T/N: Sorry for the super long wait! Work has been hell on my mental health, but I’m crawling out of that pit to update!

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Because of Tang Mu’s warm hospitality, Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie moved directly into the City Lord’s manor.

Hearing that there were doctors coming to treat Liu Zhenqing, and who didn’t want to be disturbed by outsiders, Tang Mu was gracious and directly arranged a secluded courtyard for them. Once the courtyard door was closed, they could make their own arrangements.

On that same day, Han Ye picked up the Master.

It was unknown what Han Ye said to the Master. In any case, as soon as he came over, the Master caught Liu Zhenqing and scolded him, saying that he couldn’t treat a patient well and made subsequent treatment very troublesome. 

The Master was likely too embarrassed to scold Huo Fenglie, but Huo Fenglie stood next to Liu Zhenqing with his head down, as if he was being scolded too. Liu Zhenqing, on the other hand, looked like a dead pig that wasn’t afraid of boiling water as he grinned at his master. The Master was so angry that he didn’t even know who he was rebuking.

With two great doctors there, Huo Fenglie’s treatment was naturally well arranged. Liu Zhenqing wanted to help, but was continuously rejected by Huo Fenglie.

Later on, Liu Zhenqing figured out that this was because Huo Fenglie feared he would see the tattoo, which really made him increasingly curious. Liu Zhenqing was no fool, so since he couldn’t see it, he asked outright. However, both master and disciple said that the patient’s privacy was not suitable to be disclosed, and then looked at him with taunting eyes. Liu Zhenqing really felt that he was being squeezed out.

Huo Fenglie was regularly dragged out to patrol the garrison, arrange city defenses, and more. Basically, he remained outside all the time and only returned when he needed treatment.

And Liu Zhenqing originally wanted to learn medical skills from his master, but there was a master above and a disciple below. It was pure torture for an ordinary person to face two geniuses, so he gave up after one day and went out for a walk, leaving these two people to concentrate on studying medical skills and not disturb their medical inspiration.

Thus, Liu Zhenqing just spent time with Tang Mu, so when Huo Fenglie returned for treatment, he would go to the City Lord’s Office of Government Affairs and take him back to the courtyard, where he would join him after his treatment was completed. It was really a bit like marital harmony.

According to Liu Zhenqing’s plan, Tang Mu had already sent people to the Western Shu Kingdom for negotiations, and he happened to receive a reply this day.

Liu Zhenqing stepped into the hall and heard Tang Mu say: “The King of Western Shu has agreed.”

“This answer was pretty swift,” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile that wasn’t a smile.

“There’s really a problem?” Tang Mu also felt that something wasn’t right. He asked Liu Zhenqing to sit down and took the initiative to pour tea.

Liu Zhenqing smiled and said: “Don’t be afraid of problems. I really don’t believe that they’ll be willing to take action with General Huo here.”

“That is true.” Tang Mu smiled faintly and rubbed his brow with slender fingers. He said helplessly: “It’s just that I fear it will be difficult to tell after you leave.”

“At that time, it will be clear whether the King of Western Shu is capable of doing the job.” When he finished speaking, Liu Zhenqing looked at the books stacked on the table and said in surprise: “You sorted them out so quickly?”

“You said you wanted to read them, and I wanted to get it done as soon as possible so that I can use Young Master Liu’s talent to help me think more,” Tang Mu said, smiling.

“I just mentioned it casually yesterday. Chengzhu is truly thoughtful and quick to action,” Liu Zhenqing praised.

Tang Mu was stunned by the praise, and couldn’t help but lower his eyes. A small blush showed on his fair cheeks, and he was a little shy.

“It’s better not to call me Chengzhu. Young Master Liu and I have been getting along well these days. Just call me Brother Tang.” Tang Mu’s smiling expression was extremely genial, giving a person the sense of a spring breeze.

“Then Brother Tang should also call me Brother Liu,” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile, and then began to read the information prepared by Tang Mu. It was all about the King of Western Shu’s seizure of the throne and the subsequent reforms and other policies. Liu Zhenqing was rather surprised to see these, because this King of Western Shu was truly young and promising. He was originally a prince that the king sired after forcing a slave. Naturally, he was not welcomed by the royal family and was given to the servants to raise. As a result, he was presumed lost in battle. Everyone thought he was dead, and never expected that he would return more than ten years later with a token and evidence to take up his surname.

Once his identity was recognized, the more than a dozen brothers ahead of him died one by one either through internal fighting or accidents. Within a year, there was no one who could inherit the throne but him. However, the remaining royal family belittled his identity and was unwilling to agree. The old king disliked this son and even tried to have the harem produce more children, but he immediately died during intercourse.

Straightaway, Western Shu fell into turmoil. The King of Western Shu besieged the royal family with only the five hundred slaves under his command. The obedient prospered and the rebellious perished. After the killing had gone on for a day and a night, he took the bloody throne and launched a new method of governing the country. Not only did he begin to change slavery from the inside, he also broke up the power of the nobility. 

He even began to send troops to occupy the territories of the two surrounding countries. Because people could be stripped of their slave status if they performed meritorious service under these new policies, the slaves worked extremely hard, and slaves from neighboring countries were naturally more willing to surrender after hearing about this. At present, the Western Shu Kingdom was in the process of complete annexation.

Liu Zhenqing read about the methods he had implemented and the decisions he had made, and couldn’t help but marvel. He was truly both civil and military, brave and resourceful.

Liu Zhenqing had originally wanted to see what shenanigans this kid was up to, but the more he read, the more excited he grew, and he actually became fascinated.

When he returned to his senses, Huo Fenglie had already been sitting next to him for a long while.

“It’s so late?” Liu Zhenqing asked in surprise, looking at the sky.

Huo Fenglie was accustomed to not disturbing Liu Zhenqing while he was reading, so he sat aside and waited in a well-behaved manner. This caused the other officials who came to handle government affairs to hardly dare to breathe. Only Tang Mu could talk to Dai Tingyu, who was accompanying him.

“Do you want to keep reading?” Huo Fenglie asked.

Liu Zhenqing shook his head, stretched his stiff body, and then turned sideways so that his back was to Huo Fenglie. Huo Fenglie naturally put his hands on Liu Zhenqing’s shoulders and neck to massage them, leaving the two people opposite them stunned.

Liu Zhenqing was very satisfied with Huo Fenglie’s hand strength, and said comfortably: “No need, I’ve already read them.”

As soon as he said this, both Tang Mu and Dai Tingyu looked at the books on the table in disbelief. Was he actually saying that he had read them all in a day and a half?

Dai Tingyu wouldn’t have read one single book in that amount of time, and Tang Mu felt that it should take at least five or six days to finish reading the life story of the King of Western Shu that he had collected.

Huo Fenglie wasn’t surprised. Looking at Liu Zhenqing’s expression he said: “Was there any useful information?”

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s lips rose. In front of outsiders, he turned to look at Huo Fenglie and said teasingly: “How could saying it benefit me? I’m not an official.”

Huo Fenglie, of course, didn’t understand Liu Zhenqing’s tricks, so he could only say with a blank look on his face: “What do you want?”

Liu Zhenqing suddenly leaned back, moving nearer into Huo Fenglie’s arms as he said ambiguously: “You know what I want.”

Huo Fenglie was ill at ease. Because his last treatment had lasted all night…..they hadn’t been close since then. He thought Qing-ge probably wanted it.

Just as he didn’t know how to answer, he heard Liu Zhenqing say with a laugh: “I want you to go shopping with me. I haven’t been out for a while, I’m so bored.”

Huo Fenglie returned to his senses and said at once: “We can go at any time.”

Presently, the two dog food eaters also spoke.

“I have been negligent. Brother Liu has done so much for our Nanfeng City, and he should of course be treated well,” Tang Mu said promptly.

“Right, right, right, I still need to take Brother Liu out for a drink.” Dai Tingyu also grew excited.

Liu Zhenqing looked at the two of them speechlessly. Sure enough, they were both single men with no discernment at all. He wanted to go on a date with Er-gou alone, ah.

Seeing Huo Fenglie agree without hesitation, he was a little unhappy. Liu Zhenqing leaned back slightly and truly reclined in Huo Fenglie’s arms. Holding onto him weakly, Liu Zhenqing leaned toward his ear and said deliberately: “What did you think I wanted just now?”

Huo Fenglie froze. He felt the hot breath next to his ear, then heard a smiling voice that hooked both his heart and soul: “Were you thinking about sex, Er-gou?”

Er-gou could do nothing against this false accusation, and could only let Liu Zhenqing bully him while his cheeks heated up. 

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie’s embarrassed appearance. After teasing him for a moment to boost his mood, he began to speak of what he had analyzed from the information.

“First of all, either the king of Western Shu admires Great Zhou’s culture and studied it a lot, or has an advisor from Great Zhou at his side.”

“Because of the slavery reform?” Tang Mu asked.

“No, because the core of many of his methods for dealing with courtiers, wooing power, and making reforms were learned from major events that occurred in the past two decades,” Liu Zhenqing said.

Everyone was a little surprised when they heard this.

Huo Fenglie said: “It seems their relationship with the rebels is deeper than we thought.”

“Do you believe it’s more likely that an advisor from Great Zhou is helping him?”

“Do you think it’s him?” asked Huo Fenglie.

Liu Zhenqing thought for a moment before saying: “I think it’s very rare for a king of Western Shu under the age of eighteen to be able to do things like this. It’s preferable to believe that heroes come from among the youth.”

Dai Tingyu disagreed: “What good will it do us if their king is so capable!”

Liu Zhenqing said in an unclear tone: “A foreigner being too capable is better than…..people from the Zhou Dynasty helping foreigners fight against it for their own selfish purposes…..it’s not as sad.”

The venue gradually went quiet.

After a while, Tang Mu shook his head with a chuckle and said in seeming disbelief: “Right, ah, in a sense, it would be a good thing if it’s only that their king is capable.”

Liu Zhenqing had seen a lot, and his emotions were not as volatile: “Secondly, no matter the direction of my speculations, they still made the mistake of being too radical.”

“Indeed. Although their progress is fast, there is also a lot of opposition. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many fugitives,” Tang Mu agreed.

Liu Zhenqing nodded and said: “He could actually build a very good country if he worked slowly and steadily, but he is in too much of a hurry. Not only will the act of annexing neighboring countries draw backlash, but even internal resistance will break out at certain times. Their government is currently divided into three forces. There are those who are stimulated by the slavery issue and want to establish themselves as independent kings, and there are those who want to support another royal family. Only one third is controlled by the king of Western Shu, and half of that should be due to fear of the king’s bloody methods. It is also extremely unstable.”

Liu Zhenqing said with a sigh: “Reforming slavery is not a feat that can be accomplished overnight. His violent, bloody methods can boost him for a short period of time, but in fact, the consequences are endless, and it can even be said that he is destined to fail.”

“And they still covet us like this?” Dai Tingyu said in consternation: “This is all because of external and internal troubles.”

Huo Fenglie also said: “Transferring conflict toward outsiders is also a method of resolving internal conflicts. Perhaps he is cooperating with some Great Zhou people, and feels confident in using Great Zhou to secure the throne.”

Liu Zhenqing accurately pulled four books from a selection of informational material and handed them to Tang Mu: “As you said, how do you deter them after General Huo departs? They have so many problems, so how could you not find a way to deal with them?”

Liu Zhenqing raised an eyebrow at Tang Mu with a smile, his unrestrained expression incredibly dazzling.

Tang Mu took the materials and looked up at Liu Zhenqing blankly. It seemed as if he could vaguely glimpse a familiar figure. Were all those surnamed Liu equally capable? Tang Mu indeed fell for Liu Zhenqing’s tricks once again.

With a bow and a salute, Tang Mu admired him in his heart.

When Liu Zhenqing was finished speaking of this matter, it was time for Huo Fenglie to go back for treatment. Just as they were about to leave, an elderly woman led a group of people into the Office of Government Affairs. This was an official office, and family members were not allowed inside unless they were female counselors.

Therefore, the woman’s arrival was rather a surprise.

Huo Fenglie was the only one who didn’t recognize her. Liu Zhenqing still has some impression of the scars on her face, burns from an incident with fire. The person coming should be Tang Mu’s mother.

When they entered their accommodations before, they heard Tang Mu say his mother had gone out with with other family members to worship Buddha. Why had she brought people to the Office of Government Affairs as soon as she returned? It seemed a bit aggressive.

“Mother, why are you here?” Tang Mu stepped forward and spoke with a frown. He glanced at the proud-looking man behind Tang-furen. “Uncle is here too.”

Uncle Tang scoffed coldly. Tang-furen stepped forward to say: “Son, let me ask you, don’t you care about your subordinates? You even arbitrarily removed your uncle from his official position. This is treating our Tang family’s face high-handedly. In the future, who will treat you as the city lord!”

Tang Mu’s expression darkened. Dai Tingyu behind him couldn’t help but rush forward and say: “Tang-furen, your brother not only left his post without authorization, but also took his men to play in a brothel, the result of which was that nobody patrolled where they were supposed to be. Dozens of lives were lost overnight. I didn’t execute him for such a crime for the sake of the Tang family’s face.”

Uncle Tang hollered: “Nonsense. This is Nanfeng City, under the surname Tang, not Dai. I think you just want to seize power! Besides, even if I took people there, it was too late to save them, ah, so why should their deaths be put on my head!”

“You!” Dai Tingy was immediately infuriated. If they thought people couldn’t be saved and didn’t even try, what were they doing as soldiers? 

Tang-furen saw that Dai Tingyu was about to come up and beat this person, and directly rebuked: “Son, you really don’t care about your subordinates!”

At this time, Tang Mu finally spoke up: “Commander Dai is my equal in terms of position, not my subordinate. Moreover, my uncle did violate military discipline, and everything is subject to Commander Dai’s judgment.”

Dai Tingyu breathed a sigh of relief and admired Tang Mu even more. He felt that scholars should have such character and courage, not influenced by external circumstances.

“Sister!” Uncle Tang immediately called out, tugging Tang-furen’s sleeve.

“You! You are so disobedient. Simply disobedient and unfilial. He is your uncle. We orphans and widows depend on Uncle Tang to take care of us and keep us from being bullied, but now you don’t care if others bully him. As expected……Nanfeng City should not have been handed over to you. Also, what can you even do?” Tang-furen said to herself. 

Tang Mu’s expression shifted: “Mother, be careful what you say!”

Tang-furen was agitated: “What’s wrong with what I said? You’re about to give Nanfeng City to the Dai family. How is this worthy of your dead father and grandfather, as well as…..do you have the face to stand before them?!”

“Mother, you seem confused!” Tang Mu said angrily.

“What are you talking about! Since you can’t handle the position of City Lord, why not let your uncle take the seat? He’s older than you. In fact, it should have been him…..”

It was initially fine for them to wallow and make a fuss, but the topic Tang-furen brought up now was shocking. Saying such ridiculous things, it was like this old woman had been brainwashed or made stupid.

“You’re actually crazy,” Dai Tingyu said in disbelief.

“Mother!” Tang Mu practically shouted.

Tang-furen said angrily: “Don’t forget who you are! Do you think you can continue like this? Your didi was a pedant, so it was only a matter of time before the title of chengzhu was given over to your uncle! You keep dragging it along like this…..”

Uncle Tang also raised his voice: “Your mother is right. You’re not worthy of sitting in this position. Don’t make us force you to step down. We are all family, and I don’t want to make you look bad.”

Tang Mu’s face was entirely discolored at this time.

“You’re actually crazy.” Dai Tingyu was a straightforward fellow and couldn’t stand to see the boss he recognized being bullied like this. Even though the two of them were relatives, he drew his sword and forced them to retreat.

The two of them shouted in anger. Tang Mu wore a look of exhaustion.

Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie watched from the sidelines and shook their heads at the sight. Liu Zhenqing said: “It seems there’s no problem with her backbone. I didn’t expect that after so many years, Tang-furen would still be so forceful and unreasonable. Sure enough, Nanfeng City has been governed so peacefully that some people no longer know their place.”

Unable to bear it anymore, Liu Zhenqing clapped, and the stir called the attention of the people around him. 

They saw a tall, majestic warrior and an elegant young master standing next to them.

“Who are you, ah! W-who allowed you to watch the excitement here?” Uncle Tang was the first to shout, as if he was the master of this place.

Liu Zhenqing liked mocking people like this the most, so he said properly: “We aren’t watching the excitement, we’re watching a joke.”

When he spoke these words, the troublemakers immediately flushed red.

Tang Mu stepped forward and cupped his hands: “Apologies. I’ve made you two laugh.”

“It is rather ridiculous,” Liu Zhenqing said to Huo Fenglie next to him. “Hey, do you know what this is called?”

Huo Fenglie shook his head and asked cooperatively: “I don’t know.”

“This is called the maternal family interfering in politics,” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile.

Huo Fenglie nodded.

Liu Zhenqing asked again: “Do you think Dai Tingyu is handling it right?”

Dai Tingyu instantly became nervous.

Huo Fenglie shook his head: “His heart is a bit soft. According to military discipline, these sort of people should receive fifty military strokes, so that they won’t be able to get out of bed for half a year, but I see there haven’t been any at this point.”

Dai Tingyu was at a loss: “Brother, I…..”

“What nonsense are you speaking? Who are you people?!” Uncle Tang reprimanded him angrily, and Tang-furen also regarded them with displeasure. “Son, how did a small official become so naive?”

Before Tang Mu could speak, Liu Zhenqing swiftly cupped his hands and said: “I have no official position. Just like this uncle.”

Uncle Tang smiled, pointing directly at Liu Zhenqing’s face to scold him, but Liu Zhenqing turned to Huo Fenglie and said as if no one else was watching: “Right, haven’t the City Lords of Nanfeng City come from generations of the Tang family?”

Huo Fenglie said coldly: “It’s been four generations.”

“Wa, a hereditary system?” Liu Zhenqing asked in surprise.

“Of course not. The position of city lord is the emperor’s prerogative, and it just happens that every city lord has been a member of the Tang family who have accomplished meritorious deeds and are loved by the people of the city. This was up to the emperor’s discretion.”

“Really, ah? Then Tang-furen and this uncle are so powerful that they can surpass the emperor to appoint the next city lord.”

When these words fell, Tang-furen and Uncle Tang’s expressions changed. They leveled Liu Zhenqing with looks of shame and anger.

Liu Zhenqing narrowed his eyes slightly and said: “It’s better to report this to the emperor and see if he listens to Tang-furen.”

Tang-furen’s expression shifted again and she said at once: “That’s not what I meant. Where did you come from? Stop slandering me. Our Tang family is meritorious in Nanfeng City, and even if we continue on, the city’s people will support us.”

“Oh, it turns out that Uncle’s surname is Tang, ah? Did you change your name after marrying?” Liu Zhenqing asked Uncle Tang with a smile. The question stifled Uncle Tang directly.

Tang-furen’s face colored even more, and Dai Tingyu sneered from the side: “His surname isn’t Tang. It’s just that some women turn to outsiders instead of their own family, and want to steal all the Tang family’s glory for their natal family. They don’t even look at what comes out of their own house!”

“You’re speaking absolute nonsense!” Tang-furen was so angry that she nearly fainted. She expected Tang Mu to speak up, but only saw him standing aside with a cold gaze, which made her even angrier.

“We aren’t speaking nonsense, unlike Tang-furen, ah. Orphans and widows rely on the uncle? Madam, you can really tell a joke! Why is it that I remember that Tang Mu became the city lord because he intercepted foreign envoys and saved Nanfeng City when he was young? Did this uncle also join the war?”

“Join the war. Haha, he was the first to use his connections to flee.” Dai Tingyu had recruited people for the military camp and naturally investigated, so he was disdainful of this.

Uncle Tang’s face was about to bleed, and Tang-furen was even more embarrassed, but she was unwilling to be suppressed by a group of juniors. After all, she was the mother of the city lord. How could she let herself be humiliated by her child’s disobedience?

“You have no official position. How are you allowed to be so presumptuous in the City Lord’s Manor!” Tang-furen said angrily.

Liu Zhenqing smiled. “I have no official position, but I’m also…..” He pointed to Huo Fenglie next to him and said: “…..a close friend of the general who guards the country, ah. An uncle with no official position can rely on the prestige of the city lord’s mother, but I can’t borrow the prestige of the general who guards the country? General Huo, these people in front of you ignore Imperial power and regard the laws of Great Zhou as child’s play. They even dare to say that Nanfeng City’s surname is Tang. They really aren’t afraid of the news spreading to the emperor and being punished for the crime of rebellion.”

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Chapter One Hundred Three << Table of Contents >> Chapter One Hundred Five