"Brother Anmin, it's confirmed. Besides this residence, Wu Kuang owns twelve shops on South Street and a workshop outside the city. You can check them out; they're all yours now." Fu Wan handed a list to Lu Ming and called over the steward. "From now on, this is your master. This is Commandant Lu, understand?"
"Yes, sir." The middle-aged steward bowed deeply to Lu Ming with a mixture of fear and obsequious flattery. "I am Wu Ben, the former steward. Please give me any orders, sir."
Lu Ming glanced at the list casually and handed it to Fa Zheng behind him. "Xiaozhi, you handle this matter. Not a single penny can be lost. Go check on the shops too. I'll handle things here. Go."
"Yes, sir." Fa Zheng found it rather strange and didn't treat Lu Ming as his stepfather; that would be too awkward.
Putting aside the unpleasant first impression, Lu Ming was indeed a capable ruler with the potential of a wise monarch. His rise to power, step by step, was simply unbelievable to those from humble backgrounds.
However, there was one thing Fa Zheng felt he needed to discuss later: offending the Grand General and the Yuan family might make his future path difficult.
Professional matters should be left to professionals. Lu Ming needed a workshop to produce materials, which he could then sell for money.
This would allow him to support the wandering knights, whether to supplement his private army or to handle official business—a very good option.
"Lord Fu, I will certainly visit your residence another day, but I still need to visit the old Minister of Works today. Let's talk another day," Lu Ming said, bringing up the Yang family, leaving the other party speechless.
"Very well, since there was a prior agreement, I won't disturb you any longer." Fu Wan left decisively; having established a relationship, he would depart.
The reason for cultivating a relationship with Lu Ming was his exceptional medical skills, which could even, to some extent, reverse his disadvantage. Even the Yuan family sometimes had to bow down and make exchanges of benefits with Lu Ming.
Despite their differences, the exchange of benefits had to continue.
Everyone was busy. Emperor Ling was busy calculating how much money he had made.
The other ministers were busy discussing countermeasures, wondering whether to continue following the Yuan family's lead or soften their stance and make contact with Lu Ming.
Being able to fight and heal was something many people desperately needed.
Everyone has some dental problems, but even a hundred doctors couldn't find one that could cure toothache and tuberculosis. This revolutionary treatment method was destined to make him incredibly wealthy!
Lu Ming entered the residence and immediately saw the steward leading all the servants. The servants stood on the right, women in one line, men in another.
On the left were two elegant and beautiful women, and a woman with rosy lips, white teeth, a snow-white oval face, and large, watery almond-shaped eyes beneath willow-leaf eyebrows. Her timid expression made her seem like a frightened fawn, evoking pity.
"Who is this?"
Upon seeing Lu Ming, the beautiful woman's eyes widened in surprise, then she quickly lowered her head. Faced with her husband's murderer, she was powerless to do anything.
"Reporting to sir, this woman is the wife of the scoundrel Wu Kuang, Wu Yangshi," the steward Wu Ben introduced.
Upon hearing that she was Wu Kuang's wife, Lu Ming's eyes lit up. Good heavens! He hadn't felt anything at first, but now that he was the wife of his enemy, he wasn't about to miss out!
"And who is this?" Lu Ming asked, looking at the equally elegant woman beside him.
"Reporting to your Excellency, this is Zhang, the wife of Wu Kuang's elder brother. Wu Kuang died young, and his wife took her family to live with him. This girl is Zhang's daughter, Wu Xian."
Wu Xian!
Lu Ming was initially puzzled, but then, looking again, he suddenly remembered.
He loved the Three Kingdoms period and knew the characters in great detail.
This Wu Xian was Liu Bei's wife after he entered Shu, and also the Queen of Shu!
He hadn't expected to encounter her here; it was quite surprising.
At that moment, a messenger arrived, and a guard took the letter and handed it to Lu Ming.
Lu Ming glanced at it, quickly skimming its contents. He then coldly told his personal guards, "Tell the messenger that if Liu Yan wants to negotiate, he should come to me personally. Who does he think he is!"
His tone was extremely arrogant. Liu Yan was, after all, a member of the Han imperial family, and by seniority, an uncle of Emperor Ling. As a member of the Han imperial family, he held the position of Gentleman of the Palace and had served as Magistrate of Luoyang, Governor of Ji Province, Prefect of Nanyang, Minister of the Imperial Clan, and Grand Master of Ceremonies, among other official positions.
He was definitely not a Han imperial relative who was just coasting along; he was a capable man.
But even so, so what?
Lu Ming simply ignored him. As long as he clung to Emperor Ling's coattails and generated benefits for the emperor, that was enough to maintain the status quo.
Plus, the Grand Commandant's wife was promoting him and spreading her reputation for medical skills. Who doesn't have someone suffering from illness?
They would all have to come to him for help. The world is driven by self-interest; in this way, who wanted to target him?
He only needed to repay favors with his medical skills to keep Liu Yan preoccupied with his own problems.
This was Lu Ming's confidence; his reputation was established, and now it was time to build it up.
The waters of Luoyang were deep.
He decided to drain the water completely and see who was swimming naked!
"Everyone stay put. Continue what you were doing. If I find any dishonesty, I'll send you all to the authorities and exile you to the frontier! Do you hear me!" Lu Ming didn't mind keeping these people around; he needed manpower anyway. Instead, he instructed the steward to keep an eye out for anyone acting suspiciously and eliminate them when the opportunity arose.
There were definitely loyal servants among them; how far things would unfold remained to be seen.
Then, he hurriedly shoved Wu Kuang's wife and his sister-in-law and daughter into the room. They were all experienced women; they could see through his intentions at a glance.
Yang Lian, however, never expected that at her age, with a son older than Lu Ming, he would still be interested in her!
For a moment, she didn't know whether to be happy or sad!
Her husband and son were both murdered, and now she was forced to suffer humiliation beneath her enemy!
The thought was like a nightmare!
"Let me go! You insolent scoundrel! Do you know who I am?" Yang Lian was immediately forced onto the bed by Lu Ming. She struggled slightly, but was no match for him, and could only resort to intimidation using her status.
Being pinned down by a boy younger than her son was utterly shameful!