[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens":3,"chapter-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-62":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Heir to the Kingdom of 1.4 Billion Citizens",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270937,4434,"Chapter 62: A Piece of Flesh on a Noble","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-62",62,"\u003Cp>Dusk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The full moon hung high, its moonlight pouring like water over the gray stone walls of Langbao Castle, draping the ancient structure, weathered by a century of wind and rain, in a silvery veil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spire of the Zhong Lou pierced the night sky toward the star-strewn heavens, and beneath it, a black-haired youth sat cross-legged, eyes closed, facing the bright moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight was an ideal time for meditation, and Xia Mingyu, who desperately sought to enhance his magic, would not let it pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far from the Zhong Lou, the main tower of the castle still glowed brightly, so intensely it hurt the eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The castle hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the towering ceiling, a massive iron chandelier hung thick with candles blazing fiercely, illuminating the entire space as bright as day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From dawn until late at night, Old Xiao En returned here, exhausted and covered in dust after a full day of running around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him, Karon sat quietly upon the main seat, while Lady Daniele held the infant Hai Dun beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, as you commanded, I have uncovered all brothels and criminal gangs within Langbao, as well as the number of villages suffering from famine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Xiao En knelt on one knee upon the carpet, respectfully reporting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Report.” Karon waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the three towns of Langbao, there were originally six brothels; the largest one, located in Kuangshi Town, has been cleared by the Prince, leaving five.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two are in Langyazhen, one in Yingguo Town, one in Kuangshi Town—investigations confirm without exception that all forced prostitutes and child prostitutes into servitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for criminal gangs—petty thugs don’t count—only one organized gang exists: the Lang Bang, headquartered in Kuangshi Town. All six brothels appear linked to it, or are directly controlled by it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the famine-stricken villages, due to your benevolent tax reduction, only two remain. Both fell into ruin after being deceived by a Klei merchant during harvest season, burdened with debt from the Lang Bang, resulting in deaths from starvation or the sale of children into prostitution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Xiao En reported truthfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lang Bang\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karon frowned slightly. He rarely managed his lands, preferring martial training and hunting—he had no idea such a gang spanning three towns had emerged under his rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in the Kingdom of Sosia, there was no law against operating brothels or forming criminal gangs—or if there was, no one ever enforced it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, brothels were a major source of tax revenue; many lords even owned them directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby, Daniele, holding her child, narrowed her eyes slightly at the name “Lang Bang.” A suspicion stirred in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, the identity of the Lang Bang’s leader has been confirmed—he is...” Old Xiao En hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak freely.” Karon said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He is the son left behind by the former eldest son—Eli Hughes. He is your nephew.” Old Xiao En replied carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Karon froze. Daniele’s expression turned to quiet understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Muxicheng, she had helped her mother manage affairs countless times. She knew well: no matter how brutal the gangs or brothels, they were ultimately flesh and blood of the nobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nephew... What a distant memory.” Karon sighed deeply, his rugged face now filled with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long ago, after training, he returned to his bedroom and found his elder brother molesting his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a rage, he hacked his brother to death. His father, the former Viscount Hughes, soon after fell ill from grief and died. Upon inheriting the title, Karon had “invited” his young nephew out of the castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years later, as he matured, he realized the incident had many inconsistencies—perhaps his wife... Ah, no matter. She had already died of illness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to the Prince’s oath, Eli is someone I must kill—but...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of struggle crossed Karon’s face. His hands gripped the armrests so tightly the iron bent beneath his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing unrelated villains meant nothing—but Eli was his own nephew, the one he already felt guilt toward, and a bloodline of the Hughes family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her husband’s agonized hesitation, Daniele’s gaze turned cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t care whether he was a nephew or not—anyone blocking her son’s path must die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hai Dun, endure it...” Looking at the sleeping infant in her arms, Daniele pinched his tiny, porcelain-like foot with cruel force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wahhhhh!” The baby screamed in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t cry, Hai Dun. Mother and Father swear we’ll make you the Prince’s godson!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daniele frantically soothed him, heart aching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Karon’s gaze, as if by miracle, the infant ceased crying almost instantly and sank back into deep sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Karon, Hai Dun can understand us. If we let him miss this chance that decides his entire fate, he’ll hate us for life!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daniele clutched Karon’s hand, tears welling in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Karon, I want to be a good mother. You want to be a good father too, don’t you...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, Daniele. For Hai Dun, I won’t hesitate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karon took a deep breath. The struggle vanished from his face, replaced by coldness and killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao En, at dawn tomorrow, gather Sir Solin, Sir Lei Mi, and all soldiers on the training ground.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, My Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Darling, I love you. I’ll go with you tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the top of the Zhong Lou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu slowly ended his meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew nothing of the events unfolding in the main tower nearby; he only shivered from the cold night wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next time, bring a blanket before meditating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu sneezed, thinking to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, lying on his soft bed, he soon fell asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starfire Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crystal dome continued its tireless projection of epic wars filled with tears and fire, cannons roaring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirteen sat alone at the long table, using his thick fingers to trace characters on the surface from his literacy book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness.” As Xia Mingyu approached, his massive frame bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tameralan asked me to tell you he must patrol during the day, so he can only stay here briefly tonight before leaving.” Thirteen said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staying in Starfire Hall all night imposed no physical burden, but it could not fully replace sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Continue from yesterday’s lesson.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu snapped his fingers, and sheets of white paper and quills appeared on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These two characters mean ‘freedom.’ This one is ‘equality,’ ‘justice,’ ‘civilization,’ ‘integrity.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During instruction, Xia Mingyu unexpectedly discovered that, despite his fierce appearance, Thirteen possessed exceptional memory and comprehension—he retained any character after only two or three lessons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this pace, Thirteen would master all common characters within a month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then perhaps it was time to give him a true name...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1099,"2026-06-19T22:18:43.340Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e80f2015b2abf4135a11b769740f9bef145775afaddc51137d1943e337fe6a0a","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-63","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-61",186,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-cover.jpg"]