You were taken hostage, why pursue the Enemy's Empress?

"You fucking bastard!"

Wu Dan was furious. Playing around and causing trouble was one thing, but joking about his waist was crossing the line!

He felt like both of his waists were about to break. What did that mean?

Moreover, he had come out to confront Luo Ming after hearing his voice, but he was the one who got scolded. How could he possibly keep his anger in?

"Luo Ming, get the hell out of here, or I'll report you for trespassing on private property!"

Luo Ming retorted, "I came to visit my sister. How is that trespassing?"

Seeing that he had no intention of leaving and that he couldn't beat him, Wu Dan quickly turned to Ying Wuji and said, "Brother Wuji..."

Ying Wuji rubbed his temples. Wu Dan could barely handle things in critical situations, but he was really cowardly in normal circumstances. He would only exchange a few words with Luo Ming and would never dare to fight him.

He shook his head and endured the pain from his wounds as he walked up to Luo Ming. "Do you have a problem with your sister's well-being? Do you have to come here and bother him? Go back and tell Luo Yan that he can marry and take concubines as he pleases. It has nothing to do with us!"

As he spoke, he casually wiped the corner of Hua Chao's eye.

Luo Ming glanced at their intimate actions and sighed inwardly. Although he had been confronted by Ying Wuji before, he didn't have a particularly bad impression of him. If it weren't for the hostage's identity, he would even be happy to see Hua Chao with him.

He was also a bit annoyed. "Seeing the two of you being affectionate makes me uncomfortable, but what can I do?"

Ying Wuji looked at his expression, and it seemed like he was genuinely uncomfortable. He couldn't help but be curious. "By the way, haven't you suspected that the little mother is a mountain demon? The position of Luo Yan's main wife has been vacant for so long, but now he wants to marry a teenage girl. Does the Wei family allow him to do this?"

In theory, although Luo Yan had already become independent from the Wei family, their relationship was still close. This was because Luo Yan's two legitimate sons were the sons of the Wei family's main wife. After Luo Yan's death, the family business would definitely return to the Wei family.

Luo Yan hadn't remarried as the main wife for many years in order to maintain the relationship with the Wei family.

If he suddenly took a main wife and had children, who would be the legitimate son?

If he did this, would the Wei family agree?

"Well..."

Luo Ming hesitated for a moment and said, "My father always plans things carefully. Since he has done this, he must have already presented his arguments to the Wei family. As for that woman... I have also suspected her. I even specially brought doctors and a great scholar to examine her. They all said that it didn't seem like the work of a demonic creature, but rather just a deficiency in essence and energy. I just don't understand why she would indulge in desires when her body is so weak. Could it be that there really are women in this world who can enchant and bewitch people's souls?"

"There are! There are! There are!"

Wu Dan nodded repeatedly, believing it.

Ying Wuji: "..."

Hua Chao: "..."

Luo Ming felt a headache coming on. He arched his hand towards Ying Wuji and said, "Young Master Wuji, I have offended you before. Please forgive me! Our positions are different, and your identity is too delicate. I can't promise to protect you completely. But as long as you treat my sister well and as long as there is a place where you need my help, I will do my best."

Ying Wuji smirked. "With you jumping back and forth like this, how can I trust you?"

Luo Ming felt a bit embarrassed but showed his sincerity. "His Majesty issued a decree the other day, saying that this literary gathering is of great importance and needs someone respected to preside over it. In the end, my father was chosen. I saw your name on the list. In any case, you should have confidence in yourself."

Hmm!

That's useful information.

Having Luo Yan as the host, who knows if he will make things difficult for him. He really needs to make more plans.

Luo Ming continued, "Also! I saw many names of Daoist disciples on the list. Almost every sect has sent someone. The competition will probably be fierce. You need to make more plans."

Ying Wuji frowned. "I thought the Daoists don't participate in the Hundred Schools Gathering. Why did they send so many disciples?"

Luo Ming also felt helpless. "I don't know about this either. The Daoists explicitly stated that they wouldn't participate, so they don't have any spots for elite disciples. But no one can stop them from snatching spots in the literary gathering. Some people say that they don't want to pay any spiritual energy but still want to benefit from other sects' spiritual energy."

Ying Wuji: "..."

Damn it!

A group of students who were guaranteed admission gave up their spots. What's the point of us regular students?

He asked a few more details, and Luo Ming answered honestly, providing detailed explanations. Finally, he looked deeply at Hua Chao before reluctantly leaving Shang Mo Bookstore.

Ying Wuji turned his head and asked gently, "Hua Chao, are you okay?"

Hua Chao's face was a bit pale, but she forced a smile. "I have no relationship with him anymore, whether he marries or takes concubines. Let him be! I'm tired. I'll go to sleep first. You have injuries, so don't stay up too late!"

After speaking, she turned and went back to her room, her desolate figure somewhat heartbreaking.

Ying Wuji sighed. He really hoped that what Hua Chao said was true, but... Luo Yan was really disgusting. He had to find a woman who looked so much like Hua Chao's birth mother to provoke her.

Wu Dan rubbed his hands. "It's getting late, Brother Wuji. I should go too!"

Seeing Wu Dan's absent-minded appearance, Ying Wuji shook his head. "It's not a solution for you to hang out with girls all day. Find an opportunity to propose marriage. If you need money, just tell me. Don't be shy!"

"Propose marriage!?"

Wu Dan was both excited and anxious. After thinking for a long time, he nodded uncertainly. "Then... I'll consider it?"

...

Qingjiang Hall.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from ".

After reviewing the memorials, Zhao Ning was lost in thought for a while when the Queen Mother entered.

"Mother!"

"No need for formalities, Ning'er!"

The Queen Mother waved her hand. "Did you see Ying Wuji again today?"

Zhao Ning smiled faintly. "Yes! He said the imperial examination system won't work and asked me to advise the Crown Prince not to seek death."

The Queen Mother breathed a sigh of relief. "This Qian Kingdom hostage has wild ideas, but you understand him well. It's good that you can help him dispel these unrealistic thoughts."

Unrealistic thoughts...

Zhao Ning pursed his lips and didn't continue the topic. Instead, he said with interest, "Mother, today I watched a great show. Do you want to hear about it?"

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "If you think it's a great show, then of course the Queen Mother wants to hear it!"

Zhao Ning nodded and recounted today's events in detail.

The more the Queen Mother listened, the brighter her eyes became. She didn't expect Ying Wuji to be so courageous. By the end, her eyes were shining even more. "Ying Yue has a keen eye. He can still see your father's shadow even though you have completely changed."

Zhao Ning asked, "Mother, is Ying Yue close to Father?"

"Not just close."

The Queen Mother smiled as she looked at the night sky outside the hall, as if she had returned to her youth. "At that time, Ying Yue was still a hostage in the Great Li, and your father hadn't ascended the throne yet. The two of them had an inseparable relationship and wished they could sleep together every day. I didn't expect that his useless son would also be a hidden person.

This kid has quite a talent for business and his cultivation is not as bad as the rumors say. He has been willing to endure for so many years, probably to make us let our guard down and let him return to be the ruler of Qian Kingdom. His scheming is really deep! If it weren't for the sudden appearance of Ying Wuque, he would probably...

Ying Yue is really lucky. Although he only had two sons, each one is better than the last. It's just a pity that Ying Wuque's talent is too strong. Even if he were a bit weaker, Ying Wuji could compete with him using his mother's clan. At that time, Qian Kingdom would be embroiled in internal strife, which would be a great thing for our Li Kingdom."

Zhao Ning smiled. "Now, it's impossible for him to rely solely on his mother's clan, but what if we add our Zhao clan?"

The Queen Mother's eyelids twitched. "Are you suggesting..."