at his mother again, because he knew that if he did, he would burst into tears and beg his mother to take him to the Western Regions. To become a real man and fulfill his vow to his mother, he had to stay in the capital, continue learning those disgusting political tricks, and strive to become a victor in the power struggle. He didn't yet know how he could fulfill his wish of publicly marrying his mother, a wish that would be condemned by the world, but he firmly believed that he would achieve it. History can be ironic at times; the revered figures of the past often embark on a path of no return for such sordid reasons.

After departing from the capital, Yin Yufeng and her 20,000-strong Imperial Guard followed the only road to the west—the Golden Road. A month and a half later, they entered the vast western mountains—the Sunset Mountains. They

marched for another seven days through the mountains. On this day, as the army emerged from a large valley, a breathtaking expanse of sky and sea appeared before them. They were now halfway up a mountain, with no new peaks ahead, and at the foot of the mountains stretched a boundless plain. Near the foot of the mountains, a magnificent city stood proudly on the Golden Road. This was Sunset City, the political, economic, and cultural center of the western region of the empire.

Sunset City was situated at the easternmost edge of the vast Western Plain, overlooking the entire region. To its east lay the Sunset Mountains, the only route the Western Barbarian tribes could take to cross the Sunset Mountains into the heart of the empire—the Golden Road. And the western end of the Golden Avenue begins in this Sunset City.

Therefore, as long as the barbarians cannot conquer Sunset City, they cannot invade the heartland of the Yanhuang tribe. In the past three thousand years, the barbarians have only had four opportunities to conquer Sunset City, and each of these opportunities allowed them to penetrate deep into the Yanhuang territory, wreaking havoc and looting for decades, even the capital city was not spared.

It is for this reason that the Yanhuang tribe has painstakingly cultivated this city of destiny for three thousand years, hoping to rely on it to resist the invasion of the western barbarians, and even to launch large-scale expeditions from here when the nation is strong.

Today, Sunset City has been occupied for over eight hundred years.

Because this city is a vital trade route between the western world and the empire, and because the surrounding land is fertile, coupled with the material accumulation of the Yanhuang people's eight hundred years of hard work, this city has now become the empire's second most prosperous metropolis after the capital, Yong'an Prefecture.

In the past twenty years, the empire's expeditions to the Western Regions have further enriched this central city of the Western Regions. Various adventurers and merchants hoping to make a fortune by following the army have also gathered here before heading further west.

Sunset City was thirty li in circumference, its walls eighteen meters high, twenty meters thick at the base, and twelve meters wide at the top. Every thirty meters, there was a three-story crenellation tower. Each tower was twenty-four feet in diameter, with nearly twenty arrow slits, and could house a hundred soldiers. The walls had three gates in each of the four cardinal directions (east, south, west, and north), each gate consisting of three archways, one large and two small. In front of each gate was a barbican to protect it from direct enemy attack; there were twelve barbicans in total around the city. At the edge of each barbican stood a fifteen-meter-high arrow tower, with eighty-one arrow slits.

Countless barbarian chieftains had once given up hope of invading the empire upon seeing this magnificent city. A chieftain of the Tu La tribe, who had traversed the Western Regions, exclaimed upon seeing this great city, "This city is not just Sunset City! It is truly a city that will never fall!"

Now, four years after leaving this city, Yin Yufeng had finally returned. The difference was that last time she was here with her beloved son, but this time she was all alone.

Four cavalrymen from the vanguard galloped into the city to report the arrival of the Imperial Grand Marshal.

As the main force neared the city walls, the three eastern gates—Desheng Gate, Yongding Gate, and Anshun Gate—which rarely opened simultaneously, roared open. Clad in gleaming armor, cavalrymen rode out in orderly ranks from the central Desheng Gate, forming a procession outside to welcome the returning legion commander.

Several generals, riding warhorses, approached Yin Yufeng, led by a female general. She was none other than the Imperial Marshal, Xisili, the deputy commander of the Flying Phoenix Legion and the de facto commander of the legion during Yin Yufeng's four-year absence from the capital. Xisili was Yin Yufeng's goddaughter. She was of barbarian Tu La descent, hence her blonde hair and blue eyes. When Yin Yufeng was only nineteen, she had led an army in a war to exterminate the western barbarian Tu La tribe. During the siege of the Tula Khanate, a fierce Tula general fought against the Heavenly Dynasty army, refusing to surrender, until he died from exhaustion. Before his death, he pleaded with the Heavenly Dynasty general to spare his one-year-old orphaned daughter. Yin Yufeng was moved by his heroic spirit and adopted the orphan as her goddaughter. This girl was Xisili. She grew up in the military camp with Yin Yufeng, displaying exceptional military talent from a very young age. She began fighting alongside Yin Yufeng at the age of 13, accumulating numerous military merits. After Yin Yufeng returned to the court to engage in politics, she commanded the western garrison and was awarded the rank of Imperial Marshal two years ago. She is twenty-eight years old this year.

Xisili rushed to Yin Yufeng's side, both surprised and delighted, and said, "Mother General! Why didn't you inform me of your return? I could have come to welcome you!" Before Yin Yufeng could answer, she glanced at Yin Yufeng's accompanying generals and suddenly noticed that Jiang Hanqing was not in the group. She hurriedly asked, "Mother General, why didn't Qing-di come back with you?"

Yin Yufeng, who had been all smiles upon seeing her goddaughter, immediately darkened her face and glared at her, saying, "We'll talk about it when we get back!" With that, she rode off into the city. Completely bewildered, Xisili could only follow her adoptive mother, not daring to ask any more questions.

That evening, back at the Western Regions Protectorate, Yin Yufeng and Xisili removed their battle clothes and changed back into women's attire.

Xisili looked at her adoptive mother, who sat there blankly, and cautiously asked, "Mother, what happened? Why didn't Qingdi come back with you?"

Yin Yufeng sighed, sinking back into painful memories. After a long while, she finally said, "Alas! My return to the Western Regions this time was all because of the power struggles in the court. That old bastard, the Duke of Dingguo, always wants to use the victory in the southern expedition to gild his son's reputation. Heh heh... He made his son the commander-in-chief and Consort Qingsi the deputy commander. He made Qingsi fight all the battles, and if they were won, all the credit would go to his royal family. That old fox! But he doesn't even consider that, with his..." "My precious son's character is unworthy of surpassing Qing Si as commander-in-chief? Our Jiang family has been the target of envy for the past few years, and now that I am the prime minister, I am even more universally condemned. To avoid their wrath, I had no choice but to resign as prime minister and return to the Western Regions to command the army, which is also a way to avoid even greater disaster. But your brother Qing... sigh... your Uncle Jiang said that Qing'er should learn more about political affairs so that he can take over the Jiang family's affairs in the future. I think it makes sense, so I agreed to your Uncle Jiang."

The Fei Qing Si that Yin Yufeng mentioned here is 22 years old this year. This girl has extremely high magical talent and became a Grand Magus at the age of 14, the youngest person in history to achieve this. She comes from an imperial official family, and her father is a senior staff officer in the Imperial Military. Fei Qing Si is intelligent from a young age. At the age of 15, she surpassed many strategic experts in the Imperial Military at a strategic seminar and won first place. Emperor Wu Ming, who was watching from the side, called her "another military genius of the empire after Yin Yufeng and Shi Yanying." Four years ago, at the age of eighteen, he became a corps commander under the Southern Legion of the Empire. In a battle against the invading Southern Barbarian forces, he led a corps of 20,000 men to annihilate over 200,000 enemy troops, causing a sensation throughout the country. After reading the battle report submitted to the military headquarters, Yin Yufeng exclaimed, "Even if Yan Ying and I personally led the troops, we might not have been able to achieve this! The Grand Marshal of the Empire will surely be awarded this honor within ten

years!" When Fei Qingsi came to the capital to meet the Emperor, Yin Yufeng invited her to her home for a long talk, and the two developed a good relationship as a result. "Oh! Doesn't that mean I won't see Brother Qing for several more years? I haven't seen him for four years!" Xi Sili's face clearly showed disappointment. Obviously, what she cared about most was that Jiang Hanqing hadn't come, and she didn't care about anything else. Yin

Yufeng looked at Xi Sili with a half-smile.

"What? Is the little girl having puberty? Hehe!"

"Mother! Look at what you're saying! I really miss Qing-di!"

"Miss Qing-di? I think you miss Qing-er's thing, don't you?"

"Mother!... I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Yin Yufeng had a lewd smile on her lips as she walked over and hugged Xisili, gently rubbing her breasts, saying, "Xiaoli, don't worry. Your Qing-di hasn't forgotten you. He told me to take good care of you for him! Haha..."

Xisili buried her head in her adoptive mother's arms and whispered, "Mother... I miss you too." Her hand reached under her adoptive mother's skirt and touched Yin Yufeng's genitals. Yin Yufeng wasn't even wearing underwear under her skirt, and her vulva was already wet. As soon as Xisili's hand touched her genitals, she spread her legs, allowing Xisili to touch her labia.

"Mother, you're all wet! You want to do this with your daughter that much?" Hissley's fingers were inserted into her adoptive mother's vagina, probing inside.

Yin Yufeng tilted her head back slightly, her vulva thrusting forward, trying to let her daughter's fingers penetrate deeper, breathing softly.

"Xiaoli, harder! Harder!" Her hands also squeezed her adoptive daughter's breasts, playing with them vigorously.

Although Hissley's breasts were very uncomfortable from her adoptive mother's playing, she still managed to keep her fingers in place inside her adoptive mother's vagina, resolutely refusing to let her adoptive mother swallow them completely.

Under her adoptive daughter's skillful manipulation, Yin Yufeng's vagina became increasingly itchy, the feeling of only half of her vagina being filled with something made her extremely uncomfortable. Vaginal fluid flowed down Hissley's fingers.

Finally, Yin Yufeng could no longer endure it. She stood up and roughly tore off her adoptive daughter's clothes.

Yin Yufeng pushed her adopted daughter onto the bed, then stripped naked and climbed on top of her, fondling Xisili's firm breasts and buttocks.

Xisili and her adoptive mother kissed passionately, swallowing each other's saliva.

Suddenly, Yin Yufeng pinched her adopted daughter's nipple and pulled hard. As Xisili screamed, a cruel slap landed on her face.

"You slut! Confess! How many men have slept with you in these past four years!"

Without waiting for Xisili's reply, she continued to slap Xisili's breasts, lower abdomen, and genitals.

Under her adoptive mother's cruel treatment, Xisili cried and answered, "Mother Commander, I didn't!... Ah... I haven't played with other men!... Waaah... Mother Commander... really... I swore I would be Qingdi's woman for life... I would never dare to think of doing anything with other men!"

"You still dare to deny it! You lewd woman! Kneel down on the ground!"

Xisili immediately knelt down, and Yin Yufeng stretched out her feet in front of her, ordering, "Now lick my feet."

"Yes, Mother Commander!"

Xisili, her face still wet with tears, picked up her adoptive mother's feet and carefully licked them.

"Look at you, you don't look like a deputy commander of an army at all! You're clearly a prostitute! Damn it!"

Yin Yufeng, who was a sex slave in front of her son, was now a queen in front of other women. Her former gentle and kind image was completely gone, and even her tone of voice had become rough.

With a curse, Yin Yufeng smacked Xisili's head. Xisili crawled on the ground like a puppy.

Looking at her pitiful adopted daughter, Yin Yufeng nodded in satisfaction.

"Hmm! Not bad. You're quite obedient, you bitch. Qing'er will definitely be satisfied in the future. Now, let's punish your filthy cunt!"

...And so, amidst Xisili's screams, Yin Yufeng spent her first night back in the Western Regions.

Chapter Two:

The Eunuch's Rise to Power

Time flies, and four years have passed since Yin Yufeng left the capital. In these four years, the power struggles within the court have intensified. The four great families and their cronies often fight tooth and nail for a single official position. During these four years,

the empire's wars against foreign powers have been ongoing. To wage these wars, the court's elite troops have been drawn to the borders. When the court tries to recruit new soldiers to guard the capital, it cannot find enough men, because the people are weary of the continuous wars. The constant victories in the border wars and the continuous expansion of territory have made the people feel that war is getting further and further away from them, and they no longer have the sense of crisis they once had. The constant stream of victories numbed the common people; the days of city-wide celebrations upon hearing a single piece of news were gone, and the former respect for soldiers vanished. In times of peace, people were only concerned with making money through business; those who enlisted were ridiculed as useless brutes. Many scholar-official families considered their military relatives a disgrace, avoiding any contact with them, and some even expelled them entirely. To cope with this recruitment crisis, the court had to offer hefty sums to recruit soldiers. As a result, those who enlisted were mostly idle street urchins from the capital.

Shortly after his mother's death, Jiang Hanqing, relying on the court's hereditary system, successfully entered officialdom. Through his abilities, he quickly earned the respect of his family members and other high-ranking officials. With the support of his family's influence, at the age of twenty-two, he rose from a fifth-rank hereditary Yunqiwei (a military rank) to the high-ranking Right Guard General (a third-rank official) in just four years.

Jiang Hanqing now sports a short beard, his eyes gleaming with a sharp, shrewd light. His frame is broader than it was four years ago, his once somewhat thin body now increasingly robust. Four years of experience in court intrigue have made him appear more mature than his actual age. His once carefree and spirited gait is now more steady and weighty. He's also mastered the intrigues and power struggles of the court.

At this moment, he and his second uncle's son, Jiang Hantian, stand on a street corner in the capital, watching the lively conscription ceremony. Jiang Hantian is thirty-one years old this year. Among the five children of Jiang Haoyu's brothers, he is the eldest of thirteen cousins of the same generation, a rare military talent who has followed Yin Yufeng on campaigns for many years, accumulating numerous military merits. Jiang Hanqing is the fourth son. However, Jiang Hanqing is the only son of the family head, and barring unforeseen circumstances, he should inherit the position of family head.

At this moment, a group of thugs were making a ruckus around the recruitment point.

"Hey! Sir, how much do you pay for joining the army?"

"What? Only twenty taels of silver? That's too little! How about thirty taels?"

"You're not sending us to fight on the border, are you?"

"Just stationed near the capital? Fine! I'll sign up."

... Jiang Hantian shook his head and sighed at the farcical scene: "Sigh! What kind of talk is this? Can this kind of army fight? Damn it, if something happens, they'll just abandon their armor and run away."

Jiang Hanqing sneered and said, "Hehe! Isn't this better? Let's go back to the manor. We have a meeting this afternoon to discuss the Emperor's rewarding of the eunuchs for their merits!"

"Fourth brother, wait for me!" Jiang Hantian hurriedly chased after his fourth cousin, the future head of the family. Over the past four years, he had watched this brother grow rapidly from a naive young man into a capable minister of the court. His past care and affection for him had now turned into respect and admiration.

That afternoon happened to be the monthly family meeting of the Jiang family, the Duke of Zhenguo. The main family members in the capital were all gathered together.

"This morning at court, the Emperor actually wanted to appoint that dog of a eunuch, Yang Sicong, as the Grand General of the State! For six hundred years, the established rule of this dynasty has been that eunuchs' official rank should never exceed the third rank, and now he's actually going to appoint him as a second-rank official! Damn it, winning against two nomadic tribes has to lead to this? Then the merits our Sister Feng has achieved could easily take his throne away!!! What's most hateful is that those two old bastards, Duke Anguo Li Zhiqiang and Duke Jingguo Zou Siye, actually strongly support it. Damn it, to curry favor with that little bit of eunuch power, they've disgraced their ancestors! This…this is outrageous! And also, eldest brother! You didn't say a word against it at court. If it weren't for Wang Mingde's strong opposition for fear that those two brats would bring the eunuchs' power over, the Emperor would probably have officially bestowed the title this morning!"

Before everyone was even seated, Jiang Haoyu's fifth brother, the youngest among them—Jiang Haoran—spoke.

Jiang Haoyu smiled at his younger brother, who had always been quick-tempered, stroked his beard, and shook his head without saying a word.

Jiang Haoran, seeing his elder brother's dismissive attitude, became even more agitated, standing up and almost shouting, "Big brother! You...do you think we should support Yang Sicong?!"

The second brother, Jiang Haotian, pulled his fifth brother aside, saying, "Fifth brother, sit down! Big brother must have his reasons, listen to him first!"

"I won't listen! I won't support a eunuch and disgrace our ancestors..."

Jiang Haoran was about to continue arguing when Jiang Hanqing spoke up: "Fifth Uncle, please be quiet and listen to Father!"

Jiang Haoran felt a strange fear of his nephew, who had shown extraordinary talent in recent years and was destined to become the new head of the family. Hearing this, he dared not argue further. In fact, it wasn't just him; almost everyone in the family felt that Jiang Hanqing's abilities over the past year had surpassed his father's. In their eyes, Jiang Hanqing was no longer the little kid who used to play around with everyone, but a truly talented core member of the family.

Seeing his imposing presence even without anger, and the fact that even his hot-tempered fifth uncle was somewhat intimidated by him, many people had a thought: "Han Qing should have no problem being the head of the family right now!"

Jiang Haoyu glanced at his increasingly mature son with satisfaction and said, "I have my reasons for not speaking at today's court assembly. Hanqing, why don't you share your thoughts on this matter?"

Jiang Hanqing nodded and said, "Yes, Father!" Then he cleared his throat and looked at the elders around him, noticing their attentive gazes, and said, "According to the old rules of this dynasty, eunuchs are indeed not allowed to hold official positions higher than the third rank. However, today's Emperor Wuming doesn't think so. He believes his abilities surpass those of all emperors throughout history. You can see how smug he is by even daring to change the method of chronology." In this situation, he had absolutely no qualms about what official position the eunuch should hold. Moreover, the most crucial question is: with so many capable generals in this dynasty, why did he insist on sending Yang Sicong to conquer the weak nomadic tribes that had submitted to the Qiu Te Kingdom? Clearly, he was unwilling to relinquish military power to the four great families. Looking at the current state of military power, aside from the two great legions under the command of my mother and Shi Yanying, whom he dared not touch, all the other standing armies had been subtly taken back from the four great families by him.”

Upon hearing this, the family members immediately began whispering amongst themselves.

"Yes! That's really true!"

"Damn it. That old emperor is really up to no good."

"Hmm! Luckily, Commander Feng has the Flying Phoenix Legion in his hands. Hehe, that's something the old emperor can't touch even if he wanted to."

...After everyone gradually quieted down, Jiang Hanqing continued, "Now that he's sending Yang Sicong to lead the army, firstly, it can prevent military power from falling into the hands of us ministers again; secondly, in his eyes, eunuchs are just servants. No matter how many merits a servant makes, he's not afraid of him turning the world upside down, so he can confidently give them military power and promote them. However, we don't need to worry too much about his tricks. First, my mother's million-strong army is not to be underestimated; second, the soldiers and generals the court is recruiting now, hmph, they're probably all show and no substance!"

Everyone burst into laughter and nodded in agreement.

Jiang Hanqing paused, then continued, "Now that the Emperor has proposed bestowing honors upon Yang Sicong in court, he has clearly made up his mind. No one can oppose him now! Those who oppose him today are seen by him as deliberately plotting against him, that is, as rebellious ministers. Wang Mingde, in his self-righteousness, is singing a dissenting tune in court today; he will surely regret it later."

"So, should we support the Emperor?" someone asked.

"No! We certainly cannot support the Emperor's decision," Jiang Hanqing said decisively.

“Why? First, as Uncle Wu said, that would be a disgrace to our ancestors. Our Jiang family is founded on filial piety, so we naturally can’t do such a thing. Second, to be practical, what good would it do us to support the emperor? The emperor has long been displeased with our aristocratic families. No matter what we do, he will never consider us his confidants. The eunuchs won’t appreciate our efforts either, because they believe it’s a favor from the emperor and has nothing to do with anyone else! Moreover, if we express our support, the court officials will look down on our Jiang family and think we’re currying favor with the eunuchs! They might all keep their distance from us in the future!”

At this moment, his cousin, the second oldest, Jiang Hanyu, asked, “Then why do the Li and Zou families support the emperor? Aren’t they stupid enough to not understand these principles?”

"As for why the Li and Zou families support the Emperor, it's simple! They only hold the nominal titles of the four great families. I won't even mention the Zou family; everyone knows how dilapidated they are. To put it bluntly, if the four great families go to war, they'll be the first to die. As for the Li family, they're all bark and no bite. Everyone knows that without Shi Yanying's support, the Li family is no better than the Zou family. But according to the latest reliable intelligence, Shi Yanying's return to the northern garrison wasn't a self-sacrifice for the safety of the empire's northern border, as the Li family claims. The real reason is that she and Li Zhiqiang have been married for many years without producing an heir, leading to a falling out with the Li family! I was skeptical when I first heard this intelligence, but now that I see the Li family colluding with the Zou family, I'm certain. At least even Li Zhiqiang himself isn't sure if Shi Yanying would help the Li family if something happens; otherwise, there's no need for her to be so eager to curry favor with the Emperor and the eunuchs."

"Therefore, I think Father's silence in court is a wise move! This is what is meant by 'prudent self-preservation'!"

“And if I’m not mistaken, the emperor will soon send another eunuch to lead the army. If we fail, that would be best. Even if we win, if he continues to bestow titles and rewards upon the eunuchs like this, the ministers will be outraged without us having to do anything. Let’s just wait and see.”

Hearing Jiang Hanqing’s analysis, everyone agreed it made perfect sense. Therefore, the family meeting ultimately decided that all family officials should remain silent about the matter of bestowing titles and rewards upon the eunuchs, and not make any explicit statements in court.

As the meeting adjourned, Jiang Haotian watched his nephew’s departing figure, smiling and nodding in praise, “Qing’er has truly grown up. There are certainly many capable warriors in the next generation of our Jiang family, but he is probably the only one truly capable of leading the family business! Congratulations, elder brother!”

The third brother, Jiang Haoming, the fourth brother, Jiang Haoting, and Jiang Haoran nodded in agreement, their expressions showing mutual understanding.

Jiang Haoyu stroked his beard, smiling silently.

After the meeting ended, Jiang Hanqing walked alone to his residence.

Rounding a bend, a young woman in palace attire walked slowly ahead, her graceful figure captivating from behind. Jiang Hanqing looked closely and recognized her as his fifth uncle Jiang Haoran's wife—his fifth aunt, Li Huaxin. This fifth aunt was the younger sister of Duke Anguo, Li Zhiqiang. The Li family had initially married her into the Jiang family as a political alliance. However, despite the marriage, the two families were locked in a bitter political struggle at court. This unfortunate aunt became a victim of this political infighting, despised by almost everyone in the Jiang family. Her own husband, Jiang Haoran, would avoid her for months at a time, and when they did meet, he would beat and berate her.

Only Jiang Hanqing showed her no prejudice, so she treated him exceptionally well, often preparing nourishing foods for him. Although the Jiang family had been wealthy for generations and had no shortage of such things, for Jiang Hanqing, who always loved his mother, this maternal gesture naturally reminded him of his beloved mother. Unconsciously, he developed deep feelings for Li Huaxin.

Seeing the medicine pot in his aunt's hand, Jiang Hanqing knew she had probably prepared some tonic for him and brought it over. A strange feeling welled up inside him. When his mother was alive, Jiang Hanqing hadn't felt anything special about this aunt, but now that his mother was far away, he had felt so empty and lonely for the past two years, and he deeply missed the days spent with his mother. Now, facing this aunt who treated him like a mother, Jiang Hanqing couldn't help but think of his mother.

"Without my mother by my side, perhaps I should let Fifth Sister..."

Having made up his mind, Jiang Hanqing quickly caught up with Li Huaxin and patted her on the shoulder.

Li Huaxin was startled, turned around, and only relaxed when she saw it was Jiang Hanqing.

"Qing'er, it's you! You startled me."

"Fifth Aunt, where have you been?"

"Fifth Aunt just got some angelica for you, and was going to take it to you. Turns out you were out, I almost missed it!"

"Oh! Today's the family meeting, didn't Fifth Uncle tell you?" Jiang Hanqing had just said "Fifth Uncle" when he saw his aunt tremble, a few tears welling up in her eyes. He suddenly realized, remembering how his family treated this poor woman. Looking at her pitiful appearance, he felt a pang of sadness. Seeing the few glistening tears on her cheeks, he quickly reached out his sleeve and gently wiped them away. Although his aunt was about the same age as his mother, the beautiful young woman's demeanor and speech possessed a natural charm that reminded Jiang Hanqing, who had always had a mother complex, of his own mother, and he felt a surge of pity.

"Fifth Aunt, it's all my fault! Don't think so much! From today onwards, I will protect you and never let anyone hurt you again!"

Li Huaxin's lips were still wet with tears. Hearing this, she looked up at Jiang Hanqing with gratitude: "Qing'er, you're such a good person! You're the only good person in your Jiang family!"

Jiang Hanqing smiled gently: "Fifth Aunt, alright. Don't think about it so much. Come, let's go sit in my room." As he spoke, he naturally reached out and put his hand on

his aunt's waist, leading her forward. When his hand touched Li Huaxin's slender waist, Li Huaxin felt as if she had been electrocuted. Her body trembled slightly, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. She glanced at her nephew, only to see that his eyes were fixed straight ahead, his expression normal. She couldn't help but scold herself in her heart: "Li Huaxin! Li Huaxin!... What's wrong with you today?... Qing'er is open and honest, but you have a guilty conscience!" She couldn't help but think of the night before...

That night, Li Huaxin had finished bathing and was lying in bed. But as usual, it was another sleepless night for her.

She stared blankly at the mosquito net above her bed, her heart surging, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Aside from the first few months of their marriage, her husband hadn't slept with her in fifteen years. Even more tragically, the entire Jiang family treated her as an enemy; her own family either thought she was useless for failing to win over the Jiang family, or believed that now that she was part of the Jiang family, she would surely turn against the Li family, and thus viewed her with hatred. She was truly utterly alone in this world.

At this moment, the thought that had crossed her mind countless times before resurfaced: "What's the point of me living?"

She rose and sat before her dressing table, picked up a pair of gold scissors, and held the blade to her throat, ready to end her life with a single stroke. Suddenly, she saw a pearl flower on the dressing table, and countless memories flooded back. She clearly remembered that this pearl flower was a birthday gift from her nephew, Jiang Hanqing, last year, and the only birthday gift she had received that year.

"No! I can't die! In this world, Qing'er is still good to me! Qing'er..."

Unconsciously, her hand slowly lowered. Suddenly, her hand went limp, the scissors fell to the ground, and instantly, the will to die vanished. She leaned over the table and burst into tears.

Through her tears, she looked up and stared blankly at the bright mirror on the dressing table, but all she could see was her nephew's image.

"Fifth Aunt, why are you crying? Mother said it's shameful to cry in front of others..." This was the innocent Qing'er of her youth.

"Fifth Aunt, Fifth Uncle bullied you again! I'll ask my father to scold him and tell him not to treat you like this anymore..." This was the young Qing'er who was just beginning to understand things.

"Fifth Aunt, don't pay attention to that senile Fifth Uncle. Don't listen to anything he says. If he bullies you, come and tell me, and I'll settle the score with him!..." This was the grown-up Qing'er who could stand on his own.

Thinking of the past with Jiang Hanqing, Li Huaxin's heart was filled with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow, sometimes sobbing and weeping, sometimes unable to suppress a smile.

"Ah! Time flies so fast. Qing'er has grown up; he's not the little one he used to be. I wonder who will be his future wife? That woman is so lucky!" Thinking of this, she couldn't help but compare her nephew to her husband. One was a handsome young man, the other a middle-aged brute; one was understanding, the other eccentric and arrogant; one was calm and knowledgeable, the other irritable and vulgar.

"Ah! How wonderful it would be if Qing'er were my husband! Bah! How could I have such a ridiculous thought? Qing'er is my nephew!"

But once she started thinking about it, she couldn't control these indecent thoughts. Her mind was filled with fantasies of an illicit affair with her nephew.

Finally, she couldn't resist any longer and quickly stripped off her clothes. She stood before the dressing table, lewdly wiggling her hips, staring at her reflection in the mirror, driven mad by lust, in the dim candlelight.

Facing the mirror, she twisted her hips, thrusting her vulva forward, and stroked her hard, protruding clitoris with her fingers.

“Li Huaxin, you are truly a lewd woman! You actually wanted to have an affair with your own nephew! Now you must be punished.”

She thrust forward, reaching her hands from behind her buttocks, one hand spreading her labia, the other cruelly digging and pulling at her vagina in an almost sadistic manner, even pinching and pulling at her labia.

Looking at her disheveled hair and frantic masturbation in the mirror, coupled with the pain in her vagina from her own rough handling, stimulated the ugly side that was usually hidden deep within her. The miserable life she had lived for fifteen years had filled her heart with sadistic desires. Countless times in the dead of night, she would play with herself in this self-destructive way in this room to satisfy that perverse desire. The difference was that in the past she hadn't thought of having sex with her nephew, but today she had, and this crazy sexual fantasy could no longer be controlled, lust burning fiercely throughout her body.

Overwhelmed by intense sexual stimulation, she writhed, seeing her breasts and buttocks swaying lewdly in the mirror. She cried hysterically, venting her boundless anguish.

She climbed onto the dressing table, spread her legs, pressed her vulva against the mirror, and inserted her right index and middle fingers into her vagina, her ring finger into her anus, simultaneously playing with both orifices.

Sticky, lustful fluid dripped down her fingers, pooling on the dressing table.

"Qing'er! You wouldn't believe how lewd your fifth aunt is, would you?"

"Qing'er, come hug your fifth aunt! Look, your fifth aunt would do anything for you. You'll love my vagina, and my anus has never been touched by a man before. You can deflower it!"

Continuing to play with her vagina and anus, Li Huaxin excitedly spoke these perverse words of love for her nephew to the mirror.

She stood on the ground, her back to the mirror, spreading her buttocks apart with her hands. Her vulva and anus were clearly reflected in the mirror. She then inserted one hand's fingers into her anus, probing and manipulating it, while the other hand played with her vagina. She watched as vaginal fluid dripped from her vulva in the mirror. She imagined her nephew's reaction if he saw her like this; the inverted sensuality caused her burning uterus to contract, and a large amount of vaginal fluid flowed out.

Sobbing, Li Huaxin knelt on one knee, supporting herself on the other, reaching behind her to part her anus and inserting her fingers. She fantasized about the pleasure of her nephew playing with her like this, roughly touching her clitoris. In this pleasure, Li Huaxin collapsed to the ground, trembling, and ejaculated.

...At this moment, thinking of these shameful things, Li Huaxin felt an itchy sensation in her uterus again, and the vaginal fluid quickly soaked her underwear.

"Li Huaxin, why are you still thinking about these things now! If Qing'er finds out, what will he think of you, this lewd woman!"

In the midst of this intense inner struggle, her body trembled uncontrollably, feeling utterly powerless. Without her nephew's support, she might have collapsed to the ground at any moment.

Seeing his aunt's distressed expression and feeling the trembling of her soft waist beneath his arm, Jiang Hanqing knew his aunt harbored unusual feelings for him. Otherwise, given her age, similar to his mother's, she wouldn't have been so agitated by his nephew's support. Thinking this, he solidified his resolve to carry out his earlier plan.

He helped his aunt into his room and sat her down. Jiang Hanqing's arm slowly moved to her breasts, tentatively kneading them.

At this moment, Li Huaxin finally realized that her nephew harbored improper thoughts towards her. She didn't know whether to feel sorrow or joy, but she knew her body would not resist her nephew's advances. On the contrary, her body tensed with the same tension and anticipation she felt during her first time making love with her husband.

Seeing his aunt's eyes slightly closed, her breathing rapid, her chest heaving, and her neck stiff with tension, Han Qing was completely relieved. It seemed his aunt was determined to offer herself to him today. But he wouldn't let her taste the sweetness so easily! He wanted to slowly toy with this woman he loved most besides his mother, until she was completely subjugated at his feet.

"Aunt, thank you for the angelica root you made for me. I'll eat it right away." He withdrew his hand from Li Huaxin's breasts and said seriously.

Li Huaxin, who had been feeling a sense of emptiness as her nephew's hand left her body, finally snapped out of her daze upon hearing this. Her cheeks flushed as she replied, "Um...nothing...okay...oh...you eat quickly...right...I have something to do...I have to go now!...I'll come see you another day!" Before her nephew could react, she ran away as if her life depended on it.

Watching Li Huaxin's retreating figure, Jiang Hanqing murmured, "Fifth Sister, when you can't hold back anymore, I'll let you have your fill of pleasure."

Back in her room, Li Huaxin impatiently lifted her skirt, pulled down her already soaked underpants, and vigorously played with her labia and anus.

"Silly Qing'er, Fifth Sister was prepared for you to play with. Why won't you do it? Do you look down on Fifth Sister?"

Tortured her breasts and vulva in a vengeful manner, Li Huaxin sobbed and muttered to herself.

"Fine! I'll do it myself. I'll keep seducing you until you insert your big cock."

...That night was destined to be a sleepless one for her.

The next morning at court, the emperor immediately raised the issue of rewarding Yang Sicong. Wang Mingde remained firmly opposed.

"The ancestral laws cannot be changed, Your Majesty!"

"Times change, and things change. How can we manage national affairs well if we stick to the old ways? Enough said, my mind is made up!"

Having made up his mind, the emperor clearly wouldn't give anyone any room for negotiation. Under his insistence, Yang Sicong was successfully appointed as the Grand General of the State. At that moment, the emperor's gaze towards his ministers was full of provocation: "Aren't you all so self-important? Heh heh! I want to appoint a eunuch to a high-ranking position, and you still can't stop me!"

After the court session, Wang Mingde walked up to Jiang Haoyu, his gloomy eyes staring directly at him.

"Why hasn't the Duke of Zhenguo expressed his opinion on this matter? Does the Duke of Zhenguo want to see the tragedy of eunuchs in power occur in our dynasty?"

Jiang Haoyu chuckled lightly. "The Duke of Dingguo is too kind! His Majesty is wise and powerful, a rare sight in the world. Does the Duke of Dingguo think that His Majesty would make a mistake of being blinded by a single leaf?"

"Hehe... His Majesty is discerning and far-sighted, so naturally he cannot be wrong. However, I fear that some hereditary officials and relatives of the emperor, who have always been deeply favored by the country, harbor treacherous intentions and have failed His Majesty's expectations! Hmph!" "

Is that so? There are such people in our dynasty? Then why doesn't the Duke of Dingguo point it out to His Majesty in person, but instead comes to talk to me, an insignificant nobody?"

"Hmph! You know perfectly well who I'm talking about! If you are considered an insignificant nobody, then I think our entire court is probably just a figurehead. Hmph! Brother, farewell!" After Wang Mingde finished speaking, he and his confidants turned and left.

On the way home, Wang Mingde said to his younger brother, Wang Mingxing, who was riding in the same car, "Those bastards from the Jiang family actually sat back and watched the fight. I miscalculated this time. Damn it! They dared to play dirty tricks on me, fine! If I don't show the Jiang family what I'm capable of, I'm not a Wang."

"However, the Emperor didn't have a good impression of our family this time!" Wang Mingxing said worriedly.

"Hmph! So what if he doesn't? He dares to bite me! Damn it!" In his anger, Wang Mingde immediately lost his composure. The man who usually taught his children to be humble and polite was now spewing vulgarities.

For a moment, the car fell silent.

After a long pause, Wang Mingde said, "Since the emperor wants to eunuchs to oppose our prestigious family, let's cooperate with him!"

"What do you mean, elder brother...?"

"The two tribes that the emperor sent Yang Sicong to annihilate were preparing to surrender to the Kingdom of Qiu. I've heard that Queen Han Yuexue of Qiu is quite intelligent. She ascended the throne at the age of sixteen after her father's death. She suppressed domestic opposition, consolidated imperial power, reformed the economy, and developed trade with various countries, making the country increasingly powerful. Since four years ago, she has personally led her army to invade several neighboring countries, including ours. Hmph! Will such a tigress suffer such a loss in silence? I think the empire will soon have a bloody war with the Kingdom of Qiu. At that time, we will fulfill the old emperor's wish and support our Grand General to lead the army into battle! Haha..." At this moment, the sinister look in

Wang Mingde's eyes was so intense that even his own younger brother, Wang Mingxing, dared not look him in the eye.

At the same time, the Jiang family's carriage was also on its way back to the mansion.

"Qing'er, do you think that treacherous Wang Mingde will cause trouble for our family in the future?" the third brother, Jiang Haoming, asked Jiang Hanqing.

"Wang Mingde has offended the Emperor this time, and he knows it himself. He should be having a headache over this matter right now. He doesn't have the energy to provoke us for the time being! Besides, even if he's stupid, he wouldn't be stupid enough to deal with two powerful enemies at the same time! We don't need to worry too much about what the Wang family will do in the short term. On the contrary, we absolutely cannot underestimate the Emperor." Jiang Hanqing's words made the elders nod in agreement.

"Furthermore, the reaction of the Kingdom of Qiut to this incident is also worth our attention. After all, in recent years, the cavalry of Qiut has rarely suffered defeats, and they are not inferior even to the elite cavalry of the Empire!"

"In my opinion, the Kingdom of Qiut will definitely not let this go! The Qiut people are not used to suffering in silence. Moreover, a smart person should understand what is going on inside the Empire when they see that the Emperor of the Empire has appointed a eunuch as a second-rank official. I heard that Empress Han Yuexue of Qiut is shrewd and capable. If that is true, would she not want such an easy prize?"

"Qing'er is right! The invasion of the Qiut people is inevitable. At that time, we must be careful not to damage our strength. Let the Emperor lead the charge. Maybe then... Hmph!" A flame of ambition flashed in Jiang Haotian's eyes.

"Haha... Haha..." The laughter of the Jiang family members puzzled the cavalry guards outside. They didn't know why the adults were laughing so happily today. It was rare to see the adults so happy.

Jiang Hanqing returned to her room to a pleasant surprise to find her fifth aunt already waiting there.

Today, Li Huaxin was wearing an apricot-yellow embroidered silk bodice, with the beaded hairpin Jiang Hanqing had given her for her birthday last year adorning her hair. Her face, which never wore makeup, was now lightly powdered, and her lips were clearly painted red.

Seeing Jiang Hanqing enter, a hint of joy flashed across Li Huaxin's face, and she gracefully stood up.

"Hehe! This old slut's in heat. Want to play with me? Not so easy! I'll wear you down for two more days!" Jiang Hanqing thought lewdly, but on the surface, he feigned a gentle demeanor and asked, "Did Fifth Aunt come to see me today for something?"

"No… oh… no… I just came to ask if you thought yesterday's angelica was alright?"

"Thank you, Fifth Aunt! It was excellent!"

"Really. Then Fifth Aunt will bring you another jar tomorrow!"

"Ah! Thank you for your kindness, Fifth Aunt, but with such frequent tonics, I'm afraid Qing'er's body can't handle it!"

"Oh! Is that so? Then… I'll get you some another day!"

"That's wonderful! Fifth Aunt, I knew you were the best to me!"

Jiang Hanqing walked over and squatted down in front of his aunt, gently taking Li Huaxin's soft hand in his. The moment their skin touched, Li Huaxin trembled, instinctively wanting to pull her hand away out of shyness, but then stopped, letting her nephew hold it.

Jiang Hanqing gently held his aunt's warm little hand, feeling its soft, boneless texture. His bright eyes lingered on her beautiful face, making Li Huaxin lower her head shyly.

Jiang Hanqing smiled slightly, bringing his nose close to his aunt's temple, gently inhaling the fragrance of her hair. Li Huaxin's breathing quickened immediately, her chest heaving, and her face flushed. The faint scent of her body wafted into Jiang Hanqing's nostrils, almost making him want to push his aunt to the ground and devour her.

Composing himself, Jiang Hanqing whispered in her ear, "In this world, besides my mother, the woman I love most is you, Fifth Aunt. I will always be good to you!"

Li Huaxin trembled with excitement upon hearing this, turning her head as if to say something. However, she forgot that her nephew's lips were right next to her ear, and turning her head would be like offering her face to his lips. Jiang Hanqing's lips pressed firmly against her pink face. Li Huaxin cried out, her body going limp as she leaned back in her chair, unable to move, unsure of what her nephew would do next.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Hanqing stood up at that moment, smiling slightly, and said, "Fifth Aunt, my father just told me to hurry to his study; he has something to say to me. I only came back to get a book, and I can't keep him waiting. I'm sorry. I'll take my leave now and visit you another day to apologize!" He bowed, turned, and strode out of the room, leaving Li Huaxin there, overwhelmed with mixed feelings. Thinking of this wretched nephew, her heart was filled with longing…

Similar scenes played out almost daily for a while afterward. Jiang Hanqing's aloof behavior drove Li Huaxin mad; her heart was completely captivated by this wretched nephew. She felt uneasy when they weren't together, but even more so when they were. It was like a drug; once addicted, even knowing it would lead to disaster, she couldn't stop. Whenever she saw her nephew's lecherous gaze scrutinizing her body, Li Huaxin felt weak all over, her lower body wet, and she longed to throw herself into his arms immediately. However, the traditional female virtues she had been taught since childhood successfully controlled her actions. She could only wait anxiously for her nephew to make further moves, though given the current situation, it was uncertain when that would happen. Every night when she returned to her room, her desperate self-masturbation in front of the mirror did nothing to alleviate her burning desire; on the contrary, the heat in her womb became increasingly unbearable. After months of torment, Li Huaxin had become noticeably thinner, but this slender beauty, more delicate than a yellow flower, seemed even more captivating to Jiang Hanqing, who was used to seeing the plump women of wealthy families.

In this delicate environment, Jiang Hanqing spent a summer full of fun and hope. In

the fifth year of the Taiping Zhenzhi era, which was also the 635th year of the founding era of the empire, in the ninth month of autumn,

news of the invasion of the Kingdom of Qiute finally reached Yong'an Prefecture. This operation was no longer the small-scale raids and harassment of previous years, but a truly large-scale military invasion.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival (August 15th), 300,000 Qiut cavalry, led by their Empress Han Yuexue, took advantage of the Imperial border garrison's lax defenses during the festival. Shouting slogans of revenge for their people, they crossed the traditional power boundary and entered Imperial territory. That night, they annihilated over 200,000 Imperial troops stationed on the eastern border, and captured Imperial soldiers were buried alive!

After destroying the main defensive force of the Imperial's eastern border, the remaining forces were the fierce Qiut cavalry, who swept through provinces and cities, conquering and seizing territory. Those who surrendered were spared, while those who resisted were slaughtered after the city fell!

Faced with the powerful barbarian cavalry, the Imperial troops who hastily organized resistance along the way were mercilessly crushed like ants. After a long period of peace, the local armies within the Empire had become virtually non-existent, with some ministers even suggesting that all garrisons except those in the capital be abolished. To prevent brawls and disturbances, local officials had confiscated all weapons from the populace years ago. The defenseless cities were left to await the enemy's wrath. The Qute army swept through the land, its vanguard heading straight for the capital, Yong'an Prefecture.

When the enemy's report reached Yong'an Prefecture, it was already September 20th, more than a month since their invasion. The empire's vast territory had become the perfect cover for the enemy's advance. If the enemy's progress was rapid, they were estimated to be only a thousand miles from the capital.

Panic gripped the capital, and rumors spread like wildfire. Some who had returned from the city a couple of days earlier even claimed to have witnessed the bloodthirsty Qute barbarians outside the city walls. They described them as tall and strong, eight feet tall with four feet in waists, eyes like copper bells, and gaping maws that seized the empire's citizens and devoured them raw. The speakers were spittle flying, and the listeners were stunned, exclaiming in disbelief. The rumor spread like wildfire. Eventually, even the commanders of the nine gates of the capital believed it and hastily dispatched officials to request the emperor's permission to immediately close the city gates to prevent an enemy attack. The poor soldier who made the request was immediately executed at the Meridian Gate for spreading rumors and disturbing the peace of the capital.

On the majestic throne, the aging emperor leaned back, glaring angrily at the silent officials below.

"Speak! A bunch of useless fools! Normally you'd argue until the roofs were lifted over a mere minor official position in the Ministry of Revenue! Why are you all silent now? Have you all become mute? Have I wasted my time raising you?"

After the emperor's outburst, Wang Mingde curled his lip in disdain and nodded slightly to one of his trusted confidants standing at the back.

That man immediately stepped to the center of the hall, knelt, and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I, Huang Li, Vice Minister of War, report to Your Majesty!"

"Does my esteemed minister have a good plan to repel the enemy? Quickly rise and present it!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I believe the Qiu Te barbarians' invasion has three disadvantages. Firstly, as border barbarians, they dare to invade our mighty nation, committing treason and rebellion, which will surely be condemned by the people and violate the principles of benevolence and righteousness. Secondly, their timing is completely off, which is another disadvantage. Thirdly, their swift advance is entirely due to the speed of their cavalry. However, such rapid progress suggests the insecurity of their rear. Our people, the descendants of Yan and Huang, have always been steadfast in their defenses against barbarians and will not submit to them due to a temporary defeat. We will surely organize a volunteer force spontaneously." Kill the enemy. If the enemy continues to advance, they will be attacked from both sides. They have no advantage in terrain, which is a second disadvantage. They are barbarians, ignorant of the principle of caring for their people; wherever they go, they burn, kill, and loot, losing the hearts of the people. They have no hope of winning popular support, which is a third disadvantage. Although the enemy army appears powerful and unstoppable, they have only gained a slight advantage through a surprise attack. Our Great Xia, a mighty and powerful nation, only needs to send a great general to lead the army to meet them. With favorable timing, terrain, and popular support, we can advance steadily and surely, without haste or rashness, and surely achieve complete victory in one fell swoop.”

"Haha! Your words, my dear minister, are exactly what I intended! Haha..."

"Furthermore, the two neighboring countries of Qiu Te—Dong Lu and Nan Yue—have long been harassed by it and harbor resentment. If the court sends envoys to offer condolences and promises them generous rewards, those two countries will surely be willing to send troops to assist our Heavenly Dynasty's army. At that time, the three armies will join forces and launch an unstoppable attack. How could the Qiu Te barbarians possibly withstand such an attack? In my humble opinion, this move will surely wipe out the enemy's lair, capture their chieftain, and bring news of victory to the capital!"

"Hahahaha...! My dear minister, you are truly a pillar of the nation! Order the relevant officials to quickly send envoys to Dong Lu and Nan Yue to convey the imperial will, inviting them to join forces in sweeping away Qiu Te. Afterward, each country will be granted one-third of Qiu Te's territory. As for the generals leading the army in the country? My dear minister, which of the generals in the court do you think is most suitable?"

"In my humble opinion," the emperor said, "the position of commander-in-chief is best suited for the roles of Yin Yufeng and Shi Yanying. However, they are stationed far away on the frontier, making them unsuitable for the task. Among the court officials, I believe that Duke Wang Mingde, whose family has a long tradition of good generals and enjoys high prestige in the army, is capable of handling this important responsibility!"

Upon hearing this, the emperor was taken aback. He looked at Wang Mingde and saw his excited expression, which fueled his anger. "You, Huang Li, do you think I don't know you're from the Wang family? Humph! Trying to secure military power for your master!" However, he remained calm and said, "Duke Wang is indeed a talented general. However, I rely on him greatly and consult him on many matters of state. The court cannot function without him for even a day. As for the commander-in-chief, let's choose someone else!" As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Wang Mingde lower his head in disappointment. Unaware of the smirk that crept onto Wang Mingde's face after he lowered his head, the emperor secretly gloated: "Hmph! Wang Mingde, you want military power? Dream on! I'll settle the score with you slowly after this is over!"

Just then, Jiang Haoyu spoke up: "Your Majesty, my subject Jiang Hanqing has been well-versed in military strategy since childhood and has served in the army for many years under his mother, Yin Yufeng. I recommend him to lead the army into battle, and I am willing to accept punishment if he fails." The emperor looked closely and saw Jiang Hanqing's smug and arrogant expression, as if the position of commander-in-chief was rightfully his. He became even more furious: "Another ambitious scoundrel! A fool's dream! There is not a single good person in the four great ducal families! Only the poor and humble man whom I have personally promoted is truly loyal to me." He said loudly: "Hanqing is resourceful and wise, which I have long heard of. Observing Hanqing's actions in handling affairs of state, he also has the demeanor of a great general. However, war is dangerous and perilous, and Hanqing has not yet actually commanded troops." "What kind of major battle is this? There's a risk of overlooking key figures in front of the enemy; moreover,

it's likely that eight or nine out of ten soldiers will be dissatisfied with their first command of a large army. In times of national crisis, it's best to have experienced veterans lead the charge." At this moment, Wang Mingde was pondering: "I instructed my men to recommend myself knowing full well that the emperor wouldn't agree, and I planned to force him to put all his resources to the test against the Qiu Te people. This Jiang Haoyu recommending this greenhorn must also be doing so knowing it's impossible. Could he have the same plan as me? You, Jiang Haoyu, I've always underestimated you! Hmph!"

Yang Sicong, while discussing the selection of commanders, was secretly weighing the pros and cons, considering whether he should volunteer. Having already felt the odds of victory were high after hearing Huang Li's analysis, and now seeing the Jiang and Wang families vying for the position before the Emperor, he thought, "The Jiang and Wang families have many strategists, and Jiang Haoyu and Wang Mingde are particularly cunning and shrewd. Their current clamor for this position means they're certain of victory. If the Emperor refuses, it must be because he believes the odds are stacked against them and fears their power will increase after a win! Yes! Such a golden opportunity, why should I hesitate?" Without further hesitation, he stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty! I am willing to lead the army into battle! If we fail, I will die to atone for your kindness. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission!"

The Emperor was overjoyed, deeply understanding his intentions. Just as Yang Qing was about to nod in agreement, Jiang Hanqing spoke up in opposition: "Your Majesty, you absolutely mustn't! Although General Yang, the Assistant Minister of State, has repeatedly distinguished himself in battle, compared to seasoned veterans, he is probably still somewhat inexperienced, just like me! Moreover, General Yang has mostly fought against small nomadic tribes in the past; now, facing a powerful force like the Qiu Te people, the outcome is truly unpredictable! This battle concerns the survival of the nation and must not be undertaken hastily!"

Wang Mingde couldn't help but wonder: "Could it be that I overestimated Jiang Haoyu? Is he really just delusional, wanting to seize military power now?" Looking closely at Jiang Haoyu, he found that he also looked surprised, clearly not expecting his son to do this. At this moment, he turned to Jiang Hanqing and gave him a fierce look. Wang Mingde chuckled inwardly: "Haha! Jiang Hanqing must be young and impetuous. Hearing the Emperor say he lacks experience, he's become unconvinced. He's even disregarded his father's prior arrangements. What an incompetent brat!"

Although the Emperor was displeased with Jiang Hanqing's words, he also felt there was some truth to them, so he asked, "Then, Minister Jiang, who do you think would be suitable to send?"

"I believe it's not unreasonable to send General Yang to accompany the army on the expedition, but it would be better to appoint him as deputy commander. As for the position of commander-in-chief, I think it should be chosen from among those who have served in the military for many years and hold high positions of prestige!"

Wang Mingde suddenly realized: "Jiang Hanqing! Jiang Hanqing! Truly, a hero emerges from among the young! Your father and I both underestimated your abilities! You not only made the emperor risk his own resources, but you even managed to take away his lifeline! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! It seems Li Jixing is going to die at the hands of this young upstart."

In the court, besides the two Grand Marshals, Yin Yufeng and Shi Yanying, there are also two Imperial Marshals, Fei Qingsi and Li Jixing. Yin and Shi are from the four major families, Fei Qingsi's stance is unclear, only the sixty-two-year-old Li Jixing was the emperor's childhood martial arts companion and is absolutely loyal to Emperor Wuming. He currently serves as the commander of the Imperial Guard, protecting the capital. At this moment, Jiang Hanqing suggested that the commander-in-chief should be experienced, possess the prestige and status to lead a large army, and that the senile emperor would only appoint those he trusted. Therefore, only Li Jixing met the criteria.

Sure enough, after much deliberation, the emperor appointed Li Jixing as commander-in-chief and Yang Sicong as deputy commander-in-chief, leading the garrison in the capital and the arriving reinforcements to fight the Qiu Te cavalry. Jiang Hanqing, however, feigned reluctance and argued for a long time, only backing down when the emperor was about to lose his temper. This elaborate performance further solidified the emperor's determination to appoint a trusted confidant to prevent the loss of military power. Thus, the decision of commander-in-chief was made, and the army and supplies were ready for immediate deployment.

Stepping out of the main hall, Wang Mingde stopped Jiang Hanqing in front of the Jiang family members, saying, "Brother Jiang! Brother Jiang, I never imagined you were so formidable! This old man truly has no choice but to admit his age! I admire you! I admire you!"

Jiang Hanqing looked apprehensive, "Elder Wang, what are you saying? This humble nephew is ignorant and unworthy of such praise!"

"Haha! Brother Jiang, Heaven knows, Earth knows, you know, and I know! Excuse me, I have to take my leave due to family matters. Farewell! Farewell!" After saying this, Wang Mingde cupped his hands to the Jiang family members and strode away.

Jiang Hanqing watched Wang Mingde's departing figure, a fleeting murderous glint in his eyes.

Autumn, September 28th, the fifth year of the Taiping Zhenzhi reign.

The Eastern Expeditionary Force of the Empire was formed. Marshal Li Jixing of the Empire was the commander-in-chief, and General Yang Sicong, the Assistant General of the State, was the deputy commander-in-chief. The entire army consisted of 80,000 men drawn from four armies of the Imperial Guard, 120,000 men drawn from the 200,000 garrison troops in the capital, and 200,000 reinforcements sent from all over the empire to defend the capital. The total force of 400,000 included 100,000 cavalry, 100,000 heavy infantry, and 200,000 light infantry, with countless weapons and provisions.

The emperor personally led his civil and military officials to the ten-mile-eastern pavilion to see them off. The army was strong and well-equipped, their armor gleaming, their spears sharp and shields thick, their morale high, advancing swiftly eastward with an air of determination to conquer Qiu Te.

Thus began the last large-scale foreign war in the empire's history.

Chapter Three: Fulfilling a Parting

Wish

After seeing off the departing army, the Jiang family returned to their mansion in the capital. Before they could even rest, they gathered in the meeting hall to secretly discuss their next course of action.

Jiang Haoyu spoke first: "The army that is marching eastward has already set off today. What do you all think of this operation? Second brother, you speak first!"

Jiang Haotian nodded and said: "I think everyone is very clear about the situation of this war. You were all present when the court discussed this expedition the other day. If nothing unexpected happens, I think our side is very likely to have the advantage: First, our troops are slightly stronger than theirs; second, the enemy has come from afar, has fought many battles, their soldiers are exhausted, and they have divided their troops to guard various key locations, so their strength is much lower than before the expedition." "This force is naturally incomparable to our newly formed elite troops; secondly, with Donglu and Nanyue attacking from the rear, they will be attacked from both sides and unable to cope. These three advantages combined should allow us to strike directly at their heartland. Of course, this assumes that Donglu and Nanyue will send troops to assist us. If Donglu and Nanyue do not send troops, we might at most force the Qiu Te army back to its homeland; the chances of attacking and completely annihilating them are slim."

Jiang Haoyu smiled slightly: "So, in other words, our chances of winning this battle are quite high?"

"Excellent!"

"What impact do you think the outcome of this battle will have on us?" "

I believe that if the Imperial army wins, the Emperor's strength and prestige will be more than enough to destroy the four great ducal families. If it's a draw, it will likely just mean the status quo remains unchanged for us. If we lose, then we'll have a great opportunity."

Jiang Haoyu nodded: "Hmm! Second brother's analysis is correct. This time, we must find a way to prevent the Empire from winning this war. Even if the two sides are evenly matched, it won't matter to us; the Empire must be defeated. We've waited many years for such a good opportunity, and we must not let it slip by."

"Excellent! This time, we must find a way to crush the Imperial army, preferably annihilate it completely. As for Li Jixing, that loyal lackey of the Emperor, I went to great lengths to drag him into this quagmire in the court, and I don't want him to be able to climb out alive." Jiang Hanqing said decisively.

"Then what should we do?" asked one of Jiang Hanqing's cousins.

"What should we do? We must use every method that can cause the empire to fail. We should immediately send people to the Qiu Te army to tell them everything about the imperial army, and even help command their operations if necessary. We should have our family's local officials on the eastern front create as much trouble as possible for the imperial army's eastward advance.

Those in the court should also act accordingly and create chaos in the court's decision-making. Do whatever can cause the imperial army to collapse!" Jiang Hanqing's cold demeanor sent chills down everyone's spine. Several people simultaneously had the same thought: "Being Hanqing's enemy is truly the most tragic thing in the world."

"Wouldn't this make our Jiang family traitors to the nation? Wouldn't those innocent imperial soldiers die with their eyes wide open in disbelief! Brother Qing, isn't what you're doing treason?" A teenager sitting in the corner suddenly shouted angrily, and everyone turned to glare at him.

Jiang Hanqing recognized the boy as his second aunt Jiang Fengqin's son—Lin Fengxian, who had just turned sixteen this year.

The Jiang family's rule is that regardless of your surname or blood relation, as long as you are capable and loyal to the Jiang family, you can become a formal member. Those with top-tier abilities can attend the Jiang family's regular meetings. Although Lin Fengxian is young, he is considered one of the most talented and promising members of the younger generation. Furthermore, due to his mother's connections, he is considered a direct relative of the Jiang family. Therefore, the Jiang family leaders decided to focus on cultivating him, and two months ago, Jiang Haoyu personally granted him special permission to attend the family meetings as a guest speaker to learn from the elders' handling of affairs. However, due to his young age, he was not qualified to speak. Unexpectedly, this young boy, driven by righteous indignation, recklessly criticized Jiang Hanqing.

Lin Fengxian's father, Lin Hongbin, is also an outstanding figure in the Jiang family and is present today. Seeing the situation was dire, and knowing his son, young and impetuous, had caused a great disaster, he was both anxious and angry, unsure of what to do. He grabbed his son and pulled him to kneel before Jiang Haoyu and Jiang Hanqing, who sat at the head of the table. His voice trembled as he pleaded, "Head of the family, Young Master, this little beast is talking nonsense! Please forgive him for his youth and ignorance. I'll break his legs when we get back and never let him leave the house again!" In his desperation, he even forgot to call him "elder brother" and used the formal titles of his family positions.

Unexpectedly, the child was incredibly stubborn. He immediately stood up, pointed at Jiang Hanqing, and shouted, "I did nothing wrong! You are the ones who are wrong! You are a bunch of traitors!"

The Jiang family members were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances, never expecting such a fierce temper from a young child. Even his father stared at him dumbfounded, his lips moving but no sound coming out, only tears welling up in his eyes, thinking, "It's over! It's over! This is the only child Qinmei and I have, we're doomed today."

Unexpectedly, although the five Jiang brothers, including Jiang Haoyu, were all furious, their faces turning pale, and if it weren't for the fact that he was their sister's son, they would have already drawn their swords to strike, Jiang Hanqing, who was actually being pointed at and scolded, just smiled and watched the child with interest, without saying a word.

For a moment, the room was silent, everyone watching Jiang Hanqing, wanting to see how he would handle the situation.

Just then, Jiang Haoran's booming voice rang out: "Hey! Big brother, has Qing'er been driven mad by this kid? Why is he just standing there grinning like an idiot?"

Hearing this, everyone in the room couldn't help but laugh, even though they knew the atmosphere wasn't right. Even the Lin family father and son couldn't help but laugh.

Jiang Hanqing looked at her uncle with a wry smile, thinking, "Although Father and Fifth Uncle are half-siblings, their intelligence is so vastly different! Fifth Uncle knows practically nothing except fighting and martial arts. Sigh!"

Jiang Haoran, seeing everyone laughing, couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly, "Hehe... What's so funny? I was just concerned about Qing'er."

Amidst the chaos, Jiang Haotian was the first to regain his senses, coughing twice. Everyone immediately realized there was still some unresolved issue, and all eyes turned to Jiang Hanqing.

Jiang Hanqing smiled and said to Lin Fengxian, "Fengxian, you're right. What we're doing is betraying our country, making us what you call traitors. But you know the consequences of not doing so. Perhaps you'd rather sacrifice yourself than be infamous for eternity. But you need to understand one fact: every one of us in the Jiang family here, except for you right now, most urgently desires to make our Jiang family the supreme first family of the empire, not to sacrifice our lives for some worthless evaluation from future generations under an old and useless tyrant. You don't want to be infamous for eternity, that's fine! But if we..." Having become royalty, history will be written by us. If we don't speak, who will know? Who can make us infamous for eternity?

Besides, even if others know, so what? Look at the emperors of history—which one ascended the throne honorably? How could they achieve their dominance without resorting to drastic measures? If you win, most future generations will only admire you, regarding you as a historical hero! The victor is king, the loser is villain! This has always been true. Truly virtuous people are always used and sacrificed, resulting in the destruction of their families and lives. Then, a thousand years later, people will be engaged in their own conspiracies while hypocritically praising them, hoping future generations will emulate them. They're just going to be cannon fodder for us. Besides, even if we don't do it this time, others will. Rather than letting those mediocre people ruin our country, let's seize it using what you consider despicable means, and then govern it well! Let history judge our merits and demerits! ...Sigh! Actually, what you're thinking now is what most people would think; it's quite normal, otherwise anyone could be emperor! To be emperor, you need to be patient, thick-skinned, and ruthless—it's impossible. The common people...the common people are just a flock of docile sheep, needing the rope of a hero to lead them. I want to be a hero; I won't be a sheep led around by others. "Sheep."

Jiang Hanqing paused here, glancing at Lin Fengxian's rapidly changing expression, before continuing, "I know it's hard to convince you; everyone has their own ambitions! If you don't want to hear our so-called conspiracies today, you can leave immediately, but you absolutely cannot leak today's topic, even for the safety of your own parents! Otherwise, you know how the family treats traitors; even your parents will be implicated! Alright, now consider whether you want to stay and participate in the meeting."

Lin Fengxian stood there, head bowed, lost in thought, repeatedly pondering Jiang Hanqing's words, which he had never considered before. Lin Hongbin sat beside him, his body trembling slightly, leaning forward, his hands slightly reaching towards his son, probably preparing to cover his mouth if things went wrong. Jiang Haoran's hand quietly rested on the hilt of his sword, his eyes wide open, staring fiercely at Lin Fengxian. The room was so quiet that even breathing could be clearly heard; everyone's gaze was fixed on Lin Fengxian's youthful body.

After a long while, Lin Fengxian raised his head and looked at his father, whose face was full of concern as he gazed at him. He sighed dejectedly and said, "Young Master, I was wrong. I am willing to sacrifice everything for the family." He then sat down, clearly acknowledging Jiang Hanqing's words.

Jiang Haoyu and his son exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously, accepting Lin Fengxian's apology.

Jiang Haoyu then said, "Alright. It's good that Fengxian has admitted his mistake. Let's continue our previous discussion.

The most crucial point now is to ensure the annihilation of the Imperial army by the Qiut people. The Imperial army has already set off today. I estimate that at their marching speed, they will likely encounter the Qiut vanguard within twenty days, and a major battle between the two sides is inevitable within two months. Therefore, we must send someone to the Qiut army as soon as possible to provide them with the necessary assistance. This person must depart no later than the day after tomorrow. Let's discuss this candidate now!"

Jiang Haotian said, “I think, firstly, this person must hold a certain position within the family, and the Qiut people must know of their existence; this shows our sincerity. Secondly, this person must be able to persuade the Queen and ministers of Qiut, so they should have excellent eloquence. Thirdly, this person must possess certain military command abilities, because they must understand the imperial army's marching tactics, provide necessary support to the Qiut people, and may even personally participate in commanding the Qiut army in actual combat. Fourthly, this person should have a relatively high level of martial arts skill. The dangers of this journey are self-evident. Finally, a calm demeanor, outstanding adaptability, and exceptional wisdom are essential qualities this person must possess.”

After he finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement.

Jiang Haoming asked, “Then, in your opinion, Second Brother, who is the most suitable candidate?”

Jiang Haotian's gaze fell upon Jiang Hanqing.

Jiang Haoming was taken aback: "What? Second Brother means to send Han Qing?"

"That's right!"

"How can this be?! Han Qing is the future head of the family, how can he risk his life?"

"Yes! How can this be?"

"No! Absolutely not!"

...For a moment, almost everyone in the hall voiced their opposition.

"This task is of utmost importance. After careful consideration, I believe only Han Qing is capable of handling it! This matter concerns the survival and prosperity of the entire family. Only by sparing no effort and giving it our all can we hope to succeed. Therefore, I can only entrust this to Han Qing. What does Eldest Brother think?" Jiang Haotian said calmly.

Jiang Haoyu smiled slightly, glanced at the family members watching him, lowered his head to think for a moment, then turned to his son and said, "Your second uncle's words are not without reason! Qing'er, are you determined to complete this mission?"

Jiang Hanqing clearly saw a hint of killing intent in his father's eyes and answered loudly, "Second uncle's words are very reasonable. At this critical moment for the survival of the family, as the future head of the family, I have an inescapable responsibility and should shoulder the most dangerous and important task. Please send me to Qiu Te, Father! I will certainly not let down the expectations of all the elders!"

"Good! Then you go! Not too many people can accompany you on this trip, so choose any from the family!"

"I want to go with the young master!" Lin Fengxian's voice came from the corner again.

Most of the people present rolled their eyes, helpless against this reckless child.

His father yelled repeatedly, "You little beast, have you gone mad today! Are you deliberately causing trouble?! I'll beat you to death when we get back!"

Surprisingly, Jiang Hanqing agreed, "Alright! Second Uncle, let Fengxian come with me! A jade stone needs to be carved to become a gem; this will temper him, and he'll surely amount to something great in the future. I promise I'll bring back a lively young man for you!"

What could Lin Hongbin say at this point? He could only obediently agree.

Jiang Haoyu turned to Lin Fengxian and said, "Fengxian, have you thought this through? Do you really want to go with your brother Qing?"

Lin Fengxian's eyes widened, and he nodded firmly, his expression leaving no room for misunderstanding.

"Alright then! You can go with him! Listen to your brother Qing on the way, and don't cause trouble! Remember that?"

"Master, rest assured! I guarantee I'll follow the young master without making a single mistake!"

Jiang Haoyu nodded, then turned to his son and said, "You can choose the rest yourself! Just give me the list when you're done!"

"Yes, Father!"

"Alright! Let's move on to the next agenda item!" With Jiang Haoyu's words, the meeting continued.

After the meeting ended, Jiang Haoyu told everyone else to go back first, saying he and his son had something to discuss.

After everyone left, the father and son checked their surroundings to make sure no one was eavesdropping before sitting down.

"Qing'er, that guy insists you go, he definitely has ulterior motives. The journey will be extremely dangerous, you must be extra careful!"

"Father, don't worry! But you should be careful too!"

"Hehe! Don't worry about your father, I've walked on the edge of a knife for decades... Besides, that guy wouldn't dare to do anything too tricky at this crucial moment." "

Father, do you have any advice for this trip?" "

You've performed very well these past few years. When I was your age, I was far less capable than you are now! As long as you're careful and cautious at all times, you'll definitely turn misfortune into good fortune. By the way, do you want to bring that guy's son with you as a shield?"

"Forget it. It's useless to bring him along! If he wants to do something, he'll always find a way to get his son out.

On the contrary, that kid is a major threat if he's with you, I need to be constantly on guard against him, afraid he might do something."

"That's right! When you go down to select people, be sure to be careful and make sure the chosen ones are absolutely reliable!"

"Don't worry, Father! I won't joke with my life."

"Hmm! You know that's good! Alright, I have nothing more to say. You can go now!"

After bidding farewell to his father, Jiang Hanqing went to the personnel department in the family compound. He spent nearly half a day carefully selecting eighteen people from the family members' list, preparing to take them to Qiu Te Kingdom. Then he instructed the relevant personnel in the department to notify the selected individuals.

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