Leaving the palace, Lu Ming was followed by a woman—Jia Yuanchun, the former head of the Changqiu Palace. Jia Yuanchun had been dismissed from her post, and Empress He had issued an edict bestowing her upon Lu Ming, making her his woman.
Whether she could become a concubine depended on Lu Ming's mood.
With a round face and good looks, Jia Yuanchun was only of above-average appearance, incomparable to beauties like Lin Daiyu.
However, even in modern times, she was far more beautiful than so-called celebrities.
Quiet and gentle, she was a typical lady of a prominent family.
Yuanchun felt uneasy; she didn't know what her future held.
But she knew her family wasn't well-off. Watching Lu Ming's retreating figure, she had a suspicion that everything that had happened in Chang'an was related to him.
But suspicion was just suspicion; even if it were true, there was nothing she could do.
Leaving the affairs of Chang'an to Xu Shu, Lu Ming went to arrange some other matters. He selected a guard to escort Lady Wang Qing, the wife of Marquis Zhao, back to Luoyang, and inspected the military camp to check the soldiers' condition and whether the equipment was ready.
Among the troops were siege rams and siege towers for assaults; these powerful weapons, once deployed on the battlefield, would deliver a one-sided defeat.
Infantry might be able to barely resist.
But for archers and cavalry, facing a hail of arrows from the siege towers would be utter annihilation.
Since he was going to support Bingzhou and intended to incite Dong Zhuo to enter Luoyang, he needed to be fully prepared.
At the same time, he also needed to ensure the supply of provisions; an army without provisions would not be surprising if it collapsed.
No one would fight on an empty stomach; in ancient times, people didn't talk about ideals, they only cared about eating.
Back at the residence, he happened to see Lady Wang and Aunt Xue.
"Greetings, Governor," Lady Wang said, slightly surprised at first, then quickly bowing.
She was somewhat surprised that her daughter, Yuan Chun, had returned with Lu Ming. Wasn't she in the palace?
"Greetings, Governor," Aunt Xue said, her head bowed. She always felt uncomfortable around Lu Ming, a feeling stemming from their physical relationship.
It was also because she missed him every day and felt ashamed of her actions.
"Hmm, are the two ladies going back?" Lu Ming smiled, a hint of feigned ignorance in his question. He already knew they were coming, and now that they were at the gate, they were bound to leave.
"Yes, it's an unexpected and overwhelming honor to meet you, Your Excellency. Could Your Excellency spare some time to speak?" Madam Wang looked at Lu Ming with pleading eyes; she couldn't miss this opportunity.
"Of course. You are Tan Chun's mother, and you have raised her. She often says that you have cared for her, treating her like your own daughter. This way, Madam Xue, would you like to sit down with us?" Lu Ming gestured an invitation. What did they want to talk about?
He knew it was nothing more than a matter related to the Jia family.
He didn't completely destroy them; he merely dug a deep pit for them, leaving them exhausted and weakened, yet not so much that they would rebel.
"Good, good," Aunt Xue's body trembled involuntarily, seemingly thinking of another round with Lu Ming.
Originally, she hadn't thought much about it, nor would she have considered matters of lust, but that beast Lu Ming had fucked her so hard that time, swelling her vagina!
The resulting feeling of ecstasy, so exhilarating, was etched into her body, uncontrollable.
Mature women are easy to seduce because their bodies have reached a high level of maturity, and their libido has peaked with age.
Slight stimulation is enough to cause them to become extremely aroused; if he could give them pleasure once,
then it would be easy to get them next time, to possess their bodies and souls.
The mansion used chairs, not kneeling seats. A faint herbal scent wafted from the vases and incense burner, meant to repel mosquitoes.
A maidservant brought tea, and Lu Ming took a sip. "Madam, please speak freely. Whatever this governor can do, I will not refuse."
This caught Madam Wang off guard, as she had been trying to appeal to his emotions. She had been hoping to establish a connection before speaking.
"Please, Your Excellency, show leniency towards my master, Jia Zheng. Baoyu and Tanchun are deeply devoted siblings; they cannot be without their father."
"Governor Bao will handle this matter. Madam can rest assured. He may be spared the death penalty, but he will not escape punishment. After all, the Qi family case is currently causing a great uproar. If it is not handled properly, not only will the court's reputation be ruined, but the Jia family's reputation will also be completely destroyed. How old are you this year, Madam?" Lu Ming suddenly changed the subject, asking a completely unrelated question.
Madam Wang was clearly taken aback, while Aunt Xue, having been glanced at by Lu Ming, saw lust in his eyes! "Forty-eight years old, an old woman now." Madam Wang said with a touch of sadness. No matter how well she took care of herself, she was still an old woman.
In ancient times, forty was considered the age of an old woman.
Women aged particularly quickly due to childbirth and the need for proper care.
"Not too much, not too little, just right." Lu Ming was quite satisfied. Aunt Xue looked two years younger, and now he had developed her into a wanton woman. He stroked his chin. "The Jia family is in debt. What does Madam think?"
"Debts must be repaid; it's only right and proper." Madam Wang was quite frank. Her demands weren't high; she just wanted her husband to survive.
As for children, it would be best to find a good girl for her son, Jia Baoyu. "Sir, I wonder why Yuan Chun, who works in the palace, has returned to the manor this time?"
"The Empress gave her to me," Lu Ming said without hiding it, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "She said I've done so much for her, and asked Yuan Chun to bear me many children. She has a big bottom; you can tell she's good at bearing children!"
This was a bit worldly, a bit rash, a bit explicit.
Madam Wang cursed inwardly. Both of her daughters, Yuan Chun and Tan Chun, had been ruined by Lu Ming!
Although it was hard to say that Tan Chun wasn't her child, but rather born to Consort Zhao, a concubine...
She had raised Tan Chun from a young age, treating her as her own daughter, so naturally, she felt something was amiss.
"Madam can come and see Tan Chun or Yuan Chun every day. If Madam has any talents, I can also arrange some jobs for Madam, it just depends on whether Madam is willing." Lu Ming thought of something, women can also work.