Qin's Moon: I'm really not the Holy Lord of the Demonic Sect

Chapter 103 Grinding Teeth and Sucking Blood: Lady Mingzhu

Leaving aside how restless Zi Nu, the owner of Zi Lan Xuan, was under the temptation of the traitor Cai Die, Yang Che spent most of his days at the Sikong Mansion working on reconstruction, except for his nightly work training future Yin Gui Sect disciples at Zi Lan Xuan.

At night, he stayed at the Purple Orchid Pavilion; during the day, he stayed at the Sikong Mansion. Yang Che's life during this period was quite fulfilling, and he couldn't even squeeze out a single spare moment.

Therefore, he didn't even have time to tidy up his own residence, which was formerly the Li residence. He could only become a hands-off manager and leave the tidying and maintenance work to Liu Yi, who had just returned from training troops half a month ago.

Liu Yi was very happy about this. Although he was a little busy, seeing his nephew establish himself, how could he, Yang Che's only elder, not be happy?

To ensure her nephew would have a better future living situation, Liu Yi spared no effort, even using all her personal savings to help out. From beginning to end, she never asked Yang Che for a single penny regarding the renovation of the second-hand house.

Yang Che didn't care about these things. Liu Yi had no children, and everything Liu Yi had in the future was meant to be inherited by him anyway. Wasn't it normal for an uncle to subsidize his nephew's new house renovation in advance?

When Yang Che marries in the future, apart from his uncle Liu Yi, he will have no other relatives and will have to rely on Liu Yi to provide the bride price.

Back then, expenses were much higher, so decorating a mansion was really nothing.

Liu Yi was unaware that Yang Che was scheming. He simply assumed that Yang Che was poor and happy to spend money on his nephew. It wasn't until news of Xianyang slowly spread out of Qin and began to reach the other six states that Liu Yi was shocked to discover that his nephew, whom he thought was poor, was not only not poor, but was actually rolling in money.

He earned the reputation of being able to paint for a thousand gold pieces in just a few months in Xianyang, and this reputation spread to the six states with the travels of merchants and official envoys.

A painting worth a thousand pieces of gold? Just thinking about this phrase made Liu Yi, who was directing his soldiers to renovate the garden, gasp in shock.

That's a fortune! How much money did Archer actually make in Qin?

Han Wang An also had doubts about this.

Didn't I send him to Xianyang to deliver money everywhere? How come he's making money? A painting worth a thousand gold pieces, is there really such a good business in the world?

Compared to King Han's confusion, a woman in the Han royal palace was much happier.

In a magnificent and luxurious palace, the beautiful Hu, dressed in pink, admired the portrait hanging in front of her with great satisfaction. Even though she had seen it countless times, it still looked pleasing to the eye.

Especially after learning that Empress Dowager Huayang of Qin had commissioned Yang Che to paint her portrait for a thousand pieces of gold, the portrait painted by Yang Che took on an even more special meaning for her.

As Consort Hu was admiring her portrait, a maidservant hurried over and whispered in her ear, "My lady, Lady Mingzhu has arrived."

Upon hearing the name, Hu Meiren immediately perked up.

In the palace of King Han, after the Queen passed away, King Han An never appointed another Queen. Therefore, the one with the highest rank at this time was Lady Mingzhu, followed by her, who had the title of Beauty.

Although there were many other women around Han Wang An, none of them could compare to Consort Hu. The only one who could surpass her in every aspect was Lady Mingzhu in the vast harem.

Lady Mingzhu also knew that in the entire harem, only Consort Hu posed a threat to her.

Therefore, the relationship between the two was very delicate. On the one hand, neither of them wanted King Han to establish another queen, so they had a basis for cooperation. On the other hand, they were competitors.

Their special relationship meant that the two did not interact much, and it was unprecedented for Madam Mingzhu to take the initiative to visit them like this.

The thought of that woman, who even she felt immense pressure from, made Hu Meiren tense up.

Those who come are not good, and those who are good don't.

While Hu Meiren was pondering, a woman with a tall figure that rivaled any man's, and a curvaceous figure that would make all the beauties in the entire Han royal palace feel inferior, appeared in her sight.

Hu Meiren subconsciously put on a bright smile and looked at the person who came.

The newcomer was dressed in a purple strapless dress, which revealed two high, rounded breasts. Even Hu Meiren, a woman, felt a heavy pressure in the night. Several transparent sections of her waist revealed the tautness and delicacy of her waist, exuding a sense of power.

Her appearance was also extremely beautiful. If Hu Meiren was like a delicate and lovable fox in the dead of winter, then the newcomer was like a tiger in the summer, possessing the beauty of strength, vigorous vitality, and wildness that unleashed her charm.

A delicate fox meets a tiger that grinds its teeth and sucks blood; two women at the top of the food chain in the harem meet.

"What brings you here today, sister?" Hu Meiren greeted the visitor with a charming smile.

"To be honest, my sister, I have come here today with a request." Madam Mingzhu's gaze swept over Consort Hu and landed on the portrait hanging behind her.

Hu Meiren was already quite beautiful, but the beauty in the portrait was even more captivating, which made Lady Mingzhu's eyes light up and a desire arise in her heart.

"There's no question of asking for favors from an elder sister. Whatever you need, I'll do my best." The perceptive Hu Meiren had already made her judgment based on Madam Mingzhu's expression and eyes.

"Sister, you are too kind. We are both women in the harem, so how could I dare to give you any orders? To be honest, I have come here today to ask you to introduce me to someone." Lady Mingzhu turned her gaze away from the portrait of Consort Hu and said with a smile.

"Sister, isn't it just a matter of saying a word if you want to see someone? There's no need for me to introduce you." Hu Meiren smiled and shook her head. Since it was rare for Madam Mingzhu to take the initiative to ask, she naturally had to play along.

Beneath her smile lay a calculating mind. Of course, she also believed that Madam Mingzhu's soft words and pleas were undoubtedly part of a scheme.

They were both shrewd and calculating women, and neither of them spoke ill of the other.

"This person really can only be introduced by my sister, since he is related to her," Madam Mingzhu said with a smile, seemingly unaware of Hu Meiren's opportunistic manipulation.

However, she added, stating her purpose directly: "This person is none other than the Grand Minister of Works of the current dynasty. By all accounts, our Grand Minister of Works should call you Auntie."

"Oh, sister, you flatter me too much. It's true that the Grand Minister is my sister's nephew, but whether he acknowledges me as his aunt is hard to say," Hu Meiren said modestly.

It was truly unexpected for Consort Hu that Yang Che was now able to assume the position of Grand Minister of Works. She had proactively suggested to her sister that she try to improve her relationship with Yang Che.

Because she could foresee that Yang Che would become a high-ranking official in the state of Han, surpassing Liu Yi, but she thought it would take Yang Che ten years to become a high-ranking official. Now, however, Yang Che has taken less than a year in total.

Therefore, even though she had high hopes for Yang Che, his rate of progress was still enough to shock her.

Now that Lady Mingzhu has actually taken the initiative to ask Yang Che to meet her, Hu Meiren is both pleased with her own judgment and inevitably feels uneasy.

Can Yang Che still acknowledge her as his concubine now?

"How could I not acknowledge it? I've heard that the Grand Minister and the Left Sima have a very close relationship. Everyone in Xinzheng knows that the Left Sima is always willing to help his wife. With Madam Hu's connection, if you need anything, just ask the Grand Minister, and he'll do his best." Madam Mingzhu flattered Lady Hu, but her words were laced with sarcasm.

"Sister, you can't say that. The Grand Minister of Works is the King's Grand Minister of Works. What use would my greeting be? If outsiders heard this, they would think that I, a woman in the inner palace, am colluding with a high-ranking official and plotting something wicked." Despite Lady Mingzhu's flattery, Consort Hu did not lower her guard.

Tigers can eat people.

"It was a slip of the tongue. But I really have to ask you, sister, to introduce me to someone. If you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask." Seeing that her witty remarks were useless, Madam Mingzhu simply added a touch of sincerity.

"Since you've already said so much, it would be disrespectful of me to refuse. However, I can only convey your message to the Grand Minister of Works. As for whether he will agree, I cannot guarantee it." Having carefully considered her stance, Hu Meiren naturally had to agree, otherwise the other party might turn against her.

"As long as my sister can convey a message to the Grand Minister of Works for me, I will remember your kindness." Lady Mingzhu took Hu Meiren's hand, speaking gently and tenderly, showing deep sisterly affection.