[Fantasy] A Strange Encounter with an Immortal (Complete) - Chapters 25-27

Chapter Ten: The Joys and Sorrows of the Mortal World

Zhu Chuanzong did indeed come to the palace that day to discuss important matters with the Empress Dowager. Currently, the Empress Dowager and he, the Regent, held the reins of power in court. The Empress Dowager listened to him in everything; ultimately, it was still him who made the decisions. However, on the surface, he would present important military and state affairs to the Empress Dowager in court, and only after the Empress Dowager's approval could they proceed. Therefore, some major decisions sometimes required prior private communication with the Empress Dowager to avoid misunderstandings.

However, the Empress Dowager was deeply in love with him and was unwilling to let him leave so easily. Therefore, she instructed the eunuchs beforehand not to disturb them. After their discussion, they enjoyed some fresh fruits and vegetables, drank and chatted, and in their drunken revelry, they made love before reluctantly parting.

Zhu Chuanzong had originally planned to visit Princess Chang Le after his meeting with the Empress Dowager, but this lingering intimacy meant that it was already late when he left. Zhu Chuanzong figured the princess was probably already resting, so he decided to go the next day and left the palace to return home.

However, when he went to see Princess Chang Le the next day, he was stopped at the gate by a young palace maid. The

maid said the princess had ordered that she didn't want to see anyone that day, and that anyone who came should be turned away. Zhu Chuanzong, now wielding immense power and with the Empress Dowager's influence, treated the palace like his own backyard, free to come and go as he pleased. Who dared to stop him? But since it was Princess Chang Le who had spoken, he could only politely tell the maid, "Go and inform the princess that I've arrived, and she will see me."

The maid recognized Zhu Chuanzong and trembled with fear, but dared not disobey her mistress. She timidly said, "Her Highness said that especially… Your Highness, you are absolutely forbidden from entering."

Zhu Chuanzong was stunned, finally realizing that Princess Chang Le had come specifically for him. He wondered, "What's wrong? Is she angry with me?"

He didn't know about Princess Chang Le being stopped outside the Empress Dowager's palace the other day, and after thinking for a long time, he still couldn't figure out what he had done to offend the princess.

After talking for a while, the little palace maid still didn't dare to let him in. Zhu Chuanzong finally didn't dare to force him and had to leave first.

Princess Chang Le hid behind the courtyard gate and watched Zhu Chuanzong talking to the little palace maid. Seeing her lover so close, although she missed him terribly, she was

also angry that he was having an affair with the Empress Dowager and didn't cherish her, so she had to vent her anger. In the end, the princess was still angry at Zhu Chuanzong's philandering and jealousy. Although she was a celestial fairy, she was not immune to such girlish thoughts.

She stood behind the door, thinking, "No matter how long you beg, I won't see you today."

But seeing Zhu Chuanzong's anxious look, her heart softened, and she thought, "Otherwise, if he waits outside for an hour, I'll let him in."

Just as she was hesitating, Zhu Chuanzong actually left. Princess Chang Le felt a pang of bitterness, thinking, "He just left like that? He really doesn't care about me."

She turned and sat down on a stone bench under the shade of a tree, thinking of how utterly alone she was. She used to have a loving father, but now she had no family left. If she couldn't even rely on Zhu Chuanzong, what was the point of staying in this world?

Thinking this, Princess Chang Le felt a surge of impulse and wanted to chase after Zhu Chuanzong to see him and tell him her troubles. She hurried out the door, staring blankly, but Zhu Chuanzong was nowhere to be seen. Not wanting to go back, she wandered aimlessly, hoping that she might bump into her lover sometime, anywhere.

Princess Chang Le left her residence, filled with sorrow and melancholy, and wandered aimlessly through the palace, unknowingly arriving at the Imperial Garden. She saw all the flowers blooming beautifully, but she had no heart to appreciate them. All that remained in her mind were the sorrowful lines of poetry, "Look at the fading spring flowers, that's when beauty fades and death comes." She felt that all splendor must eventually dissipate, and that the joys and sorrows of the mortal world were but a fleeting dream. The south wind blew, causing her dress to rustle, which only amplified her melancholy.

Princess Chang Le gazed at the flowers for a long time before returning home. However, she caught a cold in the garden, and coupled with her melancholy, she fell ill that very night. Although she was a highly skilled physician, one who can heal cannot heal oneself, and since her illness stemmed from her own heart, it quickly became very serious.

Zhu Chuanzong, upon hearing this, was extremely anxious. This time, when he entered the palace again, he didn't care whether anyone tried to stop him or not. He barged directly into Princess Chang Le's room and saw that the princess looked sickly and haggard. He held her hand and said, "What happened? What did I do wrong? Just tell me. If I did something wrong, punish me. Why torture yourself like this?"

Princess Chang Le's eyes reddened, and she said, "You have important matters to attend to. Go and attend to your military and national affairs. This is my fate. I won't die."

As she spoke, she coughed.

Zhu Chuanzong felt even more distressed and said repeatedly, "What nonsense are you talking about? Xi'er, tell me what happened. I won't leave until you tell me!"

Princess Chang Le pulled her hand away and said, "Who am I to you? I don't deserve your concern. You should go. I want to sleep."

She turned her head away with tears streaming down her face, covered her face with the quilt, and ignored him.

Zhu Chuanzong sat there for a long time, wanting to ask more questions, but he was afraid that Princess Chang Le's weak body would disturb her rest. He sat restlessly pondering all afternoon, but still couldn't find the answer. Seeing that the princess hadn't woken up yet, he had no choice but to return home dejectedly.

Back home, Zhu Chuanzong kept thinking about the matter, when suddenly an idea struck him. He remembered that Xue Jinxian and Princess Chang Le were very close, and perhaps she knew the reason. He immediately went to find Xue Jinxian.

After listening to Zhu Chuanzong's story, Xue Jinxian thought for a moment and smiled, "Did she really ask you that? Then, what is the princess to you?"

Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback and said, "Why are you asking that too? Of course, she's my lover."

Xue Jinxian glanced at him and sighed, "No wonder the princess is angry with you; you're really clueless. If I were the princess, I wouldn't let you off the hook!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "You've confused me. Good wife, please enlighten your husband."

Xue Jinxian said, "Forget it! If you wait until you figure it out, who knows when that will be. This matter isn't difficult to resolve. Just do as I teach you, and the princess will naturally forgive you."

She then beckoned Zhu Chuanzong closer and whispered a few words in his ear. Zhu Chuanzong smiled wryly, "Does it really have to be this way? Isn't there an easier way?"

Xue Jinxian laughed, "There are certainly clever and easy ways. But this clumsy method is only suitable for a clumsy person like you. Besides, haven't you heard of 'sincerity brings results'?"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "The more clumsy your husband is, the more your wisdom shines through!"

After chatting and laughing for a while, they rested at Xue Jinxian's place.

The next day, Zhu Chuanzong arrived at Princess Chang Le's residence, but did not enter the house; he simply stood in the courtyard. A palace maid came to invite him into the room, but Zhu Chuanzong said, "I won't go in. Go tell the princess that if she doesn't forgive me, I'll stand here

indefinitely." Princess Chang Le, upon hearing this, struggled to her feet and was helped to the door. She said, "What are you standing here for? Don't you have anything better to do?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Xi'er, have I offended you in some way? I apologize. If you're not angry, then punish me by making me stand here in the wind and sun."

Princess Chang Le shook her head and said, "You haven't offended me; it's all my fault."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "So you're saying you still won't forgive me? Then I won't leave."

Princess Chang Le said, "Then do as you please."

She turned and went back into the room, lay down on the bed, and instructed, "None of you should bother with him. Let him stand there. Let me know when he leaves."

Princess Chang Le thought that Zhu Chuanzong was probably trying to move her with this method, and that he would leave when he got tired of standing. She was now so ill that she was exhausted and thought for a while before falling asleep.

In the evening, a servant came to report, "The Prince is still standing in the courtyard."

Princess Chang Le was startled, thinking, "It's been seven or eight hours already. If he's exhausted..."

She considered asking someone to invite Zhu Chuanzong in, but then remembered her own grievances and sorrow. If she let it go like this, wouldn't he look down on her even more? She hardened her heart and said, "Never mind."

She immediately ordered someone to serve dinner. Princess Chang Le was ill and already had little appetite. Coupled with her thoughts of Zhu Chuanzong, she only ate a couple of bites before she couldn't eat anymore. Her mind was filled with thoughts of, "He hasn't eaten yet..."

After finishing her meal, she lit candles and picked up a volume of poetry, trying to read it under the lamplight, but she couldn't concentrate .

She kept glancing out the window, and finally, unable to resist, she went to the window and looked out through the crack.

In the moonlight, she saw Zhu Chuanzong standing with his hands at his sides. He seemed to sense her gaze and smiled in her direction. Princess Chang Le's heart trembled. She quickly looked away, taking a few steps back to sit on the bed, her heart pounding. She immediately berated herself, "You've suffered enough sorrow, how can you still not understand? How can you still be moved?"

But the feelings in her heart remained unresolved.

More than an hour passed in this state of unease. Princess Chang Le took her medicine, and drowsiness gradually crept in.

Still unable to shake off her worries, she sent someone to persuade Zhu Chuanzong to return home. The servant reported back that Zhu Chuanzong refused to leave. The princess, fearing that things would continue like this, couldn't bear it any longer and finally fell asleep to stop thinking about it. With the help of the medicine, she slowly drifted off to sleep again.

Around midnight, she was suddenly awakened by a clap of thunder. Sitting up, she saw lightning and thunder; it had started raining heavily. Princess Chang Le was startled and went to the window. She saw Zhu Chuanzong still standing in the courtyard, completely soaked.

Princess Chang Le burst into tears, staggering to the door, her eyes brimming with tears, and cried, "Are you out of your mind? Come in quickly!"

Zhu Chuanzong called out in the rain, "Have you forgiven me?"

Princess Chang Le nodded repeatedly, choking back sobs, unable to speak. Only then did Zhu Chuanzong enter, and the two immediately embraced.

After Zhu Chuanzong dried his face and changed into dry clothes, Princess Chang Le scolded, "Are you crazy? If I hadn't let you in, you were just going to get soaked in the rain?"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "Since you're angry and ignoring me anyway, there's no point in me living. I might as well just get soaked to death."

Princess Chang Le covered his mouth and said, "Don't talk nonsense. If something happens to you, I... what will we do?"

Hearing this, Zhu Chuanzong knew that Princess Chang Le was truly no longer angry, and he was overjoyed.

When asked about the reason, Princess Chang Le briefly recounted what had happened outside the Empress Dowager's palace the day before. Zhu Chuanzong angrily said, "That servant is so bold! When did I say no one was allowed to come in? I must punish him!"

Princess Chang Le said, "Forget it, what's past is past. Why bother with him?"

What she was really bothered about wasn't this incident, but what she truly cared about was something Zhu Chuanzong couldn't provide. Now that she knew her importance in Zhu Chuanzong's heart and Zhu Chuanjing's true feelings for her, she didn't want to pursue anything else.

Princess Chang Le, having resolved her inner turmoil, was in much better spirits, and her illness gradually subsided day by day. However, illness comes like a landslide and recovery is slow and gradual, and it wouldn't be a matter of just a few days. Besides handling the most important political affairs, Zhu Chuanzong still made time for her every day. Sometimes the princess would play the zither and sing for him, and sometimes Zhu Chuanzong would tell her about strange encounters and bizarre cases he had encountered in the past; their days were truly filled with joy.

One day, Zhu Chuanzong brought a pair of canaries, a gift from an official from out of town who had come to the capital to report on his duties. One male and one female canary were not only beautiful but also had melodious songs; they were truly rare treasures. Zhu Chuanzong immediately brought them to present to the princess.

Princess Chang Le was indeed delighted with them. She held the cage up to her eyes, playing with the birds, completely captivated. But as she looked at them, Princess Chang Le suddenly stopped, letting out a soft sigh.

Zhu Chuanzong, puzzled, asked, "What, don't you like them?"

Princess Chang Le replied, "I do like them, but don't you think they're pitiful?"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "You mean these birds? What's pitiful about them? We didn't kill them, nor did we roast them. They live in gilded cages and eat exquisite birdseed; even humans would envy their lives."

Princess Chang Le shook her head, "No matter how good the gilded cage is, it's not what they want. Freedom is the most precious thing. Every creature in the world has its own life. It's cruel of us to deprive them of their right to live freely for our own enjoyment and selfishness." Zhu

Chuanzong asked, "What do you mean?"

Princess Chang Le said, "Why don't we release them and let them return to their carefree world?"

Zhu Chuanzong nodded in agreement. The two went into the courtyard, opened the cage, and two canaries flew out chirping happily. They circled around Princess Chang Le twice before soaring into the blue sky. Princess Chang Le watched them gradually disappear into the clouds, a happy smile spreading across her face.

Zhu Chuanzong simply smiled at the princess. Princess Chang Le blushed and said, "What are you laughing at?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Since I've seen you, I've thought you were most beautiful in three moments. Just now, when you released the birds, that was one."

Princess Chang Le laughed, "Oh? What are the other two?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "And the time when you were helping those poor and sick people in Xiazhou City. And the other one…"

Seeing the princess listening intently, he couldn't help but laugh, saying, "It was in heaven, when I first saw you sing."

Princess Chang Le paused, then suddenly remembered that she was bathing in the Milky Way at the time. She blushed deeply and sighed, "You dare say that! You lecherous little fairy!"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed triumphantly. Princess Chang Le gazed at him, thinking, "We've been through so much, from heaven to the mortal realm, and finally we're together. This is already a rare blessing. Why should I be bound by formalities? If he doesn't want to marry me, so be it. This is already good enough."

But looking at the drifting white clouds, a longing arose in her heart, and she even envied the two birds. When could she escape this mortal world and return to the carefree, untroubled heavens?

Episode 9

Synopsis:

Life is often filled with disappointments. Even Zhu Chuanzong, who enjoyed all the riches and power of the world, was powerless. Faced with the ascension of the Purple Silk Fairy, he couldn't let go of worldly affairs to go to the immortal realm with her, and could only offer his heartfelt blessings!

However, the passing of the Old Madam, Xiao Yu's renunciation of worldly life... a series of events made him sigh at the impermanence of life. But during a private visit, he unexpectedly encountered a young woman who resembled the Purple Silk Fairy. Was it a coincidence, or the Purple Silk Fairy reincarnated? Or was it an arrangement of fate?

Cover Character: Winter Snow

Chapter One: Wealth Overwhelms

Zhu Chuanzong, after two years of fighting, finally defeated Pang Laixiao and captured the capital. However, seeing that the situation was hopeless, Pang Laixiao, before his death, slaughtered Tang Zhi and a group of royal family members before committing suicide by self-immolation. At the recommendation of the masses, Zhu Chuanzong placed his son Tang Hui, born to Consort Mei, on the throne, and Consort Mei became the Empress Dowager.

Tang Hui was only two years old and unable to govern. The Empress Dowager issued an edict appointing Zhu Chuanzong as Regent and Left Chancellor. Zhu Chuanzong held both military and political power in his hands, becoming incredibly powerful.

A little over a month later, the entire Zhu family returned to the capital under the strict escort of the army, causing a stir throughout the city. The Zhu family was already a wealthy and powerful clan. Now, with Zhu Chuanzong as Regent, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were the most powerful family in the land. The ministers were all secretly plotting how to curry favor with the Zhu family, so that their future would be secure.

The Zhu family moved back into their original residence. After Pang Laixiao came to power, he vacated the Zhu family's house to serve as his own villa, thus preserving it remarkably well. Zhu Chuanzong then renovated it, making it even more magnificent than before. Naturally, the Zhu family held a banquet to celebrate their return home, which coincided with the old matriarch's 80th birthday. With double the joy, the celebration was even more grand.

Officials, upon hearing the news, were overjoyed. Could there be a better opportunity to curry favor with Zhu Chuanzong? If their gifts pleased the old matriarch and they could speak well of her to Zhu Chuanzong, future wealth and honor would be within their grasp. Therefore, they all exerted all their efforts, racking their brains to collect rare and precious treasures.

The day of the birthday banquet arrived in the blink of an eye. The Zhu family was brightly decorated, and guests flocked to the house. All the ministers of the court with any power were invited. Many officials of lower rank who hadn't received invitations arrived uninvited, presenting gifts at the gate and registering before leaving satisfied. Even though they couldn't personally pay their respects to the Dowager, simply writing their names on the document, letting the prince know they had sent gifts and that they existed, was a great blessing!

The Dowager, dressed in her birthday robes, sat in the center, accompanied by Zhu Youji and Zhu Chuanzong below. The Three Dukes, Nine Ministers, Six Ministries Ministers, and Three Censors all came forward one by one to offer their congratulations with the respect due to juniors. The spectacle was almost like an emperor holding court, leaving the guests secretly astonished.

When the birthday gifts were presented, everyone was truly amazed. Pearls the size of longan eyes, three-foot-tall corals, fully formed ginseng, and priceless calligraphy and paintings—each item was priceless, dazzling the eyes. Although the officials present had seen many fine things, such a display of treasures was something they could only dream of. Many people craned their necks to look, thinking, "We must take a closer look. So many treasures! To see them even once in a lifetime would be a blessing!"

The Old Madam, having seen much of the world, wasn't particularly concerned with the precious gifts. However, seeing the Zhu family's current prosperity truly brought her joy. Even when the Old Master was alive, the Zhu family at its peak couldn't compare to their current state!

Thinking this, the Old Madam glanced to the side and saw her grandson, Zhu Chuanzong, smiling and returning the guests' greetings with remarkable poise. She couldn't help but be overjoyed, her smile widening. She thought to herself that the Zhu family was truly blessed to have such descendants, a blessing from heaven and the ancestors.

Just then, a servant announced that the Empress Dowager, along with the Emperor and Princess Chang Le, had arrived to offer birthday greetings. The crowd erupted in excitement. With

the Emperor young and the Empress Dowager ruling from behind the curtain, she was effectively the ruler of the land. Since the founding of this dynasty, no matter how virtuous or respected a minister was, receiving a gift from the Emperor was considered an immense favor. How could the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have ever personally come to offer birthday greetings? It was truly unbelievable.

Furthermore, Princess Chang Le was the most beloved daughter of the late Emperor Mingzong, rarely leaving the palace. Ministers had only heard of her name, longing to meet her but never having the chance. She had never even attended royal celebrations in the past. Unexpectedly, they had the honor of seeing her today, truly thanks to the Regent. The current royal

family was in decline; the true core consisted of only the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and Princess Chang Le. The fact that all three were present clearly demonstrated the extent of the royal family's regard for Zhu Chuanzong. The officials present were all intelligent; none could fail to understand.

The Old Madam, with her entire family, hurriedly went to the door to greet them, and even the guests knelt to pay their respects. The Old Madam was about to return the courtesy, but the Empress Dowager quickly said, "Your Majesty, there's no need for such formalities. Today is Your Majesty's birthday; I've come to offer my congratulations." She

then ordered gifts to be presented. Even if the gift wasn't extremely valuable, its significance was immense, let alone a carefully selected precious treasure from the palace. The old lady thanked her and had it taken to the back hall for worship. The Empress

Dowager, having already offered her birthday greetings, couldn't linger and returned to the palace with the Emperor; Princess Chang Le entered the main hall. Everyone stared intently, admiring the princess, who wore a soft red gauze dress with a sash at her waist. Her figure was graceful, her skin like jade, and every gesture exuded an ethereal charm and natural elegance. It was a pity her face was veiled, obscuring her features. However, from the glimpses of her bright, watery eyes and her rounded, jade-like chin, one could already imagine the princess's stunning beauty.

Princess Chang Le's birthday gift was a calligraphy scroll she had personally written, which read: "May the Emperor wish you a long life, may the ministers wish you a long life, may the officials of three dynasties also wish you a long life, may this truly be an octogenarian mother throughout the land; may your husband be a Minister, may your son be a Minister, may your grandson, who governs all officials, also become a Minister early,

may this be the great lady of the eighty-year-old Jiangnan." The congratulatory message was excellent, and the princess's calligraphy was superb, drawing praise from everyone. People thought, "The old lady's late husband was Minister of War, and her son Zhu Youji is Minister of Works, both are true. However, Zhu Chuanzong is no longer a Minister, he has become Prime Minister. The Zhu family has produced three generations of Ministers, truly remarkable!"

The old lady was very pleased with the congratulatory scroll and thanked them repeatedly. Princess Chang Le smiled slightly and went to the seating area for the women in the back hall. Hua Caiyun, Zhu Shuiyue, Yue Keren, and other women were there. Princess Chang Le greeted them and sat down next to Xue Jinxian, her closest friend.

Xue Jinxian laughed, "It's truly a rare treat that the princess has come today. Especially that birthday couplet, it's absolutely wonderful, I admire it!"

Princess Chang Le said, "Sister, please don't tease me. I don't have anything to give, just a few words, I'm afraid it's embarrassing."

Xue Jinxian said, "Not at all. I noticed that your husband didn't react at all to any valuable gifts, but when he heard you were coming, he was overjoyed, even more so than when he heard the Empress Dowager or the Emperor were coming."

Princess Chang Le blushed and said, "I didn't notice that."

The two chatted and laughed for a while. At this time, the banquet began, and everyone toasted and ate and drank. Zhu Chuanzong seemed to be surrounded by a crowd, and wherever he went, he was showered with flattery. Officials of all ranks squeezed forward, their faces beaming, constantly saying nice things.

Princess Chang Le frowned upon seeing this, showing utter disgust. She couldn't help but say, "How shameless are these people? Zhu Chuanzong actually listened and even nodded repeatedly. Doesn't he know they're all lying?"

Xue Jinxian advised, "In officialdom, flattery and politeness are unavoidable; it's an age-old tradition. Every official is well-versed in this, and even you, sir, are not immune. Although he is a powerful prince, he still relies on these officials to govern the country. Therefore, although everyone understands this, they still have to put on a show; it's unchangeable. Look at many ministers who were originally..." "As for Lai Xiao's accomplices, we can't kill them all to win people over; some still have to be used."

Princess Chang Le, being intelligent, understood this, but she still found it hard to accept such hypocritical and vulgar interpersonal tactics. She sat sullenly for a while, then noticed the rare gifts and whispered, "These are all birthday gifts? Such valuable things are rarely seen even in the palace; ten years' salary couldn't buy them. These are clearly ill-gotten gains; he should have arrested them all. How could he accept them with a smile?"

Xue Jinxian could only offer further advice, explaining the state of affairs in officialdom. Princess Chang Le sighed, "I didn't know before, but in the past two years, I've seen too much of the people's suffering, while the officials live such extravagant lives. Is this what he meant by 'serving the people'?"

Xue Jinxian said, "Traditions can't be changed overnight. I believe my husband will find a way in the future." He then laughed, "Luckily, Ling'er is out of the capital on behalf of her godfather, otherwise she would definitely be furious here. You two are quite alike."

Princess Chang Le lost interest and, after sitting for a while, took her leave and returned to the palace.

The birthday banquet lasted until late at night. Zhu Chuanzong drank himself into a stupor and slept until dawn the next day. When he woke up, he felt thirsty and called out, "Bring me water, I want some water!"

At this moment, a woman gently responded, lifted Zhu Chuanzong's shoulder, and carefully and gently fed him water.

Zhu Chuanzong took a few sips of his drink, then looked up and saw Nuanyun. He

exclaimed with delight, "Nuanyun, what are you doing here? Weren't you transferred to the Dowager's quarters?" Seeing Zhu Chuanzong's joy, Nuanyun was also happy. She smiled and said, "The Dowager said... I was originally your maid, and I'm used to taking care of you, so she let me come back. What, you don't want me to?"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "I couldn't be happier. I was planning to talk to the matriarch in a few days and ask her to come back."

He pulled Nuanyun to sit down on the couch. After talking for a while, Zhu Chuanzong saw Nuanyun's almond-shaped face, her eyebrows lightly drawn, her face lightly powdered, and her smile gentle and lovely. As she spoke, her small mouth exhaled a warm, fragrant breath, and he couldn't help but feel aroused. He laughed, "It's been so long since I've tasted the flavor of your little mouth. Come, let the young master have a taste!"

Nuanyun blushed and said, "Why are you being so improper as soon as you wake up? This isn't good..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhu Chuanzong had already pulled her onto the bed and started kissing her. Nuanyun hadn't seen the young master for so long and had missed him day and night, so she didn't struggle much. Her face flushed, she stuck out her fragrant tongue and let him taste it. Just as the two were getting intimate, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Xiao Yu walked in. Seeing this scene, she laughed, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I disturbed you!"

Nuanyun blushed and struggled out of Zhu Chuanzong's arms, lowering her head to straighten her clothes. Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "Xiao Yu, weren't you in the old lady's room too? How come..."

Xiao Yu saw Zhu Chuanzong being intimate with Nuan Yun and heard him ask this question. She felt jealous and sneered, "The old lady thought I wasn't serving her well enough, so she sent me back. I'm so clumsy, and I've already disturbed the young master's good time. I deserve to die. If the young master doesn't want to see me, he can send me out to chop wood and fetch water."

She finished speaking with a displeased expression.

Zhu Chuanzong quickly said, "How could that be? The young master likes you the most and dreams of seeing you."

He was afraid that Nuan Yun would be angry, so he simply hugged both of them and laughed, "You are both the young master's darlings. I can't bear to send either of you away."

Xiao Yu didn't want to embarrass him too much, so she poked Zhu Chuanzong's forehead and laughed, "You're so greedy! Fine, then I, the annoying one, will just stay here shamelessly."

As the three of them were talking and laughing, Siji also entered the room. Six pretty maids surrounded Zhu Chuanzong, helping him dress and wash.

Dressed in his official robes, Zhu Chuanzong was handsome and imposing, his imposing presence captivating the six women.

Zhu Chuanzong recalled the time when he regained his memories, when he was also served by six maids in a similar manner. However, back then he was fat and clumsy, even the maids looked down on him—a stark contrast to his current state. Thinking of this, he felt both nostalgic and proud, pinching the maids' cheeks and laughing heartily as he left.

A few days later, Wang Daniu and the others came to bid farewell to Zhu Chuanzong. They had rendered considerable service in the past two years, and the court rewarded them accordingly. Some were promoted to prefect, others to garrison commander—all fourth-rank civil and military officials, achieving great success and bringing honor to their families.

Moreover, these four were all from the Zhu family, Zhu Chuanzong's trusted confidants, naturally setting them apart from other officials of the same rank. Once they took office, even their superiors would surely treat them differently, and promotion would be just around the corner.

These four men were originally from poor backgrounds, and they owed their current positions entirely to Zhu Chuanzong's patronage; their gratitude towards him was beyond words. They knelt on the ground and kowtowed, but Zhu Chuanzong pulled them up, laughing, "You are no longer my servants, but high-ranking officials of the imperial court. Don't kneel so casually in the future, lest you lose face."

The men repeatedly said they dared not, saying they owed their current positions entirely to the young master, who was like a second parent to them. They would always be servants of the Zhu family, and would go through fire and water for his command. Wang Daniu even burst into tears, saying he couldn't bear to part with the young master and would rather remain a servant in the Zhu family than become an official.

Zhu Chuanzong couldn't help but smile upon hearing this. He thought that although the officialdom was the best place to temper a person, it was rare to find such a simpleton as Wang Daniu, who was illiterate and still retained his innocence. He then instructed him, "When you go out into the world, you will represent the Zhu family. Don't disgrace me. Work hard for a few years. If you do well, how could I not promote you? High positions and generous salaries are yet to come. But if you dare to embezzle or break the law, you all know my methods. I will definitely not let you off the hook! You will be punished more severely than others."

The four men nodded obsequiously, patting their chests and promising to be honest officials. Zhu Chuanzong encouraged them again and then ordered them to set off for their posts.

Zhu Chuanzong saw that his power was now very consolidated, and he could finally govern the country according to his own ideas.

He had been an official for so many years and had witnessed much of the darkness and unreasonable system in the bureaucracy. Previously, he was merely a tool the emperor used to intimidate officials, constrained by various restrictions. He couldn't eliminate the corrupt officials he wanted to kill, and cases he wanted to investigate often couldn't be thoroughly pursued. Now, with power in his hands, he was full of ambition and planned to make great strides.

He believed that the key to governing the country was, first and foremost, the governance of the bureaucracy. Corruption and lawlessness among officials not only caused suffering for the people but also undermined the foundation of the nation, being the source of all evil. Therefore, he decided that his first step would be a vigorous crackdown on official corruption, and the method for this was to enact strict laws. He believed that with harsh penalties to deter officials, any who dared to break the law would be severely punished immediately, and in this way, naturally no one would dare to be corrupt or break the law.

When Wu Siyuan discussed this with Zhu Chuanzong, he disagreed, saying, "Humans are inherently greedy. Officials wield power but are unsupervised. In such a situation, expecting people to be completely unaffected by temptation is like trying to stop a cat from eating fish—it's simply impossible. No matter how harsh the laws are, only a minority will be punished. Given the opportunity, some will still take the risk, hoping to get away with it. How can you possibly eliminate them all, sir?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "It's true that people are greedy, but they are even more afraid of death. Killing ten won't work; I'll kill a hundred, a thousand. I refuse to believe that anyone values money more than their life."

Wu Siyuan sighed, "If you kill everyone, sir, who will become officials?"

Zhu Chuanzong was highly unconvinced. With so many people in the world, surely there are those who want to be officials.

However, Zhu Chuanzong knew that Wu Siyuan's thinking was far-sighted and that he must have his reasons. Therefore, he didn't immediately implement harsh laws but instead conducted a large-scale education campaign for the officials. Whenever a newly appointed official was about to take office, Zhu Chuanzong would personally speak with him, patiently explaining the principles to them.

He also gave the officials an example: An official who honestly lives off his salary is like guarding a spring at the bottom of a well; the water may not be full, but it won't dry up, and he can draw from it for a lifetime. Is ill-gotten gains truly beneficial? If you plunder the people's wealth, causing widespread resentment, even the most ingenious conspiracy cannot be concealed. Once exposed, you'll first be imprisoned and tortured, then sent to a labor camp for hard labor. Where will your ill-gotten gains be then? Thousands of miles away. Your wife and children may have kept them, or they may not have. Most of the stolen goods are hidden in the hands of outsiders. If you want money then, they will ruin your family, and the stolen goods will become someone else's. Therefore, unclean money is utterly useless.

The officials had all heard that the Regent Prince, known in his youth as "Zhu the Upright," was extremely righteous and hated corrupt officials. Therefore, they were all sincerely convinced and promised to be good officials.

Zhu Chuanzong was very satisfied with the effectiveness of his measures, thinking that perhaps those harsh punishments would no longer be necessary. However, less than a year later, a major case occurred, enraging him greatly.

It turned out that more than half a year earlier, the Minister of Revenue had retired due to old age. Zhu Chuanzong carefully selected a man named Qin Huai from among the officials of the Ministry of Revenue to succeed him. Qin Huai was in his forties, very capable, and had always had a reputation for integrity. Zhu Chuanzong had high hopes for him.

However, only half a year after Qin Huai took office, he was accused of embezzlement, bribery, and abusing his power for personal gain.

Zhu Chuanzong was initially skeptical and ordered the Censorate to investigate thoroughly. Unexpectedly, the evidence was irrefutable.

One example is that in the spring, several prefectures in the Taiping Prefecture area suffered from drought, and Zhu Chuanzong ordered the reduction or exemption of taxes and grain rations. However, Qin Huai outwardly complied but inwardly defied the order, continuing to collect grain from these areas as before, but instead of turning over the grain rations to the government treasury, he embezzled it all.

In this way, the amount of money and grain embezzled and misappropriated was enormous, amounting to over ten thousand taels of silver. This wasn't all; Qin Huai and his cronies devised numerous pretexts to exploit the people when collecting taxes.

For example, when collecting grain, one shi (a unit of dry measure) of rice was worth two guan (a unit of currency), but beyond that, he demanded other fees from the people: 100 wen for water transport (using a boat); 300 wen for cart transport (after the boat transport was completed, cart transport was required); 100 wen for food (for people and horses); 100 wen for warehouse management; 100 wen for packing grain in reed baskets; 100 wen for bamboo baskets; and 100 wen for worshipping deities along the way to prevent the boat from capsizing in strong winds.

So, one shi of grain cost two guan of paper money—how much extra money! These various methods made the common people suffer immensely.

For example, the army had to collect hay from the people to feed their warhorses. Qin Huai and his cronies accepted bribes; whoever bribed them was exempt from the hay tax. He then shifted this burden onto other regions that hadn't bribed him, adding another expense. There were also methods like adding water to grain and beans—that is, mixing water into the grain and storing it damp in the granary, and mixing water into the harvested beans before storing them. This caused large quantities of grain in the granaries to rot, to the point that the granaries had to be demolished and the grain buried.

Zhu Chuanzong was truly shocked by these evidences and case files. During Emperor Mingzong's reign, the bureaucracy was corrupt, and he investigated cases and punished corrupt officials everywhere, but he had never seen such a large-scale corruption case. He never imagined that after he came to power, the officialdom would be so clean, only to find it even more corrupt than before. Zhu Chuanzong was furious; it seemed that only by implementing harsh laws could he succeed.

Ignoring Wu Siyuan's advice, he began to implement cruel punishments on a large scale. The new law stipulated that officials who embezzled ten taels of silver would be hanged. Ten taels was equivalent to a middle-class family's annual income; under the previous law, this would only result in exile. As for caning, tattooing, and various other tortures, they were frequently used. Officials found guilty of even the slightest crime would be subjected to severe torture, nearly losing their lives; those with slightly more serious offenses would face certain death.

The thorough investigation of the Qin Huai case revealed a wide-ranging network. From Qin Huai, the Minister of Revenue, down to the left and right vice ministers, and various department heads, almost no one with any power or position was spared. Moreover, at the local level, prefects, clerks in charge of finances, and grain guards were all deeply entrenched, like a spider web. Further down the line, the grain embezzled by Qin Huai and others naturally had to be sold for silver, which in turn exposed a large number of unscrupulous wealthy merchants who amassed fortunes through collusion with the government. Zhu Chuanzong ordered a nationwide manhunt for stolen goods, vowing to punish everyone involved without exception.

He imposed severe penalties, implicating the Ministry of Revenue and all twelve provincial administrations. Those who offered bribes, harbored stolen goods, or sold stolen goods faced punishments ranging from exile to execution, totaling three to four thousand people. The Ministry of Revenue was practically empty.

This harsh punishment had two consequences. First, officials lived in constant fear, going to the government office every day with trepidation, unsure if they would return home safely. Second, many officials, seizing the opportunity, pandered to Zhu Chuanzong's wishes, fabricating charges and framing colleagues in hopes of reward and promotion.

However, the administration did indeed become much more transparent. Officials were now trembling with fear; those who dared to defy the law and break the law were extremely rare. Seeing the positive results of his policies, Zhu Chuanzong was quite pleased with himself and smiled at Wu Siyuan, saying, "Mr. Wu, look how good the atmosphere in officialdom is now; it's clear my methods are correct."

Wu Siyuan replied, "Sir, cruel laws can only be effective temporarily. And haven't you heard the saying 'too much of a good thing'? Officials' crimes vary in severity, and corrupt officials can be categorized as capable or incompetent. Now, regardless of other factors, you immediately punish anyone who commits even the slightest offense. Officials are dismissed, and many inexperienced and unqualified people are temporarily promoted to fill the positions. You must know that sometimes the harm caused by mediocre officials is no less than that of corrupt officials!"

Zhu Chuanzong was now in a high position of power, and no one dared to contradict him. Moreover, he considered this rectification a success, and after hearing Wu Siyuan's criticism, he was inevitably somewhat displeased and asked, "Then, sir, what do you suggest we do?"

Wu Siyuan said that rule of law is better than rule of man. Only by constraining officials through the system, preventing them from having the opportunity to commit crimes, can long-term stability be achieved.

Zhu Chuanzong scoffed, "Isn't the system of punishment used to restrain officials now?"

Wu Siyuan explained his ideas and tried to persuade him several times, but seeing that Zhu Chuanzong wouldn't listen, he stopped.

A few days later, he resigned his post and wanted to return to his hometown, Dongshan, to live in seclusion.

Zhu Chuanzong tried his best to persuade him to stay, but Wu Siyuan was determined to leave. So Zhu Chuanzong had no choice but to agree. Zhu Chuanzong petitioned the Empress Dowager to issue an edict granting the entire Dongshan to Wu Siyuan, prohibiting ordinary people from disturbing him, for his use in seclusion.

Chapter Two: Reluctant Parting

Wu Siyuan and Zhu Chuanzong disagreed, and Wu Siyuan resigned and went into seclusion. A few days later, Grand Marshal Wang Dingkun also came to see Zhu Chuanzong, saying he wanted to relinquish his military power and resign from his position as Grand Marshal.

Zhu Chuanzong was puzzled and asked, "Brother, you are a renowned general of the court, unmatched in leading troops. If you don't take the position of marshal, who is? Besides, you're doing a great job. We're in charge of the court now. Who would dare to oppose you?"

Wang Dingkun laughed, "Your Highness and I are sworn brothers. Who would dare to oppose me? But now the world is at peace, and there are no battles. This marshal position is meaningless to me. I've fought half my life and I'm tired. I want to enjoy my retirement."

Zhu Chuanzong couldn't force him, so he agreed to Wang Dingkun's request to relieve him of his marshalship and instead appoint him as Grand Protector. The Grand Protector was one of the Three Dukes, a highly prestigious position, nominally the highest commander of the army, but without actual military power.

Although Zhu Chuanzong was pleased to regain control of the military, Wang Dingkun's resignation still made him feel uneasy, as if the brotherhood wasn't as close and casual as before. He understood why Wang Dingkun had resigned. It must be because of his recent ruthless purge of officials, which made Wang Dingkun fear that Wang's control of military power would arouse his suspicion. Coupled with Wu Siyuan's retirement, Wang Dingkun's worries only intensified, leading him to relinquish power for peace.

Zhu Chuanzong, thinking about this, felt uneasy. He wholeheartedly wanted to create a clean and honest court for the people, allowing them to live a good life free from oppression. Why was Mr. Wu opposing him? Why were his sworn brothers afraid of him? Was power truly so terrifying? Or had he truly changed after gaining power?

Zhu Chuanzong returned home, remembering his sister-in-law Hua Caiyun's familiarity with officialdom and her keen insight, and decided to talk to her. So he strolled to Guanyun Courtyard.

To his surprise, Hua Caiyun, after listening to his story, also agreed with Wu Siyuan's assessment. She said the criminal law was too harsh and made too many enemies. Although Zhu Chuanzong currently held immense power and could practically control everything, he couldn't go against the entire officialdom. In officialdom, one had to leave room for maneuver and couldn't go too far. She also said the Zhu family's wealth and status had reached their peak, and they didn't need to accumulate any more merits or achievements. Zhu Chuanzong just needed to maintain control of the court

. Hearing his sister-in-law only consider the Zhu family's interests and couldn't understand his aspirations to serve the people, Zhu Chuanzong became even more depressed. He chatted with his sister-in-law for a while, and just then, Hua Caiyun went to pay her respects to the old matriarch. Zhu Chuanzong excused himself and left Guanyun Courtyard.

He walked around the courtyard with his hands behind his back and his head down, thinking, "Did I do something wrong?"

He felt he had a clear conscience, but even his best friend and family opposed him, which made him uncertain about his actions.

Then he came to a newly built, exquisitely decorated courtyard. The door bore the inscription "Keren Xiaozhu," a residence built specifically for his wife, Yue Keren. Zhu Chuanzong recalled how he had been either spending his time with Princess Chang Le or preoccupied with state affairs, neglecting Yue Keren somewhat. He felt a pang of longing and stepped inside.

Yue Keren was reading a letter by the window when Zhu Chuanzong arrived. Overjoyed, she personally brewed him a cup of tea and smiled, "Husband, aren't you busy with official business today?"

Zhu Chuanzong smiled, "I missed you, so I came to see you. What, aren't you welcome?"

Yue Keren blushed, both shy and happy, and said, "How could I? I also...missed you, husband. But aren't you busy punishing corrupt officials right now? The important matters are paramount."

Zhu Chuanzong was puzzled, "Oh? How did you know?"

Yue Keren handed him the letter she had been reading. Zhu Chuanzong saw that it was a letter from Yue Keren's father, Yue Yiming, to his daughter. It said that several corrupt officials in their hometown, Lu Tong Prefecture of Jianghuai Province, had recently been brought down, and the people were celebrating, praising the current Regent Zhu Chuanzong as the nemesis of corrupt officials and the savior of the people. In his letter, Yue Yiming praised Zhu Chuanzong highly, saying that having such a good son-in-law was a blessing from past lives, and that Yue Keren must serve him well.

Zhu Chuanzong read the letter and felt a surge of pride. However, remembering his sister-in-law's earlier words, he sighed, "The people are happy with what I'm doing, but many oppose it."

Yue Keren said, "Really? Husband, punishing corrupt officials and standing up for the people is beyond reproach."

Zhu Chuanzong smiled wryly, "Mr. Wu and my sister-in-law both say I'm wrong."

He then recounted their words.

Yue Keren thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Wu and my sister-in-law are both insightful people, I certainly wouldn't dare compare myself to them. But I feel that even if we go a bit too far, it's better than doing nothing at all. There's a saying, 'An official who doesn't serve the people might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.' Mr. Wu is looking at the big picture, and my sister-in-law is looking at my husband's future. I only know that what my husband is doing has truly benefited the people. Isn't that what my husband is after? I wonder if I'm right?"

Zhu Chuanzong's mood gradually improved after hearing this. He put his arm around her waist and said, "I didn't expect that only you understand me like this."

Yue Keren said, "I just remembered when I came to the capital to file a complaint... If it weren't for my husband, I wouldn't even dare to think about it."

As she spoke, she looked at Zhu Chuanzong with a sweet and grateful expression, her eyes gradually reddening.

Zhu Chuanzong knew that she was thinking about the hardships of filing the complaint. If she hadn't met him, her family would have been destroyed. And this was just a tragedy caused by the momentary greed of a small county government. Corrupt officials are so despicable; what's wrong with imposing the heaviest punishment? Thinking this, Zhu Chuanzong felt much relieved.

Yue Keren washed her hands and prepared a meal for Zhu Chuanzong, personally preparing a table full of food and wine. Zhu Chuanzong was in high spirits, and the two ate and laughed until the end of the night, then rested at Keren's small residence. A passionate night ensued, needless to say.

Yue Keren's words strengthened Zhu Chuanzong's resolve to implement harsh laws. After nearly half a year, the entire officialdom of the Great Liang Kingdom had been thoroughly cleansed, and the atmosphere was much cleaner. At least on the surface, officials were diligent and conscientious, and corruption cases had almost disappeared.

The entire court was sincerely convinced and full of praise. Zhu Chuanzong felt that his ideal had finally been realized and was extremely proud. He was now a beacon of justice in the hearts of the people, the sharpest sword feared by officials, and a model for scholars throughout the land. Especially because he was a graduate of the Hanlin Academy, the scholars there held him in extremely high esteem, practically worshipping him.

Hua Wenzhang, the Dean of the Hanlin Academy, personally invited Zhu Chuanzong to serve as the Honorary Dean of the Academy, requesting him to lecture the scholars on the importance of "anti-corruption and integrity," and the principles of official conduct, including self-cultivation, family management, and governing the country. Zhu Chuanzong, thinking that the scholars of the Hanlin Academy would all become officials in the future, readily agreed.

Zhu Chuanzong's lectures were very popular; almost every two sentences were met with enthusiastic cheers from the audience.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "The way of an official is to put the people first..."

The audience roared, "Long live the Regent!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Corrupt officials must be severely punished..."

The audience roared, "Zhu the Upright Official! Zhu the Upright Official!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I'm feeling a little unwell today, so I'm late. Please forgive me."

The cheers continued. Many scholars were moved to tears, saying, "Your Highness speaks so well!"

After the lectures, the scholars all felt they had benefited greatly. One scholar wrote: "This was a lesson in unity, a lesson in victory. Six enthusiastic cheers erupted in three hours, each lasting more than half an hour."

Another scholar wrote: "The Prince's words were truly resounding; I was so excited I couldn't hear what he was saying, I only knew to cheer, cheer!"

When Zhu Chuanzong was studying at the Hanlin Academy, his teacher, Xia, who had criticized him most harshly and always predicted he would achieve nothing in his official career, even wrote a book called "I Am Proud of Him," which was widely praised by the scholars upon publication.

The Hanlin Academy scholars fervently requested that the Regent Prince frequently spare time to give them lessons. Zhu Chuanzong, who used to hate listening to teachers' endless lectures, had come to enjoy the feeling of standing imposing on the platform, commanding respect and admiration. He thought to himself, "No wonder so many officials love to give long speeches..."

He found it somewhat amusing.

Returning from lecturing at the Hanlin Academy that day, Zhu Chuanzong chatted with Xue Jinxian about the matter, laughing, "It seems that people change after being officials for a long time; I'm no exception."

Xue Jinxian, who was doing her work, listened thoughtfully and said, "But there are some things you haven't become any wiser about."

Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback and asked, "What things?"

Xue Jinxian put down her work, rolled her eyes at him, and said, "Are you truly confused or just pretending? I ask you, do you even have feelings for the princess?"

Zhu Wang replied without surprise, "Of course I do. Why do you say that, my wife?"

Xue Jinxian sighed, "Haven't you noticed that the princess has something on her mind? Also, do you really not want to marry her for the rest of your life? Although Keren and I are your wives, we are only concubines; our status is not worthy of you. You should marry the princess properly."

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "So this is what you mean. How could I not care? I've just been busy lately with the reform of the bureaucracy. But I often visit her, and she hasn't mentioned it. It seems she doesn't have any plans for this yet."

Xue Jinxian said, "You're so clear-headed about important matters, but muddle-headed about trivial ones! The princess is so proud, how could she possibly speak up? I've noticed she's been preoccupied lately. If you don't hurry, you'll regret it later. Don't blame me for not warning you then."

Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback, "Why do women always keep their thoughts to themselves?"

Xue Jinxian sighed, "If I tell you something before you act, how can that show a man's sincerity? If you love someone, you should understand her thoughts."

Reminded by Xue Jinxian, Zhu Chuanzong hurriedly went to the palace to visit Princess Chang Le the next day. As soon as he entered, he heard the soft, melodious sound of a zither in the distance. Princess Chang Le was playing and singing. She sang: "Wading across the river to pick lotus blossoms, fragrant grasses abound in the orchid-filled marsh. For whom shall I give them? My beloved is far away. I look back towards my old home, the long road stretches endlessly. Though we are of one heart, we live apart, and sorrow will accompany us until the end."

Zhu Chuanzong thought, "This is a lament for longing. How can she lament the distance between us when we see each other every day?"

Then Princess Chang Le sang again: "In the courtyard stands a wondrous tree, its green leaves flourishing. I pluck its blossoms to give to my beloved. Its fragrance fills my sleeves, but the road is too far to reach her. This gift is nothing special, it only expresses

the sorrow of separation." Zhu Chuanzong found it even stranger. This second song was clearly a lament for parting.

By this time, Zhu Chuanzong had already entered. He saw Princess Chang Le sitting on a bamboo mat, her slender fingers lightly plucking the strings, her lips slightly parted. Her beauty was exquisite, but her face was filled with sorrow, her pretty face softly covered with tears.

Zhu Chuanzong felt both pity and heartache upon seeing this, and went over to her, saying, "Xi'er, why are you sad? Can you tell me?"

Princess Chang Le saw Zhu Chuanzong arrive, but it was too late to wipe away her tears. She trembled, and tears streamed down her face. She turned her head away and smiled, "I'm not sad. I was just singing, and the scene touched my heart. You know that's just my nature."

Zhu Chuanzong, remembering Xue Jinxian's words and seeing the current situation, was even more certain that Xue Jinxian was right. He said, "Xi'er, it's all my fault. I've been busy with state affairs lately and neglected you. If I've done anything wrong, you can hit me or scold me, just don't hold a grudge and ruin your health."

Hearing his tender words, Princess Chang Le's tears flowed even more freely. She thought to herself, "Fool, I'm about to ascend back to heaven, don't you know? You're so troubled by worldly affairs, your mind is clouded. When will you achieve your goal and reunite with me in heaven? We've shared two lifetimes of love, yet I haven't even been your wife for a single day! You have no idea of my regret and sorrow."

But these were just thoughts; she couldn't bring herself to say them to Zhu Chuanzong.

Seeing her tears flowing endlessly, yet remaining silent, Zhu Chuanzong was burning with anxiety, but helpless. Later, Princess Chang Le cried herself to sleep in his arms. Zhu Chuanzong gazed longingly at her furrowed brow, which only relaxed in her dreams, and his heart ached even more. He thought, "Zisha, whatever you want, I will do it for you."

Zhu Chuanzong left the palace, pondering the matter, but still couldn't find a solution. Finally, he went to consult Xue Jinxian.

Xue Jinxian pondered for a while and said, "Although we get along well, I can't fathom the princess's thoughts. However, there's one thing: she undoubtedly hopes to marry you soon."

Zhu Chuanzong exclaimed happily, "That's exactly what I've been hoping for! I've mentioned it a few times before, but she was angry with me because of the Empress Dowager's matter and refused outright each time, so I didn't dare to bring it up again. My wife, are you sure the princess thinks this way?"

Xue Jinxian smiled slightly and said, "How could that be wrong? I can see it clearly. Although the princess doesn't say it, she's always hoping for it. Even when she was angry with you, if you had really started preparing for the wedding, I think she would have agreed. It's just that you don't understand women's hearts, you only talk the talk but don't walk the walk, and you've missed so much time. Who can you blame?"

Zhu Chuanzong suddenly realized and said, "Jinxian, you understand so well. Did you think the same way back then? You didn't agree to marry me at first, but you were actually already happy in your heart." As

he spoke, he chuckled lewdly.

Xue Jinxian blushed and scolded, "How can you be so shameless as to boast like that!"

Seeing Zhu Chuanzong so overjoyed, and knowing that she was even going to help him devise a plan to marry another woman, she couldn't help but feel a little wronged and bitter. However, she knew the story of Zhu Chuanzong and Princess Chang Le's past and present lives. She was no ordinary woman, and her heart was different from others. Therefore, she wholeheartedly hoped that this pair of lovers who had gone through so many twists and turns could finally be together.

Zhu Chuanzong then said, "How about this, I won't tell her yet. When everything is ready, I'll give her a surprise. Wouldn't that be better?"

Xue Jinxian smiled and said, "That's a good idea. But seeing how happy you are, can you really resist?"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "I can resist most things except in special circumstances."

Xue Jinxian asked, "What special circumstances?"

Zhu Chuanzong chuckled, "Like when I'm with Jinxian, I just can't help but think..."

Two blushes rose on Xue Jinxian's face; she sighed, "Nonsense again."

But her heart was filled with sweetness, and the slight sourness disappeared.

The two had guessed correctly. Princess Chang Le did hope to marry Zhu Chuanzong, but this was only one of her wishes. Her greater wish was for Zhu Chuanzong to abandon worldly wealth and desires and ascend to immortality with her. Even though Zhu Chuanzong and Xue Jinxian were extremely intelligent, they could only guess one thing; the other was something they could never have imagined.

Princess Chang Le sighed daily, longing to return to the Heavenly Court but unable to sever her attachment to Zhu Chuanzong. Sometimes, she resolved to leave, but Zhu Chuanzong's daily visits and tender affection melted away her resolve. She even sometimes thought she would rather Zhu Chuanzong treat her badly, so she wouldn't be so heartbroken.

She wanted to speak up and persuade Zhu Chuanzong to leave with her, but having experienced so much and understood the hardships of the common people, she knew Zhu Chuanzong genuinely cared for them. Seeing Zhu Chuanzong toiling for the country, how could she disregard the people for her own selfish desires? Princess Chang Le only hoped that Zhu Chuanzong could achieve his ambitions soon, then she could be free of all worries, but that day seemed so far away.

Coincidentally, Princess Chang Le was sitting idly in the Empress Dowager's palace when the Empress Dowager spoke of court affairs. She heard that Zhu Chuanzong had instigated numerous prison cases and executed many officials. Princess Chang Le, kind by nature, was displeased upon hearing this, thinking, "There are so many ways to punish someone, must it always be killing them?"

However, she figured the corrupt officials had their own ways of seeking death, so she let it go.

But then she heard the Empress Dowager mention several other things; some officials, whose crimes weren't serious, were being punished far more severely than they deserved. Princess Chang Le thought that Zhu Chuanzong had changed the law simply because of his own likes and dislikes. Didn't those officials have families, wives, and children? How could someone who enforces the law arbitrarily change it? Even if he had great power, even if his intentions were good, it was still wrong.

She also recalled the scenes she had witnessed at the Zhu family's birthday banquet, where the Zhu family themselves lived a life of extravagance. Princess Chang Le was so intelligent; she hadn't been interested in thinking about this before, but now, upon closer examination, she increasingly saw many inconsistencies. What Zhu Chuanzong was so determined to do now seemed less than ideal. In that case, she

might as well return to heaven and become a deity. Princess Chang Le took her leave of the Empress Dowager's palace, thinking these thoughts all the way.

That evening, Zhu Chuanzong visited Princess Chang Le and found her looking pale and unresponsive. He assumed she was still troubled by the marriage. He had originally planned to keep it a secret from her, hoping to surprise her, but seeing her melancholy, he couldn't help himself. He thought, "I'll have to tell her sooner or later, so I might as well tell her now and cheer her up."

He cleared his throat and smiled, "Xi'er, I have something I want to tell you."

Before he could speak, Princess Chang Le said, "I also have something to tell you."

Zhu Chuanzong let Princess Chang Le speak first. The princess said, "I heard you've recently been cracking down on officialdom and killing many people?"

Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback by her question and paused for a moment before replying, "Yes, that's true. Some officials are corrupt, oppressive, and deserve to die."

Princess Chang Le said, "Can killing alone solve the problem? Besides, I've heard that many people who didn't deserve to die were sentenced to death because you've increased their punishments. Aren't the lives of officials and common people equally precious?"

Zhu Chuanzong was stunned. He had never considered this question before and was immediately speechless. He thought, "The princess is right!"

Previously, Mr. Wu viewed the issue from a systemic perspective, and his sister-in-law, Hua Caiyun, viewed it from a career perspective; neither of these could sway him. But Princess Chang Le, with her detached attitude, considered the common people and officials together, and Zhu Chuanzong finally discovered the unfairness and injustice within the system.

Princess Chang Le, seeing his silence, assumed he was still unconvinced and decided to be blunt, saying, "Furthermore, those corrupt officials you killed only embezzled a few thousand taels of silver. How much money does your family have? What is your salary?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "This is all money left by my ancestors, I didn't..."

He only got halfway through his sentence before he already knew the rest of the question. Where did the Zhu family's ancestors get so much money? Although his grandfather and father were high-ranking officials, how much salary could they have earned?

Many questions weren't unfounded, but most people were unwilling to think about them. Shui Ling'er had mentioned the Zhu family's situation before, but Zhu Chuanzong hadn't given it much thought. People tend to be more forgiving when they apply their own circumstances to others, and Zhu Chuanzong was no exception.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "You mean I'm the biggest corrupt official myself, and I have no right to judge others, is that it?"

Princess Chang Le shook her head and said, "Do you think I don't know your character? Wealth and glory are just things we can do without. Just as I was born into the royal family, your birth into the Zhu family is also ordained by Heaven and cannot be changed. I'm just saying that you're in the mortal world, so you can't see many truths clearly. What you do and what you think are not necessarily the same. This is called being blinded by one's own involvement."

Zhu Chuanzong pondered the words "being blinded by one's own involvement," and after a long while, he murmured, "Then what should I do?"

Princess Chang Le blurted out, "Let's go back to Heaven together and stop caring about these mortal matters, wouldn't that be better?"

Zhu Chuanzong was stunned and said, "Go back to Heaven?"

This was something he had never thought of. His wish to uphold justice for the people had not yet been fulfilled. Moreover, he still had relatives in the mortal world, and several women he deeply loved. Was he really going to abandon everything like this?

However, Princess Chang Le's words also made sense. To act as an ordinary person means to be limited by ordinary limitations, making it impossible to be as just and detached as one imagines. Is such a futile endeavor, like trying to catch fish by climbing a tree?

Zhu Chuanzong sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes glazed over, lost in thought. Princess Chang Le knew of his inner struggle and his inability to make a decision, so she remained silent and sat with him.

After a while, Princess Chang Le remembered and asked, "Didn't you have something to tell me? What is it?"

Zhu Chuanzong was in a state of turmoil and had no interest in discussing marriage. He murmured, "Nothing, we'll talk about it later."

He thought blankly for a while, then left the palace and went home.

(05-15
Chapter 3: Imperfection is Beauty)

Back home, Zhu Chuanzong was listless for several days. Thinking of Princess Chang Le's words, he lost interest in even the affairs of state, feeling utterly disheartened. He wondered if he had truly made a mistake. Perhaps he had done many wrong things, or maybe doing nothing at all would have been better.

That day, Zhu Chuanzong woke up late, and although it was his day to attend court, he asked for leave. Knowing he had a poor appetite, Nuanyun prepared a particularly elaborate breakfast; their wealthy family was known for its grandeur. Since becoming regent, Zhu Chuanzong's lifestyle and diet had become even more extravagant.

Zhu Chuanzong hadn't paid attention before, but today he looked closely and saw that breakfast was served in delicate porcelain bowls and plates, the rims of which were decorated with gold and silver patterns. The food was laid out on two tables. One table held lotus seed porridge, small cornbread buns, and five or six side dishes. The other table held about ten dishes: braised chicken, three-delicacy duck, braised mutton, cherry-flavored yam, stir-fried duck strips with sea cucumber, braised pork slices with magnolia petals, braised mutton strips, stir-fried pork with yellow chives, smoked pork hock and pork belly, and braised tofu—all steaming hot and fragrant.

These were all Zhu Chuanzong's favorite dishes. He looked at it and said, "Why is there so much porridge for breakfast today? How can one person finish it all?"

Nuanyun served him porridge while smiling, "You eat this every day, why do you complain about too much today? I've only ever seen you get upset when your favorite dishes aren't available."

Zhu Chuanzong thought for a moment, and it seemed that was true, so he remained silent. After eating a few bites, he asked again, "Nuanyun, how much silver did this meal cost?"

Nuanyun was taken aback by his question and paused for a moment before saying, "I haven't calculated it. But I did hear Granny Sun from the kitchen mention it when we were chatting before. Young Master's daily meals consist of five catties of beef and mutton, two catties of pork, two ducks, two fat chickens, and two broiler chickens. Plus the staple food and snacks... ah, it's about one or two taels of silver." She then stuck out her tongue.

Zhu Chuanzong was surprised and asked, "So much?"

Nuanyun smiled and said, "This is just our daily meals. During festivals, it's even more. Why are you calculating this today, young master? Our family is wealthy and powerful. With your status, eating one tael of silver a day, or even ten or a hundred taels, wouldn't be a problem."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "But one tael of silver is quite a lot for ordinary people."

Seeing Zhu Chuanzong's seriousness, Nuanyun's smile gradually faded, and she said with a sigh, "What you say is true, young master. My family of three doesn't even have one tael of silver for living expenses a month."

Xiao Yu had been... The person tidying the bed nearby scoffed upon hearing this, saying, "It's more than just a lot. Nuanyun and I only received ten taels of silver for selling ourselves, and Siji and the others were only worth two taels each. Young Master's monthly food expenses could buy six of us alive."

Zhu Chuanzong was in a state of turmoil. Looking at the gilded bowls and plates and the silver-inlaid chopsticks in front of him, he found them increasingly repulsive and lost all appetite. He threw down his chopsticks and said, "I'm not eating!"

Nuanyun was startled, thinking that Xiaoyu's words had angered the young master, and quickly said, "Xiaoyu was just saying it casually. She's just straightforward. Young Master, please don't take offense."

As she spoke, she winked at Xiaoyu, signaling her to apologize.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "It's none of your business. Get out, all of you, get out!"

Xiaoyu said, "What's going on? Giving us servants such a hard time, you really have the airs of a master!" She wanted to say more, but Nuanyun pulled her out.

Once outside, Xiao Yu said, "Why did you pull me? Now that he's in a higher position, his temper is getting worse. He gets angry even when I cook his favorite dishes, is he trying to kill us?"

Nuan Yun said, "Say less. Haven't you noticed how sullen the young master has been these past few days? Maybe he's encountered some difficult situation. The young master has always doted on you, it's one thing if you don't try to comfort him, but why make him angry?"

Xiao Yu sneered, "Yes, I'm not as considerate as you, sister. Have I asked him less these past few days? There are so many people around, he just won't say anything, is he trying to drive us crazy? We're just a few little maids, he doesn't even care about us."

With red eyes, she turned and left.

Nuan Yun was rebuffed by Xiao Yu, but knowing that Xiao Yu was sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, and actually just worried about the young master, she wasn't angry. She sat on the bench by the pillar in the porch, thinking: What exactly is wrong with the young master?

Zhu Chuanzong locked himself in his room, saying to others that he was unwell. The Dowager Empress, Zhu Youji and his wife, along with Hua Caiyun and others, all came to visit Zhu Chuanzong, but seeing his poor health, they couldn't find the cause and were at a loss.

These changes in Zhu Chuanzong, however, were noticed by one person.

Since Wu Siyuan resigned, Zhu Chuanzong had lost an important advisor. Although Wang Dingkun could sometimes consult with him, Wang Dingkun, being a military man, wasn't very knowledgeable about domestic affairs. At this time, a civil official stood out and gradually gained Zhu Chuanzong's appreciation and favor. This person was Shui Ling'er's adoptive father, Shui Fengliang, the leader of the Laozi Sect.

Originally, Zhu Chuanzong didn't quite agree with the Laozi Sect's doctrines and felt that Shui Fengliang, while outwardly devoted to the people, was actually power-hungry. Therefore, he didn't give him a high position, only appointing him as the Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, a minor civil official of the sixth rank, responsible for some court rituals, with little real power.

Unexpectedly, after Shui Fengliang took office, he performed admirably, earning praise from colleagues and superiors alike. People frequently spoke highly of him to Zhu Chuanzong, hoping to promote him. Zhu Chuanzong initially paid little attention, but after Shui Fengliang began implementing strict laws, many officials raised objections. Shui Fengliang, however, strongly supported him and mobilized his followers to investigate and report corrupt officials in the countryside. Seeing his genuine support and recalling Shui Fengliang's initial slogan of "killing corrupt officials and saving the people," Zhu Chuanzong realized their aspirations were similar and gradually began to take notice.

Later, Shui Fengliang repeatedly distinguished himself in reporting and investigating officials. His proposed laws were also highly effective. Zhu Chuanzong greatly appreciated him and considered him a capable subordinate. Shui Fengliang's official rank rose steadily, eventually reaching the position of Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Although he still lacked real power, he was a high-ranking official of the third rank, and with Zhu Chuanzong's great favor, he held considerable influence in the court.

Shui Fengliang, having secured a powerful patronage with Zhu Chuanzong, naturally hoped to gain Zhu's favor. Although his official rank was already high, he was still unsatisfied without real power.

One day, Shui Fengliang visited and saw Zhu Chuanzong returning from Princess Chang Le's residence, sighing and looking dejected. Even discussing politics seemed pointless, so Shui Fengliang feigned concern and inquired about the reason. Zhu Chuanzong, now relying on him as a confidant, didn't hide much, vaguely mentioning some points. Of course, he didn't mention Princess Chang Le at all, only saying that the implementation of harsh punishments had significant drawbacks and that he was weary of court affairs, his words hinting at a desire to retire.

Shui Fengliang was extremely astute; although Zhu Chuanzong didn't say it aloud, he guessed the reason lay with Princess Chang Le. Upon hearing that Zhu Chuanzong, under Princess Chang Le's questioning, had developed a disillusionment with life and wanted to retire, he was greatly alarmed. He was currently rising through the ranks thanks to Zhu Chuanzong, his position unstable; if he lost his patron, wouldn't all his previous achievements be in vain? Knowing all along that Zhu Chuanzong was an eccentric and unusual man, Shui Fengliang realized he might actually be capable of abandoning worldly wealth and status. He

also knew that Zhu Chuanzong's affection for Princess Chang Le was profound, surpassing that of the other women. A thought struck him; this might be an opportunity. He immediately wrote a letter, summoning Shui Ling'er back from her mission elsewhere.

Shui Ling'er, naturally free-spirited and averse to constraint, possessed a chivalrous heart. Therefore, she did not enter the Zhu family but continued to serve Shui Fengliang. Upon hearing her adoptive father's urgent summons, she hurried back to the capital.

When father and daughter met, Shui Ling'er greeted her adoptive father and asked, "What's the matter that you called me back so urgently, adoptive father?"

Shui Fengliang sighed and said, "It's nothing, it's about Regent Zhu."

Shui Ling'er said, "Zhu Chuanzong? He's done a great job. In the past year or so, I've traveled to many places, and everywhere corrupt officials have been punished. The people all say it's thanks to the Regent."

She came directly to see her adoptive father after arriving in the capital, and now, thinking of Zhu Chuanzong, she felt a surge of longing in her heart, thinking that after leaving her adoptive father, she would go to see her lover.

Shui Fengliang said helplessly, "Who says otherwise? Seeing Lord Zhu so dedicated to the people, my lifelong wish has been fulfilled, and I am truly happy. But recently, Lord Zhu has listened to someone who said he is not doing a good job in reforming the bureaucracy. Now Lord Zhu is depressed and rarely attends court. If this continues, the current favorable situation will be in danger. I had no choice but to call you back to see if you can persuade him." Shui

Jin'er was greatly surprised and said, "Is that so?"

The people of the world have just begun to enjoy a good life. If Zhu Chuanzong gives up halfway, wouldn't all the previous efforts be in vain? She couldn't sit still any longer, bid farewell to her adoptive father, and went to the Zhu family to find Zhu Chuanzong.

Shui Ling'er arrived at Zhu Chuanzong's residence, pushed open the door, and saw Zhu Chuanzong lying on the bed facing inwards. Hearing the door open, he assumed it was Nuanyun and the others, and impatiently said, "Get out! I don't want to see anyone!"

Shui Ling'er said, "You have such a bad temper, then I'm leaving."

Zhu Chuanzong turned around, quickly sat up, got out of bed and pulled Shui Ling'er back, smiling apologetically, "I didn't know it was you. When did you come back? It's been over a year, I missed you so much."

Shui Ling'er pouted and said, "It's been over a year, and the first thing I see when I get here is you throwing a tantrum. Who made you unhappy?"

Zhu Chuanzong thought of it, and his happiness immediately disappeared. He sighed and said, "No one made me unhappy, I made myself unhappy."

Shui Ling'er said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "You weren't in the capital, so..." "I don't know. I made a huge mistake this year, wrongly killing a lot of people. I only realized it now, how can I not be sad?"

Shui Ling'er laughed, "What do you mean? How could I not know? Now you've basically punished all the corrupt officials in the country. Such a big commotion, the whole world is in an uproar, this is a good thing! Those corrupt officials should have been killed long ago, how can you say this is a mistake?"

Zhu Chuanzong thought about how Shui Ling'er had been educated by Laozi's sect since childhood, and Laozi's sect talked about killing officials and rebelling, so it was not surprising that she thought this way. He shook his head and said, "I expected you to say this, but your thinking is the same as mine before, too extreme, and you can't see things fairly. You don't understand."

Shui Ling'er got angry when she heard this and said, "I'm extreme? How should I not be extreme? Tell me!"

Zhu Chuanzong just shook his head and didn't say anything. Shui Ling'er had no choice but to change the subject, saying, "Even if I was a bit extreme before, I can correct myself in the future, right? Does that mean I won't be an official anymore?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "What right do I have? I didn't understand before, but now I know that I am the biggest corrupt official. No one in the world can compare to the wealth of the Zhu family. Look at the life I live, so rich and luxurious, it's no worse than the royal family. Ling'er, don't you hate corrupt officials the most? Do you think I'm no longer qualified to manage this country?"

Shui Ling'er was taken aback, then giggled and said, "It's rare that you have such awareness. Before, when I said that your Zhu family was corrupt, you didn't like to hear it, but now you understand? But I can't blame you." "You. You're a prince, you should live this kind of life. If you lived a simple life, people would think it's abnormal. Like my godfather, he used to live extremely frugally, but now that he's an official, he has the airs of one. This is a tradition from ancient times, and no one can change it. As long as you work for the people and don't bully them, you're considered a good official."

Zhu Chuanzong didn't expect Shui Ling'er to say this. He was stunned for a long time, then suddenly thought, "Ling'er loves me. Love makes people blind; they can't see the mistakes or shortcomings of their loved ones. That's why she said that."

Thinking this way, Shui Ling'er's words lost their meaning, and he couldn't let it go.

Shui Ling'er tried to persuade him for a long time without success, and finally said angrily, "Fine, I don't care about you anymore. You can stay cooped up in the house if you want, or resign if you want, it's up to you!"

After saying that, she got up and left.

Shui Ling'er went back angrily. After thinking it over, she went to find her godfather to ask him what was going on. Shui Fengliang had been waiting for this question, and immediately replied that Princess Chang Le was dissatisfied with Zhu Chuanzong for killing too many people, and poured cold water on Zhu Chuanzong's spirits, which was why Zhu Chuanzong became disheartened.

At first, Shui Ling'er was somewhat skeptical, saying, "I've known the princess for quite some time, and she's always been very compassionate towards the common people. How could she object?"

Shui Fengliang said, "Silly girl, you're confused. What is the princess's status? She's a princess of noble birth, raised in luxury since childhood. How could someone like that truly care about the common people? Her previous help to the people was either to please Lord Zhu or to win over the hearts of the people for the royal family. She probably didn't even truly respect you sisters, let alone ordinary people."

Shui Ling'er shook her head, saying, "The princess isn't that kind of person."

Seeing her disbelief, Shui Fengliang grew anxious, his eyes darting around, and added, "Even so, Lord Zhu's current despondency is entirely her fault, isn't it? If this continues, Lord Zhu's future might be ruined. The people of the Great Liang Kingdom will have to return to a life of misery."

He finished speaking with a pained expression.

Shui Ling'er always listened to her adoptive father and didn't think it was an exaggeration. She secretly resolved to find a way to persuade Zhu Chuanzong to cheer up. She also recalled a few words from Princess Chang Le that had garnered such attention from Zhu Chuanzong; it seemed that in his heart, everyone else combined didn't weigh as much as the princess. Although Shui Ling'er had known for some time that Zhu Chuanzong liked Princess Chang Le, she couldn't help but feel resentful, thinking, "Is she really that good?"

She felt deeply uncomfortable, and resentment and jealousy welled up within her.

Shui Ling'er went to discuss it with Xue Jinxian, who exclaimed in surprise, "So that's why! I've been wondering about it for days, but I couldn't figure it out. I knew it! My husband wouldn't worry about anything other than a beautiful woman."

Shui Ling'er said, "Sister, you're still in the mood for jokes. You have so many ideas, quickly think of something to do!"

Xue Jinxian smiled slightly and said, "The one who tied the knot must untie it; this matter still rests with the princess."

The two arranged a time to go to the palace together to see Princess Chang Le.

The princess, because Zhu Chuanzong hadn't visited for so many days, assumed he was angry with her and wanted to visit the Zhu family, but was too proud to admit it, so she was also frowning. Hearing that Xue Jinxian and her companion had arrived, she hurriedly ordered them to be invited in.

Xue Jinxian smiled and said, "It's been many days since I last saw you, Princess; you've lost a lot of weight. Is something troubling you?"

Princess Chang Le and Xue Jinxian were kindred spirits, considering each other confidantes, and sharing everything. However, the deepest secrets of her heart were truly difficult to express to others; even between immortals and mortals, it was hard to explain. Therefore, she said, "What worries do I have? I've just not been feeling well these past few days."

Shui Ling'er, still annoyed, said, "What a coincidence! Zhu Chuanzong hasn't been feeling well either these past few days. I heard he hasn't been attending court."

Princess Chang Le's expression changed, and she said, "Really? He's sick, is it serious?"

Shui Ling'er said, "I think it's because of you, Princess. How come you don't know? You're a miracle worker, why don't you go and see him yourself? Maybe he'll be better as soon as he sees you."

Princess Chang Le was worried, but she couldn't bring herself to say it, so she said, "I'm no one to him, why would he get sick because of me?"

Xue Jinxian smiled upon hearing this, and said, "Princess, you've finally spoken your mind. It seems you still harbor resentment towards your husband. You're upset that he doesn't understand your feelings and doesn't hurry up and express them to you." "Let us fly together and forge a bond of marriage. Am I right? But my husband is slow to understand. Wouldn't it be better if the princess could just enlighten him? Why do you have to worry about it yourself?"

Although Princess Chang Le had this thought in mind, she knew her time in the mortal realm was running out. She wanted to explain, but it was difficult to articulate clearly. Her face flushed, and she simply admitted, "He doesn't want to marry me. What can I do?"

Shui Ling'er, being frank, felt uncomfortable with the princess's hesitation and frowned, saying, "Let's not talk about this for now. Zhu Chuanzong has been criticized for his harsh punishments. Now he's disheartened and has not only abolished the punishments but also stopped attending court. Does the princess know this?"

Princess Chang Le was not worried but rather pleased, saying, "Really? That's a good thing. Human life is at stake; it's better to kill fewer people."

She thought, "He refuses to go to court. Could it be that he's come to his senses and is willing to come with me?"

A surge of joy welled up in her heart.

Unable to contain her anger any longer, Shui Ling'er slammed her hand on the table and stood up, saying, "I used to think you were a woman with the world at heart, but I was wrong. If corrupt officials aren't executed, how can the people be saved? You've disappointed me greatly."

Princess Chang Le was stunned.

Shui Ling'er continued, "Are women born to be subservient to men? If Zhu Chuanzong doesn't marry you, are you going to spend your whole life wallowing in self-pity? If a woman can't be strong and independent, she'll only be looked down upon!"

With that, she left.

Princess Chang Le stared blankly in the direction Shui Ling'er had gone. Xue Jinxian said, "Princess, Ling'er has misunderstood you and said some unpleasant things. Please don't take it to heart."

Princess Chang Le said thoughtfully, "Perhaps she's right."

Reflecting on Shui Ling'er's words, she couldn't help but think, "Am I too dependent on others? From childhood to adulthood, all I've known is sadness and tears. It seems like my whole life has been about finding and accompanying Miao Ri Chen Jun, even waiting for him to help me become an immortal. When have I ever taken control of my own life?"

After thinking for a while, her mood gradually brightened, and a smile appeared on her face. However, there was still something she couldn't understand, so she asked Xue Jinxian, "Sister, was it wrong of me to advise Zhu Chuanzong not to abuse punishments?"

Xue Jinxian replied, "Princess, your intentions are good, but everything in the world has its advantages and disadvantages. How can you expect to solve a problem without making any mistakes? Take the rectification of officialdom, for example. If the measures are too lenient, those officials won't take it seriously. If they don't care about the punishment for breaking the law, how can you expect them to respect the law? When will the officialdom be properly governed? Imperfections are unavoidable, and sometimes, imperfections are a kind of beauty."

Princess Chang Le asked, "Imperfections are beautiful?"

Xue Jinxian said, "Indeed. People experience joy and sorrow, separation and reunion; the moon waxes and wanes. Without separation, there is no joy in reunion. Without failure, there is no sweetness in success. If you don't do something because of a slight regret, that is precisely the greatest regret."

Princess Chang Le nodded slowly, seemingly understanding. Seeing that she had said what needed to be said and that the rest was up to her to think about, Xue Jinxian took her leave.

Zhu Chuanzong didn't attend court that day, lying on his bed in a daze. Suddenly, someone tapped his shoulder. He turned around impatiently, only to be startled to see Princess Chang Le standing smilingly at his bedside, dressed casually.

Zhu Chuanzong was overjoyed and said, "Xi'er, what brings you here?"

Princess Chang Le smiled and said, "I heard you weren't handling state affairs, hiding at home lazing around, so I came to urge you on."

Zhu Chuanzong smiled wryly and said, "Don't tease me. Didn't you say the other day that I went too far, and I have no right to judge others? Why don't I just stay with you every day from now on, and find a place to live in seclusion?"

Princess Chang Le said, "So, it's my fault after all. If you made a mistake, just correct it; if you were extravagant before, just be more frugal in the future. Do you have to reflect on it for the rest of your life? Now the entire court and the people of the land..." "We're waiting for you to put in the effort, but you're hiding away. This is a greater loss than if you had mistakenly killed a hundred people!"

Zhu Chuanzong, after being scolded by her, gradually became happy. Besides, he didn't really want to leave his position; he was just excited and wanted to make his lover happy. So he said, "Xi'er, what you said is very true. I will definitely work harder in the future to bring peace to the world and prosperity to the people."

Princess Chang Le smiled and said, "Is that so? That would be a blessing for the people."

She thought to herself, "So Heaven arranged for him to govern the world, so his time to become an immortal hasn't come yet. Why should I force it?"

She understood even more clearly.

After Xue Jinxian persuaded Princess Chang Le, he returned home and, remembering that Shui Ling'er had left in a huff, he was worried and went to find her the next day.

Shui Ling'er, still angry, said, "Sister, you don't need to speak well of her. She's a princess, pitiful and delicate, Zhu Chuanzong loves her dearly. I won't stay here and get in her way. I'll leave the capital tomorrow; out of sight, out of mind."

Seeing how deeply Shui Ling'er misunderstood Princess Chang Le, Xue Jinxian thought for a moment and simply told her the truth. The women around Zhu Chuanzong and Princess Chang Le knew about their past life's entanglement in heaven, but Shui Ling'er, who had been away for a long time, hadn't heard of it. Now, hearing Xue Jinxian's account, she was stunned.

Although it seemed unbelievable, recalling Zhu Chuanzong's immense strength, invulnerability, and ability to fight a thousand men single-handedly, Shui Ling'er quickly understood.

Her opinion of Princess Chang Le immediately changed. Thinking of Princess Chang Le's experiences, the hardships she had endured in the palace over the years, and the pain she had to bear upon learning of her lover's infidelity, Shui Ling'er shed tears of sympathy. However, the more she thought about it, the more hateful she felt towards Zhu Chuanzong. Her chivalrous heart flared up again, and she said, "That heartless Zhu Chuanzong! He has so betrayed the princess's affections! He's despicable! I must teach him a lesson!"

She stormed out, and Xue Jinxian couldn't stop her in time. When

she arrived at the Zhu family residence, Shui Ling'er stood at the study door and called out, "Zhu Chuanzong, come out here!"

Zhu Chuanzong had just reconciled with Princess Chang Le, resolved his inner conflict, and was in a good mood, reviewing memorials. He came out and smiled, "Ling'er, what's all the shouting about? Who has upset you?"

Shui Ling'er said, "Good my foot! You still have the nerve to ask? The princess has suffered so much for you, and you still haven't given her a proper title! How can you face her? If you don't explain yourself clearly today, I won't let you off!"

Zhu Chuanzong couldn't help but laugh. Shui Ling'er angrily retorted, "You dare laugh?"

and drew her sword halfway out.

Zhu Chuanzong quickly said, "You misunderstand. How could I not want to marry her?"

He then explained his plan to secretly arrange the marriage and surprise Princess Chang Le.

Upon hearing this, Shui Ling'er's anger turned to joy, and she said, "That's more like it. I'll let you off this time, but if you dare to bully the princess in the future..."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! I'm afraid of women!"

His trembling and fearful appearance was quite amusing, making Shui Ling'er chuckle.

Shui Ling'er's previously stern face softened with her smile, like snow melting, her small dimples blooming, captivating all who saw her. Zhu Chuanzong was tempted and laughed, "Ling'er, why don't you marry me too? If I dare to bully anyone, you can easily teach me a lesson, wouldn't that be better?"

Shui Ling'er blushed and spat, "You're really eating from one bowl while eyeing another. Wait until you marry the princess first."

Seeing that she wasn't as outspoken as before, Zhu Chuanzong knew she was also interested and was overjoyed.

Shui Fengliang's original intention was for Shui Ling'er to take this opportunity to replace Princess Chang Le in Zhu Chuanzong's heart. However, after some twists and turns, not only did Zhu Chuanzong and Princess Chang Le reconcile, but Shui Ling'er also sided with the princess, leaving him extremely disappointed. Shui Ling'er was naturally incapable of currying favor with men, and he had cultivated her into a chivalrous person; relying on her to hold onto Zhu Chuanzong and speak well of him was no longer an option. It seemed he would have to find another way later.

Chapter Four: Ascension to the Heavenly Realm.

Princess Chang Le, enlightened by Shui Ling'er and Xue Jinxian, realized that women should be self-reliant and not place all their attention on men. She also understood that nothing in this world is perfect, and one should bravely do what needs to be done, even if regrets remain, as nothing in this world is truly flawless.

Having understood this, Princess Chang Le resolved to ascend back to the Heavenly Realm. However, before leaving, she hoped to spend some happy time with Zhu Chuanzong, so she didn't intend to tell him, lest he be saddened.

Of course, she still held a sliver of hope. If, during this time, Zhu Chuanzong could change his mind, have a profound awakening, and be willing to renounce the mortal world and ascend with her, that would be wonderful.

Zhu Chuanzong, of course, was unaware of Princess Chang Le's thoughts. He was currently focused on preparing for his marriage to the princess, hoping to give her a special gift, but he kept it a secret from her, intending to surprise her greatly.

The officials in the capital, upon hearing this news, were overjoyed. Since the Zhu family celebrated the Dowager's birthday last time, they hadn't found an opportunity to curry favor with Zhu Chuanzong. Now that a good opportunity was presented to them, how could they miss it?

Moreover, Zhu Chuanzong was marrying Princess Chang Le; he could please both the Regent and the royal family at the same time—why not? Therefore, they racked their brains again, pondering what precious gift to send this time.

However, the Zhu family spread the word that this marriage would be held in secret, and no gifts would be accepted. Zhu Chuanzong knew that Princess Chang Le disliked extravagance and hated such vulgar flattery, so he naturally didn't want to displease the princess and hold a lavish celebration.

The officials were greatly disappointed, but some clever officials, seeing that this approach was blocked, immediately came up with another idea. According to custom, a princess's husband's residence should be built separately after marriage. Therefore, someone suggested clearing a large area of land in the most prosperous part of the capital to build a magnificent mansion to show the Regent and the princess's nobility.

These people thought that as long as the Prince Consort's mansion was well-built, wouldn't that please the prince and princess?

This suggestion did tempt Zhu Chuanzong, but after some thought, he decided against it. The Zhu family's mansion was already the largest in the capital; there was no need to build another. Besides, building a Prince Consort's mansion would definitely be a waste of resources and manpower, which was not what he and the princess wanted. In the end, they decided to build a courtyard in the Zhu family's back garden for Princess Chang Le to live in after her marriage. However, this courtyard was different from the others; Zhu Chuanzong put a lot of thought into it, thinking that the princess would definitely like it when she saw it.

All of this was done in secret from the princess, who knew nothing about it. She had the intention to enlighten Zhu Chuanzong, so when the two were together, she would always say some philosophical things. But Zhu Chuanzong was only thinking about marrying her and was overjoyed; how could he listen to those transcendent principles? Seeing that her days in the mortal world were getting shorter and shorter, Princess Chang Le was both happy and worried. She was happy that she could return to the celestial realm, but worried that she didn't know if Zhu Chuanzong would be able to return to the heavenly court and reunite with her.

One day, the two were strolling together in the palace. They passed a newly built palace complex. This was originally the largest and most magnificent palace in the imperial palace, where Pang Laixiao had committed suicide by self-immolation, burning the entire palace to ashes. The current palace was a later reconstruction.

Princess Chang Le stopped and sighed, "I recently read a book that expounds many profound truths about life. Seeing this palace makes me feel even more strongly that what the book says is absolutely true."

Zhu Chuanzong then asked what the book said. Princess Chang Le softly recited: "Life is inherently impermanent; what can one rely on for prosperity or decline? Foxes sleep on ruined steps, rabbits run on desolate terraces—all places where songs and dances once took place; dew glistens on yellow flowers, smoke shrouds withered grass—all battlefields of past battles. What is the constancy of prosperity and decline? Where is strength and weakness? Thinking of this makes one's heart bleak!"

Zhu Chuanzong pondered for a while, indeed finding the meaning profound and philosophical. However, he was currently in high spirits, so he only sighed and didn't think too deeply about it. Princess Chang Le, seeing his indifference, continued, "There's another line. All things are illusory; the enlightened must view things with equanimity. Mountains and rivers are but dust, let alone dust within dust; flesh and blood are but bubbles, let alone shadows beyond shadows. Life is like a bubble; why strive for fame and fortune, competing for short-lived gains in the blink of an eye? How much time do we have? Why argue over who is the best on a snail's horn? What a vast world! Don't you think this is thought-provoking?"

Zhu Chuanzong smiled and said, "Xi'er, while these words have some merit, they all carry a sense of sadness and lament. Besides, it is precisely because life is so short that we..." "We should seize the present moment,"

Princess Chang Le said softly. "But no matter how magnificent the palace before us is, it's not what I want."

Zhu Chuanzong's heart stirred. Remembering that they were about to begin building their new residence, he thought it would be a good opportunity to ask the princess about her preferences. So he asked, "Oh? What kind of place do you like to live in?"

Princess Chang Le replied meaningfully, "Isn't the jade palace in the heavens the best?"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed loudly, "Alright, then you can live in a jade palace!"

Princess Chang Le was referring to life in the heavens. Hearing Zhu Chuanzong say this, she thought he had agreed to return to the heavens with her, and she was overjoyed. Turning to look at Zhu Chuanzong, she couldn't see any clear indication from him, and she couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Zhu Chuanzong, on the other hand, was thinking that if he built their new house according to the heavenly style, a jade palace, Princess Chang Le would surely be overjoyed. He was pleased with himself and couldn't wait to go back and decorate it.

Both of them had their own thoughts, but they both misunderstood each other's intentions. Thinking the other understood their feelings, they were overjoyed and deeply in love until it was getting late, when they reluctantly parted.

For the next few days, Princess Chang Le and her lover were inseparable, avoiding any mention of troublesome matters, and naturally, they were very happy together.

Another half month passed. One day, Princess Chang Le happened to read a Buddhist book. Finding it very well-written, she decided to use it as a topic to probe Zhu Chuanzong's thoughts. When Zhu Chuanzong came to visit her, she handed him the book, telling him to take it home and read it carefully.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "What book is so precious? Can't you tell me about it?"

Princess Chang Le rolled her eyes at him and said, "You're a graduate of the Hanlin Academy, how come you're too lazy to even read a book? This is the scripture I told you about before. It contains profound truths about life, which need to be carefully studied and pondered, and you need to experience them for yourself. Others can't explain it clearly. Go back and read it carefully; I still need to ask you questions."

Zhu Chuanzong took the book back and flipped through a few pages. He found nothing particularly new; it was mostly detached and tranquil language, some parts profound and difficult to understand. He was busy preparing for his wedding, building his new house, and had many affairs to attend to at court. How could he possibly have time to savor it? After a while, he tossed it aside and forgot about it.

A few days later, during a conversation with Princess Chang Le, she asked Zhu Chuanzong what he had learned from the book. Only then did Zhu Chuanzong remember, and he stammered a few words. Since he hadn't paid attention, his explanations were naturally nonsensical. Princess Chang Le, being so clever, knew he wouldn't be able to concentrate. Though she smiled, the thought of her lover being caught up in the world's pleasures and unable to leave behind the allure of life still saddened

her. She said, "If you don't want to read it, then don't. Just remember to read it when you want to in the future." Zhu Chuanzong saw her pale face and, thinking she was unhappy, wanted to cheer her up, so he said, "I don't think what's written in it is very good either."

Princess Chang Le said, "Do you perhaps have a better understanding? Then tell me a few lines so I can see them!"

Zhu Chuanzong's mind raced, and a sudden inspiration struck him. He said, "The principles in that book aren't anything special. For example, regarding the passage of time, I know a poem that's much better than what's in that scripture."

Princess Chang Le asked curiously, "Which poem discusses the passage of time?"

Zhu Chuanzong recited, "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, lest they wither and fall." How true that poem is! Xi'er, don't you think so?

After saying this, he smiled and looked the princess up and down.

Princess Chang Le blushed upon hearing his words and spat, "I told you to read profound truths, but you use lewd poems and songs to mock me."

Zhu Chuanzong then rambled on with some vulgar jokes, making Princess Chang Le blush even more. She wanted to stop listening, but her heart was itching with desire, and he had her completely flustered.

As the wedding date drew closer, Zhu Chuanzong became increasingly busy. He wanted to build their new home like a celestial palace, and naturally, only someone who had seen the heavens firsthand could oversee the creation of such exquisite craftsmanship. Adding to this were the court affairs

he had to attend to, keeping him incredibly busy. With more time spent on the wedding preparations, he naturally had less time to spend with Princess Chang Le. Seeing his unusual busyness, Princess Chang Le quickly realized what he had been preoccupied with. She knew her time on earth was running out, yet Zhu Chuanzong didn't cherish these last moments with her, instead focusing on other matters. It was clear that humans and immortals were on different paths, with completely different tastes, and that such a relationship couldn't be forced. Human beings pursue things that cannot last, only immortals can renounce all worldly possessions and escape the sorrows of life.

A few days later, Princess Chang Le's body became increasingly light and her mind increasingly clear. She saw all worldly affairs with unprecedented clarity, her heart as still as a deep well, devoid of sorrow or joy. She found the busy lives of others utterly laughable.

That day, Zhu Chuanzong did not come to see her. She was taking a walk alone when she came to a secluded spot. She vaguely heard two palace maids chatting as they approached from a distance. She stood in the corner, and the two maids did not notice her.

A palace maid said, "I heard that the Regent is going to marry the princess next month. The prince is powerful and handsome; the princess is so lucky. Alas, unlike us, we'll grow old and die in the palace, when will we ever see the light of day?"

Another palace maid shushed, "Keep your voice down. The Empress Dowager has already ordered everyone in the palace not to reveal this. I heard they're keeping it from the princess, planning to give her a huge surprise. They've even built her a palace. We mustn't let anyone hear about this, or we'll be punished!"

The two maids walked away. After a while, Princess Chang Le finally emerged from the corner. Standing there in a daze, she thought that everyone in the world is so preoccupied with these material things, but you can't take them with you when you die, so why be so obsessed?

She knew that Zhu Chuanzong was keeping this from her to give her a surprise, and she knew that Zhu Chuanzong wanted to prepare a celebration that she would remember for a lifetime. Zhu Chuanzong's sincerity towards her was as clear as day, but none of this mattered to her. In the end, they were going down different paths. She thought, "No matter what, with his affection, our predestined marriage, all the grievances I've endured and the tears I've shed for him over the years, it's all been worth it! He is, after all, the one who loves me most."

Princess Chang Le smiled, thinking that she would soon ascend to heaven, forever separated from him. Whether their love would end in silence like grass and stones, or in blissful union like fish and water, was not something she could force. For them, this brief encounter was enough to fulfill their lifelong bond; what more could she ask for?

When Zhu Chuanzong visited again, he saw Princess Chang Le radiant, her words often revealing tender affection, and a faint smile always on her face—a stark contrast to her previous sorrowful demeanor. Zhu Chuanzong assumed she had overheard the news of their impending marriage and was therefore happy. Lost in the mortal world, his divine eyes were clouded, and he failed to notice the increasingly strong celestial aura emanating from Princess Chang Le.

Despite her deep reluctance, time passed day by day. More than a month had passed in the blink of an eye. In three days, it would be the wedding day, and also the last few days of the princess's life in the mortal realm. Princess Chang Le knew that some things had to be said; if she didn't say them now, she would never have the chance again. Things cannot be forced, but everyone should try their best—it's human nature. The princess, after all, was still in the mortal realm, still in a mortal body, and ultimately couldn't transcend this.

That day, the two sat drinking tea, looking at the scenery outside the window. Princess Chang Le suddenly said, "You really have a lot of patience."

Zhu Chuanzong was stunned and said, "What?" Seeing the princess's gentle smile, he, being a clever man, immediately understood and laughed, "When did you find out? I know you're so intelligent; how could I possibly keep such a big thing from you?"

Princess Chang Le smiled and said, "You kept it a secret very well; I guessed it myself."

Zhu Chuanzong asked somewhat anxiously, "Then are you willing?"

Princess Chang Le smiled and said, "Of course I am, but I don't know if you are willing."

Zhu Chuanzong was puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?"

Princess Chang Le said, "Didn't you already know my feelings? To be able to marry you is my..." "My wish. But I have no more attachment to this mortal world. Would you like to leave this world with me and go together?"

Zhu Chuanzong was stunned and murmured, "You're leaving? Where to?"

Princess Chang Le smiled and said, "Alas, you fool, I'm about to ascend to immortality. Can't you see? With your current supernatural powers, you can know if you calm your mind and think carefully. Too many worldly affairs have clouded your soul!"

Hearing the princess say this, Zhu Chuanzong seemed to know in his heart. Reminded by her, he understood everything and said in a daze, "I'm truly ashamed. " "My cultivation is too shallow, and I'm too attached to the riches and glory of the mortal world. My ascension is still a long way off! I've let you down."

Princess Chang Le was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "If you're willing, I can take you with me to ascend."

Zhu Chuanzong shook his head and said, "You have high comprehension and have accumulated a lot of merit in the mortal world. This time you will definitely become a high-ranking Great Luo Golden Immortal, and your magical power will be much higher than before. If you take me with you, it will take away from your cultivation, and you'll probably only be a low-ranking minor immortal. Why would I want to harm you?"

Princess Chang Le grabbed his hand and said, "A minor immortal is fine. As long as I can be with you, I don't care." "I do care. Heaven is carefree; we can be a pair of carefree little immortals. Even if we can't return to Heaven, living between immortals and mortals is fine."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "But what if we encounter a wicked immortal like the Fiery God again? Although that only happens occasionally every few thousand or tens of thousands of years, it still happens! If we do, we'll suffer the pain of separation again! Besides, low-ranking immortals have no status in Heaven; falling in love is forbidden by the Heavenly Laws. Why give up the carefree life of a Great Luo Golden Immortal? Isn't that like trying to catch fish by climbing a tree?"

Princess Chang Le knew he was right. How could she not understand these things? She couldn't help but recall what Xue Jinxian had said: nothing in this world is perfect; imperfections are unavoidable. Indeed, this was true for both the mortal and celestial realms.

Even without this reason, Zhu Chuanzong probably wouldn't have been able to leave. He still had a family in the mortal world, so many beloved women, a career he was determined to complete, and lofty ambitions. How difficult it would be to abandon them all at once!

Zhu Chuanzong and Princess Chang Le sat side by side in silence, understanding each other's feelings. When emotions run deep, many words don't need to be spoken; they both understand each other.

For the next three days, they were inseparable. Zhu Chuanzong didn't ask Princess Chang Le when she would ascend to heaven, and the princess no longer mentioned that Zhu Chuanzong should abandon the mortal world. They simply recited poems, played music, and drank wine. In their intense affection, time seemed to pass more quickly, and three days passed in the blink of an eye. The auspicious day arrived.

Zhu Chuanzong understood Princess Chang Le's temperament, so the marriage was not a grand affair. Of course, the news of Princess Chang Le's marriage had already been announced to the world, but he strictly ordered all civil and military officials not to come to congratulate her or send gifts. The officials all sighed and pounded their chests, unsure whether they lamented missing an opportunity to curry favor with the prince, regretted not having the chance to behold the unparalleled beauty of Princess Chang Le, or perhaps both.

The Zhu family was brightly decorated, filled with joy. The Empress Dowager herself officiated at the wedding, and Xue Jinxian and her sisters, along with close friends like Wang Dingkun, all came to offer their congratulations. After a flurry of activity, all the ceremonies were completed, and Zhu Chuanzong personally led Princess Chang Le by the hand to the newly built pavilion in the backyard.

There, on the open ground, stood a pavilion. With a glazed tile roof, a white jade platform, beaded curtains and embroidered screens, painted beams and carved eaves, it was exquisitely beautiful and a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Beside it were small hills and verdant bamboo groves, where several sika deer and white cranes grazed freely. The scene was like a fairyland.

Although Princess Chang Le was somewhat prepared, she was still surprised at first glance. She gasped softly, her mouth slightly open, and exclaimed, "How beautiful! It's exactly like heaven!"

Zhu Chuanzong smiled and asked, "Do you like it?"

Seeing her joy, he felt his efforts hadn't been in vain and was overjoyed as well.

Princess Chang Le nodded without speaking. She simply held Zhu Chuanzong's hand and gently nestled into his arms. The two gazed at each other for a long time.

After a while, they embraced and entered the bridal chamber. The interior was completely different from ordinary bridal chambers. Instead of red silk and double happiness characters, ancient zithers and calligraphy hung everywhere. It didn't look like a bridal chamber, but rather like the abode of immortals. A censer of sandalwood burned in the room, its smoke curling and creating a breathtaking

scene. The two sat on the couch. Zhu Chuanzong saw that the princess was beautiful, her face flushed, her beautiful eyes lowered, her delicate nose slightly open, and she was breathing softly. He was captivated by her beauty and pulled her into his arms, yet his heart was filled with tenderness and affection, but devoid of any lust. They undressed and went to bed, embracing each other as they slept. Naturally, there was much whispering and sweet nothings, but they never crossed the line.

They were inseparable, staying indoors, entwined in their whispered conversations, reciting poetry, and pouring out their hearts to each other. Zhu Chuanzong saw the princess's extraordinary nobility, radiating a holy light. Although they were intimately close, he felt no lust. Reflecting on the difference between immortals and mortals, he realized that mortals were indeed unworthy of immortals, and he sighed deeply.

Three days passed in a flash, lost in their passionate love. On the third night, after drinking some wine, Zhu Chuanzong became slightly drunk and fell asleep by the table. Princess Chang Le quietly floated up, left the Zhu family residence, and went to Xue Jinxian's dwelling.

Xue Jinxian was somewhat surprised to see Princess Chang Le suddenly enter. He smiled and said, "Princess, you're newly married, why aren't you with your husband? What brings you here?"

Princess Chang Le smiled gracefully and said, "I've been thinking about something for a long time and wanted to tell someone. After much consideration, I decided that no one else could do it but you, my sister." Xue

Jinxian knew that Princess Chang Le wouldn't come without a reason, so he nodded and smiled, "In that case, I'll listen attentively."

Princess Chang Le said, "My husband is now at the pinnacle of his position, wielding immense power and influence. You can say you're enjoying unparalleled glory. But as the saying goes, 'When water is full, it overflows; when the moon is full, it wanes.'... " "Ups and downs are inevitable. I hope you, sister, will take good care of my husband and advise him to leave himself some options so that he can gracefully withdraw if things change in the future."

Xue Jinxian sighed, "What the princess says is absolutely right. I know this principle, but I am of lowly status and my words are insignificant. The princess is of noble birth and is now the principal wife. Why don't you speak to my husband yourself?"

Princess Chang Le smiled and said, "Until that day comes, how can my husband listen? But I won't live to see that day. We are sisters, please take good care of yourself in the future. Farewell! My dear sister."

After saying this, she floated away. Xue Jinxian saw her coming and going as freely as a fairy and wondered if she was dreaming. She rubbed her eyes and realized that she was not dreaming.

Princess Chang Le returned to the bridal chamber and saw that Zhu Chuanzong was still asleep. She couldn't help but smile. He called her softly twice, and Zhu Chuanzong opened his eyes. Through his drunken haze, he saw the princess's eyes sparkling, alluring and captivating. He couldn't resist embracing her and kissing her, saying, "Zisha! You are so beautiful."

The princess turned her face to him, murmuring, "After this parting, I know not when we will meet again. I wish to share this one night's passion, to understand our predestined fate, and to soothe your future longing."

Zhu Chuanzong, in his drunken state, didn't know if he was dreaming or awake, only that the princess's alluring beauty was unlike anything he had seen before.

He saw her lightly loosen her robes, revealing skin as clear as jade, snow-white and fragrant—an irresistible temptation. During their lovemaking, he saw her cheeks flushed, her skin rosy, glistening with dewdrops of sweat. He heard her soft panting, her moans like cries, her soft murmurs—she was utterly devoted. Their love was intense, their bodies intertwined, a perfect union, a blissful experience surpassing even paradise.

At some unknown time, Princess Chang Le quietly rose, dressed herself, and sat before the mirror to finish her toilette. She then gazed silently at the sleeping Zhu Chuanzong for a long time. Suddenly, a single, crystal-clear tear rolled down her cheek, landing on her lover's temple. She sighed, "So much love and devotion in this life and the next, all culminated in this last tear. You fell to the mortal realm for me, and I shed countless tears for you. You have not betrayed me, and I owe you nothing more! Now that my tears are exhausted, I can no longer hold back. I only hope you take care of yourself and live a peaceful and joyful life."

The princess gently waved her sleeve, and suddenly a beam of auspicious light descended from the sky, shining through the roof into the room. Princess Chang Le was bathed in this light, her light gauze fluttering, surrounded by swirling clouds. Celestial music seemed to drift from the horizon, and countless flower petals fell from the sky, carrying a fragrant aroma, like a dream.

Princess Chang Le smiled at Zhu Chuanzong, her feet leaving the ground, and slowly rose into the air, the smoke from her incense gradually dissipating within the clouds. In the darkness, a faint, soft chant drifted back: "The sky is clear, the earth vast and boundless, all things return to their origin, words cannot express the vastness, the boundless sky stretches endlessly, riding a raft lightly beside the sun, when will it reach the end of the world, what joy does the heart know, yet remain unending."

Zhu Chuanzong was in a daze, as if in a dream, his heart filled with a bittersweet joy, and tears streamed down his face. When he awoke, he found his pillow wet with tears, and his beloved was nowhere to be seen. Their love

lingered, separated by the mortal and the celestial realms. When would these two lovers be able to meet again?

Chapter Five: Unending Longing

Several months had passed since Princess Chang Le left, and Zhu Chuanzong was still immersed in the sorrow of their separation. Every day after court, Zhu Chuanzong would spend the night in his new room with Princess Chang Le. Her faint fragrance seemed to still linger in the air, but when he opened his eyes, only the smoke from her incense had dissipated, and she was gone.

Even at mealtimes, Zhu Chuanzong would have servants set out two sets of bowls and chopsticks. He imagined Princess Chang Le sitting beside him, smiling as she always had. But imagination is just imagination; looking at the empty seat, how could he not be overcome with sorrow? Zhu Chuanzong would often pick up his bowl, suddenly lost in thought, sighing as he put down his chopsticks, leaving the meal unfinished. He

grew thinner and thinner each day, just as Princess Chang Le had often recited in her poem: "For her sake, I have grown thin and haggard, yet I have no regrets." The

entire Zhu family and his daughters were deeply worried, but such things couldn't be forced; only Zhu Chuanzong himself could find peace, and others could only offer silent comfort.

One day, the Empress Dowager sent a painting. It was a portrait of Princess Chang Le, meticulously painted by a court painter at her behest. Princess Chang Le's extraordinary beauty leaped from the paper, lifelike and vivid. Zhu Chuanzong treasured it. The Empress

Dowager had hoped that the portrait would ease Zhu Chuanzong's longing, and that his yearning would gradually fade. But things didn't go as planned. After obtaining the portrait, Zhu Chuanzong stared at it in a daze every day, becoming even more obsessed.

Several days passed, and one day Zhu Shuiyue and Hua Caiyun came to visit Zhu Chuanzong. They found him staring blankly at the portrait, the food untouched on the table. Zhu Shuiyue advised, "The princess isn't gone forever. She's become an immortal, a good thing! If you treat yourself like this, the princess will be sad watching from heaven."

Unexpectedly, Zhu Chuanzong's heart stirred at Zhu Shuiyue's words. He thought, "That's right, Zisha is now a Golden Immortal."

The next day, he petitioned the Empress Dowager to bestow a title upon the Fairy Zisha. The Empress Dowager naturally obeyed his every word, issuing an edict to honor the Fairy Zisha as "Supreme and Holy Nine Heavens Mysterious Origin Saintess," ordering temples to be built throughout the land to worship her.

Officials, seizing this opportunity to curry favor with Zhu Chuanzong, immediately embarked on a massive construction campaign, building temples to worship the Fairy Zisha. The Fairy Zisha had previously healed the people and was highly revered, so the people were extremely devoted to her, and the temples dedicated to her were very popular.

Seeing that things couldn't continue like this, the women gathered to discuss a plan. After thinking for a long time, they concluded that the only way to distract Zhu Chuanzong was to get him to focus on investigating the case and doing some serious work. However, since Zhu Chuanzong became the regent, he held a high position and great power, and naturally, he no longer needed to concern himself with ordinary, minor cases. Nevertheless, he was still very interested in handling cases, often reviewing case files from the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate, and paying close attention to the trials of some cases.

However, ordinary, self-evident cases would not catch Zhu Chuanzong's eye. Shui Ling'er, who often traveled to other places, recalled a strange incident she had heard in Xihai Province not long ago. There was a small merchant named Zhang who, one night, for reasons unknown, poisoned his young son and daughter, and then he and his wife hanged themselves. Coincidentally, within a month, more than a dozen families in Xihai Province had also committed suicide. After the authorities determined it to be suicide, they closed the cases under the pretext of "domestic disputes." However, so many families suffered such tragedies in such a short time; there must be more to the story.

Shui Ling'er had originally intended to tell Zhu Chuanzong about this, and after sharing the matter with everyone, the women all agreed. They devised a plan to attract Zhu Chuanzong's attention. The women also advised him that staying at home would only cause him grief, so he should take this opportunity to leave the capital to clear his mind and investigate this bizarre incident. Even if there was no other explanation, it would be good for his health. Zhu Chuanzong understood this, and immediately entrusted the affairs of state to Wang Dingkun and others, while he went to Xihai Province under the guise of inspecting the people's conditions.

The officials of Xihai Province were unaware of the inside story and naturally did not know that Zhu Chuanzong had come to investigate a case. Upon hearing that the Regent Prince was coming to inspect, the entire province was in an uproar, all thinking they had found an opportunity to curry favor. Governor Wu Youde led his officials to personally greet him hundreds of miles away, waiting at the border of Xihai Province. If it weren't for the laws of the Great Liang Dynasty that prohibited high-ranking officials from leaving the province without authorization, they would probably have been welcomed directly to the capital.

When Zhu Chuanzong met Governor-General Wu Youde, he smiled and said, "I've only come to Xihai Province for a visit

. If I were to neglect official duties, it would be a great loss." Wu Youde bowed and said, "This student dares not be negligent in the slightest. All official business has been handled properly. It's just that I missed the Dean so much that I came to pay my respects so early. Please understand, Dean."

It turned out that Wu Youde was also a graduate of the Hanlin Academy. He had attended Zhu Chuanzong's lectures, so although he was more than ten years older than Zhu Chuanzong, he still respectfully addressed Zhu Chuanzong as Dean and referred to himself as his student. This was a tradition in officialdom, so Zhu Chuanzong did not object much. Moreover, Wu Youde was very intelligent and talented, and Zhu Chuanzong greatly admired him. Over time, he accepted him as a student.

Little did he know that Wu Youde's acceptance of a teacher more than ten years younger than himself was the envy of many officials. As a result, everyone thought he was Zhu Chuanzong's confidant, and therefore, after graduating from the Hanlin Academy, Wu Youde rose rapidly through the ranks, reaching the high position of Governor-General of a province within a few years.

Surrounded by the crowd, Zhu Chuanzong continued his journey and arrived at the prefectural capital in a few days. Wu Youde, well aware of Zhu Chuanzong's temperament, did not hold a lavish banquet, but simply prepared a courtyard in the government office for Zhu Chuanzong to stay in. That evening, a feast was held to welcome Zhu Chuanzong. Although the banquet was lavish, it consisted mainly of local specialties and home-style dishes, avoiding extravagance and waste. Zhu Chuanzong was very satisfied.

During the banquet, there was a stewed duck dish, which was exceptionally delicious, prompting Zhu Chuanzong to praise it. Wu Youde's eyes lit up,

and he explained, "This dish contains 'Cordyceps,' a specialty of Xihai Province. Therefore, it not only tastes outstanding but also nourishes the kidneys and strengthens the body. The head of the household should have plenty." Zhu Chuanzong became interested upon hearing this, and Wu Youde explained it in more detail. It turned out that Cordyceps is a medicinal herb, also known as "winter worm summer grass." It is an insect in winter, but in summer a plant grows on its head, hence its name.

Zhu Chuanzong was repeatedly amazed, thinking that the world was indeed full of wonders, and ate a few more bites. Wu Youde said, "A few months ago, I presented a batch of cordyceps to the palace, and the Empress Dowager liked it very much. The Dean's residence also sent quite a lot."

Zhu Chuanzong, missing Princess Chang Le, had been unable to eat or drink and therefore didn't remember much about it. Wu Youde hurriedly said that another batch would be sent to Zhu's residence in a few days, and Zhu Chuanzong asked, "Is this kind of medicinal material expensive? If it's too rare, then we don't need it."

Wu Youde smiled and said, "They're all local specialties, not expensive at all."

Hearing this, Zhu Chuanzong let it go. Then, the officials took turns to offer toasts, inevitably engaging in flattery and sycophancy. The banquet didn't end until late at night.

Zhu Chuanzong was a decisive person, and the next day he began to inspect the situation in Xihai Province. During the day, accompanied by Wu Youde and others, he looked around the streets. Xihai Province was located in a remote area, and the climate was not good, so it was not wealthy, but it was still neat and clean. That evening, Zhu Chuanzong reviewed the government office's files and accounts, and his personal advisors found nothing amiss. Zhu Chuanzong grew even more impressed with his protégé, thinking, "After a while, I'll promote him to the court to assist me."

However, Zhu Chuanzong, having spent so many years navigating the officialdom, was no longer the same. He knew that appearances, no matter how good, couldn't be entirely trusted. Moreover, he had another purpose in coming: to investigate the suicides of those dozen or so families. Therefore, a few days later, he sent word that he was tired from traveling and needed to rest for a while, and would not receive any visitors. Then, disguised as an ordinary merchant, he quietly left through the back gate of the government office with a few guards.

Zhu Chuanzong, in disguise, visited the neighbors of the families who had committed suicide and discovered something strange: without exception, these families were all small-scale medicinal herb merchants, and they had recently acquired a considerable amount of cordyceps.

Zhu Chuanzong recalled Wu Youde mentioning cordyceps at a banquet, and a thought struck him. He followed this lead and investigated further, only to be astonished by what he found. This local specialty, which Wu Youde had described as inexpensive, was now worth its weight in gold—one tael of cordyceps for one tael of gold! Even aged ginseng and lingzhi wouldn't fetch that price.

Zhu Chuanzong then inquired with local residents, pharmacies, and shops. It turned out that cordyceps was originally a specialty of Xihai Province, so although it was a precious medicinal herb, its price wasn't particularly high. However, starting last year, a rumor began circulating that cordyceps could prolong life and cure all diseases. Moreover, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were fond of it, listing it as a tribute item, and high-ranking officials in the capital were buying it at exorbitant prices.

Once this news spread, coupled with the efforts of certain individuals, the price of cordyceps skyrocketed. Strangely enough, Xihai Province, a major producer of cordyceps, was not short of supply in the market before, but now there was a shortage despite the high price. People kept hearing about its medicinal effects, how some had made a fortune selling it, and how its price would continue to rise.

This led to two outcomes. On the one hand, ordinary people believed cordyceps was truly effective, and would often go bankrupt to buy it for a sick family member. On the other hand, some medicinal herb merchants took advantage of the situation, buying it at high prices, hoping to resell it later when prices were even higher and make a profit. However, some people found that it was completely ineffective and delayed their treatment, leading to their deaths. This news spread, causing the price of cordyceps to drop, and many merchants went bankrupt.

Zhu Chuanzong, after hearing this, made a rough judgment and sent people to investigate the cordyceps-producing areas. They discovered that several large merchants, under the guise of cordyceps being collected by the imperial court as tribute, were buying cordyceps from farmers at low prices and forbidding them from selling it to others, thereby inflating the price and profiting from it. Moreover, they monopolized the cordyceps market in Xihai Province and spread misinformation about it.

Upon hearing the news, Zhu Chuanzong was furious and immediately ordered the arrest of these merchants. Under torture and interrogation, they quickly confessed; their boss was none other than Wu Youde, the Governor-General of Xihai Province.

His prized student was the mastermind? Zhu Chuanzong was shocked, enraged, and incredulous.

However, the evidence was irrefutable, leaving no room for doubt. Wu Youde, initially pleased with Zhu Chuanzong's high regard for him and believing his future was bright, was now caught red-handed. He tried to defend himself at first, but faced with overwhelming evidence, he had no choice but to confess.

It turned out that Zhu Chuanzong had implemented harsh laws for two years, and officials, terrified of execution, dared not directly embezzle. Wu Youde devised a plan: he instructed several large merchants to monopolize the cordyceps market, then spread rumors to inflate the price to exorbitant levels, gradually selling it to the deceived public and small merchants, thus reaping huge profits. He thought he had covered his tracks perfectly, and that the deceived commoners could only blame their bad luck. Little did he know that over a dozen merchants went bankrupt and committed suicide, and Zhu Chuanzong found out.

After confessing, Wu Youde, still clinging to a sliver of hope, pleaded with Zhu Chuanzong, "Dean, Your Highness, I was only blinded by greed and did something foolish. Your Highness, please forgive me for the sake of our teacher-student relationship. Besides, those people committed suicide; it has nothing to do with me!"

Zhu Chuanzong was furious, "You still have the nerve to call yourself my student! Those commoners

and merchants were clearly deceived by you, which led to their ruin and deaths! You dare say it has nothing to do with you? This shows you have no remorse whatsoever. Truly despicable!" He immediately ordered a thorough investigation, ordering all officials and wealthy merchants involved to be severely punished, their property confiscated and returned to the deceived people. Wu Youde, as the ringleader, had his property confiscated and was beheaded as a warning to others.

The people of Xihai Province then realized that their recent frenzy over cordyceps had been a scam. Had it not been for the Regent's keen observation, they would have been swindled out of even more money. Therefore, they were deeply grateful to Zhu Chuanzong.

Zhu Chuanzong's handling of this major case was gratifying, and he felt much happier. Counting the days, he had been away from the capital for over two months, and with many affairs of state, he immediately returned.

The women were delighted to see Zhu Chuanzong return, in much better spirits. Although they still missed Princess Chang Le, they were no longer as infatuated as before, and each was happy. A few days later, the Empress Dowager sent for Zhu Chuanzong to the palace. When

Zhu Chuanzong arrived at the Empress Dowager's palace, he saw the young Emperor Tang Hui there. As the Emperor's "adoptive father," he not only did not kneel before the Emperor, but the Emperor himself had to bow to him. Zhu Chuanzong looked at his son, now five or six years old, handsome and intelligent, and was overjoyed.

After speaking for a while, the Empress Dowager said, "Your Majesty, you should read here. The Regent and I have some matters to discuss."

The young emperor was very obedient, nodding in agreement, and picked up a copy of the *Analects* to read. The Empress Dowager and Zhu Chuanzong went into the adjacent warm chamber.

As soon as they entered, the Empress Dowager hugged Zhu Chuanzong tightly, saying, "My dear, why haven't you come for so long? I've missed you so much!"

Zhu Chuanzong looked towards the door and said, "Be careful the child doesn't see us." The Empress

Dowager smiled charmingly and said, "The Emperor is very well-behaved, and besides, didn't you hear him reading the whole time?"

As she spoke, she began to undress Zhu Chuanzong. Zhu Chuanzong hadn't been with a woman for several months since Princess Chang Le left; moreover, Consort Mei, who had always been dignified and graceful since becoming Empress Dowager, now looked exceptionally alluring. Zhu Chuanzong was immediately aroused, and his lower body became as hard as iron, pressing against the Empress Dowager's lower abdomen. The Empress Dowager

let out a soft cry, her face flushed with desire, her eyes shimmering like water, and said in a seductive voice, "Your Majesty, let this servant serve you!"

At this moment, the Emperor, who was in the next room, vaguely heard this and asked, "Mother, are you calling me?" The

Empress Dowager replied, "No. I am discussing matters with the Regent. You should continue your studies."

Zhu Chuanzong was greatly aroused. The Emperor was right next door, yet he was having sex with the Empress Dowager here. Although the Emperor was originally his own flesh and blood, he still felt incredibly excited . He hissed, "You slut, what are you waiting for? Quickly take off my clothes!"

The Empress Dowager was now the mother of the nation, and her word was law in court. Who dared to reprimand her like this? But the more rude Zhu Chuanzong was to her, the more excited she became; at that moment, her face flushed with excitement, her whole body trembling. She quickly removed Zhu Chuanzong's clothes, revealing his enormous jade stem, and lowered her head to suck on it. The jade stem was enormous, completely filling her jade mouth without leaving a single gap. The Empress Dowager was only concerned with swallowing and spitting it out, which made Zhu Chuanzong's heart burn like fire, unbearable. After sucking for a while, the jade stem became even harder and hotter, the tip already swollen like an egg.

The young emperor was young and full of curiosity. He heard "ah, ha" sounds from next door, mixed with the sounds of swallowing and exhaling, like the sound of eating something sweet. He thought, "Are the Empress Dowager and the Regent eating something? It sounds so delicious."

He couldn't help but ask, "Mother, what are you eating? Your son is hungry too." The Empress

Dowager was eating sweetly. Hearing this, she said, "The Prince and I are drinking tea. You should study hard. I'll test you later!"

Her pink mouth swallowed and spit even faster, her small, fragrant tongue scraping and licking the jade stem. Zhu Chuanzong felt extremely excited. Hearing the conversation between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor made him even more excited. He thrust into the Empress Dowager's mouth dozens of times, a sudden numbness running down his spine, and a thick stream of semen gushed from his jade stem, flowing directly into her mouth. He chuckled, "How does this tea taste?" The Empress

Dowager quickly swallowed it, saying, "Scalding hot, truly excellent tea!"

Seeing her licking her lips, her wanton appearance, Zhu Chuanzong could no longer resist. He ripped open her skirt, pulled down her underpants, revealing her snow-white, plump buttocks. Her vulva was already flowing, and he thrust in.

For a moment, the thrusts were powerful and forceful, loud and rhythmic, with continuous squelching sounds. The Empress Dowager swayed her slender waist, pressing her hips and contracting her abdomen, making it easier for his jade stem to penetrate fully.

Zhu Chuanzong hadn't been with a woman for months, and the Empress Dowager had been celibate for even longer, so both were burning with desire. Zhu Chuanzong's jade stem was as hard as iron and incredibly hot. The Empress Dowager's jade orifice was burning hot, and as it was being thrust into, she felt only pleasure. The lustful fluid in her orifice flowed down her legs and she whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty, Ancestor, harder, harder, fuck this servant to death."

Because she was afraid that the Emperor would hear, she was calling out softly this time.

Zhu Chuanzong's interest was even greater, and he began to thrust in and out with a whirlwind of passion. The Empress Dowager's flower core was stretched wide by the thrusting of the huge jade stem, her jade limbs trembled wildly, she breathed heavily, and her nose snorted with a series of moans. Her whole body felt as if her soul was flying away. The Empress Dowager was overjoyed, moaning incessantly, and cried out, "Harder, harder, harder!"

Zhu Chuanzong thrust in and out again, and the Empress Dowager cried out even more, "Good brother, darling, I'm going to die, I'm going to die! Your Majesty, I'm going to ascend to heaven, don't stop, don't stop!"

Just as the Empress Dowager's sweet voice faded, the Emperor next door asked, "Mother, what's wrong with you? How come you're dying one minute and becoming an immortal the next?"

It turned out that he was engrossed in his reading when he heard the Empress Dowager's cries from next door. Although the Emperor was exceptionally intelligent, he was only five years old and didn't understand matters of love between men and women. Concerned for his mother, he couldn't help but ask. The Empress Dowager,

panting, said, "The tea I just brewed is too hot for me. Why is Your Majesty so distracted from your reading? Read louder so I can hear you!"

Hearing this, the young Emperor had no choice but to read aloud. On this imperial bed, Zhu Chuanzong was having his way with the Empress Dowager, while the Emperor was reading the words of the sages beside him; the stimulation was indescribable. Every time

the Emperor read a sentence, he would thrust forcefully. Long sentences were spoken slowly and gently, while short sentences were spoken quickly and urgently, such as "Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me," "To learn and practice what one has learned is a pleasure," and "Which is more enjoyable, to enjoy oneself alone or to enjoy oneself with others?"

His movements, sometimes slow and sometimes fast, left

the Empress Dowager feeling weak all over and utterly disoriented. Only after the Emperor had read the Analects more than once did Zhu Chuanzong release his semen into the Empress Dowager's body. After their lovemaking, both were completely satisfied and reluctant to part. They lingered intimately for a while longer before dressing themselves, and the Empress Dowager primped in front of the mirror. Only then did the two open the door and go out, finding the young Emperor still diligently reading.

The two exchanged a smile, and Zhu Chuanzong took his leave.

Several months passed quickly, and Zhu Chuanzong gradually returned to his normal life, focusing on state affairs. Although he often thought of the princess in the quiet of the night, he kept his longing buried deep in his heart, rarely showing it on ordinary days. But how could such feelings be easily forgotten?

One day, Zhu Chuanzong left the Empress Dowager's palace, intending to return home, but as he walked, he unknowingly arrived at Princess Chang Le's former residence and strolled inside. It was meticulously cleaned daily by dedicated staff, remaining spotless and as tidy as ever.

Looking at the familiar furnishings, Zhu Chuanzong was overwhelmed with longing, unable to let go. He thought of Princess Chang Le's voice, her smile, her unparalleled beauty, and stared blankly into space. He wondered, "How is she doing in heaven? Does she also miss me every day like this?"

Thinking this, he felt a pang of sorrow, his eyes reddened, and tears welled up in his eyes.

Chapter
Six: The Policy of

Keeping the People Ignored As time passed, Zhu Chuanzong focused on state affairs and was no longer listless and preoccupied with missing the princess. He vigorously rectified official corruption, reduced taxes and corvée labor, and within a few years, the Great Liang Dynasty was peaceful and prosperous, earning widespread praise from the people. The entire country presented a thriving scene.

Zhu Chuanzong consistently adhered to the idea that "the people are more important than the ruler," and severely punished cases of officials oppressing the people. All laws were also geared towards the interests of the people. As a result, officials at all levels dared not disregard the people, and cases of careless killings became increasingly rare.

However, over time, the people gradually developed their own thoughts. Cases of people suing officials increased, and some even dared to discuss the irrationality of the court's laws, saying that people are born equal and should fight for their rights. This was something that was unthinkable before.

Recently, the Ministers of Rites, Justice, and the Censorate, among other high-ranking officials, came to Zhu Chuanzong to complain that the common people were becoming increasingly difficult to govern, and asked the Regent to devise a solution. That day at court, Zhu Chuanzong summoned his ministers to discuss this matter.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "The recent changes among the people have just been mentioned by the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate. What do you all think we should do?"

The ministers looked at each other, none daring to speak first. It wasn't that they had no ideas, but Zhu Chuanzong always favored the common people, and who knew if speaking out would incur the prince's wrath? Therefore, they all lowered their heads, remaining silent.

After a long pause, Zhu Chuanzong said somewhat angrily, "You're all usually quite eloquent, why are you all pretending to be deaf and dumb now?"

Zhu Chuanzong now held a high position and great power, and this outburst immediately terrified the ministers, making their legs tremble.

Among the ministers, Wang Dingkun held the highest rank and had the best relationship with Zhu Chuanzong. He then spoke up, saying, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. In my opinion, the majority of the people are good; the problem lies with a small group of unruly citizens. As long as we suppress these troublemakers and reason with the people, how can we not restore the dignity of the court?"

Zhu Chuanzong nodded and asked, "These few people are merely discussing politics; they haven't committed any serious crimes. We can't kill them, nor can we arrest them. What should we do?"

Wang Dingkun smiled and said, "Don't we still have our enemy, the Western Liao Kingdom? The Western Liao Kingdom has been fighting with the Great Liang for so many years, and the people hate the Western Liao people to the bone. If we simply say that those who incite the people to resist the court's rule of law are spies sent by the Western Liao Kingdom to disrupt the Great Liang's rule, the people will definitely hate them to death. How could they possibly believe their words?"

Zhu Chuanzong slapped the table and laughed, "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

Wang Dingkun continued, "I've heard that the textbooks in schools nowadays contain a lot of information about law and governance. These things are only for officials to learn; what use are they for ordinary people? The common people only need to do their jobs well; governing and legislating are the court's responsibility. Although I haven't read many books, I know the principle of everyone having their own duties. I suggest that textbooks should contain less of this profound content. Besides teaching literacy, we should instill more concepts of loyalty to the court and the emperor. Otherwise, if they know too much, they won't do their jobs properly and will instead indulge in wild thoughts."

Another minister boldly added, "Only in this way can we ensure the longevity of our Great Liang dynasty!"

Zhu Chuanzong nodded repeatedly, saying that Wang Dingkun's words made sense.

At this moment, Shui Fengliang, seizing the opportunity, also stood up and said, "Speaking of this, I'm reminded of a story. When a daughter gets married, her mother always tells her to do less work on her first day at her husband's house. That way, if she does more work one day, her husband's family will praise her for being diligent. Conversely, if she does more work on the first day, and then does less work one day, her husband's family will criticize and blame her. I think our current laws are too lenient on the common people. They've lost their sense of gratitude and take it all for granted. If the court makes even the slightest mistake, they feel the court owes them something. How can this be allowed? In the future, we should be stricter, but occasionally give them some rewards. Are we afraid they won't be grateful?"

Everyone clapped and laughed, truly sharing the same sentiment. Zhu Chuanzong said, "Everyone, please feel free to speak your minds if you have any other good suggestions." Those

who can reach this level in officialdom are all exceptionally intelligent. When it comes to dealing with the common people, they are all adept and have a wealth of strategies. Seeing that Zhu Chuanzong wasn't angry, everyone rushed to offer their suggestions. Kong Shi, the Minister of Rites, had previously served as an envoy to the Kingdom of Zhendan during the reign of Emperor Mingzong. He explained that Zhendan practiced slavery, yet the slaves throughout the kingdom were very supportive of the court. He also re-examined Zhendan's policy of "the people can be made to follow, but not to understand." This policy had been highly praised and adopted by Emperor Mingzong.

Meng, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, proposed encouraging the people to embrace Buddhism. Buddhism promotes fatalism, urging people to accept their fate and place their hopes in the afterlife. If the people believed in Buddhism, they would be content even in hardship and wouldn't cause trouble.

The meeting grew increasingly heated, with dozens of strategies offered. Zhu Chuanzong ordered them all recorded, preparing to implement them at a later date.

After the meeting ended, everyone left in high spirits, but Zhu Chuanzong kept Wang Dingkun and Shui Fengliang behind for a private discussion.

Seeing that there were no outsiders present, Zhu Chuanzong sighed and said, "I don't know if what I'm doing is right or wrong, good or bad for the people."

Shui Fengliang asked, "Why do you say that, Your Highness?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "I've always wanted the people to live a good life, but now I'm intentionally deceiving them. It's really hard for me to bear it."

Wang Dingkun laughed and said, "It's not surprising that Your Highness thinks that way! To be honest, before I became an official, I also hated the government for deceiving the people. But after I became an official myself, I realized that the simpler the people's thoughts are, the more obedient they are, the easier they are to manage. For the court, stability is the most important thing. Your Highness is acting in the best interests of the country and the people."

Hearing Wang Dingkun, who always stood up for the people, say this, Zhu Chuanzong gradually felt at ease. Shui Fengliang, naturally, wouldn't miss this opportunity to curry favor with Zhu Chuanzong. He stood up and said, "The common people are all ignorant and easily swayed by rumors. Rather than letting them have a half-baked understanding and be used by those with ulterior motives to cause trouble, it's better for them to know nothing at all. The court will handle everything for them. They only need to work hard, eat their fill, and dress warmly, and they'll be content. Your Highness's strategy of keeping the people ignorant is truly a boon to the nation and a benefit for generations to come!"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed and said, "That's true. For example, your former Laozi sect was very good at bewitching people." Shui Fengliang turned pale with fright and hurriedly knelt down, saying, "This humble official has already disbanded the Laozi sect and dares not spread falsehoods anymore. Your Highness, please see the truth!"

He kowtowed repeatedly.

Zhu Chuanzong waved his hand and laughed, "I was just joking with you. You are now my confidant, how could I not trust you?"

Shui Fengliang glanced at Zhu Chuanzong and saw that he really didn't mean anything by it. Only then did he stand up tremblingly, wiping cold sweat from his sleeves.

Watching from the side, Wang Dingkun felt uneasy, thinking, "Zhu Chuanzong is becoming increasingly cunning in his official duties. He used to genuinely care for the people, but now, to protect his family's empire, he's resorting to deceiving them. The human heart is truly unpredictable. Besides, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. Now that I've achieved fame and fortune, it's best to stay away from the court, this place of intrigue."

The three men, each with their own thoughts, carefully discussed the policy of keeping the people in check, ready to implement it.

Zhu Chuanzong returned home after court, reflecting on how busy he had been with state affairs these past few days, inevitably neglecting his women. He now had a harem of beautiful wives and concubines; being intimate with one inevitably meant neglecting another, making it difficult to please everyone.

However, when he went to Guanyun Courtyard and Shuyue Tower, Hua Caiyun and Zhu Shuiyue were not home. He then went to find Yue Keren, but she was also not there. Asking the servants, he learned that the three women had gone to Xishan Temple to offer incense.

Somewhat dejected, Zhu Chuanzong first went to pay his respects to his mother and grandmother. Having nothing else to do, he returned to his quarters, lay down on his bed, and called out, "Nuanyun, pour me a cup of tea."

Someone answered and entered; it was Chunfeng. Zhu Chuanzong asked, "Where did Nuanyun go?"

Chunfeng poured him tea, saying, "Nuanyun had some business at home. Her brother came looking for her this morning, so she went home with him. Young master! Here, slowly, be careful not to burn yourself."

She carefully handed the teacup to Zhu Chuanzong, then stood behind him and gently massaged his shoulders.

Zhu Chuanzong took a sip of tea, closed his eyes, and felt the comfort of Chunfeng's small hands massaging his shoulders. A sudden itch stirred within him, and he reached out and grasped Chunfeng's soft, tender hand, stroking it.

Chunfeng was overjoyed, her face flushed with shyness, and asked, "Young Master, is the tea I brewed delicious?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "It's delicious, delicious, but a little bitter."

Chunfeng quickly said, "I think I put in too much tea leaves; I'll go add some rock sugar."

Zhu Chuanzong pulled her forcefully into his arms, laughing, "No need for rock sugar; just let Young Master taste the honey in your mouth."

Chunfeng blushed, tilted her chin up, and stuck out her little fragrant tongue. Zhu Chuanzong tasted it for a while, then became aroused and thought of going to bed for some fun. However, with only Chunfeng around, he feared he wouldn't be able to fully enjoy himself, so he whispered in her ear, "Where are Qiuyue and the other two? Quickly call them in so the young master can pamper you."

Chunfeng, panting, replied, "Yesterday we received our allowances, and the eldest mistress granted us a day off. They all went to the market today to buy cosmetics."

Zhu Chuanzong was greatly disappointed, saying, "Why are all the people I'm looking for not home? What a disappointment!"

Just then, Xiaoyu came in from outside, overheard this, snorted angrily, and turned to leave.

Zhu Chuanzong called out, "Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu!"

He called twice but she didn't return. Realizing she had misunderstood, he couldn't help but complain to Chunfeng, "Xiao Yu is home, why didn't you say so sooner?"

Chunfeng stuck out her tongue and laughed, "Young Master was asking about Sister Nuanyun and Qiuyue, and I told the truth. When did I say Sister Xiao Yu went out? Instead of complaining about me, why don't you hurry up and think of a way to appease her?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I am a dignified prince, the young master of the Zhu family, how can I be afraid of a mere maid?"

Chunfeng clapped her hands. He chuckled, "Young Master is truly majestic. I wonder if Sister Yu were here, giving you a disdainful look, would you still be so majestic?"

Zhu Chuanzong feigned anger, "Well, you dare laugh at me? You've really gone too far! I'll teach you a lesson!"

He immediately ordered Chunfeng to lie face down on the bed, sticking out her buttocks. Zhu Chuanzong slapped her hard twice, saying, "Do you dare to do it again?"

Chunfeng groaned from the slaps, repeatedly saying, "This servant dares not, Young Master, please spare me!"

She looked pitiful, ready to be taken advantage of. Zhu Chuanzong's lust grew stronger, and he shouted, "Take off your clothes."

Chunfeng, both shy and happy, glanced back at him and took off her clothes. Her jade-like buttocks were alluring, two soft, pink mounds like cheese. Zhu Chuanzong caressed them, finding them soft and tender, truly captivated. After a while, he couldn't resist raising his hand and slapping her a few more times, making Chunfeng cry out in pain, tears welling in her eyes, her buttocks turning bright red.

After a few slaps and a few strokes, repeated several times, Chunfeng gradually began to enjoy the stimulation inside, moaning and groaning, her body writhing. Her lower body was already dripping wet, nectar flowing down her legs.

Zhu Chuanzong, unable to restrain himself any longer, pulled down his pants, revealing his erect and large member. He grabbed Chunfeng's slender waist with one hand and thrust into her from behind. The thrusts made Chunfeng's body tremble violently, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Seeing Chunfeng's pleasure, Zhu Chuanzong's lust was aroused, and he became even more vigorous. Each thrust completely penetrated her, reaching the depths of her flower, and each withdrawal left her vulva wide open, a beautiful sight of red and white.

As Zhu Chuanzong thrust forcefully, he slapped Chunfeng's pink buttocks, making her writhe in agony, crying and laughing. After about a few hundred thrusts, Chunfeng ejaculated.

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "Gone so quickly? You're really useless."

Chunfeng lay limp on the bed, panting, "It's because Young Master is too amazing!"

Zhu Chuanzong saw her alluring, dreamy eyes and was completely captivated. He pulled her close, kneading and squeezing her breasts with both hands. They were so smooth and delicate, like touching mutton fat. Chunfeng was also aroused. Her breasts were being kneaded by the young master, and her heart was burning with desire. She couldn't help but moan and hum, feeling incredibly happy.

Seeing that she had recovered her strength, Zhu Chuanzong spread her legs apart with his hands, grasped his penis, and thrust it into her vagina. With a "plop," his penis entered her vagina, quickly and forcefully. Chunfeng's vagina was already swollen and painful, opening and closing, feeling very hot. This insertion made her vagina feel comfortable and full, only sweetness. She even actively arched her waist and twisted her plump hips to cooperate with the young master's actions.

Zhu Chuanzong held Chunfeng's jade-like legs with his hands and began to thrust. Each thrust was with all his might, until Chunfeng's legs kicked out, her eyes rolled back, and she gasped for breath, moaning incessantly, "Ah ah," enjoying herself immensely. Each time Zhu Chuanzong thrust in, he went all the way in; each time he withdrew, not a drop remained in her jade orifice. Chunfeng felt as if she were ascending to heaven, sometimes moaning in response, sometimes crying and begging for mercy, climaxing repeatedly.

Zhu Chuanzong, tireless in his pleasure, thrust and pulled violently, over five hundred times in one go. After a few sharp jerks, he ejaculated a stream of hot, white semen onto Chunfeng's vulva. Chunfeng cried out, "Young Master! This servant is dead!"

Her body trembled, her eyes rolled back, and she fell into a deep sleep.

Zhu Chuanzong, having "disciplined" Chunfeng, was extremely pleased and satisfied. He dressed and strolled around the mansion. After a while, he wondered, "I wonder if Xiao Yu is still angry?"

Thinking this, he unconsciously strolled to the door of Xiao Yu's room.

Zhu Chuanzong knocked on the door, went inside, and saw Xiao Yu sitting on the bed sewing. Seeing him come in, she glanced at him, then lowered her head to continue her work, pretending not to see him.

Zhu Chuanzong walked over and sat down next to her, smiling, "Xiao Yu, why didn't you go to the market with them?"

Xiao Yu didn't even glance at him, saying, "I was being nosy, worried that our young master wouldn't have anyone to serve him, so I stayed behind. Who knew the people they were looking for weren't home, and they thought I was an eyesore and a spoilsport! I should have gone to the market too; it would have been more comfortable and less troublesome !"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "You know perfectly well I don't know you're here. I wasn't talking about you, so why are you getting so worked up? I'd be happy to have you at home!"

Xiao Yu said, "No, you're a prince, the young master of the Zhu family.

You wouldn't even look at a little maid like me!" Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh, saying, "So you didn't leave. You were eavesdropping on my conversation with Chunfeng outside."

Xiao Yu blushed, saying, "Didn't you call me? Who wants to listen to you two..."

Recalling the unsavory details of Zhu Chuanzong and Chunfeng's lovemaking, she blushed crimson.

Zhu Chuanzong saw that her jade-like neck seemed to be rouged, her eyebrows were arched, and her small mouth was like a cherry—she was indescribably beautiful, and he was momentarily stunned.

Xiao Yu's heart pounded under his gaze, and she puffed out her cheeks, scolding, "What are you doing? What are you looking at!"

Zhu Chuanzong chuckled, "How would you know I'm looking at you if you weren't looking at me?"

Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at him and sighed, "I just can't do anything with you. You're such a grown-up, yet you still love to bicker. Look all you want." She

lowered her head and continued working.

After a while, Zhu Chuanzong became more and more fond of her, and a stirring of desire arose within him. However, Xiao Yu was different from the other maids, and Zhu Chuanzong dared not make any advances. A thought struck him: he remembered the old lady's words about making Xiao Yu his concubine. He had brought it up many times, but she had always deflected the question. He wondered what she truly thought.

Zhu Chuanzong finally couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Yu, you're twenty-five this year, aren't you?"

Xiao Yu replied, "Yes. What, do you think I'm old and ugly?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "You're so beautiful and lovely, how could I dislike you? If you're willing, you might as well marry me, then I can give you a proper status."

Xiao Yu retorted, "I think you're really bored, coming here to make fun of us servants again."

Zhu Chuanzong said seriously, "I'm very serious. If you're willing, I'll tell my family tomorrow, just inform my parents."

Xiao Yu's face darkened, and she said, "I'm not willing. Go marry whoever you want, don't bother me, I need to work."

With that, she pushed Zhu Chuanzong out the door without another word and locked it from the inside.

Zhu Chuanzong stood at the door for a long time, feeling puzzled. Thinking about Xiao Yu's usual behavior, she clearly had a lot of feelings for him. Why was she so unhappy when it came to marrying her? He thought for a long time, but couldn't figure it out, so he had no choice but to go back dejectedly.

When Siji and the others returned that evening, they heard Zhu Chuanzong mention the matter and were all incredibly envious. For a mere maid to marry the dignified Regent Prince was a blessing beyond measure. Countless daughters of high-ranking officials longed to marry Zhu Chuanzong as his concubine but couldn't even get the chance; others would beg for it, yet Xiao Yu was unwilling. They couldn't help but feel sorry for her, thinking she was rather ungrateful. Nuanyun, who

was closest to Xiao Yu, wanted to try and persuade her. But as soon as the topic came up, Xiao Yu said, "Sister, you don't need to say anything. Everyone has their own destiny. I'm not fortunate enough to be a lady."

Nuanyun knew her temperament well, and seeing that she had made up her mind, she sighed and didn't try to persuade her further.

The next day, Xiao Yu came to serve Zhu Chuanzong dinner, her eyes red, as if she had been crying for a long time. Zhu Chuanzong wondered, "Why does she seem so upset? I didn't pressure her."

A thought suddenly occurred to him: "Could she have someone she likes?"

Xiao Yu was beautiful and not young anymore; it wouldn't be surprising if she were seeing a man. However, this thought filled Zhu Chuanzong with anger, a sour jealousy, and unbearable sadness.

But after thinking for a while, Zhu Chuanzong realized he was no longer the hot-tempered man he once was, and his anger gradually subsided.

Thinking to himself, "Why should I make things difficult for her? Love is about mutual affection; forced love is never sweet. If she has someone she loves, I'll let her have her way."

Zhu Chuanzong suppressed his sadness and forced a smile, saying, "Xiao Yu, do you have someone in your heart? Who is it? Tell me, and I'll inform Madam and let you leave the manor, and I'll even give you a generous dowry. Don't be afraid, even if it's some high-ranking official, isn't our Xiao Yu good enough for him? I'll take you as my sister."

Xiao Yu was stunned upon hearing this, and when she understood, she turned pale with anger and said, "Young Master, what nonsense are you talking about? What kind of person do you take me for? If I had any other intentions, I would have left you long ago! Do you want me to die before you're satisfied?"

With that, she covered her mouth with her hand and ran out crying.

Zhu Chuanzong stammered, "Did I say something wrong again?"

Nuanyun sighed beside him, "Young Master, what you said was indeed hurtful. Xiaoyu has always been by your side, and she hasn't even spoken to any other man. How could she have anyone else in her heart? She only has you in her heart, and we sisters can all see that."

Hearing this, Zhu Chuanzong was no longer sad, but he couldn't be happy either. If she loved him, why did she reject him? He just couldn't understand it.

In the following days, Xiaoyu seemed to be deliberately avoiding Zhu Chuanzong, and Nuanyun took over the private services. She used to be very sharp-tongued and never gave an inch, but now she spoke less and stopped arguing with Siji and the others. She looked haggard, as if she had a lot on her mind.

Zhu Chuanzong sighed inwardly, putting the matter aside for the time being and not mentioning it again.

A few days later, Hua Caiyun and the others returned from offering incense. Their incense offering this time was quite extravagant. They fasted and chanted Buddhist prayers at the temple for forty-nine days, donated a lot of money for incense oil, and even brought back a Bodhisattva statue, which they carefully placed in the back hall, covered with a red cloth.

After dinner, Hua Caiyun sent someone to invite Zhu Chuanzong over.

Zhu Chuanzong entered with a smile, "Sister-in-law, why did you suddenly decide to go to offer incense? And why make it so complicated?"

Hua Caiyun beckoned him to sit beside her, leaning gently on his shoulder, and said, "It was the ancestor's order. How could we dare not do it?"

Zhu Chuanzong asked, "The ancestor's order?"

Hua Caiyun replied, "Indeed. No wonder she's anxious. You've been married for several years, surrounded by so many women, yet none of them have conceived. You're the only heir in the Zhu family. Your name is Chuanzong, and your courtesy name is Jiedai, which shows the ancestor's expectations for you. The ancestor is getting older and wants to hold a great-grandchild before she dies. I heard that the Guanyin Bodhisattva at Xishan Temple is very effective in granting children, so she sent us sisters to offer incense and pray for the Bodhisattva's blessing so that the Zhu family can have an heir soon."

Zhu Chuanzong finished speaking and also found it strange. He had so many women, but only Consort Mei was pregnant with his child, and unfortunately, she became the emperor, unable to carry on the Zhu family line. He thought to himself, "Could it be because I'm a celestial being descended to earth that I can't impregnate women? But Consort Mei clearly can! What's going on?"

Just then, he heard a soft call. Looking up, he saw that Hua Caiyun had somehow removed her outer garment, wearing only a close-fitting undergarment. A few strands of long hair hung down her rounded shoulders, and her two jade-like breasts were mostly exposed, exuding a fragrant aroma. Hua Caiyun lowered her pretty face, her cheeks flushed, radiating a captivating charm. Zhu Chuanzong couldn't help but stare intently, wishing he could devour her.

Seeing him staring in a daze, Hua Caiyun felt smug and said in a seductive voice, "Bao'er, come, give me a child!"

Chapter Seven: Never Marrying

Zhu Chuanzong, seeing his sister-in-law's charming allure, could no longer resist. He unbuttoned her bra, revealing her fair skin and firm, jade-like breasts, which were truly captivating. Zhu Chuanzong quickly pressed his hands against her breasts, twisting and kneading them, and even took one of them into his mouth, sucking hard. As Zhu Chuanzong pinched and sucked Hua Caiyun, a surge of heat rushed up from her lower abdomen, making her feel unbearably hot, as if she were being roasted by fire. She couldn't help but moan and groan.

Seeing his sister-in-law aroused, Zhu Chuanzong reached between her legs and pulled down her panties. He saw her fair and slender thighs, where her private parts were covered with thick pubic hair, and her peach blossom cave was faintly visible among the fragrant grass, making his heart flutter.

Hua Caiyun twisted her body and said, "You'd better work hard today so I can get pregnant soon!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Wasn't I good enough before? Every time, didn't my sister-in-law cry and beg for mercy?"

Hua Caiyun said in a seductive voice, "The past doesn't count. Today, if you can make me beg for mercy, that's true skill."

Zhu Chuanzong saw that she had raised her willow-leaf eyebrows, her face was flushed, and she was extremely charming and lovely. He immediately parted her jade legs and kissed Hua Caiyun's private parts. His tongue went in and out of her jade slit, sucking and licking. Hua Caiyun was immediately burning with desire, her whole body was hot, and her jade orifice was burning like fire. She could not bear it. Love fluids flowed out of her jade orifice, wetting her pubic hair. Her tender flesh trembled and tightened.

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "Sister-in-law, are you happy? Do you admit defeat?"

Hua Caiyun groaned and rolled over, barely managing to say, "No, no!"

Hearing her refusal, Zhu Chuanzong bent his fingers, parted the entrance of her jade hole, and inserted his fingers. Hua Caiyun cried out in surprise as Zhu Chuanzong's fingers moved in and out of her jade hole, causing it to open and close, feeling both itchy and tingling. Her love juice gushed out like a spring, flowing wildly along Zhu Chuanzong's fingers. Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "Sister-in-law, you can't hold back already? I still have many tricks up my sleeve."

Hua Caiyun bit her lip and said, "Afraid of you? Use them all!"

Zhu Chuanzong unleashed his skills, his fingers thrusting in and out of her vagina while his upper body sucked and licked Hua Caiyun's breasts. Hua Caiyun's face was flushed, her breasts were firm, and as his fingers moved in and out of her jade hole, her jade branches trembled, her legs kicked wildly, her love juice flowed freely, and she panted and snorted. Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, she cried out, "My little devil, I give up, I surrender, I can't take it anymore! Give it to me!"

Zhu Chuanzong, already aroused and with his jade stem erect, couldn't resist when he saw Hua Caiyun begging for mercy. He quickly stripped off his own clothes, knelt down, spread her legs apart and placed them between his waist, grasped his jade stem, aimed at her peach blossom cave, and thrust in. With a "whoosh," his erect jade stem plunged into her wet jade cave, pumping in and out with great force.

Hua Caiyun swayed her slender waist and buttocks, cooperating with Zhu Chuanzong's deep thrusts and shallow cultivation. Each thrust of Zhu Chuanzong pierced straight into her flower bud, driving Caiyun to madness. Her moans were incessant, her nose gurgling, her legs kicking wildly, and she was drenched in fragrant sweat. Before long, she had already climaxed several times.

Zhu Chuanzong grew more vigorous with each thrust, refusing to ejaculate for a long time. Hua Caiyun, unable to withstand the onslaught, pleaded softly, "Good brother, give it to me quickly, I can't take it anymore. Give me a child!"

Seeing that she was pale and weak from his lovemaking, Zhu Chuanzong roared and ejaculated a large amount of hot semen, pouring it all into her flower. Hua Caiyun arched her slender waist and lifted her jade thighs, accepting every drop of the semen with a smile. Both of them were drenched in sweat, their bodies intertwined, and they fell asleep in each other's arms.

Afterwards, Zhu Chuanzong continued his vigorous advances every night, showering his love on the women, but several months passed in the blink of an eye, and none of the women conceived.

One day, Zhu Chuanzong went to pay his respects to the old matriarch. The old matriarch looked at her precious grandson, who was handsome and talented, both in literature and martial arts, bringing honor to the family, and was truly delighted from the bottom of her heart. As for the lack of offspring, that was the responsibility of her daughters-in-law, not her grandson.

The old matriarch stroked Zhu Chuanzong's head and said, "My darling, your wives are all useless; they haven't given the Zhu family a single heir yet. My days are numbered, and I'll have no face to meet my grandfather in the afterlife. I think you should take a few more wives and concubines."

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "Grandmother, you live to be a hundred, and your blessings are far from over. I have two wives and so many maids; are you worried about not having a great-grandchild?"

Seeing his reluctance to take concubines, the old matriarch tapped her dragon-headed cane on the ground, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Our Zhu family has enjoyed wealth and prosperity for generations, but our descendants have never flourished. Finally, in your generation, we had two heirs, but then your brother passed away so young. I was hoping to see the Zhu family have an heir, but now I'm afraid I won't see that day..."

Seeing the old matriarch's sorrow, Zhu Chuanzong panicked. Madam Zhu sat beside him, constantly urging him on, scolding, "You child, you've grown up and your wings have hardened, don't you listen to your grandmother anymore? Hurry up and agree, do you want to upset the old lady?"

Zhu Chuanzong had no choice but to say, "Grandmother, don't be anxious, I'll marry her, okay?"

Hearing his agreement, the old lady stopped her sorrow and said to Madam Zhu, "Madam, look at the daughters of these wealthy families in the capital, are there any who are a match for our Bao'er? Family background is secondary, the girl must be beautiful, talented and pretty, we can't let my darling suffer!"

Madam Zhu smiled, "Don't worry, Grandmother, I've been keeping an eye out. If all the young ladies in the city hear that Bao'er is going to marry a concubine, won't they break down the door of the Zhu family?" Zhu

Chuanzong saw that marriage was inevitable, but what was the point of a union without even having met and having feelings for each other? In a moment of panic, he suddenly thought of Xiao Yu, thinking, "Xiao Yu listens to the old lady the most, so perhaps..." He made up his mind and hurriedly said, "I can marry Xiao Yu, but I have to decide who she is, otherwise I won't take her."

The old lady laughed and said to Madam Zhu, "Look, this child was just pretending to be unwilling, but he already had a plan in mind. We've all been worrying for nothing!"

She asked Zhu Chuanzong, "Which family's girl have you taken a fancy to? Tell us quickly!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I will marry Xiao Yu."

Madam Zhu and the old lady were both stunned. Madam Zhu shook her head repeatedly and said, "How can this be? A maid is not worthy of you!"

But Zhu Chuanzong insisted that he would marry no one but Xiao Yu. At this moment, the old lady smiled and said, "I've watched Xiao Yu grow up since she was a child. She's smart, pretty, and blessed. When Bao'er was in trouble, it was thanks to her that Bao'er's life was saved. I was thinking back then that Bao'er should marry her as a concubine, and now it's happened. Since my darling likes her, then it's Xiao Yu. What's wrong with a maid? With the status of our Zhu family, why would we need to covet anyone else's wealth?" After

the old lady spoke, Madam Zhu didn't say anything more and immediately ordered a maidservant to go and fetch Xiao Yu.

The old woman found Xiao Yu, her face beaming with smiles, and said, "Greetings to the young mistress. The matriarch wants to see you."

Xiao Yu was taken aback, then straightened her face and said, "Wang Ma, what are you calling me? I'm a maid in the young master's room. How dare you joke with me like this? Watch your mouth!"

The old woman slapped herself, saying, "Look at me, I haven't even congratulated the young lady yet, and I'm already calling her that. I deserve a beating!"

She then told her about how the matriarch wanted to marry her off to Zhu Chuanzong as a concubine.

Xiao Yu listened, stunned, her expression unreadable, and unconsciously followed the old woman to the backyard. The old woman thought she was delirious with joy, so she tried even harder to flatter her, constantly saying congratulatory and other obsequious things.

Xiao Yu didn't respond at all, and it was unclear whether she heard her.

Upon reaching the main hall, Madam Zhu smiled and recounted the matter. The Old Madam said, "Xiao Yu, from now on we're family. You must serve the young master well and give birth to a son or daughter soon, to carry on the Zhu family line, so that my love for you won't have been in vain."

The maids and servants nearby also rushed to congratulate her, saying it was Xiao Yu's good fortune, a blessing from her past life. They also said that Xiao Yu looked like she was destined to have many children, which made the Old Madam laugh heartily.

Xiao Yu hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth, and knelt on the ground, saying, "Grandmother, Xiao Yu cannot marry the young master."

As soon as she said this, the hall fell silent. The old lady asked in surprise, "What? Do you think it's beneath you to be the young master's concubine?"

Xiao Yu cried, "It's that I'm not fortunate enough."

The old lady said sternly, "It's not that you're not fortunate enough, it's that your master is favoring you, it's just that you don't want it! Alright, you have your own thoughts, I won't force you. I'm not an old woman who would commit sins. If you're willing, leave the Zhu family tomorrow, and do whatever you want. I don't believe that the young master of the dignified Zhu family, the regent prince, can't even take a concubine? Does he have to beg you?"

Upon hearing that she was to be driven away, Xiao Yu turned pale with fright, kowtowed repeatedly, and cried, "I have my reasons!"

Seeing Xiao Yu crying so pitifully, Zhu Chuanzong felt heartbroken and seized the opportunity to say, "Grandmother, let Xiao Yu tell us first. If she doesn't want to, then so be it. Why send her away?"

The old lady nodded, and Xiao Yu could only sob as she explained the reason. It turned out that a few years ago, she met a fortune teller who told her that she was the reincarnation of the Jade Maiden of Xuantian and that she must remain chaste for life and not have any relations with men.

Otherwise, the man she married would face great misfortune, not only risking his life but also causing the destruction of his family.

After listening, Zhu Chuanzong said, "It's just something a fortune teller said casually. Is it really that believable?"

Xiao Yu said, "That fortune teller is very accurate and famous. Besides, I... I saved the young master once because I was a virgin. It doesn't matter to me, but if I implicate the young master, I would be guilty of a terrible sin! The Zhu family has been kind to me, how could I, with my lowly body, harm the young master?"

After saying this, she started crying again.

Both Madam Zhu and the Old Madam were devout believers. After hearing Xiao Yu's words and recalling past events, they immediately believed. The Old Madam pondered, "This matter is no small thing. Xiao Yu is a thoughtful child, and it's rare to see someone so willing to sacrifice for the Zhu family. No wonder everyone speaks highly of you."

Madam Zhu personally helped Xiao Yu up and said gently, "Good child, you've been through so much! It's truly admirable that you disregard wealth and status, thinking only of the young master and the Zhu family. But you can't marry, and you're getting old. Staying in the young master's room all the time isn't a good thing. What are your plans?"

Xiao Yu said, "I'd rather come back and serve you, Madam, for the rest of my life!"

The Old Madam sighed, "Poor child. Alright, starting tomorrow, you can come to my room."

The Old Madam was old and had been upset by this matter, so she was exhausted and dismissed the matter, leaving the topic of Zhu Chuanzong marrying a concubine aside for the time being.

Zhu Chuanzong returned to his room dejectedly. By this time, the news had already spread throughout the mansion, and the maids and servants were gossiping. Some said that Xiao Yu was really too foolish, giving up the position of young mistress to become a maid for a single sentence; others said that Xiao Yu was truly devoted to the young master; still others couldn't help but feel sorry for Xiao Yu, lamenting her unfortunate fate.

Zhu Chuanzong felt increasingly uneasy hearing the discussions. He kept thinking about how good Xiao Yu had always been. He remembered the first time he regained his memories of heaven, he saw Xiao Yu. Although Xiao Yu had a bad temper and a sharp tongue, she was kind-hearted and took meticulous care of him, attending to his daily needs and sewing and washing his clothes. Even Xiao Yu's angry scoldings now seemed endearing.

Was such a beautiful girl destined to grow old alone like this? Zhu Chuanzong sat blankly for a long time, then reached into his robes and felt something. He pulled it out and saw a sachet, exquisitely crafted and fragrant, which Xiao Yu had sewn for him. Zhu Chuanzong couldn't sit still any longer. He thought, "Even if I were a celestial being, I'd never heard of such a thing as the Jade Maiden of the Mysterious Heaven

. I'm going to tell her, even if she does exist, I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid of anything, not even the consequences. I want to marry her!" Zhu Chuanzong stood up and strode towards Xiaoyu's room.

Just as he reached the door, he heard someone say, "Xiaoyu, you should think it over again. The young master truly loves you. Following him means a bright future. Why are you so pessimistic? What if that Taoist priest is a fraud? You'll ruin your life's happiness for just one sentence. It's not worth it!"

It was Nuanyun's voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chuanzong stopped at the door, wanting to hear what Xiaoyu had to say.

Xiao Yu said, "Sister, I've thought about what you said, but that's not the only reason I won't marry him. Our young master is incredibly charming, and all his wives are stunning beauties. With his power, who knows how many more he'll marry in the future? If I marry him, he might be infatuated for a while, but he'll eventually get tired of me and forget about me. It's better this way, so he'll always think of me, never forget me, and be in his heart forever. Isn't that better than being a wife or mistress?"

Nuan Yun was stunned. After a long while, she sighed, "Your insight and high aspirations are not what a little maid should have. It's a pity your fate is so bad."

Both of them felt sorry for their own circumstances and couldn't help but feel sad.

Zhu Chuanzong heard every word. He really wanted to push open the door and tell Xiao Yu that he would never tire of her and would never forget her. But then he thought, "Forget it! Everyone has their own thoughts, and everyone has their own freedom. Let her live according to her own dreams!"

Besides, with so many women in the house, it's really impossible to take care of everyone perfectly.

A relieved smile appeared on Zhu Chuanzong's face. He clenched the sachet in his hand and slowly walked back.

The next morning, Xiao Yu came to Zhu Chuanzong's room early. Usually, Zhu Chuanzong was still asleep at this time, but today, thinking about Xiao Yu's departure, he woke up at the slightest sound. He heard Xiao Yu telling Siji and the others that she should take good care of the young master after she left. She told them everything, from what dishes he liked to eat, what tea he liked to drink, to what clothes he liked to wear. Actually, Siji and the others knew all these things, but Xiao Yu was a maidservant, so Siji just nodded and agreed.

Zhu Chuanzong listened for a while, then couldn't help but come out and say, "Xiao Yu, if you're so worried, why don't you just stay? I'll go tell the matriarch you're not going. Wouldn't it be better if we stayed the same as before?"

Xiao Yu smiled slightly when she saw Zhu Chuanzong come out, "Young Master, why are you up so early today?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Hearing you endlessly lecturing Siji and the others woke me up, even if I was sound asleep."

Xiao Yu raised her eyebrows and deliberately scolded, "What, are you annoyed that I disturbed you?"

Zhu Chuanzong looked at her ... Seeing her slightly annoyed expression, he was momentarily stunned, murmuring, "Xiao Yu, you haven't been this fierce in a long time."

Xiao Yu said, "No one will be fierce to you anymore, are you happy now?"

Zhu Chuanzong shook his head and said, "You're most endearing when you're fierce. I love seeing you angry. You shouldn't leave."

Xiao Yu paused, her eyes reddening, and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? How can I go back on my promise to the old lady?"

She couldn't say anything more, picked up her bundle, turned and left. Zhu Chuanzong hurriedly saw her out.

The two walked towards the Old Madam's courtyard. Xiao Yu stopped and said, "Young Master, let's stop here. I won't be able to serve you anymore. Please take care."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "You take care too. When I come to pay my respects to the Old Madam, don't avoid me. It would be good if you saw me often."

Xiao Yu smiled through her tears, "You'll forget me in a few days, I'm just a little maid."

Zhu Chuanzong took out a sachet from his pocket and said, "How could I forget? I always carry the sachet you gave me with me. When I miss you, I take it out and look at it, and it's like seeing you. How could I forget you?"

Xiao Yu looked at the sachet, and tears welled up in her eyes. She stood up and kissed Zhu Chuanzong on the cheek, then went inside crying. Zhu Chuanzong stood there blankly for a long time before returning home.

From then on, although they were still in the same household, Xiao Yu became a maid in the Old Madam's quarters. No matter how strict the Zhu family rules were, they couldn't control Zhu Chuanzong. However, after this ordeal, Zhu Chuanzong understood Xiao Yu's feelings and stopped making things difficult for her. He thought everyone had their own destiny, and it couldn't be forced, though he felt a pang of melancholy.

More than half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Zhu Chuanzong was busy with official duties, and gradually his melancholy faded. Then, an urgent report arrived from the border: foreign invaders had come from the East Sea.

It turned out that there was a small country called Dongyi on the East Sea coast of the Great Liang Kingdom, which was extremely cruel and greedy. Seeing that the Great Liang Kingdom had been peaceful and prosperous in recent years, they sent troops to invade, plundering and committing all sorts of atrocities.

Zhu Chuanzong was furious upon hearing the report and summoned all his officials, asking who was willing to lead troops to conquer them.

Wang Dingkun loved leading troops into battle, and had been bored to death in the capital for the past few years. Moreover, seeing Zhu Chuanzong's growing power and influence, he feared suspicion and implicating himself, and had been thinking of ways to extricate himself from the court. Therefore, he volunteered to go.

Zhu Chuanzong considered Wang Dingkun his right-hand man and initially didn't want him to risk his life on the battlefield. However, the Dongyi Kingdom was coming on strong, and among all the officials, only Wang Dingkun was truly capable. Therefore, he allocated him 100,000 troops and sent him to the East Sea to defend against the Dongyi.

Wang Dingkun lived up to expectations, defeating the Dongyi Kingdom in just six months, forcing them to submit a petition for peace. The news of the victory brought jubilation throughout the court.

However, Wang Dingkun then wrote another memorial, stating that the East Sea border was unstable and requesting to remain there permanently to protect the eastern part of the Great Liang Kingdom.

Zhu Chuanzong, being extremely intelligent, quickly guessed Wang Dingkun's intentions. Wang Dingkun was already a high-ranking official of the first rank, and this time he had made further contributions, so it was understandable that he feared his own growing power would threaten the emperor. Seeing that Wang Dingkun was determined to stay at the border, the emperor didn't press him further, appointing him Grand Marshal of the Eastern Sea Army and sending him to guard the region.

Wang Dingkun and Shui Fengliang were the two most trusted men under Zhu Chuanzong. Now that Wang Dingkun was gone, Shui Fengliang thrived, becoming the second most powerful figure in the court. Many officials, seeing this, came to curry favor with him. However, Shui Fengliang was extremely shrewd, feigning unwavering loyalty to Zhu Chuanzong, neither forming factions nor committing crimes. All the officials praised him for his integrity. Zhu Chuanzong valued him even more, promoting him and bestowing upon him numerous titles and ranks.

Zhu Chuanzong had many beautiful wives and concubines, but after several years, apart from the Empress Dowager giving birth to a son, none of his other women bore him any children. Seeing that the Zhu family's vast fortune had no heir, the matriarch grew increasingly anxious, and Zhu Youji and his wife were also deeply worried. They wanted to urge Zhu Chuanzong to take a concubine, but Zhu Chuanzong didn't want a union solely for procreation. Besides, so many women hadn't conceived; there must be other reasons. Even if he took a few more wives and concubines, it probably wouldn't help.

The Zhu family consulted Dr. Zhang from the Imperial Hospital and many other famous doctors, who concluded that Zhu Chuanzong and his women were all healthy. Why they couldn't conceive remained a mystery.

In desperation, they had Dr. Zhang prescribe many tonics for Zhu Chuanzong and his women to take. Furthermore, the Zhu family had plenty of money, so they did charity work everywhere, repairing temples, accumulating merit and good deeds—the list goes on.

Yue Keren and several other women, along with Hua Caiyun, Zhu Shuiyue, and their maids, all harbored the desire to produce an heir for the Zhu family. They were all exceptionally gentle with Zhu Chuanzong, showering him with seductive charm and constant demands during their intimate moments, giving him unparalleled pleasure and making him exclaim with delight. However, several months passed without any sign of pregnancy.

During this time, Zhu Chuanzong's meetings with the Empress Dowager increased. He reasoned that among all these women, only the Empress Dowager could conceive his child, perhaps indicating a special reason, and he wanted to find out. Even if he couldn't find the reason, it would be good if the Empress Dowager could conceive again.

With Zhu Chuanzong's power and the Empress Dowager's status in the palace, the palace maids and guards were too busy currying favor to dare interfere. Therefore, the two didn't need to hide their relationship much. However, the young emperor was growing up day by day, already eight or nine years old. The emperor, extremely intelligent, had by this time begun to understand matters of the heart and was gradually growing displeased with Zhu Chuanzong and the Empress Dowager's unseemly and improper behavior.

One day, Zhu Chuanzong entered the palace again for a tryst with the Empress Dowager. After their lovemaking, they were deeply intimate when the door opened, and the emperor stormed in, angrily demanding, "Empress Dowager, Regent, what are you doing?"

Chapter Eight: Forgetting

Each Other in the Jianghu. Zhu Chuanzong and the Empress Dowager were caught in the act by the emperor. Initially startled, they quickly regained their composure. One was the powerful Regent, and the other the Empress Dowager, who was also, in effect, the emperor's biological parents; naturally, they didn't take an eight- or nine-year-old child seriously.

Zhu Chuanzong stood up, straightened his clothes, and smiled, "Why has Your Majesty come? Aren't you studying today?"

The Emperor snorted and said, "Regent, don't you know that unauthorized entry into the inner palace is a capital offense? My word is law; aren't you afraid of losing your head?"

The Empress Dowager, seeing the Emperor's rudeness towards Zhu Chuanzong, turned pale with fright and said to Zhu Chuanzong, "Your Highness, please step back. I will speak with the Emperor." She then repeatedly winked at Zhu Chuanzong

.

Seeing the Emperor using his imperial authority to lecture his father, and remembering how he had risked his life to gain the throne without any merit, Zhu Chuanzong was furious. He coldly shouted, "You little brat! I can depose you with a single word!"

But he wouldn't turn against his own son, and angrily stormed out of the palace.

After Zhu Chuanzong left, the Empress Dowager said to the Emperor, "My son, how could you speak to the Regent like that!"

The Emperor retorted angrily, "Mother! You are the Empress Dowager, the mother of the nation. Please be more discreet in your actions. How can a ruler act like a ruler, or a subject like a subject?

Does the Regent even respect me as Emperor? How can I face the world in the future?" The Empress Dowager was taken aback by the young Emperor's words and was speechless. She wanted to tell him, "That's your own father! You became Emperor because of him!"

But she couldn't bring herself to say it; he was too young, and knowing such things would likely cause him much distress.

Then she thought about it again, and the Emperor had a point. As the Emperor grew older, her ambiguous relationship with Zhu Chuanzong, if it became public, would greatly damage his prestige. The Empress

Dowager was shrewd and, having spent so many years in the palace, was intimately familiar with the struggles for power. Seeing the Emperor's dissatisfaction with Zhu Chuanzong, she suddenly thought of a possibility: when the Emperor came of age and assumed power, while Zhu Chuanzong was still in his prime, the two would inevitably clash over power. And then… Thinking about it, she couldn't help but feel afraid.

Recalling Zhu Chuanzong's attitude earlier, the Empress Dowager was also deeply worried. As the saying goes, "There is no kinship in the royal family, and no father-son relationship in officialdom." With Zhu Chuanzong's current power, deposing the Emperor, or even becoming Emperor himself, wouldn't that be easy? The

more she thought about it, the more worried and afraid she became. Thinking even deeper, perhaps the Emperor's future power would be detrimental to Zhu Chuanzong. Although she loved Zhu Chuanzong deeply, compared to her child, he was second. Having a child and forgetting one's husband is the nature of all women, and the Empress Dowager was no exception.

After much deliberation, the Empress Dowager decided to personally apologize to Zhu Chuanzong.

That day, Zhu Chuanzong had just finished dinner when a servant reported that the Chief Eunuch had come to visit. Zhu Chuanzong went out and saw that it was the chief eunuch who had brought the Empress Dowager incognito. He hurriedly ushered her into the inner room, saying, "Did you need something? You could have just told me to come to the palace. Why did you sneak off here?"

The Empress Dowager smiled charmingly and said, "Can't I come if there's nothing wrong? I miss my mistress terribly if I don't see her for a day. It would be so nice if I could stay at the Zhu family's residence!"

Although the Empress Dowager was over thirty, she was well-preserved and looked like a beauty in her late twenties. Not only was she beautiful, but her voice was also delicate and soft. The Empress Dowager's allure was palpable. Seeing her flushed face and aroused by her voice, Zhu Chuanzong could no longer resist. He pulled her into his arms, kneading her large, firm breasts, and whispered in her ear, "You don't just want me, you want me to fuck you, don't you?"

The Empress Dowager gasped, "Yes, I want Your Majesty to fuck me! Your Majesty, quickly use your big cock to teach this servant a lesson!"

She then began to tear at Zhu Chuanzong's clothes, her small mouth kissing and licking his genitals through his fabric like a kitten munching on food. While the Empress Dowager was always flirtatious, such unrestrained initiative was rare; she seemed consumed by lust, desperately thirsty. Zhu Chuanzong found this novel and exciting.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager knelt between Zhu Chuanzong's legs, pulled down his trousers, revealing his already erect and enormous penis. She looked up at Zhu Chuanzong with a fawning smile and said, "Your Majesty is a dragon among men, and below you is an incomparably mighty dragon. I love this servant to death!"

She opened her pink lips and took the jade stem into her mouth, sucking it back and forth. The jade stem was so hot it was almost unbearable; it shimmered and throbbed like a naked child eager to jump into the water.

The Empress Dowager held the large penis as if savoring a delicacy, sometimes circling it with her small, fragrant tongue, lightly licking and teasing it, sometimes sucking on it with her red lips, stroking it back and forth, sometimes swallowing the entire penis into her mouth, the glans almost reaching the back of her throat. The wet, warm, and slippery sensation was different from penetrating a vagina, and Zhu Chuanzong felt a tingling sensation all over his body, as if ascending to heaven.

Before long, Zhu Chuanzong felt a shiver run down his spine, his hands holding the Empress Dowager's head, his lower body thrusting, and a large gush of semen spurted out. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager also sucked hard, as if trying to drain him dry. Zhu Chuanzong was sucked until he was indescribably ecstatic.

After Zhu Chuanzong finished ejaculating, the Empress Dowager extended her small, fragrant tongue and carefully licked his large penis before asking in a seductive voice, "Is Your Majesty satisfied with my service?"

Zhu Chuanzong repeatedly replied that he was satisfied. The Empress Dowager smiled; she removed her clothes, revealing her smooth, voluptuous, and exquisitely beautiful body, and said, "Please, Your Majesty, fuck me hard!" The Empress

Dowager turned around, knelt on the bed, and raised her jade buttocks, her exquisite opening resembling a jade clam, opening and closing, with streams of honey-like fluid flowing out, its fragrance intoxicating. Zhu Chuanzong said, "You slut, I just fucked you for half a day a few days ago, and you want it again today. I will fuck you to death today!"

He slapped her jade buttocks hard, causing the Empress Dowager to moan softly. Then, he lifted the Empress Dowager's legs with his hands, aligned his jade stem with her jade orifice, and with a "plop," his huge, auspicious rod plunged straight into her wonderful jade orifice, thrusting in and out vigorously, enjoying himself immensely.

The Empress Dowager's body writhed, lying on the bed, letting her lover thrust in and out, moaning softly, her slender waist swaying in rhythm with his thrusts. His hot jade stem moved back and forth in her jade orifice, each thrust sending her to the brink of ecstasy. She moaned continuously, "Your Majesty, my mistress, faster, faster, deeper! My dear brother, darling, harder!"

Her voice was full of coquettishness and wanton desire.

Zhu Chuanzong, after a while, was drenched in sweat and somewhat tired. The Empress Dowager said, "Your Majesty, lie down first, let me do it."

She then had Zhu Chuanzong lie down, and straddled him, forcefully spreading her legs. His erect jade stem was once again inserted into her jade orifice, which was overflowing with lustful fluids, and he began to thrust.

The Empress Dowager thrust vigorously on top, while Zhu Chuanzong pulled and pushed forcefully from below. With each thrust, his jade stem penetrated to the very root of her jade orifice, sending the Empress Dowager's soul soaring. Each thrust reached the very depths of her flower. The Empress Dowager's waist was as soft as cotton. After a while, she lifted her jade buttocks and swallowed the large penis into her anus. She played with it in her anus for a while, then thrust in and out again. This went on and on, and Zhu Chuanzong felt his penis moving back and forth between two completely different and wonderful orifices. There was no greater pleasure in life than this.

After Zhu Chuanzong ejaculated in the Empress Dowager's anus again, the Empress Dowager said, "Does Your Majesty still have the interest? This servant has learned a new trick. Would Your Majesty like to try it?"

Zhu Chuanzong thought to himself, "Did this little vixen take some aphrodisiac today? How can she be so seductive?"

But the more wanton the Empress Dowager was, the more pleasure he would enjoy it. He immediately urged the Empress Dowager to finish quickly.

The Empress Dowager lay on top of Zhu Chuanzong, using her two plump and smooth jade breasts to clamp the large penis. She played with it while kneading her breasts, allowing the penis to experience all kinds of soft and writhing sensations. It was truly indescribable.

That night, the Empress Dowager used every trick in the book to please Zhu Chuanzong. She was a woman of exceptional beauty, every part of her body captivating, and her methods were numerous and utterly unrestrained. Combined with her unapproachable noble status, this provided Zhu Chuanzong with unparalleled pleasure, leaving him thoroughly satisfied.

The next morning, after they were dressed, the Empress Dowager suddenly knelt before Zhu Chuanzong.

Startled, Zhu Chuanzong quickly helped her up and asked what was wrong. The Empress Dowager cried, "Your Highness, the Emperor is young and doesn't know any better. He offended you that day. Please, for the sake of him being your own flesh and blood, and for the sake of all the years I have served you so devotedly, don't hold it against him!"

Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback. With his intelligence, he immediately understood why the Empress Dowager had flattered him the previous night. He couldn't help but laugh, "I thought it was something serious. He's just a child, and my son. Would I harm him? Do you think I would really cripple him? Don't worry, I'm not that heartless."

Only then was the Empress Dowager reassured. She glanced at Zhu Chuanzong and suddenly said in a seductive voice, "Your Highness, did I serve you well last night?"

Zhu Chuanzong smiled and said, "Yes, I did. I wonder when I'll be able to enjoy this again?"

The Empress Dowager said, "There are too many people and too many eyes in the palace, so we can't really enjoy ourselves. In the future, if Your Highness wants, I'll come to your home and serve you like I did last night. Is that alright, Your Highness?"

Zhu Chuanzong understood perfectly well that she was trying to avoid suspicion and prevent it from affecting the Emperor's reputation. He sighed inwardly, "Truly, the hearts of parents are full of love and concern!"

Naturally, he couldn't bear to put her in a difficult position and agreed with a smile. The Empress Dowager was both surprised and delighted, and after some more flattery and affection, she served Zhu Chuanzong like a servant, helping him dress and wash up, before quietly returning to the palace.

Zhu Chuanzong was quite troubled by his lack of an heir. The old lady was getting older and fearing she couldn't wait any longer, after a while, she started bringing up the matter of Zhu Chuanzong taking a concubine again. Zhu Chuanzong was also extremely worried.

Although the women around him all hoped to give Zhu Chuanzong a son or daughter as soon as possible... However, one woman's thoughts differed from the others: Shui Ling'er.

A chivalrous woman with a heart for the common people, she harbored deep feelings for Zhu Chuanzong, yet she refused to be bound by them. Normally, their relationship would have been fine; she pursued freedom and could have left gracefully. However, Zhu Chuanzong had shown her many kindnesses. Her master and adoptive father had both escaped their criminal status and entered the court to serve the people thanks to his help. Given Shui Ling'er's strong sense of gratitude and resentment, leaving like this would likely leave her with a lifelong regret.

She wished to bear Zhu Chuanzong a child, both to repay his kindness and to find solace in his affections, alleviating her longing. Therefore, over the years, she would occasionally visit the Zhu family, spending the night with Zhu Chuanzong for a brief moment of pleasure before departing without lingering. But

like other women, years passed, and she remained unable to conceive. Shui Ling'er, bound by these ties, could not fully let go and pursue her freedom. On one hand, she feared that the longer she stayed with Zhu Chuanzong, the deeper her feelings would grow, and one day she might fall into this kind of life, willingly becoming a virtuous wife and losing herself. Therefore, she was particularly worried about her inability to conceive.

Shui Ling'er often traveled to different places. Once, she passed through a place and heard that a wandering Taoist priest was staying nearby. This priest was very capable, said to know magic and have superb medical skills, curing all diseases. Many people went to him for treatment, and their illnesses were cured instantly. Shui Ling'er was skeptical, but decided to try it and went to see him as well.

To her surprise, the priest was indeed no ordinary person. He looked at Shui Ling'er's face and shook his head, saying, "You cannot have children. The problem is not with you, but with your lover. Not only you, but no matter how many wives and concubines he takes, he will not have offspring!"

Upon hearing this, Shui Ling'er was immediately impressed and hurriedly pressed him for details. The Taoist priest chuckled, "Your lover is a celestial being descended to earth, inherently of immeasurable nobility. His family is one of the most powerful and wealthy in the land. With such a destiny of double nobility, if his son bears his surname, he will likely not live long. If he changes his surname, he will be incomparably noble, but ultimately, he will not be considered to have an heir."

Shui Ling'er was even more astonished by his uncanny accuracy. Zhu Chuanzong and the Empress Dowager's son, Tang Hui, was the current emperor, naturally of immense nobility. Since the old Taoist priest was so accurate, perhaps there were other methods, so she pleaded repeatedly.

The Taoist priest thought for a moment and said, "There is one opportunity this year, but there will be no more afterward. I have a secret recipe here; go back and try it. If you are lucky, you might conceive. If it doesn't work by this year, then it is fate! However, even if the child is born, there will likely be great misfortune; it's best not to keep him at home."

Shui Ling'er accepted the prescription, tears of gratitude streaming down her face. She thanked the Taoist priest and hurriedly returned to the capital.

Zhu Chuanzong and Shui Ling'er hadn't seen each other for over half a year, and he was naturally overjoyed to see her return. They strolled through the streets together, exchanging sweet nothings for a long time. That evening, they prepared some dishes and drank under the moonlight in the courtyard.

As they drank, Shui Ling'er secretly added a Taoist's secret recipe to the wine, and they drank it together. After a while, Zhu Chuanzong took Shui Ling'er's hand and led her to the bed.

Shui Ling'er's starry eyes were half-closed, her delicate body exquisitely beautiful. Half-drunk, her cheeks flushed, her alluring charm captivating. When she unbuttoned her bodice, she shyly resisted, her beauty indescribable. Her breasts were full and smooth, her waist slender and supple. Her soft breaths and moans were like sobs, intoxicating. Zhu Chuanzong, tender and gentle, showed her tenderness. Their affection was beyond words.

Shui Ling'er, contrary to her usual behavior, felt her desire rise again after her period of sexual activity. Her lingering desires and persistent advances led her to subtly entice Zhu Chuanzong to pleasure. Overjoyed, Zhu Chuanzong, naturally emboldened, relentlessly pursued her. Shui Ling'er, abandoning her inhibitions, relentlessly yielded, transforming from a serene fairy into a seductive temptress, her allure and debauchery unprecedented.

The Taoist's secret remedy had indeed worked. Two months later, Shui Ling'er's period failed to arrive. A doctor's examination revealed she was indeed pregnant.

Knowing she was carrying Zhu Chuanzong's child, Shui Ling'er felt a mixture of joy and sorrow. Joy that her wish had finally been fulfilled, sorrow that their separation was imminent. However, this child was also something the Zhu family had desperately sought. Should she take the child with her or leave it with the Zhu family? Shui Ling'er hesitated.

Unable to decide, she consulted her adoptive father, Shui Fengliang. Upon hearing that his daughter was pregnant with Zhu Chuanzong's child, Shui Fengliang was overjoyed, at a loss for words. As the saying goes, a mother's status rises with her son; although Zhu Chuanzong had many wives and concubines, none had borne him a child. Now that Shui Ling'er has a descendant of the Zhu family, she is rightfully their legal wife. Wouldn't Shui Fengliang then be the father-in-law of the regent? His future would be limitless!

Shui Fengliang immediately urged Shui Ling'er to marry Zhu Chuanzong. Shui Ling'er hesitated, "Father, I have been taught by you since childhood that I should prioritize the people. Besides, the lives of the wealthy and noble are extravagant and filled with intrigue, which I do not like. I only want to roam the world and live a free and unrestrained life."

Shui Fengliang said urgently, "Silly daughter, the Zhu family is not like other families. You know everyone in the Zhu family; they are all kind people. How could there be any intrigue? As for upholding justice for the people, once you become a princess and hold great power, punishing corrupt officials will be a piece of cake!"

Although Shui Fengliang's words sounded reasonable, they still could not persuade Shui Ling'er. Moreover, Shui Ling'er vaguely sensed that her adoptive father's thoughts had changed somewhat, unlike before. He no longer seemed to take saving the people as his mission, but had fallen in love with power, becoming increasingly distant. Shui Ling'er shook her head and turned to leave.

She pondered alone for several days, still feeling deeply troubled. Suddenly, she remembered Xue Jinxian, who was incredibly resourceful and didn't crave power, sharing a similar temperament with her. So she went to visit Xue Jinxian.

Upon hearing Shui Ling'er's thoughts, Xue Jinxian sighed, "Sister, you don't crave wealth and pursue freedom; you are indeed an admirable woman! But the Zhu family really needs this child. Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring. Sister, can you bear to put your husband in such an unfilial position? Besides, you are a woman traveling alone; raising a child will be very difficult. Why not leave the child with the Zhu family?"

Shui Ling'er replied, "Sister, you only know one side of the story. Zhu Chuanzong has killed countless corrupt officials over the years; countless people secretly hate him. Now that he holds great power, no one dares to..." "I'll take revenge on him, but there's no guarantee I won't lose power one day. Then I might not even be able to beg for a

better life. Taking the child away from the capital will preserve the Zhu family bloodline. Besides, that Taoist priest wouldn't let me leave the child behind; if I did, he probably wouldn't live long anyway." Xue Jinxian nodded, "Sister's idea makes a lot of sense. That's why I didn't go to the Zhu family. The Zhu family has been wealthy for generations; they've reached their peak and are probably about to decline."

The two chatted more and more congenially, and Xue Jinxian supported Shui Ling'er's idea.

After returning from Xue Jinxian's place, Shui Ling'er became even more determined. She thought she should eventually talk to Zhu Chuanzong about this and was about to go find him when he arrived. It turned out that Shui Fengliang, unable to persuade Shui Ling'er and fearing she would leave without saying goodbye and miss a golden opportunity, secretly told Zhu Chuanzong about Shui Ling'er's pregnancy.

Overjoyed, Zhu Chuanzong came to greet her. Shui Ling'er had no choice but to tell him about the Taoist priest. Zhu Chuanzong sighed, "Taoist priests on this side and on that side, they're really my nemesis. Why are they always finding ways to make things difficult for me?"

Shui Ling'er softened her tone and said coquettishly, "My dear husband, since he's so accurate, just believe him. Do you think I'd kidnap your child?"

Zhu Chuanzong knew that Shui Ling'er was stubborn by nature, and besides, she was doing it for the child's sake, so he let her have her way.

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[Fantasy] A Strange Encounter with an Immortal (Complete) - Chapters 25-27

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