As beauties from various regions were continuously sent to Chaoge, the situation in Chaoge beca increasingly tense.
The ministers secretly discussed whether Marquis Yizhou would send his daughter.
So ministers, who had a good relationship with Marquis Jizhou, privately stated that war might break out.
Everyone knew that Marquis Jizhou only had a son and a daughter, and he loved these two children dearly. How could he bear to send his daughter away?
Speaking of which, Jizhou has been doing well in recent years. Although it is remote, Marquis Jizhou is quite capable and has strengthened Jizhou’s military power.
Furthermore, his daughter is the legitimate daughter. In theory, she is suitable to beco a Queen or Noble Consort, but she is being sent into the palace alongside many commoner girls as a beauty. This is an insult to Marquis Jizhou, and he surely cannot swallow this grievance.
However, the ministers were mistaken.
After just a few days, a spy reported that Su Hu’s daughter had already set out and was on her way to Chaoge.
This news quickly spread from the previous dynasty to the harem, and soon reached Queen Jiang.
Queen Jiang was sitting cross-legged, looking through the items to reward the palace’s concubines when a palace attendant ca in to report, "Empress, the daughter of Marquis Jizhou is about to enter the palace."
Queen Jiang’s hand paused for a mont, then she smiled, "Distribute these items as rewards."
The palace attendant took the items to distribute among the concubines.
Queen Jiang’s face imdiately darkened, "Is Dai Yi about to arrive?"
She clenched her right hand tightly, long nails digging into her flesh.
Su Daji, that fox demon, is about to co. How should she deal with her?
She knew that the coming Su Daji had long been possessed by a fox demon, specifically sent to sow chaos in the court, and she too would eventually die miserably due to Su Daji’s slander.
She didn’t want to die.
Even though nothing here was pleasant; everything was inconvenient, uncomfortable, the food, clothing, and necessities were unbearable, she still didn’t want to die.
Especially not by having her hands burned and her eyes gouged out.
Just the thought made Queen Jiang shiver.
She thought about this, perhaps she should simply escape now, regardless of who would co, she was determined to avoid Su Daji.
But she didn’t dare to escape.
Besides, where could she possibly run to?
She knew nothing about this world and was completely helpless; leaving would only an death.
But if she didn’t leave, Su Daji would target her as soon as she entered the palace.
After all, she was the Queen, wasn’t she?
Queen Jiang was terrified but completely at a loss.
In terms of cunning and strategy, she couldn’t compare to Su Daji. In terms of beauty, she was even less so, not to ntion that Su Daji had spells. Killing a mortal like her would be child’s play.
She was still pondering what to do when she heard loud laughter coming from outside.
Queen Jiang quickly stood up, took a deep breath, and suppressed her disgust as she went out to greet them with a smile.
Emperor Shang, dressed in a black deep robe, strode in.
"Great King."
Queen Jiang bowed ceremoniously.
"Rise."
Emperor Shang helped Queen Jiang up, "Queen, many beauties from various regions have already entered the palace. I have selected so to remain in the harem, while the rest have been bestowed upon the ministers. These beauties in the harem will need your careful attention."
Queen Jiang smiled politely, "Yes, I have already prepared palaces for them, but I am unsure how the Great King wishes to bestow titles upon them. What ranks shall these beauties hold?"
Emperor Shang waved his hand, "There aren’t any remarkable ones; just put them all together."
He truly wasn’t particularly interested in these beauties.
The harem already had quite a few beauties, with all sorts of appearances. The ones sent from various regions were no more exceptional than the concubines in the harem, and he naturally didn’t find them outstanding.
Emperor Shang yearned for beauty that could topple a state, but such beauty was hard to find.
"Su Hu is still loyal. As soon as I issued a decree, he imdiately sent his daughter into the palace."
This is what pleased Emperor Shang. He did not value beauties, but Su Hu’s loyalty.
"Yes."
Queen Jiang cooperated with his words and said, "Great King, what you say is true; Marquis Jizhou is indeed loyal enough."
However, in her heart, she cursed Su Hu for being so cowardly and spineless, wondering why he didn’t resist. Now, the fox spirit has easily taken over his daughter’s body.
Feng Anan and Shi Antian were sent to Chaoge by Marquis Jizhou’s n.
Anning, however, did not go with them.
Anning was sitting by the East Sea at that mont, with Chentang Pass behind her.
She was sitting on a reef, resting her chin in her hands, lost in thought.
Soon, she heard a child’s giggle behind her.
Anning turned around to see a three or four-year-old child happily hopping toward her.
The little child paused upon seeing Anning, "Who are you?"
Anning jumped down from the reef, "And who are you?"
The little child pointed to himself, "I am Nezha, the son of Li Jing from Chentang Pass, and I neither change my na in life nor death."
Anning laughed, walked over to Nezha, and looked at him, "So it’s you, my apologies, my apologies."
Nezha paused, "Do you recognize ?"
Anning crouched down to et Nezha’s gaze, "I don’t know you, but I’ve heard your master talk about you. Many years ago, I had so connection with your master."
"You know my master?"
Nezha’s eyes darted around, clearly skeptical.
Anning chuckled and patted his head, "Yes, your master is Taiyi True Man, isn’t he?"
This ti, Nezha believed her, "Yes, he is my master. How do you know my master?"
Anning started bluffing, "I’ve known your master for about a thousand years. In the early years, I used to live at Biyou Palace. Your master and his ntors often ca to Biyou Palace to play. I’ve even watched your master spar with Zhao Gongming. Later, your master was delighted to take you as a disciple and sent ssages to all of us acquaintances, asking us to take care of you if we saw you. Just now, I happened to be passing by and thought I’d take a look at you, pondering if I should give a young one like you a eting gift or sothing. And then, what do you know? Here we are bumping into each other by chance. Wouldn’t you call that serendipity?"
Being a child, Nezha completely believed Anning’s words.
He had also heard from his master that his ntors often visited Biyou Palace, so with Anning claiming to have stayed there, he had no doubts at all.
"Master!"
Nezha imdiately clasped his hands in a respectful salute, "Now that master is here, why not co to my ho for a brief rest?"
"Sure," Anning replied with a broad smile, "Are you playing by the sea? Children should stay away from water; what if you fall in and choke?"
"I won’t choke!"
Nezha replied hastily, "I’m a good swimr, no worries about that."
Saying so, he started heading toward the sea. Anning quickly pulled him back, "Wait a minute."
"Why?"
Nezha stared at Anning.
Anning pointed toward the vast sea, "Do you know this is the East Sea?"
Nezha laughed, "My dad is the General of Chentang Pass, of course, I know this is the East Sea. You’re joking, right?"
Anning picked up Nezha; perhaps aware that Anning was an elder, Nezha didn’t resist and appeared quite docile, "I was just thinking the sea looks vast and wanted to co play."
Anning nodded, "It is indeed vast; bathing here would certainly be more comfortable than your tub at ho."
Holding Nezha with one arm and pointing to the East Sea with the other, she said, "However, though the water is nice, it belongs to soone—did you know that the Dragon King lives in the East Sea? You should greet the old Dragon King before coming to bathe here; otherwise, the neighbors might not appreciate it. Think about it: if soone wandered around in your ho without saying a word to you, wouldn’t you be displeased too?"
Nezha thought for a mont, "That’s true."
Anning continued, "So, why don’t you send a greeting card, and then visit the Dragon King to talk it over. Once you’ve reached an understanding, you can co back and bathe. See, your ho borders Chentang Pass, right next to the East Sea. You’ve been neighbors for who knows how many years. Everyone gets along well. Your dad knows the Dragon King of the East Sea. What if you don’t say anything and co here to bathe, and the Dragon King complains to your dad? Even if the Dragon King, being an elder, says nothing, he has sons and daughters. What if so young Crown Prince or Princess runs to your ho and tells on you to your parents? They’d definitely be upset."
Anning spoke to Nezha with a smile on her lips and a gentle voice.
The more Nezha thought about it, the more he felt Anning made sense.
Since his birth, his father hardly paid attention to him; his mother’s hands were full with her own affairs, providing only food and drink but no guidance or teaching.
He did everything his own way, acting as he pleased, caring little about others.
Anning thought that Li Jing and his wife were unfit parents, for they bore children without raising them properly or teaching them social manners. Nezha causing so much trouble was largely their fault.
Nezha was just a child, an ignorant brash child, so his mischief was understandable.
But what about Li Jing and his wife? They weren’t children; they knew better but never taught Nezha a thing. They left a small child to run wild. If Nezha caused trouble, who else could bear the responsibility?
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