Though Fu Yan Er was a complete airhead, she was extremely beautiful, with a voluptuous and fiery figure. She was already extraordinarily alluring, and the recent ten-odd days of comprehensive physical remodelling by the red-cloaked Huo Ya had only enhanced this.
Her skin in particular was smooth as jade, plump and soft.
Caught off guard by this intimate assault, Suo Lun could not help but react.
Moreover, Fu Yan Er had been empty for far too long. While kissing him, one hand directly reached down and struck Suo Lun’s vital point.
“What are you doing, what are you doing?” Suo Lun said in a low, cold voice.
Fu Yan Er kissed him breathlessly, even impatiently extending her little tongue to lick Suo Lun’s handsome face, leaving his entire face wet and hot.
Suo Lun dodged her kisses while pushing her away.
Fu Yan Er had no shame, desperately hugging Suo Lun tight. Suo Lun truly could not push her away, and any large movement would wake their daughter.
“I, I am clean. I have not been with any other man,” Fu Yan Er said breathlessly. “A Shi Luo never touched me, truly…”
Suo Lun said, “Qin Qin is right beside us. What are you doing?”
“We just need to be a bit quieter. I really have not had any for so, so long,” Fu Yan Er said, then her pink tongue and passionate kisses came again like they cost nothing.
“I do not want to,” Suo Lun turned his head away.
“You clearly do want to,” Fu Yan Er tightened her grip, making Suo Lun grimace, while she herself squirmed unbearably.
“Not wanting it is not wanting it,” Suo Lun said. “Get down.”
“Not getting down…” Fu Yan Er said, then began pulling at Suo Lun’s belt.
This woman truly had no face and no skin.
Suo Lun said, “If you do not get down, I will not take you back to Tianshui City. I will take only Qin Qin back.”
“Who are you fooling,” Fu Yan Er said. “You are a lecher. Back then you clearly knew I was about to get married yet still came to flirt with me. Otherwise how would Qin Qin have come about?”
“Qin Qin is a treasure heaven gave me, but that night we were set up by someone,” Suo Lun said.
Fu Yan Er said, “Yes, when we were both sober, you did not truly do anything to me. But apart from not truly doing anything, everything else was done. The first thing you did every time we met was pull down my trousers.”
Bloody hell, these two really were a pair of dogs. And here I thought they had only been hugging and kissing.
“I have reformed my ways,” Suo Lun said. “Down, down, or I will only take Qin Qin home and send you back to the Fire Worship City.”
Suo Lun spoke very seriously. Fu Yan Er unwillingly rolled off him, then moved to the other side and gently hugged her daughter Qin Qin. “I hug my daughter to sleep every night.”
As long as she was not clinging to him, that was fine. Suo Lun closed his eyes, too lazy to bother with her, and began to continue thinking about what to do next.
But before long, Fu Yan Er’s hand snaked into his waist like a serpent.
Suo Lun grabbed her hand and threw it off.
Could this woman have any shame at all?
After a brief pause, this woman’s hand reached over again, grabbing Suo Lun’s hand and pulling it towards her own body.
Truly fucking hell! This woman was absolutely shameless.
Suo Lun got up and walked out of the room.
When Fu Yan Er saw Suo Lun so disgusted with her, she immediately snorted coldly.
Then, thinking that she would soon be going to Tianshui City to live a life of luxury and wealth, she became happy as a flower again.
Only now that the man had left, her heart was truly itching.
Should she do it herself?
But her daughter was right beside her?
What did it matter? She was already asleep anyway, and even if she saw, she would not understand anything.
…
At the City Lord’s residence in Rouan City!
Everyone knew that something had happened to A Shi Luo, and vaguely knew that something had also happened to A Shi Mo.
At this time, the council hall was packed full with hundreds of civil officials and military officers.
The territory of Rouan was fully four times that of Tianshui City, making it the foremost vassal of the Raging Wave Kingdom.
Tianshui City had twenty high-ranking warrior lords, while Rouan City had over a hundred.
Tianshui City had twenty thousand troops, while Rouan City had over a hundred thousand, with more than thirty thousand cavalry, renowned as the foremost cavalry of the Raging Wave Kingdom.
At present, all high-ranking warrior lords, all senior civil officials, and all commanders of a thousand or more had arrived.
A Shi Liren sat with her son Yuan Ba upon the highest seat of the City Lord.
What was about to be proclaimed was the final command edict of City Lord A Shi Mo.
The highest civil official of Rouan City, Inner Secretary Min Zhuo, quickly proclaimed A Shi Mo’s final command edict.
Though nominally A Shi Mo had not died, but merely followed Zuo Qiu to wander the world and completely depart from the mortal realm, this still counted as a final command edict.
The edict was written with perfect clarity.
A Shi Yuan Ba was to be restored to the position of legitimate son of the A Shi family, but was still to be raised by A Shi Liren.
The titles of Marquis of Rouan, City Lord of Rouan, and head of the A Shi family were to be passed to A Shi Yuan Ba.
However, he could only assume the position of City Lord after turning eighteen. Before that, his mother A Shi Liren would hold the position of City Lord.
If this were in the interior of the Raging Wave Kingdom, this edict would have been difficult to pass.
Though A Shi Yuan Ba was A Shi Luo’s son, he was after all a bastard, and it involved A Shi Mo’s scandal, so it would be difficult to turn him into a legitimate son.
But this was Rouan, where even now the majority were still of different races. They did not have so many concerns; basically whatever the lord said went.
So after A Shi Mo’s final command edict was proclaimed, the high-ranking warrior lords, high-ranking officers, and senior civil officials of Rouan City were basically prepared to kneel and respectfully obey their lord’s final command.
Suddenly, A Shi Zhuo stepped forward.
This man was A Shi Mo’s legitimate younger brother, the uncle most kindred in spirit to A Shi Luo.
The thirty thousand cavalry of Rouan City were under his command. Moreover, he himself possessed a noble title, Earl of the Raging Wave Kingdom. Though this title was of diminishing hereditary rank, among vassals this was extremely rare.
Among vassals, only one person possessed a noble title, and that was the master of that family.
Whether Tianshui City, Linhai City, or Luanyang City, there was only one earl, and that was the vassal himself.
So when A Shi Luo was present, A Shi Zhuo was the third highest authority in Rouan City. When A Shi Luo was absent, A Shi Zhuo was the second highest authority.
Moreover, in secret meetings with Ji Li and in the war to destroy the Suo clan, A Shi Zhuo had always been the representative of the A Shi family.
In short, this A Shi Zhuo carried immense weight.
At this time, he stepped forward.
…
“Regarding my elder brother’s command edict, I am obedient,” A Shi Zhuo said. “We all know Yuan Ba’s true origins. I, as his third grandfather, will certainly support my grandson Yuan Ba.”
At these words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
What they feared was that A Shi Zhuo would come out to contend for the position of City Lord of Rouan himself. With both A Shi Mo and A Shi Luo gone, he carried the most weight, and held the most elite thirty thousand cavalry in his hands.
As long as he did not seize the position, all would be well, and there would be no civil war.
A Shi Zhuo said, “However, I have objections to Liren holding the position of City Lord before Yuan Ba turns eighteen.”
At these words, A Shi Yuan Ba was about to stand up violently, but was stopped by a look from Liren.
A Shi Zhuo said, “Many people know that Yuan Ba is not Liren’s biological son. Several people also know that Yuan Ba is A Shi Luo’s biological son.”
At these words, everyone’s faces changed, and they burst into uproar.
And A Shi Yuan Ba’s little face went pale, his body stiffened, and he looked towards his mother A Shi Liren.
“Mother will tell you when we get back,” A Shi Liren said softly. “You will forever and always be Mother’s biological son.”
A Shi Yuan Ba’s heart immediately calmed. As long as he heard these words, he would calm down.
A Shi Zhuo said, “Though Young Master A Shi Luo is no longer here, Yuan Ba’s biological mother is still alive. My sister-in-law, our family’s matriarch, is also still here. So it is perfectly reasonable to hand Yuan Ba over to the matriarch to raise. A grandson raised under his grandmother’s care is more proper than one raised under his aunt’s care.”
The sister-in-law he spoke of was naturally A Shi Mo’s wife, Li Zhi.
She was in her fifties this year, and at this moment sat behind the curtain seat in the council hall. She was merely present to lend authority, not to speak.
A Shi Zhuo was directly severing the mother-son relationship between A Shi Yuan Ba and A Shi Liren, directly calling her Yuan Ba’s aunt.
At these words from A Shi Zhuo, A Shi Yuan Ba completely could not endure it. His gaze stared at A Shi Zhuo as if about to shoot fire.
Though this man was his third grandfather, for him to dare say Mother was not his mother, he deserved to die, deserved to die!
Once he succeeded to the position, he would definitely kill him, kill him!
How many times he wanted to stand up and speak, but was held tightly by A Shi Liren’s hand.
A Shi Zhuo continued, “My opinion is, there is no need to wait until eighteen. Let Yuan Ba become City Lord of Rouan now, and raise him under the matriarch Li Zhi’s care. As for Liren, you may continue doing whatever you were doing.”
A Shi Zhuo would absolutely not let A Shi Liren become City Lord of Rouan.
Because this would place them completely in opposition to Ji Li. A woman becoming the lord of Rouan, was this not natural alignment, natural allegiance to Ji Yan?
A Shi Liren said, “Uncle, I know what you are worried about. You think that after I take control of Rouan City, I will pledge allegiance to Ji Yan and oppose Ji Li, is that right?”
“Yes,” A Shi Zhuo said. “As everyone knows, the King is like a setting sun, in critical danger, with not long to live. His Highness Ji Li is like the rising sun, ascending unstoppably. Whoever stands on Princess Ji Yan’s side is walking the path of death.”
A Shi Liren said, “Then you may rest assured. I will not stand on anyone’s side, and certainly not on Ji Yan’s side.”
A Shi Zhuo said, “But you are a woman. Once you succeed to the position, you break tradition, and naturally stand on Princess Ji Yan’s side. This will make Rouan the public enemy of the world.”
And just at this time, shouts came from outside.
“His Majesty the King has an edict!”
Everyone was astonished. How could there be an edict at this time? This was far too fast.
This was the King’s edict. Of course no one dared block it.
Soon, an elderly eunuch stepped in. This was the chief steward eunuch of the Bright Hall, the third-in-command of the high-ranking eunuchs, one of the King’s trusted confidants, Gao Min.
Unlike Gao Yin and Gao Yu, this was a man of profound learning, a literary eunuch with very ordinary martial arts.
“By the Dragon’s Flame, the King’s command declares, A Shi Liren…”
This was the most formal of edicts, so it was very long, filled with countless ornate phrases, perfectly parallel in structure.
In short, this great eunuch Gao Min read for a full quarter of an hour or more.
And everyone present also knelt for a full quarter of an hour or more.
“Ennoble A Shi Liren as Countess of Rouan, and let her hold the position of City Lord of Rouan until her son A Shi Yuan Ba comes of age!”
The edict boiled down to two points: expressing respect and regret that A Shi Mo had seen through the mortal world and was cultivating longevity. Ennobling A Shi Liren as Countess of Rouan, and the position of City Lord of Rouan.
The reason it was countess rather than marchioness was because A Shi Liren was holding Rouan City in place of her son.
Once the King finished reading this edict.
Everyone could not help but be surprised. This, this was too fast.
Something had happened to City Lord A Shi Mo only less than two days ago. Rouan City’s envoy had not even reached the royal capital Ji Du, yet the King’s ennoblement edict had already arrived.
Not even flight could be that fast.
Of course, indeed flight could not be that fast.
Because this edict was written by Suo Lun.
Yes… he wrote it.
But it was also a truly valid imperial edict, with absolute authority, absolutely legitimate.
Upon it, the Divine Dragon seal, the King’s seal, the jade seal of the Raging Wave Kingdom, the imprint of the Divine Dragon sceptre, none were missing.
These things, no one could forge, because every seal carried a special energy imprint.
Moreover, every edict was archived in the royal palace.
Why was this so?
Because when Suo Lun came, Gao Yin and Ji Yan, with the King’s consent, had already prepared several blank imperial edicts for Suo Lun, with all seals complete. Suo Lun could write whatever he wished.
Undoubtedly, this was absolutely terrifying power.
And the great eunuch Gao Min had also long since entered Rouan City, living in concealment, just waiting for this day.
…
At this time, A Shi Liren was truly trembling with rage.
Suo Lun, this bastard Suo Lun, he was forcing himself upon her!
What was going on with this edict? Who did not understand?
A Shi Liren had been desperate to draw a clear line with Ji Yan, yet Suo Lun went ahead and directly issued an edict, clearly telling the world that he, Suo Lun, and A Shi Liren had been in cahoots, preparing for this day for a long time.
But this edict she had no choice but to accept.
Because every vassal had to receive the King’s ennoblement.
A Shi Liren’s purpose was to properly protect her son, and for him to properly manage Rouan City before he grew strong.
This position, she was determined to have.
Otherwise, if A Shi Zhuo or someone else seized it.
In the future, after A Shi Yuan Ba grew up, not only would he not obtain the position of City Lord of Rouan, even his life would be hard to guarantee. Because A Shi Liren herself did not have many years left to live.
“Countess A Shi Liren, you should receive the edict,” the great eunuch Gao Min said.
A Shi Liren’s jade teeth were nearly ground to bits.
At this time, the people below were already whispering amongst themselves.
“How is this edict so fast? It can practically fly. Could it have been prepared long ago?”
“Who prepared it?”
“Of course it was Suo Lun? He is in Rouan City.”
“Suo Lun, I heard he is a scourge upon women, that poisonously handsome creature.”
“Ah, then, then could he and Miss Liren have a thing going…”
“This, this goes without saying? I heard he disguised himself as a scholar and has been living in Miss Liren’s home for a long time.”
Bloody hell, this was an absolute secret. How could anyone know?
Given A Shi Liren’s personality, she would truly directly stand up and tear this imperial edict to shreds.
Because this was Suo Lun forcing himself upon her, forcing himself upon A Shi Liren.
But she could not do this. For her son’s sake, she could not do this.
Thus, she nearly gritted her teeth and said, “A Shi Liren, obeys the edict!”
She knew that with this acceptance of the edict, from now on rumours about her and Suo Lun would spread everywhere. And word of her collusion and allegiance with Princess Ji Yan would spread throughout the world.
Even the royal capital’s edict could not fly that fast. And the representative of the King and Princess Ji Yan, Suo Lun, was right in Rouan City.
What was going on with this edict, did it even need to be said?
The two of them definitely had long been in cahoots. And with Suo Lun being such a scourge upon women, and A Shi Liren being beautiful to this heaven-defying degree, who would believe it if they said the two did not have a thing going.
“Your subject, receives the edict!” A Shi Liren nearly spoke through gritted teeth, her face full of icy coldness, as she received the edict.
…
After receiving the edict, A Shi Liren said nothing more, directly took the edict, left the City Lord’s residence of Rouan City, and headed towards the Heavenly Sea Pavilion where Suo Lun was staying.
“This bastard, this shameless thing, actually using such shameless, despicable, and roguish means.”
To dare force himself upon A Shi Liren, he truly was tired of living.
A Shi Liren, filled with raging fury, stormed into Suo Lun’s room.