Chapter 198: Aching Waist and Sore Back

Zheng Yue Ru looked at Qingyang Shuo's smile, which was as warm as a spring breeze, and felt a sudden chill run down her spine.

She knew.

Qingyang Shuo was never a man to shoot without a target, so this question today must surely concern the Great Trend.

The people of the world did not know that the famous Governor Liu had such a Qingyang Shuo behind him.

But Zheng Yue Ru knew that this man, Qingyang Shuo, calculated everything without a single oversight; he was monstrously clever. His coming here today to soothe her emotions was a lie; coming to probe her intentions was the truth!

However.

After only a momentary tension, Zheng Yue Ru felt relieved and chuckled, "Does the gentleman know what love is?"

Qingyang Shuo was slightly stunned.

Even with his ability to calculate the world, he had not expected to be met with this question from Zheng Yue Ru.

Zheng Yue Ru leaned against the railing, looking at the brightly lit Yintan City, and smiled lightly: "Shen Manqing could disregard the world's slander and come to Hanzhong alone. Am I, Yue Ru, really inferior to her?"

Qingyang Shuo's hand, which was gripping his wheelchair, loosened slightly, and he immediately burst into laughter: "It was this humble one's petty heart. General Zheng, I ask for your forgiveness."

Zheng Yue Ru shook her head and said: "In Yue Ru's view, the young master's ambition should surpass that of a swan."

"Yue Ru is also not a person of shallow vision. In the Longyan Dynasty, Feudatory Kings stand like trees, each governing their own territory; the rites have collapsed and music is ruined, and the imperial authority has long since fallen apart. Sooner or later, there will come a day when Longyan loses its deer, and the whole world will chase after it."

"Yue Ru knows this as well."

"If the young master intends to seize the world, his status is still too shallow."

"Does the gentleman believe that the young master's marriage should be used as a stepping stone for his plot to seize the world? Is that it?"

Zheng Yue Ru smiled faintly.

Qingyang Shuo nodded.

If Liu Zheng wanted to plot for the world in the future, he must have a status that could be presented. Of course, this was not to say it was absolutely necessary, but if he had this status, it would be much more convenient. In a feudal society, everyone talks about the mandate of heaven. If you are just the son of a wealthy merchant and want to chase the deer in Zhongyuan, that is a joke.

At the very least, in the beginning, he would certainly not be recognized by others.

If, under such circumstances, Liu Zheng could marry into a major power of the current age, for example, by transforming himself into an Imperial Son-in-law? Or the husband of a descendant of a noble family?

In the future, no matter how arrogant he was, he would have the backing.

However...

Zheng Yue Ru chuckled and said: "Sir, how about we make a bet today?"

"Oh?"

Qingyang Shuo smiled.

Zheng Yue Ru said: "The young master is no ordinary person, nor is he a person within the ordinary framework of Longyan."

"Yue Ru knows the young master is not like you, waiting for the daughter of some noble family; it is just that he has not yet met someone who has captured his heart, that is all."

"If one day the young master becomes infatuated with a certain woman."

"That woman will certainly not be the reason for his feelings because of her status, knowledge, or background."

"If Yue Ru wins, then when the young master achieves great things in the future, Xi'er must call Yue Ru 'sister', how about that?"

Qingyang Shuo took a deep breath, smiled bitterly, and cupped his hands.

He accepted this wager.

Open plots and secret schemes were things he could handle with ease, but as for this matter of love, he was completely clueless.

Zheng Yue Ru smiled as beautifully as a flower.

The next day.

Liu Zheng woke up when the sun was already high in the sky.

He sat up abruptly, but Shen Manqing was already gone...

"Where is she? Where is she!"

Liu Zheng felt a void in his heart and roared a few times.

The maidservants prepared by Hanzhong Prefecture to serve Liu Zheng walked in, covering their mouths. Several of them cleared away the bedsheets, which had originally been pure white but were now a mess, stained with vermilion spots. Their eyes were full of teasing.

Liu Zheng wanted to speak but hesitated, smacking his lips: "Where is Master Manqing?"

"Replying to the young master, Master Manqing left Hanzhong early this morning."

A maidservant answered.

"What?"

Liu Zheng was stunned, sighed deeply, and waved his hand to let the group leave before he began to put on his clothes.

This Shen Manqing...

Drunk last night, and with Liu Zheng himself being a hot-blooded young man, how could he withstand such temptation? Plus, after hearing Shen Manqing's peerless words of love, if he hadn't made a move, he feared he would truly be worse than a beast.

"Doesn't she hurt?"

A strange question suddenly popped into Liu Zheng's mind, and he slapped his forehead hard.

He was really too much; once he got started, it was almost dawn.

Drinking ruins things, drinking ruins things!

"No, no, I must exercise restraint, I must exercise restraint!"

Liu Zheng felt a sore back and aching waist, warning himself thus.

When he finished dressing and went out, he saw Qin Zhangfeng and Jiang Xuan in the front hall, looking at him with mischievous smiles.

Liu Zheng's old face flushed red, and he coughed: "That, don't ask!"

"Even if you ask, I won't say. Are our Three Books and Six Betrothals all prepared?"

Marriage in ancient times was not like in later generations. The procedures were very cumbersome. It was known as the "Three Books and Six Rites," also called the "Three Books and Six Betrothals." These three books refer to the Betrothal Letter, the Gift Letter, and the Welcome Letter. The Betrothal Letter is the document of engagement, a letter handed from the man to the woman when they become engaged. The Gift Letter is the list of items and quantities for the grand wedding gifts during the wedding ceremony. The Welcome Letter is the document needed when welcoming the bride.

As for the six rites.

They are, respectively: betrothal gift proposal, inquiring about the name, exchanging auspicious dates, sending betrothal gifts, requesting the wedding date, and the personal welcoming of the bride.

In short, for an ordinary family, it is all this cumbersome, let alone for someone of Qin Zhangfeng's status. He represents the vast Yinzhou, so every step must be prepared properly and grandly.

Fortunately, Yinzhou is now overflowing with wealth, so all of this is not a problem at all.

Liu Zheng waved his hand: Do it.

Do it grandly!

These days, Yinzhou Ship after Yinzhou Ship began to sail along the Water Transport, carrying boatloads of betrothal gifts produced in Yintan City.

Hanzhong City followed suit and became lively.

……

Jinghua.

The Emperor has woken up.

That is correct.

He has woken up from his crazed state.

As soon as he woke up, he received the entire detailed process of the Battle of Hanzhong, from beginning to end.

Consequently.

His complexion turned livid.

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes fierce and ruthless, glaring at the figure in the darkness: "Is this the surprise you have given Me?"

"Hmm?"

"Is this that Prefect Liu? What a fine Prefect Liu!"

"What I gave him, the father and son of the Liu Family, was the title of Western Regions Commissioner, not Hanzhong Commissioner! By seizing Hanzhong, is he trying to rebel? Hmm?"

The dark shadow said calmly: "Your Majesty, the combat power of the Yinzhou army is promising."

"You..."

The old Emperor was so angry that his whole body trembled; he almost failed to catch his breath.

"Oh my, Emperor, Emperor, please do not get angry, can you? Emperor? Emperor?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou, beside the old Emperor, glared at the Secret Guard and hurriedly fed the old Emperor a medicinal pill.

Only then did the old Emperor slowly recover.

"Combat power is promising, haha, combat power is promising..."

"Just because the combat power is promising, I cannot punish him, is that it?"

His eyes turned cold: "This is My empire, it is Mine, do you understand?"

"Whoever I want to die must die, including you, including all of you!"

Both lowered their heads and remained silent.

The scene instantly fell into an eerie silence.

The old Emperor gave a bitter smile: "You, you, you can always grasp My sore spot..."

"Combat power is promising..."

"Combat power is promising..."

He sighed at length: "Lao Zhou."

"Emperor, this old servant is here."

"Is it truly promising?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou looked at the Emperor, then at the Secret Guard, and only then said slowly: "Emperor, it might be worth a try."

The old Emperor waved his hand, signaling the Secret Guard to withdraw. The two watched the Secret Guard's back slowly depart, and the old Emperor gave a cold laugh: "Worth a try, worth a try. Do you truly think the Western Regions are easy to go to? Heh..."

Grand Eunuch Zhou trembled all over, lowering his head in silence.

The old Emperor let out a 'ha': "Why have you stopped speaking? Is there anything that cannot be said?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou gave a bitter smile: "Emperor..."

"Hahahaha, there is nothing that cannot be said!"

"Isn't it just that I lost?"

"Isn't it just that back then, I was high-spirited and wanted to conquer the Western Regions, but was beaten by the Western Regions until I was routed, with my army of five hundred thousand almost completely annihilated, and afterwards, I fulfilled that wager with Xie Lao'er from back then, shrinking into the palace for fifty years, never leaving the Imperial Palace again!"

"If not for this, why would I need a mere child, I..."

"What is there that cannot be said!"

"What is there that cannot be said!"

"Imperial Physician, Imperial Physician!"