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

spring.

The lingering cold is biting, hibernating insects are silent, and all things await the warmth of the sun.

Chengdu.

The Northern Royal Palace. Eunuchs and palace maids, still dressed in winter clothes, walked through the palace.

Inside a room.

Liu Chen knelt on his seat and drank hot wine. On the table were cooked beef, pickled radishes, and other snacks to accompany the wine.

Oxen are important, and although Liu Chen is a king, he dares not mistreat them. Yesterday, an old ox died peacefully. After receiving the beef, Liu Chen kept some for himself and distributed the rest to the palace officials.

But the meat from the old cow isn't actually that good.

The fire in the charcoal stove beside Liu Chen was burning brightly.

Liu Zhaoning, now pregnant again, sat serving wine. She was increasingly mature and voluptuous, radiating maternal glow.

"Regarding having a son," Liu Chen turned to look at her and suddenly said, "Zhao Ning, I desire a legitimate son."

Liu Zhaoning's attention was entirely on Liu Chen, but after hearing Liu Chen's words, she was stunned for a long time. Then, overjoyed, she bowed and said, "Of course, Your Majesty needs a legitimate son. Congratulations, Your Majesty."

She was from the maternal clan of Queen Chen Mingzhen, and the purpose of the existence of the five concubines was to help Chen Mingzhen consolidate her favor.

Although she and Chen Zhaoning both had sons, she had no improper thoughts.

Now that the king and queen are going to consummate their marriage, that's wonderful!

Liu Zhaoning quickly stood up and left the room. She whispered a few words to a palace maid, who then left with a happy expression.

Liu Zhaoning returned and continued to serve wine to Liu Chen.

The palace maid quickly left the palace and went to the silkworm rearing room outside the palace.

Spring is a very important time for silkworms.

While leading the palace maids and eunuchs and directing the work, Chen Mingzhen also personally participated in the tasks.

She has grown up.

The once pretty little girl has blossomed into a graceful young woman, a true blossoming maiden.

In terms of clothing, she still wore her hair in a simple bun, secured with a wooden hairpin, and dressed in coarse linen clothes and ordinary shoes.

She looked like a country girl.

But her beauty was like a bright pearl, and even among the many beautiful palace maids, she still stood out from the crowd.

"The Empress is overjoyed." A palace maid rushed over, almost unable to stop the carriage. Facing the bewildered Chen Mingzhen, she took a deep breath and whispered a few words in her ear.

Chen Mingzhen was overjoyed, but then blushed deeply, her face turning as red as an apple, her heart pounding wildly.

I'm going to be a woman now.

This was certainly a big deal. Chen Mingzhen immediately put down her work and began preparing for the "spring night".

Just as Liu Chen was about to have a son, a guest arrived at the palace.

inside the room.

Liu Chen had finished drinking and put down his chopsticks. Liu Zhaoning was just about to call a eunuch in to clean up.

A eunuch entered first, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, Zhuge Shang has arrived."

"Here we go again," Liu Chen chuckled, though he was in a very good mood.

He still favored the Zhuge family, but Zhuge Zhan had reached his limit and could be considered useless.

On the contrary, Zhuge Shang was someone he had watched grow up. He liked riding and archery, wielding a horse spear, and reading military books.

He is already seventeen years old this year, and he is truly handsome and dashing.

Knowing that Liu Chen was also practicing martial arts, he often came to his uncle to spar.

"Go and invite Zhang Sheng," Liu Chen said to the eunuch, then gently patted Liu Zhaoning's soft little hand and said, "Get some rest."

"Yes," Liu Zhaoning replied with a smile, her brows full of tenderness. Although she was only a concubine, Liu Chen never looked down on her. She had originally thought that serving a "wicked king" might bring her suffering. Unexpectedly...

Liu Zhaoning stood up and walked away, swaying her slender waist and plump hips.

Liu Chen also stood up immediately, drew his sword, strode out of the room, and stood under the eaves.

"Uncle." After a while, Zhuge Shang, accompanied by eunuchs, strode over with his head held high.

With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he possesses extraordinary vigor despite his young age.

Liu Chen looked on with admiration; this nephew was the future of the Zhuge family.

"I have already sent someone to invite Zhang Sheng. Please wait a moment," Liu Chen said with a smile.

"Yes," Zhuge Shang readily agreed. They didn't just wait idly; the uncle and nephew knelt and sat on the veranda, chatting idly.

Zhuge Shang was already seventeen, and his mother was busy arranging a marriage for him. Because the Zhuge family was of very high social standing, countless families wanted to marry into the Zhuge family. His mother was overwhelmed with choices.

Zhuge Shang himself didn't care, shouting, "The traitors to the country have not been eliminated, how can I think of a family?"

"Do you think you're Huo Qubing?" Liu Chen rolled his eyes at his nephew. Huo Qubing once said, "How can I have a home when the Xiongnu have not been destroyed?"

Liu Chen said irritably, "Settle down first, then build your career. Getting married and having children won't stop you from eliminating traitors."

Historically, Zhuge Shang died at the age of eighteen, according to the ancient Chinese age reckoning (using the traditional Chinese age reckoning). He was actually not even eighteen years old when he died. He left no sons, and probably no daughters either.

Although he would not allow the Battle of Mianzhu to happen in this life, he still longed for the Prime Minister's family to prosper.

You brat, hurry up and get married and have kids.

The two chatted for a while. Then Zhang Sheng arrived. Liu Chen and Zhuge Shang immediately stood up.

After making preparations, the three mounted their horses and led more than ten riders away from the palace to the training ground exclusively for Liu Chen to practice.

The main purpose was to practice mounted combat.

Horseback riding is extremely dangerous.

But the battlefield was even more dangerous. Liu Chen was not afraid, nor was Zhuge Shang.

The two men, each holding a wooden stick without a spearhead, rode their horses on opposite sides, holding their spears horizontally and staring at each other.

"Kill!!!!!" Once on horseback, Zhuge Shang's face turned bright red. Unable to contain his inner turmoil, he roared and kicked the horse's belly, urging it straight toward Liu Chen.

"Good timing!" Liu Chen shouted, and spurred his horse forward. The two men clashed, each wielding a wooden stick.

With a "bang," the wooden sticks collided in mid-air, causing both men to sway, but neither fell off their horses, and they passed each other.

Real horse battles were far less exciting than those in novels.

The general not only had to control his warhorse, but also wield his lance, which allowed him to perform many impressive maneuvers.

Victory or defeat often hinges on a single moment.

The stronger person has the upper hand.

Liu Chen's strength, spearmanship, and horsemanship were all superior to Zhuge Shang's, not because he was more talented, but because he had practiced for several more years.

Zhuge Shang is also very strong and has the potential to become the White-Robed Young General Zhao Zilong in the future.

At this stage, Liu Chen is giving in to him.

"Kill!!!!!" Zhuge Shang was already in the zone, trembling with excitement. After reining in his horse, he turned it around, roared once more, and charged straight at Liu Chen with his wooden club in hand.

"Clatter clatter clatter!!!!" The sound of horses' hooves was crisp and melodious.

Liu Chen smiled, reined in his horse, turned around, and went to meet him. Their horses passed each other once again.

After three rounds, the two finally faced off head-on. One controlled his warhorse while the other tried to spear the other with a wooden club.

It was a fierce battle, with both sides exchanging blows.

The riders beside him were tense, ready to rush forward and drink at any moment. Zhang Sheng, on the other hand, was more composed, his face filled with appreciation as he watched the battle.

Although he still believed that Liu Chen, as the future emperor, should sit in the rear and oversee all military and political power.

Charging into battle was the job of a warrior like him.

However, he also had to admit that Liu Chen was talented in horsemanship and was the Northern King who inherited the bloodline of Zhaolie.

Moreover, Liu Chen had a talent for commanding troops and was very good at military strategy.

And Zhuge Shang.

Despite his young age, he has shown extraordinary qualities.

The Liu family and the Zhuge family.

Although the second generation was mediocre, the third generation has a promising future.