Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

In the distance, the people of Zhuoxian City surged onto the city walls, watching the imposing and powerful army outside the city, and discussed among themselves:

"Where did this army come from? I've never seen them before!"

"I don't know, it just suddenly appeared!"

"Look at their military bearing, they're just as formidable as our soldiers from Youzhou!"

"Nonsense, how could His Highness the Prince of Yan's men not be powerful?"

On the city wall, an old man, squeezed into the crowd, looked at the army outside the city and muttered to himself:

"The Prince of Yan is about to do something big..."

A young man next to him asked, "Sir, what did you say?"

The old man shook his head, said nothing, and turned to leave.

...

Outside Hulao Pass, in the allied camp, the feudal lords were debating whether or not to advance.

Yuan Shao said they should consider the matter carefully, Yuan Shu said to wait and see, Kong Rong said they should cherish the people's strength, and Liu Dai said there was a shortage of provisions...

After arguing for a long time, nothing was accomplished.

Cao Cao stood outside the camp, looking at Hulao Pass in the distance, his brows furrowed.

Liu Bei walked over and stood beside him.

"What are you thinking, Brother Mengde?"

Cao Cao sighed and said, "I'm wondering if our group can actually take Luoyang."

Liu Bei was silent for a moment, then said, "We will break through."

Cao Cao glanced at him: "You're that confident?"

Liu Bei smiled and said, "The King of Yan once said that one should always look on the bright side."

Cao Cao was taken aback, but then laughed and said, "The Prince of Yan... is indeed a remarkable man."

...

At night, the night breeze in Zhuoxian County is exceptionally gentle.

Liu Ce, wearing a black cloak, strolled leisurely toward the residence where He Lian lived.

Upon arriving at the door, the maidservant on duty saw him, quickly bowed, and stepped aside without daring to say a word.

Liu Ce pushed open the door and went inside. The room was warm and cozy, with a charcoal fire burning brightly.

He Lian was sitting under the lamp doing needlework when she saw him come in. She put down her needle and thread and got up to greet him.

"You're here?" He Lian took his cloak, shook off the chill, carefully tidied it, and hung it on the hanger. "It must be cold outside, right? Come sit down and warm up."

As for why Liu Bian wasn't there?

Because Liu Ce had already kicked this "young emperor" out.

When He Lian first arrived in Zhuo County with Liu Bian and Tang Fei, Liu Ce arranged for the three of them to live together.

But after a few days, Liu Ce felt something was wrong. Liu Bian was already fourteen years old, and Tang Fei was his wife. The young couple was living with his mother every day. What kind of behavior was that?

So Liu Ce, with a wave of his hand, arranged a new residence for Liu Bian and Consort Tang on the next street, euphemistically named it:

"You two are married now, you should live a life that belongs to just the two of you. Young people need their own space!"

Liu Bian wanted to say something, but Liu Ce glared at him, and he obediently moved away.

As for He Lian... well, those who know, know.

"Honey, you must be exhausted today?" He Lian asked softly as she straightened his clothes.

(As for why he calls her "husband"? Well, it's a little quirk of transmigrators; those who know, know. Liu Ce had already taught this term to his wives, saying it was an "affectionate term between husband and wife." He Lian felt awkward at first, but she got used to it after a while.)

Liu Ce smiled and squeezed her hand, saying, "I'm not tired. Just looking at you makes me feel less tired."

He Lian smiled, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "My husband is so funny."

Liu Ce remained expressionless and said seriously, "I'm not joking, it's true."

"Okay, okay, what my husband said is true." He Lian smiled and pressed him down into a chair, then went around behind him and massaged his shoulders.

The technique was just right, neither too light nor too heavy.

Liu Ce squinted comfortably, leaned back in his chair, and relaxed completely.

While massaging him, He Lian said, "I prepared some great tonics for my husband tonight to help him recover. It really breaks my heart to see him going to each of his girlfriends' rooms to work so hard every night."

That's a statement that's three parts coquettishness and seven parts sincerity.

Upon hearing this, Liu Ce felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and a smile appeared on his lips.

He grabbed He Lian's hand and suddenly pulled her into a hug from behind.

Before He Lian could react, he lowered his head and kissed her.

He Lian initially gave him a symbolic push, but quickly gave up resisting, climbing her arms around his neck and responding passionately.

A long kiss.

For a long time, the lips are divided.

Liu Ce looked at her affectionately, a smile in his eyes, and said, "Don't rush to eat the tonics. I want to eat you first."

As he spoke, his hands began to wander.

He Lian quickly dodged, pushing him away with a mix of shyness and laughter, saying, "Oh, honey! Don't rush... eat your tonic first!"

Liu Ce ignored the order and continued his attack.

He Lian panicked, dodging while pleading, "Honey~ You'll have the energy to eat me after you finish your tonic~ Besides, I've prepared that phoenix robe for you~"

Liu Ce paused for a moment and asked, "A phoenix robe?"

He Lian nodded, a mysterious smile on her face, and said, "It's the kind of dress I wore in the Luoyang Imperial Palace back then, the one worn on formal occasions."

Liu Ce's eyes lit up.

The image of He Lian in Luoyang flashed into his mind: a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, dignified and elegant, exuding the aura of an empress.

His mischievous sense of humor as a time traveler was instantly rekindled.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liu Ce smiled and released his hand.

He Lian smiled and kissed him, then stood up and called out to the outside.

A moment later, the maids filed in, carrying food boxes, and set the table.

When Liu Ce took a look, he was amazed to find ginseng, deer antler, wolfberry... all of which are excellent for enhancing male virility.

The two sat facing each other and began to eat.

He Lian ate quickly and put down her chopsticks in no time.

"Honey, you keep eating, I'll go get my clothes ready." He Lian kissed him again. "After you finish eating, wash up and wait for me, okay?"

After saying that, she got up and walked away gracefully.

That voice, that tone, that look, that background...

Liu Ce felt a surge of anger rising from his lower abdomen.

He took a deep breath and began to try to take the supplements.

Actually, he didn't need any supplements at all.

The "Golden Kidney" awarded by the system gave him boundless energy in this area.

But as the saying goes, "If you don't eat it, you're a fool," especially since He Lian prepared it herself, so he had to accept the favor.

Besides, we'll need to "put out the fire" later, so it's always good to eat more.

After eating, he went to wash up, cleaned himself thoroughly, and then lay down on the bed to wait.

Not long after, footsteps could be heard outside.

The door opened.

He Lian walked in.

Liu Ce's eyes widened when he saw it.

She wore a magnificent phoenix robe, the phoenix embroidered with gold thread shimmering in the candlelight, the hem of which trailed on the ground, accentuating her graceful figure.

Her hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with a phoenix hairpin, and her makeup was exquisite, her eyes sparkling with spring.