Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

Yuan Wei, Yuan Feng, and the others then realized: Liu Hong was clearly trying to protect his own!

What else can they do? If they continue talking, they'll anger Liu Hong and then they'll be the ones who suffer.

Yuan Wei and the others quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty... we have nothing more to report."

"Then you may leave," Liu Hong said, waving his hand.

The powerful ministers withdrew.

As Yang Ci walked out of Deyang Palace, he sighed and said, "His Majesty is determined to protect Liu Ce."

Yuan Feng gritted his teeth and said, "If this boy isn't eliminated, he will surely become a major threat!"

Yuan Wei's eyes turned cold as he said, "No rush. There's plenty of time."

Inside the hall, Liu Hong watched their departing figures and sneered.

"A bunch of old fogies, meddling in everything. What business is it of yours how many wives my imperial brother marries?"

He picked up the glass beads on the table and played with them, a smile playing on his lips. "Bolue, you're really something. Ten... I could only manage two a night at most back in the day. Looks like I'll have to ask you for some secret recipe..."

A short while later...

Liu Hong said to Zhang Rang beside him:

"Did you hear that? Bo Lue married ten women at once! And he even invented something called... Mahjong? Interesting."

Zhang Rang said with a forced smile, "Your Highness, the Prince of Yan... is indeed formidable."

"That's impressive." Liu Hong tossed the glass marble up and caught it again. "The more impressive he is, the more at ease I feel. As for those aristocratic families... hmph, let them be jealous."

Liu Hong added to Zhang Rang, "Go and draft an imperial edict to reward the Prince of Yan with a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of brocade, saying... to congratulate him on his wedding."

Zhang Rang understood and replied in a shrill voice, "Yes, sir!"

A few days later, the Prince of Yan's residence in Youzhou received a "congratulatory gift" from the emperor—a thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of brocade, and a warmly worded imperial edict praising Liu Ce for "being courageous in expanding his family and setting an example for the imperial clan."

When Liu Ce received the imperial edict, he laughed and said, "Brother Liu Hong, you're a true friend!"

When the powerful families found out, they were so angry they almost vomited blood.

...

The fourth year of Zhongping, the Spring Festival.

Zhuo County, Youzhou, the Prince of Yan's residence.

At noon, dozens of tables were set up in the main hall, where Liu Ce's civil and military officials gathered to celebrate the New Year.

"Gentlemen!" Liu Ce raised his cup. "In the past year, we have defeated the Xianbei in the north, pacified Goguryeo in the east, sealed the Wolf Mountain, and drunk our horses at the vast sea! I have been enfeoffed as the King of Yan, married a lady, and the people of Youzhou live in peace and prosperity, with full granaries and ample armories! This cup is a toast to the new year! May Youzhou prosper! May we all prosper!"

"To Your Majesty!!!"

"Homage to Youzhou!!!"

Everyone raised their glasses in unison.

Warm atmosphere.

Military generals such as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun drank heartily, while civil officials such as Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Xun Yu sipped their drinks slowly.

The banquet lasted from noon until evening.

The military officers played drinking games and the civil officials recited poems and composed couplets, creating a lively atmosphere.

Guo Jia, his face flushed from drinking, pulled Xi Zhicai aside and said, "Zhicai, look at our lord, he's married ten wives and still so energetic. Shouldn't we consider it too?"

Xi Zhicai rolled his eyes and said, "You should take care of your health first. Mr. Zhang said that if you drink alcohol again, he will prescribe you the most bitter medicine."

Guo Jia's face fell. "Don't mention this during the New Year..."

Everyone laughed.

...

In the evening, Liu Ce returned to the backyard and had New Year's Eve dinner with his wives.

The ten wives, plus Liu Ce, made up eleven people sitting around a large round table.

The table was laden with dishes: stewed chicken, steamed fish, braised pork, various seasonal vegetables, dumplings...

"Come on, have some dumplings." Liu Ce placed one on each of the ladies' plates. "I've wrapped a few copper coins inside. Whoever finds one will have good luck next year."

Cai Yan took a bite and made a "crunch" sound.

She spat it out and saw a copper coin.

"I got to eat it!" Her eyes lit up.

Then, Zhang Ning, Ren Hongchang, Zhen Jiang... all got to eat the copper coins one after another.

Liu Ce laughed and said, "I bought ten, one for each of us—may our whole family have good luck next year!"

The ladies all laughed.

"Come on, let's have a drink!" Liu Ce raised his glass. "Wishing all the ladies a Happy New Year, and may you always be young and beautiful!"

"May my husband be healthy and well!" the wives said in unison.

The family was enjoying a happy time together.

After dinner, Liu Ce took out a mahjong set: "Come on, let's stay up all night! Let's play mahjong!"

"Okay, okay!" Zhen Mi was the most enthusiastic.

They set up two tables and started fighting.

At Liu Ce's table were Cai Yan, Zhang Ning, and Ren Hongchang; at the other table were four of the five Zhen sisters, plus Zou Yu and Du Xiuniang.

"Red Center!"

"bump!"

"Sanjo!"

......

"I won!"

Laughter filled the air, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Liu Ce watched this scene with a heart full of happiness.

This is home.

This is what he wants to protect.

At midnight, firecrackers went off outside.

Liu Ce led his wives to the courtyard to watch the fireworks—these were specially made by craftsmen at his request. Although they were not as dazzling as modern fireworks, they were already a rare sight in the late Han Dynasty.

"Bang—Smash!!!"

Fireworks burst in the night sky, displaying a dazzling array of colors.

The ladies looked up, their eyes reflecting the light of the fireworks, a sight of unparalleled beauty.

Cai Yan leaned on Liu Ce's shoulder and whispered, "Husband, this year has been wonderful."

Liu Ce hugged her tightly and said, "Every year from now on will be better."

...

In the first ten days of February of the fourth year of the Zhongping era.

That morning, while Cai Yan was eating, she suddenly felt nauseous, covered her mouth, and ran outside to dry heave.

"Yan'er, what's wrong?" Liu Ce quickly followed her out.

"N-nothing..." Cai Yan waved her hand. "I probably just ate something bad."

But in the following days, the other wives also began to show similar symptoms.

Zhang Ning felt nauseous, Ren Hongchang had no appetite, Zhen Jiang was sleepy, and Zhen Tuo couldn't stand the smell of greasy food...

Liu Ce thought to himself: Could it be...?

So he invited Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo.

The two renowned doctors took the pulses of each lady in turn.

After the diagnosis, Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo exchanged a glance and smiled, but at the same time, they also saw shock in each other's eyes.

Ten wives, all pregnant at the same time?

This... my lord... is too amazing!

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Zhang Zhongjing said, bowing. "The Queen and all the concubines are pregnant!"

"Really?" Liu Ce's eyes widened.

"Absolutely true," Zhang Zhongjing stroked his beard. "The pulse is smooth and rapid, like pearls rolling on a plate; it is undoubtedly a pregnancy pulse. Moreover... judging from this pulse, the princesses conceived within ten days of each other."

Hua Tuo added, "Your Highness, please rest assured, the ladies are both in good health and the pregnancy is stable. I will prescribe some medicine to help with the pregnancy; just take it on time."

In other words, they conceived around the same time.

Liu Ce was overjoyed!

He rushed over and hugged each of the ladies, kissing them affectionately: "Yan'er! Ning'er! Hongchang! Jiang'er... I'm going to be a father! You're going to be mothers!"

The ladies were both surprised and delighted.

Cai Yan touched her lower abdomen, her eyes reddening: "Husband...we're having a child..."

Zhang Ning burst into tears: "Dad... your daughter is going to have a child... you're going to be a grandfather..."

Ren Hongchang smiled charmingly: "I can finally bear children for my husband."

The five Zhen sisters hugged each other, crying and laughing.

Zou Yu and Du Xiuniang were so excited that they couldn't speak.