Lu Ming desperately wanted Madam Wang to bear him another child.
The thought of Jia Baoyu, the mother of the protagonist of *Dream of the Red Chamber*, bearing him children was incredibly exhilarating and stimulating.
Moreover, he had always enjoyed impregnating women, getting their bellies swollen, defiling their uteruses with his semen, completely tainting them, branding them body and soul with his own mark.
Madam Wang, at this point, hadn't considered the possibility of another pregnancy. She didn't know that she, merely Jia Baoyu's mother, was about to be impregnated.
However, if it were another pregnancy, she wouldn't refuse now.
She was already Lu Ming's woman.
Lu Ming was her husband, her man, her everything, and he would do anything she wanted.
Only Grandmother Jia was a little worried; she really didn't want to be pregnant again.
Being pregnant at her age would be incredibly difficult, but if Lu Ming wanted to have his way with her, she couldn't refuse…
And she certainly couldn't refuse his ejaculation inside her.
She could only pray afterwards that she wouldn't fall for it, or she'd be in deep trouble!
Just as Lu Ming finished and came out, Jia Baoyu had just brought his bride back.
When it came time for the wedding ceremony, the equally fallen Prince Teng stopped Jia Zheng, "Cunzhou, you can't sit in the main seat."
"Why?"
Jia Zheng had just asked when he followed Prince Teng's gaze and saw Lu Ming. He understood immediately.
And seeing his former wife, Lady Wang, blushing behind him, he knew that the harlot must have been violated; otherwise, why would she have such an expression?
Lu Ming sat in the main seat without hesitation, with Lady Wang beside him.
When Jia Baoyu and his bride came to perform the wedding ceremony, they both hesitated when it came to the second bow to their parents.
It was Xue Pan, standing nearby, who coughed and reminded him…
And the bride even pulled him down to kneel, otherwise, he would have been embarrassed.
"Very well, Baoyu. Mountains and rivers change, seas turn to mulberry fields, the sun, moon, and stars shift, dynasties cannot last forever, but families must. I have high hopes for you in revitalizing the Jia family. Do not stray from the right path. This red envelope is your welcoming gift. Be humble and diligent. As long as you are willing to work hard, you will surely succeed."
Lu Ming handed over the red envelope, then took out another and gave it to Jia Baoyu's bride. The bride was not beautiful, but she was indeed a virtuous wife, as could be seen from her gentle touch towards Jia Baoyu.
Lu Ming had no interest in her. He now preferred beautiful women, not indiscriminate choices. "As Baoyu's wife, you should be virtuous and manage the household well, a good helpmate. You can learn more about this from your mother-in-law later."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The bride accepted the red envelope and knelt before Lu Ming again. With Lu Ming's statement, the Jia family was at least no longer vulnerable to bullying.
Lady Wang also removed her own bracelet and gave it to her daughter-in-law.
Regardless, Jia Baoyu was still her son, and she felt she had to show some respect.
Lu Ming didn't stay for drinks but left with Lady Wang and the others.
His presence at the wedding was merely a formality; he'd only come to use Jia Baoyu's bridal chamber for a quick fling with his mother.
As for Jia Zheng, he remained in a daze. Some mocked him for selling his wife for personal gain, while others fawned over him, believing this to be a true man, able to bend and stretch.
Regardless, Jia Zheng was deeply troubled; his wife had slept with another man. No one would feel good in that situation.
Other men's wives are indeed entertaining, but having someone else sleep with your own wife is no fun at all…
Half a month later, Lu Ming led a cavalry unit slowly through the Taihang Mountains. By this time, paved roads could be seen on the mountain roads.
Meanwhile, the families of the Black Mountain Army soldiers had begun migrating to Bingzhou to populate the city.
Bingzhou now only lacks development; it's free of bandits and outlaws.
The people's eyes are sharp; they can easily see who is genuinely working for the people and who is exploiting them.
A young man and a middle-aged man were touring Bingzhou. "It seems the King of Qin is indeed working for the people… but why is his reputation so bad?"
"The gentry of the land all hate the King of Qin; it's normal for them to slander him in every way."
Cheng Yu rode an old horse, watching the rice paddies being planted in the suburbs and the roads neatly planned.
Although not paved with cement, the gravel roads were still much better in most places.
From time to time, patrol officers could be seen on horseback. Upon discovering something, they would blow whistles to warn the main force to come and suppress it.
The people only needed to report where there were bandits, and the government would come to wipe them out.
Furthermore, corvée labor was paid, ensuring everyone had work to support their families, thus preventing them from becoming outlaws. Those who became bandits could surrender and be granted amnesty, only needing to perform a few years of labor service to atone for their crimes.
It can be said that Fa Zheng and Zhao Yun devised many methods to stabilize the region, and with Li Ru joining as an advisor, his cunning schemes largely filled the gaps left by their absence.
Therefore, Bingzhou was able to quickly recover and show signs of prosperity.
Guo Jia had just left Yuan Shao's side; he had originally come to join Yuan Shao.
He had also advised Yuan Shao to directly attack Zheng City by force, while simultaneously sending envoys to persuade Han Fu to surrender, thus quickly capturing Zheng City and gaining control of Ji Province.
Ji Province was incredibly wealthy, comparable to the war-torn Central Plains. Most importantly, Ji Province rarely experienced war; the most recent conflict was during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, several years ago.
"Conquering Ji Province, allying with Cao Cao in the south, and controlling Gongsun Zan in the north, allowing for a year or two of recuperation, conquering You Province will be no problem."
"Once the north is secured, there will be an opportunity to unify China."
"Unfortunately, Yuan Shao is decisive but lacks strategy, and internal factional struggles are severe. Guo Jia, as an outsider, is severely marginalized. A perfectly good plan was easily dismissed by Guo Tu and Feng Ji with a few words, dismissing it as utterly useless."
"What if we attack Ji Province first? What if Han Fu becomes enraged?"
"My lord comes from a prestigious family, four generations of high-ranking officials, and Han Fu is a protégé of the Yuan family. The Yuan family's legitimacy now rests with you. A simple letter is enough to break Han Fu's spirit. Why increase casualties?"
"Guo Jia was furious and left."
"Upon arriving in Puyang, he encountered Cheng Yu, who was fleeing Lü Bu's recruitment and was originally on his way to join Cao Cao." However, something happened later, and he turned around and went to Bingzhou for inspection.