Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

After a few days, Liu She took 20 sets of glass tea sets and left. Jiang Pengji accompanied him for three miles.

“Lanting, you’re 16 years old this year. Have you considered revealing your true self?”

Liu She took a good look at Jiang Pengji who was sitting on White’s back, saying, “Father is not expecting you to resume your identity now. However, to those close to you, please reveal briefly to them in case they cannot accept it later. It is better to be prepared and prevent any unforeseen circumstances.”

Jiang Pengji pondered over it and replied, “It is not urgent.”

“Oh?” Liu She didn’t understand the underlying meaning.

Jiang Pengji explained herself. “Huaiyu knows that I am a female, and even he who is most stubborn has accepted it. Why should I fear? As for Xiaoyu and Wen Zheng… pei, pei, they aren’t blind. After one or two years, I wish to reveal these female characteristics that I can no longer hide. They can suspect all they want and if they discover eventually, it is better than if I confessed myself.”

She knows herself best, Jiang Pengji already assessed Liu Xi’s body from the start.

The conclusion is, in the future she will have to bind her chest to flatten it… this is too difficult.

She can’t possibly say her pectoral muscles are just really muscular, right?

Weighing out all her options, when her power increases steadily and she dominates Fengyi county and even all nine prefectures, she will return to her original identity.

Even without Liu She’s reminder, she has intentions to slowly reveal herself.

Her breasts are slowly developing, if she continues to bind her chest, it’ll be increasingly uncomfortable.

In order to relieve herself of her ambitions, to allow herself to breathe properly, she has to quickly amass her strength.

Seeing that she had her plans, Liu She’s heart was at peace. Father and daughter spoke briefly, then he rallied his horsemen to begin the journey.

“Let’s go.”

When Liu She’s carriage had disappeared out of sight, Jiang Pengji patted White. The pretty philly carried her and turned around to return to the city.

The sound of horse hooves, speeding through like strong wind or a flash of lightning, causing a tornado of dust and smoke.

During the time when Xiangyang district was undergoing rapid development, the outside world was in a real mess, like a pot of porridge.

Despite Tsing Yi army hitting roadblocks twice against Jiang Pengji, their influence was still great amongst those ignorant people, coupled with the freedom Dongqing’s government bestowed on them. This resulted in the two prefectures in the north to have almost become Red Lotus groups and their plans to commit violence grew.

The two groups of peasants raised arms against each other without differing much in power, yet as time passed, the Red Lotus group gradually gained strength and steadily and significantly overpowered the Tsing Yi army. The underlying reason was that Tsing Yi army was composed of bandits, while Red Lotus group were bandits with strong beliefs and maintained internal order.

Did the Dongqing emperor was delighted to have these peasants intimidating and enjoying themselves on his land?

Of course not. He desperately wished to capture those unruly people and execute them, even their entire families if necessary.

But he was in a helpless situation, and had to temporarily allow the north borderline to remain in disarray.

A hundred thousand imperial guards escorting the entire imperial family and officials to move the capital city to Chenzhou already required colossal effort. If Tsing Yi army or the Red Lotus group ambushed them, who could guarantee the imperial family and the officials’ safety?

More importantly, Dongqing Emperor didn’t allow his reputation as the Son of Heaven to be trampled upon as such.

Thus, when the two groups of peasants raised up arms in power in the north, Dongqing Emperor just turned a blind eye. He allowed them to fight internally, implicate each other, and wear each other out. It was a blessing in disguise for the group of people on the move to the new capital city of Chenzhou. They steadily sojourned on and did not have much disruption throughout.

Three months passed, and the innumerable and large scale of troops finally stepped into the borders of Chenzhou.

Estimating the time, they determined it would take seven or eight days more to reach the new capital city, and everyone from young to old heaved a huge sigh of relief.

Then, Dongqing Emperor received news which nearly made him vomit blood.

“Rebellious child!”

Both his hands trembled in anger, and he mercilessly slapped Wuma Jun such that his cheek turned an angry red.

The Emperor shouted at Wuma Jun, and when father and son’s eyes met, he was given a hard slap. He was dumbfounded.

Wuma Jun hated the Emperor to the core. He desperately wished for the old man to drop dead on the spot, but he still had to put on a sorrowful face.

Sincerely kneeling before the Emperor’s feet, with his tears flowing freely, he confessed, “Father, your son doesn’t know what I did wrong to incur your wrath, but I plead with you to please calm down! Don’t let me affect your imperial body…Father, Father…”

He cried so sincerely and mournfully, but his eyes were full of overwhelming admiration for his father. His acting skills were on point, and his performance touched many hearts.

Only, Dongqing Emperor was presently extremely infuriated. How could he be fooled by Wuma Jun’s acting?

The more Wuma Jun carried on like that, the more disgusted he felt.

Thus, the performance did nothing to suppress the outrage flooding his heart. Instead, he slapped the boy again, causing Wuma Jun’s left and right cheek to be balanced.

“Bastard!”

When these words came out, the color drained from Wuma Jun’s face and he turned deathly pale. His eyes filled with deep hatred.

“Father, your son has nothing against you hitting me. But surely you have to let your son know what I did wrong?

Wuma Jun really hated the Emperor to death, but he desired the Emperor’s wilful and unrestrained ultimate power… Just because this man carried the title of Emperor, he could just slap Wuma Jun twice because he felt like it, and belittle his honor, and ignore his dignity? All because he was Emperor!

In times like that, his inner desire for imperial power reached its height.

“What wrong you committed? Keke, do you, little bastard, have a right to question me about what you did wrong?”

Dongqing Emperor was nearly blind with fury, but as he reflected on his foolish son, he wanted to laugh. He thought the boy quite handsome, but could not understand how he could be so stupid.

Did he really think he was the only intelligent one?

“Let me ask you, how did Prince Changshou carry my token of command and dispatch soldiers from Zhangzhou? This person has ulterior motives. Are you so blind that you cannot see? When we cut off all ties with him, you and I are all doomed to die!”

Without the Emperor’s decree, Prince Changshou would not be able to overcome all obstacles without losing any soldiers.

This son before him really was a disappointment.

Wuma Jun’s expression changed, something shifting inwardly, and he asked in shock, “The royal uncle has led his troops out of his allocated land?”

Dongqing Emperor smirked coldly.

“Indeed. 150,000 soldiers and horses are positioned but two days journey from here. If not for the many confidants I have, we wouldn’t know at all. Thankfully the spy I planted brought this message to me as fast as he could. Do I have to wait until I am beheaded before I come to realise what you, this ingrate have done behind my back?”

Wuma Jun’s face paled even whiter and he croaked, “Father, this wasn’t done by your son.”

Dongqing Emperor was infuriated. He raised a foot and kicked Wuma Jun in the stomach. “Bastard, you dare to argue!”

Obviously, he had used too much force when he kicked Wuma Jun, because the young man fainted shortly after.

After he calmed himself somewhat, Dongqing Emperor’s anger faded a bit. He raised his hand to summon the imperial doctor to treat Wuma Jun.

Perhaps his temper had been flaring furiously of late. His wrinkles were increasingly visible and added an agedness to his appearance.

“Juner, don’t be sad. I will give you children in future… innumerable children…”

The Emperor sat on the side of the bed and looked tenderly upon the pale lady lying on the bed. She who looked so pretty and enchanting, had an additional tinge of frailty and pallor, one just couldn’t help but pity her. He comforted her gently, “Foolish girl, such a serious thing happened, why didn’t you discuss it with me?”

Huijun turned away from him, her tears flowing steadily and silently. She looked utterly pitiful.

Both her eyes were blurred with tears, and she looked lonely and forlorn. “You are father and son, your concubine is but a short-lived Puliu stone. However deep a relationship Your Majesty and I have, how can it be compared to your Majesty’s and the Fourth prince’s father and son relationship?” She looked so downcast and jaded about life, and the Emperor heard, and his heart was unspeakably broken.