【My World】Episodes 16-20 Author: Michanll & Hero

【My World】

Author: michanll & Hero
Publisher: Hetu Culture

【Episode 16: The Changqing Night Banquet】Chapter 1: Appreciating the Beauties

In the right-hand row of military officers, the first was naturally the Prince of Zhennan. He deliberately sat on the far left, a meter away from me. At his table were two of his favorite concubines: one was in her thirties, dignified and beautiful with an air of nobility; the other was only about eighteen, with a youthful face and a large, impressive bust and buttocks. Her way of looking around proved that this was her first time attending a banquet at the Changqing Palace.

The little turtle and the little bird immediately turned their attention to her. The two had indeed mastered their skills; while glancing at the beauty, their eyes were elsewhere, and their conversation was entirely conducted through telepathy—a rather self-deceptive act.

The Prince of Zhennan brought quite a few people, filling all three tables. In the second row sat a young couple and a boy. The man exuded a refined air, his gaze pure and focused, clearly more capable than my old teacher. The woman was beautiful and quiet, nothing particularly special. Only the boy was different. He looked

about fifteen or sixteen, somewhat thin and short. He glanced around, seemingly looking straight ahead, but like a little turtle or bird, he was secretly eyeing my sisters, Jinggong and Xiaoyu, in a lewd manner.

I had already read the palace spies' information; the Prince of Zhennan had two sons and a daughter. The beautiful woman must be his daughter, Chen Guiyan, and her husband, Qu Ziwen, was a renowned Confucian genius, said to have been able to recite the Four Books and Five Classics by the age of eight. This filled me with admiration. You see, my son had attended private school for six years, and even managing to finish one copy of the *Analects* was enough to make my father extremely happy.

As for the boy who shared the same hobbies as the little turtle and the little bird, he was naturally Chen Lu, the third son of the Prince of Zhennan. I heard that he was also extremely intelligent and deeply favored by the Prince of Zhennan.

There were five people sitting at the third table: three military officers and two scholars. Their demeanor could only be described as mediocre. I only glanced at them a few times before looking away.

Looking further down, I saw the seat of the Minister of War. Since I ambushed and killed Fu Jitang, Emperor Kangzong appointed Ning Zhijian, the former garrison general of Shangyue County, to this position. The middle-aged man sitting in the center of the first table was him. Apart from being very tall and having a square face, yet remaining calm and expressionless, I couldn't tell what abilities he possessed.

I've researched the records. Ning Zhijian's former post in Shangyue County, located on the northeastern frontier, was frequently harassed by the Huayun Kingdom. Three years after taking office, Ning Zhijian repelled dozens of Huayun Kingdom attacks. Eventually, the Huayun Kingdom, with fewer than ten thousand men, dared not raid him. Even when they did, Ning Zhijian's strict defenses prevented them from gaining any advantage. From then on, the Huayun Kingdom deeply feared this great general. After arriving in the capital, Ning Zhijian, a confidant of Emperor Kangzong, acted differently from his composed self on the frontier. He implemented sweeping reforms to the military affairs of the City Patrol, the Nine Gates Commandery, and the four major city fortresses. A large number of low-ranking officials were transferred or dismissed, replaced by truly talented and capable officers. Emperor Kangzong's influence in the capital reached a new peak.

Ning Zhijian also adopted strict measures against the sons of meritorious officials and noble families, severely punishing any acts of bullying or monopolizing the market.

Yes, Ning Zhijian wouldn't kill them, but he would capture them, force them to wear prison clothes and do hard labor, and in more serious cases, put them in prison carts and parade them through the streets.

This was a truly ruthless tactic. These spoiled brats were most afraid of losing face. If they were forced into hard labor or even paraded through the streets, they would lose all face... Therefore, after more than half a year, the capital was much more peaceful, and the people smiled much more.

Compared to many officials who hated him, Emperor Kangzong was overjoyed. It was said that he would be granted a title after the New Year, either an earl or a grand secretary.

Under the Minister of War, Guo Zongpeng, the commander of the "Golden Dragon Legion," like Ning Zhijian, didn't have the typical fierce military face. He was quite handsome, with a face like the bright moon and eyes like shooting stars. Wearing a scholar's robe, his belt was loosened, giving him a somewhat unrestrained and unconventional scholar's demeanor.

It makes sense. Although the "Golden Dragon Legion" is hailed as the foremost of the four major legions, its strength is not superior due to its long-term battles with the elite forces of the Great Yuan Kingdom and Huayun Kingdom. On the contrary, it has often been on the defensive. Therefore, a brave general is not suitable for leading troops in such a complex place; a person with both literary and military talents is needed.

Guo Zongpeng is forty years old this year and is known for his unparalleled wisdom. Under his command, the 200,000-strong "Golden Dragon Legion" suffers losses of no more than 10% each year. This means that the number of new soldiers needed to be replenished each year is no more than 20,000, which is the lowest in history. Usually, it is 20%, and the highest is as high as 100,000 a year!

Within Liufeng Kingdom, Guo Zongpeng is the only military general who can be compared with Zhennan King Boti. I sometimes guess that it is precisely because Guo Zongpeng is brave and good at fighting, controls the 200,000-strong "Golden Dragon Legion," and is a staunch loyalist to Kangzong that Zhennan King has been hesitant about whether to rebel.

It's not to say that the Prince of Zhennan and the others didn't try, but Guo Zongpeng had at least fifty skilled guards around him, and even the "Holy Gate" sent five top-tier experts for close protection. Therefore, over a hundred assassination attempts against him over the past ten years had never succeeded.

The commander of the "Silver Tiger Legion" is myself, so I'll skip that. The next commander, the "Bronze Leopard Legion," is the most soldier-like general I've seen today.

Jin Kongjing, the commander of the "Bronze Leopard Legion," is tall and imposing, with a full beard and a resolute expression. He is the most bloodthirsty of the four legion commanders. When he slaughtered the southern rebels, he even killed civilians. In recent years, while he's been stationed in the southeast, many ethnic minorities there have suffered greatly and fled their homes.

If Jin Kongjing is the most soldier-like general, then the last one, Tie Xiaotian, is the least soldier-like.

Tie Xiaotian was obese, almost like a sphere. If I saw him among the civil officials, I wouldn't be surprised, but seeing the commander of the "Iron Wolf Legion" so fat he could probably barely lift a broadsword, I almost thought I was seeing things.

Watching the obese Tie Xiaotian greet everyone, seemingly able to get along with anyone, I thought of his nickname, "Greedy Jackal."

Jackals are close relatives of wolves, not good at attacking, even being carried on the backs of wolves, but they excel at planning and strategy; every wolf pack attack is accompanied by their presence.

Don't let Tie Xiaotian's harmless appearance fool you; he's incredibly ruthless. Anyone who offends him is guaranteed a bad end. Moreover, he's extremely greedy. Wherever the "Iron Wolf Legion" is stationed, within a year, the local officials will be begging the court for support, because Tie Xiaotian always finds ways to plunder local resources to supplement his legion's expenses—"scraping the ground three feet deep" wouldn't be an exaggeration.

This ruthless and greedy man, despite serving as the commander of the "Iron Wolf Legion" for six years, not only escaped the censors' wrath but thrived, taking as many as fifty-nine concubines and amassing immense wealth. Emperor Kangzong's tolerance was not without reason.

Since Tie Xiaotian's "Iron Wolf Legion" began its rotation of command across the land, it had eradicated no fewer than a hundred bandit gangs, always detecting dangers before they arose and swiftly quelling any signs of rebellion, thus bringing stability to the regions. Therefore, Emperor Kangzong was very satisfied and had no intention of removing him. Below the

four legion commanders, an elderly general with white hair sat in the position of commander of the "Royal Golden Armor Army."

The old general, Chen Taohai, is sixty-five years old this year. He is Emperor Kangzong's cousin and enjoys immense prestige in the army. He once served as the commander of the "Golden Dragon Legion" and is utterly loyal to the emperor. When Emperor Kangzong assumed personal rule, this old general was his staunchest supporter. Therefore, after he stepped down as commander of the "Golden Dragon Legion," Emperor Kangzong recalled him to serve as the commander of the "Royal Golden Armor Army," a position he held for twenty years.

Next are the five Grand Secretaries of the Three Pavilions, mostly with the title of "Qilin Pavilion Grand Secretary." Their average age is around forty. They usually help Emperor Kangzong handle military affairs, formulating the army's budget, movements, and replenishment, etc. Now, their more important role is that of a think tank.

Seeing this, I'm already dizzy.

Damn it, just looking at this gives me such a headache. I wonder how Emperor Kangzong manages things on a daily basis. My father-in-law really has a tough job!

"Lanting." The voice of the Prince of Zhennan interrupted my thoughts.

"Your Highness!" I immediately put on a smiling face, humble yet respectful.

"This is your first time attending a banquet at Changqing Palace, isn't it?" Prince Zhennan smiled and said, "You'll be the most watched person tonight, so don't be shy. I almost embarrassed myself back then!" "

I was worried about what would happen if I made a fool of myself, but it turns out Your Highness is the same. I can rest assured then." I said with a relieved smile.

"Hehe, it's not uncommon to be famous at a young age. You'll get used to it over time." Prince Zhennan laughed. "But you also need to be careful from now on. Those censors always have a problem with those who lead troops. They seem to need to impeach us a few times a year... Like a few months ago, didn't they impeach you for betraying the country and missing a crucial opportunity?"

Prince Zhennan was referring to my being forced to release the Northern Desert Allied Forces due to the hostage issue, and my dealings with the desert tribes.

Back in Xiliang City, I initially thought the three princes were conspiring to embarrass me. It wasn't until Ni Xiangting mentioned it on the way back to the capital that I learned it was all the Chu and Tang princes' factions impeaching me. Not only did the Prince of Zhennan not kick me while I was down, but he even spoke up for me, which I don't know why.

Seeing the Prince of Zhennan now, I suddenly felt that perhaps it was because he had suffered such attacks himself that he was better able to see things from a military perspective. No wonder he was so popular among the generals.

"Hmph! These old, ignorant fools, all they do is impeach others all day long." I immediately sneered, "If the Emperor agrees, I'd like to transfer them to the Northwest, let them reason with the barbarians. If they can make the barbarians weep and surrender, and stop their evil deeds, that will be real skill."

"Hahaha…" The one laughing wasn't the Prince of Zhennan, but Chen Lu at the table behind him.

The boy laughed and clapped his hands, "Brother Ren's insight is truly remarkable! Those old fogies should have been dealt with this way long ago!"

The Prince of Zhennan showed no anger at his eavesdropping and interrupting, but instead chuckled and scolded, "You little rascal, all you do is eavesdrop! You should learn from Brother Ren's skills, instead of being so irresponsible all day long."

Chen Lu shrugged, "Father, with you and Brother Ren around, I can naturally play easily. Why should I, at such a young age, bear so much pressure? I don't want to!"

Hearing his son's words, the Prince of Zhennan could only shake his head with a wry smile. This son was good in every way, but like Chen Fuyue, he lacked a strong desire for power. Perhaps he would gradually change as he grew older!

I naturally don't easily trust others. Chen Lu is hailed as the royal family's second Chen Fuyue, which shows everyone's high regard for him.

Unlike Chen Fuyue, who is gentle yet resilient, Chen Lu is much more cunning. Although young, he is already difficult to see through.

At this moment, several of the Prince of Zhennan's former subordinates arrived, drawing his attention. Chen Lu seized this opportunity to start a conversation, grinning, "Brother Ren, I've heard that your Xiliang City is incredibly fun. How about I visit you after the New Year?"

"Xiliang City is remote and impoverished, and plagued by war. It's far less lively than the capital," I politely declined with a smile. "Besides, Your Highness is of noble birth; I'm afraid His Highness wouldn't want you to go."

"My father will approve," Chen Lu persisted. "He often says one should read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles. The capital is certainly good, but Xiliang City has its own unique scenery. I… Ouch!" A

delicate hand tapped Chen Lu's forehead from the side. He turned angrily, "Sister, how many times have I told you? Don't hit my head! I'm an adult!"

"What, sir?" The beautiful young woman glared at him. "Your father told you to be more ambitious and study harder, why didn't you listen? But when you want to go out and play, you suddenly remember what your father said! I'm telling you, until you're eighteen, you'd better stay in the capital obediently and not run around!"

Chen Lu seemed to want to rebel against his sister, but ultimately gave up and nodded aggrievedly.

He understood that his sister's discipline wasn't just about not wanting to run around, but also about not talking to him. After all, he didn't represent the same camp as them, and in Chen Guiyan's eyes, he was much more cunning than her brother. The

beautiful young woman didn't say much more, just smiled faintly at me, then turned her attention back to her man. Truly worthy of being the daughter of the Prince of Zhennan, she was poised and exuded the air of a ruler.

With the beautiful young woman's strict discipline, Chen Lu naturally dared not speak to me anymore, and I finally had a moment of peace.

Looking into the palace, I saw that almost all of the twenty-four seats at the front were being greeted by subordinates and friends, but no one came to my side. This added a strange atmosphere to the otherwise bustling scene.

Actually, I knew quite a few people, such as my godfather, Prime Minister Han, and Minister of Personnel, Lord Ni, but in this situation, they all pretended not to know me.

Even my adorable little Xiangting sat solemnly behind Lord Ni, chatting softly with the noble ladies and young women beside her.

What surprised me most were the two devilish sisters. I had pampered them, and they were now radiantly beautiful, a pair of sisters who were very popular in Changqing Palace. …Dressed in plain white robes, their demeanor was exceptionally graceful and poised. They spoke little, their pretty faces displaying faint, reserved smiles that captivated countless young men.

Seeing them like this, I finally understood why everyone said that the devilish sisters were very famous ladies in the capital—if they weren't ladies, then there were probably no ladies left on the continent.

Looking around Changqing Palace, besides the ministers, the most eye-catching sight was undoubtedly the beautiful women, all dressed to the nines.

Whether young beauties, teenage girls, young women, or mature women, each woman knew how to showcase her talents, vying to become the center of attention.

However, the eyes of the lecherous... oh, no, the masses are always discerning. Who is the most beautiful woman, who has the best talent, and who is the ugliest and most troublesome... the young men had their own opinions.

Little Turtle and Little Bird stayed quietly for a while, then disappeared. When they returned, their faces were full of smug smiles.

"Young Master, Young Master, many meritorious sons are holding a discussion in the back, selecting today's beauties!"

two cunning servants said with grins.

I wondered why there were so many people gathered near the main hall; so that's what they were up to.

"Quick, quick, who's the most beautiful woman?" A voice suddenly rang out from the side, stealing my line. Turning

around, I saw Chen Lu, the third son of the Prince of Zhennan, staring straight ahead with a serious expression, looking nothing like the person who had just spoken. His sister, Chen Guiyan, was talking to her husband and a civil official who had just walked over, giving the young prince a chance to gossip.

Little Turtle and Little Bird were very friendly to their kindred spirits and didn't mind his interruption, lowering their voices to say, "The most beautiful woman is naturally the princess who hasn't appeared yet."

"Ah? Sister Yongyue?" Chen Lu looked straight ahead and couldn't help but mutter a complaint under his breath, "Sister Yongyue is very beautiful, but she can't possibly be number one, can she? These guys are really unfair!"

Little Turtle, Little Bird, and I couldn't help but smile. Everyone knew what Chen Lu was saying, but he was the only one who said it so openly.

Xiao Gui ignored his grumbling and continued, "Princess number 5, there's no further ranking. Everyone voted for the ten most beautiful women: Han Suyan and Han Suyue, the twin daughters of Prime Minister Han; Ni Xiangting from Minister Ni's family; a pair of He ethnic twin girls serving Lord Lanting; another pretty and charming girl beside them; Wen Yaxuan, the new concubine of Prince Zhennan; Tang Sisi, the thirty-second concubine of Prime Minister Wu; Yao Qiaozhen, the wife of Vice Minister of Rites Xia Zhouhe; and the last one is Wan Xueping, the daughter of Grand Tutor Wan."

When he mentioned the last name, Xiao Gui's eyes showed confusion, and I was also shocked.

When did the tastes of the young men in the capital become so low?

"Wan Xueping? Bah!"

Soon, under our gaze, Chen Lu gritted his teeth and said, "That slut, too many men have slept with her. It must be those guys doing this to curry favor with her!"

We suddenly realized, so there were such favoritism votes!

Having cleared up that question, I turned my gaze to the two beauties I hadn't noticed earlier.

Tang Sisi, Prime Minister Wu's concubine, had been sitting behind Wu Weiguo, her head bowed. Now, upon closer inspection, she was indeed exceptionally beautiful. Aside from being a little short, she possessed arched eyebrows, captivating eyes, and cherry-like lips; she looked like a fully blossomed young woman. Perhaps because she was at most twenty, she was a bit shy, mostly talking to the woman beside her and rarely looking up.

The other beauty, Yao Qiaozhen, sat a bit further away, third in line after Zhu Binshan, the Minister of Rites. This beauty was twenty-eight or twenty-nine, one of the most alluring ages for a woman. She had beautiful large eyes, a pert nose, and a fair, delicate face. But what was most astonishing was her enormous breasts, larger than a baby's head! Even in loose clothing, they couldn't escape the young master's eyes. Damn, they were veritable weapons of mass destruction!

Then look at Xia Zhouhe, the Vice Minister of Rites. He wasn't particularly handsome, but he was very tall, around forty years old, with constantly shifting eyes that gave him an impression of deep cunning.

Strangely, Xia Zhouhe wasn't sitting in the center of his seat. Instead, a woman in her sixties, with gray hair and good spirits, sat there. She was clearly a beauty in her youth. A husband and wife sat on either side of her.

I gestured to Xiaoniao, who coughed knowingly, "Hey, Xiaolu, with Yao Qiaozhen's beauty, has Xia Zhouhe been cuckolded?"

Chen Lu was taken aback. He only had theoretical knowledge and didn't quite understand the practical application. After thinking for a moment, he finally understood what Xiaoniao meant.

Chen Lu suppressed a laugh, but didn't mind the little bird calling him by his name: "Brother Little Bird, Yao Qiaozhen's parents were originally refugees from the north. Her mother collapsed at the gate of the Xia family mansion when she was starving and was rescued by the kind old lady Xia. She has lived in the Xia family mansion ever since... When she grew up, the exceptionally beautiful Yao Qiaozhen naturally won the favor of the old lady Xia and was betrothed to her son Xia Zhouhe, becoming his legal wife. When she first appeared in front of everyone, several hot-blooded young men had nosebleeds... Over the years, the size of the bra she wears has always been one of the key points for everyone to bet on—."

Seeing that Chen Lu was getting more and more excited, Little Turtle had to remind him: "Little Lu, hurry up and get to the point."

"Oh." Chen Lu nodded, still savoring the moment, "Of course, many people want to take advantage of such a busty and beautiful young woman, but unfortunately, her mother-in-law, that is, Old Madam Xia, is our Emperor's wet nurse, and the Emperor has a very deep affection for her... Look, it's the old lady sitting next to Vice Minister Xia. Every year during festivals, the Emperor sends her gifts, and when he has time, he invites her back to the palace for a visit. With such a powerful figure in the Xia family, who would have the audacity to take advantage of Yao Qiaozhen?"

"No wonder!" I nodded, "Those of high enough status are mindful of their position, and those of slightly higher status can't afford to offend Old Madam Xia, so naturally Yao Qiaozhen can keep her chastity."

"Excellent, excellent!" Chen Lu clapped his hands, "Brother Ren is indeed Brother Ren, your insight is truly extraordinary! That's exactly right!"

"What insight is extraordinary?" Just then, Chen Guiyan's guests left, and she heard this and became very curious. While curious, she also reached down and gently pinched her younger brother, punishing him for being disobedient.

Chen Lu, enduring the pain, said seriously, "We were discussing the merits of a weapon. Brother Ren is not only excellent in both civil and military affairs, but also knowledgeable in these areas. He is indeed someone I should learn from—" "

Hmm..." Chen Guiyan glanced at me gently. Although she didn't like it, she had to admit it: "If you could work as hard as Prince Lanting, then I would be relieved."

After a pause, she suddenly noticed the little turtle and the little bird, whose cheeks were flushed red, and asked in surprise, "Prince Lanting, is your steward sick? Why is his face so red?"

I said calmly, "He's not sick. He's just intimidated by the weapon that your brother and I were discussing. Madam Qu, don't worry about them. People from small places haven't seen the world."

"Hahaha..." Finally, the little turtle, the little bird, and Chen Lu couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Their laughter even startled the Prince of Zhennan, who was chatting with his old subordinates. He turned around and looked at us, shook his head, and continued his conversation without saying anything.

Although Chen Guiyan didn't know what they were laughing at, she was certain it was related to her. Unable to guess why, she glared at her younger brother and me, the only one not laughing, her hatred for me only intensifying.
[Episode 16: The Changqing Night Banquet] Chapter 2: Generous Rewards

An honest person can be quite intimidating when angered.

Being glared at like that by Chen Guiyan, I felt helpless. The young master was already a gentleman; did I have to join them in laughing at you for this young lady to stop being so angry?

Fortunately, a gentle zither melody suddenly rang out in Changqing Palace, relieving my predicament.

Chen Guiyan snorted coldly, turned her head, and sat down with her knees together. Everyone else did the same, even Chen Lu, who had been grinning just moments before, instantly became quiet.

If I still didn't realize this was the prelude to the Emperor's family's imminent appearance, then I wouldn't deserve the title of the smartest boy in Wushuang County.

Just as we sat down, the zither music became even more beautiful.

It wasn't that the guzheng player had raised the pitch, but rather that everyone had fallen silent, and the Changqing Palace had become quiet, naturally making the guzheng sound even clearer.

Next, another gate that had never been opened before was suddenly flung open by a group of female soldiers. They rushed out and first occupied advantageous positions, then the rest stood in two rows, leaving a wide avenue in the middle.

As mentioned before, these female soldiers were no ordinary warriors. Having grown up in the palace since childhood, they had been trained for over a decade by my several nephews and nieces, and were at least at the level of second-rate experts, especially skilled in formations.

The Demonic Sect's formations were ever-changing, and they had learned at least twenty of them, ensuring that they could accurately set up formations for defense or attack, whether it was for two people or five hundred.

Of course, people weren't interested in these valiant female soldiers. Although they were all beautiful and had very fit figures due to their training, no one dared to look at them with greedy eyes because the emperor was about to emerge.

In less than half an incense stick's time, Emperor Kangzong, accompanied by Empress Ren, slowly walked out. At that moment, everyone quickly rose from their seats and knelt down, shouting in unison, "Greetings to our Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"

The shouts of thousands of people, including the palace guards, were indeed astonishing, echoing throughout the Changqing Palace.

With everyone kneeling, except for the female soldiers and Emperor Kangzong's family who stood, a solemn atmosphere spread, inexplicably stirring emotions.

This was the true majesty of the imperial family!

"Rise, my lords!" Emperor Kangzong said gently as they approached the gleaming golden seats.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After a round of thanks, everyone stood up, but did not rush to take their seats. Instead, they waited until Emperor Kangzong, the Empress, the princess, and the concubines were all seated before respectfully taking their seats.

Looking at Emperor Kangzong's side, he and Empress Ren sat at the first table, with Princess Yongyue seated alone at the middle table behind them, flanked by four Imperial Noble Consorts. The next row was occupied by the favored concubines, arranged in an orderly fashion.

Among the concubines, there were naturally some very beautiful ones. Take Empress Ren, for example; she was a great beauty herself. However, when young men discussed beauties, they would never dare to include her, as it would be a grave offense.

Aside from me, who dared to openly scrutinize the Emperor, no one else dared to do so. Even the princes only kept their eyes on the table in front of the Emperor.

The guzheng was still being played, though the sound was somewhat faint.

"My beloved ministers, this year marks my forty-second year on the throne. Unbeknownst to me, many of you have accompanied me for decades, decades indeed!" Emperor Kangzong, seated on the dragon throne, spoke loudly. "How many decades does one have in a lifetime? Come, enough of the other words. Today, I will first offer you all a toast, wishing us all health and longevity!"

Emperor Kangzong's words were of exceptional quality. He didn't speak of any grand principles or lofty rhetoric, but rather approached the matter from a simple perspective, leaving most of those present with a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion/reflection).

Indeed, over 80% of the officials who entered Changqing Palace were over forty years old, and at least 60% had served for more than twenty years.

Twenty years may not seem like a long time, but looking back, it certainly represents a significant stage in life. To have four twenty-year periods is considered long-lived, and five twenty-year periods would be a cause for celebration… In this era, the most precious time of life is between twenty and forty years old.

The thought that twenty years have passed so quickly is enough to make even the most powerful and influential officials feel a pang of melancholy.

It was precisely because of this sentiment that everyone drank with such unity and gusto when toasting, downing their drinks in one gulp.

We younger folks didn't feel that poignant sense of loss, but we too joined in the toasting.

A eunuch beside him refilled Emperor Kangzong's cup with wine, which he raised again: "Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year, and the New Year is just around the corner. I am very happy, and there are many things to be happy about! First of all, our southern regions have seen increased grain production this year, and the floods have lessened, resulting in a full treasury. I would like to toast the officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. If it weren't for your efforts, the people would not have been able to enjoy a good New Year!"

The Ministers of Works and Revenue quickly stepped forward, raised their cups, and knelt on the ground. The Minister of Works, who was particularly eloquent, spoke first: "This is due to Your Majesty's boundless grace. We were merely following Your Majesty's orders and have no real ability. We are unworthy of such a reward from Your Majesty!"

"It's not that I say you've done well, it's that the people say you've done well!" Emperor Kangzong smiled slightly. "Announce that the officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, whose virtues are exemplary, are hereby bestowed with a pair of jade pendants and 100,000 gold coins upon their respective ministers. Their eldest sons will both be granted the title of second-class baron. The merits of the other officials at all levels shall be discussed and submitted by the ministers. I will not be stingy with rewards!"

"Ah... thank you, thank you, Your Majesty..."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor

! Long live the Emperor!" The officials of the two ministries beamed with joy and knelt down again to express their gratitude.

The music playing nearby became lighter and more lively, quite fitting for the occasion.

Compared to their joy, many officials, while outwardly smiling and agreeing, were inwardly somewhat disdainful.

Because of favorable weather and the fact that several major rivers had not overflowed, the grain yields of several southern prefectures had indeed increased significantly.

However, the fertile land was mostly concentrated in the hands of local powerful clans. While they were delighted to have made a fortune, many people whose land had been annexed were starving and forced to migrate thousands of miles to settle in the northwest.

Yet, these local powerful clans showed no disrespect to the court. This year, they doubled their grain tax payments, allowing the official granaries in the north to receive a substantial income for the first time in several years, alleviating the food crisis for the major armies next year. For this alone, Emperor Kangzong would not punish them. After

the officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue finished their drinks, they withdrew, and the open space in the middle was once again clean and tidy.

Emperor Kangzong was in high spirits and raised his third cup of wine: "The second matter is for you, Minister of War, Minister Ning."

Ning Zhijian was taken aback, but quickly rose from his seat and knelt in the center of the hall.

"Minister Ning is loyal and decisive, and he takes the tasks I assign him very seriously. Since taking office as Minister of War, in just a few months, the air in our capital has become much fresher, and the people's resentment has lessened. For this alone, I am very pleased." Emperor Kangzong said, though his face showed little smile. He looked at the officials, and those who met his gaze lowered their heads. "My brothers, my ministers, I implore you all to keep your children and servants in check and not to cause Minister Ning any more trouble, understand?"

"We are terrified!" The ministers quickly stood up and bowed.

As for how many of them were truly terrified, that was unknown.

Emperor Kangzong clearly did not want to pursue the matter further. Spoiled brats and unruly servants in prominent families existed in every dynasty and could not be eradicated. He simply wanted to remind his ministers that he supported Ning Zhijian and not to constantly plead with him about Ning Zhijian's impartiality.

"Summon him!" Emperor Kangzong raised his cup: "Minister of War Ning Zhijian, diligent and conscientious, has rendered meritorious service to the nation and the people. He is hereby granted the title of Grand Secretary of the 'Lingxiao Pavilion,' and awarded 100,000 gold coins and 500 mu of fertile land!"

"Your subject Ning Zhijian thanks Your Majesty for your grace!"

Ning Zhijian kowtowed deeply before respectfully drinking the wine. However, it was clear to everyone that Minister Ning was not overly excited about such a great favor; truly a composed man!

When Emperor Kangzong raised his fourth cup, my adorable little Yunfu looked at me with her big eyes, and I immediately understood that I was the protagonist this time.

"The third matter, and the one that pleases me most," Emperor Kangzong continued, his face beaming, "'The Silver Tiger Legion'..."

" Where is Legion Commander Ren Lanting?"

"Your Majesty, I am here."

I walked out with a solemn expression and knelt on the cold marble floor, but inwardly I was cursing my father-in-law: "Didn't you already see that I was right next to you? Why did you have to put on such a show? Your Majesty's airs

are really quite grand." "My lords," Kangzong said loudly, "the greatest threat to my Liufeng Kingdom has always been the barbarians who roam the grasslands. The three northwestern prefectures have suffered greatly from the ravages of the barbarians of the desert grasslands. Especially a few months ago, the 'Silver Tiger Legion' was almost completely annihilated, hundreds of thousands of people were displaced, and countless women and children were abducted by the barbarians. To be honest, when I heard this news, I smashed a set of porcelain on the spot."

Hearing this, the King of Chu's face darkened. It was his son, Chen Fuyue, who had caused such a tragic consequence. It was painful for anyone to have their wounds reopened.

Emperor Kangzong ignored him, his voice gradually rising: "To relieve the siege of Xiliang City, I have tried many methods, but all have failed. Just then, my nephew, the Empress's nephew Ren Lanting, who came to visit, heard this news and, out of concern for the country and its people, immediately requested that I send him to the front lines. He will go to the place where the empire needs him most, and no matter how difficult, he will help the soldiers and civilians of Xiliang City overcome the crisis!"

Instantly, countless eyes focused on me.

Among them, the burning gazes came from the unmarried young women. In their hearts, just thinking of this young hero volunteering for the suffering people, going without hesitation to the most dangerous place, stirred their hearts. This is the origin of the saying "beauty loves hero."

Such fervent, lovestruck gazes from the young women made even me, with my thick skin, blush slightly. Did I just go too far in criticizing the Emperor's father-in-law? Actually, he's quite a nice person!

"Everyone has learned about what happened next from various sources." Kangzong looked around again, his spirits rising, and said, "After cleverly resolving the crisis in Xiliang City, Ren Lanting regrouped, and the 'Silver Tiger Legion' under his command underwent a complete transformation. With the help of righteous civilians, they ambushed the powerful 300,000-strong army of the Northern Desert, achieving a great victory and rescuing the people of Xiliang City who had been abducted... And that's not all! In the past two months, Ren Lanting led the 'Silver Tiger Legion' and righteous civilians to attack the Great Desert Grasslands, plundering countless horses, cattle, and sheep, and killing and wounding hundreds of thousands of barbarians. Their rampage across the Great Desert Grasslands has made all the barbarians tremble with fear, greatly enhancing the prestige of our Liufeng Kingdom! Let us cheer for our heroes!"

"Lord Lanting is mighty! Long live His Majesty!" People clenched their fists, and whether their cries were genuine or feigned, they all shouted in unison, their voices almost shaking the roof of the palace.

"These bastards! It's all my doing, yet they still have to flatter Emperor Kangzong..." The most enthusiastic was none other than Right Chancellor Wu Weiguo. Tears streaming down his face, his cheeks flushed, he stood up, crying and shouting. His performance was so convincing that everyone else was in awe.

Yet, Emperor Kangzong looked at him with satisfaction. The reason Wu Weiguo had remained loyal to the Tang King and yet never fallen was probably because he so accurately grasped the Emperor's heart!

In terms of actual merit, I am undoubtedly number one, but Emperor Kangzong also has his pride. If he hadn't defied public opinion and sent this son-in-law to Xiliang City, would there have been such a good result?

Therefore, His Majesty, with his discerning eye, was naturally very satisfied, feeling that he was not much different from a talent scout.

Enjoying the feeling of his ministers cheering for a moment, Emperor Kangzong smiled and pressed his hands down, and the cheers gradually subsided.

"My esteemed ministers," said Emperor Kangzong, "our army has always been suppressed by the Huayun Kingdom. Now, with the shrewd and experienced commander-in-chief, Prince Zhennan, and the invincible warrior, Ren Lanting, do you think the day when our army becomes the strongest on the continent is not far off?"

"Not far off! Not far off!!"

Most of the ministers echoed loudly, their expressions suggesting that simply shouting like this today would make them the strongest on the continent.

However, many insightful individuals were merely following the trend, not necessarily believing the same thing...

This group naturally included myself, Yunfu, Prime Minister Han, Prime Minister Wu, Prince Zhennan, and others.

Fortunately, Emperor Kangzong wasn't entirely incompetent; he was merely shouting slogans to let his ministers know that his Empress's nephew was a general no less capable than Prince Zhennan, thus adding another layer of protection to the royal family!

"Summon them!" Emperor Kangzong gestured again, loudly announcing, "Ren Lanting, Commander of the 'Silver Tiger Legion,' is brave and resolute, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and has achieved outstanding military exploits. He has managed Xiliang City effectively and is hereby appointed Grand Scholar of the 'Qilin Pavilion,' with a reward of one million taels of silver and a thousand acres of fertile land!"

"Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your kindness!" Necessary courtesies must be observed, so I could only kneel down and kowtow in gratitude, just like everyone else.

In truth, I didn't care much for Kangzong's rewards. As everyone knows, Young Master Ri only likes beautiful women. As for his vast wealth, my father has already earned it for me; I could never spend it all. A carefree life is what I want to pursue.

The more rewards Kangzong bestows upon me, the greater my responsibility becomes. And what I hate most is endless work. My daily life is enough: embracing several beauties, indulging in lavish meals, drinking wine under the moon, listening to the "Eighteen Touches" music, watching steamy dances… and then enjoying the pleasures of love with my wives in bed. That would be enough!

However, as I looked up and saw Yunfu smiling behind Kangzong, a warmth filled my heart: 'Damn it, the emperor's daughter is hard to marry, but Yunfu is mine, and I must have her! Hardship and toil are nothing!'

After the bestowal of titles and honors, the next step was naturally to eat, drink, and be merry.

With a gentle clap of Kangzong's hand, the waiting palace maids quickly brought the prepared dishes and wine to each table. Among them were countless delicacies and fine wines, all exquisitely prepared and delicious. Everyone picked up their chopsticks without hesitation.

Everyone knew Kangzong's habit: at the palace banquet on the eve of the Lunar New Year, if one acted timidly and politely, the emperor would be displeased. One had to be unrestrained, unrestrained, and loud to make the emperor feel the spirit of the New Year and be happy.

The music never stopped. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn had passed, but before the wine had reached its peak, Empress Ren gently pointed with her hand, and a female soldier beside her understood and took out a gong, striking it with a "dong."

The people present immediately perked up, knowing the show was about to begin, and their eyes all turned to the outside of the hall.

In the blink of an eye, a large group of beautifully dressed women rushed in, lined up in a certain formation, and struck various alluring poses, standing motionless.

At the same time, the lights in the open space in the center of the hall suddenly brightened, dazzlingly bright.

This made it convenient for the various lecherous men, young and old, to drink and comment on the figures and appearances of the beautiful dancers, their laughter occasionally escaping, creating a lively atmosphere.

"Ding..." Like a clear spring striking a rock, a crisp sound echoed throughout the hall, causing everyone's hearts to inexplicably tremble.

After this sound, the dancers suddenly unfolded their formation, their long silk dresses and skirts billowing open to reveal a riot of colors, like a hundred flowers blooming in spring, dazzlingly beautiful!

"Bravo!" many of the boys shouted, and this time their parents did not stop them, as the boys often did in previous years.

The music, transitioning from slow to fast, was a medley of various instruments of unknown composition. Its light and ethereal quality immediately captivated the audience, and countless beautiful dancers began to twirl and dance.

Having rehearsed extensively, they sometimes formed vibrant, colorful flowers, sometimes surged and rose like waves, their movements exquisitely graceful. Their long sleeves and skirts billowed with each leap, making the entire hall appear as if bathed in vibrant color.

The dancers were adorned with a variety of cosmetics, filling the hall with a rich, sensual fragrance in addition to the aromas of wine and meat. This allure caused countless lecherous men, both large and small, to inhale deeply, becoming completely intoxicated.

It's not surprising that one dancer can dance well, nor is it surprising that a group of dancers can dance well, but a dance troupe of hundreds of people can make people feel like they are watching a constantly changing shadow puppet show, which

is truly breathtaking! "The Dance of Rainbow Feathers" truly lives up to its name!

[Episode 16: The Night Banquet of Changqing] Chapter 3: Beautiful Wife and Concubine

When I returned to the Lanting Mansion, it was already late at night.

It was very lively everywhere tonight, and the lights outside were still on. If it were before, people would have turned off the lights and started having sex long ago.

The carriage entered through the small gate next to the main gate. When I got out of the carriage, I saw that there was a familiar large carriage in the previously empty horse pen.

"Young master... isn't this the carriage at home? How did it get here... Young master, where are you going?"

Before the little bird could finish speaking, I disappeared into the night with lightning speed.

"Silly!" Jing Gongcai pouted, saying coquettishly, "Have you forgotten that your nemesis is only arriving in the next couple of days?"

The nemesis of Little Turtle and Little Bird was naturally the "Five Rampaging Demonesses of the Liu Family." Upon hearing Jing Gongcai's words, Little Bird immediately understood.

Little Turtle, however, asked doubtfully, "I haven't heard they're coming. Are they coming to launch a surprise attack?"

"That's called a surprise, okay..." Jing Gongmei looked at Little Turtle, who had absolutely no speaking skills, shook her head, and sighed, "Little Turtle, I think you're really resilient. You've been disciplined for so many years, yet you're still so outspoken."

Being lectured by the taciturn young mistress Jing Gongmei, Little Turtle chuckled awkwardly and, embarrassed, pulled Little Bird away.

Seeing this, Xiaoyu, who was coming down next, smiled slightly: "Beautiful sister, after all, Little Turtle and Little Bird are your husband's trusted generals. Aren't you afraid they

'll be unhappy if you tease them like this?" Jing Gongcai picked up on her sister's words, taking Xiaoyu's hand and saying, "Sister Xiaoyu, when you talk to your brothers and sisters, do you worry that they'll get angry?"

Xiaoyu was such a clever girl; she understood Jing Gongcai's meaning immediately. She was telling her that Little Turtle and Little Bird were already family, and since they were all family, it didn't matter if their words were a little teasing.

Wang Zi didn't participate in their conversation. She turned her eyes to the carriage. Apart from its luxurious and spacious design and the several flags that represented status on it, the carriage didn't have many special features.

Miss Wang couldn't help but think to herself: "Could it be Liu Ri's wives from Wushuang County? According to the family members who went there, his wives are all not only beautiful but also incredibly talented. I should visit them sometime!" In the

afternoon, I already knew where my mansion was. I moved through it without disturbing any guards, maids, or servants. When I stopped, I was already in an exceptionally elegant and spacious courtyard. My

demon sisters had transplanted many rare flowers and plants into my courtyard. Next spring, when the flowers bloom, the Lanting Mansion will surely become a sea of flowers, and the highlight of that will be my large courtyard. However, for now, only the soil is visible, and its true form remains unknown

. As soon as I landed, I heard a sweet laugh coming from the spacious and exquisite living room of the small building. The voice was so familiar.

"Who?" With a sharp cry, I was spotted. A pale yellow shadow darted out, and upon recognizing who it was, she exclaimed in surprise, "Husband…" "

My darling Yuan Yuan!" I stepped forward and embraced this stunningly beautiful woman, who was only slightly shorter than me, lowering my head to kiss her pink lips.

"Mmm... Oh..."

I easily pried open the beauty's teeth, and my tongue immediately plunged in, sucking on my beautiful wife's fragrant saliva while searching for that lovely, smooth tongue.

Soon, Shen Yuanyuan's little tongue was curled up by me, the two tongues constantly intertwining, exchanging saliva, just like our first passionate kiss, focused and excited...

Even though the beauty's skill was already at the peak of the seventh level of the "Heavenly Demon Skill," while kissing me and having her sensitive areas constantly caressed by my hands, she couldn't help but feel a surge of lust. Just before her little hole was about to leak juice, the beauty managed to gently push me away, separating herself from me.

After we separated, I looked around and saw that the "Beautiful Girl Sex Slave Group," Wenwen, Lujie, Chunya, and Qiubi were all beside me, smiling and looking at me with deep affection.

"Haha..." I was overjoyed, kissing each of my wives on the face and lips before happily leading them back into the hall.

"Didn't you say you'd come around New Year's Eve? Why are you here earlier?" I asked them, sitting in my chair. At that moment, Lan'er stood behind me, massaging my neck and shoulders; Xiao Yan brought me a cup of ginseng tea; and Lian'er and Xiao Li stood obediently beside me, massaging my hands and feet, making me feel like a truly happy landlord. The

"Beautiful Girl Sex Slave Group" had served me since childhood, and after becoming my concubines, they would always take care of me whenever they were around—a habit they hadn't changed to this day. The one who

answered my question was naturally the little housekeeper, Rou'er. She stood quietly beside me and said softly, "The ladies said they wanted to see you, Master, as soon as possible, so we set off early… Everything at home has been arranged, all handled by Master and the ladies. With the help of Sister Jie'er's family and the Wang family members, there won't be any problems."

As expected of my thoughtful little concubine, she not only answered my questions but also revealed things I hadn't asked.

A figure flashed, and a delicate, boneless body gracefully sat on my lap. Even without smelling the faint fragrance, I knew that besides my little cousin Wenwen, who else would so brazenly throw themselves into my arms?

"Brother… let's go to sleep…" the little beauty whispered, nestled in my arms. At the same time, her pert little bottom rubbed against my lap, tempting me.

Hearing this, Lian'er and Xiaoli chuckled, their eyes, like Wenwen's, revealing a seductive glint. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and the beautiful girls missed me dearly.

"Don't panic! I'll make sure you can't get out of bed tomorrow." I lovingly stroked Wenwen's pert bottom. I don't know how many times I've touched a beautiful girl's bottom, but I still can't get enough of it.

Although Wenwen's little buttocks aren't very fleshy, they're incredibly elastic. Even after all this time, they're still rather small, giving me a visual shock every time I enter her from behind, allowing me to bring the beautiful girl to orgasm faster and more intensely.

"Mmm..." Most of the time, Wenwen is quite obedient. She lies on my warm chest, closes her beautiful eyes, and pretends to sleep like a cute little kitten.

I hesitated for a moment before asking Shen Yuanyuan, who was sitting opposite me, "With me making a big splash lately, there must be a lot of people coming to Wushuang County to spy on us, right?"

Since we were family, we didn't sit in a traditional way on opposite sides of the hall, where if the other person had even a slight hearing impairment, they'd have to shout to speak, making it sound like an argument.

We sat in a small circle, less than a meter apart, creating a warm

, family atmosphere. Shen Yuanyuan calmly replied, "A total of fifty-two groups of spies have come, numbering over five hundred. It's not just the three princes; there are also some high-ranking officials from the court, and several prefects. These are from our Liufeng Kingdom. The rest come from the Great Yuan Kingdom (five groups), the Huayun Kingdom (two groups), and the Great Desert Grasslands (two groups)."

"Only that few?" I slapped her hard, forgetting that Wenwen was sitting on me. The slap made her pink bottom sting, and the beautiful girl glared at me angrily.

After quickly calming down my lovely little wife, I turned to my other wives, who were all looking on with amusement, and said, "Damn it, I think I'm a renowned general now, so surely thousands of people should be coming to spy on me, right? You're really not giving me any face!"

Lu Jie covered her mouth and laughed, looking at me with a charmingly reproachful expression, "You still think that's not enough? So many spies have come, it's just that Chun Ya and Qiu Bi have had a hard time keeping up with everyone, they've both lost a lot of weight..."

I glanced at them carefully, and indeed, the two beautiful women had lost some weight, but their spirits were more focused, and their slightly thinner bodies accentuated their ample breasts and hips, making one want to pin the two beauties down and torment them for three days and three nights without them getting out of bed.

Chun Ya and Qiu Bi cultivate the "Rakshasa Witch" style, specializing in martial arts. Now, it seems that as their cultivation has improved, although they've become slightly colder, their gazes towards me remain gentle. This shows that my modified "Rakshasa Witch" hasn't repeated the mistakes of turning them into cold-blooded killing machines.

"Come, my darlings, let me see how much your power has increased," I said softly to them, extending both hands.

Without hesitation, Chun Ya and Qiu Bi each extended a hand, pressing it against my palm. Then, as before, they allowed their true energy to slowly impact my Heavenly Demon True Energy.

After a moment, I nodded, and the two women withdrew their true energy. Just as they were about to pull their hands back, I gripped them tightly. When they looked up at my loving gaze, they smiled slightly.

This smile was like a pear blossom in bloom, indescribably charming and captivating.

Thanks to my extensive experience and exceptional self-control, I managed to release them with great difficulty. However, the intense possessiveness in my eyes still clearly reached the two beautiful young women. The fact that their men felt desire upon seeing them filled Chun Ya and Qiu Bi with immense sweetness.

"According to the 'Rakshasa Witch' level, you've already reached the upper level of the middle grade, which translates to the peak of the sixth level of the 'Heavenly Demon Art'," I said to them. "But your progress has been too rapid; it must be due to your relentless practice, right? Haste makes waste. After we return, obediently focus on practicing the techniques. Increase your medicinal baths from once a day to once every three days, understand?"

"Yes."

Chun Ya and Qiu Bi were second only to the "Beautiful Girl Sex Slaves" in obedience. This was because they had been raised as gifts from their families since childhood, subconsciously carrying a degree of servility. Of course, they were completely devoted to me, their master and husband who had rescued them from suffering and given their families a happy life.

The families of both beauties came to Wushuang County with the Lu family. They weren't particularly outstanding, but coming from a middle-class family, they had some insight and vision. Their uncle, needing capable men, transferred them there. Now, their fathers were a county magistrate and a military commander, respectively—low-ranking officials, but enough to make their fathers-in-law very happy.

"Husband, when you go back, you'll see what Wushuang County is like," Lu Jie said sweetly, gesturing a large map. "When Uncle came to inspect it the other day, he said Wushuang County was the most beautiful and wealthiest county in Tuyi Prefecture…and Wuhua Mountain, our 'Sun Moon Divine Cult's' base, easy to defend and difficult to attack, running through the mountains—there's no safer place."

"Yes, you have so much money, of course you should spend it more. After all, Wushuang County is the root of our Liu family; laying a solid foundation there is very important," I said approvingly. Although I am now famous throughout the land, deep down I still prefer to be the young master of Wushuang County and not get involved in so many conflicts.

I said they had so much money because I knew that last time, the Wang family and I not only fought desperately to defeat the combined forces of the two major northern tribes in Xiliang City, but also spent a fortune to redeem the people. Kangzong, who had been standing idly by, felt embarrassed and sent 100 million gold coins in gold notes to my father in Wushuang County. Later, my father didn't use it and directly gave it to his daughters-in-law to handle this huge sum.

There's a saying, what was it again? Women might not be very good at making money, but when it comes to spending it, men can't even come close.

The five girls of the "Beautiful Girl Sex Slave Group" immediately increased the construction work on the buildings at the foot of Wuhua Mountain and on the mountain. In addition, with winter approaching, many houses in Wushuang County collapsed due to the freezing weather, so they also repaired the houses of thousands of households, not to mention taking the opportunity to build the main road leading to all the villages in Wushuang County.

"How's our 'Sun Moon Cult' doing?" I turned to ask about the cult, which had been under the control of the three Lu brothers and Shen Yuanyuan.

Shen Yuanyuan nodded slightly and began to explain methodically.

The cult initially consisted of only 1,200 people sent by Yun Fu. I now know they came from the "Royal Golden Armor Army," but were sent to Wushuang County by the princess as a force to protect her lover's family.

Later, the Lu family's martial arts and the experts sent by the Wang family joined in, and we recruited another 1,000 boys aged 15 to 18 in Wushuang County to mentor the new recruits, bringing the total to 2,000.

However, the "Royal Golden Armor Army" wasn't trained on the northern plains; without experiencing dozens of battles, large and small, they simply couldn't have trained such a formidable elite force. So the wives discussed it and decided to train the remaining eight hundred people as martial arts practitioners, teaching them some simple techniques from the Heavenly Demon Art. The palace also provided several martial arts manuals, finally setting the foundation. However, it would probably take three to five years for them to fully develop into a powerful force.

A mature and powerful landlord couldn't rely solely on this level of martial arts. While training martial arts masters, the wives were also constantly adding new members. These were the children of the craftsmen who built the "Sun Moon Divine Sect" headquarters and the Wuhua Mountain maze. They were initially selected by the Wang family's experts, and after further tests, they were absorbed into the "Sun Moon Divine Sect." However, the number of these new members wasn't growing enough, and their ages were only seven or eight; they could only be cultivated as a future plan.

Chun Ya and Qiu Bi led a group of subordinates, specifically conducting reconnaissance work. If the spies were just inquiring around, that would be one thing. However, if anyone tried to infiltrate the county government office or Wuhua Mountain, well, sorry, they'd be dealt with badly. The mildest offenders would be knocked unconscious and hung by the roadside; the more malicious would be killed without mercy.

Those sent as spies were certainly not ordinary people. At first, Chun Ya and Qiu Bi suffered quite a bit; had they not been strong enough, they would have been injured. But with experience, they recovered. Later, almost all the spies only dared to gather a little basic information before leaving, learning from the tragic fates of their predecessors—a stark warning against provoking the two witches of the "Sun Moon Cult."

However, Chun Ya and Qiu Bi weren't the most hardworking; the three Lu brothers were the ones who suffered the most.

After nearly losing their families, the three of them trained incredibly hard. Combined with the stimulation of the medicinal liquid, their hard work resulted in a noticeable increase in strength. It's said that the three of them working together could defeat twenty experts from the Wang family… Back in Yizhou County, I remember it took two Wang family instructors to defeat them.

Seeing the diligence and growth of the Lu brothers, Shen Yuanyuan assigned them three hundred disciples to train. As a result, those disciples suffered terribly. The Lu brothers treated these rookies the same way I had treated them before, beating them all day long. If they didn't want to be beaten so badly they couldn't get up, they had to become stronger.

Aside from the minor annoyance of the three violent men's subordinates constantly complaining, overall, the followers of the "Sun Moon Cult" are growing stronger every day. In a few years, they will be a vital force protecting our Liu family.

I see how hard my wives are working, and it pains me to see it.

They are all a bit thin, all because of the tireless housework they've been doing lately.

The most pitiful thing is that their men aren't by their side, and they can only suppress their longing in their hearts. How can they possibly grow fat like that?

Well, the main reason is that they haven't absorbed my yang essence. Without the balance of yin and yang, how can they be moist and supple?

Just look at the Jinggong sisters. Although they endure wind and rain, traveling everywhere with me, they often receive my love and I make love to them frequently. My yang essence often fills their beautiful orifices. Having absorbed my essence, they naturally grow plump and supple, even more beautiful than they were six months ago.

Therefore, tonight's hard work is unavoidable in order to make my wives as beautiful as before!

[Episode 16: The Banquet at Changqing] Chapter 4: The Two Beauties of Spring and Autumn

Although Shen Yuanyuan, Wenwen, and Lu Jie could be considered my legal wives, while the "Beautiful Girl Sex Slave Group" and Chun Ya and Qiu Bi were merely concubines, Yuan'er and the others voluntarily gave their opportunities to these seven concubines. The "Beautiful Girl Sex Slave Group," citing Chun Ya and Qiu Bi's recent marriage, gave them the first opportunity to receive my favor tonight. Neither

of the two beauties was particularly tall. Chun Ya was voluptuous yet sweet, while Qiu Bi was petite and well-proportioned. When the two beauties lay naked on the bed like lambs, they truly possessed a beauty that complemented each other like bamboo, orchid, and chrysanthemum.

Chun Ya and Qiu Bi weren't considered absolute beauties, but they were definitely first-rate beauties. After my continuous development, they had long since exuded the charm of young married women, and when facing me, they would reveal their vulnerable side.

As I lay between them, one in each arm, Chun Ya suddenly mustered her courage and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Master... now that you're back... please don't go to Xiliang City again, okay?"

I was taken aback. For such a cautious beauty to say something like this, interfering with my plans, took a lot of courage!

Without showing any expression, I asked gently, "Why?"

Chun Ya glanced at me, her courage faltering, and didn't answer. Instead, Qiu Bi added, "We... we need you by our side so we don't feel lonely..."

"Silly girl!" I reached out and kneaded their plump buttocks, laughing. "Could it be that Rou'er and the others treat you badly? My father and stepmother don't like you?"

Seeing me laugh, Chun Ya finally felt relieved and whispered, "No, everyone is very kind to us... but we still miss you, Master... When you're not here, we feel panicked, like we have no direction..."

I sighed. "Didn't you say you were very good at dealing with those spies? You were even dubbed 'witches' by the spies. I can't tell you're insecure at all."

Qiu Bi moved closer to me, grabbing my mischievous hand to stop me from moving, and then said, "Since it's a task you gave us, Master, of course we have to do our best to complete it. Only you can see our vulnerability, Master. Everyone else can only see us bleeding!"

I frowned and immediately slapped her hard. Qiu Bi's plump buttocks were hit squarely, and she groaned in pain, half-jokingly.

Without even looking, I knew there was already a handprint on her snow-white buttocks.

As a martial artist, Qiu Bi naturally wouldn't feel pain from the slap; she deliberately groaned to see if my anger was genuine.

Seeing the two beauties eagerly awaiting my explanation, I shook my head and glared at them fiercely: "What blood? Your two little holes have already been deflowered by your master, how could there be any bleeding? Don't say such unlucky things again!"

"Hmm..." Chun Ya was very good at reading people. Seeing that I wasn't really angry, her voluptuous body writhed like a snake as she said coquettishly, "Master, you're just talking nonsense... The blood we were talking about... isn't that kind of blood... You're so naughty!" "You'll find out soon enough," I said with a grin. My other hand had already slipped under her two plump buttocks, gently scraping around her anus, causing the beautiful young woman to tremble all over. She immediately squeezed her thighs together, the warm, moist flesh holding me still.

Now, both my hands were under their control, how pitiful!

"Master, the sisters are very good to us, and very good to our families... We like them very much, and we are very close to them... But the sense of security that comes with having you by my side is something the sisters can't give us." Qiu Bi gazed at me intently with her large eyes, and said in a sweet voice, "Actually, it's not just us who feel this way, all the sisters feel the same way... We only feel happy when you're here in this family!"

The two beauties spoke simply and directly; other wives might not have said such things to me.

And this tender affection, along with their words, entered my heart.

"I also really want to come back and be with you, and have more babies so we can live happily ever after."

I pondered for a moment and said, "Unfortunately, I have too many responsibilities weighing on me right now, and too many people are wary of your master. So, unless I get rid of them and the world is at peace, I can't rest for the time being."

"Who is making the master angry?" Chun Ya and Qiu Bi, unaware of the court's situation, said coldly in unison, "Let's go kill them for the master, and then the master won't have to worry."

"Nonsense! If killing them would solve everything, wouldn't I have done it already? If you don't understand

, learn from Xiang Ting'er first." I slapped their plump buttocks angrily, "Come on, since you're so murderous, I now order you to fight the master and see who wins!" Chun Ya and Qiu Bi weren't naive newbies. Hearing my ulterior motives, they chuckled and turned their lustful eyes to the huge, erect penis.

"It's even angrier than its master..."

"Yeah, look at how arrogant it is, let's cool it down!"

The two women had already slipped out of my arms and were sitting on my lap, bending down so their small mouths met the menacing Tyrannosaurus Rex's spear.

The beauties were already quite adept at playing with their master's manhood; they extended their pink tongues and slowly began licking the large penis.

The beauties had lived together since childhood, and their division of labor was very clear. After licking the penis for a while, one on the left and one on the right, one up and one down, they launched a fierce attack.

Qiu Bi opened her thick lips, lowered her head, and took the large glans of my penis into her mouth, sucking and licking it vigorously. Her small mouth would occasionally swallow and release the shiny jade head. The strong sucking and stimulation made me enjoy her service comfortably.

Chun Ya lowered her head a little lower, her nimble little tongue licking and sucking my scrotum. Occasionally, she would playfully suck on one of my testicles through my scrotum with her small mouth. The pleasure she felt was no less than what Qiu Bi gave me.

If there had been time, the two beauties would have used their special skills to make me enjoy it even more, but they knew that there were more monks than porridge tonight. Their sisters had kindly let them have the first turn, and they wanted to cherish their time so that the sisters behind them could also have a chance to receive their master's favor.

So, after playing with my penis for a while, the two women pounced on me, giggling as they pressed down on me.

Neither of the two beauties was heavy, but their forceful pounce almost made me gasp for breath.

Sensing their laziness, I flew into a rage, pulling them up to sit and berating them, "Well, you're slacking off after only a short time! Looks like I haven't disciplined you in a while. Get down on your knees, stick your asses out, your master is going to punish you with her dragon spear!"

The two women gave a charming smile, retreating without hesitation, then turning their bodies forward, their beautiful buttocks raised high, their legs spread wide, revealing the alluring cave between their thighs and the thick, dark pubic hair around it... Their snow-white thighs, like jade, contrasted beautifully with the bright red, engorged labia outside their vulvas, creating a breathtaking scene that excited me greatly.

I smiled slightly, not grabbing their plump buttocks, but instead leaning forward to find the right spot, and with a forceful thrust, I entered their moist, hot, and tight little caves.

"Oh..." Chun Ya cried out loudly as the huge penis mercilessly pierced her vagina, almost pushing her soul out of her body. The long-lost pleasure surged into her heart instantly.

"Slap slap slap..." My lower body slammed into the beauty's plump buttocks. The plump buttocks resisted the force of the impact, and it felt exceptionally good to hit them. However, my penis did not reduce its attack power each time, hitting her core every time. This made the beauty scream and shout without restraint, releasing the exhilarating pleasure in her heart.

"Heavier...heavier...ah...Master...Ya'er...can still...oh...take it...ah...yo...yo...my little hole...so...beautiful...oh...fuck me...fuck your Ya'er...um...um...harder...ah...again...all the way in...Ya'er...is wet again...oh...god...ah...Master...I...I...so...good...oh..."

Chun Ya came from a family of martial arts masters, and her requirements for etiquette were not as strict as those of the devilish sister and Ni Xiangting, so she moaned however she wanted. These most primal cries made me unleash a wild desire, so my big cock kept going back in after each complete withdrawal, leaving Chun Ya completely defeated.

But the beautiful young woman had profound martial arts skills, how could she admit defeat so easily? She gritted her teeth and pushed her plump buttocks back with all her might, cooperating with me each time to make the impact go deeper, making her wanton moans almost shatter the windows of the room.

I didn't neglect Qiu Bi either.

While thrusting my hips and fondling Chun Ya, my hands were completely focused on Qiu Bi's beautiful buttocks, which were almost pressed against Chun Ya's.

Qiu Bi's buttocks were quite fleshy, and when my hands pressed against her upturned buttocks, the beauty wriggled restlessly. I ignored her reaction and directly inserted my right index and middle fingers into her honey hole, kneading the small pearl above the opening.

My left hand didn't stop at all and directly probed into the beautiful young woman's vagina.

Qiu Bi's vagina was like a baby's mouth; as soon as something entered, the beautiful vagina immediately reacted, sucking and squeezing my fingers forcefully. The tender flesh pressed against my fingers, tingling and itchy, making me feel incredibly happy.

My fingers weren't satisfied with that, but instead moved lightly in and out of the beautiful young woman's vagina, like a small penis, only ten times faster than a penis in Chun Ya's vagina.

Under my two-pronged attack, Qiu Bi was extremely excited. She moaned and gasped, "Master...no...oh...no...don't...I...can't...take it...ah...so...so numb...so tingly...oh...oh...I want...I want...big cock...oh...Master...faster...faster...finish it...Ya Ya...ah...Bi'er...Bi'er wants you...fuck...me...oh...faster...moan..."

A woman whose desire has been awakened is very sensitive.

Here, every time my big cock entered and exited her vagina, it brought up streams of lustful fluid that splashed onto the sheets. There, as my two hands were busy, Qiu Bi's legs were tightly clamped together, and honey juice kept flowing down her vagina, soon wetting my hands, and dripping honey juice down my hands and onto the sheets.

With each thrust, Chun Ya's plump, white buttocks finally flew into the air ahead of schedule. Her buttocks abruptly stopped thrusting, trembling like a seizure, and her previously supported upper body instantly collapsed, her hands and all, falling limply onto the bed.

How could I not know the state of my beautiful wife?

I quickly withdrew my hands from Qiu Bi's vaginal opening, and with a pull and tug, grabbed Chun Ya's two jade-like arms, forcefully pulling her up.

In this way, Chun Ya, who had been lying down, immediately found herself in a position where her upper body was arched backward and her plump buttocks were pulled forward.

However, this wasn't actually the case. The beauty was held tightly by me, her delicate body unable to move at all, and therefore unable to evade my attack. My penis no longer left her honeyed orifice; each time it only emerged halfway before forcefully thrusting back in. This increased the speed several times over, intensifying the stimulation for Chun Ya several times over.

Furthermore, her plump buttocks were immobile, and her legs were tightly clamped together, causing her vagina to contract. This intensified the friction with the large penis, resulting in a series of intense and powerful orgasms for the beautiful young woman. Her hoarse voice cried out without restraint.

"Oh...oh...Master...big cock...so big...insert...insert...it feels...so good...um...I...I want...ah...flying, flying...I want...insert...insert...to death...Ya'er...I...quickly...quickly...dying...dying...oh...ah...no...no...ouch...too...too sore...Master...quickly...quickly...let go...me...flying...oh..."

Chun Ya let out a soft, sweet cry, and a stream of vaginal fluid suddenly gushed from the depths of her vagina, hitting the glans of the large penis. Her body, which had been resisting, suddenly became limp.

Even so, I didn't let her go. Instead, as her vaginal walls tightened dramatically, my Tyrannosaurus Rex Spear thrust in and out even more forcefully, each time tighter than before. But each squeeze brought a thrill that made me gasp and shout with pleasure.

"Oh...oh...oh..." Chun Ya's delicate body trembled from my thrusts, her two round breasts quivering beautifully, making Qiu Bi, who was turning her head to look, momentarily lose herself in the sight.

"Slap!"

I released my hand and slapped Qiu Bi's plump buttocks: "Little Bi, go, kiss Ya'er's breasts!"

"Mmm!" Qiu Bi quickly got up and sat down right in front of Chun Ya. Since Chun Ya's arms were still being pulled back by me, Qiu Bi didn't need to do much. One of her small hands pinched one of her breasts, and her mouth naturally began to caress the other.

"Ah...Qiu Bi...you...don't...oh..."

Chun Ya was being relentlessly thrust into by me, floating on clouds of pleasure, when suddenly her sister attacked her breasts from both sides. Caught in a pincer attack, she could only let out weak, feeble cries.

Every part of her body was now rejoicing, the intense pleasure of an orgasm exploding in the beautiful young woman's mind. A scream rang out, and Chun Ya's voluptuous body convulsed, her voice abruptly ceasing, her vaginal walls squeezing and tightening around my large penis a thousandfold.

Chun Ya had already fainted from her orgasm; to continue manipulating my beautiful wife under these circumstances would be harmful.

I could only thrust my penis all the way in and then stop, letting her vaginal walls contract and writhe, enjoying the sucking of my beautiful woman's honeyed orifice.

Seeing this, Qiu Bi didn't kiss her breasts, but looked at me longingly, waiting for me to take her to the paradise of pleasure as well.

"Pop..." To Qiu Bi's anticipation, the large penis was pulled out of Chun Ya's honey hole. Besides the crisp sound, it also brought with it a sticky white fluid, making Qiu Bi's breath catch in her throat.

She herself was no better off; her vagina was already soaked with the fluid, and the desire to be penetrated and filled by her master's penis was extremely strong.

Without me saying anything, Qiu Bi took the initiative to lie down, her jade legs immediately spreading open, and her pink little hole could be clearly seen among the dark pubic hair.

"Oh..." When the Tyrannosaurus Rex entered the petite and beautiful young woman's body, its hot and hard shaft stretched the vaginal walls wide open, making them taut, and she immediately cried out in pleasure.

"I haven't even used any force yet, and you're already moaning. What a little slut!" I laughed and bent her jade legs up and pressed them on top, beginning to slowly thrust in and out.

Although a beautiful woman's vagina is very elastic, it still takes some time to adjust when you first enter. So every time my wives and I make love, I pay close attention to the rhythm at the beginning, so as not to hurt her because I'm only thinking about myself... Unexpectedly, after only a few dozen thrusts, the little beauty beneath me became dissatisfied: "Mmm... Master... harder... Bi'er... Bi'er... wants... oh... you... like... fuck... mmm... um... like... me!"

I laughed, reaching out a hand to flick her delicate nose. "You really are a little slut! Want me to be harder? Don't panic! You'll be begging for mercy later!" "

I... I'm just Master's little slut..." Qiu Bi gasped, "So... so it doesn't matter how lewd I am... does Master like me like this?"

"Of course I do!" I pressed down on her legs, spreading them slightly to make her buttocks stick up even higher: "In bed, the more lewdly my little Bi'er moans, the happier I am, and the harder I'll thrust."

"Good...ah...good...deep...oh...oh...Master...so good...so good...ah...harder...oh...Master...Bi'er...so comfortable...ah...ah...good...great...oh...oh..."

I began to thrust forcefully, making Qiu Bi beam with joy. Don't let her petite frame fool you; her honey pot is incredibly deep, requiring my vigorous fucking to bring her pleasure.

My big cock thrust deeper and faster with each stroke, each time it emerged from her little hole, spraying her juices. The alluring "sizzle" of the water, combined with the petite, beautiful young woman's moans, and the pleasure generated by the friction between my cock and her little hole, surged like waves, arousing me completely.

Next, while I was fucking Qiu Bi hard, my Tyrannosaurus Rex slamming against her soft, tender flesh, I stopped holding her snow-white legs and turned my hands towards her swollen, high breasts.

Qiu Bi's breasts weren't very large, but they were incredibly elastic and adorably shaped, making me fondle them with irresistible pleasure, enjoying the warm

, smooth feel of controlling those two jade orbs. With my skillful kneading, the tingling sensation in the petite, beautiful young woman's breasts was almost as intense as inside her vagina. The pleasure from both places surged through her entire body, making her almost uncontrollably ecstatic. Her head swayed from side to side, her hair flew wildly, fragrant sweat soaked her pink face, her alluring eyes were filled with lust, and her pink lips opened and closed, constantly uttering lewd moans. "Oh... Master... harder... ah... Bi'er... oh... faster, faster... ah... insert... insert... to... ah... the... core... woo... I... feel... so... good... yes... yes... harder... oh... right there... ah... Bi'er... is going... going to die... ah... fuck... fuck... your... little... Bi'er... fuck... woo..."

As she moaned loudly, Qiu Bi's skin gradually turned a pinkish hue due to the physical and mental pleasure, making her incredibly alluring.

Now she had fully adapted to the size of my large penis, and the tender flesh inside her honeypot began to resist and suck with each thrust. So I didn't hold back anymore, leaning over the beautiful young woman and pressing down on her like a tiger descending a mountain, launching a fierce attack.

"Smack... Smack..."

My Tyrannosaurus Rex thrust in and out like the wind, making the water sounds even louder. And I wasn't just about brute force; I often used the techniques of three shallow thrusts followed by one deep one, or nine shallow thrusts followed by one deep one. The head of my penis constantly spun and rubbed gently in her hot, tight little hole, while the ridges of my large penis gently scraped against the walls of her honeypot, causing Qiu Bi's honeypot to tighten and her whole body to itch unbearably.

Thus, the friction between the petite, beautiful young woman's honeypot and my large penis increased dramatically. Each time I thrust in, it was tightly enveloped by Qiu Bi's little hole, the tender flesh constantly sucking on my penis, making me groan with pleasure.

As I was enjoying myself so much, naturally, Qiu Bi was also getting more and more excited, her cries growing louder and louder, and her words becoming more and more explicit: "Master... oh... sister... sister... my... little hole... is so itchy... harder... fuck... fuck me to death... ah... ah... yes... good... good... oh... so... great... ah... you... are really good at it... oh... from now on... from now on... ah... oh... every day... Bi'er... wants... Master's... oh... big... big... cock... ah... so... happy... Mom... save me... ah... I... flew... ah..."

Suddenly, Qiu Bi's small hands, which were originally gripping the sheets, tightly hugged me, trembling and shouting: "Oh... Master... husband... I... came... oh..."

The beautiful young woman's pair of jade legs tightly clamped my waist, her cervix opened, and a stream of hot vaginal fluid gushed out, filling her entire little hole as if it had been flooded with juice, and at the same time, it was very hot.

My large penis was now as hard as steel, and after being drenched in her juices, it grew even thicker and longer. The glans

pressed tightly against Qiu Bi's clitoris, causing the petite and beautiful young woman to roll her eyes back and scream incessantly. After a while, Qiu Bi finally came to her senses, looking at me with a pair of large, charming eyes, filled with indescribable tenderness and affection.

We were still in the position of intercourse, my large penis still throbbing inside her beautiful hole, each throbbing causing the beautiful young woman to tremble slightly.

"Baby, are you enjoying it?" I asked with a smile, reaching out to touch her two beautiful buttocks, gently kneading and stroking them.

"Master...you must do it to Xiao Bi'er more often in the future..." Since it was just the two of us, Qiu Bi wasn't shy at all. She wrapped her arms around my neck and said coquettishly, "I really don't want Master's big penis to come out...it would be so nice if it just stayed inside Bi'er's little hole forever..."

"How can it not come out?" I glared at her.

Immediately, with another soft sound, my penis left her beautiful vagina, bringing with it a stream of vaginal fluid that instantly soaked the already damp sheets.

While Qiu Bi was still confused, I suddenly used force to flip the petite, beautiful young woman over.

The beautiful young woman was quite clever. She turned her head and smiled charmingly at me. Without my command, she raised her pink and tender buttocks high.

"Master, do you want to fuck Bi'er's chrysanthemum hole?" Qiu Bi said softly. "Come on, Bi'er belongs to Master."

As she spoke, Qiu Bi forcefully spread her beautiful buttocks, making her light brown anus even more visible. The way it opened and closed was indescribably attractive.

"Good girl!"

I praised her approvingly. My big penis didn't move much before it pressed against Qiu Bi's little anus.

Since my penis had just come out of her honey hole, it was already covered with slippery vaginal fluid. In addition, a lot of the honey fluid that the beauty had just released had flowed around her anus, already moistening the entrance. So when the glans went in, the resistance was not great. With a little force, it went in.

"Oh..."

As the enormous, hard Tyrannosaurus Rex spear disappeared inch by inch into the narrow, beautiful anus, the petite young woman, filled to the brim, let out another satisfied moan.

The battle resumed in the room...

[Episode 16: The Night Banquet of Changqing] Chapter 5: Scenery of the Capital

The intense battle was naturally exhausting. From night until dawn, I was busy until the rooster crowed in the morning, when I finally finished off the last one—Xiao Li—and ejaculated my third essence of the night into her tight, warm little hole.

Being a successful man is truly tiring!

This time, only my wives from Wushuang County were involved. If I included the devilish sisters of the Han family, Ni Xiangting, the Jinggong sisters, Lin Cuier, and Su Luxiang, it would probably take a whole day and night.

And then there's Yun Fu, Wang Miaoer, and Xiao Yu, whom I haven't yet obtained... Damn it, it seems that every night from now on, I, the young master, will be able to get the most pleasurable enjoyment after all this hard work!

Because I practice a modified version of the "Heavenly Demon Art" dual cultivation technique when I'm intimate with my wives, I not only benefit them but also feel refreshed, and my strength, which was damaged in Xiliang City, has slightly recovered.

After covering Xiaoli with a blanket, I dressed myself and strode out of the "Beautiful Girl Sex Slave Group's" room.

In the dining room, Little Turtle and Little Bird were already sitting there. The table was laden with famous Beijing snacks: pine nut shrimp balls, fried dough rolls, eight-treasure hazelnut sauce, assorted crab roe, ginkgo mushrooms, chicken soup dumplings, and finally, a large bowl of abalone, kelp, and silver thread duck soup for each of them—a truly sumptuous meal.

They were chatting and laughing happily, because last night I learned from the "Beautiful Girl Sex Slave Group" that not only had they come, but they had also brought Little Turtle and Little Bird's wives. When they returned to their room, they would surely be overjoyed and, like me, would have put in a lot of effort!

I stepped forward, and a maidservant served me a bowl of the same soup. I plopped down, first taking a sip of the delicious soup, then devouring a juicy steamed bun – it was truly a treat!

After I had wolfed down my food for a while, two servants who had almost finished eating winked at me and asked, "Young Master, what are you planning to do today?"

"I'm thinking of whether to stroll around the capital or discuss military and political affairs with my godfather… Otherwise, with Su Yan, Su Yue, and Xiang Ting'er coming tonight, we won't be able to go out for the next few days, so we won't have any time." I sighed, "It's a pity that Yun Fu is in the palace, and my father and uncle can't come either, otherwise we could have a family reunion."

To avoid being seen, Su Yan, Su Yue, and Xiang Ting'er would come secretly at night, and then we would all gather in the inner courtyard for the next few days. It's a rare opportunity to get together, so I won't waste time going out.

I haven't forgotten my promise to Wang Miao'er to return to Xiliang City before New Year's Eve. Even the fastest journey back from the capital will take seven or eight days, so time is really limited!

Little Turtle chuckled and whispered, "Young Master, it's rare for us to return to the capital, so you don't need to be so tense. Why don't we go shopping today, see the bustling capital, experience the New Year's atmosphere, and relax? Wouldn't that be nice?"

"Huh?" I looked at him in surprise. "Chief Steward Liu, how did you become so eloquent? Did my little sister teach you?"

"What do you mean she taught me? I'm the one who teaches her." Little Turtle shamelessly replied. But this couldn't fool Little Bird and me, the two insiders. Little Sister's family is a scholarly family; she's been well-versed in literature since childhood, while Little Turtle has hardly ever attended school. If Little Turtle teaches her anything, it's probably just bedroom techniques!

The little bird chuckled and teased him, then continued, "Young Master, Zhuzhu and Xiaomei are visiting the capital for the first time, so they want to buy some souvenirs to take home. We'll be leaving after waking them up. Would you like to come with us?"

I quickly shook my head. "No way, I'm not going. You two couples can enjoy your time together; why should I join in?"

Seeing my firm stance, they didn't press me further. Although the two of them and I had a good relationship, without any distinction between master and servant, Zhuzhu and Xiaomei were different. Their families treated Master Liu and Young Master Ri with a mixture of awe and reverence, which made them somewhat reserved in my presence. No amount of persuasion from Xiaogui and the little bird could change their minds.

"By the way, Young Master, Xiaoyu and Miss Wang Zi went out early this morning, telling us not to wait for them for breakfast,"

Xiaogui added.

"Did you go out together?"

"No, we went out separately. Xiaoyu went first, and Miss Wang Zi just went out."

I nodded. Xiaoyu was definitely going to contact her fellow disciples, and Wang Zi was probably visiting an old friend of the Wang family. There was no need to ask too much; they had their own freedom.

After breakfast, once Little Turtle and Little Bird had returned to their rooms, I waved my hand. A palace maid who had been standing by me walked over gracefully: "Your Highness, what are your orders?" The

women in the palace were indeed different. Take my beautiful palace maids and concubines, for example. Not only were they beautiful, but their manners were also elegant and charming. They were even quite open in bed. When I was recuperating in the palace, I often gathered them together and made them cry out in pleasure. That was truly exhilarating.

This palace maid was also one of Yunfu's confidantes. She had a pretty oval face and was only about sixteen years old, though her body was a bit weak.

Princess Meiren'er is very prestigious in the palace, and countless palace maids admire her. The palace maids and concubines secretly told me that many of them hoped to serve the princess for life and never be separated from her. Those chosen by her to be here could naturally rest easy.

"Have the two young mistresses of the He clan woken up?" I asked gently.

"Your Highness, the two young mistresses got up long ago. They practiced swordsmanship for a while this morning, and after breakfast, they went for a bath," the maid replied skillfully. "Should I go and invite them over?"

"No need," I shook my head slightly. The Jing sisters have been very tired lately and rarely have time to rest, so let them rest more. "I'm going out for a stroll. If anything happens, just ask Madam Yuanyuan to handle it." "This

servant understands." The maid had no intention of interfering with my actions; all she could do was obey.

Today is the 24th of the month, only a few days away from the Spring Festival.

The capital is near the north, and although the weather is a bit cold, there are still many sunny days. Sometimes, even when it's snowing, you can still see the sun.

When I went out in the morning, it was already bright, and there were already sounds of people around. When I walked out of the back door and turned into the main road, many shops had opened their doors to welcome guests from all over.

Walking the streets, I found the capital to be incredibly bustling. From food stalls and teahouses of all sizes to cosmetics shops, gold and silver jewelry stores, fabric and silk shops, and pork, beef, and mutton stalls… the shops were endless, every street lined with businesses.

Because the capital's roads were wide, and many areas had designated open spaces for markets, these markets were always packed with people. Mobile vendors, acrobats, monkey shows, and vendors selling candied hawthorns created a vibrant and bustling scene—a truly prosperous sight!

After becoming the head of the city and participating in court affairs, I learned that the border regions of the south, north, and west were still extremely poor. Many people survived on sweet potatoes and corn porridge for eight months of the year, and many others often lacked even these necessities, forced to sell their children to endure the hardships of the year.

But in the capital, you absolutely cannot imagine the desolation of other places. Because the people here live under the emperor's nose, when the emperor is pleased, the first beneficiaries are the people of the capital and surrounding areas. Many high-ranking officials also send generous gifts during festivals, and there is ample relief during famine years; in short, no one goes hungry.

Because of this, the capital has fostered many lazy people. They like to wander around all day, chatting and joking with friends, sometimes running errands for wealthy families, or introducing connections to officials and merchants from other places… These idlers are usually called "hangers-on," which constitute a unique scene in the capital.

I'd only strolled through three streets when several sycophants approached me. Some asked, "Want to find someone familiar with the city to help you explore?" Others inquired if I wanted to "find a girl to have some fun with," some suggested I "see an old military doctor to help me recover," and some even claimed, "You can learn unparalleled martial arts for just one gold coin." One even patted his chest and declared, "I'm a confidant of the most powerful man in the court, Prince Lanting. Young man, do you want to be an official? Ten gold coins will do."

In the end, I felt it was a mistake not to bring a few thugs and a few vicious dogs with me; at least that way I'd have a lot more peace and quiet.

However, there were some fun things about exploring the capital, namely, observing the beautiful women shopping on the streets.

The capital had many idle people, and even more beautiful women. First, there were the "Eight Great Hutongs." If you wanted to know where the capital was most lively at night, it was definitely the "Eight Great Hutongs."

"The Eight Great Hutongs" specifically refers to an area in the bustling inner city. This area, encompassing over a dozen streets, was lined with brothels of all sizes, numbering at least one or two hundred. The women were diverse, from all corners of the country, and varied in appearance and build; even tall, strong beauties from the grasslands, delicate beauties from the Yuan Dynasty, and young beauties from overseas island nations were commonplace.

Brothels were always places of trouble, and the "Eight Great Hutongs" in the capital, despite having at least tens of thousands of women, were so busy every night that fights and squabbles over women frequently broke out – a truly dramatic scene.

The patrons of these brothels included sons of meritorious officials, wealthy young men, merchants from other regions, and children of middle-class families. Even many officials and wealthy individuals themselves frequented the "Eight Great Hutongs," ostensibly to contribute to the empire's tax revenue.

Don't underestimate the taxes levied on brothels. In any dynasty, those who could afford to run brothels were no ordinary people. Take, for example, Magistrate Liu of Wushuang County. Otherwise, if they couldn't handle any situation or guarantee the safety of the girls and their customers, who would come to their establishments?

Besides maintaining order, brothels faced exorbitant taxes, usually five out of ten. That is, for every ten gold coins earned, five had to be paid to the imperial court. Even so, the veterans of brothels still made a fortune and were all smiles. This shows just how lucrative it was.

Of course, to make money, the owners of brothels tried every means to attract customers. Beautiful girls were one thing, girls who were both beautiful and skilled were another, girls with exotic charms were yet another, then there were the madams and pimps—they needed to be eloquent, have keen eyes, and serve attentively. Next, the food and drink had to be authentic, and finally, the environment and facilities had to be excellent, ensuring customers felt completely at home. The

"Eight Great Hutongs" were so famous that it's said that before opening his brothel, Master Liu personally came to the capital to experience and investigate. After returning to Wushuang County, his brothel was a huge success, quickly dominating the market and eventually building his current fortune.

One of the clever tricks the owners of the "Eight Great Hutongs" used to attract business was to let the girls go shopping during the day with their maids, giving them ten gold coins each time. They could buy whatever they wanted, but they had to go to lively places and shop until almost lunchtime before returning home.

This caused quite a stir. The girls were already lonely and bored, and now that they were being paid to go out, why wouldn't they flock

to the brothels? As a result, beautiful courtesans were everywhere, adding a significant element to the capital's already stunning scenery.

The brothel owners had a brilliant idea: while the girls were inside the brothels, only a few customers saw them. But if they walked on the street, many more people would see them, and who doesn't like beautiful women? So, as people watched, they automatically followed the girls back to the brothels and obediently paid to enjoy their services.

And it worked! The effect was incredibly good; fights broke out every night for the girls because of this.

The girls' shopping sprees weren't just about helping their bosses earn more money. Because they went out so often, they frequently encountered amorous young men. If they took a liking to one, they would simply redeem her and take her home as a concubine… This kind of thing happened quite often. Although the girls could save up enough money to redeem themselves, nothing beats the pleasure of being taken home as a comfortable concubine by an amorous young man. So their enthusiasm for shopping was even greater.

Today I also encountered quite a few courtesans, receiving dozens of flirtatious glances along the way.

The allure of courtesans is truly unmatched by ordinary beauties. I could resist, but walking on the street, I often saw scholars or merchants with less self-control bump into them or even into walls – that's because the girls were so alluring.

Besides admiring all sorts of courtesan beauties, the ladies and young women of official families, wealthy households, and middle-class families were also part of the street scenery.

The people of the capital were quite open-minded, and beautiful young women and girls usually didn't stay at home. They often went out to buy things, eat, drink, and chat with other ladies, living very comfortably.

Many of them, like courtesans, weren't afraid of being seen. However, the difference between them and courtesans was that they always had some fierce-looking servants by their side to prevent harassment from lecherous men.

After an hour, as the warm sun rose into the sky, I had seen hundreds of beauties, many of whom were quite outstanding. Although they were not quite as beautiful as my wives, they were still very pretty.

However, now was not the right time for a hunt for beauties! Thinking about all the things I had to do and also having to accompany and comfort my beautiful wives, I simply couldn't be in two places at once!

Tired from walking, I randomly found a roadside stall to sit down. It happened to be a place selling mutton soup, with several large pots steaming with fragrant aroma, and a sign hanging beside them that read "Authentic Northwest Mutton Soup." I familiarly ordered a bowl of mutton soup, two steamed mutton baskets, and two fried dough sticks.

Having witnessed the prosperity and bustle of the capital, I couldn't help but wonder, when will my Wushuang County have such a vibrant and lively scene?

Thinking about it, it seems difficult to achieve. The prosperity of the capital city has special reasons; it must be under the emperor's nose to be the safest place. With safety comes the need for many wealthy people. Only places willing to spend money will be lively.

Only in places with both prosperity and liveliness will the chances of encountering beautiful women increase. After all, apart from the wealthy and officials, ordinary people rarely have the opportunity to meet beautiful women.

Wushuang County is still predominantly populated by commoners. With more people, it will naturally become more lively, but to truly prosper, much more effort will be needed.

Just as I was pondering how to make Wushuang County more vibrant, the shopkeeper's call came over, and soon my order was placed steaming hot on the table.

Although it's a street stall, the portion of mutton soup is quite generous. In the tall, wide bowl, at least half a pound of thickly sliced mutton sits atop the thick broth, topped with vibrant green scallions—it's incredibly fragrant. The steamer basket for mutton is also fist-sized, piled high like a small mountain. This dish, where mutton is coated with various spices and then steamed, is spicy, tender, and incredibly appetizing. Fried dough sticks are another staple to accompany the soup; pan-fried until golden brown on both sides, each bite bursts with oil, crispy and delicious.

The seasonings for mutton soup in Northwest China differ from those in the South and North. A powdered seasoning made from over ten ingredients, including fennel, cumin, and ginkgo nuts, is served in a small dish. A little is used when desired, or enjoyed plain—both are delicious.

As usual, I first took a sip of the mutton soup, then picked up a piece of fatty mutton and ate it. I nodded unconsciously, "Good, shopkeeper, the taste is indeed authentic!"

The busy proprietress smiled and said, "Young master, I can tell you've been to the Northwest. People from the Northwest are the most honest; they won't lie to you. If you like it, eat more!"

I laughed heartily, not caring that I was dressed as a scholar, and began to eat heartily, at a speed no less than when I ate breakfast at home.

Such vulgarity, especially in a market setting, made the beautiful women passing by chuckle, and some self-proclaimed dashing scholars shake their heads, thinking I was an insult to refinement.

Just then, someone suddenly appeared on the wooden stool opposite me, and a faint fragrance wafted into my nose.

In an instant, the noise around me seemed to lessen considerably.

I frowned and looked over, but my eyes widened in an instant.

[Episode 16: The Banquet at Changqing] Chapter Six: The Mysterious Girl

Sitting before me was a stunningly beautiful girl, as if she were a celestial being… Although many of my wives look like fairies, this girl definitely deserves the title.

Looking at her again, I realized this stunning girl was incredibly alluring, almost to the point of bewitching, even more so than the seductive charm emanating from Xiaoyu. Just a couple of glances were enough to make me unable to look away. If

I felt this way, then the ordinary people around me were even more captivated. Their movements were several times slower than usual, their eyes all fixed on the stunningly alluring girl, their gazes filled with infatuation. It wasn't

until I looked at the stunning girl a third time that I could clearly see her features.

The girl had an oval face, with long, glossy black hair cascading down her shoulders. Her sky-blue eyes, clearly showing signs of exotic ancestry, were innocent and clear. Beneath her neat bangs, two light eyebrows arched upwards, her nose was straight and delicate, and her lips, pink and glossy, were of moderate thickness. Her skin was snow-white, delicate, and translucent. Looking at her features together, she suddenly possessed an alluring, almost bewitching charm.

This charm was different from the seductive charm of a mature woman, and even more different from Xiaoyu's magical charm. I could only describe this allure as "naturally perfect."

Looking down her features, below her long, slender, white neck, the girl wore a thick, snow-white fur coat. Her breasts were small yet round and perky, with a slight curve. She wasn't very tall, but combined with her captivating figure, it looked incredibly natural. I could only marvel at it again as "naturally perfect."

Now I finally understood why the surrounding sounds had become quieter!

It would be strange for anyone to speak loudly to such a stunningly beautiful and alluring girl.

"Little sister, are you lost?" I immediately smiled. "Come on, tell your brother where your home is, and I'll take you home."

Looking around, the stunningly beautiful and alluring girl had no guards with her, but how could someone as beautiful and alluring as her be born into an ordinary family? Her innocent demeanor and elegant attire alone revealed how wealthy she was.

Faced with my question, the girl smiled slightly and shook her head, her posture charming and captivating.

Can't speak?

I was taken aback. "Little sister, can you write?"

The girl nodded, extended her jade-like hand, and gently wrote a single character: "Go."

Go?

I couldn't figure out what the girl was thinking, but how could I give up on such a stunningly beautiful and alluring girl?

Seeing that the girl had already stood up, I quickly reached out and took out a handful of gold coins, placed them on the table, and followed her.

The proprietress beside me had been gazing at the young girl intently, but the dazzling gold color immediately drew her attention, as she was also a woman.

Quick as a flash, she snatched the coins, instantly recognizing the amount in her hand. Ten gold coins! That's enough for half a month's income! This young master is truly wealthy!

The beaming proprietress couldn't help but wish the kind young master and the beautiful young woman a happy marriage, for they seemed so well-matched!

Don't let the girl's refined appearance fool you; she walked with surprising speed… oh, not just slow. After a few steps, I realized she used a strange teleportation technique. Seemingly strolling through the crowd, she actually moved incredibly fast, covering hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye!

Now I understood why there hadn't been a sound before she appeared—everyone only noticed her when she sat down in front of me!

To be honest, my "Heavenly Demon Art" also has some knowledge of teleportation techniques, but it's too unpredictable. You can't even see a shadow in the blink of an eye, and it requires a much higher level of martial arts skill—far less elegant than this young woman's graceful movements.

Sensing the extraordinary nature of this alluring young woman, I wondered who she was. She seemed to know me… Could this girl be another important figure in the "Soul-Stealing Sect"? That's unbelievable! Having Xiao Yu is already a rare and powerful enchantress, and now there's another… Could it be that the "Soul-Stealing Sect" is about to rise to power?

After a short while, the young woman walked into a secluded alley. High walls surrounded her, and few people passed by, making it perfect for conversation.

The young woman turned around gracefully. Although I'd seen her many times before, her stunning beauty still captivated me.

Her large eyes looked at me with interest, but her small mouth remained gently closed, its rounded curve incredibly alluring.

It's truly baffling; how could such a bewitching beauty possess such innocent and pure eyes? She's practically a combination of a fairy and a witch!

"Ahem, alright, now that there's no one else around, you should say something, right?" I coughed lightly, looking back at her. "Since you've come out to seduce me, you should at least say something, right?... Don't laugh, I'm talking about something very serious!"

The girl's eyes held a smile, and her small mouth opened slightly, but no matter what I said, she wouldn't speak, leaving me slightly disappointed. Could she really be mute?

However, the enchantresses of the "Soul-Stealing Sect" were always unpredictable and elusive. Falling for their tricks and losing face would be disastrous.

A thought flashed through my mind, and I laughed heartily. "Little sister, it's alright if you don't speak. Come, brother will take you home, and I'll also propose marriage to your family. We can just stare at each other like this every day, it'll be quite fun!"

The alluring girl's large eyes darted around, not showing anger, but rather a hint of amusement. Her pink lips parted slightly: "Junior nephew, if you marry me, that would be incest..."

Hearing the girl speak for the first time, I was momentarily stunned. Her voice wasn't the crisp, clear kind, but rather a delicate huskiness, clear and resonant with a touch of exoticism.

Considering her sky-blue eyes, I wasn't surprised. After all, with her foreign blood, it was understandable that her accent differed from that of ordinary people from the Flowing Wind Kingdom.

What surprised me was the content of her words. Junior nephew? When did I get this "aunt"?

My master, Dongfang Daming, never mentioned having any junior sisters or senior sisters... Besides, judging by her age, she's probably even younger than me. How could she have ever met Dongfang Daming?

Confused, I asked directly, "Little sister, do you know who my master is? It's not good to randomly claim kinship, you know. You'd be more like my future wife."

The alluring beauty raised an eyebrow slightly: "Who else in the Demonic Sect could train such a peerless and incredibly talented master, besides the equally brilliant Dongfang Daming of the 'Heavenly Demon Path'?"

Hearing her address, I understood immediately. This stunning beauty was definitely not from the Demonic Sect; she was very likely a master from their rival, the Holy Sect.

But why would a master from the Holy Sect address me as "nephew"?

I smiled at her and said, "Little sister, stop teasing me. Who are you? What do you want? Tell me quickly... Or we can go back to my residence and talk about it. We can discuss the truths of life."

The girl gave me a gentle, playful glare, her adorable appearance making me want to hug and kiss her.

"I have an eighth senior sister who started traveling the martial world about twenty-one years ago, and disappeared not long after."

The alluring girl looked at me and said, "On her person were three treasures given to her by our master: a medical book, a sword, and a token."

I gasped, the playful look in my eyes vanishing. My cold gaze fixed on the stunningly beautiful girl, but beneath that coldness was a suppressed excitement.

The girl, seemingly oblivious to my change in expression, said, "The book's title is 'Heavenly Annihilation,' the sword's name is 'Absolute Heaven,' and the command is 'All Under Heaven'

... My dear junior nephew, do you think what I said is right?"

As she spoke, her eyes softened considerably, a gentle tenderness appearing on her alluring face. Though somewhat immature, it was a comforting sight.

Damn, just how old is this girl?

I temporarily set aside my speculation about her age; my mind was now filled with her words.

The three things the girl mentioned were all dug up from under the big pear tree in front of my house, buried by my mother herself years ago. I even survived thanks to "Heavenly Annihilation."

What excited me was that now, besides our family, finally someone knew about these three things, and knew they were in my possession.

Wait a minute.

I looked at the girl and said, "Little...girl, who told you these things were here with me?"

"Idiot..." the girl pouted, her cute little mouth twitching. "Have you forgotten where you used that sword?"

Used the sword?

I suddenly realized. Last time I went to the Nangong family to cause trouble for the He clan experts, I had used the "Heavenly Absolute" soft sword. At that time, I was fighting against Nangong Wangjiang, the Duke of Lu of the Great Yuan Kingdom. Besides the Nangong family members, there were also...a monk, a Taoist priest, and a scholar watching the fight. These three were clearly members of the Holy Sect!

At that time, it was their words that made Nangong Wangjiang stop fighting me and let me leave the Nangong family's gate. Although I never thought I would lose to Nangong Wangjiang or Nangong Yuanyue, I still remembered this favor.

Now, considering that the girl in front of me was a member of the Holy Sect, they probably saw the "Heavenly Absolute"

soft sword in my hand and thought I was a disciple of some senior member of the Holy Sect, which is why they helped me out!

"Young Master Lanting, you're flaunting my master's sword so ostentatiously. If I didn't know, I'd be incredibly foolish," the girl said with a smile. Her smile was so sweet that two adorable dimples appeared on her cheeks. "So, are you still going to call me little sister? Are you still going to go find my master, your grandmaster, to propose marriage?"

"Why wouldn't I dare?" I whispered, then raised my voice, "Even if you know these three things belong to my mother, so what? What proof do you have that you…"

My voice trailed off as the girl unfolded a scroll she had taken from her bosom. On it stood a beautiful fairy by a tree, smiling gently. Although she looked a little younger than my mother in my father's secret chamber, I recognized her immediately—it was indeed a portrait of my mother.

My mother's portrait had always been hidden deep within my father's secret chamber. Even I couldn't see it often. In the entire Liu family, only my father, myself, and my wives had ever seen it. Even the little turtle and the little bird had never seen it.

The fact that this stunningly beautiful young woman could produce a portrait of my mother in her youth truly proves that her relationship with my mother is very close, and she might even be my mother's junior sister.

[Episode 16: The Night Banquet of Changqing] Chapter 7: The Holy Gate's

Peerless Beauty The alluring young woman who produced the portrait was like a proud little peacock, her eyes fixed on the sky, ignoring me completely,

her charm tinged with playfulness. This was revenge for my earlier calling her "little sister," a gesture

of disrespect. Looking at this incomparably beautiful young woman, a sudden realization dawned on me—I knew who she was!

"Junior...Junior Nephew Liu Ri greets Junior Aunt Guan Wan'er," I said politely, clasping my hands in a fist salute. This formality wasn't out of submission, but out of respect for my mother.

Hearing my address, the beautiful young woman, though still playfully gazing at the sky, smiled slightly, indicating that she was quite pleased to have won me over.

Yes.

She was Guan Wan'er.

Guan Wan'er, hailed as the second most beautiful woman in the martial arts world by the "Flower and Phoenix Ranking," possesses

a rare and unparalleled beauty, a captivating charm, and unparalleled martial arts skills—who else could it be but Guan Wan'er?

Si Xiqiong, ranked third, is my chosen wife. I originally thought her stunning beauty and ethereal气质 were enough to make her the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world, but now, looking at Guan Wan'er, I realize that second place is indeed a step above third.

It's not that Guan Wan'er is prettier than Si Xiqiong; in fact, both are beautiful in their own way. However, Guan Wan'er's alluring charm, compared to Si Xiqiong's otherworldly beauty, is more appealing to men—in the last hundred years of the martial arts world, enchanting women have always been more popular than saintly women!

"Good girl!" Guan Wan'er looked at me with satisfaction, nodding slightly. "I thought you would use Ren Lanting's name to speak, but I didn't expect you to suddenly become so obedient. I won't hold it against you..."

I'm magnanimous, so I naturally didn't mind the little girl's smugness. I turned to Guan Wan'er and said, "Little Martial Aunt, you came to find me this time because you wanted to find my mother, right?"

Knowing that Guan Wan'er was my mother's junior sister, I knew that my mother was a disciple of Wu Xing Shen Ni, one of the "Three Gods of the Holy Gate." In that sense, I could also be considered a disciple of the Holy Gate.

But all my martial arts clearly came from the "Heavenly Demon Path," which is the most orthodox demonic sect. This confusion is truly a headache!

Guan Wan'er's innocent and pure eyes suddenly dimmed. After nodding again, she gently shook her head.

Just from this action, I understood that she already knew that my mother had already passed away.

Seeing my junior sister, whom I had never met before, looking so sad, I finally felt a little more sympathy for her.

"Mom never told Dad about her origins, so he hasn't searched for her all these years."

I sighed slightly. "I never imagined I'd be the grand-disciple of the Dance Star Nun."

Even though Guan Wan'er was in a bad mood, she couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly. "Hey, Liu Ri, why do I feel like you don't miss your mother at all?"

"How could I not miss her?" My expression turned indifferent. "But, if I miss my mother, do I have to show a heartbroken expression in front of you? Little Martial Aunt, she's gone. All I can do is live a healthy and happy life and contribute to the prosperity of the Liu family. That's the best way to remember and repay my mother."

Guan Wan'er's eyes lit up, then she sighed softly. "Amitabha, I was too attached. Little nephew, you're right. What you're doing is good. Your senior sister in heaven would be very happy to see you like this."

If the old and steady Dance Star Nun had said these words, I would definitely have been moved by the care of an elder.

However, I was a little indignant that such old-fashioned words came from Guan Wan'er, a

young girl. Little sister, it's fine if you act like a junior nun for a while, but talking like that all the time, aren't you afraid of making yourself look old? Fortunately, the alluring beauty was just expressing her feelings, more like talking to herself, so she didn't notice my expression, otherwise I might have been in trouble again.

After a burst of complaints, I asked about the important matter in a gentle voice: "Junior nun, besides wanting to find my mother, did you come out this time to retrieve the three treasures for the nun Wu Xing?"

The three treasures must have been given to my mother by the nun Wu Xing for her travels in the world. I already know the medical books "Tian Jue" and "Beautiful Girl Sex Slave Group" by heart, so returning them to them wouldn't be a problem. Returning "Tian Xia" and "Jue Tian" to them wouldn't affect me much either... What I care about is that no matter where these things came from, they were ultimately left to me by my mother, and they have great sentimental value. If possible, I want to keep them all.

"Hmph, how dare you call me 'Dancing Star Nun,' little niece!" Guan Wan'er snorted lightly, giving me a seductive sidelong glance, and extended her jade finger: "Just thinking about it makes me angry! My eighth senior sister's son actually became the Daoist

Master of the 'Heavenly Demon Path' of the Demonic Sect! If you continue to be so rude, I'll clean up the mess for my master first..."

I could tell she was trying to scare me, so I replied seriously, "Little aunt, I am an official of the imperial court. Whatever sect or martial arts I learn, it's all for the sake of the court. As for your Holy Demon War, it's not a problem for me at all, and I don't want to bother with such trivial matters."

The seductive beauty shook her head slightly, then chuckled. The martial world is indeed vast, but compared to the whole world, it's just a small part. Who dares to say that martial arts affairs are more important than imperial affairs? Who dares to touch a first-class duke of the imperial court for the sake of martial arts disputes?

The martial world, in the end, cannot compare to the fate of the nation!

"You always have so many excuses," Guan Wan'er said gently. "I already inquired before coming. You did very well, you didn't embarrass Eighth Senior Sister, nor did you embarrass Grandmaster..."

"If you didn't embarrass Grandmaster, then leave those three treasures to me!" I said shamelessly.

"You little devil... trying to climb the ladder..." The charming girl gave me a sidelong glance, both amused and annoyed, then laughed to herself: "Alright... Master hasn't said anything, why would I accept your things? This time, Master only came out because she heard that the 'Dancing Star Sword' had reappeared. She missed Eighth Senior Sister, so she sent me to see... Who knew that the 'Dancing Star Sword' was probably just another name for the 'Heavenly Sword' by the Divine Nun."

Guan Wan'er's voice gradually lowered as she spoke. She hadn't even seen Eighth Senior Sister yet, and she had already received such bad news. The beautiful girl was also very upset.

Seeing the alluring beauty's expression warmed my heart. I reached out and patted her shoulder. "Thank you for your concern, Junior Aunt. I'll visit Grandmaster on Wukong Island sometime, and also take care of my mother."

Just before my hand touched her, Guan Wan'er's innocent eyes sparkled, but quickly disappeared after I realized there was no other meaning.

Even though she was prepared, she still trembled slightly when I patted her shoulder, clearly uncomfortable with male contact.

"Junior Nephew," Guan Wan'er tried to make her voice sound normal, "I've come here for two reasons. First, to let you know Eighth Senior Sister's identity. Second, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Speak, Junior Aunt. I won't refuse anything Liu Ri can do," I nodded. Since we've become relatives, and I'm a high-ranking official and wealthy man, helping this stunningly beautiful young woman is only right. I, Liu Ri, am always very generous to beauties.

"It's not a difficult task for you," Guan Wan'er smiled charmingly, her allure instantly captivating. "This year, the number of refugees from the south has exceeded two million households, approximately ten million people. It's said that after spring, these people will be sent to Xiliang City or the three northwestern prefectures, but they're short of food along the way."

"Two million households?" I exclaimed in astonishment. "Little Martial Aunt, you're not mistaken, are you? The information I received only indicated one million households!"

"Of course you're right... otherwise, why would I be here with you?" The charming young woman said softly. "Those officials in the south are concealing the numbers; the actual number is probably more than two million households."

"These bastards!"

I suddenly flew into a rage, a murderous aura emanating from me, causing the beautiful young woman standing beside me to raise an eyebrow.

She knew why I was angry.

According to the Ministry of Revenue's data, after spring, one million households, or six to seven million refugees, would gradually migrate from several southern prefectures to the three northwestern prefectures and Xiliang City.

The refugees had passed through eight prefectures along their journey. The Ministry of Revenue had strictly ordered the prefects of these eight prefectures to ensure a sufficient food supply during their passage, preventing large-scale starvation and public resentment. Those who violated this order would be immediately dismissed and severely punished, with serious offenses resulting in imprisonment. The prefects

had begun preparations to ensure a basic food supply by March or April of the following year.

After all, with six or seven million people passing through the prefectures, it would take at least ten days, consuming a considerable amount of food that required significant effort.

However, the number of households had suddenly increased from one million to two million, meaning even the most thorough preparations by the prefects would be severely insufficient.

In this way, all the prefects of the eight prefectures could do, besides trying to increase the amount of grain, was to harden their hearts and let some weak and sick people starve to death. The imperial decree stipulated one million households, but over a million left from here. What was there to fear? If anyone was to be held responsible, it would be the southern prefectures, not me!

The prefects of the eight prefectures couldn't be called ruthless; it was simply a last resort. They couldn't possibly allow their prefectures to be filled with resentment and anger for the sake of these migrating refugees.

If anyone was to blame, it was truly the prefects of the southern prefectures who had joined forces to commit such a despicable and shameless act.

One can imagine how many of the two million refugee households would survive in the Northwest?

At least two or three million would die in this massive migration!

And after arriving in the Northwest, neither I nor the prefects of the three Northwest prefectures were prepared. The grain, clothing, housing, and other provisions originally intended for one million refugee households were now to be divided among one and a half million households, or even more. How could that be enough?

The weather in the Northwest is different from that inland. The plateau is windy and colder. What a tragic scene it would be if large numbers of refugees died from hunger and cold!

I can already imagine it. Of these two million refugee households, at least a third must have been ordinary small farming families, barely managing to survive, forcibly relocated. Their land would naturally be seized by landlords and nobles of all sizes.

By orchestrating this relocation, they dumped their burdens on the Northwest, while gaining countless tracts of land – a truly lucrative scheme!

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