Even Shangguan Xue didn’t expect Lin Ming to be so direct. Her body trembled, flowers swaying, as she tore open the slit of her black pants, revealing her fair, slender legs.
“Please enjoy, Commander!” Shangguan Xue said, biting her lip.
After spending the past few days together, she no longer acted reserved. Shame had long since vanished. Still, when faced with Lin Ming’s burning gaze, an uncontrollable shyness would sometimes rise within her—perhaps a natural reaction of a young woman.
In the end, Lin Ming simply placed his hand on her knee.
A surge of true Qi flowed into her.
In an instant, Shangguan Xue’s fatigue vanished, and the soreness in her legs disappeared completely!
She was stunned. “Commander, you’re healing me?”
“You ran yourself ragged today, didn’t you? Your legs are full of bruises,” Lin Ming said with a gentle smile.
It was the perfect chance to test his martial cultivation. And truth be told, the Qi from the Sunflower Manual was surprisingly effective—especially on women.
“Thank you, Commander! I would die ten thousand deaths to repay this kindness!” Shangguan Xue was genuinely moved.
Compared to the previous two Unseen Ones Commanders, this one was so much more thoughtful!
What surprised her even more was that, at their first meeting, she had sensed no martial aura from him at all.
But now, from the density of his Qi, he was at least an entry-level expert—on par with her.
Was the Commander hiding his strength all along?
On the surface, he looked like a frivolous scoundrel from the Duke Commander’s estate. In truth, he was a deep and unfathomable master!
She regretted misjudging him. She nearly ruined her own Commander!
Soon, night fell.
Wanhua Tower was already bustling with noise and excitement.
Tonight, the Empire’s most influential Six Noble Houses would gather. At such a rare musical and literary banquet, countless elites and nobles were expected to join.
Even the famed courtesan queen of Wanhua Tower, who rarely appeared in public, was said to be performing tonight.
At the tower’s rear entrance, in stark contrast to the lively front, all was quiet.
A magnificent carriage inlaid with colored glass stopped silently at the door.
Ye Qinghuan, dressed in plain clothes, stepped down with the help of Li Qiushui.
“Minister Wan Canglong greets Your Majesty!” said Wan Canglong, young master of the Wan family—one of the Six Noble Houses—who had long been waiting.
The moment he saw Ye Qinghuan, he rushed forward to kneel.
“No need for formality, Lord Wan. I’m traveling in disguise today. I don’t wish to draw attention. Tonight, at Wanhua Tower, we are not monarch and subjects—only host and guest,” Ye Qinghuan said with a faint smile, revealing two dimples at the corners of her lips.
One glance back, and all charm bloomed.
Even the naturally flirtatious Wan Canglong was mesmerized.
Though born into nobility and famous across the capital, already titled Marquis and awarded an honorary position in court before his mid-twenties, the Wan family’s internal competition was fierce—with many direct heirs.
That was why Wan Canglong aligned himself with the Empress early on, hoping to use imperial favor to crush his rivals and secure the position of family head.
There was another reason too—Empress Ye Qinghuan was so breathtaking, he couldn’t help wanting her for himself!
“For the Empire, I offer my life without hesitation!” Wan Canglong suppressed his perverse thoughts and declared with righteous fervor.
Of course, such intentions couldn’t escape Ye Qinghuan’s eyes.
“Your loyalty, I see it clearly and remember it well,” she replied lightly, though she secretly laughed inside. She saw right through him but chose not to expose him.
After all, Wan Canglong was still a useful chess piece. Tonight, she needed him to bring down the Duke Commander’s estate.
“Is everything prepared?” she asked casually.
“Everything’s ready. We’re only waiting for the final push!” Wan Canglong said proudly. “I arranged a private room next door for Your Majesty. You’ll hear Lin Ming’s every word and movement.”
“You’re certain he’ll come? What if he doesn’t?” Ye Qinghuan asked coolly.
“If Lin Ming doesn’t show, that means he’s a coward. I’ll rally the other heirs and spread the word. His reputation will be ruined by morning!” Wan Canglong replied enthusiastically. “But if he does come, even better! I’ve dealt with this fool before. Apart from writing nonsense like My Duke Commander Father, he only knows how to play mahjong!” Follow the newest chapters on novelping . com.
“He’s completely illiterate. Watching him make a fool of himself will be a piece of cake.”
In short—whether Lin Ming came or not, he would lose tonight.
Ye Qinghuan finally smiled in satisfaction. “If all goes as planned tonight, you’ll be greatly rewarded. I’ll personally support you in becoming head of the Wan family.”
That was exactly what Wan Canglong wanted. He immediately knelt in thanks.
“This isn’t for me—it’s for the Empire! I will rid Your Majesty of this national traitor, even at the cost of my life!”
“Mm, loyal ministers like you are rare. I shall make good use of you…”
Once inside the private room, Ye Qinghuan’s smile faded.
“This Wan Canglong is nothing but a vile little man. Once this is done, find an excuse to exile him from the capital. I don’t want to see his face again.”
Li Qiushui was shocked. “Your Majesty, didn’t you just praise his loyalty? And now—”
“I use petty men, but that doesn’t mean I like them. That’s different.”
Ye Qinghuan sighed. “Just like how I despise Lin Ming, but I don’t want to kill him. I only want him ruined.”
Meanwhile…
The Duke Commander’s carriage finally arrived at Wanhua Tower.
The moment the curtain lifted, Lin Ming was greeted by throngs of glamorous women.
“Yo, isn’t this the young master of the Duke Commander’s estate?”
“Pft! He’s not a young master anymore—he’s the Duke himself now!”
“My lord, it’s been so long since you came to visit me…”
“Come to me! I’ve learned a new position recently—I wanted you to be the first to try it out.”
Lin Ming and Luo Feng exchanged glances.
Lin Ming asked, “Do I know all these people?”
Luo Feng replied, “Uh… you’re quite close—in bed.”
Lin Ming: …
“How many of them do I know?”
“All of them. Even the madam of the brothel…”
Lin Ming was speechless. No wonder this body was so weak.
One man doing the work of three generations—it’s a miracle he didn’t die sooner.
“You wait here.”
Servants like Luo Feng weren’t allowed inside.
After handing out silver notes to dismiss all these former lovers, Lin Ming ascended to the top floor’s most luxurious private room.
“Ah, Young Master Lin is here!”
“Old Lin, long time no see. Your father’s finally dead. Guess we should start calling you Duke Commander now!”
The heirs of the Five Noble Houses and other aristocrats all sneered at him.
Even though he had inherited the title, in their eyes, Lin Ming was still the same useless brat.
Yes, they were all rich and spoiled—but at least they had classical education, arts, and culture.
Compared to them, Lin Ming, who only knew how to waste money, sat at the bottom of the hierarchy.
Wan Canglong stepped forward and said with a grin, “Lin Ming, you’re late. Tonight’s rule is—latecomers must perform a dance for entertainment!”
The crowd erupted in laughter.
“Hey, he’s a court official now! A high-ranking one! Is this really appropriate?”
“What’s inappropriate? He used to do this all the time! Sometimes he’d even crawl on the floor and bark like a dog when drunk!”
Even the courtesans giggled behind their hands.
They used to tease the Duke Commander’s heir just like this. Now that he had a title, they saw no reason to stop.
From the next room, Ye Qinghuan shook her head.
“In their eyes, Lin Ming really holds no weight.”
Li Qiushui scoffed, “Looks like we won’t even need to wait for the poetry round. He’s already lost!”
“A dignified Duke Commander, reduced to this…”
BOOM!
Before she could finish, a thunderous crash rocked the room.
Screams followed immediately.
Ye Qinghuan froze—that was Wan Canglong’s voice!
She rushed to the peephole.
What she saw stunned her—
Wan Canglong had been lifted like a chicken by Lin Ming and slammed into a pearwood table!
The table shattered into splinters.
“You dare hit me…?” Wan Canglong roared, bleeding from his head. He couldn’t believe this former tagalong now dared to lay hands on him!
“If this were a private gathering, I’d let it slide when you call me by name. But this is a formal banquet. At home, you call me Lin Ming. Here, what do you call me?” Lin Ming’s thin face suddenly emitted a chilling aura.
The pressure made everyone in the room feel like they’d fallen into an icy lake.
“D-Duke Commander… sir!” Wan Canglong stammered, his pores exploding in terror.
Lin Ming tossed him aside. “Much better.”
“I’m the Duke Commander now. Prince of Wei. Grand Commandant of the court. By law, all of you should be kneeling before me. But since this is a literary and musical gathering, I’ll overlook the formalities.”
The room fell completely silent.
Those who knew Lin Ming were shocked—how had he changed so much in just a few days?
And how had this weakling, who couldn’t even beat a woman before, just lifted a man over 100 kilograms?
Lin Ming scanned the room and sneered, “Didn’t you all want me to provide some entertainment? Very well! I wouldn’t dare spoil your mood.”
His gaze locked onto the courtesan who had laughed the loudest earlier.
“You love to laugh, don’t you? You must be dying to perform, right?”
She turned pale. “I-I’m with Young Master Wang. What are you planning?”
Young Master Wang stepped in with forced courage. “She’s with me, Lord Duke. Please show the Wang family some face…”
“Wang family? Sure. Let her go. You come instead.”
Lin Ming lifted his eyes, smiling coldly.
Wang’s face turned ghastly white. He immediately shoved the courtesan forward. “She’s just a brothel girl! My loyalty to the Duke is more important!”
He spoke boldly, but cold sweat soaked his back.
Lin Ming didn’t waste words. He grabbed the courtesan with a mocking grin.
“Everyone’s heard her laugh. But I wonder—has anyone heard the sound of someone dying?”
Before she could struggle, he snapped her neck with one hand.
In an instant, the seductive expression on her face turned into a scream of terror.