During dinner, the Grand Commandant's wife ate with her head down.
Her face still bore the flush of her orgasm, her eyes gleaming, the traces of her previous intimacy evident.
Zhang Wen hadn't been intimate with his wife in a long time, only finding her quite beautiful.
"My lord," Lu Ming said, posing a question and throwing the problem to the other man, "I've just discovered that the lady seems to have some incurable ailment, which I happen to have some knowledge of. However, I will be returning to Longxi soon and may not be able to examine her. This disease is contagious, and if it's not controlled properly, I fear you too may be infected."
"Oh? Is there a cure?" Zhang Wen had been busy amassing wealth lately, plotting something with Zhao Hou.
Money was paramount; bribing the Ten Attendants had nearly emptied his coffers, so now he was undoubtedly looking for ways to enrich himself.
"Yes, it does require acupuncture every few days, supplemented with herbal decoctions. However, I'm no longer in Luoyang, so relying solely on medicinal diets isn't effective." Lu Ming didn't offer solutions first, but rather explained the difficulties.
Some things, when said by someone else, and you cooperate, become a foregone conclusion, making the other willingly give up their wife.
But if you say it yourself, it inevitably makes people think you're up to something, bordering on conspiracy.
"You're going back to Longxi? I'll go with you for a visit. It just so happens I watched the princess grow up, husband, what do you think?" Liu Liu looked at her husband; as he got older, his passion had faded, so being taken as a concubine was quite normal.
She didn't think she was cheating; she was just seeking her own sexual happiness.
She blamed Lu Ming's large penis and excellent sexual skills, driving her wild.
It was all her husband's fault for being useless!
If she were like Lu Ming, how could she have cheated!
It's all the husband's fault!
Women are just unreasonable. When you try to reason with them, they throw tantrums. But when you act like a scoundrel, they'll try to reason with you again.
Zhang Wen was somewhat suspicious. He didn't suspect his wife of infidelity, but he was worried that her illness might be serious. "Anmin, is this illness serious?"
"If it's not treated in time, it will turn into something like Zhao Hou's. At most, it won't last three months." Lu Ming was still in the mood to eat and drink. Anyway, it wasn't his business, so why was he worried?
On the contrary, Liu Liu was getting restless. Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. "Husband, then I'd better go with you. With the princess there, I'm not worried about my safety. Just don't bring too many women back to the manor while I'm gone."
"Not at all, not at all." Zhang Wen didn't actually want to treat his wife. With a promotion, wealth, and his wife gone, he could easily find a younger one.
However, since his wife had said so, he might as well go along with her wishes. Otherwise, if he didn't provide treatment, Zhao Hou might hold a grudge against him.
"What do you think of Anmin's opinion?"
"I have no objection. I heard that the Grand Master of Ceremonies recommended the Grand Commandant as the Governor of Ji Province?" Lu Ming certainly wouldn't refuse. Liu Liu was a charming and mature woman, and he found her quite enjoyable to play with.
It wasn't surprising that Lu Ming knew about the situation in the court council. Zhang Wen waved his hand, "He's too old to be a governor. The Grand Master of Ceremonies is just the first to speak. He said that the governors and prefects are bribing officials and exploiting the people, leading to widespread rebellion and alienation. They should select honest and upright officials from the court to serve as local governors and prefects to maintain stability and order."
"The Grand Master of Ceremonies is really enthusiastic," Lu Ming thought with a cold smile. This Liu Yan clearly saw the situation was unfavorable and was thinking of fleeing, taking the opportunity to seize territory and become a king.
"So what if they're members of the Han imperial family? They're just clinging to the title, hoping to seize the opportunity to rise in the chaos of war!"
Even members of the Liu clan think this way. To expect outsiders to intervene and restore the Han dynasty is utterly ridiculous.
This shows that the Han dynasty is already demoralized.
The common people don't care who's emperor; they just want to survive.
"The Grand Master of Ceremonies has recommended Anmin as the governor of Liangzhou, saying he has the talent to govern and is the most suitable candidate to protect the people and the borders of Liangzhou." Zhang Wen's tone was laced with sarcasm, clearly indicating that the governorship of Liangzhou was too dangerous.
Although the two major rebels, Ma Teng and Han Sui, surrendered after the last rebellion, it was merely a temporary measure.
The Han dynasty has no real control over them, and there are also numerous warlords, large and small, involved.
Liangzhou has always been a harsh and impoverished place, unable to develop. Who would want to go there?
Besides, although Liangzhou is harsh, it is still a province, encompassing seven commanderies.
If they were going to send a member of the Han imperial family to govern it, why would they send an outsider?
Liu Biao of Jingzhou and Liu Yu of Youzhou are both members of the Han imperial family. The others, even if not, are representatives of powerful clans. To be honest, Lu Ming isn't really qualified.
"Heh, I've always been at odds with the Grand Master of Ceremonies. He won't be so kind as to speak well of me. Liangzhou might just be a trap. I haven't even fulfilled my duties in Longxi Commandery, yet I'm already trying to control the entire Liangzhou. There's a kind of death called courting death. Greed knows no bounds; in the end, you'll only hurt yourself!" Lu Ming certainly wanted to accept, but he wasn't stupid. Accepting it would bring him no benefit.
His foundation was still too weak. He wouldn't be fooled by such an unrealistic goal. Living in the present was the most real thing!
"Haha, that's true. Come, Anmin, let me toast you." Zhang Wen could still laugh. If it were Dong Zhuo's turn to enter the capital, he would settle all his old and new scores.
After the banquet, Lu Ming went to Zhang Feng's house, right next door, and had sex with He Wan again.
He Wan, now in Lu Ming's guise, couldn't refuse him. Besides, Lu Ming had rendered Zhang Feng mute; he couldn't speak anymore. He wouldn't recover, nor would he die—a proper vegetable.
In this situation, if He Wan became pregnant, he could take her place.
As long as Zhang Rang didn't die, He Wan was safe.
At the Zhaohou residence, the pale-faced Zhaohou looked like he could be blown away by a gust of wind at any moment.
His wife, Wang Qing, was beside him, listening to the servants' instructions.
As a direct descendant of the Langya Wang clan, Wang Qing was not an ignorant or foolish woman; on the contrary, she was quite adept at handling household affairs.
Often, Zhao Hou would discuss matters with Wang Qing, without hiding anything from his wife, because husband and wife shared both prosperity and adversity.