Part 1:

That evening, General Song Yang, who had just returned from his western expedition to Xichuan, had departed. Qingxia was in the great hall handling documents from the southeastern coastal regions when Chu Li, having nothing to do, wandered around. Passing Chongming Hall, he happened to see Le Song fighting with Da Huang over a book scroll.

Ever since entering Chu Palace, Da Huang had grown increasingly fat. Though not large in stature, his temperament was quite fierce. Glaring with beady eyes, he confronted Le Song with raised brows, biting down on a yellowed book scroll and refusing to let go. Chu Li, bored and in the spirit of an emperor who loves his people, wanted to go forward and play with this person and beast. Unexpectedly, upon seeing him, Le Song bowed briefly then ran off, showing no proper etiquette whatsoever.

Da Huang strutted proudly with the book scroll into Chongming Hall. Chu Li followed curiously, and upon closer examination, couldn’t help exclaiming: “I’ve found treasure!”

Returning, he saw his wife standing silhouetted against the light in the great hall. He observed Qingxia’s dark hair flowing like black satin, her painted brows and eyes, snow-white hands smooth as jade. The setting sun passed through her hair tips, creating extraordinary beauty. Chu Li’s heart itched. He majestically dismissed all the servants and palace maids from the hall, carefully approached, and sidled up to his wife, leading to the following conversation:

“Qingxia, how many days has it been for you?”

Qingxia raised an eyebrow, then buried herself in the desk documents, not looking up: “Four days.”

Chu Li was pleased: “Four days – that’s about right.”

The woman’s voice was cold: “No.”

A bucket of cold water poured over his head: “Why?”

“I’m busy.”

“Qingxia…” Someone approached, recalling the scripture obtained from Chongming Hall, his techniques immediately rising several levels.

The strong woman frowned: “Chu Li, has another palace maid been seducing you?”

Who would dare? The palace maids were all ugly now – nearly all of Southern Chu’s homely women had gathered here. Not answering, he continued his efforts.

Breathing somewhat rapid, unwillingly: “Did Le Song tell you dirty jokes again?”

If only he dared.

The brush could barely be held steady, irritated: “At least close the door first!”

Who dares enter – I’ll confiscate their entire family.

Finally unable to resist: “Ah… don’t… wrinkle… my court robes… newly… newly made…”

I’ll make you ten thousand tomorrow.

Fortunately the dragon throne was spacious enough that the Southern Chu emperor and empress didn’t need to unite on the ground. After clouds gathered and rain ceased, the strong woman’s steel became soft as silk around fingers. Like a small bird nestled in the Chu Emperor’s embrace, she pointed at the man’s strong, handsome chest: “Hey, this isn’t your style.”

The man raised his sword-like brows, charmingly lowered his head with a wicked smile: “Your husband has varied styles – want to experience them one by one?”

Documents piled like mountains on the desk. Since marrying his wife, the Great Southern Chu Emperor had occasionally become negligent in his duties.

“No, there are still many official documents. The Ryukyu prince is having a grand wedding – we need to prepare gifts. The Japanese daimyo are fighting again, Xu Quan’s memorial awaits my response. Also, Shaohuang’s high-yield grains – I need to go squeeze some benefits from him. And also…”

The chattering was immediately swallowed by the Chu Emperor. Chu Li’s eyes were hazy as his fingers swept across Qingxia’s red lips, his smile both wicked and charming.

Qingxia’s mind was floating – she shook her head vigorously. What to do? She seemed to be tempted?

“Husband,” the woman’s voice was like water, unconsciously adopting her hometown dialect: “Aren’t you tired?”

“Wife,” someone with super learning ability said with a hoarse smile: “I can be a bit more tired.”

Time is precious, years pass like shuttles – how can such good time not be properly utilized?

In Haishi City, Young Master Jin Shaohuang held a white jade cup, smiling as he leaned on a pleasure boat, satisfied and complacent. Shaojin squinted like a fox, crawling forward like a little dog, fawning: “Darling, what are you smiling about?”

Shaohuang smiled: “I’m laughing that one spring palace manual from Zuihua Tower saved me thirty thousand dan of snow-white Jiangnan rice.”

Shaojin’s smile remained unchanged, but her eyes turned sinister: “Good, Zuihua Tower.”

Shaohuang was alarmed, but too late.

If he had known today would come, why begin in the first place?

Part 2:

These past few days, Da Huang’s stomach hadn’t been well, constantly passing gas. Le Song, the bachelor sharing the same room, suffered greatly from this. Forced into desperation, he actually volunteered to petition for border duty in the east. Such diligent ministers were rare, so Chu Li was happy to fulfill his wishes, cheerfully signing the edict.

These days, Chu Li had deeply absorbed the essence of certain Eastern master’s divine works, serving his wife so well that his treatment in the bedroom had also risen with the tide.

This noon, Qingxia personally cooked, making Chu Li a seafood feast. The two set out knives and forks, tied on napkins, and ate with great solemnity.

Just then, Da Huang wandered over, drawn by the aroma, enthusiastically leaping onto Chu Li’s knee. But before receiving the master’s affectionate pat, a cosmic super thunderbolt invincible special-grade first-class premium-level stinking fart shot out, filling the room with thick fishy stench that made one want to vomit.

Qingxia, not understanding, shouted at Chu Li: “Disgusting! Was that you?”

The Chu Emperor was completely innocent: “Not me, it was him!”

Spiritual beasts were indeed spiritual beasts – not only were their farts extraordinarily stinky, but their ability to play dumb was also perfectly refined. He immediately raised his front paws, pointing at Chu Li with one and placing the other on his hip, howling accusations.

Qingxia was deeply worried: “You’re still the ruler of a nation. In front of me is one thing, but what if this happens before the full court of civil and military officials?”

Such infamy couldn’t be borne: “Qingxia, it really wasn’t me.”

“It’s just a fart. If you passed it, you passed it – what’s the big deal? It’s fine.”

Chu Li wanted to cry but had no tears.

That afternoon, after dismissing all bedroom attendants, throughout the inner palace, the Chu Emperor’s roars of chasing and trying to kill Da Huang could be heard everywhere.

“You stop right there!”

Part 3:

Luzon sent envoys – the Luzon prince was ascending the throne and hoped the Great Southern Chu Emperor could send observers to the ceremony and bestow a title on the new king.

As the Southeast Grand Governor, Qingxia naturally had to go personally. With no recent conflicts in the west, the spring floods having just passed, favorable weather, domestic peace throughout the realm, and no major court affairs, Qingxia thought it over and sent a serving maid to ask if Chu Li wanted to go together.

The Great Southern Chu Emperor was currently in the Ministry examining national treasury accounts, calculating post-autumn harvest expenses for the western expedition. Seeing only a small palace maid had come, he deeply felt his wife was paying him less and less attention, so he resolutely shook his head: Not going!

Hearing this, Qingxia nodded: “In that case, Song Yang will accompany me.”

Ten days later, the ceremonial procession departed. The Chu Emperor claimed he needed to inspect Huanchao Yi and joined the journey.

Five days later, the Chu Emperor decided to go to Xihei Prefecture for grain collection, so continued along.

Six days later, the Chu Emperor claimed urgent border reports had come from the southeast requiring his personal presence at Haishi, and dispatched Song Yang to go ahead.

Arriving at Haishi, Qingxia and Song Yang boarded Luzon’s ocean-going ship. Chu Li stood on the dock craning his neck to watch, then left in fury.

That very evening, at Quesha Island, the Great Southern Chu Emperor caught up in great haste aboard the Siyuan, righteously calling out: Song Yang’s wife had given birth and he must return immediately.

That night, Qingxia finally understood the meaning of “a brief separation is better than a new marriage.” While Chu Li slept, she secretly stole the memorial he carried, supposedly the urgent southeastern report. It read: “Eastern Li reports: In Biehua Fishing Village, Haishi, two village women fought, one dead, one injured. The deceased demands severe punishment of the injurer. After the Haishi Legal Court’s judgment, the criminal’s family was unsatisfied and sent the case to the imperial capital, requesting final judgment from the Imperial Legal Court.”

Urgent border report? Qingxia sympathetically shook her head.

The next day, the Great Southern Chu Emperor wanted to return to Haishi. Qingxia stepped forward, grasping the man’s arm, softly acting spoiled: “Don’t leave – I’ll be scared going alone.”

“How can that be? There are still urgent official documents to handle in the southeast.”

“Just consider it keeping me company, please.”

“This… is still improper.”

“Li…”

“Well… just this once, never again.”

Under the morning sun’s illumination, both secretly smiled to themselves.

Ah, Luzon with its sunshine, ocean waves, and beaches!

Chu Li’s married life and the grand wedding chapters will be updated by Dong’er gradually. The timing might be drawn out – it’s just leisure entertainment. The style might differ somewhat from the main text, purely to make everyone laugh. Wishing everyone good spirits.