Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 978 - 807: My Heart Is Only This Big (Please Subscribe and Vote for Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 978: Chapter 807: My Heart Is Only This Big (Please Subscribe and Vote for Monthly Tickets)

"Why should I bother dealing with it?"

Li Xuan laughed and patted his waist saber, "With two hundred thousand Shenji Camp Forbidden Army troops at my command, and five million long swords facing wherever I point, what insect would dare to make a sound?"

At the beginning of the year, he indeed rotated the one hundred seventy thousand troops who had been on the campaign to Fusang, recruiting brave warriors from all over to rebuild the Shenji Camp.

The entire process caused hardly a ripple; those old soldiers from the Jingying had made a lucrative fortune in the battle of Fusang, and most of them no longer wanted to gamble their lives for wealth and honor in the army.

Li Xuan also encouraged them to relocate to Liaodong. Any who were willing to move their families there were rewarded with eighty mu of military merit land in the region of Liaodong and could even fill the role of Yayi in the local government.

These veterans had money in their hands and their martial prowess was still formidable, which was extremely advantageous for the Court’s expansion efforts in Liaodong.

As for those who wanted to stay in the military, they were all ambitious individuals with generally good spirits.

Li Xuan carefully selected around three thousand of them to stay, continuing to serve as the backbone of Shenji Camp, while the remaining ten thousand plus were assigned into other Jingying units and various local Weisuo armies as Weisuo officers.

This further solidified Li Xuan’s foundation in the Jin Army, making it increasingly unshakeable.

Upon hearing this, Luo Yan couldn’t help but click her tongue, "You’re overpowering them with force; I’m afraid that won’t stop the endless criticisms of the public."

However, if the public learns that the little Emperor is the progeny of Princess Jianguo, Yu Hongshang, and Li Xuan, it’s possible that his position on the throne could become even more secure.

By now, little Pingan was already over a year old, and Luo Yan had returned from maternity leave two months previously, taking over the affairs of Shenyi Government again.

As expected, Liudao Venerable Zhu Mingyue instigated the elder council to bestow Li Xuan with the honorary title of "Honorary Elder of the Liudao Division," effectively kicking him out of the Liudao Division and appointing Luo Yan as the chief of the Shenyi Government.

Luo Yan then immediately renamed ’Shenyi Government’ to ’Shenji Government’. She had always disliked that name, wondering just how many wings Li Xuan wanted to have.

Of course, that’s not the main point. The main point is that Luo Yan, while investigating cases and visiting the common people, learned of the incredibly high esteem Li Xuan currently held among them.

The Great Ancestor’s era saw the expulsion of the Datan and reduced servitudes and imposts, which the common people still greatly appreciate.

But in the reforming era, County Prince Fenyang secured peace throughout the land, and his reputation far surpasses that of the old Yu family, who liked to trouble the common people.

Li Xuan just scoffed, "Yu Youlong ascending the throne is the will of the late Emperor. Whoever dares to be dissatisfied, can seek reason with the late Emperor."

The implication was that he would send them to meet the late Emperor.

At that moment, Li Xuan pulled Yu Youlong over, setting him next to little Pingan.

This was the first time Yu Youlong had seen a child younger than himself, and likewise the first time little Pingan had seen an older child. The two little fellows stared at each other with big eyes, curious about one another.

However, little Pingan, who usually played with little tiger heads, had more experience interacting with peers and grabbed a small leather ball from the side, calling out to Yu Youlong with ’ah ah’ sounds, signaling him to join in the game.

He often played a ball-catching game with the little tiger heads, but it was boring without them.

Though he had three clever little ’Tingtians’ found by Luo Yan, they were still very young.

Because they had just been born, they needed medicated baths daily to refine their blood and cultivate their Divine Skills, and could not be with him at all times.

For Divine Beasts, the first three years after birth are crucial. If they consume enough spiritual essence from heaven and earth during that time, and are nurtured by extraordinary treasures, their physique and purity of bloodline will advance greatly.

Yu Youlong hesitated for a moment but still took the leather ball.

He thought it was rather boring and simple, yet after a few passes, Yu Youlong forgot everything else and began to laugh foolishly and jovially with little Pingan.

Seeing this, Li Xuan couldn’t help but his smile broaden.

This was precisely the reason he brought Youlong here—Yu Hongshang was overly protective of him, and yet due to the circumstances, she had no choice but to be.

The child was growing up and inevitably felt lonely, which was heart-wrenching to see.

Li Xuan then turned his attention to Luo Yan, his eyes revealing a hint of amazement, "Yan today is truly very beautiful."

This was because Luo Yan had recently been promoted to Fumo Zhonglangjiang and was donning the Liudao Fumo Armor, which made her look strikingly heroic and perfectly balanced between soft beauty and imposing might.

Such armor Jiang Hanyun also owned, but the two women exuded completely different charms and temperaments.

The more Li Xuan looked, the more enamored he became, his gaze growing suggestively warmer, "Yan, you should be free tonight, right?"

One of the benefits of recruiting Li ShanChang was that he now had more free time.

Li Xuan had come today both to give Yu Youlong a playmate and to take advantage of his free time to spend with his beloved Yan.

Yet now Li Xuan felt a primal force bubbling within him.

Luo Yan immediately knew what he was hinting at and she decisively shook her head, "No time! I still have to investigate a case in Tianjin later."

She actually quite liked it when Li Xuan spent time with her, but the problem was that he was becoming increasingly audacious.

Recently, she even asked her to use illusion magic to transform into various figures, such as Bodhisattvas, celestial maidens, and even the priestesses from Fusou and so on, and to wear all sorts of strange and ancient clothing, things like bunny girl costumes and silk stockings. She even required her to transform into the younger-version of Xia Nanyan and put on that sailor suit, which was simply the height of shamelessness.

Though at that time, Li Xuan himself was particularly vigorous and notably excited—

Luo Yan guessed what the man was thinking; he wanted her to wear the Liudao Fumo Armor and join him in the pleasures of the flesh.

Luo Yan thought to herself that the man was dreaming, it was absolutely impossible!

In her eyes, the Liudao Fumo Armor was very sacred.

Although Luo Yan initially didn’t care, after she joined the Liudao Division, she truly felt redeemed.

Li Xuan, however, was no longer the novice in love that he had been in years past. With just one look at Luo Yan’s expression, he knew there was hope.

"You’re not free again?" Li Xuan showed the perfect amount of disappointment, then seized Luo Yan’s hand, "But Yan’er, you’ve been busy with official duties lately and have to take care of the children on top of that; you have hardly spent time with me. Don’t you even have time to keep me company for a drink and a chat tonight!"

Luo Yan’s face showed hesitation, thinking that indeed, she hadn’t talked much with Li Xuan for half a month. And so, she nodded hesitantly.

About a quarter of an hour later, Yu Youlong and Pingan, who were playing, couldn’t help but look up in confusion. They felt as if the ground was shaking?

The two children looked towards the bed that had had its curtains put down and then continued their play without concern.

Pingan was already accustomed to this, and Yu Youlong had also gotten used to it.

Every time the Father Shang spent the night in the palace, the shaking of the mother’s bed was a regular occurrence. The commotion was quite significant, to the point that the ground was trembling, sometimes making it hard for him to stand steady.

At this time inside the curtains, Luo Yan, clad in the Liudao Fumo Armor, ferociously bit Li Xuan’s shoulder.

"Xuan, you bastard! Scoundrel! Scum! How could I ever have thought you were a gentleman!"

Li Xuan had a helpless look in his eyes. When he first crossed into this world, he truly was a model youth influenced by modern views on love. His dream was to have one true love, someone to be devoted to for life. He wanted to be a faithful and devoted man who, despite countless temptations, would choose only one to cherish.

Regrettably, merely half a year later, Li Xuan found himself unable to reject the grace of a beauty, and he succumbed to the social customs of ancient times, becoming a scoundrel.

And now, he was almost corrupted, having given up on himself.

After all, the girls by his side—Hanyun, Hongshang, Yunrou, Luo Yan, Qianqian, Yurou, Shuying, Qingfan, and another girl that he often forgot about—he wanted to hold on to every one of them, to guard them for life.

He couldn’t fit any more; Li Xuan felt his heart was only so big, and he couldn’t give part of it to anyone else.

Well, if Bilo and Qiluo were willing, maybe he could spare a piece of his heart.

Shaosiming Yuan Taiwei was also a fine woman, silly and adorable—

Li Xuan then increased the intensity of his shaking of the wooden bed: "How am I not a gentleman? Everyone says this prince acts with integrity, has lofty morals, and there is none more pure and upright in Confucianism in a thousand years than this prince. No, I am now a demon, a big demon. You, the Fumo Zhonglangjiang of the Liudao Division, die at my hands—"

Luo Yan’s pretty face instantly darkened, but for some reason, she gradually grew excited as well.

She couldn’t let this demon succeed! How could she, the Zhonglangjiang of the Liudao Division, lose to a demon?

About two hours later, Li Xuan carried Yu Youlong out of the Heavenly Court of Xuanhuang.

Luo Yan followed closely behind, still wearing the Liudao Fumo Armor. She gave Li Xuan a fierce glare, then soared into the sky.

Indeed, she had official duties that night, dealing with cases and slaying demons; she wasn’t deceiving Li Xuan.

For the past two months, this had been her routine, looking after the children until they fell asleep and then working on cases at night. Occasionally, when she needed to go thousands of miles away, she would leave the children with Yunrou, and they would help each other out.

Li Xuan then returned Yu Youlong to the already anxious Yu Hongchang. He didn’t stay overnight this time but left the palace to head to his own Fenyang Prince Mansion.

Li Xuan had received news that Shaofu Yu Jie was coming to visit him deep in the night.

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan understood that Yu Jie came to negotiate terms with him regarding the establishment of the five Zhihuishi Divisions.

Perfect, Li Xuan also intended to use it as leverage to force the regent ministers to support his tax reform.

The old fox Chen Xun seemed to have seen through his intentions, as he did not step forward this time. However, as long as he could win over Yu Jie’s support, Li Xuan could also force through land-to-head tax reform, integrating government officeholders and gentry in the tax system with a progressive tax structure.

But just then, Li Xuan’s brow furrowed. He immediately flickered, his body transforming into starlight, and using the Cosmic Swap of the Universe Great Array, he appeared outside the ’Confucius Temple’.

Li Xuan looked out and saw more than a thousand scholars sitting outside in protest, with dozens of old scholars in the front holding up spirit tablets of ’Gu Liangchi’, ’Cai Qianqiu’, ’Zheng Xuan’, ’Ma Rong’, and others. Their faces were filled with anger and outrage, the air thick with their indignation.

Right then, Kong Xuande, who had recently been decreed by The Court as the Duke Yansheng, approached Li Xuan and reported, "Your Highness, these scholars have heard of the County Prince petitioning The Court to remove the spirit tablets of these Daru from the Confucius Temple and have come to express their discontent."

Those scholars also noticed Li Xuan, and immediately an elderly scholar with white hair and beard rose up and shouted, "Prince Fenyang, people like Gu Liangchi, Zheng Xuan, and Ma Rong are masters of the Classical studies and paragons of virtue, admired by all. Even if Prince Fenyang you are the protector of Neo-Confucianism, you do not have the authority to remove their spirit tablets! By what right do you do this?"

Li Xuan slightly raised his brow, then calmly walked down the steps amidst the angry stares of thousands of scholars: "By what right? Because the Ancient Shangshu and Gu Liang’s Spring and Autumn Period are forgeries by predecessors, not the true intentions of the Saint."

At that moment, all the scholars present were instantly agitated, their voices thundering like a storm.