So what if I have a few billion concubines while I'm cultivating immortality?

"Oh? What brilliant plan does Minister Xu have?"

Everyone immediately perked up their ears.

Even Chen Wang temporarily suppressed his dislike for Xu Guofu and listened attentively.

Xu Guofu stroked his beard and said slowly, "His Majesty's concern for the harem is nothing more than a fondness for beautiful women and a love of lively gatherings. Didn't His Majesty previously mention that he would take twenty more concubines during the grand ceremony? I have already ordered people to carefully select twenty stunning beauties outside the palace, each one skilled in singing and dancing, and proficient in music—truly beauties among men! Using this as a pretext, I will go to the harem to report, and I'm sure His Majesty will be interested and come to see them!"

The words had barely left his mouth!

The entire Golden Palace was so quiet you could hear a pin drop!

Everyone was stunned by Xu Guofu's stroke of genius!

This is absolutely absurd!

The big joke of slipping the world!

The upright officials were trembling with anger, pointing at Xu Guofu, their lips quivering, but they couldn't utter a word for a moment.

Many other officials, however, after the initial shock, had complex expressions in their eyes.

Although it's absurd, there seems to be a sliver of possibility.

Perhaps His Majesty's delayed appearance is because no one is offering him any favors!

Reasonable!

Absolutely reasonable!

Ignoring the various gazes directed at him, Xu Guofu turned to the equally dumbfounded chief eunuch, Shen Quan, and said with a smile, "Eunuch Shen, to be honest, the beauties are already waiting for your decree outside the palace gates. Please bring them here immediately! Then, this old minister will personally lead the beauties to the inner palace to announce that, to celebrate Your Majesty's first anniversary of ascension to the throne, we are presenting twenty exquisite beauties for Your Majesty's wise judgment!"

Shen Quan snapped out of his daze.

Look at the empty dragon throne.

Then he looked at the officials.

Consider Xu Guofu's power and Qin Xiao's usual conduct...

Well, let's try anything, even if it's a hopeless case!

It's better than just sitting here waiting!

"Yes! Rest assured, Your Excellency, this old servant will take care of it immediately!"

Shen Quan bowed and agreed, disregarding all decorum, and jogged out of the Golden Palace.

Silence fell upon the hall once more.

Everyone was anxious, waiting for the outcome.

About an incense stick later.

Light footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

All eyes turned to the palace gate.

Then, Shen Quan returned.

Behind him followed a line of graceful figures.

Twenty women, dressed in colorful light gauze gowns, moved with graceful steps.

I stood at the foot of the white jade steps outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

They were indeed, as Xu Guofu said, exceptionally beautiful, one in a million.

Some are pure and refined, some are charming and graceful, some are dignified and elegant, some are lively and bright...

Both the slender and plump beauties have their own unique charm.

They lowered their heads, revealing sections of their fair and graceful necks, and placed their hands folded in front of them, their posture gentle and yielding.

Sunlight shone on them, outlining their graceful curves, and their exquisite makeup looked even more captivating in the light.

A breeze blew, and a delicate fragrance, a blend of various precious spices, quietly drifted into the main hall.

"Gulp!"

One of the ministers, perhaps lacking in self-control, swallowed hard.

It stood out exceptionally clearly in the silence.

Immediately, hushed murmurs arose.

"Wow...they're all stunning beauties!"

"Prime Minister Xu really put his heart into it..."

"Such a beauty, if she were to enter the imperial harem... alas!"

"Judging by their delicate and pretty appearances, they must be..."

Many people shook their heads and sighed.

There is both sympathy for the fate of these women.

There is also a sense of powerlessness and indignation towards Qin Xiao's absurd behavior.

Of course, there was also no shortage of envy and jealousy...

"Eunuch Shen, let's go."

Xu Guofu ignored everyone's gaze and walked straight out of the Golden Palace.

In the blink of an eye, he was ahead of Shen Quan.

Shen Quan quickly led the twenty beauties to follow.

Under the watchful eyes of the court officials, the group made their way toward the palace gates leading to the inner palace.

The closer you get to the inner palace area, the sparser the guards become.

This was quite different from the strict security that Xu Guofu had envisioned.

Upon arriving at the palace gate leading to the main entrance of the inner palace, they were unsurprisingly stopped by the eunuchs on duty.

"Your Excellency, Eunuch Shen, this is a forbidden area of ​​the inner palace. Without His Majesty's decree, you are not allowed to enter."

The young eunuch was respectful, but his attitude was resolute.

Xu Guofu was prepared. He put on a warm smile and pointed to the beautiful women behind him: "I am familiar with the palace rules. I will trouble you, young eunuch, to quickly inform His Majesty that this old minister, Xu Guofu, has carefully selected twenty stunning beauties to present to His Majesty in accordance with His Majesty's recent order to select consorts. I respectfully request His Majesty's wise judgment!"

The young eunuch gazed into the distance and saw a patch of vibrant colors behind Xu Guofu, and paused in surprise.

Immediately, he dared not delay, said "Prime Minister, please wait a moment," and turned around and quickly ran inside to inform the Prime Minister.

Xu Guofu waited where he was.

He appeared calm and composed.

His gaze, however, subtly swept across his surroundings.

Inside the palace walls, all was unusually quiet.

There was no sound of music or music, nor could one sense much of a guard.

Unexpectedly, the defenses of the inner palace were so negligent.

It seems that the palace's defenses now rely entirely on the Flying Phoenix Army.

Today, the Flying Phoenix Army has changed shifts again.

Ha ha……

He is truly incompetent.

This is truly a golden opportunity!

Just as Xu Guofu's mind was racing...

Footsteps echoed from inside the palace gates.

Soon, a tall and upright figure appeared behind the palace gate, led by a young eunuch.

It was Luo Qingluan!

She was still dressed in light blue women's casual clothes, without armor.

He calmly looked at Xu Guofu and his entourage outside the palace gate, seemingly unsurprised by their arrival.

"General Luo?"

Xu Guofu's pupils contracted slightly. "What are you doing here?"

Moreover, she was dressed as a woman.

That's really strange!

Luo Qingluan's voice was cold: "Prime Minister Xu, His Majesty is currently preoccupied with important matters and has no time for anything else. The selection of a concubine will be discussed later! Please take your men and return to the Golden Palace to await further news!"

"Important tasks?"

Xu Guofu frowned slightly and stepped forward. "I wonder what important matter could have caused His Majesty to postpone even such important events as the anniversary of his ascension to the throne and the selection of consorts? General Luo, could it be...?"

"Prime Minister Xu!"

Luo Qingluan interrupted, her tone suddenly turning stern, "His Majesty's decree has been made clear. Specific details cannot be disclosed. Please return!"

Xu Guofu was furious, but his face remained impassive. He turned slightly to the side, pointed to the twenty beauties behind him, and said regretfully, "General Luo, look, these are all beauties I have carefully selected. His Majesty himself said in the Golden Palace the other day that he urgently needs to take concubines to fill the harem. If His Majesty is unavailable at the moment, could these beauties be allowed to enter and wait? That way, His Majesty can immediately..."

Before she could finish speaking, Luo Qingluan coldly swept her gaze over the group of submissive women and interrupted again, "Prime Minister Xu, these vulgar beauties are not worth sullying His Majesty's eyes. You should keep them for yourself!"

"you!"

Xu Guofu's smile finally crumbled and his expression darkened.

"Please return!"

As Luo Qingluan spoke, she placed her jade-like hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist.

A soft "clang" sounded.

The sword was not drawn.

But the sudden burst of chilling cold made Xu Guofu, Shen Quan and the others take a half step back, their faces turning pale!

murderous look!

The killing intent emanating from the martial arts master was completely undisguised!

"Hehe, since His Majesty has important matters to attend to, and General Luo insists so much, then I will not disturb you any longer."

Xu Guofu gritted his teeth, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Luo Qingluan behind the palace gates, and said, "I will take my men back now and await His Majesty's good news in the Golden Palace!"

"Let's go!"

Having said that, he said no more, gave Luo Qingluan a deep look, and turned to leave.

Shen Quan and the twenty beauties quickly followed.

They came full of expectations.

On the way back, however, they seemed somewhat flustered and embarrassed.

Once outside the inner palace, Xu Guofu quickened his pace.

His face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water!

Although I didn't get to see Qin Xiao.

However, the trip was not without its rewards.

This confirms at least that the palace guards are extremely weak.

That's enough!

Back in the Golden Palace, facing the probing gazes of the officials, Xu Guofu simply shook his head with a gloomy face and said nothing.

"What's going on?"

Even Prime Minister Xu…

The crowd whispered among themselves.

Xu Guofu walked to the side of the military officers' ranks and exchanged a glance with Wang Ben, who had just returned.

Wang Ben nodded, leaned closer to Xu Guofu, and whispered, "Prime Minister Xu, the troops are in position."

Xu Guofu narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the bright sky outside the hall.

He then glanced at the officials inside the hall, some of whom appeared fearful, some angry, and some bewildered.

Finally, the image freezes on the empty dragon throne.

The time has come!