Chapter 865: Imperial Command to Exterminate Demons: Dragon Palace Imminent!

The lotus on the pond had withered, leaving only dry, blackened stems tangled on the water's surface. A bleak autumn breeze stirred ripples across the lake; Teta Kai tugged the mooring rope and leapt from the crow's nest, swinging a wide arc through the air before landing on deck, then raised a paw to direct crewmen as they loaded crate after crate of treasures into the hold.

The clerks stepped onto the gangplank calmly, orderly and unhurried.

This was certainly not Teta Kai's doing.

On the other side of the moving team.

The eunuch waved his fly whisk, swung open the cabin door, and spoke in a theatrical tone: "Slowly now, slowly—don't bump or jostle! These are His Majesty's gifts to Lord Baron Xingyi. Do it well, and you'll be rewarded; fail, and I won't be held responsible."

"By imperial grace we come to wed, to carry word of this union. If the immortal groom consents to tender bonds, this very day shall see their joy complete…"

Liang Qu leaned against the rail, humming a tune.

The months of August and September in the capital were unquestionably the finest days of his life.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Wu>Cuoban? Ben@In)69}Shu【Ba*Du}! +6! 9ShuBa? ShouFaBenXiaoShuo}. -

The Ironhead Fish and the Jiao Dragon were allies in offense and defense; why would they collect tolls only once? Another harvest this autumn! This was already the second attack—cargo losses exceeded thirty thousand taels, and not a single merchant survived. Unlike last time, when no trace was found, this time the attacking demon's vital essence had been secretly intercepted.

Rather than calling it a "bride price," it was more accurately a "wedding gift"—everything visible in the procession was practical and useful.

Their eyes met.

"That's close enough. One demon's vital essence was intercepted, though its identity remains unknown. It should serve as a bridge for me to unite the Dragon-People or Bai Yuan—promise them a reward, hmm, move it a bit to the right."

Long Long Eying, as the granddaughter of the Dragon-People's Grand Elder, held unshakable status.

"Mm." Long Long Eying, aware of this, showed no surprise. "The first and second tasks?"

"Didn't you say we were twenty major merits short the other day?"

Long Li and Long Yao constantly complained they'd grown fatter.

Long silence.

Soft soles, separated from white socks and clothing, landed on his body—each toe fine, even, delicate.

"Place them in the second cabin, then proceed backward until full."

Afternoon sunlight slanted through the stairwell, casting beams of light; shadows shifted.

A dreamlike journey.

Aquatic beasts did indeed roam free—the Great Shun could not reach them, yet it was not without recourse.

"Three major merits?"

Dust drifted.

"Look down."

"You forgot."

Imperial Court Manufacturing Bureau.

The task of exterminating demons for the court naturally fell to him.

At the stairwell, furniture piled into a "mountain"—dense yet orderly, arranged with rhythm: from the low, outermost concubine couch, to the incense altar, to the towering canopy bed with floral and avian carvings.

Not to mention the General of General Zhenhuai.

The court now had a navy!

Just the large furniture filled an entire cabin.

"Long Eying, come quick! What a bed!"

"I never made any promise—how could you forget?"

Liang Qu exhaled a sigh, lazily closed his eyes, then pulled a letter from his robe and passed it backward.

During Liang Qu's year-long seclusion, events outside had not stalled—they surged ahead. Trade between Pingyang Prefecture and the sea merchants flourished, mutually beneficial and growing ever larger, nearly rivaling the junction of the Canal and Huaijiang at Lanzhou. Yet it was not without obstacles.

Liang Qu crawled deep into the furniture, picked up two mandarin duck pillows, stretched out in a star shape, and settled comfortably onto the canopy bed. He turned his head toward Long Long Eying, shifted his hips inward, and patted the bed beside him.

When the treasure ship was dispatched to Pingyang in August, the memorial written by Su Guishan in Pingyang had played a decisive role—stating that the marriage between the two clans would foster harmony between land and water, and that imperial support was essential.

He caressed the glossy surface, smooth as jade.

As a powerful aquatic clan fully aligned with the court, the empire no longer needed to waste exorbitant costs—threefold or more—to gain the same or lesser returns than on land.

Liang Qu rolled onto his side, propping his head with a fist.

"My lady is wise!"

All of it addressed urgent needs and saved a fortune in silver.

On the treasure ship's deck, the moving team passed goods in relay.

"Heh."

A strange calm, a lazy ease.

"Three. Seventeen short."

In early September, the Treasure Tower hosted a grand banquet, followed by several smaller ones. The festivities seemed to end—but at month's end, Liang Qu and Long Long Eying received their legal marriage documents, providing yet another reason to celebrate.

Long Long Eying rolled onto her side, chin resting on her palm.

"Perfect~"

"His Majesty ordered you to deal with the Ironhead Fish?"

"Sir, the first cabin is full!"

"What do you think, my husband?"

By early October, the court had completed all its gifts, rewards, and wedding "bride price" preparations. The Emperor issued a decree ordering Liang Qu to leave the capital—this lively scene finally came to an end.

"Don't fret, don't fret—the major merits are in sight. Yesterday, His Majesty gave me a personal order: three tasks. The third requires me to journey to the Great Snow Mountains before year's end, to secretly investigate with the imperial team."

Liang Qu waved his hand and descended with Long Long Eying into the first cabin.

"Forgot."

Never mind the rest—just that double-moon canopy bed, exquisitely luxurious, its birds, flowers, fish, and birds carved by a master, lifelike. In Liang Qu's estimation, it was worth at least a thousand taels; with the craftsmanship, perhaps more. Far more beautiful and durable than the dozens-of-tael beds back home.

The sole paused.

Not cheap.

If the Ironhead Fish doesn't show its face, will any other demon dare act as its "black glove"? Precisely because of Liang Qu's bridging role.

"Yes!"

Imperial manufacture.

Side by side, hands clasped, they breathed quietly, gazing upward at the floral and avian carvings in the half-light.

Long Long Eying smiled, sat up on the railing, gripped the upright post, stepped forward with one foot then the other, walking slowly along Liang Qu's spine, her bare soles gliding gently.

Arrange it!

"Hmm, this official secured a Dragon Maiden's ascent—ah, into court—and the court granted me the merits."

The Emperor waved his hand.

Liang Qu made a noise.

His gaze dropped lower.

At home, Yang Yang Dongxiong and Xu Shi had invited nearly everyone they knew in the capital—dukes, former colleagues, generals—hosting a small banquet every three days, a grand one every five.

Undoubtedly.

Liang Qu rolled again, turning one hundred eighty degrees until he faced the bed, chin resting on the pillow.

She rose slightly on her toes, pressing and rubbing with the ball of her foot, moving from right thigh to left, then upward.

No worries, no pressure.

Stepping up across the tabletop.

In other words.

"Come, give your legal husband a foot massage—I'll consider it."

Liang Qu grinned, gripping Long Long Eying's hand tightly with all five fingers.

This time, not only had they intercepted the vital essence, but crucially, Liang Qu had won over the Dragon-People and Bai Yuan!

"Want to know?"

There was the double-moon canopy bed, the Yun Cloud concubine couch, the incense altar, the Size Ruyi chair…

In the Jianghuai Wetlands, the Great Demons among the Four Demon Clans were many, but how many minor races lived under their shadow? Lose even one, and it would strike at their very bones.

"Didn't you say you forgot?" Long Long Eying released his hand and turned her back to Liang Qu.

Long Long Eying rolled her eyes.

"Guess why?"

As long as you're willing to spend! Originally, it had been aimless, unsupported—perhaps you'd have had to consider…

The voice sounded again.

Also included: white porcelain dolls, a pair of gold-and-jade Size Ruyi scepters, a set of mandarin duck pillows and quilts, a thick red peony rug… countless small ornaments and trinkets.

One fears, all fear.

Silence.

Entirely crafted from precious wood.

As she moved, her skirt brushed her face.

Within the mountain of furniture.

Long Long Eying sighed, closed the wooden crate, hooked her finger downward, slipped off her shoes, stepped silently onto the table in her white socks, climbed upward, slipped quietly into the depths of the furniture, and lay flat on the upper canopy bed.

No fatigue.

Muscles relaxed, tendons stretched, flesh loosened.

Leisurely, he trained at Wangyue Tower; busily, he hosted grand banquets at home.

The tide of battle shifted abruptly!

"E Ying, about our agreement..."

"Hmm... because of the Dragon People and the White Ape?"

Liang Qu grinned, took her hand, and pulled her back.

At the same time last year as the Ghost Mother Cult's attack on Xige Prefecture, merchant ships were ambushed.

Long Eying feigned ignorance, opened the wooden chest, and examined the white porcelain doll inside.

Last time, we failed to track down the attackers; without a clear target for retaliation, the Ironhead Fish King lacked concrete evidence and was too formidable to handle—we suffered a silent loss.

Long Eying took it, opened it, read while stepping on it, slowly twisting her ankle, moving from her spine to her lower back, then to her thighs.

A full and vital rest.

A tremendous stroke of luck! I was just worried I couldn't exchange the two Xuan Huang Tokens or secure the 【Wa Gong】—it was like falling asleep and being handed a pillow! Others assumed I needed the Dragon People and White Ape to fight the great sea beast and share the spoils.

What they don't know is that one person is enough! First, clear the obstacles to the merchants, then sweep away the mountain bandits! Hmm.

He stretched lazily.

"Lady, step down a bit more..."

(End of Chapter)