Male Consort Upgrade System

by Usui Takumii

not mine, ckanda writes, beware bl. Total: 247 Chapters.

17. 151 to 160

As they delved deeper into the cave, it became darker.

"Torches," Minister Luo Wei said.

The soldiers immediately lit torches.

Yan Ge also took out the night pearl that Huangfu Yuchen had given him. This night pearl had a diameter of about four centimeters. It was round and translucent, not the largest among the five night pearls in the palace treasury, but it was the brightest. It was said that Empress Dowager Cixi held a night pearl in her mouth after death, and it could illuminate her hair within a hundred steps at night. Yan Ge's night pearl was even more powerful. It made the surroundings within a hundred paces as bright as day, making the light from the torches seem like candlelight.

As Minister Luo Wei and the others walked forward, they observed the ground, searching for useful clues.

Huangfu Yuchen also looked around and frowned slightly.

"Is there a problem?" Yan Ge asked.

Huangfu Yuchen said, "This cave doesn't show any signs of being artificially carved, but the walls are unusually smooth. It's quite peculiar."

Minister Luo Wei nodded. "I noticed this too, Your Majesty. If it's naturally formed, it can truly be considered a miracle."

Yan Ge raised his head and looked around, feeling the same way. By accident, he noticed some golden dots flickering on the wall, and approached suspiciously for a close look.

"Baby, what did you find?" Huangfu Yuchen walked over and called out Yan Ge's term of endearment out of habit.

There was a moment of silence in the cave, and everyone turned their heads in embarrassment, avoiding Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen's direction.

Yan Ge stared at him meaningfully.

Huangfu Yuchen casually hugged him and asked again, "Did you find something?"

"Do you see some extremely small golden dots on the walls?" Yan Ge pointed to a spot on the wall. "Here."

Minister Luo Wei squinted his eyes but didn't see anything.

Huangfu Yuchen nodded. "Indeed." He reached out and gently touched the wall, then brought his fingertip close to the night pearl. The golden dots were extremely tiny and difficult to notice for those with less sharp eyesight.

The golden dots were too small to determine what they were. Everyone didn't pay much attention and continued walking forward. The cave began to twist and turn, with multiple branching paths, and they followed the rope and entered one cave after another. Strangely, all the caves were about two feet high and could accommodate a carriage. Even the curvature was almost identical to the initial cave they entered, as if they were copies.

Everyone felt a bit uneasy. Even if it was artificially carved, it wouldn't be possible to achieve such a degree.

"Things are getting stranger," Huangfu Yuchen said.

Yan Ge asked, "What do you mean?"

Huangfu Yuchen said, "According to General Wei Chi's account, the first batch of one thousand soldiers and horses were forced into the valley by the people of Youji Kingdom. There is no trace of blood in this cave, indicating that Youji's forces did not pursue them. If that's the case, why didn't the soldiers wait until Youji's forces left and then return the same way? Instead, they chose to venture deeper into the cave. It doesn't make sense."

Minister Luo Wei said, "I was also thinking about that just now. If that's the case, there is only one possibility: something made the soldiers to go deeper into the cave. Either they discovered something important, or there was something that forced them further…"

A dreadful silence fell in the cave. 'Something that forced them further..'

What could it be? This assumption was too terrifying.

Everyone looked at Minister Luo Wei with complicated expressions.

Minister Luo Wei felt helpless. He was just expressing his thoughts.

Gao Feng reminded them, "The rope has reached its end."

"What?!" Minister Luo Wei was shocked. There was no sign of Ah Fei and the others, but the rope had reached its end. How were they going to find the others in this complex labyrinth of caves?

"Gao Feng, shout a few times," Huangfu Yuchen said.

Gao Feng immediately shouted, "Lu Fei, soldiers, where are you?"

A clear and loud voice echoed through several caves, and everyone held their breath, waiting for a response. In this underground maze, it seemed like only their group existed.

"Lu Fei, soldiers, where are you?"

Still, there was no response.

"Your Majesty, what should we do now?" Minister Luo Wei asked.

Huangfu Yuchen said decisively, "Bring the spare rope and connect it to Ah Fei's rope. Gao Feng, hold the rope and continue forward, and the others follow. Everyone, don't separate."

"Yes!"

Yan Ge sent out several strands of his spiritual consciousness into different caves. The strands proceeded forward but encountered several caves leading in different directions. He had no choice but to retract his spiritual consciousness.

"Your Majesty!" Gao Feng suddenly exclaimed.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen quickly walked over and looked at a rope a few steps away in surprise. There was a knot on the rope that they had connected not long ago—they had returned to the starting point.

"This…" Everyone looked at each other. Now they finally understood why Ah Fei and the others had gone missing. They must have gotten lost in this intricate cave system.

Yan Ge transmitted his voice to Huangfu Yuchen, "Should we let the Zhantian Vine search for them?"

Huangfu Yuchen answered back, "Not for now. If this issue is not handled well, it will raise suspicions." Only a few people knew about the existence of the Zhantian Vine.

Yan Ge nodded and asked aloud, "What time is it now?"

The soldier in charge of holding the hourglass answered, "Reporting to Yan Caiqing, it has been nearly an hour since we descended into the valley."

Huangfu Yuchen said, "Gao Feng, untie your rope and keep it. All the soldiers should rest where they are, let me think."

"Yes!"

The soldiers sat down against the cave wall and took a drink of water.

Huangfu Yuchen walked to the wall and swept his sharp eyes over the surface, examining the right wall and then carefully inspecting the left.

Yan Ge followed his gaze and said, "Oh, there are also many golden dots here. It seems like they're increasing the deeper we go."

Huangfu Yuchen pondered for a moment and said, "Let's follow these golden dots and see where they lead."

Minister Luo Wei understood and immediately responded, "Yes! Someone, carefully examine all the cave walls and find the one with the most golden dots."

"Yes!"

Once they determined which cave wall had the most golden dots, the soldiers resumed their journey.

Huangfu Yuchen took a few steps forward and noticed someone hadn't caught up. He turned around and saw Yan Ge tilting his head, holding the night pearl between his shoulder and neck, and digging at the wall with a small iron shovel he somehow acquired.

He rubbed his forehead and walked back, saying helplessly, "Baby, there can't be a gold mine here."

Yan Ge turned his head and asked curiously, "How did you know I thought there might be a gold mine here?" Because of his actions, the night pearl rolled off his shoulder.

Huangfu Yuchen reached out and caught it, and couldn't help laughing. "Otherwise, why would you be digging? What are you looking for?"

Yan Ge shrugged. "I know the possibility of a gold mine here is low, but if these golden dots aren't gold sand, what could they be?"

Huangfu Yuchen was at a loss and held onto his hand. "Let's follow these golden dots and see. We shouldn't lose sight of each other."

"Your Majesty, Yan Caiqing, please come this way," Minister Luo Wei called from the front.

Fortunately, they brought enough rope and after another hour of walking, the cave suddenly widened.

"Look! What is that?" one of the soldiers at the front exclaimed, sounding shocked.

"That's gold!"

"Heavens, it's really gold!"

Yan Ge, who was at the back of the crowd, overheard their words and grabbed Huangfu Yuchen's wrist excitedly. "There really is gold? I told you these golden dots were strange!"

Huangfu Yuchen was skeptical. First, they discovered iron ore here, and now they found gold ore. Was Heaven truly favoring them to such an extent?

Before he could speak, a shrill scream came from ahead. "Ah—"

The two looked up and saw a golden object resembling a bolt of lightning soaring through the air, sweeping horizontally and knocking down five or six soldiers in front of them.

The bodies of the six soldiers were severed in half at the waist, and the sight was really gruesome.

"Hiss—" The object stopped after the strike, then "whoosh," it landed on the ground, its head held high. It coldly looked down at everyone, opened its mouth, and shot out a long and slender tongue like a golden arrow, repeatedly retracting and shooting it out. It was terrifying.

It turned out to be a golden python! Its entire body was glistening with golden skin, as if made of pure gold. The python was incredibly thick, just like the caves they had encountered along the way.

At this moment, everyone finally realized: no wonder the size of these caves was exactly the same, as if they were duplicates. It must be this strange python that burrowed through. What they had seen earlier was not gold but the golden python's coiling body that resembled a mountain of gold. It was motionless, so it's no wonder the soldiers had been mistaken.

No one dared to breathe.

"W-what… what kind of creature is this?" Minister Luo Wei whispered in fear.

Gao Yun swallowed his saliva and lowered his voice. "Could it be that the people who entered before us were already…?"

Everyone's hearts sank.

"Yuchen, what is that?" Despite his profound cultivation, Yan Ge was also nervous upon seeing such a creature for the first time.

Huangfu Yuchen hugged his waist and lightly patted his shoulder with his other hand. His eyes also held a look of astonishment. "If my guess is correct, it's a Golden Python."

Yan Ge said, "I know about Golden Pythons. They're a type of snake with golden-colored skin, and it's said that the longest one can grow up to twenty feet. But they can't be this thick, and their skin shouldn't look like real gold."

Huangfu Yuchen explained, "This Golden Python is not the same as the ordinary Golden Python. I read about it in some anecdotes. The Golden Python is a type of python that feeds on gold. Its entire body, inside and out, is golden. Its flesh and skin are true gold, and because of this, people from every kingdom consider it a great threat. It is said that about a thousand years ago, several kingdoms on this continent united to exterminate all Golden Pythons. So, the Golden Python is already extinct."

Yan Ge found it hard to believe. "Is it true?"

Huangfu Yuchen shook his head. "This is only mentioned in miscellaneous books, and there are no records in official history. I don't know if it's true or false."

"Since it feeds on gold, does that mean the people who came in before might still be alive?" Yan Ge said.

Huangfu Yuchen said, "There are no plants inside this cave, not even a mosquito, apart from this strange python. Even if the people who entered a month ago weren't eaten by the python, they have probably…But Ah Fei and the others might still be alive."

Minister Luo Wei said, "In that case, it is highly likely that the first group of soldiers was confused by the golden python, and they came in to explore. Your Majesty, what should we do now? It seems that the python's skin is extremely tough, and it might not be easy to deal with."

After a brief moment of thought, Huangfu Yuchen glanced at the python and whispered, "Let's retreat for now, eat something to replenish our energy, and then deal with it."

"Your Majesty is considerate." Minister Luo Wei quietly instructed, "Everyone, retreat to the previous cave. Archers, prepare for battle at the entrance."

"Yes."

As everyone retreated, they kept a close eye on the python, guarding against any sudden movements. The python, whether it was because it was already full or too lazy to move, did not chase after them.

The group quickly retreated to another cave and took out the dry rations they carried with them, quickly replenishing their energy.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, the ground trembled slightly, and a hissing sound echoed from above them. When they looked up, they were almost scared out of their wits.

The python was incredibly fast, and within in an instant, it had reached the entrance of the cave, arrogantly overlooking them. Suddenly, it opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and its tongue flickered back and forth like lightning.

One soldier immediately fell to the ground, lifeless.

Minister Luo Wei exclaimed, "Protect His Majesty! Archers, shoot!"

These soldiers were all elites, and they quickly regained their composure after the initial shock. They rushed to the front of Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge.

"Whoosh, whoosh!" Dozens of arrows were shot, but as everyone expected, they were completely ineffective. The arrowheads bounced off the python's tough skin and fell to the ground, leaving no marks.

Another soldier said urgently, "Your Majesty, Yan Caiqing, please go ahead. We will deal with it!"

Before the words could fully leave his mouth, the python swung its tail, and the tip of its tail swept towards him like a gust of wind.

"Gao Yun, be careful!" Gao Feng exclaimed in alarm.

Huangfu Yuchen raised his hand and struck out with a palm, directly hitting the snake's tail. The enormous python's body shook violently, and then it leaped in anger, swiftly swimming towards the crowd while swaying its huge head and thick tail.

The soldiers quickly dodged and were soon scattered.

"Protect His Majesty!" Minister Luo Wei shouted.

However, the python continued to thrash its body, preventing other soldiers from getting close to Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge.

Liao Hui leaped up and landed in front of Huangfu Yuchen, but before he could stabilize himself, the python suddenly twisted its body, pressing him between its hard, iron-like body and the cave wall.

Liao Hui groaned and fainted.

Huangfu Yuchen's face darkened. He drew his spiritual sword and said without looking back, "Xiao Ge, lead the others to retreat outside the cave immediately!"

Yan Ge also drew his spiritual sword, his expression solemn. He turned to Minister Luo Wei and said, "Minister Luo Wei, lead the others to retreat outside the cave immediately!"

Huangfu Yuchen: "…"

Minister Luo Wei firmly stated, "How can I abandon Your Majesty and Yan Caiqing and leave?"

Huangfu Yuchen said, "You can't handle it. Retreat outside the cave immediately. This is my order! Will you defy it?"

"This…" Minister Luo Wei was helpless and could only do as he was told. "Everyone, follow me and retreat!"

Gao Feng and Gao Yun didn't move.

"You two, really…" Yan Ge waved his hand. "Forget it, you two retreat to the side first."

The python charged towards them once again.

Huangfu Yuchen leaped forward, his spiritual sword swinging and emitting a dazzling silver light that cut across the python's body, slicing off a piece of flesh the size of a brick.

Gao Feng and Gao Yun exchanged astonished glances. They had also struck the python with their swords earlier, but they couldn't leave a trace. Huangfu Yuchen's sword was formidable, and they wondered about its origins.

Before the surprise on their faces could fade, they saw Yan Ge also slashing the python, leaving a diagonal sword mark.

Only then did understand that besides avoiding unnecessary casualties, Huangfu Yuchen wanted them to leave because of these two remarkable swords. The fact that Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge didn't insist on their departure showed that their trust in them had grown. They mustn't let down this trust.

Perhaps the python didn't expect that someone could harm it. It suddenly stood upright, and its massive head slammed into the cave ceiling, but it didn't seem to feel a thing. It then swiftly charged towards Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge.

Huangfu Yuchen raised the corner of his mouth disdainfully, lifting and then lowering his spiritual sword.

He aimed at the python's back, intending to split it open, but Yan Ge stopped him. "Yuchen, is there a way to capture it alive?"

Huangfu Yuchen leaped onto the python's body, his spiritual sword held horizontally above its head.

The python seemed to understand the power of this spiritual sword and immediately calmed down, not daring to move.

"Baby, don't tell me you're planning to keep it to help you find gold mines?" Huangfu Yuchen said helplessly.

"You know me well, Yuchen." Yan Ge said, "I was thinking that since it feeds on gold and has grown this big, it must have a talent for finding gold mines. If we can tame it, we can take it to other kingdoms and mine their gold."

Gao Feng and Gao Yun became excited and looked at Huangfu Yuchen with anticipation.

Huangfu Yuchen rubbed his forehead. "Baby, it can't speak. How can we communicate with it? Besides, it's so huge. If we bring it with us, won't the whole world know?"

Yan Ge scratched his head and suddenly remembered the scaling spell they had learned. He quickly transmitted his voice to Huangfu Yuchen. "We can use the spell to shrink it."

Huangfu Yuchen nodded slightly. "That's feasible. But how do we communicate with it?"

Yan Ge thought for a moment, took out a gold ingot from his system backpack and walked up to the python. He held the gold ingot in his left hand, and the spiritual sword in his right hand. "You, help us find more of these. Otherwise, I'll cut off more of these from your body!"

He pointed the spiritual sword at the gold-colored flesh he had cut off from the python.

Huangfu Yuchen, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun were speechless.

Of course, the python couldn't understand Yan Ge's words and remained motionless.

Yan Ge looked disappointed. "Are we really going to kill it like this?"

Huangfu Yuchen had Gao Feng pick up the snake meat from the ground. He examined it carefully and was somewhat surprised. "Bany, come and take a look. Its flesh is indeed made of gold."

Yan Ge hurriedly walked over, took the snake meat, and nodded. "Indeed. The world is full of wonders."

Huangfu Yuchen chuckled. "Are you happy now? Even if it can't help us find gold mines, just its flesh alone is quite valuable."

The python, which had been silent all along, suddenly moved.

Huangfu Yuchen remained highly vigilant, pressing his spiritual sword closer to its head.

The python made a slight movement, turning its head to the left and then back, opening its mouth and emitting two soft hissing sounds.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen exchanged puzzled looks. Was it their imagination? It seemed that the golden python wanted them to go to the left.

"Let's go and take a look." Huangfu Yuchen mounted the golden python and reached out to pull Yan Ge up as well.

Gao Feng and Gao Yun hurriedly followed.

They returned to the spot where they had seen the golden python before. Yan Ge raised the Night Pearl and noticed a larger pit ahead.

The golden python swam to the edge of the pit and stopped.

At first glance, Huangfu Yuchen saw the exposed gold in the pit, roughly the size of a large table, with traces of snake teeth marks.

"It's gold, and it seems to be quite pure without many impurities. Quite rare," Yan Ge said. "It appears that this is indeed a gold mine. The gold has been mostly consumed by the golden python, leaving only this."

Huangfu Yuchen gestured for Yan Ge to stay on guard against the golden python. He jumped off its back and used the spiritual sword to dig into the ground along the edge of the gold, excavating the soil to a depth of four to five feet. They could confirm that this piece of gold weighed at least two thousand catties.

Yan Ge cast a shrinking spell, reducing the golden python to the size of chopsticks, and placed it in a carved box with a sealed formation. He made a small hole in one corner of the box and threw in a gold ingot.

Gao Feng and Gao Yun were shocked, but as people who had followed Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge for a long time, their faces quickly returned to calm, as if they hadn't seen anything unusual.

Huangfu Yuchen said, "Let's find the others first before having someone carry the gold."

Yan Ge released the Zhantian Vine, and they followed it to find Ah Fei and the others.

Ah Fei and the others had been trapped in the cave and starving for nearly a day. They knew the cave was complex, and the chances of being found were slim. They had already lost hope, so when they saw Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge personally coming to find them, they thought it was an illusion. They rubbed their eyes before daring to believe and knelt down gratefully.

It took about an incense stick to locate the rest of the soldiers who had come with them but got separated.

"Have you found the previous two groups?" Huangfu Yuchen asked.

Ah Fei's face showed a painful expression. "Reporting to Your Majesty, we found them, but they are all dead. From my initial judgment, only a few of them were injured by the golden python inside the cave. The others died of starvation. It was too tragic."

A suffocating silence filled the cave.

After a while, Huangfu Yuchen said, "Where are their remains now? Can they still be found?"

Ah Fei replied, "They can be found. I left markers."

Huangfu Yuchen instructed Gao Feng and Gao Yun, "Follow the rope ahead and inform the other soldiers to come and carry the fallen soldiers' remains back."

"Yes."

General Wei Chi, who had been anxiously waiting above the ground from the time they descended, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge's figures in his line of sight. He smiled with relief and tears streamed down his face as the bodies were brought up one by one.

"Your Majesty," General Wei Chi knelt heavily and pleaded, "The soldiers died in such a tragic manner. I request that Your Majesty provide double compensation for them."

"It's only right." Huangfu Yuchen said, "All the fallen soldiers in this battle will receive a compensation of one hundred taels of silver."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

One hundred taels of silver would be enough to provide for the families of the soldiers. The soldiers knelt down with gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

"Rise."

Huangfu Yuchen, Yan Ge, General Wei Chi, and Minister Luo Wei entered the tent.

After sitting down, General Wei Chi spoke with righteous indignation, "Your Majesty, the Youji Kingdom's army first intruded into our kingdom's territory, then plundered our people, and later forced one thousand of our soldiers into the Cuncao Valley. They have gone too far! If we don't teach them a lesson, they will think that our Great Han Kingdom is easy to bully."

"What do you suggest?" Huangfu Yuchen asked calmly.

General Wei Chi said, "I know that if we really fight them, it may escalate into a larger-scale war between the two kingdoms, causing both loss of life and financial burdens. Your Majesty surely doesn't want to see such a thing happen, and I also don't wish for it. So, my idea is to find a way to lure them into our borders again. In that case, we will have an excuse to give them a severe lesson, avenging our fallen soldiers and intimidating them."

Yan Ge's eyes flickered, and spoke to Huangfu Yuchen via voice transmission, "Yuchen, this plan is not bad. We not only need to teach them a lesson openly but also make them suffer in secret."

"Do you have another clever idea?" Huangfu Yuchen asked calmly, then said to General Wei Chi, "General Wei is experienced and resourceful. I trust you. As long as it doesn't cause chaos at the border, handle the other matters as you see fit. I sent Minister Luo Wei here to also assess the army. If we can showcase our military strength through this incident, it would be a double benefit."

General Wei Chi stood up respectfully and saluted, "I will comply with the orders!"

"The iron ore has been confirmed to be genuine. General Wei must ensure strict confidentiality. I will have the Ministry of Works send someone to handle the handover. After Minister Luo We finishes his task, he should return to the capital as soon as possible. Xaio Ge and I will stay in this area for a few more days and return to the capital on our own. You two don't need to worry about it."

"We will comply!"

After leaving the military tent, Huangfu Yuchen asked Yan Ge, "What's the idea this time?"

Gao Feng and Gao Yun followed a few steps behind.

Yan Ge patted his chest mysteriously, "I just obtained a treasure. Don't you want to give it a try? Let's go treasure hunting in the Youji Kingdom!"

Huangfu Yuchen became interested, "Good idea."

Gao Feng and Gao Yun exchanged excited glances. They knew there would be something fun to do if they followed Yan Ge.

Huangfu Yuchen said, "I'm not familiar with the border towns near the Youji Kingdom. We should find a guide. Gao Yun."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Go and ask General Wei if he has anyone familiar with the border towns of the Youji Kingdom," Huangfu Yuchen ordered.

"Yes, I'll go."

Gao Yun went to ask General Wei, and he introduced them to Zhang Di, who was familiar with the border towns of the Youji Kingdom and the situation of the border garrison in Lushan Town.

The next day after breakfast, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen, accompanied by Yan Jin, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun, set off for Lushan Town.

The territory of Youji Kingdom was only one-fifth the size of Great Han Kingdom, with a small population. Agriculture was the mainstay of the feudal economy, but with fewer people and less land, the resources they obtained were limited. That's why the Youji Kingdom was keen on plundering from Great Han Kingdom. They would seize whatever they could. They didn't dare to confront Great Han directly and could only resort to such petty methods.

A month ago, the order to infiltrate the Great Han Kingdom's territory and plunder several villages was issued by General Qin Ke, the stationed border commander of the Youji Kingdom. He was also the one who came up with the idea.

The plundered resources had allowed him to live a lavish life for a while, and enjoying hot pot in winter was a kind of luxury. This hot pot was something only enjoyed by those in Great Han, which made General Qin Ke unable to resist plundering them.

"General, it's time to go on patrol," Deputy General Shi said after finishing the hot pot, wiping his mouth and standing up.

General Qin Ke patted his belly and stood up as well, saying, "I'll go too."

"Please, General."

The two of them slowly arrived in the town.

Although Lushan Town was only a medium-sized town, it had frequent trade with the Great Han Kingdom because it was a border town. Many merchants from the Great Han would transport goods that the Youji Kingdom lacked and sell them here. Although they paid more taxes than the Youji Kingdom's merchants, they also made a good profit. The street was full of small stalls, and pedestrians were bustling.

"Spicy hot pot! Delicious and cheap. Have a bowl in winter, and feel so warm!"

After wandering around for a while, General Qin Ke got hungry again and walked briskly to a small stall selling spicy hot pot. He said lazily, "Give me two bowls. Make it with two skewers of each meat and two of everything else."

The stall owner squeezed out a smile and said, "Alright, General, please wait a moment."

After the two bowls of spicy hot pot were ready, General Qin Ke and Deputy General Shi each had one.

General Qin Ke began to eat heartily, and after finishing, he wiped his mouth and casually left behind four or five copper coins.

"General, this isn't enough…" the stall owner gathered courage to say.

General Qin Ke acted as if he didn't hear and walked away without a care.

The stall owner looked at Deputy General Shi and said, "Deputy General Shi…"

Deputy General Shi glared at him and said, "Go, go! Can't this General cheat you? I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

The stall owner dared not speak up again.

Yan Ge and the others entered the town and happened to witness this scene. Their faces changed.

"Outrageous!" Gao Yun angrily exclaimed, "Are our kingdom's merchants treated this way in Youji Kingdom?!"

Gao Feng was equally furious, "Young Master, Boss, let's go and talk to them."

"I'll go!" Yan Jin volunteered, slipping out from Gao Feng's embrace and heading down.

Seeing that Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen had no intention of stopping him, Gao Feng let him go.

Yan Jin ran a few steps to catch up with General Qin Ke, stretched out his arms to block him, and looked at him with teary eyes, "General, although my father can make some money selling spicy hot pot, it's barely enough to support my brother's education, save dowry for my two sisters, and provide milk for my younger brother. It's simply not enough to support our whole family. Please pity us and give us our money."

A cute child suddenly appeared in front of General Qin Wei and he smiled. But as soon as he heard his words, his face turned black.

Passersby saw a small child barely reaching the knees of the tall and mighty general blocking him and curiously gathered around.

"General, please pity us and give us our money back. We are from the Great Han Kingdom, but we never bully the people of the Youji Kingdom. You won't bully us either, right? Wuuu…"

"It's the General again. How can he bully a child? What's going on?" The onlookers whispered to each other.

General Qin Ke's face turned black then red, and he yelled at Deputy General Shi, "Didn't I tell you to pay? Why didn't you pay?"

The condemning gazes of the crowd all fell on Deputy General Shi.

Deputy General Shi was unjustly accused but couldn't voice his grievances. He quickly took out a few silver coins from his pocket and handed them to Yan Jin, saying, "Take it, keep it. This General was in a hurry and forgot."

General Qin Ke and Deputy General Shi walked away in embarrassment, quickly distancing themselves.

Yan Jin walked happily to the stunned stall owner and handed him the money without waiting for him to speak, saying directly, "No need to thank me. We are all from the Great Han Kingdom, helping each other is only natural."

The people around laughed.

On seeing Yan Jin walk to Yan Ge's side, the stall owner guessed that they were together, and quickly approached and thanked him profusely.

"Are you all from Nanrun City? Let me treat you to a bowl of spicy hot pot as a token of gratitude."

Huangfu Yuchen, Yan Jin, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun all looked at Yan Ge.

Yan Ge smiled and said, "Thank you, then. We're all hungry anyway. May I ask for the boss's name…?"

"My surname is Zhong," the stall owner said while skillfully adding vegetables to the broth. "You don't need to be formal. I'm just a small vendor here."

Gao Feng asked, "Was that General Qin? Does he often act like this?"

Boss Zhong let out a deep sigh and said in a low voice, "This General Qin loves the food of Great Han Kingdom but not its people. Almost every time he passes by my stall, he orders a bowl of spicy hot pot and intentionally pays less. He doesn't eat vegetarian dishes, only meat dishes, and he orders every kind of meat. And each kind of meat is two coins. But this purple rabbit meat is only available in the Great Han Kingdom and is even more expensive, costing three coins per skewer. He eats around thirty or forty coins' worth of hot pot each time but only gives four or five coins. I also have to 'treat' him to a large bowl. How can I afford it? But he is a general, what can we do?"

"Is it only you who encounters this situation, or do many merchants from the Great Han Kingdom face this?" Huangfu Yuchen asked.

Boss Zhong said, "Many people encounter this situation. It's common for those soldiers patrolling to take a cake or a few fruits from our stalls."

Yan Ge said, "Since this kind of thing happens frequently, why don't you report it to the county magistrate in Nanrun City or to General Wei Chi?"

Boss Zhong smiled and replied, "The county magistrate and General Wei Chi are high-ranking officials and are busy with important matters. Do they have time to deal with such small issues?"

Huangfu Yuchen said coldly , "It's their duty to handle these matters. How can they dare not to take care of it?"

Boss Zhong was taken aback upon hearing his strong tone. This person seemed like he didn't consider the county magistrate and General Wei Chi important at all. He often did business on the street and encountered many people, so he had a bold guess: Could this person be an even higher-ranking official than the general?

Gao Yun patted Boss Zhong's shoulder with a smile and said, "Don't worry, just listen to our boss."

After finishing the spicy hot pot and walking away, Yan Ge smiled and said, "Zirui, I have another idea."

"If you thought of something, just say it. You can't keep it to yourself after all," Huangfu Yuchen teased.

Yan Ge beckoned with his finger and said, "Come closer…"

Just as he was about to tell his idea to Huangfu Yuchen, Yan Jin tugged at his sleeve.

He looked over in confusion.

General Qin Ke and Deputy General Shi were walking towards them. When General Qin Ke saw Yan Jin, his gaze followed to Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen beside him. He immediately understood that he had been tricked.

He walked over with a threatening posture, intending to settle the score. "You all, stop."

"What instructions do you have, General?" Yan Ge asked.

General Qin Ke snorted, "Are you people from the Great Han Kingdom? Where are your travel permits?"

Gao Feng handed over the travel permits that General Wei Chi had prepared for them.

General Qin Ke glanced disdainfully at Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen, and said, "As a father, is it interesting for you to let your son call others 'father' without caring."

Yan Ge smiled faintly, "It's true that I should care, but it's even more important to address unfairness. General, you are a respected figure, yet you covet a few dozen coins from a small stall owner. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

Deputy General Shi raised his chin and rolled his eyes, his attitude extremely arrogant: "Presumptuous! Watch your words when speaking to our general!"

Huangfu Yuchen glanced at him coldly, raised the corner of his mouth, and calmly said, "It is well known that the Youji Kingdom lacks various resources. Many supplies need to be purchased from the Great Han Kingdom. Even the fragrant rice that the Youji Emperor loves to eat has to be bought from the Great Han Kingdom. Aren't the two generals afraid that this news will reach General Wei Chi's ears, and he will block the border trade in anger? I wonder who will be in a hurry at that time."

General Qin Ke remained unchanged.

"You—" Deputy General Shi became furious and was about to speak, but was stopped by General Qin Ke.

Huangfu Yuchen said lightly, "Let's go."

The group swaggered away.

General Qin Ke's face turned dark, and he muttered in a low voice, "These people probably have some background. Send a few people to follow them."

"Yes!"

Gao Feng whispered, "Boss, Young Master, someone is following us."

"Let them be." Yan Ge held onto Huangfu Yuchen's arm and walked to a roadside stall, admiring the various accessories unique to the Youji Kingdom.

They walked and wandered around, with the followers trailing behind. When they stopped, the other party also stopped. When they continued, the other party also continued.

After they had strolled around enough, Yan Ge signaled to Huangfu Yuchen and the others. They merged into the crowd, easily shaking off their pursuers.

"Xiao Ge, now you can tell us your plan," Huangfu Yuchen said.

Yan Ge thought of his brilliant plan and chuckled, "Gao Feng, Gao Yun, take this twenty-two taels of gold to a goldsmith. Ask the owner to coat a sheet of iron about the size of a table with gold. Then go back to the Ruyi Inn we passed by earlier."

"Yes."

Gao Feng and Gao Yun left with the gold.

When it was dark, the five of them arrived in the outskirts.

Yan Ge said, "Let's release the Gold Python first and see if we can find any gold mines nearby."

Gao Yun said, "Young Master, gold is precious precisely because it is scarce. It may not be easy to find one."

Yan Ge smiled, "You underestimate the Gold Python. Its ability to grow this big is enough to prove its talent for finding gold mines. If there's a gold mine nearby, it will definitely find it."

Huangfu Yuchen said, "We'll know once we try."

Gao Feng was a bit worried, "What if it escapes after being released?"

Yan Ge patted Huangfu Yuchen's back and said, "With Yuchen here as the gatekeeper, even ten thousand men can't open the gate."

Huangfu Yuchen chuckled, "Mmm, but it's 'husband.'"

Yan Ge was speechless.

Having had enough of the idle talk, he took out the silk box containing the Gold Python. A golden light flashed, and the shrunken Gold Python landed on the ground, twisting gently. He then used the resizing technique, restoring the Gold Python to its original form.

Yan Jin had only heard Yan Ge describe what the Gold Python looked like, but on seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, it's so shiny!"

The Gold Python seemed to have truly become tame. Knowing that Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen were not easy to mess with, it didn't attack them. It didn't even spare them a glance, lowering its head and burrowing into the ground.

"Gao Feng, Gao Yun, you stay here."

Yan Ge had only managed to say a few words before being embraced by Huangfu Yuchen. They closely followed behind the Gold Python and went underground.

Yan Jin was held by Huangfu Yuchen's other arm.

Gao Feng and Gao Yun understood that it would be difficult to keep up with Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen, so they obediently stayed in place and found a hidden spot.

The Gold Python moved through the underground like a fish in water. It went forward for about five to six miles before starting to burrow deeper underground. Yan Ge estimated that it would need to go nearly a thousand meters deep before its speed slowed down.

Suddenly, the Gold Python rolled in all directions, squeezing the surrounding soil with its immense strength and making the surrounding space wider. When it was large enough for it to turn around inside, it stopped.

Yan Ge raised the Night Pearl and saw a wall of gold shimmering in front of him. He smiled without surprise, "Haha… Ah!"

In an instant, he saw the Gold Python open its mouth and swallow a large chunk of goldstone, and he exclaimed in distress. Ignoring him, the Gold Python opened its mouth again, taking in another big bite.

Huangfu Yuchen lifted his hand, and the pitiful Gold Python shrank again, and returned to the silk box.

Yan Ge clung to Huangfu Yuchen's shoulder and patted the silk box, comforting it, "If you want a horse to run, you have to feed it more grass. Don't worry, I'll let you eat, but not now."

Yan Jin looked around and sighed, "This is a huge gold mine, but it's at least two to three feet underground. No wonder nobody has discovered it until now. Papa, what do we do next?"

"Next, we proceed with the second part of the plan," Yan Ge said with a smirk.

Early in the morning, Lushan Town became lively as soon as the city gate opened.

General Qin Ke wore a frustrated expression as he walked with his subordinates on the main street. He was certain that the people from the Great Han Kingdom he encountered yesterday were suspicious, but his subordinates lost track of them. After returning to the military camp, he grew more and more annoyed the more he thought about it. He had slept poorly all night, waking up before dawn for training and then followed for patrol duties.

Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure in white in the crowd not far away, looking around nervously. Wasn't that the smiling young man from yesterday?

"You all continue with the patrol!"

"Yes!"

After a quick scan and ensuring that the others who were with Yan Ge weren't nearby, General Qin Ke swiftly chased him. He observed as the person purchased a sturdy small hoe from an iron shop, filled a water pouch at a tea shop, bought twenty steamed buns from a bun shop, and finally acquired two torches from a grocery store.

General Qin Ke was full of suspicion. He was afraid of alerting the person, so he lightened his footsteps and quietly followed behind Yan Ge until they reached the outskirts. He watched as the person in white looked around again and suddenly moved a pile of dead branches, rotten grass, and fallen leaves, revealing a dark cave.

General Qin Ke widened his eyes in astonishment. This place was naturally filled with thorns, and it was infested with snakes and insects among the dense vegetation. Even ordinary people wouldn't come here to gather firewood or collect medicinal herbs. He never expected that there would be such a large cave hidden here.

The fanatic and excited expression on the person's face made him extremely suspicious. What could be hidden in this cave that would make this Great Han person so excited? He watched as the person took out something from their pocket, brought it close to the torch for examination, and even grinned from ear to ear.

When General Qin Ke saw what the person held in their hand, he turned pale. It was a piece of golden stone. Could it be gold! Could there be a gold mine hidden here?

The cave sloped downward and continued for quite some distance. After walking for a while, they finally reached the end.

The person in white stuck the torch into the ground, rushed towards a golden wall, and laughed excitedly. He then picked up the small hoe and began digging fervently.

General Qin Ke had some skills as a stationed border general. Even at this moment, he managed to restrain his excitement and calmly watched the person dig relentlessly for nearly half an hour until he finally grew tired. He rubbed his numb hands, sat down in a corner, drank a few sips of water, ate some steamed buns, and held up a piece of golden stone in admiration. After a while, he actually fell asleep!

This was a great opportunity! General Qin Ke listened carefully to the person's breathing and confirmed that they were fast asleep. He quietly picked up the hoe, walked to a slightly distant spot, and started digging on the wall. His luck was good. After just two attempts, he dug out a fist-sized golden stone. After carefully examining it, he couldn't contain his excitement.

He put the golden stone into his pocket, returned the hoe to its original place, and swiftly used lightness skills to quickly leave.

Yan Ge opened his eyes and grinned cunningly.

General Qin Ke returned to the city and saw a commoner leading a horse about to leave the city. He walked a few steps forward and said, "I am General Qin Ke. I'm borrowing the horse and will return it soon! Go—"

Before the horse's owner could react, his horse had already galloped away.

"Go—Move aside—"

The people on the street panicked and retreated to both sides of the road, bewildered by what was happening. They wondered what major event had occurred that the general was riding a fast horse on a busy street.

Deputy General Shi happened to be in the camp and when he saw General Qin Ke return in a hurry, he knew that something big had happened. He quickly approached.

"General!"

"Deputy General Shi, immediately gather one thousand soldiers and bring shovels, iron balls, and spades!"

"General, what's going on?"

"Hurry!" General Qin Ke shouted sternly.

Deputy General Shi didn't dare to ask further. "Understood!"

After assembling the soldiers, General Qin Ke had a slightly triumphant expression as he said to Deputy General Shi, "This morning, I followed the white-clad person from yesterday and discovered a gold mine."

"What?!" Deputy General Shi was skeptical and cupped his hand, "General, please forgive me for speaking frankly. Our mountains and rivers have been thoroughly explored by kings of various dynasties over the past few hundred years. There have been no new veins or mines discovered. Furthermore, that person in white is from the Great Han Kingdom. How would they know where the gold mine is in our kingdom? General, could it be that you've been deceived?"

General Qin Ke took out a cloth bag from his pocket and handed it to him. "I randomly dug this out in the cave. How could it be fake?"

Deputy General Shi opened the cloth bag and was greatly astonished. "It's real!"

General Qin Ke ordered, "Leave the city immediately! Follow me!"

A thousand soldiers galloped towards the outskirts, quickly arriving at the hidden cave entrance.

"Ignite the torches, and everyone follow!"

On entering the cave, Deputy General Shi followed closely beside General Qin Ke, carefully examining the cave walls. "The scale of this cave is so large. It's excessive if it was made just to deceive us. Is it really real?"

General Qin Ke said, "I won't waste words. You'll know when we arrive. There's only one person inside the cave, and based on initial judgment, he doesn't seem to know martial arts. But everyone should still be cautious."

"Yes."

The group hurriedly advanced and soon reached the bottom. They didn't see the person in white, but General Qin Ke didn't think too much of it, assuming that he had temporarily left or had gone back to fetch tools to collect the gold stones.

He pointed to the golden wall on the opposite side and smiled triumphantly. "Do you see it, Deputy General Shi?"

Deputy General Shi was filled with joy, he quickly walked over and ordered, "Dig!"

A soldier used a shovel to dig, and with a "clang", a large piece of golden stone fell to the ground.

"General, look at this piece. It's this big. If we report this to the Emperor, it will be a great achievement!" Deputy General Shi happily walked over, picked up the stone, but suddenly stopped. "Huh, this…"

Deputy General Shi held the stone, slowly stood up and looked at General Qin Ke with a complex expression. He opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

"What's the matter?" General Qin Ke asked impatiently as he stepped forward.

Deputy General Shi swallowed nervously and replied, "This…. It's just ordinary stone covered with a layer of gold!"

"What!" General Qin Ke turned pale with shock.

In a similar cave three miles away, Yan Ge imagined General Qin Ke's expression and happily leaned into Huangfu Yuchen's embrace.

Gao Feng and Gao Yun also laughed until tears streamed down their faces.

"Boss, Young Master, I really wish I could see the expression on that general's face. It must be priceless."

Yan Ge couldn't stop laughing, "Now he knows that people of our Great Han aren't easy to mess with!"

The cave General Qin Ke went to was actually another cave where Yan Ge had the Golden Python drill out. The gold pieces that he and General Qin Ke initially dug out were real, but they were buried in the soil beforehand. But the large piece of gold stone the soldiers later dug out was just an ordinary stone with one side covered in gold. So when Deputy General Shi picked up the stone, he discovered the truth.

Gao Yun said, "Boss, I have a question. The army of the Youji Kingdom has caused us to suffer more than a thousand casualties. Why don't we just let the Golden Python destroy the cave and wipe out their thousand soldiers as payback?"

Gao Feng gave him a helpless look and said, "Use your brain. For General Qin Ke's people to plunder our people within our borders is like slapping General Wei Chi in the face. This revenge opportunity should naturally be given to General Wei Chi to vent his anger. Besides, we still have matters to deal with here. If their general were to die at this moment, their emperor would definitely send people to investigate, wouldn't we be inviting trouble?"

"Oh, right," Gao Feng finally understood.

The group continued using their tools to excavate the gold stones. Yan Jin was also not idle. Although he didn't help with mining, he occasionally handed them water or moved the small pieces of gold they dug out and placed them together. After moving them, he sat on a nearby blanket and enjoyed his snacks.

Yan Ge swung his spiritual sword to dig out a piece of gold, then sighed pretentiously, "I never thought that this young master would one day become a miner. Alas, how tragic."

Gao Feng and Gao Yun thought to themselves, 'From the way you and His Majesty easily mine gold as if cutting vegetables, you are probably the most relaxed miners in the world.'

Huangfu Yuchen kissed Yan Ge's forehead, "My poor baby. This gold mine is within the territory of the Youji Kingdom, so it's not convenient for our people to come here. Besides, I plan to keep this gold as secret reserve funds, not to be deposited in the national treasury. It may come in handy at a critical moment."

"I don't mind, but Gao Feng and Gao Yun have indeed worked hard. You should reward them," Yan Ge said with a smile.

Gao Feng and Gao Yun both knelt down and said, "We dare not! Serving the boss and young master is our duty and our pleasure!"

"Such honest kids," Yan Ge praised.

Huangfu Yuchen, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun all had helpless expressions.

Huangfu Yuchen said, "Xiao Ge is right. I will promote both of you to Deputy Guard Captains of the fourth rank."

Gao Feng and Gao Yun happily looked at each other and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Father, I also helped," Yan Jin ran over to join in the fun.

Huangfu Yuchen glanced at him and said, "I will appoint you as first rank—"

Yan Jin's eyes lit up. "First rank of what?"

"Of eating. What do you think?" Huangfu Yuchen finished speaking.

Yan Jin pouted.

Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun all laughed.

With their profound cultivation, it took the group three days to dig out nearly three million taels of gold. Although many of the gold stones had impurities, even after refining, they would still have around 2.5 million taels, which was equivalent to 25 million taels of silver. It was a considerable wealth.

Huangfu Yuchen gave Yan Ge a gold stone that resembled a galloping horse and weighed about a thousand taels. He also gave Gao Feng and Gao Yun each a piece weighing around a hundred taels. Yan Jin also received a gold lump the size of an egg and he happily put it into his small pouch.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen used some spatial techniques to collect all the gold, which was actually stored in the system backpack. However, the space was highly confidential, and Yan Ge currently had no plans to let a fourth person know about it.

There were still some scattered small gold stones in the gold mine, but because Huangfu Yuchen couldn't stay away from the palace for too long, they didn't have time to dig them out. Yan Ge released the Golden Python and let it eat them, then the group left the cave, allowing the Golden Python to collapse it. Perhaps there was more gold inside, but it shouldn't fall into the hands of the Youji Kingdom.

After disguising themselves, the group successfully left Lushan Town and returned to Nanrun City. They greeted General Wei Chi, Minister Luo Wei, and Deng Mande, and set off back to the capital with Deng Mande.

Standing at the entrance of Tenglong Palace, Yan Ge looked at Huangfu Yuchen by his side, and the corners of his lips curled up. It felt as if they had never been apart.

The guards of Tenglong Palace saw them return and they knelt down and saluted. "Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Yan Shiqing."

"Disp—," before Yan Ge could say "disperse," he suddenly felt something was wrong. Yan Shiqing? Did the guards make a mistake, or did he mishear it?

"Ding. Side mission—Return to the rank of Caiqing.

Mission time: six months. Mission success reward: 50,000 taels of silver, one storage ring. Mission failure penalty: deduction of 50,000 taels of silver. Accept the mission? 'Yes' or 'No'."

Yan Ge instinctively accepted the mission. First, he was informed of his demotion, and then he learned that completing the mission would allow him to obtain the legendary storage ring. He didn't know if he should be frustrated or delighted. Like a tiger pouncing on its prey, he pounced on Huangfu Yuchen's back, wrapped his arms around his neck, and demanded an explanation, "You demoted me to Shiqing?"

"Yes," Huangfu Yuchen reached his hand behind him to support Yan Ge, calmly carrying him as they continued walking towards the palace.

The palace attendants lowered their heads respectfully.

Yan Ge gritted his teeth and said, "Didn't you say you wouldn't get angry with me?"

Huangfu Yuchen didn't say a word and walked into the palace, placing Yan Ge on the bed and sitting beside him. "Baby, if you had told me properly that you wanted to go to the southwest, I might not have refused. I'm upset that you sneaked away without informing me. Do you know why I didn't want you to leave the capital alone?"

He explained to Yan Ge the conclusion he had drawn earlier about Centipede, "When I found out that you had sneakes out of the capital, I was scared to death, fearing that Meng Xiaohun would come after you and harm you in a place unknown to me. So, this is my way of punishing you. Let's see if you dare to be disobedient in the future." He knew that Yan Ge cared a lot about his rank, so he used this method to teach him a lesson, so that his audacity wouldn't grow.

Yan Ge wanted to cry but had no tears, yet he couldn't say to Huangfu Yuchen: 'Promoting my rank is my system mission, and it also relates to our cultivation. If you must punish me, at least find another method.'

"I left you a note, it's not considered sneaking." He tried to defend himself desperately.

"What note?" Huangfu Yuchen asked in confusion.

Yan Ge was taken aback. "Didn't you see it? I pasted it on the top of the bed canopy."

"On top of the bed canopy?" Huangfu Yuchen looked at him with a half-smile.

Yan Ge coughed lightly and turned his head.

Deng Mande whispered, "Yan Shiqing, please forgive this servant for being nosy. After you left, His Majesty didn't rest on the bed at all. He was handling government affairs until almost dawn and only slept on the desk for a while. After arranging everything, he left the palace to chase after you."

Yan Ge suddenly turned his head back. He didn't say a word, but secretly reached out to hold Huangfu Yuchen's hand, looking at him with apologetic eyes.

Huangfu Yuchen shook his head gently and leaned in to give him a kiss on the lips.

Yan Ge still felt a bit unwilling. "Centipede didn't make a move, so maybe—"

"No." Huangfu Yuchen rejected him outright. "However, it is indeed strange that the Centipede didn't appear this time. Did it not receive news of our departure from the capital, or is there another plot?"

"Don't change the subject—" Yan Ge emphasized each word.

Huangfu Yuchen patted his head, took off his outer robe, and prepared for a bath.

Yan Ge started looking for his pouch.

Huangfu Yuchen knew his intentions without looking and said leisurely, "Even if you bring out 200,000 taels, it's useless."

Yan Ge froze, then deflated and fell onto the bed.

Huangfu Yuchen walked up to him and half-dragged, half-carried him to the side of the bath, helping him remove his cloak. "Alright, baby, don't be angry. As long as you behave, I will find a chance to restore your position."

Yan Ge glanced at him with a sour expression but didn't say anything. In his heart, he thought, 'Once I get the storage ring, I won't give it to you!'

Days passed with the two of them playfully teasing each other. By the time their cultivation reached the end of the Divine Transformation stage, it was already midwinter, with snow falling every two or three days.

The weather was too cold, and all construction work in the capital came to a halt. In addition, the common people began preparing for the Lunar New Year. Even in winter, the capital remained lively and people from nearby villages and towns flocked to the city to buy New Year's goods. Various fragrances filled the streets, attracting not only children but also adults. After a year of hard work, it was time to reward themselves.

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the First Company began their holiday and would resume work after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

The managers and sales assistants of other stores watched the employees of the First Company as they took their families to the streets to buy New Year's goods, watch performances, and listen to storytellers. They couldn't help but feel envious and secretly sighed. Why wasn't their boss as considerate and reasonable as Yan Shiqing?

Lu Shaoling was also one of the objects of their envy. After being polished by Yan Ge for several months, he had already transformed and become an assistant manager of the First Company. He walked confidently through the streets with his head held high.

"Oh, isn't this Uncle Zhao? How have you been lately? I've been so busy that I didn't have time to come and visit you. I heard that your leg has been bothering you again recently. I'll have someone go to the Ping'an Pharmacy to get you some medicine. It's guaranteed to work. I'm an employee of the company, so you'll get a 20% discount on the medicine."

"Oh, Uncle Li is here too? It's so cold today, why aren't you wearing a cloak? If you don't mind, I can lend you mine. You can return it to me whenever you have the chance. If it fits you well, you can keep it."

After Lu Shaoling left, Master Zhao and Master Li looked at each other, unable to express their feelings. This young master Lu seems to have changed completely. No wonder Duke Lu always has a smile on his face wherever he goes. Lu Shaoling used to be a useless dandy, but now he was a talented young man. As for their own sons, they used to be useless dandies, and they still were.

Maybe they should talk to Yan Caiqing and send their sons to the First Company for some training too? This thought floated through both men's minds.

Later, Yan Ge sent Master Li and Master Zhao's sons to the military camp for training, and they actually made a name for themselves.

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, the palace held the seal ceremony, during which the emperor stopped working and the ministers also took a break.

On the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Huangfu Yuchen had already planned to visit the Yan family with Yan Ge. Officially, Yan Xiaojing was his subject, but personally, he was his father-in-law. Huangfu Yuchen presented a precious jade-carved pine tree, finely crafted and of great value both in terms of Huangfu Yuchen's intentions and the craftsmanship, as well as the value of the jade carving. As soon as Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge left, Yan Xiaojing locked it in a secret room for fear of losing it.

On New Year's Eve, Yan Ge woke up and discovered that it had snowed the previous night. Everything was covered in a silvery white coat, as if spring had come overnight and thousands of pear trees were blooming.

Huangfu Yuchen led all the members of the royal family in offering sacrifices to the heavens and ancestors before having breakfast.

The New Year's Eve dinner was the most important meal. The royal family usually had a table full of delicacies, and the New Year's Eve dinner was even more sumptuous, with a variety of delicacies, fruits, and desserts. Even if they only took a bite of each, it would be enough to make them full.

Despite this, the New Year's Eve dinner was exhausting because the etiquette was even more cumbersome. Blessings, toasts, serving meals, kneeling, expressing gratitude, and more, not a single detail could be neglected.

This was Yan Ge's second New Year's celebration in the palace, so he already had some experience. He had the Imperial Kitchen send some of his favorite dishes to the Tenglong Palace and only after he and Huangfu Yuchen had eaten to about 80% full did they attend the formal New Year's Eve dinner.

The first day of the lunar new year was as important as New Year's Eve. Before dawn, civil and military officials arrived at the meeting hall to pay their respects and congratulate the emperor. The hall was solemn and majestic, with various instruments playing, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

After Huangfu Yuchen ascended the throne, the civil and military officials took their respective positions, kowtowed three times and knelt nine times, shouting, "Long live Your Majesty!" The sound echoed through the sky, displaying the majesty of the emperor. Next, the Historians read the New Year's greetings and summarized the achievements of the emperor and ministers in the previous year, praising their merits. After the reading, the officials kowtowed again, and Huangfu Yuchen rewarded them with tea and seats. After drinking the tea, the officials' New Year's greetings were considered complete.

After the officials left, Huangfu Yuchen rewarded the eunuchs and palace maids with prepared red envelopes. The envelopes contained golden ruyi, jade ruyi, silver ruyi, and silver coins. Depending on their ranks, the eunuchs and palace maids received different rewards.

At the same time, the harem was also bustling with activity. The palace maids and eunuchs from each palace and hall came to pay their New Year's respects to their masters, and the princes paid their respects to the empress. The consorts also paid their respects to the empress.

Yan Ge had just finished dressing when the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall knelt in front of him with smiles on their faces, offering their New Year's greetings. He had prepared red envelopes in advance and gave generous rewards to each of them.

After the New Year, the weather gradually became warmer.

Yan Ge arrived at a heavily guarded entrance with Du Juan, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun. A sign that read "Agricultural Experimentation Department" hung above the gate, guarded by the imperial guards who prevented unauthorized entry. This was a newly established department before the New Year, dedicated to researching agricultural development. It was managed by the Ministry of Revenue, and Yan Ge was the chief advisor.

"Greetings, Yan Caiqing."

"No need for formalities." Yan Ge entered the gate. He had been demoted to a lower rank not long ago, but on New Year's Day, Huangfu Yuchen promoted him back to Caiqing as a New Year's gift.

Nevertheless, the common people already understood that regardless of Yan Ge's rank, the emperor's favor towards him would not diminish in the slightest. Even if his rank fluctuated, everyone regarded it as a matter of interest between the emperor and Yan Ge. If anyone dared to disrespect him because of his lowered rank, they would face unlucky consequences. About a month ago, someone learned that Yan Ge had been demoted to a lower rank and thought that the emperor no longer favored him, so they had the audacity to speak rudely to him. As a result, the emperor had them thrown in the dungeon.

Once inside the gate, they passed through the first and second courtyards and saw fields of green wheat and vegetable gardens. A group of workers dressed uniformly were busy in the fields, loosening the soil, weeding, and fertilizing…

Chen Guowei, the Minister of Revenue, happened to be inspecting the fields with several officials. When he saw Yan Ge, he quickly walked over and saluted, "We have seen Yan Caiqing."

"No need for formalities." Yan Ge asked, "Master Chen, how is the situation in the experimental field?"

They walked as they talked.

Chen Guowei said with a smile on his face, "According to your instructions, we selected fully-grained wheat seeds for this batch. We also invited experienced farmers to assist us and applied straw fertilizer, wood ash, and manure in the fields. Now the wheat in the experimental field is growing exceptionally well, surpassing the yield of ordinary farmers in previous years by two or three times. Yan Caiqing's talent is truly admirable!"

"Yes, indeed." The other officials echoed.

"Let's see for ourselves before making conclusions." Yan Ge stepped into the irrigation channels in the wheat fields and carefully examined the moisture in the deep ditches and canals. He said to Chen Guowei, who was following him, "The spring season in the capital has more rainfall. We must clean the irrigation channels in a timely manner and enhance their drainage capacity to prevent water damage to the wheat."

"Yes," Chen Guowei said to the clerk, "Write it down quickly."

"How are the vegetables growing?" Yan Ge looked towards the nearby vegetable garden, where many workers were bending over to weed and combat pests.

Chen Guowei said, "We followed your instructions before the New Year and built greenhouses. Now the cucumbers, peppers, and eggplants are growing exceptionally well, but there are quite a few pests that need to be dealt with every day."

Yan Ge tried to recall what he had seen on a TV program in his previous life and said, "Mix soap powder, manure liquid, and water in a ratio of 1:4:400, then spray it on the leaves of the vegetables. It should be effective."

Chen Guowei didn't understand, "What does the ratio 1:4:400 mean?"

Without Yan Ge having to intervene, Gao Feng answered, "It means mixing one ladle of soap powder, four ladles of manure liquid, and 400 ladles of water, then stirring it evenly."

"I see." Chen Guowei nodded.

The clerk hastily wrote down the instructions.

Yan Ge said, "Since this is an experimental field, everything is under trial. You can start by spraying the mixed liquid on a few plants to see if it is effective. If the results are not obvious, you can adjust the ratio of soap powder and manure liquid accordingly to find the most suitable proportion. This is the work of all the staff in the experimental department, I believe I don't need to explain further."

Chen Guowei solemnly clasped his hands, "I understand, please rest assured, Yan Caiqing."

Yan Ge looked at the officials and said, "If you achieve success, I will report your contributions to the emperor and reward you accordingly. But if anyone disapproves or slacks off, be careful of losing your official positions."

"Yes!"

"I also have some other information here. Take it as a reference, but make sure to keep it confidential." Yan Ge instructed Du Juan to hand the information to Chen Guowei.

"This official understands."

After leaving the experimental field, Yan Ge pondered over things, and his steps became slower and slower.

Gao Feng asked, "Young Master, do you have something on your mind?"

Yan Ge said, "Our kingdom's food production is too low. As far as I know, except for the fish and rice regions the side of Lu River, the yield of other areas is around 200 catties per mu, which is too low."

Gao Feng said, "Actually, our kingdom is much better off compared to other kingdoms. The Mai Kingdom has vast grasslands and hardly produces wheat and rice; the Youji country is mostly mountains and forests, and its grain crops cannot compare to our kingdom's."

Yan Ge couldn't help but smile, "But should we compare ourselves to kingdoms that are worse off? If we want our Great Han to become a strong nation, increasing food production is a necessary prerequisite."

Gao Yun was confident, "The progress in your experimental field is going smoothly. I believe that in another two years, our kingdom's food production will definitely increase."

Yan Ge remained silent. He was not a farmer in his previous life after all, nor did he graduate from an agricultural college, so he had limited knowledge of farming. He could only do his best.

Some time ago, he suddenly remembered a magical stone that could increase food production—the Maifan stone. This stone is also known as the Longevity Stone and Health Stone, it is a natural mineral and medicinal rock that is non-toxic, harmless to living organisms, and has certain biological activity. One of its functions is soil improvement. As far as he knew, the Maifan stone was not only used for feeding livestock and planting vegetables in his previous life, but also for making various daily necessities such as Maifan stone water dispensers, tea sets, bathtubs etc, which are beneficial to human health. The Yan family in his previous life had many Maifan stone products, and there were magazines dedicated to introducing Maifan stone. Maifan stone was believed to be formed by volcanic eruptions from underground, subjected to high temperatures and acidic substances generated by volcanic activity, and pressure from crustal movement. In other words, the Maifan stone was found in volcanic areas.

He had checked In the palace library and learned that the volcanic belt of Great Han was mainly located in the northeast, northwest, southwest, and coastal areas of the south. He believed that the possibility of the Maifan stone being present in these areas was high.

Yan Ge looked at Gao Feng and Gao Yun, "Gao Feng, Gao Yun, as far as I know, you two are not married yet, right?"

Both of them smiled.

"Yes, Young Master."

Yan Ge smiled and asked, "Now you two are quite popular in the capital. I heard that the matchmakers have almost worn out your door. Are you still not satisfied with the girls introduced?"

Gao Feng said, "Marriage is a lifelong matter. We don't want to rush into it."

Gao Yun also said, "Yes. We have just turned twenty, so we don't want to get married too early."

Yan Ge said, "If I have an important mission that requires both of you to leave the capital for more than half a year or even longer, would you be willing?"

Gao Yun eagerly responded, "Of course, we're willing."

Gao Feng also nodded, "May I ask, Young Master, what is the mission?"

"This mission is not dangerous, but it will require a longer time," Yan Ge said, "but there's no rush. Let's return to the palace together for now. I'll need Yuchen's help for this matter. Just the two of you won't be enough."

Gao Yun was eagerly looking forward to the new mission. "Young Master, shall we return to the palace now?"

Upon returning to the palace, Yan Ge led Gao Feng and Gao Yun directly to the Imperial Study. Huangfu Yuchen usually handled state affairs in the Imperial Study in the morning.

Seeing the door to the study closed, Yan Ge estimated that Huangfu Yuchen was in a meeting with the ministers, so he took Gao Feng and Gao Yun to a side hall to wait.

"Reporting to Yan Caiqing, the Emperor has finished the meeting."

The group entered the Imperial Study. Huangfu Yuchen had just stood up from behind the desk, and Deng Mande was tidying up the papers on the desk.

"Xiao Ge, you're back."

Yan Ge nodded and instructed the palace attendants, "You may all leave."

"Yes!"

Only Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, Gao Feng, Gao Yun, and Deng Mande remained in the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Gao Feng and Gao Yun showed their respect.

Huangfu Yuchen waved his hand and walked over to Yan Ge, pulling him to sit down. "Baby, what's the matter?"

Yan Ge said, "Yuchen, do you know about the Maifan stone?"

"Maifan stone? I've never heard of it." Huangfu Yuchen arched his hand in a respectful manner. "Please enlighten me, my love."

Yan Ge brushed off his hand and continued, "The Maifan stone is…"

As they listened to his explanation, Huangfu Yuchen and Gao Yun both wore surprised expressions.

"Such a miraculous stone exists in this world?" Huangfu Yuchen's expression became serious. "If we can find this stone, wouldn't our kingdom's food production double or even increase exponentially?"

"That's correct." Yan Ge played with the golden fan in his hand. "So, I want to send Gao Feng and Gao Yun to search for this stone. But their numbers alone won't be sufficient; we will need additional manpower."

Huangfu Yuchen nodded. "No problem. According to what you said, we will dispatch teams to the northeast, northwest, southwest, and coastal areas. Lu Fei and Jun Xiang are also reliable. Gao Feng, Gao Yun, and the two of them will each lead a team of ten people. How does that sound?"

Yan Ge nodded, "Okay, too many people will only attract attention anyway. Let's handle it that way."

Huangfu Yuchen immediately gave the order, "Summon Lu Fei and Jun Xiang."

Ah Fei and Jun Xiang were on duty in the palace, and they arrived quickly. They kneeled down and saluted respectfully, saying loudly, "Greetings, Your Majesty! Greetings, Yan Caiqing!"

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Yan Ge said, "These soldiers are different; even their salutes are so imposing. That's how soldiers should be."

"Thank you for your praise, Yan Caiqing," Ah Fei and Jun Xiang responded in unison.

"Yuchen, what do you think about me going to the military camp for a few days of training in the near future?" Yan Ge suddenly had the idea.

Huangfu Yuchen had no objections. "Okay, when I have time, I'll accompany you."

He then turned to Deng Mande and said, "Deng Mande, brief Lu Fei and Jun Xiang on the matter."

"Yes, Your Majesty. General Lu, General Jun, it's like this…"

Upon hearing about the Maifan stone, Ah Fei and Jun Xiang were equally delighted. "It's an honor for us to serve Your Majesty and Yan Caiqing in this matter."

Yan Ge spoke seriously, "I believe that besides us, no one else knows about the existence of the Maifan stone. Therefore, you must ensure utmost secrecy during this mission."

Gao Feng said, "Please rest assured, Yan Caiqing. If someone asks, we will simply say that we are collecting these stones for ornamental purposes."

Yan Ge nodded. "Once you arrive at the designated location, inquire about past volcanic eruptions in the area from the locals. Then search within that region to narrow down the search area."

"Yes!"

Jun Xiang asked, "How can we identify the Maifan stone?"

Yan Ge took out a Maifan stone he had bought from the system's store and handed it to Huangfu Yuchen. After examining it, Huangfu Yuchen passed it to Gao Feng and the others to take a look.

Yan Ge explained, "This is the Maifan stone. It has several characteristics. First, it is porous, and if you look closely, you can see numerous tiny holes. Second, its surface is rough and uneven, resembling grains of rice. And third, Eunuch Deng, bring a white porcelain bowl and fill it halfway with water."

"Yes!"

After the water was brought, Yan Ge squeezed two drops of ink into the bowl with a pen and stirred it with his finger. The water immediately became cloudy.

Yan Ge placed the Maifan stone in the water and said, "Wait patiently."

After about an incense stick, everyone was surprised to find that the water in the bowl had become clearer than before.

Yan Ge then explained, "This third characteristic is that Maifan stone has purification and adsorption properties. If you can't determine whether a stone is Maifan stone based on its appearance, you can use this method to test it. If the water becomes completely clear after one or two hours, that means it is the Maifan stone."

Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Ah Fei, and Jun Xiang listened attentively and remembered the instructions.

"Have you all remembered?" Yan Ge asked.

Gao Feng and the others responded, "We have remembered."

Huangfu Yuchen said, "You should go back and hand over the work, then depart as soon as possible."

"Yes!"

After Gao Feng and the others left, it was Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen's private time. Deng Mande brought tea and snacks and waited outside the door.

"I noticed your serious expression earlier. Is something the matter?" Yan Ge asked.

"I received intelligence that there have been some unusual activities in the palaces of other kingdoms recently. The New Dynasty grand celebration is approaching, so several monarchs from different kingdoms will come to personally congratulate me. I believe we will receive diplomatic letters soon," Huangfu Yuchen said, holding a simple gray gemstone ring in his hand. With a flip of his hand, a red apple appeared. He peeled it with a fruit knife and handed to Yan Ge. This was the storage ring that Yan Ge received from the system, he had sworn not to give to Huangfu Yuchen, but he ended up giving it anyway.

The storage ring was quite advanced, equipped with insurance functions. The apple inside had been stored during the New Year but it still retained its juiciness.

His system space had not upgraded to activate the freshness function yet.

He took a bite of the crisp and sweet apple and smiled casually, "The congratulations is false, but the curiosity is real, right?"

Huangfu Yuchen nodded, "It's good for them to come in person, it will be an opportunity to showcase the might of our Great Han Kingdom."

"It seems like you've already thought about how to receive them," Yan Ge said, taking a bite of the apple and running his hand through Huangfu Yuchen's hair. He had absolute confidence in Huangfu Yuchen's ability to govern the kingdom and was not worried at all.

"I was just from discussing this matter with the ministers," Huangfu Yuchen smiled proudly. "It's a rare occasion for them to come here in person, so I will make sure they don't leave disappointed."

"On the tenth day of the third month…" Yan Ge pondered, "It seems that my sister-in-law is due to give birth around that time. Yesterday, my mother sent someone to the company to relay a message, asking me to come back as soon as possible to check on my sister-in-law's condition. It's funny because I just examined her pulse a few days ago."

Huangfu Yuchen chuckled, "This will be the first grandchild for my father-in-law and mother-in-law, so it's no wonder they're so concerned."

Yan Ge nodded and looked at the sky. "I think I should pass by today while I have the time."

Huangfu Yuchen said, "Gao Feng and Gao Yun have left, so you'll be short of assistants by your side. I will assign Lin Zhang and Jiang Ting to accompany you. They are both smart individuals."

"Okay."

Lin Zhang and Jiang Ting came forward, and Yan Ge left the Imperial Study with them.

It was a warm spring day, and the sunlight felt pleasant on their bodies. As they passed through the Imperial Garden, Yan Ge couldn't help but slow his pace and casually admire the vibrant flowers. His mood was as radiant as the sunshine.

Lin Zhang and Jiang Ting were also infected by his mood and felt quite good.

Consort Rou, Consort Zhao, Consort Zheng, and Consort Li were playing with Consort Rou's three-year-old Princess Huifu, also known as Princess Huiya, in the garden. When they saw Yan Ge, they all stood up.

As Caiqing, Yan Ge had equal rank with the five of them and they greeted each other.

Yan Ge took out a colorful bracelet from his pocket and handed it to Princess Huiya, saying to Consort Rou, "This is made of unique colored stones from Nanrun City. It's not worth much, but it's interesting, and the little princess might like it."

Because Princess Huiya was a girl, Yan Ge didn't have to be as deferential to her as he would have been if she were a prince.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Yan Caiqing," Consort Rou thanked him with a smile.

Princess Huiya had been well-educated by Consort Rou, she thanked Yan Ge in her sweet and childish voice, which was very cute.

Yan Ge said, "I still have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

Just as he took a few steps, Consort Zhao suddenly spoke, "Wait."

Lin Zhang and Jiang Ting immediately became vigilant, their eyes filled with caution as they focused on Consort Zhao.

Consort Zhao gave them a cold glance, and their gazes became sharp, their momentum imposing.

Consort Rou, Consort Li, and Consort Zheng's expressions changed slightly, anxiously watching Consort Zhao, afraid that she might say something inappropriate and anger Yan Ge.

Yan Ge remained indifferent. "May I ask what instructions Consort Zhao has?"

Concubine Zhao threw off her cloak, gave him a glance, and said expressionlessly, "We have nothing to do all day. You find a way to keep us entertained."

Yan Ge: ".…"

Consort Zhao raised her eyelids with a touch of nobility and charm. "This is what you should do." In the past, the four would compete for favor, scheme against each other, and vie for attention. But now, Huangfu Yuchen treated them as if they didn't exist. What was there left for them to fight over? Unconsciously, they had become friends, and now they often helped Consort Rou, whom they used to be jealous of, to take care of her daughter. However, Consort Rou only had one child, while there were four of them, and the attention was insufficiently divided.

Yan Ge was momentarily speechless. However, he didn't sense any malice from Consort Zhao.

Consort Li and Consort Zheng exchanged a glance and also said, "To be honest, Consort Zhao's words reflect our thoughts as well. Yan Caiqing, you always have many ideas. I wonder if you could…"

Consort Rou stepped forward with the little princess in her arms and knelt before Yan Ge, saying, "We are grateful for your assistance, Yan Caiqing . If you can truly help us find something to do, the four of us will have some purpose."

Yan Ge understood the implied meaning in her words. If he could really give Consort Zhao and the others something to do, their thoughts about Huangfu Yuchen would fade more quickly. It would be beneficial for him, Huangfu Yuchen, and them.

He pondered for a moment. "I can't think of any good ideas at the moment. However, there will likely be many monarchs from other kingdoms coming to offer congratulations during this year's New Dynasty Day celebration. It will be necessary to entertain them with performances such as songs. If you are willing, I can inform His Majesty and the Minister of Rites and delegate this task to the Empress and the four of you. What do you think?"

Consort Zhao and the others showed some joy on their faces. On one hand, they would have something to occupy their time, and on the other hand, this year's grand celebration was a major event. If they were in charge of arranging the entertainment, they could showcase their abilities. If they succeeded, it would bring honor to their families.

Consort Li said, "The four of us are willing, but will His Majesty really trust us, a few women, with such a big task?"

Yan Ge smiled dismissively and asked, "Do you have confidence in carrying it out?"

"Of course!" Consort Zhao said, "No matter what, we were all famous talents before entering the palace."

Yan Ge nodded. "In that case, I will discuss it with His Majesty."

Consort Zhao said, "Thank you in advance, Yan Caiqing . However, after the celebration, I hope you can find something more long-lasting for us to do."

Yan Ge smiled faintly. "Consort Zhao, do you know that even the servants who do menial tasks in my company have a probationary period? I don't expect them to have great abilities, but at the very least, they need to be responsible or clever enough. I hoped to use the grand celebration to understand each of your strengths. If you can successfully handle this matter, we can discuss other things later."

These words expressed Yan Ge's principles while still being polite. Consort Zhao, Consort Li, and Consort Zheng all nodded without objections. It was their first direct contact and understanding of Yan Ge, and they couldn't help but appreciate his way of handling things.

"Well, I will go back and mention it to His Majesty," Yan Ge said.

Consort Zhao and the others were pleased. "Thank you, Yan Caiqing."

Yan Ge left and returned, leaving Huangfu Yuchen puzzled. He walked up and held Yan Ge's shoulder with concern, "What happened, baby?"

Yan Ge explained the matter with the consorts in the imperial garden and Huangfu Yuchen frowned, "I gave them a chance to choose in the beginning, but it was their decision not to leave the palace. Now they're bored in the harem, so what right do they have to blame you? Did you promise them?"

Yan Ge said, "I wouldn't have bothered if I saw that they had not really let go of their ambitions."

Huangfu Yuchen said coldly, "In that case, I'll come up with another way to send them out of the palace."

Yan Ge shook his head. "Do you think I don't know about it just because you don't mention it? Consort Zhao, Consort Li, and Consort Zheng's fathers are all prominent ministers in the court, and their grandfathers used to hold official positions and had many students. If we forcefully send them out of the palace, it will undoubtedly anger these ministers and create disharmony in the court. Forget it, even if they have other intentions, they are still under our control. If we can find something for them to do that will completely settle them down, it will be a permanent solution. As I said before, as long as they don't provoke us, I won't treat them badly. If they have ulterior motives, there's no need for us to be polite to them. If they are clever enough, they will know what to do."

Huangfu Yuchen pondered for a moment and agreed, "Fine, let's do it as you said. Go talk to the Minister of Rites, and I'll have Deng Mande go to the Empress."

"Alright."

"It's going to be hard work, my love," Huangfu Yuchen held his chin and kissed his lips. "Tell me if there's anything I can help with."

"I know," Yan Ge picked up Huangfu Yuchen's teacup and finished the tea. "I'm going back to Yan Mansion. I won't make it in time for lunch if I'm late. My mother's braised lion's head is exquisite."

Huangfu Yuchen laughed. "Go ahead. Bring me some when you come back."

"No problem."

Yan Ge waved his hand without looking back.

Once it was confirmed that Yan Ge had left, Huangfu Yuchen said expressionlessly, "Deng Mande, summon the four consorts."

"Yes!"

Consort Zhao, Consort Li, Consort Zheng, and Consort Rou had not left the imperial garden. Upon hearing that Huangfu Yuchen had summoned them, they felt anxious.

Consort Li whispered, "Bring the little princess with us."

Guided by eunuchs, the four of them arrived at the study, feeling even more anxious. This was the first time Huangfu Yuchen summoned them to the study, and the implication was self-evident.

The four kneelt at the door, awaiting the summons. The palace maids gently carried the innocent little princess and stood by the side. They waited for a quarter of an hour before hearing a cold and indifferent "Enter" from inside.

"Consort Rou, Consort Zhao, Consort Li, and Consort Zheng, enter and greet His Majesty!"

The four consorts entered the study, not daring to lift their heads and knelt respectfully. "Concubines greet Your Majesty!"

"Father Emperor." The innocent little princess saw Huangfu Yuchen and smiled, calling out to him as she extended her arms.

Huangfu Yuchen picked her up and held her in his arms, sweeping his gaze over the four consorts meaningfully. Finally, he rested his eyes on Consort Li.

Consort Li broke out in a cold sweat.

"I am aware of the matter with you seeking Yan Caiqing's help, and I have already agreed," Huangfu Yuchen's tone was calm. He didn't sound angry, but the four consorts knew that this kind of Huangfu Yuchen was even more terrifying. They all lowered their heads, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Huangfu Yuchen said, "Now, Great Han Kingdom is undergoing reforms everywhere, and it is a time for talents. Many new officials have been promoted in the court, and they have made great contributions to the Kingdom. If you can ensure the successful completion of the grand celebration, it will be a contribution as well."

Consort Zhao, Consort Li, and Consort Zheng were all taken aback. The underlying meaning of his words was clear—if they made any mistakes, they could be dismissed with a word from the emperor even with their fathers' positions in court. They once again deeply understood the power of the throne.

Consort Zhao hurriedly said, "We genuinely want to contribute to the Kingdom. Yan Caiqing possesses extraordinary talent and ingenious strategies. That's why we troubled him. We apologize, Your Majesty."

Huangfu Yuchen rubbed the little princess's head and said in a soft voice, "Remember, I gave you all a chance, and I won't give you a second chance. You may rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Yan Mansion.

When Madam Yan heard that Yan Ge had returned, she almost ran to the front door to greet him.

Yan Ge embraced her with surprise, "Mother, you came to pick me up? It's been a long time since I received this kind of treatment."

Madam Yan playfully scolded him, "Stop being so sticky. I want you to go and see your sister in law quickly. She's about to give birth, and I've been worried."

Yan Ge fanned himself and looked up at the sky, "I knew it, once your grandson is born, I'll definitely fall out of favor. Sigh…"

The nearby maids and servants couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright, stop being silly." Madam Yan was also amused by Yan Ge.

Lady Wen was in her room, lying on the bed with her eyes closed.

When Yan Ge and Madam Yan entered, she heard their footsteps and bowed slightly through the curtain, "Second Brother has arrived, please forgive my rudeness."

"There is no need for such courtesy, sister in law." Yan Ge took her pulse and smiled, "Sister in law and my little nephew are both doing well, don't worry."

"That's good, that's good." Madam Yan urged, "Let's go out. Don't disturb your sister in law's rest."

During lunch, Yan Xiaojing also returned.

At the dining table, Yan Ge informed Yan Xiaojing about the arrangements for the performances to entertain the foreign monarchs during the grand celebration and Yan Xiaojing glared at him after hearing it.

Although Yan Xiaojing could understood Yan Ge's plan after thinking about it, he couldn't help but worry, "The Empress and the four consorts have never dealt with such matters before. If they mess up, it will be a joke for the foreign monarchs."

Yan Ge said, "I've considered that. Therefore, the Ministry of Rites will still arrange the program as usual. The Empress and the others will perform first during the Grand celebration, and if they mess up, Father can arrange for someone to save the situation. If the people you arranged end up not having to perform, just have Yuchen provide each of them with a subsidy."

"You…" What else could Yan Xiaojing say. He was already used to his son taking every opportunity to extort the emperor. Let him be, children and grandchildren have their own blessings.

In the blink of an eye, it was already March. On the first day of March, Lady Wen gave birth to the eldest grandson of the Yan family. Yan Xiaojing named him Yan Xiangtian. During the full moon celebration, the Yan Mansion followed its usual customs. Officials gave red envelopes according to their ranks- the officials were well aware of Yan Mansion's rules, so no one dared to give more than they were supposed to.

Yan Ge truly lived up to his reputation as the wealthiest merchant. His full moon gift was even very generous, and on Yan Xiangtian's full moon day, he gave each student in the kingdom a fountain pen and notebook for free on behalf of the Yan Mansion. Regardless of their age, all students could go to shops with certificates issued by their school teachers to receive them.

As the day of the grand celebration approached, the whole kingdom gradually entered a festive atmosphere. Whether it was the capital city, provincial capitals, county towns, villages, or towns, they were all filled with joy and decorated with colorful lanterns. The entire nation celebrated together.

The annual opening day was already a festival, not to mention the grand celebration that happened every five years. On the day of the grand celebration, people across the Kingdom set off firecrackers, and everyone knelt and worshipped towards the imperial city to express their gratitude for the emperor's grace.

Starting from March 5th, the monarchs of the Mai Kingdom, Wei Kingdom, Mini Kingdom, Youji Kingdom, and Liao Kingdom arrived in the capital one after another, as if it had been prearranged.

The monarchs of the Mai, Liao, and Youji Kingdoms, Hou Mailong, Liao Chengyuan, and Luo Yousong, were the first to arrive and arrived together.

When the carriages of the three monarchs entered the city boundary of the capital and traveled on the cement road leading to the south gate, the three monarchs couldn't conceal their shock. They were amazed at the broad and smooth grayish-white road that could accommodate three carriages side by side. The sound of horse hooves on the road was crisp and clear. Along the sides of the road, thick poplar trees were planted every three feet, their lush green leaves providing a pleasant sight and casting a grey shade on the road, which felt refreshing when a gust of wind blew.

Even the guards and palace attendants in the procession couldn't help but be amazed. Their eyes secretly glanced at the ground, and some even discreetly used their feet to feel the hardness of the ground.

"So, this is the long-awaited cement road… It's truly miraculous," murmured Luo Yousong. "If all the roads in the Great Han Kingdom are built like this, land transportation in all directions would undoubtedly be more developed. From the farthest north to the farthest south, it would probably save a quarter of the travel time."

Liao Chengyuan nodded in agreement, "I'm really looking forward to meeting that Yan Caiqing."

However, Hou Mailong's face was gloomy, and he remained silent.

The procession continued its leisurely journey for more than half an hour until they finally arrived at the south gate. In front of the gate was a spacious and flat square, covering several acres, also paved with cement, and surrounded by trees. The square was bustling with pedestrians coming and going.

The city gate was tall and majestic, with sharp corners, exuding a solemn and dignified atmosphere. On both sides of the gate, the city guards stood tall, dressed in armor, holding long spears and appearing like sculptures. The city walls were also made of cement, giving the impression of being as hard as iron and stone. Soldiers patrolled the walls with disciplined steps, emanating a powerful military presence.

The carriages pulled by spirited horses smoothly entered the city gate. The festive sound of drums and gongs filled the air as the people of the Great Han Kingdom lined the streets to welcome the arrival of the foreign monarchs, applauding and cheering with enthusiasm.

However, Hou Mailong, Liao Chengyuan, and Luo Yousong were not in the mood to feel the joyous atmosphere. Their eyes scanned the wide roads, symmetrical green trees and flower beds along the sides of the road, and the novel architecture within the city, and their heavy hearts sank even further. Unbeknownst to them, the capital had become an unparalleled city!

"Ride—" A cavalry holding red silk banners rushed forward. Leading the way was a black steed with a resolute and dignified general atop it. The cavalry rode at such a fast pace, yet the pedestrians on the road showed no signs of panic, even continuing with their own tasks. It was evident that this cavalry was well-trained and posed no danger to the people on the road.

The general halted his horse a dozen steps away, dismounted cleanly, went down on one knee, and clasped his fists with a resounding voice. "On behalf of His Majesty, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Yang Zhuo, welcomes the esteemed monarchs! After your long journey, please allow this humble servant to escort you to the residence for accommodation."

Hou Mailong said, "Thank you for your efforts, General Yang."

"Please!"

After the three monarchs were settled in their accommodations, they came and sat in the grand hall. Various fresh fruits, tea, and snacks were continuously brought from the palace. Square-shaped peaches, beverages of different flavors, biscuits of various colors, soft and sweet cakes etc. Everything amazed them, but they maintained a calm demeanor.

When their shock subsided, Zhang Yongfu entered the room with a dusting cloth in hand and knelt down. "Zhang Yongfu, Deputy Manager of Internal Affairs, pays respects to the three esteemed monarchs."

"Deputy Manager Zhang, rise," Hou Mailong's Mai Kingdom was the most powerful among the three, so he spoke first.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhang Yongfu said. "Lunchtime is approaching, and I came to inquire about the preferences of the three esteemed monarchs so that the arrangements can be made promptly. Here is the menu, please have a look."

Hou Mailong, Liao Chengyuan, and Luo Yousong looked at the so-called menu. When they saw that it listed hundreds of dishes, they exchanged a glance without showing any reaction.

Hou Mailong said, "I would like to have…"

He ordered more than twenty dishes, and Liao Chengyuan and Luo Yousong each ordered more than twenty as well. Whether intentional or not, none of the dishes they ordered overlapped.

Zhang Yongfu's expression remained unchanged. After taking note of their orders, he bowed again, "Please rest well, esteemed monarchs. I will have everything prepared."

"Very well, you may leave."

"Thank you, Your Majesties."

Hou Mailong, Liao Chengyuan, and Luo Yousong returned to their respective rooms to rest for a while, and the palace attendants soon came to report.

"Your Majesties, please proceed to the dining hall for your meal."

The three of them met at the entrance of the dining hall, each with a question in their minds: How could the Great Han Kingdom prepare so many dishes without repetition? And how would they arrange so many dishes appropriately when three monarchs dined together?

Upon entering the dining hall, they were taken aback by the dining table in the center. They had never seen such a table before— it was a large round table with four layers of rotating tabletops, increasing in size from top to bottom. The bottom layer was fixed and held the utensils, while the three upper layers could be rotated. Each layer was neatly arranged with various dishes and with a quick glance, they confirmed that they were indeed the dishes they had ordered.

Zhang Yongfu approached and said, "Please be seated, Your Majesties. This table can rotate, and if you feel that our service is not attentive enough, you can rotate the tabletops yourselves to select the dishes you prefer."

This round table made Liao Chengyuan and Luo Yousong feel comfortable. Although the power of the Mai Kingdom was slightly stronger than theirs, as fellow monarchs, none of them wanted to be subordinate to another. The Eight Immortals table had a distinction between upper and lower seats, but this round table allowed the three monarchs to sit on an equal footing.

"This table is quite interesting," Luo Yousong chuckled. "Your Majesties, please be seated. After more than a month of traveling, we can finally have a good meal today."

"Please."

"Please."

After lunch, they sat for a while, but thinking about the recent series of changes in the Great Han Kingdom, they couldn't sit still and decided to go out for a walk.

The Ministry of Rites arranged for Official Zheng and Zhu, officials of the Main Office of Historical Records, to accompany them.

The group soon arrived at the bustling streets. They had already experienced various specialty foods during lunch, so there was no need to elaborate. They marveled at the unique attire worn by the people of the Great Han Kingdom, the advertise boards, the pulleys used to transport heavy goods on the roadside, the parasols held by graceful women, the footballs kicked around by children… The intoxicating aroma of the Drunken Immortal Inn, the fragrance of wine emanating from the winery, the lively amusement park, the scholarly atmosphere of the Chongwen Hall, the bustling entertainment city, the cheering football stadium, the uniform architectural style of the pedestrian street, the four or five-story residential areas… everything astonished the three monarchs. They even glanced at the public toilets that were cleaned spotlessly and had flowers planted nearby to reduce odors.

Of course, the most commendable aspect was the streets of the capital. Every street in the capital was now paved with concrete-they were all spacious, smooth, and clean. Even if there was nothing to be happy about, their moods improved while walking on the streets.

Official Zheng said, "There are still three days until the New Dynasty Day. If Your Majesties don't mind, I can arrange the itinerary for these three days. What do you think?"

"Very well," Liao Chengyuan said. "We are interested in visiting the Chongwen Hall, the entertainment city, the amusement park, and more."

"His Majesty has already instructed us to treat the three esteemed monarchs well. We will do our best to ensure that Your Majesties have a delightful time," Official Zheng replied.

Hou Mailong said, "By the way, 'Nanyi' Company has gained widespread fame, and even I who is far away in the Mai Kingdom have heard of it. I wonder if the three of us have the honor of visiting it?"

Official Zheng maintained his composure and smiled, "While 'Nanyi' Company is well-known, it is actually just an ordinary quadrangle courtyard. Tonight, Your Majesties can rest well and relax. Tomorrow morning, I will first take you to the Chongwen Hall and then to the entertainment city. How does that sound to Your Majesties?"

He evaded the subject of the First Company, and not wanting to push it, Hou Mailong and the others nodded in agreement.

After a long and tiring journey, they strolled for a while before returning to their accommodations.

Qingsong Courtyard

Hou Mailong sat silently in his chair, his face gloomy. Grand Tutor He Buyan was also speechless.

After a while, Hou Mailong slammed the table and said in a deep voice, "I heard that most of the significant changes in the Great Han Kingdom are related to Yan Caiqing. It's a pity that such a person was not born in my Mai Kingdom or married into my Mai Kingdom!"

After Hu Mailong had ventes his anger, He Buyan spoke, "Your Majesty, His Majesty Liao and His Majesty Luo brought beautiful princesses with them on this trip. They said it is for sightseeing, but I'm afraid they have ulterior motives."

Hou Mailong sneered, "We have used the beauty trap before, but it was ineffective. It shows that it is only a mediocre strategy."

Aomei Courtyard

Liao Chengyuan looked at his beautiful and graceful sixth daughter, Liao Xueyin, and said, "My child, you have seen the city of the capital, haven't you?"

"Yes, Father," Liao Xueyin replied, her voice as melodious as a warbler, which was particularly pleasant to the ear.

Liao Chengyuan said, "During the New Dynasty Day ceremony, I will have you perform a dance. Make sure to seize the heart of the Emperor of the Great Han Kingdom on this occasion."

Liao Xueyin gently shook her head. "Father, I have heard you mention that the Emperor of the Great Han Kingdom has a deep affection for Yan Caiqing. I'm afraid…"

"What do you mean?" Liao Chengyuan sensed her implication.

Liao Xueyin said in a soft voice, "If I forcefully stay by the side of the Emperor of the Great Han Kingdom, not only would it make him and Yan Caiqing annoyed, but it could also raise suspicions. I've heard that the Emperor of the Great Han Kingdom shares a close bond with his half-brother, Prince Dai, who was born to the same mother. So, instead of choosing the Emperor of the Great Han Kingdom, it might be better to adopt an indirect approach and get closer to Prince Dai."

Liao Chengyuan pondered for a moment and nodded, "You make a valid point, my child…"

Yazhu Courtyard

Sixteen-year-old Luo Luoluo saw that Luo Yousong had returned, and she ran up to him while holding her skirt, also eating without stopping.

"Father, you're back."

"Luo'er, didn't I tell you not to talk with food in your mouth?" Luo Yousong rubbed his forehead, feeling helpless.

"Father, I can't help it," Luo Luoluo continued eating. "You said that we might return to our kingdom once the celebration is over. There are so many delicious foods in the Great Han Kingdom, and I'm afraid I won't have enough time to taste them all. That's why I'm putting in so much effort."

Luo Yousong looked at his daughter's plump figure and felt a bit worried. If he had known, he wouldn't have brought her along.

On the ninth day of the third month, the visiting monarchs arrived one after another. In the evening, Prime Minister Wen and other high-ranking officials warmly invited them to the lodging and informed them of the arrangements for the following day's grand ceremony.

On the tenth day of the third month, the palace ignited dazzling fireworks at dawn, illuminating the sky above the capital. The common people of the capital knelt piously, bowing in the direction of the palace.

The fireworks lasted for a quarter of an hour before subsiding, and it was as if a signal had been given as the people began setting off firecrackers they had prepared in advance. The sound of firecrackers echoed one after another, creating a festive atmosphere like that of the Lunar New Year.

The celebratory ceremony within the palace officially began, with all members of the royal family and civil and military officials gathering in the square of Taihe Palace

The Emperor first paid homage to the heavens and his ancestors, just as during the New Year celebrations. Then, he personally recited a eulogy, and after its completion, the members of the royal family, including the consorts, all knelt in unison.

After the kneeling ceremony, the consorts exited the scene and returned to the harem.

Next, the Grand Historian recited a eulogy to commemorate the glorious achievements of the ancestors and praises the Emperor's accomplishments.

Huangfu Yuchen made a humble summary and outlined future plans, concluding the New Dynasty Day ceremony.

The ceremonial official shouted, "His Majesty of the Mai Kingdom has traveled a long way to congratulate—His Majesty of the Liao Kingdom has traveled a long way to congratulate—His Majesty of the Wei Kingdom has traveled a long way to congratulate—"

After the announcements, the festive sound of gongs and drums filled the air.

The monarchs, accompanied by their entourages, appeared one by one and stood on the square, looking towards the young Emperor in the bright yellow imperial robe on the throne. They all spoke in unison, "We congratulate the Huangfu Dynasty on its 680th anniversary!"

Huangfu Yuchen announced, "To the esteemed monarchs who have traveled from afar, your hardships and sincerity are deeply appreciated. Please, Your Majesties and distinguished envoys, take your seats!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Perform the song and dance," Huangfu Yuchen instructed Deng Mande.

Deng Mande shouted, "Perform the song and dance—"

The sound of strings and flutes resounded, and a group of beautiful women entered, dancing gracefully and joyfully.

Hou Mailong looked up at the high platform where only Huangfu Yuchen and the dignified Empress were present, and the eunuchs and palace maidens who were accompanying them.

"The Emperor of the Great Han Kingdom didn't invite his beloved consort, Yan Caiqing, to attend such an important occasion?" Hou Mailong whispered.

Next to him was the emperor of the Wei Kingdom, Hei Zhentian, who was in his forties and exuded an aura of majesty. He replied, "I also noticed just now. It seems that Yan Caiqing is not present."

Luo Yousong who was at the head of the group guessed, "Perhaps he attended but left right after the New Dynasty Day grand ceremony ended."

A few enchanting and pleasant laughter caught their attention, and they finally realized that the song and dance had finished. Two groups of women wearing dresses with different colors flooded into the square, each group stunningly beautiful and with impressive figures. In addition, there were two peculiar-looking net gates added on both ends of the square.

Luo Yousong saw a rolling bamboo ball in the square and wondered, "Could it be a game of…?"

Before the words could fully leave his mouth, the sound of different rhythms from the qin and flute instruments rang out simultaneously, sometimes high, sometimes low. The women in the field followed the music, using their feet to kick the ball. With the fast-paced music, the movements of the women in red clothing became quick—running and dancing gracefully. With slow-paced music, the movements of the women in purple clothing became slow—twisting their waists, stretching their arms, lifting their legs—a seductive yet not frivolous posture. It was lively and playful.

Gradually, everyone became fascinated and understood the idea. The women in red and purple clothing followed the cues of the qin and flute instruments, perfectly combining the game of football and dance, providing a delightful spectacle.

A couple of days ago, these monarchs had also visited the football field out of curiosity to watch a football match. The intense competition and seamless coordination between the players easily stirred their emotions. Men's football showcased masculinity and strength, while women's football displayed agility and grace. It allowed them to experience a completely different kind of pleasure, and they immersed themselves in it completely.

A graceful and agile lady in purple ended the game with a beautiful airborne goal.

All the monarchs applauded and praised, "Wonderful!"

The atmosphere was particularly lively.

This female soccer match was organized by the Empress and the four consorts together. It ended smoothly and successfully, and the officials from the Ministry of Rites finally let go of their worries.

Huangfu Yuchen knew that these monarchs had a purpose for this visit, and they would speak up when they couldn't hold it any longer. He just watched quietly from his throne without saying a word, occasionally sipping tea, appearing leisurely, and letting the performances proceed one after another.

After another three or four performances, King Ye Kezheng of the Xilan Kingdom looked at the other monarchs and said, "Your Majesty, your kingdom is blessed with talented and beautiful women. It is truly a feast for the eyes. I have a daughter who is very good at dancing. I would like to present her dance to Your Majesty. Would you be interested in watching?"

Huangfu Yuchen replied, "This is my honor. However, it is scorching hot even though it's only March. The princess is like a golden branch and jade leaf, and she should rest under the canopy. But I appreciate the princess's kindness, thank you."

Ye Kezheng was momentarily speechless and could only express gratitude on behalf of his daughter. Xilan was a small kingdom, and if they could establish a connection with the prosperous Great Han, there would be countless benefits. Unexpectedly, Huangfu Yuchen showed completely no interest in meeting his daughter.

Liao Chengyuan glared angrily at Ye Kezheng. Ye Kezheng was too hasty and almost ruined his grand plan.

Liao Xueyin stood up and walked gracefully to the center, bowing to Huangfu Yuchen. Her voice was melodious and her words eloquent, "Your Majesty, the Liao Kingdom is a nomadic nation on the grasslands. I am not afraid of the sun. May I have the honor of dancing for Your Majesty and the other monarchs? I don't mind admitting that I have been preparing for this day for a long time."

Huangfu Yuchen smiled faintly and said, "It is my pleasure. Both princesses must have prepared for today for a long time as well. I suddenly realized that my assumption earlier might have unintentionally hurt the Princess of Xilan, and I feel uneasy about it. If the two princesses don't mind, why not perform together? The phoenix of the grasslands and the spirit of the forest dancing together; just the thought of it makes one eager to see it."

With these words, Huangfu Yuchen effortlessly shifted everyone's interest to comparing the two princesses, blurring the original purpose and effect of their dances. Liao Chengyuan and Ye Kezheng were both frustrated but had no choice but to suppress their anger.

One young official sitting next to Yan Xiaojing secretly chuckled, only to be gently tapped on the head by Yan Xiaojing.

"Father!"

It was actually Yan Ge! It turned out that he had been present all along, disguised and wearing the official's robe, blending in with the other officials.

When Jiang Gan, Luo Wei, and the others first saw an unfamiliar face next to Yan Xiaojing, they were a bit puzzled. It was at this moment that they realized it was Yan Ge and couldn't help but smile discreetly, feeling extremely envious of Yan Xiaojing.

Meanwhile, the two princesses were worthy of being members of the royal family. They regained their composure, and with the unique pride of royalty, quickly calmed down. The music played by their respective bands began, and they each danced in their own style, trying their best to showcase their most perfect dance moves.

Unfortunately, Huangfu Yuchen's move was too brilliant, and everyone unconsciously began comparing who danced better and who didn't, completely overlooking the artistic conception and charm brought by the two performances.

After the two princesses finished dancing, they realized that something was off. They tried to maintain their composure, bowed, and returned to their seats in silence.

The monarchs who wanted to create more opportunities before the formal test, had failed. They exchanged glances wordlessly and paid more attention to Huangfu Yuchen, this young and powerful emperor.

King Wei Lie of the Mini Kingdom said, "Your Majesty Huangfu, we have visited the capital in the past two days and have seen and heard so many wonderful things. We are curious about the talent behind your kingdom's pens, umbrellas, soap, and even cement. Regardless of who this person is, their talent, ingenuity, and abilities are unparalleled. I wonder if His Majesty would be willing to introduce this person to us?"

Huangfu Yuchen chuckled and said, "To be honest, this person is my beloved consort. But it is not easy to introduce you all to him."

The king of the Feng kingdom spoke up, "As far as I know, His Majesty Huangfu's beloved consort is Yan Caiqing, who is known for his exceptional talents and beauty. He has opened a company in the capital and often moves outside the palace due to business. However, I don't understand why His Majesty Huangfu can't introduce him to us?"

This statement was a bit blunt, implying that Yan Caiqing, as a palace consort, frequently appeared in public, meeting many people. Why couldn't he be introduced to them?

Huangfu Yuchen replied calmly, "Your Majesties may not be aware of this, but my beloved consort acts according to his own wishes. If he is interested in something, there is no need to invite him; he will do it on his own. If he is not, no matter how you try to convince him, it won't work. He was present during the celebration just now, but now he's gone somewhere. I really have no way to control him."

Yan Ge gestured to Yan Xiaojing.

Yan Xiaojing pretended not to notice.

Yan Ge could only wink at Jiang Gan.

Jiang Gan chuckled inwardly, wondering what this person was up to now. He stood up and said, "Your Majesty, we haven't finished the performances prepared for all the monarchs. Should we continue?"

Huangfu Yuchen replied, "Continue."

"Yes."

Yan Ge elegantly raised his sleeve and walked to the front of the stage, bowing to the monarchs, "Your Majesty, this humble servant wishes to present his talents to you and all the monarchs."

Huangfu Yuchen immediately recognized it was Yan Ge and there was a mix of helplessness and indulgence in his eyes. "Why not? All the monarchs have come from afar, and Official Qin's performance will surely add to the enjoyment. What would you like to do?"

The Empress, along with all the officials, palace attendants, and guards, recognized Yan Ge's voice and became spirited, knowing they were about to witness a good show.

Yan Ge said, "I have been diligently practicing martial arts in recent months and feel that my skills have greatly improved. I dare to challenge the masters present here. If I happen to win, Your Majesty can grant me a reward."

Huangfu Yuchen chuckled, "And what if you lose?"

Yan Ge replied, "If I lose, Your Majesty will naturally reward the winner."

All the officials burst into laughter.

Huangfu Yuchen readily agreed, "Very well. If you lose one match, the winner will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and also your salary deducted for a year."

"This servant obeys." Yan Ge looked expectant. "Does that mean I get a thousand taels of gold for each match I win?"

Everyone suppressed their laughter.

Huangfu Yuchen sighed inwardly. Why was his beloved so keen on extorting him?

"That's the deal." Huangfu Yuchen smiled, looking at all the monarchs. "This official of mine indeed has some skills. All the monarchs are in for a treat."

Yan Ge bowed to the monarchs, saying, "If any of Your Majesties are interested, you can also add some rewards."

Afterward, Yan Ge took a quick walk around the area and asked, "Who would like to spar with me?"

Zhang Yingjie stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have long heard of Official Qin's exceptional martial arts, but I have never had the chance to test my skills against him. I'd like to learn from Official Qin."

Huangfu Yuchen introduced Zhang Yingjie to the other monarchs, "This is General Zhang, the left commander of the Imperial Guards."

"Alright, you two can have a friendly exchange. It's a rare opportunity today. The winner will receive a reward of a thousand taels of gold."

The officials' eyes lit up. Since Yan Caiqing dared to say this in front of all the monarchs, he must be confident of winning. This was a rare opportunity to present them with gifts, and they spoke up one after another.

"Your Majesty, this humble official would like to add a reward of a pair of blackwood bracelets."

Everyone was amazed. Blackwood, also known as dark wood, didn't rot after being buried underground for thousands of years. It absorbed the essence of the sun and the moon, making it a precious and spiritual material. A pair of blackwood bracelets was worth at least a thousand taels.

"This humble official would also like to add a reward, a calligraphy piece by the talented Zhang Xinzhi."

"This official offers a landscape painting by the famous artist, Chen Yuezhi."

…

Since the officials couldn't bring personal items to the celebration, a nearby ceremonial officer recorded their offerings on paper.

The monarchs didn't notice anything unusual and thought the officials were merely echoing Emperor Huangfu Yuchen to liven up the atmosphere.

Yan Ge's eyes sparkled with joy; this time, he would make a big profit.

Huangfu Yuchen said, "Alright. You two may begin."

A guard stepped forward and presented them with swords.

Zhang Yingjie chuckled and said to Yan Ge, "Official Qin, please enlighten me. If I offend you in any way, please don't take offense."

Yan Ge smirked, "It seems like Master Zhang is quite confident. I've heard about your ever-changing Illusion Star Sword Technique, it's hard to predict and rarely matched. Today, I want to experience it for myself. If I win, you must treat me to a feast at Liuxian Pavilion."

"Fair enough, fair enough," Zhang Yingjie chuckled.

After some staged pleasantries, they shouted "begin" and drew their swords.

After exchanging around ten moves, Zhang Yingjie sensed that Yan Ge's internal strength surpassed his own, and he gave him a surprised glance. Yan Ge signaled him to continue. Though initially disheartened, Zhang Yingjie soon discovered that Yan Ge was secretly guiding and advising him during their match. This pleasant surprise led him to gain insights quickly due to the fast pace of their spar.

To those unfamiliar with martial arts, it seemed like they were evenly matched, only a few truly knowledgeable individuals understood the truth and unknowingly became engrossed.

After about a hundred moves, Yan Ge raised his sword, suppressing Zhang Yingjie's blade, and pointed it at his neck.

"Master Zhang, admit defeat."

"I yield."

Huangfu Yuchen applauded, "Excellent. Bring a reward of a thousand taels of gold for Official Qin."

Yan Ge accepted the gold and the rewards from the other officials, placing them on his table with a deliberate look of arrogance. He then said to Huangfu Yuchen, "Your Majesty, I'd also like to take on two opponents at once. If anyone can defeat me, I'll offer everything I've won in the first battle. I wonder if anyone dares to take on my challenge."

As he spoke, he cast a sidelong glance at the other monarchs.

The officials of Great Han understood the situation instantly and knew that it wasn't the time for their people to step up. Hence, they remained silent.

Huangfu Yuchen appeared surprised as he looked at Yan Ge and gently said, "Official Qin, won't you reconsider?"

Jiang Gan, Yang Zhuo, Jiang Guangyuan, and Grand Tutor You all lowered their heads simultaneously, thinking to themselves, 'Your Majesty, Yan Caiqing, you two are quite good at acting."

"I'll do it!" Behind King Hei Zhentian, a tall and robust man in military attire suddenly stood up and strode to the center of the square. He bowed to Huangfu Yuchen, "Foreign Envoy – Leader of the Wei Kingdom Imperial Guards – Bai Shaobai, pays respects to Emperor Huangfu."

"And me!" Similarly, another sturdy guard behind King Hei Zhentian stepped forward, "Foreign Envoy – Rank Three Sword Guard Zou Xiangying, pays respects to Emperor Huangfu."

Huangfu Yuchen's smile became somewhat forced, and he nodded, "Very well. If you two emissaries win, I'll reward each of you with a thousand taels of gold."

Yan Ge hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, if I win, can I get two thousand taels?"

Huangfu Yuchen said nonchalantly, "Let's wait until you win, Official Qin."

A glimmer of amusement appeared in Hei Zhentian's eyes as he declared loudly, "In that case, I want to also add a reward of two thousand taels of gold."