Chapter 381: Learning

Chapter 381 Learning

The Prefect’s Manor.

Tang Wanzhuang sat in the central hall, issuing commands and sorting through everything Da Zhou and Zhao Changher had discussed moments ago, delegating and organizing the matters with meticulous efficiency.

Zhao Changher crouched off to the side holding a basin, completely focused on devouring his food.

Subconsciously, his mind was still learning…

There were things he truly did not understand, and he could not just shoot his mouth off.

Take the issue of whether to return land to farming or not… As a modern college student, he always fancied he knew a thing or two about everything. But with the reality right before his eyes, he did not even know the specific timing for the local planting season. It was already February; if they had missed the window, was it still useful to sow crops now? If it could be salvaged, what kind of official assistance would be required? This was a sheer lack of knowledge.

Furthermore, there was the question of reducing military strength—whether it was appropriate given the current political climate. This wasn't a matter of difficulty, but rather a lack of experience in a leadership position that decided the fate of an entire city; he simply did not dare to make reckless judgments. His mind had not yet adjusted to such a position.

He could only crouch by the side, eating while watching Tang Wanzhuang make the arrangements.

As it turned out, it was indeed still in time for farming. Tang Wanzhuang disbanded half of Xiangyang’s troops in one breath. Meanwhile, the traitors within the Demon Suppressing Division whom Li Sian had interrogated, along with Lu Shiheng's trusted confidants in the army, were all dragged away and decapitated by the fierce, menacing members of the Blood God Cult.

A ruthlessness that bore no resemblance to the Tang Wanzhuang he usually saw.

Those jade-green, spring-like waters seemed to turn the color of blood in an instant.

“In times of chaos, one must be decisive; it is no time for hesitation.” Tang Wanzhuang walked over to him. Seeing him crouched to one side shoveling down rice like a giant cat, she inexplicably found it rather adorable. Yet she spoke aloud, “The look in your eyes changed a bit? You don't like me killing people?”

Zhao Changher shook his head. “No… of course it had to be done. It just didn't seem quite like you.”

Tang Wanzhuang smiled faintly. “How much do you really know about me? You only think about…”

She pursed her lips, leaving the sentence unfinished, and changed the subject instead. “The one-tael city entrance tax will obviously be abolished, and normal operations will resume. But the problem we face now is that Xiangyang is truly out of money.”

Zhao Changher shoveled down his rice with a slurping sound. “How about a little central government funding?”

Tang Wanzhuang seemed to find it a bit difficult to voice, lowering her voice as she said, “Every region uses the excuse of rampant bandits and inconvenient transportation to withhold their taxes. The imperial court has no money left either.”

Zhao Changher bared his teeth, and it took a long while before he spoke. “Qinghe uses that excuse too?”

“They are a bit better,” Tang Wanzhuang sighed. “And they are only better because they are close by.”

Zhao Changher cast another glance at her.

In truth, it wasn't because they were close, but because Old Cui did not wish to declare independence. For a man like Old Cui, if he deemed someone worthy of support, his funds, provisions, and troops would be supplied to them, ushering in the merit of raising a new dragon.

Up until now, no one had particularly caught Old Cui's eye. The Wang family's personal involvement in the struggle for supremacy was a potential alternative. If the Wang family truly raised the banner of rebellion in earnest, the distance from Langya to Qinghe was actually quite short. When that time came, things would be hard to predict, given that the marriage alliance had already been forged…

The clash of heroes at the end of a dynasty had already begun.

Zhao Changher did not pursue the topic further, merely lowering his head to eat. “I’ll find someone to borrow a sum of money from to cover Xiangyang's emergency first. We can just pay them some interest when the time comes.”

Tang Wanzhuang replied, “Xiangyang's production is crippled, and Lu Shiheng's forced conscription has left a massive hole in the finances. Otherwise, they wouldn't have come up with that rotten idea of a one-tael entrance tax. And we cannot act as Lu Shiheng did; we even have to subsidize production… Sian doesn't have the strength to support such a large sum, so I can only have him raise a portion. Who can you borrow so much money from?”

Zhao Changher said, “Don't worry about that, we have it covered anyway. Look at you—you’ve been discussing matters for less than half an hour, and your face is already turning pale again. You really cannot overexert yourself. Listen to the doctor, alright?”

Tang Wanzhuang wanted to say, *If you won't learn, what choice do I have?* But the words caught in her throat. She felt that his crouching here and eating was actually his way of learning, and he had even taken the initiative to help solve the financial crisis. Compared to his past attitude of roaming the martial world with a single blade and thinking *'the court has nothing to do with me,'* he was already deeply involved in the game.

Thinking of this brought a touch of comfort to her heart, so she tried to discuss another topic. “Regarding the army, your intention is to trust Xue Canghai?”

“Yeah, Leader Xue's perspective is much higher than most people think… The bloodthirstiness of the Blood God Cult is due to their cultivation technique; they level up by killing people… You guys haven't played video games. As long as there are experience points, players could squeeze oil out of a rock by killing it. But that doesn't mean his nature is bloodthirsty. As long as a higher goal is dangled before him, he knows what to do.”

Tang Wanzhuang did not care about the Blood God Cult's doctrines, nor did she understand anything about leveling up in video games. She simply asked, “In other words, your meaning is that the current defense of Xiangyang and the reorganization of the army can be safely left to Xue Canghai?”

“Right.” Zhao Changher looked at her with a hint of confusion. “Since you don't trust Xue Canghai, or rather you are unwilling to let a cultist control the defense of a city and gain a foothold… then you could completely use someone you trust to take charge. This isn't a matter of hurting my pride. Am I really that fragile?…”

Tang Wanzhuang smiled without a word.

How could it be a matter of fearing you would lose face…

Even if Xue Canghai was not entirely suitable, she was willing to let him handle this burden. This was the command of the Crown Prince; even if there were minor issues, those subordinate to him would help clean up the mess.

Once this fellow found himself increasingly and deeply entangled in every facet of governing the world, he might even grow addicted to it himself later on. Even if he didn't, a group of people whose interests were tied to him would eventually drape the robes of authority over his shoulders.

Fearing that a cultist might gain a foothold? What she wanted was precisely for him to have a foothold.

Tang Wanzhuang's mood improved considerably, and she said with a sweet smile, “It's nothing. The main tasks have already been broken down and assigned to various responsible parties. The money problem that gave me the biggest headache is also being handled by you, so I don't need to micromanage everything. I can indeed rest.”

Zhao Changher did not understand what she was thinking for a moment. He walked to the side in silence, vigorously rinsing his mouth. “You should eat first.”

Just as he finished rinsing his mouth and turned around, he heard a violent fit of coughing. Zhao Changher rushed over quickly, only to see Tang Wanzhuang sitting by the table, clutching her mouth as she coughed violently. She looked as though she could barely catch her breath.

Zhao Changher hurriedly moved to support her. Looking down, he saw her palm was completely stained with the flecks of coughed-up blood.

Previously, she had seemed full of life, capable of striking people down and throwing them into the water. Yet at this moment, she was so weak that a gust of wind could knock her over. Held by him, she leaned limply against his chest, breathing softly and shallowly.

Zhao Changher was in no mood to relish the feeling of holding a soft, fragrant beauty in his arms. Checking her with a trace of true qi, he found the problem was still the old issue, but he still felt utterly exasperated.

Last night's treatment had sorted out her shock injuries, but the leaking and washing of the Third Secret Realm's power could only be said to have been barely suppressed a little. That was why her spirit and complexion had been quite good today, but it was merely flaring up again now.

It shouldn't have flared up so quickly… Zhao Changher only realized now that though this woman had told him to sleep, she hadn't slept at all herself, toiling away the entire time.

And that so-called stroll down the street—she hadn't been strolling at all; she had been inspecting the livelihoods of the people.

The root of her illness was heavily tied to mental exhaustion. If she continued like this, it would naturally grow more and more severe.

Zhao Changher did not scold her about it again. He simply stared down at the trace of blood by her lips and reached out to gently wipe it away.

Tang Wanzhuang raised her eyes to look at him, somewhat startled.

Their gazes locked, staring at each other for a long moment. Zhao Changher said in a low voice, “I am going to administer treatment, Master… even if you throw me into the water again.”

Tang Wanzhuang instinctively wanted to struggle, but she lacked the strength for the moment.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she finally closed her eyes.

In the next instant, those familiar lips pressed down, sealing her mouth firmly.

It was no longer a sneak attack like yesterday. From beginning to end, both of them knew exactly what was about to happen next in their hearts. Yet she still closed her eyes, leaning into his embrace without uttering a single word of refusal.

She told herself in her heart that this was treatment… why think too much into it…

The method of dual cultivation combined with the Rejuvenation Art, once more nourishing her depleted soul and body. Amidst the swirling, blending warmth, the scenery of mountains and rivers reappeared.

A martial and imposing man with a scar on his face was striding toward her through the landscape.

She watched with a smile as the two of them slowly drew closer, and then she was folded into his embrace.

The man lowered his head to kiss her lips. She closed her eyes, yielding with graceful compliance.

A tongue pressed against her teeth, testing and knocking at the gate.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she still compliantly parted them, allowing him to take what he wished.