Fan Li had been fishing here for three months, hoping to finally see the emperor, but nothing came of it.
At first, he thought the emperor was just slow to arrive, but after a month, there was still no news; no one knew where the emperor had gone.
Even court affairs were being overseen by the empress and the crown prince; the emperor rarely attended court.
This behavior was inherently inappropriate, but no one criticized it, because even though His Majesty wasn't in court, he controlled it.
No one knew whether their actions were good or bad, or if His Majesty would see them.
Therefore, everyone had been extremely obedient during this time, diligently handling government affairs and fulfilling their duties.
Even their approach to solving cases had become much more proactive, for fear of making a bad impression.
"Father, the latest letter from Zheng City."
A beautiful young woman slowly approached, wearing a well-fitting cheongsam that accentuated her voluptuous figure, her exposed skin as white and smooth as jade.
Her face was a classic oval, dignified and elegant one, her eyes alluring and bright. Her long hair was styled in a bun, with a single strand casually tucked in, giving her an air of refined elegance.
Fan Li accepted the letter containing the following sentence: "Today's court meeting: 'Without connections in court, one cannot become an official; with an empty purse, one cannot even enter the city.'"
Xi Shi watched from the side.
Although somewhat curious, she did not inquire.
She was Fan Li's youngest daughter, possessing a beauty that could rival that of fish and geese; her beauty was itself a curse.
Therefore, she did not live in Chaisang County, but resided elsewhere, occasionally venturing into the water to harvest lotus roots.
She possessed both natural beauty and a down-to-earth charm, unlike wealthy women who never lifted a finger.
Many sought to marry into Fan Li's family. Although Fan Li did not hold office, he was known for his philanthropy and excellent reputation.
Even if someone wanted to target him, he could use his connections to smooth things over.
As a local notable, one is least afraid of being forced.
Anyone who values their reputation knows that dealing with anyone is one thing, but dealing with a renowned scholar is another—they're like a leech!
Cao Cao killed Kong Rong, and ended up ruining his own reputation.
Unless one rises from humble beginnings like Lu Ming, cultivating talent independently,
one can confidently declare, "I don't need your old fogies' help; I'll do it myself—Yixin and Liansheng!"
All scholars are one family, but they were bewildered by Lu Ming's unconventional methods.
Governing a region requires considerable resources, even for a minor official; literacy is essential.
With this confidence, one can carve out a share of the spoils from the warlords.
Fan Li looked at the letter in his hand, his brow furrowed, deep in thought.
This was a message from the emperor, sent to the queen to speak on behalf of the king, for the ministers to consider.
Clearly, the traditional methods were no longer effective. Now it's the Qin Dynasty; the Han Dynasty is gone and must be discarded. We can't use those old methods to fool people anymore.
"Your Majesty is truly an extraordinary man!" "Father, why do you say that?"
Xi Shi was very curious. She rarely heard her father praise anyone, not even her eldest brother.
In fact, not every head of the family was named Fan Li; only those with the qualifications could change their name to Fan Li.
And fools were not qualified.
"Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, imperial decrees have never left Luoyang.
The empire, though nominally under the emperor's control, was in reality in the hands of powerful clans and aristocratic families.
This is the very reason behind the Ying Jin Rebellion.
Fan Li saw this clearly; surely others could too?
No, they could, but when their own interests were at stake, they would never admit it.
Those who could see things fairly and impartially were extremely rare.
At this moment, a man in plain clothes, yet with an imposing presence, approached from afar, carrying a bamboo fishing rod. He walked over casually.
He set down the stool he carried, skillfully baited his hook, and cast the line.
"Mr. Fan, it's an honor to meet you."
"This humble subject, Fan Li, greets Your Majesty!"
Fan Li was greatly surprised, clearly not expecting the emperor to appear at this moment. It was too sudden and caught him completely off guard!
Xi Shi was also greatly surprised. She hurriedly knelt down, "This commoner, Xi Shi, greets Your Majesty."
Lu Ming was also astonished by Xi Shi's appearance. Wasn't this just like Tong Liya?
Well, very much so, but even more beautiful than Tong Liya. Her skin was delicate and fair, with a healthy glow—something rarely seen in women.
Only women raised in the music academy or in the countryside possessed this quality, because they were athletic and didn't have that delicate, pampered look.
"Rise, Fan Li. Is this your concubine?" Lu Ming smiled, unsurprised to be recognized.
He wasn't surprised.
If he hadn't recognized her,
he wouldn't be Fan Li, he'd be a fool.
What surprised him was that Fan Li had actually revealed his true intentions on the spot.
He had wanted to chat with her as a stranger.
"This is my daughter, Xi Shi," Fan Li introduced, secretly intending to give her away.
His daughter was raised so well, wasn't it all for a marriage alliance?
Now that His Majesty was right before him, it would be incredibly foolish of him not to seize the opportunity!
Lu Ming looked at Xi Shi, who had raised her head, and smiled. "You can go ahead and greet Yueying and the others for me." "
In the distance, Huang Yueying, Cai Shu, and Mi Zhen also arrived.
They nodded to Xi Shi and found a place to sit down.
They had brought them out to play today, a good chance to get some fresh air.
Originally, they had brought Tan Chun and the others, but they were pregnant, and Lu Ming, that beast, had gotten them all pregnant, so they had no choice but to stay home and rest. Plus, there were things to do at the Jiaosifang, so they hadn't come out.
While playing at the beach, their unrestrained mating resulted in pregnancy!
When a woman is emotionally agitated, the chances of pregnancy are very, very high.
Plus, Lu Ming is physically strong, his semen is highly viable, and he likes to ejaculate inside.
Ejaculating inside is one thing, but he always ejaculates right up to the cervix, such a direct ejaculation further increases the chances of pregnancy!
"I just heard your insightful discussion, sir. There are many different theories about the fall of the Han Dynasty, but very few can see the truth clearly."
Lu Ming gazed at the lake. For an emperor to discuss the reasons for the previous dynasty's downfall—he himself was the usurper—was a topic most people wouldn't dare bring up. Fan Li, however, bowed deeply to Lu Ming, saying, "Your Majesty's magnanimity is something I've never seen before.
If the people had enough to eat, how could the Yellow Turban Rebellion have occurred?"