Having many handsome men means no worries; pampering them all keeps me in good spirits.

Now that we've finished our business, it's time to head back to the palace... But we've already come all this way, we can't just leave like this, can we?

Jiang Qingyan pondered for a moment…

This Lu Nian is a First-Rank General of the Cavalry, one rank higher than Lin Zhijie! If you want to expand your network, you definitely need to win him over, after all… he's so handsome…

Or... how about we do something a little more unconventional?

Jiang Qingyan raised her eyebrows playfully, curiously looking Lu Nian up and down on the bed. His plain satin nightgown was loose and baggy, making one want to rip it off...

Jiang Qingyan simply hooked the belt around his waist with her finger, and his nightgown opened automatically, revealing his smooth muscle lines.

Jiang Qingyan's slender, fair fingers slowly slid down Lu Nian's neck...

Lu Nian's heart was pounding; he had never expected things to turn out this way...

As Jiang Qingyan's fingers manipulated him, Lu Nian's body gradually began to heat up. A wave of heat made his throat tighten, and he couldn't help but swallow, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down...

Jiang Qingyan stared intently into his eyes, her fingers slowly circling his chest...

Lu Nian's heart skipped a beat, and a violent tingling sensation instantly spread through his body. This feeling was... no! Was the Emperor's current behavior towards him... homosexual?

Thinking of this… Lu Nian shuddered, quickly grabbing Jiang Qingyan's mischievous fingers, while with her other hand she swiftly pulled the blanket over herself, muttering:

"Your Majesty, please forgive me... This humble subject... is not interested in male lovers..."

Looking at Lu Nian's flushed face and her bewildered expression... she really looked just like a respectable woman who had been teased!

Jiang Qingyan couldn't help but laugh out loud. She then withdrew her finger, placed it on her lips, and gently kissed it, her actions full of provocation...

She stood up, brushed off her sleeves, and put on a serious expression, saying, "General Lu, I wish you all the best on your journey to the Southern Frontier. I await your triumphant return."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Qingyan strode away from Lu Nian's bedroom.

Once he was sure she had really left the room, Lu Nian suddenly pulled off the blanket, panting heavily, but the heat in his body did not subside at all, and he even had a reaction against his will.

After all, Lu Nian was a military general, whose physical attributes were extraordinary, and his yang energy was naturally stronger than others... Moreover, he was only eighteen or nineteen years old. If this were in modern times... that would be the time when adolescence is a period of heightened activity...

Meanwhile, Jiang Qingyan stood outside the door with a mischievous grin on her face. Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she called out to the open space, "Ling Feng, carry me out."

Upon hearing this, Ling Feng immediately flashed behind Jiang Qingyan, picked her up horizontally, and leaped over the wall.

After a long while, Lu Nian finally suppressed the heat in her heart, got up, dressed, and went to the courtyard.

He casually grabbed a long spear, leaped into the air, and in an instant, a flash of silver light streaked across the sky, drawing a graceful curve.

Lu Nian didn't know how long she had been practicing martial arts, but she felt drenched in sweat before leaving the courtyard and going to the bathhouse.

But actually, Jiang Qingyan... hadn't left. Instead, she was crouching outside the inner courtyard wall, eavesdropping on Lu Nian...

Judging from his state, he must have been holding back and was about to release it... Sure enough, seemingly strong and tough straight men like him are the easiest to flirt with; he couldn't resist after just a little teasing...

Jiang Qingyan thought to herself, her face full of smugness, and quickly covered her mouth, afraid that she would laugh out loud.

Ling Feng, who was squatting beside her, was completely bewildered. What was the Emperor up to now? Eavesdropping on a minister's private conversation? And what was with that expression on the Emperor's face? Was General Lu practicing martial arts really that funny?

Seeing that there was no more sound in the courtyard, and no need to squat down any longer, Jiang Qingyan stood up, patted Ling Feng's head, and said with a smile, "Let's go, I'll take you to eat something delicious."

"Yes." Ling Feng quickly got up and followed Jiang Qingyan into the street.

The long street was bustling with traffic, and both sides of the street were lined with various stalls selling cosmetics, steamed buns, fans, calligraphy and paintings, as well as street performers, making it very lively.

As Jiang Qingyan passed by a jewelry stall, her eyes were immediately drawn to a jade pendant, which she then picked up and examined closely.

It feels cool and comfortable to the touch, and a fish is carved on the warm white jade, playing among the flowers, which is very beautiful.

"Young master, you have excellent taste! This jade fish playing with lotus pendant was carved by Liang Cheng, the most famous craftsman in the city. It is the only one of its kind in the world! I just acquired it from him today." The stall owner, with a fawning smile and bowing, hurriedly introduced the piece.

The stall owner sized up Jiang Qingyan and Ling Feng, thinking to himself, "These two young masters are exceptionally handsome and dressed in fine clothes. They must be the eldest sons and attendants of some official! This jade pendant will definitely fetch a good price today!"

Hearing the stall owner's words, Jiang Qingyan raised an eyebrow slightly, played with the jade pendant in her hand, and joked:

"Oh? There's only one like it in the world? If Liang Cheng were to carve another one exactly the same, or even mass-produce the same design, wouldn't it become commonplace?"

The stall owner waved his hand and quickly explained, "Young master, don't worry, it won't happen. Liang Cheng's hands are crippled, and he'll probably have trouble even carving a flower in the future..." As he finished speaking, a hint of regret flashed in his eyes.

Jiang Qingyan glanced at the stall owner. Judging from his expression, he didn't seem to be lying. It was just a pity that Liang Cheng was such a good craftsman...

Jiang Qingyan's heart stirred. She looked thoughtfully at the jade pendant in her hand, then placed it on Ling Feng's waist and compared it to her own. She nodded in satisfaction and said, "Hmm, it suits you very well."

After saying that, he tied the jade pendant to Ling Feng's waist, took out a silver ingot from his pocket and threw it to the stall owner, then strode into the restaurant.

"Thank you so much, young master! Please take care!" The stall owner picked up the silver ingot, took a bite, and grinned from ear to ear. "This young master is so generous to his servants! This ingot of silver could buy my entire stall!"

Ling Feng paused for a moment, then quickly followed, "Young Master, this jade pendant..."

"This is for you, wear it well."

Jiang Qingyan didn't care much. She just thought the jade pendant was indeed beautifully carved, and Ling Feng was always by her side. Anyway, it was meant for her to see.

"What would you two gentlemen like to eat?" The waiter, carrying a pot of hot tea, trotted over with a smile to greet them.

Jiang Qingyan waved her hand with great momentum, "Put up all the signs in your shops!"

She'd heard that line a lot on TV before, and she'd wanted to try it for a long time, but she was always short of money. But now… she had plenty of money! She was going to be a tycoon for once!

"Alright! Please wait a moment, young master, I'll go to the kitchen and give the order right away!"

After the waiter left, Jiang Qingyan tilted her head and glanced at Ling Feng, who was standing straight behind her. She frowned and said, "Why are you standing behind me? Come sit next to me. I said I'd take you to eat something delicious. How can we eat if you're standing behind me?"

After saying that, she grabbed Ling Feng's arm and pulled him to sit down next to her.

The dishes were served quickly. Jiang Qingyan tore off a large chicken leg and handed it to Ling Feng, then tore off another one for herself. She was starving after being busy all day.

At first, Ling Feng was a little reserved, but seeing how much Jiang Qingyan was enjoying her food, he stopped being so formal, picked up his chopsticks, and quietly ate in small bites with his head down.

After eating and drinking her fill, Jiang Qingyan felt homesick. She squinted her eyes, and a wave of drowsiness washed over her. She yawned and looked lazily at Ling Feng, "Are you full? If you are, let's go back. I'm sleepy."

Looking at her greasy little face from eating, Ling Feng found her rather cute, and his tone softened unconsciously.

"Please wait a moment, young master. I will go and prepare the carriage immediately."