Chương 68: Celebration Banquet, Wife Queen He

Liu Hong became increasingly agitated as he spoke, his voice rising several decibels:

"Just a few days ago, there was an old minister who considered himself a paragon of integrity who said to me something like, 'Members of the imperial family should focus on maintaining the status quo and should not be lightly granted military power in certain regions, lest they become too powerful to control.'"

Hehe, guess what happened? He secretly asked someone to help him get his nephew, who was nominally in the Imperial Guard and spent his days walking birds and fighting cocks, transferred to Bingzhou to become a powerful military commander!

So, their spoiled brats can command troops and embezzle funds, while my imperial relatives, my brothers who have rendered outstanding military service, are relegated to their fiefdoms to cultivate themselves? What kind of utter nonsense is this!

After venting his frustrations, Liu Hong seemed to feel a bit better. Remembering something, he said to Liu Ce:

"By the way, today's court assembly mainly bestowed official titles and ranks, but no actual monetary rewards were mentioned. It's not that I'm stingy..."

A rare, genuine embarrassment appeared on his face.

"In truth... I, the emperor, am not well-off to begin with!"

Selling official positions... cough cough, the money from "donations" isn't even enough to repair the garden, let alone the money needed to build palaces, maintain the army, and reward officials...

"With the Yellow Turban Rebellion, local taxes have fallen through, and the suppression of the bandits has cost a fortune. Now, not only is my Imperial Treasury empty, but the national treasury is practically overflowing!"

Liu Ce could only remain silent as this supreme ruler of the world complained of poverty, his inner monologue:

"What's the use of complaining about being poor to me? I already donated to you back then, and now I can't conjure up any money... unless I dig up Zhang Jiao's treasure, but that was my own start-up capital!"

Liu Hong waved his hand, saying in a tone that suggested, "Brother will give you something substantial to make up for it":

"How about this, I will bestow upon you a decent mansion in Luoyang! The location and the scale will be just as good! Consider this as making up for that monetary reward!"

Now you have a place to stay in the capital, and when you return to Beijing to report on your duties, you'll have your own place to live, instead of always staying at the Zhen family's or the post station."

Liu Ce quickly expressed his gratitude.

He thought to himself, "A mansion? Sounds nice, but it must be old and dilapidated, and maintaining it will cost a lot of money."

It's not as comfortable and convenient as the Zhen family mansion. Only a fool would move there; at most, they'd just be registered there.

After chatting for a while longer, Liu Ce noticed that Liu Hong looked tired, so he tactfully took his leave.

Liu Hong didn't linger and waved him away.

After leaving the Greenhouse Hall, Liu Ce finally breathed a long sigh of relief, and was then led out of the palace by a young eunuch.

Not long after returning to the Zhen residence, sure enough, the official document for the bestowed residence arrived quickly. Liu Ce glanced at the address, casually handed it to the Zhen family steward to handle, and didn't intend to look at it himself at all.

In the afternoon, someone from the palace came to inform us that a victory banquet would be held in the palace that evening, and all meritorious generals and important officials were required to attend.

Remembering Liu Hong's "hint," Liu Ce instructed the Zhen family's steward to prepare an exquisite gift box. He then took it out from his system space, where he found a dozen or so crystal-clear glass beads of varying sizes, lined with silk.

In the evening, Liu Ce entered the palace with the gift box.

He first found an opportunity to ask a trusted eunuch of Liu Hong to present the gift box to the emperor, specifically instructing that it was a "trinket" to be presented to His Majesty.

Only then did they proceed to the palace where the banquet was held.

Upon entering the palace where the banquet was being held, one finds it brightly lit, bustling with activity, and filled with the aromas of wine and food. Palace maids and eunuchs move about incessantly.

The officials sat down according to their rank, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed than in the imperial court, but undercurrents were still swirling.

Liu Ce found his seat and sat down. The seat was very close to the front, second only to a few of the top big shots, which highlighted his status as a newly popular figure. He sat down and waited.

After a while, the eunuch announced loudly that the emperor and empress had arrived.

Everyone quickly stood up and bowed.

Liu Ce also bowed, and when he looked up, his gaze inevitably swept over Empress He Lian, who was sitting next to Liu Hong.

With just one glance, Liu Ce thought to himself, "Holy crap!" and quickly lowered his head, his mind reeling with shock, almost losing control of his expression.

Empress He was only twenty-four or twenty-five years old, a time when she had shed her youthful naiveté and was at the most charming age for a woman (in ancient times, perhaps?).

She was tall and slender with a full and well-proportioned figure. Wrapped in a dignified and gorgeous queen's gown, she did not appear bulky at all, but instead outlined a breathtaking figure.

Her makeup was exquisite, and she had a voluptuous figure. Although she could not be called a stunning beauty, she possessed the dignified and majestic presence of an empress, and also subtly exuded a languid yet powerful charm that came with the experience of being immersed in power.

Especially those eyes; they seemed to have a hooking quality when they looked at people. It wasn't a deliberate display, but rather an innate allure.

Combined with the "everything is under control" confidence cultivated from long-term high positions, it creates an extremely unique charm that is incredibly attractive to mature men.

Several words instantly popped into Liu Ce's mind:

"Married woman", "temptation", MAX!

Name: He Lian Gender: Female Age: 25 [Strength]: 25 Command: 52 [Politics]: 75 [Intelligence]: 72 [Appearance]: 92cm Immediately afterwards, a kind of alarm bell rang wildly deep within him, belonging to a time traveler and mixed with historical knowledge and male instincts—the "legacy of Cao Cao"!

Holy crap!!!

Liu Ce was shocked and quickly lowered his eyes, his mind racing:

"This beauty, this temperament, this charm... Historical records say that Empress He was 'beautiful and greatly favored by Emperor Ling,' but this is more than just 'beautiful'! This is practically nuclear weapon level!"

No wonder she was able to elevate her butcher-turned-empress, and bewitch Liu Hong... well, he doesn't seem so infatuated anymore, but he must have fallen for her charms back then!

He felt a fierce battle raging between his moral bottom line and his survival instinct:

"Calm down! Liu Bolue! This is the Empress! The Emperor's wife! One look is enough! Looking any longer will result in someone's death!"

No wonder Cao Cao had a thing for married women! Who could resist this?! This Empress... she's just too... too stunning! And her aura is so complex!

It's really not entirely Cao Cao's fault! Anyone sitting next to someone like that would have their mind wandering a bit.

Mr. Cao, I suddenly understand you a little... Who the hell can handle this!

Bah! Bah! Bah! Even if we can't hold on, we have to! Amitabha Buddha, Infinite Heavenly Venerable, hasten as the law commands... Form is emptiness, emptiness is form...

Liu Ce, you're a decent man! You still have the five Zhen sisters and Zhang Ning! Lust is a dangerous thing! Especially when that dangerous thing is the emperor's!

Forcibly suppressing the restlessness in his heart, Liu Ce tried to focus his attention back on the banquet.

As usual, the emperor gave some opening remarks such as "You have all worked hard, and the whole country is celebrating," and then the banquet officially began.

The music was melodious, the wine was fragrant, and the officials toasted each other, offering praise and congratulations, creating a lively and extraordinary scene.

As a newly popular figure, Liu Ce was naturally the focus of everyone's toasts. He accepted one toast after another with an impeccable smile on his face.

However, throughout the banquet, Liu Ce could vaguely sense a gaze that held scrutiny, curiosity, and perhaps some other indescribable meaning, occasionally falling upon him.

He carefully searched with his peripheral vision and discovered that the source was none other than Empress He, who was sitting on the phoenix throne!

However, he happened to meet He Lian's gaze.

The Empress was holding a wine cup, looking at him with a half-smile.

Seeing Liu Ce looking over, he not only didn't avoid him, but instead raised his cup in acknowledgment and then took a small sip.

Liu Ce's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head to drink.