【My World】 Chapters 31-36 (The End) Author: Michanll & Hero

【My World】

Author: michanll & Hero
Publisher: Hetu Culture

【Episode 31: Mission Accomplished】Chapter 1: Offering One's Embrace

Leng Manshuang wasn't too surprised by my suggestion that the young women of the Leng family could also become candidates for family head.

Perhaps it was because of the success of Murong Rui and Shangguan Xiaolian that she knew women's achievements in business were not necessarily inferior to men's!

Formulating a family development plan requires a very long-term vision, and one must avoid arrogance and impetuosity; otherwise, the family will vanish in a few decades! If every family could continue for hundreds or even thousands of years, there wouldn't only be the "Three Heroes of the Continent"—three millennium-old families.

My suggestion was just an idea, very suitable for a commercially-oriented country like the Great Yuan Kingdom, but it was only a beginning. How to implement it afterwards depended on the Leng family. If they did well, not only could the family prosper, but they could also help Leng Manshuang in return; if they didn't develop well… they would be like many favored concubine families in history, merely a shooting star across the sky.

Of course, it wasn't entirely my doing. In fact, Leng Manshuang had had this idea for a long time, but she could never bring herself to do it.

Now, with my encouragement, she finally made up her mind and was ready to get the Leng family moving.

After all, her current arrogance and wealth were only based on her favor and beauty. What would happen to the Leng family if she lost these two things?

Therefore, Consort Leng thought that rather than waiting until later when she was helpless, it was better to start working hard now. Although it would make her family members work harder, in the long run, it would lead to a good future.

However, the reality was not as simple as "working harder." Asking these young people, who were not very old, to abandon their current luxurious life and go to a distant place to endure hardships and struggle was a huge decision. What was even more difficult was that problems would inevitably arise in the process of operation and development. At that time, those business rivals would not care if you were a member of Consort Leng's family; they would not hesitate to suppress and cheat you when necessary. If even one out of ten Leng family members could succeed, it would already be a great achievement.

This also shows that Leng Manshuang is no ordinary person; she possesses a decisive and ruthless spirit, no wonder she stood out in the palace and became one of the most favored concubines.

After finishing their business, Leng Manshuang took out a small plate from a cabinet behind her, on which were a wine pot and two wine cups.

Watching her pour me wine, I frowned: "Your Highness, this is..."

Leng Manshuang blinked her charming yet innocent eyes and said, "What, Your Highness, are you afraid I'll poison you?"

"How could I..."

Before I could finish speaking, Leng Manshuang tilted her head back and drank the wine she was about to hand me. I don't know if she did it on purpose, but a few drops of wine leaked from her lips, flowing down her chin, her pink neck, and into her full, snow-white cleavage.

Using wine for bedroom pleasures is something I've done quite often. For example, I could let the beauties take a sip of the wine first, warm it with their mouths, and then feed it to me; or I could pour some wine on my wives and then lick it all off...

However, such a visually striking scene is rare. Most importantly, this stunning beauty is not my woman. If I pounced on her and acted swiftly, I would definitely experience a tremendous sense of conquest.

But the beautiful concubines, whose every move exudes allure, underestimated me.

Speaking of mature beauties, not to mention my beautiful wives and concubines in Liufeng Kingdom, even in Dayuan Kingdom, I, the young master, have taken in Dongfang Lu and the dignified and elegant Empress of the Eastern Palace. Their mature charm and the allure of their status are in no way inferior to Leng Manshuang.

Therefore, I only gave Leng Zhaoyi a serious and greedy look before withdrawing my gaze.

"Your Majesty is truly beautiful!"

I exclaimed sincerely.

"What's the use of being beautiful?"

Leng Manshuang put down her wine cup and said softly, "His Highness doesn't like a withered flower like me..."

I laughed and said, "Your Highness is joking. You've already entered the palace and are enjoying wealth and honor. Isn't that good enough?"

Leng Manshuang rolled her eyes at me. "You don't need to remind me. I know that having an affair will make my Leng family's wealth and honor vanish. But if Your Highness Lanting is determined not to let anyone find out, will anyone know? In the end, you still look down on women like Shuang'er who are withered flowers."

This was the second time she had referred to herself as "Shuang'er." On one hand, it meant that she was lowering her stance, and on the other hand, it was because she wanted to get closer to me.

Seeing her feign pitifulness, I felt quite helpless: "Your Majesty, even if I were to obtain you, it wouldn't be as much as Emperor Zhaozong gave you. Besides, I don't like women who can only be obtained through transactions..."

"You don't need to give me too much, just help me when I need it."

Leng Manshuang persisted, saying softly, "The Emperor can indeed give me a lot, but what if I fall out of favor? Wouldn't I end up like Consort Wang and the others? I don't want to live the life of the Eastern Palace Consort or the Western Palace Consort! Besides, given the Emperor's age, he probably won't live to see my son grow up and compete for the throne before he passes away. I need to plan for the Leng family and my children... If one day, the new Emperor and Empress Dowager can't tolerate me, Your Highness can lend us a hand, that would be enough."

As she spoke, she stood up, and with a tug, the silk ribbon unfurled, and her palace skirt slipped down, revealing her beautiful body clad only in a pink bodice and white shorts.

Without a doubt, my first instinct was to scrutinize Leng Manshuang's body with a very critical eye.

Consort Zhao's skin was as white as jade, radiating a warm, lustrous glow. Her figure was also perfectly proportioned: long, straight, jade-like legs; firm, rounded breasts; a slender waist that could be encircled with one hand; and her shapely buttocks, encased in white silk underpants, were pert, plump, and firm… truly a woman of exceptional beauty.

The weather was still quite cold today, and given that this small building was located in the center of a pond, Leng Manshuang, having undressed, involuntarily shivered, her delicate body trembling slightly.

"Lanting…hug me…"

Leng Manshuang looked at me with her charming

yet innocent eyes, an allure that few could resist. I sighed inwardly, stepped forward, and embraced Consort Zhao. The moment her joyful and smug expression appeared, I pressed her acupoint, and Leng Manshuang immediately slumped into my arms.

Leaving the Leng residence, I still felt a pang of regret. Beautiful women had practically offered themselves to me, yet I hadn't taken them. My self-control lately has been quite remarkable!

However, sleeping with Leng Manshuang now would have endless consequences. For one thing, if Emperor Zhaozong were to favor her but find himself unable to penetrate her, that would be quite a problem! Leng Manshuang is currently favored, unlike Xia Bing. Emperor Zhaozong would never dare to favor Xia Bing, so it wouldn't matter how much I enjoy the Crown Prince's alluring body.

On another note, I am indeed uneasy about Leng Manshuang. This woman is as beautiful as a fairy, but I don't yet know what she's thinking; I need to observe her further.

If she isn't a ruthless and vicious person, but simply wants more power and family prosperity, then she could provide Xia Bing with an ally in the palace. Having her help Crown Prince Li Qun in the future would be better than Xia Bing being alone now.

In short, I can't rush into things with Leng Manshuang. I always take care of my women, and even if they do something wrong, I'll support them wholeheartedly. If Leng Manshuang becomes my woman and causes too much trouble, the consequences could be dire.

Back at Puqing Nunnery, I ran into Gu Qiu, who was returning from Xiping Temple.

My beautiful sister had gone to Xiping Temple early that morning to visit her father and brother, bringing many things with her, regardless of their usefulness.

After a passionate encounter, my beautiful sister lay languidly in my arms, not even lifting a finger.

The desire I had aroused with Leng Manshuang was all released on my beautiful sister. Even after filling her womb, my large member remained inside her, unwilling to leave.

After a while, she regained her senses and sweetly recounted the amusing things that had happened with her parents and siblings. Although they were trivial matters, they could be seen as a wife telling her husband about family matters, very heartwarming.

Gu Sanli's leg has been splinted and treated with ointment. He needs to rest for a while and will be treated personally by Master Ku Cong, so there's no need to worry too much.

Wang Jingzhu, who lives in Puqing Nunnery, has also started drinking the nutritious porridge specially prepared by the masters today. Her condition is much better than Gu Sanli's, and she will recover after a period of recuperation.

Gu Qiu is still a little worried about Gu Yang and Gu Zhen's future. When she said this, I immediately burst out laughing.

The beautiful sister raised her eyebrows and immediately punched me in the chest with her pink fist: "You bad boy...who told you to laugh...aren't they...aren't they your younger brother and sister? Apologize to me right now!"

"Slap!"

I slapped the beautiful young woman's plump buttocks, making the snow-white flesh tremble slightly. This beauty made my heart flutter, and even my penis inside her swelled up a little.

"Oh..."

Gu Qiu's face paled, and she pleaded, "Lanting... good brother... no more... sister is already full..."

In just the past half hour, the beautiful sister had climaxed five or six times, and was already limp from exhaustion. Where would she find the strength to continue? So she could only beg for mercy.

"How could I not care about your health!"

I hugged her and kissed her. "Little Qiu'er, with me here, are you still worried about their future? Do you think I should spank you?"

"But..."

Gu Qiu hesitated, "Won't helping them like this make the ladies uncomfortable?"

"Hehe, little Qiu'er, why are you so cute?"

I laughed and hugged her even tighter. Gu Qiu had always felt inferior because when she met me, she was no longer a virgin and had given birth to a daughter. I, on the other hand, was a powerful and prestigious duke. Our statuses were vastly different.

The beautiful sister even worried that she wouldn't be able to enter the Ren family.

Hearing me say this, Gu Qiu frowned slightly, protesting, "You're making fun of me..."

"How am I making fun of you? I think you're cute, and that's why you're cute."

I said seriously, "As my wife, Ren Lanting's wife, you don't need to worry about what others think! Even if your sisters have any opinions, you can let them speak their minds! In my heart, you're no less than any of them, and Ling'er is also my daughter, understand?"

"Lanting..."

Two streams of tears flowed down Gu Qiu's face, her vision blurring as she choked back sobs.

She was originally a gentle, virtuous, and confident woman, but my excellence had made her insecure. Now, my heartfelt words had completely dispelled her concerns; how could she not weep with joy?

"Alright, alright, stop crying! Listen to my plans, my husband!"

After she cried for a while, I slowly said, "Gu Yang has a strong character, so I plan to send him to the army for a few years to train... Hmm, don't make that face. He won't go to the battlefield; I'll send him to Little Turtle and Little Bird's personal guard to be in charge of the city's security... And Gu Zhen is still young, so let her take care of her parents first, and let her learn some music, chess, calligraphy, and painting so she can use them when she gets married... Of course, I will definitely choose a good family for her, and I promise she won't suffer any grievances."

Gu Qiu thought for a while, and a bright smile bloomed on her beautiful face.

"Smack..."

She kissed me on the cheek and said happily, "Then thank you, my good husband..."

"Thank you isn't just something you say."

I lifted her plump, upturned buttocks: "My good little Qiu'er, let's do it again!"

Gu Qiu giggled and got off me, and my big, thick penis emerged from her tight, hot honey hole, but it wasn't neglected.

In the blink of an eye, we entered another warm and cramped space.

"Mmm..."

The beautiful woman frowned, spitting out the glans that had been in her mouth. She looked me up and down at my dripping penis, glared at me, and then began to suck and spit again with all her might.

After so many times of my "training," the beautiful young woman had long since mastered the art of serving me with her mouth. Sometimes she would curl her little tongue and lick, sometimes she would gently bite around with her teeth, or she would suck deeper and then suck and spit faster...

Her two little hands didn't stop either, kneading and rubbing her testicles, and occasionally playfully pinching my penis, laughing happily at its grotesque appearance.

Of course, since she couldn't make me ejaculate for a long time, the beautiful woman couldn't help but use her two large breasts to clamp the shaft, constantly rubbing it with her soft and smooth breasts, plus sucking with her little mouth, keeping herself busy.

However, Gu Qiu's oral skills were really poor, which made my desire grow stronger and stronger, but I just couldn't get the urge to ejaculate. In the end, I still pressed the beautiful sister down and made her feel like she was dying a second time before filling her tight womb with white, viscous fluid again.
[Episode 31: Mission Accomplished] Chapter 2: Stirring Up Spring Waters

After covering the sleeping Gu Qiu with a blanket and leaving her room, Shangguan Xiaolian and Murong Rui had just returned.

Seeing the beautiful Jiangnan Twins with bright smiles on their faces, I knew that Xia Bing had brought good news.

Sure enough, when I heard that Xia Bing had taken it upon herself to bargain with Emperor Zhaozong and set a trap for Grand Tutor Gao, not only the Jiangnan Twins praised her, but I also clapped and cheered.

If an emperor is strong, then both the court and the palace will be under the emperor's strong rule, and there will not be much deep conflict. The problem was that Emperor Zhaozong, and indeed all the emperors of the Yuan Dynasty, were not considered powerful. The powerful factions within the court served their own families or influential nobles, working for their local wealth and power. Just as

the emperor acted in his own interest, so did the ministers. When the emperor couldn't control his ministers, they often secretly defied his wishes, as was the case with Grand Tutor Gao.

However, compared to the powerful ministers of previous dynasties, Grand Tutor Gao's power was far too immense, and Emperor Zhaozong absolutely could not allow another separatist warlord like the Nangong family to emerge under his rule. Xia Bing, understanding this perfectly, pinpointed his weakness in a single sentence, forcing Emperor Zhaozong to take it seriously.

As long as the court and the palace have a rift and fight each other, the road to Jiangnan will be much easier. Isn't playing both sides exactly what merchants excel at?

After discussing the day's meeting, Shangguan Xiaolian and Murong Rui were excited and wanted to send a message back to the Jiangnan General Chamber of Commerce to tell them what had happened and make them happy.

But I grabbed both of their delicate hands.

"What are you doing…"

Shangguan Xiaolian and Murong Rui struggled simultaneously, trying to break free from my control.

If I had only taken liberties with one of them, the resistance might not have been so great, but before they were even my wives, taking liberties with both of them at the same time was naturally unacceptable to the two beauties.

"Don't rush to announce the good news, let's do something else!"

I said calmly.

"Pah!"

"Poisonous Scorpion Demoness" and "Silver-Haired Jade Maiden" immediately raised their eyebrows, and simultaneously placed their other hands on my arm, pinching it hard.

"Ouch!"

I cried out in pain, releasing them. "Are you two little girls rebelling?"

"Who told you to be so lecherous? You big pervert..."

Murong Rui was embarrassed to speak, but the delicate and beautiful girl was anything but polite, her face flushed red with anger.

"What are you thinking!"

I said, half-laughing and half-crying. "I mean, we're going to visit someone now to increase the emperor's and the court's suspicions, to deepen their conflict. Then your good news will be truly good news; otherwise, it'll just be news with no follow-up."

"Ah? We're going to do that..."

Murong Rui and Shangguan Xiaolian looked at each other, then burst into laughter, their faces turning even redder.

Looking at the two stunningly beautiful girls' charming appearance, I couldn't help but give each of their pert bottoms a slap. The girls screamed again at the sudden slap and jumped aside.

This time, they didn't scold me; instead, their eyes sparkled, looking incredibly beautiful.

To cover her embarrassment, Murong Rui coughed lightly and said, "Lanting, who do you think we're going to visit? Grand Tutor Gao?"

I snorted coldly and remained silent.

The delicate and beautiful girl couldn't help but feel a little bitter. "It was clearly you, the bad guy, who bullied me and even spanked me, why are you acting all wronged?"

However, with Murong Rui present, Shangguan Xiaolian was too embarrassed to get angry. It wouldn't be good if Lanting thought Murong Rui was more gentle and virtuous.

"Alright, alright, it's just a wrong word, and besides, you punished us, so just say it..."

The scene of Shangguan Xiaolian speaking sweetly and coquettishly while shaking my arm surprised Murong Rui.

If those young masters from Jiangnan saw this, wouldn't they be so angry that they'd come up and challenge Lanting to a duel?

Those who had been schemed against by the "Poisonous Scorpion Demoness" would also find it hard to believe their eyes—this charming young girl was actually the ruthless and sharp-tongued "Poisonous Scorpion Demoness"! Seeing Shangguan Xiaolian yield, I smiled with satisfaction: "Xiaolian, why did you think of going to see Grand Tutor Gao? At this time, Grand Tutor Gao will not see us at all. He's not stupid; he's currently making moves all over Jiangnan, trying to reduce taxes and pay tribute. This won't benefit him at all!"

"Then who should we go see?"

"Didn't Gao Qinghong come here a few days ago?"

I said with a faint smile, "As the saying goes, it's impolite not to reciprocate. Let's go and pay a visit to this second young master of the Gao family!"

"Good!"

Murong Rui clapped her hands, a smile appearing on her pink face. "Gao Qinghong is no good. This is a perfect opportunity to teach him a lesson!"

Shangguan Xiaolian nodded in agreement repeatedly. It seemed the two beauties still harbored resentment towards Gao Qinghong for bringing men to try and capture them last time, and now that they had the chance to get revenge, they were naturally eager to seize it.

These past few days had been very difficult for Gao Qinghong.

The delegation from Huayun Kingdom would arrive in Youping City within the next day or two. Instructed by his father, he was busy gathering intelligence day and night, trying to find out if there was any possibility of meeting with Dugu Shangyue to discuss some border matters.

Don't assume that "General of the Cavalry" Gao Lang's presence on the border meant he was irreconcilably opposed to Huayun Kingdom. In fact, trade routes between the two countries were often facilitated by these border generals, and the benefits they gained were self-evident.

In recent years, Dugu Shangyue had not focused his attention on the south of Huayun Kingdom. He had been busy suppressing rebellions and improving people's livelihoods. Unless the emperor ordered him to lead a large army south, Dugu Shangyue had little interest in the long-standing confrontation with the Great Yuan Kingdom.

The Gao family did not want to provoke Dugu Shangyue, but they wanted to lay a good foundation and cultivate relations with this prince who was likely to ascend the throne of Huayun Kingdom in the future. After all, the Gao family's roots were in the north of the Great Yuan Kingdom, and if war broke out with Huayun Kingdom, the Gao family would be the first to suffer.

Dugu Shangyue was not so easy to deal with, and he ignored the several probing attempts he made during the journey. With the delegation about to arrive in the capital today, all forces would pay more attention to Dugu Shangyue, and the Gao family's opportunities would become increasingly scarce. Therefore, early this morning, Grand Tutor Gao Junli unusually said a few words about Gao Qinghong at the dinner table, which made his several illegitimate sons present extremely happy.

On the mainland, it's common for powerful and influential people to have multiple wives and concubines; nobles and wealthy merchants often have dozens. As the head of the Gao family, Gao Junli naturally took it upon himself to expand the family line, marrying three wives and six concubines. If he hadn't been busy with official duties and strengthening the family's power, this number would have at least doubled.

With so many wives and concubines, Gao Junli naturally had many children. To date, he has eight sons and nine daughters, whose marriages have brought him considerable assistance and allies.

Gao Lang and Gao Qinghong were born to Gao Junli's legal wife. They were about ten years apart in age, so Gao Lang was the eldest, while Gao Qinghong was younger than his six half-brothers… well, naturally, Gao Qinghong never acknowledged this publicly. He always believed himself to be the eldest son of the Gao family, and that his other brothers had little to do with him.

Gao Junli did indeed favor his two sons from his legal wife more, and in recent years, Gao Lang had been very successful, so the intelligence power gradually shifted to Gao Qinghong. Gao Qinghong did a good job after taking over, which truly pleased Gao Junli.

However, the power of a family is limited, neither too little nor too much. The two brothers had taken all the benefits, and Gao Junli's other six sons were naturally resentful. Although they each had some power, none of it was as comfortable as the two brothers, one holding military power and the other holding the intelligence network.

Gao Qinghong saw their reactions clearly and thought with great disdain: "Hmph, do you think this little mistake will make the old man strip me of my power and give it to you? Dream on! You're good at eating, drinking, and having fun, but when it comes to getting things done, it has to be me!"

Putting aside his contempt for his half-brothers, Gao Qinghong thought of something else.

Before dinner today, Gao Qinghong received intelligence from Dugu Shangyue's messenger. He suddenly realized that the young man with unparalleled skill wasn't Long Xiang, the son of the Long family, but the renowned commander of the Silver Tiger Legion of Liufeng Kingdom—Lord Ren Lanting!

Remembering the humiliation I had inflicted on him, Gao Qinghong was seething with hatred. He had originally planned to take revenge on the Long family later, but now he didn't need to; he could go directly to the real culprit.

However, Gao Qinghong also understood that with his strength, taking action against Ren Lanting would be extremely difficult, and could easily lead to future trouble. Ren Lanting was not only the new generation's military genius of Liufeng Kingdom, but also an unparalleled master; very few in the world could surpass him. If he provoked such a person, and he were to turn against the Gao family with all his might, the Gao family would likely be destroyed in no time.

In fact, Gao Junli had also warned his son in this way. He knew Gao Qinghong had suffered a loss at my hands, and fearing his son's youthful arrogance and lack of self-awareness, he specifically warned him against doing anything foolish.

"This is difficult!"

Gao Qinghong stood up from his desk, opened the window, and breathed in the fresh air, feeling much better.

"Young Master Qi Yi, someone outside requests an audience."

At that moment, a person walked quickly in and stopped by the window, speaking respectfully.

"Hmm? Who is it?"

Gao Qinghong was taken aback. This was his own secret residence, where he usually handled intelligence; it was essentially his private mansion, extremely secluded. How could any stranger possibly come to see him? Those who knew this place didn't need to be announced.

The guard said, "I don't know, it's a man and two women. The man is very young, and the women are wearing veils. But judging from their appearance, they must be very beautiful."

Gao Qinghong, having immersed himself in intelligence work for over a decade, quickly figured out who the visitors were after a moment's thought.

After hesitating for a moment, Gao Qinghong took a deep breath and ordered, "Lead them in, to the Canghua Garden next door."

"Yes!"

The subordinate obeyed, but Gao Qinghong's mind was still racing. He couldn't come up with a solution for a long time, and finally decided to just wait and see.

After the servant went in to report, a moment later, a shrewd steward came out with a smile and invited us to sit in a fairly large garden pavilion in the courtyard. Fine tea and snacks were also served, and the manners were very impeccable.

I didn't stand on ceremony and picked up some of the famous snacks from Youping City to eat.

Shangguan Xiaolian and Murong Rui were worried that there might be a trap and reminded me. I smiled and shook my head: "Firstly, Gao Qinghong isn't that despicable. Secondly, your husband's martial arts are so high, surely he can tell the difference between poison and delicious food?"

The two women glared at me and turned their heads to look at the scenery.

In a short while, Gao Qinghong appeared before us with two attendants.

Shangguan Xiaolian and Murong Rui, who had already removed their veils, stood up and greeted him with smiles, "Young Master Gao, it's been a long time."

Gao Qinghong laughed heartily, "Indeed, it's only been a few days, and the two ladies have become even more beautiful. I truly admire them greatly!"

Although Gao Qinghong also liked beautiful women, he desired power even more, so he dared not covet beauties of the caliber of the Jiangnan Twins. Obtaining them would be easy, but the series of consequences that followed would be beyond his ability to bear.

However, his words were still slightly sarcastic. Although he could tell that the two women were still virgins, he implied that they had become more and more beautiful because of his influence.

Shangguan Xiaolian, who was used to negotiating business, could easily understand the implication. She smiled and said, "Young Master Gao is quite bold! You actually dared to receive us, and with only two guards."

She was naturally mocking Gao Qinghong for bringing his experts and trying to capture them aggressively, only to be driven away by him.

Gao Qinghong first sat down opposite the two women, then said, "With Lord Lanting here, what use would it be if I brought many experts? Besides, I know you didn't come to kill me, so naturally there's no need to bring many guards."

While the three were talking, I didn't look at them, only holding a teacup in one hand and a snack in the other. However, the aura I deliberately exuded was clearly felt by Gao Qinghong; I was constantly suppressing him and reminding him not to act rashly…

Seeing his somewhat nervous expression, the two prodigies of Jiangnan exchanged a smile. Murong Rui said softly to me, "Lanting, if you have nothing else to do, why don't you take a walk? Young Master Gao's residence has a beautiful view."

Gao Qinghong frowned, about to stop me. I shook my head and said, "No need. Since you don't want me to listen, then I'll stand further away!"

With that, I leaped, soaring through the air like an eagle, covering a distance of over ten meters, and landed in front of a stone table in the distance.

Such martial arts skills not only stunned Gao Qinghong, but also the two guards not far behind him, who rubbed their eyes in disbelief that anyone could possess such astonishing lightness skills.

After a moment of stunned silence, Gao Qinghong coughed lightly and said to the guards, "You two go and wait to the side... Hmm, have the servants bring some snacks for that young master, fried dough rings, honey cakes, and milk cakes, understand?"

"Yes!"

Yu Ren obediently withdrew. Just now they had felt the joy of being valued, but now they finally understood that they were just decorations.

[Episode 31: Mission Accomplished] Chapter 3: Kicking a Steel Plate

The conversation lasted only half an hour before we left Gao Qinghong's residence.

I didn't care what the two beautiful girls and Gao Qinghong talked about in detail. Because we came today to cause trouble for the Gao family, Murong Rui and Shangguan Xiaolian couldn't possibly give the Gao family any substantial benefits.

Sure enough, an hour later, Gao Junli called his son home.

It wasn't even dusk yet, and Gao Qinghong was a little puzzled. He was usually busy during the day and only returned home to rest at night. Gao Junli would only call him back in advance when there were important matters to discuss.

"Young Master, Master is in a bad mood today,"

the old steward instructed Gao Qinghong before entering Gao Junli's study.

Gao Qinghong's face hardened, and he nodded before knocking on the study door.

"Come in!"

Gao Junli's voice was loud and clear, his tone as calm as usual.

Of course, Gao Qinghong didn't expect to glean anything from his father's tone. How could he possibly understand Gao Junli, who had been in the court for decades?

Entering the study, Gao Qinghong saw Gao Junli wielding a brush, silently writing down poems by famous poets of the past dynasty. His heart sank; this was a scene his father only displayed when he was extremely angry.

Gao Qinghong quickly sat down on a chair nearby, and Gao Junli silently wrote down five poems before putting down his brush.

Grand Tutor Gao Junli is fifty-eight years old this year, not too old. He is considered old because he rose to fame very early, becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination at the age of eighteen, and has been an official in the court for forty years. Serving two emperors, his official rank rose higher and higher, and the Gao family prospered more and more, hence the respectful title "Grand Tutor." In reality, Gao Junli is in excellent physical and mental health. In addition to handling a large amount of government affairs every day, he also enjoys the company of his young and beautiful concubines every three to five days, and has maintained a habit of exercising for many years.

It was precisely because of this, coupled with his own talent and political acumen, that Grand Tutor Gao Junli was able to wield immense power in the court.

Gao Junli was not tall; on the contrary, he was somewhat obese and short, but this did not prevent him from becoming one of the most powerful people in the Great Yuan Kingdom.

For example, now, seeing his father like this, Gao Qinghong sat respectfully, not daring to even breathe loudly, showing no trace of his usual arrogance and domineering nature.

Seeing his father put down his pen, Gao Qinghong quickly handed him the towel beside him, flattering him, "Father, your calligraphy is becoming more and more fluent and natural. I think even Master Shen can't compare to you!"

"Nonsense."

Gao Junli smiled faintly, took the towel and wiped his hands, "I'm asking you, did anyone come to see you today?"

Gao Qinghong nodded, "Yes, Murong Rui and Shangguan Xiaolian from Jiangnan came to see me, accompanied by Ren Lanting from Liufeng Kingdom."

"What did they talk about?"

"Murong Rui and Shangguan Xiaolian just came to sound us out, wanting to know how to get the court to reduce taxes a little."

Gao Qinghong smiled bitterly, "They didn't talk for long. Seeing that I wasn't going to budge, they left with Ren Lanting... It makes me feel that Jiangnan doesn't seem to intend to back down." Gao Junli sighed

, "Of course they don't intend to back down. In fact, news has already spread from the palace that the Emperor is already suspicious of us."

"Father, what do you mean?"

"Some say the court's demand for an additional 2.5 billion in taxes is intended to strengthen the Gao family's power in the north; we want to become the second Nangong family."

Upon hearing his father's words, Gao Qinghong froze, his face turning pale with fright.

He knew Gao Junli's intentions. Gao Junli did want to build a family that could last for hundreds of years, but he had absolutely no intention of becoming the Nangong family. The success of the "Three Heroes of the Continent" was not easily achieved, and Gao Junli never demanded that his descendants be exceptionally outstanding.

Now that the Emperor actually believed this, it meant the Gao family was in deep trouble.

Ministers vying for power and profit was nothing, nor was lining their own pockets, but wanting to carve out a territory was something Emperor Zhaozong would never tolerate.

"Father, who is spouting this nonsense! Who wants to destroy our Gao family? I'll kill them!"

Gao Qinghong stood up angrily, waving his fists.

"Sit down!"

Gao Junli raised an eyebrow and coldly reprimanded him.

Gao Qinghong quickly sat down, his eyes pleading with his father for answers.

"It's said that people from Jiangnan are saying this. Shangguan Xiaolian and Murong Rui both insist that the court's taxes are already too high, and that the taxes don't just come from Jiangnan. Such a large increase all at once—is someone trying to abuse their power for personal gain, to line their own pockets, and to commit wicked deeds?"

Gao Junli sighed deeply, "They really have some clever methods!" "

Father, how could His Majesty not see through such obvious attempts to sow discord? Did he question you directly? Didn't you explain clearly?"

Gao Qinghong asked anxiously.

"If only His Majesty would scold me to my face!"

"Father... what do you mean?"

"If His Majesty were to berate me for being selfish and corrupt, it would prove that His Majesty's anger was just a momentary surge, and he doesn't truly suspect me; he just wants a reasonable explanation from me."

Gao Junli sat in his chair, gently tapping the armrest. "But he didn't mention this to me at all. In court, he appeared calm and composed, which shows that he is very wary of me and your elder brother."

Gao Qinghong was still somewhat incredulous. "Then... Father, is the information you received really reliable?"

"Of course it's reliable. Our Gao family has quite a few connections in the palace."

Gao Junli waved his hand. "Besides, His Majesty even summoned several trusted ministers to discuss this matter... Hmph, he doesn't know that some of these trusted ministers are our people!"

Although Gao Qinghong had many questions, he didn't ask any more at this moment, after all, most of the power in the family was still in his father's hands. Some of the Gao family's deeply hidden influence was something his father wouldn't easily reveal for the sake of secrecy.

After thinking for a moment, Gao Qinghong asked again, "Is His Majesty preparing to deal with us?"

Gao Junli shook his head: "Not yet. His Majesty only inquired in detail about the Gao family's influence in the court and in the north. In fact, the royal family also has its own vast network of spies. They should have had intelligence long ago, but His Majesty wanted to hear just how powerful the Gao family is in the eyes of his confidants."

Gao Qinghong's heart sank: "What did they say?"

Gao Junli said with a bitter smile: "What else could they say? These guys are all adept at reading people. Seeing that His Majesty's expression was not good, they naturally exaggerated, making our Gao family seem like the second Nangong family." The

taller the tree, the more the wind blows!

Only when wealth and glory reach their peak will they attract the suspicion of the emperor and his colleagues.

However, no matter what, the Gao family father and son only planned to continue their glory for hundreds of years. They absolutely had no ambition to usurp the throne. Being suspected like this without cause was truly unfair.

After much deliberation, Gao Qinghong couldn't find a way to dispel the emperor's suspicions. He couldn't help but feel hatred for the Jiangnan Twins. Had he known they would slander him like this, he should have killed them at all costs in the manor today to prevent future troubles!

However, the Second Young Master Gao's face immediately turned pale.

"Father..."

Cold sweat poured down Gao Qinghong's back: "I only saw the Jiangnan Twins and Ren Lanting this afternoon. If the emperor finds out... won't he be tempted to kill us?"

"Hahaha..."

Despite Gao Junli's bad mood, he couldn't help but laugh when he heard his son's question: "Do you think he's the emperor of Huayun Kingdom, able to kill whomever he wants? Judging by his temperament, he's even weaker than Emperor Kangzong of Huayun Kingdom. How could he possibly kill us?"

The Second Young Master Gao breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good!"

"Good my foot!"

The old Grand Tutor casually tossed a book at him. "You're happy just because you've saved your life? Let me tell you, based on what happened today, if you don't handle it properly, the Emperor's repression will come immediately! How could you be so careless as to contact them at a time like this?"

Gao Qinghong said aggrievedly, "I was just thinking that we could get something from Jiangnan in secret. No wonder what they were saying was all vague and unrealistic."

Gao Junli nodded and said, "If they were willing to tell you something practical, they would only be making trouble for themselves."

"Father, what should we do now?"

Gao Qinghong was extremely annoyed. This was the first time he had been so badly schemed against. He hated the three of us to the bone. If he didn't know he couldn't beat me, he would have come to take revenge immediately.

"Let's wait and see!"

"Aren't we going to explain to the Emperor? I really didn't do anything!"

"If we explain now, he'll only think we're trying to cover something up. Let's stay silent and wait for his investigation!"

"Yes!"

The Imperial Palace, the Hall of Central Harmony, the Imperial Study.

The northern winter night was cold and dry, but the master of the palace knew how to enjoy himself. Several wooden tubs filled with boiling water were placed around the room, covered with thick towels, the rising steam gently warming the study.

However, the comfortable environment did not bring any good mood to the people inside. Five ministers in court robes or brocade robes were being berated and could not raise their heads, while the middle-aged man pacing back and forth opposite them was furious. No wonder

Emperor Zhaozong was so angry. The people from Jiangnan were bringing up his conflict with the court, and then they were meeting secretly with Gao Junli's son. Wasn't this disrespectful?

Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal. After all, the people from Jiangnan were active everywhere, and it was normal for them to seek out Gao Qinghong. But this happened precisely when Emperor Zhaozong suspected that the Gao family had ambitions to establish a separatist regime, making it impossible for him not to be suspicious.

Moreover, so much time had passed, and the Grand Tutor had not reported it to him. Didn't this prove that he had something to hide?

When Emperor Zhaozong uttered this question, his five trusted subordinates couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Not reporting it meant they had something to hide, but reporting it only made things worse. Being a minister suspected by the emperor was truly difficult!

Seeing his silent subordinates, Emperor Zhaozong became somewhat angry: "Speak to me! Don't be like mute people. You didn't speak this morning, and haven't you thought of anything this evening?"

Among the five trusted ministers were Cui Dequan, the head of the Imperial Household Department; Qu Tianhu, the Grand Eunuch; Ning Guiping, the Vice Minister of War; Han Jun, the Principal of the Ministry of Justice; and Li Yuanjian, the garrison commander of Youping City. Emperor

Zhaozong certainly had more than five trusted ministers, but these five were the closest to him. Although their official positions weren't those of the Six Ministries or the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, they were all powerful ministers with immense authority.

Not to mention Cui Dequan and Qu Tianhu... Ning Guiping had been in charge of the Ministry of War for twenty years, during which three different ministers had come and gone, but he remained unmoved. He possessed an unparalleled understanding of the Yuan Dynasty's military equipment, army, and troop deployment, wielding immense influence over a large number of military commanders.

Han Jun had also spent a considerable amount of time in the Ministry of Justice, climbing the ranks step by step over fifteen years, making him a master of criminal law and a figure feared by corrupt officials throughout the land.

The last one, Li Yuanjian, was in his thirties, strong and capable, skilled in both civil and military affairs. Most importantly, he was of royal lineage; otherwise, he could not possibly command the 100,000 troops of Youping City. This position had to be held by the emperor's most trusted person; otherwise, Emperor Zhaozong would not be able to sleep soundly.

Hearing Emperor Zhaozong's anger, even the arrogant and domineering Qu Tianhu could only look to Cui Dequan, for only he could calm the enraged emperor.

Feeling the expectant gazes of his colleagues, Cui Dequan could only cough lightly: "Your Majesty... in my opinion, Grand Tutor Gao wouldn't be so unwise. He might just want more benefits."

Qu Tianhu followed up: "Yes, although Grand Tutor Gao and the General of the Cavalry are powerful, according to my surveillance, they haven't done anything outrageous."

Ning Guiping and Han Jun also expressed their opinions, but Li Yuanjian's words were different from the other four: "Your Majesty, since you think the Gao family father and son are unreliable, please issue an edict to recall Gao Lang and then place the Gao family under house arrest until the matter is clarified."

Li Yuanjian was a member of the royal family, Emperor Zhaozong's cousin, and was extremely loyal to Emperor Zhaozong. He didn't care about others' opinions when he spoke, saying only what he thought.

"Nonsense!"

Emperor Zhaozong scolded him, but there was no angry expression on his face. Obviously, he didn't think his cousin's idea was wrong.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Ning Guiping exclaimed in alarm. "These past few months, Huayun Kingdom has suffered a severe snowstorm. If they decide to raid south, and you've replaced General Gao, the border troops will be leaderless and vulnerable!"

Li Yuanjian frowned. "What? Lord Ning, are you implying that no one but the Gao family can defend the northern border? Is it that our Great Yuan Kingdom can't find any other capable generals besides the Gao family? You have ulterior motives!"

Ning Guiping could no longer sit still. He knelt on the ground with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly, not daring to utter another word.

"Yuanjian, how can you speak like that?"

Emperor Zhaozong's face showed a hint of pity. He reprimanded his cousin and then stopped Ning Guiping. "Alright, don't be afraid. I know you're acting out of concern for the public good. Get up!"

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty!"

Ning Guiping struggled to his feet, his forehead already swollen and red.

Seeing this, Emperor Zhaozong glared at Li Yuanjian again: "Tell me, everyone's giving their opinions here, why are you being so fierce? Oh, if Gao Lang is withdrawn, and Huayun Kingdom really attacks, who do you want me to send? You? You dare to sign a military pledge, and I'll hand over hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the frontier to you, how about it?"

Li Yuanjian chuckled dryly, not replying, thinking to himself: "Isn't that obvious? The pressure in the north is so great, how can it compare to the carefree life in Youping City? I'm not going!"

Just now, Emperor Zhaozong had genuinely considered listening to Li Yuanjian's suggestion to recall Gao Lang first. But after hearing Ning Guiping's analysis, he immediately became rational. The north absolutely could not be allowed to descend into chaos, otherwise even if Huayun Kingdom didn't want to wage war, it would definitely be tempted to attack.

"Alright, Gao Lang cannot be touched, at least not now,"

Emperor Zhaozong said calmly. "You may continue." "

Your Majesty, since General Gao cannot be touched, then there's no need for us to touch the Grand Tutor either,"

Cui Dequan said solemnly. "Otherwise, if we touch the Grand Tutor, how could General Gao possibly let it go? Besides, the Grand Tutor and the General have never shown any rebellious intentions! My suggestion is that we don't openly confront the Gao family. We can simply suppress them, let them know their place, and prevent them from challenging the authority of the imperial family."

"Eunuch Cui, isn't that too lenient? We should use more severe measures to deal with them!"

Here, besides the Emperor, only the Grand Eunuch Qu Tianhu dared to speak like this.

Cui Dequan smiled, remained silent, and looked at Emperor Zhaozong, waiting for his opinion.

Emperor Zhaozong remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Dequan, explain yourself clearly, how do we suppress them?"

Cui Dequan, being his master, knew immediately that Zhaozong was considering his ideas: "Your Majesty, suppressing them is simple. First, we can find a pretext to demote several unimportant officials from the Grand Tutor's faction to the frontier, as a warning to others; second, we should thoroughly investigate the Gao family's business dealings, not stopping until we find fault. Both things should be done openly, so everyone knows that Your Majesty has a problem with Grand Tutor Gao."

Zhaozong nodded, "Hmm...not bad."

Qu Tianhu quickly added, "Your Majesty, we can also arrest some of Gao Qinghong's spies; they've been very active in and around the capital lately!"

"Alright, you can handle this,"

Zhaozong said without hesitation.

If his subordinates' reach went too far, the emperor would certainly not hesitate to cut them off.

Seeing the emperor's resolute attitude, several trusted confidants offered suggestions to Emperor Zhaozong, and soon a plan targeting the Gao family began to take shape.

[Episode 31: Mission Accomplished] Chapter 4: A Show of Force

February 24th, the weather was sunny and bright, with a feeling of springtime warmth.

However, the Gao family's mood was definitely not like the weather.

They received news from the palace last night, but what was most painful was that, knowing they would be suppressed, they dared not move, and could only let the palace spies and city guards conduct a search, eradicating at least one-fifth of the Gao family's influence in Youping City.

One-fifth wasn't a huge blow to the Gao family, but the problem wasn't the quantity, but the signal this action sent: the Gao family had already incurred the Emperor's displeasure. Otherwise, even if Qu Tianhu and his ilk had a lot of courage, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble for the Gao family. Before the

court session, many officials, both friend and foe, had come to inquire about and offer their condolences. Gao Junli remained as smiling as ever, his words perfectly composed.

Sure enough, as everyone expected, as soon as the Emperor entered court, an imperial censor impeached Zhou You, the Junior Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, for corruption and embezzlement, presenting several pieces of evidence. Emperor Zhaozong was furious and immediately ordered them to be imprisoned in the imperial prison for trial. Then, the Minister of the Court

of Judicial Review impeached Hanlin Academy scholar Lü Zheng for accepting bribes from students and ostracizing loyal officials; Zhaozong also imprisoned him. In a short time, five officials, all of whom were of the fifth rank or higher, were accused with evidence.

Despite their low rank, these officials wielded considerable power and shared a common trait: they were all favored students of Grand Tutor Gao Junli.

It became clear that the Emperor was very dissatisfied with Grand Tutor Gao, and some even speculated that Grand Tutor Gao's power might be waning.

However, the Grand Tutor, a cunning old fox, was the first to step forward after the five were dealt with, loudly proclaiming, "Your Majesty, this old minister has a memorial to present."

"Please speak, Grand Tutor,"

Zhaozong said amiably. His expression showed no sign of any hostility towards Grand Tutor Gao.

"After much deliberation, this old minister feels that the previously discussed increase in taxes in Jiangnan is rather inappropriate. Therefore, I would like to offer some suggestions for Your Majesty and your colleagues to consider,"

Grand Tutor Gao said eloquently. "Jiangnan's tax revenue is already the highest in the country, yet now it is to be increased by 2.5 billion gold coins annually. Several prefects have written to me, indicating that the merchants in Jiangnan are indignant. If this continues, it will easily affect the stability of Jiangnan."

The ministers and the emperor exchanged glances.

Gao Junli was the most vocal advocate for increasing taxes in Jiangnan before, and now he is the one speaking up for Jiangnan. His stance shouldn't have changed so quickly, should it?

Emperor Zhaozong vaguely understood that the old Grand Tutor was deliberately saying this to clear himself of suspicion of collusion with Jiangnan, but at the same time, Emperor Zhaozong also needed this excuse. Because in recent years, the Great Yuan Kingdom had enjoyed relatively good weather and abundant harvests; why would there be such a drastic increase in taxes? Where would these ministers go with the extra money? Embezzling money for personal gain is one thing, but using it to expand power is another.

Gao Junli jumped out and played the villain, so Emperor Zhaozong had more reason to reduce taxes in Jiangnan.

However, with such a huge sum of 2.5 billion gold coins involved, the ministers were unwilling to let go so easily. Before Emperor Zhaozong could even speak, someone jumped out.

"Your Majesty!"

Minister of Works Lu Zhujia immediately said, "This humble subject disagrees with the Grand Tutor's opinion. The water conservancy projects in the Five Lakes Basin, the Longjiang River Basin, and so on, have not been repaired or reinforced for ten years. Furthermore, the maintenance of major transportation routes throughout the country, especially in several southwestern prefectures, has long been in dire need of repair, severely impacting the lives and travel of local residents. And… which of these things doesn't require money?"

"Indeed!"

Grand Secretary Fu Danying also said, "Jiangnan is the richest region in the country. Contributing their strength to the people of the whole country is what they should do. Besides, they are not short of money. Such a stingy character should be reprimanded and corrected!"

With these two leading the way, the ministers also voiced their opinions, not only criticizing Jiangnan, but many even making sarcastic remarks, suggesting that Grand Tutor Gao was suspected of accepting bribes from Jiangnan.

Faced with all the criticism, Gao Junli stood in his position, without any expression.

But the Grand Tutor inwardly sneered, "You fools! The Emperor originally thought only I was greedy. Now that I've stepped down, you're still arguing endlessly. Doesn't this make the Emperor think you're all greedy?"

Gao Junli's prediction was correct. Emperor Zhaozong, sitting on his dragon throne, frowned more and more deeply, his eyes growing sharper.

The ministers, standing in the court, were certainly not fools. Gradually, the voices grew softer, and the ministers all watched the emperor, who was suppressing his anger, with trepidation. Even the slowest-witted among them understood his meaning.

"Speak! Why are you all silent?"

Emperor Zhaozong said calmly to those below, "I know the national treasury is empty, but I also know that you ministers are not poor... Minister Lu, you mentioned the Five Lakes region. I happen to know that at the end of last year, your second steward bought five thousand acres of first-class fertile land in Honghu. Tsk tsk, one acre is worth one hundred gold coins... Scholar Fu, your family's caravan specializes in the ancient Yunnan road trade, right? It is said that last year, under the competition from merchants from Jiangnan, the Fu family only earned thirteen million gold coins..."

Emperor Zhaozong mercilessly exposed the secrets of several leading ministers, who were so frightened that they immediately knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.

The remaining ministers, whose secrets had not been exposed, were all trembling with fear, afraid that the fire would spread to them at any moment.

Emperor Zhaozong was rarely angry. He usually discussed matters with everyone and then let Emperor Zhaozong review them. But when an honest man gets angry, it is very frightening. Emperor Zhaozong was like this; after all, he was the emperor, the most powerful person in the Great Yuan Dynasty. Anyone who truly angered him was guaranteed to suffer the consequences.

"All you do is focus on Jiangnan instead of addressing official corruption! Even if Jiangnan is wealthy, can it withstand your repeated increases in exorbitant taxes?"

Zhaozong stood up and shouted, "I think you're just wasting your time! You expect money from Jiangnan at the slightest difficulty. Don't you know how to be frugal, how to investigate the corrupt officials in those areas? Is it really just about everyone getting rich, and you don't care about anything else?"

It's no wonder Zhaozong was angry. The repairs to water conservancy, roads, and cities consumed a large portion of the court's budget almost every year. Although he rarely left the capital, he understood the reasons behind this.

Take water conservancy, for example. While there were floods every year, large and small, proper maintenance meant no annual repairs were necessary. A good repair could last for decades, but for the past ten years or so, large sums of money had been spent with little effect, which greatly angered Zhaozong.

Then there are the roads. For a commercially driven nation like the Great Yuan, roads were one of the most crucial infrastructure projects. Countless goods were transported through the country's wide roads, benefiting the entire population. Roads that were impassable or damaged would, of course, have a significant impact. However, like water conservancy projects, they were repaired year after year, everywhere, like a bottomless pit, devouring the empire's treasury funds.

If this were the case in every region, it wouldn't be so bad, but the roads in the Jiangnan region, bearing the heaviest transport loads, rarely underwent major repairs. At most, there were minor repairs every one or two years, major repairs every five or six years, and many roads didn't need repairs for fifty or sixty years.

Comparing the two, Emperor Zhaozong understood that the court and local officials in charge of this matter were definitely engaging in corruption and embezzlement.

Except for the border regions and major passes, the repair of city walls was merely a formality. Yet, officials in various prefectures still reported the expenses for city defense repairs to the court every year; heaven knows how the money was divided among them?

For the sake of the stability of the country, Emperor Zhaozong couldn't kill them all. However, in a fit of anger, killing some hateful corrupt officials wasn't out of the question.

While Emperor Zhaozong was venting his anger with great gusto, the officials below were a completely different story. Even those who hadn't participated in the campaign against Grand Tutor Gao were terrified and knelt on the ground; not a single person in the hall was standing.

Seeing his ministers so afraid, Emperor Zhaozong felt extremely pleased. He rarely showed his power, but he discovered that when he did, his ministers were all filled with dread—this was the power of the emperor!

"Your Majesty, this humble subject knows his mistake,"

Grand Tutor Gao was the first to speak. "In order to thoroughly investigate official corruption and bring those corrupt officials in the provinces who harm the court and the country to justice, this old minister humbly requests Your Majesty to allow this old minister to leave the capital, take the Imperial Sword, and execute those officials who have devoured the people's wealth and the court's funds!"

No one who can hold a high position is stupid. Upon hearing Grand Tutor Gao's words, everyone immediately realized, "The Grand Tutor is referring to local officials' corruption and bribery! He's really exposing his own group of court officials! Truly worthy of the old but still vigorous Grand Tutor!"

Without needing anyone else to incite them, everyone immediately followed Grand Tutor Gao, praising the Emperor's wisdom and volunteering to leave the capital to clean up the bureaucracy and ensure that the court's expenditures were used effectively.

Emperor Zhaozong was somewhat amused and exasperated, but he couldn't publicly rebuke his ministers for their shamelessness; his earlier good mood instantly dissipated.

"Your Majesty, this old minister was misled by those below. Your words have awakened us like a morning bell!"

Grand Tutor Gao, naturally, wouldn't let him suffer, and continued to flatter him, "This old minister suggests that we postpone the increase of taxes in Jiangnan. We should wait until we have caught the corrupt officials and renegotiated the court's expenditures before making a decision!"

Gao Junli's words couldn't be clearer, giving everyone a way out, making it easier for both the Emperor and his officials to save face... As for discussing it later, after this incident, as long as the Emperor didn't speak, who would dare to bring it up again?

"The old Grand Tutor is absolutely right!"

"Grand Tutor, this old minister's strategy for the country is truly brilliant!"

"..."

The group below quickly followed Gao Junli's lead again, unanimously agreeing with his opinion.

As for the fact that many officials had just cursed Gao Junli... who cared about these thick-skinned fellows?

Back at his residence, Gao Junli sat at his desk, looking exhausted.

Gao Qinghong stood beside him, not daring to move, until after a long while he whispered, "Father, today...we suffered a great loss, didn't we?"

With losses in business and espionage, many in the Gao family were living in constant fear. His older brothers were as if the sky had fallen, staying home drunk, which made Gao Qinghong want to laugh.

Even if the business and their clandestine influence were all gone, as long as he, his father, and his brothers were still alive, the Gao family could rebuild. What did these small setbacks matter?

However, Gao Qinghong wasn't so kind. He didn't comfort anyone outside his own branch of the Gao family. Only after receiving news that Gao Junli had returned home did he follow him into the study.

Faced with his son's question, Gao Junli nodded slightly: "There's nothing serious. As expected, the Emperor is suspicious of us..."

He then recounted the events that had transpired in court to Gao Qinghong. Gao Qinghong was horrified, thinking, "If it weren't for Father's shrewd handling of the situation, the Gao family would have been in real trouble."

"Father, now that you've yielded, the Emperor shouldn't continue to suppress us, right?"

The second son of the Gao family asked the question he most wanted to ask.

"It's hard to say."

Grand Tutor Gao sighed: "The Emperor's suspicion of our Gao family runs deep. Looking at those people who were thrown into the imperial prison, they haven't been released yet. It's clear he has no intention of letting us off so easily." "

Then what else does he want?"

Gao Qinghong demanded angrily.

"The Emperor is just trying to take this opportunity to reclaim some power. Let's wait and see, and not be the first to act."

Compared to his son's indignation, Gao Junli's attitude was much calmer: "The Emperor will make some significant moves next. We must endure it and let others cause trouble!"

"But... after the Emperor deals with them, it will be our turn!"

"Fool, given the Emperor's weak nature, he'll only hold out for a few months at most. With the ministers' fierce opposition, he'll revert to his old ways. Even if we suffer losses, they won't be too great. As long as your brother and I are in this position, why should we be afraid that the Gao family won't continue to prosper?"

"Haha, Father, you're absolutely right. I'll keep a low profile for now."

Gao Qinghong laughed, then remembered something else: "What a pity, we could have gotten a large sum from Jiangnan's 2.5 billion gold coins!"

"Forget it! Jiangnan did pay too much. Whatever amount they take should be reasonable. It's only natural that they would retaliate against the court officials if the court wanted to exploit them again."

"Hey, Father, this isn't like you. You've suffered a loss and you don't even want to get it back?"

"Of course not... I now understand that having the imperial court ask Jiangnan for money, while providing more cover, makes us too conspicuous... Once this matter is resolved, we can contact Jiangnan separately. I believe they'll be willing to maintain a good relationship with us, and acquiring hundreds of millions of gold coins a year won't be difficult."

"Huh? Is that possible? We just had a falling out with them!"

"Hehe, you should learn from those merchants. In their eyes, there's no right or wrong, no disputes, only profit!"

Gao Junli said calmly, "As long as we can bring them profit in the future, they'll use money to win us over. I've just realized that, compared to now, the risk is far lower, and we won't make so many enemies!"

Gao Qinghong pondered for a long time, finally nodding and smiling, "I understand!"

"Good... Go explain to those people outside, lest they really think our Gao family is going to fall."

[Episode 31: Mission Accomplished] Chapter 5: Taking an Inch

and Wanting a Mile Unlike most of the court officials in the Great Yuan Kingdom who were frowning, the two Jiangnan heroes and I, at Puqing Nunnery, laughed heartily after receiving the news.

We never expected that Xia Bing's simple scheme would directly sow discord between the emperor and his ministers, allowing Jiangnan to reap the benefits.

On the other hand, the conflict between Emperor Zhaozong and his ministers wasn't formed overnight, but rather accumulated over a long period. The Empress of the Eastern Palace simply chose an opportune moment, giving Emperor Zhaozong an excuse to erupt and forcibly seize some power from the ministers.

Since Emperor Zhaozong said so during the morning court session, the matter of not increasing taxes in Jiangnan was settled.

As for increasing tributes to Emperor Zhaozong and repair expenses, for Jiangnan, these were simply expenses to please the emperor, and not a significant amount.

However, Shangguan Xiaolian and Murong Rui are the kind of people who get a good deal but then complain. They are wondering if they can do what I originally planned, not only not increase the court's taxes, but actually reduce them a little?

I felt a headache coming on. If Xia Bing said that, it would definitely leave a seed of suspicion in Emperor Zhaozong's mind. And they wouldn't let me off the hook, pestering me to say that if the Crown Princess wasn't capable, then wasn't Consort Leng wanting Jiangnan's help? They suggested that Lanting go to the palace again to explain the situation and see her sincerity in cooperating with Jiangnan.

The two stunningly beautiful girls were incredibly charming and coquettish. Before I could even process what was happening, I agreed in a daze. Only when I left did I realize I'd been bewitched. But I didn't want to lose face in front of them, so I could only think about how to "torture" them later as I walked out.

The court meeting ended in the afternoon; looking at the time, it wasn't even dusk yet. Going to the palace now would probably be too early.

After a moment's thought, I remembered another place: "The Huayun Kingdom delegation arrived in the capital last night. I must take advantage of this opportunity to see Dugu Xiaohua!"

I was quite disappointed to have missed the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world the night before last; I couldn't let this chance slip away! Five miles east of the imperial city within Youping City lies the famous Royal Post Station.

The Royal Post Station functions similarly to other post stations—it's a place to receive foreign delegations—but its scale and status are unmatched by any other post station in the Great Yuan Kingdom. Perhaps a few post stations in Jiangnan can rival its luxury and comfort, but they cannot match the unique grandeur and nobility of the royal family.

The Royal Post Station is meticulously maintained, with over a hundred servants, maids, gardeners, and others keeping the environment in order.

This post station covers over a hundred acres but has only three courtyards, each with its own beautifully constructed pavilions and towers, each representing a unique style.

One courtyard exuded the rustic grandeur of the Central Plains, another the delicate beauty of the Jiangnan region with its bridges and flowing water, and the last represented the unique charm of several ethnic minorities, leaving everyone who stayed there in awe and reluctant to leave.

Because opportunities to use the post station were infrequent, nobles and dignitaries from various regions preferred to stay here when visiting the capital to pay homage to the emperor. Emperor Zhaozong didn't seem to care much about this blatant violation; after all, the royal post station was meant for people to stay in, and if its beauty went unappreciated, it wouldn't be beautiful.

Normally, even with nobles and royalty staying there, there weren't many palace guards outside, but today was different. Now, the area within a three-mile radius of the royal post station was swarming with officials from the Zhili government, city defense troops, and palace guards, and everyone entering and leaving the royal post station had to undergo inspection.

Emperor Zhaozong and the court were shrewd; they wouldn't give the Huayun Kingdom any excuse to lash out, so not a single member of the Huayun Kingdom delegation inside the royal post station could be in danger.

However, to me, their defenses were rather amateurish, far inferior to those of the Huayun Kingdom delegation at Longjiabao. So, taking advantage of the royal guards changing shifts at the innermost part of the compound, I successfully slipped into the royal post station.

Once inside, the royal post station was indeed as luxurious as the legends had described. The decorations in each pavilion were mostly made of gold and silver powder, and this was only in the outer rooms; if it were the inner rooms, I imagine there would be countless gold, silver, jewels, and jade!

This also demonstrated the wealth of the Great Yuan Kingdom.

"Hey, Little Sanzi, what are you doing? Stand up straight!"

a squad leader next to me shouted.

I didn't know the name of the unfortunate guard I had knocked unconscious, because his expression was wooden, he didn't talk much, and his presence in the group was weak, making him the perfect candidate for me to impersonate.

I scratched my head and said憨厚ly, "Sorry, this place is just too beautiful... probably the second most beautiful place after the palace!"

"Haha, Captain, Little Sanzi is right. Don't even mention him, we brothers were also stunned!"

Another burly man laughed and chimed in.

"Tch! You guys are just ignorant!"

The squad leader coughed lightly, "You're tired of seeing the palace, and the royal post station is just a novelty. Compared to those rich and powerful people in Jiangnan, what is this?"

At this point, the squad leader lowered his voice, "I've heard that many rich people in Jiangnan have homes that are practically palaces, even more beautiful and luxurious than the palace!" Discussing

royal matters in private was a taboo, so the squad leader chose to speak softly.

But no one cared about that; they were all immersed in shock.

To be able to enter the palace as a palace guard, one's family background must not be too bad, otherwise, who would dare to trust these people who had no connections or family support?

These people, already well-off and living comfortably, were captivated by the grandeur and magnificence of the imperial palace, believing it to be the most beautiful place in the world.

Now, the squad leader claims that the extravagance of the wealthy in Jiangnan surpasses even that of the palace—what a magnificent sight that must be!

I couldn't help but laugh. It seems these sons of officials from the capital completely fantasize about Jiangnan as a land of gold, no wonder they're constantly trying to squeeze money out of it.

But in reality, aside from a few notorious nouveau riche, the truly aspiring super-merchants of Jiangnan are primarily focused on developing their family businesses and cultivating the abilities of their descendants, hoping to pass on their wealth. They have no time for indulging in luxury.

Even among the small and medium-sized merchants in Jiangnan, many are short-sighted and pleasure-seeking. Their lives are merely ordinary luxury, nothing compared to even a fraction of the splendor of the imperial palace.

The squad leader, of course, had never been to Jiangnan; he was simply recounting stories from his elders. Seeing everyone's longing expressions, he was satisfied, but he also shouted, "Ahem, stop daydreaming! Get your spirits up! Don't let the barbarians of Huayun Kingdom look down on us!"

"Yes!"

a dozen or so subordinates responded in unison, and immediately took their positions, staring intently ahead.

Most of these men were not legitimate sons or grandsons of their families; most were sons of concubines or mistresses, which is why they joined the palace guards in hopes of a better future. Their daily training was very rigorous, making them a formidable force, and their presence naturally exuded an imposing aura.

The grand scenery of the royal post station was all on the outer perimeter of the courtyard; the actual living quarters were a separate area, exquisitely beautiful and elegant. We couldn't enter there; it was guarded by Huayun Kingdom itself.

Looking at the guards, who were stationed almost every three steps, I secretly groaned. I had thought they would patrol around or disperse, but there were simply too many guards, almost filling every corner of the outer courtyard. Even if I slipped away, someone would see me if I moved even slightly.

Time passed slowly, and just as I was lamenting that today's trip had been a waste, the courtyard gate behind us creaked open. A pretty girl of about fifteen or sixteen, wearing a red grassland brocade robe and with a dozen or so small braids, poked her head out, glanced at us, and then looked at me: "Hey, you, come here for a second... Don't look around, silly boy, I'm calling you!"

Everyone's eyes fell on me, and I pretended to be stunned and pointed to myself: "Looking for me? What do you want?"

Seeing my blank look, even the squad leader couldn't stand it anymore and walked over amidst a burst of laughter: "Miss, is there anything we can help you with? Let me do it! My subordinate isn't very bright and is clumsy, I'm afraid he'll delay your business."

"It's okay, if he wasn't clumsy, I wouldn't want him."

The pretty girl giggled, "You, hurry up and come in with me, I'm busy here!"

Helpless, the squad leader had no choice but to instruct me, "Little Sanzi, you go in. Remember, talk less and do more, don't cause trouble."

"Okay."

I nodded and followed the pretty girl inside.

As we went in, several guards asked worriedly, "Captain, will Xiao Sanzi be alright?"

"He should be fine."

The squad leader pondered for a moment, "Xiao Sanzi is naturally dull-witted, you can tell at a glance he's an honest man. Even if the people of Huayun Kingdom wanted to find fault with him, they wouldn't wrongly accuse him. They'll probably just make him do hard labor!"

"Hehe, that's good. Xiao Sanzi may not have much else, but he's got plenty of strength. Maybe he can even win the favor of the beauties of Huayun Kingdom and bring a Huayun Kingdom concubine back to his father and mother!"

"Hahaha..."

Following behind the little beauty, I didn't even turn my head, but I still admired the little beauty's graceful figure, especially her long, slender legs and her slightly immature yet plump and full buttocks, which looked so tempting. Thinking back to the pair of plump and firm breasts I had just seen on her chest, my heart warmed even more.

The young girl was still a virgin, of course, but at fifteen or sixteen, she already had such a beautiful figure. It seemed the beef and mutton and milk from the grasslands were truly nourishing.

Admiring her was one thing, but I wasn't a beast, so I had no desire to possess the beauty. Instead, I could appreciate her charm even more.

"Ouch..."

Lost in thought, I became somewhat dazed. When I realized I had bumped into a soft, delicate body, I heard a gasp. The young beauty stumbled and fell backward.

I quickly caught her. The girl had stopped walking at some point and turned around to say something, but I, looking down, bumped into her, almost causing her to fall.

Annoyed, the young beauty jumped up and gave me a light punch. She didn't know martial arts, so she just treated it as a tickle.

"You big idiot! Why don't you look ahead when you walk? You look at the ground!"

the young beauty pointed her finger at my nose and shouted.

"I...I dare not look too much..."

I said, blushing. "I'm a palace guard. I can't bring shame to our Great Yuan Kingdom by coming here."

"Shame?"

The little beauty was also a clever girl, and she immediately giggled. "Country bumpkin, you think I'm pretty, so you don't dare to look too much? What an idiot! We grassland girls aren't afraid of men looking at us. The more you look, the prettier and more popular I am!"

I lowered my head speechlessly. I knew the grasslands were open-minded, but I didn't expect even a young girl to be like this. Listening to her words, if I hadn't known she was a virgin, I would have thought she had been with many men at such a young age.

Perhaps because I acknowledged her beauty, the little beauty's mood improved: "Hey country bumpkin, my name is Duo'er, what's yours?"

"My name is Xiao Gu... they all call me Xiao Sanzi."

"Hehe, Xiao Sanzi, what an awful name!"

Duo'er pointed upwards: "Look! Xiao Sanzi, there are several bird nests in this tree, and the birds are chirping incessantly, disturbing my master's rest. Go and help me take the nests down and put them somewhere else."

I looked up and saw a large tree; because it was winter, all the leaves had fallen, and I could see several dark shadows among the branches.

Indeed, birds always chirp merrily as early spring approaches. When I was a child in Wushuang County, I would catch many birds every spring to roast and eat. However, after the "Beautiful Girl Sex Slave Group" entered the Liu family, they began to protect these little birds, leaving me to only buy some roasted bird meat from the market to satisfy my cravings, and even then, I had to avoid them.

A thought flashed through my mind, and I patted my chest with a smile, "Don't worry, Miss Duo'er, leave it to me!"

With that, I scrambled up the tree. Most children can climb trees, and although this one was a bit tall, it was no challenge for the palace guards.

In no time, I reached the top of the branches. By then, the birds had long since flown away, leaving only empty nests.

I glanced up and immediately saw the scene in the neighboring courtyards. In one courtyard, a man and a woman were sitting and drinking tea, while several maids and guards stood respectfully about five meters away. In another courtyard, several generals were practicing archery against a target on the wall.

"Someone's there!"

One of the Huayun Kingdom generals, who still couldn't forget archery even after arriving in the Great Yuan Kingdom, suddenly sensed something and looked in my direction. I was there, dressed in the armor of a Yuan Dynasty guard, looking around furtively. The three arrows I'd been preparing to shoot at the bullseye were immediately aimed at me and released.

The three arrows were fast and accurate, covering my left, center, and right, arriving almost instantly. An ordinary person would never have been able to dodge them.

"Ouch!"

I cried out in panic, losing my balance and falling from the tree. Duo'er, watching from below, was stunned, but she leaped into the air to catch me.

Wearing armor, I weighed at least two hundred pounds, and with the force of the fall and Duo'er's hasty attempt to catch me, we both landed heavily on the ground.

Duo'er didn't think much of it, but I realized that if we fell like that, the little girl would be underneath me and might get hurt. So, feigning panic, I subtly switched places with her, becoming her human cushion.

"Ouch..."

"Thank you my foot!"

Duo'er rubbed her breasts and buttocks, angrily saying, "What's wrong with you? Why can't you even stand up straight?"

I quickly pulled her up, my face full of gratitude, and said, "Miss Duo'er, thank you so much!"

"Thank you my foot!"

Duo'er rubbed her breasts and buttocks, angrily saying, "What's wrong with you? Why can't you even stand up straight?"

"I..."

Before I could speak, the gate of a courtyard next to us suddenly opened, and three or five military officers rushed out. Seeing Duo'er and me together, they were taken aback.

"Duo'er, why are you with this spy?"

the officer who had just drawn his bow and shot an arrow asked suspiciously.

Among these officers were people I recognized: Tatajin and Sita. Besides the officer who spoke, there was also a burly man with a cold face, whose eyes, like those of a hawk, scrutinized me from head to toe.

I saw them, my face instantly changed, and I took a few steps back, quickly drawing my broadsword and pointing it at them: "What do you want?"

My actions and words exuded a stern and menacing air.

Seeing that I wasn't in a hurry to run away, the generals weren't worried either, but instead looked at me with a teasing, cat-and-mouse gaze.

"What's wrong with you?"

Duo'er looked at both sides in confusion, then carefully examined the bows and arrows in the generals' hands, and suddenly realized, "So that's why Little Sanzi panicked and fell down; you scared him."

"Duo'er, do you know him?"

The thin, short general vaguely sensed something was amiss: "He's not a spy?"

"A spy?"

Duo'er burst into laughter, her flamboyant appearance captivating the generals. However, they knew this young girl was not someone they could afford to offend, so they didn't dare do anything.

"You're all exaggerating! Someone with that silly, dim-witted look can be a spy? Have you ever seen a spy so brazenly climbing a tree in broad daylight?"

Duo'er reprimanded them without hesitation. "Please! I only asked him to help my master retrieve bird nests; I didn't want to spy on you at all..."

"Your Highness! Princess!"

Before Duo'er could finish her reprimand, the generals, their faces alternating between red and pale, suddenly composed themselves and bowed respectfully to the side.

The little beauty turned around and saw the door to another courtyard open, revealing a handsome, tall young man in his thirties and a stunningly beautiful young woman looking in their direction.

My first glance went to Dugu Xiaohua.

I was too far away to see clearly before. Now that I see her, I realize how truly beautiful Dugu Xiaohua is.

It's hard to describe the stunning beauty of this number one beauty in the martial arts world. Her small face, delicate nose, arched eyebrows, beautiful eyes, cherry lips, and fair neck… every part is beautiful, every feature a masterpiece sculpted by nature. You can't help but be captivated by her.

And then there's her aura—a delicate beauty with a touch of naivety, innocence with a hint of allure… I thought this unique and captivating charm was already perfect in Leng Manshuang. But now, seeing Dugu Xiaohua, I realize that even if she lacks the allure of a mature woman, she far surpasses Leng Zhaoyi.

Today, Dugu Xiaohua is wearing a light blue long dress, adorned with floral patterns along the hem. Her hair is flowing over her shoulders, and she wears only a small yellow flower behind her ear, making her look both charming and alluring, with a wildness reminiscent of the grasslands. Truly worthy of being called the number one beauty in the martial arts world!

The people around me were used to my expression. Even they, who were used to seeing princesses, were captivated, let alone me, a simpleton from the Great Yuan Kingdom seeing such a beauty for the first time.

Fortunately, the customs on the grasslands were open, and it wasn't a bad thing to boldly express one's admiration for a girl. Moreover, these generals were very proud that their princess was popular—well, of course, if their princess were to marry someone from outside the grasslands, it would probably cause a massive war, right?

Misunderstandings are easy to clear up. After Duo'er finished speaking in a few words, Dugu Shangyue smiled at me: "I'm sorry, brother... Gekule, aren't you going to apologize to the young man?"

I was startled. The reason why

Huayun Kingdom could become the strongest country on the continent, suppressing Liufeng Kingdom and Great Yuan Kingdom, was because of the many outstanding generals in the country, and this Gekule was one of them.

Gekule was born into the family of an ordinary tribal chief and loved riding and archery from a young age. However, because he was short and lacked the strong and tall stature of the grassland men, he suffered a lot of bullying. However, Gekule never wore a saddle, always seizing every opportunity to train in riding and archery. When he was hungry or tired, he would sleep on horseback, even straining his tendons several times.

Later, Gebulühan, the Grand Preceptor of Huayun Kingdom, traveled to Gekule's tribe. After hearing about Gekule's story, he specially taught him a set of techniques, which not only completely healed his injuries but also gave him a significant advantage. He won the Huayun Kingdom's archery competition, becoming the youngest grassland archer.

Dugu Shangyue, the Prince of Ping'an in charge of Huayun Kingdom's military affairs, after learning about Gebulühan's connection, promoted him to the position of his personal guard commander, leading a 5,000-strong elite cavalry archery corps.

At the time, many people could not understand this, but a year later, Gekule proved that he was not only a formidable individual warrior. His 5,000-strong cavalry archery corps swept through the legionary competition, winning first place with an absolute advantage. Among his skills, the "Sky-Piercing Arrow" technique and its average accuracy of 99% impressed the Emperor of Huayun Kingdom, who immediately applauded and allocated an additional 30,000 Imperial Guards to train him.

After a year of training, Gekule led his troops on an expedition. In just three months, they annihilated thirty-two barbarian tribes in the frigid north, killing 110,000 barbarians, forcing the remaining tribes to relocate further into the icy lands.

This achievement was truly remarkable. It's worth noting that the barbarian tribes of the far north, relying on the cold and terrain, had repeatedly defeated Huayun Kingdom's "Ten Great Legions," causing Dugu Shangyue considerable trouble. Yet, Gekule had resolved this.

Thus, Gekule became known as the "Number One Archer of the Grasslands," his fame spreading far and wide.

No wonder he had fired those three powerful arrows almost without even looking.

Such a formidable general had actually accompanied Dugu Shangyue to Youping City; it seemed Dugu Shangyue's trip wasn't simply to buy winter supplies!

In an instant, a murderous intent flashed through my mind. Gekule was definitely a major threat to Xiliang City. If my Silver Tiger Legion were to encounter him and his army like when we fought in the desert grasslands, the casualties would be heavy, and we wouldn't gain as many benefits.

Lost in thought, I didn't even pay attention to Gekule's apology. To others, I looked stunned, so such a reaction wasn't surprising.

However, a gaze fixed on me, and without looking, I knew who it was.

I didn't think Dugu Xiaohua was interested in me, but I was still a little uncomfortable with this curious and scrutinizing look, so I could only raise my head and give her a fascinated expression.

Dugu Xiaohua wasn't angry; she even smiled at me. Her smile wasn't the reserved smile of a noble lady, but rather had the cheerfulness and naturalness of the grasslands, a refreshing aura that made me have to silently recite the "Heart-Cleansing Mantra" several times to barely calm myself down.

Seeing this, Dugu Shangyue smiled faintly and took out a black pearl from his pocket: "Here, young brother, this pearl is a specialty of the Inca Islands in the South Seas. Give it to me to calm your nerves."

The Inca Islands are located at the southern tip of the South Seas, surrounded by numerous small islands, making it the most suitable place for pearls to grow. Pearls produced there have always been prized on the mainland, worth at least a thousand gold coins. For Dugu Shangyue to offer one was quite a show of sincerity.

I bowed my head respectfully, saying, "Your Highness Dugu, I dare not… If you have no further instructions, I will leave… This is not a place for people like us…" "

Take it, take it!"

Dugu Shangyue politely placed the pearl in my hand, without any airs.

Although Dugu Shangyue acted like a refined scholar, I would never forget that this seemingly scholarly man could be described as "ruthless killer" on the grasslands. He had wiped out over a hundred tribes, slaughtered at least two hundred thousand able-bodied men, and enslaved hundreds of thousands of women and children.

A man who embodies two distinct personalities is a truly terrifying person. At least I can't portray both sides of his personality so naturally, as if they were two different people.

I lowered my head, trembling as I clenched my fist, making it seem like I cared deeply for the pearl.

Seeing me accept the gift, Dugu Shangyue smiled with satisfaction.

He didn't care about money or possessions, nor could he truly value me; it was simply that his side was in the wrong first, and besides, this wasn't Huayun Kingdom's territory, so he wanted to avoid trouble.

"Well… Miss Duo'er, everyone, I'll take my leave…"

I bowed softly. With Dugu Shangyue here, lingering too long might reveal my weakness; it was best to leave early.

"Alright!"

Duo'er waved playfully, "I'll find you again when I have time!"

She was a young girl, not very cunning, and knowing this wasn't the time to talk, she felt guilty and decided to make it up to me in a couple of days.

Relieved, I turned and headed out the door.

My luck was pretty good today; seeing the renowned beauty of the martial arts world was truly worthwhile!

"Wait a minute…"

Suddenly, a clear, melodious voice rang in my ears. I stopped and turned around, puzzled.

A stunningly beautiful young woman smiled brightly: "Perfect timing, young man! I also need your help. Come to my courtyard!"

Not only me, not only the martial artists, but even Dugu Shangyue looked at his sister.

What exactly did Dugu Xiaohua want?

[Episode 31: Mission Accomplished] Chapter Six: Reunion with the Beauty

The courtyard gate closed, leaving only Dugu Xiaohua and me inside. Not only were Duo'er and Dugu Shangyue absent, but even the servants and maids from before were kept outside.

For some reason, I felt a chill run down my spine. If I didn't know Dugu Xiaohua's martial arts skills weren't high, I would have run away by now.

Seeing my restless state, Dugu Xiaohua, sitting on the stone bench, smiled brightly: "Sit down, do I have to invite you to sit down?"

My face flushed, and my voice trembled as I said, "Your Highness, I dare not… Just tell me what's on your mind, don't make me worry!" "

You're quite the actress, even more convincing than when you pretended to be drunk."

Dugu Xiaohua didn't even look at me, holding a cup of flower tea, sipping it as she spoke.

"I've been exposed!"

I gave a wry smile, then dropped the pretense of a lowly guard and swaggered over to sit beside her. I picked up a clean cup, poured myself a cup of flower tea, and drank it down. A delicate fragrance instantly filled my mouth, and I couldn't help but exclaim, "Excellent tea!"

"This tea is from the grasslands. It contains over thirty kinds of flowers and licorice. If Your Highness likes it, you can take some back to your Liufeng Kingdom,"

Dugu Xiaohua said calmly, her words clear and natural, without a trace of anger.

"I'm a little curious… how did you recognize me?"

I couldn't help but ask.

"It's simple. Although your appearance and expression have changed, your eyes haven't,"

Dugu Xiaohua said. "I have a natural ability: I can recognize anyone I've ever met, no matter how they change their appearance."

I gasped, quite astonished.

"This... isn't this a bit too outrageous? What use is my painstakingly honed, top-tier disguise technique when I encounter a girl with such extraordinary talent?"

I wanted to scare Dugu Xiaohua away with my murderous aura, but her large eyes scrutinized my face, naturally dispelling my apprehension.

Of course, I had no intention of killing her. If anyone in the world could draw their sword against Dugu Xiaohua, I would not only be impressed, but I would write three "I submit"s!

Dugu Xiaohua clearly understood this as well, and she continued softly, "Your Highness, I've invited you here so sincerely to discuss this matter. Shouldn't you reveal your true form so that I can see the true face of this young hero of Liufeng Kingdom?"

Having said that, I readily turned my head away. When I turned back, I had already reverted to my original appearance.

"Hmm... truly handsome!"

Dugu Xiaohua smiled slightly. "Rumor has it that Prince Lanting is only twenty years old, but I suspect you're not even eighteen yet. I never imagined that besides the men of our grasslands, there could be such a valiant young man in the Central Plains!"

Dugu Xiaohua's words were blunt, yet her eyes and demeanor betrayed no frivolity, revealing that she genuinely thought so.

It's no wonder she looked down on the men of the Great Yuan and Liufeng Kingdoms; historically, we've only ever been good at defensive battles, and in real combat, we're usually outmatched.

Meanwhile, I had decisively defeated tens of thousands of barbarian troops on the Great Desert grasslands. Although the barbarians held a low status in the Huayun Kingdom and weren't particularly strong fighters, they were still men of the grasslands. Therefore, upon hearing this battle report, Dugu Xiaohua developed a slight interest in me, thinking she should have the opportunity to meet me.

She never expected the chance to meet this Prince Lanting to arrive so quickly. Ever since Dugu Xiaohua learned that the person who found the jade earring was Ren Lanting, she even considered going out to see where she could run into me again—as for the danger, cough cough, don't joke around! In this world, who would dare to touch her? Who would be willing to hurt her?

"Princess, you are mistaken,"

I said seriously. "Although the cavalry of Huayun Kingdom is unparalleled, it doesn't mean there are no other men in the world. A thousand years ago, didn't the First Emperor, who rose to power in the northwestern plateau of my Liufeng Kingdom, lead hundreds of thousands of troops and crush a million-strong grassland coalition, establishing an unparalleled achievement? And hundreds of years ago, didn't Nangong Yueyi, the patriarch of the Nangong family, lead 50,000 soldiers of the Great Yuan Kingdom, making the emperor of Huayun Kingdom tremble with fear and be forced to relocate the capital?"

Dugu Xiaohua rolled her eyes, looking incredibly charming and adorable. "Do you have to argue with me every time I say something? Apart from these few heroes, most of the time, you are still suppressed by us. You can't deny that, can you?"

Of course, I wouldn't admit it, but I couldn't help thinking that Huayun Kingdom suppressing the Great Yuan and Liufeng had nothing to do with me, but if you wanted to suppress me, then I wouldn't object.

If the charming and beautiful girl knew what I was thinking, she would probably throw her teacup at me.

However, she couldn't read minds. Seeing my silence, she assumed I knew I was in the wrong, and felt pleased, so she stopped arguing.

Dugu Xiaohua was very simple and lovely, untainted by worldly corruption, which was a key reason she maintained her girlish innocence.

She paused, then coughed lightly: "I heard that Prince Lanting accompanied two young ladies from Jiangnan to the capital. I wonder if we could arrange a meeting sometime? Miss Shangguan and Miss Murong have visited our Goryeo Peninsula several times, but I haven't been able to meet them, which is a real pity."

Meeting out of admiration was just a pretense; discussing trade between Jiangnan and Huayun Kingdom was the real purpose, wasn't it?

The Shangguan and Murong families wielded immense power in Jiangnan. If they could cultivate good relations with them, Huayun Kingdom's future would be much brighter. Unless they encountered a once-in-thirty-years ice storm like this year, Huayun Kingdom wouldn't need to think about war or plunder anymore.

I wasn't captivated by the beauty, and pondered for a moment before saying, "I'm only responsible for protecting them. Whether they want to meet you or not is up to them."

Dugu Xiaohua wasn't angry either, and smiled, "Of course, Your Highness is too kind... Oh, by the way! I'd like to invite Your Highness to visit our Huayun Kingdom sometime. Although we don't have beautiful mountains and rivers, we have vast grasslands under a sky full of stars, grasslands under the red sun, and grasslands frozen in ice and snow... They're all very charming!"

"Why do I keep hearing about grasslands?"

I said subconsciously.

Dugu Xiaohua chuckled, then glared at me, "How annoying..."

This stunningly beautiful girl rarely encountered anyone who dared to joke with her. Ordinary people were speechless just by looking at her face. Even the ruthless generals of Huayun Kingdom acted like rabbits in her presence, cautious and timid, afraid that their anger might harm the princess. They dared not utter a single word in her presence.

Even those lazy, eloquent islanders, when meeting the princess on the Korean Peninsula, became hesitant and timid, speaking even softer than noble ladies, recklessly offering their precious treasures.

They wanted nothing in return, only hoping the fairy princess would accept them, feeling honored in doing so.

Of course, Dugu Xiaohua enjoyed talking to me, but that didn't mean she liked me. In truth, Princess Dugu was also thinking, "This Ren Lanting seems to be quite an extraordinary person. Should I have my brother capture him and send him to Huayun Kingdom to be imprisoned, so he won't go to the desert grasslands to oppose Xiao Bilan?"

After chatting for a while, Dugu Xiaohua told me about a secret location, saying that if the Twin Heroes of Jiangnan agreed to meet her, we should go to that place to find someone, and someone would naturally bring us to see her.

At this point, all that was left was to serve tea and see the guests off. I took the opportunity to boldly admire the stunning beauty of this number one beauty in the martial arts world, but since I couldn't just look and then fall for her, I naturally left as well.

As soon as I stepped out, Dugu Shangyue walked in from another courtyard.

"What, Ren Lanting again?"

Dugu Shangyue sat down next to her sister and asked with a smile.

To be able to sit in the position of "second only to the emperor" in Huayun Kingdom, Dugu Shangyue was definitely clever. Knowing his younger sister possessed a natural ability to "judge people," he immediately understood why she would invite an ordinary palace guard from the Great Yuan Kingdom into the courtyard and chat with him for so long.

"Hmm..."

Dugu Xiaohua frowned slightly: "I was thinking, was it a mistake not to ask you to keep him here?"

Dugu Shangyue laughed heartily: "I didn't expect that my ethereal sister would also know how to share the burdens of the country!"

"You're laughing at me..."

The beautiful princess glared at Dugu Shangyue indignantly, expressing her anger.

"Alright, I won't laugh at you anymore. Tell me, why didn't you do that?"

"Although Ren Lanting is also a genius, our Huayun Kingdom has never been afraid of anyone."

Dugu Xiaohua said proudly, "If I used other means because I was afraid that Ren Lanting would pose a threat to us, I wouldn't be a proud daughter of the grasslands."

"You..."

Dugu Shangyue was both amused and exasperated, "Sister, you're still too naive. If it were your brother, he would have already ambushed hundreds of people, or directly called upon the guards of the Great Yuan Kingdom outside to kill Ren Lanting here. In just half a year, he transformed a crumbling Xiliang City into an impregnable fortress, and even trained a Silver Tiger Legion that is no less powerful than our second-class legion. If someone like that were given a few more years, who knows, he might lead an army comparable to our first-class legion to conquer the grasslands!"

In the Huayun Kingdom, the special-class legions are the Royal Feathered Forest Legion and the Imperial Guard; the first-class legions are the four legions of Loyalty, Filial Piety, Benevolence, and Righteousness among the ten legions; and the second-class legions are the remaining six legions of the ten legions.

Generally speaking, a first-class legion is enough to sweep across the grasslands. Dugu Shangyue's statement that I could train the Silver Tiger Legion to be a first-class legion shows he truly values me.

The charming young girl tilted her head and asked, "Then why didn't you make a move?"

Dugu Shangyue smiled bitterly, "A year ago, Ren Lanting severely injured Nangong Yuanyue. Now both of them have improved their skills, and I'm afraid I can't capture him unscathed. Even if I did, at least half of our delegation would be killed or wounded."

"That powerful?"

Dugu Xiaohua exclaimed in surprise. She knew exactly how powerful her brother was, but she hadn't expected Ren Lanting to be even more powerful than she thought.

"Hmm, both scholarly and martial, he and Nangong Yuanyue are fully deserving of the title. They are both younger than me, so we'll probably have a lot to fight over in the next few decades,"

Dugu Shangyue said seriously. "However, there are advantages to letting him go. In the Great Yuan Kingdom, we are all outsiders, and if the people of the Great Yuan Kingdom are distracted by dealing with him, our pressure will be much less."

The beautiful princess pondered for a while, then smiled sweetly, "Speaking of which, I always thought that philanderers couldn't amount to much, but Ren Lanting has exceeded my expectations. Just now, he brazenly looked at people, but it didn't make me angry at all. Perhaps it's because there was no lustful desire in his eyes!"

Dugu Shangyue's mouth moved, wanting to say something, but he held back in the end. But he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Sister, are you really stupid or just pretending? Who in this world would have impure thoughts about you? If you smile again, you'll become a real fairy!"

He was a little worried that Dugu Xiaohua might be interested in that lewd and immoral brat. But then I thought, "Over the years, countless heroes and valiant men have failed to capture my sister's heart. Ren Lanting is excellent, but not to the point of making her fall for him at first sight. Besides, even if she does eventually fall for him, it would be a good thing. Father would surely be burning incense and praying to heaven for such a beautiful daughter who remains unmarried; heaven knows how anxious he is. Ren Lanting is also a man of exceptional talent; he wouldn't disgrace our Dugu royal family."

The sun had already set when I left the royal post station, and the sky was a hazy yellow, as if it were about to rain.

Fortunately, the royal post station wasn't far from the palace. After changing my clothes slightly, I entered the palace with practiced ease.

To say I had underestimated the palace wouldn't be entirely true.

If one had to choose the place with the most powerful experts in the world, it would undoubtedly be the palace. It's a well-known fact that the palace is a place where dragons and tigers hide, and countless experts abound.

However, whether this means "hidden dragons and tigers" or "countless experts" depends on who you're referring to. For example, if I were to stroll around the palace, even if there were countless peerless masters and first-rate experts, they wouldn't even be able to spot me. Only a peerless master of the same rank could see through my movements.

But peerless masters aren't like pigs, cows, or sheep roaming the streets. Even Emperor Zhaozong only had one or two by his side, constantly by his side, so naturally he didn't have time to protect the others in the palace.

So you understand now, as long as I avoid Emperor Zhaozong, I'll basically go anywhere unnoticed.

Xia Bing's palace is now lit with oil lamps. Unlike usual, it's not deserted today; eunuchs and maids are constantly moving about.

Reaching the beam in the main hall, one sees a dozen small tables set up below, where a dozen beautiful women are laughing and telling jokes. The head eunuchs standing nearby are also joining in, telling anecdotes from the common people, which occasionally makes the ladies smile.

The one laughing the most heartily was the Crown Princess Xia Bing. The beautiful young woman, nourished by my touch, appeared radiant, her delicate skin seeming to drip with moisture. Her originally dignified and elegant face gained an added touch of softness.

Everyone assumed she looked younger and more beautiful because of her renewed favor, but only the beautiful Empress herself knew that it was because she had made love to Lan Ting several times, receiving his life essence, that she experienced physical and mental pleasure and became younger.

As she thought about it, the beautiful Empress recalled the thick, large thing writhing inside her, and the scene of it finally penetrating her womb and releasing its thick essence… The dignified and elegant Empress couldn't help but squeeze her jade legs together, trying to control the tingling and desire rising from the depths of her heart.

"Ugh… I'm not usually a woman who enjoys sex, but now this little lecher is making me want it more and more… He's such a bad guy…"

Xia Bing thought, her face slightly flushed.

If the Emperor didn't come, the women in the palace would generally go to bed early. But the Emperor would only wander around one or two palaces a night, so most of the beautiful concubines were destined to go to sleep early.

Therefore, occasionally, on the occasional birthday of a concubine or a party, everyone would use the excuse of playing until late, as this was one of their few forms of entertainment.

Xia Bing guessed that I would probably come to inquire about the news tonight, so she only chatted and drank for a while longer before making an excuse that she was tired and dismissing the concubines and eunuchs. Xia

Bing was, after all, the Crown Princess, so she had to be a bit more aloof. Furthermore, given her rising popularity, although everyone was reluctant to go back to rest so early, they had no choice but to comply.

The Empress, having drunk some wine, felt a little feverish. Fortunately, her maid had already prepared hot water, so she undressed, washed herself, and gracefully entered the large sandalwood bathtub.

"Your Majesty, your skin has improved so much these past few days..."

her trusted maid said enviously as she wiped her body, "I wonder if I'll be half as good as you are now when I reach your age?"

"What did you say?"

A maid beside her was startled, almost hurting Xia Bing's delicate hand. "How can you compare to Your Majesty? Even now, Your Majesty is ten or a hundred times better than you!"

The maid who had spoken earlier also realized that she couldn't possibly compare to the Empress. If her sister hadn't reminded her, she might have gotten herself into serious trouble.

Even so, her pretty face still turned pale.

"Alright, stop looking like that."

Xia Bing didn't need to look to know her emotional change. "You've all suffered with me for many years, I've seen it all. What's the big deal about these little things? Don't worry, our good days are coming!"

"Yes...we will follow Your Majesty to the death!"

the two maids said solemnly.

They thought Xia Bing would regain favor, but Xia Bing was thinking about the near future, when her son's position as crown prince was secure, and he would ascend the throne.

Just then, the beautiful empress suddenly stiffened, then waved her hand: "You may leave now, I want to rest for a while. Call me back in an hour."

"Yes!"

The two maids didn't dare to ask any more questions, closed the door and left.

As soon as the door closed, Xia Bing sat up, and at the same time, another person suddenly appeared in the room.

"Lanting..."

The dignified and elegant Empress rose to her feet like a lotus emerging from water, utterly captivating...

[Episode 31: Mission Accomplished] Chapter 7: Palace Anomaly

The mature woman, now awakened, was naturally alluring. No matter what position I positioned her in, Xia Bing was always willing to cooperate. If it weren't for discussing some serious matters, she wouldn't have only had five or six orgasms.

Through Xia Bing's further explanation, I had no doubt about the impending success. In high spirits, after leaving Xia Bing's palace, I felt the moonlight was particularly beautiful tonight.

Also because of my relaxed mood, my divine sense unconsciously expanded, and I was immediately horrified to discover that less than ten meters away, in a thicket of trees where it seemed impossible for anyone to be hiding, there was a faint, almost imperceptible aura.

My first thought was to kill her to silence her.

The only expert who could remain undetected by me is a peerless master. And this person is so close to Xia Bing's palace; clearly, they witnessed our intimate moment.

But why didn't they summon an army to ambush me?

Are they so arrogant as to think they can take me down in a one-on-one fight?

Hmph! Perfect!

Without alerting anyone, even if I kill this person, I'll only be charged with trespassing.

I'm not afraid of the Emperor of the Great Yuan Kingdom… but if my affair with Xiao Bing'er is exposed, she will surely face dire consequences, and Crown Prince Li Qun's position will plummet.

Xiao Bing'er is now my woman; I absolutely cannot do anything to hurt her.

After careful consideration, I transformed into a gust of wind, flying to a large tree ten meters away. With a whoosh of wind, I unleashed my Heavenly Demon Palm.

My full-force palm strike instantly sucked away all the surrounding air, causing the tree branches to bend horribly and be compressed into powder, scattering in the wind.

Those at the eye of the storm naturally felt it more acutely. Her face paled, and she couldn't help but cry out in alarm, raising her palm in surprise to block the thunderous blow.

The moment the Heavenly Demon Palm struck, my eyes clearly saw the peerless master standing among the branches. To my surprise, she was a stunningly beautiful, aloof young woman, and someone I knew… well, someone who could be considered my woman.

My beautiful teacher's wife, Dongfang Lu!

Of course, I couldn't kill her. Whether I made her my sex slave or concubine, Dongfang Lu was still my woman. How could I kill her? However, even I couldn't stop a full-force palm strike unscathed.

Gritting my teeth, I shifted my internal energy slightly to the side. It was precisely those few points that allowed Dongfang Lu to escape a mutually destructive outcome—in truth, she never expected me to dare to attack inside the palace. Caught off guard, she should have been the one more seriously injured in our fight.

However, while my attack deviated, Dongfang Lu's blocked palm strike didn't stop, striking my shoulder directly.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud followed, and I was sent flying, crashing into several large trees before finally stopping.

Blood gushed from my mouth. While my Heavenly Demon True Qi had largely neutralized Dongfang Lu's full-force palm strike, the internal injuries from forcibly changing the direction of her attack worsened my condition. I was in excruciating pain, and my true qi was somewhat disordered.

Damn it! I'd forgotten that because I needed her to protect Jiangnan's safety, I had already released Dongfang Lu from her restraints before leaving Jiangnan, so she had now regained the skills of a peerless master.

Standing where I was, Dongfang Lu watched as my deflected palm strike created a crater five or six meters deep in the ground beneath the tree. Her beautiful teacher's face shifted between light and shadow.

Frankly, I'd rather be injured myself than accidentally hurt her, which touched Dongfang Lu for a moment. However, since she dared to hunt down her former husband for a grudge, she

was clearly a ruthless woman. That tenderness vanished in an instant, replaced by a deep-seated killing intent. Dongfang Lu already knew that trying to kill me with her martial arts skills was utterly delusional. But now, I was unexpectedly injured, and it seemed quite serious. If she seized this opportunity, risking serious injury herself, it was entirely possible she could take my life.

Remembering how this despicable man had repeatedly taken advantage of her, and even... even made her humiliate herself and beg for mercy in front of him...

this... this was truly unforgivable! Her beautiful master's wife, her face flushed red, slowly revealed a murderous aura. True energy gathered in her jade-like hands, and the surrounding air became heavy. But at that moment, the image of Shangguan Xiaolian's delicate face flashed through Dongfang Lu's mind. Remembering her purpose for coming here today, she hesitated.

A while later, flames rose in the distance, and a clamor of voices approached.

Dongfang Lu immediately knew that the palace guards had arrived.

Looking at me lying on the ground, panting, Dongfang Lu gritted her teeth, her figure creating a fragrant breeze as she swept over me. With a flick of her long sleeves, she effortlessly lifted me up.

The next moment, amidst shouts and curses, our figures disappeared into the night sky.

Inside the pavilion of Puqing Nunnery, two stunningly beautiful young women were playing Go, occasionally exchanging a few words with a smile. An uninformed person would think they were sisters, and it would be hard to imagine that just a few months ago, they were rivals who were determined to climb to the top by stepping on each other.

"It's getting late, why hasn't that guy come back yet?"

Shangguan Xiaolian muttered as she placed a piece.

"Are you jealous?"

Murong Rui smiled. "Ever since you noticed the Empress's flushed face, you've scolded him countless times!"

Shangguan Xiaolian retorted angrily, "Doesn't he deserve to be scolded? Look at him, he has beautiful wives and concubines at home, and he keeps saying he likes us. But as soon as he came to the capital, he started flirting with the Empress. This guy is incredibly audacious! What will he do if the Emperor finds out!" "

In the end, you're still worried about him, aren't you?"

"Aren't you worried?"

"If necessary, I'm naturally very worried."

Murong Rui smiled. "But you know that Consort Xia has long since fallen out of favor, and the Emperor hasn't touched her in a long time. The new concubines are young, charming, and delicate. How could the Emperor know about Lanting and Consort Xia's affair?"

"I..."

Shangguan Xiaolian wanted to say something, but suddenly everything went black, and a figure appeared before her.

Oh, not a person, but a woman, who had thrown a man to the ground.

Upon seeing the woman standing there, Shangguan Xiaolian's eyes widened in surprise. "Ah... Sister, you scared me to death!"

"Ah!"

The delicate and beautiful girl had barely finished speaking when the ethereal and beautiful girl beside her screamed and threw herself onto the man on the ground.

"Poisonous Scorpion Demoness" only then realized something was wrong. When her eyes turned to the ground, her face also turned pale, and like Murong Rui, she screamed and threw herself onto me.

"How could this happen?"

the two beautiful girls cried out, their faces pale, their voices trembling with tears.

Especially Shangguan Xiaolian, who was utterly shocked, "I specially invited my cousin from Jiangnan, how come two peerless masters are together, and Lanting is still beaten like this? What kind of reclusive master has come?"

"Alright, alright, it's just a small accident, no need to be nervous."

I coughed lightly and said, "Ladies, could you please not lie on me? Otherwise, even if I'm not injured and unconscious, you'll crush me unconscious."

"Even at a time like this, you're still grinning..."

Murong Rui glared at me fiercely, but her eyes couldn't hide her worry. She even pulled open my clothes and looked at the wound on my shoulder, which was covered in bruises, obviously from being hit with full force.

"Don't look, help me up! I need to go inside to heal."

I said with difficulty.

Hearing this, the two beauties of Jiangnan almost burst into tears again.

They both knew that I was a veteran of the battlefield, and had fought without sleep. If it were a minor injury, I naturally wouldn't lie on the ground; only when the injury was too severe would I not be able to even crawl.

"How could this be..."

Shangguan Xiaolian felt a pang of pain in her heart. She and Murong Rui carefully helped me up, turning to ask, "Sister, who was so powerful?"

She hadn't yet asked, "Why was Lanting seriously injured, while you were unharmed?"

Dongfang Lu hesitated for a moment before replying, "I accidentally injured him..."

"Ah?"

The two beautiful girls exchanged glances, then suddenly realized—that made sense! Otherwise, how could someone so powerful possibly take on two top-tier masters single-handedly?

However, they were also curious, "Lanting's martial arts should be a bit higher than Dongfang Lu's, so how come..."

But this wasn't the best time to ask, so they obediently remained silent.

Seeing this, I smiled faintly and said, "Don't overthink it, it was just an accident. I should thank Madam Dongfang!"

Dongfang Lu raised an eyebrow; she understood my unspoken meaning—thank you for not taking the opportunity to kill me.

However, since she hadn't killed me in the palace, she naturally wouldn't kill me here either. Moreover, with what just happened, Dongfang Lu's hatred for me was also released to a considerable extent.

A faint mist rose around me in the room.

Healing was something I hadn't done in a long time. Since I mastered the Heavenly Demon Art, I've almost never encountered an opponent.

Plus, I usually have the Jing Gong sisters, Little Turtle, and Little Bird by my side. Even if a peerless master of my level came, they wouldn't dare to fight me head-on, let alone injure me.

Besides, if another peerless master strikes me, I don't need to worry about being injured; I should be worried about others, checking if their hands have been broken by my protective true energy.

To be honest, when Dongfang Lu knocked me to the ground today, my first reaction was, "Oh no!" This woman would definitely take this opportunity to retaliate and take my life.

After all, I obtained Dongfang Lu under duress. I've never given this vicious woman a chance to retaliate, but this unexpected event has given her such an opportunity. I certainly didn't want to give up my life, but in this situation, if Dongfang Lu insisted on killing me, then unless a god appeared, no one else could save me.

As a result, just as I closed my eyes to await death, Dongfang Lu surprisingly didn't kill me and even took me out of the palace, which greatly surprised me. Having

escaped death, I was now covered in a cold sweat; the torment I had endured was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Now, as I heal my wounds, I wasn't worried about any accidents. Since Dongfang Lu hadn't killed me earlier, she wouldn't kill me again. Not only that, she would protect me if anyone invaded.

Fortunately, Dongfang Lu also practiced demonic arts, and my Heavenly Demon Art neutralized much of the internal energy; otherwise, my shoulder bones would have shattered long ago.

After an hour of meditation and healing, the dark blood on my shoulder had dissipated somewhat, but the true energy in my dantian was still very chaotic. If I hadn't practiced the Heavenly Demon Art for many years, my true energy would have already collapsed.

In layman's terms, "true energy collapse" means the dissipation of internal energy. After the dissipation of internal energy, martial arts are naturally useless.

Although my Demonic Sect has a secret method to restore martial arts skills, it would still take more than ten years of arduous training to recover to my current level of skill.

Gradually, the true qi in my dantian slowly became a thin line, but to reach the previous state of flowing like a great river, I would probably need half a month of rest and healing.

"Creak..."

The door was gently opened. I was in the process of circulating my qi to heal, so of course I couldn't open my eyes, but from the fragrant aroma that wafted over, I knew it was a woman.

After the woman closed the door and sat cross-legged on the bed behind me, her fragrance became even stronger. I, who am good at recognizing women by their scent, was astonished: "Why is Dongfang Lu here, and so kindly healing me?"

"Although I wish I could kill you, but... you saved me once in Jiangnan, and you came to the capital for the sake of Jiangnan... so, this time you're lucky..."

The cool and charming young woman behind me muttered a few words in a low voice, then placed her smooth little hand on my back, and immediately a strong, cool aura surged into my meridians.

Others might not have been of much help in healing me, but Dongfang Lu, a fellow master and practitioner of demonic martial arts, was incredibly helpful.

Under Dongfang Lu's full power, my damaged meridians improved significantly in just half an hour. The dark blood on my shoulder had already flowed from the wound I had deliberately opened, and then, under the influence of my true energy, the wound completely healed—it was truly miraculous.

Another hour passed, and my injuries were almost completely healed. I also smelled Dongfang Lu's body fragrance, mixed with her sweat, much stronger and more alluring than before.

Slowly, I channeled my true energy into my dantian, simultaneously severing the connection between my true energy and Dongfang Lu's. She understood that I no longer needed her true energy and slowly withdrew her jade-like hands.

"Hoo..."

I exhaled, then suddenly thrust my hands backward. In the blink of an eye, the unsuspecting Dongfang Lu was struck on twelve acupoints, rendering her immobile.

"What are you doing?"

I hadn't struck her speech acupoint, so Dongfang Lu's angry outburst reached my ears.

I got out of bed first, then met her pair of clear, captivating eyes, and casually pinched her cheek: "Little Lu'er, how dare you hurt your husband! I won't feel at ease if I don't teach you a lesson today!"

Dongfang Lu was startled earlier, thinking I was repaying kindness with enmity and trying to eliminate her as a threat. Now, seeing me being so indecent towards her, she finally understood that I wasn't trying to kill her... But my confident demeanor still made my teacher's wife furious.

"You bastard! I was just trying to help you heal your wounds... You, you..."

"What? Wasn't it you who caused my injury?"

I kissed her on the lips: "Mmm... so fragrant... Little Lu'er, I'm going to take a shower first, and we'll take a bath together later!"

"No! I don't want to! Let me go... You beast! Bastard! You son of a bitch..."

Not far away was Shangguan Xiaolian and Murong Rui's room, so how could Dongfang Lu dare to shout loudly? Therefore, I pretended not to hear her low curses and hummed a little tune as I went into the bathroom next door.

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