Prologue, homeland

The General's residence covers a vast area, yet it is not a place of freedom and disorder. Even at the age of six, Lou Chu understands where he can go and where he cannot. For instance, the grand garden is absolutely off-limits; if discovered, he would truly face punishment. On the other hand, the small garden can be entered freely. It is overgrown with flowers and plants, neglected in its upkeep, making it a paradise for boys.

"Do not say 'die', it is 'pass away'." The eldest child corrected, scratching his head and showing a joyful expression, "The Grand General has entered the palace, he must be here to assist the new emperor, and soon I will be able to become a real general."

Louwen once boasted that even the emperor could not compete with him for women, but it has been proven that the emperor can indeed contend with him for that.

Lou Wen glanced at the attendant beside him; he had too many sons and could not remember their names and birth order

Xu Ji is the princess of Wu and also your biological mother. She has passed away, and the lady feels you should be informed of this news. The woman gently stroked the child's head, removing two pieces of straw, and said, "Go and weep."

Lou Wen cast a glance at the Princess of Wu, intending to forgive her once again, after all, he had already forgiven her many times before

Silence brings order to the world, while speaking brings chaos. He has spoken, yet chaos does not immediately ensue; we must wait another five years.

Numerous concubines were arranged neatly in the courtyard, and Xu Baoxin stood alone on the right side at the front of the line. This was her position, distinct yet meaningless; she remained a princess of a fallen kingdom, alone and powerless, without influence or authority

Oh, it must be that 'Silent Young Master'.

Since childhood, she has loved the sound of raindrops. To cater to this, her father built a delicate device outside her boudoir, utilizing a large number of bamboo tubes of varying sizes, covered with patches of flowers and grass. Whenever she felt downcast on a sunny day, the sound of rain would resonate, sometimes rapid, sometimes gentle, soothing her emotions, making it indistinguishable whether her heart followed the rain's intent or the rain followed her heart's intent

The general was very busy, and it was not until six months later that he noticed something unusual, "Why are you not speaking? Speak up immediately."

She opened her eyes; it had been nearly eight years. Each time she awoke, her heart would still linger in the deepest part of her dreams, feeling empty and unable to accommodate the reality before her

The foundation of the building steps back two paces, "Our family does not lack generals, the Grand General will send you to the best school, this is to prepare you to become a civil official"

"You all must follow me to become long-serving officials, school lieutenants, and military officers... you cannot." The eldest child pointed a knife at the base of the building, racking his brain for the right word, and after a moment added: "You are imprisoned"

Suddenly, someone let out a laugh.

The Liang, Jin, Jing, Shu, and Wu collectively formed the Five Kingdoms. The time until their destruction varied, with some lasting as long as twenty years and others no more than ten. The noble families and royal clans all moved to Luoyang, and the court of the Great Cheng Dynasty would react swiftly to any disturbance, often resorting to harsh measures against the people of the Five Kingdoms.

On this day, there was only one guest. Although he held no official position in the court, he was a distinguished guest whom all the high-ranking officials and nobles vied to invite. Even the Grand General had to wait for many days before he could finally invite him into the residence

A middle-aged woman took the young man aside, gently wiping the dust and tears from his face with a silk handkerchief, and softly said: "You should cry more, Xu Ji... has passed away"

"Young Master Seventeen, named Chu," the attendant whispered.

Today's gathering is somewhat peculiar. Firstly, the time is still early, not yet noon; usually, at this hour, the Grand General is either recovering from a hangover or attending to official business. Secondly, the Grand General's demeanor is excessively serious, standing beneath the corridor, his belly more rotund than usual, making it difficult for shorter individuals to see his head.

Fortunately, the general has never truly entertained such thoughts; he would never genuinely allow his own woman to meet with other men, nor would he truly engage in a life-and-death struggle.

Madam Lan followed closely behind her husband, promptly reaching out to stop him, and advised: "For a fallen nation, why bother with her? General, please hurry to the palace; during this extraordinary time, it is unwise to linger at home"

He paused for a moment, then turned and ran away; he certainly would not obediently stand still. These children are all his brothers, at least in front of the adults, they refer to each other as brothers, but privately, there is not the slightest affection among them

The Grand General, holding the highest position among the ministers, was not particularly concerned about his own fate. However, he recently felt quite weak and depleted, prompting him to start caring about the future of his descendants. Thus, he summoned them all, one by one, and asked Liu Youzhong to take a look.

Six

It is the fault of the Grand General; it should not have allowed everyone to call you 'Princess of Wu.' The more they call you that, the more you take it seriously, losing sight of your current status

Xu Baoxin remained lying on the ground, face down, laughing quietly.

When General Lou Wen first visited, he was quite intrigued by the "Rain God" and examined it carefully from front to back. He then laughed heartily and said to the crowd: "A nation that is doomed must have actions that lead to its downfall; this statement is not false. The State of Wu is destined to perish, and it is only fitting that it falls at my hands"

Lou Chu and several brothers were among the last to enter the hall, waiting outside for too long, their stomachs feeling empty from hunger. Upon seeing the table full of food and drinks, they each swallowed their saliva in secret, yet still had to behave properly and pay their respects.

The Grand General summoned all the wives and concubines in the residence, which was a common occurrence for him. The women in the household, regardless of their origins, were considered "spoils of war," worthy of being displayed and flaunted.

"Princess." The voice remained gentle, yet carried an added sense of determination

The fortune-telling concluded, the food and drinks were cleared away and replaced with new ones, and both hosts and guests enjoyed themselves, only truly dispersing close to midnight

"Remember, remember, Your Majesty, no, now it is Empress Dowager. I will definitely bring you into the palace before dark," Lou Wen said impatiently, taking a step to leave, suddenly stopping, adjusting his emotions, confirming that he could cry at any moment, and then he strode away.

Luo Wen's face changed color, and he gripped his palm tighter, "Do you really not want to live anymore?"

The hall was filled with cries, while on one side, the floor was sobbing and staring blankly at the woman, completely unable to comprehend her words

The largest child pointed a wooden sword at the nose of the building's foundation, saying, "Bold rebel, how dare you trespass into the military camp, you shall face military law!"

On that day, Xu Baoxin was taken onto the carriage, heading to the Eastern Capital Luoyang of the Great Achievement Dynasty, thus departing from his homeland, only able to return in dreams.

Louchu was both angry and confused, always feeling as if he had done something wrong, yet unwilling to explicitly admit it

There are many rumors outside, saying that Wu Guoshi's unyielding spirit still persists

"Remember the most important thing," Lady Lan reminded.

Liu Youzhong shook his head once more, "If this child could keep his mouth shut, he would indeed be a wise and virtuous minister for governing the world. However, once he speaks—he is likely to become a tyrant in chaotic times. The Grand General need not worry too much; everyone has their own fate, only Heaven can determine it, and mortals cannot force it."

The two lips of the building's foundation closed even tighter

Louchu had a dazed expression on his face as he returned to his brothers, kneeling on the ground, unable to cry, his tears having run dry. He struggled to recall the appearance and words of the Princess of Wu during the day; she was clearly a living person, so how could she just be dead? Yet the more he tried, the more his memories were overtaken by the scenes of chasing in the small garden, with the Princess of Wu obscured in the background, becoming increasingly ethereal.

The building's foundation was quite vexed; although the person's calves were short, they ran swiftly, and after not going far outside, they shook off the following maid and made their way into the garden

"Even a madman must abide by the rules." The general sheathed his half-drawn sword, laboriously descended the steps, and strode up to the Princess of Wu. He changed his grip from the sword hilt to the slender wrist of the princess, saying, "Today is not like any other day. You are a Wu person, so it would be best for you to behave yourself. Wait for me to return from the palace... hey, you can never be sure whether you will live or die."

Madam Lan let out a light sigh; she did not particularly like this woman due to her husband's excessive affection for the so-called princess of Wu, yet she did not harbor any strong hatred either, for no matter how much her husband doted on her, she was ultimately just a person from a fallen nation

Three

"Stop!" shouted the largest child.

The adults in the household suspect that this child has become mute, while the brothers call him "Little Fool"

The general truly drew his sword from its sheath; he could allow the princess of Wu some minor flaws, but he could not tolerate such an open provocation

Louchu walked up to the fortune teller and looked directly at him.

Everyone was astonished when the current emperor, who was just over fifty years old and had never been reported to be seriously ill, suddenly passed away, leaving his subjects behind

What does it mean? If he dares to speak recklessly, I will tear his mouth apart

As dusk approached, they concealed their weapons and lined up to leave the small garden behind the main hall, their bodies and faces dirtier than others, yet they derived as much enjoyment as their brothers did

The argument came to an end, and the other children subsequently chased after, not concerned with civil officials or military generals, but simply enjoying the pleasure of the chase

Luo Wen was somewhat annoyed; among so many descendants, this young man was the only one who was disobedient. Just as he was about to reprimand him, Liu Youzhong changed his mind and said, "Enough, please leave."

Lou Wen, with a shocked expression and still immersed in deep sorrow, surprisingly did not become angry

Seven

Liu Youzhong laughed heartily and clasped his hands, saying: "The General is certainly no ordinary person, not within the realm of fortune-telling. This child was born in the General's residence, and it must be destined by fate."

We are all people of Wu, and we always will be! Xu Baoxin shouted towards the door, disappointment evident in her expression. Soon, she regained her composure, saying, "He will understand, even if he is confused himself, the people of Cheng will make him understand."

Xu Baoxin's words broke the taboo. Many years ago, when she was first sent to the Eastern Capital, Luoyang, before she even got off the carriage, she was taken to the imperial palace, and it was not until a full month later that she was transferred to the Grand General's residence

Xu Baoxin is an exception; she has not been entrusted with a "military position." Within the residence, she remains the "Princess of Wu," and everyone, including the Grand General, addresses her as such

The soldiers were ordered to dismantle the "Rain God" thoroughly. The general ascended the building with his sword, pushed open the door, and directly entered the boudoir. Standing at the entrance, he scrutinized Xu Baoxin for a moment and sighed, "Those who have lost their country have the appearance of a fallen nation. You, little princess, are destined to be mine. No one shall compete with me for you, not even the emperor"

The one who always runs away is also the one who can never escape, and before long, he was brought down to the ground.

The Grand General released the advisor and said loudly: "I have annihilated countless enemy nations and inflicted numerous casualties, yet I have never encountered a person or situation that cannot be forced."

Xu Baoxin did not struggle; she had long since given up on futile resistance. However, in her heart, she had never relinquished her hatred, and she shouted, "How did he die?"

He is a small child, just six years old, who has always lived with many brothers, referring to Lady Lan as "mother." Occasionally, he meets the princess of Wu but does not know how to address her, usually standing silently there, watching her cry, listening to her chatter, feeling both sympathy and annoyance in his heart

Taking advantage of the moment when the brothers were momentarily distracted, he slipped away through the gaps in the building's foundation, this time choosing the narrow path among the grass to conceal his figure as much as possible

In that year, Princess Xu Baoxin of the Wu Kingdom had just turned sixteen, had already chosen her husband, but had not yet married. She had never experienced any hardship growing up, and apart from her father, she had not seen any other adult men, nor had she ever been subjected to disrespectful stares from anyone.

The cries immediately surged.

Liu Youzhong shook his head, indicating that he did not mean that. After pondering for a long time, he saw that his car had already arrived at the door. He said to the general with a serious expression: "Although this young man is still young, he seems to have lofty ambitions and an extraordinary appearance. In my opinion, it would be better for him to remain silent; once he speaks, trouble will follow."

Liu Youzhong chuckled softly, his slender body struggling to support the corpulent figure of the general, causing his legs to become increasingly unsteady

"What is confinement?" a child asked

Xu Baoxin has no secrets; she rarely conceals her hatred for her husband, the gentle and great Emperor Lou Wenhe. Yet, the general is quite taken with this attitude. In his own words: "What I have done in my life is to destroy nations and seize women. Does the princess of Wu hate me? Let her hate me; what can a small woman, filled with hatred, do to me? Haha, I just like her this way."

Lou Chu broke free from the grasp, shouting: "My surname is Lou, not Xu, I ... ... " Before he could finish his sentence, he turned and ran away, as he had no desire to be the son of that strange woman. To his knowledge, the "Princess of Wu" was merely a nickname, a joke; one of his brothers had indeed married a real princess, whom he had once seen from a distance, completely different from the woman behind him.

Liu Youzhong, the fortune teller of Zhongnan, has encountered countless individuals throughout his life, and not a single prediction has been inaccurate. Even before leaving his hometown, his reputation had already spread across the world

The six-year-old Lou Chu expressed a desire to conclude this meeting as soon as possible

Xu Baoxin spoke at length, and it was only when the maid at the door urged her that she had to conclude. Cradling that somewhat reluctant little face in her hands, she whispered: "You are my son, you do not bear the surname Lou, you should bear the surname Xu. I am a princess of Wu, and you are the grandson of the Emperor of Wu..."

How did your emperor die

But his belly is too big, and this glance, along with the information in his eyes, could not be conveyed.

Xu Baoxin raised her head, a smile lingering on her face, "The emperor was killed by the people of Wu, wasn't he"

Eight

Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye. The Grand General has gained the trust of the new emperor, and his position is secure. Thus, he has returned to indulging in wine and pleasure, widely socializing and almost hosting lavish banquets every day

The maidservants in the manor had long prepared the hemp garments, and several hundred concubines were changing their clothes in the courtyard, with no one daring to voice any objections

This device has a name, called "Rain God Communication"; Xu Baoxin prefers to call it "Rain Child"

"Being imprisoned means... it means one can never hold an official position for a lifetime." The eldest child provided a simple yet accurate explanation, "When we grow up, we can all hold official positions, but he cannot."

Xu Baoxin was actually very scared, but she could not suppress her laughter. The long-empty space in her heart suddenly burst forth; it turned out that it was not empty at all. Countless emotions surged out, transforming into an increasingly intense laughter

With her wrist in excruciating pain, Xu Baoxin did not cry out in agony; instead, her voice rose even higher, "When I was kept by the Emperor for a month, do you not wish to know the details?"

Someone leaned over and quietly explained the situation. Lou Wen let out a sound of realization, suddenly recalling the princess of Wu. "Alas, your mother has such a peculiar temperament. I haven't said anything. The court intends to deal with the people of Wu, but as long as I am here, it shouldn't lead back to her, right? Why scare herself into suicide? Confusing, truly confusing. Where there is a confused mother, there is a confused son. Your becoming mute might actually be a good thing; perhaps it will spare you from a lot of trouble."

Xu Baoxin could not hold back, pressing her hands against her lower abdomen, her laughter unceasing. Even at this moment, with the blade poised to fall, a smile would still linger on her face

The floor pillar did not become mute; soon, someone discovered that when he was alone, he would actually mutter to himself, though no one could hear clearly what he was saying

The emperor has died

Luo Wen, despite his advanced age, still retained considerable strength. Xu Baoxin fell heavily to the ground, her entire body in pain, yet she continued to laugh heartily, "The Great Emperor Cheng did not die a good death, and the blame will fall upon the people of the five nations..."

"I am not..." The floor was flushed with embarrassment, but he was unsure whether he was indeed the 'Princess of Wu'. Not wanting to get entangled in this issue, he changed his words: "You cannot become a general"

The children all got up, their faces showing a hint of confusion. Lou Chu also stood up, brushed off the dust from his clothes, and speculated that he had once again escaped a calamity

Madam Lan watched her husband depart, then turned around to face the many concubines, "Change into mourning clothes and weep"

When the general is angry, someone must come to persuade him; otherwise, he will be even more furious afterward and will vent his anger on everyone present at that time

The children coming in are getting younger, and Liu Youzhong's comments have become increasingly simple, often just a sound of acknowledgment or a casual "hello," without any judgment. The atmosphere in the building is also rather indifferent; as long as seven or eight out of the hundred or so descendants succeed, the grand structure of the Lou family will not collapse

The other children also showed signs of joy, and not a single person understood the true impact of the emperor's passing.

Even in ordinary times, interrupting the general's speech with laughter is an unforgivable offense, let alone on a day of national mourning. The concubines lowered their heads, not daring to look around, fully aware that only one person would have the audacity to do so

Suddenly, seven or eight children sprang out from the grass ahead, the older ones around ten years old and the younger ones five or six, each wielding wooden swords and guns, their clothes haphazardly wrapped, imitating the armor of soldiers

Lou Wen, in a state of drunkenness, still insisted on seeing Liu Xiangshi off from the residence. His several older sons busily attended to the arrangements. He put his arm around Liu Youzhong's shoulder and, thinking he was speaking softly, said: "Old Liu, you still have something to say, don't hide it from me, I can see it clearly."

I have heard a little about it. Please, Young Master Seventeen, step forward so that I may take a closer look

Hmm? The building temperature is not understood

Madam Lan understood and pondered for a moment, "Go back to your room."

"Send? What message?" The eldest child was quite intrigued and retracted the wooden sword

"You... go back!" General Lou Wen finally regained consciousness and shouted sternly

At each gathering, everyone has a designated position; those who stand incorrectly face demotion and may even be subjected to whipping. Therefore, although there are many concubines in the General's residence, adorned in splendid attire, there is no disorder, and everything is conducted with a sense of order and regulation

Xu Baoxin dismissed the maid, closed the door, and sat alone at the head of the bed. She realized that some things are harder to do than to think about. After a quarter of an hour, she finally made up her mind that she would not shed a single tear at the funeral of the Emperor of Dacheng

The eldest child struck the wooden sword on the ground and said, "To dare to speak such lies, a death sentence."

In that year, General Lou Wen of the Cheng State was forty-three years old. He had fought in numerous campaigns for over twenty years, experiencing more than a hundred battles of varying scales, and had never suffered a defeat. Under his watchful gaze, even the emperor had to avert his eyes.

The princess's voice was soft and submissive, just like before. Xu Baoxin sank deeper into her dream, a smile appearing at the corners of her mouth, playfully refusing to get out of bed

Today is an exception, the princess of Wu actually has a smile on her face, "Cuo'er, you have grown taller, how many characters have you learned? Can you write your own name? Are you eating well? Is anyone bullying you?"

"It is not a lie; I heard it from the adults. The Grand General has already entered the palace." The children in the residence are accustomed to referring to their father as "the Grand General," with a sense of respect and pride

Xu Baoxin also lowered her head to conceal her laughter, but she simply could not hold it back. Her giggles transformed from "puff puff" to "hee hee," and before the general could speak to stop her, her laughter had already turned into unrestrained "ha ha".

The house is filled with children and grandchildren, over one hundred people entering in batches, respectfully bowing to their father and the guests to pay their respects, and then standing aside to listen to their own prophecies

Five

At first, everyone thought this was a punishment for them, but gradually they understood from the adults' fragmented words that the emperor had truly passed away

Madam Lan walked up to the Princess of Wu and stared at her for a while

Four

The eldest child laughed out loud, "You still don't know what confinement is, do you? Haha, you are the son of the Princess of Wu, and the court has established a rule that does not allow people like you to hold office, because the people of Wu are the worst, and thus the children of Wu are also bad.

The third son is the biological child of the legitimate wife, Lady Lan. He exchanged a smile with his father, only concerned with the phrase "boundless prospects"

One

That gentleman known as the 'Silent Young Master'

Louchu has no particular desire to hold an official position, but he cannot accept the word "cannot." His face flushed, and he exclaimed, "If I want to be, I can be!"

The sound of rain outside the window is drizzling, and in a state between half-dreaming and half-awake, Xu Baoxin finds herself in a daze, returning to her homeland

"Will the emperor also die?" a child asked

After three rounds of drinks, Liu Youzhong began to observe the descendants of the Lou family. Whether it was a few words or a nod and a smile, he did not let it interfere with his drinking and dining. In less than an hour, he completed his evaluations, leaving everyone satisfied, especially the general himself, who was grinning from ear to ear

The seven-year-old Lou Chu remains the same as he was at six; apart from eating, he never speaks. Regardless of how others tease or provoke him, he responds with silence, not even changing his expression, which makes it quite uninteresting for the other party

From this day on, six-year-old Lou Chu no longer cried or spoke. Neither the scolding of adults nor the chasing of his brothers could elicit a single word or a single tear from him. Essentially, he only spoke during mealtimes, and otherwise always appeared to be in a daze.

Externally gentle enough to cultivate friendships, internally strong enough to manage subordinates, supported by ancestral blessings above and relying on brothers below, also being the maternal nephew of the Empress Dowager, the future is limitless. However, there is one thing to be cautious about: be careful in choosing friends

Luo Wen stepped forward boldly, placing a foot on the chest of the Princess of Wu, reaching for his sword again, "I will kill you, you little wretch, to prevent you from causing trouble for the Luo family..."

Cough... The atmosphere in the hall became slightly awkward, as if reading a decree filled with obscure characters. "Soon... I will enter the palace... to receive the late emperor's edict. You all... must change into mourning clothes, the more somber the better, and you must weep. The one who sheds the most tears will be rewarded. Furthermore, among you, anyone who was formerly from Wu, Shu, Liang, or Jin must cry even more tragically. If you fail to meet these requirements and cause trouble, don't say I didn't warn you..."

All along, Lou Wen has never mentioned this matter, and Xu Baoxin has also cleverly avoided this experience. Until today, she suddenly no longer wants to pretend to be confused

Xu Baoxin forgot whether there were others around at that time, only remembering her overwhelming sorrow. She both wanted to commit suicide and to kill the intruder, but in the end, she accomplished neither, as if she were frozen in place. All she could see was an enormous belly encased in armor, filling the entire room, with sounds seemingly emanating from within it. This was almost her entire impression of the general, and even after sharing a bed for many years, little else was added to that memory.

Xu Baoxin retracted the last trace of her smile, forcing herself to rise. "Let me see him just once, just once. I am grateful for the kindness of the lady, I hate Emperor Dacheng, I hate the great general, but I will forever be grateful for the lady's kindness."

Lou Wen takes pride in this and once boasted: "If I were to put in a little effort and make some adjustments, even though you are women, you would not be inferior to an equal number of men."

Madam Lan furrowed her brows slightly and said, "You all do nothing all day; you have been spoiled to madness." A sound of weeping came from behind, and Madam Lan, feeling somewhat displeased, turned around and said, "His Majesty nurtures the people; you should not weep as if you have lost your father."

Two

No one knows exactly what "military law" is; in any case, it is firmly suppressed.

The lady also made an appearance, standing beside the general, which is quite a rare occurrence. The lady's maiden name is Lan, and her family background is distinguished, matching well with the Lou family. Although she has been granted the title of "General," she seldom participates in such gatherings

Madam Lan let out a low sob; her elder sister is the Empress, and the Emperor's passing adds to her grief of losing a loved one

Lou Wen enjoyed hearing such words, smiling as he sent the fortune teller away, then returned home to sleep. The next day, upon waking, he had completely forgotten Liu Youzhong's words.

The general cleared his throat softly and spoke in an unprecedented gentle voice: "The Son of Heaven... the Son of Heaven has passed away, and the entire nation mourns together for this great loss"

Princess of Wu - The two characters "Wu Guo" have never been omitted to avoid confusion with the true Princess of Da Cheng. The two characters "Gong Zhu" are often deliberately emphasized, accompanied by various peculiar expressions, as if they are tacitly conveying secrets to each other

Lou Wen angrily shouted and, with a flick of his hand, threw the princess of Wu several steps away

Liu Youzhong casually made a brief comment as usual, and suddenly his gaze returned to a child, "This one is ... ... "

Xu Baoxin came to understand that this was not the Jiangdong Wu Kingdom, but Luoyang. Here, she was a lady, a war captive, a concubine, a mother, and had no right to linger in bed

Managing a household is akin to commanding an army, assigning military ranks to over 370 wives and concubines. The wife holds the rank of general, favored concubines are designated as deputy generals, assistant generals, and participating generals, while the remaining are assigned ranks such as captain, squad leader, and team leader.

"I consider you a friend, what do you consider me?" Lou Wen questioned.

So what? He is my son, can he rebel against outsiders? Besides, how old is he?

"Oh, has my son's reputation spread outside?" Lou Wen said with a smile, as he had almost forgotten about this son along with the Princess of Wu.

Rumors may still spread, and many treat it as a joke, often saying in front of the building's foundation: "A wise man governs the world by keeping silent, while a hero of chaos speaks out. Open your mouth and let us see what a hero of chaos looks like"

What happened to him? Is there a problem? Lou Wen was taken aback, not expecting that what Liu Youzhong cared about was actually this son

It is said that, apart from Xu Baoxin, there is no other woman in the residence who dares to show even a hint of hatred in front of the General.

The rumors gradually faded away, ultimately forgotten by the majority. However, the foundation of the building was often heard, deeply engraved in the heart. When he was thirteen years old, he finally spoke up to recite the classics of sages with everyone, yet he still occasionally recalled those two sentences

The eldest child struck the head of the building's foundation with a knife, saying, "I am not the son of a Wu person; if I want to be a general, I will be a general"

My youngest child truly has a bright future ahead

Madam Lan's expression was equally serious, with a hint of sorrow.

Liu Youzhong nodded with a smile, observing for a while, and said: "Open your mouth."

On this day, the thirteenth day of the sixth month in the fourteenth year of the Dachen Dynasty, news of the emperor's passing was rapidly spreading in all directions across the empire. The sun blazed fiercely in the sky, while a group of children chased each other in the small garden, unaware of how many flowers and grasses they trampled or how much sweat they shed.

This time, the eldest child's face turned red. In the eyes of the children from their building, the civil official carried a hint of timidity, while the general was the best choice

Lou Wen did not truly intend to kill anyone; he released his grip and spat disdainfully, saying to the lady: "Give these women a good lesson, and I will immediately enter the palace"

Upon returning to their residence, all the children were gathered together, dressed in unattractive and uncomfortable clothing, and shockingly, they were not given dinner. Instead, they were sent to a room where the adults demanded that they kneel and weep in anguish

Madam Lan reached out to stop her husband, "She must be out of her mind"

The man stopped struggling, raised his face covered in dirt, and shouted: "I am not a rebel, I am ... a messenger."

Madam Lan turned to the Princess of Wu, and on that face, she still could not see the expected expression of grief. "Your Majesty fell ill suddenly a few days ago... Why am I telling you this? Today is merely a demonstration. When the time comes for the official mourning, whether to weep or to die, you may choose for yourself"