Despite her suspicions…
But without evidence, she could say nothing.
She was now filled with regret and didn't know what to do.
After thinking for a whole day in her room, she bit her lip and bowed before her husband's memorial tablet, saying, "My husband, please don't blame me. I only did this for the Jiang family, for Boyue!"
Having made up her mind, Liu began searching for ways to find alternative solutions.
First, she found someone she knew, then she tried to use connections and explore other avenues; testing the waters would eventually yield results.
Liu first contacted Zhang Chun's wife, Zhang, through connections; they had met once before.
Then she spent a large sum of money to win Zhang over, hoping she could help with an introduction.
Zhang relayed this matter to Zhang Chun, and the couple discussed everything together, big or small.
The shrewd Zhang Chun quickly grasped the reason. He remained silent, offering no warning, but instead instructed his wife, "Since she wants to see the Prince of Qin, then let her see him.
The Prince of Qin is going to the Northern Prefecture to inspect the pastures; take her to see him before then."
Zhang Chun, in charge of commerce, was busy every day, but after hearing his wife's report, he still took the time to help Lady Liu meet Lu Ming.
He knew very well that his lord was a man of principle; whatever he wanted, it was best to grant it immediately. Otherwise, if he was wronged and then offered it up, he would likely be the one to suffer.
Zhang Chun's position was secure…
And he was very loyal, so he wasn't worried about anything happening to him.
He just felt that if Lady Liu were to become Lu Ming's concubine in the future, it would be best not to offend her.
Even the most enlightened ruler wouldn't dare claim to be immune to the influence of his wife's influence, so he chose to be cautious.
That day, Lu Ming was having a barbecue in a grove of trees.
They went out for a stroll with Zhu Rong and the others, and on the way, hunted a wild boar.
Lu Ming personally rolled up his sleeves to butcher and dissect the boar, while Zhu Rong helped him, giving them the air of a hunter couple.
Diao Chan, despite her discomfort, went to help. She didn't like the sight of blood, but to ensure Lu Ming's enjoyment, she wasn't going to just sit and wait to be eaten.
Sitting now might mean sitting in the cold palace later.
Even Dong Bai knew to help out, no matter how uncomfortable she felt, she had to adapt.
That's reality…
Lu Ming, however, didn't think much of it. He was happy to see the women helping.
They cut off the boar's head, then bled, skinned, and cut the meat.
A wild boar weighs around 230-200 jin (approximately 100-150 kg). After removing the internal organs, there wasn't much lean meat.
After Lu Ming treated the internal organs with salt, he saw that Diao Chan had already started a fire.
He rinsed it again with warm water, then poured the pork offal into the pan.
"This is good stuff! Pork offal is delicious. Add some noodles, and it'll be even more flavorful!"
Lu Ming's image wasn't exactly that of a gentleman, nor was he at all aloof.
Zhu Rong, a beauty from the southern barbarians, leaned against Lu Ming, her jade-like hands deftly using a dagger to cut the pork. "Husband, you really don't seem like a prince at all!"
This was actually quite bold; if Lu Ming cared, saying this would undoubtedly have made him uncomfortable.
However, Lu Ming didn't enjoy the status of a prince; he only felt that the power he held was the source of his happiness.
"That's right, even if I become emperor, I don't want to be emperor in the harem.
Being emperor is for outsiders; in private, my wife and I don't need these formalities!"
Lu Ming kissed the beautiful Zhu Rong. She had always wanted to have his child. She wasn't exactly enthusiastic about sex and procreation, but she certainly longed for it!
"You're so annoying! Husband! Aren't you afraid of being seen?"
Zhu Rong was thrilled, finding her husband truly amusing.
A beautiful face is one in a thousand, but an interesting soul is one in ten thousand.
"Haha!"
Lu Ming kissed Diao Chan and Dong Bai on the cheeks as well, then picked up the iron grill and placed the pork chops on it to grill.
He took out cumin and pepper; the pork, with its fat, already released its own oil as it grilled.
A moment later…
An extremely rich aroma wafted over, so enticing that it made one's mouth water.
Just as they were about to eat, Lu Ming had already taken Diao Chan's nipple into his mouth and was sucking on it, drinking all the milk.
Diao Chan's face was flushed, slightly moist from the kisses, and she was thinking about being fucked!
The captain of the guards, Lin Lianhua, approached. It should have been Hu Sanniang's business, but Hu Sanniang had been impregnated by Lu Ming and remained in Chang'an, so Lin Lianhua came instead.
"Husband, Zhang Chun, along with his wife and Lady Liu, are requesting an audience downstairs."
Lu Ming squinted, glanced at the map, and, finding no signs of attack or red dots, nodded. "Let them come up.
Looks like someone's offering themselves up!"
Zhu Rong raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased with Zhang Chun's arrival.
They had all planned to eat wild game and have sex in the wild, but now this had interfered, which was quite annoying.
"They've come at a really bad time, my husband. Let's consummate our marriage tonight!"
Diao Chan and Dong Bai blushed slightly; they dared not speak so directly and explicitly in this atmosphere.
Even though Diao Chan could be incredibly alluring in bed, she maintained a ladylike image before undressing and getting into bed.
Shortly afterward, Zhang Chun brought his wife and Lady Liu up the hillside.
Upon arriving, he saw Zhu Rong's unfriendly expression and his heart skipped a beat. "Your subordinate greets my lord and the three mistresses."
"This concubine greets Your Highness and the three princesses."
Lady Zhang and Lady Liu said in unison. Greetings were definitely necessary; women might not always be able to accomplish anything, but they were certainly adept at sabotaging things.
"Get up, Qiu Wen, sit down, you all sit too.
Since you're here,
we might as well eat together.
Chan'er, prepare three bowls and chopsticks."
Lu Ming skillfully scooped up the pork offal noodle soup and added some toppings.
Zhang Chun, not daring to be presumptuous, hurriedly stood up and kowtowed to Lu Ming in gratitude, "Thank you for your kindness, my lord. I have come here with urgent matters to report to you."
"Eat and talk."
Lu Ming placed the noodles on the table, picked up a bowl of pork offal noodles and ate it himself, also giving the grilled pork chops to Zhu Rong and the others.