Huijun was momentarily stunned when she heard this. Why had Langjun summoned the affairs manager?
Did Langjun wish not only to suppress the affairs manager’s mental abilities and physical abilities, but also force him to offer his body to her?
Jiang Pengji saw through her expression. She stopped smiling and said, “What sort of person is your Langjun? Earlier on, Zishi complained about having time neither to rest nor to seek the company of beautiful ladies. He came and asked me for gorgeous women and wine. Now that one of high status has come voluntarily… What a rare opportunity this is.”
It was obviously a serious matter, but when the words came from her mouth, the entire flavor changed.
She was still the crown princess. Even if she did offer herself, the situation would be different from that of an average lady.
She could sense the harsh yet playful tone in Jiang Pengji’s every sentence. Huijun covered her lips with her sleeves. Even her alluring eyes, which charmed others, could be seen smiling.
“I’m afraid Langjun will be disappointed…”
Jiang Pengji asked her, “Oh? Why would I be disappointed?”
“Your servant thought a person who sees every situation clearly like Langjun would be insightful on matters of the heart between a man and woman. The kind of woman a man would find to derive his pleasures from and the kind he should avoid… He will know it in his heart. The crown princess is of noble status. A common man would stand no chance, but Feng Langjun is Langjun’s subordinate. Why would he want to associate himself with a controversial and intractable woman like her?”
Even if she pushed Feng Zhen out as the “scapegoat,” Feng Zhen would also put on a “chaste virgin” look and refuse to budge.
After she heard Huijun’s detailed analysis, suddenly, Jiang Pengji, who was listening intently, broke out in laughter.
“Haha. Rest assured, I asked Zishi to come over to discuss work matters. It isn’t to ask him to betray his manly charm. Even if I was willing to ask him to offer himself sexually, I’m afraid the crown princess would be unwilling.” Jiang Pengji held back her laughter. Her eyes still glistened, dazzled, and sparkled.
Huijun’s cheeks reddened. With annoyance, she said, “Langjun is accustomed to ridiculing others. If you didn’t cause a misunderstanding with your words, your servant wouldn’t have embarrassed herself.”
As she spoke, they heard the sound of Feng Zhen’s footsteps.
Ever since he had assumed the title of affairs manager, Feng Zhen paid more attention to his style of dress. He appeared more formal now.
Huijun bowed respectfully as she prepared to leave and retreated to the back hall.
After he paid his respects, he straightened his back. “May I know why my lord urgently sought me?”
Presently, there were many empty official positions. Jiang Pengji had managed to win herself a mid-tier rank as official general. Her salary was equal to that of a county chief. She was a military general, but the times were unique, and she did not possess military strength. It was likewise a title that enabled her to participate in political affairs.
Jiang Pengji informed him of the invitation she had received from the crown prince’s manor. She also conveyed the hidden meaning behind the scent that the letter exuded.
This fellow, Feng Zhen, smiled with evil intentions as he said mockingly, “My lord should make a trip since such a good opportunity has presented itself.”
She was, after all, the crown princess. She was the most esteemed female leader in the country after the empress, empress dowager, and most esteemed empress dowager.
Without apology, Jiang Pengji rolled her eyes. “Stop feigning ignorance. If your lord could go to the banquet, would I need you to come here?”
After Feng Zhen heard, he almost collapsed. His lord’s words had a deep, hidden meaning.
With resolute and righteousness in his speech, he said, “My lord, your official will not provide sexual services!”
Feng Zhen made an expression of a martyr determined to die to protect his pure chastity. This made Jiang Pengji feel like beating him up.
Moreover, the viewers in the livestream were a bunch of entertainers. While they laughed jovially, they also posted comments on the bullet screen to create an uproar.
[Jingjingjing]: “Hurry up, Feng Zhen! The lovely young lady you desire for has offered herself! Don’t be shy! Go up there and bring the crown princess down!”
[Shushan Yali]: “Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is the yearly award given by the lord. Moreover, the person offered is the crown princess. It is a blessing not many could possess even if they begged. It isn’t that I want to criticize him… Speaking of Feng Zhen being chaste and pure feels like discussing with a bald guy how to best nourish his hair.”
[Lotus Flower]: “The streamer is really naughty. She directed the source of trouble to Feng Zhen. I feel rather sorry for him. He was forced to kick his addiction to Hanshi powder by the streamer, and his workload is so heavy that he has no time to frequent brothels, drink wine, and be merry. He has to give his all, humble himself, and put himself in danger. My heart aches for him for a minute.”
[Jianghu Baliansha]: “Feng Zhen must be feeling so depressed. As he stretched out his hand towards the entrance, full of gloom and doom, he continually mumbled to himself, ‘Jing Rong, save me’—”
Faced with the suggestive comments on the screen, Jiang Pengji could not hold back her laughter.
“With your less-than-appealing face, even the crown princess would be unimpressed. Even if she was captivated… Tsk, tsk…” Jiang Pengji assessed Feng Zhen from head to toe. With hidden meaning, she commented, “The saying goes that when a woman reaches thirty, she becomes ruthless, yet this crown princess is still attractive as a woman, although she is middle-aged. Zishi has consumed a large quantity of Hanshi powder. Now that your body is weak, I’m afraid she will exhaust you, weakening both your legs till you cannot walk.”
He wore the expression of a lazy bum who would rather die.
He must have followed a false lord.
She coughed lightly and controlled her playful intentions. She said seriously, “Alright, I called you over to discuss serious matters. I’m not joking.”
Feng Zhen sat still and upright. “The crown princess gave you an invitation. Is the lord going or not?”
“Naturally, I must go. The imperial grandson is of a tender age. He cannot command political power. The mother wields the power, while her son is weak. It is unavoidable that she will govern from behind the curtains.” Feng Zhen’s expression was focused with no hints of mischief. His jade-black pupils were gleaming and calculating. “If she wishes for the court to be orderly, the crown princess must depend on powerful officials and marquis. She must convince the officials to support her. Now that she has sent an invitation to the lord, I’m afraid these are her intentions. This crown princess is willing to put everything on the line. She is surprisingly willing to make such sacrifices…but what a pity that, sadly, the lord will disappoint her.”
Feng Zhen could understand why the crown princess had done this. The pure motivation of a mutually beneficial relationship was not enough. Adding an additional layer to the relationship between man and woman would solidify their partnership. It would hide her manipulative moves. Yet his lord’s and the crown princess’s temperaments were similar.
“What did you mean by saying the crown princess is putting everything on the line? If your lord dares to accept her, it is your lord who is putting everything on the line. An older person lusting after a young one… The one at a disadvantage is obviously the younger one.” She didn’t seem to be in a good mood, though she smiled. “I need you to accompany me to the crown prince’s manor!”
One must not take advantage of the crown princess, but the obvious benefits she offered must be taken.
Surprised, he asked, “Has the lord thought it through carefully?”
Jiang Pengji joked, “I’m just feigning civility. It’s not that your lord is incapable of it. Based on my current accomplishments and military strength, if I manipulate them well, it won’t be difficult for me to be offered the magistrate position over all the nine prefectures. However, the other marquis will not want to see this scenario, and most of them will try to prevent it from happening by creating difficult situations. If we can achieve this through the crown princess, with her assistance, we will certainly succeed in this matter. It’d be a pity if we didn’t seize this good opportunity.”
With mischief, Feng Zhen commented, “Indeed.”
The imperial city of Chenzhou had experienced a calamity, and the crown prince’s manor had not been spared.
With the servant showing the way, she arrived at the garden where the banquet was being held.
As her bodyguard, walking behind her, Feng Zhen told her slyly, “I heard the crown prince’s manor was looted. The wealth in his warehouse has been emptied out. Yet even now, the manor is extravagant beyond compare. It is hard to imagine how much more luxurious the crown prince manor was previously.”
