Listening to Lin Daiyu recount her past, Jia Tanchun couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Women have it tough.
Initially, she too had some reservations about Jia Min, her so-called aunt.
After all, in a large family, the idea of a mother and daughter sharing a husband was considered disgusting and despicable. It represented a lack of dignity, unlike the behavior of lackeys and commoners.
Now, knowing the truth, she couldn't help but feel some empathy.
Although Tanchun held considerable power, she acted cautiously, displaying a skill even superior to Wang Xifeng, the capable and efficient woman who managed the Jia family.
Despite this, she didn't seek personal gain for the Jia family, continuing as usual.
If the men of the Jia family wanted to succeed, relying on women would lead to a life of mediocrity.
Only by relying on themselves, by achieving success through merit or military service, could they truly succeed.
Such wealth and status would be more stable; the difference between having ability and not having it lies in whether it can be sustained.
Lu Ming's eyes flickered slightly after hearing this.
A pigeon flew down from the sky. A guard took the pigeon, fed it some birdseed, and removed the letter from its leg.
Lu Ming opened the sealing wax seal and read the message: "Internal strife within the allied forces; Kong Zhou and Kong Rong have withdrawn from the alliance; Kong Rong has fallen out with Cao Cao; Sun Jian is recuperating; the warlords remain inactive."
The size of the letter a pigeon could deliver was limited, so the text was kept as simple as possible.
Lu Ming handed the letter to Lin Rong, instructing him to deliver it to the military camp for Xu Shu to review.
He entrusted these tasks to Xu Shu and Jia Xu, effectively relinquishing his duties. Xu Shu was diligent; he was a man of principle, willing to die for those who understood him.
Jia Xu, on the other hand, was relatively more shrewd and calculating. He wouldn't answer unless asked, preferring to remain passive.
However, when asked to take action, he was capable of handling things responsibly, belonging to the self-preservation type, only concerned with surviving peacefully, provided his interests weren't threatened.
Jia Xu's strength lay in his ability to discipline his descendants, keeping them obedient and well-behaved. There were virtually no reports of his children causing trouble, a quality that surpassed many others.
In contrast, spoiled brats seemed to believe that if they didn't let their descendants flaunt their power, it would be a waste.
Lu Ming, a cold smile playing on his lips, stroked Lin Daiyu's slightly protruding belly: "Daiyu, I have good news. Kong Rong and Cao Cao have fallen out. He openly called him a 'pig' in front of so many prefects and scholars. Heh, interesting. If Kong Rong gets crippled while passing through Chenliu… and Chenliu happens to be Cao Cao's territory, then they'll definitely turn on each other like dogs."
In fact, this tactic is called "attacking both near and distant enemies," meaning attacking nearby enemies while befriending distant ones.
Furthermore, the relationships between the warlords aren't exactly harmonious. After Fa Zheng sent Wei Yan to burn the grain supplies, they'll inevitably plunder Luoyang.
At that time, there will certainly be public outrage and resentment, and most importantly, the dignity of the Han Dynasty will be further trampled underfoot.
As a result, their relationships will certainly not be harmonious.
Then, all that's needed is to send gifts to their strategists and sow discord, and the alliance will naturally crumble.
To cripple Kong Rong in Cao Cao's territory would undoubtedly provoke conflict!
Lin Daiyu's eyes lit up, a hint of reluctance flashing in them.
But thinking of her father, she hardened her heart: "Then I entrust this to my husband. With my father's revenge fulfilled, I will have no regrets."
Avenging one's father is perfectly normal.
In this era, it was common for people to sell themselves into servitude to bury their fathers; filial piety was paramount, which was normal. Moreover, this act of selling oneself for a burial required a dignified burial, meaning gold and silver jewelry were essential, and a coffin was also necessary.
If one simply dug a hole and buried the child carelessly, wild dogs and wolves could easily dig them up and eat them.
Often, they wouldn't just eat them outright, but gnaw them beyond recognition.
Anyone with a modicum of filial piety would not bury their parents hastily.
At least some dignity was required; this was the custom, and even the royal family was not exempt. Lu Ming wasn't so particular; in his view, such things were pure waste.
Therefore, he decreed that burial was forbidden, only cremation was permitted, with the ashes placed in a cemetery.
The cemetery was managed by specialists; the gold and silver jewelry didn't need to be placed anywhere. Just spend some money to hire a shaman to perform rituals—that was more effective than anything else.
This actually fooled some people. After all, shamans were still in high demand.
"Haha, since that's the case, shouldn't Lin Meimei serve me well? Come on, let's go back to the palace."
Lu Ming was now living openly in the palace; the governor's mansion outside was more of a decoration.
And in the palace, he had also brought Empress Song and Consort Wang there.
Empress He, in particular, looked utterly astonished when she saw Consort Wang; she almost thought she'd seen a ghost.
Fortunately, Consort Wang didn't pursue the matter…
Empress He also took the opportunity to apologize, saying many things.
In any case, infighting was forbidden in the harem. Even a woman as ruthless as Empress He couldn't intervene.
Back in the palace, Lu Ming eagerly lay down. Tan Chun had gone to inspect the Three Departments and handle official business.
Lin Daiyu, however, was brought into the palace.
In the Chengde Hall, Lu Ming sat on the dragon throne…
Lin Daiyu, blushing, knelt below, burying her head between Lu Ming's legs.
She opened her mouth and took Lu Ming's large penis in, her head moving up and down, back and forth, her small mouth stretched to its limit. Her eyes widened as she skillfully and gently sucked on the glans.
When Lu Ming felt waves of pleasure, Lin Daiyu began to penetrate deeper, sucking and throating, trying to take as much of the shaft into her mouth as possible.
The shape of the penis began to emerge from her fair throat, the glans bulging wherever it touched, appearing particularly lewd and wanton!
Following her instincts, Lin Daiyu pressed her thick, full lips to Lu Ming's thick, long, and menacing penis.
After offering a kiss that expressed her submission, she extended her pink tongue and began licking the shaft of his penis.
Lu Ming immediately felt a pleasure different from his previous breast and oral sex, emanating from his genitals.
His gaze towards Lin Daiyu once again held a hint of aggression.