Chapter 76: A Troublesome Autumn

"Oh? Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Ye Hongshang saw Xie Jinhuan wanted to challenge himself and grew interested; her gaze was soft and seductive, a half-smile on her lips, as her right hand's pale, green-onion-like white finger slowly pointed toward his well-defined pectoral muscles.

Xie Jinhuan was initially unmoved, but immediately realized the finger had actually pressed against his chest.

Then her soft, smooth, and delicate palm pressed against his chest and abdomen, slowly sliding down to his abs, heading toward Jinhuan's source...

Xie Jinhuan was half-skeptical and tried to grab her wrist, only to actually catch it; he immediately pulled the fragrant, soft jade into his embrace!

But she didn't budge an inch...

"Hmm?"

Xie Jinhuan tried again, but the plump, beautiful woman before him was like a statue cast in iron; even with all his strength, he could not move her arm a fraction, so he could only lean forward actively.

Ye Hongshang shrank back and raised an eyebrow:

"Hmm? Wasn't this a test of your self-control? Breaking your composure so quickly?"

Xie Jinhuan paused his movement, thought for a moment, and leaned back against the bath tub:

"That didn't count. Do it again; I promise I won't move a muscle."

Seeing this, Ye Hongshang leaned forward a bit more, chest out and chin up:

"Come on, sister will let you touch once; this time I absolutely won't tease you."

"..."

Facing the ghost wife's bulging form, Xie Jinhuan's gaze was as firm as a Buddha's holy son:

"You are trying to trick me; I won't fall for it!"

"Why would I trick you? I really will let you touch."

As Ye Hongshang spoke, she took one of Xie Jinhuan's fingers and pressed down gently.

The fingertip sank in slightly, the sensation like a cloud.

Damn...

Xie Jinhuan hadn't expected the great succubus Ye to be so honest, actually letting him touch, so he launched a Green Dragon Reaching Claw!

But as expected, he passed right through the model...

"Hey?! You..."

"Hehe~"

Looking down from above, Ye Hongshang's eyes held a third of disdain:

"Oh my~ With your level of self-control, don't even show up tomorrow, or you'll ruin your reputation."

"You said you wouldn't trick me, I only touched once..."

"Didn't you touch? A poke counts! Who told you to be so greedy and want to rub?"

Xie Jinhuan realized he truly couldn't withstand the ghost wife's beauty trap, so he got serious:

"Do it again; this time I absolutely won't be disturbed while sitting in her lap."

"Last chance~"

"Come on."

As Ye Hongshang spoke, her figure pressed forward until they were face to face, their cheeks inches apart, her red lips moving toward Xie Jinhuan, so close he could even feel her warm breath!

Facing the world-shocking beauty inches away, although he knew it was fake, the distance was just a tiny bit left...

What if the ghost wife didn't react in time?

Thinking it wouldn't hurt to try, Xie Jinhuan first leaned back to dodge; while the ghost wife pursued, he surged forward with lightning speed.

But his neck froze and he couldn't move, just like a ghost pressing on a bed...

"Oh my~ Trying to feint left and strike right, you little rascal."

"..."

Being relentlessly teased by the peerless big shot, Xie Jinhuan truly had strength but nowhere to use it, so he surrendered:

"Alright, alright, let me recover my injuries; I still have to go make money later, don't make me lose my breath."

"Hmph~"

——

Li Fu.

Outside the window, the silver moon hung in the sky.

Huang Menlang Li Gongpu, wearing a sleeping robe, sat behind the Eight Horses screen with a soft blanket draped over his back, while two maids massaged his shoulders and pounded his back on either side.

Outside the screen, Han Jingchuan, a Battalion Commander of the Red Scale Guard with a gold plaque hanging at his waist, sat by the tea table, with a golden Buddha statue placed beside his hand:

"Back then, thanks to Li Gong's help, I was cleared of the crime regarding the haunted palace incident. Now hearing that Li Gong's birthday is approaching, this golden Buddha..."

Li Gongpu half-closed his eyes, his tone impatient:

"Say what you have to say directly."

"Uh... regarding the matter of Xie Wen's son, Li Gong must have heard. Three years ago, I made Xie Wen take the blame and had his family transferred to the Southern Frontier, but they were ambushed and died halfway. Now that Xie Jinhuan has returned, he will surely settle this score. The three Red Scale Guards who died in Danyang, I suspect were killed by this boy, but I haven't found evidence."

Han Jingchuan paused for a moment and continued:

"Such a small figure should not have troubled Li Gong. But this boy has recently achieved extraordinary feats, and the Danyang King treats him like his own son; I am worried..."

Li Gongpu opened his eyes, deep displeasure in his gaze:

"I ordered you to send people to suppress the matter at Sanhe Tower, yet you failed to complete the task, and the people all died in Danyang.

"Just today, there were three memorials from the Censorate impeaching me. Are you suggesting I solve this problem of a meritorious son who eliminates harm for the people while I am at the center of the storm?"

Han Jingchuan knew this matter was difficult and respectfully said:

"Xie Jinhuan's momentum is too strong, and he has the backing of the Danyang Wang Fu; he will likely settle old scores soon, which could also threaten Li Gong. Now that this boy's wings are not yet fully grown, it is a great time to eliminate him. I came to ask Li Gong for help with a plan."

Li Gongpu was furious over the incidents at Sanhe Lou and the live burial of gamblers, and in truth, he had little desire to deal with this waste Han Jingchuan.

But Xie Jinhuan's momentum was indeed too fierce, and he was clearly on the opposing side; after a moment of silence, Li Gongpu said:

"The case of the haunted temporary palace involves too much; now that a conclusion has been reached, if Xie Jinhuan wants to settle old scores, he can only resort to outside-the-box moves."

Han Jingchuan was not afraid of Xie Jinhuan competing with him in connections or lawsuits; what he feared was that this young man would disregard martial ethics and send him off directly, so he asked:

"Since this young man might seek private revenge, how should I proceed? If I strike first, will the Dan Wang perhaps..."

"He is out there slaying demons and monsters everywhere and hasn't even troubled you yet, yet you are in such a hurry to strike a black hand first; isn't that actively handing him a blade?"

"Uh..."

Han Jingchuan thought for a moment: "So the meaning is to wait and see?"

Li Gongpu shook his head secretly, his eyes looking at him like an idiot:

"There is a saying that a thief can operate for a thousand days, but no one can guard against a thief for a thousand days. Since you have old grievances, wouldn't you give him a chance to act?"

"Once he enters the trap, the blade is in your hand; how to deal with him depends entirely on your will."

Han Jingchuan thought carefully and nodded, saying:

"This official understands. Recently, this official will lead a patrol to Changle Street to guard secretly. The Dan Wang Shizi goes to Changle Street for entertainment every night; Xie Jinhuan will surely learn of my whereabouts. If he truly dares to walk into the trap, I hope Li Gong..."

"Assassinating the Son of Heaven's personal guard is a crime equal to treason; if you deal with him on the spot in self-defense, what can the Dan Wang do? Even if he truly kills you, this official can investigate him on that basis; the result will be the same."

Han Jingchuan felt this made sense, but he was still a bit worried:

"What if this young man is restrained enough and does not come?"

"If he does not come to trouble you, why are you anxious? If the enemy does not move, I do not move; with this official holding him down, he cannot possibly rise to power in Jingcheng."

"Yes."

——

On the other side, the Great Qian Imperial Palace.

In the middle of the night, in the study of the Lizheng Hall.

Empress He, over fifty years old, stood behind the chair, massaging the shoulders of the Qian Emperor.

The Qian Emperor, Zhao Jin, wearing a robe, held a memorial in his hand to read; the content was the full account and self-criticism submitted by the Dan Wang regarding the Huajiang Bay bloodbath.

The Qian Emperor and the Dan Wang were biological brothers, but not born of the Empress; originally, they were both imperial princes of concubine birth.

In the autumn of the eighth year of Jian'an, the Second Prince staged a coup to seize the throne, killed the Crown Prince outside the Xuande Gate, then entered the palace to usurp the position, and sent people to slaughter all his brothers living in the Ten Wang Fu, historically known as the 'Jian'an Incident'.

At that time, only the Qian Emperor and the Dan Wang were protected by loyal servants and luckily escaped the Ten Wang Fu.

But after escaping, the Qian Emperor did not heed advice to flee; instead, he risked using the power of his father-in-law He Xiu, gathered more than ten death warriors, acted against the grain, ambushed and killed the overconfident Second Prince, and was subsequently supported by court officials, successfully ascending the throne.

During the Jian'an Incident, the Qian Emperor suffered heavily, so that at just over fifty, his temples were already streaked with white; although he had long held supreme power and retained the majesty of an emperor, his words revealed a hint of frailty:

"The Mingshen Sect, in order to open the 'Ancestor of Corpses Mausoleum' and release that world-destroying demon, has been making increasingly bold moves in recent years..."

"Empress Dowager Guo of Northern Zhou seems to have the heart to depose the ruler and establish herself; she watches our dynasty with tiger-like intent..."

"Jinghuan is too young; for the future succession of the great lineage, I truly do not feel at ease..."

Empress He comforted him: "Your Majesty is in the prime of life and has time to teach Jinghuan. Moreover, the Great Qian has countless talents; Lu Wu Zhen, Fan Li, Hou Jiye, and others are all excellent ministers for the state, and below them are successors like Zhang Huaiyu and Deng Tingzhu."

"A few days ago, a young man named Xie Jinhuan appeared in Danyang; he is accomplished in both civil and military arts with extraordinary ability, and with time, he will surely become a pillar of the Great Qian."

"Jinghuan has always listened to advice; even if he cannot expand the borders to become a heroic ruler of his generation, with many excellent ministers assisting him, he can at least be a ruler who preserves the legacy..."

The Qian Emperor shook his head: "The Great Qian has enjoyed a hundred years of peace, appearing calm and tranquil, but beneath the surface, hundreds of sects and schools are competing, and powerful enemies and evil demons surround us; with even a slight slip, the thirty thousand li of Shanhe will become a molten cauldron, and the common people will become fish and meat, insects and worms."

"For such a world, what is needed is not a ruler who preserves the legacy, but a heroic ruler who restores the dynasty... *cough, cough*..."

As he spoke, the Qian Emperor suddenly coughed twice with a muffled sound.

Empress He's eyes showed slight urgency; she quickly took out a vermilion pill, brought it to the Qian Emperor's mouth, and helped him smooth his breath.

After the Qian Emperor swallowed the pill, his complexion improved considerably, and he sighed lightly again:

"Life and death are determined by fate; I do not know if I can survive this winter. Fortunately, after twenty years of governing, the road has been paved for Jinghuan; even if I cannot hold it, at least it will not be lost on his watch..."

"Your Majesty."

Empress He helped smooth his breath from behind: "Common people often say 'children and grandchildren have their own blessings'; Your Majesty should prioritize your dragon body, and let Jinghuan worry about the affairs of future generations himself; he must have a day to walk on his own."

"Heh, that is true..."

——

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(End of this chapter)