Chapter 110: Beauty Is More Than Enough

The Snow Woman was adorable and captivating, but Lin Shu’s heart was already full, and he had no desire to fall for anyone else so easily. Besides, little girls could be fickle, and he had not forgotten the anguish of his previous life.

“Snow Woman, are you accustomed to life in the royal city? Has anyone bullied you? If so, Uncle will teach them a proper lesson.”

Lin Shu assumed that the Snow Woman had come to lodge a complaint.

She hurriedly shook her head. “His Majesty’s city is wonderful, and no one has harassed us! It’s just that…”

Alas, the Snow Woman found it difficult to say more. Gao Jianli had meant no harm, after all, and his methods had been clean and straightforward.

Lin Shu frowned. Someone had actually dared to cause trouble?

“Tell me, Snow Woman. Whoever it is, I will not stand by and do nothing.”

The Snow Woman gave a wry smile and shook her head. “Your Majesty, it is really nothing. It is just that Minister Gao keeps coming over for no reason to ask my sisters to play music for him!”

Heh. Yan Fei could not help letting out a soft laugh.

“Snow Woman, Little Minister Gao is a decent man. You needn’t worry.”

So that was it! Lin Shu could only smile bitterly and shake his head.

“Ah, Snow Woman. As the saying goes, every gentleman admires a graceful lady. It would hardly be proper for me to interfere. Yan Fei is right—Minister Gao is a good man.”

“Still, you should take several years to test him properly.”

Lin Shu did not want Gao Jianli to prey on such a young girl so soon, even if women in this age often began marrying at fourteen.

“No, Your Majesty! Snow Woman will never marry again in this life, nor does she wish to grow close to him!”

She hurriedly shook her head. She could never forget what had happened in Ji City. In the end, Gao Jianli had still nodded and agreed to perform for Yan Yue. Had it not been for the Northern King, their Feixue Pavilion would never have found peace.

“This…”

Lin Shu sighed. He did not want to pry into the Snow Woman’s past.

He still remembered that, in the tales of the Qin era, Gao Jianli and the Snow Woman had known each other for more than a decade, yet had never managed to become a couple.

That clearly showed that Gao Jianli’s romantic skills were lacking. It also proved that the Snow Woman herself had never thought much of that impoverished young man who knew only how to act cool.

Hmph! Could this king truly not see me at all?

After glancing at the two beautiful older sisters, the Snow Woman abandoned her foolish thoughts. She seemed to understand now.

“Snow Woman has come especially on behalf of Feixue Pavilion to thank Your Majesty for your kindness and assistance.”

Without saying anything more, she bowed solemnly.

“Mm, there is no need for such ceremony. Feixue Pavilion has also brought many new forms of entertainment to the royal city.”

Forms of entertainment? Shaoshao shook her head gloomily. The royal city was governed by strict regulations, and the merchants feared His Majesty. Even brothels and dance halls had not dared open their doors recklessly.

Yet after Feixue Pavilion settled there, the merchants had grown bolder as well.

As for brothels, Lin Shu neither interfered with nor encouraged them. So long as the women entered the trade willingly, that was enough. After all, it was also a form of service work.

Those with three wives, four concubines, and a crowd of lovers naturally had no need for such services, but many others did.

“Your Majesty, you flatter us!” The Snow Woman looked embarrassed. Feixue Pavilion now provided performances but did not sell the women themselves. Those other forms of entertainment truly had nothing to do with them.

Alas. Perhaps it was because of her origins.

The Snow Woman was proud and strong, yet deeply ashamed of her birth. She also felt guilty for having misjudged someone in the past and causing the death of the elder sister who had raised her.

“By the way, Snow Woman, are you leaving the city or going somewhere else?” Lin Shu did not wish to linger. If Jing Ni and the others saw him, it would become troublesome.

The Snow Woman found it awkward to admit that she had come specifically to see him. “My master told me to travel around and look about. As it happened, I saw Your Majesty’s carriage.”

“Ah, I see. Although the Empire’s laws are strict, human nature is still greedy and selfish. A lovely young girl like you must be especially careful. Do not go to places where there are few people.”

If this had been in the past, Lin Shu might not have been able to resist teasing and taking liberties with such a charming little beauty.

“Oh, Your Majesty! Snow Woman is not that young anymore!” she protested shyly.

Watching the two of them talk without end, Little Yan’er began to grow displeased as well.

Even the usually quiet Shaoshao could not help speaking up. “Your Majesty, we still have a long journey ahead.”

“Snow Woman will take her leave first.” The Snow Woman understood that she was not particularly welcome there.

Lin Shu nodded. “We are heading out to sea. If it is convenient, we can take you to the pier.”

The Snow Woman hesitated, still too embarrassed to say anything.

“Let’s go, Commander. Queen Jing is about to come upstairs.”

The moment Xin Ying spoke, the carriage accelerated away.

“All right, then.” The Snow Woman secretly rejoiced. She had also wanted to thank him for the voice she had just heard.

The journey passed in silence, and they soon arrived at the pier.

The Snow Woman had no choice but to get out of the carriage.

Watching the carriage sail out onto the sea, she stood motionless for a long while.

“Is that a ship or a carriage?”

As soon as the Snow Woman had left, the dignified King Lin immediately pulled Yan Fei and Shaoshao into his arms.

“Husband, that little Snow Woman is truly alluring, isn’t she?” Yan Fei sighed softly. What ordinary woman would wish to have another person share what was hers?

Even Shaoshao remained unusually quiet, so Lin Shu hurriedly explained.

“She is indeed quite lovely and beautiful, but I already have the four of you. That is more than enough.”

Shaoshao smiled faintly and nodded. “Truly, my king?”

“Mm. Truly.”

“After all, the victor becomes king and the defeated are cast out, while the beauties at one’s bedside are already sufficient. Four beauties are more than enough…”

Lin Shu suddenly thought of a song from his previous life.

“Hmph! Can you ever be serious?” Yan Fei quickly covered his mouth.

Alas. Little Yan’er lowered her head and sighed. She could only close her eyes and sleep for a while.

With a beauty held in each arm, Lin Shu suddenly thought of Yan Lingji, who was imprisoned in a mountain water dungeon in Han.

His enthusiasm for the foremost beauty of the Qin era had diminished considerably.

Perhaps, in this world, Yan Lingji was the most bewitching and alluring woman of all. Yet in the early days, she had been in love with Tianze and had shared many entanglements with the Marquis of Snow-Clad Robes. Later, she had even fallen for Han Fei.

He did not mind if something happened between them, but he had no expectation of becoming emotionally involved.

Knowing that the Snow Woman carried a burden in her heart, he was even less inclined to approach her. After all, the beauties around him were already more than enough for him…

…

After returning home to visit his junior sister, Jing Ke set out on a diplomatic mission to Han.

Xinzheng was the wealthiest city in the Central Plains and the meeting point of the world’s commercial routes by land and water.

Relying on its wealth, Han had managed to maintain an army of more than two hundred thousand despite possessing barely half a commandery’s worth of land.

Most of them, however, were weak-kneed soldiers who would never dare stand against the fierce Qin army.

Although the fighting had temporarily ceased, refugees still wandered from place to place, scavenging for food, while Xinzheng remained as prosperous and splendid as ever.

Jing Ke was no Young Master Lin, so he had to wait half an hour even to request an audience with the King of Han.

The King of Han did not meet Jing Ke immediately because he first had to summon his ministers, the Crown Prince, and the others for a discussion.

Han Fei, who had just returned to Han, was there as well.

“Now even the King of Wei has written to me, asking Han to join the Northern Alliance!”

King An of Han had actually already agreed, but he deliberately put on a stern expression.

Zhang Gaodi nodded inwardly. This way, Han might yet be preserved.

The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince remained composed, while Han Fei’s brows drew tightly together.

No one objected, yet there was one man who was unwilling to accept it.

After learning that Wei had joined the alliance, Ji Wuye had no choice but to tighten his grip over Han’s military and political power.

“Your Majesty, the Qin army has mobilized a hundred thousand troops and is approaching our borders. They clearly intend to exert pressure on Han! If we join the alliance, I fear the Qin army will attack the city at once!”

Ji Wuye wore a sorrowful expression, but in truth he was acting for his own sake. If the Han royal family joined the Northern Alliance, how could he continue controlling Han and complete his ultimate mission?

“This…”

King An panicked. At the thought of the Qin army, he no longer dared agree to the alliance immediately.

Qin’s determination to destroy Han had long been established. How could Zhang Gaodi fail to understand Ji Wuye’s ambitions?

Unfortunately, the Han royal family had already begun guarding against the Zhang clan. The Great General had been raised by the king specifically to counterbalance him, the Chancellor.

“Your Majesty, you may summon the Northern envoy.”

King An frowned, then nodded in agreement.

Hmph! Ji Wuye lowered his head, seething with anger.

The Northern Empire’s chief consul was actually so young!

Han Fei secretly admired him. They said that one’s appearance reflected one’s heart, and he felt that Jing Ke was much the same sort of person as himself.

After observing everyone’s expressions, Jing Ke sighed inwardly as well.

He hoped that the King of Han would sign the alliance treaty as soon as possible. His Majesty was coming soon, and by then another storm of bloodshed would surely begin.

King An was hopeful, yet still burdened by misgivings.

Chancellor Zhang secretly reveled in the situation. The Crown Prince and Fourth Prince continued pretending to be calm, while Ji Wuye’s face had turned black with anger.

Han Fei said nothing, but he took the initiative to smile and nod.

It was Jing Ke’s first time seeing Han Fei, yet he found himself liking the man at once.