Chapter 101: Desire and Discipline

With the shop assistant’s interruption, Zhou Yufu didn’t continue doing anything else.

She just sat down next to Xi Ye and smiled faintly at her.

“Would the City Lord like to come to my residence for dinner this afternoon?

Consider it a return gift for giving me these jade items.”

 

As she spoke, Zhou Yufu even blinked at Xi Ye.

This little Qiankun was young; his stamina should be very good, right?

“Alright.

Then I’ll impose on you.”

Xi Ye smiled shyly.

 

The two chatted for a while longer, then Xi Ye returned.

She handled the affairs at the city lord’s office in the afternoon, then bathed in her bedroom, and changed into a new dress.

After doing this, she went to the Zhou residence.

 

Zhou Yufu had also returned to her residence early.

She instructed the kitchen to make the evening meal sumptuous, especially to prepare plenty of nourishing dishes.

After doing this, she also bathed, changed into a new dress, and waited for Xi Ye to arrive.

 

When the sky was slightly dark, Xi Ye arrived at the Zhou residence.

 

The servants of the Zhou residence were all amazed.

Their mistress had been single for so many years; no Qiankun had caught Zhou Yufu’s eye before.

This young Qiankun was truly fortunate to have been chosen by their mistress.

From now on, he would want for nothing.

 

Xi Ye, being treated like a ‘pretty boy’, was led by the servants all the way to Zhou Yufu’s bedroom.

Zhou Yufu was sitting by the table.

Seeing her arrive, her eyes lit up, and she then instructed the servants to prepare the meal.

“Oh, young Qiankun, why are you only coming now?

What’s the matter?

Afraid I’ll eat you?”

Zhou Yufu raised an eyebrow and smiled.

 

Xi Ye’s ears reddened slightly.

“No.

I was handling some matters at the residence.

I came as soon as I finished.”

“Sit down quickly.”

Zhou Yufu smiled and stood up, pulling Xi Ye to sit beside her.

“The food will be ready soon.

Eat plenty and nourish yourself.”

Zhou Yufu blinked at Xi Ye, her meaning clear.

 

Xi Ye’s hands, resting on her knees, shrank slightly, and her ears grew even redder.

“Mm.”

 

Seeing her like this, Zhou Yufu laughed even more lightly.

“Is the City Lord this shy?”

 

Xi Ye was indeed a bit nervous.

After dinner, did she want her to stay the night too?

 

Thinking this made Xi Ye even more nervous.

“No.”

 

Fortunately, the maidservants began bringing in the evening meal.

Xi Ye relaxed a little.

 

Zhou Yufu dismissed the servants, leaving only herself and Xi Ye in the bedroom.

“Young Qiankun, eat more.”

 

As she spoke, she put more food into Xi Ye’s bowl.

After all, the young Qiankun would be the one working hard tonight.

“Okay.

You eat more too.”

Xi Ye ate while looking at the dishes on the table.

She always felt something was off.

Not only was there ginseng chicken soup, but also bird’s nest and silver ear congee – basically, many things to nourish the body.

Eating like this at night, wouldn’t it cause excessive internal heat and make it hard to sleep?

 

But since she was a guest, she didn’t say much.

 

While Xi Ye was lost in thought, Zhou Yufu had already filled a bowl of bird’s nest congee and a bowl of ginseng chicken soup for her.

“Here, eat slowly.

Have some soup.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Looking at these very nourishing things, Xi Ye could only thank her.

It was her first time here; she couldn very well be critical.

She just had to steel herself and eat.

 

Zhou Yufu urged Xi Ye to eat more, but she herself didn’t eat too much.

She just had some vegetables and a bowl of bird’s nest congee, and was full.

 

She didn’t want to eat too much at night.

Otherwise, after taking off her clothes, having a belly would be bad.

What if her little Qianjun didn’t like it?

 

Xi Ye still didn’t know what Zhou Yufu was thinking.

She was still eating with her head down.

The evening meal was all big meat dishes or very nourishing things.

She was already feeling a bit bloated.

When she looked up again, she saw Zhou Yufu had already put down her chopsticks and was now looking at her.

 

Xi Ye swallowed a piece of pork rib and asked, “Are you done eating?”

“Mm.

You’re a Qiankun.

You need to eat more.

Otherwise, you won’t have any strength later.”

Zhou Yufu blinked at her, her meaning clear.

 

Xi Ye’s cheeks flushed slightly.

Was she thinking what she thought she was thinking?

Or was she overthinking?

Still, she ate heartily until she really couldn’t eat any more.

Then she said, “I really can’t eat any more.

Have them clear it away.”

“Alright.”

Zhou Yufu smiled faintly and instructed the maidservants to clear the dishes from the table.

 

Soon, only the two were left in the room.

 

Xi Ye rubbed her hands together nervously.

She didn’t bring up leaving either.

But by now, the sky was already dark.

 

Zhou Yufu naturally didn’t mention it either.

Seeing Xi Ye’s red face, she smiled and leaned over.

“Young Qiankun, what are you thinking about?

Why is your face so red?”

 

As she spoke, she deliberately sat down on Xi Ye’s lap, hooked one arm around Xi Ye’s neck, and pressed her thin lips against Xi Ye’s cheek.

Then she saw Xi Ye’s face suddenly turn red.

“Oh, you’re so shy?”

Zhou Yufu’s smile was radiant.

She loved how easily flustered her little Qiankun was.

It meant the little Qiankun hadn’t experienced intimacy before.

“No… not shy.

It’s getting dark.

Maybe I should go back.”

As she spoke, Xi Ye secretly looked at Zhou Yufu’s eyes.

If Zhou Yufu didn’t want her to stay, then she would go home.

They could live together after they got married.

 

Zhou Yufu pressed her index finger lightly against Xi Ye’s lips, then rubbed gently.

“Do you really want to go back?

Or do you want to stay and keep me company?”

 

Xi Ye’s throat felt a little itchy.

She swallowed involuntarily, then murmured softly, “Then… then I’ll keep you company.”

 

Zhou Yufu smiled and kissed Xi Ye’s forehead, praising her.

“So good.

Then let’s read a book together, okay?”

“Okay.”

Xi Ye replied instinctively, but she was a bit puzzled.

Reading at this hour?

It was a bit strange.

 

Then Zhou Yufu took a book from the table and handed it to Xi Ye, signaling her to open it.

 

Xi Ye picked up the book and saw the cover said The Analects.

She felt something was off, but she still blushed and opened it.

Then she saw the contents.

This wasn’t the Analects at all; it was clearly an indecent picture book.

 

Flipping to the first page, she saw two women in the picture removing their clothes.

Xi Ye’s hand trembled.

 

Seeing her reaction, Zhou Yufu chuckled softly, kissed her cheek, and urged, “Young Qiankun, why aren’t you turning the page?

Hmm?”

 

Xi Ye was kissed until her face was bright red.

Her hand trembling, she turned to the next page.

“I’m turning.”

 

With each page turned, Xi Ye’s face grew redder.

By the time she reached the middle pages, her whole body was flushed, and even her breathing had become rapid.

 

Only then did Xi Ye realize something was wrong.

No, Zhou Yufu was clearly teasing her.

Who reads erotic picture books with their sweetheart while hugging?

 

She tossed the book aside and looked at Zhou Yufu with a red face.

 

Zhou Yufu saw her throw the picture book away and deliberately asked, “Why did you stop looking at it?”

“You’re doing this on purpose.”

As she spoke, Xi Ye took a few deep breaths, then scooped Zhou Yufu up in her arms and walked towards the bed.

“Hey?

What is the young Qiankun doing?

Put me down.”

Zhou Yufu laughed deliberately.

“f*cking you!”

Xi Ye gritted her teeth.

 

As soon as they reached the bed, she kissed Zhou Yufu’s eloquent red lips.

Xi Ye thought, tonight she would make Zhou Yufu lose her voice, so she wouldn’t tease her anymore.

 

Zhou Yufu, very pleased, hooked her arms around Xi Ye’s neck and let her kiss her.

She herself was even a bit eager.

Having been without intimacy for so many years, she had finally chosen a young Qiankun with good stamina.

Naturally, she wanted to enjoy it.

 

The red candles flickered.

It wasn’t until the middle of the night that Xi Ye called for hot water to be brought in for washing.

The young maidservants waiting outside were all blushing.

That night, it was really thunder and fire in the bedroom.

She didn’t know if the two inside were shy, but they certainly were listening shyly.

 

The next day, the two slept until the sun was high in the sky.

People at the yamen had matters to report to Xi Ye but were told she had been at the Zhou residence all night and hadn’t returned.

So they went to the Zhou residence to find Xi Ye, only to be told by the Zhou residence servants that the City Lord hadn’t gotten up yet.

They had no choice but to wait in the front hall, drinking tea.

 

When Xi Ye woke up, the sky was already bright.

She had always had good stamina, so staying up until the middle of the night was nothing.

But Zhou Yufu’s stamina wasn’t bad either.

Mainly, Zhou Yufu kept seducing her to continue.

So, the two had enthusiastically gone at it until the middle of the night.

 

When Zhou Yufu woke up, she saw that Xi Ye was already awake.

 

She hummed and stretched in Xi Ye’s arms, then laughed and scolded, “You devil.

I thought you were honest.

Who knew you’d be so energetic in bed.”

“Wasn’t that all because of your seduction?”

As Xi Ye spoke, she felt Zhou Yufu’s feet weren’t being honest again, rubbing against her calf.

 

She was just about to pounce on her again for another round when a voice announced from outside.

“City Lord, two officials are waiting for you outside.

When would be a convenient time for you to see them?”

 

Xi Ye’s face scrunched up like a bitter melon.

No, she had just wanted to spend some intimate time with her sweetheart, and now work was calling?

 

Zhou Yufu leaned in and kissed her, laughing.

“You can come back tonight.

It’s not like I’m banning you.”

 

Hearing this, Xi Ye’s mood improved considerably.

She hugged Zhou Yufu and kissed her again, then got up reluctantly to go to work.

 

No wonder their Prince of Ning was so clingy with the Grand Princess.

Now she understood.

She also wanted to cling to Zhou Yufu.

 

So, Xi Ye, with a gloomy expression, was called back to the city lord’s office by her subordinates.

Those subordinates all looked like they had just heard a juicy piece of gossip.

But Xi Ye didn’t care.

She had intended to marry Zhou Yufu anyway, so she hadn’t planned to hide it.

However, she had no parents.

If she were to get married, she would need to inform the Prince of Ning.

She planned to bring it up with Wei Lan when she returned from the south.

 

On Wei Lan’s side, they had already arrived in Jiangnan Prefecture.

Jiangnan was home to many refined scholars.

This time, most of those who had been dismissed from office were agitating students in the Jiangnan area to cause trouble together.

So, Wei Lan and her group had gone directly to Jiangnan.

 

The rebellions in Jiangnan had already been suppressed.

Therefore, when Wei Lan and the others arrived in Jiangnan Prefecture, quite a few officials came to receive them.

Of course, no one knew how the news had spread, but the students, also agitated, had come along to cause trouble.

 

So, when Wei Lan and her group arrived at the city gate of Jiangnan Prefecture, in addition to the officials ahead, there were students behind them, blocked by bailiffs.

Those students were all emotionally charged, shouting about Dazhao’s brutality and the indiscriminate killing of civil officials.

 

When Wei Lan and Lu Zijin got off the carriage, they saw this scene.

The students were yelling loudly, surging forward.

If not for the hundreds of bailiffs holding them back, chaos would have already broken out.

 

Wei Lan looked calmly at the students opposite, then at Zhang Wenzhao, the prefect of Jiangnan Prefecture.

“What’s the meaning of this?

Is the Prince of Ning and the Grand Princess not welcome here?”

 

Zhang Wenzhao quickly knelt with his subordinate officials.

“Prince of Ning, forgive us!

Grand Princess, forgive us!

Your servant does not know what is happening.

I don’t know how the news leaked, attracting these students as well.”

 

Wei Lan looked at him coldly.

“You don’t know who leaked the news, or was it you who gathered these people?”

“Prince of Ning, please see clearly!

Your servant would never dare!

Even if you gave me a hundred times the courage, I would not dare do such a thing.”

Zhang Wenzhao quickly kowtowed.

 

This man was also a new prefect of Jiangnan appointed by Fan Chuan.

But what was really going on in Jiangnan needed to be investigated thoroughly.

So, Wei Lan didn’t trust Zhang Wenzhao either.

“You’d better not dare.

I have already executed a second-rank minister.

Killing you would be nothing.”

 

After speaking, Wei Lan did not tell these officials to rise.

After all, these students gathering here and blocking the way already amounted to a dereliction of duty on the part of these officials.

What if she hadn’t brought these five thousand soldiers?

Would she have been blocked from even entering the city?

 

Wei Lan walked towards the crowd with dozens of personal guards in armor behind her.

She had only taken a few steps when the shouts from the crowd grew louder.

“Dazhao mistreats civil officials, chilling the hearts of scholars everywhere!

We demand that the court change the law!

Civil officials cannot be killed!”

“Yes!

Civil officials cannot be killed!

Civil officials cannot be killed!”

 

Wei Lan swept a cold glance over them and made a downward gesture.

But the crowd was agitated, and no one listened.

These impassioned students were shouting at the top of their lungs.

 

Wei Lan shook her head.

No wonder, throughout history, if someone wanted to accomplish something, the easiest thing to do was to agitate students.

These people were the most thoughtless, and also the most prone to being hot-headed.

In this situation, without bloodshed, it seemed it would not end.

 

Thinking this, her gaze fell on the student shouting the loudest.

She whispered an instruction to Hang Shuyao.

The next moment, Hang Shuyao used her lightness martial arts to fly into the crowd.

She grabbed the young man Wei Lan had pointed at, lifted him, and flew back out of the crowd, dragging him directly in front of Wei Lan.

Soldiers immediately pinned the man down.

 

Seeing this happen, the crowd gradually quieted down.

But the captured man still had a foul mouth.

He had been told by the person behind him that the more public the place, the less likely the Dazhao officials were to kill people, because they were afraid of inciting public anger.

 

Thinking this, he refused to bow his head and cursed at Wei Lan.

“Dazhao’s laws are brutally excessive!

Civil officials are the model for the world!

The former Great Zhou treated civil officials well, which allowed it to last for a hundred years.

How can Dazhao slaughter civil officials like this?

I refuse to accept it!

I refuse!”

 

Wei Lan nodded.

She said calmly, “Where is the official in charge of household registration?”

“Your servant is here.”

A little old man immediately came out from among the kneeling officials and knelt again before Wei Lan.

 

Wei Lan said, “This man misses the Great Zhou so much, he must be a remnant of the Great Zhou.

When you return, thoroughly investigate his household registration.

Anyone related to him, no matter who, from now on, no one in his family may ever take the imperial examinations.

Also, find an empty notebook and record all this.

This prince will check it later.”

“Yes, yes.

This subordinate understands.”

The old man was also anxious and quickly sent a petty official to record the matter.

 

The man clearly hadn’t expected Wei Lan to do this.

He shouted, “On what authority do you do this?

On what authority?”

 

Wei Lan couldn’t be bothered to say more.

Instead, she looked at the students opposite.

“This remnant of the Great Zhou is spreading rumors.

You students, instead of studying hard, have gotten mixed up with this kind of person, lacking even your own judgment, just following the crowd.

It’s truly disgraceful.

People as mindless as you are not qualified to be officials.”

 

With that, Wei Lan continued, “Men, surround this place.

Every single one of these students is to be stripped of their qualifications for the imperial examinations.

Prefect Zhang, have your people come forward one by one to identify who these people are, and record them all.

Dazhao does not need these fools to be officials.”

 

After she finished speaking, the soldiers behind Wei Lan immediately sent out a thousand men, quickly surrounding the students.

 

When the students heard that they would not be allowed to take the imperial examinations, they became indignant.

Some even began to shove the soldiers.

“You illiterate fools dare to stop us?

We will be civil officials in the future, the pillars of Dazhao!”

“Exactly!

You useless soldiers, get out of my way!”

“Let’s all charge together!

There are so many of us, they can’t do anything to us, and they wouldn’t dare kill us!”

“Fight them!

Break out!”

 

Many, seeing that the soldiers were only blocking them and not attacking, escalated their behavior, kicking and beating the soldiers.

 

Wei Lan watched coldly and said, “Anyone who arbitrarily pushes, hits, or tries to escape is to be killed without mercy.”

 

At Wei Lan’s command, many soldiers who had been taking a beating immediately drew their swords.

Some had already taken action.

 

Those who could not be persuaded were either truly stupid or truly evil.

To bring peace to Jiangnan, bloodshed was inevitable.

But Wei Lan hadn’t expected that she would have to kill people before even entering the city.

 

She glanced at the kneeling man and said calmly, “Behead this man.

Hang his body on the city gate as a warning.”

“Yes.”

A soldier immediately brought out a cleaver.

 

The man panicked.

He hadn’t expected Wei Lan to be so ruthless, to really kill.

He quickly cried out, “Don’t kill me!

Don’t kill me!

I was incited by someone!

It was Huang Junqing who ordered me to do this!

He also said that the new Dazhao dynasty had just been established, and if we students caused trouble, the court would definitely try to appease us first and wouldn’t kill us!”

 

Wei Lan waved her hand, signaling the soldier ready to strike to stop.

Then she looked at the man.

“I have a bad temper.

You’d better be telling the truth.

Otherwise, your entire family will be implicated.”

“Prince of Ning, spare me!

Prince of Ning, spare me!

Everything I said is true!

Even if you bring Huang Junqing here to confront me, it was still him who contacted everyone and agitated the scholars to resist the court!”

 

Wei Lan nodded.

“Good.

Since you are still useful, I will spare your life for now.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!

Thank you, Your Highness!”

The man cried and kowtowed to Wei Lan.

 

By this time, the open space in front of the city gate was already flowing with blood.

Some students initially didn’t believe it, thinking these soldiers wouldn’t dare kill them, and insisted on breaking through.

The result, naturally, was that their lives were not as hard as the blades.

Others, seeing the deaths, panicked and tried to rush out, and were also cut down.

 

Wei Lan’s order just now was to surround these people.

Anyone who resisted or tried to escape was to be killed without mercy.

Therefore, quite a few had already died.

But there were still those with sense.

 

Someone shouted, “Don’t run!

Everyone, don’t run!

The Prince of Ning said they are only surrounding us.

Those who try to escape are the ones who will die!”

 

But the students wouldn’t listen.

They were used to being arrogant, thinking themselves the favored children of heaven, and the soldiers just rude roughnecks beneath them.

Moreover, these students were often simple-minded.

With a little agitation from those with malicious intent, they couldn’t resist courting death.

This time was no different.

 

Even though someone urged them not to run, people still kept throwing themselves onto the blades.

The result, naturally, was death.

 

In just this short time, over a hundred people had already died.

Some of them gradually regained their senses and knelt down, crying and begging towards Wei Lan.

“Prince of Ning, spare us!

We wouldn’t dare, we’ll never dare again!”

“Yes, let us go!

We will study hard, we promise never to do this again!”

“Please, spare our lives!”

 

Wei Lan had now walked to the front.

She raised her hand, signaling these people to shut up.

This time, they were very cooperative and did so.

 

Wei Lan said coldly, “There are rules.

Since you have done this today, you must pay the price.

I don’t care if there was someone behind you.

The fact that you could do this, surround court officials and agitate people, shows malicious intent.

I won’t say anything about those who have already died.

But you fools are not qualified to take the imperial examinations and become officials.

The same goes for your children in the future.

For generations, as long as Dazhao exists, your descendants may not take the imperial examinations.

This is the price you pay for this matter.”

 

Wei Lan caught her breath and continued.

“Being a scholar does not mean you can do whatever you want.

Dazhao has no need for fools like you.

To put it bluntly, people like you, who believe whatever they hear, would only be corrupt officials if they became officials.

Where is the Prefect of Jiangnan?”

 

Zhang Wenzhao quickly scrambled over on his knees.

Until now, Wei Lan had not told these kneeling people to rise.

“Your servant is here.”

“Go have your men record the names and household registrations of these scholars.

From now on, their descendants, for generations, are not permitted to enter officialdom.”

Wei Lan said.

“Yes, this subordinate will go do it at once.”

Zhang Wenzhao was almost scared to death.

He hadn’t expected the Prince of Ning to be so fierce, killing so many scholars as soon as she arrived.

He was terrified of being implicated himself, and was very obedient.

 

The students wanted to argue, but seeing the bodies beside them, they swallowed the words that came to their lips.

Now, they were all full of regret.

Not only had their own futures been ruined, but now their children’s futures were also ruined.

 

Among them were many poor scholars.

Now, before even taking the exams, they had lost the right to do so.

Many sat down on the ground and cried.

 

But wrong was wrong.

Wei Lan would not be soft-hearted with these people.

If she hadn’t brought enough soldiers this time, these people might have even surrounded her.

 

Wei Lan then said, “Keep a close watch on that man just now.

No one but our people is to approach him.

Also, go and arrest Huang Junqing.”

 

She thought for a moment and then asked, “Oh, was this Huang Junqing the former prefect of Jiangnan?”

“Yes, that’s him, Your Highness!”

The man who had identified Huang Junqing quickly said, afraid that if he spoke too slowly, his head would be gone.

 

Wei Lan nodded and said to Zhang Wenzhao, “Your people are more familiar with this place.

Shuyao, take your people and follow Zhang Wenzhao’s men to arrest Huang Junqing.

Oh, and take plenty of soldiers.

Surround the place where Huang Junqing lives.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hang Shuyao directly took three hundred soldiers and, following a few bailiffs, entered the city.

 

Zhang Wenzhao, seeing that these students no longer dared to act up, carefully knelt before Wei Lan and asked, “Your Highness, things here are mostly handled.

May I suggest that we enter the city and talk?”

 

Wei Lan, however, waved her hand.

“No hurry.

I intend to resolve all these matters here today.

Men, bring some chairs.

The Grand Princess and I will wait here today.”

 

With that, Wei Lan kicked Zhang Wenzhao.

“Hurry and have your people check the household registrations.

They must match these people one by one.

I will have my people verify later.

If anything doesn’t match, or if you deliberately fail to register someone, I will hold you accountable as well.”

“Your servant wouldn’t dare!

Your servant will arrange it immediately.”

How could Zhang Wenzhao dare to disobey Wei Lan?

This Prince of Ning had executed a second-rank civil official on a whim; how could he dare to offend her?

He quickly went to have people bring the household registration books into the city, and also bring some tables and chairs, so that the petty officials could register these people’s names and household registrations on the spot.

 

Wei Lan then went to find Lu Zijin.

The two sat in chairs.

Attendants and maidservants held parasols behind them to shield them from the sun.

 

Wei Lan’s expression was not good, and neither was Lu Zijin’s.

“We didn’t even get to enter the city, and these people have already given us a big gift.”

Lu Zijin said helplessly.

Wei Lan had killed so many scholars at once.

Although her approach was slightly radical, it was unavoidable.

If she had been lenient from the start, it would only have made these people bolder.

So, shedding blood was actually the most direct method.

“Yes.

The civil officials in the south are truly unrestrained.

But this time, they’ll get a good lesson.”

Wei Lan said coldly.

What she hated most were people who couldn’t see the big picture.

Especially the thought that these people could have taken the imperial examinations and possibly become officials made Wei Lan even angrier.

People like this, if they became officials, would all be muddled fools.

 

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