Overtime

The east room was brightly lit by candlelight, and on a tall tea table in the corner sat a lifelike golden beast, its mouth exhaling wisps of sandalwood incense.

Xu Qi'an lifted the curtain with his hand, walked into the inner room, sat down at the table, and said in a serious tone:

"Grand Preceptor, today's battle has taken a heavy toll on us. I was worried about you, so I came to check on you."

As he spoke, he admired the woman sitting cross-legged on the bed. She had already taken off her outer robe, revealing a bright silk undergarment underneath.

A jade belt, about an inch wide, was tied around her waist, outlining her slender waist that could be encircled with one hand. Paired with her high, full breasts, it instantly revealed the woman's most beautiful curves and proportions.

Men are always unable to resist women with full breasts and slender waists.

Moreover, the aloof beauty on the bed also has a round, plump, and incredibly elastic pert bottom.

Luo Yuheng said calmly:

"Why does it have to be in the middle of the night?"

"Not at night? Are you suggesting we indulge in debauchery during the day?" Xu Qi'an muttered to himself, then said seriously:

"Speaking of which, we've already practiced dual cultivation twice since we entered the martial world."

One cycle is seven days.

Upon hearing this, Luo Yuheng's exquisitely sculpted face changed slightly, and she said coldly:

"Dual cultivation is a transaction between you and me, no need to elaborate. In the past, we should maintain the appropriate distance, and not let anything that happens during this transaction disturb our State of Mind."

"You're turning your back on me now that you've done your bidding! If I were saying that, I'd be condemned as a piece of trash. "Xu Qi'an had somewhat anticipated the Grand Preceptor's attitude.

The reason I went to Lingbao Temple to find her that day was to ask her to come to Xunzhou to support me, but I ended up encountering that foolish woman, Mu Nanzhi, showing off at Lingbao Temple.

Xu Qi'an knew that the Imperial Advisor wouldn't give him a friendly look. The reason he came to Xunzhou today was because the Imperial Advisor prioritized the overall situation, which Xu Qi'an greatly admired. The Imperial Advisor and His Majesty were the most rational and strategically minded people.

"Of course, of course. The Imperial Preceptor is the head of the Human Sect, a heroine among women, naturally different from ordinary women. But what I want to say is..."

After a pause, Xu Qi'an asked, "When will the next dual cultivation session be? Um, Grand Preceptor, please don't misunderstand. As you know, although the Black Lotus has been eliminated, Daoist Jinlian has also been able to recover his cultivation and return to the second rank."

"But Yunzhou still has two First-Rank officials, Gara Tree and White Emperor, so the gap between the two sides is still huge, not to mention Xu Pingfeng in Qingzhou and Yunzhou."

Xu Qi'an, a martial artist who has just entered the second rank, can push his combat power to the same level as Asura by relying on the power of all living beings and various means. If he were to unleash his full power, he could even break one of the Dharma forms of the Gara Tree Bodhisattva.

Therefore, it should be no problem for Xu Pingfeng, who is at the peak of the second rank, to reach the threshold of the first rank with the support of the power of all living beings.

Xu Qi'an opened the cup, took a sip of the cold water, and said:

"Therefore, it is crucial that you, Grand Preceptor, attain the first rank."

Luo Yuheng nodded, agreeing with his statement. Currently, among the extraordinary experts in Great Feng, apart from her, no one else could advance to the first rank in a short period of time.

"When will the Imperial Preceptor be burned by karmic fire again?" Xu Qi'an probed.

"Half a month later!" Luo Yuheng said with a cold expression.

Half a month later, sure enough, it wasn't happening every month anymore. She was gradually able to suppress the karmic fire and delay its onset! Xu Qi'an made this judgment in his mind, and then asked:

"Imperial Preceptor, there is still one thing I do not understand."

Luo Yuheng gave a blank "hmm," indicating that he should speak frankly.

"I remember that the core purpose of dual cultivation is to quell the karmic fire, so that when the National Preceptor undergoes tribulation in the future, he can concentrate on fighting the heavenly tribulation without worrying about being burned by the karmic fire, leading to his death and the dissipation of his cultivation."

Luo Yuheng nodded slightly after listening.

Xu Qi'an asked again:

"In other words, it's not necessary to wait for the karmic backlash before engaging in dual cultivation."

Luo Yuheng looked at him coldly:

What do you want to say?

Xu Qi'an rubbed his hands together excitedly:

"I request to work overtime!"

It would be even better if I could apply for the 996 blessing program.

As soon as she finished speaking, Luo Yuheng slashed with her sword. Although she didn't quite understand the meaning of the word "overtime," she immediately understood what Xu Qi'an wanted to do from his winking and tone.

The divine sword struck Xu Qi'an's shoulder with a "clang," sending sparks flying. The curtains in the room suddenly swayed, and the green plants fluttered.

Is the Imperial Advisor shy?

Xu Qi'an flashed to the bedside and smiled as he hooked his arm around Luo Yuheng's waist.

"Let go!"

Luo Yuheng's eyebrows shot up in anger, and she said:

"Have I been too lenient with you, making you increasingly unruly?"

The divine sword clattered against Xu Qi'an's back, like a small fist beating a tyrant's maid who wanted to humiliate her young mistress.

If you don't want to cultivate together, what are you doing staying in Xunzhou? You should have gone back to the capital during the day. If you don't want to cultivate together, why are you lighting candles in the middle of the night to hint at it to me? Also, the sandalwood incense in the incense burner has a slight aphrodisiac powder mixed in. If you don't want to cultivate together, are you just inhaling it for fun?

"Imperial Advisor," Xu Qi'an said softly, using only sweet words to coax a woman.

He couldn't expose Luo Yuheng to his face, so he had to say some nice things to make it seem like he was just blinded by lust, rather than that the Imperial Preceptor was intentionally practicing dual cultivation.

Otherwise, the Imperial Advisor would explode on the spot and seriously kick him out.

A woman of Luo Yuheng's noble status and proud demeanor is most susceptible to this kind of half-hearted resistance.

While coaxing her, Xu Qi'an untied Luo Yuheng's belt and lowered his head to kiss her neck.

"Let go!"

Luo Yuheng shoved him in the chest with one hand and pressed his other hand against his waist, glaring at him angrily:

"When my karmic fire backfires, I will find you. Get up! My patience is limited."

The divine sword unleashed a soaring sword intent.

Xu Qi'an hugged her tightly and laughed:

"Let's link us together. To die for love with the Imperial Advisor would be a death without regret."

With that, he pounced on Luo Yuheng and knocked her onto the bed.

"Stand up!"

"No!"

"Xu Qi'an, are you looking for death?"

"Um."

"."

After a brief standoff, her high chest heaving, Luo Yuheng's fair face slightly flushed with anger, she turned her head to the side and said coldly:

Just this once!

The divine sword clattered to the ground, and the raised bed curtains automatically fell down, obscuring the view inside the bed.

The east room was quiet, with the faint sound of clothes being undressed coming from inside.

A moment later, the hanging bed curtains moved slightly, and robes, skirts, and bodices rolled out.

After a moment, the low-hanging bed curtains began to sway, and the large wooden bed played a solo in the quiet night.

The capital city, at dawn.

This is the third court assembly since the eldest princess ascended the throne.

The officials in the capital originally thought that with the new emperor's ascension to the throne, he would surely show a diligent attitude towards governance, and for a long time to come, there would be a phenomenon of holding court every morning.

Yuan Jing back then, and Yong Xing who abdicated not long ago, did the same thing.

However, Huaiqing did not do that. She displayed strong confidence and self-assurance, and did not try to demonstrate her diligence in government through such means.

Today at court, amidst the sounds of bells and drums, officials passed through the Meridian Gate, crossed the Golden Water Bridge, and either stood on the steps or in the official area, or entered the Golden Palace.

There were some unfamiliar faces in the area.

In addition to the officials who rose to power through the purge of the imperial court, there were also the first group of powerful figures from various prefectures who came to the capital to report on their duties.

After the situation in the capital stabilized, Huaiqing ordered the provincial governors, military commanders, and other officials of higher rank to come to the capital to report on their work (to conduct ideological work).

The first batch of officials has now arrived in the capital.

They waited anxiously at the post station for three days, but still didn't get an audience with the Empress. This was quite awkward, because they were not allowed to have private contact with officials in the capital before meeting the Emperor.

I finally received the notice to attend the morning assembly yesterday.

These officials, who had returned to the capital to report on their duties, suppressed their resentment and unease and followed the other officials into the Golden Palace.

"Your Majesty, with the spring sacrifice approaching, I have sent people to investigate the situation of farmers in various prefectures and have discovered that land consolidation is a serious problem. Even when spring returns to the land, displaced people who wish to return to their hometowns to cultivate the land will find that there is no land available for them to cultivate."

The Ministry of Revenue stepped forward.

When ordinary people can't survive, selling their land is a common practice. This gives the aristocracy and large landowners the opportunity to buy land at low prices. They don't even need to coerce the people; some desperate commoners will voluntarily sell their land.

The phenomenon pointed out by the Ministry of Revenue is the most severe problem the court faces after the harsh winter.

This can be considered a consequence of the cold weather.

The woman, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, swept her imposing gaze over the assembled officials.

"Do any of my beloved ministers have a good plan?"

The officials offered various suggestions, but they were all old and outdated methods that only addressed the symptoms and not the root cause.

Throughout history, imperial courts have hated land annexation the most, yet they have been most helpless against it.

Because those who annexed the land were the "power holders" of various states and regions, and many of those gentry and wealthy families were retired officials. No one would be foolish enough to fight against themselves, and you gentlemen were also from this class.

Secondly, setting aside their own social class, this problem is indeed difficult to handle, because excessive pressure will provoke a backlash from the landowners.

The current turbulent situation has made everyone even more hesitant and constrained.

After listening silently to Yongxing, that good-for-nothing, Huaiqing said:

"I have a few ideas, and I invite you all to listen."

If Yongxing had adopted Xu Erlang's strategy, the land annexation problem could have been greatly alleviated.

An incompetent ruler is a scourge to the country and its people.

Huaiqing said:

"Establish more markets and towns in Jianzhou and Yuzhou, increase trade with the northern barbarians, the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons in the Southern Frontier, and the Gu Clan, and collect commercial taxes from Central Plains caravans and other ethnic groups to enrich the national treasury."

The men's eyes lit up.

This is indeed a good idea. Southern Frontier is rich in resources, with timber, medicinal herbs, game, and furs readily available. It is a treasure trove that can be described as inexhaustible.

The northern barbarians also produce abundant furs, which happen to be the most sought-after commodities in the Central Plains at present. Merchant caravans from the Central Plains will definitely flock to them, scrambling to make a living in the border markets.

Large sums of money could then flow into the national treasury.

In the past, His Majesty's method would certainly not have worked, but recently Xu Yinluo has formed an alliance with the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons and the Gu Clan, and there is a basis for harmonious trade between the two sides.

This would not only replenish the national treasury, but also allow supplies from the Southern Frontier and northern regions to flow into the Central Plains, greatly alleviating the dire situation of material shortages.

Trade will inevitably stimulate labor, giving people something to do and a harvest.

While the officials were analyzing the pros and cons of this plan, Huaiqing continued:

"In wartime, anyone who buys or sells land will be executed! Order the Ministry of Revenue to thoroughly investigate all land transactions since the beginning of winter. Anyone found buying or selling land should be killed without mercy!"

These words instantly brought everyone back to reality, and the expressions of the state leaders who were now reporting on their duties changed.

Your Majesty, please reconsider.

Grand Secretary Qian Qingshu stepped forward and said in a deep voice:

"If that happens, it will surely provoke a backlash from the local gentry, making the situation even more chaotic, and the consequences will be unimaginable."

Huaiqing nodded slightly:

"Minister Qian's words are reasonable. I have just ascended the throne and it is not appropriate for me to commit indiscriminate killings. Therefore, I shall order those who purchased the land to sell it back to the court at the price they paid."

The officials were taken aback upon hearing this.

Suddenly, I understood why Emperor Huaiqing had established more markets and border posts: it was a prelude to reclaiming the land. When the people sold their land, they would certainly sell it at a low price, so the court wouldn't have to spend too much to buy it back.

This method is good, but the local gentry and landlords may not agree to it.

A provincial governor returning to the capital to report on his duties stepped forward and announced in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty's plan is ingenious, but the timing is wrong."

He went on and on about how things were in turmoil.

He certainly couldn't openly argue with Huaiqing, so using war as a pretext was the best shield, and it did make sense.

The imperial court currently lacks the capacity to do this.

Huaiqing, seated high on his throne, listened to him without expression, then looked at the officials below and said:

"Last night I received a message from Xu Yinluo via his magical Law Artifact: a great victory was achieved at Xunzhou, with over ten thousand enemies killed. Xu Yinluo defeated a transcendent expert from Yunzhou and beheaded the leader of the Earth Sect in Qingzhou."

A sudden silence fell over the imperial palace.

After a few seconds of silence, Liu Hong, the Left Censor-in-Chief, was overjoyed and shouted:

"May Heaven bless the Great Feng! May Heaven bless His Majesty!"

A joyful mood spread throughout the hall, and the officials were greatly encouraged, their faces beaming with excitement.

Since the death of the Imperial Censor, the court has been in a slump and desperately needs such good news to boost morale.

The officials who had come to Beijing to report on their work exchanged horrified glances.

At that moment, they suddenly understood why the Empress had deliberately ignored them, and their dissatisfaction and vigilance vanished.

They dared not oppose the forced repurchase of the land, believing that with the Empress's skill and power, she was absolutely capable of carrying out a large-scale massacre of local gentry and powerful figures.

And as it turns out, the imperial court did have that capability.

After the court session ended.

Minister Sun caught up with Grand Secretary Qian Qingshu and exclaimed:

"It feels like I've returned to the time when Wei Yuan was alive."

He was referring to the situation during Yuan Jing's reign. Unlike Emperor Yongxing, Yuan Jing's methods and scheming were able to suppress the Wei faction and the Wang faction.

Qian Qingshu paused for a moment, then shook his head and said:

"No, His Majesty's abilities far surpass those of Emperor Yuanjing."

Huaiqing's ability to handle government affairs was far superior to that of Emperor Yuanjing. The latter's strength lay in his imperial strategies, while the former's was based on genuine ability.

His Majesty's series of strategies just now made Qian Qingshu feel ashamed of being a mere figurehead.

Minister Sun laughed and said:

"That's a good thing."

Qian Qingshu remained silent for a few seconds, then sighed:

"Yes, this is a great thing; the fate of the Great Feng Dynasty is not yet over."

After daybreak, news of the great victory at Xunzhou was posted on the notice boards of various government offices and on the notice walls at the city gates.

As Liu Hong said, this was an exciting piece of news, which immediately wiped away the last lingering effects of Huaiqing's ascension to the throne.

Even the most stubborn and inflexible person could no longer utter the words "a woman becoming empress would bring disaster to the country and its people."

"Your Majesty is truly a man chosen by Heaven. No wonder auspicious omens appeared on the day of your ascension to the throne. Look, you've only been on the throne for a short time, and you've already won a battle in Yongzhou. We no longer need to worry about the rebels reaching the capital."

Yongzhou is right next to the capital. If the war in Yongzhou goes badly, the people of the capital will panic.

"Her Majesty is undoubtedly the chosen one, for she was chosen by Xu Yinluo."

"I knew it! Xu Yinluo was a hero who single-handedly drove away 200,000 troops of the Witch God Cult at Yuyang Pass. They were just a bunch of rebels from Yunzhou."

"What level is a second-grade master? They seem very powerful."

"Of course he's impressive, but no matter how impressive he is, he's not as impressive as Xu Yinluo. Xu Yinluo is a first-rank official."

"Nonsense! That's just one rank higher than a second-rank official. Xu Yinluo is clearly at the emperor level; he has no rank anymore."

The news spread quickly, and the people of the city cheered wildly.

Xunzhou, a grand mansion.

Xu Qi'an was fast asleep when he was suddenly awakened by a familiar feeling of palpitations.

He lazily stretched out his hand, and fragments of the Earth Book flew up from the messy pile of clothes and crashed into the low-hanging bed curtains.

Then it was intercepted by a fair, delicate hand.

Luo Yuheng opened his eyes, withdrew his arm, and looked at the mirror surface of the Earth Book fragments as if he were looking at a mobile phone.

Xu Qi'an could only move closer to her and look at the words displayed on the mirror with her.

Luo Yuheng frowned and said calmly:

You're stepping on my hair.

"I'll cut her hair short," Xu Qi'an thought to himself, carefully gathering her loose black hair that was scattered on the soft pillow.

Luo Yuheng was finally satisfied.

[Nine: I have already begun to refine the Black Lotus's Primordial Spirit. Hmm, I can tell you some secrets now.]

"Not bad, is Master Jinlian keeping his promise?" Xu Qi'an's eyes lit up as he explained to his aunt.

"It's about the secret of the fragments of the Earth Book."