The male supporting character was actually myself.

"How can that be?" Jiang Chen refused without even thinking. "Swords and spears have no eyes. On the battlefield, I have to consider the overall situation and may not be able to take care of you. It's better for you to stay behind and help the comrades of the Red Revelation Society clean up the mess. That way, I can feel more at ease."

She played with the gun she had brought specially, looking very serious. "I will never hold you back! Besides, as a young marshal, you must have a bodyguard by your side, right? When you are commanding the battle, I can help you pay attention to the details and fill in any gaps."

Jiang Chen disarmed her with a backhand motion, then casually put his arm around Lin Wanyan's slender waist and laughed, "Emmm... my way of leading troops in battle might be a little different from the conventional tactics you're familiar with. You'll understand once you see it for yourself after the New Year. Let's talk about the New Year's gift you're going to give me now!"

Snowflakes drifted down, and the military camp was filled with the steaming aroma of meat dumplings. The young marshal had somehow obtained some fireworks, which he ordered to be set off as night fell.

Brilliant fireworks burst in the night sky, and the New Year arrived joyfully and full of hope.

“When you made a promise with your older brother to take over the City That Never Sleeps and then propose to me, I was actually quite nervous.” Lin Wanyan, wrapped in a thick coat, nestled in his arms, looked up at the dazzling fireworks and couldn’t help but laugh. “After all, we’ve only met twice. Although we had a very pleasant conversation, it still felt a bit too sudden.”

Jiang Chen turned his head slightly and saw Lin Wanyan's beautiful face bathed in a soft glow by the firelight. This scene seemed familiar, especially the infinite tenderness in Lin Wanyan's bright eyes, which seemed to transcend time and space and strike the depths of his heart. Everything around him disappeared in an instant, and only he and the person in his arms remained in the whole world.

"Then why did you agree back then?"

Lin Wanyan lowered her head slightly and leaned against his broad shoulder, whispering, "I have fantasized countless times about what kind of person I would marry, but even after studying abroad and getting to know many talented young men in various high-society circles, I still haven't found someone I can entrust my life to."

Living in this chaotic world, and with our family solely focused on business.

I didn't object at the time because there was no one more suitable than you, and I genuinely had feelings for you. I don't know what it's like in Yucheng, but in the City That Never Sleeps, marriages are all about powerful alliances and mutual benefit. How easy is it to find someone who is compatible and from a similar social standing?

Even without a foundation of affection, as long as you have enough power to come and ask for my hand in marriage, I will agree to it if all conditions are met so that my family can obtain military protection.

Besides, we had a very pleasant conversation back then and felt like we had known each other for a long time.

Later, I heard that you returned to Shanbei as quickly as possible to mobilize a large army to march south. I was very moved. After all, no woman could resist such a tender heart amidst such fierceness. Moreover, you are not the kind of warmonger who enjoys killing, nor would you neglect me under the pretext of your career. On the contrary, you still took time out of your busy schedule to contact me.

Even a short phone call or telegram to let me know I'm safe makes me feel very reassured and happy.

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with tenderness and affection. "How can anyone not love a man who has the courage, vision, and ambition to work hard to achieve his promises and ideals?"

But I don't want to be a princess waiting for a knight in a castle.

You love me, so you take the initiative to propose and fight for me; I love you too, so I respond and we go our separate ways.

I missed your past, but from now on I don't want to miss any of your experiences. We'll advance and retreat together, live and die together, and for the rest of our lives, everything will be with you, warming each other and never letting each other down.

Such a confession made Jiang Chen's heart race. Looking down at those bright eyes that seemed to transcend time and space, he felt that even in a virtual world, everything had meaning.

The greatest blessing in my life is meeting you among all these people; the rest of my life will be with you.

"Boom!"

"Boom! Boom!"

The muffled sound of fireworks exploding added color and cheers to the dark night of the Spring Festival.

"Ha~" It was supposed to be a big day for the family to have a reunion dinner and stay up together to welcome the New Year, but Li Dongchen was listless and curled up at the table, yawning from time to time, feeling uncomfortable all over as if something was missing.

He felt weak and powerless all over, as if ants were crawling on his body, and his mood gradually became irritable.

"My lord, since we're staying up all night tonight, why don't we add some fun to our game of Pai Gow?" The most favored concubine, dressed in her finest attire, walked over with a wine pot in her delicate, alluring manner and said with a playful smile, "Whoever loses has to drink a cup of wine as punishment, and then tell everyone a joke, how about that?"

Li Tianxing had just hung up his youngest son's New Year's greeting call when he learned that everything was going well for him and that he had even won the heart of the famous Lin family's third daughter as his girlfriend. He was in high spirits and immediately agreed to invite his eldest son to join him for some fun.

"Father, you play with the concubines. I... I'll go talk to Ziqiu." Li Dongchen also wanted to take this opportunity to make a good impression and win the old man's favor, but his body just wouldn't cooperate.

He couldn't figure out what was going on. He had been kept out of the study by Zhang Ziqiu and hadn't had a chance to indulge in excessive sexual activity, so why did he suddenly become weak?

Li Tianxing, caught up in the moment, didn't notice his unusual behavior. He waved his hand and laughed, "Go on, go on, I won't disturb you two lovers' private conversation. Come on, let's have some fun!"

A group of young, beautiful, and playful concubines swarmed around him, flattering him and showering him with rewards.

“Our father is really something…” Li Dongchen walked over and sat down next to Zhang Ziqiu listlessly, making conversation as he went along with it: “Look at how generous he is with the money he gives to those concubines, he really spends money like water!”

Without even looking up, Zhang Ziqiu cracked sunflower seeds and replied in a neutral tone, "Money can't buy a good mood, Father-in-law, if you want to spend it, then spend it. Anyway, it's all from the second wife's filial piety, it's not your money to spend."

He said coldly, displeased, "Are you stupid? If all that money were in Dad's hands, it would all be ours in the future! Now it's all being spent on the concubines, what will we get in the future?"

"Why are you eyeing your father-in-law's little bit of money?" Zhang Ziqiu casually put down the melon seeds, clapped her hands, and still didn't look at him. She chuckled and said, "You're so young and have so much to achieve. Instead of thinking about earning money to support your father-in-law, you're always thinking about squeezing money out of him."

Compared to the second wife, you're far inferior!

Li Dongchen already looked down on his half-brother, and now that he was being suppressed in every way, he was furious. He also remembered that the woman he had married had been engaged to Li Jiangchen. He immediately pulled a long face and scolded, "You think the second wife is better? Then go with the second wife! I bet you've been eyeing the other wife for a long time."

"Ha, it's only because Li Jiangchen is away fighting that he hasn't had time to come back. Otherwise, you probably would have already climbed into his bed! Didn't you climb into my bed the same way back then?"

Zhang Ziqiu wasn't angry.

Now that she was confident of victory and had read many books, her ambition had grown, and she no longer bothered with pointless arguments. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and glanced back at him with a mocking look: "I am not worthy of Second Master. He is a magnanimous man who leads troops!"

A fool as blind and heartless as me is probably not even worthy of you. Young master, you'd better leave me as soon as possible and find a gentle and understanding woman to talk to.

But looking at you with such a yawning, runny nose and tears, I'm afraid you've caught a cold.

Instead of arguing with me, go call Dr. Yang to come and take a look at you. It's better to get treatment sooner rather than later, so you don't pass the illness on to your family during the New Year. Look at your father-in-law's concubines; they're all so delicate."

Having been rebuffed, Li Dongchen wanted to retaliate, but he simply didn't have the energy.

He thought that Zhang Ziqiu's words made sense. It was cold recently and he might have caught a cold. He thought it would be better to call a doctor to take his pulse and prescribe some medicine so that he could feel better sooner and make his father happy.

Li Jiangchen is out there fighting, suppressing bandits, and confiscating property. He's sending loads of good stuff to the old man. The important thing is to keep him happy and get more of his family fortune!

Li Dongchen was too lazy to move, so he beckoned to his servant, yawning as he instructed him to call over Doctor Yang.

Just then, his father was happily playing dominoes in the hall. He wanted his father to see and hear the doctor treating him, which would also earn him some attention. Li Dongchen, with his own little scheme in mind, felt even more uncomfortable and leaned lazily against the corner of the table.

"My lord, I'm feeling a little dizzy. Can you drink this cup for me?" The favored concubine coquettishly held the wine cup to Li Tianxing's lips. The other concubines complained that she was cheating. The women at the mahjong table were laughing and joking when the favored concubine suddenly went limp and fainted.

Fortunately, she was right next to Li Tianxing. Upon seeing this, he hugged her tightly and hurriedly called for someone to fetch Doctor Yang.

Just then, Dr. Yang, whom Li Dongchen had sent to fetch, arrived at the entrance of the hall with his medical kit and rushed over to treat the concubine who had suddenly fainted.

After a brief period of chaotic commotion, Doctor Yang settled her down, then stood up and bowed to Li Tianxing, congratulating him: "Congratulations, Commander! Congratulations, Commander! The Sixteenth Concubine is fine. She just fainted because she's pregnant and overworked. Let her rest quietly! However, she's newly pregnant and prone to miscarriage, so I'll prescribe some medicine to help her recover and she can rest."

The sixteenth concubine was young and healthy, and didn't experience much discomfort in the early stages of her pregnancy. The Marshal simply awaited the good news and the arrival of a new member to the Marshal's mansion!

Li Tianxing was stunned for several seconds before he reacted. His face lit up with a bright smile, and after confirming it several times, he excitedly slapped his thigh, "My youngest son was right! I'm still damn young, even when I'm sixty I can still have a few more sons!"

Oh no, Jiang Chen won't be the youngest child anymore; the youngest child is still in her belly!

Well… you should hurry and check the pulses of the other concubines; maybe other offspring have sprouted too. This is double happiness for the Marshal's mansion during the New Year! Hahaha, I'll have a reinforced platoon of kids someday!

Seeing his excited, incoherent speech, Doctor Yang offered a few more words of congratulations and then proceeded to take the pulses of each of the other concubines, who were filled with envy and anticipation.

On New Year's Eve, good news kept coming to the Marshal's Mansion. After a careful examination by Doctor Yang, it was confirmed that the four concubines were pregnant, but the pregnancy was still in its early stages and had not yet shown.

Li Tianxing was overjoyed, showering his pregnant concubine with gifts, rewarding the servants of the Marshal's Mansion, and ordering the preparation of a shrine for worship... In stark contrast to his excited father, Li Dongchen was struck dumb upon learning that four more children were about to be born to compete with him for the family fortune. He was so stunned that he could no longer feel any soreness or discomfort in his body.

He stared blankly at the jubilant crowd like a wooden statue, feeling a chill run down his spine.

Damn it! What happened?

The old man couldn't have a son for so many years, how come he suddenly has four pregnant concubines?!

Could it be...?

Li Dongchen instantly realized the key point—these pregnant women were all newly brought in as concubines, all good girls chosen by the old man. Could it be that the problem wasn't the old man, but rather that the former concubines who had been removed were not pregnant, which delayed things for so many years?

He had originally planned to use this as a trump card to fight for the family fortune—to have a son as soon as possible. The eldest grandson of the eldest branch of the family was a force to be reckoned with, and no matter how good Li Jiangchen was at fighting, it wouldn't matter! The old man wanted to make his son the heir, so that the empire Li Jiangchen had conquered would belong to him and his son!

But now... the old man is going to have at least four more kids!

The old man just turned forty-five this year. At his age, he should live to be sixty or seventy without any problem. By then, these kids will have grown up and will be able to seize the family fortune...

Li Dongchen felt dizzy and disoriented. His trump card suddenly lost its power. He not only had to deal with Li Jiangchen, but also with the illegitimate children in the bellies of several concubines!

He didn't know how he got back to the west courtyard, and he lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

"No, I still have a chance!" He suddenly sat up, his eyes filled with murderous intent. Those children whose genders were unknown hadn't even been born yet, so he still had a chance—as long as he prevented them from being born, he would still be the one and only young master of the Marshal's Mansion!

Chapter Forty-Seven: The Darkness Before Dawn

Li Dongchen held the bracelet in his hand, leaning against the kang table, pondering it carefully.

So far, the overall situation is quite good, especially with Li Jiangchen's fierce battles yielding increasingly impressive results. As for the old man's so-called warlord, isn't he just a mountain bandit?

They worked so hard to conquer the country just so they could live a peaceful life as local emperors.

Li Jiangchen's biggest weakness is that she lacked parental love since childhood. For many years, she has been trying to win her father's favor but could not win. She only wanted to perform well in order to get a word of praise from her father.

Isn't it precisely because his father's constant praise has given him immense satisfaction that he's gone mad, fighting and seizing territory like a madman?

If the Li family patriarch can truly unify the country and hold supreme power in the future, he will be the new founding emperor!

At that time, all the beautiful lands and rivers will belong to the Li family, and as long as I am favored, I will be the crown prince of the new dynasty!

As for Li Jiangchen, he is indeed a skilled warrior, and he has been touted as a living god of war.

But as the saying goes, starting a business is easy, but maintaining it is difficult. What use is being good at fighting? Once the world is unified, there will be no place for him to use his talents. Apart from guarding the border, what use will Li Jiangchen be?

He hasn't even read books seriously, so what merit or ability does he have to assist his father in managing the entire country?

When the world is at peace, only those with extensive knowledge and talent will be able to stand out. Military generals are ultimately just assistants. Looking at history, weren't all the founding generals gradually weakened and eventually kicked out?

The truth is this: when the country is in danger, the so-called war god is the greatest safety; but when everything is peaceful and safe, the war god who holds military power is the greatest danger!

The father was well aware of this. In order to ensure long-term stability and prevent his own son from rebelling, the old man would definitely take back the military power as soon as he ascended the throne and give Li Jiangchen a sinecure as a wealthy prince.

The proverb "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked" perfectly illustrates this point.

Unfortunately, Li Jiangchen didn't read enough to learn from history, and with his straightforward mind, he couldn't possibly understand the intricacies involved, leaving him at the mercy of others in the future.

He only needed to do two things now—first, ensure that no more children were born in the Marshal's Mansion, and that the only heirs would be the two brothers, one a scholar and the other a warrior. Given Li Jiangchen's demonstrated military talent, his father would be wary, and the old man would naturally sideline him without him having to lift a finger, ensuring his own control.

Secondly, it was about gaining the father's favor and trust.

Only by convincing him that he is harmless and capable of assisting in governing the country, and that there is no other choice, can he secure his position as the crown prince.

Of course, Li Jiangchen's new policy of distributing land to farmers was indeed a good move to win people's hearts, which would reduce the resistance to his conquest and gain the support and love of the poor people.

However, it's not a good idea for long-term rule in the future.

Only by securing ownership of our vast and beautiful land can we better seize control of the country!

I need to consider the big picture and the long term, formulate a comprehensive plan to reclaim the land, and then use it to help my father consolidate power after he ascends the throne and everything is stable, so as to gain more trust.

And how can we allow those once-thriving family businesses that have transformed by opening factories to grow and expand?

Mineral resources, advanced technology, and maximum productivity must be under the control of the imperial power...

Li Dongchen thought about it for a long time and a lot, and even came up with a name for the new dynasty.

Anyway, the traditional New Year's Eve vigil has been disrupted by the excited old man's various arrangements, so he doesn't need to deal with it and has plenty of time to plan properly.

"Hiss... Ha..."