Due to Huangfu Yuchen needing to attend the early court session, Yan Ge rarely woke up earlier than him. After waking up and seeing Huangfu Yuchen still asleep, Yan Ge found it strange.
Ever since they started sharing the same bed, Huangfu Yuchen would always hold him. Even now, his right arm rested on Yan Ge’s waist, his expression calm and his eyes closed, appearing harmless.
Yan Ge playfully twisted Huangfu Yuchen’s face, but there was no response. His eyes flickered, and he deliberately revealed a trace of killing intent.
Huangfu Yuchen woke up almost simultaneously, quickly pulling Yan Ge to his side and striking fiercely towards the direction of the killing intent with his left palm. His sharp eyes swept the room with lightning speed.
“My waist…” Yan Ge was pressed beneath Huangfu Yuchen, and felt like crying without tears. What playing a joke on Huangfu Yuchen? It was entirely self-harm.
“Baby,” Huangfu Yuchen now understood what happened, feeling both amused and exasperated. He quickly embraced Yan Ge, giving him a slap on his buttocks before massaging his waist. As his hand touched the smooth skin, he continued, “Let’s see if you’ll dare to misbehave again.”
Yan Ge raised an eyebrow, sat up, and gently patted Huangfu Yuchen’s arm while smiling at him. “Lie down.”
“What for? Isn’t your waist hurting?” Huangfu Yuchen asked puzzled.
“Lie down,” Yan Ge urged.
Huangfu Yuchen turned over and lay down on the bed. He turned his head and said, “Baby, lying like this is not good for that area, it will affect your happiness.”
Yan Ge sneered, removed the offending garment that was under his foot, and knelt on the bed. He hugged Huangfu Yuchen’s legs and pressed them in the direction of his back with force.
“Ah!” Huangfu Yuchen let out a groan.
Yan Ge laughed, then swiftly jumped off the bed, almost tripping on the bed curtains. With a quick and silent flip in the air, he landed silently on the ground.
Huangfu Yuchen straightened his legs in pain, slowly moving his waist as he stiffly turned his head. “Baby, you are really ruthless.”
“Let’s see if you slap to hit me there again,” Yan Ge adopted Huangfu Yuchen’s tone and said leisurely.
Under the flickering lights, his mischievous expression became more apparent. Huangfu Yuchen’s gritted his teeth, and he slowly sat up while supporting his waist.
“Is it really twisted?” Yan Ge took two steps closer and asked with concern.
Huangfu Yuchen smiled. He wanted to trick Yan Ge over and slap him on the butt, so he nodded without hesitation.
However, Yan Ge’s tone changed, “Then should I help you twist it back?”
Huangfu Yuchen: “…”
“Haha!” Yan Ge laughed joyfully. He flashed to the dressing table, and took a comb from the side to tidy his hair.
Huangfu Yuchen remained expressionless as he said, “I was planning to take you to a good place today, but I changed my mind now.”
Yan Ge’s eyes lit up. If Huangfu Yuchen said it was a good place, then it must be truly remarkable. He quickly moved closer to Huangfu Yuchen, sitting next to him on the bed. He leaned his head against Huangfu Yuchen’s shoulder, “I was wrong. How about you twist my waist instead?”
Even though his submissiveness was a pretense, Huangfu Yuchen’s heart softened. His indulgent smile flashed in his eyes as he pinched Yan Ge’s face gently. He hoped his beloved would always be this happy.
“Twist it later tonight,” he said with profound meaning.
Yan Ge stiffened.
Now Huangfu Yuchen couldn’t help but laugh. He patted his leather belt, stood up to change clothes, but felt a momentary pain in his waist.
Yan Ge was startled and quickly supported him. “Did you really injure yourself?”
“I strained the muscle,” Huangfu Yuchen looked at him helplessly.
Yan Ge gave an awkward smile. He watched him clutch his waist and felt a bit amused. He turned his head to the side to hide his smile.
Huangfu Yuchen shook his head. He summoned the palace maids to bring the wash tools. After the items were arranged, the palace maids performed a silent bow and withdrew.
Yan Ge finished brushing his teeth, cupped Huangfu Yuchen’s face and bit his lips lightly “Today’s first kiss!”
Huangfu Yuchen held the back of his head, kissed him fiercely and finally let go when he was satisfied.
Yan Ge licked his slightly painful lips, glared at Huangfu Yuchen and went to wash his face.
After finishing their morning routines, they had breakfast together. Yan Ge practiced martial arts while Huangfu Yuchen went to the court. Huangfu Yuchen would come back to pick him up after court.
On arriving at Taihe Hall, he found when all the officials had gathered, and the young crown prince was standing at the front of the line in his princely attire. He had been attending court sessions for a while now and occasionally assisted Huangfu Yuchen in handling governmental affairs, while his studies were scheduled in the afternoon. Under Huangfu Yuchen’s strict requirements, the young crown prince had become very disciplined.
“Your Majesty has arrived—”
“Your humble subjects/son pay respects to Your Majesty. Long live, the Emperor/Father!”
“Rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty/Father Emperor.”
Deng Mande repeated the customary words as he had done for years, but his spirit was still vigorous. “If there is any matter, report, otherwise, court is dismissed—”
Minister Chen Guowei stepped forward, “Reporting to Your Majesty, last year’s harvest taxes from various regions have been compiled. Thanks to the effects of the ‘Maifan Stone,’ agricultural taxes increased by thirty percent compared to the previous year. The average rice yield per mu increased by two hundred catties, which is truly gratifying.”
Huangfu Yuchen smiled faintly, “Very good. All personnel at the Agricultural Experimentation Department will be rewarded.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
King Zhong stepped forward after him, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the development of Great Han Kingdom is thriving, and we need more talents. I believe it is necessary to open a new imperial examination.”
His words received nods from several ministers. Currently, Great Han was flourishing in agriculture, defense, and culture. They often felt understaffed when dealing with their tasks.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “King Zhong’s suggestion is reasonable. Now that it is already May, when would be the appropriate time to hold the imperial examination according to King Zhong?”
“Nowadays, various regions are connected by cemented roads, making travel convenient. However, the territory of Great Han is vast, and even the furthest provincial students would take nearly a month to reach the capital at a normal speed. In my opinion, the examination could be held in the late August,” King Zhong answered confidently.
King Zhong had considered the matter of the imperial examination carefully, replying without hesitation and in an organized manner. “Setting the time more generously would not only facilitate our communication with the regions but also allow the students ample time to prepare. What does Your Majesty think?”
Huangfu Yuchen praised, “King Zhong has thought it through thoroughly. In that case, the imperial examination will be scheduled from August 21 to August 29. Students from remote areas will be subsidized for their travel expenses. The local officials will advance the funds, and the court will reimburse them afterward.” With the treasury full, he would not be stingy when generosity was called for.
“Understood. Your Majesty’s benevolence is a blessing to the people,” King Zhong sincerely praised.
Huangfu Yuchen asked, “Does anyone else have anything to report?”
No one spoke.
Huangfu Yuchen said coldly, “Are you all done? There is one more thing on my side. I heard a few days ago that the Governor of Taozhou married four concubines within a month, and three of them were seen crying on the day they entered his household. I wonder which of you ministers is interested in investigating this matter and telling me this fascinating story!”
“Who is the Governor of Taozhou?” A somewhat puzzled minister asked the person next to him.
Several ministers secretly glanced at the Duke Lu.
“He is Duke Lu’s brother-in-law.”
Duke Lu’s face had turned pale long ago. He anxiously stepped forward and reported, “Reporting to Your Majesty, I humbly volunteer to investigate this matter thoroughly.”
Ever since his son started working for Huang Guiqing, he had made quite a number of achievements, gaining genuine friends in the process. As his father, he gained more fame, and more opportunities to be involved in government affairs. Naturally, his chances of meritorious service increased, and the Emperor had taken notice of him to some extent. Unexpectedly, his brother-in-law still failed to grasp reality and abused his status in the capital, behaving recklessly and even forcing himself upon common girls. Although the Emperor’s policies had become somewhat lenient in recent years, he would never show mercy when punishment was due. He still ruled with an iron fist. It was ridiculous that his brother-in-law didn’t understand this, digging his own grave! He only learned about the matter a few days ago and had intended to handle it before the Emperor received the news. Unexpectedly, the Emperor was informed so quickly, making him both impressed and alarmed. He was also secretly grateful that he never had any evil intentions or deeds.
Huangfu Yuchen snorted, “Very well, I’ll be waiting for your report.”
“This humble minister shall follow Your Majesty’s command.”
The young crown prince looked at his father, who was decisive in rewards and punishments, and his eyes shone with admiration. The seeds of worship gradually sprouted, growing into a sapling that would eventually become a towering tree.
With no one else reporting matters below, Huangfu Yuchen gestured to Deng Mande and left.
“The court is dismissed—”
Huangfu Yuchen returned to the Tenglong Palace, met Yan Ge, and they left the palace together.
Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Lu Fei, and Jun Xiang were waiting at the palace gate. They immediately bowed and greeted, “Greetings, Boss, Young Master!”
Along with them were Jiang Gan, Luo Wei, and Wei Hao, all dressed in casual attire.
“Greetings, Boss, Young Master!”
Several inconspicuous carriages were parked on the side.
“Get in the carriage,” Huangfu Yuchen said. He entered the front carriage, followed by Yan Ge.
Gao Feng and the others followed on horseback.
Yan Ge was intrigued by the mysterious and he asked, “Yuchen, where are we going?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
Not falling for it, Yan Ge calmly lay on his shoulder and said, “Then I’ll take a nap.”
Huangfu Yuchen: “…”
He could only pat Yan Ge’s waist gently, sitting sideways to make him more comfortable.
The carriage left the capital and headed towards the outskirts, getting farther away from the city.
Yan Ge noticed that some guards occasionally looked back to check for any followers, and his curiosity was piqued. He looked up at Huangfu Yuchen, who looked as if he was waiting for him to ask, but he turned his head and focused on the scenery, determined not to inquire.
The carriage left the cemented road and headed into the deep forests of the mountains. Yan Ge became even more curious, so he flew out of the window and stood on top of the carriage, enjoying the breeze and admiring the scenery. He looked left and right, trying to figure out where they were going. This place was already dozens of miles away from the capital and quite remote. He had never been here before.
Jiang Gan and Luo Wei were shocked and the corners of their mouths twitched. ‘Huang Guiqing, you are sitting on the Emperor’s dragon head!’
They glanced at Huangfu Yuchen who was sitting by the window. On seeing the doting smile on his face, they kept their composure, and pretended not to notice.
After sitting alone on top for a while, Yan Ge became bored and returned to the carriage.
Huangfu Yuchen naturally made room for him. “Do you want to play chess for a while?”
“Okay.” Yan Ge nodded.
The two played a few games of chess, and time passed quickly.
Soon, the carriage stopped.
“Boss, Young Master, we’ve arrived. We can only walk from here.”
Huangfu Yuchen’s stern voice came from inside the carriage, “Understood.”
But no one came out.
Everyone dared not rush them and waited silently, knowing that the Emperor was playing chess with Huang Guiqing.
Sure enough, Yan Ge’s gleeful voice soon rang out, “I won.”
Huangfu Yuchen glanced at the chessboard and turned it around. “Yes, yes, you won.”
The two got off the carriage.
Yan Ge faintly heard a few familiar explosions from deep in the mountains and couldn’t help but ask, “Was that the sound of bombs?”
Huangfu Yuchen held his hand and led him up the mountain, “Yes. I’ve had a military base established here.”
A military base! Yan Ge’s eyes lit up.
Huangfu Yuchen continued, “The people inside don’t have a chance to come out for a long time. In other words, besides them, only the people here know about this.”
Jiang Gan, Luo Wei, and the others understood that the Emperor’s words were meant for them. If the news leaked, it would be their fault! They all froze in shock. There was no need to express their loyalty with words, they just had to show it with their actions.
Due to Huangfu Yuchen needing to attend the early court session, Yan Ge rarely woke up earlier than him. After waking up and seeing Huangfu Yuchen still asleep, Yan Ge found it strange.
Ever since they started sharing the same bed, Huangfu Yuchen would always hold him. Even now, his right arm rested on Yan Ge’s waist, his expression calm and his eyes closed, appearing harmless.
Yan Ge playfully twisted Huangfu Yuchen’s face, but there was no response. His eyes flickered, and he deliberately revealed a trace of killing intent.
Huangfu Yuchen woke up almost simultaneously, quickly pulling Yan Ge to his side and striking fiercely towards the direction of the killing intent with his left palm. His sharp eyes swept the room with lightning speed.
“My waist…” Yan Ge was pressed beneath Huangfu Yuchen, and felt like crying without tears. What playing a joke on Huangfu Yuchen? It was entirely self-harm.
“Baby,” Huangfu Yuchen now understood what happened, feeling both amused and exasperated. He quickly embraced Yan Ge, giving him a slap on his buttocks before massaging his waist. As his hand touched the smooth skin, he continued, “Let’s see if you’ll dare to misbehave again.”
Yan Ge raised an eyebrow, sat up, and gently patted Huangfu Yuchen’s arm while smiling at him. “Lie down.”
“What for? Isn’t your waist hurting?” Huangfu Yuchen asked puzzled.
“Lie down,” Yan Ge urged.
Huangfu Yuchen turned over and lay down on the bed. He turned his head and said, “Baby, lying like this is not good for that area, it will affect your happiness.”
Yan Ge sneered, removed the offending garment that was under his foot, and knelt on the bed. He hugged Huangfu Yuchen’s legs and pressed them in the direction of his back with force.
“Ah!” Huangfu Yuchen let out a groan.
Yan Ge laughed, then swiftly jumped off the bed, almost tripping on the bed curtains. With a quick and silent flip in the air, he landed silently on the ground.
Huangfu Yuchen straightened his legs in pain, slowly moving his waist as he stiffly turned his head. “Baby, you are really ruthless.”
“Let’s see if you slap to hit me there again,” Yan Ge adopted Huangfu Yuchen’s tone and said leisurely.
Under the flickering lights, his mischievous expression became more apparent. Huangfu Yuchen’s gritted his teeth, and he slowly sat up while supporting his waist.
“Is it really twisted?” Yan Ge took two steps closer and asked with concern.
Huangfu Yuchen smiled. He wanted to trick Yan Ge over and slap him on the butt, so he nodded without hesitation.
However, Yan Ge’s tone changed, “Then should I help you twist it back?”
Huangfu Yuchen: “…”
“Haha!” Yan Ge laughed joyfully. He flashed to the dressing table, and took a comb from the side to tidy his hair.
Huangfu Yuchen remained expressionless as he said, “I was planning to take you to a good place today, but I changed my mind now.”
Yan Ge’s eyes lit up. If Huangfu Yuchen said it was a good place, then it must be truly remarkable. He quickly moved closer to Huangfu Yuchen, sitting next to him on the bed. He leaned his head against Huangfu Yuchen’s shoulder, “I was wrong. How about you twist my waist instead?”
Even though his submissiveness was a pretense, Huangfu Yuchen’s heart softened. His indulgent smile flashed in his eyes as he pinched Yan Ge’s face gently. He hoped his beloved would always be this happy.
“Twist it later tonight,” he said with profound meaning.
Yan Ge stiffened.
Now Huangfu Yuchen couldn’t help but laugh. He patted his leather belt, stood up to change clothes, but felt a momentary pain in his waist.
Yan Ge was startled and quickly supported him. “Did you really injure yourself?”
“I strained the muscle,” Huangfu Yuchen looked at him helplessly.
Yan Ge gave an awkward smile. He watched him clutch his waist and felt a bit amused. He turned his head to the side to hide his smile.
Huangfu Yuchen shook his head. He summoned the palace maids to bring the wash tools. After the items were arranged, the palace maids performed a silent bow and withdrew.
Yan Ge finished brushing his teeth, cupped Huangfu Yuchen’s face and bit his lips lightly “Today’s first kiss!”
Huangfu Yuchen held the back of his head, kissed him fiercely and finally let go when he was satisfied.
Yan Ge licked his slightly painful lips, glared at Huangfu Yuchen and went to wash his face.
After finishing their morning routines, they had breakfast together. Yan Ge practiced martial arts while Huangfu Yuchen went to the court. Huangfu Yuchen would come back to pick him up after court.
On arriving at Taihe Hall, he found when all the officials had gathered, and the young crown prince was standing at the front of the line in his princely attire. He had been attending court sessions for a while now and occasionally assisted Huangfu Yuchen in handling governmental affairs, while his studies were scheduled in the afternoon. Under Huangfu Yuchen’s strict requirements, the young crown prince had become very disciplined.
“Your Majesty has arrived—”
“Your humble subjects/son pay respects to Your Majesty. Long live, the Emperor/Father!”
“Rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty/Father Emperor.”
Deng Mande repeated the customary words as he had done for years, but his spirit was still vigorous. “If there is any matter, report, otherwise, court is dismissed—”
Minister Chen Guowei stepped forward, “Reporting to Your Majesty, last year’s harvest taxes from various regions have been compiled. Thanks to the effects of the ‘Maifan Stone,’ agricultural taxes increased by thirty percent compared to the previous year. The average rice yield per mu increased by two hundred catties, which is truly gratifying.”
Huangfu Yuchen smiled faintly, “Very good. All personnel at the Agricultural Experimentation Department will be rewarded.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
King Zhong stepped forward after him, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the development of Great Han Kingdom is thriving, and we need more talents. I believe it is necessary to open a new imperial examination.”
His words received nods from several ministers. Currently, Great Han was flourishing in agriculture, defense, and culture. They often felt understaffed when dealing with their tasks.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “King Zhong’s suggestion is reasonable. Now that it is already May, when would be the appropriate time to hold the imperial examination according to King Zhong?”
“Nowadays, various regions are connected by cemented roads, making travel convenient. However, the territory of Great Han is vast, and even the furthest provincial students would take nearly a month to reach the capital at a normal speed. In my opinion, the examination could be held in the late August,” King Zhong answered confidently.
King Zhong had considered the matter of the imperial examination carefully, replying without hesitation and in an organized manner. “Setting the time more generously would not only facilitate our communication with the regions but also allow the students ample time to prepare. What does Your Majesty think?”
Huangfu Yuchen praised, “King Zhong has thought it through thoroughly. In that case, the imperial examination will be scheduled from August 21 to August 29. Students from remote areas will be subsidized for their travel expenses. The local officials will advance the funds, and the court will reimburse them afterward.” With the treasury full, he would not be stingy when generosity was called for.
“Understood. Your Majesty’s benevolence is a blessing to the people,” King Zhong sincerely praised.
Huangfu Yuchen asked, “Does anyone else have anything to report?”
No one spoke.
Huangfu Yuchen said coldly, “Are you all done? There is one more thing on my side. I heard a few days ago that the Governor of Taozhou married four concubines within a month, and three of them were seen crying on the day they entered his household. I wonder which of you ministers is interested in investigating this matter and telling me this fascinating story!”
“Who is the Governor of Taozhou?” A somewhat puzzled minister asked the person next to him.
Several ministers secretly glanced at the Duke Lu.
“He is Duke Lu’s brother-in-law.”
Duke Lu’s face had turned pale long ago. He anxiously stepped forward and reported, “Reporting to Your Majesty, I humbly volunteer to investigate this matter thoroughly.”
Ever since his son started working for Huang Guiqing, he had made quite a number of achievements, gaining genuine friends in the process. As his father, he gained more fame, and more opportunities to be involved in government affairs. Naturally, his chances of meritorious service increased, and the Emperor had taken notice of him to some extent. Unexpectedly, his brother-in-law still failed to grasp reality and abused his status in the capital, behaving recklessly and even forcing himself upon common girls. Although the Emperor’s policies had become somewhat lenient in recent years, he would never show mercy when punishment was due. He still ruled with an iron fist. It was ridiculous that his brother-in-law didn’t understand this, digging his own grave! He only learned about the matter a few days ago and had intended to handle it before the Emperor received the news. Unexpectedly, the Emperor was informed so quickly, making him both impressed and alarmed. He was also secretly grateful that he never had any evil intentions or deeds.
Huangfu Yuchen snorted, “Very well, I’ll be waiting for your report.”
“This humble minister shall follow Your Majesty’s command.”
The young crown prince looked at his father, who was decisive in rewards and punishments, and his eyes shone with admiration. The seeds of worship gradually sprouted, growing into a sapling that would eventually become a towering tree.
With no one else reporting matters below, Huangfu Yuchen gestured to Deng Mande and left.
“The court is dismissed—”
Huangfu Yuchen returned to the Tenglong Palace, met Yan Ge, and they left the palace together.
Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Lu Fei, and Jun Xiang were waiting at the palace gate. They immediately bowed and greeted, “Greetings, Boss, Young Master!”
Along with them were Jiang Gan, Luo Wei, and Wei Hao, all dressed in casual attire.
“Greetings, Boss, Young Master!”
Several inconspicuous carriages were parked on the side.
“Get in the carriage,” Huangfu Yuchen said. He entered the front carriage, followed by Yan Ge.
Gao Feng and the others followed on horseback.
Yan Ge was intrigued by the mysterious and he asked, “Yuchen, where are we going?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
Not falling for it, Yan Ge calmly lay on his shoulder and said, “Then I’ll take a nap.”
Huangfu Yuchen: “…”
He could only pat Yan Ge’s waist gently, sitting sideways to make him more comfortable.
The carriage left the capital and headed towards the outskirts, getting farther away from the city.
Yan Ge noticed that some guards occasionally looked back to check for any followers, and his curiosity was piqued. He looked up at Huangfu Yuchen, who looked as if he was waiting for him to ask, but he turned his head and focused on the scenery, determined not to inquire.
The carriage left the cemented road and headed into the deep forests of the mountains. Yan Ge became even more curious, so he flew out of the window and stood on top of the carriage, enjoying the breeze and admiring the scenery. He looked left and right, trying to figure out where they were going. This place was already dozens of miles away from the capital and quite remote. He had never been here before.
Jiang Gan and Luo Wei were shocked and the corners of their mouths twitched. ‘Huang Guiqing, you are sitting on the Emperor’s dragon head!’
They glanced at Huangfu Yuchen who was sitting by the window. On seeing the doting smile on his face, they kept their composure, and pretended not to notice.
After sitting alone on top for a while, Yan Ge became bored and returned to the carriage.
Huangfu Yuchen naturally made room for him. “Do you want to play chess for a while?”
“Okay.” Yan Ge nodded.
The two played a few games of chess, and time passed quickly.
Soon, the carriage stopped.
“Boss, Young Master, we’ve arrived. We can only walk from here.”
Huangfu Yuchen’s stern voice came from inside the carriage, “Understood.”
But no one came out.
Everyone dared not rush them and waited silently, knowing that the Emperor was playing chess with Huang Guiqing.
Sure enough, Yan Ge’s gleeful voice soon rang out, “I won.”
Huangfu Yuchen glanced at the chessboard and turned it around. “Yes, yes, you won.”
The two got off the carriage.
Yan Ge faintly heard a few familiar explosions from deep in the mountains and couldn’t help but ask, “Was that the sound of bombs?”
Huangfu Yuchen held his hand and led him up the mountain, “Yes. I’ve had a military base established here.”
A military base! Yan Ge’s eyes lit up.
Huangfu Yuchen continued, “The people inside don’t have a chance to come out for a long time. In other words, besides them, only the people here know about this.”
Jiang Gan, Luo Wei, and the others understood that the Emperor’s words were meant for them. If the news leaked, it would be their fault! They all froze in shock. There was no need to express their loyalty with words, they just had to show it with their actions.
