Sword South Path. Yizhou City. Shu King’s Mansion.
In a spacious and bright room, the King of Shu, Yang Ling, had just woken up from the bed and pushed away the thigh of a concubine draped over his waist.
Then he removed the hands of another concubine hugging his waist.
Yang Ling took away the pink and pale yellow bellybands from his body, unsure of whose they were.
Finally, he withdrew his hand from the mouth of a concubine who had been sucking on his fingers and wiped it with the bellyband.
Then, Yang Ling quietly got off the bed that was more than a zhang long and wide.
It wasn’t because his legs were weak, preventing him from engaging in anything with his concubines early in the morning, but because he cherished them, hoping they could sleep a little longer.
Leaning against the pillar of the bed, Yang Ling steadied himself before shakily stepping out, changing into a set of clothes, and leaving the large room.
After stepping out, the King of Shu breathed in the fresh morning air, feeling much more spirited and clear-headed.
"This won’t do! I can’t go on !"
At that moment, watching the sunrise to the east, Yang Ling nodded with determination and softly said, "I must have the people below prepare more effective tonics."
Just then, a serving maid came to attend him, leading Yang Ling to another room for washing and changing into new clothes.
Yang Ling looked at the beautiful maid serving him.
The sun is already up; it’s not good to think about those things anymore.
But a little touch shouldn’t matter, right?
So, Yang Ling extended his hand and explored the maid’s behind.
When Yang Ling first arrived at Sword South Path, he still carried the demeanor of an imperial scion.
He would host banquets to meet friends through poetry, and back then, he often wielded his brush, leaving behind many calligraphic works.
But later, Yang Ling realized that in this place, his father really was not paying attention to him!
Then I should start enjoying myself.
With this enjoyment, Yang Ling discovered that life could be so beautiful.
There are so many variations in this world to enjoy.
After that, the hardest thing Yang Ling’s hands touched was probably the teeth brushing against his fingers when his concubines explored his body with their tongues.
The rest of the time, his hands alternated between exploring women’s bodies or tearing at their clothes to uncover those bodies.
Soon, the maids dressed the King of Shu, Yang Ling, in new clothes.
The pants were merely a very light pair with an open front, covered by the upper garment at critical points.
After all, everyone knows that their prince might need to do something at any time, and it is a hassle to constantly remove and put on trousers. This design is convenient, quick, and less likely to cause a chill.
At this point, breakfast had already been prepared in the kitchen, and it was being sent to the room.
However, before the maids carrying breakfast entered, many of the King’s ministers rushed in, bursting into the room in one big group.
Yang Ling was a bit surprised and puzzled to see these close ministers.
"Why the rush so early in the morning? Come, sit down, and try the skills of my mansion’s cook. I remember we were having pork kidney and goji berry porridge this morning. You should try it too. There isn’t even a grain of rice in this porridge, just goji berries, and the taste is quite good."
Seeing their prince still in the mood to drink porridge, the anxious expressions on the faces of the ministers who rushed in deepened.
"Oh, my Prince! You... you... you’re planning a rebellion, why didn’t you tell us earlier?"
Yang Ling smiled indifferently and said, "It’s just a rebellion, nothing big like taking a concubine, what’s there to... hmm!? Ah???"
At this moment, Yang Ling’s expression was even more bewildered than the ministers present.
"What on earth did you just say?"
At this, a minister beside him asked, "Aren’t you planning to rebel, Your Highness? If you are, just tell us in advance so we can prepare too!"
At this moment, Yang Ling was utterly bewildered.
"I want to rebel? How come I don’t know that?"
At this moment, the room was silent.
Only a crow in the courtyard cawed a couple of times before flapping its wings and flying away.
"Your Highness, it is said the news came from the Capital Region Road, saying you plan to raise an army in rebellion, so the Red Emperor sent the Deputy Chief of the Town Martial Office, Divine Martial Great General Zhang San, personally leading three thousand troops and many strongmen of the Town Martial Office, rushing towards Sword South Path."
Hearing this, Yang Ling was on the verge of tears.
Even though he didn’t know who Zhang San was, he certainly knew what the Town Martial Office was.
Back then, the Town Martial Office almost suppressed all martial path forces across the world.
That relied not on the mouths of those civil ministers in the court but on the swords in the hands of martial artists.
Thinking of this, the back of the King of Shu, Yang Ling’s neck felt a bit chilly.
"Father just passed, and the second brother succeeded the throne, what am I rebelling against? This... this must be some villain’s slander misleading the second brother! Hurry up and think of a way to resolve this issue!"
Actually, these close ministers had already thought on the way if the King of Shu, Yang Ling, wanted to rise, what they would do.
After all, who wouldn’t want to rise to a higher position?
If one day the King of Shu becomes Emperor, then they have contributed to his success, wouldn’t they at least get a Duke title?
But never did they expect that Yang Ling had absolutely no intention of rebelling.
Everyone actually knew that allowing Yang Ling to play with women was alright.
The plays he devised, if spread out, could put brothels out of business.
But to achieve some grand endeavor, indeed there were difficulties.
So, everyone offered suggestions one after another.
Some suggested immediately sending someone to find Zhang San and explain that it was all a misunderstanding.
Others advised that Yang Ling should personally go to the Capital to meet the Red Emperor and clarify the misunderstanding.
Some even believed that as long as Yang Ling himself stayed upright, even if Zhang San came, he could only leave empty-handed.
While everyone was chattering, a confidant from the Yuan Family, one of the four great aristocratic families of Yizhou City, Yuan Xiaotian, spoke:
"Your Highness, everyone is trying to help you think of ideas, but you should also think for yourself!"
Yang Ling was stunned; if I have to think for myself, what do I need you for?
Yuan Xiaotian continued, "You go to see Zhang San, go to the Capital to see the Red Emperor, no matter what the outcome, it won’t reach us. After all, we are not of Imperial blood, and you didn’t actually rebel. We won’t be implicated. But if the Red Emperor knew all along that you didn’t rebel but just wanted an excuse to eliminate you, then what?"
In that instant, Yang Ling broke out in a cold sweat.
Though he had been sweating profusely for several years, never had it happened as much as then.
"My second brother wants to kill me?" Correct content is on freew.ebno(v)e\l.(c)om.
"Indeed... The Red Emperor wants to kill me."
Yang Ling murmured, seeming to have figured something out.