243: Chapter 243 Keeping a Mistress

After a moment of silence in the study, Lin Xiao pulled the woman's hand away.

"Peace of mind?"

Lin Xiao turned around, looking at the woman with a cold gaze.

"To the north, the barbarians share a blood feud with me, and Prince Bai and Prince Qing still have at least three hundred and fifty thousand troops."

"To the south, the various princes are watching like hawks, biding their time like venomous snakes, ready to reveal their Bloodlust fangs at any moment."

"In these troubled times, even the Emperor must walk on thin ice, let alone people like us?"

"The peace of mind you seek is not something I have. At least for now, I cannot give it to you!"

Lin Xiao said, "Princess, no matter how much you loathe the current state of the world or this prince's manor, do not forget that your surname is still Li!"

Princess Li Xinglan's pretty face turned pale, and tears welled in her eyes.

"Even if you don't believe me, you don't have to be so cold-blooded and heartless, do you?"

Lin Xiao reached out his finger and wiped away her tears.

"Qing Zaner bore Prince Yan three children. And the result?"

Princess Li Xinglan bit her red lips, unable to find an answer.

Lin Xiao looked at the sorrowful woman without a hint of softening.

If a beautiful woman throws herself at someone without wanting money, status, or even love...

...then what she wants is actually far more dangerous!

The next day, Lin Xiao and Princess Li Xinglan had a huge argument in the prince's manor and parted on bad terms.

By the end, the servants even heard the sound of things being smashed.

Subsequently, under the watch of countless eyes, Lin Xiao took Zhao Caiwei and the surviving members of the Zhao family and led the army out of Qizhou.

On the way back toward E Prefecture, Zhao Caiwei sat on horseback, looking somewhat worried.

"Husband, do you really not need me to contact Wei Kongming? He was my father's student; perhaps I could win him over."

Lin Xiao smiled. "What, worried that Princess Li Xinglan will go out of control?"

Zhao Caiwei sighed. "Although her wings aren't fully grown yet, if she's allowed to gain full control over the Yan Region, it will be difficult to take it back later."

"Take it back?"

Lin Xiao shook his head. "The Yan Region never belonged to me, so how can I 'take it back'? If Princess Li Xinglan can truly let the common people there live a good life, then she won't be our enemy."

"What I want is to obtain resources from the Yan Region and allow the Northern Trade Alliance to enter and do business."

"Governing three prefectures is such a troublesome matter. Why fight for it now?"

Like a snake trying to swallow an elephant, Lin Xiao understood that his energy was limited.

He hadn't even settled the Six Prefectures of the Northern Territory yet; forcibly taking over the Three Prefectures of Yan would most likely backfire.

The Yan Region possessed fertile land, rich fishing resources, and mineral resources—that was what he wanted.

As for Princess Li Xinglan, she wanted the Yan Region's livelihoods to recover as quickly as possible. Cooperating with the Northern Trade Alliance was certainly a shortcut.

As for who the Three Prefectures of Yan would belong to in the future? The hearts of the people would naturally make that choice.

Just then, a scout ran back from ahead to report:

"General Lin! A carriage was found on the road ahead. There's a woman inside who says she's here to deliver a letter to you!"

Lin Xiao was puzzled. A woman delivering a letter?

He ordered the woman to be brought over, and it turned out to be a beautiful, veiled woman.

"It's you?"

"This humble one... greets her benefactor!"

Qing Zaner glanced at Lin Xiao's face, her heart fluttering.

So... her benefactor was so young and handsome?

Lin Xiao took the letter the woman handed over. Upon opening it, he saw a funny face drawn in ink.

A few lines of text were written below...

"Stupid man! I know you like them big, so I'm giving this venomous woman to you! Killing her is useless anyway, so she might as well keep pestering you!"

Lin Xiao's head throbbed. He really didn't know what was going on in that quirky girl's head!

Looking at Qing Zaner's hesitant yet expectant gaze...

"You may go. I have no need for you here."

Qing Zaner panicked. "Benefactor, I am willing to serve as a slave or a maid. Please do not drive me away, benefactor. I truly have nowhere else to go!"

Lin Xiao pondered for a moment and thought of a place...

"In that case, you shall work for this General from now on. I will arrange for you to go to a certain place."

Qing Zaner was overjoyed. As expected, he still had a place for her in his heart.

She presumed he didn't dare let his wife know, so he was hiding a beauty in a golden house. She understood!

"This humble one... will follow your arrangements, benefactor."

Lin Xiao then wrote a letter and sent someone to escort Qing Zaner away immediately.

As the woman left, she pulled back the curtain, her eyes full of deep reluctance and longing.

This scene directly stunned many soldiers of the Zhenbei Army.

The power of Natural Allure was far too wicked!

Two days later.

The Capital.

The Imperial Palace, Imperial Garden.

Emperor Hong's health had been improving these past few days. After finishing his fist techniques, he practiced a set of saber forms.

"Zheng Yangwei, how was My use of the saber?"

"Oh, Your Majesty moves with the vigor of dragons and tigers. Where the blade points, the spirit soars to the clouds!"

Zheng Yangwei was full of praise.

"That's too much... In front of you, My kung fu must be nothing more than child's play, right?" Emperor Hong mocked himself.

Zheng Yangwei shook his head incessantly. "Your Majesty must not say such things. It would be the death of this old servant!"

Emperor Hong laughed loudly. "Why so nervous? No matter how high your martial arts are, could you possibly fly out of My palm!"

Zheng Yangwei's smile was sweeter than honey. "Your Majesty is absolutely right! Everything this old servant has was given by Your Majesty!"

"Alright, the Shadow Guards were here just now, weren't they? What did they say?"

Emperor Hong sat down leisurely and took a sip of ginseng tea as he asked.

Zheng Yangwei's expression turned serious as he leaned into Emperor Hong's ear and whispered a few words.

"Oh? An argument? Truly?"

A subtle look flashed in Emperor Hong's eyes.

"Everyone heard it. Many officials in Qizhou have already spread the word."

"They say the Great General of Zhenbei was so angry he smashed several vases and led his troops away that very day."

Zheng Yangwei smiled. "Your Majesty, it seems this Princess Xinglan indeed has some pride."

"Hmph..."

Emperor Hong sneered. "Pride cannot kill Yelu Chuku. If Yelu Chuku's death isn't clearly investigated, My heart cannot be at peace."

"This so-called 'argument' is far too deliberate. Just watch; most likely, these two are putting on a show."

Zheng Yangwei put on a look of realization. "Indeed. If they were truly having a dispute, why do it so openly in broad daylight?"

"Your Majesty, then this Lin Xiao and Princess Li Xinglan are deceiving the Emperor!"

Emperor Hong shook his head. "Not necessarily. They simply want to put My mind at ease. It can be considered 'well-intentioned,' just a bit childish."

"Regardless of whether Lin Xiao's move is sincere or fake, not touching the Three Prefectures of Yan is the right choice."

"His priority is to recover the Northern Territory for Me and take down Prince Bai..."

Zheng Yangwei kept nodding with an 'enlightened' expression.

"By the way, Minister Liu Zongfu should have reached E Prefecture by now, right? I told him to find Feng Yuzhang and see Zhao Yunting. Has any news been sent back?"

"Hmm... I heard from Chancellor Yang that there has been no reply yet."

Emperor Hong sighed, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes...

Meanwhile.

E Prefecture.

Outside the gates of Hanyang, fences had been set up far in the distance.

Hundreds of refugees were taking shelter in temporary, drafty tents.

A carriage hurried along and reached the gate, only to be stopped by several soldiers.

The driver directly flashed a waist token. "Open the gates quickly! Inside sits the Imperial Envoy, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Lord Liu!"

The soldiers looked at each other. They didn't understand what kind of official that was, but they knew what an Imperial Envoy was!

But even so, they still did not allow passage.

"E Prefecture is suffering from a plague. Anyone entering Hanyang must be inspected by a physician. We ask the lord inside to come out and meet us!"

A city gate captain stepped forward and spoke respectfully.

The driver was anxious. "Outrageous! You dare block the Imperial Envoy's carriage?!"

But the captain and the other soldiers remained unmoved.

"We are acting on the orders of the inspector general. We carry the lives of all the people in the city on our shoulders and do not dare to be the least bit negligent!"

Just as a fight was about to break out, the man inside finally stepped out.

His elegant and handsome face looked very haggard, and there were some dark spots on his skin.

"The plague!!?"

Several soldiers acted as if they were facing a great enemy and hurriedly retreated!

"*Cough, cough*... Go tell Lord Feng that I, Liu Zongfu, am waiting for him outside the city!"