The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

After thinking for a moment, Liu Chen sat up and said directly, "It is not that I despise you for being lowly, but that I find you too young and extravagant."

After a pause, he continued, "I like beautiful women, I like to hoard wealth, and I like my wives and concubines to dress simply."

He didn't have any particular fetishes, it's just that in this era, he wanted to find a beautiful, unmarried girl over eighteen years old.

It's as difficult as climbing to heaven.

He could only use the excuse that he liked beautiful women.

Chen Mingzhen was only fourteen years old... not only could she not bring herself to kiss him, but she also really didn't feel anything.

Only a woman with fair skin, a beautiful face, long legs, and a curvaceous figure could unleash his animalistic desires.

Chen Mingzhen and the eunuchs, maids, and palace women around her were all surprised.

As long as you don't mind my humble origins, everything is negotiable... Chen Mingzhen's small face lit up with joy, and she said, "Why didn't Your Majesty say so earlier? I have five concubines, two of whom are beautiful women. One is Liu Zhaoning, and the other is Chen Lingzi. I would like to invite them to serve me in bed." She then turned to her maid and said, "Go and invite the two ladies."

"Yes." The two maids who accompanied the bride bowed and turned to leave.

Immediately, Chen Mingzhen knelt and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. As the king's wife, I naturally respect Your Majesty. Tomorrow, I will wear plain clothes, weave cloth, raise silkworms, and manage the household affairs."

Liu Chen's eyes flashed as he carefully observed Chen Mingzhen's expression, gaining a general understanding of his wife's personality. "Very good. If she can maintain this demeanor, she'll be a virtuous and capable wife in the future."

A great man should aspire to great heights, but if he marries a wife who is not virtuous, his heroic spirit will be diminished. On the contrary, a virtuous wife will be like a tiger with wings.

Whether he's a merchant or not, he doesn't care.

He only cared whether his wife was virtuous or not.

He will protect his wife as long as she is virtuous.

"Good," Liu Chen said with a smile.

Chen Mingzhen was delighted and summoned his concubines to his bedchamber. She then took her leave.

Soon after, a maid led Liu Zhaoning and Chen Lingzi in.

They were all beautiful widows who had died and had no children.

One is eighteen, and the other is nineteen.

She was beautiful with fair skin, a curvaceous figure, and gorgeous clothes.

"Your Majesty." Liu Zhaoning and Chen Lingzi knew they would be serving the king tonight, but they were much calmer than Chen Mingzhen. With charming eyes, they came before the king and bowed.

Liu Chenji sat on the large bed, looked around, and chose Liu Zhaoning, saying, "Come up here." He then turned to Chen Lingzi and said, "Come to my palace at this time tomorrow."

"Yes."

Liu Zhaoning and Chen Lingzi were both pleased and bowed in agreement.

Chen Lingzi then took her leave, and Liu Zhaoning went to bed.

The curtains were lowered.

............

"Full of youthful vigor, what a healthy body." The next morning, Liu Chen lay in bed, unwilling to get up, savoring the pleasures of the previous night.

No wonder Cao Cao was fond of other men's wives; what interest could a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl possibly have? A beautiful woman of eighteen or nineteen, youthful and charming.

So happy.

Moreover, he was young and vigorous, full of youthful energy. He also had a regular lifestyle and exercised regularly.

Strong as a calf.

After savoring the moment for a while, Liu Chen finally got up.

The eunuch rolled up the curtain, and Liu Zhaoning, who had gotten up first, was already dressed and waiting outside.

Upon seeing the king rise, she immediately came forward to serve him attentively.

She was radiant with allure after a night of passion, her skin flushed pink like a ripe apple, exuding captivating sexiness.

Feeling a bit excited, Liu Chen, the groom, couldn't resist reaching out and pinching her chin.

Her eyes seemed to be filled with water, radiating the beauty of spring.

After changing his clothes, Liu Chen dismissed Liu Zhaoning and sent someone to invite Queen Chen Mingzhen to dine.

Liu Chen, seeing her, exclaimed with delight, "What a virtuous wife you are!"

As promised last night, Chen Mingzhen wore coarse cloth clothes, no jewelry, and dressed like a commoner.

But she is beautiful. Beautiful clothes have their own kind of beauty.

Simple clothes can also have their own beauty.

When they grow up, they will be a rare sight, if not a scourge to the country and its people.

Chen Mingzhen's eyes crinkled with joy.

The couple were in perfect harmony and sat down together for breakfast. After breakfast, Liu Chen went to exercise.

Chen Mingzhen ordered the maids and concubines who had come with her to wear simple clothes and remove their jewelry, and then led them to weave and embroider.

She also personally oversaw the affairs of Wangzhuang, preparing to employ the methods of a merchant's daughter to manage the household.

Expand the family business.

However, this only applies at home. When she goes out, Chen Mingzhen still dresses in fine clothes and wears expensive jewelry, never losing the dignity of a royal family.

Liu Chen's wedding was at the end of the year, and the New Year was fast approaching.

Liu Chen took Chen Mingzhen to a royal family banquet, and after the New Year, he took her to visit relatives.

She did very well.

People might gossip behind her back that she is the daughter of a businessman, but on the surface, everyone praises her highly.

The eighth day of the first month of the third year of Jingyao.

Chengdu.

The spring chill was still in the air, and people had to continue wearing their winter clothes. Due to food shortages, the wild animals in the mountains were emaciated and had no choice but to leave the mountains and come to the places where humans lived in search of food.

The number of times that important people went hunting decreased sharply.

Inside the palace.

The imperial guards, clad in armor and armed with weapons, stood guard and patrolled, exhaling white smoke.

Eunuchs and palace maids of low status busied themselves serving the royal nobles.

With the departure of Liu Chen and the other two princes from the palace, the number of nobles in the palace decreased.

However, Liu Chen and the other two kings took away the palace maids and eunuchs who served them.

It's like there are fewer important people, fewer eunuchs and palace maids to serve them, but their workload remains unchanged.

Harem.

A group of eunuchs were carrying items toward the Empress's chambers.

With a loud "bang," a large tree suddenly snapped and fell to the ground. Some of the more timid eunuchs screamed in fright, dropping their belongings and falling face-first into the dirt.

"This is troublesome, this is troublesome." The head eunuch looked at the scattered items on the ground, his face turned pale, and he stomped his feet repeatedly. These were all items that the Empress liked very much.

He then kicked the tree violently to vent his anger, fear, and panic.

The news spread quickly.

Empress Zhang did not blame the eunuchs, but was puzzled as to why the large tree had broken for no reason.

There was no wind today, and no lightning struck.

The tree doesn't seem to be sick.

How could it break for no reason?

Not only Empress Zhang, but also the palace eunuchs, maids, and concubines were all behaving strangely. Some were even terrified, feeling that this might be an omen of disaster.

in the afternoon.

Qiao Zhou entered the palace in a palanquin because the emperor summoned him.

"Lord Qiao, I have a question I'd like to ask you to answer." A eunuch walking beside the carriage hesitated for a moment before asking.

"Speak frankly without hesitation." Qiao Zhou was dressed in court attire, with an upright demeanor and great poise.

The eunuch then recounted the story of the tree breaking without warning. He was truly terrified, and Qiao Zhou, being a renowned Confucian scholar of the time, might be able to offer an explanation.

Qiao Zhou's face showed a strange expression. He had lost interest in paying attention to the eunuch and casually replied with a few perfunctory words.

After getting off the carriage, Qiao Zhou took the opportunity to take out the knife and pen he carried with him and carved a line of words on the main pillar of the hall.

"When the crowd is large and the meeting is scheduled, everything is prepared and distributed; how can this be repeated?"

It's still a prophetic statement that has come true.

The one who replaced the Han dynasty was Gao of Dangtu.

This means that the state of Wei replaced the Han dynasty.

The gathering is large and numerous, the meeting is scheduled, and the gifts are distributed. How can this be repeated?

This means that Cao Wei was about to unify the world, and the fate of Liu Han was sealed.