In this world, playing with other men's wives is far more interesting than getting promoted or making a fortune. Dong Zhuo kept talking, and Lu Ming listened intently, his main aim being to win him over and appease him.
"Anmin, if a powerful family were to offer you their daughter in marriage, how would you handle it?" Dong Zhuo suddenly remembered something; when an outstanding person appeared, marriage was almost always the most direct, simple, and effective way.
"It's my parents' decision, the matchmaker's word. I have no objection." Lu Ming was clever; he pushed the matter onto his mother, making it much easier.
His mother was still in Xiliang; going there to discuss the marriage with her wasn't so simple.
So, by making this excuse, even if it didn't work out, no one would hold a grudge. Filial piety was a perfect shield; whether he liked it or not, he had to accept it—that was the rule.
"Haha, good. When I go back to Xiliang another day, I'll have your aunt send you a few Qiang girls to play with." Dong Zhuo's words were crude, and in fact, that was exactly what he was like.
The saying goes, "Different strokes for different folks." If the person is a civil official, one should be more restrained; otherwise, one should be more unrestrained.
"Then thank you very much, Uncle," Lu Ming said without ceremony. Why not take it if it's free?
But in his heart, he was thinking about that old bastard Wang Yun. Should he go and see him?
Not for any other reason than that Diao Chan was Wang Yun's adopted daughter. As one of the Four Beauties, since she was destined for historical fame, he should have a taste of her.
If Diao Chan was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and also knew music and dance, then she must have been cultivated for a long time. Did he have a chance to get his hands on her?
After several rounds of drinks, everyone was drunk. Dong Zhuo ordered that these people be sent to sleep. As for what they wanted to do, there were plenty of brothels in Luoyang. As long as they had money, they could go. Drinking and playing with prostitutes.
Lu Ming had no interest in going to brothels. There was nothing fun in those places. There were so many beauties in the Three Kingdoms period; why bother with public transportation?
Staggering away from Dong Zhuo's residence, Lu Ming immediately noticed someone following him. He couldn't tell if it was a spy from the Yuan family, the Yang family, or even Emperor Ling himself.
Regardless, he didn't want to get involved; he'd just pretend not to know.
If they wanted to make a move, he'd simply eliminate them.
Keeping them around was just for show. If they didn't care about face, he wouldn't give them any either.
The Wang residence—no, it should be called the Lu residence—had been renamed.
Wang Lang had been imprisoned for almost three months without a word. Plus, Yang Ci, the former Grand Commandant of the Yang family, was already failing and had no energy to care about his protégé; he had been forgotten.
There were so many officials in Luoyang; who would care?
One dead? The subordinates were more than happy; it made room for them!
Lu Ming returned to his residence, where his steward, Wang Huan, greeted him. "Master, the convict Wang Shi and the others are waiting in your room."
"Very good. This list, go and purchase it tomorrow morning. From now on, you'll live a life of luxury with me, and I'll give you a raise!" Lu Ming pulled a list from his robes; it contained some materials.
These were for building his fortune. He planned to forge a financial alliance with Emperor Ling and Marquis Zhao, ideally securing start-up capital to facilitate his operations.
Living in Chang'an was difficult enough; living in Luoyang was even harder. Without money, nothing was possible.
Fortunately, Zhang Rang had a backup plan; he only came to seize the items, leaving them behind. Otherwise, Lu Ming might have been in even worse shape.
"Yes, Master, I will handle things perfectly." Wang Huan had no choice; he was just a servant, what could he do? Pleasing his master was what a servant was supposed to do.
Reeking of alcohol, Lu Ming first took a bath before heading to the master bedroom. This used to be Wang Lang's bedroom, but now it's his. Everything here belongs to him, including his wife and daughter!
Wang Lang's wife, Madam Wang, sat nervously on the edge of the bed. For her, being at her age and still having to serve a man was indeed shameful.
But precisely because she was over thirty, and precisely because she had gained some life experience, she didn't value it as much. Chastity was nothing compared to life. Her husband was already in prison; her support had fallen, and she could only find another.
Lu Ming narrowed his eyes and quickly saw the mother and daughter sitting on the bed.
A mature woman in a brocade dress with floral patterns, her hair styled in a bun with a gold hairpin, had a beautiful face and fair skin. Beside her sat a young girl, her innocent eyes looking at him with some fear, which only aroused the man's inner violence and impulse.
"Are you Wang Lang's wife and daughter?"
"My lord, I am Wang Lang's wife, Yi Jin, and this is my daughter, Wang Li. My lord, please have pity on Li'er! Li'er is still so young. Please spare Li'er! I... I am willing to serve you with my humble appearance." Wang Lang's wife bowed deeply to Lu Ming, clearly intending to offer herself to the tiger to protect her daughter's chastity.
Lu Ming did not answer. Instead, he walked over and took Wang Li's small hand. The girl trembled with fear, hiding behind her mother, Yi Jin. "Does this child suffer from a chronic illness?"
"My lord, Li'er has been sickly since childhood. We don't know why. We've seen many doctors, but none of them can diagnose her. My husband originally planned to send Li'er to the Qingshan Nunnery outside the city to become a nun, hoping for blessings." Yi Jin wept bitterly; her child always seemed to have such a tragic fate.
Lu Ming squinted at Wang Li and said, "You're lucky to have met me. Consider it a lifesaver. Take off all your clothes and lie face down on the bed. I'll give you a few acupuncture treatments, and after taking some medicine for a while, you'll be fine."
He then got up to get some silver needles and sterilized them over a candle. This trick caught the mother and daughter off guard; they didn't know Lu Ming was a healer.
"Hmm? You don't want treatment?" Seeing the girl still unmoved, Lu Ming glared at her, a sharp look making her tremble. She involuntarily began to undress and obediently lay face down on the bed.
The girl's skin was very white, somewhat pale, with a slender, thin figure. After some time, it would be more comfortable to handle her.
The natural girl still carried a faint virginal fragrance. Lu Ming had never been with a virgin before; this trip to Luoyang was definitely one he wanted to take advantage of.
Thinking this, his hands didn't stop. Instead, he took off his clothes, pressed Yi Jin down between his legs, and made Wang Lang's wife give him oral sex. "Suck it for me, and I'll cure your daughter's illness!"