Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

On the second day after moving into his new home, Chen Aniu knocked on the gate of the villa and from then on became the villa's steward.

On the third day, he went to the brokerage firm and bought two maids and two cooks. The maids took care of his two best friends, and Liu Zhiyi named them Lingzhi and Shaoyao.

The actor who played Shen Ningzhu's husband along the way was named Qingfeng. Because of his outstanding professional skills, Shen Ningzhu kept him by her side.

He continues to play the role of Shen Ningzhu's husband and Liu Zhiyi's brother. He is responsible for setting up the family business according to their ideas and managing the estate and shops, while his two best friends stay behind to oversee things.

From then on, Song Hanchuan's people would send a batch of newly made dresses, shoes, socks, embroidered handkerchiefs, and round fans to the courtyard every month.

Each piece is made of high-quality materials and features novel designs, each embroidered with a pattern that the two best friends like.

The following spring, Shen Ningzhu gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl named Jinxiu and a boy named Huanian.

During this time, the two best friends were out shopping when they passed a teahouse and overheard that His Highness the Crown Prince had suddenly gone mad after returning to the capital from his trip south.

Not only did he defy natural law by killing his father and emperor, but he also slaughtered the empress and her maternal clan.

On that day, arrows rained down from the sky, flames soared into the heavens, and blood flowed like rivers in the imperial city. The Jiang Kingdom's royal family was almost entirely wiped out. Apart from His Highness the Crown Prince, only Prince Chen was left, who was sent out of the capital by his subordinates at the cost of their lives.

After returning to his fiefdom, he declared himself king.

Some people say that the reason why His Highness the Crown Prince is so cruel is not only because the Emperor, Empress, and Prince Chen have plotted against him many times, deliberately tricking him out of the capital to kill him, but also because of another reason.

That is, one of the Crown Prince's beloved concubines was murdered by Prince Chen. Upon learning the news, the Crown Prince was devastated and so angry that he coughed up two mouthfuls of blood.

Some people say that not only the crown prince has gone mad, but also the spirited and promising young general Pei Yun Chu.

Because besides the crown prince's beloved concubine, the young general's sweetheart was also among those murdered.

The young general initially contracted a strange illness and remained in a coma for more than half a month.

Upon waking, he learned of the tragic death of his beloved, and was overwhelmed with grief, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

People were moved by the deep affection between the two and wondered what kind of extraordinary woman could make two high-ranking and noble men vomit blood for her sake.

He was ill for a long time afterward before he recovered.

Later, when the crown prince ascended the throne, Prince Chen sent troops to attack him.

Some say they've seen His Highness the Crown Prince fighting on the battlefield, and his eyes are colder and more chilling than those of Yama, the King of Hell, like a heartless god of death who only cares about reaping lives.

People speculated that the Crown Prince's condition must be due to the loss of his beloved and the blow he suffered.

Upon hearing this news, Shen Ningzhu just wanted to roll her eyes.

That scoundrel usually puts on a respectable act, fooling everyone. But Shen Ningzhu has seen with her own eyes what he's really like in the dungeon.

He was a ruthless and cold-blooded psychopath who killed without hesitation. This is just his true nature being revealed. What does it have to do with her?

She won't take the blame for this.

Life at the villa was peaceful and uneventful, yet warm and comforting. The two best friends loved this kind of life, and the days passed slowly. Before they knew it, three years had gone by.

The Imperial Study in the Capital

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister requests an audience," Sanfu reported in a low voice.

After Jiang Xuanyan ascended the throne, Sanfu, the personal eunuch who had followed him for many years, became the chief eunuch, accompanying him to and from court and taking care of his daily life.

At this moment, he was bowing respectfully as he reported to the young emperor.

"Well, let him in."

"Yes."

A moment later, Song Hanchuan, dressed in a brand-new official robe, slowly walked in.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

"Hmm, get up. What do you want with me? If you want to resign, there's no need to say so; I won't allow it."

Song Hanchuan's handsome face turned cold, and he cupped his hands in greeting,

"Your Majesty, Prince Chen is now severely weakened and dares not act rashly. The barbarians on the border have also completely submitted to our country. General Pei will return to the capital soon."

My decision to stay or leave will have little impact on the Jiang Kingdom, and my mind is made up; I hope Your Majesty will grant my request.

Jiang Xuan Yan smiled faintly and said,

"My dear minister, you are mistaken."

"Jiang Kingdom has been ravaged by war for many years and is now riddled with holes, with everything in need of rebuilding. If you were to leave at this time, have you considered what would happen to the people of Jiang Kingdom?"

Song Hanchuan cursed him inwardly for being hypocritical.

He thought to himself, "How dare you mention the common people? As the emperor, have you ever truly cared about their lives?"

Upon returning to the capital, he committed murder, turning the entire city into a river of blood.

Later, when King Chen sent troops, the barbarians also wanted to take advantage of the chaos and invaded the border of Jiang Kingdom. Therefore, the crown prince led troops to fight against King Chen, and Pei Yunchu led troops to guard the border.

Who knew that the two of them would become bloodthirsty.

The Prince of Chen was repeatedly defeated and eventually fled in disarray, his whereabouts unknown.

Pei Yun Chu was like a mad dog, driving the barbarians hundreds of kilometers away from the border, and without stopping, he successively captured several of their cities.

That posture was no longer just about guarding the border; it was practically inviting war. Within months, they were on the verge of reaching the enemy's capital.

The barbarian kingdom was terrified and quickly sent an envoy to deliver a letter of surrender, promising to offer Jiang Xuan Yan the most beautiful woman in their country.

Jiang Xuan Yan was ready to withdraw his troops after hearing the previous part, but when he heard that the other party wanted to give him a beauty, his face immediately darkened.

His gaze suddenly turned incredibly sinister.

He then coldly ordered Pei Yun Chu to lead troops to destroy the barbarian kingdom.

And so the war continued for another six months. In the end, the barbarian kingdom was destroyed. Now, three years have passed, and Jiang Xuan Yan's harem is empty, yet not a single court official dares to suggest filling it.

After all, the barbarian country was destroyed simply because it said it would send a beautiful woman over!

They cannot afford such a heavy price.

Logically speaking, now is not a good time to retire, but why should he bear the mess that these two lunatics made?

Two years ago, he got his revenge, and in the following years, he would submit his resignation every now and then.

Two years have passed, and he has been rejected every time. By now, his patience has run out.

Three years have passed, and there's only one month left until the time he agreed to meet Xiaoyi. He absolutely cannot break his promise.

"Your Majesty, this is my resignation letter. I have placed it on your table. Starting tomorrow, I will no longer attend court."

Jiang Xuan Yan looked at him coldly.

"It seems that you have made up your mind, my dear minister. It would be unreasonable for me to continue to suppress your anger. How about we make a deal?"

I will help you detoxify, and you will serve as my prime minister for another three years to help me manage the affairs of state.

"Three years from now, I will allow you to retire and return to your hometown. Is that alright?"

Song Hanchuan suddenly looked up and heard Jiang Xuanyan say, "Didn't the old man tell you that there's an antidote for the secret medicine you took? If you take that medicine for ten years, you'll become a eunuch."

You've only been taking it for five years, so there might still be hope. How about giving it a try?