Imperial henchmen? Never been struck by the sword of the Six Doors (a secret police agency).

The falling bird egg not only shattered Biyu Ning's smile.

The impact made her heart tremble.

She was the first to approach His Highness in an attempt to gain his favor.

I'm not here to be a laughing stock.

In the next instant, day turned into night.

The starlight in the sky merged into one, forming a net that directly trapped the spirit bird.

The poor spirit bird was instantly reduced to minced meat and scattered by the wind.

The gluttonous beast, which was having a meal, looked up at the sky as the bits of meat flew into its food bowl.

"Is there an extra meal?"

This muttered phrase echoed within the courtyard of the Four Fiends.

Soon, night faded and daylight returned to the world.

It was as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.

By the time Li Junsu recovered from this strange phenomenon, Bi Yu Ning in front of him had already returned to normal.

Even the bird droppings on the jade bricks had disappeared without a trace.

Biyu cast a dust-repelling spell, instantly clearing away the bird eggs and droppings, making the entire courtyard look brand new.

"Your Highness?"

Bi Yuning looked at Prince An, blinked, and seemed as if nothing had just happened.

"Sit inside."

Li Junsu paused for a moment, then chose to ignore what had just happened.

"I'm sorry to bother you."

Upon hearing this, Biyuning's smile became even brighter.

Li Junsu entered the study and sat down at his desk.

He picked up the tea set beside him and began brewing tea with practiced ease.

"Expand the Prince's Palace..."

Li Junsu got straight to the point as soon as he opened his mouth.

At this moment, Bai Xingling also led Yin Ming and Yang Ling into the study.

"Junsu, it's for you."

After saying that, Bai Xingling left in a hurry.

She had just seen the White Lotus Saintess wandering around in front of Zhen Min and He Sui.

Moreover, Bai Lian, the disciple of the Holy Mother of White Lotus, was also present.

Bai Xingling thinks the White Lotus Saintess is really tired of living.

Looking at Bai Xingling's decisive and efficient demeanor, Li Junsu fell into deep thought.

Now that the royal palace is getting bigger and bigger, isn't it too much pressure for Xingling to be in charge of all the affairs of the palace by herself?

Should we find someone to help her?

Senior Zhulong seems to be quite good.

While they were pondering, the Conquest Envoy and Yinming had already sat down as if they were old friends.

"You've expanded your palace; are you planning to station your troops here as well?"

Li Junsu came to his senses, took out two teacups, looked at the tea filling the cups, put down the teapot and said.

"Yes, Your Highness, we will be stationed here permanently from now on. Please feel free to give us any instructions."

The envoy accepted the teacup from Prince An with both hands, looking flattered and overwhelmed.

Yin Ming and Bi Yuning, who were standing to the side, both rolled their eyes at the sight.

This guy is here again.

Seeing his fawning manner made Biyuning and Yinming feel uncomfortable.

The problem is that the conquests make this thing even more difficult to fight.

They despised the envoy's despicable face, but they couldn't defeat him, so they could only watch him show his true colors. What could be more painful than that?

"I do have something I need your help with."

Li Junsu turned the teacup, seemed to be thinking of something, and spoke slowly.

"Oh?"

"I wonder what's going on?"

Bi Yuning and Yin Ming immediately became serious.

Do you know anything about Yayu?

"Or rather, are you able to hold a grand ceremony to worship him?"

After considering it for a moment, Li Junsu asked.

He felt that he was just one small step away from being there.

Perhaps we could try to bring Yayu into the world and learn martial arts insights about the essence of heaven and earth from him, so as to improve our own martial arts.

Unlike Zhu Rong or Gong Gong, Ya Yu was a just and powerful god, rational yet compassionate.

In a sense, his killing of Erfu was avenging of Yayu.

For him, the benefits of being born into this world outweigh the drawbacks.

"Yayu?"

Yin Ming was stunned for a moment.

"God?"

Bi Yuning was also somewhat puzzled.

"Your Highness, we do not have the means to perform sacrifices to Yayu."

"But don't worry, once we get back, we'll immediately consult the ancient texts and try our best to hold the Heavenly God Ritual for you as quickly as possible."

Conquest makes the response quick, regardless of whether one understands or not.

First, agree to it in front of the leader, and then we'll talk about the rest later.

He even came up with a name for the ceremony and was already planning to lead it.

It is true that the three ancient Taoist sects all work for Prince An.

But things are different now than they were under the Jade Emperor.

The Prince An's faction is only just beginning to take shape, and it's still undecided who will lead it.

Now, the Ancient Wilderness Daoist Sect wants to be the boss!

Bi Yuning and Yin Ming came to their senses, their expressions becoming even more disgusted.

This thing is truly disgusting.

How could a member of the Taoist sect want to fight for power and profit?

"sorry to bother you."

Li Junsu looked at the envoy with admiration in his eyes.

The envoy's personality reminded him of Lin Fan, who was the same way—decisive and rarely waste words.

“Your Highness, according to the gods… we cannot guarantee whether the other party is mentally sound.”

Yinming was reliable; he seemed to have thought of something and spoke up to remind him.

At the same time, he glanced at the envoy, as if the other party had not thought things through properly.

This made the envoy roll his eyes.

Once we get out, we have to give this guy a good beating.

Is it because he hasn't handled a knife in so long that the spirits have become restless?

What happened to Yayu after she died?

Li Junsu naturally understood the meaning of Yinming. According to ancient records, Yayu came back to life after her death, but she had no consciousness and began to indiscriminately kill living beings.

The depth of their resentment is so profound that it inspires awe.

"When Erfu poisoned Yayu, Gonggong had already begun to sweep across the world, causing immense suffering to the people."

"After Yayu died, Gonggong had already ravaged the world, and eight or nine out of ten living beings died."

“At that time, the world was filled with resentment. As the supreme being, Yayu’s body did not decay. Erfu contained its essence but did not touch its body.”

"Afterwards, this supreme corpse contained all the grievances of the world."

"And then...it turned out like that."

Biyu Ning succinctly explained why the gods had become that way.

Upon hearing this, Li Junsu understood.

It is likely that Erfu did not dare to touch Yayu's corpse at that time, for fear that the other party would come back to life.

"Could this be considered one of the nine realms of survival from ancient times?"

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

"If the earth veins reflect the Yayu, then the other party should be intelligent; we can rest assured about that."

Li Junsu collected his thoughts, thought for a moment, and then spoke.

"In that case, I'll go and consult the ancient books."

"Your Highness, there's no need for you to see me off."

After finishing his speech, the envoy drank the tea in one gulp and then hurriedly left.

Before Yinming and Biyu Ning delivered the treasures, he took action first to gain their favor.

"Your Highness, I'm off to attend to my business as well."

After saying this, Biyu Ning left.

In this respect, she has a greater advantage.

The Tai Xuan Star Tower houses many ancient books, many of which have been lost in later generations.

Knowledge is also an advantage.

"Your Highness, the treasure trove of the Divine Ghost Hidden Sect will be handed over to you for management in due time."

"I'll take my leave now."

Seeing that the other two had left, Yinming had no choice but to leave as well.

We can't let them steal the spotlight.

This was Prince An's first order; his chance to rise to prominence had arrived.

It's not just an opportunity to show off, but also an opportunity to establish one's status.

Just like the Prince An's mansion, the steward, Bai Xingling, was only a half-step Supreme.

But she can command and even order the supreme ruler.

Jiu Li and Xuan Yuan Bai truly listened to her.

Zhulong and Nuwa were also willing to listen to Bai Xingling.

There's no other reason than that Bai Xingling is the deputy in Prince An's faction.

Her words, in a sense, could represent the meaning of Prince An.

Although the Supremes were willing to listen to her because of Li Junsu's reputation and Bai Xingling's cooking skills.

But that's enough; that's status.

Now, as long as one can become the most powerful force under Prince An, one can then command other Taoist sects, and even the Four Dragon Ancestors or the patriarchs of aristocratic families to some extent.

Thinking of this, Yin Ming didn't wait for Li Junsu's reply and ran away.

If the emperor knew what was going on here, he would only shed tears and then berate his ministers.

Let's see what a wise and capable minister is.

That's it.

Prince An watched the three leave one after another, and smiled helplessly.

Then he turned his attention to the official documents.

I need to finish my official business quickly, and then I need to go into seclusion for spiritual cultivation.

......

Meanwhile, inside the Taiji Hall, the emperor was discussing the expansion of the imperial city with his court officials.

"The expansion of the imperial city must also begin."

"The capital city is a bit small now."

The emperor looked at his court officials and spoke in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty said so."

Du Ruhui was the first to stand up and agree.

Back when the Great Qian Dynasty was first established, the imperial city was already sufficient.

But things are different now. The Great Qian Dynasty has conquered so many foreign lands, but it hasn't touched the common people and merchants among them.

Merchants from foreign lands brought handicrafts made by artisans from their homelands and traded them in an endless stream.

Becoming people of the Great Qian Dynasty was not a bad thing for these merchants; on the contrary, it was a good thing.

They could trade more easily, and this group of merchants was also the most enthusiastic about becoming citizens of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Merchants from all over the country flocked to the capital and stayed there.

They brought exotic handicrafts, as well as other items such as clothing, jewelry, and food.

They would also bring back handicrafts, clothing, jewelry, tea, and other goods from Daqian to sell in their homeland.

After a while, the 108 wards of the imperial city actually seemed a bit crowded and cramped.

When the emperor and his ministers realized what had happened, their first reaction was bewilderment.

What do you mean by saying the imperial city is too small?

After confirming that the situation was true, they fell silent.

"Your Majesty, how would you like to expand it?"

At this moment, Changsun Wuji stepped forward shakily, his lips trembling as he spoke.

This is a very important matter, and it's not just a matter for the Ministry of Works.

All six departments will have to get busy.

"Since 108 wards and markets are not enough, let's expand them further."

"What do you all think of the 306 wards?"

The emperor leaned back in his chair, stroked his beard, and laughed loudly.

Upon hearing this, the court officials all felt a wave of dizziness.

But they also knew that it had to be done.

At the same time... the expansion must be as large as possible.

Once the expansion is completed in one go, no further expansion will be needed.

"?"

Of all the ministers, Huo Zimeng was the only one who was completely bewildered.

He's really stupid.

What does it mean that 108 workshops are not enough?

In reality, for him, who frequented the Weiyang Palace every day, the imperial palace of the Great Qian Dynasty was as shabby as a dilapidated house.

Yes, compared to Huo Zimeng, the Great Qian Imperial Palace was nothing but a humble abode.

During his time, the Weiyang Palace was made of nanmu and fragrant wood, and the murals and patterned bricks were incredibly luxurious, decorated with jade, gold, and jewels.

Historical records describe shops with gold and jade doors.

One can only imagine how extravagant the Weiyang Palace must have been.

In comparison, the Taiji Hall, though grand, is decorated in a very simple style.

But as Huo Zimeng listened to the emperor and his courtiers' discussions, he realized that the prosperity of the Great Qian Imperial City was even greater than it had been when he was there.

When Huo Zimeng came to his senses, the look in his eyes when he looked at the emperor, besides the initial admiration, also carried a hint of admiration that he was impressed by.

He had seen tyrants who were all talk and no action, and thus understood all the more how rare it was for an emperor to have such a temperament.

It is worth mentioning that Huo Zimeng himself was also known for his frugality.

"Your Majesty's words are acceptable."

Although Du Ruhui felt a wave of dizziness, he still nodded in agreement.

This was something that had to be done sooner or later.

The sooner you die, the sooner you'll be reborn; let's do it all at once.

“Perfect timing. The capital city is getting bigger, so the prince’s residence can’t be too small.”

"The palaces of King Wu and King An also need to be expanded."

"Both large and small occupy three blocks."

The emperor held up three fingers and laughed.

"can."

Du Ruhui gritted his teeth again and agreed.

They don't need to worry about Prince An's affairs, but they do need to take care of Prince Wu's affairs.

However, there was no other way. King Wu's military achievements were also considerable, and now that the dynasty was wealthy, he could not be treated unfairly.

"Very good, if there's nothing else, then everyone can get back to work."

"By the way, Zimeng, haven't you decided on the first batch of layoffs yet?"

After the emperor finished speaking, he looked at Huo Zimeng with a somewhat puzzled expression.

Given the other party's capabilities, this shouldn't be the case.

"Are we... really going to lay off staff?"

Huo Zimeng looked at the emperor with some hesitation.

With his abilities, he must have planned it long ago.

But... he doesn't really want to lay off employees.

It wasn't that he was soft-hearted, but rather that these ministers were all of very high quality.

In his time, they were all models of integrity and honesty.

Now the emperor actually wants to abolish it?

"Replace those who lack ability and promote stronger young people."

The emperor smiled and waved his hand.

Young people are energetic and can be better managed.

"I understand."

"However, Your Majesty... these people can be sent to local areas."

"The local officials are very powerful, but this group of people is not bad either."

"If all else fails, we can keep them temporarily, and replace them if something happens to a local official."

Huo Zimeng bowed and said in a deep voice.

The "accident" he was referring to certainly didn't mean some reckless person was planning an assassination.

Instead, they were worried that local officials would be overworked to death.

"Yes, you're right, let's do it that way."

The emperor nodded upon hearing this.

They don't lack those extra salaries, so it's a real shame to let them leave like this.

Now, the other ministers looked at Huo Zimeng with gratitude.

What a good man.

If they can't run, how can the others run?

Huo Zimeng felt a chill run down his spine from the gazes of this group of people.

Not only was the emperor a wise ruler, but the atmosphere in the court here was also ridiculously good.

My colleagues are all incredibly friendly.

He even wondered if he was dreaming.

"By the way, has my Duke Zhou of Yan arrived yet?"

The emperor seemed to have thought of something and burst into laughter.

......

Outside the Imperial City

Murong Ke looked at the two figures on the other side and felt a toothache.

"My wife, are you cold?"

"Wife, are you hungry?"

Liu Yu rode a fine horse, with a gentle woman in his arms.

Zang Aiqin was completely bewildered by her husband's clingy nature.

"There are still people."

Zang Aiqin playfully punched her husband's chest and said coquettishly.

Although she complained, the gentle smile on her lips just wouldn't leave.

"in spite of."

Liu Yu glanced at Murong Ke and the You Emperor behind him, her eyes filled with cold scrutiny, before looking away and her gaze softened.

To be reborn is to make up for regrets.

The ley lines gave him two choices.

It is as fierce as a tiger that can swallow up ten thousand miles.

He will once again spend his life with her, who has never left his side.

It seems that this Emperor Wu has already given his answer.

Murong Ke, on the other hand, felt nauseous from the spiciness.