"A beast's actions are indeed beastly," Lu Ming thought smugly as he left Zhang Chunhua's room.
On a whim, he called Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao to have breakfast together, looking at the somewhat reluctant women.
A lewd smile played on his lips. "What's wrong? Her Majesty the Empress sent you here. Do you think this governor is unworthy of you? Or do you think that now that I'm out of Liangzhou, I'm just a barbaric, uncivilized man?"
The four women remained silent. Besides them, there were two widowed women, both possessing a mature charm, and around thirty years old.
These were recommended by Liu Liu. They were originally the wives of Zhang Wen's students, but after their husbands died, they were left alone and destitute. Liu Liu recommended them to Empress He, who brought them to Xiliang.
Whether they provided Lu Ming with warm water and cooking, or washed his feet and warmed his bed, at least their future was secured.
Seeing their silence, Lu Ming picked up a steamed bun and took a bite. The wild boar meat inside was chewy. "His Majesty has now granted me, the governor, control over the Three Auxiliary Regions, including the ancient capital of Chang'an. Hehe, following me, you won't suffer. Also, be mindful of your status; concubines should behave like concubines. You can leave if you don't want to; I won't force you. Today is your choice. Leave and regain your freedom; stay and obediently serve me."
Da Qiao didn't know when Lu Ming left; she was still considering.
Feeling a movement in her sleeve, she turned and saw her younger sister, Xiao Qiao, winking at her, seemingly hinting whether to leave together.
She was still hesitating, still thinking about whether to leave.
Meanwhile, Lady Fan, standing nearby, pondered for a moment, then picked up a steamed bun and began to eat.
After filling her stomach, she got up to follow Lu Ming.
She was a widowed woman, practically worthless, and lacked any other means of livelihood.
Leaving this place meant certain starvation.
She might even be captured by those beggars and brutally gang-raped to death!
The older she got, the more experience she gained, and the further ahead she saw.
So, in just a moment, she made up her mind.
The other two women quickly followed Lady Fan away, unaware of why Lu Ming had said that.
However, they had treated Lady Fan with great respect along the way.
Perhaps it was because they were all widows, or perhaps because they were all pitiful people, and because they were of a certain age, that they resonated with each other.
They also knew that women had to depend on men, on powerful men, to survive.
At this moment, Liu Liu approached. Since becoming Lu Ming's partner, she had become increasingly at ease.
Now that she had come all this way to be with him, Lu Ming wouldn't let her leave; he certainly wouldn't let her go without bearing several children.
"Liu Liu: Wife of Grand Commandant Zhang Wen. She is a gentle and mature woman. After becoming his partner, she was able to soothe the women in the harem, reduce infighting and prevent palace intrigue, and every so often she would find women for her husband to enjoy."
"Why aren't you three sisters having breakfast?" Liu Liu approached, carrying a natural fragrance.
Her complexion was rosy and radiant.
A woman whose throat has been moistened by semen always possesses a captivating charm from the inside out, making one feel refreshed and relaxed.
Da Qiao was still wearing the long robe she had arrived in, with a pair of blue flat shoes on her petite feet. Her eyebrows were delicate, her teeth white, her skin smooth and fair, possessing a pure yet sexy beauty. "Madam, the Governor just said that we can decide for ourselves whether to stay or leave."
Liu Liu knew immediately that they were still thinking about leaving!
If it were yesterday, she would have comforted them, but after experiencing the ultimate sexual encounter and the man's promises, she had begun to wholeheartedly consider her husband's needs.
Yu Shou picked up the cup Lu Ming had drunk from and poured him a cup of tea. "You are all here to serve Governor Lu on the orders of Her Majesty the Empress. As long as you do your job well, your families will also benefit. We don't know anything about important figures, nor can we understand their affairs. But if you leave here, how will you return to Luoyang? Not long ago, the Imperial Clan Minister Liu Yan went to Yizhou to take up his post, but he was attacked by bandits shortly after leaving Chang'an. The women were kidnapped and suffered a fate worse than death, and the men had their hands and feet cut off, also suffering a fate worse than death."
While threatening them, she took a sip of the tea from Lu Ming's cup.
Seeing the three girls' somewhat frightened expressions, Liu Liu couldn't help but feel a surge of smugness. "You know this world is chaotic. Even if you leave, you won't get very far. Aside from the threats from bandits, you'll need money for food and drink along the way. Do you have any?"
Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao shook their heads helplessly. They truly had no money; they had only brought two maids with them, so they had no spare cash. "We didn't."
"Heh, that's it then. Even if you went back, do you think the Empress would let you off? Your families would suffer injustice, your career advancement would be thwarted, and you might never get promoted. And you, the Empress would hold a grudge against you. Even if you don't consider yourselves, you should consider your families." Liu Liu began to threaten them. This threat wasn't her doing; she was acting as a rational mediator, explaining the pros and cons, and incidentally intimidating them.
Bu Lianshi listened with trepidation. When she arrived, her father had told her to work hard, bring glory to the family, and strive for imperial favor for the Bu family!
Bu Lianshi's ancestor was Bu Shucheng, one of the Seventy-Two Disciples of Confucius. His descendants were enfeoffed as Marquis of Huaiyin during the Qin and Han dynasties for their military achievements, becoming a prominent clan.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Bu Lianshi's mother moved with her to Lujiang.
By chance, they went to Luoyang together, where Zhang Rang selected them and sent them to Liangzhou. Compared to leaving, Bu Lianshi was more concerned with how to get closer to Lu Ming.
Gentle in nature but with a touch of cunning, she not only wanted to fulfill her father's wishes but also sought happiness for herself.
What is happiness?
To be free from want and to be worshipped and fawned upon—that is happiness!
"Imagine it carefully," Liu Liu said, "I've been there too, I understand your feelings. But I want to tell you, Governor Lu is a very good person. You may not know, but the Governor established the first girls' academy, supposedly to fulfill his wife Cai Wenji's wish. Such a man who knows how to cherish his wives and concubines—you should cherish him!" After her intimidation, Liu Liu began offering benefits.